The Band's Visit

The Band’s Visit (Eran Kolirin, Israel, 2007) ★★★★

As the word cards at the beginning of the film, Once-not long ago-a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this. This film is meant to let more people know this very simple, but very socially inspiring story. It not only erases the line religions put on for humans but also even adds some warmth of mutual comforting under the undeniable fact that human beings are all lonely individuals.

The Egyptian band that weren’t emphasized got to an unknown town in the margin area in Israel by accident. The band leader, Tawfig, who deals with things extremely cautious, had to accept the suggestion by the member, Haled, who got them into this situation in the first place which makes Tawfig despites him even more, and stay over for the night in the houses of the welcoming restaurant hostess and the other 2 residents. But it accidentally became an opportunity for him to open the lonely heart after hidden for years.

Israel, like Romania, produced many excellent films in these couple of years, is acclaimed with this film this year internationally. Besides the FIPRESCI Prize in Un Certain Regard category at Cannes, it also won the best picture at this annual’s Tokyo Film Festival. The insightful observation on humanity by Kolirin is very similar to the humor of passion beneath the cold tone by Aki Kaurismäki. And it has a bit more touching that fills everywhere.

Recently becoming the best actor winner at the European Film Award, Sasson Gabai made this role natural and unforgettable. Every move that seems without any notice gives the film many extra credits. Haled who seems irritating at the beginning were portrayed lovely by Saleh Bakri. He makes people like this character from the bottom of their heart. Ronit Elkabetz, who played the restaurant hostess, gave the passion and sorrow the role should have.

Excepting the people of Israel and Egypt, who are against each other because of the different religions since ever, had understand mutually through this one short day and crossed the boundary that was difficult to obey, the nature that human beings are hard to communicate were even got rid of the coldness of solitude because of the temporary mutual connections. Not many remember this story, because it wasn’t that important, but actually it’s the most important story that let us know we can be less lonely to live in this world.

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Cristian Mungiu, Romania, 2007) ★★★★

Constantly winning after won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year, this movie is also the big hit for Foreign Film Award at the upcoming Oscar. Although this is only Mungiu’s second film, it has revealed his amazing filmmaking skills. Just like what he mentioned at the QA after the screening, the most important thing is to keep the simplicity of a film, and this one does have this supremacy of being both simple and massively intense.

In a diminishing communist society that was gradually being capitalized, the thoughts of people were getting more and more open, sex was not the behavior only under marriages, especially to the university students who enjoyed this liberation. But as condoms were still illegal to have, only women had to take this risk while breaking the taboo.

Gabita, a female university student who faced the difficult situation of being pregnant, could only ask her best classmate and roommate, Otilia, for help. Being deeply loyal to her friend, Otilia said yes without any doubt and promised Gabita to get in touch with the private doctor on her behalf, and she also stepped into this event which she shouldn’t have been involved and affected her entire life. The timeline is only half a day, but also because of this, the film appears much more intense. It makes the audience follow the incidents the leading role faces closely and also leaves them limitless thoughts in the end.

The performance of Anamaria Marinca, who played the role Otilia, is absolutely incredible. She dealt with the psychological states of the role exquisitely. Vlad Ivanov, who played the private doctor, is very important to the film though he didn’t show up very long in it, and he was even selected as the best supporting actor of the year by L.A. Film Critics Association.

Not only this film is not out of date totally to see nowadays, but also it can be a very interesting contrast to the films about women gets pregnant by accident in the modern society, such as the widely acclaimed film this year “Juno.” The so-called “New Wave” for Romania film industry by the film society has reached a top point with this work.

Hairspray

Hairspray (Adam Shankman, US, 2007) ★★★★

The 60s, a time which is unfamiliar for many youngsters nowadays, but the passions and dreams for the future of the youngsters then could be far more than those in the present. Set in Baltimore, this big Broadway musical hit which won 8 Tony awards, including Best Musical, is brought to the big screen finally. Originally based on the movie written and directed by John Waters in 1988, which is a satire, the musical was made warmer and brighter to the stage by the composer Marc Shaiman, lyric writer Scott Wittman and book writer Mark O’Donnell.

It’s a time when people in the U.S. still have courtesies and emphasizes on their appearances. This sets an interesting basic tone for the story. When Tracy Turnblad wakes up in the morning everyday, she dresses up big and puffy, even the same to her hair. Despite being a big girl, she is full of confidence and always dreams to be a dancer in the famous TV show. The courage of daring to dream still can be seen through some TV shows like American Idol or Project Runway in the present, but it’s definitely way different to it in the 60s. By the time when Kennedy was the president, everyone dreams of, not just becoming a star, but also a better future. Tracy takes the chance to give the audition a shot, despite of turning down and being humiliated by the producer, Velma Von Tussle, who must be a German descendent by the name and full of discrimination, her daughter Amber is one of the spotlights in the show, the host Corny Collins sees the sparkle in her and decides to hire her.

The religion and family must be also two of the things that were satirized in the original movie. Tracy’s best friend, Penny Pingleton, has a Bible-bashing mother who forbids her all the time. But later she turns out falling in love with a black classmate, Seaweed, and finds what she wants and believes eventually. In Turnblad family, Edna worries that her baby girl might get hurt by her appearance, so she protects her just like any other parents at the time or nowadays. But she could never possibly dream of that Tracy gets to fulfill her dream to be on TV, and that encourages her to do things she would never dare to do. Women started to find their other ways besides just being a housewife at the time. It can be seen through the two main mom characters. And husband stopped to fool around and was behaved like Edna’s husband, Wilbur, who’s unmoved by the capitation of Velma.

It was also a time of Martin Luther King, Jr., his devotion to the American Civil Rights Movement touched many people that stood up for being treated unfairly. One of the hosts of the TV show, the black singer Maybelle, reflects the black people started to get valued. Although Tracy got the chance uneasily, when she hears they removed the schedule for Maybelle, despite she could lose the dream and the lover boy she’s madly in love with, Link Larin, the hottest singer of the show once for all. She’s still willing to do the right thing and join the illegal protest parade. The sense of justice transpires by the characters gradually, and their sincere devotion reminds us that we exactly lack of this kind of courage and decency in the modern society. And the discriminations that should have been wiped out a long time ago still exist.

No one could ever imagined that this is from the same guy who directed the cheesy floppy movies such as “The Wedding Planner” and “Bringing Down the House,” Adam Shankman finally did something right, but very few would know that he has also been the choreographer for tons of movies, so there's nothing else easier for him to do than a musical. Thanks to this movie, a bunch of out-of-date big stars came back from the dead. John Travolta is stunning by cross-casting as Edna. Michelle Pfeiffer delivers her best performance as a tricky woman in a very long time. Queen Latifah is as incredible as usual. Christopher Walken is hilarious in the role to co-act with Travolta. They are one of the coolest screen-duos this year. Amanda Byrnes, James Marsdan, Brittany Snow, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney and Zac Efron, who shined as well in Disney’s “High School Musical,” ensemble as a great cast. And of course, Nicky Blonsky, who got chosen for the leading role Tracy, stared wonderfully throughout the entire movie.

It’s a delightful musical that makes you retrospect if you have lived through the time and makes you kindle the eager spirit in your heart if you missed the time. “Hairspray” is not only a story full of energy but also has the messages, despite that some are harmless political incorrect, of hope and love. If you dare to chase your dream, then you already succeed.

3:10 to Yuma

3:10 to Yuma (James Mangold, US, 2007) ★★★★

Based on the short story by Elmore Leonard, whose many novels have been adapted to the big screen, is a quality guarantee. What different is that, instead of gangster, it’s a western story and even a remake this time. But there always are the good guy who is trapped in a difficult situation and the bad guy with a soul.

Dan Evans is a descent guy who follows the law and tries his best to take care of his family. But the debt that he owes to the railroad company put them in a danger which treats their living. Ben Wade is a notorious outlaw who robs and kills. His partners, especially his first mate Charlie Prince, are all very loyal to him. His only weakness is that he simply can’t resist beautiful women. The reasons brought these two guys together and make their fate bound ever since.

The tradition of the western stories is that there’s always a contrast between a good guy and a bad guy. This one is no exception. But besides the contrast, there’s also the similarity of both of them. When Evans decides to set on a journey for the task, he realizes it’s not just about surviving. Furthermore, it’s about dignity which will make his son proud of him eventually. Wade sees this side of him and finds a father figure that he has never had one.

The characters in Leonard’s stories are not really just good or bad. The government, the sheriff or the marshal, all do things upon their own benefits or discriminations. On the other hand, the outlaw stands out for the people being treated unfairly and cherishes heroes at the troubled time. A man can lose his faith easily when being a former loyal officer to his country but is treated badly by the country itself, or when being a child who finds that not even his parents have faith. The concept of father and son is an important part in the story as well. Evans’ older son William has the bravery of a youngster. So when he sees his father acts like a coward, it’s difficult for him to find a father figure in him. But there’s still the love for his father by following him through the journey.

Set in the time of Civil War, some of the social phenomenon is presented. The serious hatred between Caucasians and non-Caucasians is first reflected by the Apache shooter in Wade’s gang and followed by the under siege of Apache people when they pass through their territory. Another group of people that was created by the time is trainband. They took actions on their own and made a fortune by the slavery of the Chinese immigrants. Of course, there were also mobs everywhere. It shows the people at the period were whether trying to live or trying to make more money. And that emphasizes the unique of both of the main characters.

Justice prevails only through a person who does it with reasonable purposes. Evans takes the task to protect his family and to prove his bravery. Wade robs the money for showing his bitter to the government and the society. Every person has a standard of doing the right thing in their own heart. But God will show the ultimate standard in the end. The words come from Wade is not because that he’s a faithful man, but because that he believes in only what he truly believes.

James Mangold did an excellent job as a director for this movie and shows his love for the genre and the original movie. As a modern western movie, it rebuilds the mode the old-fashioned western classics were and is made more breathtaking by the advanced techniques. Talking about the elements of a great movie, descent performances are indispensable. Both Russell Crowe and Christian Bale put their quality efforts in the roles. Peter Fonda, Ben Foster and the entire cast formed a cast beyond average.

Heroes for heroes, Wade sees a perfect type of man who is willing to sacrifice for his family which he will never be able to achieve in Evans, and Evans and his son see a man who stands out for everyone at desperate times which they might have never done before. Evan’s Medal of Honor is and always will be an important symbol to his son, but the most memorable reason of it will always be known only by the deeply infected man, Wade.

Children of Men

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Children of Men (Alfonso Cuarón, UK/US, 2006) ★★★★

Around 20 years later from now, humans have faced a desperate situation of unable to breed. So every country collapses one after another, people already have no hope for the future. England, which is the only one keeps order, holds a policy of totally isolating the illegal immigrants. Some of them couldn’t do anything about it, some try to fight, but they all are waiting for the appearance of a miracle of life.

Adapted from P. D. James’ novel, humans suffer from themselves because of the fast progress of technology is already not a fresh subject, but a few English producers and a Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón were fond of its bright side of human beings can be moved by a life, even sacrifice for it when being despairing, and made this extraordinary film both brilliant in storytelling and technical level.

Once there was an aggressive reactionist who later lost hope after losing his son, Theo only has an old friend Jasper who reminds him of the meaning of living in a senseless life day after day. Until his ex-wife Julian who still is the leader of a reaction group appears and brings a woman who could change the future of mankind but is an illegal immigrant, a great task makes him realize the unique mission that fate brings him.

After “The Little Princess,” “Great Expectation,” “Y Tu Mamá También” and“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” the acclaimed Cuarón improved his good vision again by picking this classic story that has profound meanings to human beings. Adding the experimental creation that he tried continuously, Cuarón collaborated with his old partner cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, and presents the camera-moving skill that has never been seen before. No matter the shooting in a narrow space or the accomplishment in a long shot shows his focus on details.

Clive Owen played this very important role with his solid acting skill and gave a attentive performance that won’t let the audience down. It’s a huge pity that the roles of the excellent actors, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine, are very small but still are the parts that make the film glow.

Of course it’s an impossible story to look from now. At least it won’t happen in the next 20 years. But a life can make humans turn against each other only over different interests, and it also can make humans arouse the spirit of equality. The story provides a profound moral that worthy thinking over and over in this world that has received red lights in many levels.

The Queen

The Queen (Stephen Frears, UK, 2006) ★★★★

In “Mrs. Brown” and “Elizabeth,” Queen Victoria and Elizabeth were carrying great responsibilities of affecting the future of the nation by the period and the environment. But in the political situation which the Congress is superior nowadays, what kind of duty and position that make people care and respect exactly does the Queen have?

Elizabeth II has been being as a queen over 70 years, She had to face the challenge of World War II by the time she just succeed to the throne and was still young. But to the people today, she and the royal members are like an unfathomable mystery. No one also remembers which great achievements she has done for the nation. And this film uncovers this mysterious veil, awakes people’s identification to the divine mission.

When Princess Diana, who was loved by the public, died in an accident after finished her relationship with the royal family, the biggest crisis of the royal family in recent years came along. Due to the traditional rules, Diana hadn’t had the qualification for public memorial ceremony. But the media kept make it exaggerated, and the newly arrival prime minister Blair tried to use this opportunity to raise his prestige. It made the absolute silent royal receive a strict critical consensus.

The Queen felt jealous that her time as a queen for over 70 years is even inferior to a princess last only more than a decade. But after observing the changing of the situation, her faith follows the tradition also began to shake. The royal turned their strong attitude to compromise within a week. The influence of media nowadays couldn’t be more obvious. It also symbols an alternation of the old and the new powers.

Peter Morgan’s precise screenplay plus Stephan Frear’s direction perfectly combine dramatic and realistic that this film should have. Helen Mirren exquisitely express the strength when facing the outside and the fragility when self-questioning, even with the compassion for animals. Finally makes people feel being closer to this prominent figure. Michael Sheen also performed Blair’s charisma when dealing with politic affairs and negotiating with the Queen brilliantly.

A leader of a nation shall not be blindfolded. Elizabeth II may be forced to change the tradition by the current, but she knows her own mission and the attitude to match with situations very well. Maybe through this film, people will turn their point of view of depreciating the royal to see the Queen as a worth respecting leader gradually, just like Blair did.

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine (Jonathan Dayton / Valerie Faris, US, 2006) ★★★★

Everyone dreams of success. But what exactly does it mean? Is it to achieve a goal? Or is it the process of putting efforts in? To the Hoovers, a rare family trip will bring the best answer to the definition of success.

Richard the dad is full of faith with his “nine steps to success” and seems to have the chance to get it published. Sheryl the mom is a housewife who wants to get everything done well enough and has to support her husband and look after her children and father-in-law. Dwayne the son wants to get in the Air Force school by vowing not to speak a word, but actually it’s just the way to show his discontent from rebellion. Edwin the grandpa was banished from a retirement apartment because his strange philosophy of life of indulging himself by taking drugs. Frank the uncle failed to commit suicide after losing everything and feels deeply weak with his life. Olive the little daughter gets the chance of getting in the competition of “Little Miss Sunshine,” and that’s how all things start.

Originally as an assistant, Michael Arndt shows his creativity which is as good as professional screen writers with this screenplay. He also proves that the workers behind the scenes could also be very talented. After getting famous with their music videos, the husband-wife directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris did a terrific job in this movie debut and have a limitless prospect. The performances by Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, Paul Dano and Abigail Breslin are absolutely perfect.

During the continuously hilarious plots, interacts and encounters of the characters more or less make people identify with themselves. Within only two days, they learn unity and encouragement in obstacles, they understand the importance of family with a farewell, and the most of all, they find the definition of success in failures. While facing life as a series of competitions, this film presents the clichés creatively and emanates an enchanting vitality and makes everyone desires to feel caring with the ones who’s the most intimate to us and even senses that it’s not hard at all to love ourselves.

The Departed

The Departed (Martin Scorsese, US, 2006) ★★★★

Departing, it’s a checkpoint that everyone has to face in each one’s life. Passing it needs to get through a series of tests and struggles. But the most important is not the moment of departing but the self-forging before it.

Adapted from the well-raved and box office hit Hong Kong cop-mob drama “Infernal Affairs,” since Martin Scorsese accepted the job of directing, it seemed to be forecasted that this is going to be an incredibly engaging movie. Scorsese does prove his ability of riding mob subjects again with this film. Besides the structure of the original story, the background set in Boston gives it a more realistic atmosphere. The identities of Italian and Irish reinforce the conflict of the characters and cohere the tension of the film.

Because of suffering from the conflict of double identities, Billy Costigan is signed to take treatment from a psychiatrist. While having no command over himself, he starts to have a way to get comforts. On the contrary, Colin Sullivan gets everything he has ever dreamed of because of his double identities but also sells his soul gradually without getting aware of it. The same fate causes different lives, the one seems tragic knows the importance of being who he is more while the other who gets everything loses his own position.

The excellent performance by the ensemble cast makes this film more worth-seeing. Especially the inner conflict of Leonardo DiCaprio, and the gangster chief role practically designed for Jack Nicholson also does great side by side. Hasn’t played a villain for a long time, Matt Damon also played this more introverted role successfully.

Someone said don’t compare this to the original version, but the entire tension of it is way higher than the original. Delete the details that have a little affectations and increase the tension of the plots. Scorsese’ supreme skill clothes the story a neat and tidy new look. The unexpected ending also sets a more perfect conclusion for the theme “departed.”

United 93

United 93 (Paul Greengrass, UK/US, 2006) ★★★★

911 is the most important event after entering 21st century, everyone was saying this is the next subject Hollywood will target on just shortly after it. Just as expected, there are 2 movies about what happened right during the 911 out event 5 years later in the year 2006. One is directed by Oliver Stone, about 2 cops trapped in the wreckage of the collapsed “World Trade Center,” the other is this “United 93” directed by a British director Paul Greengrass.

Being the only flight that didn’t let the terrorists gain their purpose of crashing it into the target, people admired the bravery of the passengers on the flight, but it's hard for them to imagine what actually happened. And this film, which presents the details of what happened on United 93, satisfies the public which wants to know more about these people.

The film begins with the terrorists who were praying in the hotel room, later on crossly goes on between the terminal, the flight control center, the flight bureau and the flight itself, makes audience feel like experiencing it. Besides those unknown but brilliant second rate actors, the specific screenplay Greengrass wrote after collecting the recording records and informations is also the major reason makes this film outstanding.

Greengrass showed his skill of setting a real situation in “Bloody Sunday,” which won the best picture at Berlin Film Festival, and still great in this film. Plus the precise editing, make this film have a documentary structure but also an action flick texture. During the splendid and compact course, humanity of facing danger or preparing to sacrifice oneself can also be deeply felt.

This film takes an objective angle that makes no comments at all, although we’ve already taken the terrorists as villains and those who against them are heroes, but things can never be so simple. Greengrass wants it to be just all about United 93 as the title, without any moral judgment or consequence of the event, it ends just at the most thrilling second when the flight hit the ground.

The Wind That Shakes the Barley

The Wind That Shakes the Barley (Ken Loach, Ireland/UK, 2006) ★★★★

Irish has been a place full of continuous disputes since a long time ago. Irish people much desired for independent from the control of British Empire government. Except the unstoppable hatred came from the tyrannizing of the British army, Irish people’s own fierce character was also a major reason. Ken Loach and his old partner screen writer Paul Laverty, who always concentrate on the race and class issues of England, present a family tragedy wrapped in an early history of Irish Republic Army.

Damien and Teddy was a pair of brothers who couldn’t put up with the tyrannizing of the British army and stood up against them. Both hold the ideal of the independence of Irish and did what ever it takes. But under the concept of loyalty comes first, as long as there was any brother who ruins the action of the organization must be put to death, no matter how deep their fellowship was.

Finally after a series of engagements and sacrifices, British army accepted to deal with the Republicans. But the decision of building a autonomic army was far different from the ideal of independence, Teddy, who became the leader of the army, and Damien, who kept holding on his ideal, turned against each other ever since.

The tyrannizing of the British army was indeed unbearable, but the Republicans, who got the power and walked into the same behavior pattern as British army, were not only trying to control the trail of the autonomic court but also pressed the people. Their behavior was even more despicable.

Damien gave up continuing his studies for the ideal at the beginning, so he definitely couldn’t tolerate seeing this, especially his own blood brother. A systematic battle for freedom became a fight of brotherhood. Humans still can’t resist being assimilated by corruption, and the love for family was pathetically eliminated by the ridiculous regulation.

Loach’s tensile storytelling finally got recognized at Cannes Film Festival. (the chairman of the jury was even Wong Kar Wai) Whether this is better than his previous “Land and Freedom” or “Bread and Roses” etc. depends on individual tastes. Which can be confirmed is his practiced skill steeled by the age float densely in this film.

The Fountain

The Fountain (Darren Aronofsky, US, 2006) ★★★★

What’s the definition of eternity? Is it to find a way to keep oneself living in this world? Or to be reborn with different forms continuously? Director Darren Aronofsky, who got famous for “π” (Pi) and “Requiem for a Dream, ” continues his same experimental visual style and brings out his thoughts on eternity with a love story.

Tom is a doctor who never finds the way to cure his cancer-suffered wife, but Izzi doesn’t fear of the fact that her life is going to end. Instead, she craves to catch every moment being with her husband. Only that Tom can’t see this and keeps bury himself in the research, hopes that his wife could stay by his side forever. Even after reading the story “The Fountain” which his wife wrote, he still can’t realize her perspective towards to life.

In the story, Maya Empire in the 16th century started to be invaded by Spain Empire. Tomas went to find the secret of immortality in the Mayan legend with the queen’s order and her ring. He finally climbed to the top of the pyramid after a hard battle by himself. And the story stops at the blink of the gate keeper who swung his blade to Tomas’ neck.

In the Mayan legend, people’s bodies become everything in the universe after dying, and Izzi dreams of the saying of becoming birds which can fly between heaven and earth the most. She tells Tom about this legend, trying to let him know that death doesn’t need to be feared, on the contrary, it’s a hope of letting oneself to be reborn. Before Izzi can’t finish her story in time, she asks Tom to finish it, and it becomes a mind journey of discovering life for him.

Aronofsky’s jumping editing style makes the film keep a sense of mystery. Three parts that seem irrelevant finally become one point in the end. Tom put himself in the universe and lived with his wife who transformed into a tree. The time of getting immortal life finally comes, form upgrades into spirit. It keeps Tomas from being killed by the gate keeper and also let him to experience the meaning of being “eternity” after being greed of immortality.

In this stunningly beautiful but with extremely serious topic film, Aronofsky’s language and image might not that easy to be digest. But if willing to go into his state which he creates especially, inside the extreme elegant vision and the melt-into-soul score is the other side of death, a life that keeps cycling like a fountain, it’s an eternity makes people want to have.