Karov La Bayit (Close To Home)

Simple looking, beautifully acted, interesting characters and a story that makes you think. All what good cinema should be. A nice drama about friendship of two young girls serving their compulsory military service, which puts story over special-effects, showing once more what most of Hollywood lacks so much at times. Both actresses playing the two main characters seem not that experienced but they manage to create two very engaging characters, being subtle and showing real progress, making their characters evolve. Especially the actress playing Smadar (Smadar Sayar) does a very nice job showing Smadar's toughness, with also her warmer personality slowly revealing itself, as she comes to loosen up and realizes the importance of the girls' jobs.

Stellet Licht

After The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford it was only a matter of time until another gem of a film would pop up, which could go head to head with the beauty of Jesse James. The one film, who I feel can fill up that part is Carlos Reygadas' Stellet Licht (Silent Light), a remarkable enchanting hypnotizing poem from beginning to end. It's stunning with long takes that go on and on, every one of them building up to a tiny climax, before going into the next. You feel the urge to cry hysterically over its magnificent beauty. It's a wondeful journey which sometimes feels to be more a documentary than a fiction film. The story takes place somewhere in Mexico and tells of a Mennonite family. The language they speak is Plautdietsch, a mix between East Low German and Dutch. The father of the family Johan, finds himself in a crisis of his own. Loving his family and his wife Esther, this love however could not save him from falling for Marianne. Not sure what to do and who to choose his faith in God is put to the test. Will he be forgiven for loving a woman other than his wife? Stellet Licht is drenched in beauty, every detail is perfect. Children play in a lake, filmed from the most wonderful angles, touching upon their youth and innocence. The camera provides for beautiful still images and frames are kept in the same place, even when the actors walk off screen. The camera stays focusing on a flower who slowly comes into view as the camera moves slowly into focus. And walking through the yellow grass, walking up the stones towards Marianne who waits for Johan as they kiss passionately. Every bit is extraordinary and beautifully carried out. Reygadas has made a real work of art, one which is filled with breathtaking moments and tells a sad tragic story. However, this isn't a film for everyone as some might find it too slow or even boring. It has touches of Joachim Trier's Reprise and Gus Van Sant's Gerry, both magical films which some found hard to digest. But if you love both these films or Reygadas own feature length debut Japón, you're in for a real treat and will love Stellet Licht as it will provide you a very fulfilling and satisfying experience. It haunts you long after your eyes leave the screen.

Ne Touchez Pas La Hache

Ne Touchez Pas La Hache (Don't Touch The Axe) by director Jacques Rivette is a powerful film about two lovers who don't get the chance to love. At the time Armand de Montriveau confesses his love to Antoinette de Langeais, her stubborness keeps them from falling for each other. And once she shakes off her pride, it's too late and it's him who now plays hard to get. It's a game of love which is never played out. Rivette tells the lover's story beautifully, with the camera slowly moving into the scene, lingering on the beautiful mise-en-scène, while the actors perform on their stage. Especially during the scenes in which noone else but the two lovers are shown, Ne Touchez Pas feels mostly like a theatre play. The actors get to closely interact. As a spectator you can feel their attraction for each other and their constant pulling and pushing. Great are the intertitles in between, which sometimes give the film a comedic touch presenting unfinished sentences which are only finished later, the outcome at times being very funny. The acting is strong. Both Guillaume Depardieu as Armand and Jeanne Balibar as Antoinette shine. Especially Balibar gives a performance which at first seems hard to grasp, her acting being quite different than you're used to. Yet, it keeps her performance fresh and fascinating. Ne Touchez Pas La Hache is a very solid film, with beautiful sets. Some might find it a bit slow, but for those who can appreciate the beauty of takes being longer than usual, will find themselves drawn into a wonderful period piece.

Chung Hing Sam Lam

Wong Kar Wai's films are those you want to linger in. They draw their success heavily from creating a perfect soothing atmosphere. Added to this is his style of genius combining the most crazy shots imagineable. If his films didn't have a story they could survive just by the shots he presents. His cinema is real art and every shot is a painting or a beautiful photograph. Chung Hing Sam Lam (Chungking Express) is no exception. It marked as Kar Wai's breakthrough and consists of everything his works stand for. His characters are those you can easily fall in love with. They have chance encounters in a big bruizing city where they explore love, life and relationships. Like in his other films Kar Wai provides his films with nice pop songs to go with the story. In Chungking Express it's California dreaming, a classic song which get a complete new meaning and makes you experience the song in a complete new way. Dancing to the song during her work hours, is the young waitress Faye, played by Faye Wong, for whom the song represents her longing to leave Hong Kong for a far away adventure. Chung Hing Sam Lam is the perfect introduction for anyone still unfamiliar with Kar Wai's work and for those already familiar Chung Hing will fit in nicely with all those others of Kar Wai's masterpieces.

The Darjeeling Limited

Best known for his fresh own original style, like most of Wes Anderson's films, The Darjeeling Limited is funny, but subtle and consists of a group of characters with strange tastes and likes. Always colourful, showing a great mise-en-scène, the camera tracks passed the set as if floating on air, such ease it is done with. This time Anderson explores the beautiful India showing three brothers who are on a trip to bond with each other after the passing of their father and the dissapearance of their mother. Played by Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody and Owen Wilson, the three of them make up a pretty funny team. However, even though most of Darjeeling is charming, mostly because of the great looking colourful eye candy images, at times Darjeeling feels a bit empty. Overall the film is coherent in its funniness, but the comedic aspects not always work. It's a certain humour Anderson provides you withw hich can only completely be enjoyed when you and Anderson are exactly on the same length. Else you end up chuckling along rather than laughing hysterically. The best thing about Darjeeling comes at the end, with a beautiful small performance by Anjelica Huston. Yet, the best thing of all can be seen before Darjeeling has even started. This best thing is Hotel Chevalier, a short made by Anderson telling a bit of the past of Schwartzman's character and his relationship with a woman played by Natalie Portman. Introducing the tune Where Do You Go To (My Lovely), a classic hit by Peter Sarstedt, which will linger inside your head hours after both he short and Darjeeling, in which it is also featured, Hotel Chevalier is a tiny little gem which ends with a beautiful shot of Paris seen from a balcony. It is the best thing Anderson offers and shows everything Darjeeling unfortunately lacks.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Sweeney Todd is a musical, but one which focuses less on the songs, keeping the action going while the actors sing their hearts out. Tim Burton has made a film that is both funny and gory, with blood splatters and tasty meat pies everywhere. Johnny Depp is great as Sweeney, talking with a dark crisp voice, his mind focused on one thing, getting revenge on the evil judge Turpin who sent him away. Depp makes Todd appear perfectly stubborn at times, adding much to the comic note of the film. Almost outshining Depp is Helena Bonham Carter, who at times is hilarious as Mrs. Lovett, who sells the worst pies in London. Together the two of them form a very charming duo. A small part is played by the brilliant Sacha Baron Cohen as the fraud Pirelli. He's outstanding as long as he's present. Sweeney Todd is pure entertainment, making you sit back with a smile on your face throughout all of the film. It's funny, tragic, sweet and very bloody. People who don't like musicals because of the constant singing, have to worry less with Todd, as the singing doesn't feel like an interruption and actually make the film all the more fun and absurd.

Se, Jie

Everyone looking for a real cinematic piece should go and watch Se, Jie (Lust, Caution), the latest effort by director Ang Lee, who directed films like Brokeback Mountain and The Ice Storm, but also The Hulk, which in my opinion was a horrible piece, even though I could appreciate the direction Lee wanted to take and the story he wanted to tell. Though, in my opinion he unfortunately failed. With Se, Jie, however, he serves a beautiful piece which reminds of classic thrillers of the genre, such as Hitchcock's Notorious. It's has the flair of that period of time and is full with suspense and brilliant climatic scenes which raise the cinematic bar. Already there was much talk of the sex scenes which are situated on the edge between crossing reality and fiction. It's definitely art, but one wonders if the actors actually had real sex or not. The answer most likely is no, but some parts look very real and more than just a convincing performance. Apart from these sex scenes Se, Jie also features a very violent sequence, with a man being stabbed so ruthlessly you almost can feel it yourself. It has you on the edge of your seat as is almost the entire film, which is hold together by the terrific acting performances by both Tony Leung, and Tang Wei, who believe it or not, makes her debut. In her first role she skyrockets herself to super stardom putting herself firmly on the map. She's one to watch, giving a performance which is so layered and so well built you can't help but watch in fascination. Her character is more complex than most female characters in film and asks for a real challenge and real skills from the actress portraying her. But Tang Wei plays her as if she has years of experience. As a spectator you watch her grow from a young naive student to a determined adult woman on a mission to gain the trust of the enemy. Tony Leung playing the man who needs to be assassinated, portrays him as a cold man, who during the first time the two of them have sex, burst into a rage of anger. Gradually however, his human side comes to seep through, little by little. Both characters however stay somewhat mysteries, giving you the feeling its only them who really know their real persona and only they seem to know on which level they truly connect making them fall for each other in the end. Se, Jie is a breathtaking piece uncovering the relations between two characters who seem to be the complete opposites, but who are forced to cross paths. The camerawork is great, especially when rising up staircases, as is the music by Alexandre Desplat. After The Assassination Of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford this is the next film you really can not miss. It's true cinema carried out perfectly from start to finish. It's a work that seems very complete and finished and sticks in your head long after.

Planet Terror

Part of Grindhouse, Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror is the better half of the Grindhouse duo, the first being Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof, even though Death Proof was already a great pice of work. Compared to Death Proof, however, Planet Terror is more gory, but overall it's just as fun as Tarantino's. Where I loved Death Proof from beginning to end, including all the bar scenes and scenes in the diner where the girls happen to talk and talk and talk and talk, people who may have gotten a bit bored with these scenes which have kind of become Tarantino's trademark, may enjoy Planet Terror more. Although, starting off a bit slow, it later on runs at full speed providing exciting scenes with many laughs. It's a great combination of slasher, action and elements of comedy, never taking itself too serious and not being afraid to get completely over the top. Standout performances come from Freddy Rodriguez, playing the all macho and tough guy Wray, a guy who in his own words never misses and Josh Brolin as a doctor with a crazy wife, played marvelously by Marley Shelton. The three of them keep this flick running, as well as the great effects. Planet Terror is a feast for all people who love seeing people blow up into pieces and blood splattering everywhere. It's a highly enjoyable film which can best be enjoyed with a lot of crazy friends.

Les Chansons D'Amour

Les Chansons D'Amour can best be understood as a hommage, paying tribute to old French musicals, but doing so in a modern way. Set in contemporary Paris, it features a fresh cast led by young rising actor Louis Garrel, who is supported by already well known actress Ludivine Sagnier and Clotilde Hesme. Showing their feelings through song, Les Chansons consists of all the ingredients you would expect of a musical. There's tragedy caused by a sudden death, a new romance between two people who you would not immediately imagine together, and a final chapter ending with a song. It's fun, charming, and very light. There's nothing groundbreaking here. It's just plain fun and entertainment covered in a coat of melancholy, recapturing those old French musical heydays. Just like John Carney's Once, Christophe Honoré's Les Chansons is not the typical musical containing big dance numbers and bombastic overtly happy songs. Its songs would fit perfectly on almost every pop CD you can find in your local recordstore and aren't those you would immediately associate with the musical genre. Still though, if you don't like films where characters happen to all of a sudden burst into song, than Les Chansons probably isn't a film for you. With its ménage à trois's, and openmindedness, embracing bisexuality, it also seems to target a young audience who will identify with the characters more likely than an older one. Overall, thus, Les Chansons D'Amour sparkles with energy. It's very upbeat and great for a fun night out with friends.

Into The Wild

Into The Wild is Sean Penn's fourth feature length film and tells the real life story of Christopher McCandless, a young twenty year old who decided to leave society behind and start living anew in the wild. A slow start almost makes you give up on it, but the introduction of a number of charismatic characters saves the film as well as McCandless story of survival, which becomes more and more interesting as the film progresses. Shot on beautiful locations and perfect lighting, it seems the editor must have had a tough job deciding which material to include in the final film. There must have been a whole lot of shots to choose from, which could not have been easy. Even though the story ends on a sad note, it's not sad at all. The film is a celebration of life and the choice of one young man deciding to live it differently. McCandless wasn't at all materialistic. He just wanted to enjoy life's beauty and the beauty this world has to offer. It's a very inspiring story and Penn tells it prefectly. Emile Hirsch who plays McCandless manages to bind the film together, which at the beginning seems to be nothing more than a number of encounters with interesting characters he meets along the way. A beautiful role there is also for Hal Holbrook and the young and extremely beautiful Kristen Stewart brings some sunshine onto the screen. Into The Wild is a beautiful film with beautiful shots and a very powerful story which will bring enjoyment to many. It's one of the best films to be released over the last couple of months and one that has a very small chance to dissapoint.