Posted by editor@vimooz.com on February 28, 2009 under Awards, Foreign Film | Comments are off for this article
“Seraphine,” a film about the life of French post-modernist painter Seraphine de Senlis was the big winner at the French Oscars, France’s 34rd Cesar Awards Friday. The film’s seven wins of the night included the award for film, original screenplay and actress for Yolande Moreau.
The Cesar Awards winners:
FILM: “Seraphine,” Martin Provost
ACTRESS: Yolande Moreau, “Seraphine”
ACTOR: Vincent Cassel, “Public Enemy Number One”
DIRECTOR: Jean-Francois Richet, “Public Enemy Number One”
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Martin Provost, “Seraphine”
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Laurent Cantet, Francois Begaudeau, Robin Campillo, “The Class”
FIRST FILM: “I’ve Loved You So Long,” Philippe Claudel
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Elsa Zilberstein, ” I’ve Loved You So Long”
Posted by Robert Samardick on February 27, 2009 under New Release | Comments are off for this article
A quiet release week offers few good films, here are your choices
CROSSING OVER
Trying to follow up on the success of films like Crash and Babel, Crossing Over is a gritty and violent look at immigration in 21st century LA. The film follows the story of a Mexican mother and Son, Australian actress, Korean family and a rebellious Muslim teenager as they experience the good and (mostly) bad aspects of being an immigrant. Starring Harrison Ford and Ashley Judd, the film is being heavily criticized for it’s exploitative nature, simply using graphic images with no real narrative implications. New York Times makes a mockery of Crossing Over.
THE TROUBLE WITH ROMANCE
Ok, so Crossing Over too much for you? How about a more light-hearted ensemble piece. The Problem With Love tells the stories of different couples spending a night in a hotel. There’s the couple trying to spice up their sex life, the guy who learns life lessons from a call girl. There’s that guy who invites his “bro’s” to come hang out on what was supposed to be a romantic night for two. There are also more bizarre stories like a woman who argues with a hallucination of her ex-lover, as her new lover awaits her in the bedroom. The film blends together multiple shorts (likeCoffee & Cigarettes) to show a patchwork of love (Not like Coffee & Cigarettes). New York Times makes a mockery of The Problem With Romance.
THE ECHELON CONSPIRACY
A young American engineer (Shane West) begins to receive strange cell phone messages that promise him incredible wealth. His life is soon endangered as he finds himself the target in a massive government conspiracy. Pursued across the globe by a mysterious figure who wants him dead, he must get to the bottom of the set-up in order to save his life. Promises action and you know they’ll be a twist at the end.
California movie goers are the only ones this week who get to see a good film open. Unfortunately everyone in NY has already seen it. Must Read After My Death opens today in LA.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on February 26, 2009 under Documentary, Foreign Film | Comments are off for this article
The award-winning film Pray the Devil Back to Hell opens for a limited engagement in Minneapolis at the Lagoon Cinema beginning this weekend.
There will also be post-film Q&A sessions at the 7:10 p.m. showings on Saturday, February 28th and Wednesday, March 4th to discuss the documentary and issues of women’s rights, truth and reconciliation in post-war societies. [via]
Pray the Devil Back to Hell chronicles the remarkable story of the courageous Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country.
Thousands of women – ordinary mothers, grandmothers, aunts and daughters, both Christian and Muslim – came together to pray for peace and then staged a silent protest outside of the Presidential Palace. Armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions, they demanded a resolution to the country’s civil war. Their actions were a critical element in bringing about a agreement during the stalled peace talks.
A story of sacrifice, unity and transcendence, Pray the Devil Back to Hell honors the strength and perseverence of the women of Liberia. Inspiring, uplifting, and most of all motivating, it is a compelling testimony of how grassroots activism can alter the history of nations. [via]
You don’t know who Scott Walker is, do you? No one does and yet he’s inspired David Bowie, Radiohead, Blur and countless other bands. Following up on his 2006 album, the documentary takes a look at one of the best kept secrets in the music industry and how someone of this talent remains completely unknown. Scott Walker: 30th Century Man is a portrait and also an introduction to the importance of Walker’s music, mixing in studio footage with interviews of the acts he’s influenced.
