stiffen up that upper lip.

"If there's one thing you gotta fake, it's confidence. You fake it you get it eventually."
"Wear your shoes. Be proud of you and be yourself, man." Eminem

AVATAR: Pocahontas in Sci-Fi

Today I watched Avatar for the second time. First time in XXI The Premiere, second time in 3D. Joko Anwar, a movie director from Indonesia, recommended his followers in Twitter to watch the recent work of James Cameron in 3D version.

Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez,
Giovanni Ribisi, Sigourney Weaver
Running Time: 161 minutes
Budget: $ 237,000,000

The Review:
When I first previewed the trailer, I wasn't interested watching this movie. I didn't know what the movie was about and assumed it would be just another not-so-kicking blockbuster movie. But after I watched the movie, I could tell you that the trailer is not helpful. The trailer is nothing compared to the movie.

Avatar is Pocahontas in Sci-Fi, only the main character is "John Smith" instead of "Pocahontas" and the battle is between men and alien (or should I say Na'vi and alien?) instead of the battle between two races. The goal is same, natural resources to bring further wealth.

Avatar brought mesmerizing picturesque of Pandora World. The pictures are fantastic. When you watch a fantasy movie, this you have to keep in mind: Know that every landscape in a fantasy movie is painted by men and came from men's creativity. So to see how outstanding the Pandora forest, to see how it's very detailed, will make you more amazed. You will go "whooa"-ing inside your head everytime the movie takes you to Pandora.

The character is well developed. The main character, Jake Sully, goes from useless, jobless, paralyzed ex marine to the greatest warrior and becomes the hope of every Na'vi. The process of how he finally see the world through Na'vi's eyes.

There is something about the word: see, in this movie. As Norm Spellman, a character in this movie explained to Sully: "When you say 'I see you', it's not literally meant I see you in front of me. But it's more like I see into you." Among Na'vis, they say "I see you" instead of "I love you."

So readers, go and hit the theatre to witness the magic of movie! It's worth your time, mark my words.

FFI 2009

What the heck is FFI?

FFI stands for Festival Film Indonesia. It's Indonesia's most prestigious movie award. If the Academy Awards's trophy is called the Oscar, then FFI's trophy is called Piala Citra.

Here are the nominees & winners (bold) of the Festival Film Indonesia 2009:

Nominasi film terbaik :
Identitas
Jamila dan Sang Presiden
Mereka Bilang Saya Monyet
Perempuan Berkalung Sorban
Ruma Maida

Nominasi Pemeran Wanita Terbaik :
Atiqah Hasiholan - Ruma Maida
Aty Kanser - Emak Ingin Naik Haji
Leony - Identitas
Revalina S Temat - Perempuan Berkalung Sorban
Titi Sjuman - Mereka Bilang Saya Monyet

Nominasi Pemeran Pendukung Wanita Terbaik :
Ayu Pratiwi - Emak Ingin Naik Haji
Henidar Amroe - Mereka Bilang Saya Monyet
Niniek L Karim - KCB 2
Widyawati - Perempuan Berkalung Sorban

Nominasi Pemain Pria Terbaik :
Tio Pakusadewo - Identitas
Emir Mahiri - Garuda di Dadaku
Reza Rahardian - Emak Ingin Naik Haji
Vino G Bastian - Serigala Terakhir
Yama Carlos - Ruma Maida

Nominasi Peran Pembantu Pria Terbaik :
Deddy Mizwar - KCB 2
Frans Tumbuan - Ruma Maida
Mamiek Prakoso - Garuda di Dadaku
Reza Rahardian - Perempuan Berkalung Sorban
Verdy Sulaiman - Ruma Maida

Nominasi Penyutradaraan Terbaik :
Ari Kusumadewa - Identitas
Djenar Maesa Ayu - Mereka Bilang Saya Monyet
Hanung Bramantyo - Perempuan Berkalung Sorban
Ratna Sarumpaet - Jamila dan Sang Presiden
Teddy Soeriatmadja - Ruma Maida

Penata Musik Terbaik :
Aksan Syuman dan Titi Syuman - Garuda di Dadaku
Djaduk Ferianto - Jagad Kali Code
Aksan Syuman dan Titi Syuman - King
Bobi Suryadi - Ruma Maida
Arge Swara - Merah Putih

Nominasi Penata Suara Terbaik FFI 2009
Edo W.F. Sitanggang - Identitas
Irwan Ali Akbar & Edo W.F. Sitanggang - Emak Ingin Naik Haji
Satrio Budiono & Jajang Muslim - Jamila Dan Sang Presiden
Shaft Daultsyah dan Khikmawan Santosa - Ruma Maida
Trisno & Khikmawan Santoso - Serigala Terakhir

Nominasi Penulis Skenario Cerita Asli Terbaik FFI 2009
Aria Kusumadewa - Identitas
Armantono - Jagad Kali Code
Ayu Utami - Ruma Maida
Sally Anom Sari & Sammaria Simanjuntak - Cin[T]a
Salam Aristo - Garuda Di Dadaku

