Sunday, December 23, 2012

Headshot (2011)

Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)
Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)
Genre: Thriller
Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
Starring: Nopachai Chaiyanam, Sirin Horwang, Chanokporn Sayoungkul, Apisit Opasaimlikit
Language: Thai
Duration: 105 min.
Rating: 6.6
Summary:
A former straight laced cop turned assassin gets permanent upside-down vision after surviving a bullet to the head.

Friday, December 21, 2012

2013 Oscars Foreign Film Shortlist


Earlier today, the shortlist for the Foreign Language Film category of the 85th Academy Awards was announced.

Nine films were selected from the full list of seventy-one entries.

Since the current format was introduced in 2007, 34 countries have made it to the shortlist. Canada (6) has made the most appearances; followed by Denmark, France, Germany, and Israel (4); then Austria and Mexico (3).

Iceland - The Deep (Djúpið)
Baltasar Kormákur [Icelandic]
From this list, the five final nominees will be selected and announced alongside the rest of the Oscar nominations on January 10, 2013.

Only one real surprise here, and that's Iceland. A film I haven't seen or heard much about, but look forward to catching up with, as the director has made some very solid films in the past.

Very happy about the inclusion of Beyond the Hills, though I can't see it making it through to the final five.

My biggest disappointment would have to be the lack of Germany's Barbara; one of my favorite films of the past year.

Also interesting to note that 4 of these films are in French.

Which films should have been selected? Which one's don't belong?
     

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Bunohan: Return to Murder (2011)

Bunohan: Return to Murder • Bunohan (2011)
Bunohan: Return to Murder • Bunohan (2011)
Genre: ActionDrama
Director: Dain Said
Starring: Faizal Hussein, Zahiril Adzim, Pekin Ibrahim, Bront Palarae, Namron, Wan Hanafi Su
Language: Malay
Duration: 97 min.
Rating: 7.2
Summary:
A kickboxer, a businessman, and an assassin. Three estranged brothers fight for their lives in a dark web of deceit, regret and murder.

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Best Foreign Films of 2012

The Best Foreign Films of 2012

It's list making season again!

This time around, I've decided to skip the long preamble and let the list speak for itself.

Bonjour Tristesse's Top 10 Foreign Films of 2012:

Friday, December 14, 2012

80 Million (2011)


80 Million • 80 Milionów (2011)
80 Million • 80 Milionów (2011)
Genre: Drama
Director: Waldemar Krzystek
Starring: Filip Bobek, Marcin Bosak, Wojciech Solarz, Piotr Glowacki, Sonia Bohosiewicz
Language: Polish
Duration: 102 min.
Rating: 6.6
Summary:
1981 Poland, in the days before martial law was imposed, Solidarity activists stage a daring plan to withdraw 80 million and squirrel it away under the watchful eyes of the security services.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Thursday Till Sunday (2012)

Thursday Till Sunday • De jueves a domingo (2012)
Thursday Till Sunday • De jueves a domingo (2012)
Genre: Drama
Director: Dominga Sotomayor
Starring: Santí Ahumada, Emiliano Freifeld, Paola Giannini, Francisco Pérez-Bannen
Language: Spanish, French, English
Duration: 96 min.
Rating: 7.6
Summary:
Two children travel with their parents from Santiago to the north of Chile for a family holiday...

Monday, December 10, 2012

In Another Country (2012)

In Another Country • 다른 나라에서 (2012)
In Another Country • 다른 나라에서 (2012)
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Director: Hong Sang-soo
Starring: Isabelle Huppert,
Language: Korean, English, French
Duration: 89 min.
Rating: 7.5
Summary:
Three stories, centered in a seaside resort town, involving three different women named Anne.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Blood of My Blood (2011)

Blood of My Blood • Sangue do Meu Sangue (2011)
Blood of My Blood • Sangue do Meu Sangue (2011)
Best New Film
Genre: Drama
Director: João Canijo
Starring: Rafael Morais, Rita Blanco, Cleia Almeida, Anabela Moreira
Language: Portuguese
Duration: 139 min (theatrical) / 190 min (television)
Rating: 8.3
Summary:
The trials of a working class family from the slums on the outskirts of Lisbon.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The Golem (1920)

The Golem • Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam (1920)
The Golem • Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam (1920)
Genre: Horror
Director: Peter Wegener, Carl Boese
Starring: Paul Wegener, Albert Steinrück, Lyda Salmonova, Lothar Müthel
Language: Silent with German intertitles.
Duration: 85 min.
Rating: 7.5
Summary:
In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates a giant creature from clay, and using sorcery, brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

A Trip (2011)

A Trip • Izlet (2011)
A Trip • Izlet (2011)
Genre: Drama
Director: Nejc Gazvoda
Starring: Luka Cimpric, Jure Henigman, Nina Rakovec
Language: Slovene
Duration: 81 min.
Rating: 7.2
Summary:
Three friends embark on a nostalgic road trip.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Pietà (2012)

Pietà • 피에타 (2012)
Pietà • 피에타 (2012)
Genre: Drama
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Starring: Lee Jung-jin, Jo Min-su
Language: Korean
Duration: 104 min.
Rating: 7.5
Summary:
A ruthless loan shark is forced to reconsider his violent lifestyle after the arrival of a mysterious woman claiming to be his mother.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

2012 European Film Awards Winners


Last night, the 25th annual European Film Awards were presented in a ceremony held at the Mediterranean Conference Center in Valletta, the picturesque capital of Malta.  18 awards were handed out, in honor of the year's best examples of European cinema.

Following its major success earlier this year at Cannes, and sweeping the major categories with 4 wins, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress, was Austrian director Michael Haneke's Amour.  Another multiple winner was the just recently reviewed here, Kauwboy. Which took home the Young Audience Award, and the FIPRESCI European Discovery Prize

Read on for the full list of winners:
Best European Film
  • Amour
    produced by Margaret Menegoz, Stefan Arndt, Veit Heiduschka & Michael Katz
    directed by Michael Haneke
    Austria Austria, Germany Germany, France France
Best Director
  • Michael Haneke for Amour
    Austria Austria, Germany Germany, France France
Best Actress
  • Emmanuelle Riva in Amour
    directed by Michael Haneke
    Austria Austria, Germany Germany, France France
Best Actor
  • Jean-Louis Trintignant in Amour
    directed by Michael Haneke
    Austria Austria, Germany Germany, France France
Best Screenwriter
  • Tobias Lindholm & Thomas Vinterberg for The Hunt (Jagten)
    directed by Thomas Vinterberg
    Denmark Denmark
Best Editor
  • Joe Walker for Shame
    directed by Steve McQueen
    UK UK
Best Cinematography
  • Sean Bobbitt for Shame
    directed by Steve McQueen
    UK UK
Best Production Design
  • Maria Djurkovic for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    directed by Tomas Alfredson
    UK UK
Best Composer
  • Alberto Iglesias for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    directed by Tomas Alfredson
    UK UK
Best Animated Film
  • Alois Nebel
    directed by Tomáš Luňák
    Czech Republic Czech Republic
FIPRESCI Prize - European Discovery
  • Kauwboy
    directed by Boudewijn Koole
    Netherlands Netherlands
Young Audience Award
  • Kauwboy
    directed by Boudewijn Koole
    Netherlands Netherlands
People's Choice Award
Best Documentary
  • Winter Nomads (Hiver Nomade)
    directed by Manuel von Stürler
    Switzerland Switzerland
Best Short Film
  • Superman, Spiderman or Batman (Superman, Spiderman sau Batman)
    directed by Tudor Giurgiu
    Romania Romania
Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Bernardo Bertolucci
    Italy Italy
World Cinema Achievement
  • Helen Mirren
    UK UK
European Co-Production Award (Prix Eurimages)
  • Helena Danielsson
    Sweden Sweden

It's looking more and more like a sure bet for Amour to take home the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. What do you think?