Scarface & Donnie Brasco

It's mob-movie weekend again ! This time, I managed to check out Scarface(1983), and Donnie Brasco (1997). Guess what. Al Pacino starred in both films, although in very differing roles.

Scarface


Scarface's about this fella Tony Montana who fled from Cuba to Miami, dreamed the American Dream, set up his drug empire, but ultimately lost himself to the drugs and a girl. Typically, there aint no good ending for mafia films (cos come on if there's one, it's too encouraging, right?) Al Pacino, a decade after his marvellous 5-star Don Corleone performance in the Godfather Trilogy, puts in another stellar performance as Montana. I mean, seriously, are you sure this guy is an American? He can totally speak like an Italian. And he's totally cut out for mafia movies, perhaps only matched by Robert De Niro. And maybe Marlon Brando in the original Godfather. Acting, dialogue, this guy really gets into every damn character he acts. So the story's no big deal, but it's a darn good show of how a guy made it from rags to riches and then degenerate to his death (as compared to Godfather, Al Pacino as a war hero turn mafia boss turn losing his family). And besides, Michelle Pfeifer is hot in this one, la. woot.. And there's this famous little quote. heh

Al Pacino (Tony Montana): Say hello to my little friend!

Whips out his big ass ........ machine gun and starts mowing everyone down

hurhur.




Donnie Brasco

Al Pacino, in a really weird role reversal, acted as a totally incompetent wiseguy in this show. Basically, Johnny Depp was Donnie Brasco, an undercover cop who made his way up the mafia ranks by getting in through Lefty (Al Pacino). I mean, after all that great acting by Al Pacino as mafia head no less in all his shows, now he's just a small-time wiseguy. And he isn't particularly smart to figure out that Brasco was undercover, even though I would think it's rather obvious. Hello, Lefty has got 20 yrs of mafia experience and he couldn't sniff a copper next to him?

But the show's good when it strikes you on the contrasts of both characters. Lefty's a small time wiseguy, always looking out for his bosses but never gets much recognition. He loves his own family more dearly than the mafia family, and is a strict follower of the mob 'rules'. Whereas Brasco is a cop who got himself too immersed into the mob, even rising up faster than Lefty himself (with the FBI's help no less), but at the same time neglecting his wife and kids. In the end Brasco was so sympathetic with Lefty that he wanted to help Lefty get away, for Lefty has always been on the lookout for Brasco. Quite a good story I would say.

Memorable quote, had me in stitches.

Johnny Depp (D. Brasco): You think I'm a rat...?
Al Pacino (Lefty): How many times have I had you in my house? If you're a rat, then I'm the biggest mutt in the history of the Mafia.

hehehe, biggest mutt indeed.

Mob movies to date: Godfather I, Godfather II, Godfather III, Goodfellas, Scarface, The Usual suspects, Casino, Donnie Brasco, Pulp Fiction.

Next up? Carlito's Way? The Untouchables? (starring ..... Al Pacino and Robert De Niro again !)

Song of the moment: Plug in Baby - Muse

my song of the moment. Rock on!

Baa Baa Black Sheep

What a shag week!
Today's the only weeknight that I'll be home this week heh.

Anyways, was back in hall on tues n wed to chup in the KR Rockers auditions ... Heh I still remember the time when I was year 1 with all the laojiaos packing the couch and staring down at, watching what you were playing. I think I played master of puppets then, and then there was the long interview. Of cos I didn't know much as I had just come into KR so I dunno what else to join, Rockers was obviously my foremost option.

Anyways, sitting on the couch's pretty different. This time I get to play critic! hurhur. Quite mean to keep judging people, or just simply indulge in some fun watching the pple perform under stress. not easy ok! Hmm, tho I must say this year there wasn't any eye-opener, perhaps save the male singer with a natural vibrato whom I forgot his name, and this exchange student from Quebec, Lee, who happened to be Colin Monk's best friend! What coincidence. Anyways he has many similar musical tastes as me, plays a meaner guitar than me, and is a nice chap to hang out with. A pity he's only around for a year.

