HUNGER ****

Hearing Margaret Thatcher's voice gives me as much pleasure as hearing Kissinger's voice but I guess it was quite necessary for the film to include of few Iron lady statements to put things in context. Hunger is not a political film, it doesn't spell out the Irish conflict (assuming it is possible) that took place in the eighties but it does explain why Bobby Sands and ten of his fellow prisoners chose the hunger strike -that eventually killed them- as a "negotiation" tool. The problem (my problem) with Hunger is its graphic violence. The long scene where Bobby (amazing Michael Fassbender) sits with a priest and explains why he is going to die, comes as a relief, which is ironic... Hunger's scenes of torture and violence are 100% justified though, for the reality at Long Kesh's prison was worse than its cinematographic representation. We don't have to deal with the smell and the hours, days, months, years spent there by members of the Irish Republican Army and whether you call them soldiers, terrorists, patriots, activists has nothing to do with it. Torture is torture, violence is violence, acts of cruelty are unacceptable and that is the point of Hunger. Without the words, it is the treatment inflicted to human beings that matters... it is what makes us "human" or not!

Saoláitear na daoine uile saor agus comhionann ina ndínit agus ina gcearta.

Entendre la voix de Margaret Thatcher me ravit presqu'autant que d'entendre celle de Henry Kissinger mais il était nécessaire d'entendre sa voix pour donner le ton de Hunger et remettre les événements en contexte. Hunger n'est pas un film politique, il ne tente pas d'expliquer ni de justifier le combat mené par l'IRA pendant les années 80 mais il explique pourquoi Bobby Sands et une dizaine de ses compagnons de geôle ont choisi la grève de la faim comme ultime (et fatidique) arme de négotiation. Le problème (mon problème) avec Hunger est sa violence graphique. La longue scène où Bobby (formidable Michael Fassbender) explique à un prêtre pourquoi il a choisi de mourir est presque un soulagement. Les scènes de violence et de torture de Hunger sont pourtant 100% justifiées et la réalité de la prison de Long Kesh était à n'en pas douter encore plus monstrueuse que sa représentation cinématographique. Nous n'avons à supporter ni l'odeur ni les heures, les jours, les mois, les années passées par les soldats, terroristes, patriotes, activistes, dans cet enfer et peu importe comment vous choisissez de les qualifier : la torture reste la torture, la violence reste la violence, les actes de cruauté sont inacceptables et c'est le message que Hunger s'applique et réussit à faire passer. Sans les mots, c'est le traitement infligé a des êtres humains qui compte... c'est ce qui nous rend... "humains" ou pas !

MAMMUTH (EXTRAIT)

UN FILM DE BENOIT DELEPINE



NO COMMENT !

The red carpet issue (Sundance channel) ****

Sundance Channel is airing The Red Carpet Issue, a documentary about the Academy Awards, the Globes, any event which involves stars, brands and publicity by French journalist and filmmaker Olivier Nicklaus and it is a must see. For over 20 years and since actors have accepted to be hangers for clothes and living displays for fashion and jewelry, the red carpet has become synonymous with money : pre-show, post-show, best dressed, worst dressed, any movie star walking the red carpet is wearing someone and is required to give the name of the designer who has provided the goods for the big night. This documentary is fascinating from the beginning to its bitter end. We'll learn that "actors have lots of expenses. Everybody says that Sharon Stone earns a lot of money and that she is always asking for more, but it's normal: she has a dozen bodyguards with her, two or three nannies for the kids, an agent, an assistant... it costs money!"
We'll meet Romain Cayla, co-founder of IDSIDE who proudly presents a 3 click software working with video clips of movie stars on display : 1 click and a label appears identifying the dress as Gucci (a pop up window gives you details on the goods), 2nd click and the necklace is Chopard, 3rd click and Choo Choo for the shoes !
We'll also learn that the red carpet is a job :
1- appear at ease
2- make sure others are not wearing the dame dress
3- remember to stop every two yards and say the same thing over again
4- ease up on the gum and keep that smile even on hostile territory
5- Know how to work the photographers
6- Don't be blinded by the flashes like a deer in the headlights
7- Show that jewelry off (hair up or short)
8- Lift your gown to show the shoes
9- Learn how to strike a pose
10- Know how to make an exit
Believe or not, there are professionals whose job is to train, help, guide and coach the red carpeters. It has become such an industry, a war of nerves and a stressful combat that some of the most renowned and famous designers have decided to give the carpet a bad name. Take Karl Lagerfeld: "ridiculous", "cheap", "look like transvestites", "bad taste" is the verdict of the famous Chanel designer who -he says- could't care less about placing his gowns for Cannes, Oscars and other now cheap events.
Same for Marc Jacobs and many others who are now thrashing out the red carpet and even dare to say that "even Mc Donald's has red carpet events". So ladies, don't cry, walk proudly on the sidewalk and forget about the cheap carpet those poor stars have to walk on !

