Dec
    30

    La Délicatesse

    By | French Movies

    Leave a Comment


    Film

    • La Délicatesse

    Cast

    • Audrey Tautou
    • François Damiens

    Language

    • French

    Synopsis

    • A French woman mourning over the death of her husband three years prior is courted by a Swedish co-worker. Via IMDB

    Review

    • La Délicatesse doesn’t get particularly good reviews but I though it was a really sweet film. There are some sad moments but it’s quite funny in parts too. This is the first time I’ve seen Belgian actor François Damiens in a film, at least that I recall, and I thought he was great playing the somewhat desperate and lonely subject of Audrey Tautou’s character Nathalie. This is not your typical romantic comedy but it does have a little beauty and the beast in it. I don’t care what the critics say, I like to see harmless, romantic films now and then.
    Jul
    11

    Amnesty

    By | Albanian Movies

    Leave a Comment


    Film

    • Amnesty

    Cast

    • Luli Bitri
    • Karafil Shena

    Language

    • Albanian

    Synopsis

    • In his debut feature film, Bujar Alimani depicts the life of a woman and a man in today’s Albania, marked by unemployment, economic hardship and tribal/patriarchal social structures.
      Recently sacked textile workers line up to collect their payoffs from new foreign owners, fishermen starve while working for multinational corporations. Humiliation is the norm.
      As a condition for entering the EU, Albania introduces conjugal visits to its prison system. A man and a woman come together, their spouses both in custody, their monthly visits for sexual contact more like animal husbandry than human lovemaking. Foul bed in a dark room. Carry your own sheets. Via IMDB

    Review

    • It’s not often I get to see Albanian movies but I know Albania well and so was not surprised to see this story of economic hardship, loveless marriages, suicide and violence. Unfortunately in a traditional society this is just the way how things work. You can’t speak out, you can’t go against your family, and you must accept the life you are given. The main female character almost manages to start a new and better life for herself but the strings pulling her back to her traditional life are too great. I know things are changing in Albanian but this kind of situation is still very common. Great story, great movie.
    Jul
    11

    Animal Kingdom

    By | Australian Movies

    Leave a Comment


    Film

    • Animal Kingdom

    Cast

    • Ben Mendelsohn
    • Guy Pearce
    • James Frecheville
    • Joel Edgerton
    • Jacki Weaver

    Language

    • English

    Synopsis

    • Despite being no saint herself, Julia Cody has shielded her seventeen year old son, Joshua “J” Cody, from her Melbourne-based criminal relatives who they have not seen in years. After Julia dies in front of J’s eyes from a self-inflicted heroin overdose, J, who is slightly detached from life, feels he has no choice but to contact his maternal grandmother, Janine “Smurf” Cody, the family matriarch, for a place to live. Smurf rules the family with a borderline incestuous love over her three sons, the quietly menacing Andrew “Pope” Cody, the hyperactive Craig Cody, and the barely of age Darren Cody. Pope and his best friend, Barry “Baz” Brown, are armed robbers, with Darren their up and coming apprentice, while Craig is a mid level drug dealer. Melbourne’s Armed Robbery Squad is after specifically Pope, who is hiding out. But when the standoff between the Codys and the Armed Robbery Squad is brought up a notch, an all out war ensues, with some casualties and J caught in the middle. The only grounding in J’s life is his girlfriend, Nicky Henry. With those casualties comes an investigation by Homicide Detective Senior Sergeant Nathan Leckie, who knows the Codys are involved in some of those deaths. As Leckie tries to get J on his side, J has to figure out how best to get himself out from the middle, where he trusts neither side. J also wants to figure out how to exact what he considers justice in an all around bad situation. Via IMDB

    Review

    • Living in France means I don’t get to see many Australian movies which is a shame because Aussies make some of the best movies ever. I really miss being able to see the latest Australian releases. Thankfully Animal Kingdom did make it to France which isn’t surprising seeing as this movie was a winner at the Sundance Film Festival. This Aussie crime drama is one of the best movies I’ve seen of late. Ben Mendelsohn is always brilliant and I loved him in this. He plays slightly deranged characters well. The whole cast was great and if you like a crime thriller with a few twists then you’ll like this. The ending wasn’t much of a surprise but it was the only way to end the film so you can’t knock them for that. Even the trailer is brilliant. Great movie.
    Jul
    11

    Belleville Tokyo

    By | French Movies

    Leave a Comment


    Film

    • Belleville Tokyo

    Cast

    • Valérie Donzelli
    • Jérémie Elkaïm

    Language

    • French

    Synopsis

    • Just about to have a baby, Marie is suddenly abandoned by her boyfriend, who leaves her for another woman. Marie refuses to be a victim and finds comfort at work, in an art house theatre specialized in American classic movies.

    Review

    • Movies like this drive me crazy. This couple have been together for ages. They have a own an apartment together and are about to have a child. Then the guy decides he can’t handle the commitment and leaves her for his mistress (who thinks he shouldn’t have his wings clipped). Eventually he decides to go back to her but he rents an ‘office’ which is just somewhere he can see his mistress again. Then he tells her he’s going to Tokyo for a couple of weeks when in reality he is just staying across town in his office. Even though he humiliated her she wants him back. Why??? He is a loser who can barely fend for himself and she ‘needs’ him? It just goes to show how so many people hate change and would rather be unhappy than go through the hassle of ending a relationship and starting again. The ending of Belleville Tokyo was annoying too.
    Jul
    10

    Norwegian Wood

    By | Japanese Movies

    Leave a Comment


    Film

    • Norwegian Wood

    Cast

    • Ken’ichi Matsuyama

    Language

    • Japanese

    Synopsis

    • Upon hearing the song “Norwegian Wood,” Toru (Matsuyama) remembers back to his life in the 1960s, when his friend Kizuki killed himself and he grew close to Naoko, Kizuki’s girlfriend. As the two try, in very different ways, to contend with their grief, Toru forms a bond with another woman, Midori.

    Review

    • Toru, Naoko and Kuzuki are best friends, sharing everything. After Kizuki unexpectedly kills himself, the others struggle to deal with his death, especially Kuzuki who spends time in hospital dealing with the situation. It’s depressing from start to finish and no one seems to be happy at any point in time. Toru is extremely patient with Naoko in forever thinking she’ll give in and he’ll end up with her. Then you have Midori who is obsessed with Toru and throws herself at him. He stays with her while waiting for Naoko to get better. Again, neither party in that relationship is particularly happy.

      Nonetheless, Norwegian Wood is a great story which shows how life can take you in a different direction at any moment. It’s also interesting to get a glimpse of what life was life back in the 60s in Japan, including the political changes going on. Worth watching.

    « Older Posts