Cut Print Review » News http://cutprintreview.com Australian Movie Reviews, Film News & Competitions Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:56:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 2011 Online Film Critics Society Awards http://cutprintreview.com/news/2011-online-film-critics-society-awards/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/2011-online-film-critics-society-awards/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:14:23 +0000 Anders Wotzke http://cutprintreview.com/?p=19899 My comrades over at the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) — of which I’m a voting member — recently announced the winners of the society’s 15th annual awards, and to little surprise (given its seven nominations), the top honours went to Terrence Malick’s arthouse opus The Tree of Life. For the sake of comparison, the title of best film last year [...]]]>

My comrades over at the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) — of which I’m a voting member — recently announced the winners of the society’s 15th annual awards, and to little surprise (given its seven nominations), the top honours went to Terrence Malick’s arthouse opus The Tree of Life. For the sake of comparison, the title of best film last year went to David Fincher’s The Social Network, and in 2009, Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker emerged triumphant.

Below is the official press release (including all the winners) from the OFCS website.

—

The Tree of Life, which led the Online Film Critics Society nominations with seven, was the big winner at the 15th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards. The film took home the prize for Best Picture as well as trophies for Best Director (Terrence Malick), Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), Best Editing and Best Cinematography. No other film won more than one award.

The other three acting winners were Michael Fassbender winning Best Actor for his performance in Shame; Tilda Swinton’s work in We Need to Talk About Kevin won the award for Best Actress; and Christopher Plummer received the Best Supporting Actor prize for his work in Beginners.

The full list of winners of the 15th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards:

Best Picture:
The Tree of Life
Best Animated Feature:
Rango
Best Director:
Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life
Best Lead Actor:
Michael Fassbender – Shame
Best Lead Actress:
Tilda Swinton – We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Supporting Actor:
Christopher Plummer – Beginners
Best Supporting Actress:
Jessica Chastain – The Tree of Life
Best Original Screenplay:
Midnight in Paris
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
Best Editing:
The Tree of Life
Best Cinematography:
The Tree of Life
Best Film Not in the English Language:
A Separation
Best Documentary:
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Special Awards (previously announced):
To Jessica Chastain, the breakout performer of the year
To Martin Scorsese in honor of his work and dedication to the pursuit of film preservation

Founded in 1997, the Online Film Critics Society has been the key force in establishing and raising the standards for Internet-based film journalism. The OFCS membership consists of film reviewers, journalists and scholars based in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Asia/Pacific Rim region. For more information, visit the Online Film Critics Society at ofcs.org.

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/2011-online-film-critics-society-awards/feed/ 0 Australian Box Office 20/11/11: Twilight Breaking into pole position http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-201111-twilight-breaking-into-pole-position/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-201111-twilight-breaking-into-pole-position/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:04:04 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=19582 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 had no competition as expected, blowing even Moneyball completely out of the water. $12 million in takings saw no other new release enter the top 10 and the only change saw The Debt jump up ahead of Shark Night 3D.

This week’s new releases will pose no threat to Breaking Dawn – Part 1 but the range of films will intrigue [...]]]> The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 had no competition as expected, blowing even Moneyball completely out of the water. $12 million in takings saw no other new release enter the top 10 and the only change saw The Debt jump up ahead of Shark Night 3D.

This week’s new releases will pose no threat to Breaking Dawn – Part 1 but the range of films will intrigue many moviegoers. Ivan Sen’s Toomelah screened in Un Certain Regard at Cannes, Ages of Love with Robert De Niro and Monica Bellucci was the hit of the 2011 Italian Film Festival, Ides of March comes off glowing reviews for George Clooney and Ryan Gosling and fans of The Inbetweeners will finally see the big-screen adaptation.

AUSTRALIAN WEEKEND BOX OFFICE RESULTS

Film Title, Distributor, Box Office ($)

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, HOYTS, 12,108,308
2. Moneyball, SONY PICTURES, 998,043
3. In Time, FOX, 769,850
4. Midnight in Paris, eOne/HOPSCOTCH, 486,331
5. I Don’t Know How She Does It, ROADSHOW, 314,556
6. The Debt, UNIVERSAL, 247,854
7. Drive, PINNACLE FILMS, 233,018
8. Paranormal Activity 3, PARAMOUNT, 201,699
9. Shark Night 3D, ICON, 188,457
10. Contagion, WARNER BROS, 185,797

Source:

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-201111-twilight-breaking-into-pole-position/feed/ 0 Australian Box Office 13/11/11: Show me the Moneyball http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-131111-show-me-the-moneyball/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-131111-show-me-the-moneyball/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:29:21 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=19500 Moneyball claimed top honours on debut with takings of $1.3 million, knocking In Time off after two weeks. The rest of the top five remained steady in their positions, while other debuts Shark Night 3D and The Debt shook up the bottom half even though neither made over $400,000.

An interesting selection of films for general and limited release this week, but The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 will blow [...]]]> Moneyball claimed top honours on debut with takings of $1.3 million, knocking In Time off after two weeks. The rest of the top five remained steady in their positions, while other debuts Shark Night 3D and The Debt shook up the bottom half even though neither made over $400,000.

An interesting selection of films for general and limited release this week, but The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 will blow most of the top ten out of the water. Moneyball could be the only film to cause any threat in its first week. Burning Man with Matthew Goode (Watchmen) and documentary The Tall Man have received praise as welcome strength for Australian cinema, while Tilda Swinton’s Cannes-screened We Need To Talk About Kevin is another well-received release.

AUSTRALIAN WEEKEND BOX OFFICE RESULTS

Film Title, Distributor, Box Office ($)

1. Moneyball, SONY PICTURES, 1,308,408
2. In Time, FOX, 1,152,147
3. I Don’t Know How She Does It, ROADSHOW, 647,429
4. Midnight in Paris, eOne/HOPSCOTCH, 646,662
5. Paranormal Activity 3, PARAMOUNT, 432,997
6. Shark Night 3D, ICON, 394,466
7. Contagion, WARNER BROS, 345,589
8. The Debt, UNIVERSAL, 317,872
9. Drive, PINNACLE FILMS, 286,630
10. Warrior, ROADSHOW, 252,913

Source: MPDAA

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-131111-show-me-the-moneyball/feed/ 0 Australian Box Office 6/11/11: We still love to be ‘In Time’ http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-61111-we-still-love-to-be-in-time/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-61111-we-still-love-to-be-in-time/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:17:12 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=19446 In a quiet weekend at the box office, Sarah Jessica Parker’s new rom-com I Don’t Know How She Does It found itself in second place over the weekend with a haul just under $1 million, leaving reigning champ In Time at the top once again with $1.5m. Shakespearean conspiracy Anonymous just managed to scrape into the list in 9th position, while other [...]]]> In a quiet weekend at the box office, Sarah Jessica Parker’s new rom-com I Don’t Know How She Does It found itself in second place over the weekend with a haul just under $1 million, leaving reigning champ In Time at the top once again with $1.5m. Shakespearean conspiracy Anonymous just managed to scrape into the list in 9th position, while other new releases Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark and Our Idiot Brother failed to make the top 10.

Brad Pitt’s Moneyball finally hits our shores this week, along with French Christmas animation Santa’s Apprentice, horror Shark Night 3D and spy drama The Debt with Helen Mirren and Sam Worthington, based on an Israeli screenplay. The buzz around Pitt’s performance should see Moneyball perform well.

AUSTRALIAN WEEKEND BOX OFFICE RESULTS

Film Title, Distributor, Box Office ($)

1. In Time, FOX, 1,547,701
2. I Don’t Know How She Does It, ROADSHOW, 919,070
3. Paranormal Activity 3, PARAMOUNT, 827,318
4. Midnight in Paris, eOne/HOPSCOTCH, 780,578
5. Contagion, WARNER BROS, 576,839
6. Warrior, ROADSHOW, 495,776
7. Real Steel, WALT DISNEY, 381,598
8. Drive, PINNACLE FILMS, 365,295
9. Anonymous, SONY PICTURES, 364,641
10. The Three Musketeers [2011], HOYTS, 347,267

Source: MPDAA

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-61111-we-still-love-to-be-in-time/feed/ 0 Australian Box Office 30/10/2011: JT not just NSync but In Time for top spot http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-30102011-jt-not-just-nsync-but-in-time-for-top-spot/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-30102011-jt-not-just-nsync-but-in-time-for-top-spot/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:02:34 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=19333 In Time was the clear winner of the new films this week, earning $2.38m to take out first place at the Australian Box Office. The two others that made the top 10 weren’t a surprise but gained little fanfare, Warrior on $706,000 on mainstream release and Cannes favourite Drive, on $466,000 on limited. Paranormal Activity 3, [...]]]> In Time was the clear winner of the new films this week, earning $2.38m to take out first place at the Australian Box Office. The two others that made the top 10 weren’t a surprise but gained little fanfare, Warrior on $706,000 on mainstream release and Cannes favourite Drive, on $466,000 on limited. Paranormal Activity 3, Midnight in Paris, and Contagion, were strong in positions two, three and four respectively.

This week has an interesting mix of releases, with a few strong contenders that could take top spot. Shakespeare gets the conspiracy theory treatment in Anonymous, Guy Pearce gores up for Guillermo del Toro-produced Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, and fashion photography strikes a pose in Bigpond Adelaide Film Festival-screened Bill Cummingham: New York.
The biggest chances however are rom-com-ensemble I Don’t Know How She Does It and Paul Rudd’s latest offering Our Idiot Brother.

AUSTRALIAN WEEKEND BOX OFFICE RESULTS

Film Title, Distributor, Box Office ($)

1. In Time, FOX, 2,388,571
2. Paranormal Activity 3, PARAMOUNT, 1,812,135
3. Midnight in Paris, eOne/HOPSCOTCH, 1,063,978
4. Contagion, WARNER BROS, 992,518
5. Warrior, ROADSHOW, 706,429
6. Real Steel, WALT DISNEY, 704,912
7. The Three Musketeers [2011], HOYTS, 594,534
8. Drive (Cannes Review), PINNACLE FILMS, 466,384
9. Crazy, Stupid, Love, WARNER BROS, 420,599
10. The Cup, ROADSHOW, 325,034

Source: MPDAA

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-30102011-jt-not-just-nsync-but-in-time-for-top-spot/feed/ 0 News from the Central West: Intangible http://cutprintreview.com/news/news-from-the-central-west-intangible/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/news-from-the-central-west-intangible/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 02:23:12 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=19195 To coincide with National Carer’s Week and Mental Health Month, a project by health industry groups including the Far West Local Health District will have seen six audiences across western NSW and Victoria by the tour’s end to raise awareness of carers in the state’s community. The short documentary Intangible details stories of seven carers as they see their situation, and the screening in Dubbo was graced by guest speaker [...]]]> To coincide with National Carer’s Week and Mental Health Month, a project by health industry groups including the Far West Local Health District will have seen six audiences across western NSW and Victoria by the tour’s end to raise awareness of carers in the state’s community. The short documentary Intangible details stories of seven carers as they see their situation, and the screening in Dubbo was graced by guest speaker Jessica Rowe.

Made by leftover funding from the My Time Project in Broken Hill, a two-year initiative aiming to increase awareness and family support options for carers, the seven women were approached to take part and share their story so others seeking guidance could find relativity.

The project was months in the making, and Kelly Leonard from the Family & Carer Mental Health Program said “the producers wanted to put real faces to it, and not have paid actors talk on screen”. The narration of the carers varies with their personalities and situations, ranging from siblings who have bipolar disorder and children who have schizophrenia to 14-year-old Rachel, whose mother’s issues leave her looking after three younger siblings.

Stylistically, it’s separated into chapters for each story evenly but not much can be said for sound or some of the vision. But that was never the point. Dubbo’s audience, seen by Ms Leonard as a stronger turnout than expected, was given what it seemed a lot of people were looking for – realising there are many carers out there like them.

Jessica Rowe’s talk before Intangible also struck a chord. The journalist’s battle with post-natal depression and having a mother with bipolar has been well publicised, but it’s still affecting. One local lady who was had earlier admitted to suffering depression suddenly squeezed her daughter’s hand for strength as Jessica reinforced the fact no-one is alone; Jessica’s genuine happiness in sharing her experience made everyone in the room pay attention.

After the tour wraps up in Gilgandra after having visited Dubbo, Broken Hill, Mildura, Bathurst and Orange, Intangible will be used to assist staff training throughout health services. DVDs and other promotional material can be purchased from the film’s website.

