Did Yasmin Ahmad plagiarise Matt Damon/Ben Affleck?

If today’s post is a digression from what you’d normally read here, I offer no apologies.

So yesterday I watched Good Will Hunting for the 5th time. If you’ve never watched it, you should minimize this window, launch your torrent and download the film now. Or you could go buy the DVD, whichever works best with your conscience.

Anyway, I discovered something new from my re-watch of the film. No, I’m not gonna go into how fucking brilliant Matt Damon/Ben Affleck’s script is. Nor am I gonna go into how gayly artistic Gus Van Sant’s direction is. Neither am I gonna touch on how powerfully moving Robin William’s performance was.

Instead I’m gonna discuss about an alleged plagiarism that may or may not have occurred.

By now, everyone would have watched the late Yasmin Ahmad’s Beautifully Imperfect ad, made for Singapore’s Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. And yes, everyone would have no problems being in agreement on how moving the ad was. But watching Good Will Hunting last night, I can’t help but think the idea may have been “borrowed” from Damon and Affleck.

Watch this first. Pay attention from 1:40 onwards.

Then watch this.

When I saw that scene last night, I cannot help but connect the dots between the two. Something like Coldplay’s Viva la Vida and Joe Satriani’s If I could fly. I’m not pointing any fingers lest I incur the wrath of Marina Mahathir like Kosmo did, but it really is too close for comfort.

Plagiarism or coincidence? You be the judge.

In the mean time, in tribute to one of the finest films ever made, here’s my song pick of the day – Seattle based rock band, Satchel’s Suffering.

Listen.

Timeless tunes

I was in Carls Jr the other day at about closing time. It was quiet so the crew put on a CD. GnR’s Appetite for Destruction was playing and it wouldn’t be complete to put on that record without blasting the legendary Sweet Child O’ Mine.

So I was thinking, 22 years old, and that record still speaks to souls. If I could ever make a record like that, I’d die a million happy deaths.

So in the spirit of Axl Rose, here’s my favourite cover of the song that we have all grown to love/hate. The blue-eyed vocals of Taken by Trees, does well to delicately channel the emotions that Axl wanted to tell but could never find the voice to do so.

Remember to say the magic word

Since we are all being inarticulate with words lately, I am not going to bore you with my excessive writing. God knows it is just a waste of time and space anyway. You don’t need it.

HERE. Listen to this for a change. It is She & Him’s version of The Smiths’ cover, Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.

May you get what you want out, like Zooey Deschanel here. Just remember to say the magic word.

Fuck. I can’t think of a clever title.

I’ve run out of things to say lately. Words just refuse to form in my head. I blame it on my day job. Advertising is such a fake industry. You write heavenly words for things that belong in the gutter. And when you sink in your armchair at the end of the day, you feel so disgusted you wish the floorboards would transform into a black hole, suck you in for eternity.

My song choice today might not exactly be unknown, but hey what the fuck. It sure is a bloody beautiful song. If you’ve never heard of it, shame on you. If you have, well, sing along with me.