This Just In: DVD Releases

Children of Men
Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron (below) helms this version of P.D. James's classic dystopian novel (and Oscar nominee for Best Adapted Screenplay), a futuristic drama set in a world in which humans have lost the ability to reproduce and subsequently face certain extinction. Things change when a single woman mysteriously becomes pregnant, prompting a conflicted government bureaucrat, played by Clive Owen (above) and his ex-wife, played by Julianne Moore (above) to join forces to protect her. Michael Caine co-stars.
A Lizard in a Woman's Skin (1971) – Una Lucertola con la Pelle di Donna
Deborah (Silvia Monti) has disturbing dreams about murdering her neighbor. After she relates the dreams to her therapist, her neighbor is actually murdered -- in exactly the same way Deborah's dreamed it! A police investigation ensues, along with some strange revelations, amazing chase sequences and bizarre plot twists. One of director Lucio Fulci's best films, Lizard in a Woman's Skin will keep you guessing until the end.

Extreme Private Eros: Love Song 1974 (1974) – Gokushiteki Erosu: Renka
In this taboo-smashing documentary by Kazuo Hara, the filmmaker turns his camera on his former lover, Miyuki Takeda. The strong-willed woman -- crusading feminist, bisexual, mother of an interracial baby with an African-American GI -- was a maverick figure, particularly in 1970s Japan. Hara captures his subject in excruciating detail over a period of several years in this keenly personal work, which caused a scandal when it was released.

Lola (1989)
Abandoned by her baby's father, reluctant young mother Lola (Leticia Huijara) struggles to get by in Mexico City. Torn between the duties of a life she didn't ask for and the freedom of the life she once enjoyed, Lola walks the delicate line between guilt and pleasure, responsibility and carelessness. Director María Novaro's debut film examines motherhood and redemption with startling honesty.

Reincarnation (2006)
A Japanese actress (Yûka) comes face to face with a slew of restless spirits when she signs on to star in a horror film -- the true story of a crazed professor's murderous rampage that left 11 victims, including his young daughter, in its wake -- being shot at the very site where the grisly killings took place. J-horror master Takashi Shimizu (The Grudge) directs this darkly mesmerizing tale of crime, punishment and redemption.

AFI Dallas International Film Festival 2007

Dallas launched a new film festival last weekend and several films play this week from our sister city countries. Here’s hoping the Lone Star International Film Festival, which debuts in November has equal success with film, glitterati and, probably most importantly, funding.
By the by, if you’re interested in volunteering your time or money for the Lone Star International Film Festival, email us at Filmies.

Rape of Euopa – Directors Bonni Cohen, Richard Berge, Nicole Newham; USA 2006, International Documentary Competition; Based on the book by Lynn H. Nicolas, Rape of Europa tells the epic story of the theft and destruction of Europe’s art treasures during the Third Reich. The film explores the history of Nazi art looting, along with dramatic efforts to safeguard and return displaced art. The filmmakers provide an eye-opening account of an often-overlooked chapter from a dark part of history.
7:30 p.m., Monday, March 26, Magnolia 4; 5:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 27, Magnolia 4.

Where the Sun Rises – Director/producer Grace Phan, Singapore 2006, International Documentary Competition; Xanana Gusmao of east Timor is a living legend: warrier, poet, leader and peace advocate. Where the Sun Rises tells the story of the president of the world’s youngest nation, from his bitter guerilla campaign against Indonesian rule to his amazing ability to forgive.
7:30 p.m., Monday, March 26, SMU Hughes-Trigg Theater.

Paprika – Director Satoshi Kon, Japan 2006, Premiere Series; Experimental scientists have developed a new psychiatric tool that allows a doctor to enter directly into his patient’s dream. A crisis arises when three devices are stolen and the thieves begin wrecking havoc in unsuspecting minds. It’s up to Paprika, the alter ego of one of the scientists, to defeat the threat. Director Kon creates incredibly lush and detailed visuals in this stunning animated spectacle.
7:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, Angelika Film Center 7

Drama/Mex – Director Gerado Naranjo, Mexico 2006; the seedy tourist town of Acapulco serves as the background for this bittersweet tale of three intense human relationships revolving around a suicidal old man, a 15-year-old runaway girl and a young couple. Infused with an infectious, youthful engery, Drama/Mex seamleslly interlaces characters, time and place.
9:30 p.m., Friday, March 30, Angelika Film Center 7; 4:15 p.m., Sunday, April 1, Angelika Film Center 6

