jerricklim's posterous

01 · 26

The Artist

This movie is a must see. Not because it's silent, or novel. It is a movie where the actors rediscover the art of acting once again. Where the subtle is beautiful, where the twitch, the gentle curve of an eyebrow, the slouch of the shoulder and the blink of the eye conveys more than an hour of film. The story line is clichéd to the point of archaic, but that is not the point. The point is these are actors and actresses who are so sure of their craft, and what they are doing that they cannot help but do it.

The main character, played by Jean Dujardin, is George Valentin, a silent movie star who is caught short when the talking film industry takes over. We follow his struggle, as he sees his young paramour, Peppy Miller, rise from obscurity to superstardom. George is a proud, wonderfully played character who is never seen without his dog, Uggie. Everything you've heard about this amazing dog is true. He truly has the emotional range of any human character, and is exceptionally funny. The news that he is to retire should send a collective sigh across the film industry. Ms. Berenice Bejo as the glorious Peppy, is a joy to watch, she is emotional, full of sass, melancholic and beautifully aglow, as she drops straight in from the 30s. A small shout out must be said for James Cromwell, who plays the Butler, Clifton, I've seen him in so many movies and in each and every one of them he lights up the screen with his warmth and wisdom. The movie is shot, in firm defiance of all modern convention in a small square box, and is scored brilliantly, with leitmotifs we have heard everywhere and love.

I love The Artist, not only because it harkens back to a simpler time, but it allows us to rediscover a golden age of cinema. More importantly serves as a timely reminder for us, that words mean nothing when they are not truly felt and deeply conveyed. My only fear is that this film will spawn a series of imitators, that detract from the beauty of this film, but will never capture the perfection we have found here.

4.5/5 Stars - Exceptional film, brilliantly acted, with a cute animal sidekick.

01 · 22

Coriolanus: Epic, Beautiful, Gritty, Painful, Fantastic

With intense eyes, and an unyielding stare, Ralph Fiennes plays Cais Martius Coriolanus. A powerful general of Rome and glorious victor of many battles. He returns triumphant, to Rome, a man above all. And yet, his flaws, drag him to the bottom. He betrays all, and yet, is brought back into the fold. An act that is ultimately his doom.

This movie is epic in scope and beautiful in moments. The actors bring such reality and yet theatrical gravity to each and every scene. There are so many actors who steal the scene away from Ralph Fiennes. The Mother - Vanessa Redgrave is splendid as the military mother, the woman who loves her son but sends him to fight for his nation, akin to Yue Fei's Mom, but fiercer and vaguely more sinister. Jessica Chastain with her beautiful range, perfect timing, and looks that mean everything and nothing at once. Brian Cox is phenomenal, and is truly a fantastic shakesperean character. Even the "baddies" played by Gerard Butler and the "other baddies" are truly magnificent. Gerard Butler plays an interesting character, a rougher, less forgiving sort of baddie, who is ultimately an underdog in this fight, but at the same time, a real human being, with the vanities and disappointments of any human being. He plays his role with an aplomb thus far unknown and must ultimately be commended for his incredible subtlety in playing a loud and angry "villian"

Unlike his comedies and earlier work, this play never deals in the absolute. No one is sin free, and no one perfectly tragic or comic, making it a perfect work to survive the ages as a piece for our times. It is ironic of course that Coriolanus is one of Bill Shakespere's least known works, next to such titans as The Tempest, Lear and Hamlet but with this movie, one hopes things will change and perhaps we shall see Coriolanus being played in more mainstream theatres, as a mature and reflective examination of humanity.

N.B The author has not read Coriolanus, and these opinions are purely from his viewing of the movie.

4.5/5 Stars - An amazing movie with life, love, war, pain, hatred, reunion, all of life's trials and tribulation in a neat package. I recommend this movie unreservedly.

01 · 14

Tech65.org

Do check out tech65.org, the home of Ask Jerrick and all the Tech Shows you know and love. It has been revamped with a new cleaner and more awesome layout. We're also launching our new Logo and Tag Line. Thanks to all my readers and followers for their support and love, we will always strive to be the Voice of Technology.

12 · 28

Foie Gras Terrine

Taken at Kayuputi at St. Regis

12 · 26

Trip Report: In Pursuit of Lower Fares, and Better Service. LHR-ZRH and onwards to SIN!

Swiss is my favourite European airline. There, I've said it. I may love Lufthansa for it's big network, I may like Germanic efficiency, hell, I may even have fallen in love with those wonderfully Lufthansa style meals that are identical no matter what flight you are on. But there's something special about Swiss. Maybe its the chocolates you get on the flight. Or maybe it's that smile that the stewardess sneaks you as she calls you by your name, or maybe, it's because Swiss is just cheaper and better than it's bigger German sister. Also, with Swiss I managed to book a flight via Swiss on Singapore Airlines. Yeah. So I get two for the price of 1. An amazing Business Class experience (for not much more than Singapore Airlines Economy) and a chance to get re-aquainted with Swiss' European Business Class.

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12 · 23

The Case for Minicab Companies

The taxi fare increases have led me to ask, what is the fundamental problem with the current oligopoly of taxis in Singapore? I don't believe that there isn't enough supply. The long, snaking queues leading from Changi Airport, from certain shopping centres provide plenty of evidence otherwise. YES, people have always said, when you need one they aren't there. But that's the same of pretty much anything, ATMs, Buses, etc. Even if it IS a question of supply, my proposed solution may go some way to alleviate the problem.

The inspiration for my solution comes from London, where yes, the quinessential London taxicab is available. But if one was to do a bit of digging will realise that there is also an alternative. Minicabs, or basically chauffered car services would be an ideal solution if you know your travel plans in advance. Yes, when I tweeted this, people immediately derided me as insane, the government will regulate it to death, or something or other. But the fact of the matter is, Minicab companies, survive purely on pre-booked traffic. One can only hire a minicab in advance, and the price is either usually pre-agreed, or based on a meter. This more flexible approach fosters competition among taxi companies, to offer the best price for the best car to the customer. The other problem is of course, the Taxi Unions, they have a lot of control over price setting and even who can join the union and the cab companies. I suspect if one was to liberalise the taxi or private transport provision in Singapore, this problem would either go away or become less of an issue, as these private operators will be able set up independently or with a few colleagues and just do their own thing.

Saying all this - my brilliant plan could probably be scuppered by a few things, among which is the high cost of vehicles in Singapore, the Ick factor of not trusting a "new fangled" thing, or even the high cost that needs to be charged to make things profitable for these private car drivers. But if the UK, a member of the EU with it's directives and ordnances, can make private minicab companies work, maybe there's hope for Singapore afterall.

12 · 23

SOAS Vis Moot

Do check out the SOAS Vis Moot Website @ soasvismoot.wordpress.com. It's where all the updates on my participation on the SOAS Vienna Vis Moot will be posted and we're really looking forward to getting to Vienna!

12 · 19

A few meals in London

As a quick post. Here are a few meals from November and December in London...

(download)

Click here to download:

IMG_1546.MOV (782 KB)

12 · 06

Hiliary Clinton, US Secretary of State makes a statement at the UN on LGBT rights

Excellent Speech by HE Hilary Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States of America. Many phrases that will be forever etched in my mind, and remind me that much must be done, and must will be done in the fight of universal human rights.

Even if you believe that gay people are somehow different, or if you think there is something fundamentally wrong with homosexuality, you cannot disagree with the fundamental belief that everyone has the same set of rights outside of their sex lives. That they should and must be treated equally and with respect and dignity. It should never be the case that someone is criminalised for being different, and in this scenario, just like the rights of indigenous people, women, religious and racial minorities, there is no difference.

Believe in Free and Equal Rights, Believe in the Dignity of all Humanity.

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