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15 Finalists for 2014 Cinema Eye Honor for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking

Black Out (UK) Directed by Eva Weber

Fifteen documentary short films have been named as finalists for the 2014 Cinema Eye Honor for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking. Nominees in the Short Film category will be announced along with this year’s feature film nominees in November. Awards will be presented at the 7th Annual Cinema Eye Honors in New York City in January.

This year’s finalists includes a previous Cinema Eye winner and two filmmakers who were named to previous Shorts Lists: Laura Poitras, named to this year’s list for her NY Times Op-Doc Death of a Prisoner, was named Outstanding Feature Director in 2011 for The Oath; Yuri Ancarani, on this year’s list for Da Vinci, was nominated in 2012 for Il Capo; and Sergio Oksman, on the 2014 list for A Story for the Modlins, was a finalist for the 2011 Honors for his film Notes on the Other.

Eva Weber, on this year’s list for both Black Out and Reindeer, becomes the first filmmaker ever to have two films named as finalists in the same year in the history of Cinema Eye. If both films were to be nominated, she’d become the first person ever to score two Cinema Eye nominations in the same category in the same year.

The fifteen finalists are:

Black Out (UK)
Directed by Eva Weber

Bradley Manning Had Secrets (UK)
Directed by Adam Butcher

Coffee Time (Elvakaffe) (Sweden)
Directed by Maria Fredriksson

Da Vinci (Italy)
Directed by Yuri Ancarani

Death of a Prisoner (USA)
Directed by Laura Poitras

I Kill (New Zealand)
Directed by David White and Paul Wedel

Magnetic Reconnection (Canada)
Directed by Kyle Armstrong

Marcel, King of Tervuren (USA)
Directed by Tom Schroeder

Nile Perch (USA)
Directed by Josh Gibson

Outlawed in Pakistan (Pakistan / USA)
Directed by Habiba Nosheen and Hilke Schellmann

Pouters (Scotland)
Directed by Paul Fegan

Reindeer (UK)
Directed by Eva Weber

The Roper (USA)
Directed by Ewan McNicol and Anna Sandilands

Slomo (USA)
Directed by Josh Izenberg

A Story for the Modlins (Spain)
Directed by Sergio Oksman

Finalists for the Short Filmmaking award were determined in voting by top short film/documentary programmers from international film festivals. Members of this year’s Short Film Nominations Committee included Karen Cirillo (True/False Film Festival), Charlotte Cook (Hot Docs), Hussain Currimbhoy (Sheffield Doc/Fest), Claudette Godfrey (SXSW), Ben Fowlie (Camden International Film Festival), Ted Mott (Full Frame), Veton Nurkollari (Dokufest Kosovo), Rachel Rosen (San Francisco), Sky Sitney (AFI Silverdocs) and Kim Yutani (Sundance).
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New Indie Films, Documentaries in Theaters This Weekend Friday September 27

We’re almost in October, so that means we can look forward to indie horror films trying to squeeze themselves onto the release schedule. We get two this week, along with a pair of interesting documentaries and some other indie and foreign releases. As always, check your local art house theaters to see when these might be coming to your area.

WE ARE WHAT WE ARE

A horrific family drama from director Jim Mickle (he directed the sci-fi/horror films Stake Land and Mulberry Street), We Are What We Are is about a family that keeps to itself because it adheres to traditions that modern society would doubtlessly reject. However, life begans to change for the daughters of the family when a storm hits their town and it becomes harder to keep family secrets to themselves. So far, reviews have been very positive for this one.

AS I LAY DYING

Perhaps the most humorous aspect of this adaptation of William Faulkner’s classic 1930 novel – which has never been previously adapted – is that it was recently re-released with James Franco’s photo on the cover to coincide with the film’s release. Franco not only stars but also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. It’s gotten so-so reviews from critics so far after debuting at this year’s Cannes, so perhaps Franco bit off more than he can chew at this point of his career.

INEQUALITY FOR ALL (Documentary)

In the wake of the economic recession that started in 2008, one of the results of the “recovery” is that the economic gap is getting wider. In other words, the mega-rich are getting richer and the middle class are getting poorer or, at best, seeing little economic growth. Inequality For All follows Robert Reich, who served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, as he looks at the problems caused by this economic disparity. It won a Special Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance, where it premiered to rave reviews.

THE CITIZEN

Despite playing at a number of film festivals, few reviews on The Citizen have come out yet. But it’s undoubtedly harrowing material about an Arab immigrant who arrives in New York City on September 10, 2001. Based on a true story and co-written/directed by first time feature filmmaker Sam Kadi, this drama can be difficult to stomach at times for those who remember the fearful aftermath of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history.

OUT IN THE DARK

Similar to last weekend’s Zaytoun, Out in the Dark is about the unlikely relationship between an Israeli and a Palestinian. However, where this film differs is that it isn’t about the friendship between a man and a boy, this is about the hidden forbidden romance between two men. It has won a number of awards at international film festivals after premiering at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, though some critics have called it a bit predictable.

DARK TOUCH

Dark Touch is a horror film about the evil of child abuse and how a frightened, abused child uses her telekinesis to get revenge on those who seek to harm her… and even help her. I saw it at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, and it honestly was one of the most unpleasant experiences I’ve ever had watching a movie — and I don’t mean that in a good way. Not for the faint of heart, or maybe anyone with a heart at all.

MUSCLE SHOALS (Documentaries)

Muscle Shoals, Alabama might be the music industry’s best-kept secret. After all, who would ever expect that some of the most soulful music ever, recorded was done in two small recording studios in a tiny town in Alabama? This documentary talks to some of music’s biggest legends as they tell the story of how FAME Studios became one of the most successful recording studios in the history of rock music. I’ve seen dozens of music documentaries, and this is one of my recent favorites.

Other notable weekend indie, foreign & documentary releases:

ON THE JOB

MORNING

THERESE

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Review: MUSCLE SHOALS

As a huge music fan who nevertheless can’t play a note, I always enjoy watching documentaries about behind the scenes details about the music business and how the greatest records of all time were recorded. While there are hundreds of music documentaries, many are fairly pedestrian and focus on household names who have sold millions of records and whose stories are already well-known. The stars of MUSCLE SHOALS, a documentary about two prolific recording studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, certainly have had that “sold millions of records” part down since the 1960s, but their lives have been anything but open books.

If you ever wondered what Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant meant by the lines “In Muscle Shoals they got the Swampers/And they’ve been known to pick a song or two” in Sweet Home Alabama, the documentary MUSCLE SHOALS has the answer. The town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama became a somewhat unlikely major hub of soul, R&B and rock music beginning in the early 1960s with FAME Studios, which was founded by native Rick Hall. Hall is a seemingly ancient producer who overcame a life full of tragedy to turn his town into a recoding juggernaut. The list of world-famous musicians who recorded major hit songs in Muscle Shoals is nearly endless, with many of them commenting on their work in the town in the documentary, including Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Gregg Allman, and The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards and Mick Jagger.

So what’s the reason why an out-of-the-way studio became such a mecca for great music? The documentary offers many explanations about the environment, but the true reason is that the house musicians for FAME Studios developed a powerful sound that has been impossible to find anywhere else in the decades since. It’s the kind of music that gives you chills if you sit down and really absorb it. The documentary goes into depth about these musicians, particularly because the group of white guys behind the instruments seem to be the furthest thing from “soul” musicians on the planet.

Because of this, the documentary serves as a spectacular journey through American R&B and soul music of the 1960s and 1970s. Naturally the documentary focuses on the hey-day of Muscle Shoals, and there’s little said about the records made here since aside from recent footage of Alicia Keys recording a Bob Dylan song that Dylan originally recorded here (and oddly U2’s Bono appears numerous times in the documentary though he never recorded music here). However, it’s an incredible ride. In particular, I’m impressed by the participation of world-famous musicians as “talking heads” – Keith Richards, one of my all-time idols, is particularly hysterical as usual – rather than relying on “music journalists” to tell second-hand stories as so many documentaries do.

The only aspect of worry is that first-time director Greg “Freddy” Camalier has set an extremely high bar for himself. I don’t know how he’ll ever be able to follow up this supremely entertaining and informative documentary with his next film. However, after seeing Muscle Shoals I know I’ll be in line to see what he does next.

Review Rating: 4 out of 5 : See it …… It’s Very Good

http://youtu.be/mmM–aUROQc

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European Film Academy to Honor Catherine Deneuve

Catherine Deneuve will be honored with the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD by the European Film Academy for “her outstanding body of work.” Catherine Deneuve will be an honorary guest at the 26th European Film Awards Ceremony on December 7th, 2013, in Berlin.

Catherine Deneuve has starred in over 100 films, among them DANCER IN THE DARK by Lars von Trier, 8 FEMMES (earning her a Silver Bear in Berlin and a European Film Award) and POTICHE by François Ozon, UN CONTE DE NOËL by Arnaud Desplechin and PALAIS ROYAL by Valérie Lemercier. She can currently be seen in Emmanuelle Bercot’s ELLE S’EN VA (On my Way) and is now shooting TROIS COEURS by Benoît Jacquot.
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SHORT TERM 12, Director Destin Cretton Newest Film Among 14 Projects Selected as Finalists for San Francisco Film Society / Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grant

Destin Cretton

14 narrative feature films finalists have been selected for the latest round of the (San Francisco Film Society) SFFS/ Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grant. SFFS / KRF Filmmaking Grants are awarded twice annually to film projects that will have significant economic or professional impact on the Bay Area filmmaking community.

Recent SFFS / KRF Filmmaking Grant winners include SHORT TERM 12, Destin Cretton’s sophomore feature which won both the Narrative Grand Jury Award and Audience Award at South by Southwest 2013 and is currently in theaters nationwide; Ryan Coogler’s debut feature FRUITVALE STATION, which won the Un Certain Regard Avenir Prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the narrative category at Sundance 2013, has had a wildly successful two-month theatrical run and is an Oscar hopeful in multiple categories; and BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, Benh Zeitlin’s debut phenomenon which won Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize and Cannes’ Camera d’Or in 2012, earned four Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture) and became an indie box office smash.

FINALISTS

DOCTOR
Musa Syeed, director/producer/writer; Nicholas Bruckman, coproducer — screenwriting
Salim, a disgraced young doctor from India, will do anything to rebuild his former life. But when he starts practicing medicine illegally in New York, he’s drawn into a medical underworld where he risks losing everything.

ESCAPE FROM MORGANTOWN
Peter Nicks, writer/director — screenwriting
A young addict arrives at a federal prison camp with a plan to turn his life around, but is drawn into the intoxicating world of a crew of seasoned inmates.

THE FIXER
Ian Olds, writer/director; Caroline von Kuhn, producer — packaging
An Afghan journalist is exiled from his war-torn country to a small bohemian community in Northern California. When he attempts to turn his menial job on the local police blotter into “Afghan-style” coverage of local crime he gets drawn into the backwoods of this small town-a shadow Northern California where sex is casual, true friendship is hard to come by, and an unfamiliar form of violence burbles up all around him.

G.E.Z.I.
Aslihan Unaldi, writer/director — postproduction
This political and psychological drama is a fictionalized account of the dramatic night when a peaceful demonstration in Istanbul’s Gezi Park turned into a major national uprising. The story follows three main characters: a strong, liberal woman, her idealistic boyfriend and her apolitical ex-lover. As intricate layers of past secrets are revealed, deeper insight is gained into their characters and situation, which is closely intertwined with the political events accelerating around them.

HELLION
Kat Candler, writer/director; Jonathan Duffy and Kelly Williams, producers — postproduction
When his delinquent behavior forces his little brother to be taken away, a motocross-obsessed teenager and his emotionally absent father must take responsibility for their destructive behavior to bring him home.

KICKS
Justin Tipping, writer/director; Joshua Astrachan, David Kaplan and Adele Romanski, producers — preproduction
Fifteen-year-old Brandon, from a rough part of Richmond, California, has always been picked on. He has survived by running away from trouble all his life. But after getting jumped over a new pair of kicks, Brandon recruits his two best friends to join him on a mission to get his shoes back. The odyssey they embark on is at once the night of their lives and a gamble with life-and-death stakes.

LITTLE ACCIDENTS
Sara Colangelo writer/director; Jason Michael Berman, Anne Carey, Thomas B. Fore and Summer Shelton, producers — postproduction
In a small American coal town, the disappearance of a boy draws a young miner, the lonely wife of a mine executive and a local 14-year-old together in a web of secrets.

LOS VALIENTES / THE BRAVE ONES
Aurora Guerrero, writer/director; Chad Burris, producer — packaging
Felix Lopez is gay, undocumented and living in San Francisco until his family obligations move him across the country to a small Pennsylvania mining town to join his undocumented sister. Once there, alienated by local and family politics, Felix finds unexpected solace in the company of one person: his sister’s husband.

LOVE LAND
Joshua Tate, writer/director/producer; Andrew Richey, producer — postproduction
Love Land follows Ivy, a young woman with a severe traumatic brain injury, as she faces her refusal to be identified as a person with an intellectual disability. When she is placed in an institution for being a danger to herself and others, Ivy will stop at nothing to prove to the world — and to herself — that she is “normal” enough to transcend the label of “special.”

MA
Destin Cretton, writer/director — screenwriting
After being a mom for 30 years, Jan is forced to deal with the fact that her youngest son has finally left the nest. On a road-trip down the Oregon Coast, she begins to learn what it means to live life after motherhood.

MANOS SUCIAS
Josef Wladyka, writer/director; Elena Greenlee and Márcia Nunes, producers — postproduction
A desperate fisherman and a naive young man embark on a dangerous journey trafficking drugs up the Pacific coast of Colombia. Hidden beneath the waves, they tow a narco-torpedo filled with millions of dollars worth of cocaine. Together they must brave the war-torn region while navigating the growing tension between them.

START AT THE END
Jonah Markowitz, writer/director — packaging
Start at The End is a character-driven drama that explores the similarities between the family we are born into and the one that we create. The story begins with a tragic accident that results in a gay couple becoming caretakers of their teenaged niece and nephew. As grief catapults all four onto seemingly individual paths of despair and discovery, the inherent bond of family contains these journeys into one that is shared.

TERRIBLE LOVE
Christopher Thomas, writer/director; Luke Helmer, producer — postproduction
When her wounded husband returns home from Iraq with violent PTSD, a devoted wife must choose between her daughter’s safety and the preservation of her marriage.

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ZERO CHARISMA to NY Premiere at New York Comic Con | TRAILER

New York Comic Con (NYCC) will host a special premiere of ZERO CHARISMA on opening night of New York Comic Con, which will take place at the Javits Center in New York City, Thursday, October 10 to Sunday October 13, 2013. Directors Katie Graham and Andrew Matthews and star of the film, Sam Eidson, will be in attendance. Zero Charisma world premiered at SXSW Film Festival where it won the Audience Award in the Narrative Spotlight category.

As the strict Game Master of a fantasy role-playing game, Scott (Sam Eidson) leads his friends in a weekly quest through mysterious lands from the safety of his grandmother’s kitchen. But his mastery of his own domain starts to slip — along with everything else in his life — when neo-nerd hipster Miles (Garrett Graham) joins the game, winning over the group with his confident charm and dethroning Scott with an unexpected coup. Caught in delusions of grandeur, Scott must roll the dice and risk everything to expose Miles as the fraud he believes him to be. A darkly comedic fable of epic proportions, Zero Charisma is an ode to nerds from every realm.

“We’re extremely excited to be premiering Zero Charisma at New York Comic Con,” said directors Katie Graham and Andrew Matthews. “It’s hard to believe that this film we shot literally in our backyard last year is about revealed to a wide audience and we any think of a more fitting way to kick it off!”

Beginning September 26, 2013 fans can enter to win limited access tickets to the Zero Charisma screening via this link.

ZERO CHARISMA will be released this Fall beginning October 8, 2013 on cable/telco and satellite video-on-demand platforms, as well as iTunes, Amazon Watch Instantly, VUDU, Xbox, Playstation, and Google Play, followed by a theatrical release on October 11, 2013.

http://youtu.be/2Bun5bJ2nVE
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New Indie Films, Documentaries in Theaters This Weekend Friday September 20

It’s a quieter weekend than usual on the indie release scene this weekend (though September in general is always a quiet month at the multiplex), but what is coming out promises to provide plenty of variety. There are documentaries, romantic comedies, dramas, and even a sequel to one of the most controversial horror films in recent years. So even if there isn’t a lot of films coming out, there truly is something for everyone at the art house cinema this weekend.

GENERATION IRON (Documentary)

The 1977 documentary Pumping Iron remains one of the most influential documentaries ever made — and even it wasn’t, it would still be famous for launching the film career of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Generation Iron is a follow up documentary focusing on the world of bodybuilding thirty-five years later as the top competitors prepare for the Mr. Olympia competition. If you are a fan of Pumping Iron, chances are you’ll love this too.

THANKS FOR SHARING

Though Thanks for Sharing debuted way back at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival and has seen international release already, this New York-based romantic comedy about sex addiction from Stuart Blumberg (writer of The Girl Next Door and The Kids Are All Right) is finally getting a limited U.S. release. It features a number of big names, including Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim Robbins, Josh Gad and even musician Pink.

