Since everybody here already knows about my obsession with Ryan Gosling, it will come as no surprise that I am super and I mean SUPER excited about the release of his latest film The Place Beyond the Pines next week. It premiered last year at the Toronto Film Festival and is by the director that also created Blue Valentine Derek Cianfrance.
Gosling plays motorcycle stuntman Luke who gives up his dangerous job when his ex-lover Romina (real life current lover of Gosling Eva Mendes) reveals they have a son. Although Romina doesn’t want him in his son’s life, Luke wants to provide for the child and partners with an “ex”-bank robber to start a career in doing precisely that.
Of course it won’t stay good for long and the trailer seems dark, dangerous and reminds me somewhat of Drive (without the underlying humor). I will get back with more details once I’ve seen the piece. For now all I can say is watch the trailer, you’ll want to see it too! Details and the trailer after the jump….
Read on…
by Lia | Movies
The hangover from January 1st is finally fading and it’s time to welcome the new year. There are often reviews of what was great in the past year, but instead of writing about the great films of 2012 I’d like to embrace what’s coming up and take a peak at which long expected films will hit the cinemas in 2013.
Get ready. These are some real gems to look forward to…
Read on…
by Lia | Movies
How many films have you seen today? Is there one you’d recommend? What will you watch next? That’s clearly festival talk. Currently it’s going on in Vienna, where the 50th issue of the film festival Viennale just started.
The Viennale was the first film festival I ever visited and also the one I still like most. That’s probably due to a variety of factors. I studied film in Vienna, so of course the festival was the highlight of the year. Not only because of the great films, but also because it really seems to change Vienna. Living there it is impossible not to notice the festival is taking place. There’s plenty of people everywhere, new venues springing up all over the city and simply something on every single night…
Read on…
by Lia | Movies
He was elected last sunday, the new head of the State, the highest representative of Germany, Joachim Gauck is Germany’s new President. He was nominated for the second time and after he had lost agains Christian Wulff in 2010 he received 991 votes at this sundays election. The quick second chance for his election was due to the scandal around Wulff, his private loans and a series of doubtful parties. It wasn´t a massive political scandal, but it was enough of a dent to his persona to make him resign from his position. Sadly I couldn´t find German productions that deserve the name political thriller. But there are quite a few films dealing with American politics. So this week a small selection of films that take us to the heart of politics…
Read on…
by Lia | Misc., Movies
The time has finally come: Nicolas Winding Refn‘s Drive will be released this Thursday. I have been excited about this film for months as I was lucky enough to see it at the Vienna Film Festival back in November. It was a Saturday Night 12 pm showing and yet the massive Gartenbau Cinema was sold out completely. Drive had premiered in Cannes, the Refn received the palme d´or as best director and the film was received outstandingly well by audiences and critics alike. So word was out that this was a must see.
Everybody had a beer, everybody was excited and as soon as the film started all hearts stopped in awe. Ryan Gosling is Driver. The nameless Protagonist works in a garage and as a stuntmen during the days, and becomes a getaway driver at nights. He seems introvert and calm, but starts opening up a a littel when he meets and falls in love with his neighbour, Irene (Carey Mulligan). When Irenes husband returns the films starts picking up it´s pace, just to slow down again in all the right moments. Things go wrong, Driver is in trouble, we suddenly see whats inside him, as he fights for his life and Irenes safety.
Refn tells this story in an action manner, but treats it´s protagonists with much more empathy and respect than these films usually do. It pays attention to detail, evokes emotions atypical for this genre and tops the cake with great music.
If you like action thrillers you´re hopefully already checking playing times in a nearby cinema. If this isn´t your typical choice, let me try to convince you again: Drive is much more than an action thriller. It´s a character study, an amazingly empathetic film that finds the perfect balance between action and conversation, fast cuts and slow motion and has an amazing cast. Go see it on the big screen!
All trailers and more Ryan Gosling Films after the Jump!
Read on…
by Lia | Movies
