Lesson From Argo: Sometimes, the Best Bad Idea is All You Need

I have not been this tensed in a movie house since Inception. I was, literally, at the edge of my seat the entire 2 hours. By the time the airplane took off, I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Here's the clincher: I know how the story would end even before it began. Like the Titanic and Apollo 13, I have read about the Argo a while back. But reading it as a matter of fact and witnessing it unfold scene by scene and emotion by emotion are two very different things. The film is so brilliant that it goes beyond retelling of an important part of history. It transported the audience to that frightening era and actually made us feel like we were part of it. Argo was an emotional roller coaster ride in as much as it was a historical journey making it a complete cinematic experience. And it is an experience I would not forget in a really long time.

Fact Meets Fiction

Argo is a true to life story about the rescue of 6 Americans during the Iran hostage crisis in the late '70s. When the deposed sha'h fled to the US, the Iranian revolutionaries waged war against America. They marched to the US embassy and held the 52 US workers hostage. 6 managed to escape and hid at the Canadian ambassador's house. Fearing of what the Iranians will do once they got wind of the refugees' whereabouts, the US government crafted a plan to get the Americans out of Tehran. Posing as a Hollywood producer, Exfiltration specialist Tom Mendez headed to Iran for a location check for his fake movie, Argo (A Star Wars rip off). His real mission: get the 6 Americans, provide them fake identities, pass them off as production crew and get them back to US soil (hopefully, alive). It was a plot so incredulous it could only happen in the movies. And it kind of did. But only after it panned out in real life. Because believe it or not, that's how it happened. 

What I like about Argo is how it was able to take this piece of history and turn it to a gripping story about people. While the sociopolitical background of the time made for a conflicted and conflicting setting, it didn't overshadow the characters in the movie. At the end of the day, I think it's humanness of the film that really brought it to life. Argo really delved into the personalities of these characters and tapped into their emotions that the hostage crisis became so much more than just an event that happened in the past. Predominantly, it became a story of fear: fear of being caught, fear of not being able to go home, fear of dying. Then came the multitude of different emotions felt by all the individuals. It became about Tom's moral dilemma when he was instructed to abort the mission and leave the hostages behind. It became about Jack's (Tom's supervisor) anger and guilt when he had to call Tom and make him go home. It became about Mark's regret for bringing his wife to Iran. It became about Jordan's will to survive. It also morphed into a story of trust, a story of commitment, a story of heroism. This gamut of feelings combined with the tension felt all throughout the film is so overwhelming and so overpowering, you can't help but be moved, shaken even. I know I was.

A Little Bit of Fear, A Little Bit of Hope and A Dash of Humor n Between

Another thing I liked about Argo is how it played off of fear and hope and how it was able to switch between the 2 emotions so brilliantly. Just when you think they're going to get caught, someone comes up with an idea that keeps them alive. Then just wen you think they're going to make it, something happens that changes everything completely. This seesaw between fear and hope is what keeps the audience on their toes.  What's going to happen next? Is someone going to die? Will they make it in time? These are the questions we find ourselves asking even if we already know the answer. 

But in true great storytelling fashion, Argo was able to inject a bit of humor in the film to balance the emotion overload. I really liked how John Goodman and Alan Arkin seamlessly brought the Hollywood satire amidst the political theme and the personal conflicts. It didn't feel forced or out of line. Given the circumstance, it actually felt appropriate, required even. And it gave the audience that much needed break from the emotional turmoil. The witty barb, the tongue & cheek quips and the sharp dialogues also helped ease the tension a bit, or at least enough to prepare us for the next scene. 

Argo's box-office success can be credited to good timing, great actors and excellent script. But I think what makes it special is the sincerity in its storytelling, the raw emotions it invokes in us and the way it made us view history a bit differently. 

A movie as special as Argo comes few and far between. So if you haven't seen it yet, please see it. 

500 Days of Summer: The Greatest Non-Love Story of All Time

500 Days of Summer has all the ingredients of a successful romantic comedy: charming lead stars, romantic setting and a great soundtrack. Only it isn't. As a matter of fact, it's everything but. There is no happily ever after, no grand proclamation of love and no earth-shattering kiss towards the end. This movie is about the disintegration of a relationship (or non-relationship). Sometimes it's happy, but mostly it's sad. There's pain, anger and bitterness. It's the kind of movie that should make you leave the cinema emotionally drained and depressed. Only it doesn't. It makes you look at love a little differently, yes. But oddly enough, it doesn't make you want to fall in love any less.

