Reel Passport

2009-10-10T00:37:00.006-04:00

I love foreign films, and so should you!

ROMANCE (13)
SUSPENSE (5)
DRAMA (20)
COMEDY (12)
TV SHOWS (4)

Tired of the same old, same old, from Hollywood? Enter the wide wonderful world of foreign films! I don't make any claims to being a film critic, or an expert, but, I know what I like, and would like to introduce you to some of the movies I've watched, promotional trailers and film clips. I only post things I've actually watched, and only things that I have been able to buy in local stores or online on sites like ebay and amazon. I've tried to put a video clip with each mention, sometimes the best clips have foreign or no subtitles, but that doesn't mean that the dvd copies available don't have English subtitles, just that they weren't available in the best clips.

* Expand your entertainment horizons. If you feel like you've seen everything at Blockbuster, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find scores of movies in your favorite genres just waiting to entertain you.

* If you see something that interests you, then hunt it down on Ebay, Amazon, etc. Some will be easier than others to find. Foreign films are often cheaper than US movies, because they don't have the audience here to demand a higher price. Just remember if you buy, buy Region 1, or non-region.

* Don't be afraid of subtitles, they're your friend, and you'll soon forget they're there. I prefer subtitles to dubbing, which never seem synched or authentic to me.

* Enjoy new favorites! Browse through reviews of new and old favorites. The good thing about exploring this new supply of entertainment is that if you're new to foreign films, then they're ALL new releases to you!

TV SHOWS (4)

2009-10-10T00:03:00.006-04:00

I've decided to add a TV category, because I've enjoyed so many great shows from overseas, and more and more are becoming available on DVD. In this section the video clips will follow the description, as opposed to the opposite in the movie sections.

(4)THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN

Ironically, there are no video clips available for this 1984 British mini-series, which runs for 14 50 minute episodes. I think this is, hands down, the best television drama ever filmed. Based on the "Raj Quartet" novels by Paul Scott, it is set before, during, and after WWII, in India, as the British Raj fades. There is the heart-wrenching romance between Hari Kumar and Daphne Manners, the evil Police Captain Merrick, the emotionally fragile missionary Barbie Batchelor, the mysterious Count Dmitri, the handsome and tragic Ahmed Kasim, and so many others. The story sweeps across India and the history of the era. Originally costing a small fortune when it was first released on VHS years ago, it is now available for a small price on DVD. This story and the people it is about will stay with you for a long time after you finish watching it.

(3) MCLEOD'S DAUGHTERS

I love, love, love this show. It ran on Australian television from 2000 to 2009, and I snapped up each season as they were released here in the states. [They are all available on region one dvds, from amazon, ebay, borders, etc.] This series had it all...drama, humor, romance, adventure, etc. The scenes below are not the best ones, because the best ones involve info that will give plots away. But, they are still great and give you a taste for the show. The premise is that rancher Jack McLeod had a daughter, Claire, with his first wife, then another daughter, Tess, with his second wife. When he divorces and Tess and her mother leave, the two sister, then children, are out of touch until Jack dies when they are adults. Claire has remained on the ranch, Drovers Run, and Tess is a big city girl, hoping to own a restaurant. Notified of Jack's death, she assumes they'll sell the ranch and she'll get half the money. But, it doesn't work out that way, and she moves to Drovers. We meet the wealthy Ryan neighbors and all sorts of other locals. When the male ranch hands revolt at the thought of taking orders from females, they're all fired, and Claire and Tess build up an all female team to run the place. This is a wonderful show.

(2) SEACHANGE

I recently finished watching the third and final season of this Australian show, and let me tell you, it was sad to say goodbye to the little town of Pearl Bay and the characters I had come to be so fond of. You may recognize the lead actress, Sigrid Thornton as the star of the old "Man from Snowy River" movies. In SeaChange, which aired from 1998 to 2001, she plays Laura Gibson, a successful and ambitious city lawyer. The clips below show you the important parts of the pilot that set up the premise of the show. Basically, Laura wakes up thinking its the day that she is going to be made a partner in her big law firm, but, everything that can possibly go wrong that day, does, and then some. Laura will end up moving to the Pearl Bay, with her reluctant children, and becoming the town judge. [Technical note - This show has never been released on region one, the region that US dvd players use. But, I took a chance and ordered this set from Australia, hoping it would play in my non-region dvd player. Not only did it play perfectly, but it also plays perfectly in my friend's dvd player which is not non-regional. I've read some articles that claim that newer and more current dvd players are more forgiving of region differences, so that's the only explanation I can think of.]

(1) COUPLING

This UK sit-com ran from 2000 til 2004. Hollywood tried to make a US version, but, it was so awful it was pulled after only one episode aired. The British original reminds me a bit of "Friends"...it revolves around a group of 20 something friends in London, and instead of the coffee house, they spend a lot of time on the couch at a neighborhood pub. Hilarious show, with some of my all-time favorite sit-com scenes. It aired sporadically on BBC America for awhile, but not always in the correct order, and not the complete show.

ROMANCE (13)

2009-09-25T21:40:00.030-04:00

(13) ZHOU YU'S TRAIN

Moody, intense, kind of ethereal 2002 Chinese film, starring the wonderful Gong Li. Told mainly in flashbacks, this tells the story of a ceramic artist who is in love with a poet. They live far apart, so she has to travel by train often to see him. Along the way she meets a local veterinarian, and a friendship develops there. Hard to really describe more about the story, it's just a slow, meandering exploration of how these three people interact and affect each other.

(12) Cyrano de Bergerac

I'm a huge fan of the Rostand novel, and have loved several of the film adaptations. This is a great, sweeping, blockbuster French version, released in 1990, and starring Gerard Depardieu. The Jose Ferrer version was wonderful, but Depardieu seems more age appropriate to the story. And, despite his knack and history for playing the hardman roles, he carries off the romance and poetry in this version beautifully. It's long, almost 3 hours, but a good romantic swashbuckler to settle in and enjoy.

(11) CARMEN

Intense 1983 Spanish film directed and choreographed by the famous Carlos Saura. It follows a dance troupe putting together a flamenco version of Bizet's Carmen. The relationship of the lead dancer and choreographer mirrors that of the couple in the opera. Incredible dancing. I loved it, but, unless he can't miss an episode of "Dancing with the Stars", most males will probably flee from this film.

(10) STRICTLY BALLROOM

Love blossoms amongst the drama and intrigue of competitive ballroom dancing in this 1992 Australian movie. Our "Dancing with the Stars" has nothing on this film when it comes to sequins, glitter and spandex. Sweet and entertaining, with of course, lots of great dancing.

(9) MY BRILLIANT CAREER

This 1979 Australian film may be the first foreign film I really paid attention to. Showcasing a young Judy Davis and Sam Neill, it's the story of Sybylla. Young, poor, and brilliant, in 19th century rural Australia, she faces few choices. The movie follows her struggle to decide between marriage and conventional life, or the lonelier existence of a "career woman". Beautiful soundtrack that firmly embedded "kinderszenen" in my brain.

(8) THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA

This 1993 Vietnamese movie tells the sweet story of Mui, a young peasant girl who comes to work in a wealthy household in the late 1950's. It follows her as she grows up, weathers the changing luck of her employers, and falls in love with a handsome pianist. Quiet, gentle and lyrical.

(7) ONCE

A 2007 Irish film that is as much musical as romance. Neither of the lead actors had acting experience before filming this story (for awhile they were a couple in real life). An Irish street musician meets a Czech immigrant who also has musical talent. He is pining for his lost girlfriend, she has a husband back in Czechoslovakia and a troubled marriage. They share their musical talents and friendship while working out what to do with their respective problems. The music in this film is great, and the story is sweet, and quietly endearing. You'll probably recognize parts of the soundtrack.

(6) PASSIONADA

A 2002 romance set in the Portuguese fishing community of New Bedford, New Hampshire, this movie is enjoyable to watch, but is not technically a foreign film. It's a film about a Portuguese-American community, so I'll slip it in. Celia, a fisherman's widow, lives with Emmy, her teenage daughter who is determined that her beautiful mother should move on with her love life while she is still young. this proves a difficult goal since Celia refuses to date and is, as a friend comments, "the most married person around." enter Charlie Beck, charming, down on his luck gambler, and immediately smitten with Celia after hearing her sing Fado at a local restaurant. Charlie and Emmy each have something the other wants - he can teach her how to card count, and she holds the secrets to wooing her mother, so they strike a deal to help each other. the movie's an interesting peek into the colorful and tradition bound community. Charlie and Celia are each attractive and intriguing characters in their own ways. you end up wishing more time was given to their interaction and less to needless and unexplained subplots....why DOES Emmy want to become a gambler? one of the most interesting things on the dvd is the chance to watch the original, but eventually abandoned ending, while listening to the director and cast commenting on it. not perfect, but a cozy evening's worth of a film.

* Jason Isaacs
* Sofia Milos
* Emmy Rossum
* Theresa Russell
* Seymour Cassel

(5) BRIDE AND PREJUDICE

This is a fun, colorful, and musical, Bollywood treatment of Pride and Prejudice. There's a little something for everyone...colorful locales and costumes, music and big dance numbers, comedy, romance, etc. It's great... kind of corny lines, improbably situations, and some wooden acting here and there... but it's just so cheerful and colorful that its endearing. And probably the only movie where you'll see an musical number including mariachi singers, a gospel choir and baywatch lifeguards all mixed together on the beach...lol.

(4) A WEDDING FOR BELLA

Ok, not really a foreign film, this 2001 movie is not Italian, it's Italian-American. But, it got such little distribution that it's as obscure and a foreign flick. Who'd have thought Scott Baio would grow up to be kind of hunky. I was never impressed during his teeny bopper days, but he's aged pretty well. This film, original titled "The Bread my Sweet", is surprisingly touching. He plays a fierce, rather cold hearted corporate raider, paid lots of money to fire people as new companies are acquired. He has two brothers, one a fun loving ladies man, the other a gentle giant, a pie baking genius with the mental age of a five year old. At night they bake all sorts of wonderful breads and sweets for their bakery. They also keep an eye on their elderly landlords, the grouchy Massimo and his saintly wife Bella. Her biggest wish is that Dominic (Baio) marry her absent daughter, Bella. It becomes her dying wish when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and Dominic sets out to fulfill that wish so that she can die happy. It's been compared to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", but I don't think that's an accurate or fair comparison. This is grittier
and a bit less calculated.

(3) DEAR FRANKIE

I'll say right up front that I love this 2004 British film! A lonely single mother, raising her son along the Scottish coast, has let a lie get away from her. Not wanting her son to know the real truth about his father, she has created a fictional, seafaring fantasy dad, one who sends regular letters from exotic ports of call. When the fictional ship turns out to be a real one that is due in port, she's faced with finding someone to play the role of the father. Sweet, gritty, warm and affectionate, I wish there were more films like this. And, can I just say that I prefer this pre-Hollywood Gerard Butler, to the tabloid fodder current version. And, Emily Mortimer is a favorite actress of mine, I loved her in "Lars and the Real Girl." I've found that out of all the foreign films I watch, I have the hardest time with Scottish accents, so feel no shame in using subtitles even though it's "English", lol.

* Emily Mortimer ..... Lizzie
* Gerard Butler ..... The Stranger

(2) MOSTLY MARTHA

A 2001 German film that tells the story of an uptight, control-freak, but, very talented chef. (Catherine Zeta-Jones starred in the Hollywood remake, called "No Reservations". Have I mentioned that I hate Hollywood retreads?) Her controlled, lonely, life is turned upside down by two events. Her young niece coming to live with her, and the hiring of an Italian chef at her restaurant. The story follows the sparks that result from the combination of cold ice princess and hot latin personalities. I have to admit that for much of this movie I was only charmed by half of the duo, but, then, that may have been the response the film makers intended, lol. Stick with this original, not the Wonder Bread Hollywood remake!

(1) ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS

A gem of a little Danish film, released in 2000, called "Italian for Beginners". I bought the DVD without any clue about what the movie was about, guessing from the cover art that it might be a slapstick comedy. It's actually a sweet, gentle, poignant little movie, filmed in the Danish Dogma style. I really loved it. Sparse on dialog, but, what is there is thoughtfully written. The characters will slowly win your heart.No big names in the cast, but, that makes the story all the more "real". [Ignore the Japanese subtitles in the trailer, I couldn't find a trailer with them in English, but, it gives you a feel for the cast.]

SUSPENSE (5)

2009-09-25T21:40:00.027-04:00

(3-5) THREE COLOURS TRILOGY

This trilogy of Polish movies are titled to reflect the colors of the French national flag, BLUE (1993), WHITE (1994) and RED (1994). Each one is very loosely inspired by one of the three political ideals of the French Republic's motto - Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. You'll also notice that the art director of each film wove that film's color throughout the movie, using a combination of lighting, props, costumes, scenery, etc. The stories are intense, moody, and well scripted. In each, characters struggling, with various levels of success, with major life changes, catastrophes, and unexpected relationships.

(2) THE LAUGHTER OF SEAGULLS

Ok, I'll be the first to admit that this 2001 Icelandic film only barely fits into the suspense catagory. But, to be fair, it doesn't fit any easier into any of the others. The mysterious Freyja returns to a small Icelandic town, after years away in the US. Now, apparently widowed, and determined to marry up in the town's society, strange happenings ensue as soon as she hits town. I spent most of the movie drooling over her wardrobe, and the soundtrack's pretty good, also.

(1) SMILLA'S SENSE OF SNOW

1997 thriller based on a Danish novel. Smilla, an expert on snow, becomes involved in the mystery surrounding a child falling off a rooftop. Plenty of intrigue and suspense, leading to an increasingly far-fetched, but entertaining explanation. Notable for its cast:

* Julia Ormond as Smilla Jasperson
* Gabriel Byrne as The Mechanic
* Richard Harris as Dr. Andreas Tork
* Jim Broadbent as Dr. Lagermann
* Tom Wilkinson as Prof. Loyen
* Robert Loggia as Moritz Jasperson
* Vanessa Redgrave as Elsa Lübing

DRAMA (20)

2009-09-25T21:39:00.022-04:00

(20) UNO

Gritty, honest 2004 Norwegian film about what happens when your responsibilities to your family clash with your responsibilities to your friends, which clash with your responsibilities to society, etc. Who are your true friends, and how much do you owe them? And, once you've gotten yourself deeply involved in a life of crime, can you ever go back?

(19) BEYOND SILENCE

Beautiful little 1996 German film, telling the story of Lara. Her parents are deaf, and she and her younger sister cross back and forth between their silent homelife, and the hearing world. Lara's aunt, a musician, give's her a clarinet one Christmas and it turns out Lara has a gift for music. Tension ensues as her parents feel that the music is taking their daughter away to a world they can't follow her into. Lara moves to Berlin, to live with her aunt and take music lessons. Heartbreak and joy follow as she experiences both traumas and romance.

(18) HONEY FOR OSHUN

Bittersweet 2001 Cuban film that gives a rare glimpse of everyday life in the country today. A man taken by his father to the United States as a small child, returns to the land of his birth to search for the mother he barely remembers. Reconnecting with relatives and thrown together with strangers, his search takes him out of urban Havana, and into the rural Cuban countryside.

(17) RABBIT PROOF FENCE

This 2002 Australian film is all the more heartbreaking because it is true. In the 1930's, Aboriginal children are forcibly taken from their families and put in state run schools, to "civilize" them. Three little girls escape from one of the schools and lead their pursuers on a nine-week, 1,500 mile trek. Be sure to watch the info at the end and in the extras on the dvd, as it shows the real characters the story is based on, elderly women by this time, and also how young Aboriginal children were cast in the film.

(16) SWEET SIXTEEN

Released in 2002, this is another Scottish film by director Ken Loach. Beautifully made, and achingly sad, it tells the story of Liam. Soon to be sixteen, he working toward, and happily anticipating his mother's upcoming release from prison. But, the movie asks, how much should you sacrifice for your dream, and what if the best gift you can think to give someone isn't something they want. Again, be forewarned, strong accents, so subtitles may be in order.

