"The Brotherhood of War" - Tae Guk Gi

4.5 Potatoes

I just read comments on the post "The Man from Nowhere" (2010) - Ajeossi and promised to post the info on this film "The Brotherhood of War" (2004) - Tae Guk Gi by Je-gyu Kang.

The story is about the 2 brothers who are separated by the Korean War. It shows how people can easily brain washed during the time of misery and anger.

The film stars Bin Won and another Korean star Dong-jun Jang. The director also directed the film "Swiri" (1999) - SHIRI, an amazing spy movie. Both films are MUST-SEE.

Highly Recommended.


Synopsis: Jin-Tae (Dong-gun Jang) shines shoes, hoping to save enough money to send his younger brother, Jin-Seok (Bin Won), to university. Their mother runs a noodle shop and wishes the best for her two sons, even though things have been tough since her husband died. But all bets are off when the Korean Warerupts and Jin-Seok is unwillingly conscripted into the war, which forces Jin-Tae to enlist just so he can save his brother. (NETFLIX)


USA: Available on DVD

"Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis"

4.5 Potatoes

Finally the film "Welcome to the Sticks" (2008) - Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis by Danny Boon is going to be released here in the US. It will be available on iTune. Not in theaters but at least people can see it. It is just amazingly ridiculously funny. Do not worry, the subtitle is pretty well done, so either you are French speaker or not, you can fully enjoy this crazy paced film.

Experience Danny Boon, he is very talented and funny comedian-actor-filmmaker. The remake of this film will be released in the US someday, it is still in the works. At the COLCOA 2011, Mr.Boon said "I saw the first draft of script. In France then they will write the second draft. But here they fired the writer!" and he continued saying the project is going through a difficult moment with the Hollywood way of doing business...

The Original version is Super Highly recommended!

Official Site (FR): http://www.chtinn.com/

Synopsis: Although living a comfortable life in Salon-de-Provence, a charming town in the South of France, Julie has been feeling depressed for a while. To please her, Philippe Abrams, a post office administrator, her husband, tries to obtain a transfer to a seaside town, on the French Riviera, at any cost. The trouble is that he is caught red-handed while trying to scam an inspector. Philippe is immediately banished to the distant unheard of town of Bergues, in the Far North of France. Leaving his child and wife behind, the crucified man leaves for his frightening destination, a dreadfully cold place inhabited by hard-drinking, unemployed rednecks, speaking an incomprehensible dialect called Ch'ti. Philippe soon realizes that all these ideas were nothing but prejudices and that Bergues is not synonymous with hell... (IMDb)


USA: Available on iTune on September 15th, 2011

"Abel"

4.5 Potatoes

The film "Abel" (2010) by Diego Luna was one of the best films I saw at
the AFI last year. It was also the Official selection for the Cannes 2010.

The little boy who played the character Abel was an amazing actor. Thanks to the great director Diego Luna who knew exactly how to direct children. His Q&A was fun, he became his own moderator and his son was running around in the theater. He was a child soap opera actor in Mexico and after achieving many successful movie careers internationally, he is now an actor, a producer and a director. He is truly the success story in the entertainment business.

I heard this film was released in the US in March this year, I am surprised that it was a small release for such a great film. Such a shame.

Synopsis: About a peculiar young boy who, as he blurs reality and fantasy, takes over the responsibilities of a family man in his father's absence. (IMDb)

Official Site (Mexico): http://www.abel-lapelicula.com/



US DVD Release: Coming Soon

"Villain"

4.5 Potatoes

"Villain" (2010)

"Villain" - Akunin - 悪人 (2010) by Sang-il Lee is a Japanese movie which was released in 2010. I thought this movie would be the Official Submission for the Oscar 2011 Best Foreign Language Film, but the movie "The Confessions" - Kokuhaku -  告白 (2010) by Tetsuya Nakashima took the place instead. Either way, Japanese didn't make the final nominations this year.

The story revolves around the murder committed by Shimizu played by Satoshi Tsumabuki and people connected to him and the victim. The movie asks the simple question who the real villain is... The thought "if..." and "this couldn't have been.." "this wouldn't have been.." will go through your mind through out the movie.

The actress Eri Fukatsu won the Best Actress at the Japanese Academy and the 34th World Film Festival of Motreal. Very well done.


"Villain" DVD Availability Unknown
"Confessions" DVD Availability Coming Soon

"Time to Leave"

4.5 Potatoes

François Ozon is one of my favorite directors and one of the most successful directors of my generation.
"Time to Leave" - Le Temps qui Reste was released in 2005, one of the best films he has directed.

The story is about Romain, a young fashion photographer, who became terminally ill with cancer. As soon as the doctor gives him the diagnose, he decides everything on his own...

If I were him, I would do the same too.

DVD Available.