Tropa de Elite – Elite Squad is a Brazilian Film released on October 5, 2007 and it will be released in the US about a month.The movie is a semi fictional account of the BOPE, the Special Police Operations battalion of the Rio de Janeiro Military police. The director Jose’ Padilha had previously directed the Documentary Bus 174.
The script was written by Braulio Mantovani, Academy Award nominee and it was adapted from the book “Elite da Tropa”, by L.A. Soares and two former BOPE captains, Andre’ Batista and Rodrigo Pimentel.
The film won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2008.
Elite Squad is an intense and astonishing look at Rio de Janeiro’s notorious favelas, the volatile slums on the edge of the city. The film is set in 1997 and presents an intimate look at the city’s vast and intricate web of corruption. Drug trafficking militias have virtual control within the favelas while the police run their criminal enterprises outside. The elite BOPE force (State Police Special Operations Battalion) combats drug trafficking – keeping order has its price though and their actions make it difficult to distinguish right from wrong and justice from revenge. BOPE Captain Nascimento is facing a crisis: in addition to the pressures of fighting within war zones, the Captain must find and train his own replacement so he can escape the day to day violence and be close to his wife who is about to give birth to their first child. Two of the force’s newest recruits, Neto and Matias, are childhood friends: one is quick on the trigger to maintain order and the other refuses to compromise his ideals. Together they are the perfect replacement. Alone they may not have what it takes to survive.
In August 2007, prior to the movie’s release to theaters, a preliminary cut of the film was leaked and made available for download on the Internet. The cut, which included English title cards but no subtitles, was leaked from the company responsible for subtitling the film, resulting in one person being fired and a criminal investigation. It was estimated that about 11.5 million people had seen the leaked version of the movie in 2007.
Tropa de Elite became one of the most popular Brazilian movies in history. According to DataFolha, 77% of Sao Paulo residents knew about the movie. The word of mouth was also extremely good with 80% of the people rating the movie as excellent or good according to the same company. Up to now 2.5 million people have seen it at the theaters. In Rio and São Paulo, with no promotion other than billboards, 180,000 people saw the movie during its opening weekend.
The movie was also the cover for three of Brazil’s most important weekly magazines, Veja, Carta Capital and Época. On the beginning of 2008, it was confirmed that Rede Globo will produce a TV series based on the movie.
It also was a big social phenomenon. Slangs from the movie were incorporated in daily conversations and songs from the soundtrack, such as Tropa de Elite by Tihuana and Rap das Armas, became big radio hits, topping the Top 10 from popular Top 40 radios such as Jovem Pan and Mix FM. -Wikipedia-
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on under Industry | Comments are off for this article
“Fireproof” co-producer Stephen Kendrick has agreed to rejoin the Christian Filmmakers Academy (CFA) for their fourth annual filmmakers bootcamp which will be held in San Antonio, Texas, on January 5-7, 2009. Kendrick — who last year gave Academy students a behind-the-scenes sneak-preview of “Fireproof,” the Kendrick’s feature film which opened in 850 theatres nationwide last weekend– will share with students at the 2009 Academy in-depth production insights as well as other lessons learned in making a successful independent Christian film.
“We are pleased to have Stephen Kendrick join us once again for our Christian Filmmakers Academy,” stated Doug Phillips, founder of San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival and the Christian Filmmakers Academy.
“The success that the Kendrick brothers have achieved through their films ‘Facing and Giants’ and ‘Fireproof’ offers clear testimony to the impact that outside-the-box Christian filmmakers can have on our culture,” Phillips remarked. “Their example offers many lessons that we believe other up-and-coming Christian filmmakers who will be joining us next January can learn from.”
The Christian Filmmakers Academy is a technical boot camp for aspiring culture changers designed to give filmographers the nuts-and-bolts skills they need to be successful in this critical arena of the arts. The Academy is an offshoot of the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF), which will be awarding $101,000 to their “Best of Festival” winner next January — the largest single cash prize given by any independent film festival worldwide. The SAICFF — which Kendrick has referred to as “America’s premier Christian film festival” — will be held January 8-10 in the Alamo City.
“We are experiencing tremendous momentum in the independent Christian film movement this year,” Phillips observed. “The Kendrick brothers are making big waves with their efforts, and the SAICFF’s move to lead all independent festivals around the globe with the biggest single cash prize award has created quite a groundswell.
“Our goal with the CFA and the SAICFF is to light a candle,” continued Phillips. “We endeavor to show that there is hope outside Hollywood by encouraging culture changers who are recapturing film for Christ’s glory.”
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on September 27, 2008 under R.I.P. | Comments are off for this article
Paul Newman, the Oscar-winning actor of such films as “Hud,” “Cool Hand Luke” and “The Color of Money” has died. He was 83. Newman died Friday at his farmhouse near Westport following a long battle with cancer, publicist Jeff Sanderson said. In 1958, Newman won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for playing Ben Quick in “The Long Hot Summer.”
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on September 26, 2008 under Short Films | Comments are off for this article
I Love New York (www.iloveny.com), the marketing arm for the State of New York, received some star power help to honor Syracuse resident Sean Cunningham with the Grand Prize in the first-ever I Love New York Short Film Competition.
Representatives of Empire State Development (ESD) and The Governor’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Development joined Ugly Betty star America Ferrera on the set of the hit ABC series to both announce the winner and welcome the cast and crew to their new home in New York City.
Cunningham’s short film, Discover a Different New York, was one of several hundred entries in the inaugural I Love New York Short Film Competition presented by ESD. The competition is part of the State of New York’s re-launch of the iconic I Love New York brand to raise awareness of the entire State as a world-class vacation destination. Filmmakers ages 14 and older, regardless of their experience behind a camera, were eligible to participate.
A panel of entertainment industry celebrities with strong ties to New York, who judged the films last week, included Academy Award-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, Emmy-winner Tina Fey, and MTV Movie Award-winning filmmaker Doug Liman.
New York Governor David A. Paterson praised the winning entry while noting the importance of filmmaking to both the State and New York City.
“It was only fitting that this award for creative filmmaking was announced on the set of Ugly Betty, which is wisely taking advantage of our State’s tripled tax incentive on film and TV production,” said Governor Paterson. “The film and TV industries are vital to the State’s economic success and contribute an estimated $7 billion annually while employing more than 100,000 people, so we are gratified to see a show such as Ugly Betty return to New York and impressed by the creativity and love for the State exhibited during this competition.”
New York State is widely considered the independent film capital of the world. The State demonstrated its commitment to the industry in April by tripling the tax incentive on film production in the state from 10% to 30%.
Ugly Betty’s producers saw the benefits that filming in New York would bring to the show, both economically and creatively.
“Our adjustment to shooting in New York has been seamless thanks to our talented crew and enormously supportive film commission,” said Richard Heus, executive producer. “Our location shooting has let us expand Betty’s world in ways we haven’t seen since the show shot its pilot.”
Location was a topic that struck a positive chord with ESD officials and the film competition’s judges as well.
“The I Love New York Short Film Competition brought together the tourism and film industries, both of which are invaluable assets to the state, providing jobs and billions of dollars annually to New York’s economy,” said ESD CEO & President Marisa Lago. “The hundreds of submissions we received for the competition evidenced the creativity that New York State inspires. People all over the world love New York and the return home of ABC’s Ugly Betty confirms that New York remains one of the most desired and diverse filming locations in the country.”
According to Thomas Ranese, chief marketing officer of ESD, the competition has helped demonstrate the affection that people feel towards the entire State, including New York City, while also highlighting regions beyond.
“We created this competition to help people see that New York is more than just home to the greatest city in the world,” said Ranese, “but also a truly dynamic and beautiful state. The competition has also been an effective way to draw traffic to our Web site, www.iloveny.com, and raise awareness for the State as a top vacation destination.”
The Grand Prize winning film will appear as part of a commercial during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast, as well as on jetBlue Airways seatback televisions and the Independent Film Channel (IFC). Film festivals across the state have partnered with the competition, including Hamptons Film Festival; Lake Placid Film Forum; New York Film Festival; Rochester High Falls International Film Festival; Syracuse International Film Festival; Tribeca Film Festival; and Woodstock Film Festival.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on under Premiere | Comments are off for this article
On July 7th, 2007 at 7:07pm, Japan’s musical innovators THE BOREDOMS orchestrated a performance by 77 drummers in New York City. This momentous event was documented by artist Jun Kawaguchi, showing the raw musical force of the instrument and the unique vision of THE BOREDOMS as they brought their experiment to fruition. 77 BOADRUM is the result, and a captivating one at that.