REPORTER
Reporter wowed audiences at Sundance and now anyone attending the True/False Film Festival will get two opportunities to watch it. Reporter follows Pulitzer prize winning journalist Nicholas D. Kristof during his 2007 trip to the Congo where he was covering the conflict and poverty facing the African Republic. Kristof is a columnist for the “New York Times” and has been hailed for bringing important issues to international attention. The doc carefully and passionately shows the importance of journalism in helping democracy, how a journalist can aid nations through determination and strength.
STIRRING WATER
From a True/False festival favorite to a reject. Even though Stirring Water didn’t get in to the festival, it still is a documentary to watch out for. The film takes a poetic look at Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. An experimental travelogue, it follows an interpretater/guide as he takes the director through his country. Want to see how competitive True/False Fest is? Check out the quality of the films it can reject.
and the film everyone is talking about….SMILE PINKI
Smile Pinki won big last Sunday, nabbing the Oscar for best documentary short. The film follows a young girl living in India who has been outcast due to her cleft lip. Through the help and care of a social worker, the young girl is able to afford surgery and becomes accepted into society, able to feel like a “normal girl”. The film is a look at the state of health care in impoverished countries and while the ending is a happy one, it also is true there are many cases like Pinki’s that don’t end happy.
Posted by Jonathan Monina on February 25, 2009 under Industry | Comments are off for this article
MovieMaker Magazine has recently named Chicago as the best place to make movies in the United States. A large factor is the 30% tax credit offered to filmmakers, as well as the recent success of films shot in the city, such as “The Dark Knight,” and the upcoming “Public Enemies,” featuring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. With the economy suffering, taking advantage of financial incentives has become an increasingly important factor for filmmakers. Other factors for the rankings included the number of local film schools, distributors, and talent pool. Atlanta was number two on the list and New York was number three. Click here to see the full list.
Posted by adam.s.ryan@vimooz.com on under Bollywood, Foreign Film | Comments are off for this article
So it turns out that, before the success of Slumdog Millionaire, the last and only time an Indian won an Oscar was for costume design on Gandhi. That film, a biopic of the most significant figure in Indian national history, starred and was directed by Englishmen. If the situation were reversed, I don’t know which part of the whole business I’d like less: the lack of American representation in the trendsetting Indian awards, or the fact that they made a movie about George Washington and only let us design the costumes.
But in the spirit of overcoming past grievances and my own ignorance, let’s take a look at some of the best Indian films of the last year. (I’ll even tastelessly provide an analogous American movie to make it more palatable.) Who knows? Maybe Slumdog is just the tip of an iceberg that rarely surfaces in these parts.
Mumbai My Life
A hyperlink-style drama centered on the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, a terrorist attack that killed or injured almost a thousand people. As we found out despite ourselves with United 93, national tragedy can make for rousing filmmaking, and this cinematic tribute to the spirit of Mumbai might just be the real deal.
A Wednesday
This crime thriller seems to be cut from Michael Mann-ish cloth, but it looks well-tailored. Plus it features two grizzled stars of Bollywood together again, like De Niro and Pacino in Righteous Kill. It might not have been worth it, but it’s still pretty eye-catching.
Rock On!!
‘The Big Chill meets The Commitments’ is probably the most soulless and accurate way I can describe this Bollywood experiment with the rock musical. Dripping with good nature and nostalgia, this was one of the biggest Hindi-language crowd-pleasers of 2008.
In Such Times
An ensemble film set during the 2002 Gujarat riots, this drama marks the directorial debut of popular actress Nandita Das, who you may or may not have seen in Deepha Mehta’s elements trilogy. Her movie’s brand new, but it’s doing very well on the festival circuit, so it may be one to watch.
