2013 BAFTA Awards Winners

Posting winners as they are announced....  Twitter reactions to Affleck winning over Haneke are pouring and some are hilarious!

Argo is 2013 BAFTA top winner. Ceremony is over and I'm glad as was hoping Amour getting MORE love than what got. Sigh.

Winners are in *BLUE.


1/9/13
Early today the British Academy announced the nominations for the current edition and in my opinion these nominations look very similar to what we will learn tomorrow from Hollywood. Leading the pack is Lincoln (10 nods) that many foresee will get the most nods tomorrow as already got here and in the Golden Globes. Following close by Skyfall, Life of Pi and Les Misérables; perhaps the surprise is that Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina got six nominations as film was received with a cool critical reception and besides one or two categories film is not seen as a contender in Oscars.

Also surprising is the absence of great independent films like Sightseers or Berberian Sound Studio as in the best film category nods include mainly mainstream films and were shut down from tech categories.

But the best news for me is that Amour got four nominations which gives me hope that Oscar could give film an opportunity in Best Film as surely if BAFTA had more slots than five, film could have gotten a nod. Great!

Now the aprox. 6,500 Academy members will have to vote to decide winners to be announced at the awards ceremony hosted by Stephen Fry on February 10 at the Royal Opera House in London.

These are the nominations.

Best Film
*Argo, Ben Affleck
Les Misérables, Tom Hooper
Life of Pi, Ang Lee
Lincoln, Steven Spielberg
Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow

Outstanding British Film
Anna Karenina, Joe Wright
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, John Madden
Les Misérables, Tom Hooper
Seven Psychopaths, Martin McDonagh
*Skyfall, Sam Mendes

Animated Film
*Brave, Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman and Steve Purcell
Frankenweenie, Tim Burton
Paranorman, Chris Butler and Sam Fell

Film Not in the English Language
*Amour (Love), Michael Haneke
Hodejegerne (Headhunters), Morten Tyldum
Jagten (The Hunt), Thomas Vinterberg
De rouille et d'os (Rust and Bone), Jacques Audiard
Intouchables (Untouchable), Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache

Director
Michael Haneke for Amour
*Ben Affleck for Argo
Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained
Ang Lee for Life of Pi
Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director of Producer
*Director Bart Layton and Producer Dimitri Doganis for The Imposter
Director/writer David Morris, Director/producer Jacqui Morris, Director/writer Dexter Fletcher and writer Danny King for Wild Bill
Director James Bobin for The Muppets
Director/writer Tina Gharavi for I Am Nasrine

Leading Actress
*Emmanuelle Riva in Amour
Helen Mirren in Hitchcock
Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard in Rust and Bone

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams in The Master
*Anne Hathaway in Les Misérables
Helen Hunt in The Sessions
Judi Dench in Skyfall
Sally Field in Lincoln

Leading Actor
Ben Affleck in Argo
Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
*Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
Hugh Jackman in Les Misérables
Joaquin Phoenix in The Master

Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin in Argo
*Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained
Javier Bardem in Skyfall
Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln

Original Screenplay
Michael Haneke for Amour
*Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained
Paul Thomas Anderson for The Master
Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola for Moonrise Kingdom
Mark Boal for Zero Dark Thirty

Adapted Screenplay
Chris Terrio for Argo
Lucy Allibar and Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild
David Magee for Life of Pi
Tony Kushner for Lincoln
*David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook

Cinematography
Seamus McGarvey for Anna Karenina
Danny Cohen for Les Misérables
*Claudio Miranda for Life of Pi
Janusz Kaminski for Lincoln
Roger Deakins for Skyfall

Editing
*William Goldenberg for Argo
Fred Raskin for Django Unchained
Tim Squyres for Life of Pi
Stuart Baird for Skyfall
Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg for Zero Dark Thirty

Production Design
Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer for Anna Karenina
*Eve Stewart and Anna Lynch-Robinson for Les Misérables
David Gropman and Anna Pinnock for Life of Pi
Rick Carter and Jim Erickson for Lincoln
Dennis Gassner and Anna Pinnock for Skyfall

Costume Design
*Jaqueline Durran for Anna Karenina
Beatrix Aruna Pasztor for Great Expectations
Paco Delgado for Les Misérables
Joanna Johnston for Lincoln
Colleen Atwood for Snow White and The Huntsman

Make Up and Hair
Ivana Primorac for Anna Karenina
Julie Hewett, Martin Samuel and Howard Berger for Hitchcock
Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor and Rick Findlater for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
*Lisa Westcott for Les Misérables
Lois Burwell and Kay Georgiou for Lincoln

Original Music
Dario Marianelli for Anna Karenina
Alexandre Desplat for Argo
Mychael Danna for Life of Pi
John Williams for Lincoln
*Thomas Newman for Skyfall

Sound
Mark Ulano, Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Wylie Stateman for Django Unchained
Tony Johnson, Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick, Brent Burge and Chris Ward for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
*Simon Hayes, Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Jonathan Allen, Lee Walpole, John Warhurst for Les Misérables
Drew Kunin, Eugene Gearty, Philip Stockton, Ron Bartlett and D. M. Hemphill for Life of Pi
Stuart Wilson, Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell, Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers for Skyfall

Special Visual Effects
Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Peter Bebb and Andrew Lockley for The Dark Night Rises
Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and R. Christopher White for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
*Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer for Life of Pi
The Avengers (nominees TBC)
Richard Stammers, Charley Henley, Trevor Wood and Paul Butterworth for Prometheus

Documentary
The Imposter, Bart Layton
Marley, Kevin Macdonald
McCullin, David Morris and Jacqui Morris
*Searching for Sugar Man, Malik Bendjelloul
West of Menphis, Amy Berg

Short Animation
Here To Fall, Kris Kelly and Evelyn McGrath
I’m Fine Thanks, Eamonn O’Neill
*The Making of Longbird, Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson

Short Film
The Curse, Fyzal Boulifa and Gavin Humphries
Good Night, Muriel d’Asembourg and Eva Sigurdardottir
*Swimmer, Lynne Ramsay, Peter Carlton and Diarmid Scrimshaw
Tumult, Johnny Barrington and Rhianna Andrews
The Voorman Problem, Mark Gill and Baldwin Li

Perhaps with exception of the many nods for Skyfall plus Anna Karenina, these nods definitively look like what Oscar could nominate tomorrow.  Perhaps the hardest category for voters has to be Director as how can anyone compare the work of master filmmaker Michael Haneke to other directors?  Just being nominated along Haneke is a huge honor for the other nominees.

Watch the recording of the live announcement.

2013 Richard Attenborough UK Regional Film Awards Winners

Today the UK Regional Critics' announced the winners for the current RAFA's edition after the voting that run from January 14 to 25. Winners are decided solely by the votes of arts/entertainment journalists, staff and freelance, editors, critics and bloggers in all forms of regional and local media around the UK.

Feature-length films of any genre and from any country of origin were eligible for consideration provided they had a UK theatrical release between 10 February 2012 and 8 February 2013.

The UK regional critics’ award winners in all categories are as follows:

Film of the Year: Argo
Director of the Year: San Mendes for Skyfall
Screenwriters of the Year: Amy Jump, Alice Lowe and Steve Oram for Sightseers
Rising Star: Ben Whishaw in Skyfall

British Performance of the Year -voted by the public-: Robert Pattinson in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

Is the first major UK award in the local season that surprisingly went for an American film as usually UK films are honored with this famous distinction.

33rd London Film Critics' Circle Winners

On January 20, the critics' group had their award ceremony and Michael Haneke's Amour was triumphant as won three awards including the top honor, film of the year as well as Actress and Screenplay. To read the full press release go here.

Winners are in *BLUE.

12/18/12
A few minutes ago the British group announced their nominations that seem somehow to follow the trend of what we have seen from across the pond. But it's official, this is the best list of films, filmmakers and actors I have seen up to this moment; there may be a few exceptions, but in general this is a fantastic list with many extraordinary films and master directors. Absolutely agree with the following excerpt from the official announcement.

In all categories, the films are of outstanding quality this year, indicating how the London critics view all films from around the world on a level footing - brilliance is the only benchmark. Choosing winners will be harder than ever, but never will they have been more deserving.

Michael Haneke's Amour and Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master lead the nominations with seven (7) nods each. And just take a look at the honored directors, especially the their category -all right miss Jacques Audiard- nevertheless is a great list of five. Most interesting is to see the actresses that are honored with a nomination as list can't be better as includes Isabelle Huppert, Marion Cotillard, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, Helen Hunt, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Emmanuelle Riva, Anne Hathaway, and more. Also remarkable is that they didn't forgot to honor Mads Mikkelsen.

This edition their highest honor, the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film goes to Helena Bonham Carter. Award ceremony will take place on January 20, 2013 at May Fair Hotel; worth mention is that this group characterizes for tying their annual event to charity and this year their charity partner is Missing People, a 24/7 lifeline when someone disappears.

The nominations in full.

Film of the Year
*Amour
Argo
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Life Of Pi
The Master

British Film of the Year
*Berberian Sound Studio
The Imposter
Les Miserables
Sightseers
Skyfall

Foreign Language Film of the Year
Amour
Holy Motors
Once Upon A Time in Anatolia
*Rust and Bone
Tabu

Director of the Year
Paul Thomas Anderson for The Master
Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty
Nuri Bilge Ceylan for Once Upon A Time In Anatolia
Michael Haneke for Amour
*Ang Lee for Life Of Pi

Actress of the Year
Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard in Rust and Bone
Helen Hunt in The Sessions
Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
*Emmanuelle Riva in Amour

Supporting Actress of the Year
Amy Adams in The Master
Judi Dench in Skyfall
Sally Field in Lincoln
*Anne Hathaway in Les Misérables
Isabelle Huppert in Amour

Actor of the Year
Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
Hugh Jackman in Les Misérables
Mads Mikkelsen in The Hunt
*Joaquin Phoenix in The Master
Jean-Louis Trintignant in Amour

Supporting Actor of the Year
Alan Arkin in Argo
Javier Bardem in Skyfall
Michael Fassbender in Prometheus
*Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln

Screenwriter of the Year
Paul Thomas Anderson for The Master
Mark Boal for Zero Dark Thirty
*Michael Haneke for Amour
Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained
Chris Terrio for Argo

British Actress of the Year
Emily Blunt in Looper and Your Sister's Sister
Judi Dench in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Alice Lowe in Sightseers
Helen Mirren in Hitchcock
*Andrea Riseborough in Shadow Dancer

British Actor of the Year
Daniel Craig in Skyfall
Charlie Creed-Miles in Wild Bill
Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
*Toby Jones in Berberian Sound Studio
Steve Oram in Sightseers

Young British Performer of the Year
Samantha Barks in Les Misérables
Fady Elsayed in My Brother The Devil
*Tom Holland in The Impossible
Will Poulter in Wild Bill
Jack Reynor in What Richard Did

Breakthrough British Film-Maker
Ben Drew, writer/director of Ill Manors
Sally El Hosaini, writer/director of My Brother The Devil
Dexter Fletcher, co-writer/director of Wild Bill
Bart Layton, writer/director of The Imposter
*Alice Lowe and Steve Oram, writers of Sightseers

Documentary of the Year
*The Imposter
London: The Modern Babylon
Nostalgia For The Light
Queen of Versailles
Searching for Sugar Man

Technical Achievement Award
Jaqueline Duran for costumes in Anna Karerina
William Goldenberg for film editing in Argo
Ben Richardson for cinematography in Beasts of the Southern Wild
Joakim Sundstrom and Stevie Haywood for sound design in Berberian Sound Studio
Bernard Floch for makeup in Holy Motors
Claudio Miranda for cinematography in Life of Pi
*Bill Westenhofer for visual effects in Life of Pi
Jack Fisk and David Crank for production design in The Master
David Raedeker for cinematography in My Brother the Devil
Alexandre Desplat for music in Rust and Bone

Have to close by commenting that even the technical nominees are especially remarkable for the movies they are honoring but most important the tech areas they point-out in each movie. Great.

List is suggesting me that, in current award season, maybe BAFTA could be a lot more interesting than Oscar.

2013 BAFTA Rising Star Nominations

A few moments ago BAFTA announced the nominees for the current edition and most interesting is to find that is a ladies year as four out of the five are actresses. Nominees were selected by a jury headed by Pipa Harris and if you vote you'll have a chance of winning tickets to BAFTA Film Awards ceremony on Sunday February 10th.

Voting starts today, January 7th and ends tomorrow, January 8th. To Vote go here.

These are the nominees that had a "breakout year in 2012":

Andrea Risenborough, Elizabeth Olsen, Juno Temple, Suraj Sharma and Alicia Vikander

After thinking for a while my vote went to Alicia Vikander for her magnificent performance in A Royal Affair.

Kon-Tiki

Directed by Norwegian most famous directing duo, Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, film tells another Norway's history not that much known tale. First was 2008 Max Manus and now Thor Heyerdahl amazing story where to prove he was right on his scientific findings crossed the Pacific on a balsa wood raft in 1947.

The story is truly fantastic and one the world should be aware as he was the first to prove that the Inca traveled to Polynesia which before trip he hypothesized but no one believe him as then it was common knowledge that Polynesia inhabitants origin came only from Asia. So film presents us the character as a kid, an excerpt of his life in Fatu Hiva -where he creates his theory-, his inability to find interest in the expedition, his persistence until succeeding, and the 101-days trip across the ocean.

But as fascinating as the story is, the movie is not much entertaining as drama is built oddly, action takes too much time with the sharks and script needed much more development for viewers to sustain the almost two hours film takes to tell story. There are moments -when the group is at the sea- that you get tired as story doesn't built up but becomes repetitive and some of us knew the end, so movie was about the ride not about reaching an unknown end.

Then acting is too stiff for my liking even when I imagine that they had to represent Nordic behavior under extreme circumstances as close as possible to reality; but a bit of less stiffness could have been more emotions shown by actors while still being very Nordic.

As can be easily imaginable, film has many outstanding visuals; but the most extraordinary does not come with the men at sea, but from the beginning. The opening sequence with a still camera is impressive as also are most of the winter scenes. While watching spontaneously thought that movie keeps the same camera style no matter where they are (winter, hot weather, urban setting, etc) and perhaps if they had changed the style according to the setting then probable visuals would have been even more remarkable in the non-winter moments. Tech specs are great in general as is the biggest ever Norwegian production up to date - co produced with UK and Denmark-.

But if you wish to learn the story in a more engaging way I suggest you watch the "real" documentary directed by Thor Heyerdahl with the same name that went to win the 1951 Oscar in the documentary category. There are two versions, one narrated in English and the other in Norwegian, both narrated by Thor Heyerdahl himself. Still I know documentary is not easy to find, so many will have to conform with the 2012 film.

As we know film is Norway submission to 2013 Oscar, got a 2013 Golden Globes nomination, and more honors surely will come to film. I liked Max Manus as director's storytelling and filmmaking style was good for the story they were telling, but in this sense I find Kon Tiki not as good as their previous film.

Enjoy!!

Watch trailer @MOC

15th British Independent Film Award Winners

So unfortunately that BIFA didn't streamed live the awards ceremony, but with everything that is happening today at the same time, I'm really glad they didn't. With the amount of awards that Berberian Sound Studio collected I was suspecting that could get the top award, but thankfully the top honor went to Broken that out of 9 nomination won one, but is the one that truly counts and matters.

Award winners are in *BLUE.

---///---
11/5

A few minutes ago BIFA's nominations were announced at St Martins Lane, London by actor and BIFA Patron, Adrian Lester.

Joint Directors, Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson said: “In this our 15th year, we are delighted to welcome back six-time former host James Nesbitt. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated Pre-Selection Committee who watched over 200 films in order to produce the 2012 Nominations, which once again reflect the diverse range of British film talent, and also welcome this year’s appointed independent Jury who will now spend the next month considering the nominated films.”

First feature film and opening film at the 2012 Cannes Semaine de la Critique Broken by Rufus Norris has the highest number of nominations with nine (9) followed by 2012 Cannes Quinzaine des Réalisateurs Sightseers and Berberian Sound Studio with 7 nominations each.

These are the nominees.

Best British Independent Film
Berberian Sound Studio, Peter Strickland
*Broken, Rufus Norris
Sightseers, Ben Wheatley
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, John Madden
The Imposter, Bart Layton

Best Director
Bart Layton for The Imposter
Ben Wheatley for Sightseers
John Madden for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
*Peter Strickland for Berberian Sound Studio
Rufus Norris for Broken

Best Debut Director
*Bart Layton for The Imposter
Ben Drew for Ill Manors
Rowan Athale for Wasteland
Rufus Norris for Broken
Sally El Hosaini for My Brother the Devil

Best Screenplay
Abi Morgan for The Iron Lady
*Alice Lowe, Steve Oram, and Amy Jump for Sightseers
Mark O'Rowe for Broken
Paul Andrew Williams for Song for Marion
Peter Strickland for Berberian Sound Studio

Best Actress
Alice Lowe in Sightseers
*Andrea Risenborough in Shadow Dancer
Elle Fanning in Ginger & Rosa
Judi Dench in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady

Best Actor
Riz Ahmed in Ill Manors
Steve Oram in Sightseers
Terence Stamp in Song for Marion
Tim Roth for Broken
*Toby Jones in Berberian Sound Studio

Best Supporting Actress
Alice Englert in Ginger & Rosa
Eileen Davies in Sightseers
Maggie Smith in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
*Olivia Colman in Hyde Park on Hudson
Vanessa Redgrave in Song for Marion

Best Supporting Actor
Billy Connolly in Quartet
Cillian Murphy in Broken
Domhnall Gleeson in Shadow Dancer
*Rory Kinnear in Broken
Tom Wilkinson in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Most Promising Newcomer
Ellito Tittensor in Spike Island
Eloise Laurence in Broken
*James Floyd in My Brother the Devil
Paul Brannigan in The Angels' Share
Zawe Ashton in Dreams of a Life

Best Achievement in Production
*Berberian Sound Studio
Ill Manors
Sightseers
The Imposter
The Sweeney

Best Technical Achievement
Nick Knowland for Cinematography in Berberian Sound Studio
*Stevie Hayword and Joakim Sundström for Sound Design in Berberian Sound Studio
Electric Wave Bureau for Music in Broken
Robbie Ryan for Cinematography in Ginger & Rosa
Andrew Hulme for Editing in The Imposter

Best Documentary
Dreams of a Life, Carol Morley
London: The Modern Babylon, Julien Temple
Marley, Kevin Mcdonald
Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir, Laurent Bouzereau
*The Imposter, Bart Layton

Best British Short
Friday
Junk
Skyborn
Swimmer
*Volume

Best International Independent Film
Amour (Love), Michael Haneke
Beast of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin
De rouille et d'os (Rust and Bone), Jacques Audiard
Searching For Sugar Man, Malik Bendjelloul
*Jagten (The Hunt), Thomas Vinterberg

The Raindance Award
Frank
*Strings
Love Tomorrow
City Slacker
Janson Becker: Not Dead Yet, Jesse Vile

*The Richard Harris Award: Sir Michael Gambon
*The Variety Award: Jude Law
*The Special Jury Prize: Sandra Hebron

The award ceremony will be on Sunday, December 9 and to read the press release at the official site go here.

Perhaps because I have been following several of the nominated films plus there are great actors nominated, this year the awards will be must be seen for me. Besides there are a few films I was not aware of that now I'm interested in watching. Good.

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.

一命 Ichimei (Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai)

Not really familiar with Takashi Miike's films mainly because he likes to travel the horror genre but recently 13 Assassins departed the genre so decided to see it and liked the visuals but the story was not exactly one I could enjoy. However had to see his next film that screened in competition at 2011 Cannes.

To my surprise Takashi Miike brings us a drama that truly borders a Greek tragedy not only because the story it tells but also because the filmmaking style he uses which in my opinion again departs from what he previously has done. What he gives us again is a fantastic succession of visually outstanding compositions and images that with a darkish palette will marvel your eyes.

This time I enjoyed the story that is told mainly with flashbacks, a storytelling style that allows viewers to keep interest as film pace tend to be on the very-slow side, even for me that love slow-pace movies, when story moves to the past. While evidently story is about revenge, honor and disgrace we can also clearly see many reasons-why the Samurai, the warrior class, disappeared in Japan and most interesting, could give us a vision on why (the hypocrisy) warriors and wars prevail in our contemporary society.

Yes this is a remake of 1962 Seppuku (Harakiri) by Masaki Kobayashi, which I haven't seen and maybe will give it a try mainly because film is in black and white; but according to what I read Miike did an interpretation that makes film his own thanks to radically different attitudes toward the subject matter and diametrically-opposed conceptions of space and movement. But most viewers express disdain for Miike's version when they compare this film to Kobayashi's version.

You have to see both films to know what to believe/think, but what I know is that Miike's movie independently of the story it tells, definitively has a fascinating and mesmerizing filmmaking style thanks to how he conceptualized, visualized and shaped space and movement in this movie.

Saw the 2D version, but film has the honor of being the first 3D movie ever to be screened in competition at Cannes; however, can't imagine how 3D could make this film look better than what I saw in the richness of technically very advanced two dimensions.

