What makes a truly great film? Is it a superlative stylist behind the camera? Maybe a top shelf screenplay? Or is it the skill with which the performers in front of the camera invite the viewer into the narrative? Well, when dealing with the likes of Catherine Deneuve, it’s hard for a viewer to find anything other than utter captivation in each and every line reading, no matter the source material.
Just take a look at the iconic French actress’ latest film, The Midwife. From writer/director Martin Provost, The Midwife finds Deneuve taking a supporting role in the story of Claire (Catherine Frot), a midwife and single mother on the verge of a truly life changing moment. As her son makes his way through college, Claire is facing a changing job landscape at her birthing clinic and the large hospital looking to steal her away as well as...
Just take a look at the iconic French actress’ latest film, The Midwife. From writer/director Martin Provost, The Midwife finds Deneuve taking a supporting role in the story of Claire (Catherine Frot), a midwife and single mother on the verge of a truly life changing moment. As her son makes his way through college, Claire is facing a changing job landscape at her birthing clinic and the large hospital looking to steal her away as well as...
- 7/20/2017
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
Exclusive: TF1 to unveil project in presence of Alain Prost.
Formula One champion Alain Prost flies into Cannes this weekend for a presentation of Julien Leclercq’s upcoming biopic Prost, retelling his life story through his close relationship with late brother Daniel and his on-track rivalry with Ayrton Senna.
“It’s a story of brothers in two parts. In the first part, we see his relationship with his brother Daniel, who was passionate about racing. He died around the time Senna came into Prost’s life. The pair were rivals, even when they were on the same team, but after Prost retired they became close,” said Paris-based Julien Madon, who is producing under his Labyrinthe Films banner which he runs with Leclercq. Mars Films is also on board as co-producer and French distributor.
TF1 Studio, which is handling international sales, will present the €17m project to buyers on Monday in the presence of Prost, Leclercq and Madon...
Formula One champion Alain Prost flies into Cannes this weekend for a presentation of Julien Leclercq’s upcoming biopic Prost, retelling his life story through his close relationship with late brother Daniel and his on-track rivalry with Ayrton Senna.
“It’s a story of brothers in two parts. In the first part, we see his relationship with his brother Daniel, who was passionate about racing. He died around the time Senna came into Prost’s life. The pair were rivals, even when they were on the same team, but after Prost retired they became close,” said Paris-based Julien Madon, who is producing under his Labyrinthe Films banner which he runs with Leclercq. Mars Films is also on board as co-producer and French distributor.
TF1 Studio, which is handling international sales, will present the €17m project to buyers on Monday in the presence of Prost, Leclercq and Madon...
- 5/20/2017
- ScreenDaily
Istanbul Film Festival unveils line-up and Meetings On The Bridge details.
The İstanbul Film Festival (April 5-15) has unveiled the programme for its 36th edition.
Scroll down for lineups
Despite intensive political campaigning ahead of the Turkish constitutional referendum on April 16 and an ongoing state of emergency in the country following last year’s July putsch, festival director Kerem Ayan revealed the line-up at a relatively relaxed press conference in Istanbul.
The festival will host a total of 203 films in 21 categories from 61 countries in nine venues on both sides of the Bosphorous. Among those are 13 Turkish features getting their world premieres.
Among films to compete in the international competition are Toronto hit Lady Macbeth and French immigration drama This is Our Land.
While the number of international guests set to attend the festival is expected to be down on previous years due to a series of terror attacks in the city, notable guests...
The İstanbul Film Festival (April 5-15) has unveiled the programme for its 36th edition.
Scroll down for lineups
Despite intensive political campaigning ahead of the Turkish constitutional referendum on April 16 and an ongoing state of emergency in the country following last year’s July putsch, festival director Kerem Ayan revealed the line-up at a relatively relaxed press conference in Istanbul.
The festival will host a total of 203 films in 21 categories from 61 countries in nine venues on both sides of the Bosphorous. Among those are 13 Turkish features getting their world premieres.
Among films to compete in the international competition are Toronto hit Lady Macbeth and French immigration drama This is Our Land.
While the number of international guests set to attend the festival is expected to be down on previous years due to a series of terror attacks in the city, notable guests...
- 3/14/2017
- ScreenDaily
Istanbul Film Festival unveils line-up and Meetings On The Bridge details.
The İstanbul Film Festival (April 5-15) has unveiled the programme for its 36th edition.
Scroll down for lineups
Despite intensive political campaigning ahead of the Turkish constitutional referendum on April 16 and an ongoing state of emergency in the country following last year’s July putsch, festival director Kerem Ayan revealed the line-up at a relatively relaxed press conference in Istanbul.
The festival will host a total of 203 films in 21 categories from 61 countries in nine venues on both sides of the Bosphorous. Among those are 13 Turkish features getting their world premieres.
Among films to compete in the international competition are Toronto hit Lady Macbeth and French immigration drama This is Our Land.
While the number of international guests set to attend the festival is expected to be down on previous years due to a series of terror attacks in the city, notable guests...
The İstanbul Film Festival (April 5-15) has unveiled the programme for its 36th edition.
Scroll down for lineups
Despite intensive political campaigning ahead of the Turkish constitutional referendum on April 16 and an ongoing state of emergency in the country following last year’s July putsch, festival director Kerem Ayan revealed the line-up at a relatively relaxed press conference in Istanbul.
The festival will host a total of 203 films in 21 categories from 61 countries in nine venues on both sides of the Bosphorous. Among those are 13 Turkish features getting their world premieres.
Among films to compete in the international competition are Toronto hit Lady Macbeth and French immigration drama This is Our Land.
While the number of international guests set to attend the festival is expected to be down on previous years due to a series of terror attacks in the city, notable guests...
- 3/14/2017
- ScreenDaily
Politics drama that upset France’s Front National party to market premiere at Rendez-vous with French cinema.
The French release of Lucas Belvaux’s populist politics drama This Is Our Land (Chez Nous) will go ahead as planned in February and without cuts in the face of fierce criticism from France’s far-right Front National (Fn) party, distributor Jean Labadie of Paris-based Le Pacte has vowed.
The Belgian director’s film has been in the eye of a political storm this week following the release of the first trailer on Dec 30, ahead of its scheduled Feb 22 release.
Le Pacte’s international sales team will hold buyers-only screening at Unifrance’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris next week. It will get its festival world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam at the end of this month.
“The film will be released in February as planned and in its current form. There will be...
The French release of Lucas Belvaux’s populist politics drama This Is Our Land (Chez Nous) will go ahead as planned in February and without cuts in the face of fierce criticism from France’s far-right Front National (Fn) party, distributor Jean Labadie of Paris-based Le Pacte has vowed.
The Belgian director’s film has been in the eye of a political storm this week following the release of the first trailer on Dec 30, ahead of its scheduled Feb 22 release.
Le Pacte’s international sales team will hold buyers-only screening at Unifrance’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris next week. It will get its festival world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam at the end of this month.
“The film will be released in February as planned and in its current form. There will be...
- 1/6/2017
- ScreenDaily
"The Most Beautiful Wife" The 'double standard' between men and women reveals its roots in paternalistic barbarism, as demonstrated by this quality Italo crime picture about a young woman claimed against her will by a Mafia thug. The gorgeous star Ornella Muti makes her debut; the sinister Mafia punk is Alessio Orano. It's strong stuff, but not exploitative. La moglie più bella Blu-ray Twilight Time 1970 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 109 min. / Street Date September 6, 2016 / The Most Beautiful Wife / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store24.95 Starring Ornella Muti, Alessio Orano, Tano Cimarosa, Pierluigi Aprà Cinematography Franco di Giacomo Production Design Umberto Turco Film Editor Antonio Siciliano Original Music Ennio Morricone Written by Damiano Damiani, Sofia Scandurra, Enrico Ribulisi Directed by Damiano Damiani
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
One doesn't expect an Italian crime film to help bring about social change, but this show may be an exception. Frankly, its dark them fits right...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
One doesn't expect an Italian crime film to help bring about social change, but this show may be an exception. Frankly, its dark them fits right...
- 9/12/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Exclusive: Romantic comedy exploring world of online dating to star Pierre Richard [pictured].
Memento Film International (Mfi) has boarded sales on French film-maker Stéphane Robelin’s upcoming romantic comedy Mr. Stein Goes Online, starring Pierre Richard as a widower who decides to explore the world of online dating.
Richard will play an elderly widower Pierre who has been a living a solitary life since the death of his wife. His daughter gets him a computer in the hope it might stimulate him and lead to him socialising online at least. With the help of young computer teacher Alex, he starts surfing the net and falls on an online dating website.
Under Alex’s identity, Pierre starts up a conversation with a fascinating young physiotherapist, going by the alias of Flora63. She in term is charmed by the elegant profile he has given himself. Caught up in the thrill of the online encounter, he accepts...
Memento Film International (Mfi) has boarded sales on French film-maker Stéphane Robelin’s upcoming romantic comedy Mr. Stein Goes Online, starring Pierre Richard as a widower who decides to explore the world of online dating.
Richard will play an elderly widower Pierre who has been a living a solitary life since the death of his wife. His daughter gets him a computer in the hope it might stimulate him and lead to him socialising online at least. With the help of young computer teacher Alex, he starts surfing the net and falls on an online dating website.
Under Alex’s identity, Pierre starts up a conversation with a fascinating young physiotherapist, going by the alias of Flora63. She in term is charmed by the elegant profile he has given himself. Caught up in the thrill of the online encounter, he accepts...
- 2/4/2016
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Romantic comedy exploring world of online dating to star Pierre Richard [pictured].
Memento Film International (Mfi) has boarded sales on French film-maker Stéphane Robelin’s upcoming romantic comedy Mr. Stein Is Online, starring Pierre Richard as a widower who decides to explore the world of online dating.
Richard will play an elderly widower Pierre who has been a living a solitary life since the death of his wife. His daughter gets him a computer in the hope it might stimulate him and lead to him socialising online at least. With the help of young computer teacher Alex, he starts surfing the net and falls on an online dating website.
Under Alex’s identity, Pierre starts up a conversation with a fascinating young physiotherapist, going by the alias of Flora63. She in term is charmed by the elegant profile he has given himself. Caught up in the thrill of the online encounter, he accepts...
Memento Film International (Mfi) has boarded sales on French film-maker Stéphane Robelin’s upcoming romantic comedy Mr. Stein Is Online, starring Pierre Richard as a widower who decides to explore the world of online dating.
Richard will play an elderly widower Pierre who has been a living a solitary life since the death of his wife. His daughter gets him a computer in the hope it might stimulate him and lead to him socialising online at least. With the help of young computer teacher Alex, he starts surfing the net and falls on an online dating website.
Under Alex’s identity, Pierre starts up a conversation with a fascinating young physiotherapist, going by the alias of Flora63. She in term is charmed by the elegant profile he has given himself. Caught up in the thrill of the online encounter, he accepts...
- 2/4/2016
- ScreenDaily
Market sets scene for Berlin and Cannes but few deals sealed.
Sellers reported a slow start to the year at UniFrance’s annual Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris over the weekend (Dec 14-18) in terms of sealed deals but said the event had set the stage for sales at Berlin and even Cannes.
“Buyers are getting pickier. They want titles they’re 100% sure will work in their territories. You get the sense things are tougher for them and that they’re not prepared to take risks. They’re looking for the next La Famille Bélier or Serial (Bad) Weddings,” commented Olivier Albou of Other Angle Pictures, referring to two of France’s top comedy exports of the last 18 months.
Albou said there was strong interest for Other Angle titles The Roommates Party (Le Grand Partage), Full Speed (A Fond), by Babysitting director Nicolas Benamou, and A Mighty Team (La Dream Team), which opened the event on Thursday...
Sellers reported a slow start to the year at UniFrance’s annual Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris over the weekend (Dec 14-18) in terms of sealed deals but said the event had set the stage for sales at Berlin and even Cannes.
“Buyers are getting pickier. They want titles they’re 100% sure will work in their territories. You get the sense things are tougher for them and that they’re not prepared to take risks. They’re looking for the next La Famille Bélier or Serial (Bad) Weddings,” commented Olivier Albou of Other Angle Pictures, referring to two of France’s top comedy exports of the last 18 months.
Albou said there was strong interest for Other Angle titles The Roommates Party (Le Grand Partage), Full Speed (A Fond), by Babysitting director Nicolas Benamou, and A Mighty Team (La Dream Team), which opened the event on Thursday...
- 1/20/2016
- ScreenDaily
Chef Boyardee: Wells Fails with Filmmaking Recipe
For his third film outing, director John Wells delves into the catty universe of high-end cuisine with Burnt (formerly titled Adam Jones for its lead character) with the same square generalities formulating the emotionless energy of previous dramas August: Osage County and The Company Men. Bradley Cooper once again plays a smug playboy, one of those confused personalities charged with simultaneous duties as narcissistic tyrant and charismatic romantic lead.
Attempting to extol the high-stakes wheeling and dealing of the fine-dining universe, it’s a film professing to depict the elegance and privilege of a specific scene but couldn’t be any more thanklessly banal. Much like another Bradley Cooper vehicle, the literary minded The Words (2012), the subject matter is sidelined by standard issue formulaic tropes, satisfying every conceivable audience expectation.
A once revered two-star Michelin rated chef, Adam Jones (Cooper), sucks down his...
For his third film outing, director John Wells delves into the catty universe of high-end cuisine with Burnt (formerly titled Adam Jones for its lead character) with the same square generalities formulating the emotionless energy of previous dramas August: Osage County and The Company Men. Bradley Cooper once again plays a smug playboy, one of those confused personalities charged with simultaneous duties as narcissistic tyrant and charismatic romantic lead.
