Couture: Witch Gaga

Lady Gaga has always been largely associated with her liberal views and actions towards the fashion and music aspects of her life. In fact, fashion is highly influential in her music such that she is sometimes described as a modern fusion of fashion, music and art. A self-proclaimed visual and performing art enthusiast whose career performances and appearances are widely deemed as "different and daring", she partakes a short role in the latest photo shoot of VOGUE's December art issue.

Depicted as a fashion witch in the classic fairy-tale Hansel & Gretel who yearns after their flesh, Lady Gaga is slowly gaining more exposure in the fashion industry. She appears to have some influential say over the choice of her photo shoot outfit in the footage above, with an extremely focused attitude towards the project. "In order to have a clean palette to work with, she showed up completely naked under a white rubber rain coat", as quoted from the footage.

Entirely up to your opinion in judging Lady Gaga for her latest involvement in fashion, I'm dying to hear what you have to say. (PS: I think she kind of reminded me of those killer nurses in the popular video game franchise "Silent Hill")

Photo credits due: VOGUE magazine

Acoustic: Sara Haze - My Personal Sky

With only a mediocre life resume of 19 years, this young lady houses a stunning voice that features a grown woman's soul. Yes, she's even capable of great live performance that she has so often treated music fans to at several locations with her band. So make no mistake about it, here's a soulful album release this month that you will not want to miss upon belittling her age(trust me!).

It's probably about high time that Sara Haze releases her debut album, especially after contributing several songs to films & television series in the past. One of her most popular singles will probably ring a bell to "The Hills" series fans - My Own Hands To Melt.

What singles out Sara Haze in my opinion is her intimate participation in her latest album where she wrote songs that reflected her inner soul to the world. There's reference in some of her songs that might have suggested her yearning of a loved one, her frustrations inflicted by a break-up and joyous moments in her life. Perhaps this album is titled "My Personal Sky" for a reason (although this phrase can be heard in and drawn from her latest single "Beautiful Day").

Highly recommended as a weekend play list as well as one of the few great albums out there this month. Tracks of note are: "Beautiful Day", "Melt Into You", "Cold in California", "My Own Hands To Hold" & "Every Heart". Check out this album as well as Sara Haze on her myspace page, album's officially available on iTunes.

Film: The Informant! (Review)

For those who're rushing to the theatres...

An onscreen adaptation of Kurt Eichenwald's novel based on an actual account of a high-level corporate management whistleblower who assisted the FBI in an attempt to bring down an alleged price-fixing fraud, Steven Soderbergh presents Matt Damon as: The Informant! As Mark Whitacre, a Vice-President of a lysine developing company ADM, Damon renders an unbelievable performance as he proves to the audience that he is capable of "dissolving into his character". Decorated with humorous dialogues and "internal monologues", this is narration genre played out in a different manner that grips you gradually if, you offer this film with your kind patience(trust me, some of you may venture off mentally to someplace else if you're not careful!). It reveals bits and pieces of twists and disbeliefs as the film peels off layers after layers of deception like an onion, with every peel you get teared by it(you'll probably feel like banging your head profusely against the seat in front of you). A film that might earn a nod or two for Damon's performance surely with the upcoming Golden Globe in January. Strongly only for those with great patience and attention span.

For those who've spare time to read on...

The Informant! revolves around its main character Whitacre as we are privy to what this man thinks in his head very frequently throughout the whole duration of this film in the form of "internal monologues". I will like to place a heavy emphasis on this as I truly believe that it is these frequent minor "internal monologues" that are inserted so passively (there're some that I didn't even remember hearing, that's how easy it is to lose your attention span!) that made the film such a distinct example in its class. In fact, these seemingly senseless monologues are also a major source of humour offerings to the audience. With each monologue session turning more outrageous and out of hand, we see how Whitacre's character transforms and evolves.

Whitacre's amazing on-screen presence would not have been possible without Matt Damon. It was not because he played his role so perfectly well, in fact it's because he played out Whitacre's flaws so perfectly well that it made his role so reality-reflectory. Not that he tried very hard to be funny or anything, he made some real funny moments simply by being Whitacre alone. Whitacre had some seriously outrageous lines prominent in both his daily life conversations and "internal monologues". The one about the Polar Bear and his black nose was classic in my view. The other one about time efficiency, somewhere along the line of flossing his teeth in the showers while waiting out for his conditioner to be done, was another mentally outraging riff.

The quirky soundtrack that I unknowingly noticed during the film, may be a little too weird for some's taste. However, I guess it accentuated Whitacre's complex personality and quirky moments pretty well. But it's still quirky.

Pertaining to the ending, there's some confusion on the 9.5 million. I'm puzzled as to whether was it 9.5, more than 9.5, or none at all actually. If you've no idea what on earth I'm talking about, just realize that it is for your own sake that I'm not providing spoilers. I have all your interests in mind, all you film lovers.

That said, be sure to catch this when it's out in Singapore this coming mid November. This will not be an easy film to like, but if you placed effort in trying to keep up with the film, you'll most probably be rewarded.

Till the next time if I ever catch another great movie.

Couture: Jimmy Choo for H&M

Ladies go absolutely gaga for their luxurious pairs of Jimmy Choos, like forever and whenever? As much as they crave for it, any one of these pairs of Choo-Choos can set you way back (and I seriously mean it) and instill a sudden chill down your spine and a strong urge to review your account statements just to assure yourself that you're still in a stable financial situation once the satisfaction of exchanging your signature for a bank-breaking retail therapy is over.

Not any more with the upcoming slated release of the new Jimmy Choo for H&M collection this November 14. We're all too familiar with H&M and what style and economic benefits it bestows us commoners who've always dreamed of being card-wielding fashionistas. It is therefore, probable that you find more Jimmy Choos on the streets with lesser shoppers filing for bankruptcy. It's like having the best of both worlds, a dream come true.

Jimmy Choo for H&M will be available in 200 selected stores from November 14.

Editor's Letter: October/November 09

I hate to admit, but I've failed my promise of contribution to MSR ever since September. Here I am again, penning a bi-monthly Editor's Letter for the second time. Life is beginning to settle gradually after my recent three-month stint of travelling, thus finding time on hand to finally browse through the massive digital archives full of travel media while considering which of these destinations should I start with. If you're wondering how many places I've visited, let's just say that I'm spoilt for choices when it comes to picking an album for posting.

Being to several places around in Europe had not only allowed me to visually savour the vast scenic landscapes that always seem to be in abundance, I have also immersed myself in the local culture as part of a learning experience. I guess that's one of the major differences between a tourist and a traveller. Usually you will see tourists flocking to the major attractions as depicted in their travel guidebooks, rapidly snapping stills of the spot as well as shots of themselves with the attraction before rushing to the next listed attraction. They've probably covered it all together with the local delicacies and purchases that they will pursue at tourist traps, so what exactly are these people really missing out?

The people. The natives also constitute a part to the whole of the city, providing it with the needed character or identity. It is often the people's way of lives and their behavorial habits that tend to give bits and pieces of the city's cultural identity away to unsuspecting travellers like yours truly, for example. Let's see, hmm. Scandinavians are a group of nice people in line with Belgians. Italians' passion in daily life is probably a tad bit too much for my taste while the Frenchs are possibly one of the most liberal and open-minded people in Europe, especially those of the City of Lights. These aspects are not easily experienced by the typical tourists available in bus loads, they will need to communicate with them. Hearing them speak the native tongue may sometimes lead to an interesting encounter, even though it may fall upon your ears many a times as alien talk. Just smile back at them and give them your widest grin, that usually work wonders.

Snow covered Oslo on Thursday, but it's gone for now. I missed my chance at snow since I was away from town for the weekend. I guess that marked the beginning of winter and I shall be seeing snow in the days to come.

Till then, take care and do check back for more updates and content. Ha det.