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/news-from-the-central-west-intangible/feed/ 0 News from the Central West http://cutprintreview.com/news/news-from-the-central-west/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/news-from-the-central-west/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:08:59 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=19034 For those of you readers who are unaware, Cut Print Review now has a presence in regional NSW. Dubbo to be exact. My move here is now a month in and already there’s a decent chunk of film-related events going on.

It was with a heavy heart from this end of the country that I found out about the arrest of Marzieh Vafamehr from My Tehran for Sale, seeing Seven [...]]]> For those of you readers who are unaware, Cut Print Review now has a presence in regional NSW. Dubbo to be exact. My move here is now a month in and already there’s a decent chunk of film-related events going on.

It was with a heavy heart from this end of the country that I found out about the arrest of Marzieh Vafamehr from My Tehran for Sale, seeing Seven Adelaide’s report on the Sydney bulletin before Daily Liberal’s own mention. No one should have to go through what she’s about to face for doing what she loves. And I’m sure the SA Film Corporation/Adelaide Film Festival won’t back down from continuing to fund strong local features in the wake of this unfortunate event.

To happier news, and here in the Central West we’ve had a week of open air cinema at major historical attraction Old Dubbo Gaol, as part of October’s inaugural DREAM Festival. It’s a group of activities that promote major Dubbo (and surrounding) locations and show the region’s cultural strength. The Gaol’s a great place to host a Moonlight-style event and the week’s line-up has been a general but diverse mix. Priscilla: Queen of the Desert beat The Castle and Gallipoli for favourite Australian film on a Facebook poll by one vote… the other films were Walk The Line, Chocolat, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Black Swan and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which has proven most popular in ticket sales. Luckily all the recent rain has held off for good crowds, and if the DREAM Festival returns in 2012, coordinator Paige Williams told me she was confident short or foreign films could be on the agenda.

On the job I’ve also been in contact with Denai Gracie, producer at independents Rebellion Pictures. They’re filming part of their First World War-themed feature in Dubbo in December and looking for 15 men later this month to act as featured extras in a range of capacities. Gracie said they need to be able to get their hands dirty.

“There was a variety of men on the front line back then, and we want guys who can hold great facial expressions, run through mud and hold a gun,” she said.

They’ll be blowing up the family property of former local and cast member Sarah Mawbey, and Gracie’s looking forward to working with producers who “just want to play with guns and explosives for two weeks”.

If you know any average 18-40 year olds in the region who must agree to rid themselves of facial hair (a casting request), send them to The Matilda Motor Inn (Coolabah room), Darling St Dubbo from 10am-12noon on Saturday October 29. Forward any enquiries to denai[at]rebellionpictures.com.au.

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/news-from-the-central-west/feed/ 0 Australian Box Office 4/9/2011: Horrible Bosses still on top http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-492011-horrible-bosses-still-on-top/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-492011-horrible-bosses-still-on-top/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:27:10 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=18630 New civil rights drama The Help couldn’t threaten Horrible Bosses in its second week, with the comedy managing over $2.1 million to stay well afloat of the uncompromising Red Dog, now almost at $13 million – a huge positive for Australian film. Other new releases Final Destination 5 and One Day also made [...]]]> New civil rights drama The Help couldn’t threaten Horrible Bosses in its second week, with the comedy managing over $2.1 million to stay well afloat of the uncompromising Red Dog, now almost at $13 million – a huge positive for Australian film. Other new releases Final Destination 5 and One Day also made top-ten debuts, while Chalet Girl performed well under expectation.

The only new threat to Horrible Bosses this week would come from buddy comedy The Change-Up, man-of-the-moment Jason Bateman’s newest release. The kiddies should be drawn to Kevin James comedy Zookeeper.

AUSTRALIAN WEEKEND BOX OFFICE RESULTS

Film Title, Distributor, Box Office ($)

1. Horrible Bosses, WARNER BROS, 2,174,511
2. Red Dog, ROADSHOW, 1,659,278
3. The Help, WALT DISNEY, 1,046,311
4. Final Destination 5, WARNER BROS, 965,774
5. Friends With Benefits, SONY PICTURES, 748,198
6. Cowboys & Aliens, PARAMOUNT, 651,737
7. Rise of the Planet of the Apes, FOX, 585,458
8. One Day, UNIVERSAL, 569,098
9. The Guard, PARAMOUNT, 295,415
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, WARNER BROS, 278,941

Source: MPDAA

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-492011-horrible-bosses-still-on-top/feed/ 1 Australian Box Office 28/8/11: Horrible Bosses relates http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-28811-horrible-bosses-relates/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-28811-horrible-bosses-relates/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:41:13 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=18502 Comedy Horrible Bosses opened very well to $3.17 million, but Aussie heart-warmer Red Dog is doing extremely well to make almost $2 million in its fourth week. The only other debutante to make the top 10 this week was Priest, but Edinburgh Film Festival opener The Guard and Beginners [...]]]> Comedy Horrible Bosses opened very well to $3.17 million, but Aussie heart-warmer Red Dog is doing extremely well to make almost $2 million in its fourth week. The only other debutante to make the top 10 this week was Priest, but Edinburgh Film Festival opener The Guard and Beginners were eleventh and twelfth respectively as a result of limited screens.

This week’s releases include Bollywood’s Bodyguard, the fifth instalment of the Final Destination franchise, and Anne Hathaway/Jim Sturgess romantic drama One Day. Chalet Girl will pull in many a Gossip Girl fan with Ed Westwick’s star role, while The Help will appeal to those wanting a strong drama.

AUSTRALIAN WEEKEND BOX OFFICE RESULTS

Film Title, Distributor, Box Office ($)

1. Horrible Bosses , WARNER BROS, 3,171,788
2. Red Dog , ROADSHOW, 1,939,761
3. Friends With Benefits, SONY PICTURES, 1,394,174
4. Cowboys & Aliens , PARAMOUNT, 1,023,859
5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes , FOX, 871,988
6. Green Lantern , WARNER BROS, 556,174
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 , WARNER BROS, 444,594
8. Jane Eyre, UNIVERSAL, 342,607
9. Priest, SONY PICTURES, 312,009
10. Conan the Barbarian , ROADSHOW, 305,682

Source: MPDAA

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-28811-horrible-bosses-relates/feed/ 0 Australian Box Office 14/8/11: Green Lantern the brightest star http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-14811-green-lantern-the-brightest-star/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-14811-green-lantern-the-brightest-star/#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:45:03 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=18295 Big release Green Lantern only just scraped into top spot this week, with Rise of the Planet of the Apes performing very strongly in its second week of release. Both with figures over three million, next in line was Australian film Red Dog, doing well amongst the superhero/fantasy dominance with almost [...]]]> Big release Green Lantern only just scraped into top spot this week, with Rise of the Planet of the Apes performing very strongly in its second week of release. Both with figures over three million, next in line was Australian film Red Dog, doing well amongst the superhero/fantasy dominance with almost $1.9 million. Glee Live 3D Concert Movie, in a two-week release, Senna and the latest Jane Eyre film adaptation with Australian Mia Wasikowska were other debutantes into the top 10.

The hero/fantasy theme of August continues with releases of remake Conan the Barbarian and Cowboys and Aliens. The mix of the seven releases also includes journalism documentary Page One: a year inside the New York Times, Justin Timberlake/Mila Kunis rom-com Friends With Benefits and Wim Wenders’ latest Pina – a homage to late German choreographer Pina Bausch.

AUSTRALIAN WEEKEND BOX OFFICE RESULTS

Film Title, Distributor, Box Office ($)

1. Green Lantern, WARNER BROS, 3,042,282
2. Rise of the Planet of the Apes, FOX, 3,009,705
3. Red Dog, ROADSHOW, 1,888,212
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, WARNER BROS, 1,290,573
5. GLEE LIVE 3D CONCERT MOVIE, FOX, 970,388
6. Captain America: The First Avenger, PARAMOUNT, 939,261
7. JANE EYRE, UNIVERSAL, 814,132
8. Bad Teacher, SONY PICTURES, 575,559
9. SENNA, UNIVERSAL, 325,319
10. Bridesmaids, UNIVERSAL, 221,029

Source: MPDAA

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/box-office-news/australian-box-office-14811-green-lantern-the-brightest-star/feed/ 0 Egyptian revolution hits Cannes with 18 DAYS [TAMANTASHAR YOM] http://cutprintreview.com/news/egyptian-revolution-hits-cannes-with-18-days-tamantashar-yom/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/egyptian-revolution-hits-cannes-with-18-days-tamantashar-yom/#comments Sat, 21 May 2011 06:51:34 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=17457 An initiative starting in Cannes 2011 to welcome a guest country has brought very poignant beginnings for the festival. A tribute to Egypt with special events and screenings throughout Wednesday climaxed with the world premiere of 18 Days [Tamantashar Yom], a collection of shorts focused on the 18 days following the January 25 Revolution.

A packed Salle du Soixantieme was filled with film-makers, press and invitees who welcomed the filmmakers into [...]]]> An initiative starting in Cannes 2011 to welcome a guest country has brought very poignant beginnings for the festival. A tribute to Egypt with special events and screenings throughout Wednesday climaxed with the world premiere of 18 Days [Tamantashar Yom], a collection of shorts focused on the 18 days following the January 25 Revolution.

A packed Salle du Soixantieme was filled with film-makers, press and invitees who welcomed the filmmakers into the theatre with a standing ovation. They were assembled on the stage before three of the film-makers talked of the spirit of freedom the country now looks forward to.

Mariam Abou Ouf, creator of #tahrir 2/2, brought another standing ovation when she expressed her disbelief of premiering their work at such a prestigious event:

“When we shot the film three months ago, I would not have thought we would be presenting it here in Cannes. And I would like to dedicate it to each person who devoted 18 days of his or her life to the revolution, as well as to all those who disappeared.”

img 2491 e1305960173904 600x273 Egyptian revolution hits Cannes with 18 DAYS [TAMANTASHAR YOM]

With the majority young Egyptian film-makers, their main aim and hope in the (rushed) process was that their new-found freedom carried through in their work. Fellow creator Yousni Nasrallah (Interior-Exterior) also recognised others in the region:

“Today, our thoughts are with Libya, Yemen, Syria, Tunisia. We must stand by them.”

Premiering soon after their completion, the mix of films is eclectic, drawn from both true stories and influences surrounding January 25. Drama and comedy are blended and intertwined to retain interest.

Revolution Cookies looks at a naïve man who locks himself up for 18 days not knowing what’s going on and recording his worries of the outside noise. Then there’s when the flood hits you…, a comedy about scammers trying to make a buck with selling Egyptian flags, and mental institution patients from all worlds forming their own revolution in their environment in Retention.

All ten films were shot under emergency conditions voluntarily but you wouldn’t know it – the quality is substantial and broadens anyone’s perspective on the recent events.

The initiative as a whole will raise profits for organising courses on civic and political education in certain Egyptian villages. It’s a fitting choice by Cannes to promote the Egyptian industry to promote awareness and give these film-makers a chance to show the world their views on the day their country changed.

—

For more of Katina’s coverage of the 2011 Cannes film festival, click here.

HEADER VARIANTE 1 FINAL 600x73 Egyptian revolution hits Cannes with 18 DAYS [TAMANTASHAR YOM]

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/egyptian-revolution-hits-cannes-with-18-days-tamantashar-yom/feed/ 0 Cannes Classics: Le Sauvage (1975) http://cutprintreview.com/news/cannes-classics-le-sauvage-1975/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/cannes-classics-le-sauvage-1975/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 11:12:28 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=17353 An almost full Salle du Soixantieme anxiously waited for the director and star’s arrival ahead of Le Sauvage, many of whom were young Cannes Cinephiles who applied for special access. They weren’t disappointed. Jean-Paul Rappeneau entered ahead of Cinematheque Francaise director/renowned filmmaker Costa-Gavras before the cheers were raised a notch as Catherine Deneuve walked through the door.

Cameras flashing from every angle, it was her that everyone wanted to see. [...]]]> An almost full Salle du Soixantieme anxiously waited for the director and star’s arrival ahead of Le Sauvage, many of whom were young Cannes Cinephiles who applied for special access. They weren’t disappointed. Jean-Paul Rappeneau entered ahead of Cinematheque Francaise director/renowned filmmaker Costa-Gavras before the cheers were raised a notch as Catherine Deneuve walked through the door.

Cameras flashing from every angle, it was her that everyone wanted to see. She was gracious in her entrance and speech before the film’s commencement, where the group spoke briefly about the film’s digital restoration. Rappeneau supervised the work himself to ensure Studio Canal and Cinematheque Francaise did it right and it’s paid off – even without a previous viewing you can see clearer images than what’s usual for the mid-70s, while the sound was sharp throughout after being remixed from mono into Dolby stereo. Rappeneau said it suited the style of film:

“A black-and-white film from the ’30s in stereo would be grotesque, but for an adventure film like this one it’s necessary.”

