Steppenwolf production resparks theatre

August: Osage County by Tracy Letts is the first play in a long time that got me excited about theatre as an art form, so much so that I want to see more plays.  It is the rare American play of a time when large ensembles, big sets and incredible acting made the theatre a more exciting place than the movies.  Well, hail this Steppenwolf production for its cast, acting, drama, comedic one-liners, and overall aplomb.  You just gotta love this play!

Letts' script is an overarching bridge connecting the secrets of a big ol' American family.  As the beans slowly spill over about three hours, the characters have no choice but to learn each other, which they've obviously been avoiding for their whole lives.  It contains multiple threads of discussion, from different forms of escapism to the pompous feeling of our generation over our parents', that are applicable to all of us.  The cast do a wonderful job of tackling these with their true-to-life depictions of their characters over the course of some impressive and unforgettable scenes, the first of which is the dinner scene.  The absolute energy of that scene was not comparable to anything I have seen in a long time, which is kudos to the writer, director and actors.

For a generation who's been bombarded with minimalistic, self-indulgent pieces of prose and verse, this is a breath of fresh air from the past.  It is a grand production that will hold you to it until the last minute and make you wish you hadn't praised that minimalistic bullshit you had seen a few weeks ago as deep.  Everyone, this is theatre.  This is what theatre should be.  Enjoy.

007: Bye-bye Spy, welcome Rambo

Quantum of Solace (2008) - dir. Marc Forster - 3 stars

The James Bond franchise delivers its 22nd iteration, and unfortunately it's a dive from what even Casino Royale was. Director Forster diminishes Bond to a mean muscle machine that can't be stopped at all. Daniel Craig fits the new Bond well with his physical attention to detail, but where is the mysterious, mischievous, and spy Bond? I'm sure Craig can also fit the clever Bond profile who doesn't always solve problems by brute force. This new Bond is just like Rambo moving in to kill whoever stands in his path without much deliberation or thought. Gone are the suspenseful moments where Bond is just a spy, infiltrating enemy compounds, and silently but surely saving the world. I get the feeling that the producers are trying to compete with action films with their new type of Bond for better box office results, but viewers like Bond the way he was and pure action films are not the comparison for Bond films. Only previous Bond films will be the judge of how well the new generations fare.

Forster might defend his new Bond by saying that the story necessitates his rage, which is fueled by revenge for the death of his love, Vesper, in Casino Royale. I do understand that Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace are the pieces in Bond's history explaining how he came to be the Bond we've got accustomed to, but I still can't justify turning our back on Bond's most beloved qualities.

I sure hope that they return to the original idea of Bond soon as there is no need to try and upgrade Bond to the 21st century by phasing him into another indestructible hero. That's just boring. He's good the way he always was and why we keep seeing him on the big screen time and time again.

Ceylan's Cannes-winner recipe needs some spice

Üç Maymun (2008) - dir. Nuri Bilge Ceylan - 4 stars

Since his success with Uzak, Ceylan has assumed a heightened place in European cinema, becoming a favorite of the Cannes film festival. His latest, Üç Maymun (Three Monkeys), returned from Cannes 2008 with a third best director award for Ceylan and was selected to be screened as part of the 2008 London BFI Film Festival. Having attended the screening, the down-to-earth director wasn't shy to admit he hadn't intended part of what the festival crowd could discern from his film, which was honest and unpretentious, instantly winning the hearts of the audience. His appearance also confirmed the root of my one-and-only struggle with his films: the silences.

Ceylan is a man of few words and it reflects in his work. His characters tend to speak only to lie or to hide, not to reveal. His latest is poignant in the fact that it drives home this very point that what's most important is often not said. The family in the film, playing the proverbial three monkeys, is so spread apart despite living in the most cramped space one can imagine. They are so interconnected with the rest of Istanbul by proximity of all kinds of transport and yet so isolated where they can't go anywhere.

This tale of cornered dreamers is perhaps the best material for Ceylan to hone his directorial skills. With a touch of impressionist cinematography, pointed sound effects, and a dash of excellent acting, he has created another fine film that will surely grace the bookshelves of film lovers. However, I do believe that his formula, which defines his oeuvre, is starting to feel a little bit overused. Ceylan needs to strike a fine balance between being an auteur with a visible signature in his films and making the same film over and over again with slightly different stories and characters.

La Binoche dilutes her love stories with unnecessary movement in in-i

The revered Juliette Binoche takes the stage to dance for the first time with choreographer Akram Khan in their collaboration in-i currently premiering at the NFT. The show is a collection of love stories either acted out or danced, and obviously Binoche and Khan shine in different areas. Even though I like the idea of using acting or dancing to represent different kinds of love (according to the ancient Greeks, there are 14 ways of love), I'm not sure if the pair has thought through the show completely and let it brew enough to become more mature. There are segments that are way too long than they should be and the dance routines seem to duplicate itself from story to story as a lot of flailing arms and interchanging aggressive moves tend to dominate the dance portions. Basically, it can't create consistent audience interest and it feels like it repeats itself.

Despite its shortcomings, in-i was still enjoyable, and La Binoche's amazing acting, especially her facial gestures, stand out even when she's dancing. Her intense dance training also shows as she keeps up with Khan rather well. However, her moves don't seem as natural and smooth as Khan's and it shows that she's not a professional dancer. Having said that, I doubt Binoche decided to take on this project to prove to the world that she can dance as well as she can act. I believe she was at the helm of this project because she had something to say about love, and her voice, even though foreign to the world of dance, does bring a certain level of depth to Khan's movements. What I can surmise from the show is that love has a personal definition for all of us and everyone's understanding and expectation of love will be shaped by our past and present.

All in all, a passable try, but I hope her next project will feel more mature and polished.

A Personal Story of Dreams in Sao Paulo

Linha de Passe (2008) - dir. Walter Salles & Daniela Thomas - 4 stars

Linha de Passe stays clear of the stylized violence that Fernando Meirelles employed to introduce the favelas of Sao Paulo to a worldwide audience in his 2002 award-winning feature, City of God. Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas' feature, on the other hand, takes the favela violence for granted and instead focuses on the personal journeys of each of the four brothers, Denis, Dario, Dinho and Reginaldo, rendering the film a coming-of-age story with a realistic documentary approach. The uniqueness of this story is that the personal growth of the brothers are shaped immensely by their environment and their connection with each other, while certain political comments are allowed to bubble to the surface.

The brothers have their own obsessions that have allowed them to survive so far, but they each yearn for something more stable, especially in the absence of their father. But Sao Paulo constantly reminds them of the impossibility of change with its 20 million inhabitants who are all dreaming of a better life. In a series of events that allow the brothers to take their best shots, the film is a satisfying and realistic portrait of a family that's questioning life in its many aspects, from justice to faith.

The most powerful aspect of the film is that it doesn't judge or justify any action even though the director slightly nudges the audience towards the expectation that the film itself will speak for justice and change. Neither are easy to achieve in the real world so it's no surprise that the documentary approach of the directors doesn't allow any sweeping reworking of a Hollywood happy ending. This is a film that definitely follows in Salles' auteur footsteps, although it's not as good as the Motorcycle Diaries.

Nolan's Batman is an Allegory of our Times

The Dark Knight (2008) - dir. Christopher Nolan - 5 stars

Christopher Nolan's understanding of the Batman universe proves to be gripping as the second installment, the Dark Knight, is even better than the first, Batman Begins. Its success stems from the fact that Nolan's creation ties the psychological and innate issues in the Batman universe with our times, thus rendering the film more familiar, realistic and thus downright creepy. This is a very good film rather than just a very good comic book hero film.

The ties between our world and the Batman world really surface with the philosophy behind the Joker's attacks. The Joker, played superbly by Heath Ledger, questions our sense of security and order versus chaos with each attack he devises. His conversation with Aaron Eckhart's character, Harvey Dent, proves to be the turning point for the film, as the audience can then fully connect the dots to reveal a picture of our world where the Joker's ideas had already been exploited by even governments. In this post 9/11 world where the threat level is a constant red, people have gotten used to wars, deaths and bombs. The news doesn't scare or surprise us anymore; we still go about our business like nothing happened. As long as it's all according to plan... This deep understanding of the Joker elevates the film from the stale superhero genre to where it really belongs.

Before I end my review of the film, I have to spend a few words on the excellent performances of all the actors involved with Heath Ledger leading the pack. Ledger's Joker is a very realistic villain with a motive that plays on human nature. His first scene in the film establishes him so quickly and successfully as a violent, remorseless and psychotic being that there is no need for another gruesome scene. The first appearance proves Ledger's character is to be scared of and it carries throughout the whole film with no loss of power. Ledger has truly depicted the character as Nolan understood him. It's too sad that we will not be able to see Ledger's Joker once again.

All in all, the Dark Knight is an action, crime thriller with something to say about the world we live in. This is not something that even regular films can accomplish so the fact that Nolan has achieved this with superhero material is even more impressive. I just hope we get to see a third iteration of this Batman universe from Nolan because it looks like he still has a lot to say about our world through the lense of Batman.

Wall-E charms its way to become one of Pixar's best

Wall-E (2008) - dir. Andrew Stanton - 5 stars

The story of a garbage compactor robot left alone on Earth to clean up humanity's mess proves once again that Pixar is the best at what it does. With minimal dialogue due to its main characters, the film must have definitely been a challange over its many stages, especially for the animators as almost all story-telling needs to be done by the visuals. Knowing the reliance on the visuals, Pixar has spent a lot time and development on making the visuals as realistic as possible even including focus levels and depth of field into the visuals. The result is a beautiful film with a solid sci-fi story and adorable characters that grow on the audience. Frankly, I didn't expect anything less from Pixar.

Dutch duo delivers, Viktor & Rolf exhibition is a must-see

It's the first time in the UK that Viktor & Rolf have been the subject of an art exhibition. The Barbican Art Gallery is well set to display the evolution of the duo that never cease to amaze the fashion world with their couture shows that always have a dash of performance art mixed in. Each couture show is exhibited in its own section with a running video of the show projected behind the human-sized dolls carrying the signature pieces of each show. The meticulous detail and attention that obviously went into the dolls become obvious when you realize that the dolls look like replicas of the models on the video (except of course for that Dutch mannequin pudginess). Apparently V&R even requested that the dolls' hair got styled in the same exact manner as that of the models from the original runway.

Having gone through the exhibition, V&R represent more performance art than fashion for me, as their ideas tend to be charged with an ideology, and hence the couture shows tend to be more of a statement than just a display of the finest craftsmanship and latest chic designs. But that's also why none of their couture shows are boring. I found myself watching every single runway video to absorb it all, giggling intermittently at the bravery and creativity of the designers. Words can't explain the work of this duo so do yourself a favor and get a ticket immediately.

A Tribute to Jean Moreau - Part III

This is the final installment of my Jeanne Moreau tribute. I've watched a ton of films over the past few weeks but they've only reaffirmed my respect for Moreau as a versatile actress.

le Temps qui reste (2005) - dir. François Ozon
Ozon delicately handles the subject matter so that the film never gets too sentimental or overly dramatic, which breathes fresh air into the genre. The film spends its energy on the last days of the main character and the way he chooses to say goodbye to everyone and everything around him. Moreau's contribution is unforgettable as the cool grandmother.

The Immortal Story (1968) - dir. Orson Welles
An awkward tale set in Macao in the 19th century centering around a rich tradesman trying to convert a fairy tale into a real story by arranging everything as it is laid out in the story. The small budget production only has four actors, including Welles, and feels very surreal from start to finish.

