Chasing Ice

Director Jeff Orlowski made his feature debut with this riveting documentary about the consequences of global warming. Photographer James Balog proves with time-lapse footage about the radical changes of the climate on disappearing glaciers across the globe that proves beyond doubt that global warming exist. Orlowski and Balog created an important film that shows the incompetence of the global community failing to do anything about global warming with its consequences already causing havoc around the globe. The film stand as a testimony to prove that warnings were issued if nothing else. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Stories We Tell

Canadian actress, writer and director Sarah Polley delivers her best film with this riveting documentary. Actress Sarah Polley gets her family and friends in front of the camera to explore her past by telling family stories which proves reality is stranger and more powerful than fiction. Polley established herself as a gifted filmmaker in front and behind the camera goes even further by this utterly original film where she uses herself and her family to tell captivating and unforgettable story. Through archival footage and interviews with her attractive family, Polley and her crew overcome the obstacles of the genre to deliver a timeless film with universal themes. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

At Any Price

Writer and director Ramin Bahrani delivered another outstanding film with his fifth feature. The relationship between a father and son gets tested when a crisis threatens their livelihood and changes their lives forever. After exploring the lives of immigrants in the US, Bahrani goes in the American heartland to dissect the classical American archetypes which makes for complex character study rarely explored in American cinema. Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron star with terrific performances with iconic performances. The supporting cast includes Clancy Brown, Heather Graham and Kim Dickens. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

World War Z

Producer and actor Brad Pitt enlisted director German director Marc Forster for this adaptation of the graphic novel by Max Brooks. A United Nations employee races against time across the globe to find a cure for a Zombie pandemic that threatens to destroy humanity. Forster and his talented cast and crew have created a breath taking thriller which serves both as an action thriller as well as a cautionary tale. Pitt stars with solid performance and produced a first rate film that could have easily gone in the wrong direction. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

Disconnect

Director Henry Alex Rubin made his narrative feature debut with this cautionary tale about the human disconnect in the Internet age. The internet causes harm to several people, a couple have their savings stolen, a young boy bullied to suicide and teenagers lured to cyber pornography. Rubin and writer Andrew Stern opt to show negative side of modern technology on how it can disconnect people but humans had those issues long before the arrival of the internet so the film is hardly relevant but makes for an entertaining thriller. The solid cast features Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Frank Grillo, Michael Nyqvist, Paula Patton, Andrea Riseborough and Alexander Skarsgård amongst others. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

War Witch

Canadian writer and director Kim Nguyen delivered a powerful film with character study of girl soldier in a war torn African country. A young girl kidnapped and forced to kill her parents before becoming a child soldier for a ruthless army that plunders and kills during war. Nguyen has crafted a powerful story grabbed from the headlines about the horrors of war in several African war torn countries. While the story is not based on a true story but inspired by several reports and made by a non-African filmmaker, it give a glimpse into a reality which makes for a powerful drama. Rachel Mwanza made her acting debut with a powerful performance which is the heart of the film along with a cast mostly of non-professional actors. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

Blue Caprice

Director Alexandre Moors made his feature debut with this powerful character study about the men behind the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks. An abandoned boy falls under the influence of a dangerous father figure who recruits him to kill several innocent people. Moore and writer R.F.I. Porto took the notorious case to examine the characters journey into the darkness which makes for fascinating film that shows how bad influence and lost innocence make for a deadly combination. Isaiah Washington and Tequan Richmond star in the leads with terrific performances. The supporting cast includes Tim Blake Nelson and Joey Lauren Adams. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

Simon Killer

Writer and director Antonio Campos returned with another dark character study about a lost soul. A young man in Paris, escaping a painful past doesn't find much of light which gets him further lost in the darkness. Campos anti-romantic approach to its characters and location makes for an interesting choice which is more a European than American film. Brady Corbet stars with a solid performance along with Mati Diop. Co-written with his leads, Corbet and Diop, Campos shows a more accurate if darker story about the two people lost in the city of lights of all places in the world. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

The Hole

Director Joe Dante returned to the big screen after a decade with this 3D adventure. After moving to a new town and house, two kids find a hole in the basement which causes them plenty of excitement and the attention of the girl next door. Dante returned to familiar territory but uses the 3D technology to his advantage which gives the film another dimension that works well within the genre. Chris Massoglia and Haley Bennett are perfectly cast as the teen leads along with the support of veterans, Bruce Dern and Terri Polo. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

Casting by

Director Tom Donahue took the case of casting directors who still remain unsung heroes in the world of feature films. Through the case of Marion Dougherty who changed the world of casting and influenced the future generations, Donahue and a legion of legendary actors argue the case that casting directors deserve more credit than they have been receiving. The powers to be in Hollywood still refuses to give this legends their place in the history where they have discovered many legends from the anonymity and were responsible for their success including Meryl Streep, Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino amongst many others. It's a timely and important documentary which makes its case and then some that sheds light on the issue. Also a moving tribute to Dougherty and other casting directors whose names remain unknown but their talents undeniable. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Side by Side

Producer Keanu Reeves and director Christopher Kenneally discuss the issue of film versus digital in this documentary. What seemed unthinkable has become a reality where most movies are shot digitally instead on film and many of legendary directors and cinematographers discuss the issue with actor Keanu Reeves. The photochemical film negative was used for over 100 years but the advances of technology has giving the digital format the advantage of cost and time which made the transition unavoidable. While film won't entirely disappear, it will be used less and less in the years to come. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

West of Memphis

Writer and director Amy Berg delivered a powerful and the definitive documentary on the West Memphis Three. One of the greatest injustices in American Justice System gets a new treatment that shows how three young men were accused for a crime they never committed while the real killer is still free. Even the case was featured in previous excellent documentaries, this one has the power of hindsight which gives it perspective including new evidence and witness which lead the West Memphis Three to be freed. With the help of producer Peter Jackson, Berg and her film were helpful for the brave young men to get justice and make a film for the ages that shall remain a disturbing reminder because there other innocent people behind the bars due to the failure of justice. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.  

Oblivion

Director Joseph Kosinski adapted his own graphic novel for the screen with this elegant sci-fi drama. A man working on a final mission on an abandoned planet Earth discovers troubling clues about himself and his mission. Kosinski and writers Karl Gajdusek and Michael Arndt have a created a solid sci-fi drama which delivers the goods in the third act that comes as a welcome surprise. Tom Cruise stars and delivers the goods along with a fine cast that includes Morgan Freeman, Andrea Riseborough and Olga Kurylenko. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

Heartbeat Detector

French director Nicolas Klotz delivered a riveting psychological thriller with this fascinating film. A French corporate psychologist is assigned to conduct a professional analysis of the head of his German company which reveals some disturbing practices by the corporation. Based on the story by François Emmanuel, Klotz and writer Elisabeth Perceval make a compelling case of how corporations use Nazi methods in their practices. Mathieu Amalric stars with another terrific performance along with a fine supporting cast that includes Michael Lonsdale and Edith Scob. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

Straight A's

Director James Cox delivered a mess of a film with his third feature. A man with a troubled past returns home to find his former lover married to his brother which makes his return more complicated. Cox and writer David Cole are all over the place with the story which lacks a coherent vision that gets derailed early on. Ryan Phillippe stars along with Anna Paquin and Luke Wilson who are wasted despite their best efforts. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

70th Venice Film Festival

The third of the top three festivals (after Cannes & Berlin) is also the oldest festival in the world. It has serious competition from the fourth, Toronto, which right behind it in ranking and timing. However, it does not have to fear anything after all these years besides having one of the most beautiful settings. This year's jury included Bernardo Bertolucci (President), Andrea Arnold, Renato Berta, Carrie Fisher, Martina Gedeck, Pablo Larraín, Virginie Ledoyen, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Jiang Wen.

COMPETITION
Ana Arabia, Amos Gitai (Isr-Fra)
Child of God, James Franco (US)
Joe, David Gordon Green (US) Marcello Mastroianni Award
Kaze Tachinu, Hayao Miyazaki (Jpn)
L’intrepido, Gianni Amelio (Italy)
La Jalousie, Philippe Garrel (Fra)
Miss Violence, Alexandros Avranas (Greece) Silver Lion (Best Director & Actor)
Night Moves, Kelly Reichardt (US)
Parkland, Peter Landesman (US)
Philomena, Stephen Frears (UK) Best Screenplay
The Police Officer’s Wife, Philip Groning (Ger) Special Jury Prize
The Rooftops, Merzak Allouache (Alg-Fra)
Sacro Gra, Gianfranco Rosi (It) Golden Lion
Stray Dogs, Ming-liang Tsai (Chi-Fra) Grand Jury Prize
Tom a la Ferme, Xavier Dolan (Can-Fra)
Tracks, John Curran (UK-Aus)
Under the Skin, Jonathan Glazer
The Unknown Known: The Life and Times of Donald Rumsfeld, Errol Morris (US)
Via Castellana Bandiera, Emma Dante (It-Switz-Fra) Volpi Cup (Best Actress)
The Zero Theorem, Terry Gilliam (UK-US)

OUT OF COMPETITION
Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Shinji Aramaki (Jpn)
Gravity, Alfonso Cuarón (US)
Mobius, Ki-duk Kim (S Kor)
Locke, Steven Knight (UK)
Unforgiven, Sang-il Lee (Jan)
Wolf Creek 2, Greg McLean (Aus)
Home From Home – Chronicle of a Vision, Edgar Reitz (Ger)
Gondola, Paul Rudish, Aaron Springer, Clay Morrow (US)
The Canyons, Paul Schrader (US)
Che strano chiamarsi Federico Scola racconta Fellini, Ettore Scola
Walesa. Man of Hope, Andrzej Wajda and Ewa Brodzka (Pol)

OUT OF COMPETITION: DOCUMENTARIES
Summer 82 When Zappa Came to Sicily, Salvo Cuccia (It-US)
Pine Ridge, Anna Eborn (Den)
The Armstrong Lie, Alex Gibney (US)
Redemption, Miguel Gomes (Port-Fra-Ger-It)
Ukraina is not  Brothel, Kitty Green (Aus)
Con il fiato sospeso, Costanza Quatriglio (It)
Amazonia, Thierry Ragobert (Fra-Bra)
La voce di Berlinguer, Mario Sesti, Teho Teardo (It)
‘Til Madness Do Us Apart, Bing Wang (HK-Chi-Fra-Jpn)
At Berkeley, Frederick Wiseman (US)


ORIZZONTI
Je m’appelle Hmmm…, Agnès B. (Fra)
Little Brother, Serik Aprymov (Kaz)
Il terzo tempo, Enrico Maria Artale (It)
Eastern Boys, Robin Campillo (Fra) Best Film
Palo Alto, Gia Coppola (US)
Ruin, Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Micheal Cody (Aus) Special Jury Prize
Fish & Cat, Shahram Mokri (Iran)
We are the Best!, Lukas Moodysson (Swe-Den)
Wolfschildren, Rick Ostermann (Ger)
La vida después, David Pablos (Mex)
Algunas Chicas, Santiago Palavecino (Arg)
Medeas, Andrea Pallaoro (US-It)
Still Life, Uberto Pasolini (UK) Best Director
Piccola Patria, Piccola Patria (It)
La prima neve, Andrea Serge (It)
Why Don’t You Play in Hell?, Sono Sion (Jpn)
The Sacrament, Ti West (US)

For more info: http://www.labiennale.org/

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks

Writer and director Alex Gibney returns with another riveting documentary which plays like a political thriller. The story of WikiLeaks told in a chronological timeline that went from an obscure site to an international sensation thanks to its founder Julian Assange, whistle blower Bradley Manning and other key players and witnesses. Gibney's immaculate approach reveals a great story by keeping it straight to facts where everybody can draw their own conclusions which is a rare feat with such a controversial topic that could be manipulated in many directions. Furthermore it raises questions about the several topics it covers which ranges from politics to journalism to ethical questions and beyond. There's plenty of stuff to get outraged by from the ignorance of the US Government, dirty politics of war, cowardice of the media, personal violations of several degrees and so on. Gibney uses archival footage, interviews and visual effects seamlessly to give clarity to the stories that has been manipulated by various sources which makes for a powerful and unforgettable film. 1001 Films' coverage of current releases.

Dredd

Director Pete Travis delivers a potent sci-fi film with this terrific action thriller. In a futuristic city where the police have absolute power to act as judge, jury and executioner, a judge and a trainee try to bring down a powerful crime lord which proves more than a challenge for both. Based on the iconic comic book by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, Travis and writer Alex Garland found the right way update the film into a gritty action film that stays true to it source material. Karl Urban stars and fits the role along with Olivia Thirlby and a terrific Lena Headey in the supporting roles. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Writer and director Peter Hedges returned with this whimsical drama for his third feature. A childless couple become unexpected the parents of an unusual boy who brings some magic into their lives and to those around them. Peter Hedges makes feel good films that will please its target audience which he delivers with this family friendly film. Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton are perfectly cast in the leads but the film belongs to youngster CJ Adams in the title role. The fine supporting cast includes M. Emmet Walsh, Dianne Wiest, Rosemarie DeWitt and Shohreh Aghdashloo amongst others.

Flight

Director Robert Zemeckis returned to live action with this drama which is his best film in more than a decade. After a pilot miraculously saves a crashing plane, an investigation reveals a dark side which doesn't fit his hero image. Zemeckis who always seems to be interested with pushing the limits of technology with his films that focusing on good stories, make a welcome return to straight drama with a terrific cast. Denzel Washington stars with another terrific performance which elevates the film greatly along a fine supporting cast that includes John Goodman, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, Melissa Leo, Bruce Greenwood and Brian Geraghty amongst others. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

Tabloid

Director Errol Morris delivers another knockout with this highly entertaining documentary. The unbelievable story of Joyce McKinney whose misguided love for a man lead her to kidnap him and turned her into a tabloid icon. Morris proves he can make a great documentary without politics or controversy with this terrific film that has to be seen to be believed. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

Upside Down

Argentinian writer and director Juan Solanas delivers a fantastic premise with his second feature which lacks the right story. In a world where two planets exist with close proximity with each other, two lovers cross bounderies and gravity to be with each other. Solanas gets high marks for originality and vision that could have made for a classic science-fiction film with an equally grand story but he aims low with a love story that fails to rise up to the scope of the world it exists. Jim Sturgess and Kirsten Dunst star and live up to the limits of their characters. The supporting cast includes an underused Timothy Spall like most of the supporting characters in this film. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.