Thursday, May 31, 2012

Random Musings - May 2012

Random Musings of the Month
Well, this month was all about Cannes, and though I had tons of fun covering it from afar, it's not so easy syncing your schedule with an event happening nine timezones away. A few too many late nights and early mornings caught up with me in the end and I needed a few days to recharge my movie brain; but now I'm ready to get back to my regular program again with the usual mix of old and new titles to watch and review for June.

Speaking of Cannes, it seems my dedicated film festival coverage hasn't gone unnoticed because when the 2012 Lammy Nominations were announced the other day, I was pleasantly surprised to see my name listed amongst the nominees for Best Festival & Awards Coverage.

Now I don't have any illusions about actually winning it, not against the incomparably thorough and devoted job that Never Too Early Movie Predictions does covering the Oscars, or the immensely entertaining Annual Awards Nerdism at Cinematic Paradox. Perhaps if the category was split up I might have a chance, but even then The Matinee and Big Thoughts from a Small Mind each have a longstanding record of impressive high quality festival coverage as well.

Still it is very nice to get some recognition and it is an honor just to be considered, so I would like to give a massive thank you to everyone who put my name on their ballots; and also a hearty congratulations to all the other #Lammy2012 nominees.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

2012 Cannes Film Festival: Award Winners


It has been another fun twelve days, but the 65th Cannes Film Festival comes to a close today. All that's left is for the winners to be announced, and of course the dreadfully long wait for me to get a chance to see them.

More 2012 Cannes coverage:
Official Selection Preview
Un Certain Regard Preview
Report and Roundup: Days 1-6
Report and Roundup: Days 7-12

Read on for the full list of awards presented at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival:

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The End of August at the Hotel Ozone (1967)

The End of August at the Hotel Ozone • Konec srpna v Hotelu Ozon (1967)
The End of August at the Hotel Ozone • Konec srpna v Hotelu Ozon (1967)
Czech New Wave
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama
Director: Jan Schmidt
Starring: Jitka Horejsi, Ondrej Jariabek, Beta Ponicanová, Vanda Kalinová
Language: Czech
Duration: 77 min.
Rating: 7.5
Summary:
In a post-apocalyptic world, several years after a nuclear holocaust, a group of women wander the land in search of other survivors.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

2012 Cannes Film Festival: Second Half Report

We're already at the midway point of the 65th Festival de Cannes. There have been rainstorms and bad weather messing with the proceedings, but there have also been some very strong films shown.

Currently 12 of the 22 competition films have had their premieres. Right now, at least according to initial critic reaction, it seems that Michael Haneke's Amour is the current front runner for the Palme d'Or. I don't think it's a sure bet because there are still a lot of films to be seen and you never know if the jury will love a film that the critics hated, but at this point I'll be surprised if it doesn't take home at least one award on Sunday night.

I hope you have been enjoying my coverage so far, but if you are looking for more in-depth daily reports, including coverage of all the parallel competitions and sidebar screenings, no one does a better job than the most excellent blog Movie On.

I would also like to direct you to a few lucky bloggers who are actually at the festival. Both FilmLand Empire and Marshall and the Movies have already shared some very interesting posts about their Cannes experiences; and the glamorous Virginie is also in Cannes and keeping a seriously amazing photo diary. Thank you for sharing with all of us less fortunate film lovers!

The festival runs until May 27, and I will be keeping a close eye on the events, watching the press conferences, reading the early reviews, and posting frequent updates right here, so be sure to check back often.

2012 Cannes Report: Days 1-6
2012 Cannes Award Winners

Last updated: Sunday, May 27 12:33 PDT

Monday, May 21, 2012

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011)

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai • Ichimei (2011)
Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai • Ichimei • 一命 (2011)
Genre: Drama
Director: Takashi Miike
Starring: Kôji Yakusho, Eita, Ebizô Ichikawa, Hikari Mitsushima
Language: Japanese
Duration: 126 min.
Rating: 6.7
Summary:
An elder ronin samurai arrives at a feudal lord's home and requests an honorable place to commit suicide. But when the ronin inquires about a younger samurai who arrived before him, things take an unexpected turn.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

2012 Cannes Report: Days 1-6


The 65th Festival de Cannes opens today and all the big names and faces are set to gather at the Croisette for the Opening Ceremony, hosted this year by Bérénice Bejo, star of last year's surprise of the festival The Artist.

As always, the line-up of films looks incredible, including entries from 4 previous Palme d'Or winners and 5 films representing the United States.

The festival runs until May 27, and I will be keeping a close eye on the events, watching the press conferences, reading the early reviews, and posting frequent updates right here.

2012 Cannes Report: Days 7-12
2012 Cannes Award Winners

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Happy End (1967)

Happy End (1967)
Happy End (1967)
Czech New Wave
Genre: Comedy
Director: Oldrich Lipský
Starring: Vladimír Mensík, Jaroslava Obermaierová, Josef Abrhám
Language: Czech
Duration: 71 min.
Rating: 7.5
Summary:
The bold and experimental story of the life of a butcher, told in reverse.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Nobody Will Laugh (1966)

Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)
Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)
Czech New Wave
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Director: Hynek Bocan
Starring: Jan Kacer, Stepánka Rehákova, Josef Chvalina
Language: Czech, English
Duration: 94 min.
Rating: 7.6
Summary:
A successful art historian who has trouble telling people difficult truths, finds himself in an inescapable situation when a small lie quickly gets out of hand.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Marty (1955)

Marty (1955)
Marty (1955)
Palme d'Or Winner
Genre: Drama, Romance
Director: Delbert Mann
Starring: Ernest Borgnine, Betsy Blair
Language: English
Duration: 89 min.
Rating: 7.4
Summary:
A touching story about two lonely people who have almost resigned themselves to never being truly loved.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Chicken with Plums (2011)

Chicken with Plums • Poulet aux prunes (2011)
Chicken with Plums • Poulet aux prunes (2011)
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Director: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Maria de Medeiros, Golshifteh Farahani, Eric Caravaca, Chiara Mastroianni
Language: French, English
Duration: 93 min.
Rating: 7.0
Summary:
Teheran, 1958. Since his beloved violin was broken, Nasser Ali Khan, one of the most renowned musicians of his day, has lost all taste for life. Finding no instrument worthy of replacing it, he decides to confine himself to bed to await death.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Fugue on the Black Keys (1965)

Fugue on the Black Keys • Fuga na cerných klávesách (1965)
Fugue on the Black Keys • Fuga na cerných klávesách (1965)
Czech New Wave
Genre: Drama, Short
Director: Drahomíra Vihanová
Starring: Julian Diaz, George Stivín, Franz Rauch
Language: Czech, English
Duration: 34 min.
Rating: 7.3
Summary:
A portrait of an African music student studying the piano in Prague, as he prepares for his debut concert recital.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Lemonade Joe (1964)

Lemonade Joe • Limonádový Joe aneb Konská opera (1964)
Lemonade Joe • Limonádový Joe aneb Konská opera (1964)
Czech New Wave
Genre: Western, Comedy, Musical
Director: Oldrich Lipský
Starring: Karel Fiala, Rudolf Deyl, Milos Kopecký, Kveta Fialová, Olga Schoberová
Language: Czech
Duration: 99 min.
Rating: 8.0
Summary:
Clean-living gunfighter Lemonade Joe takes on a town full of whiskey-drinking cowboys.

Monday, May 7, 2012

The Salesman (2011)

The Salesman • Le vendeur (2011)
The Salesman • Le vendeur (2011)
Best New Film
Genre: Drama
Director: Sébastien Pilote
Starring: Gilbert Sicotte, Jean-François Boudreau, Nathalie Cavezzali
Language: French
Duration: 107 min.
Rating: 8.1
Summary:
The perennial car salesman of the month, Marcel Lévesque takes great satisfaction in the ritual of persuasion. But in the small working-class town where the local paper mill's impending closure is immobilizing the economy, Marcel must come to terms with the changing times.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Nuit #1 (2011)

Nuit #1 (2011)
Nuit #1 (2011)

Genre: Drama
Director: Anne Émond
Starring: Catherine de Léan, Dimitri Storoge
Language: French
Duration: 91 min.
Rating: 7.0  

Summary:
Clara and Nikolai meet at a rave. They return to his apartment for sex. Afterwards, instead of parting ways, the two lovers divulge their deepest secrets to one another.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Little Deaths (2011)

Little Deaths (2011)
Little Deaths (2011)

Genre: Horror Anthology
Director: Sean Hogan, Andrew Parkinson, Simon Rumley
Starring: Luke de Lacey, Holly Lucas, Kate Braithwaite, Jodie Jameson
Language: English
Duration: 94 min.
Rating: 7.5  

Summary:
Three disturbingly sensual and terrifying short narratives, unified by the twin themes of sex and death.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Breathing (2011)

Breathing • Atmen (2011)
Breathing • Atmen (2011)

Genre: Drama
Director: Karl Markovics
Starring: Thomas Schubert, Karin Lischka, Gerhard Liebmann, Georg Friedrich
Language: German
Duration: 90 min.
Rating: 6.9  

Summary:
A 19-year-old ex-convict attempts to build a new life amidst his overriding guilt.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Snows of Kilimanjaro (2011)

The Snows of Kilimanjaro • Les neiges du Kilimandjaro (2011)
The Snows of Kilimanjaro • Les neiges du Kilimandjaro (2011)

Genre: Drama
Director: Robert Guédiguian
Starring: Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Gérard Meylan
Language: French
Duration: 107 min.
Rating: 6.6  

Summary:
Michel, lives happily with Marie-Claire, his wife of nearly 30 years. A dedicated trade unionist, he is tasked with calling out the names in a draw that will decide who will be laid off to save their shipyard. To everyone's surprise he calls out his own name, leading to an unexpected new phase in his life.