2013 Canadian Screen Awards Nominations

A few days back the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (ACCT) announced the first ever Canadian Screen Award that has the unbelievable amount of 116 categories (22 in film, 89 in television and 5 in digital media). The award replaces and merges Genie (film) and Gemini (TV) awards, but what has been called as an "anomaly" TV categories does NOT include Quebec television programs, odd.

Great Oscar nominee Rebelle tops the list with 12 nominations closely followed by also great Lawrence Anyways with 10; not surprisingly Quebec features dominate the awards.

Awards ceremony will be on Sunday, March 3 at 8pm and will be broadcast live on CBC; Martin Short will host the ceremony, who makes me hope organizers live stream ceremony for the rest of the world.

These are the nominees for main film categories and if you wish to learn all 116 categories go here but have to download several different pdf files.

Best Motion Picture

L'Affaire Dumont, Daniel Grou
Inch'Allah, Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette
Lawrence Anyways, Xavier Dolan
Midnight's Children, Deepa Mehta
Rebelle (War Witch), Kim Nguyen
Still Mine, Michael McGowan

Achievement in Direction
Michael Dowse for Goon
Xavier Dolan for Lawrence Anyways
Deepa Mehta for Midnight's Children
Kim Nguyen for Rebelle (War Witch)
Bernard Émond for Tout ce que tu possèdes (All That You Possess)

Performance by An Actress in A Leading Role
Evelyne Brochu in Inch'Allah
Geneviève Bujold in Still Mine
Marilyn Castonguay in L'Affaire Dummont
Suzanne Clément in Laurence Anyways
Rachel Mwanza in Rebelle (War Witch)

Performance by An Actor in Leading Role
James Cromwell in Still Mine
Patrick Drolet in Tout ce que tu possèdes (All That You Possess)
Marc-André Grondin in L'affaire Dumont
David Morse in Collaborator
Melvil Poupaud in Lawrence Anyways

Original Screenplay
Jason Buxton for Blackbird
Xavier Dolan for Lawrence Anyways
Kim Nguyen for Rebelle (War Witch)
Michael Mcgowan for Still Mine
Bernard Émond for Tout ce que tu possèdes (All That You Possess)

Adapted Screenplay
David Cronenberg for Cosmopolis
Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg for Goon
Anita Doron for The Lesser Blessed
Martin Villeneuve for Mars et Avril
Salman Rushdie for Midnight's Children

Achievement in Cinematography
Nicolas Bolduc for Rebelle (War Witch)
Philippe Lavalette for Inch'Allah
Giles Nuttgens for Midnight's Children
Bobby Shore for Goon
Brendan Steacy for Still Mine

Best Feature Length Documentary
Alphée des étoiles, Hugo Latulippe
Indie Game: The Movie, Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky
Over My Dead Body, Brigitte Popupart
Stories We Tell, Sarah Polley
The World Before Her, Nisha Pahuja

Two films had skipped my radar, Inch'Allah and Tout ce que tu possèdes, both seem like the kind of movies that I could enjoy mostly for storytelling style; the second in particular seems to be very lyrical and literary oriented.  Great.

Rebelle (War Witch)

A magnificent film by Kim Nguyen with a very-hard to watch story but in Nguyen's hands becomes easier to see while still clearly getting the straight terrible message. A true master storyteller.

Film will make you feel all kind of positive and non-positive emotions, maybe you will smile at some moments, marvel with the poetic magic, imagine the unspeakable that's never shown, shed a tear or two, your stomach and heart could ache, and more; but fast, really fast you will know that you are watching a great film.

Film tells the story of Komona, from the moment she is kidnapped in her little village by the rebel army up to the moment she returns to bury her parents. In between there are approximately two years, a slice of life from when she's 12 years-old up to when she's fourteen. Even if you try to imagine what happens you will never guess right as is impossible to imagine the unimaginable. But while you can read elsewhere details of the storyline, here will tell you that this is a story of survival under the most severe circumstances a person can endure, much more a child, but also is about making peace with yourself. It is a contemporary tragedy that does not belong only to African countries and unfortunately not only to war.

But as said from the very first paragraph story becomes easier to watch as storytelling style is simply fabulous as mixes raw realism in an almost documentary style with a magical realism that borders magic poetry. This time I'm not talking about visuals, I'm talking about how the director chose to tell his story. Filmed in chronological order, with actors and non-actors not knowing the complete script, some improvisation and with a voice-over that will guide the narrative, film becomes impressively good and story easier to digest while absolutely being mesmerizing, especially thanks to Rachel Mwanza.

Rachel Mwanza was discovered in the streets of Kinshasa, a non-actor that magnificently carries the entire film with a superb performance that recalls great performances from more mature European actresses. She is so good that everything that happens to her and around her becomes natural, as natural as it is in real-life when a child is not allowed to live her childhood and is violently pushed into faster maturity. Her magnificent performance gave her the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 2012 Berlinale and the Best Actress Narrative Feature at 2012 Tribeca fest; all honors are well-deserved and hope that she collects more in the future.

Somehow I found many similarities between this film story and Beasts of the Southern Wild but they are two very different films. Didn't liked Beasts but highly liked Rebelle, the main difference is how the similar story is told and how a more experienced filmmaker can add brilliancy to the storytelling. After watching film think about the magic poetry involved in searching for a white rooster, how she becomes a " witch" or the visual presence of the ghosts. There is nothing executed alike in Beasts.

Film premiered in competition at 2012 Berlinale where won a Special Mention of the Ecumenical Jury, won the Best Narrative Feature at Tribeca and collected some more honors. But Nguyen mentioned in an interview how difficult is to get distribution for a film like this one, which is highly regrettable as film and story definitively is worth seeing. As we know is Canada submission to Oscar and let's hope that gets a well-deserved nomination as could mean that many will have a new chance to see this great film and story.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

2012 Autumn Movie Bits

Originally blog came to life because I wanted to recall the movies I have seen, especially those mainstream movies I watch and tend to forget about them because they did not impressed me. But for the last 7 years blog evolved into something more interesting (at least for me) and sometimes forget to register those mainstream films I have seen. That's how the seasonal "movie bits" post became sort of a blog tradition. A post that also shows my eclectic taste in movies, a taste that makes me watch almost "everything" is filmed in almost any genre.

Hope Springs by David Frankel, USA
I want to like all movies with Merryl Streep in the lead role, but sometimes it is not possible. This is one of the occasions as did not really enjoyed her performance in this movie that has been labeled as "comedy, drama, romance" and found that has not much comedy -even when there are some silly scenes with humor-, there are some awkward-to-see romance moments and mostly is a not-pleasant to watch drama. Believe that the biggest flaw movie has is the casting. Sigh.

Trouble with the Curve by Robert Lorenz, USA
No matter what the person does (like talking to an empty chair), I am Clint Eastwood fan.  I like the filmmaker for the great films he directs and also the actor in many films where he performs. Here he acts but gives the impression that in his old age he is being typecast as the old grumpy man, which he also plays here. Film tells the story of a father (Eastwood) and his daughter (Amy Adams) and is deeply based on the love of Baseball. Found film has not much wrong but is not out-of-the ordinary. It is watchable as an escape moment. Enjoy!

Resident Evil: Retribution by Paul W.S. Anderson, Germany and Canada
Yes, I have seen the Resident Evil movies as found them entertaining for an escape moment and who can resist seeing an action movie with a female character in lead? Not me, especially when the lead is Milla Jovovich. But the last installment was not enjoyable at all as perhaps is the movie that looks and feels more like a console game than a film for the big screen and when this happens is better to play the game than to watch a bad movie. So perhaps console game players will like film, but I did not. Sigh.

Liberal Arts by Josh Radnor, USA
Some positive buzz got me interested in watching this American indie, had low expectations and watched just hoping for an entertainment moment. But got bored quite fast as while story is not that bad, second film by Radnor clearly shows that he still has much more to learn about filmmaking, storytelling and directing. Biggest film flaw, doesn't easily engage audiences, but there are many more. Sigh.

Argo by Ben Affleck, USA
A good thriller/drama inspired by a true story as told by a newspaper article, which I strongly suggest you read as the article is truly fascinating. Maybe should remind you all that this film is not a documentary so takes many creative licenses outside the true facts, which obviously makes it a very enjoyable movie experience that wide audiences will enjoy. Film is as good as all the films Affleck has directed but has something different, thanks to playing an expressionless character his performance is quite good here. Surely film will get honors in current American award season. Watch it, you will like it. Enjoy!!!

Looper by Rian Johnson, USA and China
Perhaps the only thing that motivated me to see this film was Emily Blunt performs here. The Sci-Fi story is not that bad, but the crime and action part was not pleasant to watch, at least for me. Had no idea this was not a studio movie as the way it feels and looks is 100% Hollywood ordinary blockbuster film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt performance and looks are awful, but somehow Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt make film more watchable. Enjoy.

Arbitrage by Nicholas Jarecki, USA
Richard Gere not often plays villains, perhaps is because he is better performing light romance roles. Film story is not bad, neither is film storytelling style as a thriller, but how the drama was constructed could make some viewers to feel disappointed by film. Surely did it to me. Still imagine many viewers will like the movie even when I did not. Enjoy.

Magic Mike by Steven Soderbergh, USA
Not easy for me to find the reason-why Soderbergh decided to do this movie that definitively looks and feels very different to his previous films. The best "nice" word I can find to describe film is "cheesy" but not-nice words better describe this trashy B-film, especially for the truly awful actor's performances. If you skip it won't be missing much; me, I wish I did see it. Sigh.

The Vow by Michael Sucsy, USA, France, Australia, UK and Germany
I like romantic movies as much as anybody else, but it's been a while since I see one that impresses me and obviously this one is not the one. A bland, not engaging, no chemistry, no-good-acting, no-everything movie that find is below the standard of made-for-television movies, usually screen at the infamous LMN channel. Suggest to skip. Sigh.

Liz & Dick by Lloyd Kramer, USA
Talking about Lifetime channel made me recall this movie that critics' and many viewers strongly and loudly trashed. Watched for only one reason, wanted to hear Lindsay Lohan voice, period. So I had below low expectations. Then obviously Lohan doesn't look like Taylor, Bowler doesn't look like Burton and Lohan/Bowler chemistry is zero; but yes, I was surprised on how the story film tells made me recall the most famous "scandalous romance" as was told then in the news. So can tell that enjoyed movie more than what I could imagined.. The funniest thing was to read in twitter how many recorded film and had already watch it twice and more times. If Lohan was not being trashed by media as much as it is, I bet that many will dare to say that they enjoyed movie. But well, remember that this is not a big screen movie, is a TV movie and definitively should not have been considered as a anyone's "come back". Enjoy.

My Little Princess by Eva Ionesco, France
Ionesco's debut film was incredibly hard for me to watch for the story and for what is shown in the screen. Have no need to see, especially the images in this highly dysfunctional mother/daughter story. I can't believe what I am about to say, as is an Isabelle Huppert film, but I strongly suggest you skip this film. Refuse to rate this film.

Lawless by John Hillcoat, USA
It is an okay movie but was expecting a lot more from this film screened in competition at 2012 Cannes. Not really interested in the story film tells or the storytelling style the film has; but can't deny that there are some very-good performances that make film worth-watching. For those that love great cinema suggest to lower whatever expectations Cannes provoked in you, so you'll be able to enjoy the cast ensemble performances. Enjoy!!

Butter by Jim Field Smith, USA
Yep, watched this truly bad film with awful performances especially by Jennifer Garner. But who could resist watching the too-brief lesbian interest scene with Olivia Wilde and Ashley Greene? Not me. Film is truly not worth-watching, not even for that scene; instead watch scene in any of the many videos available in the net. Sigh.

