The Secret World of Arrietty

There is an ocean of difference between the animated films we usually see in our theaters and those produced by Studio Ghibli. Without detracting from the great work of Pixar or Dreamworks, the Japanese studio films possess a unique magic, not only because they still hand-draw their work, which is one of its greatest virtues, but also because of the way it addresses family stories from a fantastic, honest and spiritual perspective.

Argo

Most successful spy films usually develop around impossible missions, conducted with the most spectacular resources ever seen and with glamorous fighters capable of defeating a small army with their own hands as main characters. The actual espionage, I believe, cannot be like that.

Wreck-It Ralph

Those who used to jump with joy while going through all the worlds and adventures of Mario Bros and those who spent countless hours at the arcades are the ones who can especially and fully comprehend the beauty and nostalgia behind the extraordinary world shown in the movie Wreck-it Ralph.

Open Hearts (Elsker dig for evigt)

"Open Hearts" tells a heartbreaking story, for both the protagonists and spectators, at least for those who can identify themselves with one or more of its characters.

The story begins by showing how happy Cæcilie (Sonja Richter) and Joachim (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) are: this is not a perfect idyll, but a couple who gives and shows each other sincerity and tenderness; a handsome young couple who without being seducers has been seduced. By all accounts, this is a couple who will be facing a very long story.

Into the Wild

"Into the Wild" is the true story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who  breaks free from his parents and chooses a life devoid of material possessions and in constant movement.

Pieta

Bad people are bad, but they are people all the same. Do they deserve pity? Compassion? Sympathy? Empathy?

This movie, winner of the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice Film Festival, makes the viewer wonder about these questions. The self-investigation, in my case, was stirred by the continuous alternance of sweet and disturbing moments. The delicacy and intimacy of some feelings is crushed by the "disgustingness" that surrounds them, which, however, makes them seem all the more strong.

Venice Film Festival 2012

Here is, altough a bit late, the list of awards from the 69th Venice Film Festival:

GOLDEN LION for Best Film to PIETA by Kim Ki-duk (Republic of Korea)

 

SILVER LION for Best Director to THE MASTER by Paul Thomas Anderson (USA)

 

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE to Paradies: Glaube by Ulrich Seidl (Austria, Germany, France)

 

COPPA VOLPI for Best Actor to Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix

in the film THE MASTER by Paul Thomas Anderson (USA)

 

COPPA VOLPI for Best Actress Hadas Yaron

in the film LEMALE ET HA’CHALAL by Rama Bursthein (Israel)

 

MARCELLO MASTROIANNI AWARD for Best New Young Actor or Actress to Fabrizio Falco

in the films BELLA ADDORMENTATA by Marco Bellocchio (Italy) and È STATO IL FIGLIO by Daniele Ciprí (Italy)

 

AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY to Olivier Assayas

for the film APRES MAI by Olivier Assayas (France)

 

AWARD FOR THE BEST TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION (CINEMATOGRAPHY) to Daniele Ciprì

for the film È STATO IL FIGLIO by Daniele Ciprì (Italy)
 

 

 

• LION OF THE FUTURE – “LUIGI DE LAURENTIIS” VENICE AWARD FOR A DEBUT FILM to KÜF (MOLD) by Ali Aydin (Turkey, Germany) VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM CRITICS’ WEEK

as well as a prize of 100,000 USD, donated by Filmauro di Aurelio e Luigi De Laurentiis to be divided equally between director and producer

 

 

 

• ORIZZONTI

 

ORIZZONTI AWARD FOR BEST FILM (full-length films) to

SAN ZIMEI by Wang Bing (France, Hong Kong)

 

SPECIAL ORIZZONTI JURY PRIZE (full-length films) to

TANGO LIBRE by Frédéric Fonteyne (France, Belgium, Luxembourg)

 

ORIZZONTI YOUTUBE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM to

CHO-DE by Yoo Min-young (South Korea)

 

EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS 2012-EFA to

TITLOI TELOUS by Yorgos Zois (Greece)

Brave

Queen Elinor has summoned all clans, usually spread as wild sheeps in the green pastures of Scotland. The idea is to make a game in order to decide who is going to claim the princess as their wife, just as tradition wants.

Friends with Kids

This movie is a group of friends in which some couples start having kids and this starts changing everything for all of them. Jason (Scott) and Julie (Westfeldt), the last two singles of their group, observe how their friends relationships deteriorate and they decided to have a child together without starting a sentimental relationship, just two friends raising a child.

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises, the third film of the trilogy directed by Christopher Nolan, without a doubt can be described as the darkest and most violent, and with enough adrenaline to leave the audience breathless and wanting for more. And all this after nearly three hours of footage, which go by flying and without feeling them.

Gomorra

Two men driving in an old Italian road in a luxurious black SUV. The oldest one, who is driving, stops the SUV and tells the other passenger to throw the basket full of peaches, received by an old woman, on the grass, "Do not you realize how bad they smell?" Tells the oldest one to the young man, who throws it away a little skeptically.

Marilyn at last: August, 5 1962

5 weeks ago I started writing a series of articles about Marilyn, planning to write the last article on the 50th anniversary of her death. Which is today. Therefore, today is the last entry on this subject. More than an article, it is meant to be as a thought, an humble and unpretentious homage.

In fact, this is a day to remember and to celebrate. Even the more common television channels know that and you are bound to find a few Monroe's movie on tonight.

A woman, an actress, a diva, an icon. Marilyn was all these things and much more.

One thing everyone seems to agree on is that she wanted to be a good actress. On this day, it seems right to celebrate her by watching her doing what she strived to do best: act. I know I will.

Fight Club

Imagine the cold vacuum of the barrel of a Colt 22 caliber pressing to the back of your throat, the piercing pain of your knees smashing on the wet pavement, the rattle produced by the gun barrel against your teeth because of the earthquake shaking whom holds the gun. Try to imagine what it is likely to think of at times like this; of what comes to mind; what the asphalt can do to your pants; if the gun itself is clean; how many times a tooth can be beaten before it breaks.

Lilyhammer

Lilyhammer is the story of Frank Tagliano, a New York mobster who is sent to Norway after testifying against his former colleagues and who needs to adapt to the lifestyle of this country. Tagliano is played by actor Steve Van Zandt, known for his role in “The Sopranos” and for belonging to Bruce Springsteen's band.

Marilyn the immortal

What is it that makes a human being a legend? For instance, what made Norma/Marilyn one?

I am sure that a lot of people already have their idea on this and I am pretty certain that many people have a quite common opinion of this subject. I would say that my personal opinion is in line with the common opinion; but, maybe, the fact that it is so obvious, makes it all the more true.

The Amazing Spider-Man

“The Amazing Spider-Man”, although being a reboot, is primarily for those over 25 years, a cover of that Spider-Man directed by Sam Raimi in 2002, just a decade ago. It is just like to compare, the first "Batman" by Tim Burton, released in 1989, and "The Dark Knight" by Christopher Nolan, in 2008: almost 20 years between the two of them.

Chernobyl Diaries

To speak of "horror" in a movie, you should consider several factors: the stage where everything happens, the social environment (which also influences), the characters that make us feel terror and, finally, our eyes on the story.

Marilyn at Niagara Falls

For Marilyn 3.0, I think that discussing a movie in which she played a slighlty different role than usual is appropriate.

I would say this picture is less outrageously famous than the others, hence I will very slightly go into the plot. Niagara falls: two couple's lives meet up by chance, while on vacations by the Falls. One couple is just ordinary; the other one is going through some major crisis: Rose (Monroe) is too beautiful for her jelous husband (Cotten). Pink dresses, hints of mental desease, a young lover ready to do everything add up to a criminal climax.

Prometheus

When the archaeologist "Elizabeth Shaw" (Noomi Rapace) and his fellow "Charlie Holloway" (Logan Marshall-Green) discover a pattern in several hieroglyphs around the Earth, the two embark on an expedition with another group of scientists to a distant planet in order to find the origins of humanity. What they find, ironically, could trigger the end of it.

Real Steel

In the best films about boxing, the fighter who suffers and struggles is the one we see loosing after some time. In the best films of this subgenre there is a tasty conversation between the boxer and his manager down the hall, usually a conversation that happens in the background. Those films give their character an extra motivation to continue to become the champion they want or need to be. There are hits, money, sweat, violence and lots of excitement in this one.