The Founding of a Republic (Jian guo da ye)

The People’s Republic of China turns the big six oh this October 1st and to celebrate they’ve made a little movie titled, The Founding of a Republic. Opening last month (September 17th - at exactly 2pm) in China, the extravaganza was all set to go by the title of The Great Cause of China’s Foundation - which clearly wouldn’t have suited the subtle tone filmmakers were going for. Just look at that poster.

According to wiki, the film “features [a] large cast of 176 of China’s and Hong Kong’s most renowned actors”. Actors like these people:

Jackie Chan

Zhang Ziyi

Donnie Yen

Tony Leung

Chow Yun-Fat

Stephen Chow

Andy Lau

Jet Li

Leon Lai

It of course also features an appearance by Eva Huang (above right) as the most photogenic cadre you’ll ever see.

Australia is all aflutter with Glee. That’ll happen when you fly here.

The Cranberries - ‘Zombie’, because I just heard it on the radio. And lookie: a tour!

The Kinks, Sunny Afternoon

Gigantic

Mattress salesman Brian Weathersby (Paul Dano) is in the process of adopting a Chinese baby. This specific mission has been a goal of his for “pretty much all his life. Zooey Deschanel also stars as Harriet (Happy) Lolly, the object of Brian’s affections. She’s winning as always, but it’s Dano’s understated charm that really takes you by surprise.

Gigantic is an odd little movie. It’s beautifully shot and deadpan funny at times and also… a little baffling. I don’t know what to make of it but I’d happily watch a film like this all day.

Minh Nguyen

Max Minghella and Blake Lively in Elvis and Anabelle

I liked it. More than I thought I would. Texas looks beautiful here.

A change of pace: ‘Young Love’ by Mystery Jets featuring Laura Marling . From the album Twenty One.

Sang Vermilion Borders on an episode of Buffy. Where is this band?

The Closer

Having been nominated for a slew of awards since it came on the air (and scoring lead actress Kyra Sedgwick a Golden Globe in early 2007), The Closer has been popular with critics and fans alike.

There are no exploding buildings, but the drama produced here is every bit as thrilling as the usual big displays of action. Kyra Sedgwick is brilliant as the soft-spoken Brenda. The deputy chief knows her strengths and, more importantly, she knows people. What unnerves criminals - and audiences - is the calculated game she plays. Brenda’s all smiles and polite chit-chat, but there’s never a doubt she’s working some angle.

There are no exploding buildings, but the drama produced here is every bit as thrilling as the usual big displays of action. A tight police drama the way it should be made.

Minh Nguyen

Bones

The delightfully naive Dr Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) continues to delight with her quirkiness. There’s no doubting Brennan is a character straight out of Tinseltown’s imagination. The talented forensic anthropologist, whose ability to decipher bone fragments borders on the supernatural, also moonlights as a crime novelist on the side. Of course.

Brennan’s partner in crime solving comes in the form of Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz). You read that right, Temperance Brennan and Seeley Booth. Because we all live in some kind of Mills & Boons hyper-reality where parents names their kids whatever the heck they like.

Dubious character names aside, this entry into the ever-popular crime genre is actually good viewing. Let’s not kid ourselves though, Bones isn’t this generation’s critical masterpiece. No one’s asserting that here. It’s just fun. The pace is quick, and the writers manage to strike the right balance between humour and drama. Booth and Brennan’s personalities bounce off each other nicely and the supporting characters are equally quirky and likeable.

In Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz, the creators have struck casting gold. It’s rare when a show not only manages to entertain in moments of drama, but also in the moments between.

Not high-art by any means, but still a good ride.

Minh Nguyen