tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34984476499218671992011-11-28T00:53:15.941ZCheck here often to read about the latest films, events, and thoughts. Majority of the site is devoted to film reviews and critiques that correspond with my film review twitter feed (@filmique), but there are also posts related to art, music, travel and more for those based in London.Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.comBlogger1031100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-59362466801450064582011-11-09T23:44:00.003Z2011-11-09T23:44:41.046Z

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) - dir. Lynne Ramsay - 5 stars It is ironic that the film's title is never ever uttered; none of the characters ever feel the emotional or psychological strength to ask this question. But it is, after all, what is constantly crossing their minds - a preemptive question that seeks to unravel Pandora's box before it explodes.  In turn, we as the viewer

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-41118408606556017502011-09-13T18:23:00.001+01:002011-09-13T18:23:58.819+01:00

The Skin I Live In (2011) - dir. Pedro Almodóvar - 5 stars Prolific Spanish director tells a grim tale of love and revenge intertwined with queer identity and more twists than any other Almodóvar film to date.  In its treatment of time and film noir elements, the film harkens back to “Bad Education,” but Almodóvar manages to delve into a form of queer identity he had never dwelled on

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-59423961330747487552011-04-02T03:53:00.002+01:002011-04-02T03:54:59.883+01:00

Last weekend, I took a stroll along the canals in London. I started from Victoria Park and went to Haggerston stopping by Columbia Road flower market and Broadway Market on my way. Along the way, I ended up becoming friends with a cat, getting some nice tea and listening to a great band playing some of the best folk blues I had listened to in a while...all of which sit in my photo gallery on

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-13560143350050375562011-03-12T12:01:00.001Z2011-03-14T23:36:28.641Z

The Venice Carnival has been brought back from the dead by the Italian government in the 70s to reinstate the Venetian tradition of the mask and costume, which was only allowed to be worn during specific times of the year due to the 'immoral' behavior mask-bearers would indulge in.  But most likely, the revival of this carnival was to promote tourism. I must say it works, as I found myself in the

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-23146726287256085602011-03-12T11:44:00.000Z2011-03-12T11:44:26.667Z

I finally decided to challenge myself with a Vimeo Weekend Project now that I have my DSLR. My first attempt can be seen at this link.  The rules were simple: to create a video of any length using Vanchy's "Catching The Simple But Happy Days (Electronica road song)" on SoundCloud. After four hours of taking photos of millimetric movements, I had my first submission. Video consists of ~1,500

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-48268194781937276162011-02-26T14:27:00.001Z2011-02-26T14:27:42.308Z

I am fascinated by the camera and how it emulates how the human eye sees the world.  From aperture to shutter speed, SLR technology allows us to capture the exact moments in time that we see.  Even tough my main goal is to work in cinematography, I am delving into stills photography to understand the workings of the camera better.  As such, I have established a new gallery on DeviantART where

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-31105033935900081872010-11-11T12:12:00.000Z2010-11-11T12:12:31.537Z

Kosmos (2010) - dir. Reha Erdem - 4 stars "The funny thing about life is that everybody has the same fate" declares Kosmos, Reha Erdem's latest protagonist.  As one of the first lines of dialogue in the film, this quote profoundly captures the essence of what Erdem is trying to convey with his creation. Sufi ideals, shamanistic rituals and a lot of frantic running dominate Kosmos and defines

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-79633525026838515882010-11-08T01:00:00.000Z2010-11-08T01:00:30.859Z

Copie Conforme/Certified Copy (2010) - dir. Abbas Kiarostami - 5 stars The last film from Kiarostami I had seen was Shirin, which had forced me to think about where Kiarostami saw his work presented - in the cinema or in an art gallery.  Shirin had pushed the boundaries of what's expected in cinema with its construction whereby close-ups of 114 Iranian women, mostly theatre and cinema actresses

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-60337544246551223212010-07-04T01:35:00.000+01:002010-07-04T01:35:32.300+01:00

The tale of Icarus gets a "science in fiction" overhaul as Brian Greene's book is transformed into a multimedia experience. Narrated by David Morissey, featuring a film by Al + Al and an original score by Philip Glass, the European premiere at the Royal Festival Hall started with the Dr. Atomic Symphony by John Adams. It was a fine start, fit for the main event, as it is an opera about the life

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-12336926332598457452010-07-02T00:21:00.002+01:002010-07-02T15:56:55.270+01:00

