by Sherif Awad
Before I start to watch the films of the New Year, I thought
about nominating for the readers some films I have seen during 2014 during my
festivals’ travels or through digital media. The list includes:
about nominating for the readers some films I have seen during 2014 during my
festivals’ travels or through digital media. The list includes:
A Walk Among the Tombstones
Written for the screen and directed by Scott Frank, this
thriller has Liam Neeson playing the role of private investigator Matt Scudder
who is hired to looking for the kidnapped wife of drug dealer. Outstanding work
by screenwriter- director Scott Frank that surpassed his own 2007’s thriller The
Lookout. The character of Matt
Scudder was portrayed once before Jeff Bridges in the 1986’s movie 8 Million
Ways to Die.
thriller has Liam Neeson playing the role of private investigator Matt Scudder
who is hired to looking for the kidnapped wife of drug dealer. Outstanding work
by screenwriter- director Scott Frank that surpassed his own 2007’s thriller The
Lookout. The character of Matt
Scudder was portrayed once before Jeff Bridges in the 1986’s movie 8 Million
Ways to Die.
Guardians of the Galaxy
I was not that enthusiastic to watch this movie in cinemas maybe
because of the bad trailers that promoted it before its international release
not to add the flux of superheroes films that invaded us from DC and Marvel
Comics. Watched it at home, the film is smart, fun and more enjoyable than many
other 2014 films. Before director James Gunn began the preparation for a sequel
to be shown in 2017, The film’s star
Chris Platt already became a new star appearing on top film and fashion
magazines around the world.
because of the bad trailers that promoted it before its international release
not to add the flux of superheroes films that invaded us from DC and Marvel
Comics. Watched it at home, the film is smart, fun and more enjoyable than many
other 2014 films. Before director James Gunn began the preparation for a sequel
to be shown in 2017, The film’s star
Chris Platt already became a new star appearing on top film and fashion
magazines around the world.
Maps to the Stars
Although Canadian director David Cronenberg does not offer
here his best work, this film takes the viewer to the complex labyrinths of the
distressed Hollywood society who starts to losing it when limelight fade away.
The ensemble cast Julianne Moore, John Cusack, Mia Wasikowska and Robert Pattinson
delivers top performances.
here his best work, this film takes the viewer to the complex labyrinths of the
distressed Hollywood society who starts to losing it when limelight fade away.
The ensemble cast Julianne Moore, John Cusack, Mia Wasikowska and Robert Pattinson
delivers top performances.
Nightcrawler
Sensationalistic violence across US and international news has
invaded not only our TV sets but it is also popping up from social media and
internet websites with photos of extremists’ crimes hurting our senses. Louis
Bloom, brilliantly played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is one of the numerous unemployed
young men whose destiny led him to meet a news team hunting down accidents
across the road in order to sell it to the highest bidder. Louis thinks he can
do it better so by using his small handcam, he starts to become a Nightcrawler
looking for crimes and accidents to shoot and sell. Bit by bit, the young man
becomes obsessed by his job to the extent of fabricating scenes that might get
him extra money. I saw Louis as not only a sociopath but more of a victim of the
culture of violence that predominated our media.
invaded not only our TV sets but it is also popping up from social media and
internet websites with photos of extremists’ crimes hurting our senses. Louis
Bloom, brilliantly played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is one of the numerous unemployed
young men whose destiny led him to meet a news team hunting down accidents
across the road in order to sell it to the highest bidder. Louis thinks he can
do it better so by using his small handcam, he starts to become a Nightcrawler
looking for crimes and accidents to shoot and sell. Bit by bit, the young man
becomes obsessed by his job to the extent of fabricating scenes that might get
him extra money. I saw Louis as not only a sociopath but more of a victim of the
culture of violence that predominated our media.
The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears
In addition to this thriller, the directing duo of Hélène
Cattet and Bruno Forzani made another one called Amer in 2009 so both
films should be looked at with the same approach as both a tribute and a
revival to the exciting detective and psychological Italian films of 1960s and
1970s known as Giallo. Using stylish photography, unconventional lenses and hot
colors in set decorations and film mode, the directors tells us the story about
a man who is looking for his missing wife within the spiral corridors of his
apartment building in which they used to live.
Cattet and Bruno Forzani made another one called Amer in 2009 so both
films should be looked at with the same approach as both a tribute and a
revival to the exciting detective and psychological Italian films of 1960s and
1970s known as Giallo. Using stylish photography, unconventional lenses and hot
colors in set decorations and film mode, the directors tells us the story about
a man who is looking for his missing wife within the spiral corridors of his
apartment building in which they used to live.
The Giver
A film that also relies on colors as a cinematic tool as it
unfolds in an apparently utopian yet empty of emotions society where humans are
being controlled by injection that suppress their feelings. In order to keep the
heritage alive, a young man called Jonas is selected to be the pupil of the old
wise man they call The Giver, played by Jeff Bridges. However, the more Jonas
knows about the reality behind his perfect life, the more he sets himself to escape.
Although the film’s premise is similar to Christian Bale’s 2002’ starrer Equilibrium
(2002) (which had also elements from the 1966’ Fahrenheit 451, it
eventually takes its own curve to deliver a satisfying conclusion. Of course,
it is based on the famous novel that has
three more spin-offs.
unfolds in an apparently utopian yet empty of emotions society where humans are
being controlled by injection that suppress their feelings. In order to keep the
heritage alive, a young man called Jonas is selected to be the pupil of the old
wise man they call The Giver, played by Jeff Bridges. However, the more Jonas
knows about the reality behind his perfect life, the more he sets himself to escape.
Although the film’s premise is similar to Christian Bale’s 2002’ starrer Equilibrium
(2002) (which had also elements from the 1966’ Fahrenheit 451, it
eventually takes its own curve to deliver a satisfying conclusion. Of course,
it is based on the famous novel that has
three more spin-offs.
The Good Lie
Reese Witherspoon is top-billed on the poster of this
enjoyable drama directed by the Canadian Philippe Falardeau. The screenplay is
based on real stories of some Sudanese refugees who were fortunate to come to
America and settle down. The African actors of the films were real-life
survivals from refugees’ camps and armed genocide. Although Witherspoon’s role
as the social worker who helps the refugees is some kind of supporting role, it
is one of her best performances in recent years.
enjoyable drama directed by the Canadian Philippe Falardeau. The screenplay is
based on real stories of some Sudanese refugees who were fortunate to come to
America and settle down. The African actors of the films were real-life
survivals from refugees’ camps and armed genocide. Although Witherspoon’s role
as the social worker who helps the refugees is some kind of supporting role, it
is one of her best performances in recent years.
The Children’s Republic
Speaking of Africa, the aforementioned film was shown at the
opening of the 3rd edition of Luxor African Film Festival in March
2014 as it was written directed by Bissau-Guinean master Flora Gomes who also
succeeded to persuade Danny Glover to participate. The story imagines a country
being ruled by children soldiers after the adults left either as fugitives or
as deceased. The premise is not compelety a fantasy if we look at the news
surfacing about terrorist groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria or Daesh in Syria.
opening of the 3rd edition of Luxor African Film Festival in March
2014 as it was written directed by Bissau-Guinean master Flora Gomes who also
succeeded to persuade Danny Glover to participate. The story imagines a country
being ruled by children soldiers after the adults left either as fugitives or
as deceased. The premise is not compelety a fantasy if we look at the news
surfacing about terrorist groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria or Daesh in Syria.
VHS Viral
After The Blair Witch Project (1999), “Found-Footage”
became new cinematic subgenre not only of horror films but to some other drama
like the 2012’ thriller End of Watch. I liked watching VHS at
home in Cairo which drove me to watch VHS2 in the 2013’ edition of
Tribeca Festival. (While I enjoy it, some scarred audience started to leave the
theater midway). VHS Viral , however, went straight-to-video few weeks
ago and I can say it doesn’t rise up to the quality of the previous parts but
it is equally fun for fans of chilling anthologies.
became new cinematic subgenre not only of horror films but to some other drama
like the 2012’ thriller End of Watch. I liked watching VHS at
home in Cairo which drove me to watch VHS2 in the 2013’ edition of
Tribeca Festival. (While I enjoy it, some scarred audience started to leave the
theater midway). VHS Viral , however, went straight-to-video few weeks
ago and I can say it doesn’t rise up to the quality of the previous parts but
it is equally fun for fans of chilling anthologies.
The Possession of Michael King
Like many films belonging to the horror genre, this film
unfortunately went straight to blu-ray and cable maybe because there were lot
of products revolving around exorcism and diabolical presence. Michael King,
the main character, does not believe in inhuman forces then gradually become a
victim of possession. Nevertheless, The Possession of Michael King can
be considered as a powerful Exorcist or Entity of the year 2014.
unfortunately went straight to blu-ray and cable maybe because there were lot
of products revolving around exorcism and diabolical presence. Michael King,
the main character, does not believe in inhuman forces then gradually become a
victim of possession. Nevertheless, The Possession of Michael King can
be considered as a powerful Exorcist or Entity of the year 2014.
Leviathan
This Russian drama by Andrey Zvyagintsevwill be a prime
contender for the upcoming Oscar as it tells analyzes the vast complexities of
Russian communities and the gap between the central power in Moscow and the
other Russian cities. The story revolves around the lawyer Dmitriy who travels
to a remote area in order to help his friend and brother-in-arm Nikolay to
retain house before it is demolished by the governor, who is acting like one of
Russian Mafia.
contender for the upcoming Oscar as it tells analyzes the vast complexities of
Russian communities and the gap between the central power in Moscow and the
other Russian cities. The story revolves around the lawyer Dmitriy who travels
to a remote area in order to help his friend and brother-in-arm Nikolay to
retain house before it is demolished by the governor, who is acting like one of
Russian Mafia.
Corrections Class
As a member of the jury of the FEDEORA Critics Association of
the Mediterranean, we decided to give the Special Jury Award to this Russian debut
by writer-director Ivan I. Tverdovsky who succeded in presenting this stories about mentally and
physically challenged young people and how they mistreated in Russia. Lena, the
main character, is assigned to a special class that would be later qualified by
school commission in order to prove that its handicapped students merit the
return to a “normal” class. Her enervated teachers, however, show
absolutely no desire to motivate the students and help them improve. However,
Lena find some affection from her classmate but soon they face the
consequences..
the Mediterranean, we decided to give the Special Jury Award to this Russian debut
by writer-director Ivan I. Tverdovsky who succeded in presenting this stories about mentally and
physically challenged young people and how they mistreated in Russia. Lena, the
main character, is assigned to a special class that would be later qualified by
school commission in order to prove that its handicapped students merit the
return to a “normal” class. Her enervated teachers, however, show
absolutely no desire to motivate the students and help them improve. However,
Lena find some affection from her classmate but soon they face the
consequences..
Happy New Year and more films.
