Twelve-year-old Aaron is a smart boy – this is the first impression one gets from watching him reading his project at School. His imagination runs wild and helps him to play two different roles in life – being a student at the rich kids’ school and being a son of broke and unreliable parents. His father is an unemployed salesman and his mother suffers from a sickness that requires her to spent a lot of time away in a sanitarium. Being broke and not owning their own home the family ( the parents, Aaron and his younger brother) lives in a small room in the Empire Hotel. That`s the initial set of King of the Hill – a coming of age drama based on A. E. Hotchner’s 1972 book.
The movie’s director does a great job portraying the Great Depression in the US as seen through the eyes of a resourceful 12-year-old. When the family goes totally broke the parents decide to send the younger of their sons away to his uncle – so they can save 1 $ from the food expenses. Judging from the way they choose to tell the boys one could conclude that they are concerned of the well-being of their sons – even if that conclusion is to be questioned on various occasions later in the movie.
“Well, what is it then?
Your mother and I have made a decision.
– You made the decision.
– You agreed to this!
I agreed we didn’t have a choice.
That’s not the same thing.
Tell them, Eric”
Soon after as the young brother ( Cameron Boyd) is sent away the mother has to be taken to the sanatorium and the father gets a traveling salesman job – which means that Aaron is left by himself. In a way the movie can be seen as similar to Home Alone – but with a much richer plot and purpose.
The acting in the movie is exceptional – especially the one of Jesse Bradford. His remarkable, brilliant portrayal of Aaron’s character alone is serious enough reason to see the film. The actor gives an emotional, truly believable performance, with the innocence and maturity which in their exceptional way reveal the depth of his character.
KING OF THE HILL, Jesse Bradford, 1993
I felt somehow related to Aaron as it was not that long ago when I left for the US with only 100 $ for an entire year of school. I did attend a private boarding school there and most kids came from rich families ( after all 28 K for a year is a lot of money ). I got all those from scholarships and financial aid and once there helped around in the maintenance as the 100 $ I had with me was spent relatively fast. And just like Aaron, I got good grades – but unlike him, I never lied about my family ( he makes up stories in which his father is first a pilot, then archeologist ).
The main characters of the movie – two little tigers
Do you love animals ? And what about tigers ?Are you fan of Freddie Highmore ? If you answer yes to any of these questions you are going to really love the movie Two Brothers. I see it as a coming of age movie as well – only this time we have several characters who came of age – two little tigers , a boy who cared about one of them and Guy Pearce who plays the role of an adventurous hunter and writer .
Raul ( Freddie Highmore ) and his parents
I picked the DVD in a video store – while looking for some new titles for my collection. Did not notice it at first until the friend I was with pointed the actor on the cover and asked me if I knew who he was. Naturally one glimpse was enough to recognize Freddie Highmore – which on it self meant that I had to get the movie. And I am glad that I did that – despite of the rareness of the scenes in which Freddie appeared . As my friend said to me back in that store ” His role is not major – the major one is of the two baby tigers – but it was this movie that made him known to the world”
The little tigers in the movie are adorable. They love to play in the river, bathe in the sun and get into trouble- much like their human equivalents. The movies directors worked with the best animal trainers – and this resulted in one of the greatest movies about animals ever to be made. The tigers – Kumal and Singha – were able to convey a full range of feelings: love, fear, sadness, loneliness, joy and even angerl.Add to that a breathtaking scenery and absolutely beautiful scenes and you will get an idea of what to expect .
The bottom line is that trough the movie does not provide any surprising twists in its plot – its well worth seeing and it goes on to my favorite list straight away. Some of the scenes are really touching and while watching the movie and after its final credits I felt sorry that those animals are almost gone – thanks to the actions of the Humans , who destroy their natural habitat and hunt them for pleasure .
Despite the year in which this movie is made – it is worth seeing nowadays, and I am glad that I could dig it out of my collection. The Spanish Gardener is a British movie, and as such, it carries the atmosphere typical for the movies produced in the country. In Spain, the British consul moves into the country with his son soon after the boy`s mother left them.
The father had some troubles at work, and the need to relocate is making him feel miserable. Yet, he hopes that life in the country will be beneficial for his son’s health, who looks a bit lurid in the first scenes of the movie.
The garden in the villa they moved into needs some attention, and a local gardener is hired. Soon he is befriended by the boy. Their friendship grows strong – which is not surprising because, until that moment, the boy has been denied to play with other kids or hang out with friends because of his father’s opinion that his son is too delicate. Now the boy discovers a whole new word – finally, he could louse the suits and ties he is wearing and play as any kid his age would.
The gardener is a great mentor to the kid showing him how to do basic stuff in the garden, fish …etc. As John Frame mentioned in his review published on the movie page at IMDB, the gardener teaches the boy: ” …to enjoy the beauty of nature and the joy of life itself.”
Jon Whiteley gets a lesson from Dirk Bogarde in The Spanish Gardener.
The diplomat becomes jealous of his son’s close relationship with their Spanish gardener. He loves his child very much – and feels bad that the boy prefers to spend his time with their employee instead of with his father. Torn by the jealousy, he contrives to frame the man and have him sent off to jail, but the gardener escapes.
The movie’s scenes are very colourful, surprising for a movie shoot before that many years. The landscapes shown are gorgeous, and everyone who has ever been to Spain will appreciate them. I was not fond of the soundtrack, although most professional reviewers regard it as very good.
Overall The Spanish Gardener is a good movie that focuses on friendship, mentoring and jealously. I am hesitating to give a general recommendation for this movie – because it is filmed in a way which would be appealing mostly for people who have a deeper interest in the cinema as an art form.
I guess first we should say what it is. Lens time is your time in front of the camera lens.
Now, why is this important? Your a singer or dancer, not a marketing agent or a salesman. You want to do your craft. How much lens time and the quality of that lens time is how they decide who they sign to entertain. You are an investment. And although they seem nice and may have you thinking they are doing this because they like you, never lose sight that it takes money to do these things and it doesn’t grow on trees. They will invest only in the good acts, the most entertaining. Lens time is how they measure you. The more they see your face and hear your voice, the more someone has invested in you.
Everyone wants to be on a winning team.
If they see your face a lot, they assume someone else thinks you’re going to pay off in the end by bringing lots of people to see and hear you. Many people will part with those dollars for parking, drinks, food entry fees and the like. There is a return on their investment. So if you like to do your craft and you want to be the best, then you need to learn a few things besides the song or dance in your act. It would be best if you learned how to act in front of the camera.
Lots of our young singers transit back and forth from stage singing to acting. This brings about some confusion regarding treatment given the camera lens. It can be not very clear, especially to the very young.
This should act as a general guideline for you or your youngster.
Let’s talk about acting.
When you are acting on stage as in a play like Oliver or Maybe the little prince, your interaction is with the other cast members. Your audience does not exist. They are looking at your pretend word through a window. You pretend they aren’t there. The same goes for the camera. It is so those in another room can also see through their window into your pretend world. So when you look at the camera lens, you return them to the reality they seek to escape. In short, don’t look at the lens. It is not there.
Entertaining and Interviewing.
When you are on stage entertaining, whether singing, dancing or juggling, the camera is your audience and is more so your audience than the people sitting in the seats in front of you. The people sitting in the audience will think you looked directly at them if you even glance in their direction. The camera is usually feeding screens behind you or to the sides of the stage. It may also be feeding a recorder or a broadcast system. When you are singing, the camera is your best friend. Sing to it, look affectionately at it, and smile whenever it goes with the context of your song. If it is a sad ballad, then look sorrowfully at it. The camera will help you create an emotional bond with your audience. A bond that lasts long after your song and event is over. Here is a wonderful example of a great lens technique.
Vox angeli Les comédiens
Notice how each singer appears to be singing to you, personally. Didn’t you feel that connection?
Hopefully, the emotional connection lasts all the way to Amazon.com or long enough that they order your personalized CD. Don’t be afraid to put an “add on” with your order for an autographed CD for an additional sum. Maybe make half of that sum for a charity. Many will cherish the personalized nature of the CD and be willing to pay the additional sum. It also helps in branding your talent. But that is for another writing.
So the bottom line is this. I love the camera, and it will love your bank account and get you more work.
Interviewing is soooo important. It can also be the scariest. You’re not singing a rehearsed song. You have to come up with answers. This is so important I can’t express it adequately. If you interview well, you will get more lens time than shake a stick.
If you interview by answering each question with a yes or no or worse yet, shaking your head yes or no, then it really doesn’t matter how much talent you have. You just went down a notch or two on the call-back list. So it would help if you learned to converse. That means using several words at a minimum. Ideally, you want to take 30-45 seconds for your answer. With a one-word answer, your cameraman doesn’t have time to tack you, zoom in and focus. You have to allow enough time for him to do that and then transition back to your host. With one-word answers, your audience will get ill if they bounce back and forth, so what you end up with is a two-shot, a shot where you share the lens with your host.
They [the audience] are not there to see your host. They are there to see and hear you! They will judge your sincerity and character by your answers and the tone of your voice, and most of all, by your eyes and the lens.
Interviewing is a little different in the way you treat the lens. You start off looking at the person asking the question and then look to the lens and back at your host at the very end of your answer. You also lower your voice at the end of your answer. Going up indicates you are not done speaking. These are signals to the producers to prepare for a switch. That may be a little tough for our British contingent as they tend to go up instead. Get over it.
[pull_quote_right]I try to see interviewing as performance art and take it as it comes.
Liz Phair[/pull_quote_right]
It would be best if you learned to speak slowly, don’t rush it. Speak plainly and project well. Pretend there is no microphone, and you want to be heard. That doesn’t help me to yell, but to speak loudly. One way to set the tone of the interview is to take the opportunity to thank your host for the invitation to appear before answering your first question. Let it go something like this:
Host Marie: Well, Johnny, you have quite a voice for a little guy. How long have you been singing?
Johnny: Well, before I answer I want to thank you for this invitation to sing it has been just wonderful, you and your staff are simply the best. [Pause for the applause to die down.] Now to answer your question, I started singing when I was very young. Mom said I would pretend that I had a microphone and sing along with the radio. I would have been four or five, maybe. But I didn’t start singing professionally on stage until I was nine.
Now, what did we do? We captured 20-40 seconds of lens time that we would not have had with a simple two or three-word answer. Think about how valuable that time is. That is 20-40 seconds more that the audience has to learn your face, voice and personality—all very important.
The questions you are likely to be asked are generally easy to predict. And your mom or dad can help you rehearse and practice to stretch out your answers. They can also ask the booking agent to ask what questions the host might ask you before the event. That way, you have the opportunity to think about how you will respond ahead of time. You can use catchphrases to give yourself time to think or avoid questions that make you uncomfortable. But that will be in my next work on Interviewing.
Just make them laugh, and you have purchased invaluable lens time. And more importantly, they will move you up a notch on the call back list. More interviews mean more opportunities to sing.
Relax and smile into the camera. Remember that $miles go a long way towards you getting lens time.
Eres mi héroe is a nice Spanish coming of age film in which the story is told trough the view point of the 13 year old Ramón. His dad changes frequently jobs and Ramón often have to face the situation of being the new kid in the school. Ramón has trouble fitting in which is probably why he tells us : ” I felt like a soldier pushed into a dead end ambush.”
One day he makes a life changing choice :
... to become invisible.
Then he defines his own three vital rules of survival and swears to himself to obey by them or die. His rules does not make his life easier , but come handy at times. As he comes of age and gains understanding of the life and his own self following these rules becomes a harsh if not an impossible task.
Rule number 1
Not to fight.
Everyone’s stronger than you.A punch hurts, but not as much as a kicking. Rule number 2
Not to snitch.Snitching will not be forgiven.Snitching can have deadly consequences. And rule number 3
Not to cry.They want you to cry,that’s why they hit you.
Not to fight, not to snitch,and not to cry.
Eres mi héroe feels like an autobiographical film and if you enjoy coming of age movies you are guaranteed to adore this one. The young Manuel Lozano does a respectable job in the role of Ramón and his acting is so good that many of you may re-experience their first kiss or wonder as a teenagers . The soundtrack is exceptionally good and if you are found of Spanish music ( like I am ) you would truly appreciate it.
What they probably forgot to tell you or weren’t sure how to tell you.
This is very important. Your voice plate has thickened because your body is now producing massive amounts of testosterone. You’re becoming a young man. Because testosterone thickens the voice plate, it also changes the shape and the audio dynamics of it. Just like taking a guitar and adding another 2 inches to the neck length would change all the dynamics of the guitar, so does changing the thickness of the vocal plate. You would have to learn to play the modified guitar all over again.
Your voice plate is no different. The reason a boy squeaks when he speaks or tries to sing is his minds say to the body, “On my cue, tighten these muscles to shape the throat and position the larynx thus, lungs – push this amount of air out, mouth make this shape and tongue just get the hell out of the way.” The problem is that the mind is playing the old guitar. It needs to reprogram the body for each note.
If you go too fast it can’t keep up. (At least until the mind reprograms.) Once the new program is in place you can scream, rap or do just about anything. For now though until your mind is solid on its new commands, you need to sing very slow songs. And sing them softly. You can add volume later. That will make the programming more precise. Learn sloppy and you will sing sloppy. Take the time to learn properly and it will pay off.
My sensei once told me, *“It is better to practice one time correctly, than a thousand times wrong.”( * Sensei Katsutaka Tanaka, Alaska , a long time ago.) * http://www.tanakasmartialartsacademy.com/
Learning is learning. Karate or Singing or anything else worthwhile in life. Learn correctly. Don’t try to sing in the voice you had before. That time is over and now you need to focus on the new you; your new sound. Keep in mind that as beautiful as your treble voice was, so too will be your new voice. Whether it is alto, tenor baritone or bass, it is yours. It is still uniquely yours and you need to devote time to making it yours and making it right. Start where it is comfortable. If they all squeak then you’re probably still trying to sing too high.
Just like a child learning to speak. As he focuses the words will get better. You however have a more difficult time because your mind has already been trained one way, so you have to unlearn.
Think about each note and slowly deliver it and you will find a whole voice lacking nothing. And before long, you will have retrained your mind and body. All that you have learned will come into play, so none of it was wasted. It will all add to who your are today. You may be the youngest of men, but today you are man training a man’s voice. Just like when you were a treble, it will take time to get that richness and depth in your new voice. Be patient, I know it’s tough, but you were a treble. That was tough and you made it then too. You can do this also.
Sing a lot, it gives you something else to do in the shower and the moisture is good for the throat. But remember that rushing it is what confuses the voice plate. The mind and the body must synchronize for harmony to be restored once again. If it remains confused because you rushed it, you may never relearn properly.
So for a while, work on retraining. Do the scales and start at a comfortable level. When you get one you squeak on, take a breath relax the throat and focus on the note. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t come right away or if your mind can’t identify or co-ordinate all the muscles perfectly right now. Move on to the next note. As your mind learns adjacent notes which are easier to oscillate, it will learn to step in the same fashion as your previous voice. Remember that it is still growing too so sing slowly and your mind will compensate. Soon it will find the missing note simply by taking the shape of the previous note and stepping the same way it has learned previously, going not to note.
If you had a beautiful voice before, you will probably have one again; different but beautiful nonetheless. Work at it and you will be pleased with what you end up with.
I hope this make sense.I’ve tried to lay it out in a way that is easier to understand. It’s all so ambiguous when the say your voice broke and they are always willing to tell you what happened but few are able to explain the “whys” and more importantly the “what do I do nows?” And it’s frustrating because you not only had control but if was special and put you in the limelight. Remember that your hormones make you crazy during this time and your mind and body are also learning new things. Moving is even different because your muscle mass is different. Overnight you stretch out.
The bottom line for you is to do what you can do and be patient. Some guys need to give it some time for the body to quit changing things overnight, before they start to retrain. So go play some sports, exercise helps the body normalize and helps the muscles stretch and fit your new frame. Now is when you will build your new muscle mass. If you want to have that six pack, now is the time to start building it. Remember, you’ll want to look good up on that stage when you get up there to sing next.
