2011's Nominees: Part 8 of 12

HORS-LA-LOI (OUTSIDE THE LAW)

1 Nomination:

  · Best Foreign Language Film: Algeria (Dust of Life, Indigènes [Days of Glory])

Director: Rachid Bouchareb
Cast: Jamel Debbouze, Roschdy Zem, Sami Bouajila, Sabrina Seyvecou, Assaad Bouab

 
This is Rachid Bouchareb's second nomination in this category. Indigènes, the previous film, also happened to star Debbouze, Zem, and Bouajila (a favorite actor of mine). This is another one of the foreign language films that I have not yet seen. It has been released in the U.S., however, and ought to be on DVD soon...


Will Win: N/A
Might Win: N/A
My Rating: Not Yet Rated

DOGTOOTH

1 Nomination:

  · Best Foreign Language Film: Greece

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Cast: Aggeliki Papoulia, Christos Stergioglou, Hristos Passalis, Mary Tsoni, Anna Kalaitzidou, Michele Valley

 
I have no idea how this movie got nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. I say that not because the film is not good – it's fascinating, actually – but because it is a really bizarre film. For a group of people who is into, you know, Joyeux Noël and Departures, Dogtooth is a strange choice indeed. This movie is about a man and his wife who raise their children as dictators, allowing them no access to any culture but their own and creating strange (and inexplicable in the context of the film) rituals. This appears to be a kind of protection against violence and perhaps sexuality. And yet... the children (who are actually adults) are shockingly violent and brutal with one another. As you can imagine, all of this does not have a happy ending; I found it all quite compelling.


Will Win: N/A
Might Win: Art Direction
My Rating: #19 out of 46

THE TEMPEST

1 Nomination:

  · Best Costume Design: Sandy Powell (Orlando, The Wings of the Dove, Velvet Goldmine, Shakespeare in Love, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Mrs Henderson Presents, The Young Victoria)

Director: Julie Taymor
Cast: Helen Mirren, Felicity Jones, Reeve Carney, Ben Whishaw, Djimon Hounsou, Russell Brand, Chris Cooper, David Strathairn, Tom Conti, Alfred Molina,

 
I am so over Julie Taymor I can hardly deal with it. I haven't seen this yet, but Prospero as a woman? The idea could work, I suppose, but the play itself is heavily invested in colonialist narratives, heteronormativity, misogyny (obviously), and a persistent, unmistakable classism. So, what do we glean from the trailer? All of these appear to be as present in the film as they are in Shakesperare's 1611 original, and the visual effects appear to be – in a word – risible. As for its release date... that happened already. It didn't come to this city; where did it play? (This is unkind. Sorry. I am just really over this whole idea.)
 
Will Win: N/A
Might Win: N/A
My Rating: Not Yet Rated