The Imposter

3 Potatoes

"The Imposter" (2012) by Bart Layton, a documentary about a French imposter Frédéric Bourdin and the family of a missing child Nicholas Barclay.

I have seen a film about this case "Chameleon" (2010) by Jean-Paul Salomé, which I talked about it on my blog.

The whole story is very disturbing, you know your own child, you know when the person is a stranger. The child do not change much around the age of 14-17. So  you know.

They are the only one know the truth what had happened to Nicholas.


Synopsis: A documentary centered on a young Frenchman who convinces a grieving Texas family that he is their 16-year-old son who went missing for 3 years.




Official Site: http://imposterfilm.com/


Recommended on DVD.

"3"

3 Potatoes

Finally saw Tom Tykwer's latest film "3" (2010) - Drei on DVD.
Fun editing style, great music as usual and very Tykwer-esque.
You have to be very concentrated watching this film, no distraction otherwise you can get lost very easily. In fact, I rewound it a few times!

I enjoyed the story, interesting subject, but the end.... meh for me.

But I must say the actress Sophie Rois's acting was brilliant.


Synopsis (ENG): Berliners Hanna and Simon, a couple in their 40s, have grown comfortable in their marriage. Independently, each meets and romances Adam, a handsome younger man. When Hanna becomes pregnant, all three must face what they've tried to ignore. (Netflix)


Synopsis (GER): 20 Jahre sind Kunsttechniker Simon und TV-Moderatorin Hanna nun zusammen – eine lange Zeit, in der sich das eigentlich wunderbar harmonierende Berliner Pärchen doch ein wenig entfremdet hat. Was haben die beiden nicht alles schon durchgestanden? Kinderwünsche, Inneneinrichtung, Seitensprünge, Fehlgeburten; was soll da noch groß kommen? Und dann ist da plötzlich Adam Born, ein erfolgreicher Stammzellenforscher. Nacheinander laufen Simon und Hanna dem bisexuellen Charismatiker über den Weg und lassen sich beide mit ihm ein. Das geht eine Zeit lang gut und tatsächlich rückt das Paar über den Umweg ihrer streng geheimen Affären wieder näher zusammen. Zumindest, bis Hanna schwanger wird... (FILMSTARTS.de)


Official US Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5vCJDwgyGI


USA: DVD Available & Streaming Available on iTune

"In Darkness"

3 Potatoes

One of this year's Oscar Foreign Language Film Nominees "In Darkness" (2011) by Agnieszka Holland is based on true story. This is not the first time she made a film based on true story, one of her acclaimed film "Europa Europa" (1990) was the winner of the Golden Globes Foreign Language Film back in 1992 and was nominated for the Oscar Best Screen Play for the same year.

This film "In Darkness" has amazing casts; Polish actor Robert Wieckiewics, German actor Benno Fürmann, German actress Maria Schrader and many more.
Yet something was missing from the film in my opinion, I felt that the story was scattered around and it wasn't solid.

"Europa Europa" was much deeper and stronger film that still remains in my memory clearly.

Does this film has a Oscar quality? The story Yes. The film.. not so.




Synopsis: A dramatization of one man's rescue of Jewish refugees in the Nazi-occupied Polish city of Lvov. (IMDb)


Official site & Trailer: http://www.sonyclassics.com/indarkness/


USA: In Theater Now

"A Separation"

3 Potatoes

Happy New Year everyone! Hope I can blog more often this year!

Today, I finally saw the ending of the film "A Separation" (2011) - Jodaeiye Nader az Simin by Asghar Farhadi. I saw this film at the AFI Fest back in November but we had to leave early to catch another film... typical schedule conflict at the film festival...

Anyway, the story went very differently than how I expected. But I liked it, it was well done and well executed. I love his films mainly because he portrays their everyday life well: how people still struggle between the modern life and the old cultural life. The famous actress Leila Hatami, a daughter of the legendary Iranian director Ali Hatami, plays a small yet an important role. And the performance of both Sareh Bayat who plays the caretaker and Sarina Farhadi who plays the daughter are amazing.

I appreciated his last film "About Elly" (2009) - Darbareye Elly more, but both films are highly recommended!


Official Site & Trailer: http://www.sonyclassics.com/aseparation/


USA: In Theater NOW / Limited Time Release

"Circumstances" - 境遇

3 Potatoes

"Circumstances" (2011) - 境遇 (Kyogu) is a Japanese TV Movie which was aired on 12/03/2011 in Japan. It is the first story she wrote since the shocking novel "Confessions" (2010) - 告白 (Kokuhaku) three years ago, which eventually made into a movie and not only winning many prizes but this movie was chosen to be the Japanese Official Entry for the Oscar 2011.

Unlike the movie "Confessions" (2010), "Circumstances" (2011) is mellower and comprehensible as a story. Yet the movie chose once again, very quiet and shy type cast as the two main characters: Yasuko Matsuyuki - "Hula Girls" (2006) and Ryô - Casshern (2006).
The story was easy to follow and I thought I guessed it right at first, then there was a twist.

I liked it.



Official Site and Trailer: http://asahi.co.jp/kyogu/

Viewing Available on Pandora.TV

"Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life"

3 Potatoes

For all the Serge Gainsbourg fans! This is a must see movie. "Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life" (2010) by Joanne Sfar. This was shown at COLCOA last year, and I was so surprised how much resemblance the actor Eric Elmosnino had to Gainsbourg.

It is purely fun and interesting, you would not regret it.










Official Site and Trailer: http://www.gainsbourgaheroiclife.com/

USA: In Limited Theaters / L.A. at NuArt 9/2-9/8/2011

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind"

3 Potatoes

Last night's screening was a double featured. After watching the film "E.T.", I also watched "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977) by Steven Spielberg. I didn't remember much of the film except the tune, and it was hard for me to follow the film at the beginning. Then slowly I got sucked in to it.

Still, it wasn't too memorable as "E.T.", but once again, it was very enjoyable to see it again on the big screen.



DVD Available Everywhere 

"The Beginners"

3 Potatoes

I just saw the movie "The Beginners" (2010) by Mike Mills this afternoon. It was very different from what I expected from the theater preview/trailer. I had an impression that this movie would be more comical and Hollywood-ish film. But I was completely wrong.

The way this film was created is very interesting, it gives you a moment to digest at a few separated points through out the movie. I kind of liked it. It shows you how to adapt yourself to life or to certain situation and deal with it, at the end it is not necessary a bad thing.

The only problem for me was the girl friend, she didn't reveal herself too much in the movie that I personally didn't see the strong connection between the main character and her.

After all, I still recommend anyone to see this movie.


USA: In Theater Now

"Lily Sometimes"

3 Potatoes

"Lily Sometimes" (2010) - Pieds nus sur les limaces (2009) by Fanienne Berthaud - a winner of Art Cinema Award at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight - was shown at this year's COLCOA 2011 in April.

The story somewhat reminds me of yet another French film "The Eighth Day" (1996) - Le Huitième Jour by Jaco van Dormael. Anyway I thought it was slow at first but soon I got sucked into the story and I was stunned by the acting of Ludivine Sagnier. She is always good but this time her performance was, let's say, incroyable.

This film will be shown on TV5 this month: Sunday, June 19th at 5:30pm PST, 8:30pm EST


Synopsis (ENG): "...Ludivine Sagnier - who won a Lumière Award for her performance - is Lily, an eccentric young girl who lives with her mother in the countryside. A free-spirit who defiantly ignores all social conventions, she is determined to live according to her every whim. When her mother suddenly dies, Lily’s quirkiness veers to uncontrollable behavior and her older sister Clara (Diane Kruger) feels compelled to move in with her. Serious and conservative, Clara claims to be happy, working in her husband’s Parisian law office. But once she moves in with Lily, Clara begins to question her own life..." (COLCOA)


Synopsis (FR):Lily, drôle, exubérante et insaisissable, vit dans un univers fantaisiste en harmonie avec la nature, à la campagne, chez sa mère. Sa grande soeur, Clara, mariée et citadine, a quitté la maison familiale. A la mort de leur mère, Clara doit bouleverser ses priorités pour s’occuper de Lily. Les deux sœurs vont alors se révéler l'une à l'autre… Clara sous l’influence de Lily va remettre sa vie en question et goûter a une certaine liberté... (AlloCiné)




USA: TV5 Monde, Sunday June 19th, 2011 at 5:30pm PST, 8:30pm EST
USA: DVD Availability Unknown

"Insoupçonnable"

3 potatoes

"Insoupçonnable" (2010) is a film by Gabriel Le Bomin which is showing on TV 5 Monde this month. Currently it doesn't have English title but the title means above suspicion.
It was pretty good. I didn't see 'that' coming. The actor Marc-André Grondin who played Sam was a bit weak I thought. But over all it was pretty good. It is totally above suspicion.

Synopsis: "Henri is convinced that Lise, his new young wife, truly loves him. He is also convinced that Sam, the witness at their marriage, is Lise's brother. It's a perfect set-up. Well, almost..." (TV 5 Monde)


Available this month on TV 5 Monde


DVD Availability Unknown