Monday, February 28, 2011

Nowhere Boy

British artist Sam Taylor-Wood made her feature debut with this "coming of age" drama about the formative years of legendary John Lennon. After the death of his beloved uncle and failing in school, John gets closer to his estranged mother which leads to conflict with his strict aunt. With the help of his mother and aunt, John starts his legendary journey where he meets future band mates Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Taylor-Wood makes a solid debut with a terrific cast and crew. Aaron Johnson stars as John Lennon with terrific support from Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

RIP: Jane Russell 1921 - 2011





RIP: Annie Girardot 1931 - 2011








Sunday, February 27, 2011

GUILD AWARDS 10: 83rd Academy Awards (Oscar)




Best Picture

'Black Swan'
'The Fighter'
'Inception'
'The Kids Are All Right'
'The King’s Speech'
'127 Hours'
'The Social Network'
'Toy Story 3'
'True Grit'
'Winter’s Bone'

Best Director
Darren Aronofsky, 'Black Swan'
David O'Russell, 'The Fighter'
Tom Hooper, 'The King's Speech'
David Fincher, 'The Social Network'
Joel and Ethan Coen, 'True Grit'

Best Actor
Javier Bardem, 'Biutiful'
Jeff Bridges, 'True Grit'
Jesse Eisenberg, 'The Social Network'
Colin Firth, 'The King's Speech'
James Franco, '127 Hours'

Best Actress
Annette Bening, 'The Kida Are All Right'
Nicole Kidman, 'Rabbit Hole'
Jennifer Lawrence, 'Winter's Bone'
Natalie Portman, 'Black Swan'
Michelle Williams, 'Blue Valentine'

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, 'The Fighter'
John Hawkes, 'Winter's Bone'
Jeremy Renner, 'The Town'
Mark Ruffalo, 'The Kids Are All Right'
Geoffrey Rush, 'The King's Speech'

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, 'The Fighter'
Helena Bonham Carter, 'The King's Speech'
Melissa Leo, 'The Fighter'
Hailee Steinfeld, 'True Grit'
Jacki Weaver, 'Animal Kingdom'

Best Animated Feature Film
'How to Train Your Dragon'
'Illusionist'
'Toy Story 3'

Best Foreign Film
Mexico - 'Biutiful'
Greece - 'Dogtooth'
Denmark - 'In a Better World'
Canada - 'Incendies'
Algeria - 'Outside the law'

Best Original Screenplay
'Another Year'
'The Fighter'
'Inception'
'The Kids Are All Right'
'The King's Speech'

Best Adapted Screenplay
'127 Hours' - Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
'The Social Network' - Aaron Sorkin
'Toy Story 3' - Michael Arndt
'True Grit' - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
'Winter's Bone' - Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

Best Cinematography
'Black Swan' Matthew Libatique
'Inception' Wally Pfister
'The King's Speech' Danny Cohen
'The Social Network' Jeff Cronenweth
'True Grit' Roger Deakins

Best Film Editing
'Black Swan'
'The Fighter'
'The Kings Speech'
'127 Hours'
'The Social Network'

Best Art Direction
'Alice in Wonderland'
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I'
'Inception'
'The King's Speech'
'True Grit'

Best Costume Design
'Alice in Wonderland'
'I Am Love'
'The King's Speech'
'The Tempest'
'True Grit'

Best Original Song
'Coming Home' - 'Country Strong'
'I See the Light' - 'Tangled'
'If I Rise' - '127 Hours'
'We Belong Together' - 'Toy Story 3'

Best Original Score
'How to Train Your Dragon' John Powell
'Inception' Hans Zimmer
'The King's Speech' Alexandre Desplat
'127 Hours' A.R. Rahman
'The Social Network' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Best Documentary
'Exit through the Gift Shop'
'Gasland'
'Inside Job'
'Restrepo'
'Waste Land'

Best Makeup
'Barney's Version'
'The Way Back'
'The Wolfman'