Attempting to extol the high-stakes wheeling and dealing of the fine-dining universe, it’s a film professing to depict the elegance and privilege of a specific scene but couldn’t be any more thanklessly banal. Much like another Bradley Cooper vehicle, the literary minded The Words (2012), the subject matter is sidelined by standard issue formulaic tropes, satisfying every conceivable audience expectation.
A once revered two-star Michelin rated chef, Adam Jones (Cooper), sucks down his...
- 10/30/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Kristen Stewart, Catherine Deneuve make César Award history (photo: Kristen Stewart in 'Clouds of Sils Maria,' with Juliette Binoche) Kristen Stewart and Catherine Deneuve are two 2015 César Award nominees making history. The French Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Crafts announced the nominations on Jan. 28, 2015; the César Awards ceremony will take place on Feb. 20, 2015, at Paris' Théâtre du Châtelet. Kristen Stewart is in the running in the Best Supporting Actress category for Clouds of Sils Maria / Sils Maria. Catherine Deneuve has been shortlisted as Best Actress for In the Courtyard / Dans la cour. So, how are Stewart and Deneuve making César history? Well, let's begin with "the expected one": Deneuve. Catherine Deneuve One of the biggest film icons ever, Catherine Deneuve is one of those relatively rare international film superstars who has never bothered with – or needed – a Hollywood career. Deneuve, who turned 71 last October 22, has been...
- 1/30/2015
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
A delegation of creators, artists, performers and directors members of the coalition of the 6200 creators who have submitted a petition to the European Parliament will be in Strasbourg next Tuesday, June 11.
A press conference is scheduled from 5pm to 5:30pm at the European Parliament.
This press conference aims to defend the massive European Parliament vote in favor of the exclusion of cultural and audiovisual services, including online services, from the EU-usa trade agreement and to update on the state of negotiations on the eve of the Council Foreign Affairs that will take place on June 14, 2013.
To date, the following creators, members of the delegation, confirmed their presence in Strasbourg:
Bérénice Bejo (French Actress, Best Actress Award at Cannes for The Past by Asghar Farhadi, César for Best Actress for The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius)
Costa Gavras (writer, director and producer Franco-Greek, President of the French Cinematheque, won 11 awards including a Palme d’Or, an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, an Ours d’Or, a Cesar for Best Original Screenplay)
Lucas Belvaux (Belgian actor and director, author of An Amazing Couple, Cavale, After life, Rapt, 38 Witnesses)
Daniele Luchetti (Italian actor and director, Camera d'Or at Cannes for Domani Accadrà, author of La Nostra Vita)
Cristian Mungiu (writer, director and producer in Romania, won the Palme d'Or for 4 Months, 3 Weeks)
Radu Mihaileanu (Romanian writer and director, won a Cesar for Best Original Screenplay for Va, vis et deviens)
There are 6200 creators petitioners, and they invite whomever to participate in the press conference next Thursday June 11th at 5pm.
Contact:
Anaïs Benfedda
benf.anais[a]gmail.com...
A press conference is scheduled from 5pm to 5:30pm at the European Parliament.
This press conference aims to defend the massive European Parliament vote in favor of the exclusion of cultural and audiovisual services, including online services, from the EU-usa trade agreement and to update on the state of negotiations on the eve of the Council Foreign Affairs that will take place on June 14, 2013.
To date, the following creators, members of the delegation, confirmed their presence in Strasbourg:
Bérénice Bejo (French Actress, Best Actress Award at Cannes for The Past by Asghar Farhadi, César for Best Actress for The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius)
Costa Gavras (writer, director and producer Franco-Greek, President of the French Cinematheque, won 11 awards including a Palme d’Or, an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, an Ours d’Or, a Cesar for Best Original Screenplay)
Lucas Belvaux (Belgian actor and director, author of An Amazing Couple, Cavale, After life, Rapt, 38 Witnesses)
Daniele Luchetti (Italian actor and director, Camera d'Or at Cannes for Domani Accadrà, author of La Nostra Vita)
Cristian Mungiu (writer, director and producer in Romania, won the Palme d'Or for 4 Months, 3 Weeks)
Radu Mihaileanu (Romanian writer and director, won a Cesar for Best Original Screenplay for Va, vis et deviens)
There are 6200 creators petitioners, and they invite whomever to participate in the press conference next Thursday June 11th at 5pm.
Contact:
Anaïs Benfedda
benf.anais[a]gmail.com...
- 6/8/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Les Saveurs du palais (also known as Haute Cuisine)
Directed by Christian Vincent
Written by Étienne Comar, Christian Vincent
France, 2012
It is somewhat surprising to realize that so few films have been made which concerned themselves with the topic of food. Apart from being an essential element conducive towards human survival, food is in many respects an important side to a community’s culture. It can look and taste great, but also express certain values and beliefs. Of course, there are many films that have food in them, but few are genuinely about food and how it influences, inspires and swings moods. A beautiful example is the 1996 film, Big Night, with Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci. Whatever the case may be, it is always pleasant news when a new release has food as its principle subject matter, for it can influence the story and its characters in so many ways,...
Directed by Christian Vincent
Written by Étienne Comar, Christian Vincent
France, 2012
It is somewhat surprising to realize that so few films have been made which concerned themselves with the topic of food. Apart from being an essential element conducive towards human survival, food is in many respects an important side to a community’s culture. It can look and taste great, but also express certain values and beliefs. Of course, there are many films that have food in them, but few are genuinely about food and how it influences, inspires and swings moods. A beautiful example is the 1996 film, Big Night, with Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci. Whatever the case may be, it is always pleasant news when a new release has food as its principle subject matter, for it can influence the story and its characters in so many ways,...
- 12/7/2012
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
After the loss of her father, Zoe (Oriane Zani) has retreated into a world of silence and isolation. Distant from her resolute Police officer mother Jeanne (Dominique Blanc), Zoe’s only true advocate in life is her black and orange cat Dino. The two share a loving and mutual relationship, but Dino has a secret: At night he is an accomplice to cat-burglar Nico (Bruno Salomone).
In case you have not heard, France is all the rage right now. The French are dominating American cinema [see The Artist and Hugo], whilst American cinema is obsessing with the French [see Midnight in Paris, TinTin and The Three Musketeers]. Over 75% of the recent Oscar accolades were, in some way, awarded to or due to French involvement. It seems that the West has written a billet doux to our baguette baking cousins, and one can only hope that this is a belle époque rather than just cinema du jour (I think that’s...
After the loss of her father, Zoe (Oriane Zani) has retreated into a world of silence and isolation. Distant from her resolute Police officer mother Jeanne (Dominique Blanc), Zoe’s only true advocate in life is her black and orange cat Dino. The two share a loving and mutual relationship, but Dino has a secret: At night he is an accomplice to cat-burglar Nico (Bruno Salomone).
In case you have not heard, France is all the rage right now. The French are dominating American cinema [see The Artist and Hugo], whilst American cinema is obsessing with the French [see Midnight in Paris, TinTin and The Three Musketeers]. Over 75% of the recent Oscar accolades were, in some way, awarded to or due to French involvement. It seems that the West has written a billet doux to our baguette baking cousins, and one can only hope that this is a belle époque rather than just cinema du jour (I think that’s...
- 4/5/2012
- by Brad Williams
- Obsessed with Film
The Snows of Kilimanjaro
"As the annual Rendez-Vous With French Cinema series begins in New York City [today] with a screening of the blockbuster Intouchables, France's film industry is jubilant," begins Stephen Holden in the New York Times, and of course, what he's referring to first is the nearly absolute domination of The Artist throughout the just-passed awards season. Secondly, he's referring to the opening night film, "an interracial buddy comedy that has grossed nearly $240 million. It is now the second-highest-grossing French movie ever (behind Welcome to the Sticks). It's also "a crass escapist comedy that feels like a Gallic throwback to an 80s Eddie Murphy movie."
Variety's Jill Goldsmith reports that, just in time for the Us premiere, Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the xenophobic National Front party has said, "'It would be a disaster if France were to find itself in the same situation' as the wealthy crippled Frenchman...
"As the annual Rendez-Vous With French Cinema series begins in New York City [today] with a screening of the blockbuster Intouchables, France's film industry is jubilant," begins Stephen Holden in the New York Times, and of course, what he's referring to first is the nearly absolute domination of The Artist throughout the just-passed awards season. Secondly, he's referring to the opening night film, "an interracial buddy comedy that has grossed nearly $240 million. It is now the second-highest-grossing French movie ever (behind Welcome to the Sticks). It's also "a crass escapist comedy that feels like a Gallic throwback to an 80s Eddie Murphy movie."
Variety's Jill Goldsmith reports that, just in time for the Us premiere, Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the xenophobic National Front party has said, "'It would be a disaster if France were to find itself in the same situation' as the wealthy crippled Frenchman...
