Top 10 Foreign Films of 2009 (and 10 Alternates)
By John Villeneuve
2009 has not been as rich and plentiful, especially for English language films, as previous years, but if you were a miner, an archaeologist, a diviner, or just plain curious, chances are you would have, along the way, found some interesting cargo. Freight that will, for you, age well. Some invigorating drinks, red and white, that you can see yourself enjoying years from now. I believe that I have found a few gems, however rough and/or smooth, that will go down as well as the next best chardonnay, the next, almost flawless, emerald green, the next best friend that opens your eyes anew. Obviously the following list of candidates would be my chums, but, if you have met them, they may, for one reason or another, be your foes. That is democracy.
Read MoreI Killed My Mother, Too
by John Villeneuve
Full disclosure. Being a highly functional, life-long sufferer of bipolarity (hence the appearance of the conjunction “too” in the title), I may be the wrong person to be reviewing Canadian director, Xavier Dolan’s semi-autobiographical debut film, J’ai tu√© ma m√®re (I Killed My Mother), a movie with psychic damage as its over-riding theme. My bias, I’m afraid, may plausibly lead to overly exaggerated praise. But, then again, maybe not. Over identification as hindrance or insight aside, what is certain is that a young man of nineteen has directed, produced, written and stars in one of the most astonishing, accomplished and stylistically cogent films this year; a film that many veteran directors would envy.
Cuba’s Big and Loud What-the-F**k???
by John Villeneuve
Either Cuba’s submission to the Academy is a practical joke by some merry pranksters, or there is some hidden meaning, or implications, in this car-crash that has eluded me. Whatever the scenario may be, Fallen Gods (Los dioses rotos) is one of the strangest and most bewildering lumps of coal I have ever seen offered for consideration in the Best Foreign Film category.
Read MoreAn Interview With an AMPAS Voter
by John Villeneuve
Earlier today, I was granted a short tête-à-tête with an AMPAS member who was gracious enough to put aside some time to answer assorted questions about this years Oscar race. In particular, the Foreign Film category. Though this member did not violate any rules by speaking with me, his/her name will remain anonymous (at their request). The interview went as follows
Read MoreOh, Such Sweet Sorrow
by John Villeneuve
Winner of the Golden Bear at the recent Berlin Film Festival, The Milk of Sorrow (La teta asustada) is Peru’s offering to this years Academy Awards. And what a gift it is. What lurks in the margins of this film is the conflict in the 1980′s between the vicious and radical left-wing party (The Shining Path) and the ruling Popular Action Party who employed militias to quash the communist threat. Caught in the middle of these two lawless regimes were the peasants, most of whom were Incas. It is estimated that by the end of the conflict close to 70,000 people were slaughtered, again, most of whom were Incas. Murder, torture and rape were everyday occurrences, and an all too familiar legacy of ongoing conflicts throughout the world even today.
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