George Benlian on movies, books and few other things

The return of Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet to the big screen

   

Ten years ago when i saw "Titanic" i didn't know much about Leonardo Di Caprio. The movie made him a huge star adored by the opposite sex which actually was a bad thing because i though he was just an ordinary performer loved because of his look instead of his talent. 

Ten years later, i have to admit i was wrong. Di Caprio is an exceptional one of the most gifted actor from his generation. As he is growing older, he is becoming finer. I was very impressed when i saw him in "Catch me if you can" where he was playing a con man like no other. Again, i was wowed by his performances in "The Aviator", "The Departed" and recently "Body of lies".

"Revolutionary Road" is his latest movie. He is this young middle class american male married to an unsuccessful actress played by Kate Winslet. The story takes place in the md 50's. It is adapted from a novel published in 1961 by Richard Yates. For me this is a study of people choices and their consequences. The dream of separating from a routine life into an unknown yet exciting future existence in a foreign land is the "raison d'etre" of the wife. An ambitious plan that will alas become an unfulfilled desire and will open up serious tension between husband and wife.

Sam Mendes makes the audience to reflect. Several views are offered; one of them comes even from an "insane" person. Who is right? Who is wrong? I guess the purpose of this movie is not to have precise answers. In contrary, it provides the opportunity to have fluctuated feelings and opinions. It is a strong and highly emotional movie. I am really impressed specially by the fact an American production is made with certain variations to the usual expectation that makes the experience less exciting and more predictable. 

In-I - An exploration of movements with Juliette Binoche and Akram Khan

Juliette Binoche is a gifted artist. If she is a well known actress having collaborated with various important film directors for the last twenty five years, she is also leaving her marks recently as a writer, painter and an enigmatic dancer.

She is currently performing at the Sydney Opera House in a dancing experiment with Akram Khan; a choregrapher keen of exploring a new form of dancing full of eclectic moments. A sensual encounter between a man and a woman. A love story that will contain elements of routine habits, a risk of lassitude and fortunately a rediscovery of each other. Watching "In-I" will leave the impression of a dream. Lot's of movements of bodies, a true communion of spirits and maybe an enriching experience of the soul, this is a great one hour to spend in the company of two great performers issued from two different backgrounds.

After the performance, a Q&A took place between the two artists and ABC journalist, Caroline Baum. This was a worthy initiative as the conversation between them allowed the public to enter into the world of their creative work. The concept took existence thanks to the mutual desire of two talented and intelligent artists having one thing in common; the passion of art and the willingness to explore. The result is in front of our eyes and is shared by audiences all over the world. Although very little words are said, it is interesting to note from both protagonists about the different responses and reactions they have witnessed during this adventure from audiences of different cultures.

Binoche is the quintessential European actress who has an impressive presence in the world of the cinema and continues to inspire talented directors from France, the States, Argentina and even Iran. You could see how much importance she gives on expressing herself through creativity in different art forms whether this takes place as a poem, a painting, a performance and even a dancing experiment. She did reveal her next adventure will be film making; a venture that is highly anticipated from an individual of her calibre.

A difficult task of revealing 100 of my favourite movies

It is a difficult task to name one hundred movies from a list of four thousand that i have seen over the last twenty years. It is difficult for the simple reason that some of these movies were discovered many years ago. I became a movie buff at the age of eleven and twenty years later, it is logic that my taste and sensitivity have been developed. Saying this, i still want to fulfil the task of naming one hundred movies that i have highly enjoyed watching sometime during the last two decades. It is a subjective list of course and honestly i wouldn't know if some of these movies will again make part of the top 100 if i will see them again. The important part is to share some titles without any order of preference and i guess it will reveal a lot about what i look for in a movie. Please note the presence of a large number of French titles is due to the simple fact that almost half of the four thousand movies seen by yours truly is actually made in France. I think it is not recent news about my passion for the French Cinema. To simplify things i have separated the titles by countries of production. Enjoy

American Movies

         

                                                                       

French movies

                                                                           

         

Other countries

                     

2009 French Film Festival in Australia

Every year in March, the French Film Festival organised by the Alliance Francaise is the perfect opportunity to bring a great number of French movies to our Australian cinemas. It all began twenty years ago with a modest program of i think 5 to 6 movies. I've been a regular follower since 1993 and in those days we were happy with 8 to 10 movies. In recent years, the popularity of the festival has grown immensely and naturally the number of movies selected increased as well. In 2009, we could see 35 movies. I mean if we don't have anything else to do of course. In my case, i will try to see about ten keeping in mind that some of the selected movies will be released during the year.

Looking at the program, i can see the choice of the programer, Jean-Jacques Garnier- the man responsible of bringing back Bertrand Tavenier late last year to Australia, is a fair one. If comedies are well represented, he has also chosen a number of more intimate movies. Without doubt, the festival centrepiece will be the two part movie of France's most recognisable criminal, Jacques Mesrine played by Vincent Cassel. For me both movies are a must to see and if possible it makes sense to watch part one before part two.

The opening night movie is directed by Christophe Barathier who made the extremely popular "Les Choristes" few years back. In "Paris 36", he recreates the French Capital of the Leon Blum era - 1936 where a group of unemployed enthusiasts will save a theatre in a lush reconstituted production with lots of music and dance. A true French experience that might sound rather exotic for aussie viewers.

As mentioned above, a number of comedies are being shown part of this year festival. The remake of "L'emmerdeur" - a french classic dated from 1973 is this time directed by Francis Veber who was the author of the original screenplay. In this new version  the hero and the anti hero are played by  Richard Berry and Patrick Timsit. With Francis Veber, we are always guaranteed to spend a good time. Daniel Auteuil is present in two movies; "Daddy cool" about a father/daughter relationship in a form of comedy and "Me two" with Alain Chabat and a subject that has a surreal touch. The other great comedy is the third Asterix movie which as always will entertain the audience.

 

I have great admiration to the director/actor Emmanuel Mouret. "Shall we kiss?" is selected and i am very keen to enjoy it. I am also keen to see the new movie by Jean Becker called "Love me no more".

For lovers of intellectual french cinema, my recommendation will be " A christmas tale" by Arnaud Desplechin. He makes very long movies but are worth a look. "Summer hours" by Olivier Assayas is also another choice but i will wait its commercial release in April. I have to admit i missed with enormous regret the premier screening of this movie that will take place in one week time followed by Q&A with Juliette Binoche and David Stratton. All tickets were sold super fast!

For more information about all 35 selected movies with schedule of screening times, you can check the festival website: www.frenchfilmfestival.org

An old article i have written on Charles Aznavour seeing live in 2004

Below is an article i wrote four year ago for an armenian publication in Sydney. After Cohen, let's read about this other great legend of music; Charles Aznavour. 

 

I don’t know about other armenians but for myself being able to assist to a concert by the great french singer Charles Aznavour was an old dream that finally came true.

 

At 80 years old, Aznavour is the living monument of the french music. I do not recall any other french singer, male or female who at eighty continues to perform. Most of them are either dead or retired. So what is the secret of longevity of Charles Aznavour?

 

Music is in his blood. He cannot live without music. In the month of September few days before his return for eight new concerts in his much loved Palais des Congres hall in Paris, Aznavour got a terrible asthma. It was devastating to hear this news fearing that this rare opportunity was lost for good. I don’t know about the magic recipy of his quick recovery  but Monsieur Aznavour was only obliged to cancel two concerts and fulfill the other six offering unforgettable performances.

 

If for the Armenian population, Aznavour represents the rich heritage of our centuries old culture; for the rest of the world, exluding alas Australia, he is the greatest working french performer who has always insisted to be a perfectionist in his art.

 

On the 22^nd of May 2004, the day he turned eighty, a special concert was held for his birthday. Other great french singers like Johnny Hallyday and Vanessa Paradis performed duos with him. It wasn’t a surprise to see at the front row one of his admirers, the current French President, Jacques Chirac.

 

When you listen to Aznavour performing live, lots of images can come to your mind. His songs are linked to our own memories. On stage, the man is impressive. He is ready to take you through his work to an era that doesn’t exist anymore. Song after song, masterpiece after masterpiece, they provide a feeling of happiness and proudness. Powerful words that belong to this man, that tell stories, statements and even anecdotes. Pleasant melodies that can also be heard while walking in the streets of Paris, Rome or Montreal.

 

Charles Aznavour is a master of his art. He started in the showbusiness at a very young age. His career didn’t take off that easily. For more than ten years, he had difficulties to convince the audience about his talent.  His perseverance, (his hayou gamke) helped him to continue to work, to perform, to meet great mentors like Maurice Chevalier, Charles Trenet and of course Edith Piaf. Finaly, in the mid 1950’s, the star was born during a concert season in the legendary hall of Olympia. Fifty years later, humble and energetic, passionate for his work regrouping more than eight hundred songs some written and composed by him, others by great authors like Jacques Prevert and composers like Georges Garvarents, his brother in Law; Aznavour makes you wonder why the life can be beautiful and full of hope.

 

One of the highlight of this concert was a magnificent duo with his younger daughter, Katia Aznavour. Together, they sang a brand new song called “I travel”. What a great proof  from a man of his age to show that he cannot stop to work  because after all, his work and his life go parallel to one another.

 

The dvd of his last concert tour “Happy anniversary Charles” is available to buy from the internet at www.amazon.fr