2/26/2012

It is Oscar Day!

Today the Awards season is coming to an end. Like every year the ceremony in Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre is held to honor the finest works of film of the past year. A month ago the nominations were announced and proclaimed two frontrunners for the grand prize: Scorsese's 'Hugo' with eleven and Hazanavicius' 'The Artist' with ten nominations in total. But of course we all know that it should be an easy task for one of the two.

In the following I don't want to discuss whether the Oscars are still a prestigious monument in the film business or just a pretentious event of Hollywood celebrating itself. Instead I will give you my predictions on who will win and my choice of who I think should win in the major categories.

2/25/2012

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011)


Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is like a chess game. It is a slow, patient back and forth between a wide range of character's before it eventually makes its final move ... and if you didn't pay attention you probably won't be up with the film in that moment. It is based on the famous 1974 spy novel by John le Carré that I still have not read. But I think you will enjoy this more if you did.

2/24/2012

A Serbian Film (2010)


Time and time again there is a movie floating around that is reputated to be the sickest and most depraved film of all time, the film that tops everything you have seen before and will leave you behind devasted and shaken to the core. In many occasions these rumors vanish into thin air. Often times it is just a marketing thing to increase the curiosity for potential viewers.

2/17/2012

The Intouchables (2011)


Okay, if you live in the United States or at least not in Europe you have probably not heard about this one yet. It will go into limited release on May 25th 2012 in the US, so if you can find it anywhere near you it might be worth checking out. "Intouchables" is a warm-hearted french indie-comedy written and directed in teamwork by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano. Two adorable lead actors are responsible for the film to work out really well even though the premise is quite clichéd.

2/14/2012

Drive (2011)


With his crime drama 'Drive' Nicolas Winding Refn ("Pusher", "Bronson") created the surprising underdog of the year. This slow paced, existential, violent 80s-style B-Movie appeared on several critic's Top-10-lists and even topped some of them. It is a movie with a very distinct look and a good feel for the moment that shows that sometimes less can be more. The minimalistic story is carried by the director's decision to let the film breathe freely and of course by a restrained, cold and very effective performance by its star.

2/07/2012

Scott Pilgrim vs. the world (2010)


"Scott Pilgrim vs. the world" is a computer game transferred to live-action cinema.
It is a colorful, fast-paced, energetic action adventure that, however, could not obtain any excitement on a level beyond its technical execution.

2/02/2012

The Artist (2011)


In 1927 the first motion picture featuring sequences with sound (that came not from a separate noise source) was released. Silent films have not been "silent" either as you know but at the end of the 1920s the "talkies" rapidly took over the film industry. It was "The jazz singer" that marked the beginning of the end of an era. An era that "The Artist" gloriously reminds us of today.
But a (95%) silent film in 2011? Does this even work? Considering the enthusiastic critical acclaim all over the world and 10 Oscar nominations it obviously seems like it does.
Or is it just the old-aged movie buffs raving in nostalgia?