Mister Calvin Lee's Blog

Leaving Home by Anita Brookner

2009-04-13T01:13:28Z

"Not everyone is born to fulfil an heroic role. The only realistic ambition is to live in the present. And sometimes, quite often in fact, this is more than enough to keep one busy. Time, which was once squandered, must now be given over to the actual, the possible, and perhaps to that evanescent hope of a good outcome which never deserts one, and which should never be abandoned." -- Leaving Home by Anita Brookner

(image from www.bookreporter.com)

I believe that the media, and in turn society, tells us we can be who we want to be. Yes, that is true. We read about success stories of entrepreneurs, celebrities (A to D listed) and what have you. But, out of these success stories, how many people have tried and failed? How many of us have have inner ambitions of better lives than the ones we currently live and realise that it really is only an ideal?

We are insidiously told that we are better than others and that we are meant for bigger things. The process of aging has imparted to me the "wisdom" of realising that not all of us are meant to bigger things. And there is no need for tears and self-deprecation at this recognition. This is how it is. Some of us are meant to lead unheroic lives.

There is, however, nothing pessimistic about such a thought. It is only defeatist when one does not want to accept it. It is quite another thing to still have that "evanescent hope of a good outcome".

Betrayal by Pinter

2009-01-18T13:20:32Z

(image from amazon)

I have just completed reading "Betrayal" by Pinter. It was an exciting read that left me craving for more. I found myself reading the different lines out loud, playing the three betrayed/betraying characters. The play reminds me of "A Touch of Class" where an affair happens in a rented apartment. It becomes a "sanctuary" for the lovers but one wonders what happens when the love is dissipates and all you have left is the sex. Well, an affair is different from one-night-stand, it is a relationship:

Jerry: No, I saw it as a flat...you know.
Emma: For f*cking.
Jerry: No, for loving.
Emma: Well, there's not much of that left, is there?
Silence

I also love how a character, who simply detests modern contemporary literature, expresses his view of what writers write about:

Robert: Writing a novel about a man who leaves his wife and three children and goes to live alone on the other side of London to write a novel about a man who leaves his wife and three children -
Emma: I hope it's better than the last one.
Robert: The last one? Ah, the last one. Wasn't that the one about the man who lived in a big house in Hampstead with his wife and three children and is writing a novel about - ?

It would have been a joy to watch Penelope Wilton, Michael Gambon and David Massey playing the leads at the National Theatre. (15th Nov 1978)

Dustin O'Halloran Opus 23

2009-01-11T13:18:01Z

I am still so taken by the Marie Antoinette soundtrack. The collection of songs is just a joy. I do like Dustin O'Halloran's Opus 23. Some people might think it sounds like elevator music (muzak) or New Age music (yes, something like Enya's "Watermark" without the ethereal backup vocals). However, I do think it is a lovely piece of music. It was really used cleverly in the movie.

I found the video for the song and my opinion is that I like animation films like this. I think I like my animation as unrealistic as possible, almost basic/base in presentation. The narrative of the film is simple yet effective. The visuals suited the music perfectly.

I guess that is why I am so drawn to "The Science of Sleep". It is more whimsical than "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and I love it for that reason. The graphics and animation were beautiful. The soundtrack was great. I am a great fan of Charlotte Gainsbourg so having her in the film was a boon. By presenting a protagonist who cannot tell between dream-state and "reality", Michel Gondry shows us the modern way to escapism. I mean, what else can one do?

Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette

2009-01-10T15:11:15Z

(image from www.wikipedia.org)

Jen was telling Dan and me about Coppola's Marie Antoinette over dinner at PS Cafe at Palais. She talked about how "postmodern" it was and how it incorporated the history/fiction dichotomy successfully in the film. I was anxious to watch it after Jen's hard sell. She did say she hasn't met anyone who liked the film.

I thought the movie was fabulous. The costumes were ostentatious and the retelling of Marie Antoinette's life incredibly inspiring. She was portrayed as a young girl who was thrown into a life of royalty and luxury. The outcome of her behaviour was reflected in her emotional crutches. The character was a whole lot more relatable than Norma Shearer's Marie Antoinette.

I do like Lost in Translation but visually, this movie is more stunning. I love the touches of postmodernity like the glimpse of a pair of converse shoes, the punk/new wave soundtrack (I absolutely adore scene featuring Siouxsie and the Banshees's "Hong Kong Garden"...classic) and the questioning of what is true, a fact or history.

I also loved the scene where Kirsten Dunst tried on all the different dresses and shoes with her gal pals. The perfect accompaniment to it was "I Love Candy" by Bow Wow Wow. What was interesting was that I thought to myself, "How SATC is this?" And then, of course, I realised that the shoes featured were individually designed by Manolo Blahnik. So there you go.

The soundtrack is gorgeous. I heart "I Don't Like It" and "Pulling Our Weight" by The Radio Dept.

Gorky's Philistines

2009-01-10T10:14:21Z

Sometimes, when I think about it, I have been quite blessed for the last three years. As a child, I've always wondered what it would be like to be at the West End or Broadway and watch a play, musical or concert. And funny enough, I have actually done it in the last two years, with help from the school of course.

In 2007, after the UK trip, I decided to stay a week with Bella for my own holiday. It was a great time, especially considering that it was so stressful to complete the UK tour with 30 over students. I managed to watch two plays on my own. [With the students, I watch Wicked (West End) and The Merchant of Venice (Globe); the latter was an interesting experience especially as it was my O Levels set text] It was not only cheap (was it 10 pounds only?) but a great experience. I mean, I was seated in the National Theatre watching plays I have only dreamed of.

(image from www.nationaltheatre.org.uk)

I caught Gorky's Philistine. It was adapted/updated by Andrew Upton. Trivia: Upton is married to Cate Blanchett. Not only that, I was able to watch Ruth Wilson act on stage. She was just fresh out of BBC's wonderful production of Jane Eyre starring Toby Stephens. The feeling you get, seated there in the theatre, is beautiful. This is especially so when you have done a thorough tour with the theatre. You come to appreciate the staging and effort that they put in for each of their plays. I came out of it wanting more.

Now, I am reading Philistine the play. I bought a copy of it in the theatre bookshop. It has so many memorable lines. For example:

Tanya: Life breaks people noiselessly, without shouting, without tears, without horses...unnoticed. (p23)