La Sconosciuta / The unknown woman, by Giuseppe Tornatore, Italy 2007
Tornatore (remember Cinema Paradiso?) comes back in shape after a couple of years without major films. The script is fairly good, despite some flaws maybe, but which are not so important to the effectiveness of the whole. The director manages to keep the suspense rising and the plot always takes unexpected turns... navigating in ambiguity. He is served by good acting and a good soundtrack, sometimes a bit too eloquent maybe. We follow a former prostitute/slave from Eastern Europe and her path in search of a better future away from a troubled past, that keeps haunting her. Tornatore’s cinema here becomes violent, sadistic and cynical, quite different from Cinema Paradiso. Even though this is not a masterpiece, it is great Italian cinema. [3,5/5]
Charlie Wilson's War, by Mike Nichols, USA 2007
Incredibly enough Mike Nichols’ film has received only one nomination for the Hollywood Oscars… for best supporting actor for Philip Seymour Hoffman (well deserved by the way…). This film is a good combination of an excellent script, intelligent, sarcastic and witty with great acting and very entertaining. In an unpretentious way it shows us the backstage of political life and decision making in Washington and how a bon vivant Congressman (played by Tom Hanks) together with a wealthy anti-communist woman (Julia Roberts) and one intelligence and cold-war expert (Philip Seymour Hoffman) managed to get the financial support needed for the Mujahedin in Afghanistan to defeat the Russian Army in the 80ies, still during the Cold War. Amazingly, it really happened back then. Maybe the reason it hasn’t made a huge success is because the American are not yet ready to be confronted with their recent past failures and with high class satirical smart dialogues (as when Hanks says "You know you've reached rock bottom when you're told you have character flaws by a man who hanged his predecessor in a military coup."). And of course, as Hanks also said, “the ball keeps bouncing”… and (yet again…) the North-American did not foresee what might come afterwards, and did not continue with aid to develop the country… so the rest of the story is well known, and what might have been cheaper back then turned out to be much more expensive, also in human lives… just see how Afghanistan is today. Maybe this is too much to deal with right now, despite the liberal turn that things have taken recently in the US… Excellent film, an absolute must. [4,5/5]
29 janvier 2008
25 janvier 2008
My Cinema: 'XXY' review
YYZ, by Lucia Puenzo, Argentina 2007
With great sensitivity and artistic integrity, in hand with psychological violence, XXY, Lucia Puenzo's first film, addresses different issues around the tough subject of the malaise of adolescence: the discovery and definition of the body, of sexuality and personality. She mixes two types of approach into the subject, the scientific-clinical approach and the intimate-psychological one. Whereas the first is less achieved, however conservative, castrating and limited in scope, the second saves the film and gives it its real organic and metaphorical dimension, one of tolerance and promise. Avoiding the easy pitfalls of the subject and avoiding sensationalism, the film delivers also moments of great violence, more verbal and psychological than physical, such as the failed aggression of Alex by youngsters at the beach, which is almost unbearable. Yet it is the violence that nourishes the sensitive and intimate side of XXY, confronting rejection and fascination of the bizarre and 'different', evoking a certain Cronenberg. And let's not forget the omnipresence of the sea, perfect setting contributing to the metaphorical and mythological dimension. XXY seems a simple film yet it is a complex one, nearly unachieved, yet promising, as those teenager years, as sexuality itself. An interesting cinematographic object.
[4/5]
check also: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/XXY_(film)
With great sensitivity and artistic integrity, in hand with psychological violence, XXY, Lucia Puenzo's first film, addresses different issues around the tough subject of the malaise of adolescence: the discovery and definition of the body, of sexuality and personality. She mixes two types of approach into the subject, the scientific-clinical approach and the intimate-psychological one. Whereas the first is less achieved, however conservative, castrating and limited in scope, the second saves the film and gives it its real organic and metaphorical dimension, one of tolerance and promise. Avoiding the easy pitfalls of the subject and avoiding sensationalism, the film delivers also moments of great violence, more verbal and psychological than physical, such as the failed aggression of Alex by youngsters at the beach, which is almost unbearable. Yet it is the violence that nourishes the sensitive and intimate side of XXY, confronting rejection and fascination of the bizarre and 'different', evoking a certain Cronenberg. And let's not forget the omnipresence of the sea, perfect setting contributing to the metaphorical and mythological dimension. XXY seems a simple film yet it is a complex one, nearly unachieved, yet promising, as those teenager years, as sexuality itself. An interesting cinematographic object.
