FATHER GEEK here welcoming back into the fold our main man in Paris, Edgard, whose been away on business in Italy for the last 8 or 9 days. No keyboard, no monitor, no modem. My god, how did he survive? By using his hotel WebTV connection to at least read AICN. The same way Harry and I kept in touch while on our trip to Spain back in August. Well he's back now, just got to the Euro-AICN offices this morning in time to post the following for you readers around the world...
But first little bit straight from the tabloids...
Everyone's favourite, continuous, daily piece of bullshit in the UK, The Sun newspaper, says big Sean is being lined up for a part in the next Austin Powers movie.
The reporter says:
Sean Connery is set to net more than £1 million for just one day's work. The screen legend is being lined up to star as James Bond one last time - in the new Austin Powers movie. Last night Jay Roach, who is directing the third spy spoof, admitted he is desperate to get Sean in the new rib-tickler. He said: "We really want Sean in this movie. We want him to play James Bond."
...and it continues...
The new film will be a prequel to the other comedies, where Austin Powers and Dr Evil will be best pals at a spy school during the fifties.
Cheers! Rossco.
Well geeks just keep in mind were that one originated... Also in the Brit papers this morning is a bit about Kevin Spacey being tapped for the villian role in the new BOND flick. This looks to be a sure thing... Here's Edgard and crew...
EURO AICN
Hi folks... Edgard here... sorry for this late Euro AICN column... I just got back from beautiful Naples... the bay of Napoli... the Vesuvio... the very beautiful women there.... but don't get me wrong, I was there for work (serious work)... still the good thing about being abroad for work is all the restaurants (aaaah... Italian food... Italian wine... Italian women - yes, you can find some in the restaurants too - if I didn't like Paris that much I would move right the way) and special visits organised.... man, I love my work...
Anyway enough about me... I was away for a while so I still have to read most of the stuffs on AICN so I hope the articles here below are not repeating anything you know already... sorry again for the delay and thanks again to Ozymandias for "covering" for me last week....
SPAIN
* Let's start with some box-office news in Spain (from Screendaily) : Spanish films’ share of the domestic box office dipped below 10% in the ten months between January and October 2000 according to the Spanish Institute for Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA). As always, foreign - and particularly US - films dominate the Spanish box office, boasting a 90% market share through October 2000, with $330m (PTS61,067m) in ticket sales on 1,253 titles exhibited. Leading the pack were blockbuster US titles The Sixth Sense, Gladiator, American Beauty and Mission Impossible 2. To give an example of the challenge Spanish films face in their own territory, The Sixth Sense grossed more in two weeks than local sensation All About My Mother (Todo Sobre Mi Madre) earned in 49 weeks on the charts. The latest ICAA figures do not reflect the batch of Spanish releases from late October and early November which have done well at the box office, including David Trueba comedy Masterpiece (Obra Maestra), Jose Luis Garci's Oscar-nominated You're The One, and Jorge Sanz-starrer Almejas Y Mejillones. They do, however, include top Spanish grossers Ano Mariano, The Art Of Dying (El Arte De Morir) and Commonwealth (La Comunidad). Producers and distributors in Spain have their hopes pinned on forthcoming releases such as Lolafilms' English-language offerings That Girl From Rio and Gaudi Afternoon, and Jaime Chavarri's Kisses For Everyone (Besos Para Todos) from Sogecine.
SWEDEN
* Here're the results of the 11th Stockholm International Film Festival (held from November 9-19) : the 7.3 kilo heavy Bronze Horse for Best Film 2000 is awarded to the powerful Moroccan drama "Ali Zaoua" by Nabil Ayouch. This is Ayouch¹s second film. The motivation of the jury is the following: "Ali Zaoua is a journey through a valley of laughter, pain and beauty. A movie that will not leave you and that you will not want to leave." The film is about the street boy Ali and his orphan friends, played by real street kids in a Casablanca far from the traditional romantic notions of it. After having been killed in a gang fight, Ali¹s friends struggle to give him a proper funeral, something seemingly impossible for the destitute children. With the tasteful direction of Ayouch, characters and scenes sparkle with color and beauty.
The second big winner at this year's festival is "Billy Elliot" by Stephen Daldry, one of England¹s most experienced theatre directors. Daldry¹s feature film debut is awarded no less than three awards: Best First Feature Film, The E! Audience Award (the festival¹s audience award) and the international critic jury FIPRESCI¹s award for Best Film. The film is about 11-year old Billy who prefers ballet to boxing, all against the will of his brother and father.
The Stockholm Lifetime Achievement Award 2000 goes to this year¹s Guest of Honour Ms. Lauren Bacall. And the rest of the awards are :
- Best Script "Virilité et autres sentiments modernes" by Ronan Girre. "A surprising, witty comedy of life in the first year of the new millennium. Makes our old neuroses look pretty modern.".
- Best actor Eric Bana as Mark ²Chopper² Reads in "Chopper" (Australia). "With Shakespearean force Eric Bana portrays the self-obsessed, humiliated and brutal character of Mark Read and manages to win our sympathy.".
- Best actress Ellen Burstyn as Sara Goldfarb in "Requiem For a Dream" by Darren Aronofsky (USA). "Ellen Burstyn generously lends her heart to the character, and creates a portrait that leaves nobody unmoved.".
- Best Cinematography Tim Orr for "George Washington" by David Gordon Green. "A sublime visual poetry that takes us into the heart of the story.².
- Best short film "Back Room" by Guillem Morales (Spain). "Shows us backrooms where we have not been, and yet feel so familiar with. In just a few minutes Back Room makes us feel lonely and miserable - and yet we still laugh!"
GREECE
* News from another film festivals : BBC production Last Resort, directed by Polish-born UK resident Pavel Pawlikowski, picked up the top three awards at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival on Sunday, including the Golden Alexander for best picture. The film also walked away with the best actor and actress awards for Paddy Considine and Dina Korzun’s performances. It also took the FIPRESCI award for best film in the 15-title International Competition section, which focuses on first and second efforts. Considine shared the actor’s award with Misel Matisevic, star of German title Lost Killers, which also received the Silver Alexander Special Jury award. The picture, directed by Georgian-born German resident, Dito Tsintsadze, also took the top prize at Germany’s Cottbus Film Festival earlier this month. Iranian director Marziyeh Meshkini, of Iran’s Makhmalbaf family, received the best director award for her debut feature The Day I Became A Woman (Roozi Keh Zan Shodam). The film also recently won the jury prize in the Pusan Film Festival’s New Currents section. Germany’s Christian Petzold received the best screenplay award for The State I Am In (Die Innere Sicherheit), which he also directed, while Polish film Happy Man (Szczesliwy Czlowiek), a debut feature from Malgorzata Szumowska, took the artistic achievement award for visual excellence. Greek docu-drama Dead-End Streets (Klisti Dromi), directed by Stavros Ioannou, received an Honorary Mention.
The International Jury, headed by Polish film-master Jerzy Skolimowsky, also included Hungarian director Judit Elek, German director Fred Kelemen, Mexican producer Jorge Sanchez and Venice festival topper Alberto Barbera. Stars attending the event included Harvey Keitel who flew in to take part in a tribute to Theo Angelopoulos. Keitel starred in the Greek director’s Ulysses Gaze and is also expected to sign up for his next project, an epic trilogy about Greek exiles, which Angelopoulos unveiled at the festival. Also attending were veteran French director Agnes Varda, the focus of a tribute who also received an honorary Golden Alexander, and Portuguese-French producer Paolo Branco who turned up for a presentation of five of his latest productions. Veteran US director Jerry Schatzberg provided the surprise element of the event as he flew in with a print of his latest picture, The Day The Ponies Come Back, which had its European premiere at the festival. (From Screendaily)
OZYMANDIAS CORNER
* From Empire Online: Dame Judi Dench and Rupert Everett are to take roles in an upcoming adaptation of one of Oscar Wilde’s best known plays, The Importance of Being Earnest. Oliver Parker, who collaborated with Everett on previous Oscar Wilde project An Ideal Husband, has penned the screenplay and will also take up directing duties for this comedic tale of mistaken identity. According to Variety, Everett will take the role of Algernon, one half of a pair of high society lotharios who use the existence of imaginary brothers as an excuse to depart on debauched escapades. Dench, however, is negotiating for a somewhat less prominent part, the classic cameo role of Lady Bracknell. Filming on a budget of $15 million, The Importance of Being Earnest is scheduled to begin shooting in the spring.
* From Popcorn : Guy Pearce is in final negotiations to star in a big-budget adaptation of HG Wells' novel 'The Time Machine'. John Logan ('Gladiator') wrote the script, based on Wells' story of a Victorian scientist who invents a machine that lets him travel 800,000 years into the future. Simon Wells ('The Prince Of Egypt') is slated to make his live-action directorial debut with the movie. He ought to know a bit about the book, considering HG Wells was his great-grandfather. Ex-'Neighbours' star Pearce has seen his movie career begin to snowball in the last year thanks to leading roles in 'Memento' and 'Rules Of Engagement'. He is currently working on another old classic, 'The Count Of Monte Cristo', with Jim Cavaziel and Richard Harris.
* This week it's our man in Italia, Robert, taking a look at the official Italian nominee for best Foreign Film at this years Oscars......
The Hundred Steps, directed by Marco Tullio Giordana
I cento Passi (the Hundred Steps) tells the story of Peppino Impastato, a young man killed by mafia in 1978. He was killed the same day Aldo Moro (a very important politician) was found dead in Rome, killed by The Brigate Rosse (a group of terrorists). So his death didn't echoe, even because (incredibly) the police maintained that he committed suicide. Anyway, during these last years, the truth was discovered: Peppino Impastato was killed because Tano Badalamenti (the local boss) didn't like his attacks against him. In fact, Peppino writed in his newspaper that "mafia is a mountain of shit". So, this is the story, but what about the quality of the movie? First, The Hundred Steps is the official italian contender for the Oscar for the best foreign film. Is it the best italian movie I have seen this year? Yes, absolutely. Even if Bread and Tulips (a surprising sleeper of last summer, which was in competition with The Hundred Steps to represent Italy at the Academy Awards) was a very interesting movie, The Hundred Steps is the right choice and i'm sure this movie will become a classic as Hands over the City (which is quoted during the film, when Peppino shows it at his friends and analyses its message) or Salvatore Giuliano, both directed by Francesco Rosi. The story begins when Peppino is still a kid. His family is connected to the mafia. His uncle is the local boss of Cinisi, the city where he lives. Suddenly, we meet the person who will change Peppino's life. He is a communist painter, who will explain him why he struggles against mafia and corrupted politicians. Thus, as Peppino grows up, he keeps on separating from his family. This is absolutely the best quality of the film. It could have been a "simple", even if a very beautiful, political movie. On the contrary, this is a portrait of a shattered family. Luigi Maria Burruano, who plays the role of the father, is a great and ambiguous character. He chases away his son from his house, but he tries anyway to protect him from the vengeance of mafia. Luigi Lo Cascio (Peppino) is a surprise. It was his first experience as a movie actor (he comes from theater) and he is amazing. This is absolutely the best movie by Marco Tullio Giordana (who directed, a few years ago, a biography about the writer and director Pier Paolo Pasolini). I don't know if The Hundred Steps will be able to win at The Oscars against Ang Lee and Wong Kar-Wai. Anyway, it deserves at least to be nominated.
Robert Bernocchi La Finestra sul Cortile
L8r, Ozymandias.
Ain't It Cool News - Ireland/UK Office, Penthouse Suite, Ozymandias Towers, Dublin, Ireland.
Mail me @ ozymandias@dublin.com
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The I DISAGREE review
* This week Ethan (who else could be negative about the films I love) looks again at "Three Kings". I do disagree with him (that's the purpose of this review) as I really loved "Three Kings". My only concern about it was the "happy" ending... quite against the very cynical first part, a bit like the director didn't dare to go all the way in the cynisism. Still "Three Kings" was one of my favourite movie of last year... so let's hear why Ethan disagrees...
"Three Kings"
`Three Kings` is one of the weakest movies Warner Bros. released in 1999. Yet this messy piece of filmmaking managed to score some great reviews and a solid B.O.
I am surprised that such a limited work achieved such a high level of recognition.
Director John Milius and producer Mace Neufeld are the strongholds of the Contemporary Hollywood Military cinema. These guys made such classics like `The Hunt For the Red October`, `Flight of the Intruder`, `The General`s Daughter`. These guys understand the American military. Milius himself proved great versatility in tackling military subjects. He did both `Rough Riders` and `1941`. But he lives in the ghetto now, cleaning guns with Chuck Heston. I hope that The Wachowskis will put Milius back on track. Today, Spielberg makes disgusting movies about the glory of US Army. David O. Russell topples him as the man who made The Most Disgusting Movie About American Army. I am a Serb so don`t think that I`m some American gun-lovin` dissident. American Army did a lot of bad things to my people and my Fatherland. And do you know what pissed me off the most? The quasi-humanistic view they were selling in western media. That`s what Spielberg and Russell do in their movies. Tom Hanks sacrifices so Matt Damon could educate? Bullshit. George Clooney helping Iraqi refugees? Bullshit all the same. John Ford used to make movies about true self of American spirit. John Milius also. They never let the pathetic lies into their movies. They made true war movies about war and Army, about survival, male-bonding, friendship and history. Junk like `Saving Private Ryan` and `Three Kings` just exploits war to gain social awareness and use it as the simple marketing tool.
`Three Kings` deploys many different kinds of filmmaking. Director David O. Russell combines straight `noir`, war movie poetics, videoclip editing, satire and social responsibility. These ingredients simply don`t match and thus Russell creates an unbalanced piece of Hollywood cinema. All these shortcomings come down to the fact that : a) Russell doesn`t know much aboput filmmaking b) he wanted to create the movie that could justify its budget and it led us to stylish overkill.
Overkill comes from the fact that Russell goes all the way in every single scene. When he directs the party scene he does it like a music videoclip with muscular soldiers bouncing to the beat in their `cool-as-hell` desert uniforms. When he creates a satirical feel he goes all the way with over-blown dialogue. When he makes an action scene he goes for the `in-your-face` staging. Russell simply overkills every single situation. You can`t make war movie satire with `in-your-face` action scenes. Also, if you intensify every single scene in your movie, nothing is intense in it since everything is equal.
David O. Russell is a very well known for his documentary work and Miramax comedy `Flirting With Disaster`. `Flirting With Disaster` is the Grand Daddy of Ben Stiller`s contemporary comedies in the vein of `Meet the Parents`. Russell should have stayed in the Miramax comedy world since he is apparently unable to operate outside of that genre.
`Three Kings` had potential as a straight-faced `Desert Storm Noir`. I guess this is what John Ridley had in mind. I am Ridley`s fan and I think that he did some great `noir` work in Oliver Stone`s `U-Turn` and in his own `Cold Around the Heart`. I sincerely hope thar Ridley`s story was straight faced as a pitch and it had a different ending since this `epilogue` ending is a disgrace.
`Three Kings` is also too derrivative. After John Woo`s masterpiece `Bullet in the Head` I don`t understand how can anyone make another movie that sets `The Good, the Bad and the Ugly` story into the context of 20th Century warfare. If you want to see good contemporary war satire, rent `Pretty Village, Pretty Flame` instead of `Three Kings`.
Best regards from AICN Foreign Legion,
Ethan