THE BLIND SIDE effect

"The Blind Side", the feel good movie of the year by John Lee Hancock has been nominated in the best film category of the Oscars. It is a very popular film and a very effective product but it is to cinema what photo romance is to literature. Inspired by true events (always a bad sign...) it tells the story of a good Southern American family, with good values, good kids, good dog, good christians, good all, who helps and adopts a poor black kid with disabilities who happens to be very good at football. Later, the kid became the football star Michael Oher, the story became a non fiction book which became the movie. Sandra Bullock (also nominated for an Oscar) plays the formidable Leigh Anne Tuohy AKA the mom and she does a great job. Of course, she is not interpreting Joan of Arc, Elizabeth I or Simone de Beauvoir but she does a great job although she has seemed a little bit surprised and almost embarrassed by the praise she has received for the Blind Side. The Blind Side has been 100% approved by the people and that's a reality. This $29 million film has grossed $239 million so far and it's not over.... It fits the mold, but best film?????

"The Blind Side", le film bourré de bon sentiments de l'année de John Lee Hancock vient d'être nommé dans la liste des meilleurs films à concourir pour les Oscars. C'est un film très populaire aux Etats-Unis mais il est au cinéma ce que le roman photo est à la littérature. Inspir é de faits réels (toujours un mauvais signe...) il raconte l'histoire d'une famille modèle classe moyenne américaine du sud avec enfants modèles, maison modèle, chien modèle et toute l'enchilada, qui décident d'adopter un pauvre enfant noir qui rame à l'école mais a un talent inné pour le football. Plus tard, l'enfant deviendra une des stars du football américain Michael Oher, l'histoire deviendra un livre qui deviendra le film. Sandra Bullock (aussi nommée pour un Oscar) joue la formidable Leigh Anne Tuohy, la royale Mom et elle s'en sort remarquablement bien. Bien sûr, on ne lui demande pas d'interprêter Jeanne d'Arc, Elizabeth I ou Simone de Beauvoir mais elle s'en sort très bien même si elle semble un peu surprise et presque gênée par les lauriers qu'elle ne cesse de recevoir depuis quelques temps. The Blind Side a été approuvé à 100% par le peuple et c'est comme ça. Ce film au budget de $29 million en a rapporté déjà près de $239 million à ce jours.... Un très bon produit, mais un meilleur film?????

THE END OF POVERTY? ****

Poverty doesn't sell. Poverty is no "Avatar". Nobody "liked" my Facebook attempt at convincing my "friends" that is was worth seeing and my tweets went unheard! There were only 12 of us in the movie theatre facing the grim reality of this "downlifting" documentary proving that there is no Secret: poverty is as pandemic as the H1N1 virus thanks to the poor management skills of an evil CEO called man, flanked by his COO called god and his sinister ally of a CFO called greed.
The horror... the horror ! But defineitely a must see....

La pauvreté ne vend pas. La pauvreté n'est pas "Avatar". Personne n'a "aimé" mon statut de Facebook et mes tweets n'ont pas trouvé d'écho. Nous n'étions qu'une douzaine dans la salle de cinéma à affronter la triste réalité décrite dans ce documentaire plus que déprimant. Il n'y a pas de Secret: la pauvreté est aussi pandémique que le virus H1N1 et la faute en revient à la mauvaise politique d'un PDG qui s'appelle Monsieur Homme, flanqué de son vice-président, Monsieur Dieu et son directeur financier Monsieur Avide ( à dollars).
L'horreur... l'horreur ! Mais une horreur a voir absolument !