Le Journal d'une femme de chambre (1964) - dir. Luis Buñuel
Buñuel's fantastic film harvests Moreau's sexual appeal to its full extent as Moreau's character slowly takes over control of the house where she's a maid. The fact that household and the neighbours are quite the characters definitely helps in creating some of the most entertaining moments on the big screen. A definite must-see!

Mademoiselle (1966) - dir. Tony Richardson
A strict school teacher wrecks havoc over a small country village when her lust over an Italian summer lumberjack overcomes her propriety. The animalistic aspects of lust are at the forefront with the visuals and acting. The shot of hands brought together by a snake and Moreau's howling while fooling around with her desire further emphasize the idea of lust being an animalistic instinct. An interesting film that must have been very controversial for its time.

Love Story: AK Party & the EU, USA

Every day it's becoming more and more obvious why the EU & USA love and support the AK Party in Turkey, the current ruling party against which there is a constitutional court case to ban them from politics. Condoleezza Rice recently said that their relationship with the AK Party has been nothing less than perfect and that Turkey comes to mind when she's asked about what democracy would look like in the Middle-East. The biggest support came from the EU though when Hans-Gert Pöttering, current president of the European Parliament, mentioned that Turkey's ascension to the EU might be suspended if the AK Party were to get banned by the Turkish Constitutional Court. Can you feel the love?

The answer lies in the political ambitions of both super-powers over Turkey and the Middle-East in general. Both feel a sense of responsibility for the disasters in the Middle-East and after trying to topple governments, bring democracy and preach pro-USA and EU attitudes in the region, they've learned that these values can't be imported into a country without its citizens demanding them. These values need to evolve on their own to have a strong founding that will last generations, but they don't have the patience for that. Giving up on the dream of secular democracies for Muslim-majority countries, they're falling on the second-best option: pro-west Islamic republics. Now all they need is an example that they can fling at the faces of the likes of Iran and Iraq to prove that Islam and democracy can live hand-in-hand, happily forever, and who else other than Turkey to help them in this endeavor. Both love the AK Party because they see this popular party with roots in political Islam as the key to change Turkey, which has already internalized democracy more or less, into an exemplary Islamic democracy that the Middle East can look up to as the model for peace and prosperity. An Islamic democracy that's friendly to the west would be a first (as if Turkey wasn't already a first in the Muslim world by being the only secular country with a majority of Muslim population) and might just render all arguments set by Islamic terrorist organizations foolish in the eyes of millions of Muslims. The Muslim world might finally say "wait a second, the West doesn't hate Islam!"

Basking in the comfort of international support they're getting, the AK Party is growing more and more defiant against the Turkish army and the Constitutional Court and giving speeches to foreign newspapers about the constitutional case against them. They are maximising the force of their international support to pressure the Constitutional Court and army by enraging the Turkish public against these two institutions that are guardians of secular and modern Turkey. This has already worked with the army where they've become absolutely powerless to direct coups anymore. Now, the second target is the Constitutional Court, which they want to blame for Turkey's future with the EU. At the same time, they're doing a fantastic job at painting themselves as the innocent by labeling the secular foundations of Turkey as a trauma so they can prove to the world that the revolutions and principles introduced by Ataturk at the start of modern Turkey are the real roots of the current political crisis in Turkey, not their political agenda and haphazard treatment of the headscarf issue.

After all, it's been decades since the world applauded Ataturk for founding a republic from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire and giving power to the people instead of announcing himself as another sultan like the Shah of Iran did during the same time, for supporting the multi-party system early on as he knew it would lead to a healthy democracy, for introducing the Latin alphabet and a national school system to improve the horrible levels of literacy, for adopting the Western calendar to make trade with the west easier and more efficient, for secularising the governing institutions to shield the Turkish people from religious propaganda, and for leading the world on issues of women's rights, which were all tools that young Turkey needed to grow into the world player that she is now. But AK Party figures these were decades ago and many must have forgotten so why not rewrite history. Let's call all of these advances traumatic and problematic. The absence of any meaningful opposition makes this all the more easier to achieve.

There are certain concepts upon which modern Turkey is founded and which has helped Turkey withstand the turbulence of the Middle East. The EU and USA need to look further to understand the consequences of their support for the AK Party. After all, plans in the Middle East seldom go the way the western world wants them to, so it is a dangerous game they're playing. I don't support coups as they interfere with true democracy, but I also don't support any international pressure on the Turkish Constitutional Court when it comes to the case against AK Party as I have more faith in my own court that has been dealing with these issues since the foundation of Turkey than any foreign country using Turkey as a pawn in their political agenda. Having said that I also believe that a ban on AK Party will not solve anything as the root of the issue doesn't lie with Erdogan or the party. It lies with the confusion the majority of the Turkish population has over the definition of secularism and how it relates to them individually given their religious and cultural backgrounds. But that's a topic for another column.

A Tribute to Jean Moreau - Part II

La Notte (1961) - dir. Michelangelo Antonioni
Antonioni spends too much time in establishing the lead couple's issues and wasting precious time in re-proving the obvious for the first half of the film. The couple finally face each other and let out the truth over the course of one night spent at an extravagant party in the country, complete with unexpected heavy showers, a jazz band that plays all night long and some unavoidable flirting. Moreau's most somber, depressive and solemn character I have ever witnessed... All in all, a good film yet a bit slow. As Mr. Gherardini's daughter claims towards the end: "You've exhausted me... the pair of you..."

Ascenseur pour l'Échafaud/Lift to the Scaffold (1958) - dir. Louis Malle
The brilliant script and cinematography really shines through in Malle's feature, which he shot when he was only 24. The film predates the New Wave film movement in France but one can easily see fragments bubbling to the surface even in Malle's script. The well-thought-out script even has a place for youthful criminals who have the wildest dreams, while Moreau and Maurice Ronet's characters play out the film noir story with a twist. As for the cinematography, the use of natural light even during the night shots through Paris proves realistic and refreshing. It also literally makes the film a film noir (pun intended!). No wonder this film propelled Moreau from the stage to the big screen when it was released.

Lumière (1976) - dir. Jeanne Moreau
Written and directed by Moreau herself, Lumière depicts the lives of four actresses from different generations. It's a film about films, actresses, the back-stage and the rest. Moreau plays the main character, Sarah, whom she had initially wanted Audrey Hepburn to play, but Hepburn was already busy shooting another film. The acting all-around is top-notch, and the film feels airy eventhough it deals with potentially-heavy material with a light heart. Music composed by Astor Piazolla complete the package, which is a rare opportunity to see an actress pull together all she has learned from the wonderful directors she has worked with in her career. As Moreau herself declares "When someone who has eaten only the best food becomes a cook, there really is no excuse for her dishes to be poor." (Marianne Gray, La Moreau A Biography of Jeanne Moreau, Little, Brown and Company, 1994)

More to come...!

A Tribute to Jean Moreau - Part I

The BFI (British Film Institute) dedicated the month of June 2008 to Jeanne Moreau, one of the greatest actresses of the French film industry. She was the youngest actress to join the celebrated Comédie-Française in the late 50's and went on to work with some of the biggest directors of the New Wave, such as François Truffaut and Jean Luc Godard. With the international success of Truffaut's film Jules et Jim, she continued to work with internationally-acclaimed directors such as Luis Buñuel, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Orson Welles. I took this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and saw as many of the films screened at the BFI as possible. Below are my short reactions and thoughts from each film so far. I will divide the tribute to multiple posts so I can write as I see the films throughout June.

La Baie des Anges (1963) - dir. Jacques Demy
The film opens with a shot of Moreau walking along the promenade at Nice and then quickly leaves her in the distance as the camera moves steadily backwards along the shore. It's a very fitting start for the film as this addicted gambler can't seem to have enough willpower to leave Nice and get on with her life. Her daily promises to leave this life behind and start anew get left to chance again and again as she makes her way back to the casinos every chance she gets. Her salvation embodies itself in a fellow gambler with whom she can walk through the halls of her church one last time. Moreau's wonderfully playful character, who is as likely to get bored in one instant as she is likely to get excited the next, not only enchants the men in the casinos but the viewers as well.


The Trial/Le Procès (1962) - dir. Orson Welles
Now I know which film inspired David Lynch to start a film career. This Kafka adaptation by Orson Welles feels as nightmarish as Lynch's Mulholland Drive but shot about 30 years prior. Welles directs an international cast in this claustrophobic film in which Moreau plays a small part towards the beginning. The film's Doctor Caligari style surreal sets and high contrast imagery with jarring editing of long distance and close-up shots definitely creates the necessary nightmarish feeling but all in all can't save it from being a mediocre film. Welles might have impregnated Citizen Kane, which is regarded by some to be the best film ever made, but this film is proof that he made some pretty bad films in his time.

More to come soon!

McDonagh's screen debut is promising, not as good as his plays

In Bruges (2008) - dir. Martin McDonagh - 4 stars

After Colin Farrell's character repeatedly disses Bruges in every manner possible, it's just fitting that Bruges takes her revenge on him when he is forced to face his demons in the town square. A little hide-out plan gone sour, two assassins try to lay low in Bruges until they get their next orders when things take a U-turn. At times grotesque and morbid, the film has a nice balance between noir and comedy. The acting take top honors in this tale of friendship among rats of humankind, especially since the script is lacking some of McDonagh's sharp and insightful dialog from his plays. Even though his genius shines through the first part of the film when the two hitmen carry on a series of conversations about religion, murder, life, and being a tourist among other things, his script gets muddied by the action once the gunfights begin.

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are the perfect pair for this film so kudos to the casting. The calm, fatherly figure that Gleeson portrays is an almost exact opposite to the impatient, spontaneous, and fearless character Farrell brings to life. The conversations between these two odd-ends remind me a bit of Tarantino's films where gangsters get disgusted by mayo on fries and learn to swing dance. Ralph Fiennes completes the trio with his focused and cold-blooded character who is also a disciplined father of three. These men seem more real and human than any other assassin you might have gotten the privilege to get to know on screen. This is attributable to both McDonagh's script and the trio's acting.

I can't write about this film without talking briefly about its visuals as it uses the dark, old and cold streets of Bruges to full effect to create its brooding atmosphere. All in all, this is a film I would definitely recommend as it is witty and entertaining; a successful screen debut for McDonagh.

Labaki's latest is as sweet as Caramel

Caramel (2007) - dir. Nadine Labaki - 4 stars

Nadine Labaki's Caramel leaves a sentimental, sweet and nostalgic aftertaste, so satisfying and familiar. What's amazing is that the viewer successfully connects with and cares for each character even though the film doesn't go to excessive lengths to explain its characters, judge them or take them too seriously. Maybe that's the winning formula for Labaki's feature.

The film is really a cross-section of the lives of a few friends from the same neighborhood, mainly focusing on four ladies who work at a beauty parlor. The 'problems' these friends face may seem mundane as they're very universal issues that have been dealt with in films for decades, but the presentation and handling of these issues within the film are spectacular, as Labani takes a lighter approach to exploring them. As the film is set in Lebanon, I was also curious to see if Labaki would try and tackle the local political situation. She carefully circles around politics and mainly deals with the successful coexistence of Christianity and Islam within the same community.

I can't write about this film without mentioning its beautiful women as they carry the whole weight of the film. They gain the respect, sympathy and adoration of the viewer easily. These women are towers of patience, love, strength, understanding and much more. It feels like Labaki adapted the footprint of the Sex and the City phenomenon to her local environment and expanded upon it. It works extremely well as these women stand by each other for everything.

