CA BRULE (ON FIRE)

14th French Film Festival
Cinema 3, Shang Cineplex

Nothing much really happens in this film. It is about Livia, a 15 year old girl who gets infatuated with Jean, a volunteer fireman who saves her after she fell off her horse. Worse yet it is the start of the summer school holiday in this little provincial town so poor Livia has nothing better to do than trot aimlessly. Her 'affection' for her rescuer turns to obsession as she does her best to seek his attention with very tragic consequences. But sad to say this film doesn't even come close to "Fatal Attraction" and it drifts aimlessly just like Livia during the entire movie.

At least the cinematography is crisp with images of a quiet little town surrounded by mountainous terrain. The main 'draw' would be towards the ending where a massive forest fire consumes the small town. The footage seemed totally real in some semi documentary technique. It makes me wonder if they really set the fire for the movie or the fire occurred while they were shooting the film. Either way it was graphically and realistically portrayed.

The characters are mostly bored teenagers trying to amuse themselves during their summer break. They don't have endearing personalities so the audience couldn't really care less about their plight. Soon enough the boredom lingers and lingers you just wish they would actually get a life or at least some hobby to occupy themselves with.

I guess the morale of the story is if you play with fire you will definitely get burned. Enough said!

MARIE-JO ET SES DEUX AMOURS (MARIE-JO AND HER TWO LOVES)

14th French Film Festival
Cinema 3, Shang Cineplex

The title reveals it all, doesn't it? Marie-Jo is a middle aged woman who is happily married to Daniel yet she is also having a torrid affair with Marco.

The setting is the coastal town of Marseille. Cinematography is breathtaking with scenes of the Mediterranean sea. Thus giving the film an airy, breezy vibe. Even though the main premise is a complex love story.

The three main characters are well developed and they expressively conveyed a varied array of emotions. It is difficult to understand how a woman can equally love two men, at the same time. Yet in the film, Marie-Jo strangely enough does indeed love both her husband and her lover with the same intensity. I like to believe it is only in Europe or in the Western world where such a scenario is plausible without the two guys involved killing each other for the affections of one woman. Or maybe it only happens in the movies? I have no idea.

Nonetheless, this film is a good character study of three entirely different personalities. You cannot really blame her affair on a miserable marriage. Because on the contrary, Marie-Jo and Daniel still have an active sex life, their business is flourishing, their only daughter is successful, they have a comfortable home and they can afford some excesses like a small boat. In short, their life is 'almost' perfect.
On the other hand, Daniel's silent acceptance of the affair is mysterious. We never get to know for sure what he really feels about it yet we are led to believe he is definitely in pain and conflicted over his wife's betrayal.
As for Marco, well he is also an interesting character to watch. The silent brooding type who is well traveled, good mannered and culturally inclined.

But yes eventually Marie-Jo does confront her issues and in the end, she tragically made her final decision which for me raises a lot of questions. Questions about her actions, her decisions and her motives. So I agree that the film was well presented and well played out with a talented cast.

In my opinion it doesn't really aim to project a moral stance on the behaviors of its characters. It is entirely up to the audience to conjure up their own opinions, beliefs on Marie-Jo's shortcomings as a woman, as a mother and more importantly as an human being.

VAN GOGH

14th French Film Festival
Cinema 3, Shang Cineplex

Even though the lead actor (Jacques Dutronc) doesn't resemble the famous painter physically, he did a pretty good job in portraying the painter as a mentally conflicted soul. A man haunted by a sense of inadequacy regarding his paintings and ravaged with a strange mental illness (severe depression) yet he also lived his last days with so much vibrant passion and intoxicated vigor.

This film presented the last 2 months (67 days) of his life which he spent in the quiet and idyllic surroundings of Auvers sur Oise, a small suburb off Paris. The setting is in the late 1890s yet aside from the authentic wardrobe depicting the era, I somehow got the sense that the narrative could have been currently unfolding in some small French provincial town.

The biopic showed the various characters who interacted with Van Gogh were a diverse group. From the plain innocent daughter of Dr Gachet who falls in love with the painter, the worldly prostitutes in the brothels which Van Gogh regularly patronized to his immediate family consisting of his brother Theo, an art dealer and his wife, Joanna. They all offered a sense of what makes him tick as a painter and a person.

The cinematography naturally veered towards images of the vast luscious French countryside, the small town like setting to the visuals of the excesses of a Parisian brothel.

The dialogue is entirely in French with English subtitles.

The pacing of the film was a bit slow in the middle part of the biopic. Certain sequences were too long and seemed to drag on forever. While the significant parts (in my opinion) were rather brief and not too elaborate, unfortunately.

Overall though, I believe it is a realistic portrayal about the final days of Vincent Van Gogh. His personal demons eventually overwhelming his conflicted soul. After all, history does show that most of the greatest artists that ever existed indeed led very colorful, complex and melodramatic lives. So Van Gogh was in excellent company. Heh!

DUPLICITY

Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Tom Wilkinson

"Outwit. Outspy. Outsmart. Outplay.
Then get out."

Cinema 12, SM Megamall

OK so if it weren't for the two bankable stars playing the main characters in this spy themed drama (with some tinge of comedy), this film wouldn't really be successful. The time frame is confusing, there are many flashback sequences and you can develop a headache trying to get a sense of what is really going on. But the trick is to pay close attention as the story unfolds because eventually when you are back in the comfort of your couch and you got more time to piece the events together, you finally get the whole premise. Just bear in mind that the movie works on the theory that you simply cannot trust anyone especially when you are dealing with experts in the espionage business.

Claire (Julia Roberts) is a former CIA agent. While Ray (Clive Owen) used to work for the British Intelligence. After one steamy encounter, their paths are invariably intertwined as they both scheme to outdo, outwit each other this time in the intriguing and highly lucrative field of corporate espionage.

Their story unfolds in a sequence of never ending flashbacks peppered within the main plot. This is where you need to pay attention so you can get a semblance of exactly when the main premise of the film is hatched by the 'feuding' spies. Their numerous encounters take them to the most beautiful cities in the world like Dubai, Zurich and Rome. Therefore the slick cinematography is like a mini travelogue buoyed with a soundtrack reminiscent of an Ocean Eleven movie.

I admit the main reason I watched this movie is for Julia Roberts (I'm her avid fan) and Clive Owen (I believe he is a very talented actor). Their chemistry on screen is a brilliant collaboration of fine acting, good timing and well delivered dialogue. They have great rapport and it was a delight to watch them interact with each other. They are ably supported by a cast of minions who are at their beck and call and certainly do their share in complicating the already murky plot. Most notably Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson in very small yet highly significant roles.

The thrilling moments in the first part of the film was fast paced and edgy. The mid section seem to falter a bit because at this point you either lose interest with the many subplots or you are on full mental alert trying to keep pace. Then the little twist in the ending seemed a bit anti-climatic yet played out really well in the unpredictability factor. But if anything, this film proves that big corporations would go to great lengths to protect their trade secrets.

So if you are in the mood for some espionage cum romantic comedy then this film should please you. If not then simply watch the film for the excellent rapport between Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. It is worth it, believe me!

FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL SCREENING SCHEDULE

FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL

Screening Schedule from June 5-14 Shang Cineplex, Cinema # 3

JUNE 6 (SATURDAY)
Un Secret 12:30 pm
Ca Brule 3:00 pm
Jean dela Fontaine 5:30pm
Van Gogh 8:00 pm

JUNE 7 (SUNDAY)
Home 12:30 pm
Marie-Jo et Ses Deux Amours 3:00 pm
Flandres 5:30 pm
Ma Saison Preferee 8:00pm

JUNE 8 (MONDAY)
Van Gogh 12:30 pm
Flandres 3:30 pm
Ca Brule 5:30 pm
Zim et Co 8:00 pm

JUNE 9 (TUESDAY)
Zim et Co 12:30 pm
Marie-Jo et Ses Deux Amours 3:00 pm
Flandres 5:30 pm
Jean dela Fontaine 8:00 pm

JUNE 10 (WEDNESDAY)
Ca Brule 12:30 pm
Home 3:00 pm
Van Gogh 5:30 pm
Un Secret 8:30 pm

June 11 (THURSDAY)
Dix-Sept Fois Cecile Cassard 12:30 pm
Les Quatre Cent Coups 3:00 pm
L ‘Esquive 5:30 pm
La Pianiste 8:00 pm

JUNE 12 (FRIDAY) (Tribute to Philippine Cinema)
Andong / Sabongero 3:00 pm
Serbis 5:30 pm
Independencia 8:00 pm

JUNE 13 (SATURDAY)
Ridicule 12:30 pm
Dix-Sept Fois Cecile Cassard 3:00 pm
L ‘Esquive 5:30 pm
Flandres 8:00 pm

JUNE 14 (SUNDAY)
Un Secret 12:30 pm
Jean dela Fontaine 3:00 pm
Les Quatre Cent Coups 5:30 pm
Van Gogh 8:00 pm

DAN IN REAL LIFE

Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dan Cook, Dianne Wiest, John Mahoney, Emily Blunt

"Something is happening to Dan. It's confusing.
It's awkward. It's family."

HBO

Dan (Steve Carell) is a widower and father of 3 daughters. He earns a living by writing an advice column. This is his story. He is an ordinary guy. A bit of a loner until he meets Marie (Juliette Binoche). But there is a problem. It turns out that "the woman at the bookstore" is none other than his brother's girlfriend. Poor Dan. To make matters worse, he has to endure a weekend with his entire family consisting of his parents, his siblings, their wives, a whole bunch of nieces, nephews and of course - Marie!

This family themed romantic comedy is totally predictable yet it succeeds due to the valiant efforts of Steve Carell. He is what I call an "intelligent comic". He can be funny (without resorting to slapstick or vulgar humor) one second and then be serious in another frame, effortlessly. Thankfully, he was able to overshadow Dan Cook in most of their scenes together. I couldn't grasp the concept that Dan Cook and Steve Carell could be siblings nor the fact that Juliette Binoche was cast as Dan Cook's love interest. In that sense, the film was predictable because of course Dan is much better suited for Marie. They have so much in common. They look good together. So naturally they will end up together.

So give or take a few dragging sequences, this film was a delight to watch. It had a solid ensemble cast headed by Carell and Binoche. Their performances as a group was infectious and rowdy as large families are expected to be. I, specifically like the 3 daughters of Dan. They conveyed with firm conviction the various hang ups/pitfalls of being nurtured by a widower.

The soundtrack was filled with fun upbeat songs. Well except for the really silly corny songs which Dan Cook would enforce on our eardrums. Pure torture, I tell you. Yes it is pretty apparent I don't like Dan Cook! Heh!

The storyline although predictable (yes I repeat myself a lot!) was coherent and uncomplicated.

I conclude by saying that when Dan uttered this line:

What don't I understand, Cara? Please, help me out. What is it? Is it frustrating that you can't be with this person? That there's something keeping you apart? That there's something about this person that you can connect with? And whenever you're near this person, you don't know what to say, and you say everything that's in your mind and in your heart, and you know that if you could just be together, that this person would help you become the best possible version of yourself?

I smiled and nodded in agreement.

NE LE DIS A PERSONNE (TELL NO ONE)

Francois Cluzet, Marie-Josee Croze, Kristin Scott Thomas,
Jean Rochefort, Francois Berleand

"8 years ago, Alex's wife was murdered. Today ... She e-mailed him!"

Star Movies

Every Friday nights of May, Star Movies shows a French movie as a tribute to the ongoing Cannes film festival.

This week, the featured film is a gripping thriller guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. That is, if you can keep up with the numerous twists and turns which kept cropping up during the film. That said, it was still well presented and nicely edited in a coherent, dramatic fashion albeit with the occasional slow paced scenes. Despite being a thriller with various nuances of a whodunit crime story, it is also a narrative of a poignant love story that endures through time. An interesting observation is how some scenes would focus on powerful images of scenery without any characters in it yet convey so much to the audience in terms of providing clues. Shots which make you go "ohhh, right! Now I get it"!

The characters are well developed and multi-dimensional and portrayed by believable and serious French actors. Actors who use subtle yet expressive facial expressions to convey their emotions. A bit too many characters though to hold your concentration, if you ask me.