- 3/3/2012
- MUBI
A Cat in Paris (Une vie de chat)
Directed by: Jean-Loup Felicioli, Alain Gagnol
Cast: Dominique Blanc, Bruno Salomone
Running Time: 1 hr 10 min
Rating: Not Rated
Showtimes at Piff: Friday 2/10 6:15 at Cinemagic, Saturday 2/11 3:30 at Cinemagic, Thursday 2/16 6:30 at Pioneer Place 5 Complete Piff Schedule
Plot: By day, Dino is a house cat living with a silent little girl named Zoe. By night, he teams up with Nico for daring robberies, until one day, when his worlds collide after Zoe is kidnapped and he needs Nico to help rescue her.
Who’S It For? Older children and adults. Some of the action might be pretty scary for young kids.
Overall
This year’s Oscar nominees include two surprise choices in the animation category. One is this film, A Cat in Paris. Using traditional cel animation combined with a unique character design reminiscent of Modigliani, it tells the story of a...
Directed by: Jean-Loup Felicioli, Alain Gagnol
Cast: Dominique Blanc, Bruno Salomone
Running Time: 1 hr 10 min
Rating: Not Rated
Showtimes at Piff: Friday 2/10 6:15 at Cinemagic, Saturday 2/11 3:30 at Cinemagic, Thursday 2/16 6:30 at Pioneer Place 5 Complete Piff Schedule
Plot: By day, Dino is a house cat living with a silent little girl named Zoe. By night, he teams up with Nico for daring robberies, until one day, when his worlds collide after Zoe is kidnapped and he needs Nico to help rescue her.
Who’S It For? Older children and adults. Some of the action might be pretty scary for young kids.
Overall
This year’s Oscar nominees include two surprise choices in the animation category. One is this film, A Cat in Paris. Using traditional cel animation combined with a unique character design reminiscent of Modigliani, it tells the story of a...
- 2/10/2012
- by Megan Lehar
- The Scorecard Review
We have a report or two from the International Film Festival Rotterdam on the way, so this'll be something of a supplementary roundup, collecting reviews, impressions and so on from the festival that runs through Sunday. The first main event would have to be the world premiere of the film Takashi Miike is now calling Ace Attorney. The Iffr has posted a video record of Gawie Keyser's "Big Talk" with Miike that took place on Saturday. The introduction's in Dutch, and it's followed by a trailer with English subtitles (much longer, too, than the first trailer) and the conversation itself is a mingling of questions in English and answers in Japanese with Dutch subtitles. Miike obsessives, though, will be able to sort out what's being said.
"The Iffr and Miike have been friendly towards each other ever since Audition had a few legendary screenings over here back in 2000, and it...
"The Iffr and Miike have been friendly towards each other ever since Audition had a few legendary screenings over here back in 2000, and it...
- 2/1/2012
- MUBI
The 41st International Film Festival Rotterdam, which opened this past Thursday with the world premiere Lucas Belvaux’s "38 Temoins" (38 Witnesses), kicked into gear on Sunday morning with the opening of the festival’s annual CineMart. One of the world most preeminent co-production and financing markets for feature film projects looking to get under way in the new year, this year CineMart includes 36 projects, up from last year’s total of 33, but down from years' past when CineMart routinely included well over 40 projects. “We had to pass up a lot of projects we really love,” said Tobias Pausinger, co-selector of this year’s CineMart with manager Jacobine van der Vloed. This year’s pool was culled from 465 submissions. Between the parties, lunches and panels, the core element of CineMart is four full days of "speed date" meetings between project producers and potential financiers, sales agents,...
- 1/31/2012
- Indiewire
Neil Moritz is remaking Robert A. Heinlein‘s Starship Troopers with Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz writing the screenplay. Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz are the screenwriters of Thor and X-Men: First Class. This does not imbue me with that much hope as Thor was severely flawed and X-Men: First Class had some issues as well.
On the original Starship Troopers and future releases:
The original film, released in 1997, was a moderate theatrical success but lives on in the hearts of its fans (myself included) and in numerous direct to DVD sequels. A new animated film, Starship Troopers Invasion, from the acclaimed director of Appleseed Shinji Aramaki, will be released next year.
Two questions asked of what the remake will consist of, with the writer’s answers following them:
1. Will they go back to the Heinlein source material or draw from Verhoeven’s film?
Heinlein’s book is...
On the original Starship Troopers and future releases:
The original film, released in 1997, was a moderate theatrical success but lives on in the hearts of its fans (myself included) and in numerous direct to DVD sequels. A new animated film, Starship Troopers Invasion, from the acclaimed director of Appleseed Shinji Aramaki, will be released next year.
Two questions asked of what the remake will consist of, with the writer’s answers following them:
1. Will they go back to the Heinlein source material or draw from Verhoeven’s film?
Heinlein’s book is...
