Life in a Day (2011)
by Kevin Macdonald
The World

I still remember when YouTube, together with Ridley Scott, announced that they wanted people to capture their lives on the 24th of July, 2010 to become a part of the first-ever crowd-sourced movie of YouTube. 3500 hours were uploaded and this movie somehow successfully managed to touch every aspect of life.

Have I ever told you that this is my top favorite movie genre? Slice of life. And this is probably the best one I have ever seen. From the most mundane things to the most significant, most moving, uplifting, shocking, heart-breaking and heart string-pulling events that we all go through with our lives. It’s all in here. No matter how random it may seem, it just works. It’s life.

The movie was wonderfully edited accompanied with a great score, some coming from the submitted videos themselves. I love how the music ushers the viewer to all of the randomness and vastness of the people included in the movie. I just love it. Made me wonder, as this self-proclaimed score connoisseur, what is the score of my life? I’m thinking horns and a cello. I don’t know. ;)

And just the fact that submission was open to the whole world, aren’t you even intrigued if we (Pinoy) were part of this masterpiece? Of course, I won’t tell.

This is definitely one of the must-see for 2011. And the best thing is that you can watch it for free on YouTube.

Insidious (2010)
by James Wan
Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne

This one will surely scare you. I was even surprised that I was genuinely scared out of my wits, goosebumps from my neck, shoulders, arms and down to my legs.

Fantastic overall color of the movie – dull dark grayish blue tint makes some of the colors pop right out of the screen, especially red. Great performances from Wilson and Byrne. And I like Wan’s use of a really wide lens to show more of the house on most of the scenes. Makes your eyes wonder at times, looking for the next fright. Score was nice, it added that insidious eerie atmosphere but was not overused like with most of the horror movies today. It has that old school vibe in it from classics like the Poltergeist. The best parts are the jump-right-out of the seat scenes were there was no loud horrifying sounds to shock you. Fear is from what you see, and not from what you suddenly hear (cheap frights). And that cheery Tiptoe Through The Tulips song, not cheery anymore. I love that touch in the movie.

But then, the second half happens. Yep, and 2/3 in, it really went downhill. Cheesy and predictable. The lousy second act was overshadowed by the fantastic build up in the beginning of the movie. Too bad, but it is still worth a watch.

This movie is hauntingly scary and will keep you on your toes especially when you are alone at night, in the dark. This is what nightmares are made of.

Tiptoe by the window
By the window, that is where I’ll be
Come tiptoe through the tulips with me

Sweet dreams ;)

Hanna (2011)
by Joe Wright
Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett

I’ve been waiting for this movie ever since I found out Joe Wright and Saoirse Ronan were attached to it. And when the trailer went out, got a little obsessed and anxious with it. LOL. Wright is the director who made my all-time favorite period love story, Pride and Prejudice, and that annoyingly perfect (which is a good thing) Atonement where Ronan also starred on it. I am a huge fan of her ever since her performance on it as the one that caused it all. She’s one of those characters you would love to hate. I think it was safe to assume with all of those mentioned, I will love this movie. And surely, I freaking did.

First, beautifully enchanting cinematography. From the shot on the frozen woods, the light behind Ronan’s hair, on the desert and the in Berlin. Just amazing. Second is Ronan’s pitch perfect performance together with the arbitrarily complementary score by the Chemical Brothers. Electro-slash-fairytale-at-times seems to be the right description. It’s one of the best scores this year so far.

Ronan just keeps getting better and better. She was like an innocent yet brutal machine that’s so swift and light on her feet. Those inquisitive eyes and that ethereal glow on her will just hook you right from the start. And that short scene with a plane, wow. That stood out to me, it was such a precious moment. I’ll surely be looking forward on anything with her on it.

On to Mr Wright. He already mastered period dramas, and this one just adds his thriller action movie belt firmly in place. It was fast, engaging, unique and awkwardly random but it freaking works especially with the track.

And add Cate Blanchett’s stern performance to all of it, it’s just perfect.

