Where the hell is Matt? Dance Matt!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
Filmlogue
Helsinki Complaints Choir
Friday, February 2, 2007
This choir really complains. Check out their official website Complaints Choir
Oscar night for Lord of the Rings
Monday, March 1, 2004
Talented Billy Crystal hosted 76th Academy award this Tonight. He did a great job for the 8th time. Billy's performance is quite different from Steve Martin and Whoppi Goldberg. His carries jokes in a casual and humber way while the other two are funny in a more exaggerated way.
It's a huge night for the Lord of the Rings. Clean sweep for 11 nominations, tied with epic film Ben-hur and romantic love story Titanic. When the Canadian director of THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS in the best foreign film categories got on stage, she jokingly said, "I'm glad Lord of the Ring is not nominated in this category". The J.R.R. Tolkien's the LOTR dominated this year's oscar and made the prediction not much a prediction any more. I believe everyone watching the show has the feel from the early on that Peter Jackson's 5 year hard work was gonna pay off tonight and it did. Kudos to Peter Jackson.
However, I wasn't a fantasy movie fan, at least since I get out of high school. The movies that are unique and/or exploring the human nature will always be on top of my lists. Except the movies I haven't seen, here it goes my favorate films of the year 2003:
IN AMERICA: master story teller Jim Sheridan told his own story with his two daughter about the experience when they first landed on the foreign land. The strong bonds between husband and wife, sisters, neighbors made it so special, especially in a money-dominated New York City. The extrodinary courage and love among the family and dying neighbor helped everyone to overcame the most difficult time in their lives and realized things they rarely tried to spare time to understand. I also watched another film co-produced by Jim Sheridan today which is called Bloody Sunday. Very real experience about the bloody civil rights movement over 30 years ago in Northern Ireland. Strangely enough, I keep thinking about Tiananmen Massacre while watching it. I vaguely remember what happened in 1989 from TV. But from this film, I feel the suffering of the people and inhumanity of the government. Thanks to film for bringing the closest to real experience to the audience.
Triplets of Belleville is another great animation achievement. Since I never watched Finding Nemo and the other animation feature, it's unfair to make any judgement about them. But I believe the Triplets of Belleville is one of the most exotic and unique film in animation category. The soundtrack is unique, the exaggeration of the features of characters is unique, the story is unique. Probably the only thing that doesn't make this film stands out is it's not surprising. Overall, I highly recommend everyone to see it.
There are some other films I would love them to win oscars but they were not even nominated. ☹
Someone did a prediction this afternoon on ABC and he think Diana Keaton was gonna win the best actress. I'm glad my prediction is accurate. Lovely and witty Charlize Theron won her first oscar on her first nomination. I'm excited for her, especially thinking her experienc growing up with a alcholic father. The dark period of that process made her a strong woman. Her oscar speech is so touching. When she thank her mom for what she did for her, that's the best moment of the night.
Another year of Oscar! I think overall, the awards went to who deserved them. Only wish Sting's song sung by Alison Kraus could won the best song. Alison's ethereal voice is incredible!
Happy Valentine's Day
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Happy Valentine's Day! I finally watched "Big Fish" and " Les Triplettes de Belleville" ("The Triplets of Belleville"). Big Fish is about a small town guy with a huge heart. It's another make-believe film (similar to In America in some ways) and how to live a life to the full. Les Triplettes de Belleville is nominated for Oscar including Best Animation and Best Original Song. A grandma and the triplets in Belleville overcame numerous dangerous situations to save the grandson kidnapped during Tour de France. Fantastic animation and soundtrack. The Belleville is a mixture of multiculture. Some Paris, some New York, and some other places I didn't recognize. The detailed animation has both retro and modern feel. So unique and different from typical hollywood films.
the Piano
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Finally watched the PIANO by Holly Hunter and Havey keitel. Beatuful love story. Kind of reminded me of Cold Mountain.
"I could get more..."
Sunday, November 2, 2003
Finally, I watched "Schindler's List" . Everytime when you watch a war film, there are always shocking and touching moments. For this super long 3 hour and 12 minutes film, I cried in the last hour many times. When Schindler is ready to flee and the Jewish Rabbi gave him the letter with autographs from all the jews in the factory in case he got caught; When Schindler was mumbling "I could get more (people)"; When the survivors from the war pay him respect at his tomb many years later, many came with their kids, grandkids... Order came back to the world and humanity came back to the world after the chaos war created. I always thought that those kind of cruel things won't happen the the human being again since we are all so civilized. But weren't those people in the war also thought the same? People are essentially good and I am not going to fall into traditional cynical cycle about the world. Schindler's act changed the world, at least the people who he saved and the people who read and watched his brave behaviors. That's what makes the world better.
I basically spent the whole day watching movies. I spent another 4 hours watching "
Basquiat, Ethan Frome, Pulp Fiction
Friday, September 19, 2003
I watched Pulp Fiction. It wasn't that good. At least the editing isn't doing a great job. And the story could be shorter. I can see that there are some movies like Urbania show some hints of the way they make it. But Urbania and one british film about gay marriage did a much better job in explaining the plot more explicitly. Put everything about the movie asides, the whole idea of poor people make huge hits in hollywood seems shady when people make their trashy lives into movies and consider them as arts. Some can be, but most aren't. At least this director isn't that great in organizing his materials together. If there is a better director, it could be a much better film, although i'm not a big fan of those materials.
The movie worth mention is Basquiat, which captured the life of Jean Mitchell Basquiat, a young graffiti artist in New York. It's real, touchy and artsy at the same time. Definitely a must see for people who are artsy themselves and care about art too.
Then Ethan Frome is another good film. I'm glad I watched it before I decided to return it. Liam Neeson was in it. Very tragic ending. The relationship between one man and two women make them deserted from the people in the village. But the true love and the genuine feelings those people share is so pure and rare in the society filled with corruption and filthy people. Another must see film. I'm surprised that people on IMDB didn't rate it very high.
When I do return the tape, the lady in Nashville library said it was a great film. But she thought it was so tragic and sad. Anyway, isn't that what life is about? The tragedies always bring the shining side of human being out. Bravo to that.
Scent of women
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Scent of Women by Al Pacino and Chris O'Donnell
I watched this movie the second time today. I remember the first time is long long time ago when I was a kid in my parents old house. I got more meaning out of the movie now then ever.
A person's true identity is hard to find. An asshole can also be the sweetest man in the world. A odd situation can turn around to be the most beautiful thing ever happened to your life. A person with integrity live a far more meaningful life for him and for everyone else.
I'm making the rip of this video now. It is a great treasure of what I have and it will always be.
" It's a great day for singing a song;
and it's a great day for moving along;
and it's a great day for morning and night;
and it's a great day for everybody's plight.
Beatle's film
Sunday, September 7, 2003
After spending the afternoon on computer categorizing the files and old stuff, I went food shopping. I felt so hungry when I got to Kroger and my stocmach was moaning. After I came back, I ate one Yogurt and suddenly felt uncomfort in my stomach. The dinner wasn't tasting good after all that. The whole night is a nightmare while I try to distract myself watching some movies. One is about Beatles called "One Hard Day's Night". It was a fantastic and unique film about the four beatles. It's great to know that four of them are quite good actors themselves.
Then I watched another movie called "Clerk", it's a so so movie, talking about how ordinary people find the meaning of their lives. Not too much fun.
Interestingly, both movies I watched tonight are black and white movies. Quite a coincidence.
