The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (2008) – Catch the Train

There is nothing really mysterious about this movie. What might be interesting to mention is how a young man could get lost so quickly and get back to normal so suddenly. But I guess it is quite usual to see in Hollywood movies. So after all, the mysteries of Pittsburgh can be solved.

 

Art (Arthur) is graduating from high school. He takes a part-time job in a bookstore before the college starts. During his work time, he fucks his supervisor. In his spare time, well, he might be doing exactly the same thing as in his work hours. After all, he is bored of life in general. Given the fact that his father is in mafia, there is not a lot he could do to surprise his old man, until he met a couple. Jane and Cleveland are charming people and fun-loving. Jane is a violinist and Cleveland is between anything and anything. Art falls in love with Jane at first sight and then with Cleveland after several sights. As Art said himself, he is bored and maybe a bit confused too. They all become lovers to each other, in one way or another. They all become dear friends to each other, in this life or another life. They all become life gamblers to themselves, in Pittsburgh. Cleveland is the only ‘bad’ boy in this love story. The end of his falling from cloud factory is also the end of Art and Jane’s life stories in youth.

 

There are so many good things about love one could brag on and on forever. Nevertheless, it doesn’t seem to guarantee a happy ending for the ones in love. This love story reminds me of my all-time-favourite, Jules et Jim. Three characters, two men and a woman. Love story of three-way never gets old when you have good story telling skills. It gets even more heartbreaking when there is one most adorable going a self-destruction process. In Jules et Jim’s case, it is the girl. In this case, it is Cleveland. In both movies, it is the one character who has been loved most by the other two because of his/her unique personality. What it takes is courage to love and bravery to let it go. Just like what Art did in the end. Moving on to catch the next train in life, luckily for him, the next one is definitely leaving Pittsburgh.

 

What defines a great actor like Peter Sarsgaard? He doesn’t show often in big-budgeted movie projects. Even when he is included in some exciting movies, he usually takes a second leading role, more of supporting kind. But when a movie ends, you cannot forget about his voice, his body language, his lines in the movie. You would instantly recognise the face from other big movies and say to yourself. This makes sense.

Charlie Bartlett (2008) and Phoebe In Wonderland (2009)

Combing these two movies together requires a lot of memory refresh. Phoebe made it very easy, really. While Charlie Bartlett has experienced teenage growing pain, Phoebe is going through OCD. In both children/youngster movies, there seems nothing “childish” about them. They are averagely premature and mentally independent even though they are not ready for that “independence”.

 

 

People like you are the reason people like me need medication. This world is crazy, in all ways. Charlie has felt it always until the moment when he finds out he could get some medication from pretending to be “normal”. And these drugs could not only make him feel better but also make him high. This great finding has benefited Charlie not just for himself but he chose to extend his psychological counselling to his schoolmates. So he could become a cool guy from a nerdy boy. Sometimes we drug people whose mind is clear. Judging craziness becomes a comparative concept. When Charlie started the service in female toilet rooms and students were lining up in the corridor, most of them didn’t come for medication but proper and effective attention from someone else to acknowledge teenagers’ growing pains and happiness. Happy ending seems like the only appropriate one as despite of the world’s madness, we need hope.

 

So when and how we know we actually need medication. This idea is insane, by all means. Phoebe has felt it always until the moment when she fell down from theatre ceiling to follow Alice’s calling. Everyone has accepted the fact that Phoebe is not normal. At least she has a rare condition. It is called Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Phoebe likes Alice in Wonderland and she knows she could perform a great role. Because in the theatre, she could forget about herself and being someone really nice and popular. Phoebe is not really popular in the school. She spit on classmates and does some unusual things around. She hears voices in her own head. She intentionally tramps over steps and gets hurt on knees and ankles because she is convinced this is the only way to achieve what she wants. There is a pattern and there are rules. There are specific rules in Phoebe’s imagination. Following them causes a great deal of courage and pain but also some humane understanding.

 

 

The younger generation of American actor/actress is really impressive, especially the famous Fanning Family. I am wondering what kind of parenthood could nurture this kind of stardom running around siblings. Must be something unique. It is not just the memory refresh for some brilliant movies. It also reminds me of what has passed in my own youth. How many times have I tried to make it right before it becomes more sensible. We all know now it could be much worse as we all strive to be a better person. Sometimes it seems leading to the opposite so we need to try harder to get back on track.

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