The Big Screen: New York, I Love You

Maggie Q

Shia LaBeouf

Natalie Portman

Blake Lively

Bradley Cooper

Ethan Hawke

With such a star-studded cast, one would expect wonders from this film. Yet, somehow, it all just falls flat.

New York, I Love You is the second movie from a franchise on love in different cities. The first, and more enjoyable Paris, Je t’aime was also a collection of short films centering around love. Producer Emmanuel Benbihy hopes to have more of such movies made in Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro and other countries.

The concept itself is intriguing—eleven filmmakers presenting eleven different short films all based on the same theme. Each film was shot over a period of two days and the short films were then fused into an anthology of love, all happening in New York.

Portraying all the different racial, occupations and age demographics of the Big Apple, it seemed as though all the stories aimed to show the diversity of New York, scraping lightly instead over the theme of love. As it is, the only running theme for the whole show was the location—New York. And if the movie was supposed to portray what New York was like, you would have learned to assume that most New Yorkers spend their time in bars and going on smoke breaks.

The stories for each short film were interesting, but could have seen deeper development—it felt as though each short film came in bits and pieces and were tossed together randomly. With so many short stories to choose from, it was easy enough to pick favorites from the pile.

Mira Nair’s tale of a brassy, orthodox Jewish, diamond broker, Rifka (played by Natalie Portman) is a charming story of different cultures meeting.

Ethan Hawke was hilarious as a scruffy writer who tries to charm a Chinese hooker (played by Maggie Q) during a smoke break.

However, the other stories merely faded into the background. And in fact, the aforementioned films also withered the moment I walked out the cinema.

On the whole, the movie was just unmemorable. It could have been the fact that all eleven short films seemed disjointed or plainly because eleven short stories were crammed into that short period of time even though two stories had already been taken out of the mix, with one of them a film directed by Scarlett Johansson.

The film could have done with a whole lot of improvement, such as having fewer, but longer stories with more developed characters.

There are a few gems in the film, such as the old sweet couple going down to Coney Island. But for the rest of the film, unless you are a true New York lover, you would not really enjoy this film.

Rating:

Be Kind, Clear Your Food Tray

Since 14 January, customers dining at various fast-food outlets all over Singapore should have noticed attractive table decals, tray station stickers or tray station tent cards prompting diners to do their part and clear the trays after eating. On that day, the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) launched the “Clear Up Before You Go—Because You Are Kind That Way” campaign at the ARTrium, MICA Building.

The campaign is jointly spearheaded by SKM and six local fast-food operators namely KFC, Long John Silver’s, McDonalds, MOS Burger, Subway and Superdog. The event was officiated by Sam Tan, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts and Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Tan said in his speech: “Today is another significant milestone for public and private partnership.” On graciousness, he added: “In fact, this behavior is not alien to all of us as students have been taught to clear their plates and cutlery after use, and NS men are taught to clear their food trays. [This campaign] serves to remind us to be gracious to one another, at the same time showing Singapore to be a country filled with warm and gracious people, thus enhancing Singapore’s national stage with the coming 2010 Youth Olympic Games.”

Following that, the fast-food representatives were also invited to the stage together with Tan and Sim whereby each of them were given a food tray and are supposed to clear their food trays thus officially launching the campaign. Tokens of appreciation were subsequently presented by Tan and Sim to the various fast-food representatives. The campaign mascot Singa was also there to appreciate them by holding up a banner.

Lim Kim Seng, General Manager of MOS Burger shares “I feel that this [campaign] is a good idea. Somebody has to start first to promote graciousness. Yes, I also do clear my food trays after food. As MOS Burger is a Japanese company, we have the opportunity to experience the culture of the Japanese—they always clear up their food trays so that the next person can have a pleasant time at the eatery.

“Hopefully, the awareness created by this campaign can create a domino effect, inspiring young and old to be more gracious by helping to keep tables clean after they’re done eating.”

Joanna Chia, Marketing Executive of Long John Silver’s said, “I believe that with so many fast-food outlets participating, this campaign would most probably be a success though it would take some time. This [campaign] will be good for both parties, customer as well as us [fast-food operators] as we can promote graciousness in our community and keep the place clean. I personally have not cleared my food trays after dining but will do so from this day forth.”

Teh Thien Yew, General Manager of SKM tells City News that “our goal for the first of five phrase of this [campaign] is to spread the awareness that such a campaign exists, and perhaps inspire Singaporeans to be more gracious by clearing up their food trays after meals. The benefit that customers at these fast-food outlets is the satisfaction that they have helped provide the next customer with a great experience at the fast-food outlet. Kindness is your only reward, as they say,” Teh adds.

