Tag Archives: Ryan Gosling

Gangster Squad – Pretty Gruesome, But Funny Too

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I watched this for Emma Stone

Cynthia and I at times can be pretty business-like with each other, when it comes to movie outing.  After crawling through the usual Orchard Saturday traffic – which TK and us always forget and regret not watching a movie on a Sunday instead – at the basement car park lift lobby, I turned to Cynthia and asked, “Give me run through of what we are going to watch, would you?”

Her immediate response was, “No idea.  You like the girl and I like the guy.  That’s about it.”

True.  She picked Gangster Squad because of Ryan Gosling.  And I Emma Stone.  TK too insisted that he wouldn’t want to give this a miss because of Emma Stone.

I did not know what to expect.  This film is inspired by a true story set in the ’40s and ’50s.  LA was run by gangsters, many police officers were bribed, and the residents seemed cool with it.  It was a way of life until Sergeant John O’Mara (played by Josh Brolin) came into the picture.  As a WWII veteran and a war hero, he has no plan to yield to the gangster boss Mickey Cohen played by Sean Penn.  Unable to strike the gang as a police officer, John – secretly supported by the Chief – recruited a squad to deal with the gang.  The approach was controversial and the results could at times be hilarious.  Mickey Cohen was ruthless.  You have got to have a strong stomach for the crime he did against others.

Gangster Squad feels authentic, as though I was transported back in time.  Those hairstyles, and costumes.  Cynthia and I cracked every time when John took out a gigantic wireless phone radio (edit: Thanks to TK for the correction).  Sean Penn has acted exceptionally well in this movie.  There were moments when he appeared as spaced out, and uninterested; there were moments when he was as sharp as a fighter, so full of energy – verbally and physically.  Josh Brolin is perfect for the role, as an honest and no-nonsense officer.  Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are charming, despite having a rather small role in Gangster Squad.

For some strange reasons, this film reminds me of Al Pacino’s 1983 film Scarface.  Sean Penn and Emma Stone would be a good fit for Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer’s roles.  One particular line struck me as quite quote worthy:

To lose everything and win the war, that is a hero.  To lose everything but lose the war, that’s a fool.

Drive – Memorable Story, Great Soundtrack

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OK.  Yet another Gosling movie.  This one is good.  Much darker than I have expected.  It is an artistic movie that captivates.  In this movie, Gosling drives cars and works in a garage.  He seldom talks.  In fact, a good chunk of the movie contains no dialogues.  As an audience, in most part, I would hold tight onto the arms of the chair (or rather one hand holding onto Cynthia’s), hold my breath, and eagerly await for what is to come.

Carey Mulligan has left a good impression in “An Education“.  And I was looking forward to seeing how she acts in “Drive”.  Is there a chemistry between Mulligan and Gosling?  There certainly is.  And I enjoy the subtle build up between a man with no past and a married woman with baggage from the past.  What makes Gosling a good driver (in the movie of course) is his fearlessness and his precision in timing.  The filmmakers manage to bring out this essence of his and apply to the remaining plot.

There is a fair amount of blood and gore in this film.  Be warned.  I begin to see that Gosling – besides looking quite good – can be quite a good actor.  I seldom give credits to movie soundtrack.  From the first song to the last, the music has wrapped the entire film in such darkness.  It gives a vintage and classic feel to “Drive”.  Two thumbs up.

This pretty much concludes how we celebrated 11.11.11.  I cannot recall what I was doing at 11.11 pm.  I could well be answering a work-related overseas call from US.  What about you?  What did you do on 11.11.11 11.11?

The Ides of March – Politics, And More Politics

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When we told our friends that we have watched “The Ides of March” on November fifth, the most common response would be, “The what?”.  Ides!  Then we added, “That Clooney show”.  Or I think we should have said, “That Gosling show”.  Gosling is involved in quite a few films these days.  He must be one of the hottest actors in Hollywood now.

Ides means the middle of a particular month in the Roman calendar.  Or more specifically, the fifteenth day of March, May, July, or October, and the thirteenth day of the other months.  I am not that into US politics.  I doubt the film title has anything to do with March fifteenth.  I would say that this title may refer to the date whereby Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times by fellow politicians in 44 B.C and died.  But who is Julius Caesar in this movie?  I can’t tell.  Perhaps, the filmmakers just wish to associate this film with the brutality of politics.

Gosling plays the campaign manager for Clooney.  While the film is directed and scripted by Clooney, Gosling is the main actor.  I am not that into politics, especially politics that is outside my country.  But I gather from the story that there is no clean politics.  The path to the dark side could well be triggered by a single simple mistake.  Overall, it is a pleasant film to watch.  It was a pity that our buddy TK was not feeling well and had to leave early.  Cynthia and I ended up celebrating our wedding anniversary at Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant at 313 @ Somerset.

Shock band founder Marilyn Mansion‘s ex-fiancée Evan Rachel Wood is one of the actresses in “The Ides of March”.  Personally, I am happy to finally see her on a big screen.  She gives hope to weirdos and less than handsome men around the world that some gorgeous girls do look pass these attributes.  Not every one is as good looking at Nate Archibald if you know what I mean.  I certainly am not.  If you are interested to see how Wood looked like when she was 20, you can check out this music video with her and her then-boyfriend Marilyn Mansion.  Warning: lots of blood and gore.

Crazy, Stupid, Love – Finding Your Manhood

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Cynthia was pretty hyped up about “Crazy, Stupid, Love”.  TK went along with the romance comedy wagon.  I am a huge fan of romance comedy films.  Except, I think, “Crazy, Stupid, Love” is more like a drama of romance than a comedy.  Most bits are rather real, rather sad.  The 40-year-old virgin (now close to 50) Steve’s wife Julianne wants a divorce because she has an affair with someone at work.  Meanwhile, his 13 years old son is having a crush with his babysitter.  The babysitter in turn has a crash on an older man.  In a bar, Steve meets Ryan Gosling – a womanizer who has a look and a body to die for.  No wonder Cynthia loves this movie so much!  In return, Cynthia gives me Emma Stone, which in my opinion, I am not sure why millions of viewers are falling on their kneels over her.  OK, she is quite seductive.  Kind of cute.  Not quite my type.  In this movie, she loves someone who is not ready to settle down.  Out of nowhere, we have a crazy teacher played by Marisa Tomei whom I wish she could find a better role for her age.  In my heart, Tomei is forever frozen and immortalized in “Untamed Heart (1993)”.  It is one of my favorite movies that I wish to remember her of.

“Crazy, Stupid, Love” is light and entertaining.  It mashes the love stories of all these goodhearted people into one.  If there is one take home message, it is about the importance of finding and holding onto your manhood no matter how old you are.