It started with my fascination with Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings which led me to being curious about other films of the same or related genre, which, in turn, led me to the online video posts of the premiere of Dune at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, which then led me to this intriguing and gorgeious gender-fluid looking creature alighting from a limo with Zendaya. Who was this? Was he/she male or female? At first I couldn’t tell. After a while and a bit of googling, I realized he was Timothee Chalamet, the very same beautiful boy-man in the 2019 movie “Little Women” by Greta Gerwig and the 2018 film “Beautiful Boy” by Felix van Groeningen, based on the memoirs of Nic Sheff (played by Chalamet), a survivor of drug use. Both films, which I have viewed, are exceptionally well-made.
Another film worth watching is the 2019 Netflix produced “The King”, a period war film based on several plays from Shakespeare’s Henriad, focusing on the rise of Henry V as king after the death of his father as he navigates palace politics. The common thread for all of the excellent 3 films above is, of course, none other than the now-fashion icon Monsieur Timothee Chalamet at the very young, tender age of 25 years (give or take 1 or 2 years depending on which movie). Search online for his red carpet defining fashion moments. So delightful!
His dress sense reminds me as well of the deliciously outrageous outfits in the 2021 Metro Gala Red Carpet (actually, the carpet was beige) Ball last September in New York. Stumbling on those video posts really woke me up from my pandemic doldrums with great verve. Life is alive after all! Sounds oxymoronic but a true realization. Sometimes, we have to be jolted out of our own self-made preconceived notions of what is and what is not. So much for waxing philosophical.
Speaking of being philosophical – “Dune” the 2021 epic science fiction movie by our own Canadian director Denis Villeneuve starring (you guessed it!) Timothee Chalamet, was both a powerfully visceral and philosophical experience for me. The first thing that I thought of while walking out of the Cineplex was to read the book Dune of which the movie is based on. Actually, this 2021 movie covers only half of the book, thus the title onscreen as “Dune: Part One”. The film is the first of a planned, two part adaptation of the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert. As I understand, the greenlighting of “Dune: Part Two” was hinged on the success of “Dune: Part One”. Well, good news for us Dune and Timothee and Villeneuve fans – the second part is now confirmed with shooting to start in July of 2022 and a planned release in October 2023. This is understandable since it was “generally well received by critics for its visuals, scope, and ambition, and has grossed over $330.4 million worldwide on a production budget of $ 165 million”. No wonder that a week after its domestic release, “Dune: Part Two” was confirmed to be released in 2023. Hooray!
Truth be told, I did not quite fully understand, on a conscious mind level, everything in the movie, thus my resolve to read the book. But even with the sketchy background I had, I could feel, subconsciously, the power and depth of the message that the movie, through the skillful and genius mind of Villeneuve (and the compelling performances of all talents, both on cam and off cam), was trying to convey.
With the films “Lord of the Rings” and “Star Wars” and “The Da Vinci Code” I had read the mind-blowing books first before I watched the films. I believe that when a film is based on a book it is usually best to read the book first. Although, this is not to say that a film does not have its own merits different from a book. In the same way as the book version and the film version of “The Lord of the Rings” were both astoundingly excellent.
Peter Jackson, the director of the 3 Lord of the Rings films, namely, The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001, The Two Towers in 2002, and The Return of the Rings in 2003, did glowing justice to the epic fantasy trilogy written by J. R.R. Tolkien which I voraciously read when they were introduced to me by literary minded friends in Manila years before the films were produced.
Likewise with “The Da Vince Code” book. I had read the book and was hooked for two whole days, stopping only to eat or shower hurriedly. I was under a spell while reading this Dan Brown best seller. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the director of film which was based on the New York Times No. 1 book in their best seller list for several years (yes! Several years. Research it). All I can say to human beings who have not read The Da Vinci Code yet – don’t bother to watch the movie. Just stick to the novel. Outstanding read! Gripping and will leave you breathless!
Speaking of Denis Villeneuve, the director and co-writer of the screenplay of “Dune: Part One”—this was the first film I had ever watched that he directed. I was profoundly impressed. Naturally, it sent me on a trajectory of researching on his other films. Luckily, he has one right now (at least until November 25 of this year) on Netflix – “Arrival”. Watched it with avid interest and I was not disappointed. Infinitely far from it, I was visibly moved by the movie.
The story of “Arrival” is based on an award-winning 1998 short story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang (another to-read book aside from Dune). It is thought-provoking and soul-stirring in the sense that, as one writer said “science fiction is never really about the future (but about) us.” And that is how Villeneuve treated his deeply moving film creation of this beautiful story of a linguist enlisted by the United States army to discover how to communicate with extraterrestrial aliens who have landed on earth before tensions would escalate to war.
Amy Adams, who starred in this film was a revelation in this movie. Her performance was stellar. She received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of her role in this movie. Rightly so. The movie itself has won numerous industry awards including nominations at the 89th Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay and won for Best Sound Editing aside from nominations for Best Actress for Adams and Best Original Score for Johan Johannson. One of the highlights, personally for me, was the use of the pre-existng composition of German-British composer Max Richter for the opening and closing parts of the film – The Nature of Daylight. This piece for me is in the same level of awe that I have for the music of contemporary American composer Philip Glass and the piano artistry of Icelandic concert pianist Vikingur Olaffson. Google them and listen to their music on YT. Maybe you will have an idea of why I am entranced and profoundly calmed by their artistry. Or maybe not. To each his own, I guess.
On this happy note, I would like to congratulate Seafood City Scarborough on their “Maaga ang Pasko sa Seafood City Scarborough” Grand Opening Night Last November 4, 2021. Although it has been open and operating since early this year, they decided to hold their Grand Opening Celebration when the pandemic eased a bit. And fortunately life is now slowly returning to near normal for many, which includes all the business establishments who have been impacted in varying degrees by the pandemic.
Keep up the good work! To the officers and executives of Seafood City – Raymond Olgado, Marketing and E-commerce Manager, Mildred Smith, VP for Marketing, Matthew Go, Senior Manager and our very own and good friend, Josie de Leon, Community Coordinator. May I also greet Greg Rabin, Senior VP- Commercial and Retail Services, PARACOM who graced the event as a business partner and real estate agent for Seafood City. Great job! I told him that we usually go to Seafood City Scarborough only once a week since we are from Ajax. With all the goodies and special offers at Seafood City, we now plan to make a trip there twice a week. By the way, perhaps they may consider putting up a Seafood City in Ajax in the near future since there will be a Jollibee store opening soon in Ajax, which makes my family happy and eagerly looking forward to its opening.
Present as well was the honorable Consul General Orontes V. Castro having the time of his life dancing with the formidable and irrepressible ladies and gentlemen of the Scarborough Ontario Seniors Association (SOSA). Also present were Filbert Wong of Filipino TV, Jun Calaguio, former Chapter Commander of Knights of Rizal, Don Valley Toronto Chapter, his effervescent and dynamic wife, Ining Calaguio (also spotted on the dance floor), Atty. Antonio Villarin of AMV Law and his charming wife, Marissa Villarin of Search Realty and Search Mortgage. Let us have many more of this enjoyable social events that celebrate the spirit of togetherness and unity!
Till then, may we all have safe and healthy weeks ahead.