Monthly Archives: August 2007

VENICE FILM REVIEW: Joe Wright’s ‘Atonement’

Posted on August 30, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett VENICE – “Atonement,” Ian McEwan’s best-selling novel of love thwarted by juvenile fantasy, ranks among the best novel adaptations of recent times. With compelling, charismatic performances by Keira Knightley and James McAvoy (pictured)  as the lovers and a stunning … Continue reading →

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‘Atonement’: Striking all the right notes in Venice

Posted on August 29, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett VENICE – Composer Dario Marianelli has created a wonderfully inventive score for Joe Wright’s new film “Atonement,” which features the tapping of typewriter keys as percussion. It’s a very effective device that plays off the title and it … Continue reading →

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Marian Alvares wins best actress at Locarno

Posted on August 15, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett LOCATION, Switzerland – Marian Alvares thoroughly deserved the best actress prize at this year’s Locarno International Film Festival as her performance in Roser Aguilar’s “The Best of Me,” a winning drama about two young people facing life-threatening … Continue reading →

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LOCARNO FILM REVIEW: Jacob Berger’s ‘1 journee’

Posted on August 14, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett LOCARNO, Switzerland – In one sense it’s not a long day that errant husband Serge (played by Bruno Todeschini, pictured) spends in Jacob Berger’s cautionary tale “1 journee,” but in another it could last a lifetime. Having … Continue reading →

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LOCARNO FILM REVIEW: Roser Aguilar’s ‘The Best of Me’

Posted on August 13, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett LOCARNO, Switzerland — Barcelona director Roser Aguilar has taken a familiar yarn of young lives being interrupted by serious illness and spun it into something satisfyingly tart and unsentimental in “The Best of Me” (Lo mejor de … Continue reading →

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LOCARNO FILM REVIEW: Bernard Emond’s ‘Summit Circle’

Posted on August 10, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett LOCARNO, Switzerland — In “Summit Circle” (“Contre toute esperance”), Quebec director Bernard Emond continues his trilogy on faith, hope and charity with another moving drama about good people trying to find their way in a world of … Continue reading →

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LOCARNO FILM REVIEW: Peter Payer’s ‘Free to Leave’

Posted on August 10, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett LOCARNO, Switzerland — The momentary distraction of a stolen kiss causes a train wreck in Austrian director Peter Payer’s haunting drama “Free to Leave,” (“Freigesprochen”), which explores the impact such guilt has on the individuals concerned. Clear-eyed … Continue reading →

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LOCARNO FILM REVIEW: ‘I Always Wanted to Be a Gangster’

Posted on August 7, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett LOCARNO, Switzerland – Wry, nostalgic and wonderfully nutty, Samuel Benchetrit’s comedy “I Always Wanted to Be a Gangster” is a warm if cockeyed homage to old-time crime movies. Shot masterfully in the Academy aspect ratio and vivid … Continue reading →

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LOCARNO FILM REVIEW: Fumihiko Sori’s ‘Vexille’

Posted on August 7, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett LOCARNO, Switzerland – Robots are threatening the world in Fumihiko Sori’s enjoyable Japanese anime romp “Vexille,” and they’re even more dangerous when they become useless piles of junk mashed up in swirling twisters of scything metal teeth … Continue reading →

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