Welcome to Sajjanpur
Here’s an interesting tidbit: in India, independent cinema is called parallel cinema. And one of the pioneers of parallel cinema directed this movie, a light comedy geared towards a mass audience. Who can resist Bollywood’s many charms?
Tahaan
A story about a boy who almost became a terrorist and the donkey who loved him. It’s probably better than it sounds.
Ghajini
Memento with a scarier-looking dude. Also Bollywood’s most profitable film of all time—and actually a remake of a remake of Christopher Nolan’s thrilling and chilling breakout film.
Whether You Know Or Not
Another crowd-pleaser—over a billion citizens makes for a lot of crowds to please, I guess—with the right mix of music, romance, and plot-cribbing from Hollywood movies. It’s When Harry Met Sally and Forget Paris packaged with Bollywood showmanship for the youth market. ‘What’s not to like?’ is probably a better question here than ‘What’s to like?’
Singh is Kinng
That’s right, two n’s. Bollywood producers take the advice of numerologists and add extra letters to their titles for good luck. What good luck? Why, the good luck afforded by overspelling your film’s title, of course. Don’t let the cultural divide get in the way of simple logic. Besides, the movie was a smash hit, so they’ve got to be doing something right.
Jodhaa-Akbar
An extravagant historical epic that wears its production budget like a medal of honor, this is the kind of event movie that Asia seems to produce on a yearly basis. Remember Mongol? Hero? Something with cherry blossoms and flying swordfights in an ancient historical setting? That’s how this one rolls, but with a healthy dose of Tristan and Isolde.
Posted by Jonathan Monina on February 24, 2009 under Foreign Film, Industry | Comments are off for this article
Forty-three year old independent film distributor, New Yorker Films, is closing its doors once and for all. On their website, the company posted a small thank you which read as follows:
“We would like to thank the filmmakers and producers who trusted us with their work, as well as our customers, whose loyalty has sustained us through the years.”
New Yorker Films was best known for its ability to bring promising international films to the States, helping launch the careers (in the U.S.) of such artists as Ackerman, Bertolucci, Bresson, Chabrol, Fassbinder, Fellini, Godard, Herzog, Kieslowski, Malle, Rohmer, Rossellini, Sembene, Wenders, Schlondorff, and many others. New Yorker Films had a great influence on the independent film market, and helped a very small genre flourish when not many companies were focusing on these types of films. They performed a great service for the industry, and helped shape it to what we know today. As we look to the future of the indie market, it is important to acknowledge the accomplishments of pioneer companies such as New Yorker Films. Read more.
Posted by Jonathan Monina on February 23, 2009 under Academy award, Awards | Comments are off for this article
To celebrate this year’s Oscars, I decided to keep a running diary for the entire ceremony. Enjoy.
8:30- Oscar countdown is off, time for the show. And here comes Billy Cryst- Wait a minute…
8:35- Recession joke number one of the night. Only it appears Hugh wasn’t joking about cutbacks, his entire opening act looks as if it was set up by Ms. Kovner’s 2nd grade class.
8:40- Jackman makes a joke about no one having seen “The Reader”… Once again, not that funny considering nobody did. They have only grossed $32.8 million worldwide- production cost $32 million. Whoops.
8:43- For the first award, best supporting actress, we get five of the past winners come out to present. This is going to take a while…
8:47- Penelope Cruz nabs it for “Vicki Cristina Barcelona,” but she gives a 20-minute speech. Enough already, you’re only the 1st winner.
8:57- Dustin Lance Black wins best original screenplay for “Milk.” As expected, we get an equal rights shpeal in the acceptance speech. I’m sure this won’t be the last we hear of it.
9:00- Slumdog gets its first win for best adapted screenplay. First of many I’m sure.
9:04- Cool little movie year book of the animated genre, “Wall-E” gets best animated film.
9:10- “La Maison en Petits Cubes” wins best short animated film, and we get the funniest moment so far. Japanese acceptor, Kunio Kato closes his speech filled with poor English with, “Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto.” I love it.
9:15- A clever little set gets put up for best art direction, Benjamin Button takes down art direction and makeup, while “The Dutchess” gets best costume design.
9:28- Another montage for love films of the year. Curiously enough, there’s a snipet of “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas.” Really? Wasn’t that nominated for a Razzie?
9:31- Natalie Portman and Ben Stiller come out to present best cinematography. Ben Stiller does his best Joaquin Phoenix impression from Letterman, including the beard, sunglasses, and gum. Let me be clear, this man should not be mocked. Phoenix is clearly disturbed, and when he finally kills himself or someone else, I want us all to remember this moment as what pushed him over the edge.
9:35- Slumdog wins again- Best Cinematography.
9:42- Montage for comedies of the year done by Seth Rogan and James Franco- another Razzie, “The Love Guru,” is present. Were films really that bad this year?
9:47- I’m pretty sure Rogan and Franco are high right now as they present best short film. “Spielzeugland” wins it. OK James, I can’t pronounce it either.
9:52- Musical number with Beyonce. This isn’t even for best song, what the hell? Didn’t know this was the Tonys.
10:03- I can’t help but be excited anytime Chris Walken is put on television live. I need more cowbell!
10:04- Allan Arkin gets Philip Seymour Hoffman’s name wrong. Phillip does not look happy.
10:06- Cuba Gooding Jr. makes a joke about Robert Downey Jr. starring in “Shaft” for his next project. Nice.
10:08- Heath Ledger wins best supporting actor, no surprise. The other nominees realized they didn’t have a shot going in.
10:09- Ledger’s family accepts the award and become possibly the only people in Oscar history to definitely not have to worry about being played off during their speech. Rightfully so.
10:13- Bill Maher comes out in a weird looking suit then goes on to promote his own documentary, which was not nominated for anything. Sorry Bill.
10:15- We get a close up of the maker of the documentary “The Betrayal.” The only real betrayal was by that guy’s dentist
10:16- “Man on Wire” wins best documentary, and the subject of the piece comes up and does some magic, getting lots of ooos from the crowd.
10:18- I’ve figured out how they are saving so much time. Each presenter for the smaller awards is giving out 2-3 statues. Genius! “Smile Pinki” wins best short documentary.
10:27- Benjamin Button steals another one with best visual effects. What the hell is with this film? I know “The Dark Knight” isn’t a traditional “Oscar” film, but visually it was astounding.
10:28- Will Smith makes a “boom goes the dynamite” reference. Ah, the power of YouTube. Dark Knight wins best sound editing.
10:32- The first truly surprised looking winner, Resul Pookutty of Slumdog, winning for best sound.
11:00- The last half hour has been packed with musical numbers, insisting that the musical is back in Hollywood. Does it have to be? In between all the singing and dancing, Slumdog wins for best editing, best original score, and best original song. That’s six and counting.
11:07- “Okuribito” robs “Waltz With Bashir” for best foreign film. You can even hear the crowd sounding upset about this one.
11:15- I always forget how many talented people die each year until the montage of remembrance. Lost some greats this year, you will all be missed.
11:20- Danny Boyle continues Slumdog’s dominance with best director. He even jumps around a bunch like Tigger for his kids.
11:31- What the hell is that?? Oh wait, it’s just Sophia Loren. Even Meryl Streep can’t fake being excited to be announced by this science experiment gone wrong.
11:32- I love watching the losing actresses reactions when the winner is announced. Come on girls, you are paid to pretend every day. Do you really think we think you’re happy for the winner? Kate Winslet wins best actress for “The Reader.” Man, can her dad whistle.
11:39- Robert De Niro makes the first Spicoli reference of the night. That took way too long.
11:41- I mean I guess “Step Brothers” was funny and all, but Richard Jenkins? Wait, was he in something else this year?
11:43- Sean Penn wins best actor for “Milk.” I’m genuinely surprised here, as is Sean Penn apparently. Dude! Mr. Hand would be proud. At least we don’t have to hear any more about Mickey Rourke’s dogs.
