The 400 Blows

François Truffaut made his feature debut with this stunning film that also is one of the films that started the French New Wave movement. The story of a troubled boy who's facing problems at school and home that spins out of control. One of the most honest depictions of youths ever captured on film. Truffaut liberated cinema from any theatrical confinements by using actual locations in and out side along with the performances. Jean-Pierre Léaud's astonishing performance made Truffaut to make four more films about Antoine Doinel. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

An Education

Danish director Lone Scherfig (Italian for Beginners) delivers with this smashing coming of age film set in 1960's London about a beautiful and smart teenager who has to choose between an education at Oxford or from life with a charming man twice her age. The film seduces with a lot of charm and humor which is refreshing with a stellar cast that includes Carey Mulligan in a star making performance and the excellent Peter Sarsgaard who finally gets his due with a perfect role as the leading man. Beautifully written by novelist Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About A Boy) and executed by Sherfig and her impeccable cast and crew. YRCinema's coverage of upcoming releases.

FESTIVAL 8: San Sebastian, Spain

The most important festival in the Spanish speaking world which serves also as the portal to Latin and South America beyond Spain. The festival has competitions and juries which makes it attractive for filmmakers around the world. In the top ten it would come in the sixth spot right after Sundance. This year the jury is presided by French director Laurent Cantet.

OFFICIAL COMPETITION
Chloe, Atom Egoyan (Opening Film)

Mother and Child, Rodrigo García (Closing Film)
10 TO 11, Pelin Esmer
Blessed, Ana Kokkinos BEST SCREENPLAY
City of Life and Death, Lu Chuan GOLDEN SHELL FOR BEST FILM
Los Condenados, Isaki Lacuesta
Get Low, Aaron Schneider
Hadewijch, Bruno Dumont
The White Meadows, Mohammad Rasoulof
Making Plans for Lena, Christophe Honoré
La Mujer Sin Piano, Javier Rebollo BEST DIRECTOR
Le Refuge, François Ozon SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
El Secreto de Sus Ojos, Juan José Campanella
This Is Love, Matthias Glasner
I Came from Busan, Jeon Soo-il
Yo, También, Álvaro Pastor, Antonio Naharro BEST ACTOR & BEST ACTRESS
El Baile de la Victoria, Fernando Trueba

For more info: www.sansebastianfestival.com

The Kingdom

This potent thriller set in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia works despite its flaws. A group of FBI agents are sent to the Kingdom to help catch the terrorists responsible for a violent attack on American civilians. Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Justin Bateman play the agents trying to make sense of situation in a strange country but are helped immensely by Ashraf Barhom and Ali Suliman as the local officers. The film opens with very informative opening credits that sets up the setting of the film which is also the most exciting thing in this film. The plot is too simplistic to be credible and the talented cast can't overcome the restrictions of the script. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

King of the Hill

It's hard to imagine what attracted the talented Leonardo Sbaraglia and María Valverde to this half baked action thriller with too many plot holes to mention. Two strangers who meet at a remote gas station are viciously hunted by mysterious hunters without any reason. The inherent problems lie in the screenplay from the beginning which only gets worse. It's basically an American film set in Spain that recalls the far superior "Deliverance" by John Boorman without any of its substance. The film is best enjoyed without paying attention to its logic that feeds of common phobias. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Bank Job

Roger Donaldson directed this clever and thrilling heist film based on true events with Jason Statham and Saffron Burrows as the leads. After a criminal blackmails the British government with comprising photos of a member of the Royal family, the British secret service enlists a group of petty criminals to break into the bank where the photos are kept. As with all heist films, nothing goes as planned and the race against time starts where everybody wants to get their hands first on the goods. Cool guy Statham and and the ravishing Burrows bring a lot of charisma to this stylish film set in 1970's London. Donaldson hits all the right notes without missing a beat that makes for satisfying thriller with substance which is rare these days. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Awake

This nonsense of a film fails on almost every level. It starts with a promising concept which it never delivers but rather changes gears for cheap and cheesy thrills. The gorgeous Jessica Alba seems to select one disastrous project after another. It's hard to imagine the project attracted the talent involved and proves that a bad film can taint talent while a good one enhance it. The weakest link is of course the screenplay which nobody involved can save. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Pride and Glory

A predictable formula thriller that's enhanced and redeemed by the performances of the actors which proves that good actors can save a project. Police corruption and morals is explored through a family of Irish-American family in New York where several members clash with devastating consequences. Jon Voight, Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Noah Emmerich give solid performances as the members of the family. Gavin O'Connor co-wrote and directed the solid film that provides the talent to shine without bringing anything new to the genre. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Age of Stupid

Franny Armstrong has made the most important film of our times. A devastating and riveting documentary looking back from the future when the global warming already has destroyed the earth and how we humans failed to save it knowingly. Through six intimate tales on five continents and several animated sequences the director shows how we have all the necessary resources to make the significant and crucial changes in the race against time to save our planet but so far we have failed miserably. As the film proves we indeed live in an age of stupid, ignorance and pure greed. A film everybody on earth has to see whether they want or not, everybody has been warned and everybody will be guilty of the consequences. Be afraid, very afraid. http://www.ageofstupid.net

The Proposal

A predictable formula film that succeeds thanks to the performances of its stars, specially Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock who has mastered this genre. In order to stay in the US, an editor forces her assistant to marry her that changes them with mostly predictable consequences. The solid supporting cast includes Oscar Nuñez and Betty White who brings their talents to the formula. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Angels & Demons

A rather dull film and sequel that completely fails where "The Da Vinci Code" succeeded. Both films are pure entertainment without any real substance that's surprising anybody would take seriously. In this film the Vatican calls Robert Langdon for help to save it from destruction from within. There's some superficial talk about religion and science that lacks any depth. Tom Hanks runs around and talks like an encyclopedia rather than a real person. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

FESTIVAL 7: Toronto, Canada

A relatively new festival compared to the others but has become of the most important festivals in the world due to its perfect timing at the beginning of September when the award season begins and the studios using Toronto as their launching pad. The festivals doesn't have a competition like the top three (Cannes, Berlin & Venice), therefore has the privilege to introduce the best films of the top three in one venue in their North American premiere. The focus is to celebrate cinema and its filmmakers and some of the films will win the big awards in the coming season. Since there's no competition, they have a huge selection of films in the following categories:

• Canada First
• Contemporary World Cinema
• Discovery
• Gala Presentations
• Masters
• Special Presentations
• Vanguard
• Visions

For more info: Toronto International Film Festival

Cracks

Ridley Scott's daughter Jordan continues the family tradition and makes her feature debut with this seductive film set in an all girl boarding school. An influential teacher and her impressionable students get seduced by a new foreign student that cracks the equilibrium with devastating consequences. The stunning Eva Green stars as the teacher in question along with the equally seductive María Valverde as the new student. Beautiful but flawed makes for an interesting debut that should be watched. YRCinema's coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival.

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky

A poorly written and executed film that shamelessly exploits real characters of the title by using their names and some key events of their lives. Anybody who has no information about who Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky are, won't get to know them here and will be at the mercy of the filmmakers to be misinformed. The film is rich on style that's supposed to look authentic and allows the actors to look the parts. YRCinema's coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival.

London River

French writer and director Rachid Bouchareb (Days of Glory) makes a thought provoking and timely film set in the aftermath of the London terrorist bombings of 2005. The story of two parents looking for their missing children shows a personal and painful journey that will resonate with everybody. The outstanding Brenda Blethyn gives another riveting and heart breaking performance along with Sotigui Kouyaté in an equally great performance. YRCinema's coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival.

Samson and Delilah

Australian writer and director Warwick Thornton makes his feature debut with this powerful film that gives a grim look on two aboriginal teenagers living on the margin of society with nobody to care for them except for each other. It's heart breaking to see the young couple who lack any kind of survival skills to escape their condition. Thornton shines a light also on the topic of homelessness that's universal. YRCinema's coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival.

Mother and Child

Writer and director Rodrigo García finally delivers with this powerful drama about the tie that binds mother and child whether each is present or not. The story focuses on three women whose lives change because they reject, expect and want motherhood. Through intertwined stories García makes a universal statement that will appeal to everybody, specially women. The stellar cast includes Annette Bening, Naomi Watts and Kerry Washington as the three leads with outstanding performances. YRCinema's coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Young Victoria

Whether historically accurate or not but director Jean-Marc Vallée makes a sweeping romantic epic with this film written by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park). The story set in the years before the young Victoria becomes a queen and after she marries prince Albert. Vallée and Fellowes show insight the lives of royals raised in a golden cage and used for political power. Thanks to perfect casting of Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend along with a stellar supporting cast, the film is very effective and way above expectations for its kind. YRCinema's coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival.

I Am Love

Italian writer and director Luca Guadagnino delivers a knockout with this superb film. When a young chef becomes friends with the heir of a wealthy Milanese family, he falls in love with his Russian mother which leads to tragedy. It's hard to simplify the story but it touches on several themes such as culinary passion and forbidden love among others that's spellbinding. The ever amazing Tilda Swinton produced and stars along veteran and newcomers that make the outstanding cast. Beautifully written and executed on every possible level that makes for glorious film making and makes Guadagnino one of most talented directors in Italian cinema. The score by American composer John Adams adds to the glory of this magnificent film. YRCinema's coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival.

Up in the Air

Director Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking, Juno) and George Clooney team up for this outstanding comedy that also marks a career highlight for both. A man who travels across the country only to fire people on behalf of their companies reevaluates his existence when he meets two different women. Clever, funny and timely with a potent message, the film will delight everybody. The outstanding cast includes Vera Farmiga and Jason Bateman among others. YRCinema's coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival.