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The 65 Foreign Submissions are in + Documentary shorts

October 14, 2010 — Leave a comment

I can feel it in the air. Award season is approaching. I think Indie Spirit Awards are also done with submissions, and their nominations should arrive come early December.

In the meantime, the Academy Awards has released the list of the 65 countries (or not-countries… Greenland?) that will be competing for 5 spots as “Best Foreign” nominees, as well as their 8 short documentaries.

Here are some of the reviews of the ones I’ve seen.

Let’s talk wild guess predictions in here. Which countries will be the 5 chosen ones?

Mexico’s Biutiful seems like an easy assumption.

China’s Aftershocks seems to be a good candidate for several reasons besides “film”. Whatever your thoughts on melodrama are, I mean… you really need to be a sour grape not to feel something for the family in that film. Either that, or you’ve never been in a natural disaster. Having said that, it is because it’s a melodrama that it’s perfect for Oscar. Moving family drama that deals with catastrophe with a really powerful and magnificently handled Earthquake scene that was a box office hit in China. It’s just good business.

Also, China being nominated is controversial. Anything to do with China since 2008 is controversial. Controversial always brings ratings. Also nominating China is just plain good business. If China gets nominated – I dunno, what are the chances of some state channel broadcasting the Oscar? Just imaging 2/3 of China’s internet population watches the Oscar that night. That’s 200 million viewers. Anything in China is big.

If there’s no China, it must be another cheese movie… like South Korea’s A Barefoot Dream. An underdog story of a kiddie football team and a coach. It shall make you feel happy xD

Canada’s Incendies?

and… I dunno what else. Peru’s chances? From what I have seen, and what I’ve heard. It could very well get into the nine before they select the final five. I’ll have a better grasp once the 9 are out xD

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SF Yu Aoi and Animation fans: Redline Opens this Week in your City

October 6, 2010 — 1 Comment

I wish I had known sooner, but I just found out today.

REDLINE will be opening in San Francisco this Friday 8th at 7.15pm at VIZ Cinema – at the same time as in Japan! And will continue showing the film throughout the week. I already added them to the Yu Aoi Events calendar.

Friday 8th – 7.15pm
Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th – 12.30pm , 2.45pm , 5pm , 7.15pm
Monday 11th – Thursday 14th – 5pm , 7.15pm

Admission is $10

If you catch the show, let me know. Would love to hear your thoughts.

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Foreign Submissions Update

September 29, 2010 — Leave a comment

Some very exciting news – First, it seems I’ve seen more than TWO of the Foreign submissions this year LOL. Of course that’s without considering the 9 films that will go through the other stage, and the 5 that will be chosen. I’ll probably get a 1/5 ratio at the most.

Second of all… China chose Xiaogang Feng’s earthquake drama Aftershocks to represent them. *jumpy claps* Now, this is my weakness. I love tear-jerking dramas. Anyone who’s lived through an earthquake should and will be affected by the story, anyone who’s lived through a hurricane, typhoon, any catastrophic natural disaster. Aftershocks is for you. But this is not to say that Aftershocks is exploitative of the tragedy, because this “earthquake” film is little about the earthquake and all about the people affected by it.

Considering the technical achievement this is, and how human and audience-friendly this drama is, I think this might have high chances of passing to the “chosen 9”. *crosses fingers*

Here are some of the submissions I’ve seen and reviewed:

The updated titles via Indie Wire!

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Polanski to Direct Foster, Winslet, Waltz and Dillon for God of Carnage

September 24, 2010 — 2 Comments

Wow, can you imagine Foster and Winslet playing opposite, neck to neck?

an adaptation of Yazmina Reza’s acclaimed play ‘God of Carnage’, about two sets of parents who meet for a civilized confrontation after their kids get into a fight on the playground. As the evening proceeds, though, the conversation devolves into rage, prejudice, and homophobia.

via Cinematical

No, not gonna credit Moviefone. Hate it.

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Is it Oscar Time yet? Foreign Submissions

September 8, 2010 — 3 Comments

Look, I made a banner. LOL

While reading my usual news, I found out that Kokuhaku (aka. Confessions) by Tetsuya Nakashima has been chosen by Japan as their submission for the upcoming Academy Awards. I haven’t even seen the film, but I really thought they would choose something like Norwegian Wood, which seems to be getting in all the major festivals, while Kokuhaku… has been, well… doing well in Japanese Box Office. So it’s a surprise.

These are the other films sent for consideration:

  • Austria – La Pivellina
  • Hungary – Bibliothèque Pascal [Variety]
  • Iraq – Son of Babylon
  • Netherlands – Tirza
  • Peru – Undertow [review]
  • Poland – All that I Love/Everything I Love [Poland]
  • Romania – If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle [The Hollywood Reporter]
  • South Korea – A Barefoot Dream
  • Sweden – Simple Simon [The Hollywood Reporter]
  • Taiwan – Monga
  • Venezuela – Hermano

Any more? xD

Germany has a shortlist that include 3 Nazi-related dramas. Their pick will be announced in about 10 days.

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Raiou to Get Contemporary PV

August 17, 2010 — 1 Comment

Raiou’s main theme will be in charge of singer Maika (舞花), who will be singing Kokoro (心/Heart). In the music video, which was recently shot with Yu Aoi and Masaki Okada in a modern setting.

Also, the two of them are lip-synching the lines of the song in the video. “It’s like the two of us are making the major debut. Next should be performing at a summer festival.”, Aoi commented. Yet when asked to sing by the journalist, Aoi was quick to say. “Ok, please stop. I said some useless things.”

via Music Japan +.

For some reason I found Yu’s comment about the major debut really funny. Must be the bias. Otherwise, I’m looking forward to the song, and the fake lip-sync.

Here’s a sample of Maika’s Oshieteyo ~ miseducation ~

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First Look at What Women Want with Gong Li and Andy Lau

August 5, 2010 — 2 Comments

OMG, yes. Make this happen soon. Gong Li and Andy Lau look so hot together. xD

Continue Reading…

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More Lima Film Fest 2010 Reviews

August 3, 2010 — Leave a comment

Sorry, in Spanish only.

Still there are 2 missing xD and gonna get 2 more tomorrow. Hopefully, I will catch up tomorrow afternoon.

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First Reviews Lima Film Festival 2010

July 31, 2010 — Leave a comment

The first reviews from the Lima Film Fest are up… you can already buy tickets for the shows which start showing on August 6th until August 14th. They aren’t much, but you can get all the Lima Film Fest 2010 tagged items to keep updated throughout this week.

Here are the reviews at the moment:

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Rocky Horror for Glee

Oh yeah, sweet baby beegesus.

You know you can picture it already.

Ryan Murphy announced that Glee will have a Rocky Horror Picture Show themed-episode, and Chris Colfer said he’d like to sing Time Warp. Among other news, Brittany [dumb as a rock, but funny as hell] will get her own episode, as well as Mercedes — poor Tina, we need her around.

video deleted

Posted on July 26, 2010 In English, Films, Sharing, Stills, Television , , , , , ,
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