Suite Française (2014)

The movie tells the story of a french girl with a strict mother in law who falls in love with a Nazi officer. Well, the movie is not the cheesy love story between two people who simply cant and mustn't be together. Is way more than this. It's about the cruelty of the war and how everyone copes in the end, even if that means they have to give up on love or love the wrong people. The moral battle between the two main characters, who are stuck between their love and their loyalty to their country and people.

This is a rare thing nowadays and brings to mind the great heyday of romance in the Seventies. 'Suite Française' is set in Nazi occupied France during the start of World War II. You will therefore be crying with powerful and furious emotion. Michelle Williams is at the fore front of this film; gladly she does not fail or let the production team down in any respect. She plays a French Villager  called Lucile Angellier. I say this statement with doubt as last time I checked French people did not speak English as their first language. Her overbearing mother is played with severity by Kristin Scott Thomas. She outright leads her daughter's life for her and plays a prominent role in all of her decisions, whether they be little or large. Their village becomes ruled and dictated by German soldiers, some much more brutal than others. There are different personalities and beliefs to each of them. This is great to see, because it paints a broader and larger painting. It shows us that not everyone can be placed definitively into a category.

Far From the Madding Crowd (2015)

The fourth film adaptation of author Thomas Hardy's classic 1874 book, of the same name. This one was directed by Thomas Vinterberg  and it was written by David Nicholls. The film stars Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge and Juno Temple. It tells the story of an independent woman, living in Victorian England, that juggles romantic relationships with three different men. I think it's a well made film, but it's also (somewhat) emotionally shallow.

Bathsheba Everdene is an independent farm owner, living in Victorian England. She first attracts the attention of a sheep farmer, Gabriel Oak (Schoenaerts), who proposes to her, before she inherits her farm. Although Bathsheba likes Gabriel, she doesn't wan't a husband, so she turns him down; breaking his heart. After Bathsheba inherits her land, and Gabriel's life takes a turn for the worse, she employs him at her farm. She later attracts the interest of two more suitors; a wealthy, but older, bachelor, named William Boldwood (Sheen), and a military Sergeant, named Frank Troy (Sturridge).

2015 SXSW Winners (complete)

Trey Edward Shults' feature directorial debut "Krisha," and Benjamin Dickinson's urban sci-fi drama "Creative Control," received top honors at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival awards ceremony, along with Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber's "Peace Officer," a documentary that confronts some of the most difficult issues and questions facing law enforcement, through the eyes of one of its own.

Other notable winners included Don Hertzfeldt's animated short, "World of Tomorrow," and the Ross Brothers' documentary, "Western." The latter will next screen as part of the New Directors/New Films Festival, which kicks off tomorrow in New York City.

This is the full winners

Dear White People (2014)

This social satire is about being a black face in a white world. It follows four black Ivy League students and what they go through day to day to either fit in or just be noticed without it dealing with race. They deal with their own demons and dealing with the color of their skin, not only with their white classmates.

The film goes as fair as a militant who is mixed and trying to find herself and where she fits in, her white side or her black side, the token black guy, who happens to be gay, the daddy's boy, doing everything his father wants him to do and not what he wants to do for himself and the bougie black girl who wants to be white and not accepting her blackness because she would be consider ratchet if she would be loud and cuss people out. Justin Simien, the director hit the end of the film with a full on black face, hip-hop party.

The film was very thought-provoking and quite entertaining. I felt very connected with a few of the characters and had a growing discontent feeling with some as well. I really enjoyed Lynol's character and his development through the first and how his voice become stronger. I didn't quite care for Sam and her radical news, and same goes for Reggie. I felt bad and sympathetic towards Troy and even Kurt, but there are so many in that position.

Frank (2014)

Michael Fassbender dons a huge fake head in the enjoyable Frank showing at Sundance London. The movie is a fictionalised account based on a book written by journalist Jon Ronson who also co wrote the screenplay. In the 1980s Ronson played keyboards in the Frank Sidebottom Oh Blimey Big Band in which Frank wore a big fake head and nobody outside his inner circle knew his true identity.

