Gomorrah & Two Lovers

I will say a few words (and I do mean a few) about two films that I saw today.

The Italian crime drama Gomorrah has been hailed by many as a great film. There were many who were upset because it was not nominated for a best foreign film Oscar.
After seeing it I agree with that decision. Gomorrah is directed by Matteo Garrone and taken from Roberto Saviano's novel about the notorious crime family the Comorra.
In fact, the novel is supposed to be so real that Saviano's life has been threatened.

There are several supposedly interconnecting stories. There is one about an aging money runner. One is about a boy who is starting a life of crime. Another is about two young men who decide to go against their bosses wishes and do what they want. And the last story was about a tailor who decides to set up classes in a Chinese run factory. As I said before, all of these stories are supposed to be connected but I just didn't see the connection. The film is very disjointed. The film is gritty and does feel real. But I just didn't feel anything for it. I love foreign films but for my money I will take The Godfather and Goodfellas over Gomorrah (even though Martin Scorsese let them use his name for this one).

Two Lovers is a very good film directed by James Gray. It takes place in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix) is a lonely, disturbed man with suidicidal tendencies. He lives with his parents and works in his father Rueben's (Moni Moshevona) dry cleaning business. His father may be merging his business and arranges for Leonard to meet his future partner's daughter Sandra (Vinessa Shaw) at a dinner for both families. Sandra is taken with Leonard and he seems to like her but when he meets his neighbor Michelle (Gwenyth Paltrow) he is mesmerized. But Michelle has some really big issues - not least of them being her love for a married man named Ronald (Elias Kosteas). And I should say that as soon as Leonard's mother Ruth (Isabella Rossellini) lays eyes on Michelle she is suspicious.

I won't get into the plot of the film but I will say that it is a very mature film about the nature of love. There is a lesson to be learned here. The acting is very good from all involved and Phoenix and Paltrow really shine in their roles. So make sure you see this film. You won't be sorry that you did. It is my first 2009 film and I must say that the year has gotten off to a great start.

DVD Mini Review - Al Otro Lado: To the Other Side

Director Gustavo Loza's film is a lovely and sad trilogy in one film that deals with children searching for their father.

The first story takes place in Mexico. Prisciliano's (Adrian Alonso) father has to go to the US in order to make a living for his family. Prisciliano does not understand and attempts to go to his father.

The second story takes place in Cuba. Angel (Jorge Milo) does not remember much about his father but he has heard a lot about him. He, too, tries to go to his father.

Lastly, Fatimah (Nuria Badih) lives in Morocco. She has a picture of her father but that is not enough for her. Her mother explains that her father is in Spain working so that he can send back enough money for the family to live on. And, yes, Fatimah also tries to go to her father.

Which one, if any, will succeed? You will have to see this beautiful little film to find out. Each story is sad but one of them is the saddest. The film shows just how much of an effect a parent has on a child even if he/she is not there. Loza does a wonderful job of directing these young actors and the adults are also good. The terrific Carmen Maura has a small role in the last story.

I highly recommend this film to those who love good world cinema and stories that are real.

Oscar Winners

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Feature: WALL-E
Best Documentary Feature: Man on Wire
Best Foreign Language Film: Departures (Japan)
Best Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Art Direction: Benjamin Button
Best Costume Design: The Duchess
Best Makeup: Benjamin Button
Best Live Action Short: Toyland
Best Animated Short: La Maison en Petites Cubes
Best Documentary Short: Smile Pinki
Best Visual Effects: Benjamin Button
Best Sound Editing: The Dark Knight
Best Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Music Score: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Song: Jai Ho, Slumdog Millionaire

Independent Spirit Awards Winners

Supporting male
James Franco "Milk"

First screenplay
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"

First feature
Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York"

Supporting female
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

John Cassavetes Award given to the best feature made for less than $500,000
Alex Holdridge's "In Search of a Midnight Kiss"

Documentary
James Marsh's "Man on Wire"

Female lead
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"

Acura Someone to Watch Award
Lynn Shelton, "My Effortless Brilliance"

Piaget Producers Award
Heather Rae, "Frozen River"

Lacoste Truer Than Fiction Award
Margaret Brown, "The Order of Myths"

Screenplay
Woody Allen, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Foreign film
Laurent Cantet's "The Class"

Cinematographer
Maryse Alberti, "The Wrestler"

Robert Altman Award, given to film's director, casting director and its ensemble cast
"Synecdoche, New York"

Male lead
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Director
Tom McCarthy, "The Visitor"

Picture
"The Wrestler," producers Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin

The Class

I am very familiar with the work of French director Laurent Cantet. I have seen many of his previous films. So I was very excited to see his Palm D'Or winning The Class.
I must say that I was disappointed. The film is okay but nothing special.

The film is based on Francois Begaudeau's book about his experiences as a teacher in a multi-cultural school in Paris. Begaudeau plays a version of himself with the last name of Marin. He also co-wrote the screenplay. The film plays like a documentary - which is fine by me. Marin has to deal with a group of rowdy students who clearly have no respect for him. It seems that most of the students in the school are problem kids. Aren't there any students that are polite? Oh yes, there is a nice Asian boy in the class. Yes, I know that this is all too real. Many teachers have kids with discipline problems. I had a problem with believing the kids were 14 or 15. They looked older. But my main problem withe film is the way it plays out. There are a number of funny scenes but for the most part the film is repetitious. Most of the scenes play out in the classroom and the rest in the school conference room. It just needed a certain oomph that it lacked. Two other people sitting with me also thought that it was just okay.

It is hard for me to believe that this film won the Palm D'Or at Cannes. And there were so many better French films out last year I wonder why the French picked this film as their choice to go to the Oscars. Well, it got a nomination but I hope that it doesn't win.

However, based on his past work I look forward to Cantet's future work because he is a fine filmmaker. And don't get me wrong, The Class is not a bad film. But after hearing so much about it, it is a disappointing one.

DVD Mini Review - Still Life

I got interested in seeing Zhang Jia's Still Life after it won the LA Film Critics Best Foreign Film Award. It was a most interesting choice since it was not that well known and had only a brief theatrical run in the States.

The story focuses on the effect of the opening of the Three Gorges Dam has on people living near the Yangtze River. Han Semning returns to the area to look for his ex-wife and daughter after not seeing them for 16 years. Finding them does not prove to be easy. Shen Hong is also looking for her spouse, who she hasn't seen for two years.

The film is beautifully shot - it won for best cinematography from the LA Film Critics. It must have been even more gorgeous on the big screen. But there is something missing from this film. While I was quite engaged on seeing what would happen to these people if and when they met up with their spouses I never felt drawn in emotionally. And that is what I wanted. A while ago I saw a documentary entitled Up the Yangtze (on DVD) that dealt with the same issue. But that film was much more emotionally satisfying.

I say see both films because you will learn something that is happening in another part of the world. But be aware that Still Life is not the masterpiece that some critics think it is.

DVD Mini Review - Murderers Are Among Us

Murderers Are Among Us is an unusual film. It was made in 1945/46 in Germany right after World War II. It was directed by Wolfgang Staudte, who was considered quite left wing.

In the film Susanne Wallner (Hildegard Knef) returns from a concentration camp. But she finds that her apartment is occupied by Dr. Hans Marten (Ernst Wilhelm Bochert).
After arguing for a while she decides that the doctor can stay with her. He isn't happy about the arrangement but he has nowhere to go.

But things are complicated because Hans worked with the Nazis during the war. He also has a great deal of anger for a comrade of his who now lives a good life and doesn't care about all of the people killed. Hans also has a lot of anger towards himself. But the two of them fall in love and the story more complicated. And we never find out why Susanne was in a concentration camp. Someone said that it is because of her father but that is not an explanation.

The acting is first rate. I think that Staudte wanted to show German guilt and didn't want to waste any time putting it in front of people. As I said, this is an odd little film but a good one at that and it certainly a very worthwhile rental.

BAFTA Winners

BAFTA Winners

BEST PICTURE: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ACTRESS: Kate Winslet, The Reader
BEST ACTOR: Micky Rourke, The Wrestler
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
BRITISH FILM: Man on Wire
ANIMATED FILM: WALL•E
CARL FOREMAN AWARD: Steve McQueen, Hunger
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: I’ve Loved You So Long
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Martin McDonagh, In Bruges
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire
VISUAL EFFECTS: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
MAKEUP and HAIR: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
PRODUCTION DESIGN: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
SCORE: AR Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
SOUND: Slumdog Millionaire
EDITING: Slumdog Millionaire
COSTUMES: The Duchess
RISING STAR: Noel Clarke
SHORT ANIMATION: Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death
ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP: Terry Gilliam

Moscow, Belgium

Moscow, Belgium is a wonderful little film that I already had on my Netflix list. It is playing at only one theater in NYC and I never thought that it would come to my part of town. But one of the local cinemas booked it for a few shows a day and I was lucky enough to catch it today.

The film is very well directed by Christophe Van Rompaey. The story takes place in Moscow, a small section in Ghent, Belgium. 41 year old Matty (Barbara Sarfian) has her hands full. She works at the local post office. Her husband Werner (Johann Heidenbergh) is in the midst of a mid-life crisis and is living with his 22 year old former student Gail (we never see her). She has three kids who are all feeling growing pains. So all she needs is for a truck to ram into the trunk of her car. The truckdriver Johnny (Jurgen Delnaet) and Matty really go out each other with insults. But Johnny seems smitten with Matty and tries to win her over. And I didn't mention that Johnny is 29 years old.

This is a terrific slice of life film that is very natural and very real. All of the characters are very believable. We know people like this. There are a number of surprises so I won't say much about the plot. Van Rompaey is a talent to watch. All of the acting is great with Sarfian a real standout.

This film will not play at many theaters but I urge that you seek it out when it comes out on DVD.

Edit: I should say this film is alive with life and the possibilities that it offers us!

DVD Mini Review - Tropic Thunder

I am not a Ben Stiller fan at all. The only reason I rented Tropic Thunder is because Robert Downey, Jr. got an Oscar nomination and I like to see all of the acting (and film) nominees as possible.

Tropic Thunder is a satire on movie making - war movies in particular. Stiller directed and co-wrote (with Justin Theroux) the film. It has some very funny moments. But at times it falls flat. And it is very, very raunchy. Stiller is certainly not a master director but he has a good cast who elevate his material. Downey, Jr. is terrific. Nick Nolte, Jack Black and Steve Coogan are among the other actors and they are all good. And Tom Cruise is really great in an extended cameo as a rude, crude producer.

All in all, a fun film that is quite forgettable - except to remind us just how great Downey, Jr. is.