Ethel by Rory Kennedy, USA
A documentary by Rory Kennedy, the youngest daughter of Ethel and Robert Kennedy, who wanted to tell the story of her mother and the father she never met as Bobby Kennedy died six months before she was born. Unbelievable to find that Rory Kennedy has directed 13 documentary films plus she has produced about 27; but then shouldn't be surprising as this very good and moving documentary documents the life of an unusual woman and while telling her story, also tells about her husband and well, a piece of America's history in quite turbulent times. With interviews with Ethel and Rory's siblings plus footage from the era, including Kennedy's home movies, film will take you into an unexpected surprising family story that surely will move you beyond whatever you can expect from a Kennedy's story. After all much has been told about John, but not that much about Robert, much less like in this very intimate portrait of his family. Suggest to watch, even if you are not a Kennedy's fan. Enjoy!!!

Prometheus by Ridley Scott, USA and UK
Can't believe never wrote about this movie that was entertaining for someone like me that hasn't seen any Alien movies and saw it just because Noomi Rapace was in movie. Had no idea that she is the lead, but hopefully she will refrain from doing any sequels as this is NOT the kind of movie she should be doing. Nevertheless film is okay for a sci-fi movie with many special effects that earn film to be shortlisted in the 2013 VFX Oscar category, but besides entertaining and some great visuals, there is not much to be said. Ah! that is why I forgot to write about movie. Enjoy.

I'm sure have forgotten many movies -should write at least the names to not forget them- but this is all for a season that has not ended yet; however, soon will be winter.

Laurence Anyways

You can say I am a Xavier Dolan fan as have highly enjoyed his two previous films with interesting explorations on human relationships, great visuals, outstanding use of color, extraordinary compositions, fantastic attention to details, great set design, and yes, fabulous music scores. This film has all the elements I like but there has to be some problem with editing as find film uneven. Perhaps too much.

At the beginning was not easy for me to engage as the way Dolan introduces us to his characters is not much interesting and due to marketing/news knew what story was about; then story captured me only to loose me after a while and it happened several times: capture-release me again and again. In the end I was confused with all the capture-release and after clearing my mind I think that there are two movies in here, one very "superficial" with absolutely fantastic images and another that tells the story of a very unconventional love. My problem is that Dolan and the editor are not able to join them together often as there are moments were both are together but more moments where they are independent. Then there is the issue of the length.

I have seen many three hours films and have NO problem watching them. Here and due to the inconsistencies there were moments where got tired (got out of the story) and moments when I wanted more (was inside the story); but one thing is fact, I noticed the length which I never do in, for example, movies from India. Perhaps that's the major consequence of the capture-release thing as breaking the flow -especially when you're engaged- is not pleasant as breaks all the emotional building that you were starting to feel. Ah! the emotional component.

Dolan's storytelling style of choice for this movie is different than the one he used in his two previous movies (J'ai tué ma mère and Les amours imaginaires) where I was able to feel for his characters, to have my emotions positively disturbed by what I was watching. Here was not easy to feel emotional connections with the characters and/or the intense love story. I know that story is NOT about a man's transformation into a woman, is about love, very intense love, that cannot be lived freely because the inability of a woman to accept the changes in the man she intensely loved. She couldn't love a woman and after leaving his transformation experience, she couldn't love a man. She was really unable to love a person and most of all, was unable to realize that she loved Laurence because the person, not the gender. Thus, story is about true acceptance of others. In paper story is very interesting, seems engaging, emotional and intense; in the screen this story is diluted with all the "big bangs" that showcase visually outstanding images and music.

Do not get me wrong, I highly enjoyed the visuals but regret that some of them disconnected me from the story as in my opinion some "big bang" visuals did not contributed to the narrative. As an example of the exceptions, the pouring water scene (photo) was one that visually blew my mind and made me feel in that moment, intense emotions for the character. Conversely, the ball scene blew my mind for the visuals, the costumes, the glitter, the sumptuosity, the music, the surrealism, so much blew me that was unable to feel for the character during that key moment. Ah! the movie surrealism.

When reading reviews most critics and viewers mention that they didn't liked some scenes, especially the ones with the Rose group. Then many compare/relate Dolan to other directors and I'm not an exception. There are many surreal scenes in movie and most made me think about Fellini, which was highly unexpected for a Dolan film. But find that most of these scenes while being gorgeous highly distracted me from story and yes, if Dolan wishes to continue to be surreal, needs to improve his skills; but I am not closed to visualize that for his learning process he gives us a film that ONLY uses surrealism. That will be just fantastic -based on what I saw here.

The use of color. Mainly viewers comment about the great use of color in this movie which I tend to agree but mostly disagree. The thing is that I have a reference, a Dolan's reference. If you wish to see how extraordinary Dolan can be with the use of color then you have to see Les amours imaginaires. Here he uses mainly red to tint, darkish colors to dramatize, and most of all, a lavish palette that really contributes to move the narrative as yes, I believe that if something did not distracted me was his use of color. But in my opinion, his use of color here is a notch down to what he did in Les amours imaginaires were color was not used to move narrative but was an essential part of the narrative.

Performances were above the norm but the one I really enjoy for the brutally honest character she plays so well is Nathalie Baye. Most of the one-liners that got stuck in my head came from her mouth; her character is so well-written that I imagine was easy for her to deliver a fantastic performance. I simply love Louis Garrel performances but do not regret that he dropped out of this movie, as is not easy for me to imagine a better Laurence than the one Melvil Poupaud gave us. Suzanne Clément performance allowed me to pay her character more attention than to Popaud's character but perhaps her moments in the screen are the ones more broken for me.

No doubt that the newest of cinema "Enfant Terrible" or as some critics call him, ambitious Boy Wonder, is exploring new -to him- territories with this film that he calls his "most accessible" and maybe it is, but my true feeling after watching is that I wanted scissors to cut and glue to rearrange this movie, not because the length (the 10 years story could be so good that four hours or more are all right) but to make it more emotional, more engaging, not broken, not uneven. All the elements are here but some needed to be polished to make it an almost perfect cinema experience.

As we know film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at 2012 Cannes and news told us about Dolan's "surprise" to not being in the main competition; I really understand why film was not chosen to be there and now more than ever understand Dolan not going to accept in person the Queer Palm as believe that this is NOT a gay-interest or transgender-interest genre movie, this is a mainstream movie, so much mainstream as love (or tolerance) can be.

Nevertheless, film has collected many honors while travelling the fest circuit, starting with Suzanne Clément winning (tie) the Un Certain Regard Award for Best Actress to continue with winning the Best Canadian Feature Film at 2012 Toronto fest and more accolades; then won't surprise me if film collects more recognition in the next Canadian award season.

Do I recommend movie? Yes, of course. But suggest to be prepared for an uneven ride and if you're not patient with "long movies" then be glad that movie is now available to view it at home, so you can select the right viewing-rhythm for you. For those readers that enjoy the LGTB-interest genre share that my impression is that due to how story is tell, looks and feels more like a cross-dressing film than a male to female transformation story (especially when consider that Laurence is straight, not gay -by-the-way, I'm not giving film the label-), there are no real gay-interest scenes and the brief lesbian-interest with transgender tones scene is thankfully brief as generates a non-positive impression.

Still, I am Xavier Dolan fan and after watching this film still are, as for me is exciting that he is moving forward and exploring new-to-him territories; now I just can't wait to see his next one, Tom à la ferme especially because he is also acting and not doing only a brief cameo as he did here (his cameo was fantastic!). To tease you readers, check the following clearly gay-interest synopsis: "The story of Tom, who is in the grip of grief and depression following the death of his lover. When he meets the family of the deceased, it is revealed the mother was not aware of her son's sexual orientation, or his relationship with Tom either, for that matter."

Enjoy!!! (if movie was not uneven, this could have been Big Enjoy!!!)

Watch trailer @MOC

2012 Toronto International Film Festival Award Winners

We have to acknowledge that fest major and important service to the world cinema community is that has become one of the best sources to predict Oscar contenders and sometimes, winners as allows many American cinema journalists to actually see films and start the current award season media buzz. Obviously fest films clearly influences Critics' awards but we have to remember that not necessarily influences the other sectors awards, as for example and according to what I was reading, since 1999 only 3 films have won TIFF's top award and Oscar Best Picture.

I don't particularly follow the fest, but this year have to share that saw everyday developments thanks to the YouTube summary videos posted by the festival and tweets by some of the cinema journalists I follow. Festival is not that interesting for me as usually we already know most of the films in festival, thanks to following world festivals, plus fest site is not really that user friendly to understand and decode the many films that the fest screens. For example, this year there were 43 films produced or co produced by France which were really impossible to find as fest site only has film list by alphabet.

Anyway here are the award winners from news and as soon as fest site publishes list will post link.

People's Choice Awards

Feature Film: Silver Linings Playbook by David O. Russell
Runners-up: Argo by Ben Affleck and Zaytoun by Eran Riklis

Documentary: Artifact by Bartholomew Cubbins
Runners-up: Storm Surfers 3D by Christopher Nelius and Justin McMillan, and Revolution by Rob Stewart

Midnight Madness: Seven Psychopaths by Martin McDonagh
Runners-up: The Bay by Barry Levinson and John Dies at the End by Don Coscarelli

Canadian Films

Best Feature Film: Laurence Anyways by Xavier Dolan
Best First Feature Film: (tie)
Antiviral by Brandon Cronenberg
Blackbird by Jason Buxton
Best Short Film: Keep a Modest Head by Deco Dawson

FIPRESCI Awards
Special Presentations Section: Dans la maison (In the House) by François Ozon
Discovery Section: Call Girl by Mikael Marcimain

NETPAC Award: Kibô no kuni (The Land of Hope) by Sion Sono

Grolsch Film Works Discovery Award: Detroit Unleaded by Rola Nashef

If you're not familiar with the top award winner then can share that film star is none other than Jennifer Lawrence, another young actress that I follow her career closely and see everything with her (except scary movies). Also in movie Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro and Julia Stiles; if you follow Movie On facebook page you saw the trailer a long while back.

Info is up at fest site if you wish to check their announcement go here where some pics have links to movie info.

2012 World Film Festival Award Winners

Festival closed yesterday and I'm curious about the top award winner as seems to have an interesting story plus great visuals. The following are the honored films.

Grand Prix des Americas: Atesin düstügü yer (Where The Fire Burns), Ismail Günes, Turkey

Special Grand Prix of the Jury (tie)
Invasion, Dito Tsintsadze, Germany and Austria
Miel de Naranjas (Orange Honey) by Imanol Uribe, Spain and Portugal

Best Director: Jan Troell for Dom över död ma (The Last Sentence), Sweden and Norway

Best Actress: Brigitte Hobmeier in Ende der Schonzeit (Closed Season), Franziska Schlottener, Germany and Israel
Best Actor: Karl Merkatz for Angfang 80 (Coming of Age), Sabine Hiebler & Gerhard Ert, Austria

Zeniths for Best First Feature
Golden Zenith: Casadentro, Joanna Lombardi, Peru
Silver Zenith: Zdjęcie (The Photograph), Maciej Adamek, Poland, Germany and Hungary
Bronze Zenith: Inn i mørket (Into the Dark), Thomas Wangsmo, Norway

FIPRESCI Prize - World Competition: Atesin düstügü yer (Where The Fire Burns), Ismail Günes, Turkey
FIPRESCI Prize - First Film Competition: Casadentro, Joanna Lombardi, Peru

Ecumenical Prizes: Ende der Schonzeit (Closed Season), Franziska Schlottener, Germany and Israel
Special Mention: Anata e (Dearest), Yasuo Furuhata, Japan (starring Takeshi Kitano)

Cinemathèque Québécoise Audience Award for the most popular Canadian Feature Film: Karakara, Claude Gagnon, Canada and Japan

To check all award winners go here. All three winners of the best first feature awards seem very interesting, been reading a lot about Karakara and anything starring Takeshi Kitano is must be seen for me. Perhaps festival doesn't generate much buzz in international media, but fest is one of the few festivals that screen many international films which makes it a good source to learn about great films.

