Browsing: Film Reviews

A film about war without bullets, bombs, or bloodshed — it’s difficult even to be convinced of “the enemy,” although Alexandra was shot on location in Grozny in the midst of the real war between Russia and Chechnya. But this we know mostly from what we’ve heard, because in the barren dust and heat, we could be in Afghanistan or elsewhere, since precious little happens in terms of action or plot that would pin down a particular time and place. Yet what matters is exactly what we see, and how Alexander Sokurov lets us experience it. Owing to the classical…

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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is based on true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby. The film begins by introducing Jean-Do who has become a vegetable after having a stroke. Unable to move or speak Jean-Do begins to pity what has become of his life but soon comes to the realization that living doesn’t have to end simply because he has been confined to exist within the walls of a hospital. Instead he begins to draw on his imagination, his memories, and his desires; they become a sort of exit from his body, here he can do what he wants and…

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Academy Award winner, Jessica Yu, delves into the human condition by interviewing four ordinary men differentiated by their background: the terrorist Hans-Joachim Klein, the “ex-gay” evangelist Mark Pierpont, the bank robber Joe Loya, and the martial arts enthusiast Mark Salzman.The documentary follows the four men in parallel links to their extremism and limits of certainty. Whether motivated by the quest to belong to a cause, to be closer to God, by the thrill of gaining power over others, or the achievement of athletic excellence, the characters recount personally valid reasons for their chosen path.Initially disconnected, the film gradually reveals common…

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After first few minutes of “La Antena” revealed itself, I didn’t know what to say. I only knew that I was in for a ride through an all too familiar surreal version of our own world. “La Antena” is an amazing spectacle of sight and sound. The film is done in silent film fashion with influences of German Expressionism with high regards to Spain’s Bunel, Germany’s Lang, Murnau and France’s Méliès. Accompanied with an exhilarating modern tango soundtrack from Juan Aguirre and Federico Rotstein, it dances across the screen, communicating with fashioned visual words that emit and resonate from the…

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“Searchers 2.0” is Alex Cox’ first theatrical feature since 2002’s wild “Revenger’s Tragedy” and he definitely continues his eccentric style of work (as seen in Repo Man, Sid and Nancy, Straight to Hell, and Walkers). This film is an offbeat “road” comedy about a revenge plot aimed for justice dreamed up by two former child actors (Ed Pansullo as Ed Fletcher and Del Zamora as Mel Torres) Buffalo Bill vs. Doc Holliday. That sole appearance was enough for a lifetime, given the nasty experience on the set where legendary screenwriter Fritz Frobisher (the always intense Sy Richardson) whipped them to…

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Light the fireplace, gather your rowdiest friends, sing a tale or two, bring out the warm buttered popcorn, the hot chocolate (Ale for the stronger stomach) and maybe a blanket (we will be traveling through the frigid Norse wilderness). Once you are nice and cozy, bring out Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, Crispin Glover, Angelina Jolie (especially Angelina) and have them perform all the scenes from Beowulf in my living room (yes, with the fancy props). This is about as closest I will be able to get to the experience of Beowulf in 3D at the IMAX. There is no way…

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Directed by Koreyoshi Kurahara, “The Warped Ones” (aka Season of Heat and The Weird Lovemakers), is visually raw and stunning. In addition, throw in musically which is entrancing. With some films which are overrun with a soundtrack which detracts from the actual storytelling are apt to make or break a film.With a heavily laden jazz soundtrack, the music relentlessly serves to strengthen the chaotic and randomness of the characters- Masaru (Eiji Go), Akira (Tamio Kawaji), and Fumiko (Noriko Matsumoto). As a depiction of the youth culture of Japan in the 1960’s, Kurahara paints a surreal image of youth gone wild…

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O Jerusalem is a film that tries to give an account of the struggle that besieged the birth of Israel. In the middle of the turmoil are two American friends on Arab one Jew. It all begins when both friends end up going to Jerusalem to find peace in the fight between Jews and Arabs. Their friendship is soon affected and pushed to its limits as both begin to loose their ideals of peace and instead begin to focus on the sides they have chosen.Elie Chouraqui’s O Jerusalem is a film that attempts to capture the struggle that took place…

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In today’s world, there is a delicate line between the controversial notion of a terrorist and a freedom fighter. Somehow the line has become so blurred, that one can have a hard time distinguishing between the two. A terrorist is defined as one who kills for a political reason. So if someone plants a bomb to kill innocent people for a political reason, should she or he be considered as a terrorist?According to the contentious French lawyer Mr. Jacques Vergès, they are simply freedom fighters, combating for their independence. Thus their actions are not terrorism, but political heroism. And therefore…

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Presented by Rich-Heape Films and narrated by James Earl Jones, “Black Indians: An American Story”, digs deep into both black and red roots to find a common link between the two peoples who struggled against great oppression, discrimination and disenfranchisement. Winner of the Cine Golden Eagle, Aurora Gold Award and the Omni Intermedia Award, the documentary goes above and beyond as an informative journey into the past where the struggle of racial identity, acceptance and the desire to uphold tradition is taken to the forefront.This one hour extensive exploration of those African Americans with Native ancestry is revealed in personal…

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