CafféLatté Magazine's 5 Fantastic Movies and Soundtracks

We all love movies, and there are many to satisfy all types of movie lovers. Have you ever tried to read the credits after a movie? I do, just to see how much people are involved. Well you know the answer, a lot of folks. I estimate between 100 to 300 people are involved in making a single movie. I mean, there is the location, equipment, extras, makeup, set designers, special effects, engineers, carpenters, proof readers, blueprints, writers, etc. 

After I watch a movie, I always wonder what you would you do if you worked on a movie and your name is one of many in the small fonts coming to the end of the credits? My favorite part of a movie is when it is mentioned that, "No animals were harmed in the making of this movie". Or, "The events depicted in this movie are fictitious. Any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental." I decided to find out why this is said, because the Na'vi does not exist, and I can't remotely imagine some bloke going after the makers of Avatar claiming that one the Na'vi characters looks like his mother. 

And then there are the stylists. For instance, in Black Swan, instead of Natalie Portman's stylist, it is "Stylist to Ms. Portman", and then the person's name. I am sorry I did not get that info. So, the credits are just as important as the movie. What is really cool about movies are the Extras/ non-speaking part. It's not really glamorous, given the fact that the pay is not so great. Extra gigs average about $64.00 (USD) per day. And that is a non-union payment. Its like working at a fast-food restaurant. They don't pay you like you are important, but you are. Now, I am not daft, but I am surprised that unions hold so much power. I thought that unions here in Trinidad are so petty, like protesting for 9% more and pounding in the hot sun and rain for it. I mean if you must protest for an increase it has to be for something substantial, like, eradicating racism, like civil rights, or justice, or utilities, or even a 50% wage increase? Anyway, who really benefits from these protests? Sometimes the protestors get fired after everything cools down. Without further ado, CafféLatté Magazine's 5 Fantastic Movies and Soundtracks.

AVATAR

Director: James Cameron

Producer: Jon Landau

Writer: James Cameron

Theme Song: I See You

Song Writer(s): James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell 

Song Composer(s): James Horner, Simon Franglen

Singer: Lenoa Lewis

You know there are some songs that no one else should sing, let alone karaoke, this is one of them. Considering this video is a karaoke version, it has cancelled my previous sentence. Leona Lewis has a beautiful voice and her feeling and power in this song cannot be copied.

TITANIC

Director: James Cameron

Producer: James Cameron, Jon Landau

Writer: James Cameron

Theme Song: My Heart Will Go On

Song Writer(s): James Horner (music), Simon Franglen, James Horner and Walter Afanasief(production), Will Jennings (lyrics),  

Song Composer(s): James Horner, Will Jennings

Singer: Celine Dion

Best person to sing this song is Celine Dion. No contest.

THE LION KING

Director(s): Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers

Producer: Don Hahn

Writer(s): Jonathan Roberts, Irene Mecchi

Theme Song: Circle of Life/ Can You Feel The Love Tonight

Song Writer(s): Elton John/ Tim Rice

Song Composer(s): Elton John, Tim Rice

Singer(s): Carmen Twillie, Lebohang "Lebo M." Morake, Elton John, London Community Gospel Choir

I had to put this here, the whole soundtrack is fantastically written.

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON

Director(s): James Schamus, Wang Hui Ling

Producer: Ang Lee, Hsu Li Kong, William Kong

Writer(s): Hui-Ling wang, Du Lu Wang

Theme Song: A Love Before Time

Song Writer(s): James Schamus, Elaine Chow

Song Composer(s): Jorge Calandrelli, Tan Dun, Yo-Yo Ma

Singer(s): Coco Lee 

When I first watched this movie, I was irritated with the bamboo flying scene, it was just too much, but it all added to the masterpiece of the movie. Where is Zhang Ziyi now? And Chow Yun-Fat?

THE GODFATHER

Director(s): Francis Ford Coppola

Producer: Albert S. Ruddy/(Robert Evans)

Writer(s): Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola

Theme Song: Speak Softly love

Song Writer(s): Larry Kusik

Song Composer(s): Nino Rota

Singer(s): Original singer Al Martino

The thing about "Il Padrino", is that there are some versions of the original soundtrack, that is so Sicilian that you can never tear yourself away from it. Its like you can taste taste the cannoli, and the olive oil and even the murder. It is really a piece of art, no, it is possibly the best movie soundtrack I have ever heard. Seriously, it makes you forget all the murder that you saw in the movie. In addition, it actually puts a classy spin on gang violence…way different than rap music.

