FILMS THAT CURE (or at least offer some relief): PART 1 OF MANY SEQUELS

A few things in life are recession-proof.
One of them is food, and for yours truly, another is “movies”.

I was hanging out with one of my dearest friends and she suggested that I write about films that inspire me.

So to ScarletRose, this one’s for you.

• AMELIE (directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet): when you need a dose
of joy, magic and mishief.


• MARATHON (directed by Yoon-Chul Jeong): when you
have too many excuses.

*thanks JC for giving me this movie

•THE TASTE OF TEA (directed by Katsuhito Ishii): ): when
your family's driving you crazy.


•WALL-E (directed by Andrew Stanton): when you crave
the perfect gentleman.


•THE KILLER (directed by John Woo): when forgiving yourself
is the hardest thing.


•LARS AND THE REAL GIRL (directed by Craig Gillespie): when
you want to know all about LOVE.


•MOULIN ROUGE! (directed by Baz Luhrmann): for tired eyes (and hearts). Special nod to Rei who is several notches more obsessed
than I am over this film.


•300 (directed by Zack Snyder): when you need to believe
against all odds. And if you happen to be a creative,
this will also take care of the rut.


•SEX AND THE CITY (any episode from the series. Ok technically not a movie, but the series was better): (for the girls) when you miss your friends and they are nowhere near you. Take at least 2 episodes, and feel sane again.


•SABRINA (directed by Billy Wilder; the one with Audrey and Humphrey): when you have become all about the overt–––time to see the subtext.


•LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE (directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang): for LIFE revisited.


•MEAN GIRLS (directed by Mark Waters; can be substituted with CLUELESS): sometimes you just need a guilty pleasure.


•CINEMA PARADISO (directed by Giuseppe Tornatore): when… heck,
you don’t really need a reason. The multi-vitamin of films, you should just watch it because it’s good for you. One of my top 5 favorite films
of all time, it also has my favorite theme song of all. I cry everytime.


•THE PROFESSIONAL (directed by Luc Besson): when you’re doubting your capacity to nurture someone else.


•ZORRO (directed by Rouben Mamoulian, the black and white with Tyrone Power): when you’ve been watching way too much UFC.


•THE PRESTIGE (directed by Christopher Nolan): when you are surrounded by idiots (at work or otherwise) and desperately need to believe in the intellect of mankind again.


•MAGNIFICO (directed by Maryo J. De Los Reyes): when you need to find your childlike faith. Special shout out to the writer of this film, Michiko Yamamoto, whom I had the pleasure of befriending in Manila,
thanks to Carissa.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CAUTION:
•TAKE WITH A SUPERSIZED SODA, BEER OR WINE FOR MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS.
•MAY CAUSE MICHAEL BAY FANS SOME DISORIENTATION, FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN ACUTE AWARENESS.
•CONTINUED INTAKE MAY LEAD TO DEPENDENCY AND TARDINESS AT WORK.

I Heart Saul Bass

A picture is worth a thousand words. And Saul Bass’ film posters and opening sequence designs have always managed to evoke the narrative of the movies he created them for. His body of work is the stuff of legendary images that have surrounded us for decades.


Growing up, I used to watch a lot of old films courtesy of the neighborhood video store, aptly called “Oldies But Goodies”. Of course at the time, I had no concept of bootlegging whatsoever and so at least once a week, in broad daylight I’d go there and check out home-dubbed VHS tapes (before this, I was also renting betamax tapes, but that’s another story).

I looked forward to these movies. When I say this I mean the whole experience of watching a movie. I wasn’t running to the bathroom when the opening sequence played, nor was I discarding popcorn kernels when the ending credits rolled. I would sit there absolutely riveted.


Saul Bass’ film posters were not only avant garde for his generation, but to this day, they still mesmerize me. Unlike mug shots of million dollar celebrities in the world of key art, they always had a key message instead. They had heart and soul.

Nowadays, while I judge these things with a trained creative’s eye, and sometimes admittedly with some pretentious snootiness, the young girl in me just really wants to be moved and amused, regardless of composition, color theory or hidden meanings.