FILM SPOTTING: January 2010 in Polish cinemas
{FILM SPOTTING}
Every year, my January is busy and every year Polish film distributors sadistically release loads of movies I really want to see during this time ;-P Hope I get to see at least some of these *sigh*
Hunger (2008, UK/Ireland)
Release Date (Poland): 8th January 2010
Release Date (worldwide): 15th May 2008
Runtime: 96′
Director: Steve McQueen
Cast: Michael Fassbender
Production House: Blast! Films, Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, Film4, Northern Ireland Screen, Wales Creative IP Fund
Plot: (from imdb)
The last six weeks of the life of the Irish republican hunger striker Bobby Sands.
Trailer
The sceptical part of me thinks that…
I’m not into political movies and the trailer doesn’t do much for me…
The excited part of me thinks that…
I’m definitely into prison movies and this one has been getting great reviews. It’s had a lot of attention at international film festivals (amongst its awards is the Golden Camera in Cannes).
Daybreakers (2009, Australia/USA)
Release Date (Poland): 8th January 2010
Release Date (worldwide): 11th September 2009
Runtime: 98′
Director: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill
Production House: Lionsgate, Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Pictures in Paradise, Pacific Film and Television Commission, Furst Films
Plot: (from imdb)
In the year 2019, a plague has transformed most every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind.
Trailer
The sceptical part of me thinks that…
This could be so corny ;)
The excited part of me thinks that…
It’s such an absurd plot. And the best thing is that the main character is called Edward, which makes me think they might be making fun of Twilight a little.
Harry Brown (2009, UK)
Release Date (Poland): 15th January 2010
Release Date (worldwide): 12th September 2009
Runtime: 103′
Director: Daniel Barber
Cast: Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Liam Cunningham, David Bradley
Production House: Marv Films, Prescience Film Fund, UK Film Council
Plot: (from imdb)
An elderly ex-serviceman and widower looks to avenge his best friend’s murder by doling out his own form of justice.
Trailer
The sceptical part of me thinks that…
This could be your typical revenge movie and I’m not fond of those.
The excited part of me thinks that…
I seem to remember hearing ages back that this is one of the biggest budgets ever in British cinema, but I can’t find anything to confirm this at present. I might have confused something. Clearly though, in British standards this sounds like a big film and what interests me is that it’s about a real problem. I’ve read news stories on BBC about teenagers in the UK bullying elder people, whole families etc. and the police not reacting. There was even a huge story when a mother killed herself and her children to avoid any further bullying cause it was too much. This film seems to be opening a discussion about this.
Nine (2009, USA/Italy)
Release Date (Poland): 22nd January 2010
Release Date (worldwide): 3rd December 2009
Director: Rob Marshall
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren
Production House: Weinstein Company, The, Relativity Media, Marc Platt Productions, Lucamar Productions, Cattleya
Plot: (from imdb)
Famous film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother.
Trailer
See it here.
The sceptical part of me thinks that…
The reviews aren’t all that good.
The excited part of me thinks that…
I like musicals and this one has a fantastic cast - I’m loving the idea of all these actresses in one film. The song on the trailer is really catchy as well *grin*
Okuribito (2008, Japan)
Release Date (Poland): 22nd January 2010
Release Date (worldwide): 23rd August 2008
Runtime: 130′
Director: Yôjirô Takita
Production House: Amuse Soft Entertainment, Asahi Shimbunsha, Dentsu, Mainichi Hoso, Sedic, Shochiku Company, Shogakukan, Tokyo Broadcasting System
Plot: (from imdb)
A newly unemployed cellist takes a job preparing the dead for funerals.
Trailer
The sceptical part of me thinks that…
I’m not particularly sceptical… It seems like a cute film to watch. It’s just that I’m hoping it’ll be a little more than just cute and I’m not sure…
The excited part of me thinks that…
It’s been recommended to me by Kin, who I trust :) and it’s done very well in terms of awards (it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film).
Un proph?te (2009, France/Italy)
Release Date (Poland): 22nd January 2010
Release Date (worldwide): 16th May 2009
Runtime: 155′
Director: Jacques Audiard
Production House: Why Not Productions, Chic Films, Page 114, France 2 Cinéma, BIM Distribuzione, Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC), Celluloid Dreams, Sofica UGC 1, France 2 (FR2), Sofica Soficinéma 4, Canal+, Soficinéma 5, CinéCinéma, Région Ile-de-France, Conseil Régional de Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)
Plot: (from imdb)
A young Arab man is sent to a French prison where he becomes a mafia kingpin.
Trailer
The sceptical part of me thinks that…
This might be really pretentious…
The excited part of me thinks that…
It’s yet another prison film that has been very successful on the festival circuit (amongst the awards it’s won is the Grand Prix in Cannes). It also seems to have a bit of an Arab/Muslim sort of theme, which is an extra interest factor for me.
Darbareye Elly (2009, Iran)
Release Date (Poland): 22nd January 2010
Release Date (worldwide): 7th February 2009
Runtime: 119′
Director: Asghar Farhadi
Production House: Dreamlab
Plot: (from imdb)
It’s a story about three Iranian families who are traveling to North of Iran in order that they can introduce the teacher of one of these families daughters to one of their divorced friends who’s coming from Germany to Iran but everything changes when the young teacher (Elly) disappears and no one knows if she’s still alive or not? the judgments of these people about Elly forms the whole story of the film.
Trailer
The sceptical part of me thinks that…
I usually find Iranian films a bit too slow.
The excited part of me thinks that…
This is yet another film that has done very well at festivals (it won the Silver Bear in Berlin for Best Director). All the reviews seem to say the ending leaves you speechless (though I have no idea what it is *grin*) and it’s interesting that for once there’s the opportunity to see an Iranian film which portrays the middle class rather than the poor.