Suppers with the fellas till 4am, wake up at 7, make me damn shag for work next day. Cannot keep my eyes open. Heng I found a place called the Library, haha, where I spend a decent part of my lunch break at.

watched SG Idol on wed night, the performance night. I heard that Nurul is out. Ok, so there's a lot of scandal about Joakim these days, but I do pity that fella. I mean, he chose a karaoke favourite, Xiao Wei(which probly no one can go wrong because it isn't hard to sing it, really), and a Gurmit Singh song, which isn't a very well known song, not at least for a competition like this. BUT he still stayed on. I mean, perhaps he should attempt Baa Baa Black Sheep next week and sees if he still stays.

Look, this guy has endured lotsa shit, and he doesn't deserve it la. He is a bad singer and he knows it , and he's just staying on cos he has a battalion of fans in reserve to pump his votes up. So what's really wrong with the show?

1. Scandalous show turns pple, and voters, off. When viewers see whats going on with the show, they get disillusioned with the whole thing and just don't vote anymore.

2. Little talent to keep viewers engaged, to make viewers want to vote

3. 60cents per vote is daylight robbery. American Idol voting is toll free. Rockstar Supernova voting is via internet, ie free. It's like "hey i'm pitching for the singer, and have to sponsor him staying on the show."

I think its really all 3 reasons. Hopefully the producers one day will realise, that they shouldn't market the show to be a money earner, but instead find the next singing talent in Singapore and market him/her to earn for the station. And by being scandal free, attract more viewers. more views = more ad $. But will the pple in power suits have the balls to make the change? Hell, no. Why change something that, economically ain't broken. Well, marketing the new Idol is Ken's problem, not theirs.

food for thought, eh?

Clubbed on thurs night, Momo for UK Bound bash, saw Ross's band perform. Good on ya mate. Didn't stay long after, went over to MOS for the 1st time with peh, chazz, cc and zx. Big place, good crowd (my age la, cos Arts Bash), cheap tix ($16 w hair dye leh). Drinks are ex though... was high for moments. Really needed to club to let loose myself, especially after a heated argument with a friend of mine the night before. But it's ok now already. nubbad la mos.

Went geylang later, for tohua youtiao... another 4am night. Today go work super shag, but relax mood cos its Fridays. TGIF man.

ok gotta catch some sleep now.

this is funny

KR Rag performance @ PS

well well. weekend's here.

Morning sent my parents off to harbourfront for their trip to Batam. this means car for weekend heh. Anyways my mum n dad dropped a bomb on me. The past week I've been planning with jingpeng to go genting during the 1st Sept weekend. Then my mum tells me this morning, she wants me to go Hongkong with her, some business trip. same weekend! I won't mind normally la but I told her I was goin genting already. Guess what. My dad's goin genting that same weekend with his colleagues!!!!! And since he booked le he can't change date. like wtf, I go on hols still will see my dad. haha. Anyways theres a bit of pressure on me to go HK now. Sigh. Hope it resolves in the next few days. Any choice I make, also pain.

Afternoon, picked up Eugene Ong and we went to Plaza Sing to watch KR Rag perform in public. Well, that's a good step for Rag la. I mean, the original intention was to thank the public for donations for flag right. It's been a real tough mean inter-hall, inter-fac rivalry the past few years, without really much of the public coming down to SRC on Rag day to appreciate the beautiful floats. So this year, they took the winning one, down to Atrium@Orchard on showcase =) And I almost missed the show due to a horrendous driving blooper haha.

Amazing la. What else can I say. The choo-choo train was so detailed, I'm really impressed. I must say this award is really the culmination of this yr's rag and the years past as well. Even though winning 7/9 is rather excessive as conceded by some raggers themselves, I'm sure everyone in KR agrees we were quite obviously a cut above the rest.

Pics pics pics

The Train. Wonderful la.




















Frontal shot, use the pple as a scale. =)





















Some of the b-blockers who went! (comes with a twin from C blk. hah)





















Rockers rocking the train





















Me and my fav nb Seeyong. still cant smile eh hurhur




And I did something so stupid. I filmed the dance sequence, about 5 mins total which drained my memory stick. So, wanting to save some mem for the pics, I deleted some old pics on the stick. And I accidentally deleted the video itself. Damn. damn. How noob is that.

UPDATE : Someone uploaded the SRC performance on youtube. Here it is




Oh wells. Picked up a shirt later, had a drink n chat with some old friends before going home. Gonna send mr. euken later off at the airport. Have fun in canada dude !

singapore idol is a cryin shame

I don't follow sg idol, but yesterday after watching Rockstar Supernova, the results night where Z got eleminated, I decided to channel surf. Landed on ch 5 , showing the last few moments of Idol.

It was the final 8, and standing in the bottom 3 were Jonathon Leong, Hady and Mathilda.

WTF WTF WTF

Seriously, the Singaporean voters are tone deaf. TONE DEAF. Here standing are possibly the 3 best vocal talents remaining on the show. I'm very sure the show intended to be a singing contest, but now we have seen, as well as the judges have realised, that it has boiled down to simple economics and a vote of popularity. I wouldn't be surprised if I was the producer... more votes (at 60c each mind you) = more willingness for the public to spend on an album by that singer. It doesnt matter if they have talent. if you can't sell, you won't be Singapore Idol.

Season 2 only and the show has already degenerated into a farce, if you haven't realised. The ones in the safe zone. Joaquim is a pretty boy (actually from friends, not really!) who can't sing at all. Jasmine's rather hot, ok singing, shouldn't win though. Twohill, has a decent voice, but I'll be damned if voters put him as the next Singapore Idol. Simply put, with all due respect, he doesn't look the part. I'm sure our foreign friends will question our tastes if Twohill does win. How to be Idol when cannot see his face?

But of course, what are my words against the powers that be, the voters in this case. If it were my say, based on my little exposure to them i must add, Hady seems the most worthy winner now. Jon is top 3 material. Come on, Mathilda deserves better. Her finale song after she lost was good la.

I always wondered if sg idol results are based 100% on voters. If its so, its really a cryin' shame. Of course it's important to sell albums but we cannot just blindly award on superficial attributes la pls. I don't blame the contestants loh, its really the voters who have to think carefully. And perhaps pple who care abt the show at all should start voting. Maybe I should too. But once again, many singaporeans like to critic instead of acting on the issue. And in this case, I'm like one. Aiyah, what to do. I don't follow Idol ma. Rockstar Supernova is so engaging! At least they throw up surprises every week, which makes me wanna tune in. Not like Idol, which takes a scandal to get pple talking.

Perhaps gone are the days when making the Billboard charts mean anything. Back in the 50s-80s, when the likes of a young Johnny Cash, a Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Queen, Elton John, etc. see their singles hitting the top after so much effort and hard work, there's much satisfaction to get. Now, with the MTV erosion, just take a few girls, take off their tops through the video, encouraging guys to cheat on their gfs (think pussycat dolls 'dont cha') and you get a #1 hit.

Wow. Frank Sinatra must be churning in his grave right now.


RIP SG idol.


Tags singapore idol

Shawshank Redemption

I sat down tonight and watched Shawshank Redemption today. Ranked in top 5 of IMDB, and nominated for many Academy awards (although not winning any, tragically it came in the year 1994 the bumper year of fantastic shows like Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump), I was really expecting a good show, and I wasn't disappointed.

Thought it would be a very deep and sorrowful show (ok never research properly), but it isn't. It's really a show on how Hope springs eternal, even in one's darkest moments, and that how people really deserve another chance. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, doing great jobs in their respective roles as the main cast. Lots lots lots of symbolic things in this movie, the raven, the innocent felon, the warden with his 'clean' christian front, the shit pipe, the rain. Extremely thought provoking, plot's good enough, but it's rarely the main point.

The movie also struck home the ideal of freedom. It makes me wonder, what does it take for one to attain true freedom. And with it happiness. Plausible in this day and age, when we are so bounded by social regulations and peer expectations. Where one's salary and job speaks of one's status? Perhaps, the felons are the one pple who are really free.

Also tragic about the character Brooks. I thought it was a realistic portrayal of a felon with so much fear of the outside world when on parole, after being instituionalised for 50 years. I think its quite inspiring, on how hope can affect one's outlook in life. We can only wonder if Red will go down the same route as Brooks should he not be given 'hope' by Andy.

Ellis 'Red' Redding:I find I'm so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel. A free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams.

I hope.

Quite intriguing show. Definitely not a waste of my time (like Kungpow). Catch it if you can =)



Tags shawshank redemption

On a stay home Sunday...

Yeah man ! Another week has passed, and that's one week closer to my UK trip. haha. I'm really looking forward to it. It's like, 1 year of break from NUS really, plus getting to see Europe for the 1st time.

So, didn't really do anything productive this weekend. Friday I went to Liquid Kitchen @ Serangoon Gardens, for a chill out talk cock session with Euken. haha. yep 2 guys in a chill out bar. Anyways he's flying back to Canada in about 10 days time, so just meet up loh. We talked abt guys stuff and girls stuff. haha, really interesting conversation. Let's see how things pan out when he returns next. Anyways, Liquid Kitchen just normal chill out la. The spotlight a bit hot , perhaps its just my seat. Drinks were EX, ambience not bad, service good. Seats not very comfy too. But seem to attract pple of my age there heh. Overall ok place la, at least near my house.

Saturday was RAG Day. Even though I do not believe in the cause of RAG (which IMO is over indulgent and a waste of $$ and resources), still kudos out to KR Hall for sweeping the awards. Like 7 ! My dear nb will be proud of him n his rag ppl =)

Caught the ATP Rogers semis on TV this morning, Federer struggling to beat Gonzalez on a hardcourt. Heh. One more final to go, and Nadal out already, he's really odds on to win this one tml morning.

Today was supposed to be tennis day with Weimin and Jun but then couldn't get car cos my parents went bowling. So, with a little help from Weimin, I managed to get my hand on some old movies which I'd been wanting to catch.

Movie 1: Kung Pow: Enter The Fist !



OK. Not gonna say much about this other than its a lame show. They basically took a old HK flick and redubbed it, + some special effects along with it. Not saying its a bad show, it's just a lame movie, so if you're in the mood for lame no-brainers, this is the one. Doesn't look like US$10 mil was spent for this production, but it still earned a profit nonetheless. heh. Freakonomics.

Movie 2: Walk The Line



A biopic on the life of the legendary American country singer, Johnny Cash. I had quite a few songs by him before, and although initially he struck me as a singer with ridiculously low voice tone, he really captivates his listeners via his lyrics. Think Bob Dylan. but a better singer than Bob.

Without giving too much away, Joaquin Phoenix does a wonderful job as Johnny Cash, and Reese Witherspoon as his stage partner, and later life partner June Carter. They actually used their own vocals in the show! Impressive la. If you've watched Ray (biopic on Ray Charles) before, you'll find many similarities. Singer, 1st break, girl problems, breakups, drug problems, jail, etc. I can't put my finger on which is the better film, cos both are just brilliant.

Cash really touches pple's hearts because his lyrics are so meaningful to the soul and sorrow of a human mind. Whereas Dylan's lyrics are rather political in nature (nothing wrong with that), Cash is able to reach into the listeners better. And he actually dedicated a part of his career to singing to jailbirds, as a form of giving them inspiration, but more importantly making them happy. The jailbirds look towards his music as a source of hope. Can't really describe till you listen for yourself. I've got the Folsom Prison recordings, if you're interested haha. Good stuff I tell you.

In fact, I was thinking that the song 'Hurt' touched me so much, that it's gonna be my funeral song. No kidding. I wasn't feeling hurt when listening to the song, but it almost moved me to tears just by listening Cash sing it. And the MTV (watch it here) is great as well, showing an old Cash singing so deeply emotional and reminiscing his past. And the scene with June Carter looking over him. OMG. simple and good stuff, for a simple and good song.

Hopefully one day they will do a similar show on Dylan. Would love to watch. (Though such movies are like death knells. After picking the actors to cast them, the singers died shortly after. CHOY Dylan don't die yet.)

Movie 3: Lucky Number Slevin



I have idea really why I didn't catch this show in the big screen haha. Its a good show really. I'm a sucker for mob shows (think Godfather, Goodfellas) though this is slightly different. Josh Harnett is the main star in this action-thriller, as a guy caught in a mini mob war between 2 mob camps, and he tries to sneak his way out of it. Initially Tarantino-like, but turns out nicely. Quite confusing at 1st but clears out at the end. So, a plot that isn't too linear nor too twisty turns out to be a stunning story!

Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Lucy Liu co-stars, but Josh steals the show. Catch this one or regret!

So, not bad huh, 1 weekend managed to catch a lame show, a biopic, and a action-thriller. not bad la. Good stuff for a movie buff haha.

Movies UP NEXT: The Usual Suspects (yup another mobshow), Casino (mobshow...) and Shawshank Redemption. Should be pretty heavy stuff, so make take some time before sitting down to watch it.

Alright. Long post. Catching soccer now!

Rockstar Supernova : Final 10

My oh my. How good the show is getting!

It's anthem week so the show picked 10 very different anthems for the singers. From The Who to John Lennon to Radiohead to Queen, the singers picked their choices to impress. Gilby Clark on Won't Get Fooled Again, wa lao his guitar effects damn nice, esp the intro. And seriously, Dilana is one hell of a rock chick. She certainly deserves top 3, like straight away already. Superb voice, flair and image to boot.

Here's a youtube vid. The quality didn't do her justice; she certainly is better.



Another memorable performance, Magni on The Dolphins Cry by Live. Wonderful



Also, Lukas Rossi did well on Creep, even though the beginning was a letdown. But his vocals shone man.

I still think top 3 is now Dilana, Lukas Rossi, Magni, in that order. Josh has a wonderful voice, but image wise not fitting to Supernova. Toby and Storm are the next 2 best, the others are just taking turns to drop out of the competition. It remains to see though, if Supernova wants a female vocalist to front them. Lin says no. haha. We shall see !

Oh btw, I seem to notice, the guy contestants keep leering at Brooke Burke when standing next to her. I mean, shes real hot la, so can't blame them. But its pretty obvious on TV haha.

Tags rockstar supernova

Bad bus luck

Many may not believe in this, but I really have rotten bus luck. It's even weirder that no one can witness it, because my bus luck magically disappears when I'm waiting for the bus with someone (it's true). Now before I'm accused of only remembering the times when the wait is long and forgetting the instant arrivals, I can assure you, confirm plus chop is my bad luck one.

Like today, I wait for bus 76 to go mrt for work. Normally it reaches abt 820, and I'm at the busstop at 815. But I had to wait 20 freaking minutes before the 76 came. And guess what. yep. 2 buses came at the same time. So usually no matter what time I leave my home , it's at least a 10 min wait. Seriously , I see every bus that I'm not taking go pass me before my one comes.

On the way home, just at the amk mrt, same thing happened. Was on the train and I saw the 76 at the traffic light! And of course, I missed it, having to go pass the routine mrt obstacles of crowd-escalator-crowd-gantry-crowd-100m dash to bus stop. 76 was loooong gone.

You know what this tells me. That I'm destined to be chauffered around. Or at least drive my own car. hahaha.

Tomorrow on leave, gotta settle air tix, visa, buy stuff, tennis, meetup w some hall friends. Probably stay over in school la, since its N-day on Wednesday. gonna be $2k down in just 1 day. sian.

London better be worth all this time n money .....

The Indiana Jones adventure

wasssssup

I actually watched the indiana jones trilogy this week. yep. .. haha I can't believe how old school I am sometimes.

But admist all the damn action film cliches and terribly old-fashioned dialogue, there was some real action to catch. I guess people nowadays are accustomed, even numb to the big hollywood explosions and elaborate CGI effects in almost every action film. But Indiana Jones was done using stuntmen, and with especially action packed chase sequences. Heh. All the chasing of a tank with a horse, running away from the Nazis (who else?) in a 2 seater bike, boat riding, elephant climbing, goldmine cart racing. haha. really some classic sequences. I heard Speilberg's gonna make another IJ film in 2008. Harrison Ford, too old already la. Dunno how it will look like tho. Besides, movies usually are best in 3s.

Anyways, I would like to think that my movie tastes are pretty decent ok. I really think so. So when some friend of mine commented on me watching shows like IJ ..... i just wanna say to you :" UP YOURS !!!"

Was at crazy elephant's last night. A pub at clarke quay which plays bluesy rock n roll music, like Rolling Stones and Hendrix. Ambience is nothing much, just a normal pub, live band was good tho. The singer, tho old, had a power voice heh. Mean Jean and the Blues Machine. check it out.

till next time, gotta go for some imperial college talk at bishan.