Film Director Joe Dante talks about his cinematic career.
Categories
Tag: Film
Categories
Berlinale Day 8
Berlinale Day 8
I am sorry to report I did not attend any press conferences today. I was a bit behind on work and writing. The films today were:
On The Beach at Night Alone in Competition from Korea, a story centering on woman in an dire emotional state of mind trying to recover.
Joaquim in Competition from Brazil and Portugal
I heard Joaquim was not a bad film.
The Scholondorff film The Return to Montauk has been panned. Some in the press pool said it was “AWFUL!”
Leading Golden Bear Contenders The Other Side of Hope and On Body and Soul from Hungary is a dark horse in the race.
Luxury watch maker Glashutte was this yeas sponsor for the Golden Bear Lounge. The brand unveiled a new collection of timepieces Sixties Iconic Square, colorful, retro, and stylish. I think the watches are about getting noticed but in an elegant fun way! I will have more later.
Categories
Berlinale Day 6
Berlinale Day 6
How do you start a day in the surreal? Attend a Aki Kaurismaki press conference. The Finnish directors film The Other Side of Hope debuted at the Berlinale today, his first film in Competition. The feedback I have gotten concerning the pic has been mixed to good. The Nordic auteur was nothing if not genuine. The entire press conference was more entertaining than many films at the festival. I have never attended a press conference where a person stood up to sing a Finnish Tango song.
https://www.facebook.com/breck5/videos/10211656432596754/
The films premise is that of a Syrian Refugee (An Everyday Topic in Europe) played by Sherwan Haji, who arrives in Finland only to go into hiding at a restaurant when he learns he will be deported. The Other Side of Hope is part of a trilogy. When the other 2 films will happen is a guess.
The press conference took on political tones of nationalism, xenophobia, and racism in the form of questions and answers from both the press and the panel. The helmer commented, in Finland with the arrival of many male refugee, the men of the country took it as an act of war. His film was not about changing the world’s opinion on refugees, only Europe’s opinion on refugees. Tomorrow it could be you who is the refugee. Today it is him, said the director.
The second press conference, The Lost City of Z, with Robert Pattison and Charlie Hunnam as early 2oth century explorers is a bit of an old Hollywood adventure epic picture. Did the press pool like it? I got positive feedback. Director James Gray tackles the White Man Burden’s/Destiny themes by dissecting it. Based on the adventures of Percy Fawcett who disappeared in the Brazilian Jungle while searching for a lost civilazation in the early part of the 20th century.
The Lost City of Z was screened out of Competition at the Berlinale.
Catherine Deneuve returned to the Berlinale starring in the Martin Provst film The Mid Wife. Judging by the initial applause of the film and the lack of audience at the press conference, I would guess the film is not one of her best features. What made the press conference was the presence of a Diva wearing a Black Leather Dress with such commanding presence one would dare not notice her. At this stage of her career I was curious what motivated her, thankfully, another journalist asked her. She responded by saying, I choose the director more than the character. Concerning her acting, “There is always a bit of me in a film”. I understand Beatrice Sobolevski, the lead character from the film, but I am far from her, said Deneuve.
The Mid Wife also stars Catherine Froth and Olivier Gourmet. In Competition at the 67th Berlinale.
UPDATES:
The Party received 2.3 stars from critics. A surprisingly low rating given the level of applause at the press conference.
Mr. Long from Japan received 2.0 stars from the critical review polling. The film is a story of a man trying to find a new life, starring Chang Chen.
There is still no front runner for the Golden Bear. Trying to guess what the jury will favor this year has proven to be a difficult task.
www.berlinale.de
Categories
Berlinale Day Day 5
A whirlwind day at the Berlinale with so many interviews but a film has emerged, The Party from director Sally Potter. Stay Tuned for more.
Shooting Stars is now 20 years old. The Pan European program has been celebrated for spotting emerging talent, helping talented performers to the next levels of their careers. This year there the 14 picks are:
Esben Smed* from Denmark, Louis Hofman* from Germany, Alessandro Borghi from Italy, Elina Vaska from Latvia, Hannah Hoekstra* from The Netherlands, Zofia Wichlacz from Poland, Victoria Guerra from Portugal, Tudor Aaron Istodor* from Romania, Marusa Majer* from Slovenia, and Karin Franz Korlof from Sweden.
*Stay tuned for the Black and Paper feature on these actors.
The press room opinions are in and it looks like The Dinner is a winner. Judging by the level of applause at the press conference I would say the film was well received. With an accomplished ensemble cast of veterans, director Sally Potter made a black and white film that was light and lovely but what can go wrong when people lose touch their principals. Commenting, “my favorite films are in Black and White and this is a part of the lineage. Working with Russian cinematography Aleksei Rodionov, the film is a performance character based project. Shot over two weeks the actors had to get it right the first time. Co-star Kristin Scott Thomas admitted it was like doing a play with little rehearsal time, there was no time for many takes. German Actor Bruno Ganz, an actor not known for comedic roles, made an impression going against type.
The Party stars Cillian Murphy, Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall, Patricia Clarkson, and Bruno Ganz. The film screens in Competition at the Berlinale.
My first impression of the new mega Arri Stedicam Trinity was exoskeleton. Weighting in between 20 to 30 kilos the new camera mount is the latest innovation in the firm’s 100 years. Granted it is a James Cameron dream come true, an achievement in technical advancement for film production. Currently there are only 10 in available. Stay tuned for the upcoming Black and Paper video.
I had a one on one interview with filmmaker Yance Ford. His documentary feature Strong Island was well received at the Sundance Film Festival. A story of a senseless murder, except the victim was the helmer’s brother, shot because of an altercation concerning repairs over a car. This documentary resonated with me given the present climate in the USA and the continue killings of African American men.
Stay tuned for the Q&A with Mr. Ford
Categories
Berlinale Report Day 3
Up Date The Dinner did not live up to its level of artistic pretentious. Bloated, missed the mark, who cared were the comments. I was told not to waste my time.
The reviews for Trainspotting have been “OK” but no rave reviews. Does the tale of a group of aging misfits from Glasgow resonate today?
As usual this festival season, politics became a topic with reporters asking questions concerning Brexit. In this hyper political age Director Boyle states his film is not political. It is a story of life’s disappointments, a post modem.
Early news on the new Stanly Tucci debut directorial film has been met with a lack of enthusiasm. The screening is today.
Up Date: A labor for 10 years, actor, director, producer, and writer, Stanley Tucci’s Final Portrait arrived at the Berlinale. Sadly, it was not the welcome a filmmaker would like to have. Based on the last 2 years of the life of painter Alberto Giacometti, played by Geoffrey Rush, the film portrays the artist as a man who lives a life without consequences.
At the press conference helmer Tucci described the film making process of using handheld and two cameras for coverage and the color palette.
Can I recommend this film? Based on the reactions in the press area, NO, because the press conference felt more like a firing quad than a film festival, which is always a tall tale sign of a films reception.
Final Portrait stars Geoffrey Rush, Armie Hammer, and Clemency Poescy.
Is Wilde Maus from Austria the breakout film?
Up Date: There were smiles after the press screening of this dark comedy, Wilde Maus/Wild Mouse, Austrian Actor, Director, and Writer Josef Haider’s story of a Viennese Music Critic who loses his job and esteem. A well-known performer in his native country, Haider decided to star and direct in his own film after realizing what he wanted to do with the feature. Saying, he could not imagine another person directing him or another actor playing the lead role he wrote. Hating the casting process of auditions, the director pulled actors, George Friedrich, Jorg Hartmann, and Pia Hierzegger, from his personal relationship circle, asking them to be spontaneous on the set. Judging by the favorable response from the press core I think he succeeded with his debut directorial effort.
Categories
Berlinale-Reports
Berlinale opening film Django received a lukewarm response according to press room feedback. Clichéd, typical, and wooden Nazi characters is how the biography feature on jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt has been described. Judging by the reactions I think I will pass.
The Dinner with Richard Gere and Laura Linney. Director Oren Moverman’s film based on the Herman Koch novel just finished the press screening. Was it any good? I am waiting for the instant reviews. The applause before the Q&A was less than enthusiastic. Attention was turned to politics with responses on the state of the US Executive Branch, Gere gave a blistering rebuke of Mr. Trump. Mr. Gere and Ms. Linney noted The Dinner is there third collaboration.
Berlinale
The 67th Berlinale opened with some political questions on the agenda but Jury President Paul Verhoeven stating he was here to judge the quality of the movie, not the political perspective. Mr. Verhoeven said he expects to see a lot of movies that are different and have heated arguments with respect.
Jury member Diego Luna addressed the current global political tones by saying, “I am not here to send messages but I am here to listen.” When asked about the proposed wall between the US and Mexico Luna commented, I have good memories crossing the border from both sides.
As a film festival Berlinale has always had a political edge but this year the jury seemed more pragmatic, less overtly ideological.
Berlinale makes an effort not to be taken over by market forces said fellow jury member Olafur Eliasson.
Addressing the issues concerning the state of Hollywood and the lack of Adult Movies, the bottom line mentality has taken control of the industry. Studios and Producers only want to invest in films with big returns. Film Director (Total Recall, Elle, and Robo Cop) Verhoven discussed the challenges of trying to get his latest film Elle produced.
Berlinale Jury: Paul Verhoeven, Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, Olafur Eliasson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julia Jentsch, Diego Luna, and Wang Quan’an
Berlinale continues until February 20th.
Powered By Canon 
Categories
Cinema 2017
Here are the films I am looking forward to seeing in theaters for the coming year, the Guilty Pleasure List.
The Dark Tower
Alien Convenant
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.
The new Cloverfield Film
Categories
Lights, Camera, Glamour, Costumes
