26th Goya Awards Winners

A few minutes ago the award ceremony reach the end with no big awards to Almodovar, except for Elena Anaya winning. I'm convinced that is not easy to win in Spain for Almodovar but I'm very glad that he won the BAFTA a few days ago as his movie deserves all the honors because he went back to his most excellent style that only him can do. Sigh. Okay got it out.

Ceremony was not entertaining with a few exceptions but most amusing and highly entertaining was following the #premiosgoya in twitter while watching on TV, that was really fun as seems "everyone" was twitting about the awards as almost reached trend No. 1 worldwide so you could read the most funny, amusing, annoying, etc tweets you can imagine. But was lots of fun.

The Academy site was object of a DOS attack and will take a while for them to have the site back; so if you wish to read winners in all categories will have to wait until probably tomorrow, but go here. Nevertheless winners for main categories are in *BLUE.

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A few minutes ago the Academy announced the nominations and here they are for some categories. Most remarkable is that Almodovar latest film, La Piel Que Habito got 16 nominations, which I think makes film one with most nods in Almodovar’s own country, congrats to Pedro Almodovar!

Best Film
Blackthorn, Mateo Gil (oh! Magaly Solier is here!)
La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In), Pedro Almodóvar
La Voz Dormida (The Sleeping Voice), Benito Zambrano
*No habrá paz para los malvados, Enrique Urbizu

Best Director
Mateo Gil for Blackthorn
Pedro Almodóvar for La Piel que Habito
Benito Zambrano for La Voz Dormida
*Enrique Urbizu for No habrá paz para los malvados

Best New Director
Paula Ortiz for De tu Ventana la Mía
*Kike Maíllo for Eva
Paco Arango for Maktub
Eduardo Chapero-Jackson for Verbo

Best Actress
Verónica Echegui in Katmandú. Un espejo en el cielo, Icíar Bollaín
Salma Hayek in La Chispa de la Vida, Alex de la Iglesia
*Elena Anaya in La Piel Que Habito, Pedro Almodóvar
Inma Cuesta in La Voz Dormida, Benito Zambrano

Best Actor
Daniel Brühl in Eva, Kike Maíllo
Antonio Banderas in La Piel que Habito, Pedro Almodóvar
Luis Tosar, Mientras Duermes (Sleep Tight), Jaume Balagueró
*Jose Coronado in No habrá paz para los malvados, Enrique Urbizu

Best European Film
Jane Eyre, Cary Fukunaga
Melancholia, Lars von Trier
*The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius
Carnage, Roman Polanski

Best Iberoamerican Film
Boleto al Paraíso, Gerardo Chijona, Cuba
Miss Bala, Gerardo Naranjo, Mexico
*Un Cuento Chino (Chinese Take-Away), Sebastián Borensztein, Argentina
Violeta se fue a los Cielos (Violeta), Andrés Wood, Chile

To check nominees in all categories go here.  Eva Hace will be the award host and let’s hope this year will be entertaining (I know every year I hope for the same, lol); award ceremony will be at 10:00pm Madrid time on February 19 and will be broadcast by TVE.

Las Acacias

If you ask me what type of movie would I like to see a lot more nowadays my answer absolutely is the type Las Acacias has. What a fantastic movie, one that makes you feel good, makes you wonder why cinema doesn’t have more stories told like this one and one that absolutely deserves all the honors that has been collecting since premiering at 2011 Cannes where won the prestigious Camera d’Or plus the Grand Rail d’Or, the ACID Award and the Young Critics award in the Semaine de la Critique section.

As you know I don’t like to know much about a movie and in this case I knew nothing, zip, nada. I strongly suggest that if possible that’s the best way to watch this marvelous movie that slowly, very slowly will grow in you, grab you, hold you tight with a big smile in your face and won’t release you –nor your smile- until is over.

Let me just share that Pablo Giorgelli’s film is what we could call a road movie but is of the unexpected kind –if you know nothing about story- that starts near the Paraguay/Argentina border and ends in Buenos Aires, Argentina; trip is done in a trailer and yes, there are handheld cameras that will allow you to feel inside the cabin the uneven roads the truck transits. It’s great.

Actually have to comment that last year Canes Critics’ Week had fabulous movies like this one and Take Shelter, which is NOT common as usually the strangest/weirdest movies are screened in this section; second all the honors that film have been collecting all over the world are extremely well deserved for a fantastic story, great production values, excellent performances and a filmmaker that masters the art of storytelling with images, little details and very little dialogue. While is not unique certainly is not common so-well done in Latin American cinema, thus chapeau Master Giorgelli!

All right is not for all audiences unless you prepare for a very slow storytelling, a long while where nothing seems to be happening, lots of silences where actors expressions –or lack of expressions- (including an impressive baby) tell everything that’s going on and an intrusive camera with many handheld takes.

Strongly recommend this movie to all that enjoy great world-class cinema and especially to those that enjoy Latin American cinema, even when story is not local, is really universal and filmmaker transcended most styles that predominate in the region. Oh yes, I enjoyed the movie well-beyond my expectations and well, when movie was over I was surprised beyond my imagination with the high quality of this complete cinematic experience.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Autumn Movie Bites #1

Here are some bites about lesbian interest movies. Enjoy.

Circumstance by Maryam Keshavarz. France, USA, and Iran. Bit confused about film as found stays like in the middle not going in depth with something. As a genre film tells a known story –set in the Middle East too- with love scenes that are more sex scenes filmed from a male-point-of-view than with female eyes. Not the best lesbian interest film with similar theme that I have seen. Then as a political statement is not strong as there are other female centered stories that have more successfully shown how Middle Eastern cultures/traditions/religion converts women to almost non-existence within their society. Maybe if film had no lesbian interest content political message could have been developed more; likewise if had no political message then the lesbian interest story could have been developed more and more appropriately. Still, film is watchable. Enjoy.

You and I by Roland Joffé. Russia and USA. Not pleasant to watch thanks to a terrible script with absurd dialogues and lack of clear focus in a story that pretends to show youth decadence in contemporary Russia by telling the “falling in love” story of Janie (Shantel VanSanten) and Lana (Mischa Barton). If you skip movie you will be missing absolutely nothing. Sigh.

Sour Sorriso (Sister Smile) by Roger Deutsch. Italy. This 2001 film is more a fictitious account of what infamous Belgian nun surely didn’t live; but not like the more recent version, clearly presents a woman that loved women. The problem is that the director to tell a 60’s set story used a 60’s cinema style that today makes story and film not easy-to-watch plus hard to be related to. Sigh.

80 Egunean (For 80 Days) by Jon Garaño and José María Goenaga. Spain. Film tells about “Axun and Maite meeting at secondary school during a repressive that never allowed their relationship to go beyond friendship” and when they meet 50 years after they can’t really become a couple as seems is too late. Not particularly liked message as I do believe that NEVER is too late, but how writers decided to end story makes message “more politically correct” but less human as we have to end up doing what others want and not what we really want. Film has very good production values and performances that will entertain you. Enjoy!!

