LL

God, I missed this face.

Three weeks until Parks returns and then my heart will suffer a lot.

Like collapse.

Angelina Jolie to Receive the Academy's Governors Humanitarian Award

“The Governors Awards pay tribute to individuals who’ve made indelible contributions in their respective fields. We couldn’t be more excited for this year’s honorees and look forward to bringing their peers and colleagues together to celebrate their extraordinary achievements.”

Said the Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs.

Always affectionately proud of my Angie.

The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, also an Oscar statuette, is given “to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.”

Filmanthropist Jolie, who won an Oscar for her supporting performance in “Girl, Interrupted,” has been a passionate advocate for humanitarian causes, traveling widely to promote organizations and social justice efforts such as the Prevent Sexual Violence Initiative.  Jolie has worked for a number of global advocacy groups including the Council on Foreign Relations and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), for which she was appointed Special Envoy of High Commissioner António Guterres in 2012 after twelve years of service.  Her dedication to these causes has also shaped her work in films that tackle global humanitarian issues including “A Mighty Heart” and her feature film directorial debut “In the Land of Blood and Honey.”

From IndieWire.

The O Season - Into TIFF

I loathe this.

Right before the storm is about to set across and hit your face.

As of early September - Telluride in the map, Venice and right into TIFF.

It just got hot. And exciting.

You must have realized for a while now that this is The Year of the Biographies and adaptations but mostly biographies. From Lee Daniel’s The Butler to Diane and Grace of Monaco to Rush and 12 Yearls a Slave to Dallas Buyers Club and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and to everything! This didn’t sound like a great thing, curiously. It actually sounded pretty boring to me. I think it’s finally changing.

12 Years a Slave just swept in the mountains of Telluride, I think even films like Blue is the Warmest Color were overshadowed by it (even though Blue was already seen by a lot of people so it isn’t quite the same). But I can only speak in general, since I wasn’t there to hear from people. But along with 12 Years a Slave are also Gravity and Prisioners, I might as well add the doc “Tim’s Vermeer”. And on a slight lower scale All is Lost, Labor Day. Prisioners sounds like a pretty challenging and demaning drama with outstanding performances. Recently, Rush just came out super strong too. And this is what will be happening day in and day out for the next days too.

Gravity was described by James Cameron: “I was stunned, absolutely floored,” he says. “I think it’s the best space photography ever done, I think it’s the best space film ever done, and it’s the movie I’ve been hungry to see for an awful long time.” Source.

But there’s still a lot of Indie love to consider too. So let me make a recap:

We have the already released films like Before Midnight, Mud, Fruitvale Station, Frances Ha, Short Term 12 and Blue Jasmine. We now have the Telluride front runners, and the rest of the film fest circuit to come (TIFF, NYFF, LAFF, Santa Barbara, etc.) Being that Blue is the Warmest Color is the film of the circuit, as it is practically in all of the major and non major film fests. From Finland to Tokyo, back to Belgium and the London Film Festival. As predicted since last May, Kechiche would be traveling the world, showing his film. And then the ones for the final battle, the late end of the year releases.

 Stunning girls from Venice.

Rebecca, Scarlett and Evelyne.

I will now name, just name films and actors, putting it out there, just by ear. It’s incredible how this “ear” many months later was being right, if this is the word, all along. So let’s go for it.

Cate Blanchett the front runner for Beat Actress. It’s for the win.

Now that we’re in this category, Adèle Exarchopoulos is in for the (ultimate) Oscar nomination among the five.

By the way, they’re moving Meryl Streep for Best Actress in a Leading Role, so if it goes this way, it will be hard for anyone else, considering Julia Roberts has a major player, because we don’t have to consider this about Meryl.

Names, Leading Actress:

Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine.

Adèle Exarchopoulos, La Vie D’Adèle.

Sandra Bullock, Gravity.

Julie Delpy, Before Midnight.

Bérénice Bejo, The Past.

Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha.

Brie Larson, Short Term Twelve.

Judi Dench, Philomena.

Scarlett Johansson, Under the Skin.

Meryl Streep, August: Osage County.

Amy Adams, American Hustle.

Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks.

Kate Winslet, Labor Day.

Julia Roberts, August: Osage County.

Nicole Kidman, Grace of Monaco.

Naomi Watts, Diane.

Both Chiwetel and Fassbender make the cut for a nomination. Leading and supporting respectivaley. And God, I really need to really read letter by letter of Chiwetel Ejiofor’s name. I will know it by the end of the season, that’s for sure. Or maybe not.

And talking about Best Performance is a Leading Role we could have at least three black actors. Chiwetel, Whitaker and Michael B. Jordan.

