Cool News
A Report on Jean-Pierre Jeunet's A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT!!!
Hey folks, Harry here... I mentioned this film as being one of the top ten anticipated films of 2004 in that article of mine, and the reason is... Jeunet is a genius. For proof, you need only to watch DELICATESSEN, CITY OF LOST CHILDREN and AMELIE.... Watching those 3 films in a row will get you drunk on the joy of cinema. The novel this is based upon is wonderfully bizarre and perfect Jeunet material. It can not get here soon enough in my opinion.
Hi Harry,
I know you appreciate movies done by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. So I send you some news (maybe you know already) about his last feature with Audrey Tautou "A very long engagement". The shooting started last summer in August and will probably finish in January, 2004. The release is still for October in France and December, 2004 in the United States.
The film is based on Sebastien Japrisot's French best-seller telling of the upsetting story of a young woman (Mathilde played by Audrey Tautou) helped by her uncle (Sylvain played by Dominique Pinon, the man in the wheel chair in Alien4) searching for the truth about the disappearance of her lover, court-martialed and left with the enemy during the 1914-1918 War. Jeunet said : "I've been waiting for this moment for over ten years, Japrisot's novel is a fabulous story about love, hope and willpower. I can reread the ending ten times in a row and each time I cry! From this moment on, I promise to do all in my ability to do justice to this masterpiece."
With his excitation and his worldwide success "Amelie", Jeunet dealed with Warner Bros who held the rights. And Warner gave him "carte blanche" : the film will be 100% french but Jodie Foster ! Warner will finance the project and will have the global distribution. A new french production company "2003 Productions" (32% held by Warner) has been created to manage the project. The budget is 45 million euros (50 million dollars), the second largest budget for a french-language movie after "Asterix". Then, Jeunet decided to shoot in France with his favorite actors and the same crew as "Amelie". Jeunet chose the famous french company "Duboi" for the numerical special effects ("Asterix", "City of lost children", "Taxi", "Alien 4", "The messenger", "Amelie", "Brotherhood of the Wolf "...). The company has financial difficulties so this hard and long work could be salutary. Because "A very long engagement" is a french-language movie directed and produced in France, Jeunet asked to have subsidies from the funds of support for the french productions and he had the agreement. But the Independent Producers Society has lodged a complaint against "2003 Productions" because they denounce the american control by Warner and the seizure of the money reserved for the french cinema ! Another polemic. But if the agreement is cancelled, Jeunet threatens to stop shooting. So wait and see...
Back to the shooting. It lasts over 21-24 weeks. It started this summer. The shooting locations are : in Corsica, a beautiful french island in the Mediterranean; in "Bretagne" (Britain) and "Poitou-Charentes" in the West of France, in Paris (the "Orsay" Museum, the "Austerlitz" railway station, the "Montmartre" where "Amelie" was shooted and "Opera" districts). After the outdoor scenes, the shooting will finish in studio in Paris. The hangar "Y", in the forest of Meudon, near Paris, has been transformed into military hospital.
"Montmorillon" is a military base in the West of France where the trenchs of the first world war were reconstituted. An extra was paid about 125$ for 13 hours of shooting. To play soldiers in the trenchs, Jeunet searched guys in good health to be able to run in the mud and under the rain (artificial or not) with heavy uniforms, and with "damaged" and hairy faces. In France, the soldiers of the first world war were called "the hairies". Testimony of an extra : "Tuesday October 7, 10h. Shooting of the opening of film. General shot of the whole of the trenchs (fake smoking trenchs in the distance), all is quiet. Movement of the louma downwards, passing in front of a destroyed calvary, and penetrating slowly in the trench. The movement stops on an oil lamp, with which a soldier lights his cigarette. This one hears steps, turns over and sees a squad with five convicts and their escort... 14 takes under the rain and maybe none is good..." Another testimony mentions the use of a steady-cam inside the trenches. The movements of this camera on the control screen gave the same effect as in Alien 4 when Jeunet filmed the corridors of the spaceship !
"Place des Abbesses", Paris, August 27, 2003. This place had already been used as decoration in "Amelie". The decorators arranged the place because the film takes place in "the Twenties". The place was covered with false paving stones. In fact in the movie we are not "Place des Abbesses" but in front of the "Lyon" railway station. So the subway exit is decorated with the colors of the "Lyon" railway station and a huge blue screen was placed behind the decorations, to add in post-production the station with the decoration. It will be the work of the Duboi company. In this scene, Tautou is supposed to leave the station and to enter the subway. During the repetitions, the exit was not closed, so the people leaving the subway could see Jeunet and Tautou repeating ! Obviously during the shooting, the exit was temporarily closed. The scene was shooted 4 times. Four hours of preparation for only a few seconds in the can. In this scene we will see Audrey Tautou wearing a costume of the time 1920, hobbling and going down the steps of the subway. Indeed, Mathilde, the heroine has polio !
Hurry up 2004 !
Virata
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This movie is going to own.
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From what I can comprehend of this message it sounds great and hope by this time next year we can have another Jenuet feast for the holidays.
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It will. And Duboi is one of the best special effects companies in the world.
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The TTT shield surfing scene is only outdone by the ROTK mumakil trunk slide in gayness. Otherwise, it was a fairly excellent trilogy.
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Jan 02, 2004 4:28:04 PM CST
Isn't time that the nastiness that is Pedazo Chunk is removed fr
by trik
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Bretagne should not be translated as 'Britain'(UK) but Brittany on the north west coast of France.
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Jan 02, 2004 4:36:25 PM CST
Not doubt Jodie Foster was chosen in great parts because she spe
by pegase
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Listen, I thougt he was a good guy until I met him is a farce, a complete farce. Listen, listen, and you too. OK, now, the end thank you enough...
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Wait, for the olympics folks, it'll happen.
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Jan 02, 2004 4:46:29 PM CST
Can't escape people talking about Lord of the Rings on any messa
by pumpymcass
Stay on topic people! As for this movie, I suspect it will be visually exciting and otherwise . . . meh. Nevertheless I will check it out. These guys are like the French versions of Tim Burton, except that they have yet to do a movie as good as Ed Wood.
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It was in the fucking book!. And stop taking about LOTR in ever fucking TB.
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That can't be right. She doesn't even speak accentless english!
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Is it possible to have liked Amelie, as I did, and still be annoyed at seeing Audrey Tautou's impish, smiling face plastered everywhere? It annoys me almost as much as Hello Kitty, or some other kind of cutesy icon. Anyway, I've always been up and down with Tim Burton, and personally I can't champion anyone who would do a film (a remake, no less!) as terrible as Planet of the Apes. The worst and most uninspired film by a "unique" director since Spielberg's The Lost World. Yeah, Ed Wood was well-done, but couldn't that film have been made by someone else? It wasn't very "Burtonian". Only some Jack Skellington-obsessed goth would think Burton holds a candle to Jeunet (and Caro), let alone Terry Gilliam. I don't suspect Tim has a masterpiece up his sleeve with the quality of City of Lost Children, Delicatessen, Brazil, Baron Munchausen...
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*le drool*
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ok people, I love lotr as much as anyone else, but can we shut the fuck up about it already? and anyone who thinks the characters act gay, or that legolas sliding down things is gay, need to go hop back on thier dildos and slide up and down themselves. anyway, I've only seen city of lost children and amelie from this french dude, and those were both good movies, so I look forward to this guys next project.
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that explains why that big monkey actor,(hellboy) and the ugly little french dude in the wheel chair are in it. both those actors where in city of lost children.
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Jan 02, 2004 9:08:11 PM CST
Alien Resurrection is STILL the best Alien movie of the saga!!!
by my ass smells
I wanted to see more Ripley/Alien sex!!!!!!
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and do not watch the extendet version of ROTK ever or you will be bored to DEATH!!! Watch "Swept Away" instead. It'so dumb it's brilliant.
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and that was changing the design of the Newborn from Whedon's original cool spider-man-alien idea to a fucking dog that cries for mommy. and you can put that RIGHT at our Favourite Frog director's door. Amelie made up for the abomination of the 3rd act, though. Aside from the Newborn, the flick is pretty cool all the way up to that point.
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I watched Alien Resurection again yesterday - the special edition version on the Alien Quadrilogy box set, and I have to say I thought it was much better than I remember it. The special edition version isn't really that different from the theatrical release, bar a different (better) credit sequence and an extended ending. Even the newborn didn't bother me as much as when I first saw it. It's a pretty damn visually impressive movie, and the regular Aliens are the best of the whole series, in terms of design, movement, etc. in all I would say I was thouroughly entertained.
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Jan 03, 2004 3:09:26 PM CST
BLADERUNNERUNIT AND PHANTASM, ALL I WANNA SAY TO YOU FUCKERS IS.
by bourne greyelf
you guys are right! Allison Hannigan is fucking gorgeous. I never really realized this watching buffy, but imdb.com has a gallery of her, she is so hot! I can't accept that the woman is going to be 30! she looks like shes 20!
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Archie : English is not my mother language and I must admit that I made several mistakes in my post. Indeed the translation of Bretagne is Brittany and not Britain. I have to stop champagne like Harry because I'm too intoxicated ;)
Phantasm : You're right. Many people in France don't understand the complaint against Jeunet. We should be happy that Warner agreed to finance such a project but there will be always jealous people.
BladeRunnerUnit : Jodie Foster (the second choice for Princess Leia after Carrie Fisher) speaks perfect french because she studied at the french college of LA. She dubs all her movies in french. I'm not sure but I believe that her sister is married with a french man and lives in France. To see Jodie Foster on the set of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's latest movie follow the link : http://pro.corbis.com/search/searchFrame.asp?typ=set&isuid={65366683-8abe-4f23-ad0e-665f3888e450} -
Jeunet's awesome; 'The City of Lost Children' is one of my favorite movies. And he gives Ron Perlman work. Umm...I doubt every face would be "hardened" by war, although maybe he's going for symbolism over realism. Wouldn't be the first time; not that I'm complaining.
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That article had more references and numbers than my last resume. I can smell the stink of the roots oozing from the pages of this website. And yes, Alien Resurrection sucked. And yes, Amelie and City Of Lost Children were very good. And yes, I am not wearing any pants.
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I'm pretty sure Bru doesn't have a pussy for a head. There, you're wrong.
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i can't believe i've got nothing better to do, but shouldn't homophobia die out sometime in fanboys mid-thirties? or does that lifesize luke skywalker with the light saber perptuate the vicious cycle of self hatred/abuse etc etc
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It is PROVEN that males who are intolerant towards gay men have more homosexual tendencies than men who are tolerant towards homosexuality (e.g., larger penile erection in response to male gay porn movies; Adams, Wright, & Lohr (1997) Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105(3), 440-445). So PLEASE stop posting this crap and stop bothering us intelligent individuals with your sexual insecurities. Thank you in advance.
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Fine little piece (hhm, so's Audrey!) on the new Jeunet - but "Bretagne" is not (Britain) but Brittany - still in France, doncha know!
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Jan 06, 2004 8:58:16 AM CST
OK, what really kills me is this kinda juvenile Talkback... for
by roguewriter
Isn't there an Adam Sandler movie somewhere else on the site where you guys can throw poopie at each other? Jesus... Bring on the Jeunet. As an American cinemaphile steeped in my own country's filmmaking as far back as it goes, I confess my interest in international cinema has only taken off in the last decade... and mainly thanks to Jeunet's work. His astoundingly fresh, lovingly executed and always satisfying work (never mind ALIEN RESURRECTION) proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that much of the best in film comes from across the pond and around the world. Keep 'em coming.
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I spent time to write this post in English (a foreign language for me) and I did not expect that it starts a so puerile and sterile debate about homosexuality. Thank you Roguewriter to talk about cinema.
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Jan 07, 2004 9:07:18 AM CST
ASS THE LAST VAMP IS A FUCKIN CUNT WHO'S MOTHER SIRED HIM AFTER
by houston500
i'm not gay, and i don't give a fuck about what anybody's sexual orientation (ie what they like...moron) as i come to this website to read about movies. BUT, most NORMAL men beat their wives and have sex with children if you look at the statistics....MOTHERFUCKER. And since when did bad grammar make you gay? If it does then every talkbacker is gay, because if you'd got an education at school rather than watch movies and suck up to jocks in order to avoid repeated beatings then your grammar would be perfect. hahaha. if making fun of someon because of a typo or because they like ass is the BEST you can do then you can kiss a long and fruitful sex life goodbye, 'cos chicks dig guys with brains, YOU FUCKHOLE. ps darth gollum (that's a shit nickname if i ever saw it) the same goes for you too.
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Is there any word on DELICATESSEN coming out on DVD any time soon...or am I sadly missinformed and it is in fact already out and im just not looking hard enough?
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Thanks man ...after posting i went and read all of the previous posts...i didnt think i would be getting a responce...
OH and awesome news ...any clue where i could find it...or do i have to do some internet snooping? -
Thanks a lot... you have been a ton of help.
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