63rd Cannes Official Poster

Today the fest organizers unveiled the most beautiful official poster with none other than lovely and extraordinary performer Juliette Binoche. Bravo! Besides the poster is blue (one of my favorite colors), plays with light, the photo is by Brigitte Lacombe (suggest to check her site and check beautiful Meryl Streep portraits) and graphic design by Annick Durban. Here is a copy and paste of the official press release.

"Before the announcement of the official Selection on April 15th, the Festival de Cannes unveils its poster: the image of the 63rd edition is a photograph of Juliette Binoche by Brigitte Lacombe.

Continuing the series of heroines as representations of screen mysteries, initiated two years ago, festival organizers were charmed by this allegorical figure of the cinema who gives life to the image with a single stroke of her luminous brush.

The figure illuminates the scene with her presence; the magic of her enigmatic gaze heightened by her austere attire, the grace of her gesture is an invitation to follow.

(Credit : copyright © Brigitte Lacombe – graphic design Annick Durban)"

But if you feel like reading it at the official site please go here where you can also check the fest teaser playing with similar graphic design as the poster.

Cheers!

24th BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

Running from March 17 to 31, the fest has many interesting films but maybe the most interesting is the film that opened the festival, The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister by James Kent that had the world premiere at the fest but will be broadcast this winter by BBC Two.

The fest has (as usual) lots of gay and not much lesbian interest films. If you want to browse the site to check the films please go here.

New films that have become must be seen are Quanto dura o Amor? (Paulista) from Brazil and Warriors of Love from Sweden/Denmark.

News about 63rd Festival de Cannes

Too early for Cannes 2010? Not really as this year will run from May 12 to 23 and as of today the first massive press release hit the waves. The news? Ridley Scott's Robin Hood will open Cannes. Starring none other than Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett the epic surely blockbuster becomes another Hollywood film to open the fest, which does not happen that often. Thankfully the film will be screened out of competition. If you feel like reading the film synopsis and watch a video go here and the trailer is at the front page of the official Cannes fest website. By-the-way, the film will be released in the USA and UK on May 14, so Cannes is the official premiere.

This year the President of the jury is none other than Tim Burton and according to Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian he's the perfect Cannes president. Here is an excerpt from his article and full article is here.

"In a way, Burton is the perfect Cannes president. He looks like every American's view of a Euro-intellectual (dishevelled, black shades), is but also a very ­Europeanised Hollywood film director, with his intensively designed and sepulchrally atmospheric Goth-type pictures, in which Depp is a regular performer. His next film, Alice In Wonderland, starring Depp as the Mad Hatter and out in two months, will underline his reputation as a film-maker with a very personal style."

Very interesting is the list with the selected 15 projects from 15 countries in the sixth edition of L'Atelier 2010, check it out.

The Ardor, Pablo Fendrik, Argentina - 3rd feature film
Zincograph, Javor Gardev, Bulgaria - 2nd feature film
Gibier d'élevage, Rithy Panh, Cambodia and France - 10th feature film
Dream and Silence, Jaime Rosales,Spain - 4th feature film
Shanghai - Belleville, Show-Chun Lee, France - 1st feature film
Liza, the Fox-Fairy, Károly Ujj Mészáros,Hungary - 1st feature film
Postcards from the zoo, Edwin, Indonesia - 2nd feature film
Khorramshahr, Massoud Bakhshi,Iran - 1st feature film
Decadent Sisters, Shinji Aoyama,Japan - 15th feature film
Les Etoiles de Sidi Moumen, Nabil Ayouch, Morocco - 5th feature film
La Jaula de Oro, Diego Quemada-Diez, Mexico - 1st feature film
Code Blue, Urszula Antoniak, Netherlands - 2nd feature film
Circles, Srdan Golubovic, Serbia - 3rd feature film
Come to my voice, Hüseyin Karabey,Turkey - 2nd feature film
Lucia, Ruben Sierra Salles, Venezuela - 1st feature film

The Livre des Projects will be available from April 15th on the Cinefondation website, so I'll be checking the projects.

April will be when the fest news will start to come and I can hardly believe that the year went by so fast, as very soon Movie On will become all about Cannes 2010 as usually happens with the "Mother of all Festivals".

Last, for the first time here,le Marché du Film poster included to light up the post.

Cheers!!!

