Review: ‘In the City of Sylivia’ (2007)

‘IN THE CITY OF SYLVIA’

Written & Directed by – José Luis Guerín

WARNING: There are SPOILERS ahead! If you have not seen this film then DO NOT read further!

‘In the City of Sylvia,’ for me, is an art film through and through – from the introspective characters to the extremely long cuts. This film by José Luis Guerín’s, although not a Neo-Realist film, has several elements of neo-realism within it – from the introspective characters to the feeling of authentic on-location shooting in the city of Strasbourg, France, where the story takes place.

There are long cuts, where we see alleyways, denizens of the city going about their daily life and we, the audience are put in the position of observing all of this as if from a CCTV camera, not in terms of camera angle or composition, but in terms of being voyeuristic.

Review: ‘Let the Right One In’ (2008)

‘LET THE RIGHT ONE IN’ (Låt den Rätte komma in)

Directed by – Tomas Alfredson

Written by – John Ajvide Lindqvist

Adapted from the novel by – John Ajvide Lindqvist

WARNING: There are SPOILERS ahead! If you have not seen this film then DO NOT read further!

CLICK HERE for the Spoiler FREE Review

Vampires are arguably the most oft used ’supernatural creatures’ in media entertainment. From Bela Lugosi’s chilling portrayal of ‘Dracula’ (1931) to Robert Rodriguez’s ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ (1996); from Marvel Comics’ ‘Blade’ series to Joss Whedon’s popular TV Series – ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ vampires and their incarnates are used in many ways, whether evil or good or simply mindless bloodsucking monsters. These films are generally consistent in their use the vampire myth. The vampires may be allergic to garlic and holy water, or UV rays and silver might to the trick. In some cases the writer completely throws out the ‘myths’ and the only thing that works is a stake to the heart. There are always recurring motifs – the vampires are a sub-race of humans or they are affected by a disease that results in their blood-lust; they may be hell bent on ‘world domination’ or they may go on feeding frenzy.

Occasionally, you get someone who takes the concept of vampires and runs with it in a slightly different direction. ‘Let the Right One in’ – (Låt den Rätte komma in) is a Swedish film adapted by writer John Ajvide Lindqvist from his own novel of the same name. Although it retains elements of the Vampire Myth, the story itself avoids clichéd parameters of the genre and brings in a fresh perspective. The story takes the characteristics of such a genre and turns it on its head, without sacrificing the tone or the content of the film. The tone itself is dark and eerie; It is not a fast paced thriller, nor is it overtly scary. The pacing is slow, but it does not drag on and there is a subtlety to the interactions between the characters.

Review: ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

‘THE DARK KNIGHT’

Directed by – Christopher Nolan

Written by – Jonathan Nolan & Christopher Nolan

WARNING: There are SPOILERS ahead! If you have not seen this film then DO NOT read further!

CLICK HERE for the Spoiler FREE Review

With ‘Batman Begins’ in 2005, Christopher Nolan re-energized the Batman franchise, making it darker and grittier, with a ‘real-world’ ethos. With all due respect to Tim Burton, I found Nolan’s more realistic version of Batman to be a better and more faithful interpretation of the character in the comic books. Don’t get me wrong, I love Burton’s Batman and I grew up watching those two films. They are brilliant in their own way, but I feel that Nolan has created a character more suited to this time and age.

With its anticipated release, there was massive hype surrounding the film and particularly Heath Ledger’s performance as the ‘Joker.’ This hype was amplified ten-fold with Heath Ledger’s tragic death. His performance was raved to the point of becoming mythologized even before the release of the film. For over a year, had I been looking forward to watching ‘The Dark Knight’ and if nothing else, the hype made me all the more impatient.

Review: ‘In Bruges’ (2008)

‘IN BRUGES’

Written & Directed by – Martin McDonagh

WARNING: There are SPOILERS ahead! If you have not seen this film then DO NOT read further!

One of the smaller, more compact films of the year; ‘In Bruges’ has a story that leaves you with conflicting emotions throughout. There is a curious mix of comedy and tragedy, both with the characters and the plot itself.

Ken (Brendan Gleeson) and Ray (Colin Farrell) are two hit men who have been sent to hide out in Bruges, Belgium by their boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes), after a botched up job in London. Ken is the older and wiser of the two while Ray is a young newcomer with an almost childlike sensibility about him. Gleeson and Farrell have great chemistry and play off each other’s strengths very well. Ken instills a sort of ‘fatherly’ figure attitude towards Ray who despite his attitude, quite obviously looks up to him. While Ken is content with the medieval beauty of Bruges, Ray hates it and wants to go back. His misery is borne out of a deep sense of guilt.

The Oscar Winners

The 81st Annual Academy Awards

The Winners

Best Motion Picture of the Year:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Achievement in Directing:

Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher– The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
Stephen Daldry – The Reader
Gus Van Sant – Milk

Best Actor in a Leading Role:

Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
Richard Jenkins – The Visitor

Best Actress in a Leading Role:

Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Melissa Leo – Frozen River
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kate Winslet – The Reader

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

Josh Brolin – Milk
Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

Amy Adams – Doubt
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

Best Original Screenplay:

Courtney Hunt – Frozen River
Dustin Lance – Milk
Andrew Stanton – Wall-E
Martin McDonagh – In Bruges
Mike Leigh – Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Eric Roth – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley – Doubt
David Hare – The Reader
Simon Beaufoy – Slumdog Millionaire
Peter Morgan – Frost/Nixon

Best Animated Film:

WALL-E
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda

Best Foreign Language Film:

The Baader-Meinhof Complex – Germany
The Class – France
Waltz with Bashir – Israel
Revanche – Austria
Okuribito – Japan

Best Cinematography:

Tom Stern – Changeling
Claudio Miranda – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Wally Pfister – The Dark Knight
Anthony Dod Mantle – Slumdog Millionaire
Roger Deakins & Chris Menges – The Reader

Best Art Direction:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Revolutionary Road
The Dark Knight
Duchess
Changeling


Best Film Editing:

Milk
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon

Best Costume Design:

Milk
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Australia
Revolutionary Road

Best Makeup:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Best Visual Effects:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Iron Man
The Dark Knight

Best Sound Mixing:

The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Sound Editing:

The Dark Knight
Iron Man
WALL-E
Wanted
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Score:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
WALL-E
Defiance

Best Original Song:

“Down to Earth” – WALL-E
“Jai Ho” – Slumdog Millionaire
“O Saya” – Slumdog Millionaire

The Oscar Nominations/Predictions

The 81st Annual Academy Awards

The Nominees

Best Motion Picture of the Year:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire

Should Win: Slumdog Millionaire

Should Have Been Nominated: The Dark Knight & Wall-E

Everything thus far points to ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ taking the Oscar this year and deservedly so. Both a critical and commercial success, it is a clear favourite. ‘Benjamin Button’ and ‘Milk’ could both be potential spoilers, the latter more so than the former, but to be honest I don’t see that happening.

Snubbed!!

A Reaction to the Oscar Nominations

With the nominees for the 2009 Academy Awards finally announced, there have been some pleasant surprises and some glaring omissions. Many of the nominees were expected, but there are some that popped up out of nowhere. The biggest surprise would probably go to Kate Winslet receiving a Best Actress nomination for ‘The Reader’ rather than ‘Revolutionary Road,’ which of course left a spot open in the Supporting Actress category that was filled in by Taraji P. Henson for ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.’

Predicting The Oscars 08-09 – Final Predictions

The 81st Annual Academy Awards

Final Predictions

With the Academy Awards drawing near, there is massive speculation as to who will take home the Oscars this year. The ‘Buzz’ has been great for many films and non-existent for many others. There are a lot of films in the running for various awards and several of these films have a great shot. Earlier, I posted a blog that listed the best films of the year based on reviews, critics awards and public reception (HERE). Most of these films are competing for nominations in at least one if not more categories.

20/01/2009 – The predictions have been updated following the Guild nominations, the Golden Globe awards and the various shortlists announced by the academy.

Below are my predicted nominations for the 2008-2009 Academy Awards

Best Motion Picture of the Year: – Predictions In Detail

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire


Best Achievement in Directing: – Predictions In Detail

Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher– The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Christopher Nolan – The Dark Knight
Darren Aronofsky – The Wrestler
Gus Van Sant – Milk

Best Actor in a Leading Role:

Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
Clint Eastwood – Gran Torino


Best Actress in a Leading Role:

Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins – Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road


Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

Josh Brolin – Milk
Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

Amy Adams – Doubt
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Kate Winslet – The Reader
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

Best Original Screenplay:

Woody Allen – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Dustin Lance – Milk
Andrew Stanton – Wall-E
Martin McDonagh – In Bruges
Mike Leigh – Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Eric Roth – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan – The Dark Knight
John Patrick Shanley – Doubt
Simon Beaufoy – Slumdog Millionaire
Peter Morgan – Frost/Nixon


Best Animated Film:

WALL-E
Waltz with Bashir
Kung Fu Panda

Best Foreign Language Film:

The Baader-Meinhof Complex – Germany
The Class – France
Waltz with Bashir – Israel
Three Monkeys – Turkey
Everlasting Moments – Sweden


Best Cinematography:

Mandy Walker – Australia
Claudio Miranda – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Wally Pfister – The Dark Knight
Anthony Dod Mantle – Slumdog Millionaire
Roger Deakins & Chris Menges – The Reader



Best Art Direction:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Changeling


Best Film Editing:

Burn After Reading
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Iron Man



Best Costume Design:

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Australia
Slumdog Millionaire


Best Makeup:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader


Best Visual Effects:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Iron Man
The Dark Knight


Best Sound Mixing:

The Dark Knight
Iron Man
WALL-E
Defiance
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button



Best Sound Editing:

The Dark Knight
Iron Man
WALL-E
Quantum of Solace
Defiance


Best Original Score:

The Dark Knight
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Defiance

Best Original Song:

Bolt
The Wrestler
WALL-E
Slumdog Millionaire
Gran Torino

Review: ‘Let the Right One In’ (2008) – Spoiler Free

‘LET THE RIGHT ONE IN’ (Låt den Rätte komma in) - Spoiler Free

Directed by – Tomas Alfredson

Written by – John Ajvide Lindqvist

Adapted from the novel by – John Ajvide Lindqvist

This is an edited review for those who HAVE NOT SEEN the film yet…No spoilers here!

For those who HAVE seen the film – CLICK HERE for the FULL Review

Vampires are arguably the most oft used ’supernatural creatures’ in media entertainment. From Bela Lugosi’s chilling portrayal of ‘Dracula’ (1931) to Robert Rodriguez’s ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ (1996); from Marvel Comics’ ‘Blade’ series to Joss Whedon’s popular TV Series – ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ vampires and their incarnates are used in many ways, whether evil or good or simply mindless bloodsucking monsters. These films are generally consistent in their use the vampire myth. The vampires may be allergic to garlic and holy water, or UV rays and silver might to the trick. In some cases the writer completely throws out the ‘myths’ and the only thing that works is a stake to the heart. There are always recurring motifs – the vampires are a sub-race of humans or they are affected by a disease that results in their blood-lust; they may be hell bent on ‘world domination’ or they may go on feeding frenzy.

Occasionally, you get someone who takes the concept of vampires and runs with it in a slightly different direction. ‘Let the Right One in’ – (Låt den Rätte komma in) is a Swedish film adapted by writer John Ajvide Lindqvist from his own novel of the same name. Although it retains elements of the Vampire Myth, the story itself avoids clichéd parameters of the genre and brings in a fresh perspective. The story takes the characteristics of such a genre and turns it on its head, without sacrificing the tone or the content of the film. The tone itself is dark and eerie; It is not a fast paced thriller, nor is it overtly scary. The pacing is slow, but it does not drag on and there is a subtlety to the interactions between the characters.

Oscars – The Top 10 Films of 2008

The Best of 2008

To many, the Oscars have become a subject of ridicule, especially after the events of last year. But as trivial as they have become, the Academy Awards still manage to hold some measure of respect within the industry. Winning an Academy Award as a Writer, Director, Actor or any other discipline does no harm to the career whatsoever, and having ‘Oscar Winner’ plastered all over a film’s poster does tend to help boost ticket sales in the long run.

As for me; I like to keep an eye on the ‘Oscar Buzz,’ partly because it helps me to discover interesting films to watch out for and partly because I would inevitably have one or two films that I’d be rooting for in any given year.

Keeping in mind the critical and commercial reception that this year’s releases have had, along with their respective campaigns, there are a number of films that are worth watching and that have shot at the Oscars in February.

Below are films that are considered to be the best of the year based on critic reviews and public reception: