The Girl

Sometimes is safer to admire the oeuvre of a master filmmaker than learning about the person behind the movie, the personal life of much admired directors. I am completely torn with this movie, wishing that I never saw it and at the same time somehow glad that I did not skip it. But whatever I resolve later, I sincerely hope that what I saw in this film and what I been reading will not spoil Hitchcock for me. Then truth is that I have seen almost all his films and even if for a moment I thought about seeing again one of his great masterpieces, Marnie, definitively will not now that have this story too fresh in my mind.

Film is not the story of the filming of The Birds as I suspected thanks to trailers and headlines. This is the story of Tippi Hedren and how in the hands of Hitchcock she learned to act, she became a movie star thanks to the two movies she did with Hitchcock and the probable reason why, after getting out of her contract, she never was able to work in big productions again.

My spontaneous reaction was to try to find what was true and what was not; unfortunately seems that what we see here is mostly true. Still is a good dramatization of truth that know will highly impact you if you admire Hitchcock and especially if you're a woman. If you are not familiar with Hitchcock then probably story will bore you before reaches the key turning point and will be glad that is a made for TV movie as you can stop watching just by changing the channel.

Film is shockingly disturbing. Shocking because tells a side of Alfred Hitchcock that I never imagined, a side that could easily come from many of the stories told in his movies, a side that seems fiction more than truth. But as far as I was able or willing to see and read, seems that is not much fiction.

Disturbing because I find film very well built; starts fine, evolves fine and after a key scene in a car while filming The Birds story turns dark and Toby Jones' Hitchcock characterization starts to produce in front of you layers of unthinkable cruelty and mental abuse like not often you are able to see in the screen, big or small. From that key moment film takes a very disturbing downturn that does not stop until Hitchcock explicitly request sexual services from Hedren, a scene that I will have edited out as in my opinion deludes the highly disturbing element to make film pedestrian for the last few minutes before the end. There was no need to be explicit, we already knew it, there was no need to be spelled out for us. See what bothered me less in this film was everything about his sexual overtures, what is really disturbing is the manipulation, the use of power, the mental abuse.

But have to admit that is a good movie that will make you feel lots of emotions, most of the non-positive kind. To be honest there were a few moments that I forgot I was watching a movie about Hitchcock and started to feel like I was watching a movie directed by Hitchcock, that's how good this movie can be at times. Performances are good with Tobey Jones slowly transforming in front of you and probably is the best of Sienna Miller I have seen; great as always in smaller roles Imelda Staunton and Penelope Wilson.

A film that I suggest women should decide before watching IF they are willing to see a disturbing movie about how a man destroys a woman and to those Hitchcock hard fans I strongly suggest you skip film, even if you already know about the director darker side.

Not a film to enjoy but to keep the rating system here goes the closing line.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Must Watch: Trailer For The Trailer Of IRON MAN 3!

Click to enlarge

Yes, it's another trailer for a trailer, but this one is quite well done and does precisely what it is intended to do: Make you watch the full trailer that's going to drop on Tuesday (October 23)!

Here's the movie's storyline:
Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

The movie headlines Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle as James Rhodes, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan and Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin. Also starring are Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, James Badge Dale and William Sadler.

IRON MAN 3 opens on May 3, 2013. Looking great so far!


Check out the trailer for the trailer:

Is This Your First Look At The Mandarin in "Iron Man 3?"

Marvel has been running a Facebook "like us!" campaign for the last week or so, promising to debut an early look at "Iron Man 3." At this point you kind of HAVE to know it was just going to be one of those "trailer for the trailer" things, but whatever - it worked, and now the 18 second "pre-preview" is here. Highlights include Tony Stark dealing with reporters, Pepper Potts in trouble, the new gold armor in motion and Iron Man facing down what looks like a half-dozen armored enemies.

Oh, and also very possibly THE MANDARIN.

Hit the jump to see the teaser and a still:



Okay, short preview is short. I'm hoping that the long one features that "Iron Patriot"-inspired suit that's been seen in the early stills - I have a feeling that U.S. audiences who've never seen it before (in comics or otherwise) are going to flip for it. But the "HEY FANBOYS! WAKE UP AND GIVE US FREE HYPE!" money-shot comes at 00:08 - a quick glimpse at the back of... some guy's head:

Iron Man's ultimate enemy in the comics has generally been The Mandarin, a technology-as-magic "sorceror" generally depicted as an ancient-looking Asian man with long hair and gold robes with elaborate gold trimmings. That would certainly seem to be who we're looking at here. AWESOME. He's been referenced in the series before (though Middle East based, the terrorists in IM1 had Mandarin-style fixations on Genghis Khan and were named for his alien weapon from the comics, "The Ten Rings of Power) but it had been reportedly felt that he was a little too strange and a little too borderline-racist to show up in a modern movie - but when you're the immediate follow-up to the biggest superhero movie ever you don't have to worry about those things anymore.

