RIP: Marie-France Pisier 1944 - 2011

Circumstance

Iranian-American writer and director Maryam Keshavarz made her feature debut with this political drama. Two rebellious teenage girls live a dangerous life in Tehran to escape the oppressive reality of their existence. While Keshavarz has valid concerns, her politically motivated film aims to shock and provoke instead of advancing the cause by inviting dialogue. Poorly written and executed, the film lacks a coherent tone which is all over the place from thought provoking to the absurd which derails the film. The film needed a heavy dose of sincerity and more respect for its characters to advance the issues where the film needs to be shown instead of being banned. The talented cast includes Nikohl Boosheri and Sarah Kazemy, both delivering fearless performances. YRCinema's coverage of the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival.

The Future

Writer and director Miranda July returns with her sophomore effort with another whimsical comedy. A thirty-something couple decide to take another step in their relationship by adopting a homeless cat which leads them to re-examine their life and relationship. July brings another original story about the human condition with plenty of heart and humor that's refreshing. She stars with Hamish Linklater and David Warshofsky who deliver hilarious performances. YRCinema's coverage of the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival.

Meek's Cutoff

Director Kelly Reichardt returns with a meticulous and impressive anti-western period drama. A group of settlers lost in Oregon, 1845 are faced with the dilemma to further trust the guide responsible or an Indian they capture to get them back on track. No other genre has been stylized and bastardized like the western. Reichardt and her talented cast and crew try to set the record straight and show for once the harsh reality of the settler life with the nature as the real enemy. Minimalistic and enigmatic, Reichardt recreates the daily ordeals of the pioneers who literally set out West for a better life against all odds where one false move could have proven fatal, especially following the wrong leader. The moral of the story is timeless and politically relevant. The cast includes unrecognizable Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood and Paul Dano who all could have been replaced with total unknowns if financing would not have an issue. YRCinema's coverage of the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival.

La Petite Lili

Veteran French writer and director Claude Miller adapted and updated Anton Chekov's play "The Seagull" into a solid drama. An ambitious young actress stirs the lives of a family during their stay in the country which has long lasting consequences. Miller and co-writer Julien Boivent effectively bring the Chekov themes of generational conflicts involving family, love and art to screen. Miller focuses on the ingenue Lili who's the trigger for all the events unfolding changing everybody's life in the process. Miller and his talented cast deliver a profound film where life influences art and vice versa. The stellar cast includes Ludivine Sagnier, Nicole Garcia, Bernard Giraudeau, Jean-Pierre Marielle and Julie Depardieu. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

RIP: Tim Hetherington 1970 - 2011

The Bourne Identity

Versatile director Doug Liman changed gears to action to kick off the Bourne franchise with this action thriller. A man with amnesia and killer skills sets out to find his identity across Europe. Liman and writer Tony Gilroy hit all the right notes to bring the Robert Ludlum novel to live with a terrific cast and crew. Matt Damon is perfectly cast as Jason Bourne with an equally solid support from Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen and Brian Cox. The Bourne trilogy is one of the few franchises that kept getting better with every installment. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Glorious 39

British writer and director Stephen Poliakoff returned to theatrical features with this period thriller. Right before the British involvement in the WWII, the adopted daughter of an aristocratic family discovers her entire family is involved in a conspiracy to support Hitler instead of get involved in the war. While Poliakoff and his exceptional cast have the proper intention, the story fails to deliver due to its misguided ambition which the talented cast can't save. The cast of veterans includes an utterly wasted Julie Christie, Bill Nighy, Jenny Agutter, Jeremy Northam, Hugh Bonneville, Christopher Lee supporting rising stars Romola Garai, Eddie Redmayne and Juno Temple. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Home

French-Swiss writer and director Ursula Meier made her feature debut with this domestic drama about the meaning of home. A family whose house borders an abandoned highway find themselves shockingly surprised when it's suddenly open turning their life into living hell. Meier explores the meaning of home which goes beyond property with this family refusing to give it up. Meier scored to have Isabelle Huppert reuniting her with Belgian actor Olivier Gourmet, known for his films with the Dardenne brothers, to bring much gravitas to the story. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Wolfman

Director Joe Johnston takes on the werewolf story with this horror thriller. A man returns home after a long absence to investigate the disappearance of his brother only to get caught up with his traumatic past again. Johnston and his talented cast and crew try their best to update the classic tale but succeeds in some areas like tone and atmosphere while failing in others specially in the story. Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt should have stayed from this kind of material which is not worthy of their talents. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Made in Dagenham

British director Nigel Cole delivered his best film with this entertaining and moving historical drama. A female worker becomes accidentally the leading force in the 1968 strike against Ford Motor Company that brought equal pay for female workers. Cole and his excellent cast and crew bring the era vividly to live which was not that long ago where women were discriminated in a world run by men. Cole managed to make a moving and relevant film without sacrificing the historical accuracy. Sally Hawkins delivers another stellar performance as Rita O'Grady with an equally terrific support from Bob Hoskins, Andrea Riseborough, Daniel Mays, Rupert Graves and Miranda Richardson. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Sphere

Director Barry Levinson got to adapt the novel by Michael Crichton for the big screen after he bounced back with the hit "Wag the Dog." In this psychological thriller, a group of scientists are sent under the ocean to examine a mysterious 300 year old spaceship. Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone and Samuel L. Jackson star as the selected crew. Crichton explored the idea whether humans have the capacity to face alien life form. Levinson's film jumps from genre to genre from thriller to drama to science fiction to get the idea across but ends up without satisfy which has been better explored and executed by Andrey Tarkovskiy in his masterpiece "Solaris." YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Amelia

Indian director Mira Nair seemed like a good match for the biopic of legendary American pilot Amelia Earhart but film lacks any excitement associated with her who inspired and intrigued countless people around the world. The film faithfully details all her life up till her disappearance but the writing and directing is uninspired which is a shame. The talented cast includes Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston and Mia Wasikowska but they fail to overcome the inherent hurdles to save the film. Maybe because everything is so well known, it's hard to translate it on screen, at least literally, maybe the film needed a more unconventional approach. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Hanna

British director Joe Wright continues to impress as he expands beyond literary adaptations with this spectacular action thriller. A young girl who's raised as a killer in the wilderness is sent to kill a vicious CIA operative who holds the secrets to her mysterious past. Wright along with writers Seth Lochhead and David Farr created a unique and original contemporary fable with outstanding female characters brought alive by the terrific Saoirse Ronan and always amazing Cate Blanchett. The outstanding cast and crew includes Eric Bana, Olivia Williams and Tom Hollander while cinematographer Alwin Küchler and The Chemical Brothers provide smashing visuals and music. YRCinema's coverage of current releases.

I Love You Phillip Morris

Writing duo Glenn Ficarra and John Requa made their directing debut with this misguided comedy. After a married police officer gets rejected by his birth mother, he realizes he's gay which makes him to become a successful con man through which he finds the love of his life. It's based on a true story but nothing in this film seems credible to suggest so from the tone to the performances. While Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor are fearless in their performances, they are also the problem for the film to work, specially Carrey who's outrageous in this preposterous story. Writers and directors Ficarra and Requa seems to be more interested in an outrageous comedy than bringing the human drama of a brilliant con artist. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Mildred Pierce

Writer and director Todd Haynes returns to domestic drama with epic film made for HBO. During the Depression era, a headstrong woman leaves her cheating husband to become an independent business woman but her success comes at a steep personal price involving her spoiled daughter. Haynes assembled a stellar cast and crew for this adaptation which goes back to novel James M. Cain (The Postman Always Rings Twice & Double Indemnity) instead of the Hollywood classic. Kate Winslet delivers another astonishing performance with an outstanding support from Brían F. O'Byrne, Guy Pearce, Melissa Leo, James LeGros and Evan Rachel Wood. The A-List team includes cinematographer Edward Lachman, composer Carter Burwell and costume designer Ann Roth. YRCinema's coverage of films on TV.

Father of My Children

French writer and director Mia Hansen-Løve made this moving and heartbreaking drama. A passionate film producer is driven to an unimaginable act despite a loving wife and children. Hansen-Løve hits all the right notes without a false beat in this astonishing portrait of a man whose existence and livelihood hangs on a delicate balance. The terrific cast and crew includes Louis-Do de Lencquesaing and Chiara Caselli in the leads with outstanding performances. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

RIP: Sidney Lumet 1924 - 2011

Brooklyn's Finest

Director Antoine Fuqua returns to the world of cops with this drama set in Brooklyn. A look at three different cops at crucial cross points in their careers, one about to retire, another burnt out and one undercover. After revealing the world of cops in LA, Fuqua looks at the world of cops in Brooklyn which shows a different side of being a cops who have given everything to their profession without much in return. The all star cast includes Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Wesley Snipes in solid performances. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

All Good Things

Producer and director Andrew Jarecki's sophomore film turns to fiction for this riveting drama based on a notorious case. A young and wealthy man finds love and happiness with a middle class woman but they are pulled back into the scheming world of his father where they lose themselves with devastating consequences. Jarecki brings his documentary style into this fictional jigsaw puzzle to connect the dots in the unsolved case with multiple murders involving Robert Durst. Because it's based on true events, the film fails to provide a complete picture of its enigmatic subject since it tries to cover 30 years in less than two hours but comes very close. In its ambition the film recalls David Fincher's "Zodiac" to mind which tried to connect the dots of another notorious case. Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst as the leads deliver riveting performances that are the core of the film. Jarecki scored with his terrific cast that also includes Frank Langella and Philip Baker Hall amongst others. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Dolores Claiborne

Versatile and prolific director Taylor Hackford made this terrific drama based on the novel by Stephen King. A young woman with a traumatic past returns home after a long absence when her mother is accused of murder which opens old wounds. Hackford and writer Tony Gilroy keep the drama and suspense going till its satisfying end. Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh deliver outstanding performances as the tormented mother and daughter at the center of the story. The solid supporting cast includes Christopher Plummer, David Strathairn, Judy Parfitt and John C. Reilly. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Orphan

Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra delivers in this effective horror thriller. After a traumatic loss, a family adopts a young orphan girl with a troubled past with devastating consequences. Logic aside, the film works because of the cast. Collet-Serra scored to have terrific actors like Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard in the leads who deliver. The child actors are equally gifted which heightens the tension to almost unbearable. The film could have been better if it wasn't too much into cheap thrills and a ludicrous ending. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Love and Other Drugs

Writer and director Edward Zwick returns to romance with this dramedy. A young man with no direction in life finds his calling as a pharmaceutical salesman where he meets and falls in love with young woman that changes his life. What starts as light romantic comedy develops into a drama which shows the inherent problems of the script and film which seems like two films compiled into one. However thanks to the performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway they overcome the major obstacles which saves the film from total disaster. The supporting cast includes Judy Greer, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria and Jill Clayburgh in her lost role. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

On Tour

Versatile and prolific French actor Mathieu Amalric turned writer and director delivered his third feature with this road movie. A former TV producer returns to France as a manager for an American group of burlesque dancers on tour. While the dancers are excited for the tour in the hopes of performing in Paris, their manager realizes he's not welcome back there which adds to his long list of failures in life. Amalric who's terrific actor proves he's a gifted director who shows his versatility in front and behind camera as he reveals layers upon layers of his characters who are on the run from their bleak reality. The cast of professional and non-professional actors is carefully selected which allows the dancers to show their talents. YRCinema's coverage of the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival.

My Joy

German based Russian/Ukrainian writer and director Sergei Loznitsa delivered a scathing look of his home country with this bleak drama. In order to escape a traffic jam, an honest truck driver takes a detour which turns into an endless nightmare where everybody is corrupted in a god forsaken land from police officers to young girls. Loznitsa's pessimistic dark parable shows a country lost where every bit of goodness is crushed by the evil lurking around every corner. It's a provocative film in every way from a promising filmmaker. YRCinema's coverage of the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival.

The Light Thief

Kyrgyz writer and director Aktan Abdykalykov made his acting debut in this political drama. In the post Soviet small Kyrgyz village, a noble electrician gets caught in the corrupt politics which threatens the livelihood of the people. Abdykalykov's moving film shows a problem that's spreading like cancer in a remote part of the world where many countries face the same problem. It's not often you see a film from Kyrgyzstan which is a treat in many ways. YRCinema's coverage of the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival.

A Passage to India

Legendary British master David Lean wrote, directed and edited his final epic which is a worthy swan song. In the final phase of the British ruled India, an idealistic Indian doctor forms a doomed friendship with two visiting British ladies which exposes the disconnection between the rulers and their colony. Based on the novel by E.M. Forster, Lean brings his expertise for his final masterpiece which marked the end of an era. The outstanding cast and crew includes Judy Davis, Peggy Ashcroft, Victor Banerjee and James Fox amongst others. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.