- 12/3/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
Before Libyans rose up against him, Muammar Gaddafi used money, and well-timed diplomatic overtures, to worm his way into the West's good graces. In this week's Newsweek, Christopher Dickey looks at how Bush, Blair, and Berlusconi gave the brutal dictator a makeover.
The tale is a sordid one, but let's at least begin in relatively pleasant surroundings, among the leather armchairs of the Travellers Club in London. Its rooms have been a favorite rendezvous since the 19th century for gentlemen of international intrigue-and it's where Libya's urbane, white-haired spymaster, Musa Kusa, met with representatives of the British and American intelligence services in December 2003. Their purpose was to hammer out a deal to bring Kusa's boss, Muammar Gaddafi, in from the cold.
Related story on The Daily Beast: Galliano Erased at Christian Dior
Kusa, now Libya's foreign minister, affects none of the silly props and pretenses-the tents and turbans and...
The tale is a sordid one, but let's at least begin in relatively pleasant surroundings, among the leather armchairs of the Travellers Club in London. Its rooms have been a favorite rendezvous since the 19th century for gentlemen of international intrigue-and it's where Libya's urbane, white-haired spymaster, Musa Kusa, met with representatives of the British and American intelligence services in December 2003. Their purpose was to hammer out a deal to bring Kusa's boss, Muammar Gaddafi, in from the cold.
Related story on The Daily Beast: Galliano Erased at Christian Dior
Kusa, now Libya's foreign minister, affects none of the silly props and pretenses-the tents and turbans and...
- 3/7/2011
- by Christopher Dickey
- The Daily Beast
Gilles Marchand's Black Heaven is currently playing on IFC Films video-on-demand feature via Comcast, Cox, Cablevision, Time Warner, and Bright House (Dread). The trailer below shows two lives. One is played online, while a second is played in reality. Both spheres of interaction offer murder, suicide and a life filled with new thrills, but new dangers. Have a look at the clip below and order the film for your viewing pleasure.
The film's synopsis is here:
"The story follows an innocent young kid, Gaspar (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet), who, becoming enamored with a mysterious/gorgeous girl (Louise Bourgoin), is lured into a "Black Hole" - a dark, obscure video game world of avatars with deadly serious intentions in the real world" (IFC Films).
Director: Gilles Marchand.
Writers: Gilles Marchand and Dominik Moll.
Cast: Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Louise Bourgoin, Melvil Poupaud, Pauline Etienne, Pierre Niney, Ali Marhyar, Patrick Descamps, and Swann Arlaud.
The...
The film's synopsis is here:
"The story follows an innocent young kid, Gaspar (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet), who, becoming enamored with a mysterious/gorgeous girl (Louise Bourgoin), is lured into a "Black Hole" - a dark, obscure video game world of avatars with deadly serious intentions in the real world" (IFC Films).
Director: Gilles Marchand.
Writers: Gilles Marchand and Dominik Moll.
Cast: Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Louise Bourgoin, Melvil Poupaud, Pauline Etienne, Pierre Niney, Ali Marhyar, Patrick Descamps, and Swann Arlaud.
The...
- 12/9/2010
- by 28DaysLaterAnalysis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
A look at what's new on DVD today:
"The Fantasia Collection"
Released by Disney Home Entertainment
While the headliner of Disney's incredible group of releases on November 30th will be the four-disc Blu-ray double feature of "Fantasia" and "Fantasia 2000," it's what's less publicized that should be exciting to both Disneyphiles and film fans in general. Starting with the hi-def debut of the two "Fantasias," Disney will finally include amongst the films' copious special features (many ported over from the out-of-print DVD set) the 1946 Salvador Dali-Walt Disney collaboration "Destino," along with an 82-minute making-of documentary. And incidentally, Disney is also releasing three standalone documentaries that shouldn't be overlooked in "The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story" about the songsmiths behind the studio's most famous musicals like "Mary Poppins," "Walt & El Grupo," which details the company-shifting trip Walt Disney took with his animators to Latin America as part of the Good...
"The Fantasia Collection"
Released by Disney Home Entertainment
While the headliner of Disney's incredible group of releases on November 30th will be the four-disc Blu-ray double feature of "Fantasia" and "Fantasia 2000," it's what's less publicized that should be exciting to both Disneyphiles and film fans in general. Starting with the hi-def debut of the two "Fantasias," Disney will finally include amongst the films' copious special features (many ported over from the out-of-print DVD set) the 1946 Salvador Dali-Walt Disney collaboration "Destino," along with an 82-minute making-of documentary. And incidentally, Disney is also releasing three standalone documentaries that shouldn't be overlooked in "The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story" about the songsmiths behind the studio's most famous musicals like "Mary Poppins," "Walt & El Grupo," which details the company-shifting trip Walt Disney took with his animators to Latin America as part of the Good...
