Waiting For The Hollywood Moment: Thai Opinion

[webfact]

VENUS' VISION

Waiting for the Hollywood moment

Veena Thoopkrajae

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is at it again.

BANGKOK: -- She has just said that the floods and hot weather are the reasons people have the perception that food prices are on the rise. As a lot of Thais are now seeing increasing prices for goods and services, it is no surprise that her latest notion has sparked a new round of gossip on the social media.

It is not the first time, though, that the premiere has said something that doesn't show any wit. There are previous statements when she either said the wrong word or made an unforgettable mistake. Calling Singburi province Sara Buri when she visited there; saying "overcome" instead of "welcome" when reading a speech to welcome US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her Thailand visit; calling Hat Yai district in Songkhla province Hat Yai province; and calling the Malaysian prime minister a Preisdent. These are all are still fresh memories. Every time she made those mistakes, her critics came in full force to bombard her. If you haven't gone to Mars, you can search "Yingluck Pood Pid" (Yingluck said wrongly) on Google and read or watch the videos.

To Yingluck supporters, these "tiny" mistakes will never shake her place as premiere. Everyone makes mistakes once in a while, but the mistakes she makes and the illogical statements hardly find a place in others in her position. Here we have a heroine of the Pheu Thai Party who amuses us once in a while with what she does or says wrongly.

If one takes her out of the political equation, Yingluck may be seen as a "girl next door", a normal person, or a cute woman that brings us a laugh and smile with her goofy gestures or actions. Since having seen her on the day she wore Burberry wellington boots to inspect flooded communities, along with her stammering speeches both live and recorded, I can't help but associate her with a Hollywood heroine in typical romantic comedy. Doesn't she have in common those "ugly" moments in "Bridget Jones' Diary"? Isn't she like Elle Wood from "Legally Blonde" or Rebecca Bloomwood in "Confessions of a Shopaholic"?

Jones had "stammer" moments when reporting hard news, and Yingluck struggles with her speech too. Wood's arrival at Harvard University in her pink outfit is not too far removed from the premiere in the brandname wellies. And if we put the premiere into a romantic comedy, she surely would make a perfect heroine.

On a more sympathetic note, you feel that Yingluck has been put into a difficult situation - as those movie characters were. She may be Bloomwood under deadline pressure to deliver an article and pay overdue bills. She could also be Jones, starting a broadcasting job without any prior background. Or she could be Wood, who is a fashionista walking into prestigious Harvard.

Moreover, she could be an innocent woman on a fierce battlefield. It reminds me of a hit Hong Kong series "Kom Chuen Kom" ("The Shell Game") starring Chow Yun Fat, in which the last scene sees a heroine who has to continue playing poker for her husband. He leaves her with a losing hand but the last thing he tells her is that the cards in her hand are excellent and she should fight to win. With her natural poker face and the very poor hand, she wins the game and brings a lifetime victory for her hubby.

Whether or not Yingluck realises what kind of cards are in her hand in this game, we can presume that she is at least innocent and believes in her cards. She may not be capable in this (political) game but all she has is the innocent belief that she is on a winning streak and that she must continue in order to win the game.

There is nothing wrong with Hollywood sweethearts who do all sorts of funny and silly things before the public. There shouldn't be anything wrong with that, providing that in the end the character - the likes of Jones, Wood and Bloomwood - find a happy ending. They eventually win the hearts of the hero and those surrounding her thanks to sincerity, honesty, integrity, kindness or heroic acts. In Yingluck's case, she has showed us her funny and goofy side. Now the Thai public is waiting for the moment when she will win over her critics through her honesty and virtue. We are waiting and hoping to enjoy that moment and give her a standing ovation.

-- The Nation 2012-05-05

[Yunla]

There is nothing wrong with Hollywood sweethearts who do all sorts of funny and silly things before the public.

Agree with the drive of this article that if she did the ditsy starlet stuff and then followed up with reform and repair policies, I for one would praise her & even find her sillyness charming. Problem is that she isn't actually being a PM at all, just a warm-up act before the curtain opens to the real star of the show, in his elvis costume probably.

And this country needs an active & headstrong PM more than just about anywhere right now.

Most of the truly great Hollywood ladies came from hardworking backgrounds and got breaks in showbiz by hard work and 'chasing the dream' etc. Yingluck got her big break in showbiz by being related to someone famous.

I am always wary of movie stars or politicians who had no work history outside movies or politics, you need a normal real working life behind you to ground you with regular people and the grit and dirt that is part of real life.

[marquess]

She was never suitably qualified for the job in the first place and this is telling now!

[whybother]

Talking of mistakes ... What's with calling her a "premiere"?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[MEL1]

"Whether or not Yingluck realises what kind of cards are in her hand in this game, we can presume that she is at least innocent and believes in her cards."

