Starring: Léa Seydoux & Adèle Exarchopoulos
Written by Abdellatif Kechiche & Ghalia Lacroix
Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche
Adèle is a young woman whose life is transformed when she begins an intense romance with Emma, an attractive artist with blue hair.
So explicit it
brings new meaning to the term
“three-hanky movie.”
Grade: A-
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Blue Is the Warmest Color is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278871/?ref_=nv_sr_1
It’s Oscar weekend, which means it’s once again time for The Haiku Review to reveal its best films of last year. And thanks to Ben Affleck, waterboarding, vengeful slaves, a French pillow, and one exceedingly incompetent fast-food restaurant staff, 2012 turned out to be a fantastic time at the cinema. So without further ado, here are the ten best movies of the year. Continue reading
Featuring: Emad Burnat
Written by Guy Davidi
Directed by Emad Burnat & Guy Davidi
A Palestinian farmer documents the nonviolent protests that take place in his West Bank village against the encroachment of the Israeli army.
If a camera
stops a bullet to my head,
I’ll take up painting.
Grade: B+
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
5 Broken Cameras is now available on DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125423/
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Mads Mikkelsen & Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
Screenplay by Rasmus Heisterberg & Nikolaj Arcel
Directed by Nikolaj Arcel
In 18th century Denmark, a young queen’s affair with her mentally-ill husband’s doctor leads to political and cultural revolution.
At least leaders back
then had mental illness and
inbreeding to blame.
Grade: A-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
A Royal Affair is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276419/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Starring: Denis Lavant, Edith Scob, Eva Mendes & Kylie Minogue
Written & directed by Leos Carax
In this French fantasy, the mysterious Monsieur Oscar travels the streets of Paris in a limousine, going from appointment to appointment, each time transforming himself into a new persona for a new role.
For those who like films
deeply metaphorical
and batsh*t crazy.
Grade: A-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Holy Motors is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2076220/
Starring: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Donny Alamsyah, Yayan Ruhian & Pierre Gruno
Written and directed by Gareth Evans
When an elite SWAT team raids an apartment building run by a vicious drug lord, they find themselves trapped and under siege by the gangster’s well armed bodyguards and tenants.
Plot dies a gory
death – but at least it’s a cool,
martial art-y death.
Grade: B
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Raid: Redemption is available on Blu-ray and DVD tomorrow.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1899353/
Starring: Aksel Hennie, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Synnøve Macody Lund & Eivind Sander
Written by Lars Gudmestad & Ulf Ryberg
Directed by Morten Tyldum
An art thief runs afoul of a vindictive mercenary.
Hell hath no fury
like that Game of Thrones guy scorned.
Plus, dog rides tractor.
Grade: B+
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Headhunters is now playing in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1614989/
TCFF 12-18
Starring: Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander & Peter Falk
Screenplay by Wim Wenders & Peter Handke
Directed by Wim Wenders
An angel desires to become human after falling in love with a trapeze artist.
We made City of
Angels out of this. Way to
go, America.
Grade: A
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Wings of Desire is available on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093191/
TCFF 12-15
Starring: Kyrre Hellum, Henrik Mestad & Mads Ousdal
Written and directed by Magnus Martens
When four co-workers win a large sum of money, they turn on each other in order to claim a greater share of the cash.
Despite its title,
this Guy Ritchie knock-off is
not quite a windfall.
Grade: B-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Jackpot has not yet been released in the United States.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1809231/
TCFF 12-09
Starring: François Cluzet, Omar Sy & Audrey Fleurot
Written and directed by Olivier Nakache & Eric Toledano
A wealthy quadriplegic develops a strong friendship with the young man from the projects that he hires to be his caretaker.
A well-worn premise,
but constant laughs will have you
crippled with delight.
Grade: B+
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Intouchables is now playing in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675434/
TCFF 12-02
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