I forgot to update, again. Sorry, October. Expect an update this week, as I will be watching Matthew Leutwyler's newest film, The River Why.
Feel free to follow me @monkeytailor on Twitter for more timely film thoughts.
06 November, 2011
28 September, 2011
Vroom, vroom
Going for a third viewing of Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive." I'll post my thoughts on it and a few other films this week.
21 September, 2011
"Drive Time"
I'm watching a trio of films (Drive, Warrior and Straw Dogs) in theater today. I'll post my thoughts on them later this week. For now, follow my tweets about the films all day @monkeytailor.
03 September, 2011
Prizefighter
This time, another film I'm looking forward to seeing. Also, I ramble a bit about filmic excitement. Enjoy.
Kim Ki-duk's Amen
Just after having his (then) newest film, Arirang, released, Kim Ki-duk has another new film touring the festival circuit. The synposis for said film, Amen, is as follows: "the bizarre, disturbing journey of a young Korean girl who comes to Europe to search for someone she has to follow to Venice and Avignon. A mysterious character who hides behind a gas mask follows her everywhere and harasses her all the time." It reads like an interesting film, and knowing Kim's previous works, I'm sure it will be intriguing, if nothing else.
Releasing another film hot on the trail of his documentary, Arirang, means Kim is a busy man. Such an incredible director being back at work with a quick succession of films following a self-imposed exile from the world of cinema is exciting.
When I look at this year's releases, with two films (Arirang, Amen) from Kim, a new film (The Day He Arrives) from Hong Sangsoo and a second (untitled) in production, two films (The River Why, Answers to Nothing) being released by Director Matthew Leutwyler, and a bevy of films from many other top directors, I can't help but feel extremely excited. This year and 2012 may be the best years for quality films in...ever.
Kim Ki-duk's Filmography:
Crocodile
Wild Animals
Birdcage Inn
The Isle
Real Fiction
Address Unknown
Bad Guy
The Coast Guard
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring
Samaritan Girl
3-iron
The Bow
Time
Breath
Dream
Arirang
Amen
Kim Ki-duk's Amen
Just after having his (then) newest film, Arirang, released, Kim Ki-duk has another new film touring the festival circuit. The synposis for said film, Amen, is as follows: "the bizarre, disturbing journey of a young Korean girl who comes to Europe to search for someone she has to follow to Venice and Avignon. A mysterious character who hides behind a gas mask follows her everywhere and harasses her all the time." It reads like an interesting film, and knowing Kim's previous works, I'm sure it will be intriguing, if nothing else.
Releasing another film hot on the trail of his documentary, Arirang, means Kim is a busy man. Such an incredible director being back at work with a quick succession of films following a self-imposed exile from the world of cinema is exciting.
When I look at this year's releases, with two films (Arirang, Amen) from Kim, a new film (The Day He Arrives) from Hong Sangsoo and a second (untitled) in production, two films (The River Why, Answers to Nothing) being released by Director Matthew Leutwyler, and a bevy of films from many other top directors, I can't help but feel extremely excited. This year and 2012 may be the best years for quality films in...ever.
Kim Ki-duk's Filmography:
Crocodile
Wild Animals
Birdcage Inn
The Isle
Real Fiction
Address Unknown
Bad Guy
The Coast Guard
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring
Samaritan Girl
3-iron
The Bow
Time
Breath
Dream
Arirang
Amen
26 August, 2011
Let the Bullets Fly
As promised, my thoughts on Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly. Enjoy.
Let the Bullets Fly
Directed by Jiang Wen, starring Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, Ge You and Carina Lau.
As a conman (Ge) and his wife (Lau) travel through the countryside, they are attacked by a wanted man (Jiang) and his group of bandits. To save their lives, the couple makes a deal with the bandit leader to allow him in on their next con: pretending to be governor and governess of an affluent town. The bandit agrees to the proposal, provided he plays governor.
Once they arrive at (the supposedly ripe for the taking) Goose Town, they run into a couple of problems. Firstly, most of the town is poor; secondly, the reason for their financial state is local Godfather Huang (Chow). The bandits must play an intricate game of intrigue with Huang and his men in order to secure their goal.
Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly is an Eastern Western. Like an good Western, there is plenty of gunplay, as well as pretty clear cut good and bad guys. For anyone that knows anything about Hong Kong or Chinese cinema, it goes without saying that the acting is excellent. For those that don't know about either of those cinemas, the acting is excellent. So, too, is the direction.
Jiang's film is a great blend of action and comedy, as well as hidden meanings within nearly every line and act that unfolds onscreen. Whether it be a comment on society, his home country, cinema or something else is up for interpretation; however, the underlying meanings never weigh the film down. For discerning film fans, there is plenty to engage, and, for the casual film goer, it's a really exciting film.
So, in case it isn't already obvious, Let the Bullets Fly is something I highly recommend.
Let the Bullets Fly
Directed by Jiang Wen, starring Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, Ge You and Carina Lau.
As a conman (Ge) and his wife (Lau) travel through the countryside, they are attacked by a wanted man (Jiang) and his group of bandits. To save their lives, the couple makes a deal with the bandit leader to allow him in on their next con: pretending to be governor and governess of an affluent town. The bandit agrees to the proposal, provided he plays governor.
Once they arrive at (the supposedly ripe for the taking) Goose Town, they run into a couple of problems. Firstly, most of the town is poor; secondly, the reason for their financial state is local Godfather Huang (Chow). The bandits must play an intricate game of intrigue with Huang and his men in order to secure their goal.
Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly is an Eastern Western. Like an good Western, there is plenty of gunplay, as well as pretty clear cut good and bad guys. For anyone that knows anything about Hong Kong or Chinese cinema, it goes without saying that the acting is excellent. For those that don't know about either of those cinemas, the acting is excellent. So, too, is the direction.
Jiang's film is a great blend of action and comedy, as well as hidden meanings within nearly every line and act that unfolds onscreen. Whether it be a comment on society, his home country, cinema or something else is up for interpretation; however, the underlying meanings never weigh the film down. For discerning film fans, there is plenty to engage, and, for the casual film goer, it's a really exciting film.
So, in case it isn't already obvious, Let the Bullets Fly is something I highly recommend.
25 August, 2011
Something to Look Forward To-night
This time it is an abbreviated post about a film I'm looking forward to seeing. The film: Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly. I actually have this film sitting at home and will be watching it tonight, so check back for my thoughts on it sometime tomorrow.
Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly
Starring Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, Ge You and Carina Lau.
The newest film from "Sixth Generation" Chinese Director Jiang Wen is an action-comedy. As if the fact that Jiang directed it isn't enough, Let the Bullets Fly stars Jiang, as well as heavyweights from Hong Kong in Chow Yun-fat and Carina Lau, and from China, Ge You. With a talented cast and a top notch director, Let the Bullets Fly is something to be excited about sight-unseen.
Jiang Wen's Filmography:
In the Heat of the Sun
Devils on the Doorstep
The Sun Also Rises
Let the Bullets Fly
Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly
Starring Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, Ge You and Carina Lau.
The newest film from "Sixth Generation" Chinese Director Jiang Wen is an action-comedy. As if the fact that Jiang directed it isn't enough, Let the Bullets Fly stars Jiang, as well as heavyweights from Hong Kong in Chow Yun-fat and Carina Lau, and from China, Ge You. With a talented cast and a top notch director, Let the Bullets Fly is something to be excited about sight-unseen.
Jiang Wen's Filmography:
In the Heat of the Sun
Devils on the Doorstep
The Sun Also Rises
Let the Bullets Fly
23 August, 2011
What's What
Here is another post about films I'm looking forward to seeing. This time it's two films from the same person, American Director Matthew Leutwyler. The films: The River Why and Answers to Nothing.
Back in October of 2008 I wrote my first post about films I look forward to seeing. One of those films was The River Why. Here's what I posted:
"The River Why
Directed by Matthew Leutwyler (Road Kill, This Space Between Us, Dead & Breakfast, Unearthed), starring people.
What it is:
The latest film from Matthew Leutwyler, based on the acclaimed novel The River Why.
Why I'm excited:
Matthew Leutwyler is one of my favorite directors, and directed one of my favorite films, This Space Between Us. Since making that film, he went on to make the excellent horror comedy Dead & Breakfast, and the less than spectacular horror flick Unearthed. I've been waiting for Leutwyler to return to the director chair with an intelligent, thoughtful film for years. While Leutwyler is an incredibly gifted filmmaker that has created two brilliant films, I think the best of his work has yet to be made, and I believe that he has the ability to become one of the greatest directors of our time."
----Back in 0'11, it hasn't seen anything beyond festivals and a very limited theatrical release. The film stars Zach Gilford, Amber Heard, Kathleen Quinlan and William Hurt. I've been waiting, rather impatiently, to see those actors in The River Why for nearly three years. Finally, the wait is nearly over. On November 8TH of this year, it will be released on Blu-ray and DVD. For me, November 8TH can't come soon enough.
That brings us to the second Matthew Leutwyler film of 2011, Answers to Nothing. As luck would have it, Answers to Nothing will reportedly see a nationwide theatrical released on December 2ND, less than a month after The River Why comes out on home video. The film is about the intertwining of lives during a search for a missing child. Answers to Nothing stars Dane Cook, Elizabeth Mitchell, Julie Benz, Barbara Hershey, Zach Gilford, Erik Palladino, Kali Hawk and Miranda Bailey. Needless to say, I'm excited about the last two months of this year.
Matthew Leutwyler's Filmography:
Road Kill
This Space Between Us
Dead & Breakfast
Unleashed
The River Why
Answers to Nothing
Back in October of 2008 I wrote my first post about films I look forward to seeing. One of those films was The River Why. Here's what I posted:
"The River Why
Directed by Matthew Leutwyler (Road Kill, This Space Between Us, Dead & Breakfast, Unearthed), starring people.
What it is:
The latest film from Matthew Leutwyler, based on the acclaimed novel The River Why.
Why I'm excited:
Matthew Leutwyler is one of my favorite directors, and directed one of my favorite films, This Space Between Us. Since making that film, he went on to make the excellent horror comedy Dead & Breakfast, and the less than spectacular horror flick Unearthed. I've been waiting for Leutwyler to return to the director chair with an intelligent, thoughtful film for years. While Leutwyler is an incredibly gifted filmmaker that has created two brilliant films, I think the best of his work has yet to be made, and I believe that he has the ability to become one of the greatest directors of our time."
----Back in 0'11, it hasn't seen anything beyond festivals and a very limited theatrical release. The film stars Zach Gilford, Amber Heard, Kathleen Quinlan and William Hurt. I've been waiting, rather impatiently, to see those actors in The River Why for nearly three years. Finally, the wait is nearly over. On November 8TH of this year, it will be released on Blu-ray and DVD. For me, November 8TH can't come soon enough.
That brings us to the second Matthew Leutwyler film of 2011, Answers to Nothing. As luck would have it, Answers to Nothing will reportedly see a nationwide theatrical released on December 2ND, less than a month after The River Why comes out on home video. The film is about the intertwining of lives during a search for a missing child. Answers to Nothing stars Dane Cook, Elizabeth Mitchell, Julie Benz, Barbara Hershey, Zach Gilford, Erik Palladino, Kali Hawk and Miranda Bailey. Needless to say, I'm excited about the last two months of this year.
Matthew Leutwyler's Filmography:
Road Kill
This Space Between Us
Dead & Breakfast
Unleashed
The River Why
Answers to Nothing
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