A Complete History of My Sexual Failures (2008) – Cann’t Buy Me Love

When Chris traced back all these women and asked the same questions over and over, I was wondering not these questions because the answers were so obvious as if they had been written on their faces, but how a man could possibly have these questions in the first place. He really asked the women, what would be the most memorable thing in the past relationship with him, why they moved on to live happily ever after but he got stuck, how he could get something similar as they did. C’mon, was it really that hard to see through the mess he created himself? Maybe, when he was right in the middle of it.

 

Strangely, I didn’t get impressed with all the ridiculous bits. The part that he went down streets with a major “on”, the part that he got himself in serious dick trouble, the part that he got humiliated over and over by passengers and ex-lovers. They are quite expectable if you see Chris. You would imagine such extreme scenario’s. What comes out as a real surprise is his mother. The only woman I find impressed and deeply puzzled. Not puzzled about her being so impressive but being such a woman to such a son.

 

She first helped Chris convinced some ex-girlfriends to agree the interview, considering they had refused Chris over the phone at first enquiry. Then she kept all these love letters to Chris and stored them in a tin. She read them out loud and identified one particular girl named Olivia who became a later interviewee. When she was informed Chris would be on a blind date, she offered to clean his flat to make it more tolerable. She told Chris that he should keep displaying his toys around to be true to who he is instead of who the girls would like. When Chris came back to her with heart broken by the most beloved ex-girlfriend Vicky, she was the one who spoke sense there was no point to shed tears as he didn’t care from the beginning. It would be ridiculous to say that you loved and yet you bought a fake ring and let it be for 4 years. This crap simply didn’t add up. So how come such a smart, caring sensible woman gave life to such a jerk? ( I don’t say he is. This is just a quote from his encounters.) This is really puzzling.

 

Even though Chris had a happy ending by meeting a Russian girl, it is not a complete history of his sexual failures. On the contrary, as long as he is breathing there wouldn’t be anything close enough to be called ‘a complete history of’ whatever. What really matters is we know life is not a planned game, but a planning vs. changing process. When he set off the movie project with a knowing subconscious to win Vicky back in some dramatic ending, he hadn’t known it would lead him to a more nurturing friendship with Vicky and her new-born baby boy. When he was busy interviewing the old girls, it would lead him to a new one who accepts him for who he really is. It has the spirit of documentary. We know the factors to make things happen as we are planning but we will never know what really happens as it is changing.

July 8 – Final Curtain Call

There would have been a concert now in London. We could see you moonwalking again since 2001. We could scream your name as much as we like and you would have responded with “V”. There would have been so many encore’s at the end. You could witness we never left you even while you were away. You could ensure not for a second we turned our back on you because of what they said or accused of you. Everything would be so exciting and amazing. I believe you would feel the same.

 

Despite of all the negative speculations that you wouldn’t be able to pull it off, we believe in our King’s words as we always do. We know you would be back someday NOT because you need to prove you are King BUT because you love music and you know we love you. In all the possible scenario’s to cancel the concert, this would be certainly the most heart-breaking one. It simply cancels all the concerts either in or out of plan. Furthermore, it is even more heart-wrenching as we let you go with so much burden on your own. These harmful thorns have torn you day in and out and made you bleeding inside out. And yet, you gave the smile back.

 

Your mourning ceremony was held yesterday. One billion people watched the broadcast and shed tears. Among them, there were your families, friends, colleagues and many many …. Of us, your fans. So many people have been inspired by you and your love. If ever you would know, the ceremony was also a concert. We sang your songs, danced your dance. But no song has been sung like you sang, and no dance has been danced as you danced. It was a tribute to your 45 years of success and also a reminder to whole world that music will never be the same.

 

I will tell you what will be the same. Something no one and nothing can change, not even death. You will be the same. You will always one King and one King only in Pop Music. Future generations will still be inspired by you, your music and your passion. Our love for you will never change. It will only grow stronger as time goes by. You are only gone as your presence is summoned by God. Therefore, you are not alone. May peace with you, Michael Jackson.

 

I hope you had chance to know that you have so many loving fans in China, including my dad, a 60-year-old and me, a 30-year-old. Because of you and your music, we cannot be really angry with each other since we all love you.

原谅我是这样的女生

原谅我是这样的女生。她这么唱到，明知道有些问题没有答案，还是要问。认真地相信永恒，却不够天真地等待。花了那么多时间，也许最后我们真正能了解的人，只有自己。快听了十遍的时候，嘴角有点润润的感觉。她唱到，无辜的人还需要叹气声。这样的女生，有这样的歌声。有多久没听见这样的女生唱着这样的旋律，不急不徐，娓娓道来。她告诉你，这是唱给这样的女生的：她们小心翼翼，诚惶诚恐，对自己坦诚得彻底，却还是无法随意放任。在爱里，她们伤自己比别人伤她们还要深，因为，请原谅我是这样的女生。骄傲的谦虚。