11:53- “Slumdog Millionaire” wins best picture as the whole cast takes the stage. It has been a great run for them, and if any other film won I would have been seriously shocked.
That does it for the Oscar diary. It was a fun night overall, with a few surprises, and a few sure things. Congratulations to “Slumdog Millionaire” and all the other winners.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on February 22, 2009 under Awards | Comments are off for this article
The Wrestler, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Milk shared top category honors at the 2009 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards, making the highly anticipated annual event into a celebration of the diverse films that captured the public’s attention this year. The Visitor, Frozen River, In Search of a Midnight Kiss, Man on Wire, The Class and Synecdoche, New York also received awards at the event.
The 2009 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards was held Saturday, February 21, in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. The Spirit Awards is a celebration honoring films made by filmmakers who embody independence and who dare to challenge the status quo. This annual event, which began as a small grassroots program, has grown into one of the most anticipated events of the film year.
This year’s major category winners were Fox Searchlight Pictures’ The Wrestler, which won Best Feature, Best Male Lead (Mickey Rourke), and Best Cinematography (Maryse Alberti); The Weinstein Company’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which won Best Screenplay (Woody Allen), and Best Supporting Female (Penelope Cruz); Overture Films’ The Visitor, which won Best Director (Tom McCarthy); Sony Pictures Classics’ Synecdoche, New York, which won Best First Feature and the Robert Altman Award, Frozen River, which won Best Female Lead (Melissa Leo); and The Class, which won Best Foreign Film; IFC Films’ In Search of a Midnight Kiss, which won the John Cassavetes Award for the Best Feature made for under $500,000; and Magnolia Pictures Man on Wire, which won Best Documentary.
Heather Rae, producer of Frozen River and Ibid, received the thirteenth annual Piaget Producers Award, which honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films.
Lynn Shelton, director of My Effortless Brilliance, won the sixteenth annual Acura Someone To Watch Award, a $25,000 unrestricted grant created to honor a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.
Margaret Brown, director of The Order of Myths, won the fifteenth annual, presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant attention. LACOSTE Truer Than Fiction Award
Also given was the 2nd annual Robert Altman Award, given to one film’s director, casting director, and ensemble cast. Charlie Kaufman’s directorial debut Synecdoche, New York received this award, along with casting director Jeanne McCarthy, and ensemble cast members Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, and Michelle Williams.
The following is a complete list of the winners:
Best Feature
The Wrestler
Best Director
Tom McCarthy, The Visitor
Best Screenplay
Woody Allen, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best First Feature
Synecdoche, New York
Best First Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, Milk
John Cassavetes Award
(For the Best Feature made
for under $500,000)
In Search of a Midnight Kiss
Best Supporting Female
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Supporting Male
James Franco, Milk
Best Female Lead
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Best Male Lead
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Best Cinematography
Maryse Alberti, The Wrestler
Best Foreign Film
The Class, Director: Laurent Cantet
Best Documentary
Man on Wire
Last year’s Spirit Award winners included Juno, which won Best Feature, Best Female Lead (Ellen Page), and Best First Screenplay (Diablo Cody), The Savages, which won Best Male Lead (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and Best Screenplay (Tamara Jenkins), and Once which won Best Foreign Film; and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, which won Best Director (Julian Schnabel), and Best Cinematography (Janusz Kaminski), and The Lookout, which won Best First Feature. August Evening received the John Cassavetes Award for the Best Feature made for under $500,000.
Posted by Jonathan Monina on February 21, 2009 under Coming Soon, People | Comments are off for this article
James Franco (Spiderman, Milk) is set to star in “Howl,” a new independent film about poet Allen Ginsberg. The film centers around the obscenity trial over the Ginsberg poem. Produced and financed by Werc Werk Works, “Howl” will be the third production for the newly formed indie banner. The film also features Paul Rudd, Alan Alda, Jeff Daniels, and Mary-Louise Parker and is set to begin production in New York on March 16th.
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