America's alright..

Again, in my resolution to finished my piled up DVDs, I watched In America (2001) last week. This is one of the movies that I bought purely based on reputation alone. I remember seeing it nominated in Academy Awards way back in 2002, and decided to pick it up. Although as usual, once bought, it got forgotten for quite a while before I finally watched it.

Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot) who directed and wrote the movie with his sister said that it was a bit autobiographical. It was based on his own experience, growing up in America after moving from Ireland as a little boy with his family. It explained why when you watch the movie, it appropriately felt personal.

It started with an Irish family moving into America after the death of Frankie, their youngest son. Trying to cope with the tragedy, they moved out to New York Hell's Kitchen to start anew. It wasn't easy at first. Johnny the father (Paddy Considine), is a struggling actor who can't get roles. Samantha Morton played Sarah, the mother who have to work at an ice cream parlor shop to help supporting the family. Their two daughters were probably the only people in the family who brought a positive note in the grieving family. Most of the movie was seen through out the eyes (and video camera) of their daughter Christy (Sarah Bolger). She provide a touching assessment on her family, her apartment neighbors, and living in America generally throughout the movie.

In essence I was really quite pleased with it. The two main actors, Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton did a great job. Considine who I thought was underrated (Oscar nominations went to Morton and Djimi Hounsou who played Mateo, the family neighbor), played the grieving part of his role brilliantly. One of the most powerful scene was when Mateo told him that Johnny didn't believe in God. He replied:

"I asked Him a favor once. I asked Him to take me instead of him. But He took both of us. And look what He put in my place."

But despite the brilliance of the adults actors I gotta say, the real life sisters Sarah and Emma Bolger who played their daughters was the pick of the bunch. Despite her young age, Sarah managed to portrayed the maturity of someone who are forced to grow up quickly because of all the hardships her family went through. Emma on the other hand, played Ariel, probably the only person in the family who can still see all this as an exciting adventure through her 6 years old eyes.

The story I gotta say was predictable, and more likely in the hands of other directors and actors, it would come up as something boring and unsympathetic. But props up to Sheridan and the actors. They managed to give this one life and emotion, and that alone made it worth it

Blown Away

I got another confession to make. I have Spirited Away DVD for 4-5 years but only managed to watched it yesterday. Yes, I know how scandalous that sounds. It was the only animated movie to be rewarded by an Academy Award, best grossing non-US movie in the world, and a whole lot of awards. To be honest, I bought it because of the hype, but I never actually think about it that much until last night. I have loved another Miyazaki work, Princess Mononoke, but somehow I managed to ignore Spirited for 5 long years.

After last night, I kinda regret it. I regret that I waited this long to actually watch it. Spirited Away deserve all the accolades it received and a whole lot more. The animation, as usual, is outstanding. Miyazaki's style never failed to amazed me. I was impressed by Mononoke, and this one is no different. For a story which is quite personal and small scale, the art managed to give a sense of grand and epic in the movie. And instead of making it out of place with the spirit of the movie, it managed to add that sense of wonder which the movie needs. The story itself on the surface was simple, but if you look deeper, it contains much more meaning that what it actually showed. As in his previous movies, Away was filled with critiques on environmental issues. And also as in his previous movies, Away managed to get the message across, without being preachy or pushed it down our throat

Chihiro adventure in trying to release herself and her family from the curse of the gods was fairly simple. But the characters are anything but simple. The evil witch wasn't exactly that evil, the monster wasn't a monster in the truest sense, but simply someone who's looking for a friend. Chihiro was your usual teen at the start of the movie, but by the end, her character had developed into a more mature and appreciative person.

I read that Miyazaki was supposed to retired before Spirited Away, but a friend daughter (who became the inspiration for Chihiro character) persuade him to continue working and made Away. So, Mr Miyazaki friend daugther, whoever you are, wherever you are, thanks.. thanks a lot.