Monsters University

Probably the only thing cuter than fluffy, adorable monsters is fluffy, adorable monsters with aspirations to scare.

Writer/director Dan Scanlon nailed the cute-factor in "Monsters University" not just with rich, exuberant creature design but smart plotting and characterization based on Pixar's trademark command of tiny, forgotten emotions and childlike wonderment- as amply evidenced by the brilliant third act, where the fine line between the comical and the frightening is so cleverly staged.

While not as entirely original as 2001's "Monsters, Inc." (a landmark achievement in animation), this is a worthy follow-up in all regards- a sweet, fun, hugely enjoyable ride with lots of heart.

The Great Gatsby

The 66th Cannes Film Festival opened tonight with Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby". A flawed film in many ways- faulty editing, uneven acting, repeated use of sweeping, zooming, downward-peeking camera angles for the benefit of 3D effects left a chunk of the movie sagging and tired, while some oddly theatrical staging hurt the dramatic tension in a couple of key scenes- but there's no denying the spectacular set and costume design, the bold and often sizzling music choices and the sheer manic energy that sprang from the creative force behind such crazy aesthetic details.

The ending is nice, appropriately subdued and beautifully tragic, it's just a pity that what came before it feels so inconsistently brilliant and that it took so long to get there at all.

Short takes

The central conceit of the Korean thriller "화차 (Helpless)" is nothing new and the awkwardly dramatized finale is a misfire both in execution and plot-wise, but the two hours leading up to it are fast-paced, tension-packed, unexpectedly suspenseful and sprinkled with some quality scares, in other words, a relentlessly fun ride. Director Byun Young-joo shows great timing and composes scenes that impress with striking visual design and smothering emotional urgency.

Agents from North & South Korea, the CIA and the Mossad blast their ways through the German capital in writer-director Ryoo Seung-Wan's spy actioner "베를린 (The Berlin File)". The story shows ambition but bit off more than it can chew with the plot surrounding the inner-Korean political intrigue failing to live up to its promise. In all, unspectacular but serviceable entertainment thanks largely to solid camera work, production design and the imposing backdrop of Berlin.

The Broken Circle Breakdown

Through smart, sober direction that uses fragmented narrative to reassemble the most joyous and devastating moments in a stormy relationship plagued with misfortune, young Belgian filmmaker Felix Van Groeningen managed to take the audience down to the depths of human sorrow and desperation without resorting to the shallow tricks of misery porn in "The Broken Circle Breakdown". It's a testament to his skills and the tremendous performances by both lead actors that no bad taste of exploitation is left by what's likely to be the saddest movie you'll see all year (child cancer is just the beginning).

Extra credit must be given to the ingenious use of bluegrass country music throughout the film. Who would have thought the sweet, care-free sound of banjo and mandolin could pack such an emotional punch, add such layers to the most tragic story and elicit such strong instinctive response? Both in film and in music, not a false note.

2013 German Film Awards

"Oh Boy" took home 6 Lola's, including Best Picture, Best Director & Screenplay & Score and acting prizes for Lead & Supp. Actors (Tom Schilling/ Michael Gwisdek). This miracle of a movie now has not just a firm place in my heart, but also its own page in German cinematic history.

"Cloud Atlas" sweeps the tech categories, winning 5 awards for Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Costume Design and Make-Up.

Barbara Sukowa beat Martina Gedeck to win the Best Lead Actress Lola for her portrayal as the title character in "Hannah Arendt", which also took home the runner-up prize for Best Picture. Together with 3rd place winner "Lore" that's two Nazi movies out of three..... thank God for "Oh Boy"!

2013 German Film Awards- preview

This year's German Film Awards will be handed out tomorrow night. The 6 movies nominated for Best Film in order of preference: "Oh Boy" > "Cloud Atlas" > "Die Wand" > "Lore" = "Hannah Arendt" >>> "Quellen des Lebens".

Award Predictions:
Best Film: "Oh Boy" (Gold), "Cloud Atlas" (Silver), "Hannah Arendt" (Bronze)
Best Director: Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, Tom Tykwer "Cloud Atlas"
Best Lead Actor: Tom Schilling "Oh Boy"
Best Lead Actress: Martina Gedeck "Die Wand" (or Barbara Sukowa "Hannah Arendt" --> a tough one!)
Best Supp. Actor: Michael Gwisdek "Oh Boy"
Best Supp. Actress: Margarita Broich "Quellen des Lebens"
Best Screenplay: "Oh Boy"
Best Cinematography: "Lore"
Best Editing: "Cloud Atlas"
Best Production Design: "Cloud Atlas"
Best Costume Design: "Cloud Atlas"
Best Make-Up: "Cloud Atlas"
Best Score: "Oh Boy"
Best Sound Design: "Cloud Atlas"

Die Wand (The Wall)

Julian Roman Pölsler's literary adaptation "Die Wand (The Wall)" is extraordinary in a somewhat perplexing way: it's a survival tale, a single-woman performance piece, a modern-day fable, a National Geographic special, a somber psychological drama, a subtle sci-fi thriller and a philosophical discourse on the essence of humanity all in one- a cinematic anomaly that's at once breathtakingly boring and stupendously exciting.

Despite, maybe even because of the excruciating formal restrictions (featuring one lone actress, voice-overed throughout), a soaring sense of creative freedom and narrative mastery is palpable, allowing the profundity of the heroine's reflections on man and nature, moral and faith to seep through and sink in. Martina Gedeck is superb as the sole face and voice of the movie, but the true star here is the ceaseless, piercing, wrenchingly exquisite monologue originally penned by Marlen Haushofer. The beauty and power of the German word has seldom been so eminently displayed on film.