While 500 Days of Summer is not a love story, it is a story about love. What I really like about the movie is that it presents love in its totality. It goes beyond the fairy-tale endings, the sappy cliches and the romanticized presentation of love. It deals with everything else Pretty Woman and Notting Hill left out:

People fall in love. People fall out of love. And sometimes people never fall in love at all.
Sometimes you fall in love with the wrong person. Sometime life gets in the way.
Not every relationship lasts. 

Harsh? Yes. But it's a dose of reality that we all have to learn. Let's admit it. At one point, we were all like Tom (Some of us still are.) We had this grand but misconstrued notion of love. We had it all panned out in our heads, our versions of finding the one and how everything would just fall into place. While it's very romantic, it's also very unreal. The truth is love can be tough. Love is a constant work. Love hurts. I think it is only when we acknowledge these facts and accept them that we can be truly in love. After all, love is not just about the good. It comes with the bad and the weird.

500 Days of Summer also taught us another important lesson about love: love for oneself. There is more to life than constantly searching for the one. Love is not about finding the right person to complete us. Love means finding yourself and being complete on your own. Love doesn't always have to involve another person. Sometimes YOU is enough.

Lastly, 500 Days of Summer tells us that there is life after love has gone. Be it finding our Autumn or being content with being alone for the moment, we will move on. We will go back to our feet. We will look at the world differently. We will be happy again.

Of Photoshop, Youtube and Angels in Lingerie

Photoshop magic, media overload and angels strutting down the runway have all helped frame the concept of being sexy. And just like the airbrushed images of models plastered all over the magazines and billboards, our perception of what sexy ought to be is alarmingly skewed. Being sexy is not about being a size zero or a perfect 36-24-36. Sexiness is not measured in terms of weight or vital stats. It's all about the attitude.

You're sexy when you feel comfortable in you're own skin. It's when you feel confident in your cut-off jeans and oversized shirt as you are self-assured when you're in stilettos and that little black dress. It's when you look at the mirror, acknowledge your flaws and smile, "fuck it. Perfection is overrated anyway."

You're sexy when you live life in your own terms and by your own rules. It's when you walk with your head held high (despite what others say) because you know who you are and that's all that matters. It's when you refuse to listen to anyone who tries to tell you how you should dress, what to eat and who to become.

You're sexy when you are unafraid to speak your mind. It's when you say what you want to say. It's when you voice out your opinions and defend your beliefs, unabashed.

You're sexy when you are fearless.

You're sexy when you are free.

You're sexy when you say you're sexy.

Playing Dress-up

I do not consider myself a fashionista. But I am very conscious of how I look and what I wear. I am not the  type to wear whatever is there (unless I'm uber lazy). I like to take my time and try out a variety of outfits before I decide. To help me keep up with the latest trends and styles, I visit fashion blogs. I read fashion magazines and I look to celebrities for inspiration. Below are some of my style muse:

1. Emma Watson

I like Emma during her Harry Potter days but her post-Hermione look just made me love her all the more. The pixie cut, the androgynous look and the over-all chicness - Emma Watson has definitely grown up. Having recently chopped off my hair, I find myself looking to her style for balancing that edgy yet feminine fashion.

2. Nicole Richie

Nobody pulls off the whole Bohemian feel quite like Nicole Richie does. From the flowing maxi skirt, the larger-than-life accessories and the stylish headbands, she is the ultimate Boho-chic. And as a fan of gypsy skirts and oversized maxi-dresses, I go to Nicole's fashion tumblr to get tips on how to get that Bohemian vibe.

3. Nina Dobrev

Nina Dobrev is a style chameleon. She can be feminine, she can be casual, she can be a tomboy, she can be elegant and she is going to look amazing no matter what. The versatility of her style is what inspires me to try and be different once in a while.