Best Sound Editing
'Inception'
'Toy Story 3'
'TRON: Legacy'
'True Grit'
'Unstoppable'

Best Sound Mixing
'Inception'
'The King's Speech'
'Salt'
'The Social Network'
'True Grit'

Best Visual Effects
'Alice in Wonderland'
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1'
'Hereafter'
'Inception'
'Iron Man 2''

The Lady from Shanghai

Legendary multi talented film maker Orson Welles made this classic film-noir. A man falls under the spell of a beautiful married woman with a wicked plan. Welles wrote, directed, produced and stars with his wife Rita Hayworth in this film-noir which has all the ingredients for a great film. However the film was taken from him and butchered but there's enough moments of brilliance which indicates towards the genius of Welles. Hayworth is dazzling as the "femme fatale" and the perfect match for Welles. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

26th INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS



Best Feature

127 Hours
Black Swan
Greenberg
The Kids Are All Right
Winter’s Bone

Best Director
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Danny Boyle, 127 Hours
Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right
Debra Granik, Winter’s Bone
John Cameron Mitchell, Rabbit Hole

Best Female Lead
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Greta Gerwig, Greenberg
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawerence, Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Best Male Lead
Ronald Bronstein, Daddy Longlegs
Aaron Eckhart, Rabbit Hole
James Franco, 127 Hours
John C. Reilly, Cyrus
Ben Stiller, Greenberg

Best Supporting Female
Ashley Bell, The Last Exorcism
Dale Dickey, Winter’s Bone
Allison Janney, Life During Wartime
Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jack Goes Boating
Naomi Watts, Mother and Child

Best Supporting Male
Bill Murray, Get Low
John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone
Samuel L. Jackson, Mother and Child
John Ortiz, Jack Goes Boating
Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right

Best First Feature
Everything Strange and New
Get Low
The Last Exorcism
Night Catches Us
Tiny Furniture

John Cassavetes Award
Daddy Longlegs
The Exploding Girl
Lbs.
Lovers of Hate
Obselidia

Best Screenplay
The Kids Are All Right
Winter’s Bone
Please Give
Rabbit Hole
Life During Wartime

Best First Screenplay
Obselidia
Tiny Furniture
Lovely, Still
Jack Goes Boating
Monogamy

Best Foreign Film
The King's Speech
Kisses
Mademoiselle Chambon
Of Gods And Men
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

Best Documentary
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Marwencol
Restrepo
Sweetgrass
Thunder Soul

Best Cinematography
Black Swan
Never Let Me Go
Tiny Furniture
Winter’s Bone
Greenberg

36th César Awards



Best Film
Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)
Heartbreaker
Le Nom des gens
Mammuth
Of Gods and Men
On Tour
The Ghost Writer

Best Director
Mathieu Amalric, On Tour
Olivier Assayas, Carlos
Xavier Beauvois, Of Gods and Men
Bertrand Blier, Le Bruit des glacons
Roman Polanski, The Ghost Writer

Best Actor – Leading Role
Gerard Depardieu, Mammuth
Romain Duris, Heartbreaker
Eric Elmosnino, Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)
Jacques Gamblin, Le Nom des gens
Lambert Wilson, Of Gods and Men

Best Actress – Leading Role
Isabelle Carré, Les Émotifs anonymes
Catherine Deneuve, Potiche
Sara Forestier, Le Nom des gens
Charlotte Gainsbourg, L'Arbre
Kristin Scott Thomas, Sarah's Key

Best Actor – Supporting Role
Niels Arestrup, L'homme qui voulait vivre sa vie
Francois Damiens, Heartbreaker
Gilles Lellouche, Little White Lies
Michael Lonsdale, Of Gods and Men
Olivier Rabourdin, Of Gods and Men

Best Actress – Supporting Role
Anne Alvaro, Le Bruit des glacons
Valérie Bonneton, Little White Lies
Laetitia Casta, Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)
Julie Ferrier, Heartbreaker
Karin Viard, Potiche

Most Promising Actor
Arthur Dupont, Bus Palladium
Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, The Princess of Montpensier
Pio Marmai, D'amour et d’eau fraîche
Raphaël Personnaz, The Princess of Montpensier
Edgar Ramirez, Carlos

Most Promising Actress
Leïla Bekhti, Tout ce qui brille
Anais Demoustier, D'amour et d’eau fraîche
Audrey Lamy, Tout ce qui brille
Léa Seydoux, Belle Épine
Yahima Torres, Black Venus

Best First Work
Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)
Heartbreaker
Simon Werner a disparu
Tête De Turc
Tout ce qui brille

Best Writing – Adaptation
L'Arbre
The Princess of Montpensier
L'homme qui voulait vivre sa vie
Potiche
The Ghost Writer

Best Writing – Original
Le Bruit des glaçons
Mammuth
Le Nom des gens
Of Gods and Men
On Tour

Best Cinematography
Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)
Of Gods and Men
On Tour
The Ghost Writer
The Princess of Montpensier

Best Editing
Carlos
Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)
On Tour
Of Gods and Men
The Ghost Writer

Best Sound
Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)
Oceans
The Ghost Writer
Of Gods and Men

Best Music
L'Arbre
Liberté
Bus Palladium
Oceans
The Ghost Writer
The Princess of Montpensier

Best Costume Design
Adèle Blanc-Sec
Of Gods and Men
On Tour
The Princess of Montpensier
Potiche

Best Production Design
Adèle Blanc-Sec
Of Gods and Men
The Princess of Montpensier
The Ghost Writer
Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)

Best Documentary
Benda Bilili!
Cleveland contre Wall Street
Entre nos mains
Oceans
Yves Saint Laurent – Pierre Bergé

Best Animated Film
Arthur and the War of the Two Worlds
L'Homme à la Gordini
L'Illusioniste
Logorama
Une vie de chat

Best Foreign Film
The Social Network
Heartbeats
Bright Star
The Secret in Their Eyes
Illegal
Inception
Invictus

Story of a Prostitute

Japanese director Seijun Suzuki took a scathing look at the Japanese military with this drama. A woman becomes a prostitute for Japanese Army in Manchuria where she falls for a soldier with devastating consequences. Suzuki balances style and substance with this attack on the Japanese military's treatment of women and their code of sacrifice. Stunning cinematography with a powerful performance by Yumiko Nogawa makes this film a classic. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Friday, February 25, 2011

3-Iron

Korean writer and director Kim Ki-duk made a poetic fable with this film. A young man breaks into empty homes, just to live for few days. When he meets an abused and married woman, they find an instant connection which leads to love. Ki-duk makes a modern fable which is utterly original and unique which he reveals like a dream. Lee Hyun-kyoon and Lee Seung-yeon star as the leads who deliver silent performances which are one of the highlights of the film. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Fireworks Wednesday

Iranian writer and director Asghar Farhadi provides a fascinating look at contemporary Iran with this compelling drama. During the new year festivities, a young maid is entangled in the explosive relationship of a couple on the verge of a break up. Set entirely during one day, Farhadi manages to give insight into the lives of three couples at various stages of their lives, a couple about to get married, a married couple struggling with their marriage and a divorced couple. Farhadi is one the few contemporary Iranian directors avoiding politics to focus on the domestic issues which is rarely captured. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Freakonomics

Six acclaimed documentary filmmakers tackle the bestseller by economist Stephen D. Levitt and author Stephen J. Dubner who also appear in the film to connect the four short films. As in the book, the filmmakers look at hidden side of several issues including what's in the name whether the right or wrong name has any effects on the person, corruption in unexpected places such as Sumo wrestling, the positive effects of abortion on crime and criminals and whether bribing works on children to improve their grades in school. The filmmakers includes Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki, Morgan Spurlock, Seth Gordon, Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady who all make their chosen subjects entertaining and accessible if not more. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Grand Illusion