I'm in the mood for my own Oriental films little festival where I set my mind to watch only great films from that side of the world; I believe that western minds need to mentally prepare to see these films so maybe that is a key reason why I was able to enjoy this movie as much as I did. So, do I recommend movie? Yes, I do. But if you are a westerner, suggest to prepare yourself for a very oriental cinema experience.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

The Girl

Sometimes is safer to admire the oeuvre of a master filmmaker than learning about the person behind the movie, the personal life of much admired directors. I am completely torn with this movie, wishing that I never saw it and at the same time somehow glad that I did not skip it. But whatever I resolve later, I sincerely hope that what I saw in this film and what I been reading will not spoil Hitchcock for me. Then truth is that I have seen almost all his films and even if for a moment I thought about seeing again one of his great masterpieces, Marnie, definitively will not now that have this story too fresh in my mind.

Film is not the story of the filming of The Birds as I suspected thanks to trailers and headlines. This is the story of Tippi Hedren and how in the hands of Hitchcock she learned to act, she became a movie star thanks to the two movies she did with Hitchcock and the probable reason why, after getting out of her contract, she never was able to work in big productions again.

My spontaneous reaction was to try to find what was true and what was not; unfortunately seems that what we see here is mostly true. Still is a good dramatization of truth that know will highly impact you if you admire Hitchcock and especially if you're a woman. If you are not familiar with Hitchcock then probably story will bore you before reaches the key turning point and will be glad that is a made for TV movie as you can stop watching just by changing the channel.

Film is shockingly disturbing. Shocking because tells a side of Alfred Hitchcock that I never imagined, a side that could easily come from many of the stories told in his movies, a side that seems fiction more than truth. But as far as I was able or willing to see and read, seems that is not much fiction.

Disturbing because I find film very well built; starts fine, evolves fine and after a key scene in a car while filming The Birds story turns dark and Toby Jones' Hitchcock characterization starts to produce in front of you layers of unthinkable cruelty and mental abuse like not often you are able to see in the screen, big or small. From that key moment film takes a very disturbing downturn that does not stop until Hitchcock explicitly request sexual services from Hedren, a scene that I will have edited out as in my opinion deludes the highly disturbing element to make film pedestrian for the last few minutes before the end. There was no need to be explicit, we already knew it, there was no need to be spelled out for us. See what bothered me less in this film was everything about his sexual overtures, what is really disturbing is the manipulation, the use of power, the mental abuse.

But have to admit that is a good movie that will make you feel lots of emotions, most of the non-positive kind. To be honest there were a few moments that I forgot I was watching a movie about Hitchcock and started to feel like I was watching a movie directed by Hitchcock, that's how good this movie can be at times. Performances are good with Tobey Jones slowly transforming in front of you and probably is the best of Sienna Miller I have seen; great as always in smaller roles Imelda Staunton and Penelope Wilson.

A film that I suggest women should decide before watching IF they are willing to see a disturbing movie about how a man destroys a woman and to those Hitchcock hard fans I strongly suggest you skip film, even if you already know about the director darker side.

Not a film to enjoy but to keep the rating system here goes the closing line.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

The Angels' Share

When Ken Loach does his particular kind of realism his films are not easy to watch especially when you consider the implications of what you are seeing. This film is no exception but what really surprises viewers familiar with director films is that movie is very funny! I was no exception. I really laugh hard with this movie and as some of you know, is not easy to make me laugh.

Humor has always been a great vehicle to portrait difficult matters but as we know humor is also a very personal matter. I believe that the kind of humor that Loach uses in this film is of the more universal kind that could appeal to wider audiences while still get the strong message about the bleak future that many young people currently face all over the world and especially in the so-called "First World" countries, those countries were young people used to have a future and now they don't.

Consider that I laughed hard even when know that surely didn't get most of the funny things happening with language as I am not Scottish and was impossible for me to get the many subtleties related to their culture and the use of language. This is one movie that wish could have seen with some Scottish friends that could -later- tell me more nuances about this great film. So if you have the opportunity to watch film with Scots around you I highly recommend you do it. Still, if you don't also know that movie could and will make you laugh enough to enjoy the ride and get the strong message.

Film tells the story of Robbie that barely escapes a prison sentence and goes to do some community service where he finds some pals that are all in a similar situation as himself. He and his small group of friends were given a last chance and you have no idea how well they take advantage of it. If I tell you more perhaps you could question the story plausibility but I can assure that while watching and after you will not as you have to remember that you are in the hands of a master filmmaker that plays with non-actor Paul Branningan (Robbie) extremely well as he also does with us viewers.

Actors performances are incredibly good and think that urban Scotland never looked so great as in this film that obviously has high production values; but is how Loach was able to almost perfectly assemble all the pieces what makes this film a very enjoyable ride. Can't help but tell you that perhaps this is the most mainstream Loach film but in this case I really do not mind as he made me laugh while highly enjoying the ride.

This 2012 Cannes in competition film is a must be seen movie from master storyteller and filmmaker Ken Loach, both to director's fans as well as to those that are not familiar with his movies as I know that after watching this film some will be interested in seeing his previous ones.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

On The Road

Was reading my Cannes preview for this film and to my surprise found that I was expecting something very specific, take a look:

Great visuals ... a non-traditional narrative style (done in the editing room), hopefully interesting enough to find some similarities to the written style of the book -but I know this will be hard, still will be a great surprise. Last, good performances by actors that I know can do great character interpretations.

The most interesting thing is that I found in this movie exactly what I was expecting, which of course I absolutely forgot until I read the preview today.

