zippo´s international film festival thread

[zippo]

Vera Drake

this British movie I liked, I didnt have to worry about the acting, they were all more than acceptable, and I think the director parted from a minimum acting capacity point so we spectators didnt have to worry about that part being bad. I think one of the best acting parts was the actress who played the mother of the girl they found out she did an abortion on, i cant remember her characters name dammit. but when shes talking to the cops and theyre trying to get information out of her....great scene.
doesnt take away from the rest of the casts great natural acting ofcourse. I liked Sid...very very slightly overacted you say? ok i agree. The 2 brothers...their realtionship attracted and interested me...maybe because, just like the clueless daughter, their innocence was cute, although...

the general "psychological" traits that were basically applied equally for all the characters was sort of too immature. Dont you think their conversations and reactions (I know it was 1950´s but that doesnt mean they were stupid) were a bit childlike during the whole of the film? some of the scripting also reflected that i think.

i also cant decide wether Vera´s weeping was too much or added well to the tragedy and was real?

7/10

[zippo]

Shi mian mai fu - The House of the Flying Knives directed by: Yimou Zhang


Wow. This film is incredibly well done. i strongly recommend this movie.
The way they fight throughout the movie is done with some kickass coreography...especially early in the movie when they play the "Eco Game", its like youre breathlesss during that part. and the coreography in basically every other part mixed with the slow motion just kills you. i also especially enjoyed the way the governments soldiers came in slowly and synchronized, and with their arms holding up their swords behind them...i loved them at that moment actually.

Another thing i loved is, since the main character is blind, the Sound in the movie is almost like a second character, the way we hear everything much more than we do normally in movies. like the trees, the bamboos, the sword flying, the rain..eveyrthing we saw, we heard. excellent detail.

and the photography...well...just watch the movie.

the only thing i might slightly criticize about it is that the name of the movie is "The house of the flying swords", and then in the beggining it starts out with some words on the screen talking about the group called "The Flying Swords" and how they steal from the rich to give to the poor...but the whole movie doesnt really get into this group at all but generally focuses on the story between the 2 main characters. it leaves me wanting to know a bit more about this group in the end.

another thing...the part in the end where they fight in the snow and blood is shed- basically the same scene in kill bill 1 where the chinese girl and the bride fight ouside in the snow...cool eh. although seems like tarantino didnt copy it from this director since i checked the dates and KB was in 2003 and this movie was made in 2004. i wonder if there was any influence or just coincidence. anyone know if the blood-snow scene is a common one in these type of asian type movies?

9/10...in other words: you really have to watch this movie.

[zippo]

i hope someones seen these movies so they can say something

next movie date: tuesday 9th

[BionicEye]

You need a Roper to your Ebert, Zippo.

[zippo]

You need a Roper to your Ebert, Zippo.

im gonna do one of my "im laughing but i dont get the joke" laugh thingy

[paul jones]

I haven't seen either of those films sorry

[BionicEye]

im gonna do one of my "im laughing but i dont get the joke" laugh thingy


Siskel & Roeper (http://tvplex.go.com/buenavista/ebertandroeper/today.html)

i'm gonna do one of my "look down and to the side, keep from snarfing out my nose and try not to laugh" thingies.

[zippo]

Siskel & Roeper (http://tvplex.go.com/buenavista/ebertandroeper/today.html)

i'm gonna do one of my "look down and to the side, keep from snarfing out my nose and try not to laugh" thingies.

aw shucks, YOU GOT ME!
bang bang bang bang

[ToucanSpam]

Jurassic Park

[zippo]

Jurassic Park

i dont know what to make of this post, aside from that its not one of the films in the international film festival which is the only thing that this thread is about ok? ok.

[ToucanSpam]

:p

[zippo]

empty posts are ok in this thread

[ericg]

Yo Zippo.

I don't know Vera Drake off hand.

House of Flying Daggers?

I saw that a while ago. Although I like your optimistic review, to be honest, I really didn't think she was worth any of it, even if she was blind... Props to the director and visual effects etc... It had it's push and pull, and tore shit up with the-remote-control-daggers. Even with the 'suspense' I thought it was contrived and too skulky, especially with the who is who of it all.. And the fighting scenes seemed to go on forever with a lack of grace... they lost flavor quick. I have to give it a (n)

But the wall of daggers in the woods and the end where they all die is cool.

[ericg]

Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

[b-grrrlie]

I don't usually go to the movies except at Stockholm Filmfestival (http://www.filmfestivalen.se/) (or if I win tickets somewhere) so I have to wait until November. Well, not really, they show films for members every month, and now in two weeks time they're showing some movies outdoors for free, but I'm busy with something else at the time...

[Documad]

Vera Drake

this British movie I liked, I didnt have to worry about the acting, they were all more than acceptable, and I think the director parted from a minimum acting capacity point so we spectators didnt have to worry about that part being bad. I think one of the best acting parts was the actress who played the mother of the girl they found out she did an abortion on, i cant remember her characters name dammit. but when shes talking to the cops and theyre trying to get information out of her....great scene.
doesnt take away from the rest of the casts great natural acting ofcourse. I liked Sid...very very slightly overacted you say? ok i agree. The 2 brothers...their realtionship attracted and interested me...maybe because, just like the clueless daughter, their innocence was cute, although...

the general "psychological" traits that were basically applied equally for all the characters was sort of too immature. Dont you think their conversations and reactions (I know it was 1950´s but that doesnt mean they were stupid) were a bit childlike during the whole of the film? some of the scripting also reflected that i think.

i also cant decide wether Vera´s weeping was too much or added well to the tragedy and was real?

7/10
Mike Leigh, the director, doesn't work as much from a script and usually has actors improvising more and I think they don't necessarily know how it's going to end when they're filming. I didn't hear and details about the making of this movie.

I did see the movie and I really thought it was good, but it's not a casual date-night movie. :p I think the characters were pretty dead-on for their class and time, but I'm not British, am I? I loved the courtship of the daughter and the guy Vera set her up with. I loved the bitchy sister-in-law. I loved the woman who kept the profits from the abortions. And the side story about what happened to the rich girl was an eye-opener. My understanding is that it was pretty true-to-life--that the right doctor could get you and abortion for a price if you knew how to work it.

Mostly, I liked that what happened to Vera was real and they didn't make her into an innocent victim.

I'd agree with the 7/10. (y)

[Documad]

Did you see Edukators? It's a German movie released in 2004 but it's been playing foreign film festivals in the US in 2005. I saw it a couple of months ago and didn't like it, but it's been getting good reviews.

[ericg]

The only recent one I've heard of is Broken Flowers.

[zippo]

Yo Zippo.

I don't know Vera Drake off hand.

House of Flying Daggers?

I saw that a while ago. Although I like your optimistic review, to be honest, I really didn't think she was worth any of it, even if she was blind... Props to the director and visual effects etc... It had it's push and pull, and tore shit up with the-remote-control-daggers. Even with the 'suspense' I thought it was contrived and too skulky, especially with the who is who of it all.. And the fighting scenes seemed to go on forever with a lack of grace... they lost flavor quick. I have to give it a (n)

But the wall of daggers in the woods and the end where they all die is cool.

Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have said anything.


apologizing and "shouldnt have said anything"? what, you dont believe in conversations?...

anyways...oh, yea, Daggers not Knives, its just how they translated it into spanish over here and i then translated that into english.
and, yea, the "who is who" was a bit, i dont know, it was complicated enough to not be that original i guess, but the rest of it was so damned good that i got distracted.
i loved the fighting scenes..their length made it feel like i was watching a ballet or a musical instead of a movie for a couple of minutes. i think it was a very visual film, so i think the length of them all was justified.

colors, sounds,curves,movements,textures,speed,etc...i think thats what the director concentrated on and thats what we have to appreciate from this movie. like i said, for me, it was enough to distract me from its minor faults, for you i see it wasnt.

anyways...long time no see, gotta rent I love huckabees one of these days dammit (y)

[zippo]

Mike Leigh, the director, doesn't work as much from a script and usually has actors improvising more and I think they don't necessarily know how it's going to end when they're filming. I didn't hear and details about the making of this movie.

thats an really interesting fact, cool (y). well then, be it improvised or scripted, i think the conversations/reactions seemed a bit too innocent/childlike. like the way Vera speaks, or the way Sid said things to the extent of "but abortions bad!", or the way the lady cop helped Vera out so delicately... or maybe the british are just too nice and proper for me.

I did see the movie and I really thought it was good, but it's not a casual date-night movie. :p I think the characters were pretty dead-on for their class and time, but I'm not British, am I? I loved the courtship of the daughter and the guy Vera set her up with. I loved the bitchy sister-in-law. I loved the woman who kept the profits from the abortions. And the side story about what happened to the rich girl was an eye-opener. My understanding is that it was pretty true-to-life--that the right doctor could get you and abortion for a price if you knew how to work it.

Mostly, I liked that what happened to Vera was real and they didn't make her into an innocent victim.

I'd agree with the 7/10. (y)

the coutrship was hilarious wasnt it. how about when theyre all in the living room and the dude sayd "Vera, this is the best Christmas ive ever had!" haha
and yea, thats true,the characters were greatly set up, each one grabbed your attention at least a bit. there were quite alot of characters werent there. yea, good movie.

ps-havent seen Edukators

[zippo]

I just rented Downfall this evening. I haven't watched it yet, but will tomorrow. It's the recent German film starring Bruno Ganz as Hitler. It's his last days and is based on the writings of his secretary (I think). It was nominated for Best Foreign film in the last Academy Awards, but lost to The Sea Inside...

This is supposed to be a really good film and is quite controversial. I hear Bruno does a superb job as Hitler.

I didn't even know it was out on DVD in the US just yet. I brought my brother to Blockbuster for him to rent something and just before we left I decided we check out what else was out. I gasped as soon as I saw it. I don't think I have ever gasped for a film before...or at least in a long time.

ha! no fucking way, Downfall is one of the ones ive really wanted to watch from the festival, but its had trouble coming over here (the actual physical film), but now it seems theyre gonna show it this saturday, meaning, ive heard the same things about it that you have, and i most definetly will see it if it finally gets here. Nazi germany drives me crazy.

[BionicEye]

aw shucks, YOU GOT ME!
bang bang bang bang


i have no idea what you mean but that made me laugh....


i picture you a little boy dressed in a cowboy outfit goin' down in a braze of glory after he's shot.

[zippo]

i picture you a little boy dressed in a cowboy outfit goin' down in a braze of glory after he's shot.

well thank god cuz thats what i was going for

[wavin_goodbye]

which film festival are you attending?

[Documad]

The Downfall comment reminded me of another movie that's completely different, but it's German, related to Hitler, and it surprised me at a foreign film festival. Schtonk! (1992) -- it's a comedy based on the true story of that guy for forged the Hitler Diaries. It was hilarious.

[zippo]

Duck Season (Temporada de Patos)- directed by Fernando Eimbcke

I enjoyed this Mexican movie. Just like i would have enjoyed going out for a few drinks or going to a party with some friends, and i think that was sort of the point. Two kids, home alone, with 2 characters that coincidentally stay with them throughout the whole day and the stupid shit they do.

but not stupid as in bad, but stupid as in the stupid shit we all do when were bored and just hang around and the fascinating results that can come from that simplicity. they bake a cake 3 times cuz it comes out wrong, the pizza delivery comes late so they fight to not pay him, the simple conversations, the simple answers, the empty silence that hides nothing in it other than a pause and the comedy that all that can hold...actually, its about underlining the comedy in the apparently simple things in our lives... some parts and scenes could have seemed a bit too fabricated and unlogical, but the movie has some definite potential as a whole.

the acting...soso. nothing to look at here.

6.5/10

[zippo]

which film festival are you attending?

Im in South America, its an international film festival thats held every year and has films from South and North America, Europe and Asia...basically anywhere actually. its fucking great. :)

[zippo]

Three Two Times (Tres veces dos)- directed by Pavel Giroud, Lester Hamlet, and Esteban Garcia Insausti

This is a very bad Cuban movie. Dont watch it. its divided into 3 seperate stories set in Cuba all basically about love. but theres nothing new or interesting or captivating or different about it. it doesnt take advantage of creativity. you sit there, you have a blank white piece of paper and all you do is draw a sun on the top left, the ocean, clouds and a ship.

1/10

[HEIRESS]

vera drake made me cry like a little bitch

I dont know if its because i just needed a good cry and it gave me a good reason but goddamnsss

and I enjoyed house of flying daggers because it was sexxay

[zippo]

vera drake made me cry like a little bitch

I dont know if its because i just needed a good cry and it gave me a good reason but goddamnsss

i usually get easily emotional during strong movies, but Vera Drake didnt get me there. not saying cuz it wasnt good enough, simply that it didnt make me cry. although i did get all teary eyed hehe


and I enjoyed house of flying daggers because it was sexxay

my god, wasnt it?? the male main character is about the best looking asian guy ive ever seen. im sure you saw the picture i posted of him over in the unconventional hotties thread in sureshots. ive discovered asian sexyness with this movie, i sware to the lord!

[zippo]

zippo wants some pork in her fried rice

2/10





...i give this alias 3 days to be discovered. 3 DAYS.

[zippo]

no

that was funny

no

you´re an idiot

[zippo]

omg this is an idiot
i cant believe how from simply reading "no" before an answer i already knew it was you

[zippo]

me too

[zippo]

ok but come here and suck my balls, penis wrinkle

[TAL]

idiot
People are still gonna call you Turd.

[zippo]

West Beyrouth directed by Ziad Doueiri

Lebanese film about the violence of living in Beyrouth during the mid 70´s due to the religious wars. I was discussing this with my friend and we both got to the same conclusion that we were attracted to this film mainly because of the huge differences it presented culturally and the fascination this always provokes. Very strongly culturally marked characters like the two boys, especially the short one, made it more like i was observing than just simply watching them...like the way they said things to each other, the way their "personal space" is smaller (hugging, touching, staring into eyes for a longer time,etc), and well, things like the food, clothes, entertainment. So, from the beggining you already have something that youre gonna be drawn into about this movie (unless youre from there ofcourse hohohihihehe).

And then, taking in the violence the characters suffer and knowing it was based on reality, theres no going wrong there, this movie was promisinng from the beggining. I hate how sometimes, during some movies that reflect a troubled reality, right when it ends and the lights from the theater start coming on, theres a big silence cuz you feel almost guilty about having been transported into this tragic reality that exists, and then, in the time it takes for the lights to come on and off, you end or quickly terminate you "dedication" to that reality by standing up and leaving the theater. It feels almost as if there should be a 20 minute mourning period after these types of films where we just sit there and think or talk about it. and i know, we can keep talking about after the film in a cafe or bar, but its not the same thing there, cuz youve already left the theater and you go to the bathroom and you ask someone what time it is and theres just too much noise involved and all that fucks the atmosphere up. films like these seem like too serious of a subject to just flick on and off like a lightswitch with.

and another thing i enjoyed about it was the inexperience a lebanese film would undoubtedly have, that we can see through the simplicity of some of the conversations,the honest and careless acting, the clothes,etc. and i loved that inexperience cuz it made the movie so much richer and modest, something we dont get too often on this side of the fence.