FWIW, I think he'll probably still end up revised into a non-specifically Eastern man with an ancient China fixation a'la the terrorists in Part 1. SDCC audiences supposedly saw a full shot of known main-villain Ben Kinglsey (who is partially of Indian descent, something everyone manages to forget whenever he plays a non-caucasian character) looking unmistakably like The Mandarin from the front - hopefully the rest of us will see the same in the "full" trailer.

I think this is a good idea - while the "Iron Man" movies ARE going to have to go back to being their own thing post-"Avengers," they really do need to get him up against bigger (in terms of personality and power) antagonists now that everyone has seen him battle a God and an Alien Army. Mandarin should accomplish that nicely.

HOLY HORRORS FOR HALLOWEEN FILM FESTIVAL: BLESS THE CHILD

“In this supernatural horror story, Jenna (Angela Bettis), an unstable young woman, gives birth to a girl named Cody who proves to be autistic; unable to care for her properly, she turns Cody over to her sister, psychiatric nurse Maggie O'Connell (Kim Basinger). Maggie raises Cody as her own, but when the child (now played by Holliston Coleman) turns six, Jenna and her new husband Eric (Rufus Sewell) forcibly take back the child. Maggie believes Jenna and Eric are not fit parents, but when she takes the matter up with detective John Travis (Jimmy Smits), they discover that a number of children born on the same day as Cody have also been abducted recently. Even worse, it seems that Cody may now be in the hands of Satanists who, in accordance with Biblical prophecy, believe the little girl may be mankind's last line of defense against ultimate evil. Based on a novel by Cathy Cash Spellman, Bless the Child also stars Christina Ricci and Ian Holm.” – rovi’s AllMovie Guide

“Jump, Cody, jump. If you believe in God, jump. And if not, you come to me. What do you believe in, Cody? My hand - it's here, you can see it. Satan rules it and it will protect you always... Or his hand? Is it there? Or isn't it? Will he catch you or not? If you believe, Cody, jump. JUMP!” – Erik Stark, Cult Leader

“Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” – Matthew 4:5,6

You know, while there may be a whole lot of Catholics using contraceptives these days, Satan, whom you think would be a fan, doesn’t seem to be too fond of the things. Well, that’s if the movies are any indication, because it sure seems like every time Old Scratch makes a booty call on film, a kid shows up nine months later. Think about it. You’ve got Rosemary’s Baby, The Omen, End Of Days, 666: The Child, The Calling… well, there’s more but you get the point. So it’s kind of a nice change of pace when you run across a flick like Bless The Child where instead of the birth of yet another mewling little antichrist you get a movie about the coming of a future saint. A saint whom… a bunch of Satanists want to try and corrupt into becoming the antichrist. Hey, it’s a movie, you gotta have some conflict, right?

Actually, despite the sarcasm, it’s that very spiritual conflict which earns this movie a spot on our holy horrors film festival. You see, the film adaptation of Bless The Child pretty much guts the ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ storyline of the original novel (Egyptian goddesses, all-powerful mystical amulets, globe hopping adventurers) and condenses the narrative down to a battle for one soul as filtered through the lens of a surprisingly Catholic worldview. And I’m not just talking about the visuals. After all, a movie like Night Of The Demons 2 is set in and around a Catholic school run by nuns, but nobody would ever accuse its story of taking place in a universe operating under the tenets of even the merest Christianity, much less full blown Catholicism. Bless The Child, on the other hand, does just that.

For example, in this movie God and the devil are quite real, but as pointed out in the Catechism’s section on fallen angels (CCC 391-395), Satan is not God’s equal, he’s just some punk trying to ruin things for everybody in the same way he ruined it for himself. He accomplishes this mainly in two ways. He has his demons (goofy CGI creations barely above SyFy standards) flit around and influence his followers (who are all hilariously Goths for some reason) to cause harm to others, and he tries to tempt the followers of God (even marginal ones like Kim Basinger’s lapsed Catholic & Jimmy Smits ex-seminarian) to abandon belief in God and make up their own rules. As for the other side, while there is some obligatory car chases and gunplay, the good guys mainly fight back against the forces of evil by relying on the intercession of the saints (the little girl actually receives a message directly from Mary), the help of angels (who tend to show up in the form of friendly strangers at just the right time), and lots and lots of prayer (the outcome of the entire final battle is actually affected by a group of nuns who aren’t even onsite, but rather back at the church on their knees in front of the tabernacle). Nothing major happens in the film to contradict long held Christian beliefs.

