Lists Movies

2009 Best Movies

December 31, 2009

♫ Florence + the Machine – Cosmic Love ♫

My talent for writing movie reviews has been long gone, but everytime I see Kinho’s lists I get excited. I’m not in the mood of listing the best of everything, so I’m going to start with the best movies of 2009, in my humble opinion.These are films I saw at the movies in 2009. I actually managed to go to the movies 32 times. I should have gone more since I have a Pathépas; I pay 20 euros a month and can go as many times as I want to any Pathé cinema. A ticket usually costs 10 euros, so I think I have a good deal.

Best of 2009

Slumdog Millionaire

I didn’t want to see it, I was tired of the hype. In the first minute of the movie I joined the hype. The colors, editing, cinematography… everything is impecable. It’s the indian version of City of God, but with a happy ending. And there is even Bollywood style dancing.

Milk
One word: excellent. Sean Penn deserved his Oscar and gave a kick-ass speech.

The Wrestler
Darren Aronofsky did it again. The visual style is the opposite of Requiem Para Um Sonho. The Wrestler was, for me, everything Benjamin Button was not: a portrayal of aging. And the acting… amazing.

Revolutionary Road
Just having Kate Winslet in the cast is enough for me. And this is one of the best performances of her career, the same goes for DiCaprio. I like how director Sam Mendes portrays the drama of middle class.

500 Days of Summer
It’s like the tagline says: “It’s not a love story, it’s a story about love”. Sweet as hell.

Inglourious Bastards
Nazis getting their ass kicked! Tarantino directed it, what else? Oh, and there’s cutie Mélanie Laurent and the excellent Christoph Waltz.

Capitalism: A Love Story
I love Michael Moore’s movies. There are many haters, but I like his films. He deals with serious issues in a hilarious way. And you really have to laugh at some of the absurd things shown in this movie, because the only other option is crying.

Antichrist
This is not a movie for the faint-hearted, many people left the cinema. The movie is tough, weird, visually beautiful and has 2 amazing actors.

Nice Surprises

Coraline
Beautiful, colorful and with a great soundtrack.

The Hangover
I usually hate this type of comedy but this movie is really funny, I couldn’t stop laughing.

Watchmen
Awesome editing, great sountrack and  critique to modern society.

Whatever Works
Woody Allen all the way. Just the way I like it.

Worst of 2009

Wolverine
The only good thing about it is Hugh Jackman.

New Moon
Vampires that shine in sunlight? WTF?

Expectations 2010

NineWhere The Wild Things Are
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Alice in Wonderland
Men Who Stare At Goats
I Love You  Phillip Morris
The Lovely Bones
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Music Personal

Back to 1996

December 20, 2009

♫ Alanis Moritssette – Mary Jane ♫

This week I started listening to the acoustic version of Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. And in doing so, I ended up in 1996, when I was 14 years old and listened to the plugged version day and night. How I loved Alanis… her yelling voice, her weird ways, her lyrics. I saw her live, in the late Metropolitan in Rio de Janeiro. I left the concert voiceless; all the voice I had, I lost singing along. And I could swear she sang Mary Jane looking at me.
This adoration went on for many years but slowly faded away. I don’t know what happens to musicians, it seems like the music industry sucks out their souls. It has been a real pleasure listening this new version of Jagged Little Pill. These continue to be my favorite songs: Mary Jane, I’m Not the Doctor and Wake Up. And the cool thing is that they are really new versions of the same songs.
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Music

Bat For Lashes live in Amsterdam

November 21, 2009

Bat For Lashes by Tessa Colauto

This post should have been written a few weeks ago. But I wouldn’t be Tessa if I hadn’t procrastinated about it. On October 30th I went to see Bat For Lashes here in Amsterdam.

Opening act

The opening band Hecuva was, hmm how should I put it, interesting? That’s all I can say. The vocalist’s voice was actually very nice but the songs were just weird, extremelly weird. Electronic beats with non-sense text sung in a totally different rhythm. The audience applauded hoping the torture would come to an end.

Natasha’s magic world

Finally, after a 30 minute delay, Natasha Khan got on stage. In a magical moment, the concert started with her song Glass. Natasha’s voice is even better live and she is beautiful, friendly and energetic. The band: magnificent.

set list

Some of the songs that were performed: Sleep Alone, Moon and Moon, Daniel, Siren’s Song, The Big Sleep, Pearl’s Dream, Horse and I, What’s A Girl To Do, Tahiti, The Wizard e Prescilla. The other pictures I took can be seen here.
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Music Personal Photography

In Parallel

November 4, 2009
♫ Anneke van Giersbergen & Danny Cavanagh – Teardrop ♫

In the beginning of 2008 two of my favorite musicians got together for a very special performance. One year later, Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering, Agua de Annique) and Danny Cavanagh (Anathema), got back on stage together for 2 other amazing gigs. Each of them played their own set list and at the end they performed together. I was there, both years, photographing and enjoying the music.

