Friday night is normally 'music night' for me. Uhm, not that anything in my life's schedule is 'normal'. I usually spend Friday night listening to my favorite songs and discover new ones... except that all my Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube premium accounts are dedicated to Jungkook's music. That has been the 'norm' for almost a year now when "Still with you"and "My you" came out in July last year. So I am just letting JK own all my accounts... except when his hyungs release new singles or albums. In those cases, I kind of let the hyungs 'borrow' one or two of the accounts in support to and to show appreciation of their efforts. I am still an ARMY - the authentic kind. The kind that cares about all seven guys but with a 'bias'... and a 'bias wrecker' (or 'wreckers', to be accurate, in my case). Obviously, JK is my bias... although he's never been 'wrecked' really, just 'co-biased' every now and then.
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Friday night, movie night
Anyway, this evening is not about music... it's about movies this time.
It's been a very busy, challenging... and exciting week for me - all rolled into one short week. Seriously, I need more days in a week! As darkness crept in, the day got drenched in a late afternoon heavy rain that is becoming more and more a 'regular' thing as we approach the 'wet season' in this tropical country of ours. Too tired to mind all the attention-seeking events of the early evening, including my endlessly beeping phone as it notifies me with this and that, I fell asleep after praying my favorite prayer: the Angelus.
I awoke just before 9:00 pm, and I felt so much better. Rather than going back to work, I decided to just call the night a 'me time'. JK's voice still fills my house... but, rather than watching his music videos, I decided to watch a movie instead. I scanned and scanned Netflix and my YouTube subscription... so many 'serious' films, but I paid them no attention. About five years ago or so, I decided that my days of watching, analyzing and getting emotional talking about serious films are over! No more 'intellectual' films for me... I just want entertainment because, anyway, which film can top the "Godfather" series, "Love Story", "The Way We Were", "Good Will Hunting", and the likes? Of course, all variants of the Avengers, Star Wars,Lord of the RingsandStar Trekfilms, and the likes are exception. Not to say that the movies I watch these days are shallow... I just want straight-forward message, no pretensions and trying-(too)-hard-to-be-deep scripts... and no 'artsy-wannabe' either... to pass the time while getting much needed relaxation and updates on 'pop culture'. I still rave over a number of films, of course... but if it's more than one-and-a-half hour film... I'd think twice. This is why, these days, I go for TV movies.
There are films that are as short as TV movies but as substantial as my old faves. I found one of these gems this evening, and I am so happy! The film is entitled, "Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong" (ATHK), and it's absolutely brilliant!
"You took a chance, and you went for it.
You never have to look back and wonder 'what if'."
ATHK is a nine-year-old film. It stars the fabulous Jamie Chung as the LA-based Chinese-American Ruby Lin, and the brilliant but so underrated, Bryan Greenberg as that "Expat" in Hong Kong, Josh Rosenberg, from New York. I love both Chung and Greenberg... and they portrayed their roles in the film so brilliantly.
The plot is simple enough... just a case of "right person, wrong time": two people meeting unexpectedly and connecting so wonderfully in the chaos of Hong Kong nightlife. You rejoice at how they just hit it off so naturally... except that one of them is involved with someone else. It's like seeing two people enjoying each other's company who are perfectly matched with each other... in wit, in sense of humor, in values and views of the world. They were strangers, and yet, they managed to uplift each other's spirit, and brought confidence when there was doubt. You'd wish that, after that evening when they first met, they'd meet again in the future... and have a chance to be together. And when they did meet later after a year, it didn't feel forced and fairy-tale-ish. The chemistry between them is so strong... it felt as if they were really meant for each other even when the impediments in their becoming a couple were still there, and even more complex this time. Perhaps, it's because Chung and Greenberg are a real couple... and they made the film just before they got married. The chemistry between them just colored the entire film, and it's nothing else but lovely!
The script is fantastic in that it seems simple and straight-forward enough. It feels like eavesdropping in the engaging conversation of soulmates (if there is such a thing) who found each other one fine evening when the stars aligned. The way the two actors brought life to every word with their body language, every glance, every stare, every smile, their tone when they speak... every pause, every small hesitation, every discreet sigh of masked disappointment, every expression of fascination that is pure joy but restrained by a touch of sophistication and the desire for propriety, every playful banter... ahhh, it's too beautiful, I loved it!
The film sets the scenario in which a tug-o-war between what feels right and so natural, and what feels unjust for the people the lead characters are committed to, was central to the story. "Emotional cheating" was a thing in the film. The way the actors showed restrain in fully giving in to the natural course where life seems to take them, and the overpowering longing of being together just because it feels so right was awesome. In the end, they let the viewers decide the ending... and it's brilliant!
Have you already seen this film? Not yet? Intrigue? Good! Go watch... I promise you won't regret it.
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Video credit: The owner is indicated in the video itself. Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
