Movie Maundy

I went to see my second movie of the year: Lucky Number Slevin.

I had to go to Gateway in Cubao because it's the nearest flickhouse showing it. SM isn't showing it, so I had to pay 140 for a one-show screening, which reminded me of the reason why I stopped watching movies on the big screen. The reason has something to do with the cash flowing into my ATM, or the lack of it.

I always pay attention to trailers. It's where I judge whether a movie is worth watching or not. First trailer: The Hills Have Eyes. Verdict: Don't Watch. It played California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas, reminded me of Chunking Express. Now that movie, I want to see. Again.

Second trailer: Submerged, the newest blockbuster by the world's greatest actor ever since the dawn of time and space and memory, Steven Segal. Verdict: Don't Watch, period. The trailer reminded me of Philippine movie trailers where you see the entire plot, from intro to climax to resolution, in the trailer; and where the trailers are just so great (and the movies suck, most of the time). Steven Segal should make more trailers and less movies.

Lucky Number Slevin is good. I don't know how to describe how good it is without spoilers, so let me just say it's a mystery movie; and I love mystery movies, especially detective movies. This isn't a detective movie, by the way.

The art deco and the jazz. If I were to live in New York, I'd make sure the place was art deco, even though I'd probably get migraines from the patterns on the walls. And I'd play jazz all day, even though it would add grain to my migraines. Who cares? It looks good on film. That's all that matters really.

My only quarrel with the movie is the ending. Too fast. Too much information in a few minutes. Too talky. I would have just cut out the lengthy explanations and left the audience confused and guessing. But that's me, and I'm not really a film expert.

And they talk too fast and too sharp. Real people don't talk like that. Unless they're really smart or on a high.

Lucy Liu likes to star in revenge flicks, doesn't she?

Body Count: 20, including the horse
Favorite line: "Are you familiar with the shmoo?"
Favorite Scene: first time talking with the boss including the shmoo speech, walking away from the explosion, and the wallpaper

Overall, a nice movie!