Please Give (2010) - dir. Nicole Holofcener - 3 stars It's been a while since I saw Friends with Money (2006), the film that introduced me to the Holofcener name.  I hadn't realized until then that I had already seen her work before, alas on TV.  She had directed many episodes, some for Sex and the City and Six Feet Under, but it was with her 2006 film that I came to connect the dots between

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-47848412557472002402010-06-27T04:31:00.001+01:002010-06-27T13:14:08.033+01:00

As I soaked in the famous opening fanfare of Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra performed live by the London Philharmonic,  I saw the beautiful image of the Earth rising over the Moon with the Sun following suit in alignment. I then read the words appear ominously on the screen: 2001: a Space Odyssey. Attending the world premiere of Kubrick's definitive science fiction epic with live music

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-32917500998724271762010-06-21T00:43:00.000+01:002010-06-21T00:43:07.572+01:00

Les Herbes Folles/Wild Grass (2009) - dir. Alain Resnais - 3 stars Resnais made a name for himself first with his documentary short film, Night and Fog (1955), and then with his first feature length film, Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959). His fascination with memory as a subjective phenomenon reared its head in almost all of his films, taking center stage with Last Year in Marienbad (1961). His

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-7565768432297335842010-06-03T00:59:00.000+01:002010-06-03T00:59:37.581+01:00

Micmacs (2009) - dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet - 3 stars Jeunet's imagination is an impressive creature. The fact that he pulled off Amelie from a box of thrown-in notes tells tons about the man's talent. Speaking at the BFI preview screening of Micmacs, his latest feature, he admitted that he wrote it in about two weeks out of a desperation to film after failing to score financial backing for the

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-58737867361822037322010-05-24T05:33:00.000+01:002010-05-24T05:33:15.118+01:00

Shrek Forever After (2010) - dir. Mike Mitchell - 3 stars The fourth and final instalment of the Shrek franchise doesn't take any risks when it comes to its story but still manages to whip up an entertaining experience with a worthwhile new villain, who is as deviously funny as Lord Farquaad from the original.  The film essentially picks up where the third entry left. Shrek and Fiona are

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-2486500791431033002010-05-18T05:06:00.002+01:002010-05-22T21:56:38.151+01:00

Four Lions (2010) - dir. Christopher Morris - 1 star One cannot boil down the intricacies of home-grown terrorism into a comedy. Let me preface this review by saying that I do not lack a sense of humour. The truth is that Morris' presentation of his characters does not constitute a dark comedy; it is just a bad film. It completely omits the psychological, social and religious background that

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-40381101020707345022010-05-14T00:35:00.000+01:002010-05-14T00:35:35.511+01:00

Robin Hood (2010) - dir. Ridley Scott - 3 stars I would have loved to be at Cannes to see the reactions of the critics after seeing Robin Hood last night.  Ridley Scott claims to have made the most historically accurate Robin Hood film, and while it may be the case, the film feels devoid of energy despite its attempts to appear epic. A visual and directorial quality that seems more appropriate

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-50381055351143968472010-05-06T01:19:00.000+01:002010-05-06T01:19:37.453+01:00

Iron Man 2 (2010) - dir. Jon Favreau - 2 stars Comparing the second serving of the Iron Man franchise to its original would be a big mistake.  The special effects are better than before, the Iron Man suit is shinier than ever, and we have a new villain who can kick some ass.  But it's a failed attempt as it has none of the charm, surprise, or fun elements of the first film.  It's downright

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-28694909187658023322010-05-02T01:41:00.000+01:002010-05-02T01:41:38.318+01:00

Whatever Works (2009) - dir. Woody Allen - 4 stars Allen's latest is being hailed by many critics as a return-to-roots for the director .  It's being compared to Annie Hall, which in itself is a compliment. Considering that Allen wrote the script for Whatever Works in the 70s, the comparison isn't too surprising. Having found his leading man in Larry David some 30 years later, Allen decided to

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-56104040915484732682010-04-26T23:11:00.000+01:002010-04-26T23:11:14.791+01:00

I Love You Phillip Morris (2009) - dir. Glenn Ficarra & John Requa - 4,5 stars The posters showcase a gay couple with two pooches, Barbie-like hair and glowing skin.  They carry the trademark smile that Jim Carrey is famous for. The whole thing beckons like a straight-up comedy from the wrapper, but the film's deep and thoughtful handling of the true story of Steven Russell and Phillip Morris