The day I arrived for my vacation in Rio, I received an unexpected e-mail. The mail was from Anneke telling me about the release of the album recorded live and that she would like to use my pictures. I was extremely happy; my first published photos would be for a CD of two artists I admire.

Well, various e-mails were written and a long time has passed but, yesterday, finally, I received my copy of In Parallel. From the six photos published, five are mine. The artwork turned out really nice and elegant.

And here you can have a better look at the photos I took.
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Art

Sonnet CXVI

October 18, 2009
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no, it is an ever-fixèd mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand’ring bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved. “

~ William Shakespeare

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Personal Places

A Place to Call Home

October 8, 2009

♫ Agua de Annique – Sunken Soldiers Ball ♫

In the 11 consecutive years I lived in Brazil, I always dreamed of coming back to Amsterdam. Now I’m here for 4 years and I’m always nostalgic about Brazil and keep thinking about all the good things. Both times I went back to Brazil, I returned thinking Amsterdam is awesome. But soon after, reality kicks in and the nostalgia begins all over again. Why can’t I be happy in the place I am? Human beings are so complicated (or maybe it’s just me). So, I made a little list os some of the things I love about Amsterdam. Thinking positive! 😉

 

– hundreds of concerts every year.
– many art exhibitions, for all tastes.
– everything is close by, you can cycle everywhere.
– and if lazyness kicks in, public transport is great, efficient and safe.
– if you don’t speak Dutchs it won’t be a problem, everyone speaks English. Even the baker.
– a billion bars and cafes, almost all cornes have one.
– beautiful people.

 

There is more but this is all for today.

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Music

Bat for Lashes

October 7, 2009

♫ Bat for Lashes – Siren’s Song ♫

Eu estou tão feliz que eu vou no show dela. Eu já conhecia algumas músicas mas nunca tinha realmente prestado atenção. Agora, estou completamente viciada e fico escutando isso dia e noite. E pra minha felicidade, vai ter show dia 30 e eu já estou com os ingressos comprados.

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TV Series

I ♥ X-Files

January 22, 2009

♫ The Mary Onettes – Everyday and Today ♫


Scully: Mulder, it’s such a gorgeous day outside. Have you ever entertained the idea of trying to find life on this planet?
Mulder: I’ve seen the life on this planet Scully, and that is exactly why I am looking elsewhere.

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People Photography

Annie Leibovitz

January 16, 2009
I’ve always liked the work of american photographer Annie Leibovitz. When I was 16 my mom gave me a book with all the covers of Rolling Stone magazine. Most of them where done by Annie. Recently I watched a documentaty about her life: Annie Leibovitz: Live Throught a Lens. A very interesting documentary for anyone interested in photography. Unfortunately the movie, directed by her sister Barbara Leibovitz, is very short.
This famous picture of John & Yoko was taken by Annie 5 hours prior to Lennon’s assassination.

After working as Rolling Stone’s official photographer for many years, Annie left her job and went on working for a variety of magazines. She became famous for her celebrity portrayal and, especially, for her Vanity Fair covers which unite several actors. On Vanity Fair’s site you can check out a special of the covers she shot with several actors and actresses, like the picture below.

Master Class by Annie Leibovitz

“Master Class”: Nicole Kidman, Catherine Deneuve, Meryl Streep, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, Vanessa Redgrave, Chloë Sevigny, Sophia Loren, and Penélope Cruz.
And recently I discovered a very nice editorial she shot entitled “Killers Kill, Dead Men Die”. The pictures of this noire movie can be seen here and the making off can be seen here.
Film Noir by Annie Leibovitz
And to end this post, here is a picture of the photographer: Annie Leibovitz.

Annie Leibovitz

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People

Go Kate!

January 12, 2009

♫ Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton – Doctor Blind ♫

 

Kate Winslet 2009 Golden GlobesAnyone who knows me a little bit knows how much I adore Kate Winslet. I haven’t seen the movies yet but I’m sure she deserved those awards. Kate received a Best Actress Golden Globe for Revolutionary Road and one for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Reader.
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