2012 Autumn Movie Bits

Originally blog came to life because I wanted to recall the movies I have seen, especially those mainstream movies I watch and tend to forget about them because they did not impressed me. But for the last 7 years blog evolved into something more interesting (at least for me) and sometimes forget to register those mainstream films I have seen. That's how the seasonal "movie bits" post became sort of a blog tradition. A post that also shows my eclectic taste in movies, a taste that makes me watch almost "everything" is filmed in almost any genre.

Hope Springs by David Frankel, USA
I want to like all movies with Merryl Streep in the lead role, but sometimes it is not possible. This is one of the occasions as did not really enjoyed her performance in this movie that has been labeled as "comedy, drama, romance" and found that has not much comedy -even when there are some silly scenes with humor-, there are some awkward-to-see romance moments and mostly is a not-pleasant to watch drama. Believe that the biggest flaw movie has is the casting. Sigh.

Trouble with the Curve by Robert Lorenz, USA
No matter what the person does (like talking to an empty chair), I am Clint Eastwood fan.  I like the filmmaker for the great films he directs and also the actor in many films where he performs. Here he acts but gives the impression that in his old age he is being typecast as the old grumpy man, which he also plays here. Film tells the story of a father (Eastwood) and his daughter (Amy Adams) and is deeply based on the love of Baseball. Found film has not much wrong but is not out-of-the ordinary. It is watchable as an escape moment. Enjoy!

Resident Evil: Retribution by Paul W.S. Anderson, Germany and Canada
Yes, I have seen the Resident Evil movies as found them entertaining for an escape moment and who can resist seeing an action movie with a female character in lead? Not me, especially when the lead is Milla Jovovich. But the last installment was not enjoyable at all as perhaps is the movie that looks and feels more like a console game than a film for the big screen and when this happens is better to play the game than to watch a bad movie. So perhaps console game players will like film, but I did not. Sigh.

Liberal Arts by Josh Radnor, USA
Some positive buzz got me interested in watching this American indie, had low expectations and watched just hoping for an entertainment moment. But got bored quite fast as while story is not that bad, second film by Radnor clearly shows that he still has much more to learn about filmmaking, storytelling and directing. Biggest film flaw, doesn't easily engage audiences, but there are many more. Sigh.

Argo by Ben Affleck, USA
A good thriller/drama inspired by a true story as told by a newspaper article, which I strongly suggest you read as the article is truly fascinating. Maybe should remind you all that this film is not a documentary so takes many creative licenses outside the true facts, which obviously makes it a very enjoyable movie experience that wide audiences will enjoy. Film is as good as all the films Affleck has directed but has something different, thanks to playing an expressionless character his performance is quite good here. Surely film will get honors in current American award season. Watch it, you will like it. Enjoy!!!

Looper by Rian Johnson, USA and China
Perhaps the only thing that motivated me to see this film was Emily Blunt performs here. The Sci-Fi story is not that bad, but the crime and action part was not pleasant to watch, at least for me. Had no idea this was not a studio movie as the way it feels and looks is 100% Hollywood ordinary blockbuster film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt performance and looks are awful, but somehow Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt make film more watchable. Enjoy.

Arbitrage by Nicholas Jarecki, USA
Richard Gere not often plays villains, perhaps is because he is better performing light romance roles. Film story is not bad, neither is film storytelling style as a thriller, but how the drama was constructed could make some viewers to feel disappointed by film. Surely did it to me. Still imagine many viewers will like the movie even when I did not. Enjoy.

Magic Mike by Steven Soderbergh, USA
Not easy for me to find the reason-why Soderbergh decided to do this movie that definitively looks and feels very different to his previous films. The best "nice" word I can find to describe film is "cheesy" but not-nice words better describe this trashy B-film, especially for the truly awful actor's performances. If you skip it won't be missing much; me, I wish I did see it. Sigh.

The Vow by Michael Sucsy, USA, France, Australia, UK and Germany
I like romantic movies as much as anybody else, but it's been a while since I see one that impresses me and obviously this one is not the one. A bland, not engaging, no chemistry, no-good-acting, no-everything movie that find is below the standard of made-for-television movies, usually screen at the infamous LMN channel. Suggest to skip. Sigh.

Liz & Dick by Lloyd Kramer, USA
Talking about Lifetime channel made me recall this movie that critics' and many viewers strongly and loudly trashed. Watched for only one reason, wanted to hear Lindsay Lohan voice, period. So I had below low expectations. Then obviously Lohan doesn't look like Taylor, Bowler doesn't look like Burton and Lohan/Bowler chemistry is zero; but yes, I was surprised on how the story film tells made me recall the most famous "scandalous romance" as was told then in the news. So can tell that enjoyed movie more than what I could imagined.. The funniest thing was to read in twitter how many recorded film and had already watch it twice and more times. If Lohan was not being trashed by media as much as it is, I bet that many will dare to say that they enjoyed movie. But well, remember that this is not a big screen movie, is a TV movie and definitively should not have been considered as a anyone's "come back". Enjoy.

My Little Princess by Eva Ionesco, France
Ionesco's debut film was incredibly hard for me to watch for the story and for what is shown in the screen. Have no need to see, especially the images in this highly dysfunctional mother/daughter story. I can't believe what I am about to say, as is an Isabelle Huppert film, but I strongly suggest you skip this film. Refuse to rate this film.

Lawless by John Hillcoat, USA
It is an okay movie but was expecting a lot more from this film screened in competition at 2012 Cannes. Not really interested in the story film tells or the storytelling style the film has; but can't deny that there are some very-good performances that make film worth-watching. For those that love great cinema suggest to lower whatever expectations Cannes provoked in you, so you'll be able to enjoy the cast ensemble performances. Enjoy!!

Butter by Jim Field Smith, USA
Yep, watched this truly bad film with awful performances especially by Jennifer Garner. But who could resist watching the too-brief lesbian interest scene with Olivia Wilde and Ashley Greene? Not me. Film is truly not worth-watching, not even for that scene; instead watch scene in any of the many videos available in the net. Sigh.

Ethel by Rory Kennedy, USA
A documentary by Rory Kennedy, the youngest daughter of Ethel and Robert Kennedy, who wanted to tell the story of her mother and the father she never met as Bobby Kennedy died six months before she was born. Unbelievable to find that Rory Kennedy has directed 13 documentary films plus she has produced about 27; but then shouldn't be surprising as this very good and moving documentary documents the life of an unusual woman and while telling her story, also tells about her husband and well, a piece of America's history in quite turbulent times. With interviews with Ethel and Rory's siblings plus footage from the era, including Kennedy's home movies, film will take you into an unexpected surprising family story that surely will move you beyond whatever you can expect from a Kennedy's story. After all much has been told about John, but not that much about Robert, much less like in this very intimate portrait of his family. Suggest to watch, even if you are not a Kennedy's fan. Enjoy!!!

Prometheus by Ridley Scott, USA and UK
Can't believe never wrote about this movie that was entertaining for someone like me that hasn't seen any Alien movies and saw it just because Noomi Rapace was in movie. Had no idea that she is the lead, but hopefully she will refrain from doing any sequels as this is NOT the kind of movie she should be doing. Nevertheless film is okay for a sci-fi movie with many special effects that earn film to be shortlisted in the 2013 VFX Oscar category, but besides entertaining and some great visuals, there is not much to be said. Ah! that is why I forgot to write about movie. Enjoy.

I'm sure have forgotten many movies -should write at least the names to not forget them- but this is all for a season that has not ended yet; however, soon will be winter.

聽風者 The Silent War

The latest collaboration between Alan Mak Siu-Fai and Felix Chong Man-Keung, better known for their writing collaboration in the Infernal Affairs saga, is an entertaining movie that showcases Tony Leung Chiu-Wai as blind man with extraordinary hearing abilities. Found his performance interesting enough to allow you to keep watching this mainstream movie up to the end, but do not expect an easy to engage story as due to editing, story gives the impression of being fragmented and doesn't motivate you to fill the gaps.

If you are expecting a full-action movie you will not find it here as this spy thriller doesn't give much thrills; then if you are like me that absolutely love Tony Leung performances in fantastic Wong Kar wai's films, you could enjoy his performance here but surely you will miss the look/feel of Wong Kar wai as movie story even do could have travelled better a similar style, directors' opted for a different approach that left movie "bland" and unable to please directors' fans and/or actor's fans.

Set in 1949 story tells about government unit 701, the spy unit that "doesn't exist" who is fighting and losing to an "invisible enemy" (those conspiring against the government) until senior investigator Zhang Xue-Ning (good performance by Zhou Xun) fails to recruit noted tuner Luo San-Er (Pal Sin) but finds someone better: Luo San-Er's blind assitant Bing (Tony Leung) who doesn't need a cane as he "hears" everything around him. So we see how he is recruited, taken to 701 headquarters, trained in Morse code, finding hidden enemy radio frequencies and help in the capture of top leader Chungking. All of the above happens with some romance, some humor and nothing much else.

Not much to say except maybe that production values are above average, some photography is fabulous and IF you are not a directors' fan plus you want to have an entertainment moment then film is for you.

Enjoy!

Watch trailer @MOC

15th Shanghai International Film Festival Award Winners

Recently the fest that run from June 16 to 24 had their award ceremony and here are the award winners.

Golden Goblet Award
Best Feature Film: Khers (Bear), Khosrow Masoumi, Iran
Jury Grand Prix: Pour l'amour de Dieu (For The Love of God), Micheline Lanctôt, Canada

Best Director: Gao Qunshu for Shen Tan Heng Te Zhang (Detective Hunter Zhang), China
Best Screenplay: Kenji Uchida for 鍵泥棒のメソッド Kagi Dorobō no Method (Key of Life), Kenji Uchida, Japan
Best Cinematography: Shi Luan for 萧红 Xiao Hong (Falling Flowers), Huo Jianqi, China
Best Music: Avshalom Caspi for De Tu Ventana a la Mía (Chrysalis), Paula Ortiz, Spain

Best Actress: Ursula Pruneda in El sueño de Lu (The Dream of Lu), Carlos Sama, Mexico
Best Actor: Vladas Bagdonas in Дирижер Dirizhyor (The Conductor), Pavel Lungin, Russia

To read the official announcement go here.

Asian New Talent Award
Best Film: Kshay (Corrode), Karan Gour, India
Jury Prix: 大藍湖 Big Blue Lake, Jessey Tsang (aka Tsang Tsui Shan), Hong Kong and China
Best Director: Peng Li for 乐队 Follow, Follow, China

To read the official announcement go here.

China Movie Channel Media Award
Best Picture: 一八九四•甲午大海战 Jia Wu Da Hai Zhan, Feng Xiaoning, China

To learn winners in other categories, best director, lead and supporting actors, go here.

This year I followed very close the fest via twitter which has become an invaluable tool to get serious and not-so-serious reactions to everything that happened in fest.

Cheers!

頤和園 Yihe yuan (Summer Palace)

Lou Ye's films have eluded me but finally I was able to watch this 2006 Cannes in competition film and I was not prepared for what I watched at all. I really love what I call non-commercial Chinese cinema especially from those directors in the so-called The Fifth Generation (like Zhang Yimou, for example) and The Sixth Generation (like Jia Zhangke) that I believe have a peculiar and particular style in their films. But if one director blows completely my mind is Wong Kar-wai with his unique style to tell so-called moody romance stories; well, that's it until I saw this movie.

According to what I read, Lou Ye belongs to The Six Generation and yes I can see the impressive realistic style in this movie as more than once gives the impression of watching cinéma vérité but this movie has something else that I have seen not before in Chinese movies much less in the work of The Six Generation directors I have seen. First there is a clear drama with an intense-love story that abounds elsewhere but not among Chinese filmmakers; so intense, both in story as in visuals, that film seems to me like a fusion of European (more French) style with Chinese style and believe me, the end result is amazing if you love both styles. Second, love/sex scenes are so visually explicit and raw that definitively I have not seen anything similar in "good" Chinese cinema, not even in the explicit sex scenes of Ang Lee's Lust, Caution. Third, movie story mixes fiction and reality creating an illusion that perhaps talks more about "truth" that if director decided to portrait only "truth" (which obviously was impossible as he/film would be banned). I could go on, but these three aspects are the basic ones to give you an idea of what you will seen in film.

Films tells an epic story that spans to several cities and over a decade but basic plot rotates around Yu Hong (Hao Lei) a young woman from Tumen, who is accepted to a fictional university in Beijing. There she meets Li Ti (Hu Lingling) and become close friends. Li Ti introduces Zhou Wei (Guo Xiadong) to Yu Hong and her life is changed forever as Zhou Wei becomes her obsessive love and obsession is mutual. But they have a volatile love affair, probably as volatile as the political forces that are moving towards Tiananmen Square. This story happens in what I call the first movie as storytelling style is very different to what follows in the second movie.

Second movie starts after the Tiananmen Square with the three main characters parting ways as Yu Hong returns to Tumen while Li Ti and Zhou Wei emigrate to Germany. Won't tell you more details of what happens but in the end complete story for me is about how unprepared where the Chinese to live in the "new" Chinese society, more specific, how unprepared were to live in (so-called) "freedom". Very interesting story told, again, mixing fiction and fact.

I was absolutely mesmerized by first movie as I think I was in shock of watching the "perfect" mélange of European/Chinese visual and narrative styles and yes I had my "what is this" moment as how could I imagine what I was seeing with no previous reference? Soon enough I got involved, forgot about thinking and started to only enjoy the fantastic ride. Second movie came a bit as a downer as wonderful style becomes more arid, dry, has more light but there are lots of foggy/hazy/greyish scenes. Obviously the second movie style was used to complement the story narrative that also is a lot more arid, dry, grey than first part. Fantastic.

For occidental standards is a long movie as has 140 minutes, I'm used to see "long" movies but not often I can spend that amount of time in awe with my mouth open unable to stop watching for a second, unable to move. That's how much I was affected by this movie that I enjoyed beyond my wildest expectations, but then I had no expectations at all, so perhaps that's why I got the intense reaction.

I strongly recommend this movie (if you haven't seen it yet) as definitively is a must be seen for those that enjoy European, mainly French, cinema as well as excellent Chinese cinema. Not surprisingly share that I have to see "everything" by Lou Ye to understand more how he evolved his amazing storytelling style up to this 2006 film and how he continue evolving with his subsequent movies.

Big Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Hua wei mei (Bad Romance)

Film starts so promising that can't deny I thought I was watching a French film but after a few minutes style becomes repetitive and annoying, so much that definitively becomes pretentious, too arty and pretentious. Then editing is atrocious.

Film tells three stories, but you can tell that director real interest is the gay interest story as is about the only one that is more developed, but don't expect much development as director decided that only his images will tell the story, so dialogue is down to minimum, with silences that in this movie are absolutely unnecessary as you would have preferred to see "something" happening more coherently. Maybe if he had told one story first, then the next and last, the last one film would have made more sense; but in the end I think that director should have concentrated only in the gay story and film perhaps would have been more entertaining at least to those that like the genre.

Other stories deal with a young mother that meets a young man and last -really shorter- has been promoted as a trio, but actually is about a girl that likes another girl and a man that comes between them. But as movie name tells all stories end bad and unfortunately film is quite bad from any point of view you want to comment it.

François Chang's movie shows a director that wants to fusion French and Chinese cinema, as there are some references to French movies and style also recalls some Chinese movies, but in the end he is not successful in what could been a very interesting fusion. To get an idea of how good this movie could have been just check the trailer, but don't forget that what trailer promises is not delivered by movie.

Can't recommend film but I know that some of my loyal readers enjoy gay interest movies and this film surely will please them as sex scene -when finally comes- is long and hot.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @MOC

6th Asian Film Awards Winners

A few minutes ago the Hong Kong Film Festival Society announced the award winners and here they are for main categories. Winners are in *BLUE. To check winners in all categories go here. 

--//--
1/17

Today Hong Kong International Film Festival Society announced the nominations and right now official site has crashed due to “capacity problems”! Nevertheless here are the nominees from different sources and will confirm nods as well as post link to official site when site is up again.

Update
Finally I’m in the official site and here is an excerpt from the official press release.

Hong Kong, 17 January 2012 – The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) announced today the nominees in the 14 categories and the jury for the 6th Asian Film Awards (AFA). Eric KHOO, Singapore-based director and producer, will take up the mantle of Jury President, heading the panel of international film community notables who will select the winners of these prestigious awards. The Asian Film Awards Presentation Ceremony will be held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Grand Hall on 19 March 2012.

To continue reading press release go here.

Best Film
*Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (Nader and Simin, A Separation), Asghar Farhadi, Iran
Ichimai no hagaki (Postcard), Kaneto Shindô, Japan
金陵十三釵 Jin líng shí san chai (The Flowers of War), Zhang Yimou, China
龍門飛甲 Long Men Fei Jia (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate), Tsui Hark, Hong Kong and China
賽德克•巴萊 Seediq Bale (Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale), Wei Te-sheng, Taiwan
ज़िन्दगी ना मिलेगी दोबारा Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (You Don’t Get Life a Second Time), Zoya Akhtar, India

Best Director
*Asghar Farhadi for Nader and Simin, A Separation, Iran
Teddy Soeriaatmadja for Lovely Man, Indonesia (okay I'm curious about film)
Sono Sion for 恋の罪 Koi no Tsumi (Guilty of Romance), Japan
Tsui Hark for Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, Hong Kong and China
Wei Te-sheng for Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale, Taiwan
Zhang Yimou for The Flowers of War, China

Best Actress
Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture, India
Michelle Chen in 那些年，我们一起追的女孩 Na Xie Nian, Wo Men Yi Qi Zhui De Nu Hai (You Are the Apple of My Eye), Taiwan
Eugene Domingo in Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank), Philippines
Leila Hatami in A Separation, Iran
*Deanie Ip in Tao Jie (A Simple Life), Hong Kong

Best Actor
Chen Kun in Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, Hong Kong and China
*Donny Damara in Lovely Man, Indonesia
Andy Lau in Tao Jie (A Simple Life), Hong Kong
Park Hae Il in Choi-jong-byeong-gi Hwal (War of the Arrows), South Korea
Yakusho Koji in Waga haha no ki (Chronicle of My Mother), Japan

Best Newcomer
Ko Chen-tung in You Are the Apple of My Eye, Taiwan
Eric Lin Hui-min in 星空 Starry Starry Night, Taiwan
Maeda Ohshiro in 奇跡 Kiseki (I Wish), Japan
*Ni Ni in The Flowers of War, China
Gita Novalista in Laut Bercermin (The Mirror Never Lies), Indonesia

To check nominations in all categories go here.Can’t help but to comment that infamous Christian Bale is NOT nominated (lol!); I’m so glad as he was really bad on role even when you consider that his character was another century person that used to live in China like “conquerors” do. Got really interested in watching Lovely Man that has LGBT interest, specially in the T, but is the story of a child that finds that her father is a she-prostitute that sells herself in the streets.

As it says in the press release award ceremony will be on March 19.

Autumn Movie Bites #2

Some bites to remind us that I have seen the movies and what I think about them.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes by Rupert Wyatt. USA. I start by saying that have seen the old movies, thus I know story; so my big surprise was to find that I liked the prequel, is a lot better than what I could ever imagined or expected. Loved the new apes, especially the protagonist with an amazingly expressive face that really transmitted feelings, truly fabulous how cinema technology has advanced and how good can be when is well-used. If you haven’t seen it, go ahead and watch if only just to pay attention to the great expression by the protagonist ape. Enjoy!!

What Women Want by Daming Chen. China. I’m crazy about Gong Li and will watch everything with her, but I have no idea why did she accepted to do this remake of the Hollywood movie with the same name. Much less because I did enjoyed original and gee, this remake was really awful and got me feeling embarrassed for Gong Li performance. If you love Gong Li please do not watch this movie. Sigh.

Margin Call by J. C. Chandor. USA. Nice entertaining drama about the financial crisis that seems will be explored from many points of view; this time telling about an investment bank that rushes to dump their positions before everything explodes and pushing fast-forward the crisis. Great cast with the likes of Jeremy Irons, Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, and well, Demi Moore. Movie is starting to collect honors in this award season and yes, is well-deserved as film is a good representative of current American cinema that doesn’t target teenagers and doesn’t use special effects to fill movie duration. Enjoy!

The Help by Tate Taylor. USA, India, UAE. No, haven’t read the book and was expecting a not-easy-to-watch American period drama before civil rights were a possibility. To my surprise the story engage me to the point of making me very uncomfortable at moments as many things that are depicted in the movie are still true today between maids and their mistresses from many Latin American countries. Film is well done, so well that does generate emotions in viewers and I’m no exception, but great performances enhance story and movie in general, especially Viola Davis that I’m sure will get an Oscar nomination. Watch movie is entertaining and surely will make you laugh, shred a few tears, make you think a lot, and for some, wonder why no one has written a successful book about Latin America’s maid/mistress relationship. Enjoy!!!

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Wayne Wang. China and USA. Film tells parallel stories between 19th century China and present day Shanghai with tales of two women joined by laotong, a biding vow and contract to be eternal friends and share each other lives communicating with a secret women’s language called nushu beautiful written on the folds between the spines of silken fans. Nice story isn’t? Unfortunately film does not match the greatness of the story and what could have become interesting, thrilling and engaging becomes banal, not interesting and focus less. If you skip movie won’t miss much, but I do suggest you read book by Lisa See. Enjoy.

Melancholia by Lars von Trier. Denmark, Sweden, France and Germany. Lars von Trier has said publicly that this is his most American-like (ie mainstream or commercial) movie ever and you have no idea how right he is as this film definitively is not the regular greatness von Trier imprints in his works. Maybe the cast helps too much to his Americanization, as the first part with Kirsten Dunst character story is really not-engaging and for me, dull. Thing change a bit in the second part when Charlotte Gainsbourg commands the story and the screen but by then you know the end is coming and effectively comes with a bang done more with light than with impact. I suppose that most honors will come because film is not as crude as for example The Antichrist, is a lot more easy to watch and one-dimensionally understandable. Sigh. All right because I really liked second part, let say is Enjoy! (I hope he goes back to do his remarkable movies that so goodly shock us).

The Tree of Life by Terrence Malick. USA. Let me get this out of the way I have seen Malick’s movies and yes there are some I don’t like (The New World) and some nobody liked but I did (Days of Heaven); so many like his latest and surprise, surprise I did not. Just let me share that can’t understand why to reproduce the big-bang for about 20 minutes (more or less) with images that look more belonging to Natgeo, Discovery or any of those cable TV channels than to a “serious” film. I literally forced myself to watch the complete movie, but boy that was really a very hard thing to do and do not suggest anyone to do it. Too hard-to-watch (ie boring) but got the Palm d’Or and praises from everyone, except me. Sigh.

Beginners by Mike Mills. USA. Could you believe I watched this movie because Mélanie Laurent? Lol! It’s an entertaining movie thanks to very good performances by Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor as father and son. Film is a drama that tells about a man inability to keep a relationship surely due to what he saw his parents live, especially after her mother dies and his father recuperates the ‘joie de vivre’ when he tells everyone that he’s gay. It’s a complex story with many layers that I got them but somehow didn’t engaged me and watched from a comfortable distance, I was just an spectator of whatever was going on in the screen. Enjoy!!

Attenberg by Athina Rachel Tsangari. Greece. Very crazy movie, so crazy that I love it! But know that is not for everyone not for the story, not for the performances, not for the style and not for the whole that to me feels not hot like Greece but very cold like Finland –somehow film made me think of Aki K. films-. There is nothing lesbian interest in this film as I thought, so watch film only if you like cold-expression-less performances in very complex layered stories. If you dare to watch film I bet you will enjoy it a lot more than you expect, obviously you have to like art/arthouse films too. Enjoy!!!

Le Gamin au Vélo (The Girl with a Bike) by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. Belgium, France and Italy. Typical and particular Dardenne brothers visual style, amazing storytelling technique/style, and excellent directorial style that makes something very simple into a true masterpiece that’s a pleasure to watch. Period. Both Cécile De France and Thomas Doret give impeccable performances. A must be seen film for all of us that love the work of great Dardenne brothers. Enjoy!!!

Elena by Andrei Zvyagintsev. Russia. This movie has been killing me since the moment I finished watching and as days went by it has gotten worst. See, my spontaneous reaction when I saw the movie was: it’s an okay movie, Russia now looks/behaves like the rest of us… hmm, not good. Liked the visuals but believed they’re not as good as in Izgnanie or The Return. But since I like this director way beyond what I saw, I replayed movie in my mind and from that moment on movie is killing me. I know there are a lot of symbols and film explores the capitalist dichotomy of poor-rich, have-have not’s, plus the roles nouveaux riches play in their societies and I suppose that in Russia those that have money have not old money, but new money. Then started to read about movie and gee, almost each review, no matter the language, has slightly different story interpretations. I even read what Zvyaginstsev says about story and yes is slightly different. So my conclusion, is that movie story could have as many interpretations as people who see the movie, there is a very easy to understand story essence that deals with what I said above plus the morals of committing murder, but when you see story essence you know there is more and indeed people find more. One thing I’m sure if you enjoy great Russian films, this is must be seen for you. Big Enjoy!!!

جدایی نادر از سیمین Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (Nader and Simin, A Separation) by Asghar Farhadi. Iran. Excellent movie, for me as good as Farhadi previous two films, Fireworks Wednesday and About Elly; but this film has something new as story flawlessly travels several genres and engages us viewers not like spectators but like we are inside the movie and sometimes we side with Simin, then with Nader, the with Razieh, then with the judge, then with no one, then we are completely immersed inside the story and film. Fabulous! Until you see this brilliantly crafted very simple story you have no idea how seeing something so banal and common can become a masterpiece in the hands of a master filmmaker. Chapeau Mr. Farhadi. I don’t doubt that has huge possibilities of winning the Oscar and if so, will be well deserved, especially now that I know Pina is also competing in the documentary category. I strongly recommend this film as must be seen for all everyone that loves great world cinema. BIG ENJOY!!!

There are many more movies, but this is it for today. Cheers!