This is going to be the biggest blockbuster this year in Israel. Don't miss Zohan - Adam Sandler as an ex-Israeli soldier becoming a hair dresser in NYC. I can't think about a better pitch for a massive success in Israel (maybe also elsewhere). Below the trailer
Hollywood has been, nearly since inception, a way for America to showcase and treat its own historical traumas. The movie industry never wait too much before they surf on terrible events and make them subjects for films. No taboos are allowed. And the American people rush to see them just like a big therapeutic session as if they were long gone.
Think of all the westerns of John Huston or Sam Peckinpah, the uncountable movies on the second world war (which is still a hot matter: watch upcoming Valkyrie) which were very popular at the time and then the Vietnam War (Full Metal Jacket is a must just like Platoon or the Deer Hunter) the Gulf War (Three Kings and i absolutely recommend Syriana)
Here are a series of recent good movies that surf on that trend:
September 11: United93 is probably the best movie on the matter and was made only a few years after the terrible events. You can also watch Oliver Stone's Word Trade Center but i do not recommend this. It stinks ketchup and popcorn too much
Afghanistan/Taliban: Charlie Wilson's War is probably the most notable movie, But i would recommend to see the Kite Runner which as a movie is more touching. Recently there was also Lion for Lambs with a great casting (Cruise, Redford, Streep) but a poor story
War in Iraq: I recently saw 2 good movies on the subject in very different styles. The Kingdom is an action movie which is well done and well executed. But the most touching is certainly In The valley of Elah by master Paul Haggis (Behind Crash and Million Dollar Baby) with the story of this father inquiring on the disappearance of his son.
Do you see more? What is the next big trauma hollywood is going to transform in a Movie?
I won't write a long post. But since i am still in shock after what i saw i could not help sharing.
I don't know if Cloverfield is a great movie but it can't let you indifferent. I don't know if Cloverfield is a unique movie: it surfs on the previous success of Godzilla meet the Blair Witch Project (the scariest movie i have ever seen after Shinning). I don't know if Cloverfield will remain in people's memory: it surfs on too many current trends (including Youtube like video style, things you half see, MTV generation... ) to know if it will still be "good" in a few years.
But i know one thing. During all the movie i was shaking. even once the movie was over.
Matt Reeves, the director, made a great job at finding tipping points and climaxes all along the story (he was behind the excellent "The Yards"). I am nearly scared to go to NYC in a couple of weeks :)
I liked it. Maybe you will (if you have a good heart)
Bonus question: can someone explain the meaning of CloverField? does that have to do with the name of the flower?
Is Israel becoming an increasing provider of talents for Hollywood?
I recently wrote about successful non high tech businesses abroad and movies was one of them (TV shows also). Let me list here a few elements around that trend
The Israeli movie industry is not very mature and probably not the most regarded internationally but all of those elements started in the last 5 years.
I would not be surprised to see some day our best Israeli actors (and we do have a few, not many but a few) going to a full career in Hollywood like Antonio Banderas did when he left Spain.
A new category should be added to the list of successful israeli non high tech businesses abroad along with Music, Food, fashion and TV shows : movies
Until recently the only strong name in the international movie scene was the controversial Amos Gitai. But recently a few new names came up in particular Eytan Fox with the successful "Walk on the Water". It would be a mistake not to mention our most international israeli actress: Natalie Portman. Today as the movie Academy Award announced the nominees a new name came up: Joseph Cedar for Beaufort nominated in best foreign films. Here is the synopsis and trailer
In the days leading up to Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, the soldiers stationed at the mountaintop outpost of Beaufort live under a barrage of constant attacks. Frustrated by the knowledge that they are risking--and often losing--their lives in defense of a fortress that will soon be abandoned, the men struggle to do their duty while grieving for their dead comrades and preparing for the evacuation.
On a side note i am disappointed that the Kite Runner is not included in that category (and did not win any golden globes) but it is running for best music.
The story on the Facebook fake president made a lot of noise in France and now outside France. While i was writing the story for TechCrunch it reminded me of an excellent movie based a on true story called "The Hoax" i strongly recommend.
The movie is about a man who pretends having the exclusive rights to write the auto-biography of the unapproachable tycoon Howard Hughes. Both stories have in common that media bought a story that looked credible and so big that it was hard to believe this could be a prank.
But it was. and in both cases serious (but simple) fact checking was missing. This is a basic principle of anyone who should write a story whether this is a journalist, a novelist or a blogger. This is not the most interesting part but a sine qua non condition.
It sometimes takes time (probably the part that takes me most time when i write a story), it is boring, but it is a necessary. You can sometimes do mistakes but missing some facts or getting the wrong one. But the process is on top position of the to-do list.
Matt Hicks from Facebook PR department sent me an message yesterday about the story and was happy that users and readers eventually realized that this was not in any way affiliated with them. But this could have been easily avoided.
Fact checking is a basic requirement and a mark of respect to your readership.
I attended yesterday the premiere of he Kite Runner inIsrael and i am still thinking about the movie today. It is probably one of the most beautifull movies of 2007 and Marc Forster (you may have seen the great Monster's Ball and Stranger than Fiction) will be likely to get an Oscar for that fantastic poetic drama about two young friends in Afghanistan whose destiny will bring them in unexpected directions year later in a country devastated by extreme Islamism.
I don't want to say too much. I discovered this was a book prior to a movie (by Khaled Hosseini). Adaptations on screen are rarely very good (although you have fantastic movies like Barry Lyndon or Lolita) but this one deserves a special mention
First for the actors. One of them was in the already stunning United93, the others are less known. The music is really nice and from the first seconds of the movie you are already captivated: no surprise it is composed by the emblematic composer of Pedro Almodovar Alberto Iglesias, one of the best movie music composer. The introduction of the movie itself is really well done with strong visual effects i never saw before
The movie embeds two movies. When i thought the movie was done it started again and became even more dramatic.
The whole direction is elegant, subtle and Marc forster manages to bring so much intensity with little details never over exposing emotions or important scenario nodes and always respectful for the story (Marc Forster is a fantastic Story teller). I am not even referring to the beautiful photography and the way the kites are filmed.
What is surprising to me is that this is an American movie that stands out from what is usually being produced. A nice jewel
I strongly recommend the movie
update #1: the movie is nominated at the upcoming Golden Globes for best movie in foreign language and best music. I bet it will get both. I am sure it will be nominated at the Oscar too.
update #2: i just realized than on the cover the colors of the kites are those of Israel flag and Palestinian flag. Was there a subliminal sign for the creators?
the juice starts at 5:41. fantastic. Hopper knows it is over. his reaction is unexpected and grandiose
extract from True Romance by the great Tony Scott
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