The Hidden Face

4 Potatoes

"The Hidden Face" (2011) by André Baiz- La Cara Ocluta is a thriller from Spain.

You know what happened and you know what is going to happen, but you don't know how it is going to end! Just a great thriller with unexpected and expected result.

You wouldn't regret watching it!


Synopsis: When his girlfriend, Bethlehem, vanishes, the handsome director of the Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra despairs -- then gradually moves on. But even as he finds comfort in a new relationship, questions about Bethlehem's disappearance linger. (Netflix)



Available on DVD and Streaming

"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

"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 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

"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 

"E.T." come home!

5 Potatoes

I just saw "E.T." (1982) by Steven Spielberg again tonight, but on the big screen at Aero Theater. What an amazing film it is! This time it was a different cut, some new scene was added and some deleted, but the great quality was still there.

©1982 & 2002 - Universal Studios

Everyone is looking so young, especially Peter Coyote! And the amazing performance of the little Henry Thomas still touches your heart. He surely turned out to be a one fine actor. Not to mention, how big of a star Drew Barrymore became. Even though this film ruined her life in a way, she overcame the obstacle and became very successful and one of the most likable actress in Hollywood.

Did you know? Most of the grown ups' faces are not shown through out the film except the mother and Peter Coyote? Finally towards the end of the film, you will see some of the faces, inevitable I guess...

©1982 & 2002 - Universal Studios

I wish Spielberg didn't produce the film "Super 8" and made "E.T." now and after instead...

Oh the children's fantasy is the grown ups tearjerker!!!

P.S. There is a great behind scene on DVD, a footage from the casting scene with Henry Thomas. This is a must see, it blows your mind!



DVD Available Everywhere

"Farinelli"

4 Potatoes

Last night I was looking for this certain song on youtube and came across this movie "Farinelli" (1994) by Gérard Corbiau. I have seen it back when the film was out in 1995-ish. Eventually this movie was nominated for the Oscar Best Foreign Language Film and won the Golden Globe Best Foreign Language Film in 1995. 
It is a good film and an amazing story, I mean an amazing story which was based on true event! Highly Recommended.


Oh by the way, the song which I was looking for.. "Lascia ch'io pianga" by Händel is also featured in this film. What a coincidence.


Synopsis: Gérard Corbiau directs this lush, Golden Globe-winning drama, based on the life of 18th-century castrato Farinelli (Stefano Dionisi) -- born Carlo Broschi -- and his tumultuous relationship with his brother and manager, Riccardo (Enrico Lo Verso), a composer of average abilities. The two share everything, but when Farinelli sets his sites on new artistic terrain, Riccardo is left behind. Jeroen Krabbé co-stars as composer George Frideric Handel. (Netflix)


Farinelli (Jan 24, 1705 - Sep 16, 1782)


USA: Available on DVD

"Welcome"

4 Potatoes

I was just reading an article about the possible Palm d'Or recipient at the Cannes 2011. They think it could be the film "Le Havre" (2011) by the Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki.
The story is about the people in the port town of Le Havre, France trying to help an immigrant refugee boy from Africa cross the Channel to England.

This film has a very strong similarity to the 2009 film by Philippe Lioret "Welcome" starring Vincent Lindon. It won the Audience Award at the COLCOA 2009. It was very good film.

I remember briefly the line "The boy is trying to cross the Channel to tell the girl how much he loves her, and I can't even do that to the girl in front of me.." (it wasn't exactly that, my memory is very vague) it was very touching.

I am not sure if the new film "Le Havre" will be any better, but the story has been around and already done.

The film "Welcome" (2009) is Highly Recommended.

"Welcome" Synopsis: When authorities forbid young Kurdish refugee Bilal from crossing the English Channel to reunite with his girlfriend in England, the 17-year-old resolves to swim to his love - and finds an unlikely ally in the form of swim instructor Simon. Facing an inevitable divorce from his wife, the middle-aged teacher takes the resolute youth under his wing in this stirring, beautifully acted French drama. (NETFLIX)



"Welcome": DVD/Streaming Available

"Le Havre": US Release Date Unknown

"When We Leave"

4 Potatoes

"When We Leave" (2010) - die Fremde by Feo Aladag was the Oscar official submission from Germany this year. Unfortunately it didn't make the final nominees, but it won many prestigious awards through out the year.

It is so weird to think that this type of Honor Killing is still happening all over the world. "They" value the Family Honor yet Killing people = Committing murder is Okay??
They are supposed to be looking for a better life which they couldn't have in their own country.
But they are dragging their old culture into the new and supposedly the better life. WHY?
So many things do not make any sense.

This is a movie about Turkish immigrant family in Germany.
Highly recommended.

Synopsis: Umay is an young girl of Turkish descent, fighting for an independent and self-determined life in Germany against the resistance of her family. Her struggle initiates a dynamic, which results in a life-threatening situation. (IMDb)


Available on DVD June 7, 2011

"Love, Pain and Vice Versa: Violanchelo"

2.5 Potatoes

"Love, Pain and Vice Versa: Violanchelo" (2008) - Amor Dolor Y Viceversa by Alfonso Pineda Ulloa is a film from Mexico. I don't want to use the word "interesting" but it was interesting.

Two people are having dreams about one another and we don't know why, but it reveals slowly what is happening... well edited so you will not get too confused. I thought the music choice was wrong...
Good to see the actor Leonardo Sbaraglia again.

Synopsis: Architect Chelo (Barbara Mori) can't shake her drab love life or the prince who visits her dreams nightly. Dr. Marquez (Leonardo Sbaraglia) is happily engaged but plagued by nightmares of a seductive killer. When Chelo devises a method to make dream a reality, madness descends on both. Circumstances land Chelo and Marquez in a police house on either side of a two-way mirror, with each facing far more than meets the eye. (NETFLIX)


Available on DVD

"Character"

5 Potatoes

I felt like watching a good movie tonight and I decided to watch the movie "Character" (1997) - Karakter by Mike van Diem again. It was the winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1998. Probably this was the first Dutch film I have seen in my life and I didn't even know any of the actors in the film. 
The story is very well written and a lot of surprises. I truly enjoyed it and I know I will enjoy it again and again. Highly Recommended.


Synopsis: Dreverhaven (Jan Decleir), the city's most feared bailiff, is discovered with a knife through his heart, and a young, self-taught lawyer (Fedja van Huet) who just passed his exams was the last person to see the man alive. But what was his connection to the dead man? The police are mighty interested to know, and the young barrister is ready to tell the story of a lifetime. This Dutch-Belgian drama won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. (Netflix)


Available on DVD

"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

"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.

"Which Way Home"

4 Potatoes



"Which Way Home" (2009) by Rebecca Cammisa is an Academy Nominee feature documentary film. Everyday thousand of children from all over South America, the youngest from 7 year-old, try to reach the US by hanging on to freight train illegally. More than 20% of those children lose their life by accident, rape, smuggling, exposure, and you name it... Some leaves home in search of his/her mother, father, hope and new life. Some leaves just everything behind, even family behind in hope for the better life. These are little children, 7, 8, 9, 10 year-old...

Speechless... It was so heartbreaking to see what these children are going through in search of better life and simply longing to see their mother, father or siblings who crossed the boarder and whom they haven't seen in years.

Why do they have to do this? Why their own country is not proving them the environment that they can all live together? It just make you think how fortunate you are. It did for me.

"The Best of Youth"

5 Potatoes out of 5

I was just thinking of this film the other day... 

"The Best of Youth" - la Meglio Gioventù (2003) by 

Marco Tullio Giordana. 

it has been any movie like this that truly touched my heart lately sadly to say but it is true... Originally planned as a 4-part TV mini-series, it was presented and awarded the prestigious "Un Certain Regard" award at the Cannes Film Festival 2003. The story follows the lives of two brothers Matteo and Nicola from 1966 through 2003. The movie is well written and well edited, of course, well directed that you would forget that it is almost 6 hours long. DVD available. Highly Recommended.