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BAZ LUHRMANN'S LA BOHÉME

Puccini's tragic opera is given a post-modernist twist by visual virtuoso Baz Luhrmann.

I caught the production at the Ahmanson Theatre on thursday night. This is a beautiful opera, with lithing verses and a cynical humor that adorns the barest emotions of love, set against a backdrop of despair and sadness. It is a simple story, and Luhrmann aptly tones down on the visual language that he is so fond of.

One would expect a similar rendition of Moulin Rouge in this production, but Luhrmann kept the set frivolity to a minimum (except for the elaborate Act II), focusing on the talent of the young cast and the simplicity of their voices.

However, the translation of the verses work to retaliate against the flow of the story, adding risque humor and pop culturish references that resonates weakly. The "deconstructionist" tendencies of the scene changes further create distance and artificiality.

Still, the monochromatic appearance of the stage accentuate the bleakness of the characters' lives, and the uncluttered stage design and direction bring forth the power of the work. And the populist production mode, being more Broadway than Opera, will hopefully add more vibrant energy and attract a younger crowd to future opera performances.

76th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE:
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Lost in Translation
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Mystic River
Seabiscuit

DIRECTOR:
Fernando Merirelles - City of God
Peter Jackson - LOTR:ROTK
Sofia Coppola - Lost in Translation
Peter Weir - Master and Commander
Clint Eastwood - Mystic River

ACTOR:
Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean
Ben Kingsley - House of Sand and Fog
Jude Law - Cold Mountain
Bill Murray - Lost in Translation
Sean Penn - Mystic River

ACTRESS:
Keisha Castle-Hughes - Whale Rider
Diane Keaton - Something's Gotta Give
Samantha Morton - In America
Charlize Theron - Monster
Naomi Watts - 21 Grams

SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Alec Baldwin - The Cooler
Benicio Del Toro - 21 Grams
Djimon Honsou - In America
Tim Robbins - Mystic River
Ken Watanabe - The Last Samurai

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Shohreh Aghdashloo - House of Sand and Fog
Patricia Clarkson - Pieces of April
Marcia Gay Harden - Mystic River
Holly Hunter - thirteen
Renee Zellweger - Cold Mountain

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Denys Arcand - The Barbarian Invasions
Steven Knight - Dirty Pretty Things
Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds - Finding Nemo
Jim Sheridan & Naomi Sheridan & Kirsten Sheridan - In America
Sofia Coppola - Lost in Translation

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Robert Pulcini & Shari Springer Berman - American Splendor
Braulio Mantovani - City of God
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson - LOTR:ROTK
Brian Helgeland - Mystic River
Gary Ross - Seabiscuit

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Brother Bear
Finding Nemo
The Triplets of Belleville

ART DIRECTION:
Ben Van Os, Cecile Heideman - Girl with a Pearl Earring
Lily Kilvert, Gretchen Rau - The Last Samurai
Grant Major, Dan Hennah, Alan Lee - LOTR:ROTK
William Sandell, Robert Gould - Master and Commander
Jeannine Oppewall, Leslie Pope - Seabiscuit

CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Cesar Charlone - City of God
John Seale - Cold Mountain
Eduardo Serra - Girl With a Pearl Earring
Russell Boyd - Master and Commander
John Schwartzman - Seabiscuit

FILM EDITING:
Daniel Rezende - City of God
Walter Murch - Cold Mountain
Jamie Selkirk - LOTR:ROTK
Lee Smith - Master and Commander
William Goldenberg - Seabiscuit

SOUND:
The Last Samurai
LOTR:ROTK
Master and Commander
Pirates of the Caribbean
Seabiscuit

SOUND EDITING:
Finding Nemo
Master and Commander
Pirates of the Caribbean

COSTUME:
Dien van Straalen - Girl With a Pearl Earring
Ngila Dickson - The Last Samurai
Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor - LOTR:ROTK
Wendy Stites - Master and Commander
Judianna Makovsky - Seabiscuit

MAKEUP:
LOTR:ROTK
Master and Commander
Pirates of the Caribbean

VISUAL EFFECTS:
LOTR:ROTK
Master and Commander
Pirates of the Caribbean

ORIGINAL SCORE:
Danny Elfman - Big Fish
Gabriel Yared - Cold Mountain
Thomas Newman - Finding Nemo
James Horner - House of Sand and Fog
Howard Shore - LOTR:ROTK

ORIGINAL SONG:
"Into the West" - LOTR:ROTK, Music and Lyric by Fran Walsh and Howard Shore and Annie Lennox
"A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" - A Mighty Wind, Music and Lyric by Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole
"Scarlet Tide" - Cold Mountain, Music and Lyric by T Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello
"The Triplets of Belleville" - The Triplets of Belleville, Music by Benoit Charest, Lyric by Sylvain Chomet
"You Will Be My Ain True Love" - Cold Mountain, Music and Lyric by Sting

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Balseros
Capturing the Friedmans
The Fog of War
My Architect
The Weather Underground

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
The Barbarian Invasions - Canada
Evil - Sweden
The Twilight Samurai - Japan
Twin Sisters - Netherlands
Ielary - Czech Rep

61st ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

BEST PICTURE (DRAMA): LOTR: ROTK
PICTURE (COMEDY/MUSICAL): Lost in Translation
DIRECTOR: Peter Jackson - LOTR:ROTK
ACTOR (DRAMA): Sean Penn - Mystic River
ACTOR (COMEDY/MUSICAL): Bill Murray - Lost in Translation
ACTRESS (DRAMA): Charlize Theron - Monster
ACTRESS (COMEDY/MUSICAL): Diane Keaton - Something's Gotta Give
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Tim Robbins - Mystic River
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Renee Zellweger - Cold Mountain
SCREENPLAY: Sofia Coppola - Lost in Translation
SCORE: Howard Shore - LOTR:ROTK
SONG: LOTR:ROTK
FOREIGN FILM: Osama (Afghanistan)

Singapore has long been known for its pragmatic style of governance. Through its top-down approach, characteristic of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the country has risen successfully from its post-colonial heritage to become a shining beacon in the developing regions of Asia.

The strong-man tactics work, or appears to work, as dictatorial legislature once and again fixes the economy, provides employment and housing opportunities despite recent global downturns. The efficiency is remarkable, even ruthless. This is what Singaporeans have come to take for granted. It is a smart governance who has the might to see through each and every one of its policies.

But in this new economy, one thing seems to have registered little effect on the populace in spite of great public measures. And that is SEX.

The birthrate of Singapore has been falling dramatically since the late eighties. And this is unlike the courtesy or "flush the toilet" campaigns where their successes mean little to the survival of the country. With the dwindling birthrates, Singapore will have to brace itself for a smaller workforce, which also implies a greater influx of foreign workers, a large economically-dependent aged population, a smaller consumer society (higher fares for the MRT?) and a weaken army.

The local government seems to think that they have a good grasp of the situation. As with fiscal policies, the govt utilizes monetary incentives to increase or decrease pregnancy rates like a well-oiled machine. And such measures have worked splendidly in the past, as evident in LKY's "stop at two" and the later "have more if you can afford (or am educated enough)". While drawing similar parallels with communist China's one-child policy, the Singapore government must enjoy recognition for its successful efforts. It has conquered even the last bastion of Singaporean life, life behind the bedroom doors.

However, times are changing and the new premier cannot afford similar impositions. The new breed of Singaporean, in their "breeding" ages, need more than monetary incentives to procreate. If they are not going to listen to their parents, why would they even give in to the government. And with the rising numbers of singles in the country, the government needs to look beyond financial impetus to curb this trend.

Having shorter work days and less stressful living conditions may excite parents into sharing more romantic moments. (According to the Durex Sex Survey, Singaporeans have one of the lowest rates of sexual acitivities in the world). Similarly, better pre and post-natal benefits must come into play, including paid leave for fathers and longer maternity leaves for mothers. Companies and businesses have to alter their thinking in order to accommodate working parents and DINKs (dual-income no-kids). Even restaurants and retailers need to pay attention towards parents with young children. What is needed is a more holistic approach to procreation incentives. Lifestyles and traditional practices may need to change, and more options afforded to parents and would-be parents.

It is not all about money. The Singapore govt must not be myopic in this respect. It has to start looking beyond financial incentives in order to remedy this population crisis.

Happy Chinese New Year!

May everyone have a great year ahead, with success at every step, and have a swell monkey time at it to. For all those monkey babies, its another cycle in the chinese zodiac, which means that you are really getting old. Nothing like the year of the red baboon to remind you of your wrinkly rump. Otherwise, enjoy this year like no other, and bask in its moments.

I have never been a big fan of the CNY. If you follow my blog, you will realize that I detest big family gatherings. Being in college here in LA allows me to miss CNY for the past three years. Still, I have the traditional chinese dinners with my Singaporean friends here. And it has been Empress Pavilion every time. It is still a fun time. Not too overwhelming like back home. Just hope that my mum will keep my hongbaos safely for me, and not spend them like she used to.

America is ailing. It is struggling from its own economic downturn and a dismal jobless recovery that has been so depressing to many of its inhabitants. The crisis in Iraq is not over, and terrorist threats continue to loom. Still, being an election, what better way to take attention away from the pitfalls of the current adminstration than a call for a return to the moon.

With the Columbia disaster barely a year ago and NASA being put under federal checks, Bush is recommending a increase of funding for more space programs. Is it a little too soon for such grandiose plans? Plans that sound most congruous with the cold war? With China launching its own man in space, is this the beginning of another space race?

Is our planet insufficient to squelch the thirst of the Bushes, that America needs to conquer the moon, Mars and the final frontier? Linking this drive towards space exploration as inherent in the psyche of Americans, just as Lewis and Clark's adventures two hundred years ago, is akin to saying that black slavery and the annihilation of indigenous Indians is part of the American Dream.

Perhaps, in the midst of heightened optimism and blinkered territorialism, we do need a man on the moon again. In offering to expand our knowledge of the universe, the United States is taking an enviable but costly venture that could have profound impacts on our civilization. And with its promise of multilateral cooperations through the Space Station, maybe this will be a truly global effort, and whatever results it gains, something all humankind can be proud of.

Yes, people are starving, and Osama is still at large, but can't we all still dream big? And nothing is bigger than space.

The new school semester has started way too soon. I am still been plagued by unwieldy sleeping hours due to a incapacity to overcome jetlag. Perhaps I am just too lazy to stick to a regiment and try to stay awake. When my body tells me to sleep, I just go to bed, be it 6pm on a sunday night.

Still, I have been rather upbeat about school and being back in Los Angeles. Those whom I have yet to meet, better catch me soon, before my positive vibes and radiant laughter wears out. (they degenerate pretty swiftly). Even though I was picked by custom officials for a search of my luggage, and spot checked on my car at the airport, I have been surprisingly upbeat. The weather has also been surprisingly pleasant the past few days, as I even managed to squeeze in a day at Dockweiler Beach in the midst of winter.

Monday is my most hectic school day this sem. I have class from 10am to 12noon and from 2 to 6pm. And I am especially piqued to sign up for a south-east asian cinema class that will last from 6pm to 10pm! Even then, I have been enjoying my first day of school. The classes have been extremely interesting and the new classmates beautiful as ever. That probably explains my cheerful demeanor lately.

I am a CERTIFIED ATTENTION JUNKIE

It has been proven. I am a compulsive attention seeker. I enjoy attention of most kinds. I am vain. I like looking good and I love to be noticed for that.

When I walk down the street, I feel that everyone is staring at me. I become very self-conscious and aware of their attention. It gives me a kind of a rush, one that feels both intensely nerve-wrecking and subtly confidence-building. It helps to have a large ego.

Not that huge, embarrassing moments of attention, whereby the entire classroom turns to stare at me, are comforting. They bruise. But it is the constant watching and being watched that fuels my obsession.

As most of my close friends have soon realised, I am more in love with myself than with anything and anybody else. I am narcissistic and fervently egomaniacal. I want to be noticed positively and acknowledged, whether I am in the middle of class, at the gym, by the beach, or on the dance floor. Being picked up by gay people can even be flattering.

I crave it. The greatest memories of my hospitalization from meningitis is the fact that so many people visited me at my ward. I was so loved and adored.

All my life, I spent much of my energy trying to excel in everything I do. I work hard in school and in my ECAs. They get me attention from my parents, teachers and peers.

I prefer individual sports. I like to be drunk and get noticed. I get loud and boisterous and often make a fool of myself at KTV sessions. My wardrobe gets bigger everyday as I devote much time to shopping. I go for facials and have a comprehensive grooming set. I like going to cafes and pubs. Al fresco dining are delightful.

I enjoy the company of people who sees me as important and wants to be with me. I often mistake friendly concern with love. I have crushes easily. I believe that the whole world is in love with me.

I have my own website, a webcam, and writes weblogs in the middle of the night. I am a certified attention junkie.

LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

Best Picture: 1. American Splendour
2. Lost in Translation

Director: 1. Peter Jackson (LOTR:ROTK)
2. Clint Eastwood (Mystic River)

Actor: 1 Bill Murray (Lost in Translation)
2. Sean Penn (21 Grams, Mystic River)

Actress: 1. Naomi Watts (21 Grams)
2. Charlize Theron (Monster)

Screenplay: 1. Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini (American Splendor)
2. Steve Knight (Dirty Pretty Things)

Supporting Actor: 1. Bill Nighy (AKA, I Capture the Castle, Lawless Heart, Love Actually)
2. Benicio Del Toro (21 Grams)

Supporting Actress: 1 Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog)
2. Melissa Leo (21 Grams)

Foreign Language Film: 1. Man on the Train
2. City of God

Documentary: 1. The Fog of War
2. Capturing the Friedmans

Production Design: 1. LOTR:ROTK
2. Master and Commander

Animation: The Triplets of Belleville

Music/Score: 1. The Triplets of Belleville
2. A Mighty Wind

Cinematography: 1 Girl with a Pearl Earring
2. Elephant

L.A. film critics name 'Splendor' year's best