Les Misérables

3.5 Potatoes

"Les Misérables" (2012) by Tom Hooper was overall Okay.

Anne Hathaway was amazing and very impressive.
Hugh Jackman was not there 100%.
Russell Crow ... don't even bother.

Overall all the young casts were very talented and amazingly well acted:
Marius played by Eddie Redmeyne
Gavroche the little boy played by Daniel Huttlestone
and the little Cosette played by Isabelle Allen only had a small appearance but validated her existence.

It is a good holiday movie and a tearjerker. You can't go wrong with Victor Hugo.


Official Site: http://www.lesmiserablesfilm.com/

Synopsis: In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever. (IMDb)



USA: In Theaters Now

"Headhunters" from Norway

3.5 Potatoes

"Headhunters" (2011) - Hodejegerne by Morten Tyldum, a crime thriller from Norway, is a must-see!


This film was released at AFI last year and now in theaters in LA. 
Stylish, gruesome, suspenseful and very intelligently written. There are a lot of
surprises throughout the film, some humors are not to miss.


I really enjoyed it. Oh by the way, the guy who plays Clas Greve,
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, is Ser Jaime Lannister from the HBO series "Game of Thrones" if you are wondering where you've seen him.

Synopsis: An accomplished headhunter risks everything to obtain a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary. (IMDb)

USA: In Theaters Now

"Welcome to the North" - Benvenuti al Nord

3.5 potatoes

Finally, finally, finally saw the remake of "Welcome to the Sticks" (2008) - Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis by my beloved Mr. Dany Boon. Nothing can be funnier than this. But I must say, I enjoyed it pretty much...

This first remake "Welcome to the North" (2012) - Benvenuti al Nord was created in Italian by Italian director Luca Miniero and was produced by Dany Boon.

The original film was very well respected in this remake, and it was intelligently arranged in the way to follow the culture and its custom well. For example the main character goes to North of France and encounters the sticks with thick accent, but in the Italian remake, the Neapolitan with thick accent goes to North, to Milan, and encounters the different culture and so on. All the necessities from the original film was well marinated into the remake.
I thought it was very well done.

Angela Finocchiaro's double cast in the film was hilarious!

Highly recommended. BUT make sure to watch the original first!!
By the way, finally the American remake will be released in 2013. FYI.

"Welcome to the Sticks"

Synopsis (ENG): Alberto e Mattia live marital crisis. Silvia doesn't like Milan because of its pollution and she accuses Alberto to be an egoist. In the meantime, Mattia lives with his wife Maria and his son Edinson into his mother's house. Despite himself, he goes to work in Milan. The impact of the Neapolitan on this city is terrible but slowly, the prejudices begin to disappear. (Los Angeles Italia Film Festival)

Synopsis (IT): In Benvenuti al Nord, Alberto e Mattia, sono in crisi con le rispettive mogli. Silvia detesta Milano a causa delle polveri sottili e dell'ozono troposferico e accusa Alberto di pensare solo al lavoro e poco a lei. Intanto Mattia, il solito irresponsabile, vive con la moglie Maria e il figlio Edinson a casa della madre, lavora poco e proprio non riesce a pronunciare la parola "mutuo". Mattia suo malgrado finirà a lavorare a Milano, incastrato dall'ingenuità dei suoi amici che lo affidano alle cure di Alberto. L'impatto del napoletano con la città sarà terribile: partito con un giubbotto fendinebbia il povero Mattia finirà col rovinare la sua vita e quella dell'amico Alberto. Ma, piano piano, i pregiudizi inizieranno a sciogliersi... (Comingsoon.it)


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


USA: Not Available JUST Yet

"Born in '68" - "Nés en 68"

3.5 Potatoes

I finally saw the film "Born in 68" (2008) - Nés en 68 by Olivier Ducastel & Jacques Martineau on DVD. I was so prepared to watch the full-on students movement film, but it turned out to be somewhat a hippy wannabes and their flower children story.

It started very lightly and having some doubt with Laetitia Casta as the lead actor almost made me turn off the DVD. But the story slowly got involved in their lives after the fact and beyond. And this was something that none of those students revolution films have ever done before. It really made me getting into the film.

The story was interesting, as a film it was ok.
Just made me happy to remember certain moments in Paris the later years in the film...

After all, I liked it anyway, but it didn't have to be 3 hours long.

AND Yes I would say she was acceptable, Laetitia Casta. :)


Synopsis (ENG): Two young lovers change their lives drastically after the 1968 revolt, leading to choices that move them in different directions. (IMDb)


Synopsis (FR): 1968. Catherine, Yves et Hervé ont vingt ans, sont étudiants à Paris et s'aiment. La révolte du mois de mai bouleverse leur existence. Gagnés par l'utopie communautaire, ils partent avec quelques amis s'installer dans une ferme abandonnée du Lot. L'exigence de liberté et la recherche de l'accomplissement individuel les conduisent à faire des choix qui finissent par les séparer. 
1989. Les enfants de Catherine et Yves entrent dans l'âge adulte et affrontent un monde qui a profondément changé : entre la fin du Communisme et l'explosion de l'épidémie de sida, l'héritage militant de la génération précédente doit être revisité.

French Trailer: http://www.allocine.fr/video/player_gen_cmedia=18813226&cfilm=135064.html

USA: DVD Available on Netflix

"The Kid with a Bike"

3.5 Potatoes

I saw one of the Golden Globes 2012 Foreign-Language Nominees film by Dardenne brothers from Belgium "The Kid with a Bike" (2010) - Le Gamin au Vélo by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne last night.

I usually not so fan of their films because they are depressing and mono-toned to me. BUT I see their films on DVD whenever they are available, just to see if I see them differently... But this time, it was different. I liked it. I loved the music effect also and the relationship between the boy and the woman. There was connection between them.

After the film, there was a Q&A, and actually the Dardenne brothers have such a great sense of humor! WHO KNEW?

It is highly recommended. ENJOY!


Synopsis (ENG): Abandoned by his father, a young boy is left in a state-run youth farm. In a random act of kindness, the town hairdresser agrees to foster him on weekends. (IMDb)


Synopsis (FR): Cyril, bientôt 12 ans, n'a qu'une idée en tête : retrouver son père qui l'a placé provisoirement dans un foyer pour enfants.
Il rencontre par hasard Samantha, qui tient un salon de coiffure et qui accepte de l'accueillir chez elle pendant les week-ends. Mais Cyril ne voit pas encore l'amour que Samantha lui porte, cet amour dont il a pourtant besoin pour apaiser sa colère ...


Official Site and Trailer: http://www.legaminauvelo-lefilm.com/



USA: In Theater March 16, 2012

Luc Besson "The Lady"

3.5 Potatoes

Luc Besson's latest film "The Lady" (2011) was finally premiered at
the AFI Fest 2011 tonight. I waited for this movie to be released for a long time, not only the subject was fascinating, but he hasn't directed a live-action movie in a long time!

Actually I remember reading some interview about 5 years ago (I am sorry I can't quote it because I don't remember where I read it...), him saying he will retire from directing after "Angel A" (2006) and focus on producing... Well he did "the Arthur and the Invisibles" (2006-2010) series after that but they were not live-action.

Anyway, sadly I could only give 3.5 Potatoes.
First of all, I think he lost his touch for creating his style... He was at the festival in person and he said "This is the most important film of my life". But I disagreed as an audience.
YES the subject was very important to speak about, but Aung San Suu Kyi's life and achievement can't be explained in 2 hours, unless it is well edited.
And it starts very slow and get intense in the middle and it sucks you in. Knowing what she really went through, it was very heart breaking and tearful.
But the reality hits you and makes you wonder how convincing Michelle Yeoh's Burmese was... (She acted in 2 languages: UK English and Burmese).

At the end, it wasn't just perfect...

And one last thing, Luc Besson's usual soundtrack composer Eric Serra, you weren't at your best either.

Synopsis: The story of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi and the academic and writer Michael Aris; a true story of love set against political turmoil. (IMDb)




USA: In Theater December 2, 2011

"Drive" with Ryan Gosling

3.5 Potatoes

I just saw the new film "Drive" (2011) by Nicolas Winding Refn. No expectation nor knowledge about it before I went to the screening. Only one thing I knew about this film was that the director won the Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

Surprisingly, I really liked it. The movie had a touch of the 80's cheesiness and I also thought the film was somewhat influenced by Claude Lelouch's "Roman de Gare" (2007), especially the driving scenes and the music which goes along with them. But that didn't bother me really. I thought the film was well executed and Ryan Gosling is an actor that truly can act without dialogues.

Highly Recommended.


Synopsis: A Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong. (IMDb)




USA: In Theater Everywhere on Friday 09/16/2011

"Sarah's Key"

3.5 Potatoes

I just saw a movie called "Sarah's Key" (2010) - Elle s'appelait Sarah by Gilles Paquet-Brenner.
This film is based on the novel by the same title "Elle s'appelait Sarah" (2006) - Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.
You see so many Nazi related movies through out your life time and you can never get used to the fact that the human beings did all this bad and brutal things to other human beings...
and we will probably never be able to get the right answer WHY...

This movie is focused on the little girl Sarah, after the fact how her little brother Michael died haunts her until she dies and an American journalist played by Kristin Scott Thomas tries to reveal what exactly happened to Sarah.

The story was well written and it is easy to follow. This film has a different view of the era because it was caused by non-Germans which has been rarely told in history.

By the way, the film "Pretty Things" (2001) - Les Jolies Choses by the same director and the main character played by Marion Cotillard is a great film also.

Both films Highly Recommended.


Synopsis: In modern-day Paris, a journalist (Kristen Scott Thomas) finds her life becoming entwined with a young girl whose family was torn apart during the notorious Vel' d'Hiv Roundup in 1942. (IMDb)


Synopsis(FR): Julia Jarmond, journaliste américaine installée en France depuis 20 ans, enquête sur l'épisode douloureux du Vel d'Hiv. En remontant les faits, son chemin croise celui de Sarah, une petite fille qui avait 10 ans en juillet 1942. Ce qui n'était que le sujet d'un article devient alors, pour Julia, un enjeu personnel, dévoilant un mystère familial. Comment deux destins, à 60 ans de distance, vont-ils se mêler pour révéler un secret qui bouleversera à jamais la vie de Julia et de ses proches ? La vérité issue du passé a parfois un prix dans le présent... (AlloCiné)

Official site and Trailer: http://www.sarahskey.com.au/

USA: In Theaters Now

"RAPT" a MUST SEE MOVIE

3.5 Potatoes

I saw this movie "RAPT" (2009) by Lucas Belvaux at COLCOA last year. It is loosely based on an actual event. Yvan Attal's performance is very convincing and the story is very intense as you think this incident really happened!


SYNOPSIS: Lucas Belvaux’s edge-of-your-seat thriller - inspired by the 1978 kidnapping of French industrialist Edouard-Jean Empain - features a career-defining performance by Yvan Attal (Munich, My Wife Is an Actress) as a millionaire playboy who is abducted and held for ransom for 60 days. (COLCOA)


Official Selection COLCOA 2010
LAFCA Special Prize: http://www.colcoa.org/2010/films/rapt.asp


Official Site: http://www.lorberfilms.com/view-all-films/rapt/


USA: IN THEATER July 6 in New York (Film Forum)
USA: IN THEATER July 22

"The Tree of Life" Part 2

3.5 Potatoes

I finally saw the movie "The Tree of Life" (2011) by Terrence Malick yesterday. It is the winner of Palm d'Or at the Cannes 2011.

The cinematography was amazing, very beautiful movie. Though there was a bit of Net Geo-esque touch to it. At the beginning I almost felt like watching "Atlantis" (1991) but after that, the story moves onto remembering the character's childhood that somehow links to your own childhood even though my childhood was nothing like the O'Briens.

I really loved the fact that the movie had minimum dialogue and it was beautifully done.
I took one potato out for the Net Geo being too long at the beginning, that makes my rating for this movie to be 3.5 Potatoes.

Just be patient at the beginning and you would totally appreciate the movie at the end.

Synopsis: The story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence. (IMDb)


USA: Now Playing in Theaters

"Quiet Chaos"

3.5 Potatoes

"Quiet Chaos" (2008) - Caos Calmo by Antonello Grimaldi is an Italian Film, starring Nanni Moretti. One day an executive and his brother save the lives of two drowning women in the ocean, he comes home and finds his wife dead. Now he has his 10 year-old daughter to take care of all by himself. Everyone tells him he is not emotional enough while he occupies himself with his daughter, his work, and everyone around him...

I liked the way it ended, and the music for the movie was good. Especially I loved the ending song "L'Amore Transparente" by Ivano Fossati.

Nanni Moretti is an amazing actor as always. AND a surprising cameo!!!!!


↓↓SPOILER ↓↓ (It is written in white so if you want to know the answer, highlight it to read)

ROMAN POLANSKI

Streaming Available on Netflix

DVD Availability Unknown

"The Man from Nowhere"

3.5 Potatoes

To make up the bad movie start this weekend, I quickly went into my DVD-to-Catch-up piles.Tonight's pick was "The Man from Nowhere" (2010) - Ajeossi 아저씨 by Jeong-Beom Lee with Bin Won. I added this movie to my Netflix list because I like Bin Won.

But surprisingly it was a good movie! Typical Korean action thriller and violent as usual, but there was a nice touch of heartfelt feeling to it, if you know what I mean...

Bin Won's true action without body double is HOT.

If you like Korean action movie, it is Highly Recommended.



- Violent and Gritty

"Incendies" by Denis Villeneuve

3.5 Potatoes out of 5

The film "Incendies" from Canada was one of the Foreign Language Nominees for this year's Oscar. It was finally released in Los Angeles last Friday and I rushed to the theater to see it.


This film is very different, it is a bit hard to follow at the beginning as the mother character and the daughter character look very much alike. Anyway, the main subject of the movie is very unusual and it took me sometime to digest the thought at the end.


After all, it was well done. Unusual story telling and unexpected ending. Maybe a bit too long...


Synopsis: When notary Lebel (Rémy Girard) sits down with Jeanne and Simon Marwan (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette) to read them their mother’s will Nawal (Lubna Azabal), the twins are stunned to receive a pair of envelopes – one for the father they thought was dead and another for a brother they didn’t know existed... (read more)