GIRL INTERRUPTED
6/13/13
CASTS
Winona Ryder as Susanna Kaysen
Angelina Jolie as Lisa Rowe
Directed by James Mangold
Produced by Douglas Wick,Cathy Konrad
Screenplay by James Mangold,Lisa Loomer,Anna Hamilton Phelan
Academy Awards
Best Actress in a Supporting Role — Angelina Jolie
Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture — Angelina Jolie
Screen Actors Guild Award
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role — Angelina Jolie
PLOT
In April 1967, 18-year-old Susanna Kaysen (Winona Ryder) inattentively checks herself into Claymoore Hospital after taking an overdose of aspirin. She denies the accusation from many that she was attempting to commit suicide, claiming that she was only "trying to make the shit stop". Nurses and therapists are surprised when Susanna acknowledges that she does not actually want to go to college and would like to become a writer.
She befriends fellow patients Polly "Torch" Clark (Elisabeth Moss), Georgina Tuskin (Clea DuVall), Daisy Randone (Brittany Murphy), Janet Webber (Angela Bettis), and Cynthia Crowley (Jillian Armenante) and forms a small troupe of troubled women in her ward. Susanna is particularly enchanted by Lisa Rowe (Angelina Jolie), a diagnosed sociopath. When Lisa returns to the ward after running away, she notices that her old best friend's place has been taken by Susanna. She demands to know what happened to her best friend, eventually realizing that she had committed suicide. Eventually, Lisa befriends Susanna and the two start causing trouble. Lisa encourages Susanna to stop taking her medications and/or trade them with others, and generally resist the influences of therapy.
During a visit outside the ward at a nearby ice cream shop, Susanna is confronted by her mother's friend, the angry wife of Susanna's old English teacher, with whom she had an affair, and her daughter. The woman harshly berates Susanna, but Lisa intervenes with a verbal assault, horrifying the older woman. As a result, Lisa loses her outside privileges.
Susanna's former boyfriend, Tobias "Toby" Jacobs (Jared Leto), comes to visit her. Toby reveals that he is about to be drafted, and invites her to run away to Canada with him. He tries to convince her that she isn't crazy and that the girls in the asylum aren't really her friends, but Susanna refuses to go with him.
It is shown that Polly observes the couple as they speak outside. That night, she awakens screaming. The nurses remove her and place her into solitary confinement to calm her down, but she continues sobbing, horrified by the burn scars all over her body and face. To cheer her up, Susanna steals a guitar from the music room and sits outside Polly's room with Lisa, singing "Downtown" by Petula Clark. When a male orderly notices them, Susanna seduces him to keep him from reporting the incident. Afterwards, the two girls fall asleep outside Polly's room. In the morning, Valerie Owens, the RN (Whoopi Goldberg) sees the two, exclaims that she is sick of their antics and is referring them to the therapists.
The next morning, Susanna is called into the therapist's office, where she is analyzed once more. Susanna meets the head psychiatrist, Dr. Sonia Wick (Vanessa Redgrave), and attempts to shut her out with a nasty attitude. In response, Wick decides to take Susanna as her patient. She is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Lisa is also taken to see the doctor but does not return, and Susanna falls into a depression. Frustrated with Susanna's noncompliance, Valerie throws her into a cold bath to wake her. Susanna attacks her verbally.
Lisa returns, and she and Susanna break out of Claymoore. After hitching a ride, they spend the night at the house of the recently released Daisy, whom Lisa antagonizes in her usual fashion. She accuses Daisy of having an incestuous relationship with her father, and mocks her for continuing to cut herself. Daisy hangs herself the next morning. Unfazed by the suicide, Lisa searches Daisy's pocket, takes whatever cash she can find and nonchalantly leaves the house on her own, but a mortified Susanna stays behind to phone an ambulance and subsequently return to the hospital. Susanna also adopts Daisy's cat, Ruby. In the next few weeks, she begins to cooperate with her doctors and responds to her therapy, expressing her feelings through writing and painting. She is soon scheduled to be released.
At that point, Lisa is caught and returned by the police. Upon learning about Susanna's pending release, Lisa targets Susanna for ridicule and emotional abuse. On her last night at Claymoore, Susanna awakens to discover Lisa in the maze of corridors beneath the ward, reading Susanna's diary to Georgina and Polly, including all of the private thoughts and comments she has made about the other residents. The other girls turn on Susanna, with Lisa particularly vicious. In the ensuing dispute Lisa threatens to stab herself with a large hypodermic needle, but Georgina's words disarm her. Susanna confronts Lisa, telling her that she keeps coming back to the hospital because she has nowhere else to go, and that she is "already dead". Defeated, Lisa cries out in anguish, but Susanna ignores her and goes back to her room.
Susanna is released the next day. Before she leaves, she visits Lisa and talks to her again, telling her that she will get out and that she must come and see her. As Susanna leaves, she says goodbye to all her friends, giving Polly her adopted cat Ruby and reconciling with Georgina. At the end of the film, Susanna states that by the 1970s, most of her friends were released.
source: WIKIPEDIA
MY REVIEW
They said it was Ryder's idea to put the book into a movie and she was the main character but it was Jolie who was recognized largely.She got 3 major awards for her role as Liza,a sociopath.That was an interesting turnaround.
Anyways,I would like to start with some memorable scenes ....
**********
Lisa: (threatens to kill herself)
Nurse: Your aorta is in your chest,that won't kill you..
Lisa:Good to know!
********
Susana to Nurse:Am I in trouble for kissing an orderly or for giving my BF a blowjob?
************
Lisa to Daisy:( Lisa believes she's still hurting herself by cuts in her arms and that her father raping her)"Your father loved you every inch of his manhood"
Lisa:You changed the scenery but not the situation!
***********
Nurse Owens:(to Susanna after her release) "Remember me when you shave your legs"
**********
Susanna's realization in the end:"crazy Isn't being broken or swallowing a deep secret..it's being amplified...they are not crazy but are my friends and there's no single day my heart didn't try finding them..."
*********
Character wise,Angelina Jolie added more life and charm in her character as Liza.The moment they brought her inside she stole everyone's attention.She's a real badass and funny,intimidating and scary at the same time.Despite her diagnosis as psychopath,she actually knows how to protect Liza and her other friends.In fact,she's peaceful mostly with everyone.As for Susana,her disorder is so far the coolest of all the people in that institution because she's got to live 2 lives.The one that's altered and the real one.And it goes with relationships.She had a boyfriend and yet she was into Liza.In fact,short of obsession.Lisa called it being promiscuous and she was in deep denial but apparently it's true.Nurse Owens actually thought she's a lazy self indulgent person who pretends being crazy.But they encouraged her to see her disorder as a gift,she just needed to know how to stop and control it.What a cool character!
I did a little research about Wynona Ryder and it was so interesting (I'm not talking about her theft case) how she loved playing dark almost thriller psychological character.It was mentally disturbing and I think having to play that character most of the time is really a heavy responsibility if you are a person who lived normally.But I bet,most of the celebs are either peculiar or weird.
I'm an undergraduate Psychology major and if given the chance,more likely one of the choice is work in a mental institution.I was thinking about it and I simply cannot pull together how these people manage to work there for a long time.I mean,technically everyone is crazy and you're there to guide and help them heal.I salute them for their gazillion patience.I bet,those who usually stayed serving long years in mental institutions are those who really have a heart for it and I'm hands up to them.
The movie is very creative.Well executed.Well written and the casts altogether are amazing.Though Jolie is not the main character,she was a stand out.In all fairness,there were times that I got confuse if Susana is in real life or she is in her imagination.It was at times hard to tell.That's how artistic the story was.
I love the song "DOWN UNDER" in fact,I have downloaded it! Their soundtrack was pretty cool and soothing and I enjoyed each song.It strongly added charm to it.Because I was honestly expecting a heavy scary metal songs to compliment the mood but instead,the mood was light and I loved it.
I loved the simplicity of this movie because it speaks of the time and year it was produced.It still has it's natural human touch that makes you say to yourself,wow at least they talk to each other.At least despite their mental condition,they have reasons to be happy.They find friends who can understand them.They don't need facebook,twitter or we chat to make friends.They have to luxury to personally know each other and that was really so cool!
CASTS
Winona Ryder as Susanna Kaysen
Angelina Jolie as Lisa Rowe
Directed by James Mangold
Produced by Douglas Wick,Cathy Konrad
Screenplay by James Mangold,Lisa Loomer,Anna Hamilton Phelan
Academy Awards
Best Actress in a Supporting Role — Angelina Jolie
Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture — Angelina Jolie
Screen Actors Guild Award
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role — Angelina Jolie
PLOT
In April 1967, 18-year-old Susanna Kaysen (Winona Ryder) inattentively checks herself into Claymoore Hospital after taking an overdose of aspirin. She denies the accusation from many that she was attempting to commit suicide, claiming that she was only "trying to make the shit stop". Nurses and therapists are surprised when Susanna acknowledges that she does not actually want to go to college and would like to become a writer.
She befriends fellow patients Polly "Torch" Clark (Elisabeth Moss), Georgina Tuskin (Clea DuVall), Daisy Randone (Brittany Murphy), Janet Webber (Angela Bettis), and Cynthia Crowley (Jillian Armenante) and forms a small troupe of troubled women in her ward. Susanna is particularly enchanted by Lisa Rowe (Angelina Jolie), a diagnosed sociopath. When Lisa returns to the ward after running away, she notices that her old best friend's place has been taken by Susanna. She demands to know what happened to her best friend, eventually realizing that she had committed suicide. Eventually, Lisa befriends Susanna and the two start causing trouble. Lisa encourages Susanna to stop taking her medications and/or trade them with others, and generally resist the influences of therapy.
During a visit outside the ward at a nearby ice cream shop, Susanna is confronted by her mother's friend, the angry wife of Susanna's old English teacher, with whom she had an affair, and her daughter. The woman harshly berates Susanna, but Lisa intervenes with a verbal assault, horrifying the older woman. As a result, Lisa loses her outside privileges.
Susanna's former boyfriend, Tobias "Toby" Jacobs (Jared Leto), comes to visit her. Toby reveals that he is about to be drafted, and invites her to run away to Canada with him. He tries to convince her that she isn't crazy and that the girls in the asylum aren't really her friends, but Susanna refuses to go with him.
It is shown that Polly observes the couple as they speak outside. That night, she awakens screaming. The nurses remove her and place her into solitary confinement to calm her down, but she continues sobbing, horrified by the burn scars all over her body and face. To cheer her up, Susanna steals a guitar from the music room and sits outside Polly's room with Lisa, singing "Downtown" by Petula Clark. When a male orderly notices them, Susanna seduces him to keep him from reporting the incident. Afterwards, the two girls fall asleep outside Polly's room. In the morning, Valerie Owens, the RN (Whoopi Goldberg) sees the two, exclaims that she is sick of their antics and is referring them to the therapists.
The next morning, Susanna is called into the therapist's office, where she is analyzed once more. Susanna meets the head psychiatrist, Dr. Sonia Wick (Vanessa Redgrave), and attempts to shut her out with a nasty attitude. In response, Wick decides to take Susanna as her patient. She is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Lisa is also taken to see the doctor but does not return, and Susanna falls into a depression. Frustrated with Susanna's noncompliance, Valerie throws her into a cold bath to wake her. Susanna attacks her verbally.
Lisa returns, and she and Susanna break out of Claymoore. After hitching a ride, they spend the night at the house of the recently released Daisy, whom Lisa antagonizes in her usual fashion. She accuses Daisy of having an incestuous relationship with her father, and mocks her for continuing to cut herself. Daisy hangs herself the next morning. Unfazed by the suicide, Lisa searches Daisy's pocket, takes whatever cash she can find and nonchalantly leaves the house on her own, but a mortified Susanna stays behind to phone an ambulance and subsequently return to the hospital. Susanna also adopts Daisy's cat, Ruby. In the next few weeks, she begins to cooperate with her doctors and responds to her therapy, expressing her feelings through writing and painting. She is soon scheduled to be released.
At that point, Lisa is caught and returned by the police. Upon learning about Susanna's pending release, Lisa targets Susanna for ridicule and emotional abuse. On her last night at Claymoore, Susanna awakens to discover Lisa in the maze of corridors beneath the ward, reading Susanna's diary to Georgina and Polly, including all of the private thoughts and comments she has made about the other residents. The other girls turn on Susanna, with Lisa particularly vicious. In the ensuing dispute Lisa threatens to stab herself with a large hypodermic needle, but Georgina's words disarm her. Susanna confronts Lisa, telling her that she keeps coming back to the hospital because she has nowhere else to go, and that she is "already dead". Defeated, Lisa cries out in anguish, but Susanna ignores her and goes back to her room.
Susanna is released the next day. Before she leaves, she visits Lisa and talks to her again, telling her that she will get out and that she must come and see her. As Susanna leaves, she says goodbye to all her friends, giving Polly her adopted cat Ruby and reconciling with Georgina. At the end of the film, Susanna states that by the 1970s, most of her friends were released.
source: WIKIPEDIA
MY REVIEW
They said it was Ryder's idea to put the book into a movie and she was the main character but it was Jolie who was recognized largely.She got 3 major awards for her role as Liza,a sociopath.That was an interesting turnaround.
Anyways,I would like to start with some memorable scenes ....
**********
Lisa: (threatens to kill herself)
Nurse: Your aorta is in your chest,that won't kill you..
Lisa:Good to know!
********
Susana to Nurse:Am I in trouble for kissing an orderly or for giving my BF a blowjob?
************
Lisa to Daisy:( Lisa believes she's still hurting herself by cuts in her arms and that her father raping her)"Your father loved you every inch of his manhood"
Lisa:You changed the scenery but not the situation!
***********
Nurse Owens:(to Susanna after her release) "Remember me when you shave your legs"
**********
Susanna's realization in the end:"crazy Isn't being broken or swallowing a deep secret..it's being amplified...they are not crazy but are my friends and there's no single day my heart didn't try finding them..."
*********
Character wise,Angelina Jolie added more life and charm in her character as Liza.The moment they brought her inside she stole everyone's attention.She's a real badass and funny,intimidating and scary at the same time.Despite her diagnosis as psychopath,she actually knows how to protect Liza and her other friends.In fact,she's peaceful mostly with everyone.As for Susana,her disorder is so far the coolest of all the people in that institution because she's got to live 2 lives.The one that's altered and the real one.And it goes with relationships.She had a boyfriend and yet she was into Liza.In fact,short of obsession.Lisa called it being promiscuous and she was in deep denial but apparently it's true.Nurse Owens actually thought she's a lazy self indulgent person who pretends being crazy.But they encouraged her to see her disorder as a gift,she just needed to know how to stop and control it.What a cool character!
I did a little research about Wynona Ryder and it was so interesting (I'm not talking about her theft case) how she loved playing dark almost thriller psychological character.It was mentally disturbing and I think having to play that character most of the time is really a heavy responsibility if you are a person who lived normally.But I bet,most of the celebs are either peculiar or weird.
I'm an undergraduate Psychology major and if given the chance,more likely one of the choice is work in a mental institution.I was thinking about it and I simply cannot pull together how these people manage to work there for a long time.I mean,technically everyone is crazy and you're there to guide and help them heal.I salute them for their gazillion patience.I bet,those who usually stayed serving long years in mental institutions are those who really have a heart for it and I'm hands up to them.
The movie is very creative.Well executed.Well written and the casts altogether are amazing.Though Jolie is not the main character,she was a stand out.In all fairness,there were times that I got confuse if Susana is in real life or she is in her imagination.It was at times hard to tell.That's how artistic the story was.
I love the song "DOWN UNDER" in fact,I have downloaded it! Their soundtrack was pretty cool and soothing and I enjoyed each song.It strongly added charm to it.Because I was honestly expecting a heavy scary metal songs to compliment the mood but instead,the mood was light and I loved it.
I loved the simplicity of this movie because it speaks of the time and year it was produced.It still has it's natural human touch that makes you say to yourself,wow at least they talk to each other.At least despite their mental condition,they have reasons to be happy.They find friends who can understand them.They don't need facebook,twitter or we chat to make friends.They have to luxury to personally know each other and that was really so cool!
MR AND MRS SMITH
Plot : The film opens with John (Brad Pitt) and Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie) answering questions during marriage counseling. The couple has been married for "five or six" years, but their marriage is suffering to the point that they cannot remember the last time they had sex. They tell the story of their first meeting in Bogotá, Colombia, where they met while both were secretly on the run from Colombian authorities; since the authorities were looking for tourists traveling alone after a recent heist, the two claimed to be together to avoid being questioned. They quickly fell in love and were married. John later states in the end that Jane "looked like Christmas morning" to him on the day they met.
In reality, John and Jane are both skilled assassins working for different firms, both among the best in their field. Each is concealing their true profession from their spouse. Under these cover stories, John and Jane balance their apparently mundane marriage – which both of them find after a few years to be growing dull and suffocating – with their secretive work. When both are assigned to kill prisoner Benjamin "The Tank" Danz (Adam Brody) during a transfer, they encounter each other on the job and the hit ends up being botched. After their respective companies find out about the botched hit, they are assigned to discover and eliminate the other.
After a few "mild" attempts on each other's lives, fueled by a mutual sense of betrayal, the marital spat culminates in a high-octane fight in the Smith house. After a long, evenly-matched fight, with their house shot to shambles, they wind up with guns in each other's faces. John balks, and lays his gun down; Jane finds she cannot shoot her spouse either, and both succumb to their love instead. Mr. and Mrs. Smith reunite and make love.
The newly-rekindled Smith partnership is quickly threatened by their employers, who have now decided to eliminate the couple. John's best friend and coworker, Eddie (Vince Vaughn), turns down a bounty of $400,000 for each Smith (since he won't get out of bed for anything less than $500,000), but John and Jane find themselves under fire from an army of assassins. Fending off an attack which blows up their house, the Smiths steal their neighbor's minivan and successfully destroy three pursuing armored vans of attackers, all while bickering over their fighting styles and newly-discovered personal secrets.
After meeting with Eddie, the Smiths decide to fight together to preserve their marriage. They kidnap Danz from his high-security prison in order to give their employers something they want more than the Smiths. Danz reveals that he was merely bait, hired jointly by their employers after it was discovered that the Smiths were married, in the hopes of having one Smith kill the other. John and Jane forgo their separate contingency plans and make their stand together. In the final fight scene of the film, the Smiths – now working smoothly together as a team – defeat an extended attack by a large number of armed forces during a long shoot-out inside a department store.
The film ends with the couple meeting the marriage counselor again, where the Smiths state how much their marriage has thrived and how happy they really are, with John motioning a subtle "10" when asked about the "sex question" once more. An alternate ending is also available for the film. In it, John and Jane escape to Italy and are in the marketplace when Jane begins to panic, seemingly losing track of a target in the area. After a brief search, the two locate their daughter, who proceeds to shoot, with a toy gun, a hanging doll with precise aim.
RANDOM REVIEWS FROM ROTTEN TOMATOES
" Loads of charisma as Brad and Angelina play assassins ala James Bond who have happened to've married each other. Lots of action shootouts interspersed with quippy dialogue exchanges by the bickering but in love couple. Fun"
" If you're willing to believe your spouse when he tells you that the reason he's been staying out late at night is that he's a hitman, then Mr. & Mrs. Smith may be just the tongue-in-cheek thriller for you."
"The pretty onscreen union of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is the only thing “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” offers an audience beyond a relentlessly repetitive series of gunfights and car chases wherein so many bullets are fired that you feel like you’re witnessing a full-blown war. The movie is pornography of violence that plays out like a remotely operated video game full of droll asides and sarcastic exchanges."
MY OWN REVIEW
I guess this is one of the most controversial movie for Brad Pitt and Jollie because rumor has it that they were inloved right after the set.Turns out,it wasn't a rumor because eventually after a few months,Jollie was pregnant and technically she is a "Mrs Pitt" because they never get marrierd but Brad Pitt divorced Aniston and then immediately moved in with Angie right after their divorce .Then they were a couple ever since.It was very succesful and had been the talk of town for a long time.I just had the chance to watch it recently and I kinda enjoy the commedy and action and love story all in one.It was really entertaining and now I know why the people loved it.
"Who's your daddy now" is also one of those very popular expression that was popularized from this movie.It was just funny when Jane Smith delivered that line while they were trying to kill each other.
I wasn't much thrilled with the flow of the story but I guess those who play online games are much more excited due to the extreme shooting and action involved.It was like watching anime's come alive in a real body and that was just cool.
What's interesting there is how they insert those love scenes amidst the fight.It was just crazy and I was like nodding my head and clapping my hands because of how intense evrything was.It's like my heart raced with them from the start till the end of the movie due to the fast phase action.
In reality, John and Jane are both skilled assassins working for different firms, both among the best in their field. Each is concealing their true profession from their spouse. Under these cover stories, John and Jane balance their apparently mundane marriage – which both of them find after a few years to be growing dull and suffocating – with their secretive work. When both are assigned to kill prisoner Benjamin "The Tank" Danz (Adam Brody) during a transfer, they encounter each other on the job and the hit ends up being botched. After their respective companies find out about the botched hit, they are assigned to discover and eliminate the other.
After a few "mild" attempts on each other's lives, fueled by a mutual sense of betrayal, the marital spat culminates in a high-octane fight in the Smith house. After a long, evenly-matched fight, with their house shot to shambles, they wind up with guns in each other's faces. John balks, and lays his gun down; Jane finds she cannot shoot her spouse either, and both succumb to their love instead. Mr. and Mrs. Smith reunite and make love.
The newly-rekindled Smith partnership is quickly threatened by their employers, who have now decided to eliminate the couple. John's best friend and coworker, Eddie (Vince Vaughn), turns down a bounty of $400,000 for each Smith (since he won't get out of bed for anything less than $500,000), but John and Jane find themselves under fire from an army of assassins. Fending off an attack which blows up their house, the Smiths steal their neighbor's minivan and successfully destroy three pursuing armored vans of attackers, all while bickering over their fighting styles and newly-discovered personal secrets.
After meeting with Eddie, the Smiths decide to fight together to preserve their marriage. They kidnap Danz from his high-security prison in order to give their employers something they want more than the Smiths. Danz reveals that he was merely bait, hired jointly by their employers after it was discovered that the Smiths were married, in the hopes of having one Smith kill the other. John and Jane forgo their separate contingency plans and make their stand together. In the final fight scene of the film, the Smiths – now working smoothly together as a team – defeat an extended attack by a large number of armed forces during a long shoot-out inside a department store.
The film ends with the couple meeting the marriage counselor again, where the Smiths state how much their marriage has thrived and how happy they really are, with John motioning a subtle "10" when asked about the "sex question" once more. An alternate ending is also available for the film. In it, John and Jane escape to Italy and are in the marketplace when Jane begins to panic, seemingly losing track of a target in the area. After a brief search, the two locate their daughter, who proceeds to shoot, with a toy gun, a hanging doll with precise aim.
RANDOM REVIEWS FROM ROTTEN TOMATOES
" Loads of charisma as Brad and Angelina play assassins ala James Bond who have happened to've married each other. Lots of action shootouts interspersed with quippy dialogue exchanges by the bickering but in love couple. Fun"
" If you're willing to believe your spouse when he tells you that the reason he's been staying out late at night is that he's a hitman, then Mr. & Mrs. Smith may be just the tongue-in-cheek thriller for you."
"The pretty onscreen union of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is the only thing “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” offers an audience beyond a relentlessly repetitive series of gunfights and car chases wherein so many bullets are fired that you feel like you’re witnessing a full-blown war. The movie is pornography of violence that plays out like a remotely operated video game full of droll asides and sarcastic exchanges."
MY OWN REVIEW
I guess this is one of the most controversial movie for Brad Pitt and Jollie because rumor has it that they were inloved right after the set.Turns out,it wasn't a rumor because eventually after a few months,Jollie was pregnant and technically she is a "Mrs Pitt" because they never get marrierd but Brad Pitt divorced Aniston and then immediately moved in with Angie right after their divorce .Then they were a couple ever since.It was very succesful and had been the talk of town for a long time.I just had the chance to watch it recently and I kinda enjoy the commedy and action and love story all in one.It was really entertaining and now I know why the people loved it.