Caramel doesn't fail to lift one's spirits as well as bring tears to one's eyes at the same time, especially with the emotional soundtrack playing in the background. It's a very human film that I would recommend to anyone.

Indy's whip still works!

Indiana Jones 4 - 4,5 stars

Having just got back from a preview screening of the latest installment of Indiana Jones, I can't contain my excitement and adrenaline levels! It was exhilarating - so much fun that I might consider seeing it again. Kudos to the Spielberg-Lucas duo and of course to the one-and-only Harrison Ford and Cate Blanchett.

The adventure this time revolves around a crystal skull and its powers. The mysterious skull takes Indy to South America, reunites him with some old friends, reveals a few surprises and leaves him face to face with his new rival - Irina Spalko, played by Blanchett. Frankly, Blanchett makes the perfect villain for this installment with her Siberian blue eyes, angular face, and dark, black, straight-cut bob; a villain worthy for Indy's come-back. Ford himself hasn't lost any of his charm as Indy is back as we've always known him. The plot breathes of endless adventure and the fantastic end proves to be larger than life, but perhaps a bit unresolved. A little appendix will also answer fans' long-awaited questions regarding the future of the series. All in all though, Spielberg has created a worthy successor to the series.

I forewarn anyone who I might be meeting in the next few weeks as I will be humming the Indy tune for some time and dreaming of becoming an archaeologist. So, you should see the film too so we can hum it together and go on an adventure to Egypt or Peru or somewhere where we can dig out mysterious artifacts! Yea!

"Listening Post" transcends voyeurism to art

Thumbs Up!
I recently got the chance to see Listening Post, the media installation by Mark Hansen and Ben Rubin, at the Science Museum. It got me thinking about the human need to connect and how the 21st century men try and connect via the cyber-space. Is it counter-productive or more efficient? As someone who uses chat and social networks, I'm not sure what the answer is...

To begin with, the piece is a technological marvel with 200 electronic screens designed in a big, curved grid backed up by algorithms that analyze real-time IRC chat data to compose a symphony with movements. The cool factor is that the symphony is different every time as it consists of real-time chat data. It also creates a sense of rush as you're eavesdropping on people's conversations. I must admit that one of the reasons I had decided to see this installation was because of its voyeurism aspect.

One of the sections is titled "I AM," and it puts together phrases starting with "I am" that are typed within the last two hours. The display of the phrases/words is accompanied by synthetic voices reading them out loud. The synthetic voices are so neutral (mind you, they don't sound blank like regular computer voices, but they just sound normal, bereft of any implication or emotion). The surround sound setup with the voices and the ambient music create an eerie atmosphere where anonymous people are reaching out for communication. What the viewer is left with is wondering whether or not the hand was met halfway by another...

I would highly recommend anyone to see the installation as it is thought-provoking, enjoyable, fresh and contemplative. I rarely enjoy art installations as I think most of them don't have any artistic merit, but this one deserves some credits.

Louvre in Istanbul: the Exhibition

While I was in Istanbul for a friend's wedding last weekend, I got the chance to see the 250-piece exhibition Louvre in Istanbul featuring Islamic art from the three capitals of Islamic art history, Istanbul, Isfahan and Delhi. The exhibition was housed in the lavish mansion that used to belong to a famous Turkish businessman, Sakip Sabanci, and was curated extremely well.

The historical introduction to each segment of the exhibition provided the necessary backdrop for understanding the pieces as they were perceived at their time, though most of the carpets, calligraphy and china on display were breathtaking solely through their artistry and beauty. Needless to say, I was very proud to have seen the exhibition, but slightly annoyed that the Louvre was housing all of these national treasures from our past, but that's another story so I'll move on...

The mansion itself was beautiful. Designed by an Italian architect in the 1940's, it hints at Versailles and other European royal courts with its interiors. The mansion is widely referred to as Atlı Köşk (Equestrian Villa) because of the bronze horse statue that sits in its front garden welcoming anyone who enters the premises. The view of the Bosphorus from the garden is a sight to behold. What I would give to have that view every morning of every day...

Check out the link to see some pics of the pieces on display and some other pics from my trip to Istanbul last weekend.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ysolmaz/SpringInIstanbulApr2008

On a further note, I found the TV spot that was created for the exhibition on youtube. It's minimalistic but very effective. Check it out!

Directorial Self-Indulgence at its Utmost

Funny Games U.S. - 2,5 stars

I'm glad I thought about this film a few days after having seen it because if I had written this review on the night of the viewing, the post would have been drastically different. I'll put it simply: Haneke completely pissed me off with his latest, which is actually a word-for-word, scene-for-scene replica of his 1997 Austrian film. Even the houses are built with the same exact measurements for the remake. And the same exact annoying frustration is there; so strong that I wanted to leave the cinema in the middle of the film, and I never do that...no matter how much I dislike a film...

Such strong reaction was probably what Haneke was going for with the American remake, but I still can't justify the self-indulgence on the part of the director prevalent in making this film; especially from such an auteur as Haneke. Funny Games U.S. does not compare to Caché or La Pianiste on any levels. But I still think it accomplishes what it sets out for: toying with our taken-for-granted securities and expectations from a story with cold-blooded villains.

The main frustration stems from the fact that the violence in the film has no reason or purpose, and Haneke denies the viewer the only scene of relief and satisfaction. At that point, everyone at the film theatre I was at lost it and started grumbling. The thought that these villains had more control than anyone else really pushes the viewer off the edge of benefit-of-the-doubt.

I'm sure a lot of people will hate Haneke for this film and will vow never to see his films again. I, on the other hand, will still see them, but I'll always remember the 2 hours I spent stuck in a hot cinema in central London shaking my leg and wondering when the hell I can get out... That's how strong your reaction to this film might be, just so you're aware.

