FOREIGN OSCAR GUIDE: Debut Filmmakers

As is the case with other Oscar categories, Best Foreign Language Film is usually the domain of more established filmmakers. This year however, many of the most high profile submissions come from first timers. Indeed, from Cannes sensation "Son of Saul" to Venice winner "Theeb", one could easily see all five nominations going to debut features. Here’s a look at these promising films…

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COMING SOON: Brooklyn

Yes, I know I already featured the "Brooklyn" trailer in last month's post, but this a special occasion. It's not often you get to see your review quoted on TV! Check out the new TV spot for "Brooklyn" below, and don't miss the film when it hits theaters on November 4th. It truly "invokes the spirit of the romance dramas of the Golden Age."

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INTERVIEW: Anna Muylaert and Regina Casé

Since its successful bow at Sundance earlier this year, "The Second Mother" has emerged as one of the year’s most beloved films by critics and audiences alike. Telling a female-centric story of class conflict within a São Paulo household, it represents a kind of drama filmmaking we need to see more often in Hollywood. It was therefore a pleasure for me to speak with the film’s award-winning director Anna Muylaert and lead actress Regina Casé during a recent phone interview. Below is an edited version of our chat, where we discussed the film, its themes and the excitement of its submission as Brazil’s Oscar entry.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: '71

On the eve of his deployment to stabilize a volatile Belfast neighbourhood during the Northern Ireland conflict (aka The Troubles), a young British soldier named Gary Hook (played by Jack O'Connell) makes a promise to his younger brother. Reassuring him, he says "I'm not even leaving the country, so you've got nothing worry about". Little does Gary know of the nightmarish ordeal which will constitute the remainder of "71", the impressive debut feature from director Yann Demange.

Over the course of a single night, Gary will be separated from his squad and left to fend for himself in unsafe territory. Like an Irish version of the Gaza strip, the area is home to both warring factions - the Catholics and Protestants. Luckily, Gary initially finds himself in friendly Protestant company. But as he subsequently becomes abandoned and rescued several times over in these streets and homes, he'll soon realize that - contrary to his earlier belief - the most dangerous enemy is sometimes the wolf lurking right outside your door.

The striking domesticity of the conflict is one of the first things you notice in "71". Unlike some other wars throughout history, this one quite literally "hit people where they live", affecting personal liberties and religious freedom rather than higher level power struggles. And Demange takes this and runs with it, sending his protagonist on a obstacle-filled chase in the film's high stakes backyard games. He uses the setting as his playground, creating heartpounding thrills and tension in equal measure. And the result is a cinematic tour de force, with first-rate editing, sound design, cinematography, writing and direction.

And what a tremendous lead performance Jack O'Connell delivers too, crucial to the film's emotional resonance. He certainly looks the part, with a confident strut that convinces you of his capabilities. But although he's a quintessential action hero, his face betrays the vulnerable boy underneath, completely out of his depth as a fresh recruit. Such is the brilliance of his performance, which exudes raw, natural talent.

Indeed, "71" is a strong showcase for the abundant talent to be found in Britain's next generation of filmmakers (though French-born, Demange spent most of his life in the UK). It's even an interesting counterpoint to Paul Greengrass' own recreation of The Troubles in 2002's "Bloody Sunday". That film was a breakthrough critical and award-winning success for the director, and the rest is history. On the evidence provided here, Demange could very well follow that same upward trajectory. One of the best things about "71" is that it's a thriller that knows exactly when to slow down and catch its breath. And like a smart athlete, this approach to filmmaking and his career bodes well for Demange's bright - and hopefully long-lasting - future in the business.

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REVIEW: A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

For one of the most unique films of the year, look no further than Roy Andersson’s "A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence". Winner of the Golden Lion at the 2014 Venice International Film Festival, Andersson’s latest boldly eschews the usual conventions of cinematic language. As the final installment of his “Living trilogy” it is a fascinating – and sometimes confounding – exploration of the absurdity of human behavior and life itself.

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FOREIGN OSCAR GUIDE: Francophone Films

Parlez-vous français? If you’re a fan of the Foreign Language Oscar category, a mastery of the French language certainly wouldn’t hurt. Throughout the history of the award, Francophone cinema has been a dominant force, accounting for the majority of wins. With the likes of Maurice Cloche and René Clément claiming statues during the initial years of the prize (when it was just a special/honorary award), to Michael Haneke’s 2012 winner "Amour", French-language films have left an indelible mark on world cinema. And this year’s small but exciting crop of Francophone submissions reflects that global reach, including films from 3 separate continents representing an impressively diverse array of filmmakers and themes. Interestingly, the French submission was actually filmed in Turkish, showing how the definition of "French" cinema is constantly expanding.

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HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT: A Room with a View

For this week's return of Hit me with your best shot, I was able to eliminate another Best Picture nominee blind spot with 1985's "A Room with a View". In truth, I thought I'd seen the film already, but I was happy to have misremembered "The Wings of the Dove" so that I could be introduced to yet another lovely Helen Bonham Carter costume drama. And once again, she doesn't disappoint.