French master Jean Renoir made this masterpiece about the nature of war which remains a timeless classic. During WWI, two French officers attempt several escapes from German POW camps. While on the surface it's a war film, Renoir is more concerned about the human drama and implications of war. Renoir's brilliant film captures the different behaviors between the classes on both sides where enemies of the same class have more in common than with their own people of lower classes. The film is about the human interaction and how the world changed after WWI. Renoir assembled a terrific cast including Jean Gabin and Erich von Stroheim in towering performances. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Mon Oncle Antoine

Canadian writer and director Claude Jutra delivered his masterpiece with this "coming of age" drama. The portrait of a small mining town and its people through the eyes of a young orphan boy. Jutra's background in documentary helps his naturalistic approach to this film which is simple yet profound, full of small wonders without a false beat. Jutra has assembled a top notch cast and crew for a film considered the greatest Canadian film of all time. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

GUILD AWARDS 9: Sound Guilds (CAS)(MPSE)



CINEMA AUDIO SOCIETY (CAS)
FEATURE FILM

Black Swan

Inception

Shutter Island

The Social Network

True Grit

MOTION PICTURE SOUND EDITORS (MPSE)
Best Sound Editing: Animation
Despicable Me

How To Train Your Dragon

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Tangled

The Illusionist

Toy Story 3

Best Sound Editing: Documentary
Babies

Catfish

Exit Through The Gift Shop

Inside Job

Restrepo
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage

Waiting for Superman

Best Sound Editing: Foreign Language Film
Biutiful

Lebanon

Micmacs

Mother

North Face

The Girl Who Played with Fire

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Sound Editing: Feature Film
Alice in Wonderland

Black Swan

Get Low

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Inception

Let Me In

The Losers

The Social Network



GUILD AWARDS 8: Editor's Guild (ACE)



FEATURE FILM (DRAMATIC)


Black Swan

The Fighter

Inception

The King’s Speech

The Social Network


FEATURE FILM (COMEDY OR MUSICAL)

Alice in Wonderland

Easy A

The Kids Are All Right

Made in Dagenham

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World


ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Despicable Me

How To Train Your Dragon

Toy Story 3


DOCUMENTARY FILM
Exit Through the Gift Shop

Inside Job

Waiting For “Superman”

Saturday, February 19, 2011

FESTIVAL 2: Berlin, Germany



One of the top three festivals in the World (the others being Cannes and Venice) is more serious and political than the others. However due to its time slot, it doesn't get the big films that Cannes gets. Instead Berlin gets to pick from big Hollywood films that gets released late in the year for Award considerations. It's the only one of the three festivals open to the public.

OFFICIAL COMPETITION:
Almanya, Yasemin Samdereli, Germany
A Mysterious World, Rodrigo Moreno, Argentina/Uruguay
Coriolanus, Ralph Fiennes, Great Britain
Come Rain Come Shine, Lee Yoon-k, Republic of Korea
The Forgiveness Of Blood, Joshua Marston, USA/Albania Best Script
The Future, Miranda July, USA
If Not Us, Who, Andres Veiel, Germany Alfred Bauer Prize
Innocent Saturday, Alexander Mindadze, Russia/Ukraine
Margin Call, JC Chandor, USA
My Best Enemy, Wolfgang Murnberger, Austria/Luxemburg
Nader And Simin, A Separation, Asghar Farhadi, Iran Golden Bear
Our Grand Despair, Seyfi Teoman, Turkey
Odem, Jonathan Sagall, Israel/Great Britain
The Prize, Paula Markovitch, Mexico/Poland
Service Entrance, Philippe Le Guay, France
Sleeping Sickness, Ulrich Köhler, Germany Best Director
Tales Of The Night, Michel Ocelot, France
The Turin Horse, Béla Tarr, Hungary Jury Grand Prix
Yelling To The Sky, Victoria Mahoney, USA

OUT OF COMPETITION:
Cave Of Forgotten Dreams, Werner Herzog, USA
Pina, Wim Wenders, Germany
Offside, Jafar Panahi, Iran
True Grit, Joel and Ethan Coen, USA
Unknown, Jaume Collet-Serra, Germany/Great Britain/France

PANORAMA:
Amador, Fernando León De Aranoa, Spain
Asshole, Kaushik Mukherjee (Q), India
Even The Rain, Icíar Bollaín, Spain/France/Mexico
Here, Braden King, USA
Into the White Night, Yoshihiro Fukagawa, Japan
Invisible, Michal Aviad, Israel/Germany
The Mortician, Gareth Maxwell Roberts, Great Britain/USA
OFF BEAT, Jan Gassmann, Switzerland
Qualunquemente, Giulio Manfredonia, Italy
Romeos, Sabine Bernardi, Germany
Suicide Room, Jan Komasa, Poland
Tomboy, Céline Sciamma, France
Top Floor Left Wing, Angelo Cianci, France/Luxemburg
Vampire, Iwai Shunji, USA/Canada

Knight and Day

Versatile director James Mangold jumped to this action thriller for change after his solid efforts in drama (Walk the Line) and western (3:10 to Yuma). A woman is caught up in a dangerous international adventure with a secret agent. Mangold reunites Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz for a film that arrives ten years too late. Nothing in the film including the story, action and star power has the current immediacy of the genre as it tries too hard to please. This film has the feel of a 90's film when Cruise and Diaz were at the height of their careers, they both recycle familiar performances which adds to its annoyance. The solid supporting cast includes Peter Sarsgaard, Jordi Mollà, Viola Davis and Paul Dano as well as exotic destinations. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Crazy Heart

Actor turned writer and director Scott Cooper makes his feature debut with this drama. A washed up and alcoholic country singer finds a second chance in life with the help of a young single mother. Cooper makes a solid if conventional debut with a stellar cast. While the film doesn't offer anything new, it stands out because of Jeff Bridges who delivers another outstanding performance with equally solid support from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Ten

Iranian master Abbas Kiarostami always finds inventive ways to tell a compelling story despite the censorship imposed by the government. A portrait of women in contemporary Iran who deal with various situations and problems. Kiarostami tells his story in ten sequences, all in one car with same driver whose conversations with her son, sister, friend and strangers reveal how people in Iran function in an oppressive society ruled by men. Mania Akbari gives a compelling performance as the central character who literally drives the story. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Japanese Story

Australian director Sue Brooks delivered a remarkable film with this haunting drama. A female geologist is forced by her superiors to take a Japanese investor to the Australian outback. On the road trip to a remote desert, their mutual dislike changes to respect and love with unexpected consequences. Brooks and writer Alison Tilson have found the perfect actress in Toni Collette who delivers another astonishing performance that's the heart and soul of the film. It's a rare treat to discover a film of sheer beauty and power which succeeds on several levels. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

John Adams

British director Tom Hooper made this epic about the life of John Adams which also the story of the creation of the United States. The story of John and Abigail Adams from their early lives before the revolution through their journey in the first 50 years of the United States where they face political and private victories and tragedies. Hooper assembled a terrific cast and crew for this timeless story beyond history books. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney deliver outstanding performances in the leads with an stellar supporting cast including Stephen Dillane, Sarah Polley and John Dossett among many others. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Monday, February 14, 2011

GUILD AWARDS 7: Cinematographers' Guild (ASC)



FEATURE FILM

Black Swan, Matthew Libatique
Inception, Wally Pfister
The King's Speech, Danny Cohen
The Social Network, Jeff Cronenweth
True Grit's, Roger Deakins

Sunday, February 13, 2011

GUILD AWARDS 6: British Academy Awards (BAFTA)



BEST FILM


BLACK SWAN

INCEPTION

THE KING’S SPEECH

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

TRUE GRIT

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

127 HOURS

ANOTHER YEAR

FOUR LIONS
THE KING’S SPEECH

MADE IN DAGENHAM

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

THE ARBOR
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP
FOUR LIONS
MONSTERS