原谅我是这样的女生

戴佩妮

我不够认份 所以怕再为谁作出牺牲

爱要有天份 所以我始终学不会放任

我不够天真 所以不允许我傻傻的等

对自己残忍 多残忍 我要有分寸

我太过认真 所以才相信所谓的永恒

爱让人慌神 所以止不住不小心沉沦

我太负责任 所以不允许有太多悔恨

对自己坦诚 多坦诚 我自有分寸

我只是无辜的人 很需要叹气声

有一些文字的吻 只留给伤过的人

明知道有些问题 没有答案还是要问

原谅我 因为我就是 这样的女生

原谅我就是这样的女生

Breakeven

Hardly, anything breaks even, unless with intentions to make manual adjustments. Most likely, most things are not fair. And yet, we try to accept it as diversity. While the concept of being equal is embraced for almost two centuries, we still constantly misinterpreted as being same.

 

Breakeven

The Script

I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing
Just praying to a god that I don’t believe in
‘Coz I got time while she got freedom
‘Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t breakeven

Her best days will be some of my worst
She finally met a man that’s gonna put her first
While I’m wide awake she’s no trouble sleeping
‘Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t breakeven…even…no

What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you
And what am I supposed to say when I’m all choked up that you’re OK
I’m falling to pieces

They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding
‘Coz she’s moved on while I’m still grieving
And when a heart breaks no it don’t breakeven even…no

Oh you got his heart and my heart and none of the pain
You took your suitcase, I took the blame
Now I’m try to make sense of what little remains
‘Coz you left me with no love and love to my name

Pride and Glory (2008) – Do Me Pride and Show You Glory

You may only find cliche about this movie: good cop, bad cop, family legacy, corruption scandal. You may only find cliche about the casting: Collin is the bad cop, Ed is the good cop, family legacy clashing with police corruption scandal. Somehow the story just doesn’t seem very interesting. And yet, impressive acting makes it an impressive piece.

Do me pride: it’s a family union the Tierney’s have achieved in NYPD. Two sons and one son-in-law have been serving the Washington Heights area. Though it didn’t get elaborated in the movie, the second son Ray took a bullet for a bad cop in front of grand jury once. Because of that, he has been going through hard time with his wife, getting divorced within a month. One night, four policemen got shot down in a house. Ray’s father, chief head of the region ordered to organize a task force to investigate the case. Ray was recruited back on the case. His elder brother Francis Jr., whose wife is suffering terminal disease, has been informed by Ray that there are police corruption right in his team under his own roof. Moreover, it is led by their brother-in-law Jimmy. At Christmas Eve family gathering, it is such a happy family sitting all together. Francis Sr. took great pride in his family by saying, Fran is a born leader, Ray is a born thinker and Jimmy’s wife is born carer. So much for the talk, it’s definitely the pride moment.

Show you glory: it’s a family moral ground to test in the case. The price of revealing truth is to ruin what all Tierney family has earned in law enforcement field. Fran may lose his job. Ray may get indecent record. Jimmy may go even deeper in corruption. To undo what has been done takes more than courage. Fran wants to warn Jimmy to take him in. Ray intends to protect his elder brother and even being cornered by IAB, he still plans to reveal nothing against Jimmy. On the other hand, Jimmy has also a family to protect. He knows what is waiting for him if he is taken by Ray and Fran. Therefore, we have the ending conclusive and inconclusive at the same time. It is conclusive as we know all the bad cops are identified and the gangster rage finally eats them up, literally. The inconclusive part is we don’t know what would happen next. After all, 65 grand annual salary ain’t gonna cover long enough. You may take one inccident revealed. What is the plan for the long run?

We have noticed the fact that there ain’t any extremes about being good or bad. As a human being born with flaws, we are somewhere in between. As Fran mentioned to Jimmy, we are given room to do what we have to do but just remember not to cross the line. And once you cross it, it is never too late to cross over back. Colin Farrell has this thing which is very special about him. He can make the bad role more acceptably or believable. Yes, we almost instantly notice his phish business with the mobs. Still, he poses as a loving husband and father to his children. And he has this expression in his eyes which make you believe inside he is in deep in pain and so vulnerable. The last line, “Tell her I love her”, is almost heart breaking as the last redemption coming out of a bad cop. Sometimes, I have to admit, I am so confused about this actor. I don’t even know whether he could do well in a movie until I watch it with my own eyes. Just always a comfort for me to know that he could act this good. Standing against Colin, it is Ed. I watched every single movie he has taken part in, or even just made voice appearance. The amazing thing about Edward Norton is he knows when to shine and when to hide. He doesn’t mind standing in the second row in a bigger picture. But when it is required in the story development, he totally has what it takes to stand in front and blow you away with absolutely convincing performance. I know he could pull anything off if he wants to. Even when he didn’t really want to do so, you still could feel his trying to make acting more interesting. And yes, that is again, the famous remake of The Italian Job. Except the cars, I don’t see any good out of that movie. I see the remake is almost an insult to its original. Seriously…

P.S. I see the relationship with Salma finally pays off in this movie for Ed. Well, you have to admit he might be the only person in that movie could handle that much Spanish lines. Good for you.