Tell No One, 2006 (Grade C+)

DIRECTOR: Guilaume Canet
Awards: none that I know of
Cast: Francois Cluzet; Marie-Josee Coze; ANdre Dussollier; Kevin Scott Thomas; Francois Berleand; Nathalie Baye; Jean Rochefort; Marina Hands; Gilles Lellouche; Phillip Lefebvre; Florence Thomassin; Oliver Marchal; Bridgitte Catillion; Samir Guesmi



story line: Eight years ago, pediatrician Alexandre Beck (François Cluzet) was the prime suspect in his wife's murder. He's put all that behind him, but now that two dead bodies have been found near his home, he's suspected of wrongdoing once again.

sez says: a diverting mystery -- easy to get involved and wonder who did it -- a little convoluted in the end-- but over all well done. And a romantic ending to boot! Certainly not a great film--not a magical story--even a little disappointing with all the twists at the end-- but still fully diverting.  You won't walk away from it once you step in--it keeps you engaged and wondering--how did this happen. It has some good characters, like the hoodlum who helps the doctor. the lesbian sister, the good cop --and as always, France looks like a nice place to live. Grade C+

 

 

Sunshine Cleaning, 2008 (Grade C+)

Director: Christine Jeffs

Awards? non that I know of

Starring: Amy Adams; Emily Blunt; Steve Zahn; Alan Arkin; Mary Lynn Rajskub; Eric Christian Olsen; Clifton Collins Jr.; Maddie Corman; Kevin Chapman; Amy Redford

 

Story Line: Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) teams up with her unreliable sister, Norah (Emily Blunt), to start a new company that specializes in biohazard removal and crime scene cleanup.

sez says: this is a simple something film -- not a nothing film. It is not brilliant--but it is not a waste. It deals with the economic struggles of young women in an honest fashion --which is a breath of fresh air. Young women need to see the reality they face in real stories. It also deals with emotional challenges of sisters who lost their mother early in their lives and who have a loving but incompetent father.  There is something deeply honest in all of this --and yet it also edges up to contrived to keep the a story going.  Grade C+

I Am Love, 2009 (Grade B)

Director Luca Guadagnino
Awards: none known
Cast: Tilda Swinton; Flavio Parenti; Edoardo Gabbriellini; Aba Rohrwacher; Pippo Delbono; Diane Fleri; Maria Paiato; Marisa Berenson; Waris Ahluwalia; Gabriele Ferzetti.

sez says: this ultra rich family may look like they have everything anyone could ever want -- but there is no such thing as a trouble free home. In this case, we learn that mom/Emma (played by Swinton) was brought home from Russia when her husband had gone there looking for beautiful art to purchase --he found a beautiful woman  and brought her home too.  He gave her a new name when they arrived in Italy (He named me Emma: I've forgotten my Russian name she says).  So we learn she is just one of the many possessions of the rich family.  Not that her husband does not care about her -- but she was 'purchased' every bit as much as her son's new acquaintance (the chief) is purchased to cook for the family parties. (ie: he sells his skilled labor--she sold her beauty to the family). One result of having been purchased was an abandonment of a part of herself.


Ah, but then the chief's cooking awakens her suppressed erotic desires and she abandons propriety and follows her forgotten Russian-self into the arms / and into the kitchen of the chief.  This get complicated when her son (the chief's friend) figures out whats up. Meanwhile mix in a daughter who has discovered she is a Lesbian--and how Emma handles that.   Layer all of that with a musical score that vigorously  guides your emotions and you've got an idea of what this is all about. Indeed, I am not sure how well the movie would have worked with out the powerful musical score... It was a character all on its own.  (Grade B)

NINE, 2009 Grade B

Director: Rob Marshall
Awards?  Nominated for lots of Golden Globes and P Cruse nominated for a best supporting actress

Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis; Marion Cotillard; Penelope Cruz; Judi Dench; Kate Hudson; Nicole Kidman; Sophia Loren; Fergie; Elio Germano; Giuseppe Spitalri; Martina Stella

 sez says-- Broadway to film-- songs and dances--and great acting led by Daniel Day-Lewis (I am more impressed by him all the time) and company --(a great star line up!) -- but there is not much of a story-- It is nothing but  "oh woe is me -- I don''t know what matters in life cause I am too caught us in my sexual fantasies"  But that shallow topic does allow for a lot of sexy costumes and dancing.  There are some entertaining numbers--but it also drags at times. It was better than I expected it to be: I will certainly give it that. (Grade B)  

A Prophet, 2009 Grade A

Director: Jacques Audiard
Awards? Won 2010 Best Foreign Langiage Award BAFTA, Nominated for a lot of awards by other intities
Cast: Tahar Rahim; Niels Arestrup; Adel Bencherif; Reda Kateb, Hichem Yacoubi; Jean-Phillip Ricci; Gilles Cohen; Antoine Basler; Leila Bekhti; Pierre Leccia; Foued Nassah; Pascal Henault

sez says: great movie -- 19 year old French-Arab Man goes to prison --is used abused educated and takes over..much better than it sounds -- skilfully done character study -- brilliant acting all around. Grade A

The Edge of Heaven (Auf der anderen Seite), 2007 )Grade B

Director:  Faith Akin
Awards? none known of
Cast: Nurgul; Babi Davrak; Tuncel Kurtz; Hanna Schygulla; Patricia Ziolkowska; Nursel Koses

 sez says: this exploration of the relationship between Turkey and Germany is played out via young people who don't want to live the way people did in the past. They are struggling to make the world different--politically, socially, personally. But the old ways are hard to die. The story is somewhat convoluted and complicated--but it works.

The political activism of a young Turkish woman leads to sorry dealings with The State, The Police, Immigration Officials--meanwhile her comrades are not really her friends. Meanwhile in Germany an old Turkish man forms a relationship with a prostitute -- and his son (the professor) has to try and address the mess that results from his father's actions.  It tuns out that the your Turkish woman-activist is the prostitute's daughter--and with the police on her trail she heads to Germany looking for her mom. What she finds is another young woman student whom she falls in love with. This lesbian couple challenge the old Germany ways but eventually find themselves caught by the police and immigration law take control of their lives. The story is well done having each character seeking changes--both personal and political to address the wrongs that the world delivers.    In the end it is a strangely hopeful story --and the acting is all around  good.  It is not a perfect movie and certainly wouldn't appeal to eveyo9ne--but I found it worth while.