First let me give a brief background. I am very familiar with Jack Kerouac, have read the On The Road novel a long time ago, know quite a lot about the Beat Generation, both as a literary movement as well as a cultural expression. The very first cultural expression that influenced and marked me was this one and I was extremely young, a kid. With all this in mind I have to admit that I highly enjoyed this Walter Salles film as yes, has great visuals, editing is just FANTASTIC, and performances are quite good with very special mention to Garret Hedlund that absolutely steals the movie.

But think I figured out why this movie has so many non-positive reviews from professionals as well as from many viewers. Seems that those that have seen movie and are familiar with Kerouac, as an era icon and/or the author of the novel, did not like the movie because the book has something the movie doesn't have: very rich language. I agree with them. Then those that are NOT familiar with Kerouac and/or the novel, find film without a narrative, fragmented, episodic, and boring. I understand them.

So, why did I liked this movie so much? In my opinion screenwriter José Rivera did an outstanding work with very difficult material, but Walter Salles was able to do with the script something that I find even more extraordinary. Salles was able to capture and show the "spirit" of the Beat Generation as a cultural expression. That's exactly what hit me hard while watching this film; maybe not from the beginning as yes, I started watching with a very analytical and skeptic eye. Honestly I was expecting NOT to like film. But there was a moment when I stopped seeing the great visuals and following the short sketches or fragments -if you wish- as I was completely lost, immersed into the "spirit" of what I was seeing. To me, this is shockingly surprising and truly amazing, as never imagined that Salles could be able to understand and so effectively transmit/show a primordially American culture expression.

Won't get into explaining how the Beat Generation manifested as a cultural expression but will share that what you literally see in movie has some "modifications" done probably to please this century audiences. I'm talking about the female characters that are too strong while in those years, in the Beat Generation literature, in the novel and in reality, were not as then cultural expressions were very male chauvinist oriented. The major consequence is that we see Dean Moriarty as a far less attractive figure than he is when seen exclusively from Kerouac's point of view. Besides this issue, I find that what literally was shown is a good interpretation of the Beat Generation "spirit".

More than the story of Sal Paradise (character channeling Jack Kerouac) to me this film tells the story of Dean Moriarty (character channeling Neal Cassady) so we are literally exposed to manifestations of sexual freedom -including homosexuality-, drugs consumption, jazz as body expression, rules/laws disdain, despise economic materialism, vigorously express a desire to live the moment as intensely as possible and more. To me those (and more) are elements that compose the "spirit" of the Beat Generation.

I know this film is NOT for general audiences, not even for those that enjoy non-mainstream, art films; tend to believe that this film has what I think is a very small niche target group as surely nowadays the Beat Generation is forgotten, left to history annals, gone into oblivion. Yes, I believe film could only move those that still recall the Beat Generation "spirit". Then surely will displease Kerouac fans, the novel fans, and everybody else, especially those that see movie looking forward to watch all the sex scenes, including the gay interest ones, as I think all sex scenes are truly not pleasant to watch.

I saw the shorter version which I highly regret as definitively I could have watched more fragments which were shown in the original version at 2012 Cannes. Tend to believe, according to the map in the preview, that the shorter version cut the trip to Canada and maybe more. Really hope that in the future we are able to watch the full version, the original version as shown in Cannes. Sigh.

Once I got into the film "spirit" I was absolutely mesmerized, doubt that many of you will have my experience that after the end left my head spinning for a long while; still, IF you dare to see film, I hope you will be able to enjoy this outstanding film.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

20th Raindance Film Festival

This is the second time I talk about this festival as the only post in the blog is from 2008 festival with the award winners. I do follow everything about this fest as for me has very unconventional films from all over the world. This year they did something that makes it very easy to share info about the fest, they published a digital catalog.

Catalog is large as has 196 pages, but believe me, it is a lot easier to read than browsing the maze of the fest site. Most interesting for me are the films in the following four sections: World Cinema, Way Out East, The Reel Quebec and Mexican Film.

So here it is the 2012 catalog converted for very easy reading. Enjoy!

Open publication -

First Your Film Festival Award Winner

Today the winner was announced and is the entry from Spain. Michael Fassbinder gave the award.

La Culpa (The Guilt), David Victori Blaya, Spain

We know that eventually his new film will be at the festival YouTube channel for us to enjoy.

Congratulations to organizers for a great initiative.

Cheers!

The award winner short.



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8/7
A few days ago (August 1st) YouTube and Emirates in partnership with Scott Free Productions and the Venice Film Festival announced the ten (10) finalists that will attend the Biennale to compete for a US$500,000 prize towards producing more content with the help from Riddley Scott, Michael Fassbender and a world class crew.

Ridley Scott and Michael Fassbender are part of the jury that will select the grand prizewinner after the films are screened at the fest on September 2.

The ten finalists are market in *BLUE. To watch the finalists go here.

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6/12
If you like to watch short films this is your opportunity to see 50 semi-finalists in this festival where you can vote for your favorite. I just started watching and because the quality of the films decided to invite you all to this festival.

This is a copy of today's press release.

On June 11, YouTube and Emirates, in partnership with La Biennale di Venezia (the Venice Film Festival) and Scott Free, announced the 50 semi-finalists in the Your Film Festival competition - a global search to find the world's best storytellers. Scott Free had the difficult task of narrowing down more than 15,000 submissions from more than 160 countries across the globe. It is now up to the YouTube community to view and vote on the semi-finalists at youtube.com/yourfilmfestival thus helping decide which 10 filmmakers will attend the Venice Film Festival and compete for the $500,000 grand-prize.

These are the 50 semi-finalist short films.

*88:88, Joey Ciccoline, USA
Aisha's Song, Orlando von Einsiedel, UK
*Bat Eyes, Damien Power, Australia
Befetach Beity (On My Doorstep), Anat Costi, Israel
Bench Seat, Anna Mastro, USA
Biondina, Laura Bispuri, Italy
Boot, Damien Power, Australia
Café Turco (Turkish Coffee), Thiago Luciano, Brazil
Camino Al Cementerio, Mijael Milies and Carla Pastén, Chile
La Carta, Angel Manuel Soto Vazquez, Puerto Rico
*Cine Rincao, Fernando Grostein Andrade& Fernanda Fernandes, Brazil
Cortometraje Teta y Sopa, Alberto Gómez, Spain
*La Culpa (The Guilt), David Victori Blaya, Spain
Das Tub, James Cunningham, New Zealand
The Debt Collector, Alan David Morgan, USA
Dr Grordbort presents: the Deadliest Game, James Cunningham, New Zealand
*The Drought, Kevin Slack, USA
Ebony Society, Tammy Davis, New Zealand
La Guagua (The Child), Sebastian Mantilla, Spain
*El General, Diego Pino Zamora, Bolivia
Fish, Shaun Escayg, USA
Good Pretender, Maziar Lahooti, Australia
I'll Keep an Eye on You, Torben Bech, Denmark
Kiss, Alex Murawski, USA
Learning Spanish the Hard Way, Eric Stolze, USA
Letting Go, Daniel McCauley, South Africa
No Exit, Jesper Isaksen, Denmark
*North Atlantic, Bernardo Nascimento, UK
Перешкода (The Obstacle), Maxim Neafit Bujnicki, Ukraine
Photo For Baba, Harel Yana and Moti Malka, Israel
Picnic, Gerardo Herrero, Spain
El Porvenir- Episodio 1 Hermanos, Manuel Alejandro Anell, Mexico
Reflexiones de un Picaporte (Doorhandle Thoughts), Carlos Crespo Arnold, Spain
The Return Address, Abi Varghese, USA
*Scruples, Adrian Powers, Australia
Secular Quater #3, David Gidali, USA
Skatesistan: To live and skate in Kabul, Orlando von Einsiedel, UK
Skin of Glass, Lukas Dhont, Belgium
Sold, John Irwin, USA
Включи мотор и сдай назад (Start the Engine and reverse), Andrey Zagidullin, Russia
Stop. Watch. Love, Brad Herbert, USA
*Super.Full., Niam Itani, Lebanon
The Telegram Man, James Francis Khehtie, Australia
Tempestade (Storm), Cesar Cabral, Brazil
Ter Ter, David Lucchini & Fabien Carrabin, France
Then and Now, Paul Johannessen, Japan
هذا الزمان *(This Time), Ramy EL-Gabry, Egypt
Vi Ska Plocka Pascal I Natt (Our Mission: Pascal), Johanna Pyykkö, Sweden
Wickate, Niralji Ravishanker, Malaysia
Wylacznosc (An Exclusive), Krzysztof Szot, Poland

There are some directors that have excellent credentials like for example, short being at Cannes 2012 or being Bigas Luna assistant, which I share just to confirm the quality of the shorts. Among the jurors that helped to select the semi-finalist we have Ridley Scott and none other than Michael Fassbender.

To watch shorts please go here and VOTE - you have until July 13th- after all is OUR festival. According to rules, you can vote for 1 short each day, so if you have several favorites, you can vote for them but remember that is only one vote per voting day. Cheers!

Enjoy!!!

The Long Hot Summer Movie Bits

My summer was hot, too hot. I'm talking about the weather as many movies I saw were not hot at all. I'm glad this season is about to be over so my favorite season of the year will come next. I'm an Autumn person, because the weather as well as for the movies and all the cinema industry events.

Bonsai by Cristián Jiménez, Chile, Argentina, Portugal and France
Wanted to like movie at least as much as Ilusiones Opticas but I did not. At first couldn't figure out why but believe was because the narrative as movie as a movie is not that bad. Imagine many could like it but not me. Sigh.

Dark Shadows by Tim Burton, USA
While watching wondered if Burton saw what he did, I don't think so. One of the worst movies I have ever seen and the story idea was good, but the end result was awful. Sorry to see Johnny Depp involved with such a bad movie. Sigh.

Chelovek s kino-apparatom (Man With A Movie Camera) by Dziga Vertov, USSR, 1929
Wanted to love this silent film as many have enjoyed the ahead of its time documentary. Started watching in awe but too soon it became the same, something different was being shown but it was the same. Still agree that its ahead of its time, but after a while was too much to endure. Maybe it was the music of the version I saw (there are several music versions) so I muted sound but the visuals did not improved. Saw it complete but watching was hard until the end even when is just 8 minutes more than an hour. But is a classic and one film that everyone should see, maybe you will enjoy it more than I did. Enjoy.

Skoonheid (Beauty) by Oliver Hermanus, South Africa, Germany and France
Came with great credentials but I was not prepared to see a film that look and felt old, very old. I do admit that what happens here still exists today all over the world and never ends well for anyone. There are many homophobic married men that are homosexuals and this is just one story. Never before have seen man-to-man rape, was very unpleasant to watch as much as it is with any kind of rape. I did not enjoyed this film. Sigh.

Fjellet (The Mountain) by Ole Giæver, Norway
The location was absolutely stunning and film had great visuals but fast, very fast I stopped enjoying the sights as this grieving story became truly annoying. Film tells about a couple of women, lesbians, trying to save their relationship while one of them (the biological mother) can't overcome the death of their child. Everything in this film is underestimated and maybe in the hands of a female director film could have been better, at least to help bring more credibility to these two women drama. Film is quite short, 13 minutes more than one hour, but felt like it was three or more hours Sigh.

The Dark Knight Rises by Christopher Nolan, USA
Not impressed at all. Batman has so little time in the screen that doesn't seem like a Batman movie which is similar to the Dark Knight; but unfortunately is NOT the Dark Knight as no one can do what Heath Ledger did in that movie. Marion Cotillard is here and I hardly notice her. Wanted my money back. Sigh.

I had not much luck with those movies but my luck was better with several documentaries.

First Love by Claire Gorman, Australia and USA
A true surprise very enjoyable to watch with a great story about three teenage girls that are in love, not with boys but with surfing. Narrative is so well constructed that makes documentary look and feel more like a movie, a very entertaining movie. Highly recommend watching film and definitively is must be seen for women that enjoy surfing. Enjoy!!!

Senna by Asif Kapadia, UK
Another surprise as yes I know who Ayrton Senna is, no I'm no motor-racing fan (even do once, only once I drove a Formula One) and no, knew nothing about Senna's life. A very emotional roller-coaster tale that shows us a very interesting human being. Very hard to believe that a car-racing driver story could be that much entertaining and so highly emotional but documentary has excellent tech specs and a most impressive storyteller and filmmaker. Bravo. Must be seen. Enjoy!!!

Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present by Matthew Akers and Jeff Dupre, USA
Very interesting documentary mainly because the story it tells. Documents the Serbian performance artist as she prepares for a retrospective of her work (we see old footage of some of her work) at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, but also takes us into the most amazing, compelling performance she does for 3 months every day. I love Art as much as I love movies, but not much a fan of performance art; still this amazing artist has changed my mind, I fell in love with performing art. Bravo. I strongly suggest you experience this film. Big Enjoy!!!

The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom by Lucy Walker, UK
Lucy Walker makes impressive documentaries but this short documentary is more than impressive as is really beautiful to watch but at the same time awfully hard to watch and you can't help but shred tears while and after watching. For me was a very emotional experience. Tells a story about survivors in the areas hardest hit by Japan's recent tsunami and how they find the courage to revive and rebuild as cherry blossom season begins. Suggest you watch it, but maybe you have to be prepared for a strong emotional ride. Enjoy!!!

Vito by Jeffrey Schwarz, USA
Another surprise as documentary is very well constructed while the story is compelling. Tells the story of Vito Russo, founding father of USA gay liberation movement, vociferous AIDS activist in the 1980s and none the less, the author of the quite famous and the most iconic guide to gay and lesbian cinema history, The Celluloid Closet. I knew him for his work but his life story is very compelling and touching thanks to the great storyteller and filmmaker. I believe that even if you're not interested in the genre films, the story in this documentary could interest you as after all is part of the history of the United States of America, and in a way, that's exactly how I believe is portrayed in the documentary. Find this documentary many times more interesting than The Times of Harvey Milk documentary and yes, also than the film, Milk. Enjoy!!!

Surely I'm forgetting some movies but as you can suspect, where not interesting enough for me to like or dislike them.

The Lorax Premier - From The Orange Carpet

The sun was out and orange with a dash of yellow was the color of the day. We've seen red carpets, we've even seen green, but the bright orange one, signifying the color of the film, welcomed everyone at the entrance of Birmingham Cineworld who were hosting the premier of the new animation, Lorax, based on the ever famous Dr. Seuss book. The event was also the very first UK premier for a film outside of London.

The event was beautifully organized with gracious hosts and a sense of joy and laughter all around with the Lorax character dancing and mingling on the carpet along with balloon makers and face painters. My sources inside the theater, wife and daughter, informed me the ambience was that of fun and frolic with cupcakes, candy-floss, sweets, Lorax mustaches, along with other goodies, in abundance to keep the young and the young-at-heart pleasantly satisfied.

Emile Heskey, Danielle Lloyd, members of the American Olympic Team, and Joe Egan were among the celebrities who walked down the orange carpet. Joe Egan, who has acted in the Sherlock Holmes films along with a part in the Indian film Ra.One epitomizes the "big lovable" character especially when he said one of his dreams was to walk down the red carpet with his mum. Called "the toughest white man on the planet" by Mike Tyson he modestly talked about how he's enjoying and loving slowly but surely rising up in the entertainment business making a name and mark for himself and can be seen next in the film Crying Wolf.

As expected, the arrival of Danny DeVito was greeted with unanimous cheering from all the fans present around the carpet. A legendary actor, he met with his fans and members of the press with the same kind of excitement and enthusiasm only a newcomer promoting his first movie has. Visiting Birmingham for the first time he was quick to point out that the much needed sunshine probably had something to do with the "Lorax" being in town. Crediting the entire team of the movie including producers, writers, and animators, he spoke about doing the voice for the movie in Russian, German, Spanish, and Italian himself. On stage, he emphasized the message that Lorax gives and how it is important that "if you see somebody abusing something, stop 'em".

I do hope that having the first ever UK premier of a major movie outside of London starts a new trend. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by all present especially the children. You can watch a video I made of my daughter about her experience on her return below. Both my wife and my daughter enjoyed the film and the orange Lorax 3D glasses for the children were a nice little addition to the goodie bag.

I would also like to thank the wonderful people at DDA PR and Prepared PR who organized my very first press pass which I will cherish forever.