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.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
8.9/10
Director: Sergio Leone
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach, Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood's invincible "Man with No Name" teams with two gunslingers (Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach) to pursue a fortune in stolen gold. But team... Read more
Anatomy of Hell (2003)
4.5/10
Director: Catherine Breillat
Starring: Amira Casar, Rocco Siffredi
A.k.a. "Anatomie De L'Enfer". After encountering a man at a gay nightclub, a suicidal woman hires the stranger to watch her explore her sexuality over... Read more
Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
7.5/10
Director: Francois Dupeyron
Starring: Omar Sharif, Pierre Boulanger
Set against the backdrop of 1960s Paris, this wondrous French drama details the relationship between a disconnected Jewish teen and a kindly Muslim de... Read more
Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
7.9/10
Director: Satoshi Kon
In this unofficial animated remake of John Ford's "3 Godfathers" from director Satoshi Kon ("Perfect Blue"), three homeless people - an alcoholic, a t... Read more
De-Lovely (2004)
6.6/10
Director: Irwin Winkler
Starring: Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce
"De-Lovely" is an original musical portrait of American composer Cole Porter, filled with his unforgettable songs. In the film, Porter (Kevin Kline) i... Read more
Apres Vous... (2003)
6.6/10
Director: Pierre Salvadori
Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Jose Garcia, Sandrine Kiberlain, Marilyne Canto, Michele Moretti...
A.k.a. "After You". Antoine (Daniel Auteuil), a maitre d' at an upmarket Parisian brasserie, prevents the suicide of a stranger (Jose Garcia) and atte... Read more
Since Otar Left (2003)
7.6/10
Director: Julie Bertuccelli
Starring: Ester Gorintin, Nino Khomassouridze, Dinara Droukarova
Three generations of women share a crowded apartment in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi. Strong-willed, elderly matriarch Eka lives for letters a... Read more
The Saddest Music in the World (2003)
7.2/10
Director: Guy Maddin
Starring: Isabella Rossellini, Mark McKinney, Maria de Medeiros, David Fox
Director Guy Maddin's works are like a window to an alternate film universe - this unforgettable feverish whirligig of a movie is the closest the cul... Read more
Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion (2003)
7.6/10
Director: Tom Peosay
Starring: Narrated by, Martin Sheen, H H Dalai Lama, Robert Thurman, etc ...
Ten years in the making, this award-winning documentary exposes the real cost of the 1950 Chinese invasion of Tibet. Powerfully chronicled through de... Read more
Tongan Ninja (2002)
6.2/10
Director: Jason Stutter
Starring: Sam Manu, Jemaine Clement, Linda Tseng
He comes from the mighty Kingdom of Tonga. (pop 105,600- principal export: baby squash) He is trained in the ancient art of ninjitsu. He is, un-supris... Read more