It would also be a great time to take up a form of martial arts. It may help you to have, “A sound mind, in a sound body.”
Please note that The motto of Sensei Tanaka’s Dojo is, “A sound Mind, in a Sound Body.” And although I have taken the wisdom of his teachings with me and have shared them with you here, this should in no way be construed as to infer, directly or indirectly, any type of endorsement or affirmation By Sensi Tanaka or Tanaka’s Martial Arts Academy. But I will always remain grateful for his wisdom.
Noa Johannesson of Jonkoping Sweden born 29 May 1992
Noa is every father’s dream of a child made to order, and his father speaks proudly of him.
I can honestly say that it gives me great pleasure when something comes up that gives me cause to contact this wonderfully musical family. I know it is going to be a pleasant experience, no matter what it is.
Noa is an incredibly gifted young man, although he thinks of himself just like every other kid. And he is. He is just like every other kid who plays multiple instruments and sings with a voice of subtle beauty, full of richness and depth, not to mention his great stage presence. His interaction with the camera is natural, and the lens likes him a lot. Much of the credit for that goes to his Dad’s incredible editing skills.
He began playing the guitar when he was ten, and he says he has been singing all his life. Noa’s number of videos has counted to only three, but the three he has done speak for themselves in their quality and their following.
He plays Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums in his Roxanne video and has laid down audio tracks. That is a lot of studio time, but Noa enjoys it, and so does his Dad. Tommy is his videographer, audio technician, band and friend when he isn’t playing the Dad role or working his regular daily job. They both count it as quality time spent with the other.
Noa Johannesson – Roxanne
The process of creating a quality video product is extensive, especially when one person is doing all the parts. So Noa is no stranger to hard work, and when I asked him how he keeps motivated, he responded that he thinks about the finished product and how it will sound when he is done with it. That keeps him going.
His video, “Time After Time,” showcases this young artist’s subtle inflection beauty and style, as well as his wonderful treble range. He exhibits gentle control as he navigates through the notes in this most beautiful well-known piece. His attention and absolute pure tone are unique to this fine young man.
Noa Johannesson – Time After Time
When he’s not singing, he does everything a normal kid does; TV, hanging out with friends, riding his mini-bike, video games and YouTube.
I asked him if his friends had an opinion about his music. He said they like it, and he’s never heard any bad comments, and his friends watch his videos on YouTube. I asked him what it was like having people recognized because of his videos. He said it has only happened a few times, and although it is a little weird having someone know you when you don’t know them, he says it’s still a pretty cool feeling.
Noa has just tested and has been accepted as a music major for the next three years. For the admission testing, Noa has written some music and hopes to share it with us soon. We certainly look forward to it, as we have for every new instalment. Having been penned with his own hand, we are even more intrigued to see his new piece’s genre and flavour. Until it is ready for broadcast, his fans wait with great anticipation.
When it is ready, he won’t say, but one thing remains certain. Noa and his music will be around for a while to come. And so will his fans.
While Noa is ready for his voice to change as he is anxious to start music towards a little rougher rock genre, we will miss this treble when he finally does break. And at 16, he is on borrowed time. I, for one, am grateful that he has been blessed with it a little longer. The world would have missed out on an exceptional voice if he had broken earlier. I send this message to you, Noa.
“Do not be in a hurry. It will come in time. Meanwhile, make hay while the sun shines. SING!
Once again, confirming his ultimate talent. Bravo Noa!
Please see Noa’s BCSD profile, where you will find links to his other sites for more information.
Tonight I watched two movies with my dad – one he wanted me to see and another one that I wanted him to see. His movie was The Bucket List . It was a nice story about the last moments in the lives of two different men, who dying of cancer. After meeting in a hospital room, they became friends and decided to fulfill their life goals.
While the movie was fine I did not really share the enthusiasm that my had father about it. I just could not relate to the characters.
Then it was my turn and I put the Edges of the Lord DVD in the player. I won’t go into much detail about it, as I will soon write a separate review about it. But when the final credits rolled my father said that he liked it.
The two movies tonight made me realize why I am fond of coming-of-age movies; much more than any other genre. As you know, in coming-of-age movies the central plot revolves around a person suddenly facing a life-changing experience, trial, or tribulation. That person once was naive or childish and is now suddenly older and wiser because of the experience. While watching movies from this genre it is not hard for me to associate with the characters portrayed there. I am still preparing to embrace the world out there, without some of my naive beliefs.
During the process of growing, I made mistakes and naturally learn from them. I still feel that there is so much to be seen and learned. That is probably the reason why I associate with the characters on screen allow myself to go deeper into the story and gain something for myself. The same reasoning probably explains why I am so into the stories and movies of Stephen King. It’s the way he writes, describing the feelings of his characters so well that I almost believe I was them. I have been afraid of the dark since I was 6 and still am. You can imagine how I feel when reading the thoughts of Johnny in his book IT.
This is not to say that I don’t enjoy movies from other genres. But “The Bucket List”, for example, was for two old men evaluating their life. This is too far away for me to consider it as my story.
There is a rising star out there you need to keep an eye on.
A wonderful young voice by the name of Sam Verlinden.
A young talent who lives in the zone of music that the rest of us get to visit once in a while.
Out of Kiwi land Auckland New Zealand and now just 10 ½ years old he is finding his firm footing on the stage.
By way of a quick introduction taken from his resume:
* At only 10 years old – Sam is possibly the youngest singing sensation to hit Auckland – and possibly New Zealand – ever. His vocals have been described as natural raw brilliance. He has a powerful soulful tone and lovely quality to his voice.
* He is the youngest member of the junior 5 piece vocal band KIDZ ROCK – and has often been compared to the young Michael Jackson from the Jackson 5 era.
* Sam loves the old Jackson 5 hits, he sings a powerful rendition of “I’ll Be There” and “Who’s Lovin You”. His other musical influences range from R Kelly, Justin Timberlake, Jesse McCartney, Stevie Wonder and the Beatles.
* Sam recently won several gold medals as a soloist in the NZ singing finals of Aim to Fame. His precious gold medals qualify him to represent NZ to compete at the World Championship of Performing Arts in LA in July 08. This competition is likened to the Olympic Games of the Performing Arts, with 52 countries competing.
* He is also been an active member of the musical theatre company (NYTC) for 3 years.
They are currently rehearsing the stage show Grease in which Sam has the lead role of Johnny Casino. He has had many leads during this time, including Oliver and Little Joe in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
* Sam is very passionate about his Pacific Island heritage and does a very moving performance of leading the Haka.
* Aside from singing, Sam’s biggest passion is rugby. He’d like to sing the National Anthem, lead the Haka, and play as number 11 with the All Blacks one day – and all on the same day!
Links to his gold winning performances can be located on his website and YouTube which has received over 210,000.00 hits.
httpv://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zsIckvAA0jM
Here are just some of the Honors this particular video has scored on YouTube the week of 30 March 2008:
#67 – Most Discussed (This Week) – New Zealand
# 9 – Most Discussed (This Week) – Music – New Zealand
# 5 – Most Discussed (This Month) – Music – New Zealand
#22 – Most Viewed (This Week) – Music – New Zealand
#44 – Top Favorites (This Week) – Music – New Zealand
#31 – Top Rated (This Week) – New Zealand
# 3 – Top Rated (This Week) – Music – New Zealand
# 4 – Top Rated (This Month) – Music – New Zealand
Sam is a down to earth kid with one small exception. The music never stops. He said he can’t remember when he first started singing, he just always has. Like New Zealand’s own little August Rush, he hears it all the time. During my interview he said that he is often asked by his teachers to stop singing in class. What’s a kid to do? That’s where his head is.
KIDZ ROCK are currently looking to fill two of their positions bringing the group back to five. But that will be a different article.
I asked if he played any instruments and he replied that he was left handed and tried the guitar but it just wasn’t happening even when they strung it for a lefty. He decided to stick to what he does best and enjoys the most. Singing! And the boy can certainly sing.
When he’s not singing, he loves Rugby and aspires to be Number 11 or 12 with the All Blacks. He can recite every All Black players credentials from height, weight, position – he’s a number one fan all the way. He’s like a walking encyclopedia for the NZ All Blacks. Incredible.
He also enjoys WWE Wrestling in his quiet moments of evening contemplation, where he can watch Shawn Michaels make someone listen to his “Sweet Chin Music.” (Even his wrestling favorite is associated with Music! But I don’t think I would want to listen to that one up close and personal.)
Sam loves is special needs sister Emily and loves it when she sings with him.
Sam is up for the Gold now but there’s a snag. The trip to LA is not funded and is quite expensive. And the little guy can’t go it alone so Mum needs to go too. And time is running out, they leave 13 July 2008. The cost is $6k pp – they have raised nearly $1,200 and are seeking corporate Sponsors for the balance. Clothing logos or the like. Hey!
Why not ask the All Blacks! I think something could be worked out?
A little tattoo work and
Few minutes ago I saw the Roman Polanski version of Oliver Twist. I did not like this version and my honest opinion is that the one made back in 1968 was way better – in terms of acting ,cast – cinematic realization in general . This being said I still enjoyed the movie ( at least one bit ) and so did my 11 year old cousin who saw the movie with me. I assume that most of you if not all are already familiar with the popular story written by Charles Dickens which is why I am not going to get in much details about its storyline. Instead I would like to outline the rather unique twist in the version of Roman Polanski – at the end of the movie one actually feels sorry for FAgin ( even my cousin get really sad watching the scene in which Oliver went to the prison to see him- asking me – “….but why he was a very good old man ?” I tried to explain that he was making the boys to steal for him – risking their own life – but I have to admit that my explanations were not that convincing as by the last scene I too felt sympathy for the old fella . After all he was providing food and shelter for the boys – who otherwise could just as well die from hunger in the streets !
After seeing this adaptation of Oliver Twist – I feel a bit angry to myself for letting my cousin watch it and get a first impression about Oliver Twist from it ( he is yet to read the book ).This version has a PG rating – and its plot is seriously sugar coated . At times even I had problems associating the scenes with what I have read , watched ( including several times on the stage ) …etc. ( some subplots are missing as well). And I don`t even want to start discussing the acting – considering that the main character Oliver ( played by Barney Clark ) was not convincing at all.
May be my opinion is a bit biased as I am huge fan of the Musical – but my advice for all of you is to stay away from this movie . Do yourself a favor and look for a copy of the BBC’s 1985 version instead .
Accurate adaptation : 1985 BBC mini-series version
Official movie site ( link) IMDB page (link) Title image source ( link)
Related : Oliver the musical ( link) I`d do anything BBC talent search ( link) Review (link)
2008 brings a new way of doing business in Hollywood. Before a casting call is made they look to the tube. You Tube that is. The numbers of people showing their skills is growing and the leaders of the pack are younger than my truck.
Kids are finding their niche in the working world before they ever leave school. Everything from Contortionists to Comedians. Song writers to Song players. And the skills are amazing. We seem to be producing a brighter crop of kids these days. Or maybe it’s because they are more driven by the stimulus of the net, stardom and fame.
In the US, most schools cut art and music from the curriculums as non-essential. No one is judged by them so why focus on them. Those in the know can give them a million reasons but math and decision making top the list.
Our youth are notorious for going the opposite direction of authority. So maybe that’s what draws them to the tube. Perhaps it is the computer and years of games. Perhaps it is just the possibility of fame. Or maybe it is all of the above.
But what ever the reason, it has created the largest casting call in history. It doesn’t matter what you are looking for. Motorcycle stunt drivers, dancers, bird trainers, snake handlers, contortionists or journalists of tomorrow. It’s all there, and the industry has noticed.
And lots of mimic sites have poped up. But none have a foothold like YouTube. Even Myspace has gotten into the act. They just advertised to show your talents on video and maybe win a spot on a “You’ve Got Talent Show.”
I think TV broadcasters are back peddling on the issue of down posted pulling videos, as the lack of exposure is hurting their ratings. YouTube is taking the airtime. They better wise up and see the value of branding and hope for the best. Broadcast TV is on the way out. Fast.
The Euro Jr. has become the reality shows of today. And the world has flocked to them like a hobo on a ham sandwich. It’s like sifting through YouTube and pulling out all the Paul Potts and Troye Sivan Mellets. They do the searching and the sifting for you and then sensationalize it on stage, most every person’s dream.
Todays, carphone salesmen is tomorrows Great tenor. Sandbox today, stage tomorrow. There is no limit to what people will or won’t do. Sometimes dangerous, most times stupid. But almost always creative.
This will be interesting to remember. One day I think it will become a “Chicken or the egg” conundrum. Did YouTube create You’ve got talent or did You’ve Got talent kick off the YouTube craze. Which ever it is, one thing is clear. Casting agents are not looking at the classifieds to find their prospects, they’re watching the tube.
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things is a disturbing movie. In fact, a movie just can’t get any more disturbing. This suggests that the movie is hard to watch – but worth watching. My opinion may be a bit biased as I tend to like serious and powerful dramas like The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things.
The film opens with a scene in which a seven year old boy, Jeremiah (Jimmy Bennett), is taken away from his foster parents because his biological mother declares her right to the custody of her son. She turns out to be an irresponsible, abusive, drug obsessed hooker – totally unsuitable for the role of a caring parent – and yet the boy is given to her. A short scene shows his room when he was living with his foster parents and this is compared with the new environment in which he is to grow up.
The story is told from Jeremiah’s perspective – most scenes are shot from his eye level (and his mental images as well) .
His “real” mother gives him some pills (XTC probably) while presenting them as a medicine . At such a tender age – one can only imagine the damage drugs can do. But the 23 year old junkie not only allows her son to consume beer and pills, but actively encourages him to do so. At one point, when they are in the car and he goes crazy, she asks him what he’s doing and he replies: “I am digging myself out“.
Then the movie gets even harder to watch. The boy gets beaten by one of his mom’s random boyfriends, in front of her and actually because of her, with her approval. She even suggests they put a sock in his month so he can’t scream loud. But that incident is nothing compared to what the another boyfriend does to the boy …
The director mercifully does not show us the disturbing scenes in detail and it was not necessary to do so as one was still able to get an idea of what was happening.
After the disappearance of his mother, Jeremiah is taken by his grandfather, who turns out to be a fanatical religious Christian (I have heard that there are such people in the states, but thankfully never met them while I was there). One starts wondering what is worse – living with him mom or when the kid faces a complete brainwash by the fanatic people who live in his granddad’s mansion. Those scenes reminded me of the movie Jesus Camp, which I saw few months ago.
Surrealistic animated scenes show the fantasy world of Jeremiah, populated by a pair of red crows. He dips into this world when he experiences extreme pain and extreme trauma and it only shows that even his fantasies lead him to an unpleasant place.
The acting in the movie is first class. Starting with Jeremiah, excellently played by Bennett at age six, and continuing with twins Dylan and Cole Sprouse at eleven, and finally with a whole selection of star actors – among them: Peter Fonda, Winona Ryder and Marilyn Mason.
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things is a coming of age drama about a young boy who desperately tries to make the best out of everything that happens to him. It’s a highly recommended movie – if you think your can bear it…
On a side note: the movie is said to be based on the book of the same name by J.T. LeRoy – a teen-aged young man who wrote books about his disturbing childhood. It turns out, however, that J.T. Leroy never actually existed as reported by Film Threat and Saloon butwas, rather, a 40 year old woman. NY mag has an interesting 9 page article about the character of J.T. Leroy for those who are interested in the story.
Let’s talk about lens time.
Eres mi héroe is a nice Spanish coming of age film in which the story is told trough the view point of the 13 year old Ramón. His dad changes frequently jobs and Ramón often have to face the situation of being the new kid in the school. Ramón has trouble fitting in which is probably why he tells us : ” I felt like a soldier pushed into a dead end ambush.”
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things is a disturbing movie. In fact, a movie just can’t get any more disturbing. This suggests that the movie is hard to watch – but worth watching. My opinion may be a bit biased as I tend to like serious and powerful dramas like The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things.
The director mercifully does not show us the disturbing scenes in detail and it was not necessary to do so as one was still able to get an idea of what was happening.