OWFilm World Cup Round 1: Mexico vs. Denmark
Voting has now ended on the Argentina vs. Japan game, and it was the real classic that sliced and diced it's younger counterpart.
Argentina (The Motorcycle Diaries) 29% lost to Japan (Seven Samurai) 71%.First Round of OWFilm World Cup
Can Mexico overcome their unlucky defeat to Argentina in the football to make a statement here in the Obsessed with Film World Cup competition? To do so they will have to try and outmanoeuvre oddball director Lars Von Trier and his most beloved picture Breaking the Waves - so Mexico vs Denmark; it promises to be a captivating clash. And as always only you can decide the fate of the two competing films. Tale of the reel is after the jump...Amores Perros (2000)
OSCAR COUNT (0) IMDB (8.2, #164) ROTTEN TOMATOES (92%) EMPIRE TOP 500 (#492nd)
Amores Perros is a cleverly constructed interlinking drama which tells three different stories which all explain the opening car crash. Many critics have praised the film for its authentically presented arena, naturalistic dialogue and tremendous attention to detail concerning character. Acclaimed critic Roger Ebert is clearly impressed with the films realism as he states in his review that the characters are not the bland, amoral totems of so much modern Hollywood violence, but people with feelings and motives. They want love, money and revenge. The films gritty visual style has also been highly praised with Peter Bradshaw writing in his Guardian review about how the films arena is so vividly brought to life: Inarritu and his cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto, have created a flickering, sun-bleached look for this tale of the barrio in the world's biggest city - a look similar to the Diesel ads or the desert glare that you saw in the old Foster Grant commercials. Amores Perros won the prize of the critics week at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. INTERESTING FACT: Despite a clear and concise opening message which stated that no animals were harmed during the production the films twenty one second, brutal dog fight scene still earned a complaint from The Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Breaking The Waves (1996)
OSCAR COUNT (0) IMDB (7.8) ROTTEN TOMATOES (85%) EMPIRE TOP 500 (Not listed)
Lars Von Triers Breaking the Waves is a true assault on the senses with its shaky, unorthodox camerawork and surreal chapter headings. The bizarre plot which centres around a paralysed man encouraging his wife to seek sexually active partners turns into a throughtful comment on religion, faith and love. Emma Watsons lead performance has been described by many critics as outstanding. In his review for Variety magazine David Stratton writes fondly of her subtle screen power: Watson is a major find as Bess. Graced with delicate, expressive features, she gives an extraordinary performance, never descending into conventional "mad" scenes, but emerging as a sensitive young woman who will make the ultimate sacrifice. The film does have its share of detractors however. Kenneth Turan writing for the Los Angeles Times dislikes the films technical forcefulness and feels that the disorientating visual style adds little to the overall impact of the film: the picture's in-everyone's-face cinematography (shot exclusively with a hand-held camera by Robby Muller) forces itself on characters and audience alike. Intentionally claustrophobic, it insists on our participation, repeatedly strong-arming viewers into a forced intimacy that compels interest without being either believable or persuasive. Breaking the Waves is clearly not a film for everyones tastes but that didnt stop it walking away with the Grand Prix at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival nor from taking home Film of the Year at the European Film Awards. INTERESTING FACT: Breaking the Waves was one of director Martin Scorseses ten favourite films of the nineties. His intriguing list also featured films such as The Thin Red Line, Fargo, Eyes Wide Shut and Bottle Rocket.