- 11/29/2010
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Chicago – It’s been some time since HollywoodChicago.com’s beloved Blu-ray Round-Up column made an appearance to highlight a few recently released HD titles that may have slid just a bit below your radar while you were busy seeing “Toy Story 3” this weekend. We try but can’t devote the time for a full-length review to every title but we wanted to make sure you knew these potential purchases were out there, waiting for your hard-earned paycheck.
“Bad Boys” was released on June 1st, 2010.
“Animation Express” was released on June 8th, 2010.
“Darkman” and “Flash Gordon” were released on June 15th, 2010.
“Bad Boys”
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video
Synopsis: “From director Michael Bay (“Transformers,” “Armageddon”) comes a thrill rise of explosive action from beginning to end. One hundred million dollars worth of confiscated heroin has just been jacked from police custody. Once the career bust of Detectives Mike...
“Bad Boys” was released on June 1st, 2010.
“Animation Express” was released on June 8th, 2010.
“Darkman” and “Flash Gordon” were released on June 15th, 2010.
“Bad Boys”
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video
Synopsis: “From director Michael Bay (“Transformers,” “Armageddon”) comes a thrill rise of explosive action from beginning to end. One hundred million dollars worth of confiscated heroin has just been jacked from police custody. Once the career bust of Detectives Mike...
- 6/21/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
A film festival isn't just a way to see movies; it is, inevitably, a film festival. If you show a hundred or so features, even if they're picked at random, they will seem to form patterns, echo one another, one-up each other in certain respects to even a casual viewer. What was a single movie one day might, the next day, appear the superior or inferior version of another. That, maybe even more than the opportunity to see films, might be the heart of festival-going. It's like the appeal of city life; the great thing about cities isn't how much you can find in them, but how much happens in going from one desitination to the next. One inevitably compares. So while on Saturday, Frederic Mermoud's Partners, which intercut a Gilbert Melki / Emmanuelle Devos policier in gray and brown with a mild case of l'amour fou in red and gold,...
- 10/15/2009
- MUBI
TV5MONDE USA brings the best of Franco-centric programming and films to the English speaking world. Beginning April 16th, TV5MONDE USA will air three weeks of The Trilogy: Three films, same cast, different genres. Director and star Lucas Belvaux is responsible for The Trilogy, dubbed .clever and engrossing. by Entertainment Weekly. Filmed all at once in 2002 in southwestern France, Belvaux used three different editors, Danielle Anezin, Valérie Loiseleux and Ludo Troch - all of whom won Cesar Awards for their efforts - to create three separate films. The Amazing Couple aka "Un couple épatant" is a romantic comedy), On the Run aka "Cavale" is a thriller and After the Life aka "Après la vie" is a melodrama...
- 3/28/2009
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
The onslaught of French horror films doesn't end with the likes of Inside or Martyrs . 2009 will see the arrival of Humans (or, Humains ) from the filmmaking team of Pot and Jom (Pierre-Olivier Thévenin and Jacques-Olivier Molon, respectively). We've given the film, written by Jean-Armand Bougrelle, a mention around these parts before and updates are sporadic. This time we've got a look at a new official teaser one-sheet for its April 22nd release overseas along with a few stills from the production. A trailer is probably just around the corner... Synopsis: A group of researchers travels to the Swiss Alps to investigate a scientific discovery that could bring the whole of human evolution into question. The trip turns into a nightmare when their minibus crashes to the...
- 12/29/2008
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Imprinting between mother and child is elevated to thematic heights in Safy Nebbou’s L’Empreinte de l’ange (Mark of an Angel). While picking up her son at a birthday party, Elsa (Catherine Frot) finds her entire world turned upside down. Believing Lola, a little girl at the party, to be her daughter, Elsa ends up in a head-to-head confrontation with the girl’s mother (Sandrine Bonnaire). Reviewing the film for The Screen Daily, Lisa Nesselson states this psychological duel “packs a punch.” Watching these two accomplished actresses square off with maternal fangs bared makes for entertaining if not thoroughly believable melodrama. One key sequence where Lola nearly drowns in the family pool becomes an awkward misfire when revealed as an out-of-nowhere dream sequence. The transference of trustworthiness between the two women becomes the film’s main narrative traction and its resolution is not as surefooted as the closing...
- 9/9/2008
- by Michael Guillen
- Screen Anarchy
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