Film Festival 2008 Round-Up - page 2

14-11-2008 14:02

Cultures and attitudes often clash in the classroom, a microcosm of contemporary France. As amusing and inspiring as the teenaged students can be, their difficult behaviour can still jeopardise any teacher's enthusiasm for the low-paying job.

François insists on an atmosphere of respect and diligence. Neither stuffy nor severe, his extravagant frankness often takes the students by surprise. But his classroom ethics are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his methods...

But Venice Film Festival was a major disappointment as it seemed to run out of steam at the half way point the writer's strike is being blamed for the lack luster line-up which is famous for kicking off the award season as well as highlighting movies that tend to do well when the gongs start to get handed out, while other are simply suggesting that 2008 is a bad year for film.

However there were a handful of movies that did shine including Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff, his adaptation of The Little Mermaid. The film follows a five year old boy named Souske and his relationship with a goldfish princess named Ponyo who longs to become human.

A second Japanese picture, Achilles and the Tortoise is also proving to be popular with the critics. The film, which is directed by Takeshi Kitano, follows Machisu who is born into a wealthy family but loses his parents as a child and decides to follow his dreams of being a painter.

But it was Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler that scooped the Golden Lion. The Wrestler follows Randy 'Ram' Robinson, played by Mickey Rourke, a retired professional wrestler who was forced to quit after a heart attack threatened to kill him if he wrestled again.

Trying to move on Robinson starts working in a deli as well as moving in with an ageing stripper and trying to build a relationship with her son. But the chance of a rematch with his old nemesis Ayatollah proves too much of a temptation even though the fight could cost him his life.

The role sees Rourke return to the big screen after a troubled career, but his recent roles in Sin City and Domino have proved successful, and there are already whispers of Oscar success for his performance.

It was straight onto Toronto where there were a string of movies that lit up the festival and it was gritty realism that was on the agenda. Leading the way is British filmmaker Danny Boyle with Slumdog Millionaire who returns to a film of harsh reality, a formula that brought him success with trainspotting, as he looks at the brutal way of life of growing up in India. Already having been well received at the Telluride Film Festival Slumdog Millionaire is already surrounded in Oscar hype.

Also doing well is Irish Drama Kisses which follows two pre-teens Dylan and Kylie who come from troubled families who run away to Dublin in search of a better life for themselves.

Rachel Getting Married was one of very few American movies at Venice that put on a good show and it was on a roll by the time it reached Toronto and is perhaps to be the defining role of Anne Hathaway's career so far the film tackles the idea of a dysfunctional family as well as battling addiction. Along with the likes of Keira Knightley Anne Hathaway's performance has been ear marked as a possible Oscar contender.

Finally London Film Festival was the best in the events history as a stream of high profile directors and stars graced the red carpet W and Frost/Nixon got big premieres as both of them had avoided the festival circuit despite many movies using it to drum up support and of the two political movies that are hoping for Oscar nods it's Frost/Nixon that came out on top.

Despite there being praise for Josh Brolin as President George W Bush the film itself came under fire while Frost/Nixon was predominantly praised and Frank Langella's performance as President Nixon tipped as the one to beat come the Oscars. and the performance of Michael Sheen as Frost sees him back up his great break through role as Tony Blair in The Queen.

Other Oscar contenders on show was Anne Hathaway and her new film Rachel Getting Married which, like many, had gained festival circuit over recent months and Che, which stars Benicio Del Toro was also on show and received great support from audiences.

Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire brought the curtain down on the 52nd London Film Festival on Thursday night a film that once again put British filmmaking in the spotlight.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw