Body of Lies

Ridley Scott's thriller about the war on terror sheds some light on the problems of intelligence gathering by Western agents who risks everything including their lives only to be compromised by the failure of their governments. Scott and his superb team deliver a film that doesn't insult the intelligence of its audience in the tradition of "Syriana." The only problem with a film like this lies in the nature of the beast of post Cold War thrillers where things are not as black and white as the audiences are used to and pay off depends on the audiences knowledge and involvement. The film also unites Scott and frequent collaborator Russel Crowe with Leonardo DiCaprio who continues to prove that he's one of the best actors of his generation. Among the excellent supporting cast, Mark Strong stands out as Hani Salaam. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

24 City

Chinese writer and director Jia Zhang-Ke blurs the line between documentary and drama in this feature where real people and actors of different generations tell stories of sacrifice in a doomed factory that's being shut down to be replaced by luxury apartments, leaving the workers on the margin of society to fend for themselves. This timely and relevant film shows how progress is rampant in China, specially in the big cities where buildings and people have to make way for the future. Zhang-Ke is a smart filmmaker whose interest is not only to tell a relevant story but also how it's told in cinema and its limitations. He's well aware of being accused to manipulate the audience with this tale that will resonate with many people around the world; therefore he mixes real people with actors to tell everybody that they are watching a film after all, even if it's feels real. YRCinema's coverage of upcoming releases.

Tôkyô Sonata

Writer and director Kiyoshi Kurosawa shows the consequences of communication failure and unemployment through a family in contemporary Japan. When the father loses his job, he does not dare to break the news to his wife and pretends to go work as if nothing happened. As he tries to find another job, he finds out that he's not the only fighting for positions way below his standards. Meanwhile his wife has to keep appearances for their two sons who have struggles of their own. Kurosawa who only shares the name of legendary Japanese filmmaker weaves a nuanced tale full of heart and humor in this film that owes more to Ozu than Kurosawa. Beautifully filmed with a fine cast, Kurosawa proves to be of Japan's most versatile directors. YRCinema's coverage of current releases.

The Black Dahlia

It's hard to make a film set in Hollywood of the 40's and 50's without being compared to Roman Polanski's "Chinatown", the last film to pull it off brilliantly was Curtis Hanson's "L.A. Confidential" so you have two great films to measure up to. Brian De Palma who either has hits or misses fails to live up the expectations with this beautifully shot film despite the good looking cast who also have to live up to the great actors of the previous films. The problem is the screenplay that's full of cliches and too far fetched to be believable. Josh Hartnett plays a detective who get entangled in a web of lies and deceptions on and off his job at the LA PD. Another problem is the over stylized look of the film, while a every frame is beautiful, it takes away from the authenticity of the story. In any case the story at the core about the mysterious and notorious murder gets lost that has to be told someday properly. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Toi & Moi

This French comedy stars Marion Cotillard and Julie Depardieu as very different sisters who have trouble with their love lives because they look for the right guy in the wrong places. Cotillard plays the insecure cellist who has fallen out of love with her long time lover but doesn't have the courage to go after love when she encounters it. Depardieu plays a writer for cheesy romantic photo magazine who chases the wrong guy without knowing while ignoring the right guy. The film has a strictly female point of view by writer and director Julie Lopes-Curval. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Chaser

Korean director Na Hong-jin makes an explosive debut with this heart-pounding thriller and proves that the Korean cinema is one of the hottest in Asian cinema. A serial-killer film like no other that grabs you from the beginning till the end and keeps you on the edge of your seat. A former detective turned pimp sends unknowingly one of his prostitutes to a serial killer, only to chase after them that changes his life. It's not an easy task to make an entertaining genre film that also has a social message. Hong-jin takes no prisoners by making the entire police a bunch of idiots that fail to lock a serial killer that's literally delivered to them. Having the main character as a former police turned pimp delivers another blow. The criminal is as evil as you can imagine but thrives because of the incompetence of the police. The victims are of course women, specially desperate women who are forced to prostitution which is one of the heart-breaking elements of the film. The film is above all pure entertainment and it doesn't disappoint which makes it one of the finest thrillers in recent memory. As you would expect with first rate cast and crew. YRCinema's coverage of upcoming releases.

Water Lilies

Writer and director Céline Sciamma makes a powerful debut with the poignant coming of age story about three teenage girls who struggle with their sexuality. Nothing is as it seems in the world of teenagers where pretension and appearance is far away from the bitter truth. Confused Marie hopes to gain more knowledge about her sexuality in two different friends, the outsider Anne and beautiful Florianne but finds out they are as lost as she. Sciamma finds an ideal and unique setting in the world of synchronized swimming with a talented young cast. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

34th César Awards

Best Film
Entre Les Murs
Il y a Longtemps que je t’aime
Mesrine
Paris
Le Premier Jour du Reste de ta vie
Séraphine
Un conte de Noël

Best First Film
Home, Ursula Meier
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, Philippe Claudel
Mascarades, Lyes Salem
Pour elle, Fred Cavaye
Versailles, Pierre Schoeller

Best Foreign Film
Eldorado, Bouli Lanners
Gomorra, Matteo Garrone
Into the wild, Sean Penn
Le silence de Lorna, Jean-Pierre et Luc Dardenne
There will be blood, Paul Thomas Anderson
Two lovers, par James Gray
Valse avec Bachir, Ari Folman

Best Director
Rémi Bezançon for Le premier jour du reste de ta vie
Laurent Cantet for Entre les murs
Arnaud Desplechin for Un conte de Noël
Martin Provost for Séraphine
Jean-François Richet for Mesrine

Best Actress
Catherine Frot, Le crime est notre affaire
Yolande Moreau, Séraphine
Kristin Scott Thomas, Il y a longtemps que je t'aime
Tilda Swinton, Julia
Sylvie Testud, Sagan

Best Actor
Vincent Cassel, Mesrine
François-Xavier Demaison in Coluche, l'histoire d'un mec
Guillaume Depardieu, Versailles
Albert Dupontel, Deux jours à tuer
Jacques Gamblin, Le premier jour du reste de ta vie

Best Supporting Actress
Jeanne Balibar, Sagan
Anne Consigny, Un conte de Noël
Edith Scob, L'heure d'été
Karin Viard, Paris
Elsa Zylberstein, Il y a longtemps que je t'aime

Best Supporting Actor
Benjamin Biolay, Stella
Claude Rich, Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera
Jean-Paul Roussillon, Un conte de Noël
Pierre Vaneck, Deux jours à tuer
Roschdy Zem, La fille de Monaco

Streets of Fire

Walter Hill's stylish rock & roll fable holds up well despite its dated look or maybe because of it. The film is all about style and attitude, so there's not much of a story or character development. It has all the energy and feel of the 80's with its style and look. What makes the film work is Hill's style and the talented cast with Michael Paré and Diane Lane as the hot and sexy leads, a very creepy and young Willem Dafoe as well as Amy Madigan and Rick Moranis. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Crossing Over

Writer and director Wayne Kramer (The Cooler) takes on the US immigration nightmares that reminds of Paul Haggis' "Crash" in a lot of ways. In the multiple plot lines several legal and illegal immigrants crash with a variety of government officials with mostly tragic consequences except for one amusing one that involves a Jewish musician that stands out like a sore thumb but brings a much needed breather in the otherwise heavy loaded drama. While earnest and noble in its attempt, the film has enough drama for several features that might chase the audience away. Many of the stories told in this ensemble drama sound too real to be made up that will send many shivers down the audiences spines. The excellent cast includes Harrison Ford, Cliff Curtis, Summer Bishil and Ashley Judd amongst others. YRCinema's coverage of upcoming releases.

Bobby

Legendary Bollywood actor, director and producer Raj Kapoor always managed to deliver blockbuster entertainment with social commentary. In this classic film about a forbidden love between a rich boy and a poor girl, Raj Kapoor passed the torch of leading man to his second son Rishi Kapoor that launched his career. While the film feels dated for today's standards, the real star of this musical are the classic and timeless songs by legendary composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal that has not lost one bit of its power. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

La Moustache

Only the French can pull off a film based on a simple premise of shaving a moustache and get away with it. Author Emmanuel Carrère adapts his novel into a mysterious thriller. After a man shaves off his moustache, he finds out that nobody believes he had one in the first place. Writer and director Carrère uses the simple act as a metaphor for relationships between a man and a women and turns it into a potent thriller. Vincent Lindon & Emmanuelle Devos shine as the husband and wife. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

GUILD AWARDS 10: 81st Academy Awards (Oscar)

Best Picture
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Milk"
"The Reader"
"Slumdog Millionaire"

Actor
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"
Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Actress
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Meryl Streep, "Doubt"
Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin, "Milk"
Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, "Doubt"
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis, "Doubt"
Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"

Director
David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"
Gus Van Sant, "Milk"
Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"
Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Foreign-language film
"The Baader Meinhof Complex," Germany
"The Class," France
"Departures," Japan
"Revanche," Austria
"Waltz With Bashir," Israel

Adapted Screenplay
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
John Patrick Shanley, "Doubt"
Peter Morgan, "Frost/Nixon"
David Hare, "The Reader"
Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Original Screenplay
Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges"
Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, "WALL-E"

Documentary feature
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"
"Encounters at the End of the World"
"The Garden"
"Man on Wire"
"Trouble the Water"

Animated feature film
"Bolt"
"Kung Fu Panda"
"WALL-E"

Film editing
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"The Dark Knight"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Milk"
"Slumdog Millionaire"

Cinematography
"Changeling"
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"The Dark Knight"
"The Reader"
"Slumdog Millionaire"

Art direction
"Changeling"
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"The Dark Knight"
"The Duchess"
"Revolutionary Road"

Costume design
"Australia"
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"The Duchess"
"Milk"
"Revolutionary Road"

Original Score
Alexandre Desplat, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
James Newton Howard, "Defiance"
Danny Elfman, "Milk"
A.R. Rahman, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Thomas Newman, "WALL-E"

Original Song
"Down to Earth" from "WALL-E," Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
"Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman and Gulzar
"O Saya" from "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

Sound mixing
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"The Dark Knight"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"WALL-E"
"Wanted"

Sound editing
"The Dark Knight"
"Iron Man"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"WALL-E"
"Wanted"

24th INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

Best Film:
Ballast, Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh
Frozen River, Chip Hourihan, Heather Rae
Rachel Getting Married, Neda Armian, Jonathan Demme
Wendy and Lucy, Larry Fessenden, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani
The Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin

Female Lead:
Summer Bishil, Towelhead
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Tarra Riggs, Ballast
Michelle Williams, Wendy and Lucy

Male Lead:
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Sean Penn, Milk
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Supporting Female:
Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married
Rosie Perez, The Take
Misty Upham, Frozen River
Debra Winger, Rachel Getting Married

Supporting Male:
James Franco, Milk
Anthony Mackie, The Hurt Locker
Charlie McDermott, Frozen River
Jim Myron Ross, Ballast
Haaz Sleiman, The Visitor

Director:
Ramin Bahrani, Chop Shop
Jonathan Demme, Rachel Getting Married
Lance Hammer, Ballast
Courtney Hunt, Frozen River
Thomas McCarthy, The Visitor

Screenplay:
Sangre de mi Sangre, Christopher Zalla
Savage Grace, Howard A. Rodman
Sugar, Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Synecdoche New York, Charlie Kaufman
Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Woody Allen

First Screenplay:
Ballast, Lance Hammer
Frozen River, Courtney Hunt
Milk, Dustin Lance Black
Rachel Getting Married, Jenny Lumet
The Wackness, Jonathan Levine

Cinematography:
Ballast, Lol Crawley
Chop Shop, Michael Simmonds
Medicine for Melancholy, James Laxton
Milk, Harris Savides
The Wrestler, Maryse Alberti

First Feature:
Afterschool, Antonio Campos
Medicine for Melancholy, Barry Jenkins
Sangre de mi Sangre, Christopher Zalla
Sleep Dealer, Alex Rivera
Synecdoche, New York, Charlie Kaufman

Foreign Film:
Entre les Murs, Laurent Cantet (France)
Gomorra, Matteo Garrone (Italy)
Hunger, Steve McQueen (UK/Ireland)
La Graine et le Mulet, Abdel Kechiche (France)
Stellet Licht, Carlos Reygadas (Mexico)

Documentary:
The Betrayal-Nerakhoon, Ellen Kuras, Thavisouk Phrasavath
Encounters at the End of the World, Werner Herzog
Man on Wire, James Marsh
The Order of Myths, Margaret Brown
Up the Yangtze, Yung Chang

Dreamgirls

A surprisingly dull and lifeless film given its subject matter and music despite a big name cast. The film based on the musical inspired by the story of Diana Ross and The Supremes has all the elements that you would want in the formula of a hit film. However writer and director Bill Condon rips off Rob Marshall's Chicago which he brilliantly adapted instead of bringing anything new or fresh to the plate. The only shining light is newcomer Jennifer Hudson who steals every scene and gives an outstanding performance. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

GUILD AWARDS 9: British Academy Awards (BAFTA)

BEST FILM
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Ceán Chaffin
FROST/NIXON Tim Bevan / Eric Fellner / Brian Grazer
MILK Dan Jinks / Bruce Cohen
THE READER Anthony Minghella / Donna Gigliotti / Redmond Morris
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE Christian Colso

DIRECTOR
CHANGELING Clint Eastwood
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON David Fincher
FROST/NIXON Ron Howard
THE READER Stephen Daldry
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE Danny Boyle

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
BURN AFTER READING Joel Coen / Ethan Coen
CHANGELING J. Michael Straczynski
I’VE LOVED YOU SO LONG Philippe Claudel
IN BRUGES Martin McDonagh
MILK Dustin Lance Black

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Eric Roth
FROST/NIXON Peter Morgan
THE READER David Hare
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD Justin Haythe
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE Simon Beaufoy

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX Uli Edel
GOMORRAH Matteo Garrone
I’VE LOVED YOU SO LONG Philippe Claudel
PERSEPOLIS Marjane Satrapi / Vincent Parannaud
WALTZ WITH BASHIR Ari Folman

ANIMATED FILM
PERSEPOLIS Marjane Satrapi / Vincent Parannaud
WALL•E Andrew Stanton
WALTZ WITH BASHIR Ari Folman

LEADING ACTOR
FRANK LANGELLA Frost/Nixon
DEV PATEL Slumdog Millionaire
SEAN PENN Milk
BRAD PITT The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
MICKEY ROURKE The Wrestler

LEADING ACTRESS
ANGELINA JOLIE Changeling
KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS I’ve Loved You So Long
MERYL STREEP Doubt
KATE WINSLET The Reader
KATE WINSLET Revolutionary Road

SUPPORTING ACTOR
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. Tropic Thunder
BRENDAN GLEESON In Bruges
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN Doubt
HEATH LEDGER The Dark Knight
BRAD PITT Burn After Reading

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
AMY ADAMS Doubt
PENÉLOPE CRUZ Vicky Cristina Barcelona
FREIDA PINTO Slumdog Millionaire
TILDA SWINTON Burn After Reading
MARISA TOMEI The Wrestler

SCORE
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Alexandre Desplat
THE DARK KNIGHT Hans Zimmer / James Newton Howard
MAMMA MIA! Benny Andersson / Björn Ulvaeus
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE A. R. Rahman
WALL•E Thomas Newman

CINEMATOGRAPHY
CHANGELING Tom Stern
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Claudio Miranda
THE DARK KNIGHT Wally Pfister
THE READER Chris Menges / Roger Deakins
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE Anthony Dod Mantle

EDITING
CHANGELING Joel Cox / Gary D. Roach
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Kirk Baxter / Angus Wall
THE DARK KNIGHT Lee Smith
FROST/NIXON Mike Hill / Dan Hanley
IN BRUGES Jon Gregory
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE Chris Dickens

PRODUCTION DESIGN
CHANGELING James J. Murakami / Gary Fettis
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Donald Graham Burt / Victor J. Zolfo
THE DARK KNIGHT Nathan Crowley / Peter Lando
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD Kristi Zea / Debra Schutt
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE Mark Digby / Michelle Day

COSTUME DESIGN
CHANGELING Deborah Hopper
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Jacqueline West
THE DARK KNIGHT Lindy Hemming
THE DUCHESS Michael O’Connor
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD Albert Wolsky

SOUND
CHANGELING Walt Martin / Alan Robert Murray / John Reitz / Gregg Rudloff
THE DARK KNIGHT Lora Hirschberg / Richard King / Ed Novick / Gary Rizzo
QUANTUM OF SOLACE Eddy Joseph / Chris Munro / Mike Prestwood Smith / Mark Taylor
SLUMDOG MILLIONARE Glenn Freemantle / Resul Pookutty / Richard Pryke / Tom Sayers / Ian Tapp
WALL•E Ben Burtt / Tom Myers / Michael Semanick / Matthew Wood

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Eric Barba / Craig Barron / Nathan McGuinness / Edson Williams
THE DARK KNIGHT Chris Corbould / Nick Davis / Paul Franklin / Tim Webber
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL Pablo Helman
IRON MAN Shane Patrick Mahan / John Nelson / Ben Snow
QUANTUM OF SOLACE Chris Corbould / Kevin Tod Haug

MAKE UP & HAIR
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Jean Black / Colleen Callaghan
THE DARK KNIGHT Peter Robb-King
THE DUCHESS Daniel Phillips / Jan Archibald
FROST/NIXON Edouard Henriques / Kim Santantonio
MILK Steven E. Anderson / Michael White

GUILD AWARDS 8: Sound Guild (CAS)

Best Sound
The Dark Knight - Ed Novick, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo
Iron Man - Mark Ulano, Christopher Boyes, Lora Hirschberg
Quantum of Solace - Chris Munro, Mike Prestwood Smith, Mark Taylor
Slumdog Millionaire - Resul Pookutty, Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke
Wall-E - Tom Myers, Michael Semanick

GUILD AWARDS 7: Art Directors Guild (ADG)

PERIOD FILM
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Changeling"
"Doubt"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Milk"


FANTASY FILM
"The Dark Knight"
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
"Iron Man"
"The Spiderwick Chronicles"
"Wall-E."


CONTEMPORARY FILM
"Burn After Reading"
"Gran Torino"
"Quantum of Solace"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"The Wrestler"

GUILD AWARDS 6: Cinematographers' Guild (ASC)

Best Cinematography
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Claudio Miranda
The Dark Knight - Wally Pfister
The Reader - Roger Deakins and Chris Menges
Revolutionary Road - Roger Deakins
Slumdog Millionaire - Anthony Dod Mantle

GUILD AWARDS 5: Producer's Guild (PGA)

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE Christian Colson

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Kathleen Kennedy & Frank Marshall
Ceán Chaffin

THE DARK KNIGHT
Christopher Nolan
Charles Roven
Emma Thomas

FROST/NIXON
Brian Grazer
Ron Howard
Eric Fellner

MILK
Dan Jinks
Bruce Cohen

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN DOCUMENTARY

MAN ON WIRE
Simon Chinn

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
Julie Bilson Ahlberg
Errol Morris

TROUBLE THE WATER
Carl Deal
Tia Lessin