It’s not just the technics that hold up – the film itself is entertaining while it manages to remain perfectly suited to its time. The idea of running from your fiancee to a remote island with a complete stranger whose life is turned upside down is pure escapism, and Rappeneau got the best chemistry out of Deneuve and the late Yves Montrand, with their banter entertaining and witty. There’s a bit of adventure, romance, and more than the odd wild goose chase, but in 2011 its proved itself as a worthy Cannes Classic, with festival ties through its cast and crew since and a warm reception from the appreciative audience.

For more of Katina’s coverage of the Cannes film festival, click here.

HEADER VARIANTE 1 FINAL 600x73 Cannes Classics: Le Sauvage (1975)

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/cannes-classics-le-sauvage-1975/feed/ 3 Cannes diary: Monday 16th May (Day One) http://cutprintreview.com/news/festival-de-cannes-monday-16th-may-day-one/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/festival-de-cannes-monday-16th-may-day-one/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 11:07:09 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=17344 Cannes: overwhelming and pricey. That’s the best I can do to describe my first day at the festival. It’s 3:35pm and since arriving to the Palais at 10:30 this morning I’ve only just managed to step outside and get food to recharge (blowing 16 Euro on a bagel, sandwich and packet of chips – welcome to the Riviera). But the unlimited free water, Nestle juice and coffee and wi-fi make [...]]]> Cannes: overwhelming and pricey. That’s the best I can do to describe my first day at the festival. It’s 3:35pm and since arriving to the Palais at 10:30 this morning I’ve only just managed to step outside and get food to recharge (blowing 16 Euro on a bagel, sandwich and packet of chips – welcome to the Riviera). But the unlimited free water, Nestle juice and coffee and wi-fi make up for it. Plus the fact I’m in a packed room of journalists and photographers from across the world. That has to count for something.

Having no idea of where to go once getting off the train (a 42 minute comfortable commute from home base Nice), the badges I immediately see on every second person tell me to follow the crowd. A map might be handy for future, but I arrive with the first sight of palm trees… and then the Palais with the 2011 signature image of Faye Dunaway staring down at me. The first thing I noticed among the intense amount of people was the signs – press and film-makers trying to scalp invitations to films in competition. I’m baffled and confused as to who these people are and then wonder if any of them are actually successful. To try that for myself could be an interesting experiment!

Getting my badge was a surreal moment: I’m here. It’s real. Then getting the welcome bag hit hard. With my shoulder dragging to the ground under the weight of the various programmes, laptop and handbag combined, I made it to the press area, where the weight was doubled by the papers threatening to fall on me out of my personal box. Having been unsure of the level of access I’d obtained, I found out while going through the mountainous amount of information that there’s a press level with less access than mine. Win! Not tooting my own horn, I’m just saying…

It’s a real dog-eat-dog situation all around. I wandered, acquainted myself, wandered some more, finding line-ups for press conferences and the like, then finally made it to the press wi-fi room — which looks like a big telethon really. I was relieved to find a seat straight away and didn’t move until the food hunt. It’s extremely well organised, and now being in its sixth day the journalists look right at home. Whereas I still feel like a fish out of water. I’m glad, however, to see others going through all the same information I was today as well. I think I’ll feel properly settled once I get through a film. First up is a Cannes Classic screening of Le Sauvage (1975) with Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Rappeneau and Costa-Gavras in attendance. Seems like a good start!

For more of Katina’s coverage of the Cannes film festival, click here.

HEADER VARIANTE 1 FINAL 600x73 Cannes diary: Monday 16th May (Day One)

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/festival-de-cannes-monday-16th-may-day-one/feed/ 2 Cannes 2011 – The Lowdown http://cutprintreview.com/news/cannes-2011-the-lowdown/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/cannes-2011-the-lowdown/#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 01:02:29 +0000 Katina Vangopoulos http://cutprintreview.com/?p=17286 Unbelievably it’s May again, and for the European spring that means only one thing in the film industry – Cannes. The 11th has crept up ever so slowly but it’s time for the world’s biggest film festival to kick off for 2011. For those lucky enough to be in attendance, this means 12 jam-packed days of film premieres, star-studded red carpets and, of course, juicy controversy that will make industry [...]]]> Unbelievably it’s May again, and for the European spring that means only one thing in the film industry – Cannes. The 11th has crept up ever so slowly but it’s time for the world’s biggest film festival to kick off for 2011. For those lucky enough to be in attendance, this means 12 jam-packed days of film premieres, star-studded red carpets and, of course, juicy controversy that will make industry headlines the world over. In other words, it’s a veritable film fan’s dream!