She couldn't play crap if she tried!

-mel.

[KireB]

Who cares about her mistakes! She's pretty,foxy and a women of the ordinary people () and that's what matters! A great representative for Thailand when meeting up with peers from abroad, such as the President of Malaysia and the overcoming of Hilarious Clinton.

[ratcatcher]

Talking of mistakes ... What's with calling her a "premiere"?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

One of the definitions of "premiere" is: "the chief actress of a theatrical cast ."

I think it can be argued that the good lady fills that role adequately?

[billd766]

Who cares about her mistakes! She's pretty,foxy and a women of the ordinary people () and that's what matters! A great representative for Thailand when meeting up with peers from abroad, such as the President of Malaysia and the overcoming of Hilarious Clinton.

Personally speaking I think that she looks OK and as well as any woman with her (family) wealth can easily afford to be, but to say that she is a woman of the ordinary people is absolute bunkum.

She has no perception of the real life that 99% of the population face daily. When the cost of living goes up she denies it as she probably has maids and housekeepers who do all that and are driven to and from the very upmarket supermarkets and high end shops that don't deliver.

She has never had to work in her life and the job she used to have in her brothers company was abolished after she went into parliament.

Outside of Bangkok where Thailand actually is and real people live is a completely different world to the pampered one she lives in.

[whybother]

Who cares about her mistakes! She's pretty,foxy and a women of the ordinary people () and that's what matters! A great representative for Thailand when meeting up with peers from abroad, such as the President of Malaysia and the overcoming of Hilarious Clinton.

Personally speaking I think that she looks OK and as well as any woman with her (family) wealth can easily afford to be, but to say that she is a woman of the ordinary people is absolute bunkum.

She has no perception of the real life that 99% of the population face daily. When the cost of living goes up she denies it as she probably has maids and housekeepers who do all that and are driven to and from the very upmarket supermarkets and high end shops that don't deliver.

She has never had to work in her life and the job she used to have in her brothers company was abolished after she went into parliament.

Outside of Bangkok where Thailand actually is and real people live is a completely different world to the pampered one she lives in.

I think you missed the in KireB's post.

Edited May 5, 2012 by whybother

[phiphidon]

There are previous statements when she either said the wrong word or made an unforgettable mistake. Calling Singburi province Sara Buri when she visited there; saying "overcome" instead of "welcome" when reading a speech to welcome US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her Thailand visit; calling Hat Yai district in Songkhla province Hat Yai province; and calling the Malaysian prime minister a Preisdent.

Glass houses Veena, glass houses. Otherwise a quality piece from The Nation, more insightful pieces like this are required, how else is the paper going to keep up with the Bangkok Post on Sunday gossip page.

Continuing in the hollywood vein, what would Khun Abhisit be I wonder, Thaksin already has already been cast by some as Blofeld, so I'm afraid that one's taken...............

[whybother]

Glass houses Veena, glass houses. Otherwise a quality piece from The Nation, more insightful pieces like this are required, how else is the paper going to keep up with the Bangkok Post on Sunday gossip page.

Continuing in the hollywood vein, what would Khun Abhisit be I wonder, Thaksin already has already been cast by some as Blofeld, so I'm afraid that one's taken...............

There's that "but Abhisit" key again.

[RichinThailand]

Thailand's Sarah Palin!!

[Skywalker69]

She was never suitably qualified for the job in the first place and this is telling now!

100% agreed. TV PTP, Red Shirts, PM supporters/admirers must be running out of excuses any time soon.

Edited May 5, 2012 by Skywalker69

[JohnAllan]

Since we are on the subject of errors, premiere - unless it was deliberate, with Hollywood in mind - is PREMIER!

Edited May 5, 2012 by JohnAllan

[h90]

Glass houses Veena, glass houses. Otherwise a quality piece from The Nation, more insightful pieces like this are required, how else is the paper going to keep up with the Bangkok Post on Sunday gossip page.

Continuing in the hollywood vein, what would Khun Abhisit be I wonder, Thaksin already has already been cast by some as Blofeld, so I'm afraid that one's taken...............

There's that "but Abhisit" key again.

Abhisit had a very weak performance as PM. But in compare to that girl he was the absolute superpremier......

Kermit the Frog would be better.....

[Skywalker69]

It´s strange how little knowledge this "well educated" woman has, she must have been in the class-rum as many times as she have been in the Thai Parliament.

[h90]

It´s strange how little knowledge this "well educated" woman has, she must have been in the class-rum as many times as she have been in the Thai Parliament.

who claims that she is well educated?