Frank is probably the hardest film that I have ever watched to describe to someone who has never watched it. After viewing I had literally nothing to say. This is because it was a truly excellent watch.I was initially attracted to 'Frank' by its strange and wacky trailer with promised an insane black comedy.

The first hour of Frank delivers on this completely and it is hugely entertaining. Some of the funniest scenes that I've seen at the cinema this year. This in my mind is properly revised comedy, until the film which is currently sitting at the top of the box office charts 'bad neighbours.' Anyways i digress.

Love is Strange (2014)

LOVE IS STRANGE, a film, unaffectedly directed by Ira Sachs, is so natural and unassuming in its portrayal of relationships that the divide between audience and the characters on the screen disappears; we are directly slipping into their lives with the ease of familiarity. There is a formal beauty to the movie, thanks to the cinematography of Christos Voudouris - the way he captures each space - delineated not only through décor, but through the light which mutates with the atmosphere, very much like a Chardin still-life painting, classic in its grandeur and silence.

The film tells the story of an older couple, who are forced to leave their Manhattan apartment after one of them is fired from his teaching position. They temporarily move in with relatives and neighbours, until they have found a new place of their own. The film shows the interaction between civilized and polite people who are all perfectly willing to help each other, but nevertheless are increasingly annoyed by the uneasy situations caused by the arrangement.

The Good Lie

The Good Lie is a beautiful, heart wrenching film inspired by true events. The film begins in Sudan during the Civil War and follows a group of young children as they attempt to flee their village after it is destroyed and find refuge in Ethiopia. Thirteen years after fleeing their country, the four surviving friends are sent to America to start a new life, but that presents its own challenges. Mamere, Jeremiah and Paul are sent to live and find work in Kansas, while their sister Abital is sent to live with a host family in Boston. They three boys must work together to navigate through this strange new world, while trying to become reunited with their sister and save their families back in Africa.

The first part of the movie can be difficult to watch, as it depicts the horrors of the Sudanese Civil War, and how these surviving children saw their families killed by invading troops. Also, how they trekked nearly 900 miles across the sub-Sahara, under the most dangerous and difficult conditions to reach the Kakuma Camp. The remainder of the film depicts the culture shock awaiting them in Kansas City as they relocate to America.

This was definitely better than expected.  The acting was decent although amateurish at times. I easily connected with all the characters, and would have loved if the film went deeper into their personal stories.

A Most Wanted Man - review (2014)

The final moments of Anton Corbijn's latest film A Most Wanted Man are both gratifying and poetic. Starring an impeccable cast that includes the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe, and Robin Wright, the film is based on the novel by John le Carré, and is a tension-driven and smartly paced thriller ride that makes a mark as one of the year's best rides.

Hoffman carries the film with a calm, but engaging performance. He can go from a charming man to cold hearted bastard in seconds. His German accent is very well done. Robin Wright is also good as Martha Sullivan, the American representative of the film. Willem Dafoe continues a good streak in movies this year

The story is interesting and some scenes are pretty involving and suspenseful. The directing is adequate, for a film like this, but I'm not a big fan of the genre. Like many espionage thrillers, especially those from the same writer, the movie is extremely slow paced and hard to follow (I only fully understood what was going on, in the film, after reading a detailed synopsis). I might have a bias towards this type of movie but, for me, this one is pretty boring. With that said it is well made (for this type of film) and Hoffman is outstanding in the lead (I'm really going to miss him); his German accent sucks but so do all of the fake accents in this movie. Fans of the genre will probably like it a lot more than me and it is a good tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman.

AFI Fest 2014 Lineup

Adding to its previously announced Gala presentations of "A Most Violent Year," "The Gambler," "Inherent Vice" and "Foxcatcher," AFI Fest will present writer/director Tommy Lee Jones' feminist Western "The Homesman" starring Hilary Swank.

AFI Fest's special screenings are "Clouds of Sils Maria," "Merchants of Doubt," Mike Leigh's Cannes favorite "Mr. Turner," Julianne Moore Oscar vehicle "Still Alice," "Tales of the Grim Sleeper" and Foreign Language Oscar contenders "Mommy," "Saint Laurent" and "Two Days, One Night."

AFI Fest runs November 6 through 13 in Hollywood, CA. Here's more information on the added lineups:

GALAS

Opening Night:

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR – Set in 1981, during one of the most crime-ridden winters in New York City’s history, A MOST VIOLENT YEAR follows the lives of Abel and Anna Morales (Isaac and Chastain) as they attempt to capitalize on the American Dream, while the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built. World Premiere. Thursday, November 6, 2014.

Centerpiece Galas

INHERENT VICE – INHERENT VICE is the seventh feature from Academy Award® nominee Paul Thomas Anderson and the first ever film adaptation of a Thomas Pynchon novel. When private eye Doc Sportello's ex-old lady suddenly out of nowhere shows up with a story about her current billionaire land developer boyfriend whom she just happens to be in love with, and a plot by his wife and her boyfriend to kidnap that billionaire and throw him a loony bin...well, easy for her to say. It's the tail end of the psychedelic '60s and paranoia is running the day and Doc knows that "love" is another of those going around at the moment, like "trip" or "groovy," that's being way too overused—except that this one usually leads to trouble. With a cast of characters that includes surfers, hustlers, dopers and rockers, a murderous loan shark, LAPD Detectives, a tenor sax player working undercover, and a mysterious entity knows as the Golden Fang, which may only be a tax dodge set up by some dentist...Part surf noir, part psychedelic romp – all Thomas Pynchon.
Saturday, November 8, 2014

Two Nights Stand - Review (2014)

This movie wasn't good or bad, it was just okay. For starters, it was awkward watching a movie about 20-somethings having sex, when they looked 16 or younger.It takes guts to make a movie based on dialogues and only dialogues. Before Midnight ,Before Sunset and Before Sunrise is a brave attempt in following the trend. Two Night Stand was almost there but loses the battle thanks to over-the-top performance and weak screenplay.

The major bad thing about this is that the movie feels overly romantic that the comedies don't feel funny. The screenplay just doesn't seem to develop or build up any thing that can really crack a laugh. There's virtually no practical joke or slapstick anywhere in this movie. This makes the romance, already quite a well developed part, stand out even more. Actually the romance parts feel more dominant that it kind of make the comedy part feels like it's just some kind of color variation to the story.

You're Not You - Review (2014)

The movie opens with Kate (Hillary Swank), a classically trained pianist. One night while she's playing Chopin's Polonaise, she finds it hard to keep her fingers moving correctly. When she tune is over, she sees her pinky and thumb slightly twitching. 18 months later, it turns out that Kate has ALS. Bec's (Emmy Rossum) life is a bit of a mess. She's a struggling singer/songwriter, hooks up with random guys for sex, oversleeps, and is not the most reliable of people. She auditions to be Kate's caregiver. Against Kate's husband's - Evan - (Josh Duhamel) objections, Bec is given the job, which proves to be...interesting at first. The two women begin to bond into a real friendship, especially after Kate's marriage falls apart.

The movie was very well done. The acting was superb, especially Swank, who performed a variety of symptoms associated with ALS, from the twitching of the fingers, to the dragging of the legs, to the slurred, incoherent speech, and the coughing attacks. Rossum plays a character very similar to her Fiona character from Shameless - a stranger to wealth, class and refinement. All the same, she has a heart of gold.

Obvious Child - Review (2014)

A twenty-something comedienne's unplanned pregnancy forces her to confront the realities of independent womanhood for the first time.

When I found it on iTunes my first thought was PINKY lol. Din;'t know about this movie before I watched. But it looked interesting soSIO rent it

This movie was incredible. Jenny Slate is wonderfully relatable and real, and the film somehow managed to dodge every romcom trope I had expected of it. The premise didn't really grab me, a young female comedian finds herself pregnant after a one night stand. Meh, I assumed it would avoid any real commitment into discussing the reality of abortion, or the terror that can often come with the discovery of having a potential human inside of you.

Obvious Child is a very ballsy film just for the fact that it deals with abortion which is such a hot button topic nowadays. However, unlike some films, it doesn't take a side. It presents abortion and the effect a decision like that can have on a woman in a very realistic fashion while delivering a very sweet romantic comedy.

Million Dollar Arm - Review (2014)

Based on a true story, Million Dollar Arm is a predictable motivating sport film from the Disney stable.

Jon Hamm with his flawlessly groomed stubble and cocky grin plays the haughty sports agent Bernstein with ease. As a groomed smooth talker in sharply tailored corporate suits, there are few to match Hamm and he does what is expected of him. The two main characters of the movie are Suraj Sharma, the star of Life of Pi who plays Rinku and Madhur Mittal, the older brother in Slumdog Millionaire who plays Dinesh. Both of them perform their roles very beguilingly and inspire affection from the crowd. The rest of the supporting cast also perform their roles very well especially Lake Bell who was very impressive in her cameo role as Brenda.

This film was a good example of how sports film should be. I was able to attend an early screening of this film and I believe that I was lucky. Actor Jon Ham proved us that he is as good in film acting as he is in TV series. He gave a phenomenal and satisfying performance in this epic sports drama.

Map To The Stars (2014)

Cronenberg's movies, blahh.. Not a big fan of him and his movie. So why did I watch the movie? Because Julianne Moore got the Best Actress award at Cannes Film Festival this year.

This movie is about how fuck up Hollywood are. yeah, the place I really want to work in is fuck up. I know it. With no short of brilliance, the entire cast ignites some of their finest and most compelling works of their careers. It starts obviously with another powerhouse turn by four-time Academy Award nominee Julianne Moore. As "Havana Segrand," an actress dying for a big comeback, Moore illustrates her most vibrant and fruitful interpretation since "Cathy Whitaker" in Far from Heaven. Ferocious, daring, and completely involved, there's no other actress like Julianne Moore on this cinematic planet. Too good for words.

John Cusack and Olivia Williams are a match made in cinema hell, which secretly means heaven. Two people who are despicable together, the pair play insanely well off each other, showcasing luscious movements that all ring true. The young Evan Bird will have all of us learning his name by end credits. Mia is amazing and her creepiness match this movie. I love her.

White Bird in Blizzard

People say it is a Gone Mom. lol. But it really is. I like Eva Green, and in my opinion Shailene is extremely talented. As usual, i got very excited every time my favorites have new movie. So I got excited when i found this movie. But once again I was kinda disappointed. The story remind of me life time movie. I don't like the slow story and characters. but I do like how they build the story and characters. confusing right?

Shailene nonce again she is the next big thing in Hollywood. She proves it that she is not only sugar sweet, naive, or even just someone's love interest. To me, the film's main thing worth praising is that it gives you the impression that Woodley could very well transition into more adult roles, and not just be stuck playing a teenager for as long as it is believable.

Eva Green is magnificent as usual. it looks like she really brings the best of every characters. But the story is too boring. It looks like every people in Hollywood can get cast in this film. The other characters other than Eva characters are pretty basic,. But  Shailene can bring her character to be more interesting and all

The story is not bad, it;s just really weird and irrational. Just like those life time movies. But I would ask you to watch this movie just because Shai and Eva are amazing in it. 

My rating : 6.5/10

IMDB  : 6.7/10

Metacrtics : 51/100

Rotten Tomatoes : 71%

What If - Review (2013)

I want to watch some light movie with a lot of romance and comedy. So I chose to watch What if. I love Harry Potter and Daniel Radcliffe So, I was squeeing when I watched this movie lol

Daniel Radcliffe plays the lead role in this film that seeks to find whether men and women can be platonic friends. The woman in question is played by Zoe Kazan. The film is set between Toronto and Dublin - yes Toronto, which usually impersonates various US cities in movies with limited budgets.

Stewing over a recent breakup, Wallace (Radcliffe) works at a textbook company while living in his sister's attic (an improvement over the cupboard under the stairs, at least). He's primed for romance when he encounters Chantry (Kazan), spewing whimsy and animated sketches in her wake. Sparks fly only to be put out when Chantry mentions her boyfriend and asks if they can just be friends.

Tracks (review) (2013)

I watched this movie few months ago. I like it, and I feel in love with Mia W in this movie. She is a great actress but I really like her from this movie.

