My Week with Marilyn

I never met Norma Jeane Mortenson or as the myth says, the one character she became when there was a camera in front of her. I have seen all her movies, including the very last one when I was a kid and was not supposed to be in the theater as movie was for adults only; but I was there. I probably had a crush as I couldn’t understand how in the big screen there was someone so beautiful. Suddenly I stopped watching her movies and she became a souvenir as many I have inside my brain. That’s it until I saw this movie.

I am impressed as saw Marilyn Monroe, not the actress, not Norma Jeane, but a Marilyn that surely is fictitious but so credible, so Marilyn that makes you feel for her and her particular troubles while filming the movie with none other than great Lawrence Olivier as this is also a movie about a movie with a few (nice) distractions about the life of young Colin Clark in his first ever film related job.

After watching The Iron Lady and hating the film I was really concern as this one is also a BBC production that many have spoken not nicely about it. Well, let me say that film is normal, what I can call a regular BBC production BUT film becomes mesmerizing, intriguing, emotional, puzzling because the beyond extraordinary performance by Michelle Williams. Williams is SO good that she has my vote for Oscar as her performance and portrait is by far the best of all nominated actresses. I know Marilyn is a Hollywood icon and the conservative Academy members will not dare to give Williams the Oscar for portraying Marilyn; but she will get it for this role and many more that she will do in the future, I know.

I assure you that if you have no expectations and you know Marilyn from her movies you have to enjoy this simple (not-complex), direct (not-layered), story about a young man that “helped” her to overcome the rejection she felt from Lawrence Olivier, who insisted she acted just like him, while she acted just like her and both had very different styles.

I do recommend the movie but I have seen many BBC productions so I’m very familiar with their particular “seal” or style and this movie doesn’t escape from it, which I believe is not bad (au contraire is good) is just that is not a flashy production even when tells about a very flashy American actress. Have to praise performances by great Judi Dench, Julia Ormond, Emma Watson, Toby Jones and most of all Kenneth Branagh that also did a credible (yet surely fictitious) Lawrence Olivier.

Watch movie, don’t skip it, it’s worth watching for the awesome Michelle Williams performance, truly spectacular. Bravo Ms Williams.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Land Gold Women

Thanks to Feo Aladag’s Die Fremde (When We Leave) I learned about the eastern concept of honor or namus as is call in some Asian cultures. As a good westerner I was shocked with a tradition that so shameless and inhumanly could harm women. Avantika Hari’s movie introduces me to the same concept as is seen in other Asian countries like India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. Zan Zar Zameen in Urdu, or its Hindi equivalent Jar Joru Jameen, translates to Land Gold Women or as you can see the name of this movie. As you can imagine story is appalling especially for women, but I believe that every women in the world should watch movies like this to start to understand how women can be considered less than secondary citizens and a much worthless men possession when and if females disobey them.

Was reading movie reviews and found one that mentioned a recent –January 2012- case that happened in Canada, so went to look for more information only to find that the real life story that happened a few months ago could be the fictional story told in this film. If you like to learn about the real case search for Mohammed Shafia in the net and you will find the news that tell about killing women that disobeys their male “owner” or husband/father.

This film tells the story of a teenager, Saira, educated to be more occidental than oriental until there is the chance that she may leave home to pursue higher education and Nazir –the father- realizes that he won’t be able to take care of her if she leaves. Is in that moment that “blood” teachings come alive and decides to go back to India to marry his daughter in an arranged marriage. But the girl has a boyfriend and he is white. Is when Nazir discovers the boyfriend that realizes that Saira has betrayed his trust and damaged his, his nuclear and his extended family honor. Not even the mother can save her and there is only one thing to be done, to kill his daughter Saira in order to restore some of the lost honor.

Because of the horrible story I’m really glad that movie production values and actors performances are not in the good side as movie would have become unbearable to watch (like was Feo Adalag’s Die Fremde); but movie value is the story that tells that should be spread to erase westerner ignorance of how deeply rooted in ancient traditions are the “reasons” to mistreat women. Most disturbing is a moment when the solicitor finally understands the concept of land, gold, women and mentions how many centuries ago there was something similar in England; well, we know that western women had to earn their acceptance in western societies and still there are many things where women is not equal (or even near equal) to men. Sigh. Still movie won India’s National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English.

Absolutely not a movie to enjoy but one that every woman in the world should watch to understand what happens to women in “traditional” Asian families or to realize that if they don’t obey their father or husband it might happen to her. I know that many that read this blog should watch this movie but please don’t expect much production values, watch for story.

Enjoy!

Watch trailer @MOC

2012 BAFTA Award Winners

No, it doesn't seem, it is! The Artist is the big BAFTA winner and even if many try to not recall it, it is a French movie, so good for French Cinema, even do I believe movie is not a good representative of great French Cinema, but looks and feels more like American cinema, isn't?? Sigh.

First Update
Seems like The Artist is collecting many awards; probably similar trend could reach Oscar. Winners in all categories are at official site. Winners are in *BLUE.

--//--

1/17

A few hours ago the British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced the nominations and if you feel like watching the less than five minutes video please go here.