Cheers!

Mr. Nobody

Sometimes I make really bad decisions. Deciding to skip this film was one of them. I don't like the genre (fantasy/sci-fi), cast -especially lead- did not appeal me and most confusing, an European/Canadian production in English. So I forgot about it even when film did quite good in the 2009/2010 festival season. Big mistake.

This Jaco Van Dormael film is visually stunning, excellent production values, especially fabulous special effects; but what really blew my mind was the story. Then story is told with nonlinear narrative so well-told that have to mention the outstanding editing, that in my opinion and in this case, absolutely facilitates "understanding" the evident plus the not-so-evident chaotic story. Yes movie and story is chaos, fantastic, beautiful-to-watch, engaging and food-for-thought chaos. Last, is impossible not to notice the fabulous soundtrack with recognizable songs/music placed at the right moments to ease all the turbulence you're watching. Bravo! Truly an out of the ordinary cinematic experience.

So after pouring out praise for the movie as a movie let's plunge into the outstanding story written also by Jaco Van Dormael. One word of advice, if you have not seen the movie please stop reading as what follows has inevitable spoilers.

The evident story -told here in a linear way, which is NOT how you will see it in film- is about Nemo, who as a boy has to make a hard choice, a choice that allows the filmmaker to explore two different outcomes. One storyline follows Nemo going with his mother, in the other he stayed with his father. Then no matter the path he follows, narrative is anchored in how Nemo interacts with three women: Anna, Elise and Jean. Add that story spans for about 118 years as "ends" in the year 2092 where the "last mortal" is about to die in live television, which is actually the beginning of the movie and story, where a very old man called Mr. Nobody (Jared Leto) -he doesn't remember his name- tells his story to a reporter. So by now you can say that this story is about parallel lives and is all about choices as in each of the two paths you will find more choices that will split story further. Confused? As far as I read, many viewers stay with this story and end up confused; nevertheless, I found this story fascinating as also is peppered with young Nemo fantasy hammered into an old typewriter while you're able to see it portrayed in the screen. One of the few movies where I find "evident" story to be as good, complete, sufficient and fascinating as the "other" story.

But to me what makes film and story outstanding is that this complex story goes well-beyond the choices/consequences and parallel lives themes. There are a few films that have explored one or the two themes and perhaps one of the best choices-theme film is Tom Tykwer's Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run) while Peter Howitt's Sliding Doors represents well the parallel lives theme. Also and even if film is about dreams I believe that Christopher Nolan's Inception not only looks and feels like this movie but also shyly travels similar themes. But what distances Van Dormael film and story from these and other similar movies is that story is deeply rooted in science. So, if you recall (or as a recall-aid pay particular attention to one adult Nemo) your knowledge about several real mathematics, time, and more theories, film story not only uncovers more dimensions but becomes eerie, unsettling and well, philosophical. Then, for me, movie and story transforms from fantasy into possible reality. Amazing and absolutely out of the ordinary. I simply LOVE what I call the "other" story and definitively the merging of both stories makes film quite an intense emotional, yet very brainy, playful ride, being playful the key word.

I could write pages about story and movie production values, but is enough to give a brief idea of how impressive is Van Dormael imagination as a writer but also as a filmmaker that so successfully and amazingly dealt with such a complex story.

Casting and performances are also outstanding and surely is the best I have seen from Jared Leto; but young and adult actors perform quite well as they disappear into their roles and do not interrupt narrative flowing; well, there is one exception. Sarah Polley's character and role perhaps is the most disturbing with her bipolar disorder and she makes it more disturbing with her performance, she's really good performing disturbing characters. Polley (adult Elise) in the screen was the only character that for me interrupted the amazing narrative but was a positive yet disturbing interruption. Kudos to Toby Regbo (Nemo age 15), Juno Temple (Anna age 15), Rhys Ifans (Father Nemo) and less impressed but was good casting, Diane Kruger (Anna adult).

Obviously I recommend movie but not sure if general audiences will enjoy it as this movie first and foremost is an European production with a style that mixes successfully a few European non-commercial styles plus a bit of American commercial style. So if you haven't seen movie yet because you decided to skip it, like I did, suggest you contemplate watching and maybe you will be as surprised as I was.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

2012 World Film Festival

From August 23 to September 3 the A festival will run in Montreal with 432 films from 80 countries: 212 feature films (110 world or international premieres), 16 medium films (12 world or international premieres), 144 short films (94 world or international premieres) and 60 films in the Canadian Student Film Festival.

Festival opening film is Million Dollar Crocodile by Lisheng Lin from China, a comedy that reportedly is China's first monster movie.

The festival has the following sections:

World Competition (features and shorts)
First Films World Competition (features)
Out of Competition (features)
Focus on World Cinema (features and shorts)
Documentaries of the World (features, medium-length films, shorts)
Canadian Student Film Festival (short films)
Loto-Québec Movies Under the Stars (features)
Our Cinema – Review of a year of hits (features)

To read the official press release go here or check the following schedule and film info catalog available in French and English.

Open publication

14th Jutra Awards Winners

Last Saturday Québec Cinéma had the awards ceremony and here are the winners for some categories, to check winners in all categories go here. Winners are in *BLUE. Not surprisingly Monsieur Lazhar sweep the major awards and got seven of the nine categories where it was nominated.

Best Film
Coteau Rouge, André Forcier
Le Vendeur (The Salesman), Sébastien Pilote
*Monsieur Lazhar, Philippe Falardeau
Nuit #1, Anne Émond
Starbuck, Ken Scott

Best Director
Anne Émond for Nuit #1
*Philippe Falardeau for Monsieur Lazhar
Micheline Lanctôt for Pour L’Amour de Dieu
Ken Scott for Starbuck
Jean-Marc Vallée for Café de Flore

Best Actress
Céline Bonnier in Coteau Rouge
Catherine de Lean in Nuit #1
Julie LeBreton in Une Vie qui Commence
*Vanessa Paradis in Café de Flore
Madeleine Peloquin in Por L’Amour de Dieu

Best Actor
Fellag in Mosieur Lazhar
Patrick Huard in Starbuck
Charles-Antoine Perreault in Une Vie qui Commence
Mario Saint-Amand in Gerry
*Gilbert Sicotte in Le Vendeur

One or two films that really call my attention -from those I haven't seen or already know about them-. Looking forward to watch them.

