The trademark of a British love story is the slight enhancement of charm, excellent articulation of feelings, and of course, hopelessly hopeful representations of the lead. Tim, a boy who always did things on a whim after learning that he could travel through time, was this smart, yet uncomfortable in knowing that he could do things. Domnhall Gleason played his part perfectly, with his frail decision over life's staggering storm, and a poor understanding of love. It's quite a jump from his previous job as Bill Weasley--his most brooding role yet, for me--and there's pleasure in knowing that he's this versatile man who has a thousand identities through the characters he cultivated from acting. The rest of the cast was, obviously, as gallant as Gleason himself. They hyped the story, and fluidly moved along the mood of the story. However, what saddens me was the flow of the story, and how it was structured into something so perfect. There was a climax, yes, but it wasn't represented as much as it did justice to the lead's time travel feats. It felt like there should be a strong reminder about the consequences of incoherent decisions and how it's deluding you with an easy way out, but I saw nothing; it was completely all about Tim's journey through life, through the eyes of time. But what redeems the lapse in the story was the careful impression of life as this sometimes comic, sometimes heartbreaking, and sometimes flimsy game. Richard Curtis must be this romanticist whose genius immaculately collaborates life and love into this strange-looking concoction of pain and pleasure. And you would always want to have a little taste.
Chef (2014) dir.l Jon Favreau
I consider this as one of Favreau's weakest peojects yet. It was enlightening (and mouth-watering), yes, but it did seem like there was something missing. His films from my childhood (like Zathura) that still wowed me to this day will always be a reminder of how good he is as a man with a penchant to the cinematic simplicity of adventure, but this one is a weak proof that he is still the same man. The actors, however, were in good shape, with their well-exhibited exuberance. But the female protagonists looked like accessories to this film, and no one wants that. It looked as if they were only there to feed the male lead's ego, and to fulfill the ending everybody wants: a wedding. Considering the fact that this was inspired by Jiro Dreams of Sushi and Eat Drink Man Woman, it would be a misguiding statement if we were to attribute this to few of this century's greatest food epics. The storyline was weak as the Cuban sandwiches were strong.
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