Setting varies from the chaotic urban jungle to serene rustic surroundings. Dialogue is entirely in French with English subtitles for the non Francophone viewers.

It has been a while since I got enthralled by a French film. So I was glad I caught this thriller from start to finish. A movie which doesn't disappoint. A narrative with all the right ingredients. A solid believable plot. Interesting characters. Crisp cinematography. Under the able direction of Guillaume Canet, a French actor/director who starred in "Joyeux Noel" a war themed masterpiece and "Mon Idole" a quirky dark humor comedy. Two French film I had the good fortune of watching at past French film festivals in town.

ANGELS & DEMONS

Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgard,
Armin Mueller Stahl, Pierfrancesco Favino

"The holiest event of our time. Perfect for their return."

Cinema 9, Robinsons Galleria

I read this Dan Brown fictional novel and actually preferred it over "The Da Vinci Code".

It is set in Rome and the Vatican in particular. A place I've visited several times and never grow tired from exploring its many nooks and crannies. A beguiling city steeped with historical, architectural and religious splendor.
The narrative is laden with intriguing stories of a secret society called the Illuminati. Who doesn't love them conspiracy theories? Throw in a side plot of an invention called the Anti Matter which could revolutionize the science world.
It also brought back Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) to solve another mystery which strives on cryptic symbols with implied meanings and have him chase for clues all around Rome which is now a massive crime scene!

So I was indeed looking forward to the film adaptation which is brought to you by the same team which thrilled us with "The Da Vinci Code", Ron Howard and Tom Hanks. Suffice to say, I found myself also liking this film way better than the previous offering.

For one, it took liberties in veering away from some aspects of the novel without compromising on the main story. It was still fast paced, suspenseful and full of intrigue.

Secondly, the slick cinematography was spot on. From wide shot angles of the Vatican, the narrow streets of Rome to the picturesque tourist attractions like the majestic fountains and the obelisks, everything was authentically captured visually. A feast of cutting edge technology and digital imagery spliced with real gorgeous locales. I was especially impressed with the way they portrayed the Archives department of the Vatican. Great scenes with very artistic and descriptive images of a place I believe very few have actually set foot in.

Thirdly, the cast were all in sync. From the main characters of Langdon (Tom Hanks), Vittoria (Ayelet Zurer) and the Camerlengo to the supporting roles, they were all convincing. Tom Hanks is in his best element as the symbologist Langdon. And dare I say his hairdo has also improved in a nice aesthetic manner. Ewan McGregor was subtly subdued. I did expect a more 'hysterical' (for lack of a better word) performance from him as the Camerlengo. If you read the book, you might grasp what I'm talking about. You also have steady performances from Stellan Skarsgard and veteran actor Armin Mueller-Stahl.

Fourth, the various side plots did complement the main story line. The international feel of the book was well presented in the film. Some characters speaking in different languages with English subtitles, of course. I wish though that they allotted more imagery on the 4 Cardinals in "captivity". The gripping torture scenes in the novel were very descriptive and highly symbolic. They were the best parts in the book, for me. That might be my sadistic side talking but I guess it was too graphic to be shown on screen. There were also some really incredulous scenes which looked good on paper (in the novel) but they were totally off key and too grandiose on screen. But overall the story line was coherent and solid with a good musical score added on for some exciting dramatic effect.

Lastly, there has been a lot of controversy over the main subject matter of the book and now the film. I watched it with my husband who has not read the novel. He has always had a philosophical view about life and everything else in general so give or take a few valid observations he made about the 'flaws' of the film, he did enjoy it nonetheless. The fact remains that despite the many critiques of how Catholicism and in particular the Holy Church is portrayed, my belief and my faith as a Roman Catholic remains intact. It won't take a film nor a novel to convince me, otherwise.

On that note, I do recommend the film. See it for what it is - pure entertainment! Nothing more and nothing less!

AUSTRALIA

Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Bryan Brown, David Gulpilil,
Jack Thompson, David Wenham, Brandon Walters

I love Hugh Jackman. But apparently not enough to watch his antics in Wolverine. Heh. Well I'm not into superheroes or mutants or whatever Wolverine is, period.

So I settled for "Australia". An epic masterpiece from the ultimate Australian director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet). And I wasn't disappointed one single bit.

The cinematography was fantastic. The wide angle shots of gorgeous Aussie landscape was breathtaking. The film was peppered with aerial shots of the barren land gleaming with a wide array of colors. There were also vibrant scenes of the city of Darwin in the early 1940s. The war scenes were also very devastatingly authentic.

The characters wore the appropriate wardrobe depicting that era. From the elegant clothes of Nicole Kidman to the rugged dressing style of Hugh Jackman, everything was well portrayed.

The mostly Australian cast all projected well on screen. Kudos goes to the young boy who portrays the half cast aborigine, Nullah. He seemed very professional for his first acting job. His expressive facial features, his perfect diction (very evident as his voice narrates the story) and his natural acting skills all contributed to making Nullah such a sympathetic and endearing character.

Of course the very attractive Nicole Kidman with her porcelain skin, her pouty lips and her really thin waistline was a joy to watch. Even though there are times when her character came out as a caricature of the typical snobbish English aristocrat. But she redeems herself towards the end with really heavy dramatic sequences.

Hugh Jackman well he was perfect in his role as the Drover. He is tall, dashingly handsome and very eloquent whether dressed to the nines or in rugged attire. He reminds me of the consummate Hollywood actor of the golden era. The likes of Cary Grant and Rock Hudson. So you can't blame me if I was swooning over him like some giggling high school girl. Although it was a bit strange that we never find out his real name!

The plot was quite long. Playing at 2 hours and 45 minutes, of course there would be some scenes which should have been edited. But it had all the right ingredients to make it an epic. You have an enduring love story with enough conflicts to cause a war. Heavy drama tinged with tragedy. Some historical angles about the Australian government's treatment of the aborigines as well as the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese during World World 2. Simply amazing cinematography. Plus the ingenious part of paying tribute to one of the most recognized songs in cinema history "Somewhere over the Rainbow" from the classic movie "Wizard of Oz". The song with its various versions carried the perfect tune for the entire film.

I conclude by saying that even though the film did come across as a fancy romp through the Australian outback for Lady Sara Ashley (Nicole Kidman) and the Drover (Hugh Jackman) or one very long glossy ad campaign for the Land Down Under, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hugh Jackman totally rocks!

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, Debra Winger

Well the title basically reveals most of the plot but if you expect this film to be about a fun wedding, you might get disappointed. No wait! The wedding itself was loads of fun in an ethnic way with an Indian theme (even though neither of them were from the Subcontinent) with enchanting music to regale the multicultural guests. The wedding entourage were dressed in traditional Indian garb like the sari (for the bride and bridesmaid) and the kurta for the groom.

It was the presence of the bride's sister Kym (Anne Hathaway) who sort of 'ruined' the wedding. Kym is a recovering addict who leaves rehab for the weekend of her sister Rachel's wedding. And as recovering addicts in family gathering situations go, she is being the typical headache to deal with. A conflicted person laden with self pity, lack of attention syndrome and grasping with her personal demons to boot.

The film has a lot of depth and soul with the poignant bonding sessions of the two sisters. It is an interesting case study too of two individuals who despite their glaring personality differences are related to each other. The wedding preparations scenes were comfy to watch. A personal tragedy though kept rearing its ugly head. The heavy drama enveloping the family was a bit too dramatic (for lack of a better word) for my taste. There were also some really long scenes which dragged on endlessly which should have been edited out for fluidity sake.

The ensemble cast exuded a subdued vibe even though there were a number of dramatic scenes to rile up their personalities. The presence of Debra Winger as the estranged mother of the bride was a nice surprise. She still registers well on screen and it was good to see her act again albeit now in those aloof motherly roles.
Kudos goes to Anne Hathaway for her realistic portrayal of Kym, a 'lost' soul. It was refreshing to watch her in a solid and mature role. A far cry from her sweet girl next door, fairy tale types. And I guess it is about time she developed into a serious actress.

There is nothing like a wedding to bring out the best and the worst in people, sometimes. A happy yet also very emotional moment to cherish the good times as well as try to exorcise the bad memories from life as one embarks on a new journey on the path of commitment, responsibility and marital bliss. This film was realistic enough to showcase valid nuances of people's imperfections.