(15)MY NAME IS JOE

A 1998 Scottish film by one of my favorite directors, Ken Loach. The title refers to the fact that Joe, the lead character is a recovering alcoholic. This gritty, realistic film, features a sweet romance, poverty, and drug centered violence, all heart-breaking in their own ways. Filmed in the slums of Glasgow, the accents are very strong, and it may be helpful, at least at first, to take advantage of the subtitles. A movie that sticks in your head for days afterward, as you rehash the storyline in your mind.

(14) LAGAAN

This 2001 Indian film could easily have gone in several catagories...drama, romance, musical... Based on a true story, it's set in the days of the Raj, when during a drought, villagers except a bet with the British rulers. If they can win a cricket game, their yearly tax (lagaan) will be suspended for three years. If they lose, it will be tripled. Most of the villagers have never seen or played the game before. One of those sweeping epics that is made far too rarely these days. Its long, but worth it.

(13) INDOCHINE

It was a hard call, whether to put this 1992 French film in the "romance" or "drama" category, but, ultimately its sweeping style and scope make it so much more than just a romance. Set in French colonial Vietnam, the story of Eliane, wealthy French owner of a rubber plantation; Camille, her adopted Vietnamese daughter; and Jean-Baptiste, the French naval officer they both love, is swept along by the upheaval and turmoil of revolution and war. This is the kind of huge blockbuster that is rarely made anymore. Not a warm fuzzy feel good movie, but one of my favorites, story telling at its best.

(12) SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

This 2008 British film deserves its blockbuster status. Colorful, heart-wrenching, funny, romantic and suspenseful, it defines "feel good". Jamal, who grew up in the utter poverty of Mumbai's slums, is a contestant on the Indian version of "Do You Want to be a Millionaire?" Amazingly, he keeps answering correctly, moving closer and closer to the elusive monetary prize, and riveting the attention of the country. But, the night before the final episode, he's arrested on the premise that a poor slum boy could never answer so many questions correctly without cheating. Throughout the night, as he is questioned roughly by police, we learn how each chapter of his life prepared him for the questions on the game show.

(11) LADIES IN LAVENDER

Starring Judith Dench and Maggie Smith, this 2004 British film also features Charles Dance (who also wrote the screenplay). And the male lead was the young actor from another favorite of mine, "Goodbye Lenin". This is a great film, a little bit sad and wistful, a little bit funny, and shot in drop dead gorgeous countryside in Cornwall. It's the story of two older sisters living on the coast who find a young foreign musician washed up on the beach one morning. They take him in, and that changes everything. The actress who plays their housekeeper almost steals the show, it's worth it almost just to watch her scenes.

* Judi Dench as Ursula
* Maggie Smith as Janet
* Daniel Brühl as Andrea
* Natascha McElhone as. Olga
* Miriam Margolyes as Dorcas

(10) NOBODY KNOWS

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE foreign films. But even I am left scratching my head sometimes at a gap between languages...lol. This 2004 Japanese film is based on a true case of four young children abandoned by their mother, and left to fend for themselves. The acting was great and the attention to little details beautiful, although the story was sad and finally disturbing. But what got my attention was the subtitles at the end. As two characters sat and walked quietly, contemplating a pivotal incident in the story, a soloist sang what I'm sure was, in the original language, a moving, evocative song. But after being translated into English, it came out like this:

"When I ask the midnight sky
the stars just shine into
the black lake of my molten heart

I can only flow

Will the angel ever give me a backward glance?

Want to splash around in my heart?

The winds of the coming winter lap
at the waves
calling me into the dark
with eyes as wilted as ice

I'm growing up
a jewel with a pungent stench
that brooks no one's approach"

I had a lot of hope for this film, but, the end was VERY disturbing.

(9) THE CHORUS

A musician and an old school mate get together for the first time in 50 years, in this 2004 French film, and take a look at the journal of the teacher who changed their lives when they were children. Set just after the end of WWII, a man who has been a failure at everything he has attempted takes the only job he can find, that of a teacher at a Dickensian school for young boys with behavioral problems. Appalled by the conditions his students are dealing with and at a loss as to how to deal with their sullen attitudes, he decides in desperation to try to form the boys into a choir. A great, feel-good movie. The music is gorgeous, too.

(7/8) ONCE WERE WARRIORS/WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED?

It is no exaggeration to say that "Once Were Warriors", a 1994 film from New Zealand is one of the most powerful movies I've ever seen. This gut-wrenching film explores the effects of alcohol, poverty and violence on an urban Maori family. It literally takes your breath away at points, and you won't soon forget it. Not for the faint of heart, but, such an achingly important message about how families can destroy those they love the most. This is considered one of the all time great movies from this market. Great soundtrack, also.

Thanks to Gavin for letting me know that a sequel, "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?", was released in 1999. Although good, it is no where near the quality of the first movie, and it seems that the critical acclaim of "Once Were Warriors" led producers to amp the sequel up with more Hollywood-like, less realistic violence and subplots. It is an interesting look into the New Zealand gang culture, and despite being a bit of a disappointment compared to its predecessor, it does have some moving parts. I was touched by the relationship between the fresh out of jail, lifetime gang member, and a local single mother, but, it was a relationship tinged with sadness and doom.

The lead actors, while not well known in Hollywood circles, are acting royalty in New Zealand.

* Beth Heke - Rena Owen
* Jake "the Muss" Heke - Temuera Morrison

(6) PAPER CLIPS

Ok, this isn't really a foreign film, but, this is my blog, so I can break the rules if I want to. EVERYONE, AND I MEAN EVERYONE, SHOULD SEE THIS DOCUMENTARY. Released in 2004, it is at turns heartbreaking and joyous. Watch the trailer, it will explain it all.

(5) HULA GIRLS

Great 2006 Japanese film, based on a true story, think Jamaican bobsled movie crossed with Japanese hula dancers. When the mines start closing in a cold, remote part of Japan, the desperate management is faced with laying off their workers. They come up with a wild, improbable plan....recreate Hawaii in this cold, desolate location, and turn it into a must see tourist destination. They hire a famed dance teacher to take a group of miner's daughters and turn them into believable hula dancers by opening day. Let me interject here that I know a bit about hula. I lived in Hawaii as a child, my neighbor was a hula champion, and we spent a lot of time at the old International Market Place watching the evening hula shows. What is just as incredible to me as the true story this is based on, is the fact that the original teacher for the resort took the cast of this movie and in a short amount of time whipped them into incredible dancers. I could watch the dances sequences over and over. A definite feel good movie!

(4) AFTER THE WEDDING

You learn things about yourself when you start watching movies from around the world. One thing I've discovered is that I have a fondness for Scandinavian, especially Danish, films. I have no idea why, but over and over, they end up being favorites. This 2006 film follows Jacob, who after a wild, hippyesque youth, has settled in India, benefactor of an orphanage. He considers these children his, especially one boy he has really bonded with. He grudgingly returns to Denmark for a short visit, when a potential financial donor will not agree to make a contribution unless they talk in person. He is slowly drawn into the family life of this rich man, at first for no apparent reason, but, then, for what turn out to be shockingly personal ones. A well crafted movie that explores the role of family, who we are responsible for, and how much control we ultimately have over the course our lives take.

(3) JESUS OF MONTREAL

1989 French (Quebec) film that follows an actor and his colleagues as they take part in a Passion play hosted by a local church. They shake things up by straying from the traditonal, "safe", version of the story, and upset the status quo by showing a more realistic, violent version. The lead actor's life mirrors the life of Christ during the run of the play. A film that will bore some, offend others, and isn't easily tied up in a neat package at the end. Although I find parts of it greater than its whole, it has been a movie that stayed with me ever since I first saw it in the '80's. Not a light, or easy film to watch, and don't watch it if you are easily offended by different attitudes toward Christianity.

(2) THE SEA INSIDE

2004 Spanish movie based on the true story of Ramon Sampedro, who was paralyzed in a diving accident, and spent 28 years fighting for the right to end his life. Javier Bardem gives a riveting performance as the film explores not just his legal battles, but, the life he lost, the life he built out of what was left, and the effect he had on those around him, and them on him. An incredibly moving, poignant film, regardless of your views on his intentions. This is a movie that will stay with you for quite awhile.

(1) IN AMERICA

2002 Irish release, following the Sullivan family as they settle in New York City after leaving their native Ireland. Lovingly detailed characters, dealing with a loss they are trying to move on from, and the joy and adventure of a new world. I think this was the first movie I saw Djimon Hounsou in. You'll come to care about the family and their neighbors. Great film and nice to see a NYC movie not set in Manhattan.

* Paddy Considine ..... Johnny
* Samantha Morton ..... Sarah
* Sarah Bolger ..... Christy
* Emma Bolger ..... Ariel
* Djimon Hounsou ..... Mateo

COMEDY (12)

2009-09-25T21:37:00.013-04:00

DANNY DECKCHAIR (12)

Danny Deckchair - Theatrical Trailer | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

This 2004 Australian comedy tells the story of Danny, a bored, unhappy cement truck driver and construction worker in the big city. His ambitious girlfriend thinks he's a loser, and his friends mock his wild ideas. At a bbq one day, he tries a new idea...blowing up lots of balloons with helium and tying them to his deckchair. To everyone's amazement, including his own, he sails off over the city and disappears. While a massive search is launched to find him, he lands in a small rural community, where he's judged from a different perspective. His imagination is seen as constructive, his sudden appearance makes him mysterious, and he soon becomes a popular and romantic figure about town. Stars Rhys Ifans as Danny.

(11) KITCHEN STORIES

Charming little 2003 Norwegian film about a fictional Swedish experiment to study the efficiency of Norwegian men in the kitchen. Each observer is to sit quietly in a subject's kitchen, watching, but, not interacting. Initial distrust gives way to a sweet friendship. Yeah, it doesn't sound like the makings of a great movie, but, it really won me over.

(10) THE DISH

Great 2000 Australian movie, based on a true (kind of) story. The year is 1969 and the Apollo 11 mission is getting ready to launch. A satellite station in Australia is needed to help relay the video signals for the moon mission. Parkes Observatory is chosen, sending the little town into a flurry of excitement. But, what happens when a technical glitch threatens to scuttle their part in history? That's what the film is about. An added treat for me is that some of my favorite Aussie TV actors have roles in it. Great film!

* Sam Neill
* Kevin Harrington
* Tom Long
* Patrick Warburton

(9) LA CHEVRE

Yup, this 1981 French movie's title translates to "The Goat" (and was made into a horrible Hollywood remake called "Pure Luck", starring Martin Short.) The first pairing of Pierre Richard and Gérard Depardieu (and back when Richard got top billing.) The premise of the story is that a rich businessman's daughter has been kidnapped. Since she is known to be a magnet for bad luck, a plot is devised to find another person (Richard) who's got equally bad luck, and then have a private detective (Depardieu) accompany him as they search for the girl in South America. The plot is less important to the film than the chemistry between the two leads, and Richard's knack for physical comedy.

(8) LES COMPERES

1983 French cult classic (regrettably remade by Hollywood as "Father's Day"), this slapstick comedy stars Gérard Depardieu and Pierre Richard. They teamed up for several projects, always playing the same characters...Depardieu's tough and street smart, and Richard eternally clueless and bumbling. In this movie, a teenage boy runs away from home, leaving his mother desperate to find him. His father is long gone, so she tracks down two ex-boyfriends, and tells them that one of them is her son's father. In order to find out which one, they'll have to help her find him. The search begins, with Richard getting into one improbable crisis after another, and Depardieu saving the day. If you watch this movie in the right frame of mind, it is breathtakingly hilarious. My sister and I especially love the crying scenes. Funny comedy, but hard to track down.

(7)BREAD AND TULIPS

Charming 2000 Italian comedy, with romantic subplots. Rosalba is a housewife who is taken for granted by her family. When they drive off and leave her at a rest stop while on vacation, it's the last straw. She impulsively hitchhikes to Venice, where her adventure begins. It involves a depressed, but, charming waiter; a holistic massage therapist; a grumpy florist; and a bumbling plumber who aspires to be a private detective. I loved the small glimpses of the every day Venice, off the tourist paths.

(6) THE VISITORS

Hmmm, this 1993 French film is one of those slapstick comedies that is probably funnier the later it is at night when you watch it. A knight and his vassal are transported from 1123 to present day France, and culture shock ensues. This was the highest grossing film in France the year it was released. I find that a little of this goes a long way for me, but, I've always imagined that my 15 yr old godson would love it, if he actually watched foreign films, lol.

(5) SAVING GRACE

One of my all time favorite films. This 2000 British movie tells the story of Grace. Her comfortable, genteel life is thrown into disarray when her husband dies, and she discovers he had lost all of their money. Her one great talent, gardening, leads her to a money-making opportunity when she is asked to nurse a sick plant....a marijuana plant, back to health. Before Craig Ferguson was a late night TV host he was an actor, and in this movie he teams up with Grace to salvage her finances and keep her home from foreclosure. Hilarious film.

* Brenda Blethyn
* Craig Ferguson

(4) MURIEL'S WEDDING

1994 Australian hit that opened doors for Toni Collette. I love this film. At turns funny, romantic, and poignant, it tells the story of Muriel, a day dreaming outsider in Porpoise Spit, Australia. She lives in a fantasy world, obsessed with the music of ABBA, and desperate for her dream wedding. A move to the big city widens her horizons and starts teaching her the difference between her ideal fantasies and real life. Great soundtrack!

* Toni Collette ..... Muriel Heslop
* Rachel Griffiths ..... Rhonda Epinstalk
* Bill Hunter ..... Bill Heslop

(3) MILLIONS

This sweet 2004 British film tells the story of 7 year old Damian, who has just lost his mother. After moving to a new house with his dad and brother, he finds a fortune in cash that has literally dropped from the sky. The movies explores different attitudes toward money, responsibility to others, and how people, especially children, deal with loss. There's also romance, and a bit of suspense as the money's last owner races to get it back. Now that he believes his mum is in Heaven, Damian is also obsessed with some of the people she may be meeting up there, specifically Catholic saints. Several of his favorite saints show up in the movie, giving him advice as he finds his way. A sometimes fantastical, very sweet and charming movie.

(2) DEATH AT A FUNERAL

Your reaction to this 2007 British film will depend greatly on your sense of humor. My mother would not find it amusing, in fact she'd find a lot of the jokes inappropriate. I loved it, lol. The plot centers around family and friends gathering for a funeral, unexpected guests, family secrets, accidental consumption of mind altering drugs, and romance. If this is your kind of humor, it will have you doubled over in laughter. It's also remarkably sweet. I regret the fact that the trailer tips you off to so many of the best bits. If you can, try to only watch it halfway...enough to get a taste, but not enough to ruin so much of it for you.

* Matthew Macfadyen ..... Daniel
* Rupert Graves ..... Robert
* Peter Dinklage ..... Peter
* Alan Tudyk ..... Simon
* Daisy Donovan ..... Martha
* Kris Marshall ..... Troy
* Ewen Bremner ..... Justin
* Peter Vaughan ..... Uncle Alfie
* Andy Nyman ..... Howard
* Jane Asher ..... Sandra

(1) GOOD BYE, LENIN!

This 2003 German film is, hands down, one of my all time favorite movies! Just before the Berlin Wall comes down, Alex's mother has a heart attack and goes into a coma. She is unconscious during all the months of reunification. When she awakens, the doctors tell Alex that she cannot survive a second heart attack. Knowing that she won't be able to handle the dismantling of the world she knew, he brings her home and recreates Cold War era Berlin in her bedroom. His attempts to keep up the fabrication get more and more desperate, requiring him to track down discontinued products, convince friends and family to give up prized consumer goods, and even create his own TV newscasts to explain her frequent questions about changes she notices. Fantastic movie!