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-86619406512864734642010-04-25T00:58:00.001+01:002010-04-25T01:04:05.177+01:00

Clash of the Titans (2010) - dir. Louis Leterrier - 2 stars I must admit I wasn't expecting much to begin with when I went to see this remake of the 1981 classic, but even so, the film was underwhelming. Made in typical cash-cow style that dominates Hollywood remakes, the film pays too much attention to the action and graphics and not enough to the characters or the mythology. It's one of those

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-57721264269047861102010-04-18T21:51:00.007+01:002010-04-18T22:31:11.059+01:00

Date Night (2010) - dir. Shawn Levy - 3,5 starsNever, ever, take someone else's restaurant reservation. One little white lie can take your life off the rails. That is pretty much the premise behind the new comedy from Levy. Starring the poster children of US comedy, Steve Carell and Tina Fey, the film has to satisfy a lot of expectations on the comedy front. It ends up as an enjoyable night out,

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-46861612903245581252010-03-07T21:31:00.006Z2010-03-07T22:33:40.398Z

Alice in Wonderland (2010) - dir. Tim Burton - 2 starsBurton is a director with a very distinct view of things. He tends to show the beauty in some of the most unlikely characters, embrace the dark and review a new good within it. Some might say he is the Mad Hatter of the world of cinema. However, his latest is a disappointing experience. It is slow, boring, conventional and so not Burton. It

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-53595695253363432402010-02-18T23:08:00.008Z2010-02-25T22:48:32.082Z

A Single Man (2009) - dir. Tom Ford - 4 starsTom Ford has an eye for beauty. In his directing debut, almost every shot is carefully designed in terms of mise-en-scène. Wong Kar Wai influences are abundant in the camera movements, the fleeting moments that seem to rise out of reach so fast like a red balloon. He is also lucky to have fine performances from his leads, Colin Firth and Julianne

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-51459358374600616492010-01-27T00:58:00.007Z2010-02-18T23:06:41.408Z

The Lovely Bones (2009) - dir. Peter Jackson - 3 starsJackson's latest is definitely not an epic film, which has been his forte. By contrast, it is a decidedly small drama with an ensemble cast that's as good as it gets. On top of that, Jackson's signature is obvious in the editing, the attention to detail and the special effects. However, the film doesn't necessarily bring anything fresh.I'm not

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-89269865977028588992010-01-25T00:20:00.008Z2010-01-27T00:58:17.468Z

Avatar (2009) - dir. James Cameron - 4 starsThis is a film that was hailed as the dawn of a new type of cinema before it was even released. It created enough hype and speculation to rival an Apple product release (watch out on January 27!). I paid good money to experience this creation as it was meant to be. Off I went to the Odeon Leicester Square, put on my 3D glasses and got ready to be sucked

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-66134694703568602232010-01-12T23:30:00.005Z2010-01-13T00:38:51.375Z

The Road (2009) - dir. John Hillcoat - 4 starsWhat distinguishes Hillcoat's gripping tale from other post-apocalyptic films is his focus on the realistic issues that humanity would face in such a situation raising questions on the ideals of humanity and human nature. What part of humanity do we expect to last in a situation where the world is ending and everyone's out for their own survival?

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-16802947622914508422010-01-11T18:55:00.007Z2010-01-11T19:42:09.708Z

It's Complicated (2009) - dir. Nancy Meyers - 2,5 starsI am a little confused with Meyers' latest. It's blessed with great acting from the leads, but the overall feeling is fake and almost irritating. Meyers has been very successful writing about the suburban American family, specifically focusing on the middle-aged participants, each film presenting a different dimension of their lives from

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-38400965306091639432009-11-22T10:54:00.007Z2009-11-24T21:44:30.184Z

The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) - dir. Grant Heslov - 4 starsIf someone told you that the US military had approved a special unit to train psychic soldiers in the 80s and tested their effectiveness on goats, would you believe them? Grant Heslov's feature cautions the viewer at first sight by warning that more of the film than what we think is real. This quirky comedy, which revolves around an

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-88783412105383889612009-09-15T03:52:00.007+01:002009-09-15T04:34:11.452+01:00

