Film Festivals 2005
Once again the wide world of cinema offers a cache of captivating films. From France the delightful 'Look at Me', Tony Gatlif's 'Exils' and horror/slasher 'The Ordeal'. 'Hotel Rwanda' and documentary 'Darwin's Nightmare' unlock some of Africa's darkest secrets while from Hong Kong came the diverse '2046' and Stephen Chow's comic tour de force 'Kung Fu Hustle'. From the US, Gregg Araki's disturbing 'Mysterious Skin', 'Birth' with Nicole Kidman and understated Southern pot-boiler 'Undertow'. Stand-out documentaries also included 'Wal-mart: The High Cost of Low Price', the incredible 'DiG!' and from North Korea a fascinating insight with 'A State of Mind'.
The Ordeal ( aka Calvaire ) (2004)
Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Starring: Laurent Lucas, Jackie Berroyer, Philippe Nahon
This demented Belgian slasher thriller starts innocently enough with cabaret singer Marc (Laurent Lucas) having van trouble in the middle of nowhere.... Read more
Shake Hands With The Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire (2004)
8.2/10
Director: Peter Raymont
In the North American spring of 1994, the world was gripped by OJ Simpson and his gloves, as 800, 000 men, women and children were literally hacked to... Read more
Festival Express (2003)
7.6/10
Director: Bob Smeaton
Starring: Janis Joplin, The Band, The Grateful Dead
In the summer of 1970, a group of rock music's biggest acts hopped aboard a customized train and traveled across Canada for a series of explosive conc... Read more
Playtime (1967)
8/10
Director: Jacques Tati
Starring: Jacques Tati, Barbara Dennek, Jacqueline Lecomte
Called one of the funniest men in the world by the New York Times, Jacques Tati's 'Playtime' is an hilarious comedy and satire on coping with the mode... Read more
Broadway: The Golden Age (2004)
8.4/10
Director: Rick McKay
Starring: Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera, Ben Gazzara, Shirley MacLaine, Carol Burnett, Car...
Filmmaker Rick McKay's tribute to the Broadway legends of the past was made with no crew and no budget. With just his digital camera, McKay interview... Read more
The Sea Inside (2004)
8/10
Director: Alejandro Amenabar
Starring: Javier Bardem, Belen Rueda, Lola Duenas, Celso Bugallo
Two towering figures in Spanish cinema - actor Javier Bardem and director Alejandro Amenabar - collaborated on this powerful true story. Ramon Sampedr... Read more
Breaking News (2004)
6.7/10
Director: Johnnie To
Starring: Richie Jen, Kelly Chen, Nick Cheung
A violent gang of criminals take refuge in a Hong Kong apartment block - embarrassing the HKPD on local television by escaping from a whole battalion... Read more
Bad Education (2004)
7.5/10
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Fele Martinez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Javier Camara, Lluis Ho...
From acclaimed director Pedro Almodovar ("Talk to Her") comes an outrageous tale of desire, revenge and murder. Filmmaker Enrique (Fele Martinez) gets... Read more
Murderball (2004)
7.8/10
Director: Henry Alex Rubin, Dana Adam Shapiro
Starring: Joe Soares, Mark Zupan, Keith Cavill
Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2005 Oscars, and a worldwide festival hit, 'Murderball' is an inspiring, testosterone-fuelled look at th... Read more
Kung Fu Hustle ( Blu-ray ) (2004)
7.8/10
Director: Stephen Chow
Starring: Stephen Chow
Charismatic Hong Kong comedy legend Stephen Chow's ('Shaolin Soccer') frenetically paced martial arts spoof is a delirious mix of quickfire gags, surr... Read more