Just Sex and Nothing Else – Director Krisztina Goda, Hungary 2005; Judith Schell stars as Dora, a 30-something playwright who is searching for her soul mate and frustrated at every turn. Deciding to be a single mother, she places an ad for “just sex and nothing else,” yet finds herself striking up a love/hate relationship with an actor who may be her perfect mate. Dora eventually begins to question what she really wants in this amusing, refreshing look at sexual politics.
7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 29, Magnolia 3; 5:15 p.m., Friday, March 30, Magnolia 3

Running on Empty – Director/screenwriter Bulich Akinci, Germany 2006; Burkhard Wahner is a traveling insurance salesman who, despite his odd demeanor, has a knack for landing clients. Driving endless miles along the Autobahn, he only stops to sleep and leave messages for his wife, promising to come home whe he's made enough money. He is hiding a tragic secret from his loved ones, hoever, and his perceived solution is equal parts selfless, desperate and haunting.

10 p.m., Wednesday, March 28, Angelika Film Center 7; 9:15 p.m., Saturday, March 31, Angelika Film Center 7

Mushishi – Director/screenwriter Hiroshi Nagahama, Japan 2006; The essence of the natural world is personified by strange, ancient natural forces called "mushi" that influence the lives of peopel for reasons yet unknown. Ginko is a "mushishi" who uses his shaman-like knowledge to help the affected come to terms with their afflictions. Brilliant animation and introspective storylines fuel this Japanese anime, a recent creation that has already climbed to classic status in Japan.

noon, Sunday, April 1, Magnolia 4

Lives of Others

Filmies saw The Lives of Others today. Truly fantastic.

I was skeptical that it could be better than Pan's Labyrinth and that some sort of film travesty had occured at the Academy Awards -- some political oversight by the Academy.

I was wrong.

The Lives of Others is a very emotional, moving, spy thriller.

This was certainly one of the best movies of 2006. It holds its own against the best picture nominees and could probably bump Little Miss Sunshine out or possibly The Queen. I liked the storyline of the Mexican nanny in Babel better than the whole of the movie. I loved The Departed, although it's a little foggy in my memory now. The Queen was a very well-acted movie and Little Miss Sunshine was nice and entertaining. I still haven't seen Letters from Iwo Jima, although it's sitting on my DVD player waiting for me.

Ulrich Muhe, who plays the Stasi Capitan Gerd Wiesler plays a perfect blend of Big Brother and priestly piety. Sebastian Koch, who plays playwright Georg Dreyman, and Martina Gedeck, who plays his actress girlfriend, are a great couple trying to survive the system. The scene in the photo above is one of many great moments, as Gedeck simply whimpers. "Just hold me."

The Lives of Others was captivating from the start and had me tearing up several times.

So, go see The Lives of Others. And if you really liked Pan's Labyrinth, don't feel cheated or robbed.

The best film won.

Mexican Film News

Directors Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Guillermo del Toro (above) have met with Mexican President Felipe Calderon to encourage governmental support of the film industry. The three were set to visit the Mexican Legislature to seek better distribution and exhibition opportunities for local production companies, according to Reuters. Of about 60 films produced here in 2006, only half hit theaters, they report.
Last week, Mexico joined Germany offering new tax incentives to help boost domestic production.

Mexico Film Awards
Pan’s Labyrinth swept the Mexico Film Awards, also known as the Ariels. The film won nine Ariels, including best picture and director for Gullermo del Toro.

There was a tie for Best Actress award with Spaniard Maribel Verdu winning for Pan's Labyrinth and Mexican Elizabeth Cervantes winning for Mas que a nada en el mundo.

Best Actor went to Damian Alcazar for Cronicas (click to see the trailer). This was his second successive win.

El Orfanato
Meanwhile the trailer for del Toro’s next film El Orfanato (The Orphanage) has been leaked onto You Tube. Creep-O-Rama. A release date hasn’t been set.

Color Me Kubrick

Mbabane’s own Richard E. Grant (photo below) appears in the latest John Malkovich film Color Me Kubrick debuting this weekend. It’s hard to know how much of Grant is in the film.
One review I read said Grant was wasted in a role that anyone could play. I think that’s a compliment.
The official media kit for Color Me Kubrick misspells Mbabane as Mbane. I sent a note to one promoter who said she’d pass along the correction. It wasn’t changed in the online version. At least they referenced his hometown. Most actor’s bios aren’t that detailed.
If you can’t get out to see Color Me Kubrick, the folks at Magnolia Pictures have a deal for you to view the picture at home. HDNet Movies will broadcast the picture Friday, March 23 at 7 p.m. and 10:05 p.m. Central. If that doesn’t fit your schedule, they’ll be releasing the picture to DVD on Tuesday, March 27.
So don’t blink, or you’ll miss it in theaters.

Color Me Kubrick Reviews
IFC

LA City Beat

San Francisco Bay Guardian

Ventura County Reporter

FWSCI Filmies Event Reminder

Don't forget we're gathering for the 2 p.m. Sunday, March 25 showing of The Lives of Others at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. (See details above right)

Asian FIlm Awards

Upsets, upsets, upsets.

OK, I don’t know how big the upsets were, but they were billed that way when the inaugural Asian Film Awards were handed out Monday night with many surprise winners.

South Korea’s monster smash The Host won Best Film, Best Actor, Best Cinematographer and Best Visual Effects.

The biggest surprise of the evening, was the Best Actor win for Song Kang-ho, who beat out Japanese actor Ken Wantanabe for Letters From Iwo Jima.

Other awards included Best Director going to Jia Zhangke for China’s Still Life; Best Actress to Miki Nakatani for Japan’s Memories of Matsuko; Best Screenwriter to Mani Haghighi for Iran’s Men at Work; Best Production Designer to Tim Yip for the Hong Kong/Chinese production The Banquet; and Best Editor to Lee Chatametikool for the Thailand/Austrian/French production of Syndromes and a Century. Best Composer went to Rahayu Supanggah for the Indonesian/Austrian film Opera Jawa.

In addition to the ten award categories, special tributes were also an integral part of the ceremony with Luc Besson presenting legendary Asian actress Josephine Siao with the Asian Film Award for Outstanding Contribution to Asian Cinema; renowned director Johnnie To honored David Bordwell with the Asian Film Award for Excellence in Scholarship in Asian Cinema, and Asian actor Andy Lau was bestowed the Nielsen Box Office Star of Asia Award.

This Just In: DVD Releases

Apparently it's Italy day at Netflix. Many of the films released today on DVD are from our friends in Italy.

The Passion of Joshua the Jew (2005) - Italy

Born in Spain in 1492 at the time all Jews and Muslims were ordered out of the country, Joshua (Leonardo Cesare Abude) is declared the next messiah by an elder (photo above). Eventually settling in Italy with his family, Joshua grows into a man and becomes fascinated with Catholicism, much to the dismay of local religious leaders. Pasquale Scimeca's religious drama exploring the nature of prejudice and intolerance also stars Anna Bonaiuto and Toni Bertorelli.Director: Pasquale Scimeca.

'Tis Pity She's a Whore (1971) Addio, Fratello Crudele - Italy
When she becomes pregnant from an incestuous affair with her brother Giovanni (Oliver Tobias), Annabella (Charlotte Rampling) quickly marries unsuspecting aristocrat Soranzo (Fabio Testi) in this adaptation of John Ford's 1633 play. But when Soranzo learns the truth, his reaction turns violent. From Italian director Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, this lushly produced tale of forbidden passion also stars Antonio Falsi, Rik Battaglia and Angela Luce.

Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures (2005) Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus
To distance himself from Adolf Hitler and a war he philosophically opposes, a young German (Peter Ketnath) moves halfway around the world to Brazil, where he meets a hitchhiker (João Miguel) with his own motivations to keep moving. Together, they drive across the country making pit stops in various villages to sell the locals a "miracle" drug. Marcelo Gomes directs this multilingual Cannes Film Festival selection.

Manhattan Gigolo (1986) - Italy
A trip to New York City leads to a racy three-person tryst, a sex tape and big trouble for Johnny (Gianni Dei) in this spicy drama, which also stars former CNN anchor and "NYPD Blue" actress Andrea Thompson. Johnny's wild ride begins when he learns his actor friend Rudy (Aris Iliopulos) is actually a gigolo. The friends engage in a threesome with Leslie (Thompson), but things really heat up when Johnny finds out the encounter was videotaped. Director: Amasi Damiani.

Street War (1976) - Italy
After being dismissed for use of excessive force, former cop Murri (Maurizio Merli) soon finds himself back on the job as the only man who can stop a brutal crime spree. When a mob boss escapes from prison and re-forms his gang, Murri is called on to organize a crackerjack team
to put an end to the gang's reign of terror. Fueled by vengeance, Murri stops at nothing to finish off the boss once and for all. Cyril Cusack and James Mason also star. Director: Giuseppe Rosati.