Last week's Still Life by Dir. Zhang jia-ke might have been too slow or too subtle for some filmgoers and for others, social commentaries with narratives just don't tickle their fancy.
For this week's Favorite Film Series, we'll be going in a slightly different direction.
(Note: I'll try to post films that are available. Some favorite films of mine, I realize, are not as accessible, which obviously makes it hard to watch.)
In the Mood for Love (2000) Dir. Kar Wai Wong
Why this film: Dir. Kar Wai Wong has been around a long time and a number of his films have done well internationally. Besides the themes of love and loyalty, the film is crafted with very sensuous overtones. Heavy orchestral arrangement, drawn out scenes with slow motion, very dramatic photography all combine to give a seemingly overly romantic film. I don't think that is a problem actually, and I find the film very enjoyable at that level. Tony Leung (Chow Mo-wan) and Maggie Cheung (Mrs. Chan) both have exceptional performances. Maggie Cheung, in my opinion, not only has a great performance but the way she looks is also exceptional.
Some people might say the film drags, but I think considering the push-pull affair within the text, the film's pace is appropriate. And, for what it is worth, I think this is a perfect date film.
Language: Cantonese, with English subtitles
Availability:
Netflix: Available
UCSD: Available (Limited)
SDSU: Available
San Diego Public Library: Available
Welcome to The Official Blog of Refine Films for all things film-related. This will be a blog for posting reviews of films, of film festivals, interviews, thoughts about filmmaking, etc. etc. I hope you'll tag along and gain some useful information from this blog.
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Favorite Film Series [Wk:2]
Labels:
affair,
criterion,
hong kong,
in the mood for love,
Love,
loyalty,
maggie cheung,
romance,
tony leung,
wong kar wai,
花样年华,
花樣年華
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Things people hate/love to hear on set.
There are certain things that people in certain positions or departments hate and love to hear when on a production set. I thought it'd be fun to list of some of these as I've been on both ends of these statements. Enjoy and feel free to add your own.
Hate
Things that a producer or AD hates to hear:
"One more"
"One more for safety"
"Last one......one more"
"That was great...one more"
What an AD hates to hear:
"She/he is still in make-up/wardrobe. 5 (more) minutes."
"I have no idea where they are."
"Actress/Actor isn't here yet."
"Waiting on audio"
"Audio no good"
"Boom in the shot"
What a crew hates to hear:
"We're out of food"
"There's no more coffee"
"Pizza is for lunch (for the 100th time)"
Love
What a crew loves to hear:
"Moving on (to the next shot)"
"Lunch time!"
"That's a wrap!"
What an AD loves to hear:
"We're cutting that shot"
"We did that shot already"
"You can wrap [fill in name]"
"Audio was good"
"Actress/Actor is ready"
Hate
Things that a producer or AD hates to hear:
"One more"
"One more for safety"
"Last one...
"That was great...one more"
What an AD hates to hear:
"She/he is still in make-up/wardrobe. 5 (more) minutes."
"I have no idea where they are."
"Actress/Actor isn't here yet."
"Waiting on audio"
"Audio no good"
"Boom in the shot"
What a crew hates to hear:
"We're out of food"
"There's no more coffee"
"Pizza is for lunch (for the 100th time)"
Love
What a crew loves to hear:
"Moving on (to the next shot)"
"Lunch time!"
"That's a wrap!"
What an AD loves to hear:
"We're cutting that shot"
"We did that shot already"
"You can wrap [fill in name]"
"Audio was good"
"Actress/Actor is ready"
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
LAFF FMkers Interview: Hannah Sullivan, Future FMker Showcase
(note: I wanted to get this out before the other reviews because on the off chance someone is reading this, they might still get a chance to watch the final screening on Saturday June 26th @ 3:00pm of Hannah Sullivan’s Love…Forever & Always)
My first interview on this blog and it’s a good one. No, this is not the director of any of the feature films I wanted to interview but (probably) one of the youngest filmmaker’s with a film here at the festival.
Before I go on, I must make a disclaimer. This wasn’t a great interview. It was my first one and I was kind of nervous. I didn’t stick with the questions I had written beforehand or they turned out to be not so good questions. I think if I had another go around I would’ve asked different questions. So this is my bad. If you’re (or your family is) reading this Hannah, I apologize for my poor journalistic skills. I’m a rookie.
That being said, let me introduce to you Hannah Sullivan. She hails from Pacific Coast HS in Tustin, CA and just finished her freshman year there. This film, called Love…Forever & Always, was a product of her own undertaking, and was filmed at her home. Her family also played a role in the production of the film, with her brother and future DP, Spencer Sullivan, as, well, the DP. In addition to directing the film, Hannah also edited it and was one of the two actresses in the film (with her cousin Alison Dubbert being the other), an impressive feat, dare I say.
Unfortunately, I won’t do the synopsis justice here as my notes are incomplete at best, but at 4 minutes, it just needs to be watched and not described. I will note that this is a family-inspired (surprise!) story, with the relationship between her mother and her mother’s sister as the central focus.
I asked her what was one of the things she learned making this (her first) film. She said that she learned about the interesting dynamic of directing and acting in the same film and how they are so much “separate worlds,” and it is something she will bring into her next film. (She did a great job plugging “the next film.” Very well played.) She seems bright and positive and I sense great things for this young filmmaker for years to come.
Also unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to watch this film and will not be able to, unless she wants to send me a screener. I am definitely curious about it as it has gotten into a number of film festivals worldwide, which is quite the achievement. For those of you who are not at the LAFF or didn’t have the chance to catch this film (like me), Love… will also being playing at the Santa Cruz Film Festival, Method Fest, and Sydney Youth Film Festival.
Once again, Love… will be playing one last time at the 2010 LAFF at the downtown Regal Cinemas this Saturday June 26th at 3pm in the LAFF Future Filmmaker Showcase, High School Program 1. Tickets are $5 at the door and I’m sure there will be plenty of tickets left. Come out and support future filmmakers!
Also once again, I apologize to Hannah and co. that my interview here is not as thorough as it could’ve been. I will make sure to improve next time!
My first interview on this blog and it’s a good one. No, this is not the director of any of the feature films I wanted to interview but (probably) one of the youngest filmmaker’s with a film here at the festival.
Before I go on, I must make a disclaimer. This wasn’t a great interview. It was my first one and I was kind of nervous. I didn’t stick with the questions I had written beforehand or they turned out to be not so good questions. I think if I had another go around I would’ve asked different questions. So this is my bad. If you’re (or your family is) reading this Hannah, I apologize for my poor journalistic skills. I’m a rookie.
That being said, let me introduce to you Hannah Sullivan. She hails from Pacific Coast HS in Tustin, CA and just finished her freshman year there. This film, called Love…Forever & Always, was a product of her own undertaking, and was filmed at her home. Her family also played a role in the production of the film, with her brother and future DP, Spencer Sullivan, as, well, the DP. In addition to directing the film, Hannah also edited it and was one of the two actresses in the film (with her cousin Alison Dubbert being the other), an impressive feat, dare I say.
Unfortunately, I won’t do the synopsis justice here as my notes are incomplete at best, but at 4 minutes, it just needs to be watched and not described. I will note that this is a family-inspired (surprise!) story, with the relationship between her mother and her mother’s sister as the central focus.
I asked her what was one of the things she learned making this (her first) film. She said that she learned about the interesting dynamic of directing and acting in the same film and how they are so much “separate worlds,” and it is something she will bring into her next film. (She did a great job plugging “the next film.” Very well played.) She seems bright and positive and I sense great things for this young filmmaker for years to come.
Also unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to watch this film and will not be able to, unless she wants to send me a screener. I am definitely curious about it as it has gotten into a number of film festivals worldwide, which is quite the achievement. For those of you who are not at the LAFF or didn’t have the chance to catch this film (like me), Love… will also being playing at the Santa Cruz Film Festival, Method Fest, and Sydney Youth Film Festival.
Once again, Love… will be playing one last time at the 2010 LAFF at the downtown Regal Cinemas this Saturday June 26th at 3pm in the LAFF Future Filmmaker Showcase, High School Program 1. Tickets are $5 at the door and I’m sure there will be plenty of tickets left. Come out and support future filmmakers!
Also once again, I apologize to Hannah and co. that my interview here is not as thorough as it could’ve been. I will make sure to improve next time!
Labels:
Always,
Forever,
future filmmaker showcase,
Hannah Sullivan,
interview,
LAFF,
Love,
Pacific Coast HS,
short film,
Spencer Sullivan
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