p.s. I love you (2007 USA) Review

Director:Richard LaGravenese
Stars: Hilary Swank Gerald Butler Lisa Kudrow Kathy Bates

It was romantic, it was touching, it had the most beautiful scenery and lovely costumes, and it had very good cast: Gerald Butler has gorgeous, handsome face, fit body and super charming smile; Hilary Swank is stylish, always well dressed even though she doesn't have jobs sometimes; Lisa Kudrow is still having Phoebe Buffay's funny crazy things going on which confuses us from time to time if we are watching friends--I actually do like it. Kathy Bates always came up with worldly wise word as mental summarize of the movies. And Harry Connick Jr. play dumb and super smart at the same time which I don't believe him--ignore me please, I don't believe lots of stuffs.

In the beginning, H.Swank and G. Butler were fighting ugly like they hated each other, suddenly they were in a deep deep love as we didn't have any clue where it was from. GB was dead from cancer later and HS started to live alive in the hell. Suddenly she got her 30's present from her dead husband to tell her how to do with her life. Since then she got Butler's letters from time to time so that Butler's pretty smile showed up on the screen constantly. Everyone tried to help under the guide of a dead man. So far it got tears, screaming, lingering ghost, lost spirit, desperate life, restless friends, dreadful admirer, inappropriate jokes, ghost childhood buddy which may be another ghost, serene green land around Ireland mountain where hiding lots of scary things behind; it is scary horror movie, isn't it? In the end, everything seemed worked out in a tacky Hollywood style: Butler's ghost has gone, Swank found herself again much better than before, her mum Kathy Bates settled her issues from her failed marriage, Phoebe got marry and stopped asking cute guys 3 classic questions(see below about it), Harry Connick recovered from years unsuccessful life (he was so smart that I couldn't tell why he failed in everything)... You never know.

n a summary, better than last year idiotic Christmas movie The Holiday, still it is pretty much a horror movie--it got the horror movie basic elements: terrible life, predictable scary plots, intense nerves, you know what is going to happen next, but you couldn't help stopping watching; things happen without ordinary logic; it tried to make you believe something good exist in the world-- purified, selfless, endless, unchangeable, faithful, mad true love without any conditions. 2 hours movies, people keep asking, what the hell is going on??? By the way, the music is as vulgar as Hilary Swank's karaoke performance; lots of bar singing seem to try to make movie longer.

Maybe beautiful love does exist in the world, (???) but it definitely looks like that. I want to see that and I want to believe it, this movie didn't convince me and make me so scary that I may never see it in my life.

Fun stuff in the movie:

Denise Hennessey: Are you single?

Guy with Clipboard: Yes.

Denise Hennessey: Are you gay?

Guy with Clipboard: Yes.

[Denise walks away]

Denise Hennessey: [a few frames later] Are you single?

Ted: Yes.

Denise Hennessey: Are you gay?

Ted: No.

Denise Hennessey: Are you working?

Ted: No.

[she walks away]

Denise Hennessey: [a few frames later] Are you single?
Sam: Yes.
Denise Hennessey: Are you gay?
Sam: No.
Denise Hennessey: Are you working?
Sam: Yes.
[she Kissed him for a while, ]

Denise Hennessey: ah, No!

[she walks away]

Familia (2005, Canada, Language in French) review

Michele, a divorced aerobics instructor with a gambling addiction, loses her job and seeks refuge with a childhood friend, Janine, who lives in a seemingly comfortable middle-class suburban neighborhood. Michele's rebellious teenage daughter, Marguerite, and Janine's shy and reserved daughter, Gabrielle, become friends, leading to unforeseen tensions that force both generations to reassess their values.
This Canadian Movie was mainly focus on the relationship between mothers and daughters, as well involved with friendship and couple relationship. 2 completely different mothers: Michele is troublesome and irresponsible, and Janine is control-free, well establishing, and betrayed by her beloved husband. Their teenage daughters are apparently in different characters: Margot with troublesome mum is rebellious, fun, attractive and sexually getting mature; Gaby obviously is typical good family girl with potential to become rebellious and curious about another part of the world she never participates. 4 Ladies came together, the story has begun: some friendship got started, some friendship got questioned. Troubled mum and rebellious girl are more like friends to each other, which made another tough mum and her little obedient lady realized that tension between each other. The climax was so dramatic: Margot got pregnant even without knowing; Michele lost Janine's DC and client's cash in gambling; Janine found out her beloved husband has another woman, another baby and another family which he always used business trip to cover up, also found her pure and innocent girl started the interest in sexual stuff which she thought it is dirty for her--perhaps she was still humiliated on the rejection of phone sex by her husband; Gaby found a boyfriend, also found her mum spying on her. Finally Michele and Margot left Janine's house and got nowhere to go. Janine hit the bottom of the rock and decide to change herself. In the end, Janine unveiled everything to everyone; Michele got job and decided to change herself; Gaby went to Margot to give her support on her own will and they became close friends.
when I saw 2 young girls hugging each other, i knew why Michele and Janine were close friends before, and i can foresee after 20 years later what all the 4 ladies will be like.

This whole movie is talking something really heavy, parents' problems could be shadow of the kids lives for long time. But cinematography is so bright and colorful with artistic angle and beautiful composition, every picture is trying to tell you, whatever happens, there is always sunshine being with you. One of the few scenes at night is: 2 girls were back from party at 4 am, drunk and laughing, warbling in the middle of the street. The background is the magnificent city view with skyscrapers, cars and night sky. what can you blame them? They are young, they are fabulous, they are fearless and the world could be theirs. Just let them enjoy their simple life before they get everything including trouble.

The music is another highlight of the movie for me: i don't know what language he is singing, possibly is French. But it is exotic, relaxing, and kind of say: don't worry, be happy, and God is with you.

Familia (2005, Canada, Language in French) Photos

From now

I am opening a window in my world. Through it, I can see my past from the future and see my future from now.

Journey has already started as my life has started. Wherever I go, there are always good musics, wonderful movies and beautiful art along the way. They are like mirrors of the lives telling me what I look like and what the world is like.