SKELETONS

DIRECTOR

127 HOURS, Danny Boyle

BLACK SWAN, Darren Aronofsky

INCEPTION, Christopher Nolan

THE KING’S SPEECH, Tom Hooper

THE SOCIAL NETWORK, David Fincher

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

BLACK SWAN
THE FIGHTER

INCEPTION

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

THE KING’S SPEECH

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

127 HOURS
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
TOY STORY 3
TRUE GRIT

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
BIUTIFUL

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
I AM LOVE
OF GODS AND MEN
THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES

ANIMATED FILM

DESPICABLE ME
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

TOY STORY 3

LEADING ACTOR

JAVIER BARDEM, Biutiful

JEFF BRIDGES, True Grit

JESSE EISENBERG, The Social Network

COLIN FIRTH, The King’s Speech

JAMES FRANCO, 127 Hours

LEADING ACTRESS

ANNETTE BENING, The Kids Are All Right

JULIANNE MOORE ,The Kids Are All Right

NATALIE PORTMAN, Black Swan
NOOMI RAPACE, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

HAILEE STEINFELD, True Grit

SUPPORTING ACTOR

CHRISTIAN BALE, The Fighter

ANDREW GARFIELD, The Social Network

PETE POSTLETHWAITE, The Town

MARK RUFFALO, The Kids Are All Right

GEOFFREY RUSH, The King’s Speech

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

AMY ADAMS, The Fighter

HELENA BONHAM CARTER, The King’s Speech

BARBARA HERSHEY, Black Swan

LESLEY MANVILLE, Another Year

MIRANDA RICHARDSON, Made in Dagenham



ORIGINAL MUSIC
127 HOURS

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

INCEPTION
THE KING’S SPEECH

CINEMATOGRAPHY

127 HOURS
BLACK SWAN

INCEPTION

THE KING’S SPEECH

TRUE GRIT

EDITING
127 HOURS
BLACK SWAN
INCEPTION

THE KING’S SPEECH

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

PRODUCTION DESIGN

ALICE IN WONDERLAND
BLACK SWAN
INCEPTION
THE KING’S SPEECH

TRUE GRIT

COSTUME DESIGN

ALICE IN WONDERLAND
BLACK SWAN

THE KING’S SPEECH

MADE IN DAGENHAM

TRUE GRIT

SOUND

127 HOURS

BLACK SWAN
INCEPTION
THE KING’S SPEECH

TRUE GRIT

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

BLACK SWAN
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1

INCEPTION

TOY STORY 3

MAKE UP & HAIR

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

BLACK SWAN
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1
THE KING’S SPEECH

MADE IN DAGENHAM

RISING STAR AWARD

GEMMA ARTERTON

ANDREW GARFIELD

TOM HARDY

AARON JOHNSON

EMMA STONE

For more info: BAFTA

Red Dust

British director Tom Hooper made this effective drama about the process of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission which was established after the end of Apartheid. After a brutal police officer seeks for amnesty from Commission, it opens wounds of their recent past for the whole town including a political activist and his lawyer who try to expose the officer and his allies. Hooper and his talented cast and crew manage to bring clarity into a process which is not only unique to South Africa but also fascinating. Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor deliver powerful and searing performances which shows the emotional toll that has haunted a country. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

The Sicilian Girl

Italian writer and director Marco Amenta made this riveting thriller based on the incredible true story of Rita Atria and her courageous effort to fight the Mafia. A young Sicilian girl from a Mafia family seeks to revenge the death of her father and brother which leads to one of the biggest Mafia investigation in Sicily. Amenta's manages to bring the remarkable journey of Rita to the screen that shows how the Mafia works in the Sicilian society and why it's a challenge to fight them. It's had to make a film about Mafia because it has been over-exploited and has served as propaganda for the organized crime which makes Amenta's film more fascinating because it's based on a true story. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.