The festival’s opening film is Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris, his latest offering a homage to the city of love, while the closing film is Catherine Deneuve-starring Les Bien-Aimes (Beloved). Both are out of competition but highly anticipated. 20 films make up the official competition this year,  including the latest from Pedro Aldomovar, Terrence Malick, Nanni Moretti, Lars Von Trier and Julia Leigh, the Australian first-time filmmaker with entry Sleeping Beauty.

sleeping beauty021 e1304988275102 600x275 Cannes 2011 The Lowdown
Emily Browning and Rachel Blake in Julia Leigh’s Sleeping Beauty.

Cannes repeat offender Gus Van Sant opens the Un Certain Regard selection with Restless, while Jodie Foster’s directorial debut The Beaver and the latest in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise are most anticipated in the films out of competition. Australia gets a look-in in the short film competition with Nash Edgerton’s Bear, while New Zealander Sam Holst has entered Meathead.

Serbian director Emir Kusturica is president of the Un Certain Regard jury, South Korean director Bong Joon-Ho of the Camera d’Or and actor Robert De Niro of the Official Competition. The films they judge will sit next to a special presentation from guest country Egypt, a new annual initiative by Cannes to showcase films from lesser-known industries. In the wake of the January 25 Revolution, how the films and events are received should provide some intense discussion and boost this already jam-packed itinerary. High expectation for Cannes 2011 are well deserved and what comes over the next 12 days will hopefully set a strong scene for the following year in film.

I’ll be in Cannes for a portion of the festival, so stay tuned to Cut Print Review for more news, reviews and general hullaballoo from the world’s most prestigious film festival!

HEADER VARIANTE 1 FINAL 600x73 Cannes 2011 The Lowdown

]]> http://cutprintreview.com/news/cannes-2011-the-lowdown/feed/ 3 New CONAN THE BARBARIAN trailer unleashed! http://cutprintreview.com/news/new-conan-the-barbarian-trailer-unleashed/ http://cutprintreview.com/news/new-conan-the-barbarian-trailer-unleashed/#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 02:13:33 +0000 Tel Benjamin http://cutprintreview.com/?p=17219 Now this is definitely a bit of trailer news that I have been looking forward to reporting: Lionsgate has finally released a theatrical trailer for their upcoming swords and sorcery epic, Conan The Barbarian, and doesn’t it just look like a bundle of bad ass fun. This interpretation of Robert E. Howard’s 1930’s barbarian will stay faithful to the original pulp magazines rather than be a direct remake [...]]]> Now this is definitely a bit of trailer news that I have been looking forward to reporting: Lionsgate has finally released a theatrical trailer for their upcoming swords and sorcery epic, Conan The Barbarian, and doesn’t it just look like a bundle of bad ass fun. This interpretation of Robert E. Howard’s 1930’s barbarian will stay faithful to the original pulp magazines rather than be a direct remake of the 80s Schwarzenegger films: Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer. This rendition boasts Jason Momoa (Stargate: Atlantis) as Conan himself, I have recently been very impressed with his work as a similar kind of Barbarian king character in the HBO series Game of Thrones, which I highly recommend. As of yet, he hasn’t had too much to do except scowl and have sex but he has an extraordinary demi god-like presence which I feel translates well into the slightly more action hero type character we see here. Just as a side note, I was not aware Rose McGowan (Jawbreaker, Planet Terror), who is playing Marique the witch in CTB, had anything to do with this project but it seems someone felt they owed her one after production of Robert Rodriguez’s Red Sonja – another Conan spin off/remake – fell through.

Check out the trailer:

 

I love me a good sea monster. Conan the Barbarian is due for release on August 19th and is directed by the remake machine Marcus Nispel so let us all hope this is more The Texas Chainsaw Massacre rather than Friday the 13th.

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