RIP: Susannah York 1939 - 2011

Toy Story 3

Pixar continues to blur the line between children and adult themes in their films which is the case for this film. The toys take on adventure to the dark side with some profound results that will appeal to mature audiences but might be too scary for smaller children. There's a profound sense of nostalgia to childhood and scary and sinister look to old age. It's an extremely well made film that manages to say more to wider audience than many of the live action films. Director Lee Unkrich and writer Michael Arndt continue to upheld the high standards for Pixar which continues to deliver outstanding films. The solid cast delivers as expected which might be the best film in the series depending on the age of the audience. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Director Chris Columbus returns to what he knows best with this film a young boy who discovers his magical powers. The story successfully updates the Greek mythology to modern times and the US where the son of Poseidon is accused to have stolen Zeus's powerful weapon which starts the adventure. Columbus cleverly has chosen good actors along with effective visual effects that might be the launch another franchise. The cast includes Logan Lerman as Percy, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener and Uma Thurman amongst others to line up for another ensemble in this entertaining ride. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Dark Matter

Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng made his debut feature with this impressive drama based on an actual event. A brilliant Chinese student of humble beginnings gets a chance to study cosmology in the US under a famous professor. When his theory on the dark matter in the universe collides with his professors, the professor pulls his support which derails the student psychologically that leads to tragedy. Shi-Zheng's powerful portrait of an overachiever is keenly observed which only falls apart towards the end. Liu Ye gives a solid performance with stellar support from a never better Aidan Quinn and the magnificent Meryl Streep. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Machinist

American director Brad Anderson made this effective psychological thriller. A machinist suffering from a year long severe insomnia begins to experience a psychological downward spiral that endangers him and the people around him. Anderson and his cast and crew keep a tight grip on the story that pays off well. Christian Bale delivers another solid performance with a transformation that has to be seen to be believed which is a sight onto itself. The solid cast includes Jennifer Jason Leigh and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Eat Pray Love

Director Ryan Murphy takes another misstep with this glossy and superficial drama. After several broken relationships, an American woman travels abroad to find herself, to eat in Italy, to pray in India and to love in Bali. Murphy opts for a beautiful travelogue with beautiful actors that buries any real substance the story might have. It's hard to relate to Julia Roberts who has a great time traveling the world except for few burst of tears and unhappiness. Based on the novel by Elizabeth Gilbert, I'm sure many women would have traded their lives with her in a heart beat. The over qualified cast includes Javier Bardem, James Franco, Richard Jenkins and Billy Crudup amongst others. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Pirate Radio

British writer Richard Curtis' second effort as a director is another feel good comedy with a killer soundtrack. In 1966 England, a pirate radio on a boat is all the rage because it's the only radio broadcasting Rock'n'Roll making its DJs stars and the target of government officials trying to shut it down. Curtis manages to bring an array of colorful characters that make this ensemble work. The talented cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh and Rhys Ifans and many others. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Murmur of the Heart

French writer and director Louis Malle made this controversial coming of age film in 1971 about a bourgeois family in 1950's Dijon. A young boy's sexual awakening in a family of three boys to a physician father and Italian mother. Malle masterfully tackles shocking taboos seem more natural and innocent, specially sexuality which the French are well known for. Candid and effective performances make this comedy very human. The beautiful and stunning Lea Massari is outstanding as the irresponsible mother. The film has not lost any of its power which is the sign of a classic. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Three Days of Condor

Director Sydney Pollack and frequent star Robert Redford reunited for this excellent thriller. A low ranking CIA operative on the run has three days to figure out who's trying to kill him which leads him to high ranking officials in Washington DC. Pollack's effective film is set shortly after Watergate incident which brings a great deal of tension and authenticity to the story. The excellent cast includes Faye Dunaway, Max von Sydow, Cliff Robertson and John Houseman. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Bullitt

British director Peter Yates made his Hollywood debut with this riveting thriller. A tough cop's determination to find the killer of a witness puts him under pressure from his superiors and an ambitious politician while he's running out of time. Yates created masterfully a tension packed thriller with perhaps the best car chase sequence in the history of cinema. Steve McQueen stars in a career defining performance that defines cool. Robert Vaughn is excellent as the DA who puts heat on McQueen's Bullitt. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Room at the Top

British director Jack Clayton made his feature debut with this brilliant character study of a social climber. A young man with humble background arrives in a bigger town and schemes to marry the wealthiest girl but falls in love with an unhappily married woman. Clayton's film stands out for its honest depiction of the British class system and features outstanding performances which made this film a timeless classic. French actress Simone Signoret is magnificent as the tragic older woman while Laurence Harvey delivered his best performance as the ruthless social climber who learns too late the meaning of love. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

RIP: Peter Yates 1929 - 2011

All This, and Heaven Too

Director Anatole Litvak made this tale of unrequited love set during 19 century France. A beautiful governess enters a troubled aristocratic household where the toxic relationship between the Duke and the Duchess affects their children. When the governess successfully wins the heart of the children and their father, their brief happiness is shuttered by the Duchess that ends with tragedy. Litvak's misguided sentimentality in the opening and closing scenes seriously damages the film but saved by the superb performances of Bette Davis, Charles Boyer and Barbara O'Neil in the leads. It shows the great actors can be the saving grace. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

CRITICS AWARDS 5: National Society of Film Critics

Best Film
THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Foreign Language Film
CARLOS

Best Director
David Fincher, THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Screenplay
Aaron Sorkin, THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Actor
Jesse Eisenberg, THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Actress
Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Vincere

Best Supporting Actor
Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

Best Supporting Actress
Olivia Williams, The Ghost Writer

Best Documentary
Inside Job

Best Animated Feature
The Illusionist

Cinematography
Roger Deakins, True Grit

I Vitelloni

Italian master Federico Fellini's first masterpiece is about a group of young men at a crucial turning point in their lives in a small town. These young men resist adulthood and responsibility while roaming around together from cafés to movie theaters. What matters to them is their friendship more than anything else. It's a seminal film about the postwar generation that has influenced many films since that marked the arrival of one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of cinema. The outstanding cast and crew includes the composer Nino Rota who did the music for all of Fellini's films. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Sansho the Bailiff

Japanese master Kenji Mizoguchi made one of the most devastating and heartbreaking films ever with this masterpiece about a family torn apart during the medieval Japan where cruelty was paramount. A compassionate governor disobeys his superior and is sent to exile which leaves his family alone. After several years when his wife and children embark to find him, they fall prey to bandits who sell his wife into prostitution and the children to slavery. While it's set during a specific time and place, it's a timeless tale about the human condition. Hence the title refers to the villain of the story who's a product of his era where evil prevailed over goodness. Mizoguchi's precise and elegant film is breathtaking to say the least which is a great accomplishment. Along with his superb cast and crew, Mizoguchi made one of the greatest films of all time. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Versatile Taiwanese director Ang Lee delivered his masterpiece with this dazzling film that set new standard for martial art films. Two warriors with a legendary sword pursue a notorious fugitive which leads them to a talented young female warrior of noble heritage who could become their heir in the fight for good or evil. Brilliant writing, pitch-perfect performances and spectacular fight sequences make this film a timeless classic. Lee's one of few directors who successfully can jump between genres and cultures to deliver outstanding films that makes him one the best directors in the world. The superb cast and crew includes Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Chang Chen and Ziyi Zhang in a role that made her an international superstar. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Prince of Persia

British director Mike Newell took another misstep with this uninspired blockbuster. A fugitive prince lands a magical dagger that can reverse time and threaten the world in the wrong hands. Instead of going to some spectacular tales in Persian literature such as Shahnama (The Book of Kings) for example, the filmmakers chose a video game as their source which is a shame that shows in the outcome. Given the poor writing there's no surprise that the rest of the film suffers including the performances. However the visual effects and production and art design show potential of what could have been. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Thief of Bagdad

Producer Alexander Korda made this masterpiece of cinema that remains a timeless classic. A young prince is cheated out of his throne and love by his evil Vizier but finds an ally in a young thief who helps him to regain everything after a thrilling adventure worthy of 1001 Nights. A dazzling combination of great story and visual effects make this film one of the great film. It's a remarkable achievement for the time it was made that puts many contemporary films to shame. Besides the fantastic crew that includes director Michael Powell and composer Miklós Rózsa the film features Sabu and Conrad Veidt who deliver the best performances in the film and their careers. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Touching the Void

Scottish director Kevin Macdonald made this docu-drama about two British climbers incredible survival in the Peruvian Andes. In 1985, Simon Yates and Joe Simpson were the first to climb the west face of Siula Grande only to face an incredible ordeal to survive on their descent when they are forced to separate. Macdonald's use of interviews with the climbers along with dramatic reenactment makes for a powerful film that blurs the lines between documentary and drama. It's one of the greatest survivals of human against nature. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Tourist

German writer and director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck followed his breakthrough film, the outstanding "The Lives of Others" with this Hollywood blockbuster. A woman hunted by the police and the mob picks an innocent tourist as her wanted lover on her way to Venice. A pure escapist fare with two of the most glamorous Hollywood stars in an equally glamorous setting is a guilty pleasure for those game for a good and old-fashioned ride. If this film was made in the 60's, it would have been made with Sophia Loren or Audrey Hepburn costarring with Gregory Peck or Cary Grant which Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp channel so well. A beautiful cast in a travelogue setting hasn't hurt anybody, only those who foolishly expected more from the over qualified cast and crew. YRCinema's coverage of current releases.

A Crime

French writer and director Manuel Pradal chose New York as the setting for this story about crime and punishment. A woman in love with her shell-shocked neighbor, who's obsessed to find the murderer of his wife, decides to set up an an innocent cab driver as the culprit. However things don't go as planned because there's a price to pay for a crime. Pradal taps into the big city paranoia and finds an interesting story that's closer to reality that almost succeeds. He finds a capable cast with Harvey Keitel, Emmanuelle Béart and Norman Reedus in the leads with New York as the fourth character. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

CRITICS AWARDS 4: SATELLITE™ Awards

Motion Picture, Drama
THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Motion Picture, Comedy/Musical
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD

Motion Picture, Foreign Language
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Motion Picture Animation
TOY STORY 3

Motion Picture Documentary
RESTREPO

Director
DAVID FINCHER, THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Actor In A Drama
COLIN FIRTH, THE KING’S SPEECH

Actress In A Drama
NOOMI RAPACE, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Actor In A Motion Picture, Comedy/Musical
MICHAEL CERA, SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD

Actress In A Motion Picture, Comedy/Musical
ANNE HATHAWAY, LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS

Actress In A Supporting Role
JACKI WEAVER, ANIMAL KINGDOM

Actor In A Supporting Role
CHRISTIAN BALE, THE FIGHTER

Screenplay, Original
THE KING’S SPEECH

Screenplay, Adapted
THE SOCIAL NETWORK

For more info: http://www.pressacademy.com

RIP: Pete Postlethwaite 1946 - 2011

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Martin Scorsese directed this female centered drama between Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. After the death of her husband, a woman hits the road with her son and has to learn to become an independent woman as a single mother. Scorsese brings his gritty vision of reality to the story that knocks away any romantic notion. It's a real story that's painful and scary as it should be for anybody in the situation of Alice with a demanding child without any male support. Ellen Burstyn delivers a riveting performance as the lead with a terrific supporting cast including Diane Ladd, Kris Kristofferson, Harvey Keitel, Jodie Foster and Alfred Lutter. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Hard Eight

American writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson made his feature debut with this remarkable drama. A desperate young man finds a father figure in a old timer who knows his way in the treacherous world of gambling where many harbor dark secrets. Anderson's film is not about plot but story and characters which is remarkably mature for a debut. The excellent Philip Baker Hall gets a well deserved lead with a superb performance with solid support by John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Duellists

British director Ridley Scott made his feature debut with this tale about two men caught up in personal vendetta during the Napoleonic Wars. After a officer is asked to track down an obsessed dueller in his regiment, he becomes the target of the man for duels that haunts his life. Scott chose an intimate focus to tell the story of war and the psyche of a soldier. American actors Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel are inspired choices to play French soldiers and they deliver solid performance. Carradine's D'Hubert is a noble soldier for whom war is a means where Keitel's menacing Feraud is deranged that makes his profession dangerous. The two archetype of soldiers are two side of man that's universal and relevant regardless of time and era. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.