Announcement was made by Holliday Grainger and Daniel Radcliffe and to be honest BAFTA’s nods look very similar to what has been happening in America, both with critics as well as the few industry groups that have made nominations announcements. As we know 2012 awards celebrate films that were released in 2011 and nominees are the result of Round Two voting.

The Artist leads nominations with 12 followed by Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with 11, Hugo with 9 and My Week With Marilyn with 6.

Best Film
*The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Help
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Outstanding British Film
My Week with Marilyn
Senna
Shame
*Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
We Need to Talk About Kevin

Film Not In the English Language
Incendies, Denis Villeneuve
Pina, Wim Wenders
Potiche, François Ozon
A Separation, Asghar Farhadi
*La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In), Pedro Almodóvar

Animated Film
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Steven Speielberg
Arthur Christmas, Sarah Smith
*Rango, Gore Verbinski

Director
*Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
Nicolas Winding Refn for Drive
Martin Scorsese for Hugo
Tomas Alfredson for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Lynne Ramsay for We Need to Talk About Kevin

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
Joe Cornish for Attack The Block
Will Sharpe, Tom Kingsley and Sarah Brocklehurst for Black Pond
Ralph Fiennes for Coriolanus
Richard Ayoade for Submarine
*Addy Consdine and Diarmid Scrimshaw for Tyrannosaur

Leading Actress
Bérénice Bejo in The Artist
*Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn
Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin
Viola Davis in The Help

Supporting Actress
Carey Mulligan in Drive
Jessica Chastain in The Help
Judi Dench in My Week with Marilyn
Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids
*Octavia Spencer in The Help

Leading Actor
Brad Pitt in Moneyball
Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
George Clooney in The Descendants
*Jean Dujardin in The Artist
Michael Fassbender in Shame

Supporting Actor
*Christopher Plummer in Beginners
Jim Broadbent in The Iron Lady
Jonah Hill in Moneyball
Kenneth Branagh in My Week with Marilyn
Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Ides of March

Cinematography
*Guillaume Schiffman for The Artist
Jeff Cronenweth for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Robert Richrdson for Hugo
Hoyte van Hoytema for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Janusz Kaminski for War Horse

Original Screenplay
*Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig for Bridesmaids
John Michael McDonagh for The Guard
Abi Morgan for The Iron Lady
Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris

Adapted Screenplay
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash for The Descendants
Tate Taylor for The Help
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon for The Ides of March
Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin for Moneyball
*Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Editing
Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanvicius for The Artist
Mat Newman for Drive
Thelma Schoonmaker for Hugo
*Gregers Sall and Chris King for Senna
Dino Jonsater for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Production Design
Laurence Bennet and Robert Gould for The Artist
Stuart Craig and Stephenie McMillan for Harry Potter and the Deadthly Hallows – Part 2
*Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo for Hugo
Maria Djukovic and Tatiana MacDonald for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Rick Carter and Le Sandales for War Horse

Costume Design
*Mark Bridges for The Artist
Sandy Powell for Hugo
Michael O’Connor for Jane Eyre
Jill Taylor for My Week with Marilyn
Jacqueline Durran for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Original Music
*Ludovic Bource for The Artist
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore for Hugo
Alberto Iglesias for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
John Williams for War Horse

Sound
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
*Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

Special Visual Effects
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
War Horse

Make Up & Hair
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo
*The Iron Lady
My Week with Marilyn

Documentary
George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Martin Scorsese
Project Nim, James Marsch and Simon Chinn
*Senna, Asif Kapadia

Short Animation
Abuelas, Afarin Eghbal, Kasia Malipan, and Francesca Gardiner
Bobby Yeah, Robert Morgan
*A Morning Stroll, Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe

Short Film
Chalk, Martina Amati, Gavin Emerson, James Bolton, and Ilaria Bernardini
Mwansa The Great, Rungano Nyoni and Gabriel Gauchet
Only Sound Remains, Arash Ashtiani and Anshu Poddar
*Pitch Black Heist, John Maclean and Gerardine O'Flynn
Two and Two, Babak Anvari and Kit Fraser, Gavin Cullen

To check official announcement go here.  Awards ceremony will be on Sunday, February 12 and surely will be broadcast by local TV as well as stream live at the Academy site. As soon as I have specific info will post here or in calendar.

Definitively most categories look like what Oscar could look and most interesting is the Best Actress category as not only does not include British Actresses that were expected to be nominated but from the five I’ve been closely following, Glenn Close is out and Berenice Bejo is in; now more than ever I’m sure about the four out of five actresses that have to be nominated for Oscar.

Best actor has two actors that probably will not be in Oscar, but this category is not easy for me and BAFTA’s doesn’t give me real clues. Well, have less than a week to do my Oscar nominations predictions, so my crystal ball has to come out of the closet, be cleaned and hopefully will work again (lol). Yes I do believe that BAFTA's nominations help to predict Oscar with a lot of interpretation.

Can’t complain as have seen most films in the nods, there are a couple that I’m dying to watch, and a few that I’m delaying until I find the right mood.

Cheers!

BAFTA Live

Red Carpet and probably Backstage coverage...

