AND THE OSCAR GOES TO .......

Today only after one long month i completed seeing about 85 % of flicks nominated for Oscars.Some of the best films which released in 2008 were unduly snubbed from the nominees list and some of the films got undeserved nominations .But every year (except 1994 which i think had one of the best Oscar nominee list) such compromises happen .This is just my personal observation.Anyway from the available nominee list these will be the ones that i want/predict to be the winners.


1. Best Motion Picture of the Year : Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

An indicator: Danny Boyle, the film's director, won the Directors Guild Award , and in 52 of the last 58 years, the DGA winner's film has won the Oscar as best picture. So don't bet against it.For the Oscar panel ,this will be their first masala bollywood film .Sincerely hope that the masala fever doesn't spread to hollywood,since this fever had already killed the creativity of indian film industry and created a movie generation that only want dance ,songs,and favourite Stars in films .

2. Best Achievement in Directing : Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

For turning a mediocre cliched script into a wonderful film. It was an awesome directorial challenge, using untrained actors on unfamiliar locations, but because he won the Directors Guild Award, a usually reliable omen.

3.Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role :Sean Penn for Milk (2008)

Penn plays Harvey Milk with ease, never self-conscious, not the hero of a biopic but just this nice gay man who was made political by society's injustice.Mickey Rourke will be a very close contender. But I sense that as the voters decide on "Slum dog" as their best film, they will find Penn the way to express their love for "Milk."

4.Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008)

What a bold performance by Kate. Budding actresses ,please see this film.

5. Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Viola Davis for Doubt (2008)

She was responsible for the most devastating scene of the year.

6. Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role : Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008)

100% sure.

6. Best Original Screenplay : Dustin Lance Black for Milk (2008)

a deeply felt portrait of a man who was inspired to greatness by his life and times. Charting his way through romantic and political complications, Dustin Black prepares the way for Sean Penn's remarkable leading performance.


7. Best Adapted Screenplay : Eric Roth for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008):


8.Best Achievement in Cinematography :: Wally Pfister for The Dark Knight (2008)

Because it was the most challenging best-photographed film of the year, that's why.


9.Best Achievement in Editing : Chris Dickens for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)


10.Best Achievement in Art Direction : James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis for Changeling (2008)

11.Best Achievement in Costume Design : Michael O'Connor for The Duchess (2008)

12.Best Animated Feature Film of the Year :WALL·E (2008)

Safe Bet

13.Best Achievement in Makeup :: Greg Cannom for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

14.Best Achievement in Original Score for Motion Pictures : A.R. Rahman for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

15.Best Achievement in Original Song for Motion Pictures : Peter Gabriel ("Down to Earth") for WALL·E (2008)

why no nomination for the new Bruce Springsteen song composed specially for the movie "the wrestler (2008)".the song is titled ("the wrestler")

16.Best Achievement in Visual Effects : Eric Barba, Steve Preeg for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

17.Best Foreign Language Film of the Year : Vals Im Bashir (2008) (Israel)

The animated drama from Israel reconstructs a controversial massacre in Lebanon in 1982 with the fragmented memories of those who were there. The effect is like "Rashomon": Every witness can see from only one point of view. Animation gives director Ari Folman the freedom to show situations and points of view that would be impossible in a live-action film.

18.Best Documentary: Man on Wire (2008)

the spellbinding story of how tightwire artist Philippe Petit walked between the towers of the World Trade Center. Mixing archival and new footage and reconstructed scenes, it somehow builds suspense .

19.Best Achievement in Sound : i am not technically qualified to predict the winner .

20. Best Achievement in Sound Editing : i am not technically qualified to predict the winner .

Movie of the Month :FAILAN (2001)

AFTER THE FIRST watching of this film, I was left dumb-founded. How can I understand this movie? Is this really a melodrama? How can a movie where main male and female characters really never meet be a melodrama? This movie is a quantum leap in the melodrama genre. We will probably never see a melodrama like this one again. This movie not only completely rewrites the rules of melodramas but shows that a melodrama can deliver powerful social commentary.

SYNOPSIS:

A wretched Gangster Kang Jae (Min-Sik Choi ) is involved in the organized crime syndicate marries Failan (Cecilia Cheung ) a young Chinese girl abandoned and alone in the world in a paper marriage of convenience; she gets to stay in Korea and work, and he gets some cash for it. Then he gets news that Failan his wife is dead So he has to go to where Failan was living and act like a normal husband to fulfill the cremation and law procedures. During the trip he discovers that Failan whom he had never even met, was in love with him because of what she thought was a kind act in marrying her.

REVIEW:

At first glance, the film is just your ordinary tale of love between star-crossed lovers. However, that simple tale magically becomes a poignant story of love, life and its misfortunes. It becomes a mirror image of how most of us may unknowingly take one brief moment for granted, and not see destiny slip from our very own fingertips. Failan manages to capture all this and turn it into a haven of remorse and regret. A place where dreams fade and only the true painstaking reality exists. It's a film about an ill-fated relationship that starts at the crossroads and ends in the heavens. Failan is sweet agony at its finest.

Failan and the gangster Kang Jae are the most trivial parts of our world. One girl with no relatives or skills to depend on to survive in a strange foreign country, and a 2nd class rogue who is even thought less of by his "colleagues" in the gang. They did not even know each other before or well after their marriage, yet at their most difficult times, and ends of lives, it was this love, derived from imagination that told them to hang on, and to realize their only proof of existence on this planet. We seek for love in our real lives, yet never has been such a love seen. I guess, after all, we are to see and realize ourselves in every period of love, and in the permanent pursue of love, not our partners. And it is this self-realization that is the uttermost meaning of human lives.

The story is a slow paced one and is built heavily around character and emotion and is not made in the style of Hollywood offerings. Following Failan's experiences and the way in which others react to her story is a captivating experience which quickly pulls you in. The film is just a fantastic document of the extreme of two lives becoming a catastrophe. The plot itself is an amazing accomplishment for any writer. The originality of the film is an exemplary concept of fresh ideas in action. It is a keenly observed and intimate tale that will pull at the heart-strings of anyone, even the most cynical.

What drew me to Failan was the presence of Choi Min-Sik in the cast. After seeing him in both Lady Vengeance and Oldboy , I wanted to explore more of the career of this extraordinarily talented actor and I was not disappointed. Choi Min Sik excels at all areas; whether crying in despair; being drunk or beating someone else up he makes utterly compelling viewing. Cecilia Cheung easily does the best work of her career. Her sympathetic turn as the quiet Failan is a marvel to watch. Two of the film's more memorable sequences: Failan using quick-thinking to avoid being sold to a strip club, and the heart-wrenching first night at her new home. This film contains some awesome cinematography; gorgeous aerial shots of South Korea, plenty of great close ups .

If any of you want to see a movie about life, a movie about the true beauty of life then watch this one. If you want to see a movie which touches the deepest layers of your heart then see this KOREAN MASTERPIECE.

Title : Failan

Director: Hae-sung Song

Cast: Choi Min-Sik, Cecilia Cheung

Rated R for violence and strong language

Country:South Korea

Language : Korean

Subtitles :English

DVD Features: Audio Commentary with Director

Interviews

"Making Of" Documentary

Critic's Comments

Music Videos

Trailer Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iDi2f3aCSA

Torrent File Name :Failan[DVD-rip KOR - SubsENG-ITA-FR-SPA-GER].torrent

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