Die Konkurrentin by Dagmar Hirtz. Germany. This 1997 German TV movie has a very nice love story between two women as only –I believe- German television can do SO good, which makes it absolutely must be seen for those that enjoy the genre and have seen before (great) German lesbian interest TV movies. The last is because whatever else happens in story (here is Business Corporation drama) is secondary to their typical seductive way of making their protagonists fall in love and have a happy ending. Still surprises me that German audiences were able to watch lesbian interest movies in that decade, when still today -40 years after- many countries TV will never show them. Enjoy!!

Break My Fall by Kanchi Wichmann. UK. Can’t deny that film has an interesting style that makes it look and feel quite realistic. For a 40,000 UK pounds production, have to say that film is really great. Story is raw and like in all stories about a relationship last days we will not see romantic moments; if performances are good then story will be felt a lot more and this is the case with this film. It’s a lesbian story about something that hasn’t been explored too much in the genre and suggest to many to watch it with no romance expectations and maybe you will enjoy it as much as I did. Enjoy!!

Como Esquecer (So Hard to Forget) by Malu de Martino. Brazil. Nope is not about how the relationship ends, but how the one that didn’t want to break up abandons herself into depression, how she starts to overcome not being with Antonia anymore and finally meets someone that allows her to give herself another chance to care for someone. Gee, sounds kind of sad BUT honestly is NOT as this Brazilian movie has all over the Brazilian “joie de vivre” more in style than in story, plus acceptable to good performances by good-looking cast makes the ride really easier. Can be entertaining if you have no expectations and just enjoy the ride. Enjoy!!

Leading Ladies by Daniel Beahm and Erika Randal Beahm. USA. My big mistake was that I had expectations about this movie, “dancing expectations” lol! Honestly is not a good movie and there is not much dancing; but if you enjoy typical American comedy style (which I don’t) maybe you will enjoy this “zany” comedy a lot more than me. Sigh.

Tomboy by Céline Sciamma. France. An entertaining film that surely is more mainstream than Sciamma’s previous Naissance des pieuvres, which I simply loved. As you can imagine was expecting a film more in the style of Naissance des pieuvres and definitively Tomboy is different; still is an engaging story about a girl that sees her moving into a new neighborhood as the opportunity to be more what she really feels like: a boy. Okay I should explain myself so I will not confuse anyone, this film is NOT mainstream, is arty; but if you compare both Sciamma’s films then you will see that her second is more commercial than her first thanks to the story mainly. Not your regular genre film, but worth watching. Enjoy!!

Kyss Mig (With Every Heartbeat) by Alexandra-Therese Keining. Sweden. Has this film a predictable story? Yes. Indeed is true, very predictable BUT film is highly enjoyable, so it’s not about the destination is about the trip. You have no idea how good your trip into the lives of Mia and Frida will be as performances by complete cast is quite good, cinematography is super, production values are high and director is so good that I’ll watch her future films for sure. I loved this movie and if you have the patience to enjoy a great ride to a predictable destination, then this film is definitively for you. Enjoy!!!

Mein Freund Aus Faro (To Faro) by Nana Neul. Germany. This 2008 film has been labeled as the German version of Boys Don’t Cry and indeed has a similar story but fortunately fictional To Faro does not have the violence of the real story. Tells about Melanie that meets Jenny and falls in love; but Jenny think she’s met Miguel from Faro, Portugal. Film is nothing special, entertaining but not much more. If you been delaying watching because of violence (as I did) be assure that there is none here, so go ahead and watch. Enjoy.

Luan qing chun (Beatiful Crazy) by Chi Y. Lee. Taiwan. Couldn’t enjoy film even when I tried harder (lol!), yes is arty but unfortunately not really interesting. Not much lesbian interest, just what seems like a few seconds. If you skip it, won’t be missing much. Sigh.

Albert Nobbs by Rodrigo García. UK and Ireland. Honestly I had no lesbian interest expectations for this movie as I’m familiar with main character story, so finding that perhaps the most digestible/funny character the movie has is the one played by Janet McTeer (Page) who happens to be lesbian and lives with her wife was most refreshing. Glenn Close really gets lost into her male character and does a great performance but character is truly lame -and definitively not lesbian at all- as Albert Nobbs is a woman trapped in a man cover that resigned herself to live a life of loneliness, that’s it until she meets Page as sees an opportunity to change her destiny. Unfortunately she does not look for love, she looks for convenience and pursues Helen (Mia Wasikowska) that definitively doesn’t need “convenience” at that moment. Maybe if Nobbs had seduced Helen then things would have been different, but obviously that will happen later when Page starts to seduce Helen. I believe that Close does really good her character but character is so unappealing and is so well-done that some are saying that her performance made the character one-dimensional, flat, pan faced, etc; but I do believe that’s the way it was supposed to be. Anyway this is a movie to watch not because has lesbian interest moments but because is a story of women that had to dress like men to be able to earn a living when for whatever reason, there was no man to take care of them. Enjoy!!!

XXVI Goya Awards News – Latin American Films

A total of eight (8) Latin American films will be screened from December 16 to 23 to define the five that will be nominated for a Goya Award. These are the films.

Artigas-La Redota (aka La Redota-Una Historia de Artigas), César Charlone, Uruguay
Boleto al Paraíso, Gerardo Chijona, Cuba
El Páramo, Jaime Osorio Márquez, Colombia
Las Malas Intenciones (The Bad Intentions), Rosario García-Montero, Peru
Miss Bala, Gerardo Naranjo, Mexico
Reverón, Diego Rísquez, Venezuela
Un Cuento Chino (Chinese Take-Away), Sebastián Borensztein
Violeta se fue a los Cielos (Violeta Went to Heaven), Andrés Wood

To check the official announcement go here.

Midnight in Paris

The 2011 Cannes opening movie is a pleasant surprise as looks and feels like the great movies by Woody Allen especially because Allen is in the film. Well, actually he is not in the screen at all! Let me explain. I don’t particularly care about Owen Wilson and I do dislike most of his performances but I believe that his best role up-to-date is in this movie and he’s playing Woody Allen! Oh yes, I could see (a younger) Woody all over Owen’s performance and maybe now I finally gasped what I miss in Allen’s movies, I miss him, the (younger) actor.

A beautiful love-letter to Paris with breath-taking day/night/rainy views of the gorgeous city (yes, I do LOVE Paris) film tells the impossible dream of many “intellectuals” that wish to alternate, converse and rub elbows with la crème de la crème of the many artists that lived in 20’s Paris, but Gil (Owens) is a “normal” American tourist struggling with writing a novel after being a very successful Hollywood screenplay writer and indeed he could be the opposite to a intellectual prototype. There is a lot of irony in story and dialogues, which absolutely makes it very appealing to me and yes is an enjoyable glimpse into the Parisian lives of the likes of Hemingway, Buñuel, Picasso, Matisse, Dalí, Gertrude Stein, Cole Porter, Fitzgerald, and many others. The only predictable moment for me was going to Maxim where I knew Toulouse-Lautrec was going to appear, but I forgive you Mr. Allen, as most of it was really unexpected.

Best performance in movie belongs to Marion Cotillard that truly steals all scenes she’s in; but I also enjoyed the brief appearance by Léa Seydoux and to be honest, did not recognized Carla Bruni (lol!) and wonder –like someone else also wonders- if her sister Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi played the character instead of her surely character would have been more noticeable and interesting.

It’s a fun to watch film, well, a Woody Allen type of fun to watch film and definitively enjoyed my entertaining moment and I do recommend film to those that like Allen’s oldies and somehow wish to see (the younger version of) him in the screen.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Movie Bits and Bits

Here are some mini-bits about some movies.

The Tempest by Julie Taymor. I do believe that Taymor movies are not for everyone much less when is based on a not so well-known Shakespeare play about love, vengeance and forgiveness but I believe that this is a fantastic adaptation to the big screen due to the amazing visuals and special effects plus great performance by Helen Mirren who plays Pospera, a role than in the original play is a man, Prospero. Movie is a bit too talkie for me but amazingly kept my total attention which happens not very often. Somehow believe movies like this make Shakespeare more accessible to general audiences, but unfortunately I know that general audiences won’t be attracted by film, which is true pity. Then those that like Shakespeare surely will not like movie, so I really wonder who the natural target of this great film is. I do recommend film to those that don’t mind very visual theatrical adaptations to the moving pictures. Enjoy!!!

Balada Triste de Trompeta (The Last Circus) by Alex de la Iglesia. Surely not for all audiences as this visually crazy with a crazier story film will not please many, but I found movie to be Brilliant!!! Not only made me recall Fellini but I found love story to be a satire of what happened in Spain during those times. Watch at your own risk, but if you enjoy Felliniesque visuals plus are familiar with Spain’s history then maybe you will like this really crazy movie. Enjoy!!!

Hanna by Joe Wright. Liked the story, liked Saorise Ronan performance as well as Cate Blanchett as a villain; but didn’t like the movie as I believe Wright messed up the storytelling, which is a true shame. Director is excellent for period dramas but when he comes to the present he seems to lose his magical touch. Enjoy.

A Religiosa Portuguesa (The Portuguese Nun) by Eugène Green. Movie has everything I like (very slow pace, nothing much happens, silences, very little dialogue, etc) but I couldn’t stand it, was impossible for me to finish watching. Sigh.

Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement by Susan Muska and Gréta Olafsdóttir. A documentary that tells the life of Edie and Thea; actually doc splendidly relates the love that these two women had for each other during 42 years, a story that culminates when finally they are able to get married. You will watch two remarkable ordinary women that lived their life against many odds. Strongly recommend to not miss this nice, very nice documentary. Enjoy!!!

Henry’s Crime by Malcom Venville. Surprisingly entertaining crime-romance-comedy film with very acceptable performances by Vera Farmiga, James Caan and one of my favorite actors Keanu Reeves in a role where he is forced to do his regular straight face acting but also goes to his more human smiling face and emotional acting, which is just great for me. Story is interesting especially because mirrors Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchad play. Great movie for when you feel like having a good entertaining moment. Enjoy!!

La Robe du Soir (The Evening Dress) by Myriam Aziza. Aziza’s debut is a film with striking photography and a not-so-usual story about a student/teacher crush. Juliette, a 12-year-old-girl, has a strong crush on her beautiful/sensual teacher Hélène; everything is fine until she notices that Hélène is paying too much attention to a male student. Story unravels in a sort of Fatal Attraction -French style, of course- that tests the limits of what should and should not be happening between students and teachers. As a matter of fact and according to what I read it was director’s intention to criticize the French education system. I don’t believe film is the usual lesbian interest film as even when the story morale is definitively lesbian, the way story unravels is not lesbian at all. Still film is excellent not only for its top tech specs but also for the unbelievably good performance by Alba Gaïa Kraghede Bellugi that plays Juliette. If you are like me that love excellent French cinema then this film is must be seen for you. Enjoy!!!

Ces amours-là (What War May Bring) by Claude Lelouch. Unfortunately terrible and misleading translation into English as film is nothing about war even when is set during WWII; this is a feminine saga told like perhaps only Lelouch can tell, a female drama during several decades, that revisits life in France, revisits French cinema and is all about love (French style). Not your regular entertainment fare even under French standards but film has a little bit of everything that has been great (and bad) in France. Most notable Anouk Aimée cameo, the passages from films by Gremillon, Fleming, and Carné; but Lelouch homage to Jean Gabin is really fantastic. Suited only for those that really love French cinema. Enjoy!!

The Adjustment Bureau by George Nolfi. Surprisingly good sci-fi entertaining movie especially when really film is all about love, which is surely the reason why so many disliked film as probably were expecting another Bourne-type story as Matt Damon is the star. So if you enjoy watching unusual love stories then give this movie a try and perhaps you will highly enjoy your entertaining moment. Enjoy!

Submarino by Thomas Vinterberg. Movie grabbed me since the very beginning up to the very end. While story is painful to watch film is truly mesmerizing thanks to great performances and the grim reality style. Not often I’m able to hypnotically watch a film about alcoholism, drug addiction, violence, mental illness, and many other not positive life situations, but film takes you by the hand and not fast-not slowly shows you the lives of those inevitably marked by what they had to live in their childhood. You’re the observer, they live, you feel; intense. Highly recommend it to those that enjoy excellent European cinema. Enjoy!!!

That is all.

Almost Summer Movie Bits

After Cannes I was left with an entertainment mood wishing to watch only irrelevant escape films that take me into fantasy land. So that’s exactly what I have been doing with a few exceptions. But I’m also in a 3D mood so for sure will go to watch not Pirates but the green movie that soon will open at a theater near you with none other than Ryan Reynolds and a story about my favorite super hero from when I was a kid.

Unknown – If you don’t expect much then this thriller will entertain you even when story is similar to many other stories –man hits head and not even wife recognizes him- but here the twist at the end is unexpected and unfortunately anticlimactic. Starring great Liam Neeson carrying the entire film well -but take note that this is NO great Taken- plus many other great actors like Bruno Ganz, Sebastian Koch, Frank Langella, Aidan Quinn, January Jones and Diane Kruger makes movie watchable and for a while you will surely forget everything about your real life. Enjoy!

Just Go with It – Expecting not much, movie really surprised me. First because I had no idea Nicole Kidman was here and much less that she was doing comedy. Second because movie is as good/entertaining as those movies with the Sandler/Barrymore duo. Third I had fun watching Jennifer Aniston, which is absolutely unusual. So if you liked movies like The Wedding Singer and/or 50 First Dates I know you will enjoy this movie. Enjoy.

Red Ridding Hood – Perhaps I really like Catherine Hardwicke filmmaking style with spectacular outdoor compositions and takes but to my huge surprise, I enjoyed this movie for the visuals and well the unusual take on the classic fairy tale. Some female critics are saying that this movie target is female teenagers, hmm… maybe but even if I’m no teen I can tell you I enjoy watching great Julie Christie in the screen –she should act more often- and the twisted story that kept me wondering who the werewolf was. No, didn’t guessed right, so was absolutely unexpected, which is also unusual for me. This is no horror movie or thriller, is more like a suspense “who dunnit” kind of movie with spectacular visuals. Enjoy!!

Ilusiones Opticas (Optical Illusions) – When I finished watching this movie by Cristián Jiménez I said “is okay”. Not much time passed when I started to really think what I saw in the screen and then, story absolutely hit me hard, very hard. Movie is about “optical illusions” about what is crudely in front of you but you don’t chose to see it for whatever reason; so you create your fantasy to cover reality, to dream a dream of change, with a happier ending that never will be. Great story in a minimalist, narrative oriented film with some humor, some sadness, and some temporary happiness. If you decide to watch it you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!!!

Pa negre (Black Bread) - This Agustí Villaronga film tells about what lies can do to people, how one lie takes to another lie, how lies come from ignorance and from fear of what others could say if you admit truth, even when everybody else knows truth but chose to keep it silent or to forget about it, until truth comes out and everyone points fingers. Yes that’s what this entertaining movie is all about but using kids plus the harsh post-war years’ in Spain Catalan countryside makes what could have been a difficult-to-watch story into a more digestible story and an entertaining movie. Enjoy!!

Barney’s Version – Not sure what I was expecting from this movie, but surely wasn’t much as I don’t particularly like Paul Giamatti performances and much less, Scott Speedman; so when movie starts and goes to the past in Italy I almost stopped watching but decided to continue and I’m very glad as in the end, I liked this movie that tells the story of Barney Panofsky with his business successes, his female conquests –until he’s conquered by one woman- and his numerous failures. To me story and movie is a satire that pictures quite well the life of many men, a story that strongly resembles the life of many real life men that I know. An entertaining movie to escape reality while watching what could be reality to many. Enjoy!!

Ubiitsy (Killers) – This 1956 short film co directed by Andrei Tarkovsky when he was a student at VGIK absolutely is the best student film I have EVER seen. Is the last of Tarkovsky’s so reduced (11 titles) oeuvre that I had to see before I die or I decide to stop doing the blog. Now I can say that I have seen all his outstanding films and this short co directed with his student colleagues, with them acting, and with a scene with Tarkovsky acting is truly visual poetry even when is based on a short story by Hemingway about some killers that are in town to kill a man. If you love Tarkovsky’s work as much as I do, you have to watch this short film as well as the other 10 films he did. Truly Outstanding. BIG ENJOY!!!

El Sicario: Room 164 - A documentary that tells about the life (20 years) of a man as a highly trained Mexican narco hit man that will capture your attention not only because what he says but also for his multiple drawings while telling the most horrible stories of killings, kidnappings, torture and all the things he did while being trained, starting to work, becoming an expert and how he went into hiding, as now there is a contract on his life of US$250,000. You will not see a thing but you will hear everything, which I believe makes it more ice-cold terrific. Still, is mesmerizing until the very not-expected end that is totally anti-climatic and ruined the doc for me. Watch at your own risk. Enjoy!

El Infierno (Hell) – Actually watched this film before watching the above documentary and definitively was the reason why I decided to watch El Sicario as wanted to learn more about narco’s life as with this movie you get a satiric approach, which is very entertaining and definitively succeeds in getting you to think about this theme that you hardly think about it in your everyday life. As mentioned in other post, film is good as humor facilitates watching everything; but when you live or have lived in Mexico or any other country where chaos is real, film definitively is must be seen to realize that after all whatever is happening in Mexico -and many other similar countries- is consequence of many years, hundreds of years, where citizens indifference –and participation- have made everything possible as they did before, are doing today and unfortunately will continue to do tomorrow. According to what I read –and I agree- many films released for Mexico’s bicentennial celebration tell so many dark truths that makes many wonder if there is something to celebrate as “nothing has changed much” after 200 years. Enjoy!!!

Surely I’m forgetting some films, but this is it for today!

Cheers!

Celda 211

Impressive movie by director Daniel Monzón, this Spanish/French co-production has won several awards including several Goya awards, and I can promise it will keep you interested from beginning to end. 

What does it take to turn you from a law-abiding citizen into a murderer?

How far would you go to protect yourself and those you love?

How do you react when your life is in danger and you lose all that is precious to you?

Juan Oliver has a new job as a prison officer and reports to work a day early determined to cause a good impression. He is filled with hope and happiness as he kisses his pregnant wife, Elena, goodbye. During his tour of the prison an accident occurs and he ends up in cell 211 during a riot; trying to survive, he decides to convince the others that he is also a prisoner. He ends up by establishing a deep connection with the prison leader, Malamadre.

The movie is served by an excellent cast, with special relevance to the amazing Luis Tosar and and also Alberto Ammann.

The story unfolds offering you a deep analysis of human psyche without been boring or pretentious. If you think you have seen enough movies about inmates and prisons, you are wrong.

As so many times happens, soon we realize that a criminal is not necessarily striped of a heart or feelings, and that the “good guys” (the guards) are not always nice people.

I warn right now it does not offer a happy ending, nor it should. It is as real life is, harsh and tender, unpredictable and multi-layered.

One of the best movies I’ve seen this year.

Green light!

Watch trailer @MOC

Recent Movie Bits

Yes have not been posting reviews but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been watching movies. So, here are some mini-unusual reviews for some movies that have seen lately.

127 Hours by Danny Boyle - While watching couldn't help but to recall Tom Hank's solitary role in Cast Away a film that was too much for me; maybe knew too much about story but film didn't "shock" nor move me. A lot less interesting than what story could have been and I find James Franco's performance acceptable but not much else. Enjoy!!

À Deriva (Adrift) by Heitor Dhalia – Wanted to watch film because I really enjoy Vincet Cassel performances and wasn’t disappointed here but I also enjoyed very much Laura Neiva unusual performance as Filipa; still nothing much else was interesting in this film that had an unpredictable not-interesting story with not interesting tech specs. If you skip it won’t be missing much. Enjoy.

A la deriva by Ventura Pons – Not so interesting story with good performance by Anna Azcona; as always in Pons films there is a gay character and this film is not the exception. Film is not as good as other Pons film but still if you like his style maybe you will enjoy it. Enjoy!!

Ça commence par la fin by Michaël Cohen - I really love Emmanuel Béart but couldn’t take her performance here –with real life husband as her love interest- was so boring and annoying that had to stop watching as became too repetitive and so not-interesting that gave up. Sigh.

The Company Men by John Wells – Entertaining with interesting story, wished Ben Affleck was more expressive but other performances by Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper are good. Enjoy!

Duk haan chau faan (All About Love) by Ann Hui – Entertaining and quite amusing lesbian interest film from Hong Kong that could entertain many that enjoy the genre. Not your usual story nor style in the genre but if you decide to give film a try probably will laugh, smile to this good production values film with acceptable oriental style performances. Story is basically about fear of commitment. Enjoy!!

Exit Through the Giftshop by Banksy – Hilarious, surprisingly entertaining and great story message, no matter if is a hoax or not. DO NOT MISS IT! Big Enjoy!!!

Illégal (Illegal) by Olivier Masset-Depasse) – Outstanding performance by Anne Coesens with an interesting story that applies to many other countries in the world that have illegal aliens living there or crossing by. Worth watching especially for those that enjoy women centered stories. Enjoy!!!

Le bruit des glaçons (The Clink of Ice) by Bertrand Blier – Story and film became really annoying after a while but sustained watching. Not worth it, if you skip it won’t be missing much. Still Anne Alvaro performance as Louisa saves some moments. Sigh.

Les petits mouchoirs (Little White Lies) by Guillaume Canet – Love to watch Marion Cotillard performances and here is all right but she’s overshadowed (too much for me) by other ensemble cast performances like great François Cluzet and Benoît Magimel that had more interesting roles thus more flashy performances. Film looks and feels like any of those films that have talkie large ensemble stars cast but somehow I kept comparing it to Darbareye (About Elly) without the interesting crime twist. Only to watch if you really like Marion Cotillard performances. Enjoy!!

Map of the Sounds of Tokyo by Isabel Coixet – Had to stop watching as couldn’t take it anymore. I usually like Isabel Coixet films and also Sergi López performances (btw his cameo in Potiche was fabulous!) but film style became unbearable and annoying. Sigh.

Mother and Child by Rodrigo Garcia - Great Annette Bening performance wish she could be nominated for this performance and not the terrible movie she got nominated for. Story and film are entertaining but story is too predictable. Enjoy!!

Potiche by Francois Ozon – Don’t miss this film highly enjoyable comedy “a la francaise” with outstanding performance by Catherine Deneuve. LOVE this movie that absolutely cheered me up. Enjoy!!!

The Next Three Days by Paul Haggis - Entertaining at moments but story and film is uneven; Russell Crowe as a weak character doesn’t do it for me, even when in this film his character became the driven force, was not credible for me. Still film is watchable considering those recent mainstream American cinema releases. Enjoy.

Vénus noire (Black Venus) by Abdellatif Kechiche - Was expecting a very hard to watch film and was a LOT more harder to watch than what I imagined; so hard it hurt. But it’s an amazing dramatization of a true story with extraordinary and very expressive –yet silent- performance by Yahima Torres as Saartjie “Sarah” Baartman. Don’t skip film and stay until credits to watch real-life scenes. Amazing, yet very hard to watch, not a story to enjoy but one that everyone in the world should watch. Big Enjoy!!!

White Material by Claire Denis – Excellent performance by Isabelle Huppert but not much else; story seems like many others told many times before. Enjoy!

Hope didn’t forget films that have watched. So this is it for this movie bits post. Good news is that after tomorrow Sunday, February 27th industry news will be back to normal, so probably I will be back to normal writing reviews… lol!

25th Goya Awards Winners

So read about controversy and is all about a Law that has to be yet approved by legislators and believe vote will be next Tuesday. But now I know why Academy site is not working: became object of a Ddos attack by those that are against the passing of the law who also had a demonstration outside the theater where the awards had their ceremony. Also learned that those who watched show online were able to hear the noise demonstrators made which TV broadcast filtered out whilst making "live" TV broadcast a lot less interesting.

But most interesting was to find that ALSO this show was delayed, this time by only several minutes and can't deny that was surprising that TV broadcast transmitted the moment when an "unknown" man interrupted the show (according to news was a well-known party crasher) when Javier Bardem was about to get his award.

I know that since a few years back Oscar show is delayed for a few minutes, so "censors" can delete 'inappropriate behavior'; but honestly this is becoming ridiculous especially when we now have in open TV those 'reality' shows that show more than whatever could happen in a regular awards show. I'm so sorry that now this not-so-subtle kind of censorship is spreading to the rest of the world. Sigh.

Those that want to learn winners in all categories won't be able to go to the Academy's official site yet, but if you wish to learn all winners go here which is one of the few net places that have the complete list in English.

Winners are in *BLUE and hope Academy site will be up soon as seems that protesters did exactly the same as what the new Law -if approved- will do to many Spanish Internet sites: shut them down.

--//--

The show started very entertaining but then got extremely boring with very long acceptance speeches, still show was funny at many moments with some very good singing/dancing/humor by actors.

Since this morning academy site has not been working so I'm posting winners from memory and let's hope that the site is fixed ASAP for those that didn't watch show to check all winners.

I was superficially aware about the controversy that made Academy President Alex de la Iglesia to resign; will read more about the issue as according to his speech, everything I heard makes absolutely sense so let's find what the controversy is all about.

Winners for now have an asterisk.

--//--

1/11/11
Today Spain’s Academy announced nominees for the most famous award in the Spanish language cinema. Marta Etura and Jorge Sanz were the presenters and nearby was Academy president, Alex de la Iglesia, who learned that his movie Balada Triste de Tropeta has the most nominations (15).

These are the nominations.

Best Film
Balada Triste de Trompeta (The Last Circus), Alex de la Iglesia
Buried, Rodrigo Cortés
*Pa Negre (Black Bread), Agustí Villaronga
También la lluvia (Even the Rain), Iiciar Bollaín

Best Director
Alex de la Iglesia for Balada Triste de Trompeta
Iiciar Bollaín for También la lluvia
Rodrigo Cortés for Buried
*Agustí Villaronga for Pa Negre

Best New Director
Juana Macías for Planes para Mañana
Emilio Aragón for Pájaros de Papel (Paper Birds)
Jonás Trueba for Todas las Canciones Hablan de Mí
*David Pinillos for Bon Appétit

Best Actress
Elena Anaya in Habitación en Roma (Room in Rome), Julio Medem
Emma Suárez in La Mosquitera (The Mosquito Net), Agustí Vila
Belén Rueda in Los Ojos de Julia (Julia’s Eyes), Guillem Morales
*Nora Navas in Pa Negre (Black Bread), Agustí Villaronga

Best Supporting Actress
Terele Pávez in Balada Triste de Trompeta, Alex de la Iglesia
Ana Wagener in Biutiful, Alejandro González Iñárritu
Pilar López de Ayala in Lope, Andrucha Waddington
*Laia Marull in Pa Negre (Black Bread), Agustí Villaronga

Best New Actress
Carolina Bang in Balada Triste de Trompeta (The Last Circus), Alex de la Iglesia
Natasha Yarovenko in Habitación en Roma (Room in Rome), Julio Medem
*Marina Comas in Pa Negre (Black Bread), Agustí Villaronga
Aura Garrido in Planes para Mañana, Juana Macías

Best Actor
Antonio de la Torre in Balada Triste de Trompeta (The Last Circus), Alex de la Iglesia
*Javier Bardem in Biutiful Alejandro González Iñárritu
Ryan Reynolds in Buried, Rodrigo Cortés
Luis Tosar in También la lluvia (Even the Rain), Iiciar Bollaín

Best Supporting Actor
Eduard Fernández in Biutiful, Alejandro González Iñárritu
Alex Angulo in El Gran Vázquez (The Great Vazquez), Oscar Aibar
Sergi López in Pa Negre (Black Bread), Agustí Villaronga
*Karra Elejalde in También la lluvia, Iiciar Bollaín

Best New Actor
Manuel Camacho in Entrelobos, Gerardo Olivares
*Francesc Colomer in Pa Negre (Black Bread), Agustí Villaronga
Juan Carlos Aduviri in También la lluvia, Iiciar Bollaín
Oriol Vila in Todas las Canciones Hablan de Mí, Jonás Trueba

Best Foreign Film in the Spanish Language
Contracorriente (Undertow), Javier Fuentes-León, Peru
El Hombre de al Lado (The Man Next Door), Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn, Argentina
El Infierno (Hell), Luis Estrada, Mexico
*La Vida de los Peces (The Life of Fish), Matías Bize, Chile

Best European Film
The Ghost Writer, Roman Polanski, France
*The King’s Speech, Tom Hooper, UK
Das weisse band (The White Ribbon), Michael Haneke, Germany
A Prophet, Jacques Audiard, France

To learn nominees in all categories as well as information about each film go here. Awards ceremony will be February 13.

First of all have to congratulate the Academy for their new and very professional site as well as for a site dedicated only to the Goya Awards; but most of all for including an English version that facilitates many more visitors.

Top nominated movies are Balada Triste de Trompeta (15), Pa Negre (14), También la lluvia (13), Buried (10) and Biutiful (10). Best news is that Julio Medem’s Room in Rome got 4 nods, two for film actresses, one for Medem’s adapted screenplay, and one for best original song, Russian Red.

Can’t deny my surprise to find Ryan Reynolds with a Goya nomination and maybe now I’ll feel motivated to watch film as been avoiding watching what I imagine will be a very claustrophobic film; but I know that always enjoy his performances.

Have seen a few movies but these nominations give me more films that I’ll be watching as soon as possible. Great!

La Mirada Invisible (The Invisible Eye)

Mesmerizing film by Diego Lerman that will immerse you into an Argentina 1982 voyage where on the streets of the Argentinean capital people are challenging the military dictatorship but in the very traditional upper class school, that used to be called “Ciencias Morales” (Moral Sciences), everything is perennial calm with days passing by as if nothing is happening. That’s the setting to this story that can be a little disturbing thanks to an excellent inexpressive performance by Julieta Zylberberg that with tiny movements tells more than with words.

Story is sort of metaphor to what happened in March 1982 at Buenos Aires and tells about innocent and naïve Maria Teresa (Zylberberg) a 20-years-old classroom assistant that one of her main duties is to keep intact strict school discipline under the supervision of Mr. Biasutto, the chief classroom assistant, who seems to like and protect her like a father does with a daughter or a teacher with a student, as young Marita –as her family calls her- is relatively new to this job. Mr. Biasutto purpose is to teach Marita how to arrive at what he called “the optimum surveillance point” where nothing is missed and everything is scanned without alarming students. She has to become the invisible eye. But young and lonely Marita notices a student doing something wrong and keeps quiet; he becomes her fixation and wishes to survey him everywhere including at the boys restroom. With Mr. Biasutto’s permission Marita is authorized to investigate students that are allegedly smoking at the boys restroom and what follows is Marita’s downfall which is quite “metaphorical” similar to what happened in Argentina in those days.

You have no idea how tension is very slowly built in this fantastic movie that has mostly superficial everyday school dialogue, many silences and many takes with camera following Marita walking the majestic school building corridors or crossing the patio, the last making breathtaking visual compositions. When story climax arrives you are sort of prepared but still is very disturbing.

I believe that even if you’re not familiar with Argentina history you will enjoy this thrilling drama for just the apparent intense story; but knowing the events will allow you to see the other movie layer. But you will easily get that repression doesn’t achieve the best of results –whether it’s military coup or a young women trying to break free.

Film was official selection at 2010 Cannes in the Quinzaine section and the 2010 San Sebastian festival in the Horizontes Latinos section; this after being the winner in the previous year of the Sundance/NHK International filmmaker and part of Cannes’ Atelier de la Cinefondation. Those are very good credentials that absolutely describe an excellent character driven drama and a great, yet young, filmmaker.

Film is must be seen for those that enjoy Latin America films and for those that like their films to be well-crafted with a look and feel that resembles good European cinema.

Enjoy!!!

Watch Trailer @MOC

Gordos (Fat People)

So been watching comedies but this film by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo was a little bit darker and was able to enjoy it a little bit more as there are five main characters and each generates a story that converge in the therapy group where the film begins.

Basically is a film about obesity and people trying to find the causes of their disease, the reasons that impel: to eat, to keep little rewarding personal relationships and to flee from its realities. Combines drama and comedy so is light and deep and conciliates bitterness and sweetness; but mainly is about the many contradictions that obese people could have. Consequently you have melodrama in the story of the therapist as well as in the woman that got fat while her partner left to America for work; comedy in the very religious couple as well as in the fat family where only the son is skinny; and ludicrous tragedy in the homosexual who ends up marrying the widow of his associate who he murdered for love.

What I liked is that for me is an exploration, or better, a metaphor for all that we swallow, for everything that fattens us and makes our life heavier as well as all the contradictions that only fuel undesired actions.

Maybe above commentaries are too serious for a film that intends to be mainly a comedy, but I believe that film is more drama than comedy as I didn’t laugh that much; after all there are not many movies that tell stories about fat people and their relationships with other fat and skinny people. This movie does it while trying to be entertaining.

As a film is average, the value of this film is the story if you don’t mind watching fat people (some scenes are in the nude) that lose and gain weight for real, as actors had to gain weight for when they’re performing their fat character which makes film quite credible/believable against those films that use prosthetics to make characters fat. Film was in the Giornate degli Autori at the 2009 Biennale, was official selection in 2009 Stockholm fest and was nominated for many Goya’s at 2010 annual awards plus collected other honors while transited the festival circuit.

I do recommend film if you are struggling with your size (no matter if you’re fat or not for real) or know someone that does and is close to you, as maybe story could give you some food for thought as story touches almost every reason and consequence that drives people to get overweight.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @MOC

El Ultimo Verano de la Boyita (The Last Summer of La Boyita)

The second film by Julia Solomonoff is quite good as a movie and especially because of a story that slowly will grab your attention, will make you wonder what’s going on, guessing if is like another Argentinean movie, XXY, or maybe is not; but most of all will take you back to a time that stood still in the Argentinean Pampas where German immigrants take care of farms that belong to city dwellers and working life absorbe them up to the point that education, caring and/or paying attention to your child becomes a lesser priority in the eyes of us, viewers, and in the eyes of those that visit them. Very interesting story that director and writer developed inspired on a true story she heard when she was about Jorgelina’s age.

Film tells about young Jorgelina that feels estranged from her not much older sister that’s becoming a “woman” because just started to menstruate, has become more interested in boys and doesn’t want to play with her anymore. So that summer her sister leaves to the beach with their mother and Jorgelina goes to the countryside farm with her father. Is a summer that young Jorgelina will never forget as her lifelong friend Mario, abandoned school to help this father -who is in charge of the farm- and is undergoing unexpected changes. You have no idea what happens and I’m not going to tell so you can follow the tension that in my opinion is really well built to keep you wondering what’s going on with Mario.

In a way is a simple story about typical ignorance that still predominates in the countryside of many Latin American countries, not only among workers but also among professionals that not explain better to parents about the urgency of whatever their children have. Anyway I felt tension for not knowing what was going on, but this is not a thriller as is the opposite where story is told very slowly, with nothing dramatic happening, very much alike to what used to be countryside life in the seventies and before. Very good performances by Guadalupe Alonso (Jorgelina), Nicolás Treise (Mario) and Treise’s real-life mother Mirella Pascual performing Mario’s mother make the story and film not only very believable but also quite interesting to watch.

Co-produced by Almodovar’s El Deseo company the film traveled mainstream and LGBT film festivals circuit collecting some honors like Special Jury Award at 2010 Sofia fest and was in competition for the Golden Alexander at 2009 Thessaloniki fest, as was selection in festivals like BFI London Lesbian & Gay fest, Frameline 34, Gaze Dublin LG fest, etc. Is a film that has some LGBT interest, but absolutely is not your regular movie in the genre.

I’ve been trying not to give away any spoilers as strongly recommend you watch film not knowing much about the story –like I did- as believe is the only way you will feel the tension I felt. I strongly recommend to not miss this movie that could surprise you with its freshness and simplicity while touching a very complex subject.

I liked this movie a lot more than I ever imagined and even when has great outdoors cinematography, story was what really grabbed my total attention.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Yo, También (Me Too)

Another film that I was delaying watching as is about a man with Down’s Syndrome and imagined that film was going to be depressing. You have no idea HOW wrong I was as film is truly fantastic with great actor’s performances and a story that will melt your heart, make you understand more people with the syndrome and after watching you will feel very uplifted.

This multiple honored film tells the simple story of an university educated man that falls in love and everything (plus everyone) is against him being corresponded. Thirty-four-years-old Daniel (Pablo Pineda) recently obtained his university degree and finds his first work at the Disability Services in Seville where he notices troubled Laura (Lola Dueñas) and starts to flirt with her. But Daniel has Down’s Syndrome and people, including Laura, treat him as if he was a kid (to put it mildly soft). Slowly Laura and Daniel become friends, but Daniel wants more than friendship and everyone, including his parents, tells him not to fall for a ‘normal’ woman, to fall for a woman that also has the syndrome. But Daniel doesn’t give up and you have to watch the rest of the great (so human) story to learn what happens.

Evidently film is an exploration about being human and how a syndrome that creates particular and very visible/recognizable face and body characteristics in people, has many misconceptions as they're humans with intelligence (when developed) and needs like companionship, love, being happy, etc. But also is about “normal” people reactions toward a person with the syndrome and believe me that film is not a critique but a recount of how people react and most of all, is a very good exploration about what “normal” and normalcy are.

Most impressive is Pablo Pineda’s performance as Daniel, who actually is playing a fictionalized version of himself as he is the first student with Down syndrome in Europe to obtain a university degree in real life. But he needed an actress that was as outstanding as him and Lola Dueñas gives a very impressive performance as the troubled woman with a dark past that makes her today behave as if nothing in this world is important to her. Truly amazing performances by these two actors.

Film as film is acceptable but have to recognize the great work that directors and co screenwriters, Antonio Naharro and Álvaro Pastor, did to extract such great performance from their two main actors and to create a very good screenplay with a not easy to tell story.

I highly recommend this film to audiences that enjoy strong performances with great, yet difficult, stories told in the most “normal” and refreshing way. As we know both lead actors got top acting awards at 2009 San Sebastian fest, Lola Dueñas got a Goya Award for Best Actress, film was in competition at 2010 Sundance, collected other honors in fests like Rotterdam as well as in other Spaniard fests and awards.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Camino

There are movies that you learn about them and then forget because you don’t want to watch story. This happened to me with this multiple honored film (won many Goya awards including Best Film) as story is about the Opus Dei, a not old, secret, and obscure cult-like branch in the Catholic religion. Once my mother wanted me to belong to this sect, but after a visit I gave a rotund NO and fortunately my mother respected my NO. But to my surprise film story is interesting and not so subtle, critiques the sect.

Film is based on real-events but it’s a fictional account about real Alexia Gonzalez Barros that is in process of being canonized, i.e. becoming a saint. In film Alexia becomes Camino (means Path in Enlgish) a vivacious teenager girl that gets sick with spinal cancer. Film tells how illness is consuming her until her death. After watching I started to recall how controversial this film was not only because it dared critique the Opus Dei but also because the real family didn’t wanted this film to use the girl real name or get to the screens; the main reason is that director/screenwriter Javier Fesser made the girl strong desire-to-live tied to her love for Jesus, but in film Jesus was a handsome little boy she met once at theater class. Is thanks to this change in story that film really becomes interesting and where really critiques Opus Dei, as when story shows rites of passage and bizarre behaviors everything is told in a factual not passionate way.

There was a creepy scene with Camino going to cooking lessons while teacher was preaching; creepy because that was exactly my experience during my one day visit to the infamous sect where I got “cooking” lessons. Anyway story may sound sad, but director chose to tell it in a way that is not really sad even when is about a little child dying process, so film is not a tear jerker at all.

As a film I found it average with below average actor’s performances, but the real impact of this film is the story told, especially for audiences where the Opus Dei operates which is almost all countries in the world, including the United States of America.

I recommend this film to all interested in learning something about the Opus Dei but please don’t expect much more than an interesting story.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @MOC

ลุงบุญมีระลึกชาติ Loong Boonmee raleuk chat (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives)

I really wanted to like the top award winner at 2010 Cannes and I did. But as usually happens when you have big expectations (due to winning the award) they are not fulfilled as much as you thought it should. Film is visually excellent plus you can tell how much care was given to details; story is magical, yet very realistic, as seamlessly blends interaction between the living and the dead, plus there are other fantasy related and created moments. But I missed emotions as film while being truly mesmerizing to watch didn’t make me feel many emotions.

Maybe was due to the six reels movie has according to what Apichatpong Weerasethakul tells in an interview, where each reel has a different acting style, lighting and reference in cinema, and you can tell that there are different styles while watching film. Which is not bad, it’s just that you get distracted and pay less attention to the magical narrative. Maybe the real reason I had no time to feel emotions is that film has too many levels and watching it once is not enough to grab everything. Honestly is not until now that I’m writing about film that I think I should watch it again and surely will discover more levels which will allow me to enjoy more this masterpiece.

Film tells about a dying uncle that’s setting his affairs before departing to the other life. But also is about transformation, profound life circumstances and paths (like marvelous first story with lost buffalo), recollection of memories (and past lives), love, dreams about the future (that’s also the past), Thai politics and immigration, and ghosts/magical creatures that visit the living when they need them most. One thing this story (and film) is not, simple; yet is also not complex.

Yes this is a film where you have to forget expectations, forget that won the Palm D’Or, and forget everything I’m telling you. Watch it with your brain empty (as much as possible), your brain open (as much as you can) and suggest you to learn a little bit about Thai history, to not miss many crucial moments (mainly at the end).

Before I forget, movie is part of a larger multi-platform project called Primitive, which includes installation, video, short films and now a full-length feature. The conceptual essence is to record Apichatpong’s memory of the Northeast, the region where he grew up. The two short films are A Letter to Uncle Boonmee (available in MUBI) and Phamtom. This film is a blend of the conceptual essence with the skeleton of a book published by a monk that has the film name.

A very unusual movie and a very unusual review from me. Know that HAVE to watch it again to uncover emotions, new layers and story details; but one thing I’m absolutely sure now, visually is truly fantastic. Won’t write again about film, so this is it about a movie that I wanted to give a BIG ENJOY!!! rating but will not get it, yet.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Poster is the one I like the most but is not available in English.

Piedras (Stones)

Thanks to my dearest photographer friend this Christmas weekend I was able to watch several films from Spain and to start talking about them let’s get into this Ramón Salazar 2002 first film about the “large” stones in life (love, friendship, family and career) that have spaces in between for the “small” stones, meaning our small necessities. That’s according to film producers as what I actually saw was stones in shoes from five very different women.

An interesting story -in an acceptable film that becomes entertaining but not much else- about Adela who manages a brothel, Anita Adela’s retarded daughter, Leire a shoe designer that abandoned her inspiration while living with Kun, Isabel that lost the meaning of her life and her husband, and Maricarmen that lost her husband and now has to earn a living driving his husband taxi. Story is intertwined until at the positive end all characters are related one way or another, including the reason why Kun left Leire, Joaquin; so story has a little gay interest.

My main problem with film is that due to director choice of storytelling technique and editing, I was not able to feel for any of the characters, even when some actors perform quite acceptable; but in general the women stories were interesting. One thing, this is nothing alike, similar or close to Almodovar, even when there are two/three of his trademark actresses; so please don’t compare in any sense this movie to any oeuvre of the great director.

Unfortunately not much to tell about movie, but if you’re in the mood to watch a film about women then perhaps you could give this movie a try as was in competition for the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlinale.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @MOC

XXV Goya Awards News – Latin American Films

A total of ten (10) Latin American films are currently being screened to define the five that will be nominated for a Goya Award. These are the films.

Chance, Abner Benaim, Panama
Contracorriente (Undertow), Javier Fuentes-León, Peru
Del Amor y Otros Demonios, Hilda Hidalgo, Costa Rica
El Hombre de al Lado (The Man Next Door), Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat, Argentina
El Infierno (Hell), Luis Estrada, Mexico
José Martí: el ojo del canario, Fernando Pérez, Cuba
La Vida de los Peces (The Life of Fish), Matías Bize, Chile
La Vida Util, Federico Veiroj, Uruguay
Retratos en un Mar de Mentiras, Carlos Gaviria, Colombia
Taita Boves, Luis Alberto Lamata, Venezuela

To check films at the Academy site go here.

On other news, 116 films premiered in Spain between January 1st and December 31st, 2010; 72 are feature films, 39 are documentaries and 6 are animated films; all are being considered to select the nominees and to learn about all movies go here. Nominations will be announced on January 11th, 2010.

7th Seville European Film Festival Award Winners

A while ago the fest announced the award winners and here they are.

Golden Girarldillo: Son of Babylon, Mohamed Al-Daradji, Irak, UK, Netherlands, France, EUA, Egypt, Palestine, 2010

Silver Giraldillo: Mavro Livadi (Black Field), Vardis marinakis, Greece, 2010
Special Jury Prize: Szelíd Teremtés - A Frankenstein Terv (Tender Son – The Frankenstein Project), Kornél Mundruczó, Hungary, Germany, and Austria, 2010
Best Director: Susanne Bier for Hævnen (In a Better World), Denmark, 2010

Best Actress (tie):
Samira Maas in Joy, Mijke de Jong, Netherlands, 2010
Sofia Georgovassili in Mavro Livadi (Black Field), Vardis marinakis, Greece, 2010
Best Actor: Rhys Ifans in Mr. Nice, Bernard Rose, UK and Spain, 2009

Silver Giraldillo for First Feature Film: Gigola, Laure Charpentier, France, 2010 (lesbian interest)

Euroimages Award: La Prima Linea, Renato De Maria, Italy, Belgium, UK and France
Audience Choice Award: Tamara Drewe, Stephen Frears, UK
Campus Jury Award: Son of Babylon, Mohamed Al-Daradji, Irak, UK, Netherlands, France, EUA, Egypt, Palestine, 2010

ASECAN Award: Ovsyanki (Silent Souls), Aleksei Fedorchenko, Russia, 2010
Special Mention: Naufragio (Wreckage), Pedro Aguilera, Spain, 2010

You have no idea how glad I’m that Gigola was honored as means that film has to be interesting beyond the lesbian interest genre. Here is what the jury said:
The jury is pleased to announce that the award is given to an unusual director that drags us on a trip to Paris during a period when women's sexual freedom was always a challenge. Special mention to Lou Doillon for her role in “Gigola”.

To check winners in all categories please go here. So that’s for this year and as always I’ll be looking forward to next year edition mainly because is in this fest where the EFA’s nominations are announced. Olè!!!

7th Seville European Film Festival

From November 5 to 13 fest will take place in Seville, Spain and as we know the much awaited nominations for this year’s EFA’s will be announced on November 6th. Festival has many sections with some very interesting films but I’ll list films in competition in the two main categories.

Official Selection

Chicas, Yasmina Reza, France, 2010
De Gelukkige Huisvrouw (The Happy Housewife), Antoinette Beumer, Netherlands, 2010
De Vliegenierster van Kazbek (The Aviatrix of Kazbek), Ineke Smits, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Georgia and Germany, 2010
El Regreso (The Return), Nonio Parejo, Spain, 2009
Flamenco Flamenco, Carlos Saura, Spain, 2010
Hævnen (In a Better World), Susanne Bier, Denmark, 2010
Joy, Mijke de Jong, Netherlands, 2010
Mavro Livadi (Black Field), Vardis marinakis, Greece, 2010 (gay interest?)
Mr. Nice, Bernard Rose, UK and Spain, 2009
Naufragio (Wreckage), Pedro Aguilera, Spain, 2010
Ovsyanki (Silent Souls), Aleksei Fedorchenko, Russia, 2010
Poll (The Poll Diaries), Chris Kraus, Germany, Austria, and Estonia, 2010
Son of Babylon, Mohamed Al-Daradji, Irak, UK, Netherlands, France, EUA, Egypt, Palestine, 2010
Szelíd Teremtés - A Frankenstein Terv (Tender Son – The Frankenstein Project), Kornél Mundruczó, Hungary, Germany, and Austria, 2010
Zena sa Slomjenin nosem (The woman with a broken nose), Srdjan Koljevic, Germany and Serbia, 2010

To check info about each film go here.

For the first time festival will honor a film with the Silver Girardillo given to the Best New Director of a feature film and here are the films in this section

First-Films-First

Adem (Oxygen), Hans van Nuffel, Belgium and Netherlands, 2010
Gigola, Laure Charpentier, France, 2010 (lesbian interest)
Harisma, Christina Ioakeimidi, Greece, 2010
Juan, Kasper Holten, Denmark, 2010
Majority, Seren Yüce , Turkey, 2010
Shahada, Burhan Qurbani, Germany 2009 (gay interest)
Sinestesia, Erik Bernasconi, Switzerland, 2010
Third Star, Hattie Salton, Hattie Dalton, UK, 2010
Win/Win, Jaap van Heusden, Netherlands, 2010
Zwart Water (Two Eyes Staring), Elbert van Strien, Netherlands, 2009

To check info about each film go here and to browse all the sections go here where you will also find the section with sixteen (16) shortlisted films for EFA’s top award.

There are many very interesting films in this year festival and if you enjoy European films I strongly suggest you browse the site to check them all.