My Man Sixto

I love my generation. 

Usually people are always saying how they belong in the past, and our generation is not as fun and cool as the previous ones. I don't agree at all. I think living in the 21st century rocks.

I live in Istanbul, Turkey. In recent news, CNN published that it is the city with the most traffic jams in the World. Am I proud? No. But did it help me to discover something amazing? Absolutely.

"Searching for Sugar Man"

I was stuck in traffic per usual, and was going through all the saved radio stations one by one to catch a good song to pass the time with. Thats when I heard an incredible voice and had to Shazam ( music identification app) it. Just after I got home and Googled the artist, I came across a Documentary about the artist, and Had to watch it. 

The song was Sugarman by Rodriguez.

Searching for Sugar Man is an incredible documantary about 70's greatest rock icon who never was. Rodriguez was discovered in a bar in Detroit in the late 60's by two well-known producers. They were struck by his prophetical lyrics and soulful melodies. They were 100% sure that the album they were recording was going to be the greatest record ever. Unfortunately, the record did not get where they were initially forseeing, and Rodriguez disappeared into the rumors of  a terifying on-stage suicide. 

Somehow, the record found its was to South Africa and for the next 2 decades, he became a sensation. The documantary happened with 2 South African fans set out to find out what really happened to their hero. Their research and dedication leads to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths.

The film won an Oscar for Best Domumentary in 2013. But unfortunately, the  Swedish director, Malik Bendjelloul, commited suicide in 2014.

The songs throughout the movie touched my soul like it did for the South Africans. Do watch if for a great journey to find out what really happened to Rodriguez.

ENJOY

xx

A for Effort

Fridays are for staying in and watching a good movie.

After a week of busy working and all the stress, I prefer just putting on something cozy and watching a movie on my couch.. NOT. But thats what happened last friday.

"Nightcrawler"

I think I'm getting old since a plan at home sounds more appealing to me than going out getting hammered.

On friday, we were home trying to decide what to watch while popping some pop-corn. Not the microwave kind, real legit popcorn made in a pan. Delish! 

I've heard about Nightcrawler after the Oscar Nominees were revealed. Some people were pretty upset that Jake Gyllenhaal was not nominated with his performance in Nightcrawler. And I totally agreed after watching it.

Lou Bloom ( played by Gyllenhaal) is a young driven man desperate for work, finds the most thrilling job as a Crime Journalıst. As a freelance cameraman, he listens the police radios to go to crash scenes, fires, murders and other mayhem grounds. Being a workaholic (worst I've seen), he goes overboard to search for the most revealing footage of accidents and sell them to Nina - local TV news host-.

The plot story is not a typical one that you see in every thriller, crime movie. The effort and time put in the research the writer has put is obvious and well recognized. Dan Gilroy not only wrote the screenplay, but also directed it.

I was sitting in the edge of the coach, stuffing my face with popcorn while watching it. Hope it'll give you the same effect.


ENJOY

xoxo

Winner Takes it All

FINALLY!

I have been waiting for the Academy Awards ceremony since last year. One of my favorite events to watch and maybe one day it will be my fave event to attend (one can dream, shh).

I was away on a skii trip for the weekend and arrived back home on sunday night and passed out. Also due to the time difference, the ceremony started local time at 04.00 am and ofcourse I couldn't wake up. :(

BUT, as soon as I woke up I went online to see the winner and was super happy with The Academy's choices per usual. If you haven't seen the list yet, you can now;


Best Picture: "Birdman"
Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "Birdman"
Original Screenplay: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo, "Birdman"
Achievement in Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, "Birdman"

Best Actor: Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"

Best Actress: Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"

Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

Achievement in Sound Mixing: Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, Thomas Curley, "Whiplash"

Achievement in Film Editing: Tom Cross, "Whiplash"

Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"

Best Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Best Production Design: Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling: Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Achievement in Costume Design: Milena Canonero, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

and more...

Adapted Screenplay: Graham Moore, "The Imitation Game"

Best Original Song: Common, John Legend, "Selma"

Best Documentary Feature: Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutsky, "Citizenfour"

Best Animated Feature Film: "Big Hero 6"

Best Animated Short Film: Patrick Osborne, Kristina Reed, "Feast"

Achievement in Visual Effects: Paul J Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter, Scott R Fisher, "Interstellar"

Achievement in Sound Editing: Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman, "American Sniper"

Best Documentary Short Subject: Ellen Goosenbery Kent, Dana Perry, "Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1"

Best Live Actiron Short Film: Mat Kirkby, James Lucas, "The Phone Call"

Best Foreign Language Film: Pawel Pawlikowski, "Ida"

How many did you guess correctly? Were you happy with the rewards? Share your thoughts!

ENJOY 

xx

Butterfly

I don't like movies that are about sicknesses. I guess it's because I don't want to relate. It's never a nice to leave a theatre feeling like sh*t.

"Still Alice"

Although, Still Alice was nothing like that. It really is a rare pearl. You feel sad and depressed as the film goes along, yet come out of the movies with a smirk on your face.

Alice -played by Julianne Moore-, is an incredibly intelligent University Professor diagnoised with Alzheimer's disease. It's the sickness with no cure that eats your brain, destroying everything you have worked for in life and leaves you with the shell of your body.

The movie portrays how a big family goes through such difficult, stressful and mentally harsh process of loosing a loved one. Maybe how this is different from all same type of movies is that, they can't share your sadness nor comfort you.

Julianne Moore completely slayed the role she was given. An unquestionable Oscar Win is coming her way, She portrayed Alice so perfectly and so realistically that I felt uncomfortable. I was starting to get anxious that I could get Alzheimer's disease (and I'm 22). That is how well she played the character. 

Not only Julianne, but everyone did a great job. Alec Baldwin as his husband, and even Kristen Steward. I was NOT a fan of her but she probably showcased her best performance to date.

After you leave the cinema, you'll agree with me. Absurdly good acting. 

ENJOY

xx

Rushing or Dragging

I think at one point in our lives, we all tried playing an instrument or two. 

I was playing the piano and guitar. 

I loved playing the piano but was kinda pushed into playing the guitar cause my older brother was. I played for years, but like any other teenager (or most), I got sick of it and boycotted it and just continued with my vocal classes. Alone. By myself. Cause no one would listen to me. 

(No hard feeling mom and dad, I turned out great.)

"Whiplash"

Last week my dad had a minor eye surgery, and as his biological daughter, I went over to take care of him and help him out. Little did I know, he already had the evening planned to watch the -recently announced Oscar nominee- Whiplash. 

Luckily I was already super eager to watch it.

Andrew, first year music student in one of the best music conservatory, gets picked to play the drums in the schools best jazz band. The band is led by the most recognized teacher who uses fear as the key to push his students to success.

An example of how much you have to work and sacrifice to get what you want. Nothing comes easy and nothing is forever. Whiplash is proof for hard work paying off. Purely, you only have to stay sane and not over do it.

Miles Teller as Andrew has this unique facial features that is so comforting and sincere. It seems like acting comes so easy to him, so subtle but perfect. J. K. Simmons also performed an acting of a life time. Nomination for the -Best Supporting Actor- will for sure scare the crap out of his competitors.

The movie is basically between the two actors. Written and Directed by Damien Chazelle, a 30 years old.

"There are no two words in English Language more harmful than 

GOOD JOB."

ENJOY

xoxo

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