Film Festivals 2004
Another great year for documentary fans with the gripping 'Capturing the Friedmans', political offerings 'Control Room', Robert McNamara in 'Fog of War', and the disturbing psyche of 'The Corporation'. For music lovers there was the fascinating 'End of the Century: The Sory of the Ramones', 'The Mayor of Sunset Strip', 'Metallica: Some Kind of Monster' and 'Festival Express'. Hector Babenco broke a long absence from directing with the powerhouse 'Carandiru' while Zhang Yimou's lush 'Hero' made it to New Zealand screens along with 'Motorcycle Diaries', gut-wrenching Korean flick 'Old Boy', heart-tugger 'Osama' and the delightful 'Triplets of Belleville' to name just a few.
I Vitelloni (1953)
8/10
Director: Federico Fellini
Starring: Alberto Sordi, Franco Fabrizi, Franco Interlenghi
This early Fellini masterpiece, and one of the great works of Neo-Realism, deals with the young, restless men in a small town on the Adriatic who are,... Read more
I'm Not Scared (2003)
7.5/10
Director: Gabriele Salvatores
Starring: Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Dino Abbrescia, Giorgio Careccia, Giuseppe Cristiano
Something sinister is lurking under the surface of 10-year-old Michele's (Giuseppe Cristiano) idyllic summer. While the days in his remote southern It... Read more
In My Father's Den (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Brad McGann
Starring: Matthew Macfadyen, Miranda Otto, Emily Barclay, Colin Moy, Jodie Rimmer, Vicky H...
Paul (Matthew Macfadyen), a prize-winning war journalist, returns to his remote New Zealand hometown due to the death of his father, battle-scarred an... Read more
Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003)
7.9/10
Director: Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Four musicians from another galaxy are kidnapped by an evil manager to ultimately become the biggest band on Earth. Daft Punk's music meets Leiji Mats... Read more
Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972)
7.3/10
Director: Chu Yuan
Starring: Lily Ho, Yueh Hua, Betty Pei Ti, Tung Lin
The most notorious erotic film in the history of Hong Kong cinema, this film shocked Chinese audiences and even today exerts a raw power. Lily Ho, in... Read more
Intimate Strangers (2004)
7.1/10
Director: Patrice Leconte
Starring: Sandrine Bonnaire, Fabrice Luchini, Anne Brochet, Michel Duchaussoy
In the midst of marital problems, distressed wife Anna decides to see a psychologist. After entering the wrong office, she begins pouring her heart ou... Read more
Kaikohe Demolition (2004)
8.4/10
Director: Florian Habicht
Starring: Uncle Bimm, John Zielinski, Ben Haretuku
New Zealand small town Kaikohe made world news in 1991 when some of it's children attacked Santa in the local Christmas Parade. Florian Habicht's ("Wo... Read more
Kitchen Stories (2003)
7.3/10
Director: Bent Hamer
Starring: Joachim Calmeyer, Tomas Norstrom, Reine Brynolfsson, Bjorn Floberg
A Swedish researcher strikes up an unlikely friendship with a cranky Norwegian farmer in this splendidly low-key comedy of manners. It's the 1950s, an... Read more
Laurel Canyon (2002)
6.4/10
Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Starring: Frances McDormand, Kate Beckinsale, Christian Bale, Natascha McElhone, Alessandr...
In an exclusive Los Angeles neighbourhood, ageing hippie record producer Frances McDormand finds her empty nest filled by son Christian Bale and his f... Read more
Lightning In A Bottle: A One Night History of the Blues (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Aerosmith, Natalie Cole, Chuck D, Mos Def, John Fogerty, Macy Gray, Buddy Guy,...
On 7 February 2003 at New York's Radio City Music Hall a magical night of music was filmed; produced by Martin Scorsese this unique coming together of... Read more