It's a Head-Spinning Heist in "Trance" (Movie)

Academy-Award winner Danny Boyle brings together James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, and Vince Cassel in a stirring ensemble performance in the mind-bending action thriller “Trance.”

Boyle, whose worldwide acclaimed works “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Shallow Grave,” “Trainspotting,” and “127 Hours” that covered themes such as triumph of the human spirit despite abject poverty and reality, brings a new kind of thrill in “Trance.” Boyle crafts a wildly twisted mind puzzle exploring identity, madness, and perception using the altered state of hypnotic trance.

"Trance" Summary/Synopsis/Plot

“Trance” introduces us to Simon (McAvoy), a fine art auctioneer, who teams up with a criminal gang to steal a Goya painting, a work of art worth millions of dollars, but after suffering a blow to the head during the heist he wakes up to discover that he has no memory of where he has hidden the painting. When physical threats and torture fail to produce answers, the gang’s leader Franck (Cassel) hires hypnotherapist Elizabeth Lamb (Dawson) to delve into the darkest recesses of Simon’s psyche. As she digs deeper into his broken subconscious, the stakes become much higher and the boundaries between desire, reality, and hypnotic suggestion begin to blur and disappear.

“After 'Slumdog' producer Christian Colson and I were looking for new work to do together and I told him there were a couple of ideas I’d always been drawn to: the Aron Ralston story - which became “127 Hours” - and this mad thriller called “Trance,” recalls Boyle. “It felt like it would be perfect material for John Hodge.” Boyle worked closely with screenwriter John Hodge -- with whom he collaborated on “Shallow Grave” and then on the acclaimed and shocking black comedy about Scottish junkies, “Trainspotting” -- on a screenplay that melds dangerous seduction and electrifying action in a suspense filled spiral.

In tackling the material, Boyle saw a chance to update classic film noir themes – betrayal, moral uncertainty, sexual tension, and the lurid instincts that seem to lurk beneath every human’s skin into a modern context. He was also excited to bring a fresh take to the iconic femme fatale, with the character of Elizabeth Lamb, the beautiful hypnotherapist who proves to be every bit the equal of the men playing power games around her.

As Boyle and Hodge began writing and updating the classic film noir themes such as betrayal, moral uncertainty, sexual tension, and lurid instincts, they knew this story could not be constructed with a conventional, linear plot-line but demanded a kaleidoscopic structure revolving around McAvoy’s character, Simon. They plunged deep into the disoriented, broken mind of a character who not only cannot remember where he left the stolen Goya... but also has no idea what so urgently impelled him to hide it in the first place. They designed a web-like narrative in which Simon’s hypnosis sessions start to blow apart his very concept of who he is, and how he came to be in this situation.

Hodge continues: “Danny and I wanted to have a kind of constant uncertainty for the characters as to what the truth is. These three characters have to rely almost exclusively on what the others are saying or doing in order to figure out what’s going on. And of course, pretty much everything that the others say or do is either a lie or a manipulation or unreliable in some way. So, the protagonists are trapped in a puzzle of their own making. The challenge for them -- and the fun for the audience – is to try and solve that puzzle.”

Most of all, Boyle and Hodge loved the idea of having three strong characters who at various times might appear to be either very good or very bad “The story’s got three excellent parts in it and they battle for who’s at the center of the film,” comments Danny Boyle. “That triangle is a lovely dynamic to have in place as you can play with the question of which character the story belongs to.”

A Fox Searchlight Pictures and Pathé present, a Cloud Eight / Decibel Films Production, “Trance” also stars Danny Sapani, Matt Cross, and Wahab Sheikh. “Trance” opens on May 1, 2013 from 20th Century Fox. Below is the official international movie trailer of "Trance".



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My Cooking Experience: Homemade Pinoy Recipes

Cooking. Who loves to cook? For me, cooking and preparing dishes and other foods are a remedy. Whenever I get stressed from work, there are three choices I would certainly make -- eat, sleep, or cook. Sometimes, I choose the first one, but most of the time, I choose the third. Surprisingly, I seldom choose the second one. I feel more tired whenever I choose to sleep my way to remove stress from my body. If there are ingredients available, I will definitely cook on something, experiment on different foods that will satisfy my cravings, and perhaps, might as well eat them!

I love preparing food for myself, for my family, and for other people as well. It's like a face mole that whenever someone sees it, they'll remember you, but this time, it's the taste that counts. If you asks me what's the best part of homemade cooking? I will most certainly answer three things for sure: 1) you know what you are putting in your food, 2) you know it's clean and fresh, and 3) you know it's safe to eat because you are the one who prepared the food!

Cooking for me is a therapy. I see to it that whenever I have a chance to spend time at home on weekends, I volunteer myself to cook for the family's dishes. It's fun to cook, it's very relaxing, and most of all, it makes me happy. It's my super ego-booster, my self-esteem maker, and my stress-reliever as well. As a matter of fact, in my seven years of blogging here on this blogsite and to my other website too, I have written several recipes that not just mine to keep, but for everybody to know and share a like.

The homemade recipes that I made over the years are time tested as well. Meaning, some of the recipes that I posted here and in my other blog are well-kept family secret recipes that I have already shared in the world wide web. Yes! The secrets of the family have finally been out for a quite a number of years now! As a matter of fact, some of the recipes are well-loved and approved by my blog readers and visitors. Below are the recipes that I made over the years:

1) Featured Recipe: Choco Coffee Milkshake!
2) Featured Recipe: Pork Sinigang!
3) Featured Recipe: Instant Pancit Canton with a twist!
4) Featured Recipe: Homemade Style Sandwich Spread!
5) Featured Recipe: Filipino-Style (Pinoy) Beef Steak!
6) Featured Recipe: Tinolang Manok!
7) Featured Recipe: Beef and Mushroom!
8) Featured Recipe: Chicken Sopas
9) Featured recipe: Chicken Sarciado
10) (Pinoy Recipe) Homemade Cheese Pimiento
11) (Pinoy Recipe) Mixed Seafood in Creamy Mushroom Sauce
12) (Pinoy Recipe) Beef Caldereta

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"Dugong Buhay" on ABS-CBN: Full Trailer and Information

Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Season 2 Big Winner, Ejay Falcon finally leads his very own teleserye on ABS-CBN via the upcoming action-romance-drama, "Dugong Buhay". "Dugong Buhay" is based on the 1983 film by Carlo J. Caparas which starred Senator Bong Revilla, Jr. during his early days in showbiz. According to Carlo J. Caparas in an interview, he thought Ejay Falcon is the right person to play the role of Gabriel de Lara because of his physique, charisma, and natural perm which the character asks. The Gabriel de Lara character will seek for revenge for his mother and brother, and I think the "perm" will make the character even more mysterious and will have that always-ready-for-action feel look. Something different for an action-drama hero!

"Dugong Buhay" is NOT a Pinoy adaptation or a peg of the hit Korean drama, "City Hunter" starring Lee Min-Ho, although some plots may have been similar to the hit drama, I think the ABS-CBN management see to it that the story will not be similar or even close to the story of said Korean drama. It is based on the komiks made into film and directed by Carlo J. Caparas thirty years ago.

So far, this is Ejay Falcon's biggest break ever. Newbie actor, Arjo Atayde may also consider this as his biggest break after winning the Most Promising Actor award last year on his MMK performance. "Dugong Buhay" is said to replace the afternoon drama, "Paraiso" on Kapamilya Gold block. But I do hope this will be shown on the Primetime Bida block. It's not everyday that you watch an action-drama-teleserye on television, you know? "Dugong Buhay" is set to be shown on April 8, 2013, but plans to put it on the primetime block must push through. I hope Ejay Falcon's fans will put this drama on the primetime block! Below is the full trailer of "Dugong Buhay".



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Ryan Reynolds is "Guy" in "The Croods"

Dreamworks Animation’s latest animated family adventure “The Croods,” (3D) takes us along on their journey where the trek opens up to a lot of discovery. The Croods headed by their patriarch Grug (Nicolas Cage) along with his wife Ugga (Catherine Keener) and kids Eep (Emma Stone) and Thunk (Clark Duke) and baby Sandy plus a feisty Gran (Cloris Leachman) have always been under the shelter of dark caves, always rushing inside when the sun starts to set.

With any journey comes discovery – and “The Croods’” trek provides many “firsts,” including: the first family road trip, fire, and shoes, as well as the first pet, the first cell phone, plus: the first joke, the first pair of sunglasses, and even the first mid-life crisis.

A very important milestone of their firsts include their first encounter with Guy (voiced by Ryan Reynolds), a guy whose ideas encourage the Croods to discover and invent new things on their own. Guy’s inventive ideas ultimately expose all of the Croods to new possibilities and to a new world – a place, he says, that “has more suns in the sky than you can count, and where things are better.”

But even with his superior know-how, Guy is not without his own challenges. “He’s been living on his own for a long time,” says Ryan Reynolds of his character, who makes his animated feature film debut with “The Croods.” “Unlike the Croods, he doesn’t have a family, so Guy’s life is full of variables, whereas their lives have been pretty static. And Guy has been exposed to new things every day because he’s constantly on the move. He’s been forced to evolve.”

“Guy is also forced to rely on his imagination, so he lives inside his head a lot,” Reynolds continues. “And that’s a great thing to play because he can be as over the top as you want him to be. Guy has no limits because he’s constantly thinking. Even with his superior mind, Guy needs the Croods’ companionship, and to feel like he’s part of a family. I would describe Guy as a pretty lonely guy. He's a character that's been on his own for so long that a lot of his social skills have atrophied to some degree. He needs the Croods in much the same way as the Croods need him - they each have something that they're desperately missing in their life and they need some kind of catalyst to move them forward. They create the family that Guy yearns for and he has a sense of belonging with them that he didn't have before. For them Guy is a key evolutionary step - they need to move forward or die, and he’s the man that can help them do that,” Ryan enthuses.

Asked what is the central message of “The Croods,” “I think there are a number of central messages: I think it's about leaving our safety nets behind. Every time I've ever done that in my life it's been incredibly rewarding, even if it didn't seem so at first. Every risk I've ever taken, every failure I've ever experienced has been something that pushed me forward as a human being and made me stronger, better and wiser. I think we have this habit in the world we live in of seeking comfort all the time, never ever wanting to be uncomfortable for a moment, and I think we atrophy in a lot of ways. I think the central message really is about stepping out of that shell and allowing that vulnerability in and growing.”

“The Croods” (in 3D and 2D) is now showing (March 22) in theaters nationwide from DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

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Catherine Keener is "Ugga", the First Modern Mom in "The Croods" (3D)

Percy Jackson's onscreen mom Catherine Keener puts on her maternal acting instincts once again in the big family 3D animated adventure "The Croods," lending her voice along with Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Clark Duke, Ryan Reynolds, and Cloris Leachman.

From her numerous and notable works such as her Academy nominated roles in "Being John Malkovich" and "Capote," to diverse movie roles in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," "The 40-Year-Old-Virgin," "Out of Sight," "Where the Wild Things Are," "The Interpreter" and "S1mone", Catherine Keener marks her debut voice role in the family romp animated movie "The Croods."

Set to embody the cave mom Ugga in directors Kirk De Micco's and Chris Sanders' prehistoric adventure "The Croods," Keener is wife to Grug (voiced by Cage) and earth's original matriarch in the movie. Along with Grug, their daughter Eep (Stone), son Thunk (Clark Duke), mother Gran (Leachman) and baby, they search a new world as theirs become devastated by an earthquake. Along the way, they get help from a nomadic loner Guy (Reynolds) as they head out in search of a new life and plenty of adventure.
 