PHOTOS: Michael Chan

This campaign is aimed to also show that demonstrating graciousness to one another doesn’t cost anything, but it can bring about better experiences and a consciousness of kindness. It aims to spread the virtue of graciousness in Singapore.

So the next time you head down to any of these six participating fast-food outlets—and definitely others, including food courts —  do clear up before you go, because you are kind that way.

Read more about SKM and their campaigns at www.Kindness.org

David Tao In Space—The Talk and Rock Show

Singer-songwriter David Tao showed off his bilingual skills and promoted his latest album Opus 69 during his concert, David Tao In Space—The Talk and Rock Show in Singapore last week.

Despite the futuristic-sounding name, the concert was centered around the year he was born. A video montage containing the momentous events of 1969—ranging from the Woodstock Festival to Man landing on the moon—opened the show. Tao then came onto the stage, a retro 1980s living room that was designed to look like his home when he was younger.

Backed by a four-piece band, the singer-songwriter avoided the usual flashy Chinese concert route and stuck to his tried-and-tested unplugged best. He began with a cover of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ (1969), with the lyrics slightly modified into “Ground control to major Tao.”  He then dove into songs from his new album, segueing it with Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition.’

While the five-thousand strong crowd enjoyed Tao’s English covers, it was clear that they prefered to listen to his self-written music, particularly songs from his older albums. Often times they were on their feet with light sticks waving when Tao played crowd pleasers such as ‘Ordinary Friends,’ ‘Airport at 10.30,’ ‘Rain’ and ‘Small Town Girl.’

His old songs were also given makeovers with new arrangements, demonstrating Tao’s talent at musical composition. For example, ‘Small Town Girl’ underwent a rock transformation, and ‘A Big Mess’ was backed by the Singapore Young Talents’ Children Choir.

Despite his vocal prowess, Tao shied away from high notes, such as the ones in his popular song ‘Ordinary Friends.’ He was amicable and friendly with the audience and, at one point in singing ‘Find Myself,’ even stood atop the barriers that had been erected in front of the stage to get closer to his audience. He also showed his youthful side when he threw kisses and professed his love to the ladies in the audience.

PHOTOS: Poh Yang Zheng

In line with the theme of the concert, he regaled the audience with stories of his childhood in between the songs, such as how he learned to play the guitar when he was about 12, and took the instrument everywhere he went. “I’d even sleep with it and wake up with lines on my face,” he remembers. In another humorous story, he recalls how “painful” it was for his ears to live in a house where “there was Elvis Presley playing in one room, and my mom singing Peking Chinese opera in the other.”

The hardworking singer played a long set of more than two hours. At the end of the concert, Tao thanked Jesus saying “All this would not be possible and I would not be here if not for Jesus Christ my Savior.”

Overall, the concert was an entertaining production put up by a talented singer that was chockful of charm, vocal chops and surprises.

A Star-Studded Movie Night: YK Zone Leaders Appreciation

This was no red carpet event but members of the Cullen family from Twilight, svelte ladies from Gossip Girls and even Spiderman were gathered at the NUSS Suntec City Guild House on New Year’s Day. This was a movie-themed appreciation night for the Cell Group Leaders under Goh Yock Kiang (YK zone), who is one of the pastors in City Harvest Church. A menagerie of movie characters were present, ranging from Hollywood blockbuster stars to Disney’s Snow White and even animated characters like Eve from Wall-E. This was to be a special night dedicated to fellowship and in honor of all the achievements and efforts put in by the leaders  from the zone.

After a tantalizing dinner and a time of Praise and Worship, the stage was set for the highlight of the evening—the award presentation. In between announcing the winners for the various categories, caricatured skits were put up depicting life in a fictitious all-celebrity cell group as well as the creative re-imagination of life in church being played out as a movie. Such moments of hilarity were timely punctuated by the different award titles given out, namely the “Most Transformed,” “Best Newcomer,” “Most Faithful,” “Best Cell Group Leader for Growth” “Overall Best Cell Group Leader,” “Most Courageous,” “Best Subzone Leader” and the “Best Dressed.” Every recipient was presented with a miniature Oscar Award bust.

PHOTOS: Roy Lim

As the evening came to a close, all eyes were on Goh as he presented a personal song item, a tradition of years past where he would sing a Mandarin pop number. Following his rendition, he rounded up the night by sharing a word reminding all the leaders that more than just serving God in ministry, what was more important was to be able to build lasting friendships and relationships. With that, hugs were exchanged and memories were captured on camera as the leaders left the appreciation night a little tickled, having been touched and largely inspired to run the race together for 2010.