BONUS

BICENTENNIAL MAN

Director(s): Chris Columbus

Producer(s): Chris Columbus, Gail Katz, Michael Barnathan, Neal Miller, Laurence Mark

Writer(s): Isaac Asimov, Nicholas Kazan, Robert Silverberg

Theme Song: Then You Look At Me

Song Writer(s): James Horner

Song Composer(s): James Horner

Singer(s): Celine Dion

Robin Williams as a robot. I liked that he can only do hilarious talk antics, and not physical antics. Well written movie.

 p.s: Do not be so dumb to think I am claiming copyright for these movies.

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

The Help

"You is smart…"

I am not a sucker for movies that feature even a spot of racism. It is sometimes too much to bear, especially when you feel it has hit too close to home, that it pierces your heart, because you are being discriminated for something you cannot change…YOU.

Initially, I refused to see The Help, because I thought "meh, another movie featuring 'mammies' who do you-know-what, trying to start trouble in a modern world where, racism has reared its ugly head even higher." The name-calling for one will not stop.  All you have to do is read the comments in some on-line articles: monkey, watermelon, fried-chicken, angry black woman… it just goes on and on… So this movie, I won't even hear of it, or pay my money to see it…

I was wrong.

I love it. 

It was funny, intelligent, tactful, brave, and it opened your eyes to what African-American people, particularly the women, what they had to go through. My sis was convinced it was fictional, this is debatable for me. It seemed too good to be so real! The actresses Viola Davis, plays the 'main help,' who has to face the injustice done to her son as he dies on her couch in the living room, as well as taking care of little white kids, and caring for them, trying to be 'professional,' a mother-for-hire, to them. Octavia Spencer plays a 'sassy-mouth help' who has some really marvelous experiences, one of which causes a scandal… or almost. Bryce Dallas Howard is really brave to take on the role as a beautiful racist, who lies to manipulate the suburban wives in her town, and succeeds, sometimes. 

There were some parts of the movie that made me cry. The story of Constantine Jefferson, expertly played by the classy Cicely Tyson, was heartbreakingly rendered. It is one of the most,  heart-squeezing moment. And, the recanting of the story of Aibileen Clark's (Viola Davis) son. And when Aibileen, was fired from her last job, I felt like I was witnessing my mother, something about that made me think of my mom for some reason, and I burst into more tears. The most hilarious, is Minni Jackson's (Octavia Spencer) chocolate pie incident. As well as her reaction on seeing  Celia Foote's (Jessica Chastain) hubby, offering to assist her.

Emma Stone played the budding journalist, Skeeter Phelan, who finally gains a jerk boy friend, and loses him again, due to the book. I almost did not recognize her, it was a great role for her, but she still seemed a bit fake, as though I could see that she was acting. And I found that, I should not see it.

Movie was directed by Tate Taylor and written by Kathryn Stockett.

9 stars out of 10. (You made my cry, twice)

P.S. the inclusion of Medgar Evers was well done, although, he is almost forgotten since I really don't know much about him, but I was familiar with his name, and I don't know why. i will look him up.

And congrats to Ms. Davis and Ms. Spencer, you both deserved those awards!!

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

The Blind Side with tears of joy

Let me say that I am so happy about Sandra Bullock winning that Oscar, and to think she beat Meryl Streep in Julie and Julia. Sandra did a fantastic job! The guy who played Michael Oher was adorable, his name is Quinton Aaron, and his smile was infectious.

I think that we need to see more movies like this (The Blind Side), where people start from the bottom and rise to the top, because they are very encouraging. Now I don't expect you to start moping around for some rich white lady to scoop you up into her BMW, and her mansion. This movie tells us that things do get better with time. Sometimes, it feels like you are going down a hill that leads to a large a large hole at the base, but you do not know what is in that hole. Mabye, there is a trampoline in the hole, so you bounce out before further damage could be done. Or, there is a net to catch you. Or there is a monster... anyway, the thing is that you do not want to fall into the hole, so you start looking for ways to avoid falling into the hole by grabbing at anything stable to hold your weight.

In the movie, Michael Oher is heading into the hole, but before he goes, sadly, into it, Mrs. Leigh Ann Tuohy, reaches out her hand and catches Michael, taking him into her home and her heart, making him a very productive person to society, and the NFL. Of course, there is her family who goes along with her, since she is the mother, and a strong one at that. And guess what, he is black and she is white, I know I will get sassed for admitting this. I have read instances where people said that if you adopt a child it should be of the same race, and couples who decided to broaden their vision by adopting a child of a different race are pressured to 'give' up that child, to take an 'acceptable' one. Not Mrs. T. She was willing to lose her friends, and get an $80 salad at a restaurant near her home, than give up Michael. Despite his race, she loved him, even visiting his mother in the projects to tell her that she is willing to care for him. A wonderful movie, that I will watch again before I go to bed.

The Blind Side was directed by John Lee Hancock, and written by Michael Lewis. I give it 5 stars and Rate it G.