Overall, the best film on 2011 so far. And don’t go to the official movie site if you haven’t watched the movie yet, I label that site “OMFGSoManySPOILERz”. You were warned. But it’s a great site nonetheless.

X-Men: First Class (2011)
by Matthew Vaughn
James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender

This movie seems like a reboot of the franchise, should have been the first. Time-centric (1960′s) rather than comics-based I suppose. A few discrepancies when compared to other X-Men flicks (even with that crappy Wolverine movie) but it is still really good. Best parts on the movie are when McAvoy and/or Fassbender is/are on-screen, fantastic performances from both of them.

I could forgive Havoc and that hip-action but January Jones ruined it for me. Not even as an eye-candy, she can’t act at all. I think this is the first time I saw her, I don’t watch Mad Men, was looking into it before, and now have no plans to watch it whatsoever. We all know why she was hired I suppose, and it’s not because of her “acting” skills.

Great plot, effects were fantastic, sound and score were good. Special props to what they did on Sebastian Shaw, the vibrating absorbing effects were amazing. I really hope they make sequels from this movie, it is a great storyline to explore.

And lastly, speaking of eye candy, hello Angel Salvadore.

We Are What We Are (Somos lo que hay) (2010)
by Jorge Michel Grau
Adrián Aguirre, Miriam Balderas, Francisco Barreiro and Alan Chávez

Tagline says ‘Does for cannibals what Let The Right One In did for vampires’ and it did not disappoint.

Let me start with the best thing in this movie from Mexico: the music by Enrico Chapela. I couldn’t help but wallow on the rawness of the cello and violins; it’s just mind-blowing. Sometimes riddled with percussion that adds tension and urgency to the wailing strings. The song on the metro was really beautiful, and there was this one scene with the family sitting on the family room surrounded with dozens of clocks, ticking at their own phase, overlapping one another, produced a chaotic music that just swallowed the entire room of urgency. And the credits… I could just go on but I’ll stop here.

Fantastic cinematography overall. Great performances from the cast with a special nod to the daughter. If eyes could ‘eat’ someone alive, it’s her eyes. Those damn predatory eyes. It has a really solid plot. It may be brutal and striking but the movie beats a heart of close family relationship and empowerment. I just can’t say any wrong thing about this movie. I really enjoyed it.

And without giving anything out, ending is worth seeing the whole movie.

*queue cellos

Confessions (Kokuhaku) (2010)
by Tetsuya Nakashima
Takako Matsu

It is always a treat to watch a great plan unfold right in front of your eyes and this movie did just that. Harshly vivid, well directed, well lit and fantastic performances from all the cast. Forgettable score but apt as it accompanies the entire movie. A little over indulgent on the slow motion scenes but still a fantastic cruel vigilante movie nonetheless.

I Saw the Devil (Akmareul boatda) (2010)
by Jee-woon Kim
Byung-hun Lee, Min-sik Choi (from Oldboy)

About a man who lost his fiancée to a serial killer and his goal to maim hell and give the devil a piece of his mind and everything else he could grasp his hands on.

This is the most violent film I have ever seen, ever. It’s gut-wrenching, unrelenting and on the verge of unwatchable. I couldn’t even stop from reacting aloud on some of the scenes. It’s one of those things when you are in too deep on it and you just have to let it out. I dare anyone not to squint while watching this.

Story may be long but it’s good. Cinematography was superb and the score kept the movie’s heart pumping. It is just a disturbing yet strangely satisfying treat for all your senses.

The Man from Nowhere (Ajeossi) (2010)
by Jeong-beom Lee
Bin Won, Sae-ron Kim

A stranger’s past comes crawling back to his life as he go to any measure just to save his friend that got caught in the middle of an illegal drug and organ trafficking trade.

Simply put, this is the Korean version of Denzel Washington’s The Man on Fire and Liam Neeson’s Taken combined. But still, a well-made, beautifully shot with superbly choreographed fight scenes action movie to enjoy.

On a site note:  Park Chan-wook’s The Vengeance Trilogy is on the same alley as these movies above. See Oldboy first if you haven’t, it’s the best one.

PS: Trailers are on the official sites linked on this post.