tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

Our previous article putting the spotlight on Carey Mulligan says it all. But there are those who still wonder: Who is Carey Mulligan? That's completely understandable since many have not seen Mulligan act on the big screen. To those who attended this year's Sundance, they already have a very good idea of what she's capable of - in terms of acting, that is.

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This film, An Education, will give Mulligan or any up and coming young actress the best introduction they could ever dream of...

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It's 1961 and attractive, bright 16-year-old schoolgirl, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is poised on the brink of womanhood, dreaming of a rarefied, Gauloise-scented existence as she sings along to Juliette Greco in her Twickenham bedroom. Stifled by the tedium of adolescent routine, Jenny can't wait for adult life to begin. Meanwhile, she's a diligent student, excelling in every subject except the Latin that her father is convinced will land her the place she dreams of at Oxford University.

One rainy day, her suburban life is upended by the arrival of an unsuitable suitor, 30-ish David (Peter Sarsgaard). Urbane and witty, David instantly unseats Jenny's stammering schoolboy admirer, Graham (Matthew Beard). To her frank amazement, he even manages to charm her conservative parents Jack (Alfred Molina) and Marjorie (Cara Seymour), and effortlessly overcomes any instinctive objections to their daughter's older, Jewish suitor.

Finally! A trailer has been released by the New Zealand Film Commission for Niki Caro's latest film, The Vintner's Luck.

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I'm still trying to figure out the trailer - I'm a bit confused and also intrigued. I have read the book by Elizabeth Knox, and I'm confused whether the carnal relationship between the Angel Xas (played by Gaspard Ulliel) and Sorban (Jeremie Renier) will actually be depicted in the movie. It seems the focus is more on Sorban's relationships with the two major female characters - Vera Farmiga and Keisha Castle-Hughes. I can be absolutely wrong, since this is only the trailer. But that's my impression.

Also, I love the scenery! It's like being transported back in time. I also think having both French and English make the movie more authentic. I was really hoping Gaspard Ulliel will shine as Xas - it's such an unforgetable character. Just imagine an Angel conversing with men, having relationships with humans! But don't let me disappoint or annoy you, watch the trailer yourself  [right after the jump!]

tMF is introducing a new feature called tMF Indie Spotlight - where we get to focus on some of the most exciting, innovative and thought-provoking independent films soon to be shown on the big screen. In our first post, we're featuring the critically-acclaimed The Stoning of Soraya M.

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Comments SoYun Kim, the PR Interactive director of the Palisades Mediagroup:

This film is so timely especially in light of what is happening in Iran and the need for change. As the title suggests this film is about stoning - the brutal form of punishment usually for women. The intent of the film is to bring awareness that this is still practiced today and hopefully to end it forever.

It already won the Audience Award for best picture at this year's Los Angeles Film Festival and is consistently receiving rave reviews from critics.

I had the opportunity to live and work in the Middle East, particularly in Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen.While the goverments of these countries are promoting their people's new and modern ways and that anyone can visit and enjoy their beautiful lands, there still exist certain tradition and practices, that in the Western world, would not be acceptable anymore.

I will always remember Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Liaisons because she acted so vulnerable and so fragile, and that death scene was simply hearthbreaking, then there was The Age of Innocence. I don't know why I specifically like watching her on period films, but she seems so at ease acting a character that lived in the past, even if it's only a fictional one. Then of course, I have to laugh watching her turn into an ugly witch in Stardust! So, her return to the screen, via the period film Cheri, and with Dangerous Liaisons director Sthepen Frears on the helm is such a refreshing news!

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Of course, the fact that her co-star happens to be Rupert Friend, adds more to the excitement! Says Friend:

I do not have a concern to make the character likable. I have a concern to play him truthfully. I believe that if you can discover something of the truth of a person, then you will start to understand, and to understand is to move towards, if not like, then at least an empathy of some kind. My concern was certainly not to try and smooth out his bad bits. Colette wrote a very complicated young man, and I don’t think he was a standard, square-jawed hero—quite the reverse in many ways. And when you start to look at why that might have been—What has kept him a child for so long? Was it Léa’s fault? Could you put it at her feet? Is it his mother’s fault? Is it society’s fault? Or was he just born that way?—it’s  more interesting than trying to paint a sympathetic picture every time. [ read more ]

With such an attitude, I would certainly look forward to Cheri! I just think Mr. Friend's acting abilities has been overshadowed by his relationship with Keira Knightley, but having seen him in Pride and Prejudice, though only playing a supporting part, I find him to be quite a good actor. Given a fantastic role, perhaps would enable Rupert to finally convince audiences (and those in the industry) that he has what it takes to become one of cinema's top leading men. I think this film will give him that chance!

Duane Hopkins is regarded as one of British cinema's emerging talents. His first feature, Better Things, premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. He started his work as a filmmaker doing short films, and in this movie, he cast unknown actors. It might sound unconventional, but Hopkins hired his actors directly, discovering them on the streets. Drug use, one of the central themes of Hopkins' film, proved to be quite a challenge for the budding filmmaker. In order to make sure that his actors understamd the characters, he observes:

When I was doing the research into the drugs I met people who had been off drugs for two or three years. They were very generous with their information.

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Asked if his film is an exploration of "the pain of love", Hopkins reacted and said:

There's an absolute beauty in it. And there's an absolute cruelty in it. The beauty of it is you can have this incredible relationship with someone for your whole life. But the cruelty of it is that one of you will pass away before the other. Then someone will be left. How much of you disappears when that person goes? That's what's interesting about the younger characters. They have no idea about compromise. So being in love for the first time is a mixture of intimacy that you've never felt before, but it's also violent. The first love almost never lasts. One of you always pulls away. And because you're so young, you take it so deeply and you don't understand that you'll meet someone else. You don't understand this is a learning process. You can't see the positive. There's just this negativity that eats away.

I wanted to juxtapose this against the older group. If you put it side by side, you see what love looks like at the start and at the end of life.

Watch the film's trailer. I'm pretty sure, you'll agree with me, poetry in motion, plus there are also hints of sex, longing and more! [ just right after the jump]

I have been intrigued by this movie way way back. I first read the news about a certain 'Countess' who is regarded during her time as quite notorious and controversial and that her story is being made into film by the beautiful French actress Julie Delpy. Now that the film - The Countess - is finally done, I could not contain my excitement! By the way, among the cast is Germany's most sought-after actor, Daniel Brühl, who plays Delpy's lover.

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Here's more about the movie:

The true story of Countess Bathory born in 1560. At the age of 14, she married a powerful warlord, 10 years her senior. Although their relationship became cold and distant she bore him four children. While he was away fighting wars, she kept up their estate with the help of her confidant, the witch Anna Darvulia, becoming increasingly powerful. She was feared, admired and loathed by many - even the King had to obey her wishes. After her husband died, she met a handsome young man. They fell passionately in love. However, she was desperately concerned that she was not young enough to keep him. For 12 years, she waited for his return and in mad desperation, began to bathe in the blood of virgins, convinced that it would provide her with eternal youth and beauty, setting in motion the chain of bloody and treacherous events that led to her demise.