Tracks is the true story of Robyn Davidson, a 27 year old woman from Brisbane who in 1977 decided to embark on a 1,677 mile trek from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean, crossing the Australian outback. She did it mainly alone, aside from four camels and a faithful dog. She was helped a little by a photographer who organised financial backing for her trip from National Geographic magazine and with whom she had brief romantic involvement on her trip, while she was also assisted on the way by some Aboriginals who guided her though sacred lands of theirs. The trip in total took nine months.

The Maze Runner Rewiew (2014)

I know it's been a very long time since I posted anything or even anything about movie review. And last week i watched this movie. Finally, you don;t know how excited I am for this movie. I was afraid this movie will be another flop with the post apocalypse theme and all. but thank;s God they do good at box office and critics.

The appeal of the The Maze Runner for its billion dollar genre is how straightforward everything it seems. It (thankfully) doesn't begin with a voice-over narration, because indeed it's another high concept that designs a world as a mind-bending game. The film already faults for spilling too much rules and details, but when things starts actually moving, the action becomes marvelous, with large scaled, suspense driven set pieces that easily makes it worth the price admission. The worst of it however is when it finally unfolds all of the hidden secrets, compromising much of the potential of this ride. Still, it's pretty hard to deny the excitement of the experience alone. Treating it as another solid action film might be enough for a while.

2015 Oscar Prediction - Best Picture

From what I have watched from those reviews and festival. I have my own list of next year award season for best picture. It's still too early, but those film festival makes me excited. SO this is my prediction, I did the best Picture first. Because it;s the most important thing. Director next and the actors are next. I want to read more reviews. Beside, TIFF is going to be over today. Let's make the review about that first.

The Safe Bets (that have been released):
1. "Birdman" (Alejandro González Iñárritu)
2. "Boyhood" (Richard Linklater"
3. "The Imitation Game" (Morten Tyldum)
4. "Foxcatcher"(Bennett Miller)

Next on my list
5. "The Theory of Everything" (James Mars)
6. "Whiplash" (Damien Chazelle)
7. "Gone Girl (David Fincher)
8. "Wild" (Jean-Marc Vallee)
9. "Nightwrawler" (Dan Gilroy)

The Rover (2014)

I'm curious about this movie, this movie was one of the movie that got good reviews and buzz, maybe because the former Edward Cullen was here. I was Twilight fam, eventhought O'm more Kristen Stewart fan. But i;m curious about those big franchise actors after the franchise is over. Daniel Radcliffe did great, Emma Watson is more on working to get critical acclaims, and Ruper Grint he was on Ed Sheeran video clip lol. Keira did an amazing job, Orlando is being Orlando, etc, etc. And now I'm on the watch of Twilight former stars.

So Cannes this year, this movie was made last year, with David Michod directed it (Animal Kingdom) and Guy Pearce (Brad Pitt's look alike with very underrated reviews. Trust me Mr Pearce is amazing actor). Reading the synopsis it feels like Mad Max, the after apocalypse movie based on the dessert on Australia, and the newest Mad Max will release next year.

The story is about the guy who lose everything he once loved, and the only thing he has is his car, and when someone stole it he met the robber. It's very intense story. I can't stand the violence in this movie. It's not my cup of tea, I love drama, but it's too dramatic. my father loves this movie.

By dramatic I don't mean over dramatic. David Michod is very brave to tell this story but IMO there is very little dialogue and I don;t like it. I;m the queen of quoting movies.  Like I said before too many violence, and I think it's unnecessary. This movie has great character (Eric and Rey) it's about their journey, I wish they will stay to it. I love the building characters of Eric and Rey. And how the relationship grow into something. first they are enemy and then they before this awkward partner. The story it self is interesting, not as good as Animal Kingdom but definitely worth watching

Do I like the movie? not really. But it's not my cup of tea. I like the characters more. This movie has good scenery. The story is interesting if you like western post apocalypse movie you should watch this movie.

My rating : 7/10
IMDB : 6.7/10
Metacritics : 64/10
Rottentomatoes : 66%