Anyone from Prisioners might get a nom. From Hugh Jackman, who is certainly going strong, after the last year’s hype, to Jake Gyllenhaal. In this case, it will probably depend how they’ll play the categories, like August: Osage County; like if Hugh goes for supporting, which sounds like not the case, but his chances could increase, but actually I don’t even know how strong the supporting category is at the moment, but it might be strong as well.

Names, Leading Actor:

Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave.

Robert Redford, All is Lost.

Bruce Dern, Nebraska.

Hugh Jackman, Prisioners.

Jake Gyllenhaal, Prisioners.

Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club.

Osacr Isaac, Inside Llewin Davis.

Tom Hanks, Saving Mr. Banks.

Chris Hemsworth, Rush.

Daniel Bruhl, Rush.

Steve Carell, Foxcather.

Joaquin Phoenix, Her.

Christian Bale, American Hustle.

Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station.

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wallstreet.

Then there are always the cases of actors and actresses (obviously and directors and films) that are in a career moment, in the recognition award category. I guess what I’m seeing, and it isn’t career momentum or anything rather than just simply plenty of performances to look at.

But in this way, we have:

Robert Redford. He could be a major upset for Leading. And I guess he’s going with the right amount of career momentum. He will be there.

Along with Bruce Dern with Nebraska. But I don’t think he’s as strong, but definitely strong (let’s remember who’s voting!)

How could I not include Leo? He surely must be in this category of ‘old odds’.

Amy Adams, although she’s super young for the case, as we know, sometimes they end up awarding the so called less (deserved) performance – see Meryl Streep with The Iron Lady, or Lawrence last year or Scorcece for The Departed and I could go on and on. Even though we have no idea what will come out of American Hustle, this could happen…right?

We also have Margo Martindale for supporting.

Actually, veterans are coming in full force, I think as usual.

Judi Dench close enough of another Oscar nomination, though I doubt she’ll win. Again, Meryl Sreep.

I should wait just a couple more weeks. Basically, this post is a waste of time!

Let’s face this fact, and my sister is the witness (and the guy who was sitting next to me). Last year, by the end of September I told her Daniel Day Lewis was going to his third Oscar. I said to her, guess what? Do you know who’s going to win the Oscar for Best Actress? Jennifer Lawrence, really. Oh, Anne Hathaway will totally win the Oscar this year, I said, for supporting. I think I said Phillip Seymor Hoffman was the strongest for supporting. Again, this was the end of September. I have no idea if you call this a predictable year or the “ears” were especially alert and/or astute.

I know there’s still a while for the end of September, but I would certainty not say the possible winners as granted as I did a year ago.

Cate and Chiwetel for Leading. Fass and Spencer for Supporting?

Oh these Oscars will be classy.

Let’s just wait a few more days.

The case for Blue

The notion of La Vie D’Adèle Chapitre 1&2 as an Oscar runner - It’s pretty obvious they’re in full swing for the season. I even bet they’ve been practicing English since last May! I even wonder if the girls went into something like a workshop entitled The Circuit. Of course they didn’t. I’m also quite certain that Léa quit the project in which she was starring with Deneuve to go on the insane awards frenzy bus (*add my frown face) of screenings, followed by Q & A’s, Parties, Film Fests, Film Awards, Talk Shows, Roundtables and I’m tired of mentioning. But let’s go for it. This is an EPIC film. This is epic in all forms. And controversial. This is one of the film of the year, if not the film of the year. Let’s go for it.

It’s all about how the U.S people will take it. I really need a few more days on this, but anyway, I’ll risk saying it will not be easy. Or maybe it will. For the simple fact this is one of the most talked about films of the year. Right at the top. I also think Adèle and Léa could totally charm the hell out of the voters. Adèle is so expressive and straightforward. You can understand that in this interview, for example, but also in any other. Like her response when they asked her again about her comments on a popular French homophobe, “I should just shut up and French kissed Léa.” It would actually be freaking entertaining to watch her in something like the Oscar Roundtables - it would be freaking hilarious too.

I have no words for her

Die a little.

(Take a look.)

PARKS AND REC GAG REEL SEASON 5

HEEEEEEEEEEEERE.

EVERYTHING I SAY NEEDS TO BE IN CAPS LOCK - THESE ARE THE PARKS AND REC BLOOPERS.

AHHHHH.

Don't Let Go

Pictures of You - Evelyne Brochu

Evelyne Brochu

Rising Star

Inch'Allah

Written and Directed by Anais Barbeu-Lavalette.

It is probably unfair to start by saying Inch'Allah isn't a transcendent story because it is one that deserves attention regardless, it is above all quite a decent one - it's reliable and competent. It is elementary and perhaps sometimes light for the theme at hands, which is the Palestinian conflict, it isn't exceptional but it is a very authentic portrait of this war, where a Canadian Doctor sees herself between these two different realities, between Israel and the other side of the wall. The thing is that these films are brave from the very beginning. For once, I can't imagine how difficult it must be to film in locations and how hard it is to bring that authenticity, how hard and attentive it needs to be the work of the actors. So yes, I really admire the effort and obviously, these films need all the attention possible and recognition.

There's quite an intense dramatic moment in Inch'Allah when the doctor, Chloé, carries a baby delivered just moments ago in the back seat of a car standing still between Palestinian and Israeli borders. Evelyne Brochu, playing Chloé, at the moment she realizes the newborn is dead, it’s like she can’t even breathe. For moments it’s like she’s suffocating. And so are we.

Frisson des Collines

Directed by Richard Roy, co-written with Michel Michaud.

A coming of age story, a minor film but nonetheless it does bring some entertaining moments. Can I identify greatly with the kid, our protagonist? Yes, I sure can. Maybe except I would be probably a lot worse. He actually played quite cool around his beautiful teacher and he also didn't took advantage from his sorrow. He is actually quite a decent kid, and after all, he just wanted to go to Woodstock. He also made it. He deserved it.

About Evelyne Brochu - like I said earlier, I would totally fall for the beautiful teacher like the kid did for some time! Though she's so beautiful it is hard to keep up with the frames, it's really really hard. Can you believe her face? But this is not the point; the point is that she looks really good and reliable in these different times and with different hairstyles and different attitudes and so on. Given that these two films I'm mentioning couldn't be millions further away from each other. And I usually love this.

This leads me to my favorite of the three films I've seen with my recent take on a Francophone actress.

Cafe de Flore

Written and Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée.

My first impression of Café de Flore is that I'm not entirely sure what happened and I don't really know if I believe in its premise, if I'm obviously thinking the right one at all. Maybe I'm saying I don't believe in coincidences, which why would I not believe in coincidences? (I need to give it more thought.) But somehow I was absolutely touched by this film.

The film grows in you. There's definitely something tangible about the story presented to us. It is also heartfelt. I just hoped they didn't had to choose to show us those coincidences, in the credits - the portrait for one and then gives us the plane explosion (which as I gave the film a second view, the same shot happens in the beginning, so he had already unveiled something to us). 

I get it, or I don't get it. Do we control or don't we control our lives? Of course we don't and of course we do. Anything's possible. Perhaps in the bigger extent, we can't really control it. I think this side is stronger than the other.

Seriously, it sounds like I'm talking a bit abstract here. The film does bring us a story about love. We have a mother's love, her resilience, her strength to raise a mongoloid in the sixties. With a transcendent performance from Vanessa Paradis. The first time I've seen her. And then we have a story of a man who recently separated from his long companion when he fell completely head over heels in love with a younger woman. I love the performance of the ex wife Hélène Florent.

That young woman is played by the beautiful Evelyne Brochu. She does have a rather ungrateful role, playing the man's younger lover. She barely has a line; she only comes out, per say, through the last part of the film, when she becomes the least substantial.

She could be a bitter character, but Evelyne/Rose is tender and true and not for a bit annoying in her position. She's lovely and thoughtful. The writer does bring humanity and consciousness to this young woman, she may be the man's lover but she's also a person and a vulnerable one.

The abstract part I was talking about Cafe de Flore is that these two stories from different places and different times, the mother-son and twenty first century lovers, are connected. I think it ends up being a good film because it makes you believe in it. And the thing is, as the days pass, I like the film more and more.

To say or even to ask how much music is important in this film is beyond the point, the point being just to talk about it. To think who made the film for once; I wouldn't be surprised if he had heard the song Cafe de Flore and from here he wrote the entire story around it, and this would make total sense because it is also what the film is about. Everything feels pretty in the story, like the songs were made for that exact moment.

The fact is that as the days pass I like the film more and more. With no surprise, I now realize Cafe de Flore reminds me of Evelyne Brochu and like in the film, it feels so fucking good and reassuring. Like anything's possible. The last part is not quite true though.

Stunning, gorgeous women. The man was really lucky.

It’s the confirmation of a Rising Star. Evelyne Brochu.

Ah! How could I have finished this post without mentioning Evelyne will be starring in the new film by Xavier Dolan - Tom a la Ferme. Where she'll be playing, I heard, the lighter and 'optimistic' character from the highly disturbing storytelling. Now I'm really looking forward to see this film.

This could have been a post called the good old Crush on Her!