VIMooZ

A critical fave at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival, Julia Loktev’s follow-up to her 2006 “Day Night Day Night,” “Lonliest Planet” starts hunky Mexican star Gael Garcia Bernal as Alex and the fresh faced, confident Nica (Hani Furstenberg)- a couple playfully back-packing through the Caucasus mountains together in Georgia (formerly part of Russia) , led by their wary guide Dato (local, hired guide Bidzina Gujabidze.)

Young, sexy and in love, these two appear to be cozying into a very happy, hipster future together. Until the middle of their trek, when the trio is casually ambushed by two peasants. No t to give the story away, this seemingly quiet yet very impactful event stretches the limits of their relationship, as it comes apart as gently as a tissue thrown away after a good cry before our very eyes. {jathumbnail off}

Lars von Trier was banned from Cannes this year, after a ridiculously off-handed remark about “understanding Hitler” blew up to epic proportions.

“Melancholia,” the latest film in the bratty bad boy’s ever-expanding oeuvre, is truly epic in its own right.

The film opens with a bolt of sound that is Wagner and a truly mesmerizing and lush montage of gorgeous set pieces, which play themselves out later in the film. From there, we dive jumpily right into the wedding day of Kristin Dunst’s Justine, who is marrying an aw-shucks guy who still can’t believe his great luck (Alexander Skarsgard) and is contending with simmering guests and relatives -sharky but cordial boss Stellan Skarsgard, hilariously pissed off wedding planner Udo Kier, truly viperous mom Charlotte Rampling, exasperatingly careless and adorable dad John Hurt, had-it-up-to-here brother-in-law John played by Kiefer Sutherland, (neatly carrying the film on his back at one point,) and ready to explode, and weary, martyrish sis Claire, played by Charlotte Gainsbourg. Justine is also battling, we see as the day wares thin to evening, severe manic depression. {jathumbnail off}

Roman Polanski’s ‘Carnage’ will open the upcoming 49th New York Film Festival scheduled to run September 30 – October 16, 2011. Based on Yasmina Reza’s “God of Carnage”, the 2009 Tony Award-winner for Best Play, ‘Carnage’ follows the events of an evening when two Brooklyn couples are brought together after their children are involved in a playground fight. Produced by Said Ben Said, the Sony Pictures Classics release stars Academy Award winners Jodie Foster, Kate […]