A few days later, but here is the verdict!
The 4th edition of the ÉCU was a pleasant festival. Good films projected in a nice place in Paris.
The organization wasn't free of mistakes, but what is? And after all the Festival is only on it's 4th edition. There is enough time to correct old mistakes and make new ones.
The best thin of it all?
During the awards ceremony, the majority of the filmmakers and producers taking the stage would always have nice words to recognize the efforts of the Festival's organization. Especially their courage to organize such an event.
An Independent Event.
Let's hope for more and better.
See you next year.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
European Independent Film Festival - ÉCU 2009
Tomorrow, the 13th of March 2009 is the first day of the ÉCU. The Festival is on its fourth edition and going strong! Hopping to become Europe's Sundance, the three day event will be projecting 113 films filled with creativity, movement and low budgets, of course!
The place is Paris, in the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand , from 13th to 15th of March and it is open to the public which makes it even more cool.
For film makers and film-students it is a chance to get your projects in a new and innovative event. If you are just another film lover it's your chance to check out film's new talents and watch an entire weekend of good cinema for free.
For everyone? It's a chance to support and participate in a young project that can become an European world-known film event.
Let's hope so.
Reviews on the event on Monday. In the meantime if you want more info, check the official website.
The place is Paris, in the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand , from 13th to 15th of March and it is open to the public which makes it even more cool.
For film makers and film-students it is a chance to get your projects in a new and innovative event. If you are just another film lover it's your chance to check out film's new talents and watch an entire weekend of good cinema for free.
For everyone? It's a chance to support and participate in a young project that can become an European world-known film event.
Let's hope so.
Reviews on the event on Monday. In the meantime if you want more info, check the official website.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
De Niro versus Pacino
You know, it really gets to me when people talk about "favourite actors" and put Robert de Niro and Al Pacino in the same level...
I'm sorry, I just can't agree.
How can one say that a guy like De Niro, that has done so many different roles, can be compared to Al Pacino that survived thanks to one role: The GodFather. The role. The only really decent (and first, so that should tell you something) film he stared in.
After a few years he did Scarface and it was the end. Every single performance brings me back to Scarface. And it's not even a good film...
Both actors have a career of too many gangster films. De Niro is especially criticized for it.
But you'll have to agree that each gangster character, even if all gangster, has it own special something. Just think of Raging Bull, Once upon a Time in America or Jackie Brown!!! and even smaller roles like Sleepers. The man is good!
Al Pacino on the other hand, no matter if he is a gangster, a cop or the Devil himself, he is always playing Al Pacino.
That's how you define a good actor, isn't it?
Can he transform himself on screen, can you forget you are watching your favourite actor... Or is he always there?
I'm sorry, I just can't agree.
How can one say that a guy like De Niro, that has done so many different roles, can be compared to Al Pacino that survived thanks to one role: The GodFather. The role. The only really decent (and first, so that should tell you something) film he stared in.
After a few years he did Scarface and it was the end. Every single performance brings me back to Scarface. And it's not even a good film...
Both actors have a career of too many gangster films. De Niro is especially criticized for it.
But you'll have to agree that each gangster character, even if all gangster, has it own special something. Just think of Raging Bull, Once upon a Time in America or Jackie Brown!!! and even smaller roles like Sleepers. The man is good!
Al Pacino on the other hand, no matter if he is a gangster, a cop or the Devil himself, he is always playing Al Pacino.
That's how you define a good actor, isn't it?
Can he transform himself on screen, can you forget you are watching your favourite actor... Or is he always there?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Shit on Screen
Where I am at, the metro stations are full of these annoying film posters.
Marley and Me is based on a novel, a recent novel if I'm not mistaken. One of those novels, everyone who never reads (anything decent at least) tells you it's a great book. "That you are going to love for sure."
You know? The kind of people that can't even pronounce the name of some of my favourite authors?
Anyway...
You can just see it, can't you?
Another laim and sickening-sentimental story of two people, that come together because of a dog...!
And the couple they chose! Holy shit! Aniston?! Wilson?!
Can you hold the vomit?
Let me tell you, it's kind of difficult in the metro stations.
And we're talking some dirty, old metro stations here...!
You know? The kind of people that can't even pronounce the name of some of my favourite authors?
Anyway...
You can just see it, can't you?
Another laim and sickening-sentimental story of two people, that come together because of a dog...!
And the couple they chose! Holy shit! Aniston?! Wilson?!
Can you hold the vomit?
Let me tell you, it's kind of difficult in the metro stations.
And we're talking some dirty, old metro stations here...!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Script A-Like
I recently had the chance to see the film I Am Legend.
After all the publicity I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
Well, it was a big surprise to see that the story was almost a copy of another film I had seen a few years before. Remember 28 Days Later? Danny Boyle?
Did anyone have the feeling we were watching the same film again? I did.
Let’s review, shall we?
I Am Legend
Dr. Robert Neville (Will Smith) drives around the ghost-town of NYC.He is the only survivor of an epidemic that devastated an entire city, country or planet…?
28 Days Later
Jim (Cilian Murphy) wakes up of a coma to find himself alone in a hospital, city, island, planet… He is the only survivor of an epidemic.
Both characters in both films run from the only other people that share the cities with them. The Infected. In both films, the virus is rabies. Of course, the action is all about these escapes and near death (infection) experiences, meeting un-infected, thought unexisting (but then where would the films go?) people on the way.
So, anyone see a resemblance?
After all the publicity I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
Well, it was a big surprise to see that the story was almost a copy of another film I had seen a few years before. Remember 28 Days Later? Danny Boyle?
Did anyone have the feeling we were watching the same film again? I did.
Let’s review, shall we?
I Am Legend
Dr. Robert Neville (Will Smith) drives around the ghost-town of NYC.He is the only survivor of an epidemic that devastated an entire city, country or planet…?
28 Days Later
Jim (Cilian Murphy) wakes up of a coma to find himself alone in a hospital, city, island, planet… He is the only survivor of an epidemic.
Both characters in both films run from the only other people that share the cities with them. The Infected. In both films, the virus is rabies. Of course, the action is all about these escapes and near death (infection) experiences, meeting un-infected, thought unexisting (but then where would the films go?) people on the way.
So, anyone see a resemblance?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Film - Religulous
Move over Michael Moore!
Get a life Al Gore!
Give some room for Bill Maher!
This is what making films, especially documentaries, is all about. To make you think! Few, though, can make you think and laugh. Religulous is one of them!
Bill Maher is an American funny man. He is a stand-up comedian, a television host and a political commentator. His opinions have always been somewhat “Political Incorrect” - a name of a show he used to host - and his positions inciting.
In the film, Bill takes us on a trip throughout the world, to the “home” of many religions, where he tries to clarify some doubts about their origin. Catholic truckers, Evangelists preachers, Jewish inventors and many others explain Bill why they are believers or saviours, while Bill embarrasses them with some funny facts about their beliefs.
All done in a provocative and always funny way, Religulous make you think and wish documentaries like this would take on more air space on tv.
Get a life Al Gore!
Give some room for Bill Maher!
This is what making films, especially documentaries, is all about. To make you think! Few, though, can make you think and laugh. Religulous is one of them!
Bill Maher is an American funny man. He is a stand-up comedian, a television host and a political commentator. His opinions have always been somewhat “Political Incorrect” - a name of a show he used to host - and his positions inciting.
In the film, Bill takes us on a trip throughout the world, to the “home” of many religions, where he tries to clarify some doubts about their origin. Catholic truckers, Evangelists preachers, Jewish inventors and many others explain Bill why they are believers or saviours, while Bill embarrasses them with some funny facts about their beliefs.
All done in a provocative and always funny way, Religulous make you think and wish documentaries like this would take on more air space on tv.
Film - Burn After reading and TCC of Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt has been for some time a symbol for a quality film.
Since his performances in films such as Snatch, Seven or Fight Club, one was forced to acknowledge that this was really not another pretty face and some genuine talent was born. On the other hand, it is obvious that these high rated actors don’t always make the right choices. In his personal history, Brad Pitt has examples such as Ocean’s Elevens trilogy to prove it.
Burn After Reading and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are two kinds of quality films. One quality-writing at its best, the other a case of lost script.
Burn After Reading is another “brother Cohen’s pearl”.
A mix of casual events with government employees and gym workers, one of which is Pitt himself, turns out to be a serious and hilarious political incident. A great cast that also includes John Malkovich, George Clooney and Francis Macdorman with outstanding performances, working a great and well-though story of negotiating, spying, sex and plastic surgery?!
Brad Pitt’s character is a difficult one. He plays a somewhat mentally-challenged gym worker that finds a disc full of information “Numbers… Intelligent Stuff…!”
Again, he proves to be a skilled actor that can offer audiences a different character, that sounds, moves and speaks unlike any other he has played before.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is another story.
Pitt’s performance fades throughout the film, which is also lost in its own succession of events. The tale of Benjamin Button seems like a “curious” one - I couldn’t say for sure because I haven’t read Fitzerald’s book - but the films looses intensity, trying with such effort to combine the life of Button with the historical events.
The special effects, used to successfully alter his physical appearance turning the actor from an 80 year old man to young Pitt, are also used in an abusive way to create realistic events and sceneries of the XX century. The film looses spunk and turns into a fairy-tale story.
When it comes to acting some are good choices, others not so good.
But when it comes to Brad Pitt, nothing could be as bad as Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Since his performances in films such as Snatch, Seven or Fight Club, one was forced to acknowledge that this was really not another pretty face and some genuine talent was born. On the other hand, it is obvious that these high rated actors don’t always make the right choices. In his personal history, Brad Pitt has examples such as Ocean’s Elevens trilogy to prove it.
Burn After Reading and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are two kinds of quality films. One quality-writing at its best, the other a case of lost script.
Burn After Reading is another “brother Cohen’s pearl”.
A mix of casual events with government employees and gym workers, one of which is Pitt himself, turns out to be a serious and hilarious political incident. A great cast that also includes John Malkovich, George Clooney and Francis Macdorman with outstanding performances, working a great and well-though story of negotiating, spying, sex and plastic surgery?!
Brad Pitt’s character is a difficult one. He plays a somewhat mentally-challenged gym worker that finds a disc full of information “Numbers… Intelligent Stuff…!”
Again, he proves to be a skilled actor that can offer audiences a different character, that sounds, moves and speaks unlike any other he has played before.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is another story.
Pitt’s performance fades throughout the film, which is also lost in its own succession of events. The tale of Benjamin Button seems like a “curious” one - I couldn’t say for sure because I haven’t read Fitzerald’s book - but the films looses intensity, trying with such effort to combine the life of Button with the historical events.
The special effects, used to successfully alter his physical appearance turning the actor from an 80 year old man to young Pitt, are also used in an abusive way to create realistic events and sceneries of the XX century. The film looses spunk and turns into a fairy-tale story.
When it comes to acting some are good choices, others not so good.
But when it comes to Brad Pitt, nothing could be as bad as Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
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