2012 Winter Movie Bits

Here are some bits about movies that didn’t touch me enough, at least enough to write something about them.

This Must Be The Place. I have no clear idea of what was I expecting from this movie but Paolo Sorrentino credentials gave me expectations of an intense cinematic experience. Can’t say movie is bad as it’s not, much less that Sean Penn is bad as he gives an excellent performance but there is something that bothered me. I saw two styles, thus two movies; one I liked, happened in Europe, the other I didn’t, set in USA. Not as intense as I was hoping and wish film styles blended better; hope next Sorrentino film stays in Europe only. Enjoy! Italy, France and Ireland.

Drive. With all the awful marketing promotion I delayed watching as much as possible as imagined movie was going to be very violent. It is not and end up enjoying the story, the performances and fabulous Nicolas Winding Refn style. If you don’t care about violent movies do not skip this one as not only is not that violent but you will be missing a great movie with great actors’ performances and an acceptable story. Enjoy!!! USA.

Martha Marcy May Marlene. Actually I liked movie and as I said after watching if it wasn’t for them talking English I would have say that this is an European movie, maybe German, good German cinema and Elizabeth Olsen has a great performance, should have gotten an Oscar nod as she does world class acting. If you haven’t seen it, do not skip it worth watching no matter how story is. Enjoy!!! USA.

Young Adult. I believe I’m a Diablo Cody fan and really are looking forward to her directorial debut. In a nutshell this Jason Reitman film has outstanding –and very sharp- dialogues and an amazing performance by Charlize Theron, so good that the classic drunk scene made me feel very awkward, so much that had to “close” my ears and really close my eyes. Do not skip this movie as is a fantastic movie about those really dysfunctional individuals that never grow up. Enjoy!!! USA.

The Iron Lady. Meryl Streep does an outstanding performance that in my opinion does not save the movie that should have been more a made for TV movie, unlike the famous The Queen. I really HATED the story as was a not-kind and very unpleasant to watch portrait of a famous woman. There was NO need to tell the story from this point-of-view even when intention was to humanize Mrs. Thatcher. Can you think about an alive male statesman that was an object of a “humanizing” portrait such as this one? I can’t. Anyway even when Streep deserves Oscar I wish the American Academy wouldn’t celebrate her greatness in such a poor movie. Sigh. UK and France.

J. Edgar. Talking about humanizing famous man this Clint Eastwood film does that with perhaps one of the must “larger-than-life” American infamous law iconic figure and in this sense Eastwood absolutely succeeds as Hoover is seen more like a person than a not-so-positive legend. But film has something that makes the end product not outstanding and not relatable. I believe is the screenplay and yes, performances, the later is hard for me say as I believe Eastwood is a master filmmaker, but I know that once in a while he does movies that leave me wondering why he did them and these films have big stars as leads –remember Angelina Jolie movie? Anyway, watch it without expectations and maybe you will learn that Hoover actually did something good. Enjoy. USA

A Dangerous Method. Complex movie, too much psychoanalysis (as it should be) not much entertaining as is very brainy, thus “dry”; but then what was there to expect from a movie about the founders of modern psychology? (lol!) Indeed most of what I heard already knew and had to pay to learn it! Didn’t enjoy much actors’ performances especially Keira Knightley was not good and at times very unpleasant to watch. Watch at your own risk. Enjoy. Canada, UK, Germany, and Switzerland.

Octubre (October). Been waiting a long time to watch this Vega brothers film and no, I was not really impressed with their much praised film. Peruvian cinema has so much evolved and leaped into the international arena that I was hoping for a world class cinema experience. It was not. Movie has more the regular Latin American style and well, has an entertaining story good enough for an entertainment escape moment. Watch at your own risk. Enjoy. Peru.

Un Cuento Chino (Chinese Take-Away). What do you think of a story that starts with a cow falling from the sky into a small boat and killing the woman that was about to get a marriage proposal? That’s exactly how this sometimes comedy sometimes drama starts plus sets the tone and manner to everything that follows. Is an entertaining movie quite well done with the always outstanding and reliable performance by Ricardo Darin. Enjoy!! Argentina and Spain.

Violeta se fue a los Cielos (Violeta Went to Heaven). For me Violeta Parra is an icon and watching her bio was not easy as tells –and made me recall- about turbulent times in the Latin American region not only Chile. Still, I believe Andres Wood does a good job as she was portrayed as what –everyone says- she was, a not pleasant woman. I like her songs and this movie will not change that, but maybe I liked better the idea I had of her in my head than the one portrayed here. Watch at your own risk, especially if you know who Violeta Parra is and her outstanding poetry in her lyrics. Enjoy. Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

Apflickorna (She Monkeys). Lisa Aschan much honored debut film is a very interesting essay on very young and young women –or should I say children?- behavior as story is strong and yes, not easy to watch. But what makes film quite outstanding is Aschan magnificent visual and narrative storytelling style. Looking forward to her next film and suggest you do not skip this movie, but be prepared as story is not light. Yes has some lesbian interest but in my opinion film transcends the label both because story as because the superb filmmaking style, so wider audiences should be able to enjoy this very European movie. Enjoy!!! Sweden. Lesbian interest.

Poulet aux Prunes (Chicken with Plums). After Persepolis I was really hoping for an outstanding story and was looking forward to see how directors move from animation into live filmmaking; then Mathieu Amalric is a very special performer that either you love him in a particular role or you don’t. Here Amalric is the don’t-like kind and live film does not reach the same great levels of their animation film. For me story is not that interesting –at least as much as was Persepolis- even when I recognize that’s magical. Some say is a very French movie, I don’t agree, film does not look or feel French or European at all. But I hope next film by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi regains the magic that Persepolis had. Enjoy! France, Germany and Belgium.

La Source des Femmes (The Source). I was really looking forward to watch this Radu Mihaileanu film with a story that revolves around women. I really like Leïla Bekhti performances as well as excellent Hiam Abbass and good Hafsia Herzi; can’t complain as it was good watching them here but didn’t enjoy much the story as I believe is one I have seen before told in many more compelling ways. Still, visually this film is a true beauty that will feast your eyes. Enjoy! Belgium, Italy and France.

Les Géants. Bouli Lanners films are not easy to watch for me as was unable to watch Eldorado, but wanted to try to watch this Cannes honored movie. I couldn’t, had to stop watching as was feeling physical sick and very uncomfortable. A story of three kids that never imagined could be portrayed so not easy to watch for the most non-sense simple situations. Watch at your own risk. Sigh. Belgium.

Polisse. Not sure what was going to watch here as Maïwenn movies are always not very easy to watch or enjoy. Well, definitively this one has not her usual style and style becomes maybe more commercial as film looks and feels like mainstream cinema –and could extend it to being like a movie made for the small screen. Still film tells a compelling story about children and actors give very good performances, which makes film worth watching. Do not skip it, even if you don’t particularly like French cinema, you will enjoy this movie. Enjoy!! France.

Les Femmes du 6e étage (The Women on the 6th Floor). Watched because Carmen Maura got a Cesar nomination –which she won- but I’m no fan of French comedies as no, I don’t particularly enjoy their humor. Still film is a lot more a drama than a comedy and was a true pleasure to watch Fabrice Luchini performance. Movie is quite watchable and yes I do recommend it for an escape moment, French style of course. Enjoy!! France.

وهلّأ لوين؟ Wo Hallah La Wen? (Where Do We Go Now?) Nadine Labaki mesmerizes me as an actress and most of all as a director. I really LOVED Sukkar Banat (Caramel) so can deny that had HUGE expectations for her next movie. In my opinion her second movie is VERY different to her first and yes, I did enjoy a lot more her first than her second. Story here is very relevant plus her visual and narrative filmmaking style are interesting, but I have seen this story told before in more compelling and emotional ways. Still it was a true pleasure to watch Nadine Labaki in the screen, which makes movie worth watching. I’m really looking forward to her third movie that hope has a more universal story developed with her particular style. Enjoy. France, Lebanon, Egypt, and Italy.

Café de Flore. A very pretentious movie by Jean-Marc Vallée that many say is about love, me I say is an anatomy of a separation told by mirrored stories that happen in the past (Paris) and the present (Montreal) but thanks to pretentious editing –yes editing is what makes this film pretentious- time is senseless crisscrossed, rewind, and forwarded. Better editing could have made mirrored stories more flawlessly intertwined and movie more enjoyable. I really enjoyed Hélène Florent performance and believe she stole the movie. If you don’t mind to watch a movie that moves (too much) in time to tell a story that somehow is predictable (was for me) and journey is not that enjoyable, then watch this film for the love story that many people see in it. Enjoy. Canada and France.

Oslo, 31. August (Oslo, August 31st). Loved Reprise and yes had expectations. Second Joachim Trier film has the same great filmmaking style as his first film but tells a simple story that with his style becomes quite disturbing. So much disturbing that yes, I do suggest you avoid this film as you could get really depressed by Trier’s interpretation of Pierre Drieu La Rochelle’s 1931 Le Feu Follet. Here is not an alcoholic but a drug addict, yet drama is SO well developed that will hurt you inside –where hurts more. Okay, is a very good movie, but find a good state of mind to watch it or you will get very depressed. Enjoy! Norway.

The Artist. Just realized that I didn’t wrote about this movie that in my opinion glorifies Hollywood cinema like no American film has ever done, so it’s no surprise that film became a favorite of critics and the American industry. I enjoyed movie, it was entertaining but as I mentioned elsewhere, if I wanted to honor American silent cinema I could watch so many good films with many excellent silent actors that this film will absolutely pale in the comparison. Obviously film doesn’t look or feel like French cinema and wonder if the honor of being the most honored French movie of all times really celebrates this cinema and not the American one. Watch movie just because won Oscar and if you have to watch all Oscar wining movies. Enjoy! France and Belgium.

I’m sure I forgot many more movies but this is it for today.

Cheers.

32nd Genie Awards Winners

Last night the Academy had the awards ceremony and big winners are Monsieur Lazhar with six trophies and A Dangerous Method with five. To learn winners in all categories go here. Winners are in *BLUE.

--//--
1/17

A few minutes ago the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television announced their nominations for the Genie Award and was streamed live here from Montreal. Jean-Marc Vallée’s Café de Flore leads the nods with 13 followed by David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method with 11.

Best Motion Picture
A Dangerous Method, David Cronenberg
Café de Flore, Jean-Marc Vallée
*Mosieur Lazhar, Philippe Falardeau
Starbuck, Ken Scott
The Whistleblower, Larysa Kondracki

Achievement in Direction
David Cronenberg for A Dangerous Method
Steven Silver for The Bang Bang Club
Jean-Marc Vallée for Café de Flore
*Philippe Falardeau for Mosieur Lazhar
Larysa Kondracki for The Whistleblower

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Catherine de Léan in Nuit #1
Pascale Montpetit in The Girl in the White Coat
*Vanessa Paradis in Café de Flore
Rachel Weisz in The Whistleblower
Michelle Williams in Take This Waltz

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
*Fellag in Monsieur Lazhar
Garret Dillahunt in Oliver Sherman
Michael Fassbender in A Dangerous Method
Patrick Huard in Starbuck
Scott Speedman in Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster

To check nominees in all categories go here. The Awards ceremony will be in Toronto on March 8 at 8:00pm and will be broadcast on CBC Television.

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!

31st Genie Awards Winners

Last week the Academy had their awards ceremony and winners are in *BLUE; to check winners in all categories go here.

--//--
2/2/11
Today the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television announced the nominees for this year with Barney’s Version leading with 11 nods but following closely is Incendies with 10. These are the nominees in some categories.

Best Motion Picture
Les Amours Imaginaires (Heartbeats), Xavier Dolan
Barney’s Version, Richard J. Lewis
*Incendies, Denis Villeneuve
Splice, Vicenzo Natali

Achievement in Direction
Xavier Dolan for Les Amours Imaginaires (Heartbeats)
Richard J. Lewis for Barney’s Version
Podz for 10 ½
*Denis Villeneuve for Incendies

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
*Lubna Azabal in Incendies
Tatiana Maslany in Grown Up Movie Star
Molly Parker in Trigger
Rosamund Pike in Barney’s Version
Tracy Wright in Trigger

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Jay Baruche in The Trotsky
*Paul Giamatti in Barney’s Version
Robert Naylor in 10 ½
Timothy Olphant in High Life
Francois Papineau in Route 132

To check nominees in all categories go here. Award ceremony will be on Thursday, March 10. Haven’t seen movie yet but I bet that Incendies will get the top award.

Incendies

Movie is so good that here is another of the Chaos Says, Storyteller Says series.

CHAOS SAYS

A powerful movie centered in the story of Nawal Marwan, a woman that sends her children on a quest that will confront them with a past filled with pain. It couldn’t have been more fitting that I had the chance to watch this movie just a few hours after reading about the lives of women as Egyptian writer and activist Nawal El Saadawi or Cambodian author and human rights advocate Somaly Mam. It seems to me that wherever and whenever life is hard, it’s always harder for women, and still they seem to endure it with a level of heroism and determination that is amazing and touching.



Denis Villeneuve movie is an adaptation of Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, and the Canadian director does a great job at it. There is nothing in this movie that is superfluous or out of place, and it turns into an elegant and poetic work of art.

Very good casting with a magnificent Lubna Azabal as Nawal and Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin also giving us a touching performance as her daughter.

Some say that the story is too farfetched, but personally I think that it’s just too difficult for us to accept it as something that can happen. I have seen things happen in real life that I would not believe in if I saw them in a movie, but still they happened. In this case, the more I think about the movie and about what goes around in many places where war is a reality for decades, the more believable it seems to me.

In my opinion, this is a movie about redemption, about a woman who tries to save her soul by forcing her children to face her life and then hopes that they will choose to forgive her because it is easier to choose love and forgiveness than to live with hate in their hearts.

I’m afraid you will have to watch the movie to understand what I’m saying and maybe you will not agree with me…either way, I absolutely recommend you do not miss this movie that brought some viewers to tears and gave me reason for hours of conversation.

Green light!

STORYTELLER SAYS

I was so looking forward to watch this Denis Villeneuve film that I expected to be as good if not superior to extraordinary Polytechnique. I was not disappointed at all as film has a strong story developed with what seems is becoming Villeneuve style where he crafts tension to make watching his films very, but very intense. As in Polytechnique I watched this movie in one long prolonged breath of air and when the climax arrives I almost chocked (have a terrible cold) as I was strongly surprised and shocked by the last scenes in this modern tragedy that absolutely recalls some Greek tragedies.

After watching film is hard to believe that is based on a successful and honored play with the same name by Wajdi Mouawad as Villeneuve storytelling evolves so fluid that in my ignorance certainly believed script co written by Villeneuve was based on fiction, on a novel. Story is set in an unnamed Middle East country, but more interesting is to learn that Mouawad play was inspired in the story of a woman, Souha Béchara, that was imprisoned in Lebanon for ten years, six of each in a solitaire cell which surely is what makes story so credible and impactful; yet is Villeneuve’s excellent cinematic adaptation what makes film and story so intense.

Performances are truly extraordinary with special mention to Lubna Azabal that created an intense Nawal Marwan that with sights as well as with face and body expression told absolutely everything that character was living or thinking. Same goes to Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin that plays Jeanne Marwan, Nawal’s daughter, which goes from the stern mathematician mind to a state of confusion and pain as she starts to learn her mother story.

Story is about Nawal’s last will that will take her twin son and daughter into discovering her story before coming to Canada and in consequence, they will also learn their own story. Won’t tell you more as story is so good and unexpected at critical points that whatever you read could spoil for you the tension building and the numerous shocks you will get, so try to avoid reading spoilers to enjoy it better.

I found Polytechnique very visual, but I found Incendies more narrative oriented or maybe is because narrative becomes so tense that well-crafted landscapes and great indoors compositions become secondary, but is noted that film has top notch tech specs with very special mention to editing that so successfully intertwined Nawal’s and Jeanne’s stories occurring at the same places, amazing and definitively a technique that allows viewer to faster and flawlessly integrate past and present stories.

Definitively Denis Villeneuve is a great filmmaker and extraordinary storyteller as for me he has become the director to follow closely, especially when he does stories that are not easy to tell, not easy to watch and makes them into true cinematic magnificent experiences that are ‘enjoyable’ to watch but most of all that give lots of food for thought about women issues. Maybe is just a coincidence but both Polytechnique and Incendies are excellent examples of timeless women issues consequently strongly and especially recommend both films (if you haven’t seen the first) to all women in the world, but this is a film that I know most adult audiences will highly appreciate.

As we know film was in the five Oscar nominated films for the Best Foreign Language film and was Canada’s submission; even if haven’t done the post (the cold is killing me) I know that film won eight awards at the 2011 Genie Awards, we can’t forget that premiered at 2010 Biennale fest at the Giornate degli Autore were won the Best Film award in the 27 Times Cinema Mention section, since then has collected many awards and honors all over the world.

Not a story to love but definitively a well-crafted film that everyone should watch thinking that what we see here in an unnamed country, has happened, is happening and unfortunately will continue to happen all over the world.

BIG ENJOY!!!


Watch trailer @MOC

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