4. Kristen Stewart

It's not so much Kristen's actual style but the principle behind it that I really like. Being a no-nonsense kind of girl, Kristen has no qualms in stepping out wearing acid wash jeans, oversized shirts, with unkempt hair to match. This carefree (and careless) attitude towards fashion is something I am trying (trying being the operative word) to ease myself into.

5. Audrey Hepburn

Who doesn't look up to Audrey Hepburn as a style icon? Ever the leading lady, everything Audrey Hepburn wears is with a touch of class. She's always kept together from the up'do hair down to the pearl necklace. Her simple yet elegant look is always my go-to principle.

The Evolution of Me

Age: 4

Chubby cheeks, Chinky eyed and non existend eye lids. Yep this is me. And before you judge, suspender was the IN thing during the '90s!

 Age: 17 going on 18

If I remember correctly, this is a couple of days before my 18th birthday. (Obviously, I haven't discovered the concept of plucking)

Age: 21

Year: 2003. Place: somewhere in Timog. Event: Grad Pic photoshoot. I was going for sexy and fierce.

Age: 22

Is it just me or do I actually look younger?

Age: 25

When I was in my early 20's, I was so mad because I look younger than my age. Afraid not to be taken seriously by the corporate world, I did everything I could to look more matured. But as I age, I   am starting to appreciate my young-ish looks and is quite thankful for it. 

Age: 26  (Around August)

Don't you just love synthetic hair? It gives you that more approachable and conservative look without the hassle of having to maintain an actual hair! I. LOVE. IT.

Age: 26 (A week ago)

Because, while I think having long & curly locks are great, I will forever be partial to shorter hair. 

It's fun. It's edgy. And it's more chic.

Lesson of this story: It doesn't matter if you're 26 as long as you don't look a day over 20.

Shhhhh.....

This government's stupidity is not something new. But it doesn't make it any more acceptable. It's disappointing that the oppressive Cybercrime Act has been approved under the watch of a president whose only claim to political fame is his parents' heroic battle for freedom. It's nothing short of hypocritical that the politicians who enacted the law are the most active ones in utilizing all social networks possible to purport their agenda. It's downright insulting that a country who is finally beginning to find its voice is being threatened into silence once again. But what infuriates me the most is that the people who swore to preserve and protect our freedom  are now the very people that curtail it.

In defense of their self-righteousness, these politicians dare ask, "people post things that are painful. Is that what you consider freedom? People write statements that are borderline offensive. Is that what you call freedom?" Dear senators and Mr. President, the answer is simple: YES. Freedom of speech isn't limited to saying the right things or writing polite messages. It's not about what I say, it's the fact that I have a say. Freedom of speech allows me to say what I want to say in whichever medium I choose. It is my right to post FUCK YOU in my wall as much as it is your right to answer with Go to HELL. You see, freedom of speech (and every other form of freedom for that matter) isn't a half-baked right. It doesn't discriminate based on intent and content. It doesn't favor the righteous few. Yes, we say things that are disagreeable to some. Yes, we say things that can be offensive. But such is the nature and the dynamic of freedom long before we discovered the world wide web. Believe me, it will stay that way long after the computer is rendered obsolete.

Here is another fact about freedom that you, dear politicians, have to understand. Freedom isn't a right that you can bend at will. It's not something you support when it's to your advantage then discard when it stopped serving your purpose. When the internet was bombarded with the demand for Corona's resignation and when people all over facebook were calling the former chief justice names, you did not flinch. As a matter of fact, you even praised the netizens for demonstrating freedom and exercising our right to speak up. But when tables have turned and we started criticizing your governance, suddenly we're way out of line and must be censored. Remember that you are tasked to protect our freedom not manipulate it.

We are all in agreement that freedom (as in all other rights) comes with responsibility. It is not an all-access pass to guilt-free land. If you want to teach us that lesson then let us face the consequences of our words and actions. But do not take our right to speak away. It's ironic that as this ridiculous act is passed with ease, the senator proven to plagiarize did not even get a slap on the hand. What does this say about our country? That it's perfectly okay to copy another's idea but it's punishable to voice out our own? And while this law has been approved without amendments, the RH bill, a bill that will help women and the children, is still up for revision. What message are we sending out? That it's okay to suffer in silence but it's unacceptable to speak up? And we dare call this country the Land of the Free.