Julie & Julia (2009) - dir. Nora Ephron - 3 starsBook-to-screen adaptation of Julie Powell's blogging and cooking adventure leaves a sweet taste, but it isn't long-lasting. That isn't to say the film isn't good; it's thoroughly funny thanks to Meryl Streep's quirky yet loveable depiction of Julia Child, and it flows smoothly from chapter to chapter. However, the experience is more of a good

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-18157900809565201802009-08-17T04:14:00.007+01:002009-08-17T05:12:54.081+01:00

District 9 (2009) - dir. Neill Blomkamp - 5 starsI am dumbfounded. Blomkamp's feature reveals the deepest shades of human nature in the most surprising format. Its allegorical backbone for South African politics and general racial profiling extends into the most meaningful and touching sci-fi that has yet been made. Its tight script and inverted story makes for one of the best dramatic

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-24307323225827276132009-07-23T22:17:00.004+01:002009-07-23T22:45:15.809+01:00

Rudo y Cursi (2008) - dir. Carlos Cuarón - 3 starsAs the Cuarón brothers took center stage at the BFI accompanied by Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna after the preview screening of Rudo y Cursi, it was obvious that this group was a "band of brothers" whose close ties and unselfish support for each other meant great, if not unique, films yet to come. However, Carlos' debut feature doesn't have

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-33709010081438781152009-04-11T13:39:00.007+01:002009-04-11T14:40:22.793+01:00

Güneşi Gördüm (2009) - dir. Mahsun Kırmızıgül - 4 starsKırmızıgül is a singer-turned-director, whose reaping the benefit of his fame in order to exploit to the masses one of Turkey's worst flaws that afflicts not only the Kurdish population but also any group within Turkey whose existence is challanged by societal and feudal traditions.  This collective intolerance against "them," which is

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-85776196565647334652009-03-28T16:03:00.005Z2009-03-28T16:49:41.564Z

Full Metal Jacket (1987) - dir. Stanley Kubrick - 5 starsThere is not much else that can be said that hasn't already been said about Kubrick. He's that rare genius who exploits all cinematic tools available to him to get his point across. In Full Metal Jacket, his choice of music really fascinated me as it drove home the point of American brashness and naivete in the face of the Vietnam War.

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-10103878213649951152009-01-17T00:15:00.006Z2009-01-17T00:58:07.291Z

Doubt (2008) - dir. John Patrick Shanley - 5 starsThe screen adaptation of the hit play succeeds at many levels, securing multiple award nominations. This should not come off as too surprising though considering the impeccable writing, thoughtful and deliberate acting on the part of the whole ensemble, and the somber cinematography. All in all, Doubt is one of the best films of 2008 and should

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-68069739204515404222009-01-04T04:07:00.004Z2009-01-04T04:42:31.673Z

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - dir. David Fincher - 4,5 starsMost films are about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.  On the surface, David Fincher's film appears to be the exact opposite of this formula whereby it tells the story of an extraordinary person in ordinary circumstances.  Benjamin Button, born as an old man, is destined to grow younger as he lives his life.

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-7847889434337058642008-12-22T05:26:00.005Z2008-12-22T05:52:15.874Z

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,

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-56852938616878189592008-11-15T13:40:00.006Z2008-11-15T14:04:41.971Z

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-70886006239670729022008-11-04T00:36:00.006Z2008-11-09T01:37:02.030Z

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-39586302464859530212008-09-27T00:43:00.003+01:002008-09-27T01:06:59.651+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-84270561640149594602008-09-21T22:11:00.007+01:002008-09-21T23:00:26.650+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-75157980775392875842008-08-07T06:13:00.005+01:002008-08-13T01:08:32.095+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-90493213463618693292008-08-05T03:15:00.003+01:002008-08-07T06:10:51.336+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-42473127734872077312008-07-20T17:14:00.004+01:002008-07-20T17:35:51.254+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-69515193770463102382008-07-18T00:19:00.004+01:002008-07-18T00:54:54.397+01:00

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 OzonOzon 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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-52102419643604463322008-06-24T10:58:00.009+01:002008-06-27T00:24:02.458+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-10305884413957735692008-06-17T23:36:00.004+01:002008-06-18T00:08:20.874+01:00

La Notte (1961) - dir. Michelangelo AntonioniAntonioni 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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-38272766552012356482008-06-02T22:40:00.009+01:002008-06-05T01:14:25.993+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-72471170888487902012008-06-01T19:00:00.008+01:002008-06-30T22:58:34.793+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-75176621617217373292008-05-30T00:41:00.001+01:002008-05-30T00:41:33.729+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-18111684450702889992008-05-22T23:34:00.003+01:002008-05-23T00:05:00.793+01:00

Indiana Jones 4 - 4,5 starsHaving 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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-70297556184048246862008-05-13T23:41:00.003+01:002008-05-19T23:11:35.094+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-1430432201213926472008-04-30T23:29:00.009+01:002008-05-01T01:23:20.696+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-21493029307893521292008-04-08T00:20:00.005+01:002008-04-11T01:21:46.671+01:00

Funny Games U.S. - 2,5 starsI'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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-73255829760760012292008-04-05T00:09:00.004+01:002008-04-08T00:17:43.014+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-22977139412602513652008-04-02T22:56:00.006+01:002008-04-03T01:54:21.819+01:00

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-35513247073344603142008-03-19T23:53:00.006Z2008-03-20T00:41:55.073Z

My Blueberry Nights - 3,5 starsNever 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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-16470240726138245892008-03-04T04:39:00.005Z2008-03-04T05:05:31.454Z

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-57295080183526655572008-02-22T03:50:00.004Z2008-02-22T05:50:57.268Z

Persepolis - 5 starsThe 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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-44126788426292221722008-02-17T16:51:00.004Z2008-02-17T17:15:20.019Z

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-74398819524313405082008-02-07T06:32:00.001Z2008-02-07T06:58:40.496Z

Sweeney Todd - 4,5 starsBurton'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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-14029717884887218192008-02-04T06:10:00.000Z2008-02-04T06:36:40.662Z

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-65116664427628563462008-01-28T06:21:00.000Z2008-01-28T07:18:13.485Z

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-45016930822149589292008-01-27T00:41:00.000Z2008-01-27T01:06:15.634Z

Cloverfield - 3 starsLooking 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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-37751754066968396282008-01-21T06:52:00.000Z2008-01-21T07:15:25.940Z

No Country for Old Men - 3.5 starsThe 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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-86340142043427709612008-01-17T02:57:00.000Z2008-01-21T07:28:57.510Z

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-79559501162397699752008-01-05T23:58:00.000Z2008-01-06T00:33:44.603Z

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

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-7379139910255886322007-12-06T03:37:00.000Z2007-12-06T06:33:10.020Z

Thanks to my lovely Australian friends, I'm living the jet-setting life! I made my way back to London for four days to go north (Norwich to be exact) to some small town where we rented a manor house. The manor house was called "The Rectory," where Queen Elizabeth I played as a child. How could I miss a manor house fit for a queen???? Well, I didn't. I booked my flights, made my way to

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-15411490336418548492007-12-06T03:27:00.000Z2007-12-06T03:37:50.035Z

Bon soir mis amis! Pour les quatre semaines, j’apprend le français. Je peux expliquer mon nom, prénom, âge, adresse, numéro de téléphone, etc. Par exemple, je m’appelle Yalin et j’ai vingt-quatre ans. J’habit a Chicago et je travaille a Morningstar. J’aime cuisiner, chanter, danser, et diner au restaurant. J’adore voyager a de divers pays. So, what do you think of my French so far ? I’ve

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-64577516526440978122007-11-12T05:22:00.000Z2007-11-12T05:29:10.548Z

OK, I absolutely love Amy Winehouse's voice, but when will she grow up? She's wasting her amazing voice by getting wasted or high all the time. Just listen to this video of her performing at EMA. It's disgusting...And now listen to this, where she sings with Charlotte Church. Church actually sounds better than Winehouse...sad...!

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-85938478248646006362007-11-10T20:33:00.001Z2007-11-10T21:03:59.534Z

I can't hold my tears back as I watch original footage of Ataturk's ceremony. 69 years ago, the leader of the century closed his eyes and left the newly-founded Turkey on her own legs. Having been force-fed western values as the ultimate modern and best, I had forgotten how rich our heritage really is and how much of it we really should be proud of. Looking through the slideshow composed of

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-31583722458206054932007-11-08T05:07:00.000Z2007-11-08T05:33:05.680Z

...and then it was time for the scariest time of the year - Halloween! Having never celebrated Halloween before in my entire life, even though I've lived in the US for more than six years, I decided to make the most of my circumstances. I was in Chicago, it was Halloween, my sister was throwing a big Halloween party, I could invite my friends - what was I waiting for?!?The inspiration struck me

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-38280279594345368212007-10-28T02:30:00.000Z2007-11-10T21:04:41.114Z

So, I've been back in the windy city for over three weeks now (good God, time flies by!) and I have been extra busy at work and off work. At work, I've been finalizing the training program my team will be going through along with holding the fort at my 'old' position. Off work, here's what I've been up to:the Turkish 'gang'As soon as I came back to Chicago, I found myself in the middle of a new

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-42331142452893024012007-10-09T03:11:00.000+01:002007-10-09T03:39:42.374+01:00

I spent the last weekend in September in Milan, the fashion capital of Italy. I had to visit the Milan office for work the following Mon and Tue anyways, and considering I had a friend there, I decided to spend the weekend exploring Milan for the first time in my life.To recap, I loved the food, the people, and the weather! I have always loved Italian food and believe me, I took advantage of my

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-9953162131219366202007-09-27T22:11:00.000+01:002007-09-27T23:52:29.760+01:00

There are days when I wonder if I am an artistic genius being wasted at an independent financial research company. I mean, who can belt Fallin' as well as I can or sketch the Daliesque charcoal drawings that I'm famous among my friends for? What about these photos below? I mean even the titles shout "artistic genius!!"Blue Essence (Sep 2007, Paris)Fascination (Sep 2007, Frankfurt)Honestly, I

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-48000891681573201962007-09-27T21:14:00.000+01:002007-09-27T22:27:22.145+01:00

...and in such fashion Amsterdam was named. Having the opportunity to go there for work, I planned to spend the weekend there as well to explore as much of "the Venice of the north" as possible. I got there on a Friday night from Frankfurt, which I visited also for work. (P.S. Frankfurt has nothing special that would make it a tourist destination. It literally has five historic buildings left

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-43871962308116581452007-09-20T01:10:00.000+01:002007-09-27T22:34:35.084+01:00

I just spotted this on YouTube. Apparently, Brian and Stewie from Family Guy, the TV animated series, opened the Emmys this year. They mock pretty much every TV show out there including, but not limited to, the Sopranos, Scrubs, and Desperate Housewives. You have to watch this because they show the reaction of the shows' stars throughout the video: priceless!!!

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-60748692212358533362007-09-14T10:40:00.000+01:002007-09-14T10:45:41.709+01:00

Arkadaslar, NTVMSNBC'nin websitesi Ergun Özbudun ve ekibinin AKP için hazırladığı yeni anayasa taslaginin tum metnini yayinlamis bulunuyor. Bence gidip bir okumakta yarar var...http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/419856.aspGuys, the Turkish news agency NTVMSNBC has posted the full body of the new civil constitution draft on its website. It might be worth checking it out to see what's in store for us.

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-81268977675604168872007-09-13T23:23:00.000+01:002007-09-14T00:00:53.248+01:00

This week has been a theatrical week indeed - first, I saw A Disappearing Number by Complicite and then In Celebration at the Duke of York Theatre. All I can say is that London is the land of the best and the mediocre theatre in the world, respectively.A Disappearing Number by CompliciteI was awed by the sheer creativity and imagination of this production, from the use of multimedia projections

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-42335130859626245882007-09-11T23:47:00.000+01:002007-09-12T00:47:00.838+01:00

I know it's hard to believe, but yes, we actually did a reunion after almost a year, planned hastily and randomly, as is the Turkish custom. :P We should really be featured as a testimonial for facebook or something because this whole thing originated through a harmless wall post by Asli and then we found ourselves in Paris in a week and a half's time. Unfortunately, that meant that not the

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-59830870517990770182007-09-10T00:11:00.000+01:002007-09-10T00:46:23.929+01:00

At one of the autumn literature talks that recently commenced at the Southbank Centre, I got the chance to listen to Orhan Pamuk live for the first time. He read a few excepts from his new book 'Other Colours' and then answered some questions from the audience and the editor-in-chief of the Guardian. After this lovely encounter, my respect for Pamuk grew considerably.Even though he is a

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-17835830724544271992007-09-03T22:50:00.000+01:002007-09-04T00:29:47.637+01:00

Huy, I apologize for stealing your phrase, but that's what came to my mind when I started digging deeper and deeper into my Gmail archive tonight. I uncovered pictures, jokes, phrases, you name it! I laughed, I reminisced, I missed... In short, I was nostalgic all of a sudden. I've prepared a special album just for this occasion since it made me recall my life in frames without the need of a

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-80090622295121754422007-09-02T22:40:00.000+01:002007-09-04T00:31:05.607+01:00

Due to popular demand, I'm posting the video of me doing the flying trapeze for the first time. It happens to be in front of the Tate Modern on a fine summer afternoon late Aug 2006. My original idea was to get this filmed and to send it off to my best friend in Chicago as a post Sex-and-the-City souvenir. Even though I'm afraid of heights, the only part that was scary was climbing the stairs

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-27845175841392916002007-09-02T00:45:00.000+01:002007-09-02T23:57:57.040+01:00

So, as I read on BBC recently, our new first lady will be given a make-over. Now that Abdullah Gul is appointed to the Turkish presidency, all eyes are on his wife more than ever before as she wears the headscarf, which has caused huge rifts in Turkish society between the devout Muslims and the strict seculars. (Side note: I HATE it when the foreign press refers to the Turkish secularists as the

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-20518289230583133132007-08-28T21:56:00.000+01:002007-08-28T23:00:34.000+01:00

Stockholm is a lovely city, from the sights to the people, from the its interconnected waterways to its wondrous skies with the puffiest clouds and a perfect sunlight that lasts for more than 14 hours a day. And might I add that all Swedes are handsome/beautiful and very stylish.I arranged my trip to Stockholm to attend my friends' wedding. Jimmy and Lena decided it was time to make it all

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-29947369650705603262007-08-19T13:04:00.000+01:002007-08-28T23:03:58.188+01:00

I must admit this was the most fun vacation I've had in a long time. Nel and I planned a fabulous 12 days around Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona, during which we went to the beaches (obviously!), ate a lot of choricitos and empanadas, met a lot of interesting people, made friends with a few Italians (lovely people!), saw a flamenco show, got pick-pocketed at Sagrada Familia, biked for six hours

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-35226881897372464362007-07-29T22:47:00.000+01:002007-07-29T23:15:07.898+01:00

Inspired by the Kronos Quartet Concert at the Barbican, 29th July 2007, featuring Wu ManThe pipa shone with a cold blue, almost ethereal, light, bathing the whole stage in stillness. Nothing had felt more alone than sensing the resounding notes all around me at that moment, vibrating, almost echoing in the empty space around me. At that moment, I knew I was alone.The quartet continued playing..

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-33236867717359944602007-07-26T18:13:00.000+01:002007-07-29T23:15:28.673+01:00

I voted for the first time in my life and they marked my index finder with ink, as they always do, to make sure one person doesn't vote a second time to skew the election results. I will carry that stain now for god knows how long and will always be reminded that half of my country doesn't seem to care about secularism as much as I do.Even though AKP, the mildly islamist party as it's known in

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-11879712051296656292007-07-18T01:42:00.000+01:002008-05-25T01:54:42.342+01:00

Don't Look Now (1973) - dir. Nicolas Roeg - 4 starsI got the opportunity to see this incredible horror film from 1973 on the big screen thanks to the BFI. It was part of the Julie Christie month, but the film really shines due to Donald Sutherland's acting, the refreshingly frightening script, visuals and audio. This film makes many recent horror films look child's play, and this is an

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-71999533682363165402007-07-17T21:50:00.000+01:002007-07-29T23:15:42.881+01:00

The title above in Turkish means "What's going to become of Turkey..."I'm extremely worried about the political future of my country. I'm not afraid of the AKP Party as many would expect me to, because I don't see them as a threat. I'm more afraid of the power of the military and the absolute secularism that we have enforced on our people, both of which enrage millions, fueling the divisions

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-3158742955925908672007-07-17T02:01:00.002+01:002008-05-25T02:04:00.102+01:00

Spiderman 3 (2007) - dir. Sam Raimi - 3 starsNot too much to say here, but there aren't too many expectations either. Let's face it. We're simply expecting a good ride with the third installment of Spiderman, and in my opinion, it delivers this perfect Hollywood ride. It has good special effects, very funny scenes, not one but two super evil characters and a mighty boss fight that reunites some