77 BOADRUM, Jun’s first feature film, was chosen by enthusiastic Boredoms admires and music fans, making it one of the top 10 popular films at the New York – Tokyo Film Grand Prix 2008 early on. The film will be premiered at NYTFGP2008 FESTIVAL, with a special guest appearance by Jun and a gathering of drummers who participated in the event.
Oct. 13 (Mon)
Screening 1: Doors open at 6:00pm, Film starts at 7:00pm
Screening 2: Doors open at 8:15pm, Film starts at 9:15pm
Anthology Film Archives
32 Second Avenue, NYC
77 BOADRUM and NYTFGP2008 FESTIVAL Info :
http://www.newyork-tokyo.com/wp/nytfgp2008-festival/
Jun Kawaguchi Interview:
http://www.newyork-tokyo.com/wp/nytfgp2008-interview/
General Tickets: $10
online:
http://www.inticketing.com/evinfo.php?eventid=28450
http://www.inticketing.com/evinfo.php?eventid=28452
Phone: 1-866-55-TICKETS
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on September 25, 2008 under New Release | Comments are off for this article
Callback: The Unmaking of Bloodstain, an award-winning feature directed by Eric Wolfson, begins its one-week run at the Laemmle Theatres, this Friday, September 26. Set in LA, the film tells the story of a schizophrenic, a Shakespearean actor, a reluctant thug and a director hell bent on revenge whose lives are irrevocably changed by the making of a movie. Wolfson describes the film as “a dark comedy that lampoons the chaotic nature of the film industry and the lunacy of day-to-day life in Hollywood.”
Variety wrote of Callback: “Mockumentaries that target Hollywood have been made before, but seldom with as much smooth energy as in “Callback: The Unmaking of ‘Bloodstain,’” an offbeat comedy that’s a resume for everyone involved.”
Combining straightforward narrative storytelling with documentary style interviews and behind the scenes footage, the tragi-comic, “mockumentary” has garnered many awards on the independent festival circuit including “Best Feature” (Lakedance, Indie Fest), Best Actor-Jeff Parise (Breckenridge, Lakedance, Indie Fest), and “Director’s Choice” (Secret City).
Posted by Omar Eaton on September 24, 2008 under Film Festival | Comments are off for this article
In a refreshing change of cinematic pace/mood for British filmmaker (and true iconoclast), Mike Leigh debuts his latest film, the not-so-ironically titled Happy-Go-Lucky to New York audiences (and hopefully, the rest of the U.S.) at this fall’s New York Film Festival.
Haven’t seen the film-yet-but as a fan, I have to say I’m alternately excited, and bemused at the prospect of Leigh doing something that could be seen as, let’s say, accessible?
After thirty years of gaining international renown for psychologically astute, socially-conscious, and very well-acted dramas (usually focusing on some area of the British working class), Leigh trains his eye on what can only be described as an extremely plucky protagonist the likes of which we haven’t seen before.
The plot, such as it is/matters goes like this: Poppy (seemingly embodied by the great-in-the-making Sally Hawkins)–30, single, and a primary schoolteacher who lives and works in north London, is known amongst her small coterie of relatives and friends as being a living, breathing, ray of sunshine–much to their (and I’m assuming-initially-our) discomfort. At the start of the film her bike gets stolen, and how does our heroine retaliate? All smiles and onto the next thing! Racist driving instructors? Vanquished with positive thinking! Hilarious, right?
When considered within the context of this writer/director’s previous works, it kinda is.
I’m assuming it’s not entirely necessary (I did say accessible) but please, before checking Happy-Go-Lucky out, I beg you, see: Naked, Secrets & Lies, All or Nothing, Vera Drake, Topsy-Turvy and anything else you can get your hands on with the virtual guarantee written & directed by Mike Leigh…
Posted by Lucio Maurizi on under Foreign Film, New Release | Comments are off for this article
Cyborg she (僕の彼女はサイボーグBoku no Kanojo wa Cyborg) is a 2008 Japanese movie written and directed by Jae-young Kwak, well known for the massively successful Korean romantic comedy My Sassy Girl. The film was shot in Gifu Japan and had a budget of about ¥1 billion (9.4milion USD).
In this movie we encounter romance, sci-fi, drama and comedy, all packed in a very clever style.
A dumb and loner university student, Jiro Kitamura (Keisuke Koide), celebrates, as usual, his birthday by himself, buying his own presents and going to eat a bowl of pasta. It’s his ritual every year. Something changes when he witnesses a girl (Haruka Ayase) shoplifting in a store. He’s hit like a punch by her beauty and manages to meet her and talk to her, finding out that she’s indeed a very weird girl.
One year later, he meets the girl again and finds out that she’s a superior being, a cyborg, actually, sent from the future for a higher purpose.
Despite this revelation, Jiro can’t help but fall in love with her and, weirdly enough, this half machine being starts discovering feelings as well.
Special effects packed, the film will satisfy not only those who are looking for some fun, following a science fiction adventure, but also those who are willing to drop some tears witnessing the struggle of two souls trying to fulfill their feelings, chasing an impossible love.
The story, for manga fans, will make bells ring all over the place for its similarity to the 1989 manga “Video girl Ai” by Masakazu Katsura.
Don’t think to look for a copycat, though, if you approach this movie. The story is original and touching and recommended to lovers of almost every genre.
Worlds Apart (To Verdener) is a 2008 Danish drama directed by Niels Arden Oplev and written by Oplev himself and Steen Bille.
Basen upon a true story, the film follows the struggle of a 17 years old Jehovah’s Witness girl who tries to reconcile her fundamentalist faith and her secret romance with a non-believer boy. The film doesn’t focus on showing the Jehovah’s witnesses’ movement. Instead it gives its attention to the story of the two young main characters, whose performance is probably on a much higher level than the ones of the adult support actors.
Worlds Apart played at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival and at the Tribeca Film Festival and has been submitted by Denmark for the 2009 Academy Award For Best Foreign Film.
The film, wich was a big hit in Denmark with about 300 thousand tickets sold, is the first European submission to the Academy Awards. The 2009 ceremony will be held on February 22, while the nominations will be announced on January 22.
“Based on a true story, this provocative, well-turned drama … raises universally pertinent questions about fundamentalist thinking without portraying Witnesses’ beliefs as inherently crazy or evil.”
“According to Arden Oplev, the script, co-written with Steen Bille, condenses events that actually occurred over several years in real life into just a few months in the film. The loneliness and isolation of those expelled from the Witnesses comes through loud and clear without any sensationalizing, as does the comfort of having something clear to believe in”.
Posted by Lucio Maurizi on under Foreign Film | Comments are off for this article
Most of us will have to wait a little bit before enjoying the new spin-off of the ”Death Note” saga, ”L: change the world”. This time, the story, will focus exclusively on the mysterious character L, following one of his stand-alone adventures, not related to the previous movies nor the Manga or Anime that made this title extremely famous in, almost, the whole world.
In this episode, L, uses his final 23 days to solve crimes all over the world until a young girl and a boy meet him and beg for his help. The detective has to stop a group of corrupted scientists from spreading a lethal virus throughout the earth.
If you are not familiar with the character, played by Ken’ichi Matsuyama, here is a good description:
Archetype of the super-cerebral, idiosyncratic crime-fighter who’s alienated from society partly by dint of that same mega-intellect. One of the many virtues of L: Change the World, though, is that the title character is taken out of isolation, loping awkwardly through the world at large like a lost brother of Quasimodo and Groucho Marx, and growing through his interaction with a variety of secondary characters. – Peter Gutierrez.
The movie premiered in Aichi, Japan February 9th 2008 and will be released in the U.S.A. in 2009.
Up until March 5, 2008 there was a total of 2,200,000 attendance for a total of approximately 250,000,000 yen (about 2,400,000 USD).
Hideo Nakata, the director, told the Daily Yomiuri that he wanted to reveal L’s human side, which had not been explored in the Death Note series. The movie takes place after the storyline of the manga and previous films. – Wikipedia
Derek Elley of Variety described the film as
“a lame spinoff” with many plot holes, absence of the mind games in the Death Note films, and a lack of suspense.
Although probably not on the same level of the Manga ( writen by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated byTakeshi Obata), the anime and the other movies, “L: change the world” will probably satisfy most of the character’s fans, considering that L is probably the favorite of many viewers who would consider worth watching the film even only because of his performance.
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