As the Croods experience the eventful changes that accompany Guy's new ideas, Ugga scrambles to hold the group together. "In a family that sometimes acts a little nutty, she probably has her head screwed on a little tighter than the rest," says Catherine Keener. "Ugga is loving, caring, and a great mom, but at the same time she's every bit as physically solid and tough as Grug. I think that she's a classic film mother. I always feel a little resistance when I hear it's the mom role because generally - and I'm stereotyping - it means there's not a lot to her individuality. I've found Ugga to have more of that - I think she's a little eccentric, and I think she was probably more evolved than the other cave women who came before her."

Still, during their many years together raising their family, Ugga has always deferred to her husband's authority. But a change in their housing situation triggers big changes in their relationship. "By the end of the story she's the one who tells Grug he must change his thinking," says Sanders.
              
"Their marriage and family life is not unlike those of today," adds Keener. "We understand the Croods. The family discovers the universal truth that it's difficult to change and to let go of things. But when they approach the new world, it's stunning. And they literally have to jump off a cliff to get there. Life for everyone is very much like that. You need to take risks."

When asked what she thinks is the universal message of "The Croods"  —  "Love. I know that it has a lot to do with family but it has to do with accepting one and another, and when you accept one another, you feel loved and you can love," concludes Keener.

"The Croods" (3D) is a DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox presentation to be distributed by Warner Bros. in cinemas nationwide on March 22.

Like Ugga, we all know that a mom's schedule can get pretty crazy sometimes, let her try out this game from THE CROODS to unwind for a few minutes in this one of a kind game —> http://www.thecroodsmovie-ph.com/memory. The full movie trailer of "The Croods" is seen here.

Nicole Kidman in the Sexy Thriller "Stoker"

From a script written by Wentworth Miller (Prison Break) and directed by acclaimed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy) comes “Stoker,” a sexy and dark thriller starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, and Mia Wasikowska.

The first English-language feature of director Park, “Stoker” introduces India Stoker (Wasikowska) when she loses her beloved father and best friend Richard (Dermot Mulroney) in a tragic auto accident on her 18th birthday, her quiet life on the family’s secluded estate is suddenly shattered. Exquisitely sensitive, India’s exhibits an impassive demeanor which masks the deep feelings and heightened senses that only her father understood.

India finds herself drawn to her father’s long-lost brother, Charlie (Matthew Goode), who unexpectedly arrives for the funeral and decides to stay on with her and her emotionally unstable mother, Evie (Nicole Kidman). While India initially mistrusts her charming but mysterious uncle, he fascinates her as well, and she begins to realize how much they have in common.

As Charlie reveals himself to her little by little, India becomes increasingly infatuated with her charismatic relative and comes to realize that his arrival is no coincidence. With her uncle to guide her, she is about to fulfill her unusual destiny.

Academy Award® winner Nicole Kidman plays Evie, India’s fragile, affection-starved mother. “I never expected that I would have the good fortune to be working with an actor of Nicole’s caliber on my first English language film,” says Park. “But this dream-like situation became a reality. Her presence had a synergizing effect and I was able to expand the role of Evie and shape a character that comes across as almost a fairytale stepmother. But in fact, she is the character in the film with the most humanity.”

A glance at Kidman’s extensive resume reveals that she has a long history of signing on to ambitious projects helmed by auteur directors, from Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!) and Gus Van Sant (To Die For) to John Cameron Mitchell (Rabbit Hole). “I thought the combination of Director Park with this material was really exciting,” she says. “He is a filmmaker who is particularly revered amongst other filmmakers. I love supporting artists who have a unique way of expressing themselves and are willing to take chances. I certainly have done many mainstream movies, but to be able support filmmakers who embrace a different way of looking at the world is my greatest joy as an actor.”

Although Park used a translator to communicate with the actors on set, he felt that Kidman instinctively understood what he needed from her. “Nicole can modulate the tone and quality of her performance at will,” the director says. “I would say only a few key words and she would readily adjust her performance. She is an actor who truly showed me what being a pro is all about.”

"Stoker's" eerie elegance and complex relationships made the film an irresistible proposition for the actress. “There’s nothing generic about it,” Kidman says. “It’s got an unusual cadence to the dialogue. The pacing is not typical. When I read the script, I was unsure of what was going to happen next, which I liked.”

The desperate, needy Evie was a character Kidman felt she hadn’t played before. “We start the film with her husband’s funeral,” she says. “It’s obvious the mother-daughter relationship is already fraught with resentment and anger. She’s in a very raw state when we meet her, and Charlie fills the void.”

“Matthew is compellingly attractive as Charlie,” she adds. “That’s really such a good thing for Uncle Charlie to be. You believe that Evie would desire him and want his attention. He’s the first person for a long time to give her attention. And then Matthew, of course, has such talent. I expect to see him become a huge star.”

“Stoker” will open in cinemas on March 1 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. The full movie trailer of "Stoker" is found here. Enjoy.

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Australian Actor Jai Courtney in "A Good Day To Die Hard"

“A Good Day To Die Hard”, one of 20th Century Fox lined-up action movies for 2013, sets up Bruce Willis to reconnect with his long estranged son Jack played by Jai Courtney where he finally tracks him down in Moscow involved in an undercover assignment to pin down the masterminds of a potentially disastrous crime.

Willis’ John McClane arrives in Moscow and learns that Jack, far from being a criminal, is a CIA operative, three years into an undercover mission to protect a Russian thief-turned-whistleblower, Komarov (Sebastian Koch). Having grown a conscience, Komarov is determined to testify against a former partner and thwart his ambitions for higher political office.

The role of Jack McClane went to young Australian actor Jai Courtney, who co-starred in the 2010 season of the series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” and as Tom Cruise’s fearsome adversary in “Jack Reacher.” “I auditioned a couple of times for the role of Jack McClane, and of course wasn’t expecting anything to come of it,” Jai recalls, “because I knew they were casting a really wide net. I had just wrapped Jack Reacher in Pittsburgh, and was homebound to Sydney. Literally, I was walking down the jet way to my connecting flight at LAX when my agent called and said, don’t leave – they want you to read with Bruce! I did a test with him a week later, and some time afterwards got the good news. It’s been a fantastic experience. Bruce is one of those guys I grew up watching on screen and the Die Hard franchise is so iconic.”

Adds Willis: “Jai got the character and he just seemed like family – like a McClane.” And director John Moore notes that, “Jai brings an intelligence and suaveness to the character. But he’s also a much more physical presence than we initially envisaged for Jack. But once Jai auditioned, we said, let’s go with the big guy because he’s right for the role.”

As the son of New York’s most famous cop, Courtney’s Jack proves that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He displays his father’s sense of duty, courage, and willingness to place his life in danger to protect others. “Jack has been living as a Russian, speaking the language, and infiltrating different groups to try to get to the bottom of the disastrous heist,” says Courtney. “He’s shocked when his dad arrives at a crucial moment and blows his cover. He doesn’t want his help; in fact he wants nothing to do with him. Jack is determined to prove he can do this on his own terms and that he’s his own man.”

Under a hail of gunfire, the McClanes manage a desperate escape, and must regroup to figure out how to get to rescue Komarov, who is now in the hands of the group Jack is after. Jack McClane is out of answers, and must turn to John for help. Says Jai Courtney: “Jack takes a methodical approach to his work, probably out of a backlash to his father’s knack for winging it and hoping for the best. But he’s now in a situation where there’s no book to guide him, he has no answers and is at the breaking point. His dad’s instincts are to never quit, regardless of the cost, and in this terrible situation Jack sees that very clearly - maybe for the first time. It gives Jack deeper insight and respect for John’s values. It’s a turning point.”

“This is a father-son story in which they are trying to complete a dangerous mission while also attempting to mend a fractured relationship,” says Wyck Godfrey. “Jack’s first reaction is, Get out of here, dad, I don’t need your help. But what he really wants is to hear his father say, you’re doing great, son, I’m proud of you. And that’s the beauty of this story. We’re playing out a relationship drama in the midst of a thrilling Die Hard story.”

Adds executive producer Jason Keller: “John and Jack find themselves off the grid, in deep trouble, with no help. Jack doesn’t know what to do, and his father pulls him back and says that we can do this. And the key moment in the film happens when Jack chooses to swallow his pride and accept John’s help. Now you have two McClanes working together, which is more than our bad guys ever bargained for.”

“A Good Day To Die Hard” is still showing in cinemas nationwide – also available in 2D digital and 2D IMAX format from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. Here's my movie review of the film. Enjoy!



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20th Century Fox Unveils Action-Packed and Thrilling Movies for 2013

20th Century Fox brings in the brawny and the brainy, the dudes and the gals, the offbeat and the uptight in a series of explosive action and thrilling features set to heat up the big screen this 2013 starting with Bruce Willis’ high-octane “A Good Day To Die Hard,” the Dracula-inspired “Stoker” starring Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock’s buddy cop movie “The Heat”, and Hugh Jackman’s most anticipated return on the screen as “The Wolverine.”

Considered as one of the most enduring movie stars in the world, Bruce Willis is back for the 5th time in the “Die Hard” blockbuster movie franchise the world over dies to line up for in “A Good Day To Die Hard” along with up and coming actor Jai Courtney. Willis not only reprises his iconic John McClane but gives the hard-talking detective a higher ante when the stage of blazing, intense action is set internationally in Moscow where he finds himself reunited with his estranged son Jack (Courtney). Having always had a frictional relationship with his son for years, the older McClane decides to finally look him up with help from friends at Washington DC. The search showed that Jack is involved in some nefarious business in Europe somewhere and John takes flight from DC to Russia with the intention of helping his son out of trouble. Unaware that his son is a highly-trained CIA operative out to stop a ring of terrorist planning a nuclear weapons heist, the two McClanes shed as much strength, wit and humor making them unstoppable heroes despite their opposing methods.

Creepy thriller “Stoker” starring Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska, and Matthew Goode starts after India’s (Wasikowska’s) father dies in an auto accident. Her Uncle Charlie (Goode), who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother (Kidman). Soon after his arrival, she comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives, but instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him. “Stoker” is the English-language film debut of famed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook.

“The Heat” marks Sandra Bullock’s return to action-comedy, a genre typically dominated by males where stakes are higher and doubled with Melissa McCarthy as her partner-in-crime to solve crimes. Directed by Paul Feig, the buddy cop movie follows Sarah Ashburn (Bullock), a rigid FBI agent forced to team up with Shannon Mullins (McCarthy), a brash undercover Boston street cop to solve a high profile drug cartel. In a recent interview with EW.com, Feig relates “The Heat” further as, “Ashburn’s been in the FBI for a long time. She’s a great agent but she’s slightly over-confident, a little intolerant of anybody who isn’t at her level, so she showboats a little bit. She gets sent to Boston to help crack this case about this drug lord that nobody can figure out. And she has to work with Melissa’s character because Melissa’s a street cop who knows the neighborhood. But she’s used to doing everything by herself and they band together, but it takes a long time for them to bond. So the fun starts there.”

Hugh Jackman takes us where Logan aka “The Wolverine” is in a moment when almost every connection, intimate connection he had to the world has been either destroyed or broken. Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure sets Wolverine, the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world, he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before. Directed by James Mangold with Mark Bomback and Christopher McQuarrie as screenwriters, “The Wolverine” also stars Svetlana Khodchenkova, Will Yun Lee, Brian Tee, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Rila Fukushima.

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