Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Election Year Movie: Man of The Year.

Its a seasonal thing. Something like Raya or Christmas movies but never quite like it. Something like a seasonal sport movie, but again, nothing like it too. Unlike the sport or Raya or Christmas movies, election year movies are never a seasonal affair. Or, for the matter, they never come annually. But they are, however, more anticipated, and much like the Soccer World Cup which comes around every 4 years. And boy, when they come, they sure do come!

As much as I hate US politics, I sure do love their election year movies(EYM). Maybe, its because they are free. Maybe not. For I remember the first EYM I ever saw was Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. Hang on! I think that was an EYM. It could have been anything else but I'm pretty sure it was an EYM. But I was too small to remember anything but James Stewart and several scenes especially when Mr. Stewart stood on the speaker's stand of the senate complete with a thermos flask and an apple, simply because he wanted to win his case against the US Senate. It is a beautiful movie about standing for a principal one believes in. Ok, it was near to a tear-jerker and somewhat of a modern day fairy tale. But you have to understand the movie was made in 1939 when most films of the era carry some sort of message. You may disagree with me, but I sure do love the film...and the actor, Mr James Stewart. You might, if you wish to, catch a glimpse of the movie here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWyEc7FAMTg as embedding has been disabled.

Another EYM I love is a movie I just cannot recall the title nor of the cast except for Dana Delaney. You, ahem, do have to excuse me here but she simply looked fabulous in the movie. And just when I thought I've forgotten all about EYM, especially in view of the upcoming General Election here in Malaysia, HBO presented a surprise!

On the stroke of midnight just now, HBO played the movie Man of The Year with Robbin Williams as the lead actor, and boy you going to love this, Christopher Plummer in a supporting role! Mama mia, what a pair they make! One was crazy as a loony tune and the other with almost an iron cast expression! Who would thought they would click together in an EYM which is almost a satire as it is a comedy in itself? Er...yeah, I do know the two words means almost the same. And you have to blame it on Robbin Williams if ever I am confused.

Sadly, as much as I enjoyed watching it I did not see it to the end, as I was beginning to feel sleepy and had not performed my Isyak. And since I do hate missing parts of a movie, I decided not to continue afterwards. However, I have marked the next most convenient time slot and would like to recommend my friends to watch it. That is, off course, if you have not. DocTA, Cikgu, Kerp, MS, Mior, MB, Lin, Pak Zabs, Pak Zawi, The Doctor, Fatin, and somehow, I get the feeling Accia would most especially love the movie. It will be on air again at 3pm on Sunday.

Hmm...now how do I sign off. Oh ok! There are several adorable lines I love in this movie and I'm going to end this entry with just one from Robin Willilams: "We are going to have an adventure. And you are all in it."

19 comments:

tokasid said...

Salam Shah:

I saw the clips of that movie but was too tired to wait last night. But from what I saw yes it was a good movie.

A friend sms-es me yesterday with this quote: "Politicians are like diapers.We should change them frequently"-Robin Williams. I am not sure if this quote was from Man of the Year or other films he was in, but it sure is an appropriate statement.

I'll try to catch MOTY or might as well download it from the net.

Err....should I practice my kompang skill again?

Accia said...

salam shah,
alamak shah, i love to, tapi tak subscribe to movie channels lah shah.
lets see if i can go ziarah anybody at that time.heeheehee...thanks for the info anyway.

Roti Kacang Merah said...

bought the DVD like eeeeoooons ago, but never got round to watch it (or rather, thought it may be pretty heavy) so it's now collecting dust.

will definitely watch it this weekend while jahit maniks. thanks for the review! ;-)

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Doc,

Oooh!You should be luckier than I am - I did not even know it was coming on! It was another of my by chance; alhamdulillah, I get plenty of that :)

The quote you mentioned, I think it is from the movie. Goodness! There were just too many adorable lines!

Download or via HBO, I think you'll enjoy the movie, insyAllah :)

Ok, you practice kompang while I practice banging the piano and kerp does a rendition of kerp cobaine while Cikgu becomes the conductor of our little symphony, lol! Ms, off course, will be the back-up singer and dancer :)

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Accia,

Ok, perhaps boleh pinjam Doc's downloaded copy kut :)

cakapaje said...

Salam Lin,

Or, if you have finished, how about loaning it to Accia? Hmm...think I just stumbled upon something here: being a broker for movies, lol! :)

Mior Azhar said...

Salam Shah,
I too watched bits and pieces of the movie - masa tang after he won the election and when Laura Liiney apparently flew to Washington to warn the president-elect that the election results was rigged (macam familiar jer). Its a thriller plus comedy. Looks good. Thanks for the notfication. Will definitely be in front of the TV this Sunday.

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

shah,

isnt this the one with christopher walkens in it? i'll let you in on a secret la brother. am not much a movie fan. i only watch a selected comedy. but if the movie is of the right-timing, i'll sure to catch it.

i think the last elecion movie i saw was Blacksheep, with the late chris farley the fat guy and his sidekick david spade as the main casts.

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Pak Mior,

Hehe...kita buat cam a soccer night ye, all of us glued to the TV, but each in their own place :)

cakapaje said...

Salam kerp,

Yo! You are right! It was Christopher Walken! Tersilap ingat nama da. Still, it was an iron cast expression :)

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

shah, do you encounter any problem surfing the net lately tak at your end? been having this speed problem la especially tonight. called them up and it was announced ada masalah melayari di setengah2 kawasan especially in penang. i believe cikgu is badly affected too la.

cakapaje said...

I do, but not as bad as before. If I say the problem with streamyx is because they still use copper cable, the TMNet people will blow their top as they say, or use to say, they use the best copper based technology. Its difficult to argue with them.

Still, the best you can do is to call their hotline. Then they'll tell you a million and one things to do before identifying the problem.

Unknown said...

No Have not seen that movie coz I am saving money to watch Malaysia's own Election Year Movie. Its about how an Indian Minister donated half his brains to an accident victim. I heard from friends that there was a suspenseful part when the surgeon fell asleep midway through the surgery. He got up and went straight home to his new wife. The Indian minister who at that time was minus half a brain, got up in the middle of the surgery, and despite extreme pain finished the surgery. The best part, is that the operation scene was shot fully in Batu Caves. Try the Soundtrack first. Track 1 Thank You My Hero Samy, it seems hit a million in the first hour. A certain Ananda bought 500k copies and the other 500k copies was bought by a Fernandez fellow.

While waiting for the release of the movie why not get6 the DVD Soi Lek Does Johore.

Unknown said...

Oh, yes, I had a hell of a hard time surfing. The speed is a joke really. It is slightly better now.

cakapaje said...

Salam Cikgu,

Lol! Will try to get the Soi Lek video then...kalau tak kena tangkap lah! :) Also read at harakah there's now a homosexual politician in Pahang! Hmm...na'uzubillah, but at this rate, amat takut sekali dengan bala Allah kalau datang.

I want to put a new entry, but am now in the midst of sending news...guess work come first before fun.

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

hehehehehe...look at cikgu go. he's on a roll i tell ya. he can easily out-do the pablo guy.

so its good to read i wasnt the only one the problem. called them up and went through the exact shit. but lucky thing for me, the technical guy on the other end seemed to be friendly and patient. no F word needed.

cakapaje said...

kerp bro,

That's the trick: be nice and courteous to those on the hotline, and you would be surprised the length they might go to help you. Serious! I do that almost all the time and I'm pretty lucky to have had them really do their best! Its not them who is at fault, after all.

As for Cikgu, he's been on roll since several days now! :)

Unknown said...

Shah,
Sorry saya ambil gambaq boycott Israel tanpa kebenaran. Takpa ka?

cakapaje said...

Cikgu,

Gladly, alhamdulillah :)