[4/5]
check also: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/XXY_(film)
22 janvier 2008
My cinema: latest celluloid adventures
No country for old men by Ethan and Joel Cohen
Yes, the last Coens' film is an intense, effective and nearly flawless thriller-western. It keeps you glued to the chair with the tension rising while it takes its unexpected twists. But it is much more than that, with its provocative, philosophical, premonitory and nearly mythical approach, encompassing some sort of critic on the American way of life, and of the present American soul. After all this is yet another film that tells in its own way, that something is wrong with America today. And that message is synthesized towards the end, when one of the characters says "You can't stop what's coming."
But is this film really such a masterpiece, one of the best of the Cohen brothers' films, as most of the critics are writing? Or a bit of a disappointment?
Maybe it's a bit of both, I will need more time to think over it. In the meantime the excellent photography and landscapes remain, with some great acting, in particular by Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem, unforgettable in his role of a psychopath assassin. Maybe I sense something wrong with the philosophical statement especially towards the end, maybe it was just the many week points of the script with things that seem a bit forced (okay it's a film and they are following a book...) or because things happen too fast and not necessarily well at the end, when for instance one of the three most important characters just disappears like that. [4/5]
Smiley Face by Gregg Araki
After The Doom generation and Mysterious skin, Araki comes with Smiley Face, portraying a young dull would-be actress who gets stoned by eating her roommate's pot cakes by mistake, which triggers a series of misadventures… It’s not a road movie but some sort of an L.A. streets movie…
This is a big disappointment since I expected something very special from Araki after the two mentioned films. This might be some sort of a social critic of modern-day America and the so-called American-dream, of a whole generation corrupted by drugs and apathy… some scenes are funny and it is never boring, because one wonders… what next? Yet the humour is never excellent and the film really fails to convince. Maybe Araki is just trying to tell that something is wrong, as in the quotation from Stella Adler: “A junkie is someone who uses their body to tell society that something is wrong.”
The soundtrack is however quite good, featuring tracks by the Chemical Brothers, Belgian group Ladytron, Scissor Sisters and also Talking Heads' "Memories Can't Wait," which goes (There's a party in my mind and I hope it never stops…) which underlines Jane’s (main character state of mind. [2.5/5]
Lust, Caution by Ang Lee
The romanticism of Ang Lee’s new erotic espionage thriller could linger in our minds for a while, with its erotic Kama-Sutre style images, yet I think it fails to be the grand epic Lee wished to make. So the film is a bit of a disappointment, and I would expect a bit more from Ang Lee. Yet the film is special and does not fit to ‘mainstream’ standards, served by excellent acting by the two main characters. But it is more about style and less convincing on the content side. Photography is excellent, however, as Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote: "There is not a frame of the film that is not beautiful, but there may be too many frames.” And the 158 minutes are a bit too long. Lee is a great director and he proves it here, but I think he could do better, much better. [3.5/5]
.
Yes, the last Coens' film is an intense, effective and nearly flawless thriller-western. It keeps you glued to the chair with the tension rising while it takes its unexpected twists. But it is much more than that, with its provocative, philosophical, premonitory and nearly mythical approach, encompassing some sort of critic on the American way of life, and of the present American soul. After all this is yet another film that tells in its own way, that something is wrong with America today. And that message is synthesized towards the end, when one of the characters says "You can't stop what's coming."
But is this film really such a masterpiece, one of the best of the Cohen brothers' films, as most of the critics are writing? Or a bit of a disappointment?
Maybe it's a bit of both, I will need more time to think over it. In the meantime the excellent photography and landscapes remain, with some great acting, in particular by Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem, unforgettable in his role of a psychopath assassin. Maybe I sense something wrong with the philosophical statement especially towards the end, maybe it was just the many week points of the script with things that seem a bit forced (okay it's a film and they are following a book...) or because things happen too fast and not necessarily well at the end, when for instance one of the three most important characters just disappears like that. [4/5]
Smiley Face by Gregg Araki
After The Doom generation and Mysterious skin, Araki comes with Smiley Face, portraying a young dull would-be actress who gets stoned by eating her roommate's pot cakes by mistake, which triggers a series of misadventures… It’s not a road movie but some sort of an L.A. streets movie…
This is a big disappointment since I expected something very special from Araki after the two mentioned films. This might be some sort of a social critic of modern-day America and the so-called American-dream, of a whole generation corrupted by drugs and apathy… some scenes are funny and it is never boring, because one wonders… what next? Yet the humour is never excellent and the film really fails to convince. Maybe Araki is just trying to tell that something is wrong, as in the quotation from Stella Adler: “A junkie is someone who uses their body to tell society that something is wrong.”
The soundtrack is however quite good, featuring tracks by the Chemical Brothers, Belgian group Ladytron, Scissor Sisters and also Talking Heads' "Memories Can't Wait," which goes (There's a party in my mind and I hope it never stops…) which underlines Jane’s (main character state of mind. [2.5/5]
Lust, Caution by Ang Lee
The romanticism of Ang Lee’s new erotic espionage thriller could linger in our minds for a while, with its erotic Kama-Sutre style images, yet I think it fails to be the grand epic Lee wished to make. So the film is a bit of a disappointment, and I would expect a bit more from Ang Lee. Yet the film is special and does not fit to ‘mainstream’ standards, served by excellent acting by the two main characters. But it is more about style and less convincing on the content side. Photography is excellent, however, as Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote: "There is not a frame of the film that is not beautiful, but there may be too many frames.” And the 158 minutes are a bit too long. Lee is a great director and he proves it here, but I think he could do better, much better. [3.5/5]
.
16 janvier 2008
My music: new music for the new year!
>
It's only mid January yet my year is already rich with new musical proposals...
My TRACK for January is definitely Dubfire's "I feel speed".
Listen to it here.
Others include the following (coming soon...)
It's only mid January yet my year is already rich with new musical proposals...
My TRACK for January is definitely Dubfire's "I feel speed".
Listen to it here.
Others include the following (coming soon...)
14 janvier 2008
My cinema: recent film reviews
Before the devil knows you’re dead, by Sidney Lumet
32 years after ‘Dog day afternoon’, Sidney Lumet, 83, films ‘Before the devil knows you’re dead’. Like a greek tragedy this film brings out the worst in people, the worst from modern American decadent society, the worst from American suburban lowclass. And shows Lumet’s ruthless cynicism and hopeless vision. The film starts bad & goes worse, scene after scene, until the whole puzzle is complete after the frequent flash backs and forth, wonderfully mastered by Lumet. The result is heavy, very heavy, yet extremely effective. I felt like I had 100 tons on my shoulders when it finished. Great cinema. But go on a Sunday afternoon. [4.5/5]
Rendition, by Gavin Hood
Despite some weaknesses of the screenplay and some scenes and also some inconsistencies of the plot (after all that is not the most important here) this film works quite well and achieves a growing tension as the story develops. Another film about th...(read more)e out-of-law behaviour of some organisations like the CIA in the supposedly biggest democracy in the world. it seems something has definitely changed in politics in the US and this film is just yet another sign of that. Excellent acting too! Very watchable. [3.5/5]
Into the wild, by Sean Penn
This is not only a road movie about the true story of a guy in search for freedom, for the meaning of life. It's also his own inner path, in search of himself. In the beginning he said that the more he knew people the more he liked nature around him ...(read more)and that will change as he follows his way. This great film cannot leave anyone indifferent. And it's not fiction, but based on a true story. The main actor, Emile Hirsch, is excellent and it is well directed by S. Penn, despite some weaknesses, in particular wenn it looks for the easy tear. But the flashbacks are good. And the photography is great too! Highly recommendable! [4/5]
Cassandra’s dream, by Woody Allen
Another drama-crime film of Woddy Allen's english series... This one not as convincing as the previous two, in particular Match point. And no irony nor humour this time. I prefered Allen's Manhattan ones. Woody go back! [2.5/5]
.
32 years after ‘Dog day afternoon’, Sidney Lumet, 83, films ‘Before the devil knows you’re dead’. Like a greek tragedy this film brings out the worst in people, the worst from modern American decadent society, the worst from American suburban lowclass. And shows Lumet’s ruthless cynicism and hopeless vision. The film starts bad & goes worse, scene after scene, until the whole puzzle is complete after the frequent flash backs and forth, wonderfully mastered by Lumet. The result is heavy, very heavy, yet extremely effective. I felt like I had 100 tons on my shoulders when it finished. Great cinema. But go on a Sunday afternoon. [4.5/5]
Rendition, by Gavin Hood
Despite some weaknesses of the screenplay and some scenes and also some inconsistencies of the plot (after all that is not the most important here) this film works quite well and achieves a growing tension as the story develops. Another film about th...(read more)e out-of-law behaviour of some organisations like the CIA in the supposedly biggest democracy in the world. it seems something has definitely changed in politics in the US and this film is just yet another sign of that. Excellent acting too! Very watchable. [3.5/5]
Into the wild, by Sean Penn
This is not only a road movie about the true story of a guy in search for freedom, for the meaning of life. It's also his own inner path, in search of himself. In the beginning he said that the more he knew people the more he liked nature around him ...(read more)and that will change as he follows his way. This great film cannot leave anyone indifferent. And it's not fiction, but based on a true story. The main actor, Emile Hirsch, is excellent and it is well directed by S. Penn, despite some weaknesses, in particular wenn it looks for the easy tear. But the flashbacks are good. And the photography is great too! Highly recommendable! [4/5]
Cassandra’s dream, by Woody Allen
Another drama-crime film of Woddy Allen's english series... This one not as convincing as the previous two, in particular Match point. And no irony nor humour this time. I prefered Allen's Manhattan ones. Woody go back! [2.5/5]
.
06 janvier 2008
My Music: best of 2007
MUSIC choices 2007
When I was picking up my choices for 2007 I realised it was more about tracks/songs rather than albums… 2007 celebrated 25 years of CD (I remember) and it seems that album-CDs have their days counted. 2007 confirmed the ongoing revolution in the way we buy and listen to music. And saw many record/CD shops close or having difficulties and see their space reduced. We download (paying of freely) tracks which we listen to directly from our computers/laptops from playlists or download to our iPods (and mp3 players). In 2007 it seems that paid mp3 downloads have increased but they’d better lower prices or people will continue to download illegally! The end of CDs is not so sad… we will save a lot of money because we only have to buy the tracks we want and forget the rest. Albums will remain for some rare artists or alternative musicians. As for me, I’m still an old school guy and like to feel the touch of a CD. Yet fewer and fewer are worth buying. Burial’s “Untrue” is one of those unique listening experiences, you sit on the sofa & listen from beginning to end and just let it flow. That is my album of the year! Check the rest of my choices.
Music Best of 2007 – Best Albums
Burial / Untrue
LCD Soundsystem / Sound Of Silver
Chromatics / Night Drive
Black devil disco club / 28 after
Simian Mobile Disco / Attack Decay Substain Release
Digitalism / Idealism
Supermayer / Save the world
New Young Pony Club / Fantastic Playroom
Justice / †
Dave Gahan / Hourglass
Feist / The Reminder
Pantha du Prince / The Bliss
Calvin Harris / I created disco
The Oscillation / Out of phase
Kasper Bjørke / In Gumbo
Music Best of 2007 – Best Compilations/ Mixes
After Dark / compilation from label Italians do it better
Henrik Schwarz / Live
Milky disco by Lorecordings
The Glimmers / Eskimo Vol V
DJ Hell / Hellboys Italomegamix
Kitsuné Maison 4
Various / 5 tears of Get Physical
Dirty Space Disco
Prins Thomas / Cosmo Galactic Prism
Back To Mine / Mix by Röyksopp
Music Best of 2007 / Best TRACKS
Top 10+2
When I was picking up my choices for 2007 I realised it was more about tracks/songs rather than albums… 2007 celebrated 25 years of CD (I remember) and it seems that album-CDs have their days counted. 2007 confirmed the ongoing revolution in the way we buy and listen to music. And saw many record/CD shops close or having difficulties and see their space reduced. We download (paying of freely) tracks which we listen to directly from our computers/laptops from playlists or download to our iPods (and mp3 players). In 2007 it seems that paid mp3 downloads have increased but they’d better lower prices or people will continue to download illegally! The end of CDs is not so sad… we will save a lot of money because we only have to buy the tracks we want and forget the rest. Albums will remain for some rare artists or alternative musicians. As for me, I’m still an old school guy and like to feel the touch of a CD. Yet fewer and fewer are worth buying. Burial’s “Untrue” is one of those unique listening experiences, you sit on the sofa & listen from beginning to end and just let it flow. That is my album of the year! Check the rest of my choices.
Music Best of 2007 – Best Albums
Burial / Untrue
LCD Soundsystem / Sound Of Silver
Chromatics / Night Drive
Black devil disco club / 28 after
Simian Mobile Disco / Attack Decay Substain Release
Digitalism / Idealism
Supermayer / Save the world
New Young Pony Club / Fantastic Playroom
Justice / †
Dave Gahan / Hourglass
Feist / The Reminder
Pantha du Prince / The Bliss
Calvin Harris / I created disco
The Oscillation / Out of phase
Kasper Bjørke / In Gumbo
Music Best of 2007 – Best Compilations/ Mixes
After Dark / compilation from label Italians do it better
Henrik Schwarz / Live
Milky disco by Lorecordings
The Glimmers / Eskimo Vol V
DJ Hell / Hellboys Italomegamix
Kitsuné Maison 4
Various / 5 tears of Get Physical
Dirty Space Disco
Prins Thomas / Cosmo Galactic Prism
Back To Mine / Mix by Röyksopp
Music Best of 2007 / Best TRACKS
Top 10+2
Axwell ft. Charles Salter /I Found You
Das Pop+Aeroplane/ Fool for love (Aeroplane remix)
Farah /Law of Life
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons/ Beggin (Pilooski Re-edit)
Italoboyz / Viktor Casanova - Original Mix
Jamie Jones /I Like You
M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade featuring Laurie Anderson / O Superman
New Young Pony Club /Ice Cream (Comets Remix)
Rework/ Love love love yeah
Simian Mobile Disco /Hustler
Trentemoller /Moan - Radio Slave's Remix For K
Feist /My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Remix)
& more…
Ajello/ I Wanna Be Italian Too (Maximilian Skiba Remix)
Aril Brikha /Life Like - Original Mix
Ashley Beedle /Magic Sky (Shiny Pop Mix)
Audiofly X / Below The Surface
BarBQ /Myself - Original Mix
Ben Westbeech / Hang Around (karizma kaytronic dub remix)
Blue Foundation ft. Trentemoller Buda/ As I Moved On (Run Jeremy Band Mix)
Burial /Ghost Hardware
Calvin Harris / Acceptable In The 80's
Chica and the Folder / I'll Come Running
Chromatics / In The City
Claude Vonstroke / Whos Afraid Of Detroit
Coco Electrik / Your Love Is Gum - Original Mix
Danton Eeprom/ Confessions of an English Opium eater
D.I.M. / Is you
Daso / La Fee Verte - Original Mix
Dave Gahan / Kingdom
David Lynch / Ghost of love
Deadmau5 / Faxing Berlin (Original Mix)
Deetron & Ovasoul7/ I Cling (Aril Brikha Remix)
Dorfmeister vs. Madrid de los Austrias / Boogie No More (Reverso 68 Remix)
Faze Action / a_disco warrior (special disco mix)
Felix Da Housecat / Like Something 4 Porno (Kris Menace Remix)
Glass Candy / Miss Broadway
Gregor Tresher / A Thousand Nights
Gui Boratto / Beautiful Life
Guy J / Save Me - Original Mix
Henrik Schwarz / Walk Music
Infected Mushroom / Becoming Insane - Album Mix
James Zabiela / Human (Original Mix)
John Dahlbäck / If You Give Me
Jupiter Black / Hold Me (vocal Extended Version)
Just Jack / Writers Block
Justice / The Party
Justice / D.A.N.C.E.
Kanye West / Stronger
Kaskade / Sorry (Dirty South Mix)
Klaxons / Magick (Simian Mobile Disco Remix)
Krazy Baldhead / Revolution
Loco Dice / A Chico A Rhytmico
Loco Dice / Flight Lb 7475 (Flight Lb 7475)
Manhead Feat. Dennis Young & Nemesi / Special - Switch It - Lasteroide (Baldelli & Dionigi Mechanic Remix)
Manuel Tur & DPlay / Rest your senses - original mix
Markus Enochson / For You to See (Tiger Stripes mix)
Martin Landsky / Let Me Dance - Original Mix
Maximilian Skiba / Apple of Disco. RD
Midnight Juggernauts / Shadows
Mika / Relax take it easy (original_mix)
Minilogue / The Leopard (Extrawelt Remix)
Miss Kittin & The Hacker / Hometown
Moonbeam / Sunshine
Musetta / Peace & Melody - Gutterstylz Vox Mix
MyMy / Fast Freeze - Original Mix
Naomi / No Entry
Nini Raviolette / Suis-Je Normale
Plantlife Featuring Dena Deadly / Your Love
Principle of Geometry / A mountain for president
Raudive / Zeitgeist__Steve Bug Remix
Reverso 68 / Especial - Original Mix
Rex The Dog / Every Day
Riot In Belgium / La Musique
Roman Salzger & Manuel Tur / You Wont Change (Night Edit)
Samim / Heater
Shitdisco / Ok (Yuksek Remix)
Simian Mobile Disco / It's The Beat
Slagsmålsklubben / The Wold Welcomes Fame
Snax / Honeymooners Over (Konrad Black Remix)
Solomun / Black Rose
Star You Star Me / Perfect Day (Satoshi Fumi the Milky Way Mix)
Star You Star Me / Can't Stay - Rune Lindbaeck Remix
The Subs / The Origin (Michoacan Remix)
Trickski / Grace
Vangelis / Let It Happen [Beatfanatic's Balearic Boogie Remix]
Voom Voom / Best Friend (Charles Webster Mix)
Wojtek Urbanski / Violet Violin - Maximilian Skiba's Remix
Worm Is Green / Army of Them (Hermig's Re-Assembly)
Yuksek / Sorry
05 janvier 2008
My cinema: BEST OF 2007
CINEMA 2007
Bellow is the list (in alphabetical order) of the best films I saw in 2007. If I would have to select ‘the’ best of the year that would certainly be REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, but since that is a film from 2000, I would pick DAS LEBEN DER ANDEREN (The Lives of Others) or A GUIDE TO RECOGNISING YOUR SAINTS.
2007 was yet again a rich cinema year and I saw more than 60 films not only at cinemas but also from DVD. Actually there seems to be a trend for people to go less to the cinema (6% less in Belgium) and watch more DVDs at home. I think this is due to DVDs being released earlier than before and to the big flat screens that keep invading our homes. Again it seems that I’m definitely not a ‘mainstream’ cinema fan, out of the 40 top box office films in France, I have only seen 4 and only 5 out of the US top 40. That leaves me happy! I hate those 2, 3, and even 8 (yes that exists) series… 2007 was also the year I discovered Darren Aronofsky’s cinema, in particular REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (now one of my favourites ever) and THE FOUNTAIN. And also Carlos Reygadas’ JAPÓN (now also another of my favourites).
2007 confirmed yet again the good shape of US independent cinema, producing some of the best films. But it has confirmed the trend for a higher diversification with great films coming from Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil…) from Central and Eastern Europe (in particular Germany and Romania) but also Asia – China, Taiwan, South Korea. To me 2007 was rather weak as regards French cinema, many films were produced yet few were really excellent. I hope new people will step in there and renew French cinema. And 2007 showed also some new Italian cinema, I hope that will be a trend to be continued!
As for actors 2007 was Ryan Gosling’s year! But also Shia LaBeouf’s! I saw three films with Ryan (LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, HALF NELSON and FRACTURE) and he was excellent in all 3. And Shia showed his huge potential as one of the best promises of US cinema in the two films A GUIDE TO RECOGNISING YOUR SAINTS and PARANOÏAK. Let’s also not forget Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett (two of my favourites), Sam Riley playing Ian Curtis in Control, Seth Rogen and Viggo Mortensen!
Best films 2007
A GUIDE TO RECOGNISING YOUR SAINTS, Dito Montiel, US 2006
AUF DER ANDEREN SEITE, Fatih Akin, DE-Turkey 2007
DAS LEBEN DER ANDEREN (The Lives of Others), Florian Henckel-Donnersmarck, DE 2006
DEATH PROOF, Quentin Tarantino, US 2007
EASTERN PROMISES, David Cronenberg, UK, CA, US 2007
EL CIELO DIVIDIDO, Julián Hernandez, MEX 2006
EL VIOLIN, Francisco Vargas, MEX 2005
I DON’T WANT TO SLEEP ALONE, Tsai Ming-Liang, Taiwan-FR-Aus 2006
JAPÓN, Carlos Reygadas, MEX 2002
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, Craig Gillespie, US 2007
LITTLE CHILDREN, Todd Field, US 2006
PERSEPOLIS, Marjane Sastrapi, FR 2007
REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, Darren Aronofsky, US 2000
THE BOTHERSOME MAN (Norway of Life), Jens Lien, Norway 2006
THE BUBBLE, Eytan Fox, Israel 2006
THE FOUNTAIN, Darren Aronofsky, US 2006
THE HOST, Joon-ho Bong, South-Korea 2006
WE OWN THE NIGHT, James Gray, US 2007
4 MONTHS 3 WEEKS & 2 DAYS, Cristian Mungiu, Romania 2007
And also special mentions to the following films:
Alpha Dog, Nick Cassavettes, US 2006
Away from her, Sarah Polley, Canada 2006
The Bourne Ultimatum, Paul Greengrass, US 2007
Control, Anton Corbijn, UK 2007
Destricted, various short films, US-UK 2006
El Metodo, Marcello Pineyro, Spain 2005
En la cama, Matias Bize, Chile 2005
FUR a portrait of Diane Arbus, Steven Shainberg, US 2006
Half Nelson, Ryan Fleck, US 2006
Hairspray, Adam Shankway, US 2007
Inland Empire, David Lynch, US 2006
Irina Palm, Sam Gabarski, UK, FR, BE, DE 2006
Jindabyne, Ray Lawrence, Australia 2006
Knocked up, Judd Apatow, US 2007
La stella che non c’è, Gianni amelio, IT 2007
Les chansons d’amour, Christophe Honoré, FR 2007
Les Témoins, André Téchiné, FR 2006
London to Brighton, Paul Andrew Williams, UK 2006
Paranoïd Park, Gus Van Sant, US 2007
Play, Alicia Scherson, Chile 2006
Proibido Proibir, Jorge Duran, Brasil 2007
Sicko, Michael Moore, US 2007
Sunshine, Danny Boyle, UK 2006
2 days in Paris, Julie Delpy, FR-DE 2007
300, Zack Zinder, US 2006
Bellow is the list (in alphabetical order) of the best films I saw in 2007. If I would have to select ‘the’ best of the year that would certainly be REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, but since that is a film from 2000, I would pick DAS LEBEN DER ANDEREN (The Lives of Others) or A GUIDE TO RECOGNISING YOUR SAINTS.
2007 was yet again a rich cinema year and I saw more than 60 films not only at cinemas but also from DVD. Actually there seems to be a trend for people to go less to the cinema (6% less in Belgium) and watch more DVDs at home. I think this is due to DVDs being released earlier than before and to the big flat screens that keep invading our homes. Again it seems that I’m definitely not a ‘mainstream’ cinema fan, out of the 40 top box office films in France, I have only seen 4 and only 5 out of the US top 40. That leaves me happy! I hate those 2, 3, and even 8 (yes that exists) series… 2007 was also the year I discovered Darren Aronofsky’s cinema, in particular REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (now one of my favourites ever) and THE FOUNTAIN. And also Carlos Reygadas’ JAPÓN (now also another of my favourites).
2007 confirmed yet again the good shape of US independent cinema, producing some of the best films. But it has confirmed the trend for a higher diversification with great films coming from Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil…) from Central and Eastern Europe (in particular Germany and Romania) but also Asia – China, Taiwan, South Korea. To me 2007 was rather weak as regards French cinema, many films were produced yet few were really excellent. I hope new people will step in there and renew French cinema. And 2007 showed also some new Italian cinema, I hope that will be a trend to be continued!
As for actors 2007 was Ryan Gosling’s year! But also Shia LaBeouf’s! I saw three films with Ryan (LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, HALF NELSON and FRACTURE) and he was excellent in all 3. And Shia showed his huge potential as one of the best promises of US cinema in the two films A GUIDE TO RECOGNISING YOUR SAINTS and PARANOÏAK. Let’s also not forget Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett (two of my favourites), Sam Riley playing Ian Curtis in Control, Seth Rogen and Viggo Mortensen!
Best films 2007
A GUIDE TO RECOGNISING YOUR SAINTS, Dito Montiel, US 2006
AUF DER ANDEREN SEITE, Fatih Akin, DE-Turkey 2007
DAS LEBEN DER ANDEREN (The Lives of Others), Florian Henckel-Donnersmarck, DE 2006
DEATH PROOF, Quentin Tarantino, US 2007
EASTERN PROMISES, David Cronenberg, UK, CA, US 2007
EL CIELO DIVIDIDO, Julián Hernandez, MEX 2006
EL VIOLIN, Francisco Vargas, MEX 2005
I DON’T WANT TO SLEEP ALONE, Tsai Ming-Liang, Taiwan-FR-Aus 2006
JAPÓN, Carlos Reygadas, MEX 2002
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, Craig Gillespie, US 2007
LITTLE CHILDREN, Todd Field, US 2006
PERSEPOLIS, Marjane Sastrapi, FR 2007
REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, Darren Aronofsky, US 2000
THE BOTHERSOME MAN (Norway of Life), Jens Lien, Norway 2006
THE BUBBLE, Eytan Fox, Israel 2006
THE FOUNTAIN, Darren Aronofsky, US 2006
THE HOST, Joon-ho Bong, South-Korea 2006
WE OWN THE NIGHT, James Gray, US 2007
4 MONTHS 3 WEEKS & 2 DAYS, Cristian Mungiu, Romania 2007
And also special mentions to the following films:
Alpha Dog, Nick Cassavettes, US 2006
Away from her, Sarah Polley, Canada 2006
The Bourne Ultimatum, Paul Greengrass, US 2007
Control, Anton Corbijn, UK 2007
Destricted, various short films, US-UK 2006
El Metodo, Marcello Pineyro, Spain 2005
En la cama, Matias Bize, Chile 2005
FUR a portrait of Diane Arbus, Steven Shainberg, US 2006
Half Nelson, Ryan Fleck, US 2006
Hairspray, Adam Shankway, US 2007
Inland Empire, David Lynch, US 2006
Irina Palm, Sam Gabarski, UK, FR, BE, DE 2006
Jindabyne, Ray Lawrence, Australia 2006
Knocked up, Judd Apatow, US 2007
La stella che non c’è, Gianni amelio, IT 2007
Les chansons d’amour, Christophe Honoré, FR 2007
Les Témoins, André Téchiné, FR 2006
London to Brighton, Paul Andrew Williams, UK 2006
Paranoïd Park, Gus Van Sant, US 2007
Play, Alicia Scherson, Chile 2006
Proibido Proibir, Jorge Duran, Brasil 2007
Sicko, Michael Moore, US 2007
Sunshine, Danny Boyle, UK 2006
2 days in Paris, Julie Delpy, FR-DE 2007
300, Zack Zinder, US 2006
04 janvier 2008
MY WORLD: good news from the air in 2007!
The ACRO (Aircraft Crashes Record Office), based in Geneva, informed that 2007 was one of the safest years since the last half century! In 2007, 136 accidents occurred in the world, 28 less than 2006, the lowest record since 1963! Thus, the total of victims is 25% lower than 2006 and is the lowest since 2004 with 965 fatalities.
32% of these accidents occurred in North America, 23% in Asia, 14% in Africa, 10% in South America, 10% in Europe, 9% in Central America and 1% in Oceania. In 2007 were reported 34 accidents in the United States of America, 10 in Canada, 8 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 5 in Colombia and Indonesia.
And moreover, no major accident occurred in Europe during 2007 which confirm that this continent is one of the safest for flying in the world!
Read more here.
32% of these accidents occurred in North America, 23% in Asia, 14% in Africa, 10% in South America, 10% in Europe, 9% in Central America and 1% in Oceania. In 2007 were reported 34 accidents in the United States of America, 10 in Canada, 8 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 5 in Colombia and Indonesia.
And moreover, no major accident occurred in Europe during 2007 which confirm that this continent is one of the safest for flying in the world!
Read more here.
MY BLOG: new year, new blog
As you may see in one of the last posts of 2007, very few people read this blog, or, if they do, they did not care to answer my survey...
In any case, I have decided to continue posting on a regular basis and folllowing the inspiration of the moment. The information will be available in the blogosphere for those who want to read it. But I will focus mainly on music and cinema issues, posting my tips, reviews and suggestions. I will start in the coming days with my usual BEST OF 2007, for cinema and music. These themes will now be labelled MY MUSIC and MY CINEMA.
But I will not forget some sort of active citizenship, keeping some space for my more rebellious and contestatarian side, with three labels: MY PORTUGAL, MY WORLD, MY TRAVELS and BRUSSELS_BASHING. I will most likely be more active as regards MY WORLD, posting issues of general interest (politics mostly), calling your attention to issues I consider relevant.
I just hope the coming posts will raise more comments than they have until now, after all a blog is supposed to be an interactive tool for communication, right?. I will continue to write mostly in english to reach more friends and other people but I will post some articles in portuguese or french, or even spanish, whenever appropriate.
of course.... have a great 2008!
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