"Who's your daddy now" is also one of those very popular expression that was popularized from this movie.It was just funny when Jane Smith delivered that line while they were trying to kill each other.
I wasn't much thrilled with the flow of the story but I guess those who play online games are much more excited due to the extreme shooting and action involved.It was like watching anime's come alive in a real body and that was just cool.
What's interesting there is how they insert those love scenes amidst the fight.It was just crazy and I was like nodding my head and clapping my hands because of how intense evrything was.It's like my heart raced with them from the start till the end of the movie due to the fast phase action.
BEYOND BORDERS
While attending a fund raising gala, Sarah Jordan (Jolie), a naive, married American socialite living in England, witnesses a fiery plea delivered by an intruder- a renegade humanitarian, Dr. Nick Callahan (Owen). His plea made on behalf of impoverished children under his care, turns Sarah's life upside down. Attracted to Nick and his cause, she impulsively abandons her job at an art gallery and sheltered life in England to work alongside him in his effort to aid the refugee camps. She travels to Ethiopia.
As Sarah's work takes her to these volatile areas, where few people have traveled and even fewer have survived, she discovers that the harsh realities she encounters, and her growing attraction to the charismatic, unpredictable doctor, ignite in her a passion for saving lives... while risking her own in the process. She works for humanitarian and human rights organizations for 10 years after she first travels to Ethiopia, and eventually works for the UNHCR and acts as a regional representative for the United Kingdom.
The film was shot on location in Thailand, Namibia and Canada.
RANDOM REVIEWS FROM ROTTEN TOMATO BLOGGERS:
"It is so incredibly shameful how the well-intentioned and promising first half about the misery in Africa gives place to a ridiculous and exploitative romance in the final act"
"Important issues buried in soap opera silliness."
MY OWN REVIEW
Honestly,this is one of the few movies I have watch in the past that I never forgot and I have mixed reaction to it.While its true a lot dislike the movie for making profit to a serious situation ,I for one was thankful for having this movie to remind us of how people in such places were such in a pittiful state.I understand why they criticize the movie because it was obvious they were trying to spice up the story by some kind of affair amidst the volunteer work that the director should have concentrated on.It doesn't promote moral values the way they keep the story.The director should have focused on one area,if its really their goal to promote awareness like the works of the humanitarian works since Jollie is an ambassador of UNICEF then they should have focused more on that like some other movies who featured such stories to communicate all all over the world.Now,if they want to make money ,choosing the wilderness for love affair is a very bad choice.It's like mocking the situation of the people in it by altering the reality by giving a bad commecial break.
On the other hand,I have watched a lot of movies but surprisingly this is one of those that I didn't forget.Maybe because I have cried so much when I watch this movie.I cried seing those delicate bodies of the kids laying on the dessert with no food or shelter or much worst water.They have nothing,not even the basic needs.I feel guilty for taking things for granted.For having more than what I need but still complaining a lot like I'm the poorest of the poor.Shame on me really.This movie actually helped me personally that's why I love it.I started on small things like not just throwing up food or any left overs just because I don't like it.I made sure to buy only food that I can surely consume and not end up throwing it .
I also become more disciplined in terms of my wants over my needs.
I admire Jollie for her commitment to UNICEF.I saw her hands actually carried those malnourished kids and out of passion she adopted almost 5 kids all over the world.Of course,we can't judge Jollie's true motive in participating in humanitarian cause.I just hope her intention is noble and genuine.And I just hope,she will not allow her position as an ambassador to promote greediness from movie producers and endorsers.This is real life and those kids out there really needed support.I would appreciate a documentary instead of some movie that manipulate such situation to make money inspite of the pittiful state of the nation such as those in South Africa.
As for those who compose the UNICEF be it a celebrity or not,I hope they all share the same goal,that is to promote goodness,support and love to those who were far behind ,to those wo have nothing,not even their basic needs.
I would say,nice try for this movie!
As Sarah's work takes her to these volatile areas, where few people have traveled and even fewer have survived, she discovers that the harsh realities she encounters, and her growing attraction to the charismatic, unpredictable doctor, ignite in her a passion for saving lives... while risking her own in the process. She works for humanitarian and human rights organizations for 10 years after she first travels to Ethiopia, and eventually works for the UNHCR and acts as a regional representative for the United Kingdom.
The film was shot on location in Thailand, Namibia and Canada.
RANDOM REVIEWS FROM ROTTEN TOMATO BLOGGERS:
"It is so incredibly shameful how the well-intentioned and promising first half about the misery in Africa gives place to a ridiculous and exploitative romance in the final act"
"Important issues buried in soap opera silliness."
MY OWN REVIEW
Honestly,this is one of the few movies I have watch in the past that I never forgot and I have mixed reaction to it.While its true a lot dislike the movie for making profit to a serious situation ,I for one was thankful for having this movie to remind us of how people in such places were such in a pittiful state.I understand why they criticize the movie because it was obvious they were trying to spice up the story by some kind of affair amidst the volunteer work that the director should have concentrated on.It doesn't promote moral values the way they keep the story.The director should have focused on one area,if its really their goal to promote awareness like the works of the humanitarian works since Jollie is an ambassador of UNICEF then they should have focused more on that like some other movies who featured such stories to communicate all all over the world.Now,if they want to make money ,choosing the wilderness for love affair is a very bad choice.It's like mocking the situation of the people in it by altering the reality by giving a bad commecial break.
On the other hand,I have watched a lot of movies but surprisingly this is one of those that I didn't forget.Maybe because I have cried so much when I watch this movie.I cried seing those delicate bodies of the kids laying on the dessert with no food or shelter or much worst water.They have nothing,not even the basic needs.I feel guilty for taking things for granted.For having more than what I need but still complaining a lot like I'm the poorest of the poor.Shame on me really.This movie actually helped me personally that's why I love it.I started on small things like not just throwing up food or any left overs just because I don't like it.I made sure to buy only food that I can surely consume and not end up throwing it .
I also become more disciplined in terms of my wants over my needs.
I admire Jollie for her commitment to UNICEF.I saw her hands actually carried those malnourished kids and out of passion she adopted almost 5 kids all over the world.Of course,we can't judge Jollie's true motive in participating in humanitarian cause.I just hope her intention is noble and genuine.And I just hope,she will not allow her position as an ambassador to promote greediness from movie producers and endorsers.This is real life and those kids out there really needed support.I would appreciate a documentary instead of some movie that manipulate such situation to make money inspite of the pittiful state of the nation such as those in South Africa.
As for those who compose the UNICEF be it a celebrity or not,I hope they all share the same goal,that is to promote goodness,support and love to those who were far behind ,to those wo have nothing,not even their basic needs.
I would say,nice try for this movie!
BONE COLLECTOR
ly3.15.12
I think what shuts us down is not our physical state but our will to win and survive and to be effective.I have a best friend back in Highschool who's physically handicapped but I never heard from her once complaining of her situationIn fact,she was more happy than I was.She was more confident than I was.She was more hopeful than I was, that's why when we were together,I never felt any lesser because she helped me realize never to loose hope.She made me realized that pitty is not a healthy atitude and inspite of my suicidal attempts back then,she really helped in making made me stronger each day. All those memories flooded in after watching this movie.Denzel's role here is physically paralized and yet he never wasted time feeling sorry.In fact,he used all his strength fighting in.Still,he was effectively working inspite of his physical condition.Even at the last moment of his life,he fought back to his assailant. I guess,this is what life is all about after all.We are survivors by nature.We can fight back and we can if we have the will. To the physically handicapped,it doesn't mean you can't do anything with your condition.Sometimes,you are just there to serve as an encouragement to those who are physically allright but emotionally weak.In fact,most of the physically challenge people I knew were talented.God never forgot them of course.I've met some of them,I've watched some real life stories on TV.And some on movies like this.They all give one message,that still they are so much blessed in other areas and that still they have a lot o reasons to rejoice. To the physical well people like me,its a shame sometimes tha we keep o complaining what we don't have while others don't even have a feet or a hand or they can't even see.We complain about not able to have iphones,or our phone bill is too much or our internet connection is too slow.We comlain about body pain or muscle pain.We hate our physique.We wish we were someone else so we give in to face lifting,botox etc..etc..while were busy enhancing our physical looks,we forgot to be thankful of the things we atleast have that the don't have.its really a shame at times. I realize,while I'm too busy envying someone who's got a hot body or a very appealing looks I was too blind to realize how they were spiritually corrupt and shamefully rude to others. The bottomline is,be thankful for what you have.Know what you are capable off and use it effectively.This way you will b socially relevant.You might not be the most popular one but you can be of great encouragement and help to those around you.You will never know how your actions can influence those around you.So instead of pittying ourselves,why not start looking what you can do and stop focusing on what you can't do
I think what shuts us down is not our physical state but our will to win and survive and to be effective.I have a best friend back in Highschool who's physically handicapped but I never heard from her once complaining of her situationIn fact,she was more happy than I was.She was more confident than I was.She was more hopeful than I was, that's why when we were together,I never felt any lesser because she helped me realize never to loose hope.She made me realized that pitty is not a healthy atitude and inspite of my suicidal attempts back then,she really helped in making made me stronger each day. All those memories flooded in after watching this movie.Denzel's role here is physically paralized and yet he never wasted time feeling sorry.In fact,he used all his strength fighting in.Still,he was effectively working inspite of his physical condition.Even at the last moment of his life,he fought back to his assailant. I guess,this is what life is all about after all.We are survivors by nature.We can fight back and we can if we have the will. To the physically handicapped,it doesn't mean you can't do anything with your condition.Sometimes,you are just there to serve as an encouragement to those who are physically allright but emotionally weak.In fact,most of the physically challenge people I knew were talented.God never forgot them of course.I've met some of them,I've watched some real life stories on TV.And some on movies like this.They all give one message,that still they are so much blessed in other areas and that still they have a lot o reasons to rejoice. To the physical well people like me,its a shame sometimes tha we keep o complaining what we don't have while others don't even have a feet or a hand or they can't even see.We complain about not able to have iphones,or our phone bill is too much or our internet connection is too slow.We comlain about body pain or muscle pain.We hate our physique.We wish we were someone else so we give in to face lifting,botox etc..etc..while were busy enhancing our physical looks,we forgot to be thankful of the things we atleast have that the don't have.its really a shame at times. I realize,while I'm too busy envying someone who's got a hot body or a very appealing looks I was too blind to realize how they were spiritually corrupt and shamefully rude to others. The bottomline is,be thankful for what you have.Know what you are capable off and use it effectively.This way you will b socially relevant.You might not be the most popular one but you can be of great encouragement and help to those around you.You will never know how your actions can influence those around you.So instead of pittying ourselves,why not start looking what you can do and stop focusing on what you can't do
salt
3.18.12
If you were given a chance to live,would you spend your life on revenge considering you don't have any more reason to live because everything was taken away from You.All that was left was bitter and painful memories.And though you have a life of your own,you can't be sure which is real because everything that is laid before you is deception.Someone marries you for an ulterior motive.Someone hire you to carry the dirty work.And in the end,all that was left is a suicidal attempt to fight for justice,much more to avenge those you loved that was killed before your eyes.If ever such life would occur to me,i'm not sure if i would be tough enough to fight for my own survival. But take it from Evelyn Salt, no matter what happens,she sacrificed her self to stand for justice. That's what this movie is all about-Justice,toughness and firmness in facing life.Of ourse in real life situation,I doubt if you ever meet such a woman because of course those situation don't happen in real life scenario but I'm sure you will meet a lot of strong women who can sacrifice everything for their family.Tougher women than SALT. Another impressive action film from Jollie.She's really my favorite when it comes to action movies because she's the only versatile actress I know off aside from Mila Jokonovich off course.I mean considering the life Angelina Jollie went through,I guess she's realy a tough one not only in movies but in real life too.I just love her movies.Her portrayal as SALT in this movie is really convincing.True enough,as a woman,we are perceived as physically weak but we can realy be so tough that we can stand up for everything else.Never ever give up,after all life is so boring without challenges. HAPPY WOMENS MONTH!!!!
Changeling
3.2012
starring: Angelina Jollie
They say,if you are a mother you would do everything in your power to protect your children even if it means you have to give your own in exchange of theirs.But what if in your attempt to protect your only child,still somebody snatched them out of your hand? And you fight all alone.You have no idea where your child is or you have no hope of seeing your only child alive again? And you report to the authorities to ask help,but no one listened to you.In your desperation to find your child dead or alive or to atleast know what happened. People around you thought you've already gone insane.And you have no one else to turn to.And you're helpless.But somethings telling you to dig in more.Somethings telling you he might be somewhere else.Would you never give up? will you never ever give up?No matter what? what else can you do? This movie is a true story of a woman,a working woman and a mother who's son was kidnapped and killed along with the other kids.It is a story of a very strong and loving mother who cares nothing in the world but for the good of her only child. The world is indeed isn't safe anymore and its so hard to put your trust to anyone considering everyone is crooked in nature.It's true that innocent lives where sometimes sacrificed just because of someone's madness.Most lives were taken in the name of money,fame,power and competition.And I believe no mother would ever love seeing her own child grow and adopt such violent culture.But those are just some of the realities that we have to learn to accept.As years advanced,the world is moving more and more into a lot of deeper discoveries and inventions.On the other hand,evilness find its very place on the world each of us has chose to create. But no matter how evil or bad everything is,no once can ever replace the love of a mother,It can create miracles! a mother is a demonstration of genuine and unselfishness,so if we received such great love and importance where we came from,how could it be so hard to past it forward?we all have our social responsibility so if we contribute much love and unselfish acts everyday,i believe this world would b a better place to live.I'm still hopeful! I salute all the moms out there who never did everything fo their kids!
starring: Angelina Jollie
They say,if you are a mother you would do everything in your power to protect your children even if it means you have to give your own in exchange of theirs.But what if in your attempt to protect your only child,still somebody snatched them out of your hand? And you fight all alone.You have no idea where your child is or you have no hope of seeing your only child alive again? And you report to the authorities to ask help,but no one listened to you.In your desperation to find your child dead or alive or to atleast know what happened. People around you thought you've already gone insane.And you have no one else to turn to.And you're helpless.But somethings telling you to dig in more.Somethings telling you he might be somewhere else.Would you never give up? will you never ever give up?No matter what? what else can you do? This movie is a true story of a woman,a working woman and a mother who's son was kidnapped and killed along with the other kids.It is a story of a very strong and loving mother who cares nothing in the world but for the good of her only child. The world is indeed isn't safe anymore and its so hard to put your trust to anyone considering everyone is crooked in nature.It's true that innocent lives where sometimes sacrificed just because of someone's madness.Most lives were taken in the name of money,fame,power and competition.And I believe no mother would ever love seeing her own child grow and adopt such violent culture.But those are just some of the realities that we have to learn to accept.As years advanced,the world is moving more and more into a lot of deeper discoveries and inventions.On the other hand,evilness find its very place on the world each of us has chose to create. But no matter how evil or bad everything is,no once can ever replace the love of a mother,It can create miracles! a mother is a demonstration of genuine and unselfishness,so if we received such great love and importance where we came from,how could it be so hard to past it forward?we all have our social responsibility so if we contribute much love and unselfish acts everyday,i believe this world would b a better place to live.I'm still hopeful! I salute all the moms out there who never did everything fo their kids!
GIA
Gia Carangi (Angelina Jolie) is a Philadelphia native who moves to New York City to become a fashion model and immediately catches the attention of powerful agent Wilhelmina Cooper (Faye Dunaway). Gia's attitude and beauty help her rise quickly to the forefront of the modeling industry, but her persistent loneliness after the death of Wilhelmina drives her to experiment with mood-altering drugs like cocaine. She becomes entangled in a passionate affair with Linda (Elizabeth Mitchell), a make-up artist. Their love affair first starts when both pose nude and make love to each other after a photo shoot. However, after a while Linda begins to worry about Gia's drug use and gives her an ultimatum: Gia chooses the drugs. Failed attempts at reconciliation with Linda and with her mother, Kathleen (Mercedes Ruehl), drive Gia to begin abusing heroin. Although she is eventually able to break her drug habit after much effort, she has already contracted HIV from a needle containing infected blood and dies from complications from AIDS in 1986 at the age of 26.
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
“Every photograph has a promise. But that promise is never kept”
“Fashion is not art. Fashion isn’t even culture. Fashion is advertising. And advertising is money. And for every Dollar you earn some one has to pay.”
REVIEW
All above comments are from industry giants who worked with her, during her short life time. Sometimes they afraid to sign with her. She was very wild, and unpredictable. That was why she was so special. Gia movie is based on her journal and comments made by her family and her best friend, lover.
(1970s fashion industry boomed – This girl Gia from Philadelphia (Philly) came to New York during this time)
“It was the right moment… being there at the right moment is everything in fashion.”
What a tragic story! Gia had been trough a lot of heartbreaks and pains but she was not wise enough in her decisions.As a consequence,she died at age of 26.And does she know that no matter how people praise her now or much worst no matter ow people pity her now she's gone and its done.
As a child,she has to endure the pain of her parent's divorce.Then growing up,she was always left behind.She got into fashion which gave her an opportunity to rise up but then again,she let them abuse her .Much worst,she had turned out to be a drug addict that has destroyed her life.I pity her for not only the suffering the pain of being in rehab but her addiction to drugs led her to acquire AIDS.Too bad for a super model.Her life seems free spirited at first but she also allowed others to destroy her.She was a fighter but I guess she just got tired of fighting alone.She did everything she thought she can.She was a lesbian and so she had relationships with her co model but of course is not a cool thing morally speaking She thought having these relationships would somehow ease her pain but it made everything worst.I mean its so hard to suddenly adjust to things .She was way too stubborn too.I felt that her pains in life had made her tough.However,she dealt with it by hurting herself all the more.
We all have our pains and we have our unique ways in dealing with it.Its only that we need people who really care for us genuinely to guide us and inspire us.I mean I'm still thankful that with everything I've been through,I was guided by godly people.I believe God had sent angels around me to guide and protect me.And I was thankful,I made the right choice because If I didn't,I can't seem to imagine where I am now and what I do.I can't even tell If I'll be alive by no considering my suicidal tendencies.But one thing I do know,it's really so much painful to be left alone.That's one of my worst hated feeling.I know what it feels to have someone to depend on,to talk to or to even pour out your sentiments.But I also know the feeling of suddenly loosing them all at once.I mean the changes can make you really crazy.And the feeling of loneliness and emptiness can drive you to the edge.
I guess her life will serve as a learning experience to everyone specially those celebrities who had to deal with huge volume of stress everyday.They say,you can't please everybody but imagine what each celebrity has to do to protect their image.There's no denying that celebs these days are usually the haven for drugs and immorality and their doing mostly would give great impact socially.Just recently,Whitney Houston died at an early age and they say,over medication like Michael Jackson but publicist has control the media from reporting the truth.There's no denying that they are known for inhibited in drugs.But what ever the truth is,I really hope to everyone who watched this movie,it would be a learning experience.
I also admire Angelina Jolie for performing her role stupendously.I mean she obviously know how to play it perfectly because if those reports about her were accurate and true,then it means she was also a survivor of such challenges in life so she knew exactly what she's doing.
And I would like to comment on about fashion.I agree to what was said,fashion isn't even art because if it is art then why would it coz so much to be fashionably in? And also I think,they have called it fashion so they will have a license to judge everyone on how they look.They rate how each one should dress ,they outing their ideas and let others carry out even though it look kinda stupid,the people would tend to appreciate it because its fashion.How could they take away my freedom to be myself? We all know that whenever you go out these days,you have to be conscious all the time about what you wear or how you look.Others would love to be in fashion because they want compliments from guys.
I mean,I would never understand the essence of the fashion industry as long as they won't stop selling us endless stuffs that is meant only for their models.Now,as a consumer,we keep on buying this stuff blindly endorsed by models without even realizing its not meant for us.They are unique.That we are so much unique on every other way so why would we allow others to dictate how we look,how we dressed and what's only socially presentable?
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
“Every photograph has a promise. But that promise is never kept”
“Fashion is not art. Fashion isn’t even culture. Fashion is advertising. And advertising is money. And for every Dollar you earn some one has to pay.”
REVIEW
All above comments are from industry giants who worked with her, during her short life time. Sometimes they afraid to sign with her. She was very wild, and unpredictable. That was why she was so special. Gia movie is based on her journal and comments made by her family and her best friend, lover.
(1970s fashion industry boomed – This girl Gia from Philadelphia (Philly) came to New York during this time)
“It was the right moment… being there at the right moment is everything in fashion.”
What a tragic story! Gia had been trough a lot of heartbreaks and pains but she was not wise enough in her decisions.As a consequence,she died at age of 26.And does she know that no matter how people praise her now or much worst no matter ow people pity her now she's gone and its done.
As a child,she has to endure the pain of her parent's divorce.Then growing up,she was always left behind.She got into fashion which gave her an opportunity to rise up but then again,she let them abuse her .Much worst,she had turned out to be a drug addict that has destroyed her life.I pity her for not only the suffering the pain of being in rehab but her addiction to drugs led her to acquire AIDS.Too bad for a super model.Her life seems free spirited at first but she also allowed others to destroy her.She was a fighter but I guess she just got tired of fighting alone.She did everything she thought she can.She was a lesbian and so she had relationships with her co model but of course is not a cool thing morally speaking She thought having these relationships would somehow ease her pain but it made everything worst.I mean its so hard to suddenly adjust to things .She was way too stubborn too.I felt that her pains in life had made her tough.However,she dealt with it by hurting herself all the more.
We all have our pains and we have our unique ways in dealing with it.Its only that we need people who really care for us genuinely to guide us and inspire us.I mean I'm still thankful that with everything I've been through,I was guided by godly people.I believe God had sent angels around me to guide and protect me.And I was thankful,I made the right choice because If I didn't,I can't seem to imagine where I am now and what I do.I can't even tell If I'll be alive by no considering my suicidal tendencies.But one thing I do know,it's really so much painful to be left alone.That's one of my worst hated feeling.I know what it feels to have someone to depend on,to talk to or to even pour out your sentiments.But I also know the feeling of suddenly loosing them all at once.I mean the changes can make you really crazy.And the feeling of loneliness and emptiness can drive you to the edge.
I guess her life will serve as a learning experience to everyone specially those celebrities who had to deal with huge volume of stress everyday.They say,you can't please everybody but imagine what each celebrity has to do to protect their image.There's no denying that celebs these days are usually the haven for drugs and immorality and their doing mostly would give great impact socially.Just recently,Whitney Houston died at an early age and they say,over medication like Michael Jackson but publicist has control the media from reporting the truth.There's no denying that they are known for inhibited in drugs.But what ever the truth is,I really hope to everyone who watched this movie,it would be a learning experience.
I also admire Angelina Jolie for performing her role stupendously.I mean she obviously know how to play it perfectly because if those reports about her were accurate and true,then it means she was also a survivor of such challenges in life so she knew exactly what she's doing.
And I would like to comment on about fashion.I agree to what was said,fashion isn't even art because if it is art then why would it coz so much to be fashionably in? And also I think,they have called it fashion so they will have a license to judge everyone on how they look.They rate how each one should dress ,they outing their ideas and let others carry out even though it look kinda stupid,the people would tend to appreciate it because its fashion.How could they take away my freedom to be myself? We all know that whenever you go out these days,you have to be conscious all the time about what you wear or how you look.Others would love to be in fashion because they want compliments from guys.
I mean,I would never understand the essence of the fashion industry as long as they won't stop selling us endless stuffs that is meant only for their models.Now,as a consumer,we keep on buying this stuff blindly endorsed by models without even realizing its not meant for us.They are unique.That we are so much unique on every other way so why would we allow others to dictate how we look,how we dressed and what's only socially presentable?