Father Geek here with Robert Bernocchi in Rome and a new rdition of our long running weekly Euro-AICN column...
Hi people. Before introducing the new column, I would like to set the record straight about my commentary on the Cannes Film Festival titles. I talked about a boycotting because many european newspapers have expressed their fear that american studios will stay away from La Croisette. Well, I waited to see the official announcement and make a comparison with the 2002 edition. Well, a year ago we had 3 american movies in competition (About Schmidt, Punch-Drunk Love and Bowling a Columbine) and three out of competition (Hollywood Ending, Attack of the Clones, Murder by Numbers). This year we have 3 american movies in competition (Vincent Gallo’s The Brown Bunny, Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River, Gus Van Sant’s Elephant) and one out of competition (The Matrix Reloaded). I think that there is an obvious worsening both for the amount of movies and for their impact (I’m not talking about quality, of course I didn’t see the movies of this year). I mean, after the importance this festival had last year for such movies as The Pianist and Bowling a Columbine, I expected american companies fighting to have their titles at Cannes this year. Instead, no Tarantino (ok, Kill Bill wasn’t ready), no Altman (he’s not a great fan of the president, but I suppose that Sony pictures has the last word on this subject), no Coen Brothers (who had almost every movie presented at Cannes), no T3. As I said, maybe it’s just a coincidence, but I can’t find any other reason for this situationo except boycotting. Or maybe I’m just paranoid... Or probably I was too disappointed by X2…
A few interesting tidbits from London by our regular Julez...
Hi,
According to icLiverpool, Danny Boyle (director of Trainspotting, 28 Days Later and Shallow Grave) is shooting his next project in Liverpool.
The project, 'Millions' is set in the near future during the transition period as the UK converts from pounds to euros.
The quirky comedy follows two young boys who stumble on the proceeds of a bank robbery, and then struggle with the decision of what to do with the cash with only a week before the conversion to euros makes their loot worthless.
'Millions' will be distributed by Pathe and will involve a 10-week shoot in the city.
Check it all out HERE
Just found this cool picture gallery of the UK premiere of X-Men 2 over on icLiverpool's site. Really nice images, especially the one with the full cast and Bryan Singer.
Thought you may be interested.
Just click now, and you'll be at the premiere
Cool interview with Hugh Jackman up on icLiverpool's site talking about X-Men 2 and a little about Van Helsing.
Click here to hear the jack man's thoughts
Regards,
JD
Rubbyboy is complaining about the german Harry Potter dvd...
hi there
heres something different, its about the dvd of harry potter II
warner is releasing two versions of the dvd in europe
an extra version that is cut only for germany, and the uncut version in the rest of europe.
now germans were able to order the uncut dvd in switzerland through an online dealer there, but that dealer has now been prohibited by warner due to "legal rights problems" to sell dvds and ship em to germany. so now theres a big riot of course of the dvd fans in germany who see their rights "censored", meaning in detail that warner is putting pressure on a swiss dealer to stop shipping so they can sell the own cut version in germany... but of course we don't want cut versions on dvd, do we? regardless whyt kind of film... cuttign movies is censorship! and the german law clearyl states there is no censorship
potter II was already cut for german cinema release to obtain a 6 certificate, rather than a 12, there was PG rating in germany at that time,
the cuts were made mostly at the "tree bashes car" scene and during the endfight.. too scary for kids here in germany under the age of 12...
so warner now releases this cut version to the german market, but the rest of the world gets the uncut verison...
if anything wild happens i keep you updated
if you wanna use it call me rubbi
greets,
rubbi
Last but not least, a review by the excellent James Bartlett...
Phone Booth
Director: Joel Schumacher;
with Colin Farrell, Keifer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Radha Mitchell, Katie
Holmes;
81 mins
Certificate 15
General Release
Following a - justifiable - delayed release due to the real-life motiveless
killings of the two "Washington Snipers," man-of-the-moment Colin Farrell
virtually takes centre stage as Stu Shepherd, a fast-talking, bullshitting
NYC PR man.
Every Tuesday he foregoes his - traceable - mobile phone and steps into a
phone booth and calls Pamela (Katie Holmes), who he has been trying to
seduce for a while. After being interrupted by a pizza deliveryman who
bizarrely, has an order for him, he hangs up. Immediately the phone rings
again - and an altogether different scenario unfolds.
The Caller on the other end of the phone (Keifer Sutherland) says he has a
rifle trained on Stu and proceeds to hold him hostage in the booth,
threatening Stu and those around him whilst the Police (led by Capt. Ramsy -
Forest Whitaker) and Stu's wife (Radha Mitchell) and Pamela arrive to see
what's going on.
Stu's life now hangs on the line as the Caller/sniper makes him confess his
"sins" to his wife, insult the police and basically be a very public
hostage. Can Stu overcome his own vanity and ego in order to save the life
of others? (it's no coincidence that a shop window behind Stu has the slogan
"Who do you think you are?").
A very short running time and virtually one location really cranks up the
tension in this pretty gripping thriller. It has its problems; Sutherland's
villain is a sort of John Doe from "Seven" - but an unconvincing one and a
bit too pantomime for my liking.
The split-screening is very effective but clearly owes something to
Sutherland and his success in 24, but overall it's slicky directed by
Schumacher and Farrell, who has been hailed from on high as TNBT (the next
big thing) but seems to be faltering already, is actually very impressive in
his role, though that means the support actors have little to do - a shame,
especially as Whitaker is always worth watching.
James Bartlett
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