A SINGLE SHOT

A Single Shot appeared at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and was soon scooped up for distribution by Tribeca Films. Directed by Janie Jones/Falling Up director David M. Rosenthal, A Single Shot stars Sam Rockwell as a lone gunman pursued by criminals in the woods (including William H. Macy). Though it has been available on VOD for a few weeks, this weekend it will be released in limited theaters.

C.O.G.

The most significant thing about C.O.G. is that author David Sedaris has never allowed his work to be adapted before, but he has allowed filmmaker Kyle Patrick Alvarez (2009’s Easier with Practice) to adapt this autobiographical essay with Jonathan Groff in the lead as a man out of his element as a farmer. Since premiering at Sundance it has garnered generally favorable reviews, and it remains to be seen if Sedaris will allow more of his work to be turned into films.

HAUTE CUISINE

This French film about Danièle Delpeuch, who became first official female head chef for the French President made its debut in its home country last summer, and the U.S. is actually one of its last stops on its international release. Critics have expressed concern that it might not play well with American audiences, but if you are a Francophile you should probably be first in line.

+1

Director Dennis Iliadis is best known for his last movie, the horror film The Last House on the Left, and while +1 is more of a twisted thriller than a horror film it still should satisfy those who enjoyed his previous film. Three college friends go to a huge party that goes “WTF” pretty quickly when the party gets caught in a time loop. Though it premiered at SXSW this year, there hasn’t been much word on the film yet.

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE 2

When it comes to recent cult classic horror films, few have been as popular — or talked about — as 2010’s I Spit on Your Grave about a woman seeking harsh revenge on her former tormentors. Director Steven R. Monroe (who, believe it or not, used to work the camera on Pee-wee’s Playhouse) returns to direct the sequel from new writers Neil Elman and Thomas Fenton. Though it isn’t directly connected to the original, it follows the same theme and a similar storyline. Though it is only being release theatrically in Los Angeles, it will be available on DVD next week.

ZAYTOUN

In a sort of “can’t we all just get along?” vein, this UK/Israel production that debuted at 2012’s Toronto International Film Festival tells the story of a young soccer-loving Palestinian refugee and his friendship with an Israeli fighter pilot (played by Stephen Dorff) whom he helps escape capture. Some critics have called it a bit sappy, but there’s obviously a good message here that the filmmakers are trying to get across.

OTHER NOTABLE WEEKEND INDIE, FOREIGN & DOCUMENTARY RELEASES:

WEEKENDER

JEWTOPIA

THE SHORT GAME (Documentary)

MEN AT LUNCH (Documentary)

AFTER TILLER (Documentary)

MY LUCKY STAR

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Pedro Almodóvar to be Honored by European Film Academy

The European Film Academy will honor director Pedro Almodóvar with the honorary award EUROPEAN ACHIEVEMENT IN WORLD CINEMA for his outstanding body of work. Pedro Almodóvar will be an honorary guest at the 26th European Film Awards Ceremony on December 7, 2013 in Berlin.

“I am very thankful for this award. From its creation, the European Film Academy has been very generous with me and my closest collaborators,” stated Pedro Almodóvar upon receiving the news, “I share with them the joy of this award”.
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Hong Kong Cinema Festival in San Francisco to Feature US Premieres, Kung-Fu Tribute, Opens With “BENDS”

A scene from Flora Lau’s BENDS, the Opening Night film at Hong Kong Cinema, October 4-6 at the Vogue Theatre.

The San Francisco Film Society will kick off its Fall Season with the third annual Hong Kong Cinema festival, October 4 to 6, 2013, at the Vogue Theatre (3290 Sacramento Street). Kicking off the festival is Opening Night film BENDS, the debut full-length production from Flora Lau that features a knockout lead performance from Carina Lau. HK icons appear throughout this year’s festival, including superstar Andy Lau (BLIND DETECTIVE), Chow Yun-fat (THE LAST TYCOON), Aaron Kwok (CONSPIRATORS) and Cantopop sensations Grasshopper and Softhard, subjects of the music documentary THE GREAT WAR. Kung-fu fans will delight in the big-screen presentation of THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, the universally celebrated martial arts classic that has inspired such luminaries as Quentin Tarantino and the Wu-Tang Clan. The 2013 edition includes an exciting tribute to Lau Kar-leung (aka Liu Chia-liang), the late master of kung-fu fight choreography responsible for many of the beloved genre’s most important works.

BENDS    Opening Night Film
Flora Lau (Hong Kong 2013)
Featured in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, Flora Lau’s debut feature tells the dual story of a chauffeur trying to find a way for his wife on the mainland to give birth in Hong Kong and the wealthy woman he works for who is hiding the disappearance of her husband (and her money) from family and friends. With two terrific lead performances — particularly Carina Lau as the immaculately dressed and coiffed Anna Li, whose hauteur keeps her from opening up to anyone except her driver — and spectacular cinematography by Christopher Doyle, Bends depicts the desperation hidden underneath the glittering surfaces of modern Hong Kong. Written by Flora Lau. Cinematography by Christoper Doyle. With Carina Lau, Chen Kun. 92 min. In Cantonese and Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Distribution Workshop.

BLIND DETECTIVE    U.S. Premiere
Johnnie To (Man tam, Hong Kong 2013)

A delirious mix of comedy, mystery and romance, Johnnie To’s brand-new film offers superstar Andy Lau as the titular protagonist, a rather hapless investigator with a singular skill — his handicap allows him to “visualize” the very particular details of a crime scene. When he teams up with an admiring and athletically adept female police inspector named Ho, they find that their respective skills complement one another perfectly. As they search for Ho’s childhood friend Minnie who disappeared 20 years prior and other cases crop up in the process, an increasingly romantic attraction grows between the two detectives. Written by Wai Ka-fai, Yau Nai-hoi, Ryker Chan, Yu Xi. Cinematography by Cheng Siu-keung. With Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng. 129 min. In Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Media Asia Film Distribution (HK).

THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN
Lau Kar-leung (Shao Lin san shi liu fang, Hong Kong 1977)

The recent death of martial arts legend Lau Kar-leung (aka Liu Chia-liang) warrants a tribute screening of this essential kung-fu film directed by Lau himself. Starring the filmmaker’s frequent collaborator Liu Chia-hui (aka Gordon Liu), the story involves a student at the Shaolin monastery who undertakes grueling martial arts training in order to wreak vengeance on the marauders who occupied his village. With astonishing fight choreography by director Lau, the film has influenced legions of artists including the Wu-Tang Clan and Quentin Tarantino and was selected by Black Belt magazine as the third-best martial arts film of all time. Written by Ni Kuang. Cinematography by Arthur Wong. With Gordon Liu, Lieh Lo, Yang Yu, Wang Yu. 119 min. In Mandarin and Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Celestial Pictures.

THE LAST TYCOON
Wong Jing (Da Shanghai, Hong Kong 2012)



Grand passions meet turbulent times in this sumptuous historical epic set predominantly in 1930s Shanghai. The film traces the rise of a rural-born fruit seller named Cheng Daqi (Chow Yun-fat in the later scenes) who becomes a powerful crime lord with constantly shifting allegiances. While Daqi’s story and his love for two different women is the main focus, The Last Tycoon also details the fraught relationship between China and Japan during this period, climaxing with the devastating Battle of Songhu. The film also features HK icon Sammo Hung in a memorable supporting role as a corrupt cop. Written by Wong Jing, Manfred Wong, Lui Koon-nam. Cinematography by Jason Kwan, Andrew Lau. With Chow Yun-fat, Monica Mok, Sammo Hung. 118 min. In Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Distribution Workshop.

THE GREAT WAR: DIRECTOR’S CUT
Yan Yan Mak (Hong Kong 2013)

If you missed the October 2012 showdown between Hong Kong superstar pop groups Grasshopper and Softhard, this entertaining documentary captures each members’ thoughts and feelings about the event, explores attendees’ obsessions and presents vivid onstage moments from the show. While Grasshopper is a fairly typical Cantopop group — led by the perfectionist Remus Choy — Softhard displays more of a hip-hop edge, incorporating political satire and ribald humor into their act. Featuring lengthy interviews with the five main band members interspersed with terrific live footage, it’s an entertaining look at the international phenomenon of the Hong Kong pop scene. Cinematography by Jam Yau, Harry Lee, Amos Wong, Stanley Tam, Noah Wong, Chun Wong. 85 min. In Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Dragonfly J.

THE EIGHT DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER
Lau Kar-leung (Wu Lang ba gua gun, Hong Kong 1984)

This kung-fu classic is one of the Shaw Brothers’ most spectacular presentations and features the same actor/director team as The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Here, Gordon Liu’s character seeks to avenge the death of family members who are ambushed and slaughtered by Tartars in the remarkable opening sequence. Having escaped the attack, he retreats to a monastery where he must convince the abbot he is worthy of receiving training in special pole-fighting techniques. In a rousing climax, he puts his training to vivid use in order to rescue his sister who has been kidnapped by the same marauding Tartars. Written by Liu Chia-liang, Ni Kuang. Cinematography by Tsao An-shun. With Wang Yu, Gordon Liu, Alexander Fu, Sheng Liu. 97 min. In Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Celestial Pictures.

A COMPLICATED STORY    International Premiere
Kiwi Chow (Hong Kong 2013)

Yazi Liu is a young woman from mainland China studying in Hong Kong who takes a lucrative gig as a surrogate mother. She is kept in a private apartment with a personal assistant, and the identities of the parents are kept from her. But when her contract is abruptly terminated and identities are revealed on both sides, Liu is forced to make a series of life-altering decisions. Made by a crew comprised predominantly of students from the School of Film & Television and executive produced by Johnnie To and Bill Kong, A Complicated Story portrays issues of class and sexuality with texture and style. Written by Kei Shu, Kiwi Chow. Cinematography by Ying Zhang. With Jacky Cheung, Zhiying Zhu, Stephanie Che, Zi Yi. 108 min. In Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Edko Films.

CONSPIRATORS    North American Premiere
Oxide Pang (Tóngmóu, Hong Kong/China 2013)

In this action-packed mystery/thriller, Malaysian-born Chan Tam (Aaron Kwok) returns to his native soil to track down the men who murdered his parents 30 years earlier. To help him navigate the treacherous underworld, he enlists local PI Zheng (Nick Cheung). As they uncover a dense web of nefarious behavior, both men’s familial histories come into play. The film’s several tense action sequences, including Tam’s remarkable escape from an office building and a speeding train are bolstered by Kwok and Cheung’s humorous rapport and the nifty international locales. Written by Ng Mang-cheung, Oxide Pang, Thomas Pang. Cinematography by Decha Srimantra. With Aaron Kwok, Nick Cheung, Yi Yan Jiang. 102 min. In Cantonese and Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Universe Films Distribution.

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Betti Page Documentary “BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL” Gets a November Release Date | TRAILER

Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Mark Mori’s BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL will open in theaters in New York City and Los Angeles on November 29, 2013 before expanding to additional markets. BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL is described as an intimate look at one of the world’s most recognized sex symbols, featuring Bettie Page herself telling her story for the first time in her own words.

In Mori’s documentary, the real Bettie Page emerges from the veil of myth and rumor via interviews Mori taped a decade prior to her death in 2008. With earthy, razor sharp wit, Bettie tells her life story — from humble beginnings as one of six children born to an impoverished southern family, to high school salutatorian, to her career as a scandalous 50s pin-up model. The film also uncovers previously unknown details about Bettie’s short-lived first marriage and many torrid affairs, told from both her and her lovers’ perspectives. We follow her story through her sudden retirement at the peak of her modeling career in 1957, and discover a strange tale of decades of broken marriages, born-again Christianity, and bouts of mental illness, before ultimately resurfacing in the public eye in the early 90’s, unaware of her cult status.

With a stunning array of photographs, archival material and movie footage, BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL shows how Page’s unabashed sexual expression and provocative poses set the stage for the 1960s sexual revolution and ushered in a modern era in fashion. The film definitively demonstrates why, for stars like Katy Perry and Beyonce, and for new generations of fans, Bettie remains an irresistible style icon. Revealingly, Forbes in 2012 listed her as one of the top ten posthumous celebrity earners.

http://youtu.be/12M1LnIGfWk
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Honduran Film “GARIFUNA IN PERIL” at 8th Annual CaribbeanTales Toronto Film Showcase | TRAILER

GARIFUNA IN PERIL directed by Filmmakers Alí Allié and Ruben Reyes from Honduras will be one of the highlights of the 8th Annual CaribbeanTales Toronto Film Showcase, September 4 – 14, 2013.

This film follows a Garifuna language teacher, Ricardo, who struggles to preserve his endangered Afro-Amerindian culture by building a language school back in his home village in Honduras, Central America. A business venture with his brother designed to raise money for the school’s construction becomes complicated by the expansion plans of a nearby tourist resort into indigenous territory. Historical parallels are invoked as Ricardo’s son rehearses a stage play about the Garifuna people’s last stand against British colonialism over 200 years ago in their motherland, the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean.

