Review: "One Fine Morning" is the gentlest of gut punches

by Cláudio Alves

Autofiction isn't a new phenomenon, whether in film or other arts. Nevertheless, more and more directors are dipping their toes into pools of navel-gazing introspection. For some auteurs, however, there has never been another way of making art. Take Mia Hasen-Løve as an example. Her cinema has always manifested as a reflection of lived experience, pulling from personal details in gradations of openness, extrapolating narrative honesty as a conduit for building humanistic pieces. Empathy is the tenet of her cinema, not just between audience and characters but between the filmmaker and her creation. At least, that's the feeling that persists after one leaves the theater, still dazed by the director's work. 

Within this context, it means a great deal to state that One Fine Morning, Mia Hansen-Løve's latest, might be her most personal project to date…

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Cannes Diary #4: Narcissism at its finest and worst

by Elisa Giudici

Today is the day in which we explore collateral selections, not that willingly. As mentioned in Cannes Diary #1, this year the Festival organization changed the ticketing system. This ended the long lines (a win) but the downside is that the more hyped movies are harder to get into. Nevertheless, I'm happy to report my experimentation went very well! Truth be told, the Un Certain Regard section can be barely considered a “collateral” section, since it famously offers high-quality selections from soon-to-be major auteurs. The major letdown of the day, was ironically, the only title from the Main Competition I was able to get a ticket to on day four...

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Review: "Cyrano, My Love" & "By the Grace of God"

by Cláudio Alves

Pity those who live in the shadow of Oscar's champions. Such is the case of two French films from last year which now arrive in American theatres. If they were Hollywood productions, we'd surely be talking about Cyrano, My Love and By the Grace of God as potential contenders. As it stands, they can expect some golden recognition in the shape of the César rather than a little golden man. They must also expect eternal comparisons to more famous movies... 

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An "Unbroken" Centennial and more...

Jack O'Connell in Unbroken (2014)On this day in history as it (mostly) relates to showbiz...

1837 Michigan becomes a State. For a long time it was a beauty but recently hit its all time nadir when the GOP controlled government began poisoning the children in Flint. Somehow Michiganders did not vote them out of office. The earth is doomed
1880 WW II's General MacArthur is born in Little Rock. He'll later be played in the movies and on TV by stars as esteemed and beloved as Gregory Peck (MacArthur), Liam Neeson (Operation Chromite), and Henry Fonda (Collision Course: Truman vs MacArthur)
1892 Bessie Coleman is born in Texas. Becomes the first female African American pilot and the first American woman to hold an international pilot licencse. Where's her biopic? Today's Google Doodle is in her honor
1917 Louis Zamperini Centennial today! His WW II story of survival starring Jack O'Connell is told in Angelina Jolie's movie Unbroken (2014)

more after the jump including Paul Newman and the Golden Globes...

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Say What? By The Sea

Amuse us. Add caption or dialogue to this image from the set of Angelina Jolie's By The Sea...

P.S. The film is due November 13th. People magazine reveals that it's actually about three couples, not just Brad & Angie. Now we're totally curious about the other two couples! French hotties Mélanie Laurent and Melvil Poupaud are also in the movie so that bodes well.

P.P.S. Here's the teaser... I hate it so much when actresses change their last names after a marriage! Argh