jukebox playin'
superstar - jamelia
angels brought me here - guy sebastian
the way you look tonight - tony bennet
i'm waaaay behind on my readings; i'm still less than halfway through George Elliot's Silas Marner and only at chapter four (or was it chapter three??) of Edith Wharton's Age of Innocence... and i dont think i'll be catching up wif either one of these books anytime soon. there's still a pile of newspapers which i resolved to go through (at least to give a cursory glace at the week's headliners) but i havent started yet. So what the hell have i been doing???
well, i've juz finished downloading ninety percent of Jane Eyre: the musical (2000 broadway cast recording) and i must admit, it's pretty good stuff though not quite THat spectacular. Adapted from charlotte bronte's jane eyre (which is a splendid book by the way) by acclaimed playwright John Caird & composer-lyricist Paul Gordon, there are a number of memorable showtunes here that may rival even les miserables. it's such a pity that we dont get any of these kind of broadway shows here in singapore. :-(
i'm becoming quite a movie buff too. these are amongst the shows i've watched within these last few weeks;
The Rocky Horror ShowR(A) - 4/5 stars
This movie used to be banned in singapore but made its debut on halloween when it played at fort canning park. starring a still young & lissome susan sarandon and an equally virile tim curry, it's about the adventures of a young, geeky couple who chanced upon the mansion of a transvestite scientist. loosely based on the classic horror story 'Frankestein', it's so hilarious and campy, you'll be rollicking with laughter in seconds. and did i forget to mention that this movie is a musical???
The Secretary R(A) - 4/5 stars
maggie gyllenhaal received a golden globe nomination (she eventually lost to renee zellweger of chicago) for her magnificient performance as a meek secretary with a self-esteem so low she is often compelled to mutilate herself in times of depression. sharing a dominant-submissive role with her imperious employer (james spader turning in a wonderfully nuanced performance), she finally finds true-love and sense of self-worth by movie's end. SM lovers should enjoy this one~ LOL
Pulp Fiction R(A) - 4.2/5 stars
The movie that propelled director quentin tarantino to cult status while elevating its leads (samuel L. jackson, john travolta & uma thurman) to A-list status, Pulp Fiction is choke-full of witty (albeit vulgarity-ridden) dialogue & subtle throwbacks to the tarantino-penned movie, reservoir dogs. though i didnt watch the latter (supposed to be an excellent movie), i must admit that for a movie made on a relatively low budget of US$8 million, its a ultra-hip exhilarating ride from start to finish. travolta, thurman & jackson deliver formidable performances while the supporting cast (harvey keitel, bruce willis & christopher walken amongst others) was equally superb. being mostly about the shenanigans of two hitmen who constantly trade philosophical and satirical repartee, this show is nothing much to boast about plot-wise but it sure is a cinematic phenomenon that dazzles while it lasts.
Little Voice PG - 4/5 stars.
this movie is adapted from a play of the same name that is meant to showcase actress' Jane Horrocks' amazing vocal impressions of diva legends marilyn monroe, shirley bassey & judy garland (among others). Horrocks forms the centrepiece of the film as the mousey girl, LV, who shuts herself in from the outside world and her boisterous, domineering mother (played by the outstandingly crass Brenda Blethyn). Ewan mcgregor is charmingly cute as a shy, pigeon-loving telephone boy and michael caine delivers an oscar-nominated performance as a big-talking small time talent agent. this show's stellar cast and riveting soundtrack of golden oldies will never make me get sick of it even after repeated viewing... ;-)
Quoteworthy
"Don't you hate that?" - Mia.
"What?" - Vincent Vega.
"Uncomfortable silences... Why do we feel it's necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable?" - Mia.
"I don't know." - Vincent.
"That's when you know you've found somebody special. When you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably share silence." - Mia.
"I don't think we're there yet. But don't feel bad, we just met each other... " - Vincent.
---- excerpt from a scene between john travolta (vincent) and uma thurman (mia) in Pulp Fiction.
