tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

Finally! A trailer has been released by the New Zealand Film Commission for Niki Caro's latest film, The Vintner's Luck.

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I'm still trying to figure out the trailer - I'm a bit confused and also intrigued. I have read the book by Elizabeth Knox, and I'm confused whether the carnal relationship between the Angel Xas (played by Gaspard Ulliel) and Sorban (Jeremie Renier) will actually be depicted in the movie. It seems the focus is more on Sorban's relationships with the two major female characters - Vera Farmiga and Keisha Castle-Hughes. I can be absolutely wrong, since this is only the trailer. But that's my impression.

Also, I love the scenery! It's like being transported back in time. I also think having both French and English make the movie more authentic. I was really hoping Gaspard Ulliel will shine as Xas - it's such an unforgetable character. Just imagine an Angel conversing with men, having relationships with humans! But don't let me disappoint or annoy you, watch the trailer yourself  [right after the jump!]

John Lennon (played by Aaron Johnson) is an ordinary 15 year old boy on the streets of Liverpool. Funny, smart, naughty, a real edge to him. But life is not simple for John - he grew up in a family of secrets and was raised by his Aunt Mimi from the age of five. When he is suddenly reacquainted with his mother, Julia, they form an unbreakable bond. A bitter war rages between the two sisters for John's love. Faced with bringing it to an end, he learns the secret heartbreak of his past. But his mother gives him one great gift - music. A wayward boy finds his voice, and walks into The Beatles.

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That's the official synopsis of the new movie entitled Nowhere Boy. It was actually based on the book written by John Lennon's half-sister, Julia Baird. Entitled Imagine This: Growing Up with My Brother John Lennon.

tMF tries to gather all you need to know about the movie and the book were it was adapted. Some photos were also taken from various sites to illustrate some points. More after the jump!

Paul Morrison's Little Ashes, the movie that tMF is promoting via a blitz site will finally be shown in theaters this coming May 8th. I'm pretty sure the team @the blitz site will come up with their own film reviews, but to give you just a glimpse of what some reviewers are already saying:

Little Ashes is educational and sensual. Impressively directed by Paul Morrison (Solomon & Gaenor), it evokes the upper-class and sexually repressive atmosphere of E. M. Forster's novel Maurice, as well as the poetry and passion of the film Like Water for Chocolate. The film's intelligent, well-researched script is by first-time screenwriter Philippa Goslett. Visually, the film is gorgeous. Between the Spanish locations, Pere Francesch's sets and Antonio Belart's costumes, the film perfectly captures the setting and period. [ read more ]

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That's from Blade, and while they might favor movies similar to Little Ashes, they got a great perspective of the film as they compared it to some previous critical acclaimed films of the same genre or theme... I find the movie adaptation of Maurice to be visually arresting, with some great performances, especially from Rupert Graves and Hugh Grant (who would have thought Grant would play such a role!) I'm pretty sure a lot of our viewers are already aware of how much tMF admires Mr. Pattinson and to see him perform such a challenging role would be the ultimate!

Featuring two incredibly promising young actors from the UK, The Disappeared is a new horror flick worth waiting for! Starring Harry Treadaway (who was simply awesome in Brothers of the Head, with his twin brother Luke) and Tom Felton (the infamous Draco Malfoy of the Harry Potter series)

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More about the movie: Matthew’s life is devastated after the disappearance of his younger brother, Tom. Matthew’s father had left him to look after Tom and now Matthew feels responsible. His father is trying to hold back the anger and the blame but the cracks are beginning to show.

One day Matthew is looking through a box of press clippings and video tapes about Tom’s disappearance. Suddenly he hears a ghostly voice on one of the video tapes telling him “you never came for me!”. It’s the voice of his missing brother. He shows the tape to his father, Jake. This time there’s no voice and Jake flies into a rage as the wound is reopened.

From one of France's most original and stylish filmmakers, Christophe Honoré comes Love Songs. A modern-day musical told through unforgettable songs sung entirely by the cast and scored by Alex Beaupain, the film has overjoyed audiences at the Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals.

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More about the Movie: In the hope of sparking their stalled relationship, Ismael (Louis Garrel of Dans Paris and The Dreamers) and Julie (Ludivine Sagnier of Swimming Pool) enter a playful yet emotionally laced threesome with Alice (Clotilde Hesme of Regular Lovers.) When tragedy strikes, these young Parisians are forced to deal with the fragility of life and love. For Ismael, this means negotiating through the advances of Julie's sister (Chara Mastroianni of Persepolis) and a young college student (Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet of Strayed); one of which may offer him redemption.

I find it strange, this constant preoccupation with linking a filmmaker to a character. Finding a connection between somebody’s private life and fiction is a vision of the process that is tainted by the current obsession with celebrities, says Andre Techine.

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The renowned French filmmaker was answering questions regarding his latest film, Les Temoins (The Witness).

What's the Movie About: Paris, summer 1984. Manu arrives in Paris, where he shares a cheap hotel room with his sister Julie. He strikes up a joyous, chaste friendship with Adrien, a wealthy doctor in his early fifties who opens Manu’s eyes to a different way of life. On a trip out on a speedboat, Adrien introduces Manu to Sarah and Mehdi, a young couple who have just had their first child.

I can still remember the first time I watched City of God and how it affected me- it's one of the most visually arresting films I have seen, and I find that it would take me more than just one sitting to fully absorb it. Fernando Meirelles showed us the real Brazil, much more than what a dozen textbooks and travel brochures can accomplish.

City of God features such memorable set of characters! I can still remember rooting for Rocket, as he realized his dream of becoming a photographer. I also remember with sadness the death of Benny, the coolest guy in the favela, and how I hate Lil'Z! The story is a big revelation. Not that I have no idea about crime and violence in Brazil, but its the way it was presented that made it even more absorbing. I was asking myself, perhaps there is another movie that can match its intensity and power?

And comes City of Men...

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From the producers of the award-winning phenomenon “City of God,” comes a new journey to the other side of paradise – a riveting, humor-filled yet emotionally power-packed tale from the gritty heart of Rio, where two teenaged best friends are about to battle the daunting odds against becoming men on the lawless outer streets of one of the world’s most volatile cities.

"Before starting on the script, I wanted Charlotte Gainsbourg to play the role, because I wanted to work with her again. As I said, life is all about chance. Shortly afterwards, I went to New York and Audrey Tautou, who I had never met, was on the plane sitting next to me. We got to know each other, but didn’t talk about the book. She already knew that Charlotte had the role. However, two or three weeks later, Audrey told her agent that if Charlotte could not do the film, she would like to play Camille. As she is a generous girl, she did not want to take the role from Charlotte. " says director Claude Berri.

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The acclaimed French director is talking about how he cast French star Audrey Tautou ( A Very Long Engagement, Amelie) in the lead role for his new film, Hunting and Gathering (Ensemble, c’est tout).

What's the Movie About: In mid-2004, Anna Gavalda’s best selling novel Hunting and gathering was brought to the attention of celebrated producer and director Claude Berri (Jean de Florette, The Housekeeper). Berri believed that the combination of contemporary subject matter, tender and often humorous dialogue, and the unique setting would lend itself wonderfully to the cinematic form, and immediately secured rights. Three years later, the resulting film is a sensual, romantic fable that digs deep into the heart of human by emotion in all its forms. Both realist and poetic, Hunting and gathering tells a universal story about happiness regained through love and friendship.