Les Bien-aimés (Beloved)

The 2011 Cannes out-of-competition closing film absolutely is a very-very French film by Christophe Honoré that plays again with older French film styles but also integrates more contemporary Honoré style making end result quite interesting, at least for me as been reading around and seems that film is not for all audiences, which made me think that Honoré is an acquired taste for audiences that not particularly care for or like good French Cinema.

But if you like Christophe Honoré then this film will be one of the most enjoyable for the old movies indirect references, an outstanding cast with superb performances and great singing of “paroles chantées”, plus a story about women and the men they love. Actually story is about two women, Madeleine and Véra, mother and daughter, with the one man each loved their whole life; so, story spans from 1964 to 2007.

Young Madeleine (Ludivine Sagnier) escapes from becoming a thief by incidentally discovering street prostitution, only to fall-in-love with Jaromil Passer, a Czech doctor doing a specialization in Paris and her client. Madeleine gets pregnant, marries Passer and goes with him back to Czechoslovakia, but his infidelities plus the Russian invasion, makes her return to Paris with her daughter Véra where he divorces Passer, marries a policeman and lives happily ever after until Passer comes back to Paris and reignites a flame that was never over. I know told a lot about movie, but it’s not much as Madeleine gets older (now performed by Catherine Deneuve), Véra is older (now performed by Chiara Mastroianni), Passer gets older (now performed by outstanding Milos Forman) and story continues with the love between Madeleine and Passer, plus Véra falling in love with Henderson (Paul Schneider) while being with Clément (Louis Garrel), but Henderson is gay; story evolves with relevant vignettes in the life all characters around Madeleine and Véra. All right is not a simple story, yes is complex but will grab you, take you all over the place, squeeze you, touch you, etc. until releases you at the very end.

Film has very high production values and a caring directorial hand that was able to squeeze 40 years in a bit more than 2 hours and extract from very impressive cast extraordinary performances with special mention to great Czech director Milos Forman –he should do more acting-, Ludivine Sagnier in role that feels and looks like a perfectly fit glove to a magnificent hand, and Chiara Mastrioianni performing like I have never seen her before -with many scenes where she looked so much as her real-life father- and somehow stealing scenes when she was on screen. Then Deneuve and Garrel are superb as always.

An extraordinary movie that of course I do recommend to those that love (classical) French cinema (at least as much as I do) and enjoy Honoré’s particular style that recalls Jacques Demy films (especially Les Parapluies de Cherbourg with Deneuve) but also here evolves with older Véra story into his own particular style.

Last, but not least, Christophe Honoré dedicated film to great Marie-France Pisier, RIP.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

32nd London Critics’ Circle Film Awards Winners

Was waiting for the official site to have the awards but they have not posted yet, but eventually winners will be here. If you wish to check winners in all categories before official site uploads info, please go here. Winners are in *BLUE.

Most interesting is to find that films with most nominations did not win an award in the top categories, but yes according to what UK press is commenting, with UK nominations and awards, The Artist has somehow increased its chances to get Oscar top award, still I imagine that The Descendants is still a strong contender and SAG awards will give us a better idea.

--//--

12/20

A few moments ago the British group announced their nominations that are lead by Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Drive, both with 6 nominations. These are the nominees.

Film of the Year
*The Artist
Drive
A Separation
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Tree of Life

The Attenborough Award: British Film of the Year
The Guard
Kill List
Shame
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
*We Need to Talk About Kevin

Foreign Language Film of the Year
Mysteries of Lisbon
Poetry
Le Quattro Volte
*A Separation
The Skin I Live In

Director of the Year
Asghar Farhadi for A Separation
*Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life
Lynne Ramsayfor We Need to Talk About Kevin
Nicolas Winding Refn for Drive

Breakthrough British Filmmaker
Richard Ayoade for Submarine
Paddy Considine for Tyrannosaur
Joe Cornish for Attack the Block
*Andrew Haigh for Weekend
John Michael McDonagh for The Guard

Actress of the Year (tie)
Kirsten Dunst in Melancholia
*Anna Paquin in Margaret
*Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams in My Week With Marilyn

Supporting Actress of the Year
*Sareh Bayat in A Separation
Jessica Chastain in The Help
Vanessa Redgrave in Coriolanus
Octavia Spencer in The Help
Jacki Weaver in Animal Kingdom

Actor of the Year
George Clooney in The Descendants
*Jean Dujardin in The Artist
Michael Fassbender in Shame
Ryan Goslingi n Drive
Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Supporting Actor of the Year
Simon Russell Beale in The Deep Blue Sea
*Kenneth Branagh in My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks in Drive
Christopher Plummer in Beginners
Michael Smiley in Kill List

British Actress of the Year
*Olivia Colman in The Iron Lady and Tyrannosaur
Carey Mulligan in Drive and Shame
Vanessa Redgrave in Anonymous and Coriolanus
Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin
Rachel Weisz in The Deep Blue Sea

British Actor of the Year
Tom Cullen in Weekend
*Michael Fassbender in A Dangerous Method and Shame
Brendan Gleeson in The Guard
Peter Mullan in Tyrannosaur and War Horse
Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Young British Performer of the Year
John Boyega in Attack the Block
Jeremy Irvine in War Horse
Yasmin Paige in Submarine
*Craig Roberts in Submarine
Saoirse Ronan in Hanna

To check nominees in all categories go here. Award winners will be revealed on Thursday January 19 at BFI Southbank.

Have to admit that these nominations seems a lot more interesting than BIFA’s nods and winners; let’s hope that BAFTA’s look more like these –well, surely the will. Following the top 2 films that lead the nominees with 6 nods each are A Separation and We Need to Talk About Kevin with 5 each, and with 4 apiece The Artist and Shame.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Tomas Alfredson is the director of my favorite vampire movie I’ve ever seen, Låt den rätte komma in (Let the Right One In), so I had big expectations for his first English language film. Have to say that film has traces of what I can call Alfredson style, great slowish pace, good framing and some spectacular indoor compositions, and a darkish/blueish tone that made me think about colder scenarios, but then –after all- film is set in the Cold War. Visually I found film very compelling but I had a problem that distract me a lot from truly enjoying the film.

I have not read the novel by John le Carré but, unfortunately I read once, more than the headline reviews and end up learning the character that was the double agent, which surely spoiled the complete story and tension building –still, performances are quite good; so highly enjoyed the almost cruel, freezing-cold bloody characters with some great dialogues.

Probably is only me but nowadays I admit not to be interested in Cold War spies, double agents, missions or anything else related. For me the world tensions have changed so much that the spying world has also changed a lot as players and circumstances have become “less classic” and more “underworld”. So even if I did enjoy the directorial style, the visuals, the slowish pace, the performances, I wasn’t able to get involved with the story. Undoubtedly knowing “who-did-it” was a major spoiler, but also story needs to be told maybe in what, 20-30 years to become relevant again.

Film basically tells the story of a British semi-retired spy that is given the task to uncover a double (British-Russian) agent at the TOP of British echelons.

But if you enjoy classical–very close to reality- spy films with no Hollywood distracting chases/sfx’s, with darkish/blueish great directorial style and great performances by an extraordinary actor’s ensemble that deliver some crisp lines then probably you will enjoy this movie even more than what I did.

Enjoy!!

Watch trailer @MOC

2012 BAFTA Long List

Today the British Academy released the long list that’s the result of round one voting by Academy members. 285 films entered this year and round one reduces the list of eligible films to 15 in each category. As we know round two will reduce these 15 contenders down to 5 nominations in each category. Leading the pack are My Week With Marilyn and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with 16 mentions each, followed by The Iron Lady with 14, and The Artist, Midnight In Paris, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and War Horse with 13 each.

Best Film
The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
The Iron Lady
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
My Week with Marilyn
Senna
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse
We Need to Talk About Kevin

Outstanding British Film
Arthur Christmas
Attack the Block
Coriolanus
The Guard
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
The Iron Lady
Jane Eyre
My Week with Marilyn
Senna
Shame
Submarine
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tyrannosaur
War Horse
We Need to Talk About Kevin

Film Not in the English Language
Abel
As If I Am Not There
The Boy Mir – Ten Years in Afghanistan
Calvet
Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries)
Incendies
Little White Lies
Pina
Post Mortem
Potiche
Le Quattro Volte
A Separation
The Skin I Live In
Tomboy
The Troll Hunter

Animated Film
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn*
Arthur Christmas*
Gnomeo and Juliet
Puss in Boots
Rango*

Director
The Artist*
The Descendants
Drive*
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
Hugo*
The Ides of March
The Iron Lady
J. Edgar
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
My Week with Marilyn
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy*
War Horse
We Need to Talk About Kevin*

Leading Actress
Bérénice Bejo (Peppy Miller) – The Artist*
Carey Mulligan (Sissy) – Shame
Charlize Theron (Mavis Gary) – Young Adult
Emma Stone (Skeeter Phelan) – The Help
Helen Mirren (Rachel Singer) – The Debt
Jodie Foster (Penelope Longstreet) – Carnage
Kate Winslet (Nancy Cowan) – Carnage
Kristen Wiig (Annie) – Bridesmaids
Meryl Streep (Margaret Thatcher) – The Iron Lady*
Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre) – Jane Eyre
Michelle Williams (Marilyn Monroe) – My Week with Marilyn*
Olivia Colman (Hannah) – Tyrannosaur
Rooney Mara (Lisbeth Salander) – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Tilda Swinton (Eva) – We Need to Talk About Kevin*
Viola Davis (Aibileen Clark) – The Help*

Supporting Actress †
Alexandra Roach (Young Margaret Thatcher) – The Iron Lady
Bryce Dallas Howard (Hilly Holbrook) – The Help*
Carey Mulligan (Irene) – Drive
Emily Watson (Rosie Narracott) – War Horse
Evan Rachel Wood (Molly Steams) – The Ides of March
Jessica Chastain (Celia Foote) – The Help*
Judi Dench (Dame Sybil Thorndike) – My Week with Marilyn*
Kathy Bates (Gertrude Stein) – Midnight in Paris
Kathy Burke (Connie Sachs) – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Marion Cotillard (Adriana) – Midnight in Paris
Melissa McCarthy (Megan) – Bridesmaids*
Octavia Spencer (Minny Jackson) – The Help*
Olivia Colman (Carol Thatcher) – The Iron Lady
Shailene Woodley (Alexandra King) – The Descendants
Zoe Wanamaker (Paula Strasberg) – My Week with Marilyn*

Leading Actor
Antonio Banderas (Robert Ledgard) – The Skin I Live In
Brad Pitt (Billy Beane) – Moneyball*
Brendan Gleeson (Gerry Boyle) – The Guard
Daniel Craig (Mikael Blomkvist) – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Eddie Redmayne (Colin Clark) – My Week with Marilyn
Gary Oldman (George Smiley) - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy*
George Clooney (Matt King) – The Descendants*
Jean Dujardin (George Valentin) – The Artist*
Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar Hoover) – J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender (Brandon) – Shame*
Owen Wilson (Gil) - Midnight in Paris
Peter Mullan (Joseph) – Tyrannosaur
Ralph Fiennes (Caius Martius Coriolanus) - Coriolanus
Ryan Gosling (Driver) – Drive
Ryan Gosling (Stephen Meyers) – The Ides of March

Supporting Actor
Alan Rickman (Prof. Severus Snape) - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Albert Brooks (Bernie Rose) – Drive
Ben Kingsley (George Méliès) – Hugo
Benedict Cumberbatch (Peter Guillam) – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Christopher Plummer (Hal) – Beginners*
Colin Firth (Bill Haydon) - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Eddie Marsan (James) – Tyrannosaur*
Ezra Miller (Kevin - Teenager) – We Need to Talk About Kevin
George Clooney (Mike Morris) – The Ides of March
Jim Broadbent (Denis Thatcher) – The Iron Lady
John Hurt (Control) – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Jonah Hill (Peter Brand) – Moneyball*
Kenneth Branagh (Sir Laurence Olivier) – My Week with Marilyn*
Paul Giamatti (Tom Duffy) – The Ides of March
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Paul Zara) – The Ides of March*

Documentary
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Life in a Day
Pina
Project Nim
Senna

To check all categories go here. Nominations announcement is on Tuesday, January 17 and will be streamed live on BAFTA site. Awards ceremony will be on Sunday February 12.

14th British Independent Film Awards Winners

I was not pleased with the results, so much that I forgot to publish the winners, LOL! But here they are in *BLUE. Obviously there are exceptions and definitively I was really glad that Lynne Ramsay was honored with the award.

10/31

Today were announced the nominations for current year BIFA’s and statistics tell us that three films have the most nominations, Shame, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Tyrannosaur with seven each. Here are the nominations for some categories and to check the full list go here.

Best British Independent Film
Senna, Asif Kapadia
Shame, Steve McQueen
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Tomas Alfredson
*Tyrannosaur, Paddy Considine
We Need to Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay

Best Director
Ben Wheatley for Kill List
Steve McQueen for Shame
Tomas Alfredson for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Paddy Considine for Tyrannosaur
*Lynne Ramsay for We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Debut Director
Joe Cornish for Attack the Block
Ralph Fiennes for Coriolanus
John Michael McDonagh for The Guard
Richard Ayoade for Submarine
*Paddy Considine for Tyrannosaur

Best Actress
Rebeca Hall in The Awakening, Nick Murphy
Mia Wasikowska in Jane Eyre, Cary Fukunaga
MyAnna Buring in Kill List, Ben Wheatley
*Olivia Colman in Tyrannosaur, Paddy Considine
Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay

Best Supporting Actress
Felicity Jones in Albatross, Niall MacCormick
*Vanessa Redgrave in Coriolanus, Ralph Fiennes
Carey Mulligan in Shame, Steve McQueen
Sally Hawkins in Submarine, Richard Ayoade
Kathy Burke in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Tomas Alfredson

Best Actor
Brendan Gleeson in The Guard, John Michael McDonagh
Neil Maskell in Kill List, Ben Wheatley
*Michael Fassbender in Shame, Steve McQueen
Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Tomas Alfredson
Peter Mullan in Tyrannosaur, Paddy Considine

Best Supporting Actor
*Michael Smiley in Kill List, Ben Wheatley
Tom Hardy in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Tomas Alfredson
Benedict Cumberbatch in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Tomas Alfredson
Eddie Marsan in Tyrannosaur, Paddy Considine
Ezra Miller in We Need to Talk about Kevin, Lynne Ramsay

Most Promising Newcomer
Jessica Brown Findlay in Albatross, Niall MacCormick
John Boyega in Attack The Block, Joe Cornish
Craig Roberts in Submarine, Richard Ayoade
Yasmin Paige in Submarine, Richard Ayoade
*Tom Cullen in Weekend, Andrew Haigh (gay interest)

Best Foreign Film
Animal Kingdom, David Michôd, Australia
Drive, Nicolas Winding Refn, USA
Pina, Wim Wenders, Germany
*Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation), Asghar Farhadi, Iran
La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I live), Pedro Almodóvar, Spain

The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday December 4th, 2011. There are many that haven’t seen but from buzz Shame will get some top awards (for sure Fassbender as Best Actor) plus yes, I vote for Mia Wasikowska for Best Actress –but I know that is Tilda time and she has to get accolades for her role in Ramsay’s film.

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!!!

Jane Eyre

You read the book. You have seen one or more movie adaptations. You know the story. So how a new adaptation can absolutely take your breath away as well as stimulate all your senses and emotions at the right moments?

Cary Jôji Fukunaga first voyage into a period drama -after his spectacular Sin Nombre- is an amazing visual experience that since the very beginning up to the end marvels your eyes with outstanding visual compositions, amazing framing, great camera takes, and moving sequential –one after another- photographs that you wish to stop the film to admire them more. It’s not a perfect visual experience as Fukunaga chose in some key moments to relegate the visual to the back only to allow drama to build up front with outstanding performances by a perfect cast, which detonates your emotions to the fullest. And the ride continues until the very last scene with breathtaking visuals, emotions explosions and even tension building. Incredible, especially because I really know the story but this movie made me live and feel the story as if was new to me.

Have to give credit to a fresh screenplay by Moira Buffini that in my opinion highlighted the drama by more in-depth developing lead and secondary story characters which allowed Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre), Michael Fassbender (Rochester), Judi Dench (Mrs. Fairfax), Jamie Bell (St John Rivers), and Sally Hawkins (Mrs. Reed) to shine on the screen. But no doubt that is Fukunaga masterful storytelling which allowed all the pieces to come together to make this movie an excellent cinematic experience.

This is not a fast paced movie but neither is slow; somehow made wish it was slower paced to admire more time the many classical framing photos that populate the film. Definitively will watch again to enjoy more the visuals hoping that I won’t be taken again by the emotions, but guess that won’t be an easy task as this is an almost perfect combination of everything I love in a movie. Bravo Master Fukunaga and I’ll be most anxiously waiting for your next film that I do imagine will masterly explore new -for you- cinema territories.

I do praise this movie as truly deserves it but I know that for many will be just another adaptation or if you’re not familiar with story, like another period drama; still if you love very visual movies maybe you will experience as much as I did this great film.

Big 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!

Some Movie Bits

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 – Think I skipped one installment, but nevertheless I imagine movie has its lovers; I’m not one of them and felt asleep like a baby! Sigh.

Rubber by Quentin Dupieux. Was very curious about “the tire” film, but can’t say that enjoy it much; still watched completely. Enjoy.

Trust the Man by Bart Freundlich. This 2005 movie with Julianne Moore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, David Duchovny and Billy Crudup is a NYC set talkie that has its good moments; maybe the best is the too short scene with Ellen Barkin as the “lesbian predator” to Maggie G character, which was funny as director tried to make it so normal, that became hilarious (at least to me). If you haven’t seen it yet, won’t miss much if you skip it. Enjoy.

Hereafter by Clint Eastwood. I really like this movie mainly because the subject matter that in my opinion can be interpreted in so many ways that becomes a layered story; still the obvious is about death and what happens after. Triptych stories are good, but best is the one with Celine de France that has the tsunami excellent special effects (still after watching real tsunami images, nothing comes close to reality). I do recommend movie for more than entertaining purposes. Enjoy!!!

Mildred Pierce. Watch the 1954 original with Joan Crawford; but DO NOT MISS the miniseries with Kate Winslet is just FANTASTIC and not similar to movie! Enjoy!!!

Must Be Seen

A smart C4 documentary that is Must Be Seen for everyone that lives in an earthquake zone. It's a serious, scientific oriented documentary that explains how the Japan earthquake and later the tsunami happened.

Even if is serious and scientific has some moments that are not easy to watch, especially at minute 30.

I live in an earthquake zone where two platforms collide, have lived a massive earthquake plus strong aftershocks, but even with my experience it's impossible for me to imagine an earthquake that could last 5 minutes. If this happens here (or should I say when it happens here) 5 minutes will destroy everything and the energy that could be liberated will definitively change the geography of this country. It's very scary but I wish I could learn more information about this area, as good as the excellent explanation given to what happened in Japan. Knowledge is always good and absolutely helps to understand what could happen and what you could do. Of course in this country as well in neighboring countries/area we don't get any earthquake education.

Please watch this excellent documentary I'm sure will teach many what earthquakes are all about.

Cold Movie Bits

I thought that was my terrible cold what didn’t allowed me to enjoy the movies, surely does not help but also most are not really interesting. So here are some movie bits.

Four Lions by Christopher Morris – Dark UK comedy that was hilarious at moments, but playing with humor while telling a Muslim terrorist’s story was too much for me in the not positive way. Sigh.

Kaboom by Gregg Araki. Story and film are too bizarre for my taste plus visuals are not interesting; yes, the first 2010 Cannes Queer Palm winner is labeled as a Sci Fi comedy but I couldn’t understand the kind of humor or well, is definitively not my kind of humor. Perhaps has more lesbian than gay interest but as expected in a Sci fi film is not definitely what lesbian interest audiences are used to watch. I watched until the end when the Earth goes Kaboom, still I believe I fall asleep several times, lol! If you skip it won’t miss much. Sigh.

