Boardwalk Empire. Season One.

First off, it's a Martin Scorsese production. And the pilot episode was directed by Scorsese himself. That alone should make you watch it.

Then again, the story is quite good. It's sort of like a prequel to The Untouchables, if you want to call it that. Aside from telling the stories of real-life legends Lucky Luciano and Al Capone, it also puts historical context to the period known as the Prohibition. This was the time of the Sufrragettes victory, the first time women were allowed to cast their ballots. Although some of the characters have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes, I think the accuracy of the historical context has been preserved.

1. "Boardwalk Empire"

"I deserve that Golden Globe, right?"

So the title of this episode is also the title of the series. Kind of like how some song titles are also the title of the album they come from. Also, Steve Buscemi is a really, really great actor. I've loved him since Airheads. And I thought I would get bored with this series, but I've been proven wrong. It's either Scorsese has damn great directing skills, or I just really love period films about the Prohibition.

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards

Okay, the Oscars have just wrapped up. If you want to see the full list of winners, click on the Oscar website. Because we have decided to give out a few awards of our own. We shall call it the "Rosca" awards. Or the "Ozkar" awards. Whichever is funnier.

Best Acceptance Speech

Nominee
Tom Hooper

Best Director, The King's Speech

Because he told that gut-wrenching story about how his mum (he's British) found this obscure play called "The King's Speech" and told him, "Hey son, I know this play you can totally rip off into a screenplay."

The Vampire Diaries. Season 2, Episode 16: The House Guest

Baby Warlock is dead and Papa Warlock couldn't help but join him. 

"Some kind of crazy-ass psychic witch attack."

Luka was toast. Jonas was vampire-bitten and neck-snapped. And just like that, the warlocks are gone. To be honest, they had it coming—especially Jonas. This gives Bonnie the witch-spotlight now. Her powers are back and Jonas passed something (vital information or more power, perhaps?) onto her, about how to deal with Klaus and save his daughter Greta, who might be a little bit of trouble if she knew who made her an orphan.

Other than that, it's girls night = girl power, or a.k.a. relationship check for everyone:

• Alaric tells Jenna he loves her until Isobel shows up at her door. Okay, I wanted the werewolves out, but I didn't mean bring back the pre-werewolf villains. But with her boyfriend's (un)dead wife back, Jenna should know everything soon. 
• Caroline sings to Mattt onstage—pretty beautiful rock-chic voice but I don't understand the song choice. "Eternal Flame," really?! Also, Matt gets an almost-fatal dose of the truth, and him freaking out on Caroline is such a sad sight. 
• Bonnie and Jeremy get Elena's blessing. I'm not a big fan of them, so let's just wait and see how this pans out. This, however, gives Jeremy a more defined role in the series since his you-and-me-against-the-world stint with Anna (†).
• And last but certainly not the least, Damon puts off Katherine's sexual advances. Okay, maybe this has nothing to do with girl power, but the resident bitch not getting any—not even a kiss—from the hottest guy in this series is a truly a goodie. 

The Vampire Diaries is on a month-long break again. Boo. They awfully go on a lot of breaks this season. I hope it's worth it, so 'till then.

Oscar Live Ticker

The first time I discovered Live Ticker was during the FSV Mainz 05─Bayern München match (20 Feb 2011). I sat through the entire game, in which Bayern won 3-1, with two assists from Arjen Robben.

"To me, an assist is a goal."

Repertory Philippines' The Joy Luck Club

When I was young, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan was a popular topic for book reports. I don't remember reading the book, but I remember the 1993 movie of the same title. Mother-daughter relations, Chinese, American (note that Filipinos are heavily-influenced by both cultures) or otherwise, is a story I took to heart since I, too, am a daughter. When I learned Repertory Philippines would be staging it this year in their 74th Season (and luckily, I got a hold of tickets to see it and two other plays), I was eager to see how the experience would differ. That, and it's been like ages since I've seen a play. 

Walking into the Onstage theater gave me a whiff of college nostalgia (my org stages plays and productions). The bamboo sets seem only fitting since this was Rep's Chinese New Year offering. The play of lights, shadows, sounds, and slow motion was put into the play artistically so that the minimalist approach (imaginary props, doors, and what have you) was noticeable but not distracting. It transitioned the audience through the changes of story or time, which helped tell the stories smoothly.

Old-photo-look courtesy of Photoshop.
Or, Female leads rock the house! 

As the play went on, I found myself counter-checking who's who from the movie. But the artistic aspects did not disappoint. The powerhouse cast of strong female leads delivered superb performances, as well as the supporting actors. And I have to say Frances Makil Ignacio is a favorite. She totally caught me unaware when she delivered her lines that sounded as if she was chewing her food. Well, it was during a dinner scene, so I shouldn't be surprised at all really. It was just so... natural.

Frances Makil Ignacio's (left) comedic timing is effortless.
Or, Cris Villonco (right) looks very much like her role's movie version.

Though I wouldn't suggest one to jump into this adaptation of the book since some lines are long. It might be hard for other people, who have no idea about the plot, to keep up. Even I got lost in the Moon Lady really, but his (yes, the lady is a man sans the makeup) lines were delivered in a very convincingly folklore-ish or mythical fashion. But once you've read the book or watched the film, the appreciation of this version is very welcome. If the movie put faces on the names in the book, this play kind of made it 3D of some sort.

Repertory Philippines' The Joy Luck Club gets a seven-point-five out of ten, for its powerhouse cast, classic story, and fresh take on theater directing.


*photos from bp.blogspot.com, courtesy of Repertory Philippines. 

NBA All-Star 2011

This annual roadshow used to be a must-see spectacle for me. It's fun to watch all-stars and superstars go at it once in a while. But for no apparent reason, I didn't have any real interest in the all-star game itself, and this started about five years ago or somethin'.

Or the fact that he's retired could be that certain "no apparent reason".

Goal!

While the country is caught up in football fever (which is really belated, by all standards), some of you might want to check out some football movies. Goal!, I believe, is a good choice.

The movie starts off as soccer, then eventually turns into football.

An American soccer pitch.

That's because it starts off in America, then ends up in England, the birthplace of the bloody sport.

An English football stadium.

This movie is basically an inspiration story. One of those types of films that after watching, will make you want to go out and start kicking a ball. But this is better than most inspirational films because it's more realistic, in my opinion. It shows that a determined, never-say-die attitude will eventually get you places.

Living your dream is the best feeling in the world.

Great acting by Kuno Becker. Well, not really great. Believable, maybe. I also love Stephen Dillane's accent. For those of you who didn't know, that guy played Merlin in Antoine Fuqua's King Arthur. Plus we also have two actors from Band of Brothers here.

Anyway, watch this movie for football, for the English culture, and for the cameos of none other than football greats David Beckham and Zinadine "Headbutt" Zidane.


*some info from IMDb
pics from VLC


Goal! UK/USA. 2005.


Rating: Seven out of ten.

Montiel VS Donaire

Not an actual poster.

Nonito Donaire was the man last weekend, which was dubbed boxing's first big weekend of 2011. Of course, I'm a main event guy when it comes to boxing. Unfortunately, the main event lasted only two rounds, similar to the PacMan-Hatton fight. It was also eerily similar to how it ended, with both fighters sleeping on the canvas. Well, let's proceed with the undercard.

THE UNDERCARD

Mike Alvarado VS Dean Harrison

The night started with Alvarado stopping the Englishman dead in his tracks (in his stool actually) in four rounds. Harrison was just kept on his stool before the fifth round started. I don't know what's next for these guys. All I know is that Alvarado climbs up and Harrison slides down the junior welterweight ranks.

The Vampire Diaries. Season 2, Episode 15: The Dinner Party

It's my party and I'll kill if I want to.

"There's no such thing as a bad idea, just poorly executed awesome ones."

Although Mystic Falls creates event after event after event to get these people together, Damon really knows how to throw a killer party. I missed Caroline in this episode though. And it's a relief with no dog smell around.

I miss your skin-tight jeans, girl. What's up with that smile?

But OMG. Hooray for Lexi! Wohoo. Too bad we can see her only in flashbacks now. It was really touching to see Damon show a bit of real guilt and remorse when Stefan asked him, "You remember her?" Damn. So, if Stefan was the more monstrous of the two when the brothers turned and Lexi was the one who made Stefan be sort of human again, how come Damon lost it along the way and became obsessed with Katherine when he debuted in the show? I want Damon's story to be told! Mind that, writers. 

How many times does Elijah have to die in this series?

I have to say I am going to miss Elijah, his elegance and charm. He was so cool, whether killing or helping someone. I believe they're gonna have to pull the dagger off him when it's time to kill Klaus. And if he reawakens (I hope he does), Elijah should take Elena's side. After all, he wanted Klaus dead, too. And warlock, please, you have to start choosing your friends and enemies well. Klaus is your common enemy, so give Bonnie's powers back! I think it's time to bring Lucy the witch back, you know, maybe a witch-warlock fight would be cool.

Shove the ring up your ass and you'll still be dead sooner or later.

And Alaric, Alaric, I feel your pain as much as I love thy name. Last week, I thought you were more of use to the series as Damon's frenemy and being Jenna's boyfriend was just a sideshow. I still feel that way but it was admirable of you to shut your mouth even if it meant protecting and losing Jenna altogether. Get John for that soon, I hope. And Katherine, too, for everything nasty she's done. Yes, the bitch is back and out of her cave. Boo-yah.

The Fascism Simulator—CityVille Review

It was Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari who once wrote: “Groups and individuals are filled with micro-fascisms just waiting to crystallize,” and nothing is better proof of this than the extraordinary popularity of CityVille, wherein any individual with a Facebook account may become a tyrannical overlord of a capitalist utopia strangely lacking in any human demand and is solely composed of the values of the free market. It is the circulation of money—coins, cash, and commodities—that bring about the shape of your city; it is this convenient sort of literal Marxianism (obviously, not Marxism; but rather, following the organization of base/superstructure), along with economic (and therefore cultural) fascism that lets the single mom, bored dad at work, student after homework, or existentially impotent human being exercise a full-blast crystallization of the variety exposed by D&G.