Raneath the Magnificant's Ten List

1. 2046: Where do I begin with 2046? Was so long and confusing the first time I saw it but the second time, everything falls into place and been an admirer ever since. This is what you call a formalist cinema. Awesome cinematography and nostalgic music scores, can’t get better than this.

2. Big Fish: Besides my love for the whole surrealist aspects of the film, the one scene that I enjoy the most probably is the young Edward Bloom’s courtship for Sandra because I’m really romantic like that. Duh! And what about the ending huh? Teary eyes? If you really submerge yourself into a film when you watch it, very most likely.

3. The Fall: Do I really love all the fantastically costumes design, exotic locations, eye-candy cinematography, and a sad love story? You better believe it. I actually met the director with Sean at the Century Cinema Theater in Evanston. Seems like a cool person for a director of somewhat a name to sit on the ground and talk to the fans. Couldn’t hear half of what he was saying because he got an Indian accent and I don’t even speak English. Haha


4. Pan’s Labyrinth: A love at first sight by fortunate accident. Had to go see it for the Latin media study and criticism class and I thought it was gonna be some Tango-dancing Latin film. That really says how aware I was of the world’s cinema a few years ago. I think I had my mouth open the whole time. That may explain why I got that fly in my mouth. Hmmm!?

5. Kamakazi Girls: If you’re into or have any liking for the whole EGL, elegant gothic Lolita, this would be your cinematic bible. Hell, you’re into Japanese anime culture and all of its quirkiness? You’ll love it, too. Damn! Why are Asian so awesome? ;)

6. 28 Days Later: They don’t call it a genre bench marker for no good reasons. The whole deserted urban area is so captivating. That really says something about human’s fascination with our own destruction.

7. Requiem for a Dream: Honestly, this film made me want to do drugs for the first half but then… I’ve been trying to come up with something that emulates this badass of a film. Oh! Maybe I say it once and for all that other film’s trailer needs to stop using the Lux Aeterna theme already? You’re diluting a gem, partner.

8. Taxi Driver: “Are you talking to me?” “Have you ever seen what a .44 Magnum will do to a woman’s pussy?” Got to love that Scorsese guy lol. I totally dig De niro’s role and acting in this one. That double-take look in the restaurant with other cab drivers? That’s what I’m talking about.

9. Dead Man: What a film, huh? To be honest, I don’t know what the film is about. My brain isn’t that complex to comprehend what Jarmusch is trying to get at in this film but you know the film is good when you enjoy it without knowing what the fuck is going on. Let me know though if you think you understand this film’s meaning.

10. Brain Dead: Fucking gross, funny, scary, and ridiculously awesome at all the same time. Did you see the cream scene? So yummy! Peter Jackson needs to go back and make more stuff like this.

-I actually got a top 20 list and can’t narrow it down so I just pick 10 randomly and my list is in no way in ascending or descending order as I value them as equally good, just in different ways.

Ashley's TOP 10!!!!!!

Hey everybody!!!! This is my long overdue top ten list. Actually, it is 11 because I couldn't delete one without feeling blasphemous. Like Vince with his Star Wars, I am not including Buffy the Vampire Slayer or any Joss Whedon creations in that they are perfection and no one can compare......

11. Harold and Maude: This is an interesting study on love. It is quirky and Cat Stevens wrote most of the soundtrack specifically for the movie (before he went crazy). Even though you should be weirded out, you're not. It makes you think about love and life differently, which is why this movie rocks.

10. Sunset Boulevard: "I always wanted a pool." Enough said.

9. Streetcar named Desire: The play is phenomenal (obviously), the acting is brilliant, and so goes the film. There is so much intensity in this movie. Tennessee Williams creates such an intricate story, and the imagery is so layered, every time you watch it you find something new. PS. Marlon Brando is beyond sexy.

8. Casablanca: There's a reason this is a classic. It is sad, it is funny, it is awesome. If you haven't seen it, do it now.

7. Jules et Jim: Oh mon dieu how can we not include this? Classic French brilliance by Truffaut. He pushes things and we love him for that.

6. Lost In Translation: I love how honest this movie is. The dialogue is real and terrific and the cinematography creates some beautiful images. Bill Murray knows how to create an astounding character. Woo ScoJo!

5. Life Aquatic: Again, I say Bill Murray. Most people like The Royal Tenenbaums better (and it is most definitely brilliant), but this is my favorite Wes Anderson film. The soundtrack is amazing, and I think it is just a little more bizarre, which I guess I am considering a good thing.

4. Volver: This movie is staggeringly good. Pedro Almodóvar is definitely one of my favorite directors, and Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown was close to making this list. But, Volver is beautiful. The story is ingenious, and Penelope Cruz has one of the most incredibly acted scenes I have ever seen. Hooray.

3. Moulin Rouge: Don't make fun of me. I guess you can if you want, but Baz Luhrmann is a genius. The Red Curtain Trilogy (this movie plus Strictly Ballroom and Romeo + Juliet)is good directing smacking you in the face. Costumes, Set Design, Cinematography, every little thing about this movie amazes me. It is romantic. I love it.

2. Before Sunrise/Before Sunset Duo: I LOVE these movies because they are proof to everyone that simple, low budgeted, clever films can be made. Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke co-wrote Before Sunset with Richard Linklater. Both films are 90 minutes of intelligent conversation, which seems really dull, but turns out to be truly insightful and it makes you feel good. Brilliant. Love it, watch it over and over.

1. 400 Blows: This was a difficult choice. Wait, no it wasn't. This film is beyond description. When you watch it, something inside you gets woken up and you remember childhood in a different way. The final scene is worth every complaint I have ever heard about this film. It is freeing, and Antoine Doinel becomes a character that you never ever forget...ever.

Woo, that was long but really fun. I hope you all get a chance to do this yourselves. Email your own top 10 (or 11) lists to me or Vince and we will get them up!! YAY LUCine!!!!

A good film fest opportunity

Forwarded to us by Jeff:

Dear Professor Harder,

My name is Ian and I am on the publicity staff for the Ivy Film Festival. We were hoping to reach a broad audience of student filmmakers by going directly through professors involved in the theatre arts and film studies. I noticed that you are the Director of International Film & Media Studies at Loyola University Chicago. If there were any students in your class or in your department who would be interested in submitting a film or screenplay, I hope that you'll forward the following message! Although the regular deadline has already passed, we are still looking for submissions and will be accepting films or screenplays until February 21st.

Just a little bit about us: The Ivy Film Festival started in 2001 as a place for undergraduate and graduate filmmakers to share their work, and interact with other student filmmakers as well as established figures in the film industry. The 2009 Ivy Film Festival will take place from April 20th through the 26th, at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. We present selected films and screenplays to a wide audience, and a panel of celebrity judges (including directors, producers, writers, and agents) views the best selections from the festival.
Here are the details about submitting materials to the festival:

Please submit films (short or feature length) and/or screenplays (short or long form) to the 2009 Ivy Film Festival online at www.withoutabox.com or through the mail (visit www.ivyfilmfestival.com for more details). The deadlines are as follows:


Late deadline (February 14, 2009):
First film or screenplay submission - $30
Additional submissions - $15

Without A Box Extended deadline (February 21, 2009):
First film or screenplay submission - $45
Additional submissions - $20

If there are any questions, then feel free to email us at iffpublicity2009@gmail.com. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Ian Veidenheimer
Publicity Staff
Ivy Film Festival
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
www.ivyfilmfestival.com

Looks like something worth checking out.

V.

Sukiyaki Western Django!

Since I have become involved in the whole cinema world or more specifically making it, I’ve always wanted to make a Western, being somewhat of a fan. Last night, I accidentally stumbled on a film which I had sometimes envisioned myself making, an Asian Western. Yes! An Asian Spaghetti Western. I always had the idea of taking the elements of a Western and set them in an Asian background, or more specifically Khmer. However, this film is Japanese. In a gross over simplification, it's what it would be like if Japanese Samurai film meets the Spaghetti Western. I don’t like to ruin a movie experience, especially the first time, for people by trying to describe too much what it is so let me just say that it is visually striking, funny throughout, and undeniably fresh. I still don’t know how I feel about the film entirely as it has not sunk in yet so I need to go watch it a couple more times and you should also treat yourself to this film if you want to see somewhat of a re-envision of the Spaghetti Western. Oh! The film is called Sukiyaki Western Django, directed by the controversial Japanese director Takashi Miike.

Trailer

-Joker

The New LUCine Mascot

Yes, here he is in all his pasty pinstriped glory. Nothing says "student film society" like a leering gangbanger dressed like a Yankee with typhoid fever. Look at the back light creating that wispy halo around his inky black hair. Glorious.

Facets Film School: since one can never have too much film education.

This was passed along to me to share with the rest of LUCine... Facets is a really cool film shrine in Lincoln Park and they're accepting people for a variety of classes this winter. Check out the details at:

Facets Film School

V.

Vince's Top 10

Ok, so over the next few days I'm hoping everyone will put up their top ten films and a little info on why they like 'em. I'll start thigs off with these choice moving pictures:

(The Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies are not included in this list because they occupy that special place in my heart that cannot be numerically evaluated, and yes, they're both TRILOGIES.)

10. Blazing Saddles: I have to include a film with Gene Wilder in it, and as much as I love his Willy Wonka (shame on you, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, for thinking you could top it), this movie is so inappropriately hilarious that it never gets old. Seriously, is there anything funnier than a black man baiting Klan members by asking "where all the white women at?"

9. City of God: Every time I watch this, I have to grimace when Lil'Ze forces one little kid to shoot another... Incredibly violent but thrilling at the same time, "City of God" works because each character gets under your skin, for better or for worse. Plus, the cinematography depicting the slums of Rio is downright amazing. The best "based on a true story" movie out there.

8. Starship Troopers: Go ahead, laugh. Done? Now read carefully: this is one of the most intelligently made films I've ever seen. I won't go into it here, you'll have to ask me in person, but don't worry, I'll convince you. I will. In the meantime, go read the source material, the seminal sci-fi book of the same name by Robert A. Heinlein.

7. Dumb and Dumber: While "Blazing Saddles" is all about satire and the lambasting of stereotypes, this vintage Farrelly Brothers masterpiece is the only film I can quote from front to back. Literally every line is hilarious, and major props to Cam Neely (of Boston Bruins fame) as lonely trucker Seabass. "I think I just... yeah. I had an idea." Classic.

6. The Jungle Book: Maybe it's just because I watched it every day when I was a child, but it's still the best traditionally-animated film Disney made, with the best Disney song ("The Bear Necessities," obviously). Shere Khan still scares the crap out of me.

5. Aliens: The best war movie made (did you know it's about Vietnam?) and the best sequel ever. James Cameron really knew how to make 'em back then, as he sandwiched this one in between "Terminator" and "T2: Judgement Day." Ellen Ripley's "get away from her you bitch!" gives you shivers, and Bishop saving Newt even though he's CUT IN HALF is amazing.

4. Bicycle Thieves: Italian Neo-Realism at its best, this film inspires me every time I watch it because it was made with no budget, non-professional actors, and an absurdly simple story yet still ends as tragically as anything else ever shot on camera, proving that money does not a good film make.

3. Back To The Future: This should be painfully obvious, buttheads.

2. Wall-E: Someday critics are going to look back and realize that "Wall-E" is one of the greatest love stories ever told. And the telling... the film is virtually dialog free, yet communicates more than the most verbose character dramas. Pixar took a huge risk, and the result was the first movie I walked out of the theatre and claimed a masterpiece.

1. The 400 Blows: The brutal honesty at the heart of this, François Truffaut's first film, reflects his own life and his love of film; as a critic he saw countless features, and he, like any good film student, recoginzed what makes movies great entertainment. We've all felt lost like Antoine Doinel at some point, and we all hope that we might also reach the coast and look out into the open sea, somehow contented.

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

Ah, the memories from our first group screening, the fantastic Scandinavian vampire flick "Let The Right One In."

Here's what Avery had to say about it, after some deep personal reflection:

"ok, so i was thinking about it, and here's what i think is really going down.

eli is 12 forever right? so i think that old guy is not her dad, but was some other kid/person that fell in love with her and who has just grown old while eli stays 12. and because he loves her, that's why he was so willing to kill people and drain their blood. so now that homeboy is dead, she has oskar to replace him!
eli probably singled oskar out for her next companion when he was fucking stabbing a tree! he was on the verge of killing someone before she even showed up. this makes SO much sense.

ummm the end!"

Concise, humorous, and pretty brilliant. Got stuff like this? Get it to us so we can get it up here.

V.

Yes, we're officially on-line... whatever that means.

Hello all, and welcome to the new LUCine web destination. Firstly, if you're part of this fine organization be sure to bookmark this page, since Ashley and I will be doing our best to make it sweet. Secondly, if you've got something to put up here, and as long as it's remotely connected to movies then it's a go, let me know. Uh, finally, tell your friends that we've gone high-tech.

More info on the CampusFilmFest, The Loyola Student Festival, and upcoming screenings forthcoming.

Best,

V.