Made in Dagenham by Nigel Cole. What surely is an interesting story about UK Ford’s female workers strike to ask for equal pay becomes uneven and uninteresting thanks to a script that unsuccessfully tried to tell too much –especially sentimental personal stories- plus a director not disciplined enough to maintain story focus on the great achievement these women accomplished for UK and the rest of the world. Usually enjoy Sally Hawkins and Bob Hoskins performances but here they tend to be dull. If you skip it you won’t miss much, but story is one that we should know. Enjoy!

Tron: Legacy by Joseph Kosinski. Still recall first installment and wanted to watch for the special effects but story was not interesting and special effects were also not interesting. Still young Jeff Bridges looks like in Starman, which I imagine is where they got the idea to do the special effects. Boring, very boring. Sigh.

Waste Land by Lucy Walker, Karen Harley and João Jardim. Very interesting documentary for highlighting the transformative power of art and the beauty of the human spirit; but is excellent food for thought for life in city landfills dwellers that live out of garbage. Do not miss it, highly recommend it. Enjoy!!!

So this is it, probably forgot a few ones, but these are the ones I recall. Sigh.

Tamara Drewe

An amusing social comedy thanks to regular and some dark humor that will entertain you while watching how each character’s selfish motives and agenda are gradually exposed. Good performances by ensemble cast and some remarkable lines (“writers are just thieves and liars”) make this Stephen Frears comedy a great escape moment but in my opinion, not much else.

A story with writers, musicians, rural workers and two very bored young girls that’s based on a comic strip by Posy Simmonds, that later became a graphic novel, which is based on Thomas Hardy’s novel Far from the Madding Crowd; but according to what I read is a free adaptation that not necessarily resembles any of the above and with this comment I dissipated all my doubts about me wondering how this film could be based on a comic strip/graphic novel as from watching I couldn’t tell.

Somehow while and after watching I got this idea that character Nicholas Hardiment was the perfect role for Alan Rickman and can’t deny that for more than a few moments I imagined it was him. Anyway story tells about a young newspaper writer that returns to her hometown in the English countryside where her childhood home is being prepped for sale only to trigger all kind of situations in the small rural community.

Not exactly my kind of English comedy as it was not dark enough for me, but surely makes story more accessible to world audiences that will also enjoy film’s good tech specs.

So if you’re in the mood for some light comedy of misunderstandings and actions by two very bored girls (that steal the movie) then you should give this film a try.

Enjoy!!

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!

2011 BAFTA Winners

Was waiting to watch ceremony at official site, but it's not there yet. Have to admit that it was surprising to find that show broadcast was not live and was delayed until show was over. Don't really understand why and in my head I'm making a lot of stories that go from the not-probable to the surely-probable. Hope delaying awards shows does not become a trend that spreads worldwide as definitively is more exciting to watch show live than learning winners by reading them at Academy site, Twitter and/or Facebook. Still had fun reading tweets with very funny comments from those that I follow in Twitter.

If you read my tweets you already know that I had two surprises, first in the non-English category where The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo won and second True Grit winning cinematography. Both are positive surprises as Millennium Trilogy films truly deserve more recognition and more honors as films are very entertaining with outstanding performance by Noomi Rapace who created an unforgettable and iconic character that I'm sure will stand the test of time. Not that I believe that the specific film is better than the other nominees, but I'm really glad that the first original film (before awful American remakes are released) got to be honored with a well-deserved accolade. Same goes to True Grit that hope will get more well-deserved honors at Oscar, especially for the young actress that stole the film.

Don't believe that BAFTA winners made easier to guess/predict Oscar winners. No, I think that made process harder whilst more interesting for several categories. But there is one category that suddenly became very clear for me: Best Actress. Seems that critics where divided between Annette Bening and Natalie Portman BUT industry peers are not as honors go to Portman. I like Bening performance but I don't like the film that doesn't deserve any kind of free publicity and promotion; so, seems that who I wish will win and who will surely win are becoming one and the same. Great!

With BAFTA's winners we know will concentrate in the Oscar guessing game, but remember that on February 25th we will learn about French cinema Cesar Awards and current awards season will be almost over then.

Winners are in *BLUE and to check all categories go here.

--//--

As it happens I'm posting winners with an asterisk. When show is over will fix post.

Up to this minute my biggest and most positive surprise is that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo won!!! Great!!!

--//--

1/18/11
Was not able to watch the live announcement but just for fun saw the recording and if you feel like watching please go here. Nominations tend to look the same as what is happening in America, but there are some very pleasant surprises that maybe will open the eyes of the American Academy voters.

As we know 2011 awards celebrate films that were released in 2010 and these nominees are the result of Round Two voting.

Best Film
Black Swan
Inception
*The King’s Speech
The Social Network
True Grit

Outstanding British Film
127 Hours
Another Year
Four Lions
*The King’s Speech
Made in Dagenham

Animated Film
Despicable Me
How To Train Your Dragon
*Toy Story 3

Film Not in The English Language
Biutiful
*The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
I Am Love
Of Gods and Men
The Secret in Their Eyes

Director
Danny Boyle for 127 Hours
Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan
Christopher Nolan for Inception
Tom Hooper for The King’s Speech
*David Fincher for The Social Network

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
The Arbor, Director and Producer – Clio Barnad and Tracy O’Riordan
Exit Through The Gift Shop, Director and Producer – Bansky and Jaimie D’Cruz
*Four Lions, Director/Writer Chris Morris
Monsters, Director/Writer Gareth Edwards
Skeletons, Director/Writer Nick Whitfield

Leading Actress
Annette Bening in The Kids Are All Right
Julianne Moore in The Kids Are All Right
*Natalie Portman in Black Swan
Noomi Rapace in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams in The Fighter
*Helena Bonham Carter in The King’s Speech
Barbara Hershey in Black Swan
Lesley Manville in Another Year
Miranda Richardson in Made in Dagenham

Leading Actor
Javier Bardem in Biutiful
Jeff Bridges in True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network
*Colin Firth in The King’s Speech
James Franco in 127 Hours

Supporting Actor
Christian Bale in The Fighter
Andrew Garfield in The Social Network
Pete Postlethwaite in The Town
Mark Ruffalo in The Kids Are All Right
*Geoffrey Rush in The King’s Speech

Cinematography
127 Hours
Black Swan
Inception
The King’s Speech
*True Grit

Original Screenplay
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
*The King’s Speech

Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
*The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit

Original Music
127 Hours
Alice in Wonderland
Inception
*The King’s Speech

Editing
127 Hours
Black Swan
Inception
The King’s Speech
*The Social Network

Production Design
Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
*Inception
The King’s Speech
True Grit

Costume Design
*Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
The King’s Speech
Made in Dagenham
True Grit

Sound
127 Hours
Black Swan
*Inception
The King’s Speech
True Grit

Special Visual Effects
Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
*Inception
Toy Story 3

Make Up & Hair
*Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
The King’s Speech
Made in Dagenham

To learn nominees in the short film categories as well as nominees names in each of the above categories go here. Awards ceremony will be on Sunday, February 13 with Red Carpet broadcast live on BBC3 followed with the ceremony on BBC1.

In general I do feel that these nominations could be very similar to what the American Academy will announce in exactly one week; but can’t deny that I’m pleased with the nominations that famous Swedish film got, especially Noomi Rapace nod for best actress.

As expected from the long list The King’s Speech leads with 14 nominations followed by Black Swan with 12. The ranking continues with Inception with 9, 127 Hours and True Grit with 8 each, and The Social Network with 6.

Somehow I know that guessing winners this year will not be hard as outstanding The King’s Speech will win more awards than the predictable and extremely well-deserved Colin Firth’s award in the Best Actor category. Besides I find Geoffrey Rush performance is remarkable and as good as Firth’s, obviously Rush role is a lead, but to increase winning chances is nominated as a support role. The King’s Speech is an extraordinary movie that deserves all the honors that has already got and will get in this awards season.

Contrary to what happened in the Golden Globes I believe that Biutiful has better opportunities to win the non-English film category as Javier Bardem got a nomination in the Best Actor category, still the presence of the Argentinean film in this year competition and Xavier Beauvois’s top honored film makes category more interesting and less predictable.

Later on will make my predictions and will dare to go beyond the basic categories as by now I have seen almost all the honored films and will make an effort to watch 127 Hours that I have been delaying until I’m in the correct mood to not faint when the famous scene happens; same with Another Year about another dysfunctional family with intense performances by lead actors.

Nowhere Boy

Shall start by telling that this is not ‘another’ The Beatles film. No, it isn’t. This is not a biopic about John Lennon as film only deals and dramatizes a very important moment in Lennon’s life when he was a teenager. So, don’t expect to see anything else and surely you will enjoy Sam Taylor-Wood directorial debut as her film absolutely shows her background as a photographer and conceptual artist.

Movie story shows how John was close to his uncle George and when he suddenly dies, how her mother Julia enters his life to influence his future and how living alone with his stern aunt Mimi was not easy until he manages to make peace with her. This is a family drama about a boy that ends up living with his uncle and aunt; and you’ll learn the details of what happened to this family with flashbacks to when John was a young boy. But also you will see the dramatization of how John forms his fist band, The Quarrymen, which leads to him meeting Paul and later on George.

John Lennon has become a myth and a legend to many and there are not many films or documentaries that succeed to portrait John as human; in my opinion this film highly succeeds to portrait him as human thanks to a very good screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh (who also wrote great Control), the amazing performances by Aaron Johnson as John, Kristin Scott Thomas as Mimi and Anne-Marie Duff as Julia; add high production values plus Taylor-Wood’s directorial debut that slowly but surely involves viewers into this voyage of great framing compositions, some great visuals, careful era (50’s) recreation details, and most of all, a very emotional and entertaining end-product.

Was positively impress with Aaron Johnson performance but most of all with the two leading ladies that truly give outstanding performances as the very different stranded sisters Mimi and Julia. Just for these performances film is worth watching but story, no matter if has or not too many creative liberties, is also compelling and entertaining. I am (or was?) a huge Paul fan but admit that after watching this film I warmed-up my own image of John, that’s how good story and film was for me.

Took me a while to watch this film so if you haven’t seen it yet I highly recommend this family drama that surely will entertain you beyond your expectations IF you don’t expect a film about The Beatles or John as the myth/legend; after all this is a good period drama extremely well-recreated with some outstanding music/songs from the era, which of course is before The Beatles.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC