One Category at a Time: Foreign Language Film

I've only been able to see three of this year's nominees (one of the disadvantages of living in Southern Ontario - not exactly the cultural hub of the country), and of the two I haven't seen, one is the likely winner. Figures.

Said likely winner is Susanne Bier's In A Better World. Having won the Golden Globe over higher-profile nominee Bituiful has given the Danish drama some valuable exposure. Apparently it's a stirring examination of the consequences of revenge, which has received strong reviews from nearly every festival it's played.

Of course, so has it's biggest competition, French-Canadian Denis Villeneuve's Incendies (which I have seen). It's a terrific bit of storytelling with dramatic heft and the weight of important history going for it, but the nonlinear chronology might not be to the voting membership's liking. But then again, last year's winner, The Secret in Their Eyes, also used liberal flashbacks. I'll be rooting for it (Go Canada!).

It may be a coin toss between these two, although I suspect Algeria's Outside the Law could have an outside shot, being a slick period drama and all.

As for the quiet, existential Biutiful and the bold, absurdist Dogtooth (the other two nominees I've seen), I imagine they just won't tickle this branch's fancy.

Will win: In A Better World
Runner-up: Incendies

Should win: Incendies
Should have been nominated: The Illusionist

My Award nominations: Foreign Film

My picks for the Best Foreign Film of the year are always subject to change because so many of them don't even get exposed in North America until much later. But as of the moment this was typed, my five are:

All That I Love (Jacek Borcuch):
Poignant coming of age for the youth of 1980s Poland as seen through the eyes of a budding punk rock music movement. Wonderfully captures the tumultuous thoughts of both the nation and the individual characters.

Biutiful (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu):
A densely depressing existential essay, told with sure-handed restraint and tact by Inarritu and his star Javier Bardem. It's beautifully shot throughout, creating a beautiful sense of place with textured, carefully composed shots.

Dogtooth (Yargos Lanthimos):
If nothing else, Dogtooth is at the very least a hard film to forget (for better or worse). Lanthimos' style is simple, intimate, gives proper focus to his actors, and features some really sumptuous cinematography.

I Am Love (Luca Guadagnino):
A fervent but ultimately pessimistic interpretation about the dangers of succumbing to your passions and exploring beyond the societal norm, framed as a stylish melodrama. Tilda Swinton owns it.

Incendies (Denis Villeneuve):
Denis Villeneuve's back-and-forth chronology may bother some, but I think it succeeds at highlighting the passage of time and the values that differ as a function thereof. Performances are strong, as is Villeneuve's confident direction, which is unafraid to jar or disturb us.

Quick reviews for 2010

Around this time of year, it's not always easy for me to find time to write proper reviews for every movie I catch up on. So anything that I see and can't be bothered to compose a lengthy review for will be mentioned here over the next few months. Read them after the cut: