Gladiators ready?!
The London Film Festival 2013 press screenings kick off this morning. 234 films in four weeks.
Gladiators ready?! Out to own today: Populaire“Only a law could stop me, pumpkin,” Louis Échard Riding the zeitgeist. Epitomising televisual sophistication, élan and gripping characterisation/storytelling. You may wonder why MAD MEN has not had more imitators, as is so often the case when success is achieved. Probably sitting down in front of a blank piece of paper to create your own classy and sexy take on gender politics must seem daunting. The team behind POPULAIRE have more chutzpah than skills unfortunately. The late 1950s world of inequality is brushed aside in favour of dubious rom-com froth; saved from complete ignobility by the savvy casting of two extremely winsome leads: Déborah François and Romain Duris. To read more, click here. No One Lives“I don’t lack emotion; I just process it differently,” Driver (Luke Evans) Kicking off worryingly, a young woman in just her underwear runs through a forest screaming. Luckily, the filmmakers are lulling the audience into the cul-de-sac of low expectations. NO ONE LIVES is not a straight-to-DVD horror exploitation. It is a fun, gory horror exploitation, where refreshingly unlikeable characters inadvertently take on another unlikable character, who also happens to be a brutal killer with an array of gadgets. To read more, click here. From Up On Poppy Hill"Now, don’t be shy, shall we discuss existentialism?” Philosophy Club President Now it can’t be easy following in the footsteps of your animation-directing maestro of a father. Hayao Miyazaki has conjured up a profusion of the most sublime drawn feature films in history (e.g. MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO, PORCO ROSSO, PRINCESS MONONOKE, PONYO). Son Goro Miyazaki stumbled out of the block at his first step; TALES FROM EARTHSEA was a mediocre telling, lacking the wonder and sublime characters peopling his father’s work. The shadow is long and deep. Of course it may be unfair to compare their work, but the reasoning is that Goro is arguably ploughing the same field, rather than going it alone and striving to make his own mark. We have a similar theme of the old being replaced by the new, in the name of progress devoid of any likely actual improvement to lives. Hayao has contributed to the screenplay for FROM UP ON POPPY HILL, but the feel of his sure and imaginative sensibility are not here. To read more, click here. Works of outstanding artistry rarely occur. 12 YEARS A SLAVE, once watched, sears itself into your psyche.
My review: http://www.filmaluation.com/12-years-a-slave.html “As if my heart wasn’t breaking enough,” Rab (Peter Mullan)
Actor turned director Dexter Fletcher takes the songs of Scottish pop-folk duo The Proclaimers and turns them into a joyous heartstring pulling musical. Err, say that again?! You read that right. My review of SUNSHINE ON LEITH: http://www.filmaluation.com/sunshine-on-leith.html “Explorer, this is Houston... Mission abort. Repeat, mission abort,” Mission Control (Ed Harris)
One of the most visceral cinematic experiences of my life. My review of GRAVITY is up: http://www.filmaluation.com/gravity.html It is nearly upon us! I cannot wait. Check out the trailer: Will THE MONUMENTS MEN, starring Clooney and Damon, be the surprise film at the London Film Festival 2013?
Out on general release in December for North America, January the UK. THE RAILWAY MAN, starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, is out in January.
My take on it: http://www.filmaluation.com/the-railway-man.html |
This website is written by Hemanth Kissoon.
Filmaluation is dedicated to arts culture, with a particular focus on film. I care about intelligence, quality and entertainment. Need some movie and TV show recommendations? See the drop down to the right of the Home tab. Enjoy. The vital ambitions of art and entertainment: - Perceptiveness - Illumination - The unexpected - Innovation Brains and soul are key; but adrenaline junkies do not fret, there is also much love for an experience that delivers a sucker-punch to the guts via stunningly delivered thrills. Noun, “filmaluation”: The evaluation of a film Verb, "to filmaluate”: To evaluate a film I am well aware how difficult it is to make a film, put on a stage play, create a television show, write a novel, let alone make something of note. (That appreciation doesn’t stop me from having high standards though.) This online magazine is edited by Hemanth Kissoon. Filmaluation is owned by Filmaluation Limited (Company number 8549302. Registered in England and Wales) Archives
February 2024
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