Nominasi Penulis Skenario Cerita Adaptasi Terbaik FFI 2009
Aditya Gumay & Adenin Adlan - Emak Ingin Naik Haji
Djenar Maesa Ayu & Indra Herlambang - Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet!
Ginatri S. Noer - Perempuan Berkalung Sorba
Joko Anwar - Pintu Terlarang
Ratna Sarumpaet - Jamila Dan Sang Presiden

Nominasi Penata Sinematografi Terbaik FFI 2009
Faozan Rizal - Perempuan Berkalung Sorban
Ical Tanjung - Ruma Maida
Ical Tanjung - Serigala Terakhir
Ipung Rahmat Syaiful - Pintu Terlarang
Yastki - Identitas

Nominasi Penata Artistik Terbaik FFI 2009
Frans X. Paat (Jamila Dan Sang Presiden)
Herlin Lanang (Emak Ingin Naik Haji)
Indra Tamoron Musu (Ruma Maida)
Iqbal Marjono (Serigala Terakhir)
Kekev Marlov (Identitas)

Nominasi Penyuntingan Terbaik FFI 2009
Arifin Cu’unk & Wawan I. Wibowo (Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet!)
Go-Chang Senior (Identitas)
Sastha Sunu (Jamila Dan Sang Presiden)
Waluyo Ichwandiardono (Ruma Maida)
Wawan I. Wibowo (Pintu Terlarang)


P.S.: Sorry for late post. I hope it will be useful for readers who are looking for good Indonesian movie refference.

GOD is a crazy artist

GOD is a director/GOD is an architect. This question is brought up through an Indonesian movie, Cin(T)a (2009).
I have a personal opinion regarding what GOD is, and that is:
GOD is a crazy artist.

Why artist as the noun?
An artist is a person who create sth. As I and many people believe, GOD is the creator of the world along with every living creature.

Why crazy as the adjective?
Sth is called crazy when it is out of the reach from our logic and wisdom; when it is hard to understand.

So GOD is a crazy artist. This came up as I rethink of this earth, the nature, the sky that keeps changing; and human beings that live. Human is the highest form of art. Their body shape, their skin color, their anatomy, the way they are consisted of millions of cells. Also what their brain can come out with, like how one human can think very differently from another. No matter how close they are related to another.

As for crazy, we can never know why GOD let sin venom the human heart while we believe that HE is love. Why don't HE just get rid our sins from us or HE prevent us from comitting sin, when we believe how powerful HE is. That is sth people won't be able to understand. That is sth people won't be able to decipher. People have to meet with the artist himself in order to understand.

Muallaf (The Convert)

Title: Muallaf (The Convert)
Year: 2008
Directed by: Yasmin Ahmad
Country: Malaysia
Starring: Brian Yap; Sharifah Amani; Yeo Yann Yann; Sharifah Aleysha

Synopsis:

This is a tale of three souls who find soalce in religion. Brian has lost his faith in Christianity since he was 12 after being humiliated by his father, a strict Catholic. During his teaching days at the school, he meets the two sisters who often recite verses from the holy Qur'an and gain simple knowledge of Islam. Each of their life journeys will never be the same again.

Hypnotizing!

The first minutes was interesting. The picture was simple but refreshing. In the middle of the movie, I got pretty bored because of its slow approach to the climax. I'm beginning to know the character though. The two sisters are intriguing, independent, devout Muslim and optimistic. While Brian is depressed, stingy and he's in a condition where he lost his faith in Christianity because of childhood trauma and indulgent mother. But as I watched the movie until it ended, I found that this movie is personally hypnotizing.

I watched this movie today with my friend Marvin Julian and Clarissa Putri Suseno on the 8th day of 2009's JIFFest. I closed Muallaf with a talk show with Okhtar Ahmad, the sister of director Yasmin Ahmad. By the time this movie is released in Indonesia, Yasmin Ahmad has passed away.

The talkshow changed my mind and gave me perspective. First I thought that this movie was about Islamisation. But then, no it isn't. It's more about how the lives of 2 devout Muslim affected those around them. Brian is just one example given in the movie. This movie is purely based on a true story. The problems brought up there are the problems that people in Malaysia - so Okhtar Ahmad said - coped most of the time in their family. At the end it doesn't boldly show that Brian convert to Islam. In fact, it said nothing about convertion at all. But if you know the real story, which Okhtar brought up to us, the character Brian really converted to Islam.

The last minutes of Muallaf used the song "Amazing Grace." You know that it is the song Christians and Catholics like to sing in Churches. So why Amazing Grace, I wondered. She said, "Because it inspires people. My sister Yasmin listens to any kind of music. She doesn't adopt the way of thinking that listening to music from other religion will hurt Allah. If you watched her other works, you will see that she used various musics."

So dear Okhtar, your sister Yasmin didn't die. She left her legacy through her arts. Her movies pretty much reflect her characters, what kind of person she was at the time of her life. I take Muallaf as Yasmin's tribute to keep both of your lives' story eternally.

Me, Okhtar Ahmad, Clarissa Putri Suseno

If you're interested in knowing the late Yasmin Ahmad further more do visit her blog:
http://yasminthestoryteller.blogspot.com
http://yasminthefilmmaker.blogspot.com

upcoming

upcoming post: Gerakan 9/12
stay tuned!

I Decide

As a further respond to my previous entry, I will give you - all of the insecure people who's in a process of reaching self-actualization - a song that can help you gain your confidence. Watch and learn, people!

I Decide by Lindsay Lohan

Don't think that you can tell me what to think
I'm the one who knows what's good for me
And I'm stating my independence
Gonna take the road I'm gonna take
And I'm gonna make my own mistakes
It's my life

Don't think you're ever going to hold me down
Couldn't do it then, can't do it now
I'm kicking down all the fences
Gonna do it all and do too much
And if I mess the whole thing up, it's my ride

I decide
I decide how I live
I decide who I love
The choice is mine
And no one gets to make my mind up
I decide
I decide where I go
What I need, who I know
I'm the one who's running my life
I decide

I'm taking my own chances
I'm finding my own answers
I'm only answering to me
And that's the way it's gonna be

*) Soundtrack of Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

inside the head of my "menye-menye" side

Menye-menye: a term created by one of my good acquintance, a friend of mine for unfierce, unbitchy person who smiles a lot.

the label "menye-menye" once landed on me. i disagreed that i was a "menye-menye" person. i admit though that i had a "menye-menye" side. but that "menye-menye" side of me that i admitted, wasn't because i smiled a lot. i have more profound desc. of "menye-menye." though now, as the entry is published, i guess the creator of the term has also elaborate its description.

Menye-menye: deciphered by Priscillia Sidharta, as the term for insecure, weak-minded person; a person who doesn't stand on his own ground.

Here's the input of a "menye-menye"'s head that produces an output a human being who is "menye-menye."

i don't know which one to choose,
my choice has to please everybody,
so i always let people choose.
i don't think that person is using me,
everything he asks me to do doesn't trouble me that much,
so i always say yes to whatever help he's asking.
i don't listen to what i really want,
because it's the voice of my bad human nature,
so i let my mother designs my future.
i don't know what to do,
i leave no room for hurting someone,
so i always draw myself back in a conflict.
i never argue,
everybody knows everything better than me,
so i make everybody my teacher and do as they say.

and finally...

i don't know who i am,
i'm too much influenced by people around me,
but this is my starting point.

Make the best of your JIFFest!

JIFFest is soon to come! It will be an event attended by numerous crowds, most of them are hardcore moviegoers. Competition for tickets won't be easy. Be fast or your seats taken. I am here to give you a few tips on how to manage the competition, how to arrange clashing movie
schedules, and how to choose the right movies........

1. So far JIFFest always helds its event in December. When it comes to November, be sure to check JIFFest website www.jiffest.org routinely. As soon as they publish fix schedule, check for ticketing. It will give you information on how and where you can buy ticket. My advice: always be earlybirds to secure your position. JIFFest's popular movie tends to sell out first few days.

2. Before going to the locket, make sure you have viewed the whole schedule. If you want to watch 8 JIFFest movies, you have to arrange the day and time to avoid clashing. Usually JIFFest airs a movie two times, so there will always be alternatives. But if it is really not possible, then you have to pick movies!

3. Picking a movie. Deciding which movie to watch and which to eliminate needs a strategy. You don't want a wrong choice. Only two things you must keep in mind: movies with more awards and movies that are from countries except US. It's easy to find the DVD for US's movie but it's not for movies from non-Hollywood countries. As for me, I always sacrifice Hollywood movies in JIFFest due to the previous consideration.

And here's my extra tip. It's really not my field but I know the big picture. It's about.....

4. Outfit to JIFFest! Attending JIFFest, you will find fellow moviegoers, idealist, down-to-earth/lowprofile people and activists. So always dress casually! It's okay to be a little eccentric. But avoid dressing formally and fancy.

And one more thing that will really "make the best of your JIFFest":

5. Meet the faces of movie industry! JIFFest invites Indonesian directors and some foreign directors. JIFFest is not exclusive for JIFFest's attendant to meet them. So pay attention to JIFFest events! Usually it's in the last pages of the booklet. Meeting the man that produces award-worthy movie will definitely make your JIFFest an event to remember.

Me, (director) Nia Dinata, Marvin Julian

The 11th JIFFest 2009

The Jakarta International Film Festival 11th will be held starting December 4th, 2009 - December 12th, 2009. As I am posting this entry, it has already begun.



Jakarta International Film Festival is an annual movie festival in Jakarta (Indonesia), which aired movies from around the world including local movies. It is established by YMMFI, stands for Yayasan Mandiri Masyarakat Film Indonesia.

This year the festival will be opened with a local movie by Riri Riza: Sang Pemimpi. It is the sequel of last year's favourite Laskar Pelangi. It will be closed with New York, I Love You.

The 11th JIFFest campaigns alongside madani. They air movies that tell about Islamic values and cultures.

Alas! Don't forget to visit www.jiffest.org for movies time & schedule. Make sure you take part in supporting Indonesia's movie industry!