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-66081061088937486782007-07-17T01:58:00.000+01:002008-05-25T02:01:13.962+01:00

the Painted Veil (2006) - dir. John Curran - 3.5 starsThe Thai have a saying for things that are essentially the same but somewhat different in some aspect. As I was walking along the aisles toward the exit after the film credits rolled, I couldn't help but be reminded of this phrase that so perfectly describes Curran's latest. The Painted Veil is the love story that is same, same but

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-55088246203872029402007-07-17T01:55:00.000+01:002008-05-25T01:57:43.512+01:00

Sehnsucht (2006) - dir. Valeska Grisebach - 2.5 starsThe only reason I went to see Sehnsucht (English title Longing) is because the British Film Institute went a long way to describe how unexpectedly good Grisebach's film was. Having a membership to the BFI, it didn't take me too long to buy into it. However, the film is slow and the script too predictable.Given the film's shortcomings, the

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-59235704968718709142007-07-13T01:27:00.000+01:002007-07-29T23:16:06.609+01:00

I was watching the short film that my friend and I made almost two years ago (the Facade - May 2005) as my senior year cinema project, when a great idea for a film struck me! I immediately wrote my ideas in my new Moleskin notebook (gotta have one!) and as a consequence of getting too excited couldn't even sleep.I've been waiting to make a new film for the longest time now. It has been one of

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-54344376716304512242007-05-09T02:04:00.000+01:002008-05-25T02:07:15.800+01:00

Dans Paris (2006) - dir. Christophe Honoré - 4.5 starsSince the success of the French New Wave in the 50s and 60s, many film-makers, mostly French, have tried to pay homage to the great minds behind the movement. Godard and Truffaut's distinctive styles have inspired countless fans to bring something similar to the big screen time and time again, to achieve that playful approach of the New Wave

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-47776521953853398462007-05-07T02:07:00.000+01:002008-05-25T02:08:53.100+01:00

Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) - dir. Terence Davies - 3.5 starsDavies' autobiographical film was essentially shot as two separate films at different times with the same actors. The partition is made very clear as the parts are titled separately within the film. The first part, 'Distant Voices,' covers the tightly-knit family's memories of the father of the house. Most of the memories depict

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-40616402937159087312007-04-26T02:08:00.000+01:002008-05-25T02:10:17.654+01:00

Sunshine (2007) - dir. Danny Boyle - 1.5 starsAfter creating such sensations as Trainspotting and 28 Days Later, Boyle now joins the crowd of directors who should be ashamed of themselves.Sunshine has some moments that give hope to the viewer that something clever and unique is about to happen for the sci-fi genre. The relation of God, space and madness pave the way for very interesting ideas for

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-47395063551800386262007-04-25T02:10:00.000+01:002008-05-25T02:12:20.360+01:00

Namesake (2006) - dir. Mira Nair - 4 starsThe screen adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's Pulitzer-winning novel is cradled to success in Mira Nair's skillful hands. Just like she did in 'Monsoon Wedding,' Nair achieves an excellent balance of giving enough screen time to each of the story's characters, allowing them all to develop, change and grow throughout the film. The issues of identity, family,

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-40108832523872567232007-04-21T02:12:00.000+01:002008-05-25T02:13:38.976+01:00

Das Leben der Anderen (2006) - dir. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck - 4.5 starsIt's no surprise that Von Donnersmarck's latest film won the best foreign language film award at the Oscars this year, among 33 other international wins. Everything from the convincing and natural acting to the atmospheric mise-en-scene provided by the sets, costumes and camera work, the film portrays a vivid picture

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-48729988029724568482006-05-27T02:13:00.000+01:002008-05-25T02:15:11.842+01:00

the Da Vinci Code (2006) - dir. Ron Howard - 2.5 starsGiven the success of the blockbuster novel by Dan Brown, it is not very surprising that Hollywood would want to get in on the fun (a.k.a. MONEY). All they needed were a star-studded cast, inherited action sequences and a kick-ass trailer. And that's all Hollywood did, which is a very cost-effective way to make big bucks in the land of

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498447649921867199.post-71823578365997633572006-05-10T02:15:00.000+01:002008-05-25T02:16:23.049+01:00

An American Haunting (2006) -dir. Courtney Solomon - 2 starsIt seems like Hollywood advertising got the better of us. Again. The first incident was M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Village,' where moviegoers were lured into the cinemas expecting the next best horror movie since 'the Sixth Sense.' What they found instead was a decent drama with tons of abrupt cuts and sound effects that made you jump,

Yalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10093320973963112800noreply@blogger.com0