Drool

I sort of liked the movie, say "sort of" as has many moments that are very darkish funny; but is uneven as in my opinion the director was not able to control the storyline and there are moments that are just too predictable and boring. Still if you like American darkish movies that play with the absurd then this is exactly the movie for you. But if you read comments around the net I beg you to not think that this is John Walters alike as this film is very far from the extraordinary Walters characters. Still I was puzzled and watched until the very end that was predictable, of course.

Tells the story of Anora (great performance by Laura Harring) that's abused by her husband and children, so she constantly day-dream about a happy romantic story. Anora's life is really miserable until a new neighbor, Imogene, arrives and turns around her life, but they fall for each other and are caught by racist Anora's husband. Anora kills her husband and the movie turns into a road movie until they reach their destination and more crazy things happen. Yes, is a dark-dark story but the film is not that dark.

The film looks and feels very low budget but I believe that performances by Harring and the actors who play her kids save the movie and make it watchable. So I don't expect much from the film beyond a crazy sometimes funny story.

The movie is total lesbian interest but it's not your regular genre film so unless you want to watch an irreverent, absurd and darkish film I suggest you stay away. Still I know that many will be curious and will watch it.

If you enjoy American indie films then I'm sure you will enjoy this Slamdance fest co-production where director Nancy Kissam won the 2007 Screenplay Competition award and the film went to win the Jury Award at the 2009 Miami Gay and Lesbian Film for Best Fiction Feature.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Cracks

As Sheila Kohler says at her official web site "she was driven to explore the reasons for violence within intimate relationships, in particular, the abuse of power and privilege" and that's exactly what this movie is all about as is based on Kohler's book with the same name. The only problem I have with the quote is that I found no real reasons for the film main character, Miss G (Eva Green), to abuse her power and privilege. But honestly it really does not matter much as Jordan Scott's (yes, Ridley's daughter) debut is interesting as a filmmaker and storyteller that makes us almost all the film wonder what was going on (besides the obvious) and does it with great cinematography, very nice takes and great period costumes worn by young girls at an English boarding school in the 1930's.

The story on the surface is about jealousy and free-spirit behavior in an era where the second was not an acceptable behavior for women. But there are hints to a deeper layer that's only uncover in the abrupt finale, that I didn't particularly enjoyed.

I believe the film is worth watching if you let it go and enjoy all that happens in three quarters of the film and you don't get much upset or taken back with the finale that the only clue I'm giving is that has the style of lesbian interest movies of another long go era.

I got real curious with story and probably will read the book to hopefully fill the gaps that I can fill with a little fantasy but most "reasons" are unsatisfying to me. I suggest to some of my loyal readers to watch the film, especially to Chaos, and please share your vision of the story.

Enjoy!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

34th Hong Kong International Film Festival Lineup

As mentioned the fest will run from today March 21st until April 6th and has over 300 films from 50 countries most are simply put, worth watching. In the Asian Digital Competition this year they have the following films.

寻欢作乐 The High Life, Zhao Dayong, China, 2010
牛皮2 Niupi er (Oxhide II), Liu Jiayin, China, 2009
Guang Ban (Sun Spots), Yang Heng, China, 2009 (wow, visually stunning, impressive-must be seen)
夜郎 Tangle, Liu Yonghong, China, 2010
父后七日 Seven Days in Heaven, Essay Liu and Wang Yu-Lin, Australia and Taiwan, 2010
나는 곤경에 처했다! Naneun Konkyeonge Cheohaessda! (I'm in Trouble!) , So Sang-min, South Korea, 2009
Mother is a Whore, Lee Sang-woo, South Korea, 2009 (described as "darkly transgressive... hmm, I'm very curious))
회오리 바람 Huiori Baram (Eighteen), Jang Kun-jae, South Korea, 2009

With only two world premieres, most films in the Asian Digital Competition come from famous fests, especially Rotterdam. Gosh that's what I really hate when I'm not able to do my usual research, I should go back to this year Rotterdam and go in-depth, for sure will find interesting films to watch.

Opening Films
月满轩尼诗 Yue Man Xuan Ni Shi (Crossing Henneessy), Ivy Ho, Hong Kong
如梦 Ru Men (Like a Dream), Clara Law, Taiwan

Awards Gala: 团圆 Tuan Yuan (Apart Together), Quanan Wang, China (will watch, yes is the2010 Berlinale Opening Film and winner of the Best Screenplay)

Closing Films
安非他命 An Fei Ta Ming (Amphetamine), Scud, Hong Kong, 2010
前度 (Ex), Heiward Mak, Hong Kong, 2010s

Watch Sun Spots trailer @ Movie On Companion and check Youtube fest official uploads with most film trailers the fest will screen. To browse the fest site please go here.

Mang Shan (Blind Mountain)

This very interesting Yang Li film is set in the early 90's and tells an amazing story about an urban university educated young woman tricked into a fake job that make her go to a remote small village where she's purchased as a wife for a peasant. What follows is her shock, her repulsion, trying to escape, being abused, etc. etc. until a great not expected abrupt finale.

The film style recalls a lot the look of the Fifth generation of Chinese directors (like for example Zhang Yimou) and a lot the work of the Sixth generation directors (for example Jia Zhang ke) suggesting to be a film of transition between lyric narrative and bare raw-reality, which makes it quite interesting if you enjoy slow paced films, with good indoor and outdoor cinematography, absence of music, plus actor and non-actors excellent performances.

The way the director chose to tell the story is also interesting as it's not really emotional and you don't necessarily empathize with the main character during a long while; but suddenly you will and at the strong finale you will feel a plethora of contradictory feelings. Great storytelling!

A film that I strongly recommend especially to women from all over the world as even when most critics talk about China politics in the story, for me definitively is not about politics, is an universal women story that with or without variations happens all over the world.

The movie has been honored with awards at festivals like the 2007 Bratislava and 2008 Istambul fests, all well deserved honors for a movie that slowly, very slowly uncovers a thought provoking story.

A must be seen for those that enjoy Chinese cinema and compelling women stories.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @ Movie On

Bandaged

Was not really looking forward to watch this movie as the synopsis suggested horror. Well there was some horror in this film but definitively was not the genre. Horrific acting (really on the very-bad side), horrific camera work (make the horrific acting look worst), and a awful story that not even with better actors, camera and directing could be entertaining to watch.

Tells the story of a overprotective and demanding father who happens to be a doctor and researcher that wants her young daughter to become a doctor/scientist. She wants to study literature and write poetry. She can't stand the situation and attempts suicide. Half her face is desfigured and you will not see it as she's most of the movie bandaged. She's in shock and kept in bed. The father hires a live-in nurse. Nurse and patient fall for each other. Don't imagine romance as acting is so bad plus awful camera that scenes look pornish.

The production definitively is low budget and looks like it with only one location where everything happens including the doctor/father and nurse operating on patient. Really terrible and honestly had to fast forward to the end as I had enough.

One thing made me think this film: how great and impressive was Mathieu Amalric performance with one eye in Le scaphandre et le papillon; here the bandaged woman had two eyes but she couldn't do anything credible with them.

Really bad film. Watch it at your own risk.

Sigh.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Sherlock Holmes

I definitively enjoy Robert Downey Jr. performances and in this movie I like it for a long while, but then it became too much Downey Jr. and much less a character especially when you think that the character is none other than Sherlock Holmes. I knew before watching that this Sherlock film was going to be different and gee, it was. Seeing Jude Law as Dr. Watson was fun for a while, but then the character became sooo secondary and boring that made me think that the 'real and immortal' Dr. Watson was more interesting.

I blame the director. No, I'm not a fan of Guy Ritchie films and even if this film had some interesting special and visual effects most looked like that: effects and were quite distracting from whatever was going on. Fights were too long for me, perhaps I'm not the target but if is a "hero" film you know who's going to win the fight before hand, so unless there is interesting choreography it becomes very boring.

The effect that I did enjoyed best is when they show Holmes future logical deductions, that was quite interesting and when he does what he thinks in fast camera, the fighting makes a lot more sense. But in general I was disappointed with this film that I wanted to enjoy but thanks to the filmmaker style didn't do much and got to the point where I was about to stop all the nonsense, but Downey Jr. was what kept me until the end.

Cannot recommend the film unless you're Downey's fan (like me) and if you're a Holmes fan I suggest to prepare to an action-packed (James Bond style) very different Sherlock. I imagine that there will be a sequel and I strongly suggest to producers to carefully choose a new director. Somehow I imagine the sequel directed and produced similarly to one Batman installment, the one directed by Tim Burton; let's hope it happens and the film could be not only different but outstanding. The casting should be the same as is an excellent cast that got lost without proper direction.

Sigh.

Watch trailer @ Movie-On Companion

More about Oscar Winning Director

Not very often I read articles in 'serious' publications about the so-called 'glass ceiling'and women struggle to break it as well as dismantling stereotypes about what types of films women can and should direct. Manohla Dargis wrote on March 10th in the New York Times an article that is much worth reading and definitively food-for-thought to women all over the world. Alright we all know that the American Society is perhaps one of the most sexist societies in the Occidental world, but I found the article direct and well-written. Just check the first paragraph.

"KATHRYN BIGELOW’S two-fisted win at the Academy Awards for best director and best film for “The Hurt Locker” didn’t just punch through the American movie industry’s seemingly shatterproof glass ceiling; it has also helped dismantle stereotypes about what types of films women can and should direct. It was historic, exhilarating, especially for women who make movies and women who watch movies, two groups that have been routinely ignored and underserved by an industry in which most films star men and are made for and by men. It’s too early to know if this moment will be transformative — but damn, it feels so good."

I strongly suggest to readers -male and female- to read the article that's here.

33rd Japan Academy Prize

Last March 5th the Academy had the award ceremony and here are some winners.

Picture of the Year: 沈まぬ太陽 Shizumanu taiyô (The Unbroken), Setsuro Wakamatsu (will watch)
Director of the Year: Daisaku Kimura for 劔岳 点の記 Tsurugidake: Ten no Ki (The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones to Serenity)

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Takako Matsu in ヴィヨンの妻 / ヴィヨンの妻　～桜桃とタンポポ～ Viyon no tsuma (Villon's Wife), Kichitaro Negishi (must be seen for me)
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Ken Watanabe in 沈まぬ太陽 Shizumanu taiyô (The Unbroken), Setsuro Wakamatsu

Outstanding Foreign Language Film: Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood

To check the winners in all categories please go here if you understand Japanese or here to read them in English.

Think will watch the winner because I do enjoy Ken Watanabe performances, but I expect the story to be hard to watch. Still could be interesting to find how a Japanese filmmaker does this kind of story. I'll tell you what the story is about: "Based on the 1985 plane crash that caused 520 deaths, the worst aviation event in Japanese history".

If you like to watch trailers for best film and best actress film please use the facebook link in the first left column.

Your Big Break

As some of you can imagine I haven't been able to check the blog mail regularly, so I got a great surprise when I found an email with a link to Tourism New Zealand with an invitation to a sneak peak at the winner short film Working Day by Andres Borghi from Argentina. The competition was called "Your Big Break" and none other than Peter Jackson was in charge of selecting the winner.

The short aired on IFC prior to the Film Independent Spirit Awards and maybe some of you saw it, but if you haven't this is the link to their site where you will find the other shorts in competition. There are shorts from UK, Australia, USA, New Zealand, etc.

But to make viewing easier, here is the winning short that makes me totally recall my advertising days, lol!

Kathryn Bigelow

After last night Oscar milestone many of us may be wondering who Kathryn Bigelow is as a filmmaker. My first reaction was to think that I haven't seen any of her previous films and that I should. So, I checked her filmography. Surprise, have seen (a few times) two: Point Break with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze as well as Jamie Lee Curtis Blue Steel. Well should not be a surprise but until this award season I had no idea of her existence, that her first feature film was 1982's The Loveless which was William Dafoe debut, that her film The Weight of Water (not sure but maybe I have seen it) with Sean Penn won the Golden Seashell at 2000 San Sebastian fest, and that she's older than me, lol!

From the films I have seen I'm sure that I'll never asked for the director as like many of you I watched those movies for the actors, not the director or any other tech spec and yes, they were entertaining with one that I have seen too many times in reruns and probably will watch again several times. So, for me her leap into American cinema history comes from one excellently directed film: The Hurt Locker. I'm looking forward to find how Bigelow will excel this film in the near future.

Anyway I feel like including here some trailers from her films for you to check them out and as my little homage for her great achievement.

82nd Academy Awards Winners

With not many surprises and one major upset for me the three hours show, plus half hour red carpet, was slowish in the first two hours, but the last hour was not only entertaining but WHO won was really exciting.

Here are the winners.

Feature Films

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Animated Feature Film: Up, Peter Docter
Foreign Language Film: El Secreto de Sus Ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes), Argentina

Directing: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker

Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side
Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo'Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Actor in a Leading Role: Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds

Art Direction: Avatar
Cinematography: Avatar
Costume Design: The Young Victoria
Film Editing: The Hurt Locker
Makeup: Star Trek
Original Score: UP
Original Song: The Weary Kind, theme from Crazy Heart
Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker
Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker
Visual Effects: Avatar
Writting - Adapted Screenplay: Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Writting - Original Screenplay: The Hurt Locker

Documentaries
Feature: The Cove
Short Subject: Music by Prudence

Short Films
Animated: Logorama
Live Action: The New Tenants

To check winners at the official site go here.

You have no idea how glad I'm that Avatar didn't got more awards than the ones that truly deserved. My major upset is in the foreign language film category as I believe the winner was NOT the best from the five nominees; to not repeat myself please read this post where I talk about the Argentinean submission.

2010 Oscar will be always remembered as the year where the first female director won the top directing award, this milestone is engraved in the Academy Awards history forever and Kathryn Bigelow was immortalized with this honor. If you ever had any doubts about how sexist the American Film Industry is just think that it took them EIGHTY-TWO years to honor a female director in the industry top awards. Unbelievable! But finally the 'glass ceiling' is broken. Maybe now the country will follow with the first female president in the country's history!

Also this year we have the American Independent film industry being honored with the top award, which as far as I remember doesn't happen often. Can't help but to think how the Spirit Awards organization must feel by NOT recognizing last year HOW GREAT The Hurt Locker was and again, this 'lapsus' really demerits the credibility of this award to my eyes.

Now what follows is a year full of films to watch and hopefully we will be surprised by the industry with many excellent American films.

Please remember that the American awards season may be over, but we still have more awards from other countries and some that recently happened but I have not been able to post them, like the Japan Academy top awards that will post soon.

Cheers!

Very Late Oscar Predictions - The Day After

Gee, seems that I have many predictions right, lol! Later I will post all the winners and will do the math in this post.

Thanks to all my dear friends that asked for my predictions and please excuse me for doing them so late. Here they are.

Best Picture: HAS to win The Hurt Locker (if Avatar wins will mean that mainstream blockbusters from powerful Industry figures have more 'power' that filmmaker abilities and I still believe that tech awards are appropriate for Avatar) RIGHT

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow has to make Academy history and will. First female director to win in 82 years of Oscar will be a reality as she's a remarkable filmmaker and has sweep most award. sooooo RIGHT

Best Actress: I wish Meryl Streep wins, she did an excellent job with Julia Child, but the award will go to Sandra Bullock that also deserve the honor for a great performance. RIGHT

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges. RIGHT

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'nique RIGHT
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz RIGHT

Best Original Screenplay: Many say will be Inglourious Basterds, but I hope is The Hurt Locker. I voted for the second at The Auteurs. RIGHT
Best Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air. WRONG

Best Animated Film: UP RIGHT

Best Foreign Language Film: HAS to be The White Ribbon and if not, A Prophet. WRONG

Best Cinematography: My Oscar goes to The White Ribbon, but being an American award I bet that Avatar will get it and honestly most was done with computers not Cameras. RIGHT

Best Art Direction: Avatar (no doubt and really is deserved). RIGHT
Achievement in Film Editing: My choice definitively is The Hurt Locker (great editing!), but won't be surprised if is given to Avatar. RIGHT

Achievement in Visual Effects: Avatar. This is the most well deserved award for this film. RIGHT
Achievement in MakeUp: My choice is Il Divo, but since is an American show will go to Star Trek. RIGHT

Achievement in Sound Editing: Avatar. Very glad I'm WRONG
Achievement in Sound Mixing: Avatar Very glad I'm WRONG
Original Score: UP RIGHT
Original Song: Me LOVED the one from Nine, but the one from Crazy Heart will win. RIGHT

Best Documentary: The Cove RIGHT
Best Documentary Short Subject: China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province WRONG

Best Animated Short Film: My choice Logorama, but probably A Matter of Loaf and Death will win. Sort of RIGHT
Best Live Action Short film: Miracle Fish. WRONG

Soon we will find how right or how wrong my predictions are. In the meantime I have in the background the noise of the crazy shows that E! broadcasts today. Lol!

As you can see there are 17 RIGHT and 6 WRONG. I forgot one category here, Costume Design but at The Auteurs I voted for The Young Victoria, so I was right in this category. Not bad at all, maybe next year I should engage in some kind of 'gambling' and win something, lol!

25th Film Independent Spirit Awards

Winners are in *RED.

Yesterday the nominations were announced and here they are.

Best Feature
Sin Nombre
*Precious
The Last Station
(500) Days of Summer
Amreeka

Best Director
James Gray for Two Lovers
Michael Hoffman for The Last Station
*Lee Daniels for Precious
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for A Serious Man
Carji Joji Fukunaga for Sin Nombre

Best First Feature
The Messenger
Easier With Practice
Paranormal Activity
*Crazy Heart
A Single Man

John Cassavetes Award (Best feature made under $500,000)
Zero Bridge
Treeless Mountain
The New Year Parade
*Humpday
Big Fan

Best Female Lead
Gwyneth Paltrow in Two Lovers
Helen Mirren in The Last Station
*Gaboure Sidibe in Precious
Maria Bello in Downloading Nancy
Nisreen Faour in Amreeka

Best Male Lead
*Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
Souléymane Sy Savané in Goodbye Solo
Colin Firth in A Single Man
Adam Scott in The Vicious Kind
Joseph Gordon-Levitt in (500) Days of Summer

Best Foreign Film
La Nana (The Maid), Sebastian Silva
Mother, Bong Joon-Ho
Everlasting Moments, Jan Troell
*An Education, Lone Scheerfig
A Prophet, Jacques Audiard

To check the nominees in all the categories please go here. This is the awards show that last year I watched live online and had so much crazy fun, let’s hope that this year I’ll be able to do it again on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 8pm PT and will be broadcast by IFC channel.

There are some surprises here and now I know that I’ll be watching the movie with Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) and I couldn’t imagine La Nana competing against A Prophet… that’s amazing and congrats to Chile.

If you feel like watching the nominations go here.

Precious sweep the Spirit Awards winning all the categories were was nominated. Of course, The Hurt Locker was not nominated due to the fact that was nominated last year in a couple of not major categories where won nothing. I believe the credibility of these awards went down as omitting this movie was a terrible mistake. Still, I'm glad that Precious got some recognition. Sigh.

Oscar News - Foreign Language Film

Today I started to read Oscar predictions from some of my favorite sites and to my surprise some sources that I consider with Hollywood insight are predicting that El Secreto de tus Ojos (The Secret of Her Eyes) from Argentina is going to win. Close by is Haneke's The White Ribbon and a far away third place Audiard's A Prophet. I lost my breath when I read the news.

The Argentinean submission is an excellent movie that as I mention in my review has many -if not all- elements that the Academy likes -including being mostly mainstream; but, in my humble opinion the film is not as complete cinematic experience as Haneke's or Audiard films are.

I'm really glad that two films from Latin America cinema got honored with a nomination as high honors do not come often to the region; also please recall that I liked both films quite a lot. But they are not at the same flawless cinematic level of The White Ribbon and A Prophet. No way.

I would simply love to have an Oscar recognition this year to Latin American cinema, as this region cinema has really evolved. But in a fair competition awards should be given to the best and yes, again, the two European films are clearly superior.

I hope the predictions are wrong for the sake of the Academy not loosing (again) credibility in my passionate love for GREAT cinema and my enjoyment of this "Mother of All Awards" event.

Sigh.

Awards Season News

As we are getting close to the end of the American Awards 2009-2010 season that closes with the Oscar, we still have another important Award for American Independent Cinema, the Film Independent Spirit Awards that will have its ceremony tomorrow at 8:00pm and will be broadcasted live (and uncut) by IFC. The host is Eddie Izzard and well his humor is darkish so I enjoy him a lot. Last year watched the show but this year I'll try to watch it online.

For many of us the award season is not over as continues with awards like Italy's David Donatello, and from other countries, so I'll keep you posted.

The American Society of Cinematographers Award Winner

And the winner is none other than The White Ribbon! Bravo!! Bravo!!! I believe that chances have increased with this win. (I hope).

Winner is in *RED.

Next Saturday February 27 we not only have the Cesar Awards in France but also in USA they have the award ceremony for the ASC Awards and here are the finalists in the feature film category.

The Hurt Locker
Nine
*The White Ribbon
Avatar
Inglourious Basterds

Having seen all five my favorite cinematography belongs to Haneke's The White Ribbon, but I wouldn't mind if The Hurt Locker, Nine or Inglourious Basterds win. To read the announcement please go here.

To check the other categories winners please go here.

35th César Awards Winners

Winners are in *RED. Here are the nominations for this year awards.

Best Film
A l’Origine, Xavier Giannoli
Le Concert, Radu Mihaileanu
Les Herbes Folles, Alain Resnais
La Journee de la Jupe, Jean-Paul Lilienfeld
Rapt, Lucas Belvaux
*Un Prophete, Jacques Audiard
Welcome, Philippe Lioret

Best Director
*Jacques Audiard for Un Prophete
Lucas Belvaux for Rapt
Xavier Giannoli for A l’Origine
Philippe Lioret for Welcome
Radu Mihaileanu for Le Concert

Best First Film
*Les Beaux Gosses, Riad Sattouf
Le Dernier pour la Route, Philippe Godeau
Espion(s), Nicolas Saada
La Premiere Etiole, Lucien Jean-Baptiste
Qu’un Seul Tienne et les Autres Suivront, Lea Fehner

Best Actress
*Isabelle Adjani in La Journee de la Jupe
Domique Blanc in L’Autre
Sandrine Kiberlain in Mademoiselle Chambon
Kristin Scott Thomas in Partir
Audrey Tautou in Coco Avant Chanel

Best Supporting Actress
Aure Atika in Mademoiselle Cambon
Anne Consigny in Rapt
Audrey Dana in Welcome
*Emmanuelle Devos in A l’Origine
Noemie Lvosvsky in Les Beaux Gosses

Best Female Newcomer
Pauline Etienne in Qu’un seul tiene et les autres suivront
Florence Loiret-Caille in Je l’amais
Soko dans A l’Origine
Christa Theret in LOL
*Melanie Thierry in Le dernier pour la route

Best Actor
Yvan Attal in Rapt
Francois Cluzet in A l’Origine
Francois Cluzet in Le Dernier pour la Route
Vincent Lindon in Welcome
*Tahar Rahim in Un Prophete

Best Supporting Actor
Jean-Hugues Anglade in Persecution
*Niels Arestrup in Un Prophete
Joeystarr in Le Bal des Actrices
Benoit Poelvoorde in Coco Avant Chanel
Michel Vuillermoz in Le Dernier pour la Route

Best Male Newcomer
Firat Ayverdi in Welcome
Adel Bencherif in Un Prophete
Vincent Lacostein Les Beaux Gosses
*Tahar Rahim in Un Prophete
Vincent Rottiers in Je suis hereux que ma mere soit vivante

Best Foreign Film
Avatar, James Cameron, USA
*Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood, USA
Milk, Gus Van Sant, USA
J’ai Tue Ma Mere, Xavier Dolan, Canada
Panique au Village, Stepahne Aubier and Vicent Patar, Belgium, Luxembourg and France
The White Ribbon, Michael Haneke
Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle

The award ceremony will be broadcast by Canal+ on February 27, 2010 and this year unless I find it online I will miss it again. Sigh. To check nominees in all categories please go here to download a pdf file available only in French.

I was really awaiting for these nominations as for me 2009 was not the best year for French cinema in general, but of course with the amazing impact of Un Prophete I believe I raised my standards for contemporary French cinema. So, there are a few nominated films that definitively have become must be watch for me, like the Kristin Scott Thomas movie and Romanian Radu Mihaileanu Le Concert among others.

I really do not have to tell you which French film is my favorite and well, I'm really glad that got the highest number of nominations so I know that has to be honored and will be. Yes I'm talking about A Prophet. From the nominated foreign films, The White Ribbon HAS to win.

The biggest surprise is The White Ribbon NOT winning, unbelievable even when Gran Torino is a great movie, but Haneke's film is much superior. No surprise with A Prophet winning in many categories where was nominated.

82nd Academy Awards News

As we all know "The Mother of All Awards" is next Sunday and while I'm still unpacking I hope that I'll be ready to watch it on TV and in the computer with a nice bottle of very cold champagne as I always do to celebrate the cinema Fiesta Magna. I know that this is an American awards show, but well is always fun to watch and hope this year is entertaining.

The Oscar.com site is open and ready and I suggest you browse it to check the latest video with info about ... THE DRESSES! Yes, get some insights about the designers and clothes women will be wearing in the red carpet. (lol!). On a more serious note, in the site you have the opportunity to Predict the Winners if you feel like playing along.

If you want to check the Scientific & Technical Awards Winners please go here.

Not sure if this week I'll be able to post again at the blog, but be sure that after the awards the winners will be here.

Cheers