fête à fête

Attention all Wong Kar Wai & "My Blueberry Nights" movie fans!!

fête à fête is doing a fun giveaway of the fabulous "My Blueberry Nights" motion picture soundtrack, along with the official movie poster. The music is amazing - it has a great sultry new song ('The Story') written specifically for the movie by Norah Jones, and many other powerhouse tracks from Cat Power, Ry Cooder, Otis Redding, Mavis Staples, Cassandra Wilson, and more.

The first few readers to correctly answer the following question will win either of the prizes mentioned above: Which Wong Kar Wai film featured the music of both Shigeru Umebayashi and Peter Raben?

Send your answer to: feteafeteswag@gmail.com
Alas, this contest is for U.S. readers only, sorry!

Check out the soundtrack here:
http://www.myspace.com/myblueberrynightssoundtrack

For my film review, click here:
http://feteafete.com/blog/film/my_blueberry_nights/

Good luck!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, contest, film, movie, movie soundtrack, music

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Here are a few more film reviews for the upcoming San Francisco International Film Festival, which starts tomorrow through May 8:

Solitary Fragments (Spain) is a close examination of family dynamics within the circle of human relations. Director Jaime Rosales weaves a natural and unbiased study of people struggling with everyday challenges while Yasuhiro Ozu's creative use of the split screen pieces the intersecting stories together.

Single mother Adela (Sonia Almarcha) leaves her provincial town in search of a better life in Madrid with her infant son. Struggling with a bland job, she moves in with Carlos (Lluís Villanueva) and Inés (Miriam Correa). The roommates become friends and open up to each other about their personal lives over shared meals. Inés’s mother Antonia (Petra Martínez) soon becomes an indirect acquaintance. A widow with three daughters, Antonia is literally the rock in the family. Dealing with one daughter's cancer prognosis and manipulated by another to help supplement her selfish ambitions, the normalcy of daily life unexpectedly ends for these these women when tragic events occur. The survivors have to find the strength to carry on, and the viewer is strongly drawn to the well-being of each character. I liked how certain silent scenes reflected the inner strength of the main characters. Lonliness, grief, and isolation surround them like an invisible wall yet they manage to maintain their dignity as life goes on, with or without them.

Click here to watch the trailer (Click on "Watch" link on the lower right corner of the movie still).

Secret (Taiwan) is a beautifully shot teen romance. Taiwanese pop artist Jay Chou built some acting chops in Zhang Yimou’s "Curse of the Golden Flower" and he refined his skill with "Secret." Directing his own script, Chou plays Yeh Hsiang-Lun, an extremely gifted music student entering a prestigious academy. Innocent flirtations abound amongst students and the days are filled with lectures, sports, hi-jinks, and “piano battles”.

One day in an old music room, Lun encounters Lu Hsiao-Yu (Kwai Lun-mei) playing an alluring tune. This melody and the coquettish Yu begin to haunt Lun day and night. Eventually Lun discovers a photograph of Yu with his father (the matchless Anthony Wong), and the plot rises to a very dramatic and supernatural turn. Delicate and sweetly mysterious, Yu is the film’s emotional center as she and Lun performs their magical symphony for all time.

Click here to watch the trailer (Click on "Watch" link on the lower right corner of the movie still).

Just Like Home (Denmark) is a wry comedy about trust and community within a small Danish town. Filled with eccentrics, the characters share their angst and loneliness, including a woman on the lam (Ann Eleanora Jørgensen), an angry pill-popper dealing with his childhood (Peter Gantzler), a stuffy poet (Peter Hesse Overgaard), and an optimistic civil servant (Bodil Jørgensen) with a shaky hold on her job.

Director Lone Scherfig does a fine job of painting a tableau of a conservative society as the residents struggle with the rumor of a male streaker in their midst. A local pharmacist opens up an anonymous hotline to find the culprit and calamity ensues as the townsfolk use it to air their grievances. Despite their initial misgivings, the hotline volunteers learn to find their voice, help each other, and heal the community. If you've seen "Italian for Beginners," you will want to check this out.

For tickets and information: go to www.sffs.org or call 925.866.9559

See you at the film fest!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, film, Film Festival, Film Stars, movie, San Francisco, San Francisco event

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Film lovers will have a lot of wonderful screenings to explore at the upcoming 51st San Francisco International Film Festival. The 15-day extravaganza will not only present nearly 200 films from 49 countries, but it will also feature the work of 39 women directors. Opening on April 24 with Catherine Breillat's "The Last Mistress," the festival will close May 8 with the West Coast premiere of "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson." Award honorees include Maria Bello of "The Yellow Handkerchief" (Peter J. Owens Award), Jason Lee, and Rose McGowan (both for Midnight Awards).

Here are a few select reviews from the festival:

"Shadows in the Palace" (Korea) is part lavish historical drama, part murder mystery set during Korea’s Chosun era. Totally entertaining with non-stop plot twists (for the squeamish folks, there will be a few gory torture scenes), the film is a solid rendition of Korean palace intrigue and the complex power struggles amongst the court maids, imperial concubine and the empress.

The smell of constant fear permeates the palace in everyone's effort to win the emperor's favor. Rigid court rules strip off the spirit of the maids as they work within the thick confines of the palace. After one of the maids is found dead, female court doctor Chun-ryung suspects foul play and decides to expose the murderer. Risking her position and her life, she soon digs up an ugly mess of deception as the battle for ultimate power unfolds. The acting is well done, as well as the costume research and set design, but the special effects are a bit too dramatic for Western viewers.

"In the City of Sylvia" (Spain) presents the idea of possible romance as a young romantic (Xavier Lafitte) searches for Sylvia, the would-be lover he met from several years before. Beautifully set in Strasbourg with gorgeous-looking stars, Lafitte resembles a version of Gael Garcia Bernal, while gamine Pilar López de Ayala steals the limelight. The film is a simple pleasure to gaze at. Director José Luis Guerín encourages the viewer to engage themselves to sound and light, paring down the dialogue significantly. The sense of city life is heightened, with the everyday sound of locals strolling, students chatting, and the sound of a tram ambling around the winding streets.

"Glasses" (Japan) is a zen jewel of a story, about an uptight teacher visiting an idyllic island retreat. Upon arrival at the Hamada Inn, Taeko (Satomo Kobayashi) is subjected to the peculiar business habits of the owner (Ken Mitsuishi) because he doesn't want too many guests. Fellow guest Sakura (Masako Motai) leads the townspeople through daily “merci exercises” and all the guests practice 'twilighting' in the evenings.

Through the seemingly strange practices of the local inhabitants, Taeko learns to let go literally and figuratively, changing in small degrees with each passing day at the beach. Western audiences might not be used to the quiet pace of Naoko Ogigami's direction, but this is a great example of how in slowing down one's life, one might actually see the gems within.

More film reviews to come - stay tuned!

For tickets and information: go to www.sffs.org or call 925.866.9559

See you at the film fest!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, Film, Film Festival, Film Stars, international, movie, San Francisco, San Francisco event

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Wong Kar Wai is one of my favorite directors, and with good reason. The visionary is a regular on the Cannes circuit, and his "In the Mood for Love" has set a new standard in international cinema. He has an inimitable gift of letting each frame ooze with glamorous sensuality. It's a luxe quality that isn't found in many films today, and I can't get enough of it.

Shifting his focus to a Western landscape, he returns with "My Blueberry Nights." It's a debut for Wong in many ways. It's his first English language feature, and the lead actress (singer Norah Jones) is a fresh visage on the silver screen. It's also one of the rare instances that Christopher Doyle isn't present for this project, welcoming instead cinematographer Darius Khondji. The result is a beautifully tailored dance of color, light, music, and passion that lingers within you long after you leave the theatre.

The story opens up with Elizabeth (Jones), a heartbroken young woman drowning in the sorrows of her recent breakup. She befriends cafe owner Jeremy (Jude Law), eating blueberry pie and taking refuge in his romantic outlook. With the pain so close to home, she takes off on a long journey across America, trying to forget her past.

Along the way she witnesses other troubled souls battling their own relationship demons. In Memphis she gets caught up with a forlorn alcoholic cop (David Strathairn) and his hot-headed estranged wife (Rachel Weisz), then ends up with a flirty, fast-talkin', double-your-money-back-or-bust gambler (Natalie Portman) in Nevada. These characters are somewhat of a mirror image to her loneliness within her long inner journey.

For a first timer, Jones is valiant in her attempt to convey her emotional range, but it comes off a bit awkward. Portman's spunky performance provided the sizzle the film needed, and it's a darn shame she didn't have more screen time.

The soundtrack, as usual, is a work of art in itself with Wong at the helm. His extremely deliberate choice in music heightens the entire experience, and sometimes the tracks themselves do enough emoting for everyone and beyond. With Ry Cooder (Buena Vista Social Club) scoring, you get to cozy up to sultry croons from Norah Jones, Cat Power, Otis Redding, and the like. For "In the Mood for Love" fans, you will find a treat here - a harmonica version of "Yumeji's Theme."

www.weinsteinco.com

-Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, Film, Film Stars, movie, movie soundtrack

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Academy Award winner Frances McDormand and Academy Award nominee Amy Adams are on a mission to find true love - all in one day! In "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day," the charming comedy promises lots of glamour, elegant fun, and snappy dialogue between the two leading ladies.

Set in 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Ms. McDormand) is a middle aged governess who finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. Seizing an opportunity, she intercepts an assignment as “social secretary.” Miss Pettigrew is soon thrown into the glamorous and chaotic life of American actress Delysia Lafosse (Ms. Adams). Swept into a heady dream world of high-society, Mrs. Pettigrew helps Delysia navigate a love life and career, both of which are complicated by the three men in Delysia’s orbit.

Opens Friday, March 7th, 2008 (in select cities); Starring Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Ciarán Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Mark Strong

www.focusfeatures.com

See you at the movies!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, film, Film Stars, movie, movie soundtrack

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

If you haven't seen Ang Lee's latest masterpiece, "Lust, Caution," the soundtrack should convince you to run to the nearest theatre. Golden Globe-winning composer Alexandre Desplat perfectly captures the essence of the espionage thriller, setting a deliberate and melancholy tone that haunts the viewers over and over.

With the subtle and delicate use of piano, strings and waltzes, Desplat's restrained music essentially plays a supporting role while the actors do most of the storytelling. I love how the strings rise over the piano on the 'The Angel' track, along with the breathtaking "Falling Rain" and "Wong Chia Chi's Theme." It's a really beautiful score to a gorgeous film.

-Tami

Tagged as: Alexandre Desplat, Ang Lee, composer, Lust, Caution, movie, movie soundtrack, music, piano, score, soundtrack, waltz

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

If you're a foreign film buff like I am, then you are no doubt anticipating the U.S. release of "Lust, Caution," the latest Ang Lee movie starring Asian film icon Tony Leung ("In the Mood for Love"), Joan Chen, Wang Leehom, and strong newcomer Tang Wei.

Based on the short story by legendary Chinese author Eileen Chang, this thriller is already a winner of the Best Picture award at this year's Venice International Film Festival. With the NC-17 rating, it's sure to set viewers' hearts racing as we watch the tense passion unfold between the two lovers on screen.

Tony Leung & Tang Wei in "Lust, Caution"

Official Synopsis: A startling erotic espionage thriller about the fate of an ordinary woman’s heart set in Shanghai, 1942. The World War II Japanese occupation of this Chinese city continues in force. Mrs. Mak, a woman of sophistication and means, walks into a café, places a call, and then sits and waits. She remembers…how her story began several years earlier, in 1938 China. She is not in fact Mrs. Mak, but shy Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei). With WWII underway, Wong has been left behind by her father, who has escaped to England. As a freshman at university, she meets fellow student Kuang Yu Min (Wang Leehom) Kuang has started a drama society to shore up patriotism. As the theater troupe’s new leading lady, Wong realizes that she has found her calling, able to move and inspire audiences – and Kuang. He convenes a core group of students to carry out a radical and ambitious plan to assassinate a top Japanese collaborator, Mr. Yee (Tony Leung). Each student has a part to play; Wong will be Mrs. Mak, who will gain Yee’s trust by befriending his wife (Joan Chen) and then draw the man into an affair.