But the most surprising delight for me wasn't her performance as Lucy , nor was it the sumptuous visuals or the winning dashes of humour. My favourite aspect of the film instead, was Daniel Day-Lewis' performance as Bonham-Carter's betrothed. Well-known for his brutish Daniel Plainview, his role here forced him to be a typical gentleman, and I loved every preening, posh second of it. He is the epitome of the stuffy Victorian ideal that lends the film its title and as such, I thought it would be fitting to focus on him for my best shot.

Click below for my favourite shot...

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK/OSCAR WATCH: Beasts of No Nation

As I write this, the latest trailer for "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" has just premiered to the glee of millions of fans around the world. This 7th installment of the popular space opera franchise will likely become this year's box office champ when all is said and done. But when we look back on 2015, the biggest story will more likely be Netflix's entrance into the big leagues of film production with the harrowing war drama "Beasts of No Nation".

Based on the novel of the same name by Uzodinma Iweala, "Beast of No Nation" tells the nightmarish story of a young African boy forced to fight in a civil war. His name is Agu (Abraham Attah), an innocent, typically carefree boy from a loving family. Agu lives in a small village which has been converted to a buffer zone, effectively an oasis from the violent civil war raging in the surrounding areas. But one day, his peaceful life is upended when the war arrives on his doorstep, after the fall of the presiding government makes way for military rule. During the chaos to come, Agu becomes irreparably separated from his family and escapes to the jungle. But soon, he is captured by another rebel group and forced to join their ranks as a child soldier. As Agu becomes privy to the horrors of war, he finds his youthful innocence slipping away by the second. Before long, he starts to feel like more of a beast than a human being.

As Agu goes through his descent into a version of hell, director Fukunaga plunges us into this nightmarish world alongside our diminutive protagonist. With an unflinching eye, forces our gaze towards the most unsavory images of inhumane violence and cruelty. And throughout, the film is surprisingly unsentimental too, maintaining a key focus on the aggressors rather than the victims.

But through the muck of war, Fukunaga impresses with some stunning directorial flourishes. Like an early long shot of the jungle which dwarfs Agu with its imposing vastness, or a later scene where the Commandant (Idris Elba) leads a march to ambush a village, an image that could almost pass for a parade with its kinetic energy. Indeed, even as you would want to look away, Fukunaga holds your attention with his impressive technique. In doing so, he lends visceral power to the simultaneous adrenaline rush and terror of war.

But even more insightful is Fukunaga's superb screenplay, which is worthy of dissecting and examination long after the lights go down. Touching on the many complex aspects of the psychology underpinning war and its relation to masculinity and Africanism - too deep to elaborate in a film review - he leaves nothing on the table. Most interestingly, the script emphasizes the irony of how rebellions are fortified by exploiting people's inherent deference to authority figures (so provocatively illuminated in 2012's "Compliance"). As such, the film paints a nuanced portrait of evil through its array of characters, particularly Agu and the Commandant. Representing the "followers" and "leaders" which fuel such incomprehensible brutality, Attah and Elba make a dynamic duo with some of the best naturalistic acting in spite of the challenging material. Attah's transition from abject fear to resigned self-assurance, and Elba's constantly vibrant presence are truly a sight to behold.

There are times when the relentless violence depicted in "Beasts of No Nation" takes on a numbing effect. At one point during my first viewing (yes, I've seen it twice already), my sister even turned to me and said "This isn't even making me sad. I'm just angry." And indeed, I nodded in agreement. But even if it's not the tearjerker you may have hope for, you would be hard-pressed to find a film that is this perceptive about the world we live in. While it may seem completely removed from our reality, it forces us to see ourselves in Agu and his experiences with loss, existentialism and our frightening capacity to cause harm to others. And ultimately, this is what makes "Beasts of No Nation" such a devastating, astonishing achievement.

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OSCAR WATCH: Bridge of Spies

Is there any greater sign of awards season than a new historical drama from Steven Spielberg? Though he's perhaps better known by the public for his more contemporary - or futuristic - populist entertainments, it's his period pieces that have the greatest track record with the more "highbrow" Academy voters. His latest, "Bridge of Spies", looks backward to the Cold War era, joining forces with the Coen brothers for a film extolling the virtues of America and humanity at large. And like most of the "Oscar bait" packages delivered by these esteemed filmmakers, it's worthy of our consideration.

Based on the true story behind the 1960 U-2 incident, "Bridge of Spies" follows an insurance lawyer named James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) who unwittingly gets thrust into the middle of the Cold War. The film begins with Donovan being entrusted with the defense of Russian spy Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), in an effort to portray America as a place of fairness with regards to the law. But when Donovan takes his task seriously, he quickly becomes scorned as a traitor to the anti-communist cause. As an American pilot soon finds himself in a similar situation on Russian soil however, Donovan's unwavering empathy becomes crucial to negotiation efforts. And eventually, he is called up to spearhead a complicated POW exchange, which will take him from his quaint suburban life to a faraway land. With the US government unable to publicly acknowledge the mission, Donovan is promised no reward or recognition, aside from the satisfaction that he's doing the right thing.

If you've looked at my personal Top 50 films, you'll notice that "To Kill A Mockingbird" ranks near the top of my list (in addition to some other Spielberg titles littered throughout). As such, I'm naturally predisposed to appreciating a film like this, where one man's humanity shines through in an intolerant society. It can fall apart as schmaltz in the wrong hands, but when done well, it provides gratifying cinema. This is one such instance where the formula is configured correctly.

As I watched the film, I was reminded of a recent episode of the Fighting In The War Room podcast, where the hosts played a game based on Spielberg's filmography. Interestingly, it was based on his career as a producer, not a filmmaker. And in thinking of "Bridge of Spies", I realized that our idea of Spielberg as a filmmaker owes as much to his producing skills as it does his directorial style. Simply put, the strength of Spielberg's oeuvre can be attributed to not just his talent, but his ability to assemble some of the most gifted artists to work with him.

And indeed, "Bridge of Spies" turns out to be one of the most well-produced films of the year. When it comes to production values, there's hardly a film that can touch it. From the warmly lit cinematography of Janusz Kaminski, to the eloquent screenplay from the Matt Charman and the Coens, to the exquisite detail of the production design, everything is in place for classic filmmaking at its finest. As such, you can expect the film to be in the awards conversation for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Production Design.

And in the lead role, Tom Hanks captures the kindhearted demeanor of the Gregory Pecks and Jimmy Stewards of times gone by. But the standout is certainly Mark Rylance, whose wonderfully subtle performance will surely make him a contender for Best Supporting Actor. Perhaps even more so than Hanks, he best represents the film's tone and message.

Admittedly, "Bridge of Spies" is uncharacteristically quiet for Spielberg, lacking the usual emotional impact (John Williams' typically rousing compositions are sorely missed) of his best work. But like Rylance's pragmatic Rudolf, the restraint works for the story, taking an evenhanded approach to what could have easily been jingoistic propaganda. Ultimately, "Bridge of Spies" is a tribute to the unsung heroes on both sides of the war, the ones who you wouldn't even notice if they sat in front of you on your daily train commute. And in doing so with such refined artistry, it commands your respect.

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REVIEW: Madame Courage

Back in early September, I fulfilled my dream of attending the Venice International Film Festival. Well...sort of. In truth, I took part in the festivities from the comfort of my own bedroom, as part of the festival's Sala Web initiative, allowing film fans worldwide to view a curated selection of titles from the official programme. This year, I opted for two films - Gabriel Mascaro's "Neon Bull" and Merzak Allouache's "Madame Courage". But while the former was a vibrant piece of world cinema, the latter unfortunately provided a strange situation where its synopsis felt more detailed than the story it actually told.

The plot summary that attracted me to the film reads as follows: "Omar, an unstable and lonely teenager, lives in a slum in the suburbs of Mostaganem, Algeria. He is addicted to a famous psychotropic, nicknamed “Madame Courage”: Artane tablets, very popular among young Algerians, for their euphoric effect of invincibility. Omar is an expert thief. One morning, he goes downtown to commit his usual crimes. His first prey is a young girl called Selma, walking with her friends, prominently wearing a gold necklace. As he commits his larceny, their eyes meet."

Sounds interesting, right? An addiction drama with romance, set against a distinct cultural backdrop. Sadly, the film barely delivers any of the intrigue it promises.

First of all, the film's protagonist is too much of a blank slate. Played unsurprisingly by a first timer (Adlane Djemil), the performance lacks the personality or charisma to justify the dubious premise of the romance. As a result, that aspect of the film remains wholly unconvincing throughout, which in all fairness, has as much to do with the script's deficiencies as it does with Djemil's performance.

As the synopsis explains, Omar commits the robbery in broad daylight quite early in the film. Portrayed as an aggressive, traumatic event, the film struggles to overcome the harrowing nature of this incident to make any sort of romantic connection between Omar and Selma believable. Instead, he comes across as a creepy stalker. In fact, the film makes you wonder whether Allouache is making a judgmental statement about the lifestyle or social class that Omar represents. At one point, he inexplicably gawks at Selma for hours, firmly stationed beside a garbage-ridden dumpster, like a rat in its element. And as if to confirm my assessment of the film's non-existent chemistry, Selma even confronts the persistent Omar during the final act to ask "What's wrong with you? What do you want?"

Fortunately, the film doesn't rely solely on this romance between the thief and his victim. But it even falls short on the more typical aspects of its plot. The effect of the titular drug is virtually indecipherable and the violent crime it frequently depicts is pointless and off-putting. And ultimately, this was the last straw that finally broke my interest in this hapless, unpleasant film.

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