[ratcatcher]

There are previous statements when she either said the wrong word or made an unforgettable mistake. Calling Singburi province Sara Buri when she visited there; saying "overcome" instead of "welcome" when reading a speech to welcome US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her Thailand visit; calling Hat Yai district in Songkhla province Hat Yai province; and calling the Malaysian prime minister a Preisdent.

Glass houses Veena, glass houses. Otherwise a quality piece from The Nation, more insightful pieces like this are required, how else is the paper going to keep up with the Bangkok Post on Sunday gossip page.

Continuing in the hollywood vein, what would Khun Abhisit be I wonder, Thaksin already has already been cast by some as Blofeld, so I'm afraid that one's taken...............

Since we have moved into a moment of fantasy here, I prefer to think of Mr.Thaksin as "Auric Goldfinger" (the money man), while his lovely sister Yingluck would cast well as "Pussy Galore" and of course the urbane Mr Abhisit would naturally be Bond, James Bond.

As for "Oddjob", perhaps that role would fall to Mr Noppadon Pattama.

[KireB]

Who cares about her mistakes! She's pretty,foxy and a women of the ordinary people () and that's what matters! A great representative for Thailand when meeting up with peers from abroad, such as the President of Malaysia and the overcoming of Hilarious Clinton.

Personally speaking I think that she looks OK and as well as any woman with her (family) wealth can easily afford to be, but to say that she is a woman of the ordinary people is absolute bunkum.

She has no perception of the real life that 99% of the population face daily. When the cost of living goes up she denies it as she probably has maids and housekeepers who do all that and are driven to and from the very upmarket supermarkets and high end shops that don't deliver.

She has never had to work in her life and the job she used to have in her brothers company was abolished after she went into parliament.

Outside of Bangkok where Thailand actually is and real people live is a completely different world to the pampered one she lives in.

Of course she has worked in her life! How can you be so naive to believe that she hasn't?

She has at least 1 child, so gave labor at least once. Hard work, as my mom, sisters and wife tell me!

Yingluck is a joke, a very bad one that is. But, the people in this country voted them back in and now will have to deal with the Shinawatra dynasty. I am afraid though that the majority of those who supported this criminal group, will never see or understand their own stupidity gullible as they are.

This administration is robbing the country blind and will, most likely, steer it in a financial abyss! Rocky road ahead, better buy a crash helmet!

[Skywalker69]

It´s strange how little knowledge this "well educated" woman has, she must have been in the class-rum as many times as she have been in the Thai Parliament.

who claims that she is well educated?

I was sarcastic mate.

[phiphidon]

There are previous statements when she either said the wrong word or made an unforgettable mistake. Calling Singburi province Sara Buri when she visited there; saying "overcome" instead of "welcome" when reading a speech to welcome US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her Thailand visit; calling Hat Yai district in Songkhla province Hat Yai province; and calling the Malaysian prime minister a Preisdent.

Glass houses Veena, glass houses. Otherwise a quality piece from The Nation, more insightful pieces like this are required, how else is the paper going to keep up with the Bangkok Post on Sunday gossip page.

Continuing in the hollywood vein, what would Khun Abhisit be I wonder, Thaksin already has already been cast by some as Blofeld, so I'm afraid that one's taken...............

Since we have moved into a moment of fantasy here, I prefer to think of Mr.Thaksin as "Auric Goldfinger" (the money man), while his lovely sister Yingluck would cast well as "Pussy Galore" and of course the urbane Mr Abhisit would naturally be Bond, James Bond.

As for "Oddjob", perhaps that role would fall to Mr Noppadon Pattama.

come on, jatuporn's a "double' for oddjob, though on reflection, Chuwat..............

[phiphidon]

Glass houses Veena, glass houses. Otherwise a quality piece from The Nation, more insightful pieces like this are required, how else is the paper going to keep up with the Bangkok Post on Sunday gossip page.

Continuing in the hollywood vein, what would Khun Abhisit be I wonder, Thaksin already has already been cast by some as Blofeld, so I'm afraid that one's taken...............

There's that "but Abhisit" key again.

Stop being a misery, have some fun in your life, a difficult concept for one as deep as you are I know, but just try letting go once in a while............

[rubl]

Letting go even without having drank a single beer or smoked anything, but after a plate of Nam Tok Nua, putting a new battery in my Crystal Ball, I see, I see ...

General Sonthi after his second amnesty for the 2006 coup becoming PM?, Nah, that's really too weird. Let me look again ... Natt Chanapa for PM, now that would be something. She has a great relation with the Japanese I understand, looks great even with clothes.

Maybe I'd better get serious again :-)

[ratcatcher]

There are previous statements when she either said the wrong word or made an unforgettable mistake. Calling Singburi province Sara Buri when she visited there; saying "overcome" instead of "welcome" when reading a speech to welcome US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her Thailand visit; calling Hat Yai district in Songkhla province Hat Yai province; and calling the Malaysian prime minister a Preisdent.

Glass houses Veena, glass houses. Otherwise a quality piece from The Nation, more insightful pieces like this are required, how else is the paper going to keep up with the Bangkok Post on Sunday gossip page.

Continuing in the hollywood vein, what would Khun Abhisit be I wonder, Thaksin already has already been cast by some as Blofeld, so I'm afraid that one's taken...............

Since we have moved into a moment of fantasy here, I prefer to think of Mr.Thaksin as "Auric Goldfinger" (the money man), while his lovely sister Yingluck would cast well as "Pussy Galore" and of course the urbane Mr Abhisit would naturally be Bond, James Bond.

As for "Oddjob", perhaps that role would fall to Mr Noppadon Pattama.

come on, jatuporn's a "double' for oddjob, though on reflection, Chuwat..............

I missed that one, you're right on.

[bigbamboo]

There are previous statements when she either said the wrong word or made an unforgettable mistake. Calling Singburi province Sara Buri when she visited there; saying "overcome" instead of "welcome" when reading a speech to welcome US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her Thailand visit; calling Hat Yai district in Songkhla province Hat Yai province; and calling the Malaysian prime minister a Preisdent.

Glass houses Veena, glass houses. Otherwise a quality piece from The Nation, more insightful pieces like this are required, how else is the paper going to keep up with the Bangkok Post on Sunday gossip page.

Continuing in the hollywood vein, what would Khun Abhisit be I wonder, Thaksin already has already been cast by some as Blofeld, so I'm afraid that one's taken...............

Since we have moved into a moment of fantasy here, I prefer to think of Mr.Thaksin as "Auric Goldfinger" (the money man), while his lovely sister Yingluck would cast well as "Pussy Galore" and of course the urbane Mr Abhisit would naturally be Bond, James Bond.

As for "Oddjob", perhaps that role would fall to Mr Noppadon Pattama.

come on, jatuporn's a "double' for oddjob, though on reflection, Chuwat..............

Not often I agree with Phiphidon but he beat me to it with Jatuporn as Oddjob and Abhisit is too wet to be James Bond.

Yingluck would have to be Miss Moneypenny, doesn't ever say much, just flirts a bit and takes her most of her instructions from the big boss over the phone.

[hellodolly]

Who cares about her mistakes! She's pretty,foxy and a women of the ordinary people () and that's what matters! A great representative for Thailand when meeting up with peers from abroad, such as the President of Malaysia and the overcoming of Hilarious Clinton.

Personally speaking I think that she looks OK and as well as any woman with her (family) wealth can easily afford to be, but to say that she is a woman of the ordinary people is absolute bunkum.

She has no perception of the real life that 99% of the population face daily. When the cost of living goes up she denies it as she probably has maids and housekeepers who do all that and are driven to and from the very upmarket supermarkets and high end shops that don't deliver.

She has never had to work in her life and the job she used to have in her brothers company was abolished after she went into parliament.

Outside of Bangkok where Thailand actually is and real people live is a completely different world to the pampered one she lives in.

The article mentioned integrity. I fail to see that in her. being the P M she should do the job herself and if she makes a mistake admit it and try to rectify it.

Taking orders from her brother on what to do and who to put in her cabinet is not even in the same ball park as integrity.

[noitom]

Tripe writing.

[chrisinth]

This is what happens when a party puts eye candy in as a focal point. She has never denied that she knows nothing about politics, and certainly she has made mistakes.

But who writes her scripts and points her in the "right" direction? If I was a suspicious person, she would be the ideal person to be relieved of her position by someone close to their greater advantage..................

[asiawatcher]

Thailand's Sarah Palin!!

... with the umbilical chord still firmly attached to the criminal brother.

[billd766]

Who cares about her mistakes! She's pretty,foxy and a women of the ordinary people () and that's what matters! A great representative for Thailand when meeting up with peers from abroad, such as the President of Malaysia and the overcoming of Hilarious Clinton.

Personally speaking I think that she looks OK and as well as any woman with her (family) wealth can easily afford to be, but to say that she is a woman of the ordinary people is absolute bunkum.

She has no perception of the real life that 99% of the population face daily. When the cost of living goes up she denies it as she probably has maids and housekeepers who do all that and are driven to and from the very upmarket supermarkets and high end shops that don't deliver.

She has never had to work in her life and the job she used to have in her brothers company was abolished after she went into parliament.

Outside of Bangkok where Thailand actually is and real people live is a completely different world to the pampered one she lives in.

I think you missed the in KireB's post.

Yep, sorry I did miss it.

Put it down to joy and happiness as it rained properly yesterday for the first time in months.