Tang Wei

Wong transforms herself utterly inside and out, and the scenario proceeds as scripted – until an unexpectedly fatal twist spurs her to flee. Shanghai, 1941. With no end in sight for the occupation, Wong – having emigrated from Hong Kong – goes through the motions of her existence. Much to her surprise, Kuang re-enters her life. Now part of the organized resistance, he enlists her to again become Mrs. Mak in a revival of the plot to kill Yee, who as head of the collaborationist secret service has become even more a key part of the puppet government. As Wong reprises her earlier role, and is drawn ever closer to her dangerous prey, she finds her very identity being pushed to the limit...

Opens September 28, with limited releases in select U.S. cities by Focus Features.

Lust,Caution Trailer:

QuickTime High
http://www.focusfeatures.com/viewer.php?f=lust_caution&c=trailer&ext=mov&w=480&h=260

Windows Media High
http://www.focusfeatures.com/viewer.php?f=lust_caution&c=trailer&ext=wmv&w=480&h=260

Official Website: http://www.focusfeatures.com/lustcaution

See you at the theatre!

Tami

Tagged as: Ang Lee, Asian cinema, cinema, Eileen Chang, film, Focus Features, foreign cinema, international, Joan Chen, Lust Caution, movie, short story, Tang Wei, Tony Leung, Venice International Film Festival winner

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I love movies. And being a huge fan of foreign films, I naturally had to check out this year's San Francisco International Film Festival selections. With over 100 entries, I really had to narrow it down and choose a couple great entries from Asia that are worth a gander (in my humble opinion of course).

The opening night film, "Perhaps Love," was one of the most highly anticipated musicals from Hong Kong director Peter Chan (My favorite cinematographer Christopher Doyle also worked on this ambitious project, so that's always a BIG plus). With Bollywood choreography, it's sure to entertain even the most skeptical moviegoer. Frankly, I'm just proud of the fact that this is the first HK film to be chosen for this year's festival opening night.

Set in Shanghai and Beijing, the story is your basic doomed love triangle plot, but with the stellar international cast (Takeshi Kaneshiro (so cute), Zhou Xun, Jacky Cheung and Ji Jin-Hee) and the strong vocals of HK pop megastar Jacky Cheung, you can't help but be enthralled by the whole performance.

Already garnering a few awards, this will attract every hopeless romantic out there, and then some. Be forewarned - while many folks will compare this to "Moulin Rouge," this is more of a realistic portrayal of the many facets and emotions of love, especially the complicated, bittersweet and nasty parts (y'all know what I'm talking about).

Another festival favorite, "House of Himiko," is a dramedy by Isshin Inudo. A young Saori (Kou Shibasaki) is forced to come to terms with her past after a handsome Haruhiko (Joe Odagiri) offers her a high-paying job at a seaside gay retirement home.

Run by her dying estranged gay father (Min Tanaka), a former Ginza transvetite bar owner, she quickly falls into the zany lifestyles of the aging queens. Struggling to resolve her abandoment issues with her stoic father and overcoming her homophobia, Saori soon learns to accept and love each resident's eccentric personalities.

With Ruby the pink-haired queen leading the pack, the residents are the gems that shine throughout the entire film. Presented with a quirky comedic touch, it's an interesting look at Japan's aging gay community and how this resilient culture deals with this societal reality.

See you at the theatres!

Fashiontribes Fashiontribes Files Takeshi Kaneshiro Lifestyle Sweet Life Perhaps Love Peter Chan international films San Francisco Zhou Xun HK musical love triangle House of Himiko aging gay population Isshin Inudo SFIFF Jacky Cheung

Tagged as: fashiontribes.com, Film, Film Festival, Film Stars, Hong Kong, International, Japan, Music, San Francisco, Special Events

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)