GARIFUNA IN PERIL features strong debut performances by Garifuna actors from Honduras, Belize and the USA, and is the first dramatic feature film with a majority of its dialogue in Garifuna (a language proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity). The film examines family strife and the tensions between tradition and assimilation. These challenges, along with defending the integrity of ancestral lands from exploitative interests, are the focal point of the film’s message, highlighting realities not only for the Garifuna, but all indigenous peoples worldwide.

The Garifuna are a mix of West African and Carib-Arawak Indian people who originated on the island of St. Vincent in the 17th Century, and are considered indigenous to the Americas. They were exiled from the island in 1797 by the British and now live in the coastal regions of Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the United States.

http://youtu.be/NQs5m9haasM
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New Indie Films, Documentaries in Theaters This Weekend Friday September 13

We’re a few weeks away from the fall weekends when the major studios release their Oscar contenders (both expensive and indie in origin), so you ought to try and see a few more indie films coming out this weekend that might soon be overshadowed by movies with more “weight” behind them and expensive marketing campaigns. Remember, though these films are being initially released this weekend they may not be in your area yet. Check your local theater times and your VOD outlets of choice to see if you can view them now!

PLUSH

I think countless movies and real-life divorce proceedings have hammered home the idea that one shouldn’t marry a rock star who spends his or her life on the road. Plush is about a young married musician (Emily Browning) who gets involved with her guitarist, only to find her life soon spinning out of control. Unlike most indie films it hasn’t made the festival rounds (and critics haven’t seen it), so there’s no word on it just yet.

http://youtu.be/6uYPx4VpT8o

JAYNE MANSFIELD’S CAR

It’s hard to believe that Billy Bob Thornton hasn’t written directed a film since 2001’s Daddy and Them after he won an Oscar for adapted screenplay for 1996’s awesome Sling Blade. Like Thornton’s previous films, Jayne Mansfield’s Car is a family drama set in the south. It is about a “blended family” who meets for the first time when their shared matriarch — who left her Alabama husband and family for an Englishman and started a second family — passes away. It fits alongside the “Southern Gothic” genre of fiction writers like William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor.

BLUE CAPRICE

Based on the horrifying 2002 Washington DC sniper attacks, Blue Caprice stars Isaiah Washington as gunman John Allen Muhammad who enlisted a young man to help him carrying out his murders. Directed by first-time feature director Alexandre Moore, Blue Caprice premiered at Sundance and has received almost universally positive reviews from critics over the last few months.

WADJDA

Though it’s already been released in most areas around the world, Wadjda is finally getting a limited U.S. release. It’s an important film for many reasons — it’s the first feature film that was entirely shot in Saudi Arabia, and the first feature film written and directed by a female Saudi, Haifaa Al-Mansour. Wadjda takes on the role of women in Saudi society when a young girl seeks to raise enough money to buy a bicycle — even though such ambition (and bike riding itself) by women is frowned upon in Saudi society. This film is obviously a breakthrough in more ways than one.

AND WHILE WE WERE HERE

Though And While We Were Here premiered at last years’ Tribeca Film Festival, I didn’t get a chance to see it. Written and directed by Kate Coiro (Life Happens), And While We Were Here stars Kate Bosworth (who we haven’t seen much since Superman Returns) as a writer who gets involved with a younger man (Jamie Blackley). We’ve been getting a lot of those movies lately, right? Anyway, it’s already available on VOD, but finally gets a theatrical release this weekend.

CHAVEZ CAGE OF GLORY

Written, directed, and starring marital artist/actor Hector Echavarria, Chavez Cage of Glory is about a middle-aged martial artist who becomes an MMA fighter in order to pay his ailing son’s medical bills. It’s hard not to compare it to Rocky, but Rocky didn’t have Danny Trejo in it, did it? The film is only being released in Los Angeles-area theaters at first.

Other notable weekend indie, foreign & documentary releases:

GMO OMG (Documentary)

A STRANGE BRAND OF HAPPY

HARRY DEAN STANTON: PARTLY FICTION (Documentary)

MOTHER OF GEORGE

INFORMANT (Documentary)

FOUR

THE LAST TIME I SAW MACAO

SAMPLE THIS (Documentary)

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