F

or movie producer Sheila Timothy, watching movies up to five times a week is both a pleasure and an important part of her job.

“I learn many things from the movies I watch, which help support me in my job as a producer,” said the 41 year old, who is known as Lala.

Her favorites among all cinematic genres are fantasies, drama and animation.

“I like The Lord of The Rings, Iranian movie A Separation, Italian movie Life is Beautiful, The Tree of Life, movies from M. Night Shyamalan, Up and Ratatouille.”

When viewing she calls “important” movies, she usually asks her friend Rusli Eddy, director of the Indonesia International Fantastic Film Festival, to accompany her to share perspectives.

“I often watch movies alone, too, although I frequently take in animation and family movies with my husband and my children,” said the producer of Pintu Terlarang (Forbidden Door) and 2012’s English-language Modus Anomali.

Here are Lala’s movie picks for the weekend, with the movie summaries compiled from imdb.com, Yahoomovies and filmindonesia.or.id.

Top Choice

Cloud Atlas (2012)
164 minutes

Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, Hugo Weaving
Director: Tom Tykwer, Lana and Andy Wachowski

An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.

“It is based on a novel whose plot is very complex because it is composed of six stories with unique structures. I’m interested on how the novel is visualized.”

Date Movie

Love Actually (2003)
135 minutes

Starring: Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman
Director: Richard Curtis

Eight very different couples deal with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales, all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England. “It’s corny but very sweet and heartwarming.”

Just for Laughs

Undercover Brother (2002)
89 minutes

Starring: Eddie Griffin, Denise Richards, Neil Patrick Harris
Director: Malcolm D. Lee

When “The Man” tries to derail a black candidate’s presidential campaign, Undercover Brother and his fellow secret agents come to the rescue. “The ‘so bad it’s good’ kind of movie.”

Kids Movie

Hotel Transylvania (2012)
91 minutes

Starring: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, CeeLo Green

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky

Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count’s teen-aged daughter. “The reviews are very interesting and the trailer is very funny. Can’t wait for the movie.”

Horror

The Omen (2006)
110 minutes

Starring: Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles, Mia Farrow
Director: John Moore

A remake of the 1976 horror classic, telling of an American official who realizes that his young son may
literally be the devil incarnate. “It’s the scariest movie ever!” Lala declares.