Children are children, even when they're ghosts

El Orfanato - 4,5 stars

'One, Two, Three...Knock on the door...!' In all sincerity, I don't remember any film sequence with such pure suspense that made me clutch my seat as the camera swept across the room back and forth. Director Juan Antonio Bayona transforms one of children's favorite games into one of the finest suspense rides to grace the big screen as we play hide and seek with Laura and the lost children. The biggest accomplishment for the film though is its modern twist on the traditional ghost story, which essentially lifts this film out of the depths of countless horror flicks into the finest levels of masterful suspense.

El Orfanato may be one of the few horror films to have a spine, a heart and a brain. The screenplay is very solid and well-developed with every turn in the story well calculated and for a reason, kudos to Sergio Sánchez. The script along with the fine acting, especially of the main actress Belén Rueda, carry the film comfortably forward. Rueda does an excellent job of making us connect with her where the viewer actually cares about her and her quest up until the final moment.

All in all, Bayona triumphs in proving to the film world that a horror film on a typical premise can still surprise, thrill and keep its grip on the viewer for prolonged moments of pleasurable suspense. Highly recommended!

Yalin singing live at the legendary Green Mill

Yes, you've read that correctly. I've made it to the Green Mill and sang two songs with a trio as part of the Bloom School of Jazz recital. While I was in Chicago for the past couple of months, I decided I should invest in myself a bit and decided to take the jazz vocal courses offered by Spider Saloff at the Bloom School. After seven sessions and a few rehearsals, I found myself on the stage of the legendary Mill.. what can I say? It feels great!

The two songs I performed are You've Changed by Bill Carey and Carl Fischer and Honeysuckle Rose by Thomas 'Fats' Waller. Feel free to head to the following youtube links to watch the live performance of both songs at the Mill. Hope you enjoy them!

You've Changed - http://youtube.com/watch?v=QY9hIhf4hJo
Honeysuckle Rose - http://youtube.com/watch?v=s4RwFEwBu7A

Wong Kar-Wai's visual seduction just about saves his latest

My Blueberry Nights - 3,5 stars

Never has a kiss been filmed so deliciously and seductively, yet Kar-Wai's latest film falls short when it comes to its screenplay. Images of ice cream melting slowly over a slice of fresh blueberry pie accompany a lateral shot of Jude Law kissing the ice cream off Norah Jones' full lips. My Blueberry Nights continues Kar-Wai's visual tradition that defined his auteur seal for his previous films such as In the Mood for Love, 2046 and Chungking Express. The sliding, slow camera movements, full exposed colors, highly-stylized mise-en-scène and overall visual polish are the prominent features of this film. His signature slow-motion treatment of real-time film is still around and used to full effect. However, all the prettiness can't save the script.

I must say that the actors have done their best, and their performances are pretty good, even Norah Jones', though Natalie Portman leads the main honors. The casting of Norah Jones isn't that surprising either as Kar-Wai likes to star popular artists in his films such as Faye Wong, a pop singer in Hong Kong, who starred in Chungking Express after which she continued to work with him. However, the script feels empty, under-developed and too indie, to such an extent that there were times when I chuckled at certain voice-over comments about life or love in general. They felt a bit too tired and forced. This might be the result of Kar-Wai working with a language other than his native tongue.

In my opinion, Kar-Wai did not deliver what he should have shown the world as his next film after 2046. The material isn't well developed and the script feels too forced. But it's still a beautiful film and I would recommend watching it just for the visuals and the cinematography. I won't be buying the DVD any time soon though.

Lights. Mic. Record. One. Two. One, Two, Three, Four!

I've been quite active with music lately. I recorded four songs for my best friend's birthday in Jan 2008. All four songs are covers and more or less in the style of the original performer, especially the Amy Winehouse covers. They also have a single idea that binds them - longing (for love, for life, etc.). Therefore, I named this CD of covers after my best friend's name - ö·z·l·e·m, which means longing in Turkish. Below are four songs:

1. I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight – Bob Dylan
2. Stronger Than Me – Amy Winehouse
3. Love is a Losing Game – Amy Winehouse
4. C’est L’amour – Carla Bruni

I also signed up for jazz vocal classes at the Bloom School of Jazz at the beginning of the year and have been attending once a week. I've just recorded a demo of the two songs that I'll be performing at the Green Mill in Chicago on March 29 as my graduation ceremony. I'm really excited because I was able to develop my own style for both songs, You've Changed and Honeysuckle Rose. They're not the best right now as I'm still working on them, but they've come a long way... With this demo CD, I can target problem areas and try and improve before the final show at the Green Mill. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

I hope to stay as active as I've been so far on the music front. Hopefully, you'll hear from me again with more songs and maybe jam sessions/open-mic nights, where I'll need your support. ;) Check out the songs at my myspace.com page:

http://www.myspace.com/ysolmaz

Persepolis: Waking Call for Turkey?

Persepolis - 5 stars

The Oscar-nominated animated film struck many cords in me. I laughed, I cried, I pondered, but most of the time, I was just scared... scared of how much of Iran's history could repeat itself in my country.

I can't lie that I went into the film with a fair bit of scepticism as I believed it to be the typical Western propaganda against the Middle-East, but what I found was far more accurate, humane, nostalgic and scary, especially considering Turkey's current state. Persepolis explores Iran's sudden change to an Islamic Republic, how that affects the country's well-versed and hopeful, and how there is no place like home. The main character, Marjane, grows up during the Islamic revolution in Iran and then eventually has to flee the country to live the way she used to before the revolution. She eventually makes it to France at the end but with a bitter heart, as she absolutely doesn't belong in Europe but can't belong to Iran any more either. Her country has changed and has become a place where she doesn't fit.

I personify with Marjane quite a lot. In my response to Mira Nair's film the Namesake, I wrote about not feeling at home outside of Turkey but also not feeling quite right in Turkey either. With AK Party in government and at the President's seat, I worry that my country is headed to a direction that she has avoided since its foundation. Even if AK Party has no intention to bring sharia law to Turkey, I'm not sure if they can fully control the extremists who are definitely taking advantage of the chaotic situation. It's scarier when the people who started the snowball, thinking they can control it, lose control. If the snowball becomes an avalanche, Turkey will change into another Iran where our basic liberties, the right to choose and secularism will slowly fade into the not-so-distant past. After having read many newspaper columnists, I am not only scared, I'm alarmed, as these long-tenured columnists who have always stood by a secular and modern Turkey are slowly giving up on our country...

There are so many variables determining Turkey's future that it's very hard to say what will happen. I do believe that we should relax our ban on headscarves so women who wear them by will or by force can get education and hopefully decide for themselves whether or not to wear it in the future. I do believe that this will also make us more democratic and secular, as the sole existence of a religious symbol's ban by the government is against secularism by definition. However, with the headscarf, comes the possibility of a social clampdown where women who don't wear them are looked down upon by those who do. Slowly, this could create enough social pressure that all women will start wearing headscarfs, not by will, but by social pressure. The same pressure could spread to other areas of our lives very easily, even if the government doesn't pass any laws on anything. It's a slippery and risky slope, which is why Turkey has so far been reluctant on changing the headscarf ban.

The only way we can stop such social pressure is to educate people and increase understanding of each other. Tolerance will need to be a shared virtue for all Turkish people, devout Muslim or not, if we are ever to overcome the weight of Islam on our proud Republic and really succeed in marrying secularim and a mostly Muslim public together in a true democracy. I'm still hopeful but I believe people like me need to start taking some steps to contribute to this hopeful vision before it's too late. I just don't know where or how to start...

Yalin makes it BIG in Bollywood

17 Feb 2008 11:03 am CST Chicago, IL: Variety reports that famous singer based in the UK, Yalin Solmaz, has made it big in Bollywood. The rumor has it that Solmaz has signed an exclusive deal with a major studio in Mumbai to star in four of their upcoming line-up in 2009. When asked about his sudden success, Solmaz mentioned a few names who have helped him along the way, the director Jimmy being the most prominent for his Bollywood endeavours.

Below is a clip of Solmaz's award-winning performance from "Indian Cowboy" directed by Jimmy with famous co-star Natasa Gligoric.

Depp moves into Fleet Street with Success

Sweeney Todd - 4,5 stars

Burton's screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Broadway hit is extremely polished, fascinating and entertaining. Considering it's Burton, these qualities shouldn't surprise anyone as he is one of the most creative and detail-oriented directors out there. From the camera work to the color scheme, the period costumes to the eery make-up, Sweeney Todd is a wonderful film to watch, albeit a bit bloody.

His almost-exclusive relationship with Johnny Depp, which started with the Corpse Bride and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, seems to be paying off as the pair keep putting out high-quality work. With the addition of Helena Bonham Carter, who also starred in the Corpse Bride, the cast is top-notch, and boy can they sing! I also want to add how great a pair Depp and Carter make on screen so I hope to see them together in other films (hopefully directed by Burton again!).

No one else could have attempted to match Burton's take on the famous serial killer and his partner-in-crime and make it such a success at the box office too. The way he tells their stories, dreams and desires prove to be emotionally strong accompanied by the musical pieces. Burton effectively manages not to be bound by the music but to use it to his advantage for full effect. As a director who uses music extensively in his work, he has become a master at integrating it in his films and has proven once again that he should be watched closely. I can't wait to see his take on Alice in Wonderland due to be released in 2010. I wonder if Carter will play the little Alice herself...

Cancun - Little America

Having spent almost a whole week in Cancun, Mexico, I can now join the ranks of vacationers everywhere who descend upon this Caribbean spot during the winter. 27-30 C temperatures for winter sound great to me. No humidity, white sandy beaches, palm trees and drinks at the pool...and not to forget, the jet skis. Aaahh, the resort hotel experience. My one concern about Cancun is that it doesn't feel like you've left the US at all. All the American chains (food, coffee, clothing, you name it) are in Cancun, they accept dollars here so no need to get any Mexican pesos, the tourists are segregated to 20 odd miles called the Hotel Zone outside of downtown. The experience is pampering but there is no Mexican culture involved in Little America, Cancun. They don't even collect your US departure card when you leave for Mexico for less than 30 days. It's as if you've never left the US, even for the government!

After days of meetings in the hotel (work function), I made sure that I spent enough time at the beach, saw the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, and ate as much Mexican traditional and fusion food as possible. All in all, this was a successful and relaxing time. All I needed before enduring another month of snowy Chicago. The crazy snow storm that hit the city today meant that my flight had to be rerouted to St. Louis for refueling and waiting until the Chicago airport reopened. Chicago never fails to make my trips more adventurous than they should be. :)

Check out the photos!
http://picasaweb.google.com/ysolmaz/CancunMexicoFeb2008

Havada Bulut Yok - First Recording

I finally got around to encoding my performance at the 2005 Colors of Rhythm concert at Oberlin College. It has a lot of value for me as it was my first time singing a traditional Turkish turku ever, and it consequently led to my interest in flamenco. Many thanks to Savas, who is playing the guitar, BOzlem, who pulled the Turks of Oberlin together for this performance, Asli, BOzlem, KOzlem and Sercil for the choreography. I encoded two versions of the performance, one with only the song and another one with both the song and the dance sequence.

Turku Only


And here's the link for the version with both the song and the dance sequence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVkW-hneHXM

Enjoy! There will be more to come! ;)

Money Making Monster

Cloverfield - 3 stars

Looking at the Box Office numbers, Abrams' money has been well-invested. In its first weekend, Cloverfield shot to the top of any January release by raking in more than $40 million. This BO accomplishment comes on the heels of horrific reviews from NYTimes, Variety and a sleuth of other film critique publications. It seems Cloverfield's main premise of a fake documentary of a monster laying waste to Manhattan has hit the cords with entertainment-seeking movie-goers. I don't blame them. Cloverfield manages to be quite horrifying while being funny at the same time, given the fact that it's a monster film at heart.

The hand-held camera obviously contributes a lot to the horror, as the viewer's vision is shaky, limited and grainy, ensuring complete immersion in the action. One of the best scenes of the film is when the group is attacked by the smaller ilk of the monster in the subway tunnels. It truly is a sequence of amazing power because it seems so natural, so real. You almost believe these people are run over by aliens; that is until the cameraman starts blaring out another round of stupid remarks. That brings me to the screenwriting, which is good on average, except for these rounds of stupid dialogue initiated mostly by the cameraman.

Despite its shortcomings, Cloverfield entertains and satisfies as a monster movie. The hand-held camera, the special effects, and the monster all make this one a crowd-pleaser. Hollywood is of course happy too. This one is nothing special but fun to watch.

It's tails for the Coen Bros this time around

No Country for Old Men - 3.5 stars

The Coen Brothers' latest follows on the heels of O Brother, Where Art Thou and The Man Who Wasn't There in terms of its atmosphere, but they can't seem to shoot the bull's eye this time around. As always, the attention to detail with the impeccable mise-en-scène rings usual for the Coen pair, and the film is refreshing in the sense that it doesn't focus on action even though so much carnage ensues in its wake, but the film seems to be missing an integral artery. The flawless performances by Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and Tommy Lee Jones, is unfortunately suffocated by an all-to-familiar tale that says the same thing we've heard countless times. However, it does accomplish in showcasing the changing face of violence in West Texas in the 1980's, awing the viewer with breathtaking scenery (kudos to the cinematographer) and introducing a villain who is one of the most memorable of recent times. So, I fully support the Best Actor Golden Globe, but I simply can't justify the Best Screenplay Globe...

The For-Two Syndrome

In my busy Chicago days (don't get me wrong; I'm busy because of work these days, not play), I rarely get the chance to cook a hearty meal at home. So, I usually have to either eat out or buy something ready-to-cook. After a few weeks of this regime, what I realized is that almost everything pre-cooked comes for couples! Bread-crusted salmon and leek quiche (for two...), Bertolli's roasted chicken and linguine (for two.....), Giordano's famous Chicago pizza for delivery (for freaking two................!!!). I'm already single and these for-two meals aren't helping me as I get to eat double portions every dinner! How is that supposed to help me end my spinster ways? You tell me.

Dec 07 in a nutshell

The day after New Year's Eve, I realized I hadn't blogged for the longest time! That's not because there hasn't been anything happening since Thanksgiving, but more because there has been a lot going on. As I had promised myself when I arrived in Chicago, I traveled within the US as much as possible. In order to keep things concise, I'll give a quick overview of the past month.

1st off, there was San Francisco...
And such a beautiful and intoxicating city it is! My sister and I had great French food at Cafe Claude, the city's best cafe au lait at Cafe de la Presse, good times on the old but still cool trams, had some dungeness crab and visited Alcatraz. Feel free to check out the pics!

http://picasaweb.google.com/ysolmaz/SanFranciscoNov2007

Then, it was back to the Big Apple...
Gozde, Salvo and I made a dash to the Big Apple for a fabulous weekend. Visited most of the touristy stuff so we could show Salvo as much of NYC as possible in two days. We even managed to squeeze in some ice-skating, which I had never done in my life before. Just so you know, I suck at it! So, don't try and take me ice-skating... ever! Check out the pics!

http://picasaweb.google.com/ysolmaz/NYCDec2007

Who said skiing in Vail was only for the famous...?
Seriously! The snow was fluffy, the weather was gorgeous, the company was fun, the food absolutely home-made and delicious-every single night. Our amazing organizer, Gozde, pulled it all together and we had a condo in Vail with a hot tub, swimming pool and sauna, which was about 5 min walking distance from the slopes. I had a half-day skiing lesson and got addicted so I'll definitely be hitting the slopes again sometime soon. Ice-skating I may suck at, but skiing comes naturally. ;) Pics, as always, are available:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ysolmaz/SkiingInVailCODec2007

A little stint in Toronto proved why Canada is called Canadia...
Toronto was, in one word, boring. The city had no spirit, wasn't interesting and had no charm whatsoever. Even the people living there looked a bit...umm...weird and suspicious in some way I can't explain. The only good thing that came out of it was my parents visiting their old friends who had emigrated here long ago and taking a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls. Feel free to pass up on Toronto and head to Quebec if you're ever in Canada.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ysolmaz/TorontoNiagaraFallsCanadaDec2007

Discover why Montreal and Quebec City rock...
These two cities are incredible... I was absolutely speechless when I saw the European grandeur in these two North American cities. Mind you, Quebec City is the oldest city in North America, who celebrated its 400th anniversary this New Year's Eve. The French influence is very strong here and the people of Quebec have a real sense of identity that's clear and strong, which separates them from your average Canadian. I was highly impressed with the standard of living, the care, love and respect they show for their cities, and their hospitality. The Quebecoises bent over backwards to speak in English when I couldn't converse in French. I would definitely visit these cities again, despite the -20C temperatures I had to endure.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ysolmaz/MontrAlQuBecJan2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/ysolmaz/QuBecCityQuBecJan2008

So, there's my December 07 in a nutshell. Happy New Year to all of you and I hope to see you all very soon!!!

Bonne Annee!