I know, right? Who would of thought Hollywood had it in them? Look, I’m not saying Bless The Child is any kind of classic (the pros at Metacritic called it one of the worst movies of the year while the user reviews put it at just above average), but just this once I’ll happily sit through stuff like underdeveloped characters (Why exactly did Smit’s character leave seminary? Why does Basinger’s character say she prefers a school that’s not too religious and yet send her niece to one run by habited nuns? In fact, how the heck did she even find a school run by habited nuns in the first place?) and nonsensical special effects (Why does a holy child have the power to spin plates with her mind? Are we in need of a patron saint of dishwashers or something?) just to finally, FINALLY, get a script written by people who paid attention during their religious education classes.

7 Días en La Habana (7 Days in Havana)

Seven shorts compilation about Havana that could have been more like a tourist bureau advert for Cuba if it was not for some shorts fabulous directors with great storytelling style. But to be fair, each of the seven shorts show different aspects of what life in Cuba could be or is right now.

I did not enjoyed all shorts but wasn't expecting to do so as the eclectic group of directors had one I'm not familiar with, one I dislike and the rest are extraordinary directors, storytellers and filmmakers in my book. So let's be brief and start with the ones I like.

Thursday - Dairy of a Beginner by Elia Suleiman

Absolutely fabulous but I am a huge Elia Suleiman fan that always goes crazy for his deadpan performances as Suleiman not only directs but also performs. Believe that in the surface story is about a foreigner that comes to Havana to interview a prominent Cuban figure and to kill time wanders around town; but to me short is a very spiced critique that imagine Cuban sensors did not get as film is included in collection.

Tuesday - Jam Session by Pablo Trapero

Again I'm truly surprised that Cuban sensors allowed this short to be in the compilation as while on the surface tells a very simple story about a well-known director travelling to Cuba to receive an award in a film festival, short message depth goes from awards disdain to show a bitter glimpse in the life of a musician. Then in always peculiar Trapero style short is great and realistic plus the well-known director role is played by none other than Emir Kusturica. In all shorts music plays a great role, but none like the one it plays here.

Sunday - La Fuente by Laurent Cantet

A very elegant tale considering the short theme as is about Santeria with an old woman dreaming Oshun asking for a celebration the same evening and the whole neighborhood helping to make it happen. Story is the excuse to show people ingenious ways to survive, which yes is also a surprise short is in compilation. Very interesting work that in my opinion shows Cantent's different filmmaking style while the storytelling style is absolutely his.

Friday - Ritual by Gaspar Noé

A more normal tale about Santeria darkish side portraying a "limpia" (cleaning) in a lesbian young girl as parents want to get the "devilish" lesbian tendencies away from her. Very dark cinematography that perfectly shows Gaspar Noé very peculiar great style.

Wednesday - La tentación de Cecilia by Julio Medem

In the most melodramatic Medem's style a tale about decisions to leave or leave not the island. Short has what I find not so great performance by Daniel Brühl (usually like his performances) probably due to him speaking Spanish. Not surprisingly this is the hotter short in the compilation. Short is entertaining but nothing more.

Saturday - Dulce Amargo by Juan Carlos Tabío

Not familiar with director but very familiar with Jorge Perugorría that always gives great performances and in here is not the exception. To me short has a style similar to Latin American soap operas, which I do not like but it is watchable as tells about life of what elsewhere could be called upper-middle class family while in Cuba is regular working class. Indirectly related to Santeria but you only know until you see the finished cake. With this short you notice that all short stories have a relationship.

Monday - El Yuma by Benicio del Toro

Don't enjoy Benicio del Toro acting or directing and this short is no exception as not only has the silliest story about how dumb Americans are in foreign lands but short style is truly awful. Ted Atkins performance is not that bad but definitively this story in the hands of a more accomplished director would have look and feel a lot better. Still, I know this is about the ONLY short that surely will be more understandable and enjoyable to general audiences.

As mentioned music is an important element in the shorts and worth mentioning that also cinematography is remarkable in some of the shorts. In general production values are good in all shorts.

Now I am thinking that maybe Cuban sensors have become more relaxed and are allowing out stories that show how life in Cuba, even if could seem hard for foreigners, is very normal/enjoyable for the island citizens. Yes, that's it... probably.

Nevertheless if you enjoy the work of many of the great directors included in this compilation I suggest you don't skip their shorts, but highly recommend you watch them in the compilation as there is a thin relationship between the shorts stories and the order each short is shown -which is not how I listed them here- has an intention. Film was screened in competition at Un Certain Regard section of 2012 Cannes Official Selection.

Enjoy!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Moonrise Kingdom

I am not a Wes Anderson fan as find his movies "strange", always with a "strange" cast and the kind of movie with stories that you do not really know what to think but you keep watching until the end. In this movie he has his usual "strange" cast with some of his regulars and keeps his also "strange" filmmaking style BUT this time his storytelling style was a lot more accessible for me to enjoy it, which was a huge surprise.

Think is the first Anderson film that I truly enjoy because story absolutely fits his peculiar storytelling style, his strange characters plus actors odd performances become quite entertaining and in general, watching film becomes a great ride into the two young lovers "sweet" romance. Then perhaps the most surprising for me was that film allows to feel emotions, which absolutely is not characteristic of this director. Yes, I felt emotions while watching this film, including melancholy about long gone from my life situations, when innocence prevailed.

Now I understand why 2012 Cannes opened with this very unusual film that definitively highly surpassed my expectation in my Cannes Preview plus has become the first and up-to-date ONLY Wes Anderson film that I truly like. So if you are like me that tend to dislike Anderson's films suggest to give film a try and maybe you will enjoy it.

Film tells how a small town in an island off the coast of New England in the 1960's is turned upside down while searching for a young boy and young girl that fell in love and due to their own oddness are moved to run away together. Quite a credible story which also is not characteristic of this director. But obviously is how he tells story what makes film entertaining while reflecting his peculiar filmmaking style.

Most unusual for me is to find Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel and Jason Schwartzman very enjoyable as usually I do not enjoy their performances but here their very odd performances absolutely fit Anderson's style. Tilda Swinton's performance was great as always but too short for me.

Let's hope that Wes Anderson with this film found his "true call" as film definitively shows an evolved, more mature and more accessible storyteller and filmmaker; a hope that comes so he continues travelling and evolving into same or similar directions. I don't really want this to be the only Wes Anderson film I like.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

The Angels' Share

When Ken Loach does his particular kind of realism his films are not easy to watch especially when you consider the implications of what you are seeing. This film is no exception but what really surprises viewers familiar with director films is that movie is very funny! I was no exception. I really laugh hard with this movie and as some of you know, is not easy to make me laugh.

Humor has always been a great vehicle to portrait difficult matters but as we know humor is also a very personal matter. I believe that the kind of humor that Loach uses in this film is of the more universal kind that could appeal to wider audiences while still get the strong message about the bleak future that many young people currently face all over the world and especially in the so-called "First World" countries, those countries were young people used to have a future and now they don't.

Consider that I laughed hard even when know that surely didn't get most of the funny things happening with language as I am not Scottish and was impossible for me to get the many subtleties related to their culture and the use of language. This is one movie that wish could have seen with some Scottish friends that could -later- tell me more nuances about this great film. So if you have the opportunity to watch film with Scots around you I highly recommend you do it. Still, if you don't also know that movie could and will make you laugh enough to enjoy the ride and get the strong message.

Film tells the story of Robbie that barely escapes a prison sentence and goes to do some community service where he finds some pals that are all in a similar situation as himself. He and his small group of friends were given a last chance and you have no idea how well they take advantage of it. If I tell you more perhaps you could question the story plausibility but I can assure that while watching and after you will not as you have to remember that you are in the hands of a master filmmaker that plays with non-actor Paul Branningan (Robbie) extremely well as he also does with us viewers.

Actors performances are incredibly good and think that urban Scotland never looked so great as in this film that obviously has high production values; but is how Loach was able to almost perfectly assemble all the pieces what makes this film a very enjoyable ride. Can't help but tell you that perhaps this is the most mainstream Loach film but in this case I really do not mind as he made me laugh while highly enjoying the ride.

This 2012 Cannes in competition film is a must be seen movie from master storyteller and filmmaker Ken Loach, both to director's fans as well as to those that are not familiar with his movies as I know that after watching this film some will be interested in seeing his previous ones.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC