RealD and HNA Group Agree to Install 3D Technology on 500 Cinema Screens Across China

Congratulations HNA Group and RealD! China is indeed ramping up with 3D!!

BEIJING & LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- RealD Inc., a leading global licensor of 3D technologies, and leading diversified services and integrated operations company, HNA Group, announced today an agreement to install RealD 3D technology on up to 500 cinema screens across HNA's newly formed cinema circuit, HNA Vigor Film Investment. Installations of RealD 3D technology have already begun.

"Going to a 3D movie has become a very popular form of entertainment in China. To cope with the increasing demand, Vigor plans to install RealD 3D on 500 screens in the next five years," said Guo Wei Chen, General Manager of HNA Group. "Brightness is an important factor in ensuring a good cinema viewing experience and RealD delivers crisp, life-like 3D images with its cutting edge technology."

"HNA's entry into the cinema market is an exciting development for China and one RealD is honored to be a part of," said Edman Chan, RealD's General Manager of Greater China, Southeast Asia and Korea for Cinema. "Together, we will create the lifelike and immersive visual experience for the viewing audience that has become synonymous with RealD 3D." 

RealD 3D is currently available on approximately 650 cinema screens in China with future commitments for approximately 1,250 additional installations for a total of approximately 1,900 screens in the territory.

Globally, RealD is the world's most widely used 3D cinema technology with approximately 20,200 screens equipped with RealD 3D (as of March 23, 2012) by approximately 900 exhibitors in 68 countries around the world.


About RealD Inc.

RealD is a leading global licensor of 3D technologies. RealD's extensive intellectual property portfolio is used in applications that enable a premium 3D viewing experience in the theater, the home and elsewhere. RealD licenses its RealD Cinema Systems to motion picture exhibitors that show 3D motion pictures and alternative 3D content. RealD also provides its RealD Display, active and passive eyewear, and RealD Format technologies to consumer electronics manufacturers and content producers and distributors to enable the delivery and viewing of 3D content. RealD's cutting-edge 3D technologies have been used for applications such as piloting the Mars Rover.

RealD was founded in 2003 and has offices in Beverly Hills, California; Boulder, Colorado; London, United Kingdom; Shanghai, China; Hong Kong; and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit our website at www.reald.com .

About HNA Vigor Film Investment (Beijing) Co., Ltd.,

HNA Vigor Film Investment (Beijing) Co., Ltd., situated beside the well-known Beijing 798 Art Zone, as a key subsidiary of HNA Xinahua Culture Holding Group Co.,Ltd., owned by HNA Group (one of China's Top 500 enterprises), exclusively enjoys the unique artistic and cultural atmosphere and possesses an innovative business philosophy and strong business developing capability. Being an excellent integrated producer focusing on content creation, creative design and in-flight media, Vigor is determined to be, through its business of film & TV investment and cinema building, the best integrator in China's film & TV industry chain and the leader in developing culture, relying on HNA Group's superiority over domestic aviation, airports, hotels, clubs, tourism, financial and securities, real estates and freight. By adhering to the innovation of pattern and technology, and the combination of industry and financing, Vigor is dedicated to achieving HNA Group's culture ideal and spiritual pursuit of being a world-class enterprise and world-class brand.

Cautionary note on forward-looking statements

This press release includes forward-looking information and statements, including but not limited to: statements concerning the anticipated rollout of RealD 3D technology across the HNA Group circuit and the growth of the 3D cinema industry in China. These statements are based on RealD's current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside RealD's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. RealD's annual and quarterly reports include a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may cause that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

RealD undertakes no obligation to update publicly the information contained in this press release, or any forward-looking statements, to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

INDEPENDENCE DAY Being Theatrically Re-released In 3D Next Summer! And More News From Fox...

Very cool information released from Fox today that affects us in many ways! First of all the big news is that Roland Emmerich's INDEPENDENCE DAY will be re-released in 3D on July 3, 2013. Despite some overly patriotic scenes, I simply loved the movie. Heck any movie with Jeff Goldblum in I love, but throw in some Will Smith and you've got a blockbuster. 

There has been rumors for years about a potential sequel to the alien invasion movie (oops spoilers!) and with this conversion investment it seems that Fox is getting serious about the property once again. Will we see another installment eventually? Perhaps we'll know more by the time next summer rolls around.

I'm going to give you the official press release next and you can see how these announcements could affect 3D in a big way. Conceivably, 7 out of the 9 movies talked about could be in 3D! Read on...

Here's the PR (emphasis is mine):

On the heels of the $344 million worldwide success of TITANIC 3D, the studio and director Roland Emmerich, in conjunction with Stereo 3D, which did the work on TITANIC, will produce a top quality 3D version of the iconic INDEPENDENCE DAY. ID43D will be released worldwide on July 3, 2013.

The studio also staked its 2014 summer with three giant tentpoles. First up, Fox, together with Disney and Dreamworks, has shifted the release of Steven Spielberg’s epic ROBOPOCALYPSE to go worldwide on April 25, 2014, the same weekend that “Avengers” was released internationally this year. Disney distributes domestically. (ID43D now occupies its former release date.)

Then on Memorial Day (May 23, 2014), Fox unleashes DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES worldwide, the sequel to the $483 million grossing RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Rupert Wyatt, who helmed the 2011 smash, returns to direct. The returning producers are Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.

And on July 18, 2014, Fox releases worldwide the third of its summer tentpoles, the currently untitled X-MEN, to be directed by Matthew Vaughn.

Fox also announced its Christmas 2013 line-up, with THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, starring Ben Stiller and Kristin Wiig, and directed by Ben Stiller, set for Christmas Day. Samuel Goldwyn, John Goldwyn, Stuart Cornfeld and Ben Stiller produce the film.

Also for Christmas, the studio will shift WALKING WITH DINOSAURS from October 11 to December 20, 2013. The film is based on the massively successful TV series and live show, which has grossed more than $250 million in box office worldwide.

Other 2013 dates include the following: PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS, based on Rick Riordan’s publishing phenomenon, goes out August 16, 2013, moving from March 15. And Fox earlier announced that Beyoncé Knowles would headline the voice cast of EPIC, in theaters May 24, 2013, from the makers of “Ice Age” and “Rio.” The film was previously known as “Leafmen.” Also joining the cast are Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Knoxville, Aziz Ansari, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler, Blake Anderson and Judah Friedlander.

Lastly, an as-yet-untitled comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, directed by Paul Feig (BRIDESMAIDS) will land in theaters April 5, 2013.

So what do you think? With THE AVENGERS slaughter of the box office in tandem with the pending release of PROMETHEUS why would Fox not want to augment their films with some glorious 3D? Heck all of them could go 3D, but comedy has not fully embraced it yet.

Indeed, I'm looking for a trailblazing, cutting edge comedic director to step up and deliver the goods! I thought Todd Phillips was the man after I asked him about THE HANGOVER 2 conceivably going 3D, but he let me down without further consulting me! :-)

STILL Not Convinced? Check Out These FOUR New Clips From PROMETHEUS!! **SPOILERS**

Four more movie clips for you to enjoy (or not for you spoiler phobic readers!) of Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS. The clips are entitled: "Don't touch Anything", "Can't Let It Leave", "Before The Adventure" and "We Made You Because We Could".

I've heard through the grapevine that PROMETHEUS' 3D is done EXTREMELY well. As it should be with Ridley Scott, Red Epics and 3ality Technica working together to deliver the goods. So I can't wait for that.

I wasn't invited to the London premiere as some of you have mentioned, but I promise that we're working on something special with Fox and hopefully it comes to fruition. Can't say what yet, but I'll be consoled if it does!

So check out these clips if you dare! **SPOILERS!!** YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Hua wei mei (Bad Romance)

Film starts so promising that can't deny I thought I was watching a French film but after a few minutes style becomes repetitive and annoying, so much that definitively becomes pretentious, too arty and pretentious. Then editing is atrocious.

Film tells three stories, but you can tell that director real interest is the gay interest story as is about the only one that is more developed, but don't expect much development as director decided that only his images will tell the story, so dialogue is down to minimum, with silences that in this movie are absolutely unnecessary as you would have preferred to see "something" happening more coherently. Maybe if he had told one story first, then the next and last, the last one film would have made more sense; but in the end I think that director should have concentrated only in the gay story and film perhaps would have been more entertaining at least to those that like the genre.

Other stories deal with a young mother that meets a young man and last -really shorter- has been promoted as a trio, but actually is about a girl that likes another girl and a man that comes between them. But as movie name tells all stories end bad and unfortunately film is quite bad from any point of view you want to comment it.

François Chang's movie shows a director that wants to fusion French and Chinese cinema, as there are some references to French movies and style also recalls some Chinese movies, but in the end he is not successful in what could been a very interesting fusion. To get an idea of how good this movie could have been just check the trailer, but don't forget that what trailer promises is not delivered by movie.

Can't recommend film but I know that some of my loyal readers enjoy gay interest movies and this film surely will please them as sex scene -when finally comes- is long and hot.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @MOC

IRON MAN 3 Update: Ben Kingsley Is The Mandarin? Guy Pierce Is Aldrich Killian? *AND* First Set Photos!!

IRON MAN 3 Set Location At Wilmington International Airport

Update on Shane Black's IRON MAN 3 now shooting in Wilmington, NC! Our friends over at LatinoReview got the goods on a potential casting scoop that sees Ben Kingsley suiting up as The Mandarin but not as originally suspected. He won't be the main antagonist but merely a distraction and partner to the real villain that Tony Stark must overcome, Guy Pierce's Aldrich Killian. Killian is a scientist who uncovers something called the Extremis Virus (potentially nanobot technology) which he then uses to create an "Extremis army" of superpowered evildoers.

Robert Downey Jr. On IRON MAN 3 Set

That being said, there is another movie site claiming that The Mandarin is the main villain. For a movie that only cameos The Mandarin there is a lot of action going on surrounding his character apparently. What sort of action? Well this came from CBM: "Those that did get a glimpse inside [the Cape Fear Club] reported seeing extras dressed in military uniforms and suits. The extras in suits were described as looking like Secret Service men." The site also claims that a source "involved with the production" reassured them that The Mandarin is "definitely" the villain. He said Mandarin had a set of twins that did most of his dirty work for him. Another source who had visited EUE/Screen Gems Studios told us that the sets they were building included Chinese storefronts."

And it's known that the next location for the IRON MAN production is China. 

So I think it's safe to say that The Mandarin is definitely in IRON MAN 3 but to what extent has not been brought to light. With two different versions of what is going on with the movie I can only go by past performance with regard to sources and that means LatinoReview gets the nod. A limited exposure to The Mandarin, perhaps setting him up for another Marvel universe movie - though I can't see that happening with THE AVENGERS 2 as Thanos is set to reign.

IRON MAN 3 Set, Wilmington, NC

The closest thing we have to a storyline thus far came from producer Kevin Feige when he disclosed:
"So Iron Man 3 has been structured specifically to be the antidote to The Avengers... Circumstances in the story separate Tony from having access to anything. We wanted to take Tony back to, metaphorically speaking, the cave from Iron Man, the first half of Iron Man, when he's cut off from the world and needs just focus on his intellects to get himself out of his situation. So he's not calling Thor, he's not calling Captain America, he can't press a special button to have the helicarrier come rescue him, so I think that'll be a nice complement to the team up of Avengers." 

I've selected a few shots from the Wilmington, NC sets for you to look at, but feel free to browse all of them right here.

Click here for all of our IRON MAN 3 coverage! IM3 opens on May 3, 2013. Still no official word on whether IM3 will be the first of the franchise and the fourth Marvel movie to be converted to 3D, but it's a safe wager at this point.

Des Filles en Noir

In real life maybe there is nothing more disturbing than talking about suicide but I find that most movies that touch the theme have not really shown how disturbing it is as opt to show the horror when seeing the act being committed. In my opinion this movie also doesn't show how disturbing could be as director chose to show us motives that make you think about it, which indeed here are interesting as portraits something that nowadays is more relevant than ever before

The film starts when Noémie commits suicide, at least she tries as she is saved. Then we meet Priscilla and we come to realize how close Noemi and Priscilla are, they love each other intensively, but they are not in-love with each other. Theirs is a friendship relationship as intense as friendship could be, tied with a strong common bond, their disillusionment about what their future has in store for them and their total disrespect to what they are living.

They do not respect school as, why study if after graduation comes unemployment or being exploited by an exploiter? They don't respect love as they, besides the love they feel for each other, see no love around them as those who claim to love and/or care about them have taken everything from them. They don't respect sex as around them is used as an end that once achieved, there is not much left; which I believe is the reason why there is no sexual tension between them. Already said too much, but wanted to try to give an idea of what I believe is behind these two characters and the story that I don't think stays in giving a sociological point-of-view as goes deeper into a the infamous philosophical question: what is the purpose of life? A philosophical question that here is not place to philosophize but to concretely think about what many youths in the world have as a future.

Suicide is present here all over but as you perhaps conclude, I don't believe that is what this movie really is about.

Film name comes because both girls dress in black, which many think is because they're goth. Not me. To me they don't look or behave like goths and the only thing they could have in common with goth subculture is that they always dress in black but nothing else. I'm not alone thinking this as director clearly states it when he says:

... elles ne font pas partie d'une idéologie gothique, trop réductrice pour les définir avec justesse ... Si elles avaient été « gothiques », elles auraient effectivement appartenu à un groupe défini. Je tenais à ce qu'elles n'aient aucune appartenance. Ce sont des atomes libres, et c’est peut-être aussi cette liberté-là, immense, trop grande, qui les fait souffrir.

So in a way I find that the use of black costumes is an extension of the darkish color palette that predominates for more than half the movie as when the black dress leaves the screen, film palette also changes. Then transition from one palette into the other is done so beautifully that really eases the terrible scene we are seeing in the screen, when camera slowly retreats to show the beautiful flower colors in the garden.

I'm not familiar with Jean-Paul Civeyrac movies but those who are say that he likes to use symbols in his movies. Even when I read about it I'm not sure what they mean applied to what I saw in this movie, as everything I saw was too clear for me. One so-called symbol is in the scene when Priscilla violently kicks a Lalique chess board; whatever they find symbolic, to me is a clear statement against materialistic things and life.

It is an interesting film with many unsettling images, especially when darkish palette predominates, but I highly appreciate that film doesn't exploit the suicide theme and uses it so effectively to talk about other more interesting subjects.

Absolutely fantastic performance by the two young actresses, Elise Lhomeau and Léa Tissier, especially when their roles are very difficult and director seems to have made them even more difficult. I liked director storytelling style which I believe is also a strong protagonist in story. Film has above standard tech specs that make it a good visual cinematic experience. Civeyrac's movie premiered at 2010 Cannes at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs and "just" took me two years to be able to watch it but wait was worth it.

Not for all audiences as I realize that film can be (or is) very brainy, you have to think beyond what your eyes see in the screen as otherwise you will be seeing only a sequence of quite unpleasant images/scenes with two girls that you will surely will not feel any sympathy at all. So if you don't mind thinking beyond the obvious, then this film is for you and only remind you that this is a very French film consequently be prepare to see it with an open mind.

Last have to comment about something else. This is not a lesbian interest movie or story, but it was hard for me to concentrate into everything that was happening because the most beautiful images of the two characters in the screen, which showed more love and caring than in many lesbian interest movies I have seen lately and perhaps ever. For whatever is worth, I shared my experience.

I strongly recommend this film to some of my loyal readers as definitively is a film that many could enjoy well beyond the obvious storyline. I liked movie a lot more than I imagined but then I had no expectations as this is one film where I knew nothing about story.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

WEEKLY NEWSREEL–3 1/2 TIME-OUTS TUESDAY (VOL. 26)

Good evening Mr. & Mrs. Catholic, and all you other Christians at sea. Those wacky slightly mad scientists have been at it again, which means we’re here with another Newsreel to tell you all about it. As always, the Newsreel is sponsored by the fine folks at Acts of the Apostasy, home of the 3 1/2 Time-Outs Tuesday. And now, off to press.

I

DATELINE: MASSACHUSETTS – War and rumors of war? Global economic ruin? Rampant social unrest? Oh sure, the big brains will get around to solving those problems someday. Maybe. But for now, a group of mechanical engineers and nano-technologists at MIT have been hard at work developing a possible solution to what has surely been one of the most pressing issues of the modern age… how to get ketchup to come out of a bottle quicker. Their patented (and unfortunately named) LiquiGlide Condiment Lubricant appears to ensure that every drop of the sauce of your choice makes it onto your plate rather than sticking to the inside of the bottle. MIT PhD candidate Dave Smith remarks, "It’s funny: Everyone is always like, 'Why bottles? What’s the big deal?' But then you tell them the market for bottles--just the sauces alone is a $17 billion market… and if all those bottles had our coating, we estimate that we could save about one million tons of food from being thrown out every year." So you see, while they haven’t quite solved the problem of world peace yet, the folks at MIT at least seem to still be following the principle stated in the Catechism that “science and technology are precious resources when placed at the service of man and promote his integral development for the benefit of all.”

II

DATELINE: GOTHENBURG – While the idea of condiment lubricant may sound unappealing, dietary supplements made from lizard spit sounds downright revolting. But that hasn’t stopped researchers at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg from developing a new drug made from the saliva of Gila monsters. It turns out that saurian drool, or at least the naturally occurring exendin-4 found in it, is pretty effective in reducing the craving for food, and not just because the idea of putting it in your mouth is enough to turn your stomach. “In a study with rats published in the Journal of Neuroscience, Assistant Professor Karolina Skibicka and her colleagues show that exendin-4 effectively reduces the cravings for food… ‘The implications of the findings are significant’ states Suzanne Dickson, Professor of Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy: ‘Most dieting fails because we are obsessed with the desire to eat, especially tempting foods like sweets. As exendin-4 suppresses the cravings for food, it can help obese people to take control of their weight,’ suggests Professor Dickson. Research on exendin-4 also gives hope for new ways to treat diseases related to eating disorders, for example, compulsive overeating.” It’s for those kinds of results that the Catechism reminds us that (as we’ve previously discussed in more absurd detail) “medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.” Now, as to how reasonable it was for someone to dream up the idea of putting lizard spit in their mouths in the first place, we’ll just leave that to you to decide.

III

DATELINE: BRUSSELS – Alas, not all scientists are as creative in their thinking as the folks from Gothemburg. In this week’s installment of science telling us stuff we already knew for ages, “a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that both men and women see images of sexy women's bodies as objects… We see sexualized women every day on billboards, buildings, and the sides of buses and this study suggests that we think of these images as if they were objects, not people. ‘What is motivating this study is to understand to what extent people are perceiving these as human or not,’ [Philippe] Bernard says. The next step, he says, is to study how seeing all these images influences how people treat real women.” Really, that’s the next step? Well, let’s save some them time and just quote the Catechism where it states that “it does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others.” There, we just saved the government of Belgium hundreds of thousands in euros in grant money. You’re welcome.

1/2

For those of you who might have read some of the above items and felt the urge to exclaim WTF! but don’t feel comfortable indulging in the implied profanity, have you ever considered the time honored alternative of… Wha…?

And with that we sign off another Newsreel, as is our custom, with the immortal words of the great Les Nessman. Good evening, and may the good news be yours.

Impardonnables (Unforgivable)

Not easy to start to talk about this André Téchiné movie as you can tell is a Téchiné movie but story has some elements that suggest that the director is not his young self anymore. As is hard, let me share my experience while watching.

Started watching film understanding everything until I reached the moment when I said, what is this? Am I missing something? What is really going on? Honestly had no idea. So I relaxed continue watching but I was feeling a strong unsettling feeling. Suddenly I forgot about the unsettling feeling and for a minute got distracted as I noticed movie had grabbed me inside the story and I was enjoying the ride. But unfortunately there were moments when story released me enough to think what was going to come next and surprise, surprise I guessed right.

There are not many French movies that I can guess what comes next or that allow me to start thinking, much less a Téchiné film, and me guessing a "complex" plot next move in an auteur film is just unforgivable. Perhaps movie name comes to be because it was going to make me feel unforgiveness as I couldn't find anything else remotely unforgivable.

As always in Téchiné's films there is a relatively complex story with many little stories about the many characters that populate film; stories that eventually merge at one point and to my surprise in this movie that has a clear beginning and clear end, the end is happy. So story is complex due to many character stories; but then not really, perhaps is more confusing as there are some (too many) scenes that give information that doesn't add to the story of any of the characters.

Film tells the story of Francis (André Dussollier) a writer that can't write when he is in love and he falls in love at first sight when he meets Judith (Carole Bouquet), an ex-model, and now the real estate agent he visits when he arrives in Venice and is looking for a small apartment to rent. Judith shows him a house in rural Sant'Erasmo, he says he takes the large house only if she comes to live with him. Judith nose bleeds. Eighteen months later they are married and he has writer's block so he roams the streets and canals of Venice in search of inspiration while Judith continues to work. Everything is bliss until new characters with new stories start to appear and story unfolds in many directions that constantly crisscross and won't meet until almost the end. We have Ana Maria, Judith ex and a private investigator, plus Jérémie her son that is in prison; Alice, Francis daughter, an actress that comes for a visit and suddenly disappears leaving all her responsibilities behind, including her own daughter. So Francis hires Ana Maria to find Alice and we learn she is having a passionate affair with Alvise, an aristocrat involved in small-time drug dealing. Jérémie is released and Francis hires him to follow Judith as he is jealous, which only allows Jérémie to have a one-time affair with Judith as he's mainly a depressive homosexual.

So what's story really all about? To me is about nothing. Nothing special, just an elaborate tale of the regular life of men, women, old and young, who happen to have not-so-exciting but full of problems lives. In the end, as it happens in life, some die, some leave, some endure the problems they got into, some end up happy and some end up badly. Nothing special.

Think that wrote too much about a movie that I know many will not like as even when is great to look at -especially one scene with younger Ana Maria shot in black and white- but that is not easy to follow with the many inconsistencies the story has.

Anyway movie is not for all audiences, not even for those that enjoy European movies, this is only suited for those who love Téchiné no matter if he seems to be losing his impressive storytelling style seen in many of his movies.

After realizing how much I could write about movie I came to realize that I like this movie no matter those unforgivable elements. Movie that was screened at 2011 Cannes Directors' Fortnight.

Enjoy!!

Watch trailer @MOC

EXCLUSIVE: Interview With Corey Turner, 3D Visual Effects Supervisor On Sony's MEN IN BLACK 3

A special treat for you today as I have my recent interview with Corey Turner, 3D Visual Effects Supervisor for MEN IN BLACK 3!

Corey is an accomplished stereographer and while the title may change from project to project he essentially does the same work. He's worked on such mammoth projects as TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON, ALICE IN WONDERLAND and now MIB3. 

He's also had an awesome background in motion and performance capture so he's pretty much done everything I think is cool in technology for Hollywood today!

Below is the timecode breakdown of the 30 minute conversation so you can quickly jump to a key area of interest for you if your under a time crunch. Otherwise I invite you to have a listen to the whole thing as we discuss modern 3D, the advances being made and of course the current box office champ MEN IN BLACK 3.

Interview Timecodes:
0:30 Exciting time for 3D
1:00 On how far 3D conversions have come
2:23 How was he drawn to MIB3
3:10 Why Barry Sonnenfeld chose 3D conversion
5:20 On exactly what his role was on the production
9:54 On how Barry made his job easier
11:52 What shot excited him the most
15:30 How the action was easier to do than the comedic scenes
16:10 Barry doesn't do any panning, which added a challenge for the stereo effect
17:03 Prime Focus was the major 3D conversion house on this production
18:15 On not wanting to be considered a 3D conversion, but a 3D movie
19:15 On rendering native 3D effects shots and adding it to converted 3D
20:20 The major vendors: Prime Focus, Imageworks and Method
21:15 There were 700 VFX shots (1800 shots total)
21:34 On how many seats did Prime Focus use to get the job done (~600)
22:00 On his background in motion and performance capture
24:02 On whether there was mocap on MIB3 or was it all Rick Baker
25:36 Tips for up and coming stereographers
27:00 What's next for him regarding other projects (secretive answer!)

My thanks to Corey for taking the time to speak with me about MIB3 and 3D in general and of course Sony for setting this up for the awesome 3D readers of MarketSaw!

MEN IN BLACK 3 is currently #1 at the box office - if you haven't seen it, get out and get it done! I loved it and the movie effectively puts the finishing touches on an exceptional franchise. The 3D is beyond reproach - wonderfully done, thanks to people like Corey Turner and his team.

THOR 2 Will NOT Feature Thanos But Another Major Villain Plus Loki!

THOR 2!!! Yes. And another major villain! Mads Mikkelson perhaps? I think that's the safe bet as he is confirmed to be joining the production as a villain - and you don't get much better than him really. I am a big fan of his work - you could see his raw talent going as far back as PUSHER. He can say so much with just a look - he doesn't even have to verbalize.

So some questions! What villain will Mikkelson be playing? Will he be teaming up with Loki (Tom Hiddleston) who is definitely in the sequel? Some have been speculating that Mads will be playing The Executioner. Hmmm.

One thing is for sure: Thanos will NOT be worshipping death in this movie. Producer Kevin Feige spoke about the super villain and THOR 2 to Empire: "No, future, future. But there will be a major new villain. A major, major new antagonist..."

I have to agree with Marvel's line of thinking here. Keep the uber villain until THE AVENGERS 2 and keep bringing out the rich library of antagonists from Marvel's vault. And I certainly want these villains to be authentically from Marvel and not newly created villains. Why on earth would you do that? 

So what else did the super producer have to say about THOR 2? Says Feige: "We're going to see the other side of Asgard. It's not all polished and golden in this film. And the events of Avengers will have affected Thor for sure. His relationship with Loki will continue to evolve, and the biggest part is Natalie and Thor returning with Jane Foster."  

Mads Mikkelson in VALHALLA RISING

THOR 2 is looking exceptionally bright with the addition of Mads. Man I love how Marvel casts their movies! Joining Mads will be Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander and Ray Stevenson. 

Marvel will begin shooting the production this summer in London and it is being directed by Alan Taylor (GAME OF THRONES). You can set aside theater time in your calendar for the movie starting on November 15, 2013.

Sources: CBM | Collider | Variety

Hemingway & Gellhorn

I'm afraid this movie was in Cannes mainly to honor Philip Kaufman as can't find another reason to include screening in the Official Selection. This is a TV movie that I can't compare to the other TV movie screened recently in fest, Carlos in the short or longer versions, even when both are biopics' Carlos seems like a masterpiece (which I don't think it is) when you put both movies side by side.

If I take this movie out of the Cannes context then can say that movie is so-so but is nothing similar to Kaufman's style in The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Henry & June or Quills; so if I forget that Kaufman used to do great movies, then yes movie is entertaining with some great moments thanks mainly to Kidman performance and ironically, to the most not-believable story that benefits not one historic figure, much less Gellhorn. Don't think story is a Gellhorn bio and obviously is not Hemingway bio, so what is the story all about? A fictionalized slice of life telling about the times when Gellhorn and Hemingway were married? A romanticized vision of two strong-head characters? I have no idea as nothing I try to imagine fits to what I saw in this movie, that perhaps would have been better as the story of two fictional characters.

Being positive the story told is entertaining -but confusing if you relate it to reality- and Kidman has some good moments. Then I truly believe that the main male role was a miscast in whatever sense you want to imagine the character (Hemingway or anyone else) as Clive Owen performance seemed like a caricature of man that at first is charming to after become hideous. Is like there would be two parts to this movie, one when they meet up to when they get married, the other starts the minute they marry. The male character changes the film but the female character remains the same, which is kind of unfair as even when Hemingway was no saint, Gellhorn wasn't neither, so the "second act or movie part" should had been with both characters transforming more similar to reality.

Anyway know that many are not familiar with the story of the real characters and if you are one of them probably film story will seem dull and predictable, quite melodramatic and at many times worth of the Lifetime channel more than HBO. Then as a film, has its good moments with use of old footage but quality is uneven as I can clearly tell when actors were over-imposed of footage.

The story really killed the movie for me, so it's a terrible way to start my Cannes viewing experience. Know that I can only recommend this film to those that enjoy watching more Lifetime than HBO movies and to those that have to watch everything (good or bad) with Nicole Kidman, like me. I you also are like me, then be at ease as Kidman is on the good side of performing in this film.

All I wrote feels like me rambling, which is exactly a faithful portrait of how I feel the story is told in movie.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @MOC

Must Watch: New Overseas Trailer For THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: New Scenes!

Hey guys, if you have already seen the trailers that exist already, seeing this one won't spoil too much more for you. A bit more humor and a bit more Connors. Personally, I recommend watching it if only to see a tiny bit more of the humor that should be present in any Spider-man film.

Here's the storyline:
One of the world’s most popular characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man. Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the film in association with Marvel Entertainment for Columbia Pictures, which will open in theaters everywhere in 3D on July 3, 2012.

The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN opens on July 3.

PROMETHEUS Setting Box Office Records Already! *AND* Learn About The Awesome Tech Behind The Movie!!

Of course it is going to do well at the box office, you can take that for granted. But just how well will it do? From the first indicators - VERY well. PROMETHEUS has eclipsed AVATAR and HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 in pre-sales at the BFI IMAX theater in London. That means that over 30,000 people have bought advance tickets to the tune of $737,588 from ONE theater.

BFI had booked 18,287 tickets after just one week of sales ($474,687) which set a new high for them in pre-sales, and now the records just keep falling to PROMETHEUS as time rolls along toward its release date.

Here's the storyline for the movie:

Ridley Scott, director of “Alien” and “Blade Runner,” returns to the genre he helped define. With PROMETHEUS, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. 

Can this ONE theater hit $1 million in pre-sales before the release of the movie on June 8th? Sure is nice to think so.

*AND*

PROMETHEUS has over 1400 3D visual effects shots. They used software programs like Autodesk's Maya (3D animation), Pixar's Renderman (ray-traced scenes), Adobe AfterEffects (for well, after effects!) and The Foundry's NUKE (compositing) to name several.

Ten different VFX companies tackled the work, though Moving Picture Company garnered the most. To me, this is very exciting. I have often found various effects houses to have their "brand" all over their work - like in TRANSFORMERS I found ILM to have ample superiority over hard edged robots and buildings while a company like Weta Digital has the finest control over rounded creatures like humans and faces in particular. Combine them and you have one heckuva effects movie. It's exciting to me to see another visual effects house getting the bulk of the work because we may see things we've never seen before! Not that these guys haven't been around for awhile - they have. They've worked and are working on movies like CLASH OF THE TITANS, SKYFALL, SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL, WORLD WAR Z, 47 RONIN, LIFE OF PI, etc. But let's face it, they were chosen as the led effects shops over ILM and Weta and it should look slightly different and exciting. I saw things in TITANS for example that blew my mind! Can't wait!!

Ridley Scott used Red Epic cameras on 3ality Technica Atom rigs. He had four mounted rigs (with the same configurations) and one steadicam for the bulk of the shoot. The consistent configurations of the mounted rigs eased editing a great deal.

The cameras were all connected to 3ality's Stereo Image Processors (SIPs) for the recording of all the data bursting forth from those VERY high resolution cameras. The SIPs also helped maintain speedy transitions when lens needed to be changed or cameras realigned. The technology goes further by offering advice on the fly to the filmmakers on convergence (creating a single image from two different camera image angles converged on the same point in space), interaxial (the distance between the two camera's lenses - like our eyes) settings and any alerts.

These settings are EXTREMELY important for a comfortable viewing experience. The settings must be correct during transitions or it will be quite jarring to the audience. Those SIPs track these configurations and help eliminate any transition issues.

The PROMETHEUS team actually shot far more resolution than what was necessary for the final 2K product. In fact they shot at 5K and 120 frames per second! They used the extra space surrounding the final viewable product to assist in eliminating edge artifacts (as shown in the image).

The idea and thrust behind the PROMETHEUS technology was to get the 3D workflow as close to 2D and from the sound of this fine report that was accomplished. 3ality Technica's tech allows for the same number of 3D setups in a shooting day as 2D. There is no real excuse now in saying that 3D is slower because you are setting up 2 cameras, not 1. There is no longer an excuse that the 3D cameras and rigs are too big - they aren't now!

The new technology here eliminates these things from the equation and gives time back to the filmmaker to be as creative as they can be and not worry about the optics. PROMETHEUS is set to fully enjoy the reaction from audiences worldwide on what they have accomplished.

I fully endorse the write up that Electronic Design did on this. Check it out.

Sources: THR | ElectronicDesign

65th Festival de Cannes Award Winners

Great ceremony with great awards, some will not be pleased, but I am.  To check winners at official site go here. The Jury gave a post-awards press conference I suggest to watch to learn some reasons why they gave the awards to the honored films. Go here.

Main Competition

Palme d’Or: Amour (Love), Michael Haneke, France, Austria, and Germany

Grand Prix: Reality, Matteo Garrone, Italy and France

Jury Prize: The Angels’ Share, Ken Loach, UK and France

Best Director: Carlos Reygadas for Post Tenebras Lux, Mexico, France, and Netherlands
Best Screenplay: După dealuri (Beyond the Hills), Cristian Mungiu, Romania

Best Actress: Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur in După dealuri (Beyond the Hills), Cristian Mungiu, Romania
Best Actor: Mads Mikkelsen Jagten (The Hunt), Thomas Vinterberg, Denmark

Camera d’Or: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin, USA

Short Films
Palme d’Or: Sessiz-be Deng (Silent), L. Rezan Yeşilbaş, Turkey

Un Certain Regard

Un Certain Regard Prize: Después de Lucía, Michel Franco, Mexico
Special Jury Prize: Le Grand Soir, Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern, France
Special Mention: Djeca (Children), Aida Begić, Bosnia Herzegovina
Un Certain Regard Award for Best Actress (tie): Suzanne Clement in Laurence Anyways, Xavier Dolan, Canada, France and Emilie Dequenne in A Perdre La raison (Loving without Reason), Joachim Lafosse, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland

Quinzaine des Réalisateurs (Directors' Fortnight)

Feature Films
SACD Prize: Camille redouble (Camille Rewinds), Noémie Lvovsky, France
Special Mention: Ernest et Celestine, Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner, France, Belgium and Luxembourg
Arte Cinema Prize: No, Pablo Larraín, USA and Chile
Label Europa Cinemas Prize: El Taaib, Merzak Allouache, Algeria and France

Short Films
Illy Prize: The Curse, Fyzal Boulifa,UK and Morocco

Carrosse d'Or: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Semaine de la Critique (Critic's Week)

Feature Films
Grand Prize: Aquí y Allá, Antonio Méndez Esparza, Spain, USA and Mexico
Visionary Award: Sofia’s Last Ambulance, Ilian Metev, Germany, Croatia and Bulgaria
SACD Prize: Les Voisins de Dieu (God's Neighbors), Meni Yaesh, Israel and France
ACID/CCAS Support: Los Salvajes (The Wild Ones), Alejandro Fadel, Argentina

Grand Rail d'Or: Hors les murs (Beyond the Walls), David Lambert, Belgium, Canada and France

Short Films
Best Short Film: Circle Line, Shin Suwon, South Korea
Special Mention: O Duplo (Doppelgänger), Juliana Rojas, Brazil
Discovery Award: Un Dimanche matin (A Sunday Morning), Damien Manivel, France
Petit Rail d'Or: Ce n’est pas un film de cow-boys (It’s not a Cowboys Movie), Benjamin Parent, France

Cinéfondation

First Prize: ДОРОГА НА Doroga na (The Road To), Taisia Igumentseva,VGIK, Russia
Second Prize: Abigail, Matthew James Reilly, NYU, USA
Third Prize: Los Anfitriones (The Hosts), Miguel Angel Moulet, EICTV, Cuba

The Atelier Arte Prize: In Your Name by Marco van Geffen, Netherlands, Germany and France

Collateral Awards

FIPRESCI Awards
Main Competition: В тумане V Tumane (In the Fog), Sergei Loznitsa, Germany, Netherlands, Belarus, Russia and Latvia
Un Certain Regard: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin, USA
Quinzaine des Réalisateurs: Rengaine (Hold Back), Rachid Djaidani, France

Ecumenical Jury Award: Jagten (The Hunt), Thomas Vinterberg, Denmark
Special Mention: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin, USA

Prix de la Jeunesse: Holy Motors, Leos Carax, France
Prix Regards Jeunes: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin, USA

Prix François Chalais: Les Chevaux de Dieu (God’s Horses), Nabil Ayouch, France, Morocco, Tunisia

Queer Palm
Feature Film: Laurence Anyways, Xavier Dolan, Canada and France
Short Film: Ce n’est pas un film de cow-boys (It’s not a Cowboys Movie), Benjamin Parent, France

Palm Dog: Banjo and Poppy in Sightseers, Ben Wheatley, UK

65th Festival de Cannes Caméra d’Or Winner

2012 Camera d'Or winner is in *BLUE.

---///---
 5/14
The Caméra d’Or prize is awarded to the best First Film presented in the Official Selection (Competition, Out of Competition and Un Certain Regard), in Critics’ Week or Directors’ Fortnight. The Prize will be awarded by the president of the jury, Brazilian Carlos Diegues, at the Closing Ceremony on Sunday 27th May.

As you know I've been indicating in each Cannes post the first films, but this is the complete selection that includes first films in the Cannes Classics and Cinéma de la Plage programs.

These are the 25 films competing for the Camera d'Or.

Official Selection
Antiviral, Brandon Cronenberg, Canada and USA
*Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin, USA
Gimme the Loot, Adam Leon, USA
La Playa, Juan Andrés Arango, Colombia
Me and Me Dad, Katrine Boorman, UK and Ireland
Red Tails, Anthony Hemingway, USA
The Sapphires, Wayne Blair, Australia
Trashed, Candida Brady, UK
Villegas, Gonzalo Tobal, Argentina, Netherlands, and France

Quinzaine des réalisateurs
Alyah, Elie Wajerman, France
돼지의 왕 Dae gi eui wang (aka Dwae-ji-ui wang) (The King of Pigs), Yeun Sang-Ho, South Korea
Infancia Clandestina (Clandestine Childhood), Benjamin Avila, Argentina, Spain and Brazil
La Sirga, William Vega, Colombia, France and Mexico
Rengaine (Hold Back), Rachid Djaidani, France
Room 237, Rodney Ascher, USA
Yek Khanévadéh-e Mohtaram ( A Respectable Family), Massoud Bakhshi, Iran

Semaine de la Critique
Aquí y Allá, Antonio Méndez Esparza, Spain, USA and Mexico
Au galop (In A Rush), Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, France
המשגיחים Les Voisins de Dieu (God's Neighbors), Meni Yaesh, Israel and France
Hors les murs (Beyond the Walls), David Lambert, Belgium, Canada and France
Peddlers, Vasan Bala, India
Los Salvajes (The Wild Ones), Alejandro Fadel, Argentina
Sofia’s Last Ambulance, Ilian Metev, Germany, Croatia and Bulgaria
Broken, Rufus Norris, UK
Augustine, Alice Winocour, France

Caméra d’or Jury
President: Carlos Diegues, director, Brazil
Gloria Satta, journalist, Italy
Rémy Chevrin, representing the French Association of Film Cinematographers, France
Hervé Icovic, on behalf of the Federation of Cinema, Audiovisual and Multimedia Industries, France
Michel Andrieu, representing the Society of Film Directors, France
Francis Gavelle, the French Union of Film Critics, France

To check list and info about each film go here.  and to read info about each jury member go here.

Final Day at 2012 Cannes

Suddenly I was here with not much to do so this is my real last post that will be more in the non-serious side of the fest.

Is too early to publish, so probably will come back with more info, later.

The Jury

While all the rumors populate the net, the jury works and thanks to Gilles Jacob -who has been very Twitter active today- here are some nice photos from the room in the villa.





Rumors

The kind of rumors I like as is the best thermometer to speculate more accurately about possible winners.

From not reliable sources
Has been "confirmed" (not really) that Marion was called to come back from NY; then don't forget that Nicole Kidman hasn't left Cannes... Any of those two winning will be fine for me.
Audiard was ALSO called back... Audiard was at last night event at Magic Cannes
Moretti does not like Haneke, Mungiu or Salles, thus winner will be bizarre

Thomas Vinterberg and Mads Mikkelsen have been called back...

From really reliable sources
In Cannes, Mungiu, Carax... Audiard, Cotillard ... Getting interesting...

Me talking
Would be nice if Mungiu gets a second Palme? If Audiard gets his first Palme? If FINALLY Leos Carax get a Cannes award, la Palme? If Cotillard gets her first Cannes award? Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Yesterday I was asked who could get the Best Actor award besides Trintignant? My first guess is Mads Mikkelsen, second Matthias Schoenaerts. An American? Hmm maybe Matthew McConaughey in Mud. But there are no rumors yet about who is in Cannes. The one that hasn't leave Cannes is McConaughey. Writing this and first gossip appears, yes Mads has been my expected winner since film was screened at fest. Then seems Pattinson hasn't leave Cannes too, if he wins I'll be in total shock!

Irreverent

Very Acid joke (free translation): Cannes rumor: only the Best Actress award will be given to a female. (took me 2 readings to really get it, ha)

Many, including Gilles Jacob (or who manages his account) have been saying: Habemus Palmam? (he, he)

Testing Links with Live info...

WATCH LIVE HERE.

Day 11 at 2012 Cannes

For the last day with my daily fest coverage we have two films that are Must Be Seen for me for quite different reasons. Tomorrow is all about the awards. Actually today was also about the many awards that have been already announced. Cheers to the winners!

Main Competition

Mud by Jeff Nichol's

Jeff Nichols is the youngest filmmaker in competition for the Palme d'Or this year and hours ago in Los Angeles, he was finishing his film; obviously is one of the reasons why film is screened so late in the fest, as the great Take Shelter director will screen one of the most-awaited films in the festival. I wonder if what Cannes will see is the final cut as most likely the released film could be different, which is nothing new in the fest history and only gives more possibilities that DVD could have two cuts.

Anyway I should stop my wandering mind and focus on film. From all the American films in competition this is the one that calls more my attention and the one that in my opinion has more possibilities to be honored. If you wish to read my spontaneous expectations before fest began go here.

Photocall has a large cast/crew including Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon. I believe is the first time at Cannes for Oscar-winner Witherspoon, which makes me think that not often you see in Cannes Oscar winners, well American Oscar-winner actors. Nothing special in video to watch only for entertainment purposes.

TVFestival de Cannes has a very nice looking group with director and his main actors. Oops ... some story spoilers trying not to listen. Lots of love in film, hmm plus Mark Twain inspiration... see, spoilers. I can confirm that I believe Matthew talks so monotonously that you stop listening to him, noticed since previous appearance. Kids are cute. The Terrence Malick connection... nothing relevant. The river is a character but also influences style. Video has major story spoilers so watch if you don't mind them. I do but kept on watching.

Press conference has three producers plus actors and director. Oh! true, Sam Shepard is in film, also Michael Shannon, both are not here. Again more major story spoilers that I'm not paying attention, especially when director tells what he hopes audiences will get from film. So now I have in my mind one word I didn't had before: Love, trying not form expectations from word. Again, kids are very cute. The Malick connection again... director starts with the second question not-Malick related... Paul Newman connection seems to be tighter ... indeed answer seems honest and not really established relation. Reese talks about the "home" feeling in movie... the real mccoy unlike Kidman... hmm... then I ask what's the value of acting? of greatly performing a character far away from her real-self? ... my answer: an award-deserving performance by a great actress. Back to video. Again, the river as a character. Nichols gives more info that I'm willing to hear... tech info. Oh! more spoilers... nature, practical answer is great no spoilers but then visual spoilers... I'm not listening. The way you make a movie defines the kind of movie you make (hope to find exact quote)... interesting, actually very interesting and thought-provoking comment, I'm lost in my own thoughts. The way you do something defines the kind of something you do, that's me talking. Mark Twain connection again... Suggest you watch video that I found to be very interesting, beyond what is said about they talk about movie.

As was widely said, this year selection includes five American very different films but all have something in common, stories happen in the south. Not sure what this means, but I think if one film seems to have many south references is Mud. Which could be interesting, especially after thinking hard the only movie that comes to my mind with a very interesting southern set story is a so-so movie, The Prince of Tides.

Not much to add about a film that I'm really looking forward to watch. Yes I do believe that Nichols will have a long relationship with Cannes and have no idea if this film will collect honors tomorrow.

By now I truly believe critics' are tired so no surprise to find tweets that travel the like scale from one end to the other. I'm avoiding reading them as I am more interested in tonight audience reaction.

Do-Nui Mat (The Taste of Money) by Im Sang-Soo

I know many people will wonder why this film is in Cannes, surely they forgot that his previous film The Housemaid was also in competition at 2010 Cannes. If you wish to learn more about my spontaneous reactions to film go here.

Yes, film is Must Be Seen for me because I LOVE The Housemaid and no matter what anyone says, I have to visit again director's vision of Korean upper classes, a vision that I know will be told in an very-close to perfection visual style, just like in his previous movie. Story may be melodrama/melodramatic but is dressed with spectacular performances, sets, framing, editing and other tech specs, that who cares if melodrama predominates as you will be fascinated with everything around it. I don't like melodramas on TV or the big screen, but if they were "dressed" like this movie, then probably would have seen and enjoyed the genre more.

Quotes from press conference

Im Sang-soo on the relation between The Taste of Money and The Housemaid
"Yes, I suppose there are a few nods to my previous film. But The Housemaid was a remake and I felt quite constrained when I was making it. The Taste of Money is more in line with my way of seeing things."

My internet connection has problems. Called the service provider and confirmed that there are problems with their servers, felt relief that is not my machine. Will not be able to watch movie videos today, so will do it when they fix their problems or tomorrow.

Nevertheless I don't need to know more about this movie, but won't skip the fun-to-do exercise that sometimes becomes a great learning experience.

Un Certain Regard

Today awards ceremony. Winners have been announced see post.  A photo with the award winners.



Out of Competition

Festival closing film: Thérèse Desqueyroux, Claude Miller, France

I know film will be screened tomorrow but I'm including my comments and expectations today as there is not much going on today at Cannes.

I've seen almost all films by Claude Miller and of course will not skip his final film that absolutely is Must Be Seen for me. But there is one little problem, for not-clear reasons, I don't really enjoy Audrey Tautou performances. This is the synopsis.

In the Landes region of France, near Bordeaux, marriages are arranged to merge land parcels and unite neighboring families. Thus, young Thérèse Larroque becomes Mrs. Desqueyroux. But her avant-garde ideas clash with local conventions. In order to break free from the fate imposed upon her and live a full life, she will resort to tragically extreme measures.

A period film that surely will have great costumes and cinematography -as we can see both in the few clips available- in a tragic drama of a woman-centered story is more than I can wish for. If it wasn't for the "little problem" film expectations will be for an almost perfect French classical drama.

Midnight Screening

Maniac by Franck Khalfoun

I have tried to watch Cannes horror films in the past and totally failed to watch them completely, so no I don't think I'll be watching this film. But for those horror fans this is the synopsis.

Just when the streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back and on the hunt. Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank's obsession escalates, it becomes clear that she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill.

To read more about film and watch trailer go here.  For my newest readers, no I don't like horror films.

Short Films

Today is the screening of all the short films in competition, afterwards jury delivers and winners will be announced tomorrow.

Around the Selection

While checking all films in Cannes I noticed that I skipped unintentionally one film that is Must Be Seen for Me. I'm talking about Cannes Junior -inside Cannes program not the other event- that screened Le Magasin des Suicides (The Suicide Shop) by Patrice Leconte. Is Leconte's first animation film. Have seen clip in French, but today found it English so maybe you'll like to understand what they say besides watching the amazing animation, go here for English or go here for French.The synopsis

Imagine a shop that for generations has sold all the accoutrements of the perfect suicide. This family business prospers in all its bleak misery, until the day it encounters true joie de vivre in the shape of the owners' younger son, Alan. What will become of The Suicide Shop in the face of Alan's relentless good cheer, optimism and determination to make the customers smile?

Can't wait for what I imagine could be a great darkish trip

Cannes Classics

Claude M le cinema (Claude Miller, cineaste de l'intime) by Emmanuel Barnault

Cannes homage to great Claude Miller screens the documentary by Barnault, an homage that also includes the screening of Claude Miller's last film on the closing ceremony.  The synopsis.

Barnault documentary guiding thread is a long interview, made in one sitting at the Miller family home in the Creuse, in 2011 but includes extracts from films and stock archives plus testimonials from five people close to the filmmaker, including Charlotte Gainsbourg, the revelation in Miller's Charlotte and Lulu at the age of 13.

Not really interested in watching documentary as definitively prefer to revisit one of his 17 feature films.

Closing Film: Final Cut - Holgyiem Es Uraim (Final Cut - Ladies & Gentlemen) by György Pálfi

I believe that this film could be magnificent or a disaster, the extremes and not the middle as recycling materials is not always successful. But spontaneously the idea of watching over 500 cuts from cult films with the "most beautiful love scenes in cinema" is appealing. The key word for me is "cult" but when I see picture my eyes tend to see not many "cult" actors. The synopsis

The real love film tells the story of the "real" man and the "real" woman. What is the real man in life? And the real woman? By recycling the celluloid heroes and heroines of 500 movies (the objects of so many dreams and desires) György Palfi's collage film shows what they are like and also what happens when they meet.

If you wish to learn more about film and as a reference watch trailer of his film Taxidermia go here.  His previous work does not give a positive idea about what this film style could be; but in the end I ask: who can resist the opportunity of watching over 500 love scenes? Not me. If film ever comes near me I'll give it a try.

Cinéma de la Plage

Program closes with a surprise film that actually are eight Banlieuz’Art award-winning short films. If you wish to learn about Banlieuz’Art school and competition go here.  These are the short films.

Allegretto by Fran Viña, Bad Toys II by Nicolas Douste and Daniel Brunet, Delivery by Fabien-Mariano Ortiz, Incidences by David Hadjadj, Le Commencement by Guillaume Tordjman, Le Vase by Mike Zonnenberg, Pandémie by Mathieu Naert, and Résiliation by Justin Blanckaert and Julien Rideau.

Cannes News

Today at Cannes Jury President Laura Morante gave to Cédric Kahn the Prix France Culture Cinéma consécration 2012 and to Pierre Schoeller the Prix France Culture révélation 2012.

I was hoping for a tranquil day having fun in Cannes but when Collateral Awards started to pour, it became chaotic, as every day in the fest has been. Sigh. On top gossip about who has been called back, usually a great thermometer, is starting to appear. For starters Michel Franco, Xavier Dolan, Delepine & Kerven and Joachim Lafosse have been called back, which makes them "possible" award-winners at Un Certain Regard.

Thanks to Twitter today I discovered a Cannes collateral event, Ecrans Junior that screens 8 to 10 films with particular interest to children between 13 and 15 years of age. To check this year selection go here.  This year the Cannes Junior award went to Ombline by Stéphane Cazes. It's a great find, especially for those interested in great films for their children to watch.

Main jury is sequestered at "une villa" up in the Cannes mountains, they are busy deliberating what we will learn tomorrow night.

Thinking

So, I was going to speculate about winners but with Cannes is a futile exercise as you will never guess what the heterogeneous jury members have inside their heads that helps them to prefer one film over another. Much less to know once each member has their favorites, how they can influence others, as this is a process of selection and talk, talk, and talk to defend your selection. Then not all juries reach unanimous decisions so the President is usually the one that has the power to define a winner. Nanni has been loudly saying that he is a democrat and democracy will prevail, but I know that he also will -gladly- assume his responsibilities as a Jury President.

In about 24 hours we will know all the winners, so there is no real need to burn grey matter guessing something that year after year has been proven to be highly unpredictable.

Nevertheless, if you have read my dailies by now you know my favorites. Cheers!

Not-so-serious comments

Awful news, Pattinson tapped for Hunger Games... no!!!
You confirm that Cannes is fading away when most photos at Getty Images site are with Paris Hilton. (LOL)

Photo of the Day

The best photo I have seen since day one.  Photo has a beautiful composition but also has outstanding tech specs.  Great photo as photo, not because who is in it.  Enjoy!