Romance 1 Come what may...

There is not and there never will be a film as perfect as this one. Moulin Rouge! has everything. Musical, check. Best actress ever, check. Incredible performances by all the cast, check. Stunning visuals, check. An incredible director (very usually underrated), check. A simple yet very effective, funny, tender, romantic and perfect script, check. The most evil villain in film ever, check. And I am not talking about the Duke... Seriously, Nini, what is your problem? Why do you hate Satine and Christian so much?

In terms of the film being a romance, it is perfect again. Both lead characters are obviously and desperately in love. And circumstances are a bitch. She is dying and wanting to be an actress, he is penniless and quite jealous... I love, love, love this film so much. It is amazing that each time I see it (around ten times I'd guess) I discover something new! Had you notice that Christian sells his typewriter in order to get the money he throws at Satine screaming "I've paid my whore"? I hadn't and I loved it! Best film ever, best film ever...

¡Peeeedro! #07

7. Law of desire (La Ley del Deseo)

Desire is like gravity. You cannot escape it. And Almodóvar understands that perfectly. As perfectly as he accomplishes filmmaking. How great is this film? From the first (super hot) scene, to that heartbreaking end, the film is pure perfection. The scene where Carmen Maura's character is playing Cocteau's The Human Voice is one of my personal favorites because I love when Pedro loves theatre. I also adore the scene in the park when the gardener wets Tina. And it is one of the best works Antonio Banderas has ever done (Be patient! We will get to his best performance...) as the consumed lover he plays. Because Antonio desires Pablo (Eusebio Poncela's character), but he is also in love. Tragically in love (in tragedies people die at the end, that's the clue). So good. So, so good.

¡Peeeedro! #08

8. Bad Education (La Mala Educación)

Bad Education was the first film by Almodóvar I ever saw. I saw it when it opened in theaters. I was 15 years old, discovering my sexuality and it was possibly the first film in which I saw sex scenes with two men (the first film not involving a weak plot with a fireman or a plumber or something like that and 5 lines of dialogue altogether). And I remember having a huge... crush on Gael García Bernal. The film is exquisite specially when I revisited it knowing something about film noir. Almodóvar is a master at making his very diverse genres and this film is no exception. Filled with vibrant colors, drag queens, religion, filmmaking and, of course, the tensions between fiction and reality, this movie is greatly great. I mean García Bernal is a Femme Fatale!! How genius is that? And it is also remarkable how the lack of women is not deadly pernicious in an Almodovarian film...

May-June Check

Current Projects

¡Peeeedro!: Almodóvar Top 15+2 (There is up to #9 now)

Judging the book by the cover: Cool TV Titles Sequences

Epic Romances: Quite self-explanatory title, right?

Future Projects (Coming soon!)

Films I have seen in 3D (and why it generally sucks)

Blonde ambitions

The Dance in the Dark Project

Epic Romances (The Ineligibles)

Should I explain or the title says it all? I'm about to start a series featuring my favorite romances of the last decade and I have decided some standards that make some wonderful romances ineligible. And this post is for them.

Rule #1: No happy endings. Obviously SPOILERS

Ineligible 1: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The gorgeous story of Clementine and Joel has a happy ending but that doesn't make it less special. Anyway it will have to wait for another series...

Ineligible 2: WALL·E

The same goes for the tale of WALL·E and EVE and their ecological love.

Rule #2: Both parts must be obviously in love. Again SPOILERS

Ineligible 3: (500) Days of Summer

Even though it is totally impossible to understand Summer Finn never falls in love with Tom Hansen. Something is wrong with her (apart from that Ringo thing) but I cannot help loving her a big lot.

Rule #3: Last decade (2000-2009) NOT REALLY SPOILERS

Ineligible 4: Room in Rome

This wonderful drama by Julio Medem opened in Spain this year (2010) and so does not count as last decade. But it is really and incredibly wonderful...

And so these are the ones that didn't make the cut. But several did... Coming soon!

Judging the book by the cover #3

Summer is coming and so each TV show I follow is finishing up for the season and waving me goodbyes until the fall (only Glee and Tara are not over yet). Because of this and since I haven't been following Grey's Anatomy sixth season, I have started re-watching the fifth one in order to be prepared. And I am completely hooked. Anyway, one thing I miss, apart from Addison, is the title cards sequence.

It was really cool. I remember being completely sure that the eye that is seen curving its eyelashes was Kate Walsh's (very unlikely since she joined the show for the second season). It was so nice when all of them were young and naive... They're residents now! Oh my! I'm so ridiculous sometimes.

You can watch the opening here.

P.S. On a Grey's Anatomy related thought. I think I liked the trailer for Life as we know it, the one thousandth romantic comedy Katherine Heigl has done since despising both Judd Apatow and Shonda Rhimes. This film stars Christina Hendricks and her fabulous boobs!

¡Peeeedro! #09

9. Talk to Her (Hable con Ella)

To be fair, I must say that I don't recall this film perfectly. Nevertheless, even though the first time I was reluctant to some of its parts (the shrinking man comes to mind), the second time I watched it everything felt right into place (the shrinking man is almost the most important scene in the film). I would say it is the first film by Almodóvar to be consciously mature. And that is so great... The movie is exuberant in all its color, smart in all its script and the performances are unbelievably good. For me, Javier Cámara was an annoying "funny" guy up until this film. Leonor Watling does little acting outside the bed and the little she does is precious. Darío Grandinetti is one of the best Almodóvar boys and one of the less recognised. And Rosario Flores, who up until then was a singer in whose music I had not (and still don't have) the least interest, gives a solid and powerful performance, one of those that lingers on the viewer's mind long after seeing the film. And of course, a song: Cucurrucú (o Cucurrucucú, isn't that right Davigüi?) Paloma...

¡Peeeedro! #10

10. Kika

Kika is such a good person. She will only complain a little during a raping and not even that much. Besides she is a great make-up artist. If it wasn't because of the evil men that surround her, or the incomparable Andrea Caracortada (something like Andrea Scarface) the movie would have been much happier and less entertaining. If it wasn't because of Anabel Alonso's gigantic boobs or a fully naked Bibiana Fernández (Bibí Andersen back then) singing Luz de Luna, the film would have been a lot less Almodovarian. And I haven't even mentioned Rossy de Palma or the Brechtian references... What a great film...

Judging the book by the cover #2

To celebrate that I have the best boyfriend ever who just this afternoon bought me the first season of True Blood, here are some thoughts on the amazing opening credits sequence of this amazing TV series.

The titles sequence is not only perfect in itself but also the perfect company for the episodes. It usually stars after a shock, so you think "OMG, this show is good shit" and then it gets you in the right mood to see the episode with the catchy song and the powerful images. Another thing I love about it is that, True Blood being a huge cast show, is that when a name appears I say the name of the character in order to learn the names. For this reason I prefer opening credits without images or floating heads of the credited actors (as in Friends or Popular). For instance, in the pic above: Sam Trammell = Sam Merlotte.

You can watch True Blood's amazing credits (created by Digital Kitchen) here.

¡Peeeedro! #11

11. Dark Habits (Entre Tinieblas)

Pedro and Religion. An inseparable duo. Thank God (i.e. Pedro himself)! Because this film is as delicious as it is dark and twisty. The first film by Almodóvar to deal with something different than la movida is incredibly precise at depicting the essence of Spanish religiousness (though I would say real nuns have less vices). Using a "saintly" figure in Yolanda Bel and a believer in the Abadesa Julia, Pedro connects the religious feeling with a sadomasochistic relationship. Throw in a few musical numbers, a tiger and hilarious (yet scary) names for the nuns and you'll get yet another Almodóvar's masterpiece.

Judging the book by the cover #1

It is true that a good TV show does not need a greatly innovative titles sequence (Popular, Friends, Gilmore Girls, Ally McBeal) or even titles sequences at all (Glee, Modern Family, Gossip Girl, Lost) but it is also true that greatly innovative titles sequences are like chips when you're in the desert. It is not the drink (that is the show per se) but what accompanies it adding flavor to it. Sometimes I think my metaphors should be printed in T-shirts. Anyway let's get a look at some of the best (for my subjective being) titles sequences ever!

The first one I want to post is that of United States of Tara, a TV show that has me more hooked on with every episode. All the acting is great (Rosemarie DeWitt is a world treasure) and the storylines develop so smoothly that it is impossible not to be surprised by the show. I'm dying to see more episodes!

I don't know if it's simply animation or it is really pop-up but in any case it is so eye-catching and so in accordance with the spirit and the plot of the show that it is impossible not to sing along to it. Open up the sky, this mess is getting high...

You can watch the title sequence here, it may have ads but at least it is HD.

¡Peeeedro! #12

12. The flower of my secret (La flor de mi secreto)

Well, it's a good thing I started this now and not a year from now, because by then it should have been a Top 15+3... ¡¡¡LA PIEL QUE HABITO!!! Ok. I'm fine. It's only a year away... Right now I'm going to focus on what Mr. Pedro did fifteen years ago. And it was delighting audiences with The Flower of my Secret, the story of a writer of romantic novels (portrayed by Marisa Paredes) who is not precisely in her best personal moment. As I've summed up the plot it looks like a Katherine Heighl romantic comedy but this is Almodóvar we're talking about so themes are not to be treated lightly. Pedro, always exploring the ways in which human beings communicate chooses in this film literature to compare fiction and reality, perfectly exemplified in the scene with the "fake" doctors. Not the only great sceneof the film. The one with the manifestation is as epic and classic as Gone with the Wind. Not rare in a film so abundant with references to other movies. Definitely rocks, rocks everywhere.

April-May Check

Changing months is always exciting, isn't it? I'm planning on checking every change of month how things are developing around here... So here's the first Check!

Current Projects

Almodóvar Top 15+2: There's up to #13 now!

Future Projects (Coming Soon!)

Cool TV shows opening credits

Epic Romances of the Past Decade

Films in 3D I have seen

Other Stuff

Glamour Shots are sorely missed

¡Peeeedro! #13

13. What have I done to deserve this? (¿Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto!!)

A movie of firsts and lasts. First true protagonist for Carmen Maura, first appearance of Verónica Forqué (both in the picture, the latter with a man on top of her). It is also the last movie by Pedro to include paranormal activities (that telekinetic child and her mother are priceless). A great portrayal of the Spanish urban working classes and a great anti-melodrama. I mean, in melodrama, small things can be the hardest of all but in this film everything is approached from distance and humor. A mother leaves her child with a pedophiliac dentist, an aspiring star is working as a prostitute, a lonely old lady loses "Money"... Terrible dramas taken lightly.

Plausible Facebook Group:

"We want Glamour Shots back!"

¡Peeeedro! #14

14. Pepi, Luci, Bom (y otras chicas del montón)

Almodóvar's first film is not his best. But it is so lively, hopeful, optimistic and fun that is, if not a masterpiece, certainly a cult piece. Its portrayal of the "movida" is so fun and apparently truthful (I wouldn't know, when I was born the "movida" was sadly over) that you can't help but fall in love not only with the three main women but with the whole cast.

¡Peeeedro! #15

15. Matador (1986)

I don't recall this movie very well (and it is the last Almodóvar I have seen) but I'm already thinking that Labyrinth of Passion is better what goes to prove that this Top 15+2 is pointless because I change my mind instantly and perpetually (just as often as Ares download speed changes). Well, and now while choosing a picture to post I'm thinking it is great again (BIPOLAR!).

The story was intriguing enough, the performances were wonderful (Assumpta Serna, I'm looking at you...) and it was a great depiction of the relationship between sex and death. Yes, definitely a masterpiece.

¡Peeeedro! (Honorable Mentions)

Is there a better way to start something (a blog, for instance) than Mr. Pedro Almodóvar? If there is, I'm not aware of it (and I don't want to be). So here it is: Almodóvar's Top 15 (plus 2 honorable mentions)!!

Honorable Mentions

Live Flesh (Carne Trémula) 1997

This is Pedro's worst. And "casually" it is his only film to have an adapted screenplay. Casting is not very bright either. Liberto Rabal, Francesca Neri and Javier Bardem are almost difficult to look at. On the other hand José Sancho and Ángela Molina are great and amazing respectively. Also, Pilar Bardem and Penélope Cruz (in his first film with Pedro) show that there are no small roles when it comes to giving powerful performances. It has memorable moments such as the sex scene depicted on the poster or the opening scene with the delivery. It also has that Almodovarian flavor but in very small doses and Almodóvar should not play it subtly.

Labyrinth of Passion (Laberinto de Pasiones) 1982

And now with just one film that I didn't fully enjoy, we're entering true Almodóvar realm. From now on, everything is a masterpiece but for the sake of listing everything, choices must be made. And even though Labyrinth of Passion is a wonderful film, it is not on the Top 15. But I'm not sure that I can say any flaws in it. But I can think of a few good things: the script is hilarious, the ensemble works smoothly and as seen in the picture, Antonio Banderas appears shirtless (remember it was 1982, he was still hot and didn't sport that beard he had at the Oscars...) And as trivia fact, this is Pedro's sole film of the 80s not to star Carmen Maura.

Start at the beginning.

Hi. This is the first post. Even in the unlikely case that I ever get readers, possibly no one will see this (David, you are me, you don't count) so I can say whatever I want. Like that behind such a cool name as A Dog Pooped, there is nothing but a thousand trials at checking available names.

A blogger's life is a tough life, isn't it?