fête à fête

I always get excited when the annual SF International Film Festival rolls around. This year marks SFIFF's 52nd year, and the selections are as exciting as ever. This year's star-studded appearances include Robert Redford, Francis Ford Coppola, Evan Rachel Wood, and Elijah Wood. I'm looking forward to watching 500 Days of Summer (starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, Rudo Y Cursi (Gael García Bernal - drool!), and La Mission (with Benjamin Bratt).

Here are a few films to check out:

Versailles (France) - Versailles is a heartbreaking look at 'les marginaux' in France. Damien (Guillaume Depardieu) is a homeless man living in the woods caring for Enzo, a five-year-old child left behind by his mother. This is one of Depardieu's last performances, and it's one you shouldn't miss. I liked how director Pierre Schoeller refused to show sentiment between man and child, and instead hones in on the brutal hardships of extreme poverty. Fighting cold, illness, and hunger, the two form a bond that's as real as a father-son bond. Despite the grave nature of the film, it's also an uplifting look of survival.

Guillaume Depardieu and Max Baissette de Malglaive in Versailles

35 Shots of Rum (France) - Claire Denis's finely wrought narrative of a small circle of Parisian friends is a thoughtful mediation on the many different forms of love. This tight 'family' of friends and relatives center around Lionel (Alex Descas), a train engineer, who lives with his daughter Jo (Mati Diop). A taxi driver (Nicole Dogué) lives in the same building, along with Noe, a brooding young man. It's not obvious in the beginning, but we get to piece each relationship together as the film goes along. I love how the small moments (Descas's strong, silent gazes are so elegant and deliver such power) create such an emotional impact on the overall feel of the film. Agnés Godard’s delicate cinematography is meant to enjoyed slowly and thoroughly.

Mati Diop and Alex Descas in 35 Shots of Rum

Artemisia (Taiwan) - First-time director Chiang Hsiu Chiung worked with New Wave master Hou Hsiao-hsien, and her gentle and leisurely paced film is centered around a conservative widow coming to terms with her son's homosexuality and her daughter's out-of-wedlock child. Actress Pan Li Li's performance is a solid portrayal of an older generation trying to understand the modern realities of their children.

Pan Li Li and Mo Tzu-Yi in Artemisia

French Girl (France/Morocco) - National and self identities are deeply questioned for young French-born Sofia in Souad El-Bouhati’s wonderful first feature. After her father loses his job, the entire family relocates back to their homeland of Morocco. Trying to retain her proud Gallic origins, Sofia toils away in her university studies while her traditional parents try to reign in her headstrong personality. Longing to return to her beloved France, she declares “If I stay here, I’ll die.” César Award–winning actress Hafsia Herzi lends the character of Sofia a passionate and maturity to the character, making this film thoroughly enjoyable.

Hafsia Herzi in French Girl

The SFIFF runs April 23 to May 7. Tickets are on sale at: fest09.sffs.org/info/box_office.php.

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, film, film director, Film Festival, film review, Film Stars, movie, San Francisco, special events

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I saw "Two Lovers" last night, this film got me excited about American cinema again. A love triangle story is hardly original, but the stars (Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Vinessa Shaw) and director James Gray make it work. Phoenix does a superb job of putting his vulnerable side out there as Leonard, the charming and broken guy who gets into trouble with two very different women. The emotions are genuine, and you really do feel it whether he's deeply in love or in suffering from pain, even if they happen within a matter of hours.

Joaquin Phoenix and Vinessa Shaw in "Two Lovers." (Magnolia Pictures)

You'll also enjoy Isabella Rossellini's turn at playing the protective Jewish mom. She completes the picture of the suffocating life that Leonard (Phoenix) is desperate to escape.

I adored the strong storytelling. Each shot is filmed with purpose and nothing is gratuitous. Even the spare use of music is brilliant, drawing emotional resonance from the audience. This is how movies should be made.

Gwyneth Paltrow in "Two Lovers." (Magnolia Pictures)

I had thought this would be one of those sappy downer films, but there are a lot of sweet moments that find parallels from real life, drawing you further into this messy drama. This is how life is, mixed with lots of good, bad, and the sorta-OK stuff in between.

www.twoloversmovie.com

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, film, film director, film review, Film Stars, movie

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The excitement may be over from this year's Oscars, but the styles from the lovely celebs will stay in our minds for a long time. Here's a few of our faves:

Vive La France! Marion Cotillard has always been a favorite of mine, even before she got internationally recognized for "La Vie En Rose." She totally nailed it with elegant drama without going over the top with Dior. Stunning, deceptively simple, yet classy - everything I adore about French couture. Oh, how I love her and her style.

Here's what Stevie, of LA-Story.com had to say about Cotillard's ensemble: I find this outfit intriguing. I wasn't hot for it right off-- but then when I took a good look at the entire ensemble, what's not to like? . The deep color is so very flattering for her and the shape of the dress creates a very retro-glam 1950's glamour that's dramatic and works for her. Unlike others who went strapless, , she wore a necklace which creates interest and leads the eye to Cotillard's face. Love the ring she has on -- it's stunning!

Penelope Cruz was totally channeling Audrey Helpburn in this Balmain vintage outfit. It was sweetly romantic and charming without overdoing it like Sarah Jessica Parker. Love it. White is not my favorite color (and some though it was too princess bride) but she pulled it off nicely a la Roman Holiday.

Stevie: I like the essence of the dress. It's much like the black one she wore at the BAFTAS and while it works a la Audrey Hepburn, the lack of color just drains the life out of her. Make this red, deep rose, burgundy, deep forest green, any range of blue hues and this would be a smashing dress. Penelope, I think you got just a bit tired towards the end. The bag doesn't work with the dress. If you are going to pull off that dress, then carry a vintage style bag too.

Nicole Kidman had the classic, ethereal, 'very Nicole' style in L'Wren Scott. She looked very retro-glam in this one, and I approve heartily. It's like a beautiful ice goddess came down upon earth to bestow her beauty for us to enjoy...

Here's Stevie's take: Gorgeous dress with unique detailing at the bodice. It's really eye-catching. Would have loved to have seen it created in a different, richer color as this almost matches Kidman's skin tone. Her hairstyle is amazing and opens up her neckline which made it an ideal opportunity to wear a fabulous-- yet delicate-- necklace to work with those earrings and either a ring or a couple of sleek thin bangle bracelets.

Taraji P. Henson was also sporting the sweet and innocent feel with her choice of Roberto Cavalli. I like the simple chic in this one. Good move overall, even if it's a bit too bridal looking.

Gorgeous dress on Taraji. I think she was truly one of the best dressed with an edgy design that flattered her body and made her truly a star on the red carpet. The color was perfect with her skintone!
Stevie, LA-Story.com

Leslie Mann had an incredible hot-mama Pamela Roland gown on. Smokin' diva! I hope to be this hottie hot when I get to her age...it draped on her body so nicely without baring too much flesh.

Stevie says: Pamela Roland should be so happy to have this dress on Leslie Mann and vice versa. It's stunning on Mann because the design skims her body perfectly. The dress is killer, smokin', sexy-hot and without showing off a lot of skin either. No mean feat that.

I wish everyone had made the right choices. I really love Beyonce, but man, this House of Deréon dress made
her look like a cartoon character. I dig her lovely curves but this matronly design exaggerated the hips which is not what we want. The severe bustline is not flattering to her voluptuous figure.

Stevie's take: Typically Beyonce "wows" you on the red carpet, but this dress makes a statement in all the wrong ways: too big on the hips, the retro-hemline, the overwhelming pattern, the top makes her look like a Barbie doll or Jessica Rabbit (my apologies to Jessica Rabbit for the comparison). This dress should teach Beyonce that you should not dump the kitchen sink of design elements into one dress. Plus what's with the lack of jewelry?

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, fashion, fashion design, Film, Film Stars, gown, Lifestyle, Luxury, special events, Style

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Charles Dickens fans take note - the new season of PBS MASTERPIECE just began this week, and will feature an encore presentation of the “David Copperfield” with Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) in his first film role (3/09 - check listings), and an Andrew Davies version of “Little Dorrit” (starts 3/29), and culminating with “The Old Curiousity Shop” (5/3).

Claire Foy in Little Dorrit; BBC 2008/ Mike Hogan for MASTERPIECE

The Brass Sisters also teamed up with PBS to develop Dickensian comfort foods (Sheila and Marilynn Brass of Heirloom Cooking with The Brass Sisters) for the MASTERPIECE Book Club. You can download recipes like Hearty English Meat Pie, Shepherd's Pie, and Irish Sponge Cake. Or Try the scone recipe below!

Currant Cream Scones
by Marilynn and Sheila Brass
Makes 12 scones

Scones were the comfort food of the Victorians. A Scottish contribution to the English culinary menu, they were enjoyed hot with butter and jam, and clotted cream. Originally made with oats, the composition of scones has become more refined because the texture of flour and sugar and the size of eggs have become more standardized. The cooks of Dickens’ time had to break up their sugar with metal nips because it came in large cones wrapped with blue paper. They also had to pulverize it to the desired grain. Flour varied from mill to mill, and eggs came directly from the hen. Scones were enjoyed by the upper and middle classes, but the ingredients were too costly for the very poorest in Dickens’ England.

2 cups flour (plus ¼ cup for kneading dough)
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup butter
¼ cup sugar
2 eggs
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 cup dried currants, plumped in ¼ cup orange juice*
¼ cup sugar

1. Set the oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cover a 14-inch by 16-inch baking sheet with foil, shiny side up. Coat the foil with vegetable spray or use a silicone liner.

2. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

3. Cream butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Combine eggs and 1/2 cup of the heavy cream and add to butter mixture. Add grated orange zest. Add sifted dry ingredients and stir until a soft dough begins to form. Squeeze orange juice from currants and incorporate fruit into dough with your fingers.

4. Place dough on a generously floured surface. Knead gently five times, turning corners of dough toward the center. Pat dough into a 1/2-inch thick circle. Using a floured knife, cut dough into 12 equal wedges. Using a floured wide spatula, transfer each wedge to baking sheet. Brush wedges with the remaining heavy cream and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until tops of scones are lightly brown and bottoms are golden brown. Place baking sheet on a rack and cool about 10 minutes. Serve scones warm with butter and jam. They are best when eaten the day they are made.

*To plump currants in tea, orange juice, or water, bring the liquid to a boil, immerse the raisins, continue to boil for 1 minute and set aside to allow them to absorb the plumping liquid. If needed immediately, place in plastic container and chill in freezer for 10 minutes. If not used the same day, refrigerate and use when needed.

Recipe originally appeared as “Marion A. Carter and M. E. Carter’s Cranberry-Orange Cream Scones” in Heirloom Baking With The Brass Sisters by Marilynn and Sheila Brass, published by Black Dog & Leventhal, Inc. © 2006 Marilynn and Sheila Brass. Photographs copyright © 2006 Andy Ryan.

Check it out at: www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/dickens/

For more MASTERPIECE Book Club recipes: www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/bookclub

Tagged as: Books, celebrity, cookbooks, cooking techniques, entertainment, film, food, recipe, Television, TV show

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Just in time for the big Valentine's Day, there is a romance-comedy flick called "The Trouble With Romance" available on On-Demand/Pay-Per-View. Whether you're single or attached, the four vignettes explore the confusing world of relationships and why we even bother to fall in love.

Roger Fan (Better Luck Tomorrow, Rush Hour) was hilarious as the immature, clueless boyfriend. This one is entertaining for the guys out there, since there is a funny toilet scene that you might not want to miss.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Kip Pardue in "The Trouble With Romance."
(Credit: Lacy Terell; Courtesy of Sweet Violet Films)

David Eigenberg (Sex and the City) has a good turn as a husband who refuses to get into a threesome with his wife and a co-worker, while SF Mayor Newsom's wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom (Mad Men) conjures up a hallucinatory closure in the hotel bathroom with her ex-lover.

See the trailer here:

THE TROUBLE WITH ROMANCE, Directed by Gene Rhee; 88 minutes; Rated R. Available for the month of February (via On-Demand/Pay-Per-View). The film will open its theatrical engagement at the Quad Cinema in New York on February 27, 2009.

Tagged as: celebrity, comedy, drama, entertainment, film, Film Stars, holiday, movie, TV show, valentine

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Angelina Jolie's fashion sense has grown classier as her acting matures. Here's a couple examples of her understated yet elegant style:

At her movie premiere with Brad Pitt, wearing a Ferragamo black silk trench from the Spring 2009 collection...

Carrying a basic leather clutch from Ferragamo...

Lookin' stylish in her new film "Changeling."

(Credit: Tony Rivetti, Jr.)

Tagged as: celebrity, clothing, fashion, fashion designer, film, movie, shopping, Style

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Notorious, the new Ralph Lauren fragrance, evokes Hollywood's timeless and sexy intrigue. The provocative scent carries notes of Black Currant, Spicy Pink Peppercorn, Italian Bergamot, Chocolate Cosmos, White Frost Peonies, Fiery Carnation, Patchouli Musk, Vanilla, and Orris. The Art Deco-inspired bottle is simple elegance at its best.

I love the sexy black and white Wong Kar-Wai video for this perfume campaign. Spokeswoman Laetitita Casta is the quintessential glamour seductrice as she glides around the Palais de Tokyo, Pont Alexandre III Bridge, and Theatre des Varietes.

Watch it at RalphLauren.com or here.

Tagged as: fashion designer, fashion model, film, film director, fragrance, perfume, scents, Shopping

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Based on Evelyn Waugh's famous novel, "Brideshead Revisited" is a gorgeous film. Set in post WWI, the epic drama chronicles the lives of an aspiring young artist and a wealthy family. Featuring great performances, the film describes the complicated relationship between Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) and Sebastian Flyte (Ben Whishaw). The close friendship is further complicated when Sebastian's sister Julia (Hayley Atwell) enters the picture, and the entire family is thrown into moral and theological chaos.

Matthew Goode, Hayley Atwell, and Ben Whishaw. Photo credit: Nicola Dove/Courtesy of Miramax Films

As the controlling and cold Lady Marchmain, Emma Thompson played a fantastic Catholic zealot, and the adorable Whishaw is just scarily fragile as he hurtles at breakneck speed towards self-destruction. While beautifully set in England and Venice, the plot drags towards the end, becoming a heavy discussion on religion and family duty.

Ben Whishaw and Matthew Goode. Photo credit: Nicola Dove/Courtesy of Miramax Films

PG-13. 135 minutes; www.miramax.com

-Tami

Tagged as: cinema, film, Film Stars, movie, review

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Get an exclusive peek of the Sex and the City movie! Glam.com's entertainment editor Lauren Barth interviews the entire cast to see what it's all about. From Carrie to Mr. Big, don't miss this insider look of our favorite glorious fashion divas...

www.sexandthecitymovie.com

See you at the movie!

Tami

Tagged as: beauty, celebrity, Fashion, Film, Film Stars, movie, TV show

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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

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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

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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

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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

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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 (2) | 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

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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)