7/10

[zippo]

Wonderland directed by James Cox

Well, the first thing that comes to mind after watching this movie is the "cool directing". I dont know, I think this should be a term used for alot of young directors style. you cant do the "cool directing" without "cool characters" a la James Dean Rebel without a Cause, holding cigarette like a joint, eye squinching, both elbows resting on wide opened legs, and then the "cool music" that goes along with the cool characters, which is usually electronic based uptempo songs with no words or old 60/70s artists that give it a cool vintage-y feel. and then we have the "cool effects" like especially the skipping the frames in between an action so it looks done real fast, or the always promising slow motion.
and something i loved about it is the experimenting with edition, like things like after they robbed the house and were counting everything the way the amounts showed up in the bottom of the screen like a cashier, mixing edition like that thats usually reserved for tv news shows or Pulp Fiction. anyone know of a director that includes that alot in his/her movies, id really like to watch them if so. i dont know why theres not much experimenting with that type of visual aid.

as for the acting, Val Kilmer, the girl, and the whole Eddie Nash crew were great, but Kilmers friends...especially "David Lind" sort of sucked.
Lind was way too godam stereotypically set up, and one thing i didnt understand: when Lind was telling the 2 cops the whole story, he started out calm, then sometimes laughed while telling some parts, and then at the end was pissed when he got to the part of Holmes tricking him. But the thing is, the only emotion Lind shuold have had was the last one, anger, because otherwise, its like his emotions are fabricated to go along with the movie, to go along with what, us, the spectators are seeing, dont you think? Why would he go from calmness, to laughing at some parts, to getting excited over other parts, when its the movie that has to show those feelings not him? hes pissed, the guys pissed cuz he got fucked over, he wuoldnt go through all those feelings at that moment,its fake,i dont know, i think they fucked up on that one.
I forgot another part, the "cool phrases", like the grab big gun like the man that you are and simultaneously let out a "lets do this" type phrase to give an example. This last one, i found,hurt the movie more than it helped it, it just made it stereotypical at some parts. i dont know, maybe if i were to rob a house id find myself saying "cmon, lets go rob these mutherfuckers" but,hey, i would still feel unoriginal.

i love "cool directing", that is if its done right and comes together with a decent story, like Wonderland, Snatch, Lock Stock, every Tarantino movie and isnt done a la empty and pathetic hollywood style like Mr.and Mrs. Smith and company.

8/10

[CrankItUp!]

People are still gonna call you Turd.
How the fuck did you change your user name ? I thought that shit stuck with each person on here forever ?

[zippo]

Over my Lips (Sur mes lèvres) directed by Jacques Audiard

This french movie is not what you expect. You know how when you see the title for a movie or when you think theres so many songs done and how can there exist a different combination of exceptional musical notes after so many centuries of music? like you think its all been done, or when you go see the movie, you have a possibility of expectations of what it could be about but those go on until a limit, and then you see it, and think "well ofcourse, this could have happened but it was beyond my boundary of possibilities!", as for other times you watch a movie and its exceptional but its about a murderer, or a love affaire,or a friendship,etc, all things that are within your boundaries of possibilities of what you can expect from a movie. for the simplistic and boring: i mean its original.

The strong point in this film is its story. The way that it makes us look to the left and then to the right with our eyes wide open while internally confessing "maybe i would have done the same thing". as the girl that is. getting tired of working at a place where you dont get recognition and when an ex-convict comes as your personal helper you use his capacities to lightly get back at some people that is. its believable is why its so good. its possible. and it erases the line between fiction and reality that way which makes the film so much more attractive.

almost no music. i loved this. added to the realness. it demonstrated how we dont need music when the scene is built appropriately. Silence scared the shit out of me and kicked ass this time.

and the acting...well, when youre talking about most european films, the acting is never really a concern is it, they know how to choose them, no problem there as usual.

8.5/10