The Complete James Bond Retrospective

JAMES BOND THE MOVIES 

1962 Dr. No

1963 From Russia With Love

1964 Goldfinger

1965 Thunderball

1967 You Only Live Twice

1969 On Her Majesty’s secret Service

1971 Diamonds Are Forrever

1973 Live and Let Die

1974 Man with The Golden Gun, The

1977 Spy Who Loved Me, The       

1979 Moonraker

1981 For Your Eyes Only

1983 Octopussy

1985 View To A Kill, A

1987 Living Daylights, The        

1989 Licence To Kill

1995 Goldeneye

1997 Tomorrow Never Dies

1999 World Is Not Enough, The

2002 Die Another Day

2006 Casino Royale

2008 Quantum of Solace

2012 Sky Fall

In The Fog

COMING SOON: Sergei Loznitsa's In The Fog (Russia, 2012) - Classical in a good way, "In the Fog" explores the moralities of wartime with restraint and exacting execution when fate throws three men into conflict with each other by fate in Belorussia during WWII. Belorussian-born helmer Sergei Loznitsa's sophomore feature is a more conventional work than his audacious debut, "My Joy," but no less accomplished in its craft, especially thanks to sterling work by ace Romanian lenser Oleg Mutu. Pic will need strong critical support west of the Danube to coax specialty auds, but may fare better in Eastern Europe by tapping race memories of the best Soviet war films. SOURCE: VARIETY.

Shirley Maclaine - 2012 AFI Life Achievement Award

Bob Fossee directs MacLaine in 1969"s Sweet Charity

Shirley Maclaine and Jack Lemmon in  Billy Wilder's The Apartment

Shirley Maclaine in her Oscar winning performance in Terms of Endearment with Jack Ncholson

For The Love of Money

COMING SOON: Ellie Kanner Zuckerman's For The Love of Money (Israel , 2012) - Based on a true story, "For the Love of Money" unfortunately comes off as routine pulp fiction, an attempted Scorsese-esque crime epic that too often feels like an underdeveloped outline. Time and budgetary limitations are apparent as this tale of an Israeli family's travails on both sides of the law (and the Atlantic) crams in more years, characters and incidents than it can satisfyingly realize, papering gaps with expository narration. Familiar supporting names will do more for home-format prospects than the pic's bicoastal theatrical launch June 8, though homegrown star Yehuda Levi may boost bigscreen biz in Israel.

2012 Seattle Film Festival Winner

Nicholas Provost's The Invader (Belgium, 2012)

Nicholas Provost's The Invader (Belgium, 2011): Best New Director
Sonja Linden's Five Star Existence (Finland, 2012): Best Documentary
Keith Miller's Welcome to Pine Hill (US, 2012): FIPRESCI Prize for Best New American Film
Travis Fine's Any Day Now (US, 2012): Audience Award Winner and Best Actor (Allan Cumming)
Kirby Dick's The Invisible War (US, 2012): Audience Award Winner for Documentary
Benh Zeitlin's Beasts of The Southern Wild (US, 2012): Best Director Winner
Megan Griffith's Eden (US, 2012): Best Actress (Jamie Chung)

2012 San Sebastian - Very Funny Things: New american Comedy Sidebar

Todd Phillips' The Hangover (US, 2009)

The 30 pics San Sebastian Panorama Sidebar Titles include:
40 Year Old Virgin, The - Judd Apatow US 2005
Animal House - John Landis US 1978
Caddyshack - Harod Ramis US 1980
Dazed and Confused - Richard Linklater US 1993
Dude, Where's My Car? - Danny Leiner US 2000
Hangover, The - Todd Phillips US 2009
Meatballs - Ivan Reitman US 1979
Napoleon Dynamite - Jared Hess US 2004
Pineapple Express - David Gordon Green US 2008
Porky's - Bob Clark US 1982
Punch Drunk Love - Paul Thomas Anderson US 2002
Rushmore - Wes Anderson US 1998
Smiley Face - Gregg Araki US 2007
Zoolander - Ben Stiller US 2001

Prometheus

Ridley Scott's Prometheus (US, 2012) If his original Alien is a Haunted house film and It's sequel James Cameron's Aliens is an action thriller, his latest film Prometheus is a deeply philosophical film and almost biblical in every sense. The film explores the eternal questions: Who is our creator?, Can we live forever? and What happened after we die?, if you mix all of that with some horror moments, you will get a very thought provoking film not to mention a cliffhanger that is worthy for another alien pic. RATING *** 1/2.

Santa Sangre

Alejandro Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre (Mexico, 1989) One of the strangest film ever made. After witnessing violent fight between his parents that end with their gruesome death, a young boy end up in the mental institution. As an adult, he has trouble separating the real world from the fantasy world. A visual feast in almost every frame, the film has a huge cult following. RATING *** 1/2.

A Respectable Family

Massoud Bakshi's A Respectable Family (Iran, 2012) - One of the most impressive directorial debut, the film combine family drama and political commentary that traces back from Iran - Iraq war to modern day Iran where a group of demonstrator  clash against the Iranian authority. With the political commentary just in the background, the main story follows a very wealthy Iranian family with a lot of skeletons in their closet. Official Selection 2012 Cannes Film Festival Director's Fortnight. RATING *** 1/2

Soegija

COMING SOON: Garin Nugroho's Soegija (Indonesia, 2011) - True story of the first Indonesian Catholic Archbishop, Soegija and how he affect many lives during Indonesian war of independence.

Lewat Djam Malam / After The Curfew

COMING SOON: Usmar Ismail's Lewat Djam Malam (Indonesia, 1954) Consider by many as The Best Indonesian Film of Alltime, the film deal with ex freedom fighter who tries to find his place back in the society after the end of the war. With the help of Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Foundation, the film was restore to it's pristine condition, ready to make waves to the enjoyment of cinema lovers world wide.

Harakiri

Takashi Miike's Harakiri (Japan, 2011) a remake of the classic masterpiece Harakiri by Masaki Kobayashi, the film deal with honor and revenge in the 16th century Japan. Premiere at 2011 Cannes Film Festival. RATING ***

Machine Gun McCain

Giuliano Montaldo's Machine Gun McCain (US, 1969) - John Cassavetes show his acting chop in front of the camera as a gangster who must return the favor after he was released from his 12 years jail sentenced. An odd choice for In Competition Section at Cannes other than stars The Who's Who in American Independent Cinema of the lat 60s which include John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk, the film was premiered at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival to a decent review. RATING ***

Adalen 31

GREAT MOVIES: Bo Widerberg's Adalen 31 (Sweden. 1969) - based on true story about Swedish police force who killed several union protesters in 1931. This incident cause the fall of Swedish Conservative Party government. The film won Grand Jury Prize at 1969 Cannes Film Festival and earn 1970 Academy Award Best Foreign Language nomination. RATING ****.

ILL Manors

COMING SOON: Ben Drew's ILL Manors (UK, 2012) - There is no denying the anger, frustration and plain good intentions behind iLL Manors, the bleak and harsh directorial debut for British singer Ben Drew (aka Plan B), but while this angry and grim film offers up moments of gripping drama and some powerful performances, the burden of its ambition ultimately weighs too heavily on its interconnecting series of storylines. The film chief selling point will be the film’s eloquent attempt to tackle the tough life facing many urban teens to whom violence, drugs and despair are a way of life.

Children of Sarajevo

Aida Begic's Children of Sarajevo (Bosnia, 2012) - after the war,two siblings try to survive the harsh reality of life in Sarajevo. While the older sister turn to Islam, the younger brother get involves with drug running and other petty crimes. Premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard Section, the film won Special Distinction of The Jury Award. RATING ***.

Our Children

MUST SEE: Joachim Lafosse's Our Children (Belgium, 2012) - Emilie Dequenne plays a young mother of four who after severe post natal depression decided to killed four of her small children. The film premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard section also star Tahar Rahim and Niels Arestrup. RATING *** 1/2

Lindsay Lohan as Liz Taylor

First official photo of Lindsay Lohan as Liz Taylor in Lloyd Kramer's Liz and Dick (US, 2012)

For Greater Glory

Dean Wright's For Greater Glory (Mexico, 2012) - Mexican civil war in the 20s between the Mexican government who tries to restrict religious freedom and the Cristeros, the faithful follower of the Catholic Church gets its glossy soap opera treatment with admirable result. RATING ***.

Moonrise Kingdom

MUST SEE: Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom (US, 2012) - a look at first love and coming of age story through the usual quirky eyes of Wes Anderson. The all star cast which include Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and Frances McDorman open 2012 Cannes Film Festival to great review. RATING *** 1/2.

2012 ARIEL AWARD WINNERS

Emilio Portes Castro's Pastorela (Mexico, 2011) won six 2012 Ariel Award including Best Film and Best Director.

Everado Gout's Days of Grace (Mexico, 2011) won nine 2012 Ariel Award including Best first Film and Best Actor Award

Winners List:
BEST PICTURE
Pastorela
DIRECTOR
Pastorela (Emilio Portes)
ACTRESS
Martha (Magda Vizcaino)
ACTOR
Dias de Gracia (Tenoch Huerta)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Dias de Gracia (Eileen Yanez)
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Dias de Gracia (Carlos Cobos)
FIRST WORK
Dias de Gracia
DOCUMENTARY
El Lugar Mas Pequeno
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Pastorela
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Dias de Gracia
EDITING
Dias de Gracia
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
Dias de Gracia
SOUND
Dias de Gracia
ART DESIGN
Dias de Gracia
COSTUME DESIGN
Pastorela
MAKEUP
Pastorela
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Salvando al Soldado Perez
VISUAL EFFECTS
Pastorela
ANIMATED SHORT
Prita Noire
DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Yuban
FICTION SHORT
Mari Pepa

NOTES: Gerardo Naranjo's Miss Bala (Mexico, 2011) which was selected to many film festival including the official entry to 2012 Best Foreign Language Academy Award was left empty handed. 

Headhunters

MUST SEE: Morten Tyldum's Headhunters (Norway, 2011) - what started as an art heist, Headhunters turn to corporate espionage with great twist and turns. RATING *** 1/2