First CityCare Team Returns From Haiti

Contributed by Wayne Chan

People sleeping with pigs, rats, dogs, cockroaches and flies. Patients with maggot eaten faces. Badly cut up heads and limbs, with some stripped of flesh down to the bone. Streets covered with rubbish, and fear everywhere.

These are the scenes witnessed by CityCare’s first medical team throughout the week that they worked in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, where, on January 12, 2010, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude struck.

The first Singaporean team left Singapore for Haiti on January 15, and part of the group returned this morning at 6.30am to be greeted by media at Changi Airport. The returning group comprised Dr Tan Hun Hoe, 57, Dr Basil Wu, 42, Carrie Lim Cai Ying, 29, Richard Kwok, 33, and Stephen Pok, 28.

Consultant urologist, Dr Tan, 57, one of two doctors in the first CityCare relief team, summed up the devastation saying that of all the disaster relief trips he had been on, this was the most horrific.

He added that the work and support needed in Haiti is tremendous.

CityCare was the first non-government organization to arrive on January 18 in the devastated Haitian town of Carrefour, which has 334,000 inhabitants. CityCare opened a makeshift clinic that saw about 100 patients a day over one week.

About 50 percent of the town has been destroyed, and the team worked out of a church that, interestingly, was the only structure in the area not reduced to rubble.

The worst case the team saw was a lady, who had maggots crawling out of her fractured face. The woman, who is in her 50s, had her upper body trapped under her house, and she stayed trapped with her wounds exposed and her legs sticking out of the rubble. Dr Tan said in a case like hers, she needed proper and sterile medical treatment, but there are no functioning hospitals left. “When she came back two days later, the maggots had grown bigger.”

The team was housed in a pastor’s home, the town’s only residence left standing. But the members found themselves running out of the house when there were three aftershocks throughout their stay.

PHOTOS: Elvis Chiu

“One of the aftershocks was when we were in the house that we were staying in, but everybody managed to run out in time,” said Dr Tan. “The other aftershock I felt was in the clinic … all the patients dashed out so quickly, you could see the fear in their faces whenever there is an aftershock, it really reminds them of a terrible experience.”

Describing their efforts as “a little drop in the ocean”, the team expressed gratitude at having been able to make a difference physically, halfway round the world. They also repeated their appeal for more doctors and medically-trained persons to volunteer on upcoming CityCare trips to Haiti.

Intensive care and radiological nurse, Carrie Lim Cai Ying, 29, said the most important thing for future volunteers heading into the disaster zone was to be ready to handle all sorts of medical cases at any time of the day. This may mean foregoing meals and sleep.

CityCare’s third medical team will be leaving for Haiti tomorrow night, January 25.

To volunteer for upcoming trips to Haiti, email haitirelief@citycare.org.sg with your name and contact details. Kindly indicate if you have medical or nursing training.

Chong’s Yummy Favourites—Si Chuan Dou Hua

Stir-Fried Pea Shoots Stir-Fried French Beans with Minced Pork Beancurd with wolfberries Overall Rating: As told to Elizabeth Low

Address: UOB Plaza 80 Raffles Place #60-01, UOB Plaza 1 Singapore 048624 Opening Hours: Lunch: 11.30am to 2.30pm Dinner: 6.30pm to 10.30pm If you think tongue-singeing spiciness is all there is to the Sze Chuan style of cooking, Si Chuan Dou Hua shows you other facets to the cuisine. Granted, some highlights of our experience there included some pretty fiery fare in the form of the Chong Qing Diced Chicken with Spicy Chilli dish (which was delicious but mouth-numbing after a few bites) and the Beancurd in Spicy Minced Meat Sauce, but the restaurant does a good showcase of some other Sze Chuan food varieties there too. In fact, I think we maneuvered our way around our Sze Chuan experience pretty well even without the spice. The Baked Sea Perch with Egg White dish for instance, was fresh and succulent; the meat smooth and well baked. Our veggies were satisfying too—the Stir-Fried Pea Shoots dish was simple but tasty and the Stir-Fried French Beans with Minced Pork dish was crunchy and fresh tasting too. The best part was the restaurant’s signature beancurd dish with wolfberries. The beancurd is so soft it practically melts in your mouth along with its yummy sugar syrup. Another perk of the place is its 60th storey location on top of UOB Plaza, which gives diners a gorgeous look at Singapore while dining. Though the food here is relatively highly priced, it still gets our vote.

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