Category Archives: foreign language film

“Biutiful” (film review)

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Cliff Burns

Biutiful (2011) Director:  Alejandro Inarritu Screenplay:  Alejandro Inarritu, Armando Bo, Nicolas Giacabone Cast: Javier Bardem, Maricel Alvarez, Hanaa Bouchaib, Guillermo Estrella, Eduard Fernandez Director Alejandro Inarritu is a hot prospect in Hollywood these days. His latest film, “The Revenant”, just … Continue reading →

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“Valley of the Bees” (1967)–Review

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Cliff Burns

Valley of the Bees (1967) Director: Frantisek Vlacil Screenplay: Vladimir Korner & Frantisek Vlacil Cast: Petr Cepek, Jan Kacer, Vera Galatikova, Josef Somr I have fallen in love with the Czech “New Wave”. To date, I’ve seen a number of … Continue reading →

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Best Films of 2015

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Cliff Burns

I watched over 100 films in 2015. No other movie came close to “Hard To Be A God” in terms of its sheer, visceral impact, the power and intensity of director Aleksei German’s vision (many years coming to fruition). Here’s … Continue reading →

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“Hard To Be a God” (Movie Review)

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Cliff Burns

Hard To Be a God (2013) Director: Aleksei German Screenplay: Svetlana Karmalita & Aleksei German Cast: Leonid Yarmolnik, Dmitri Vladimirov, Laura Pitskhelauri, Aleksandr Ilyin How does one even begin to review, to assess, to assimilate Aleksei German’s “Hard To Be a God”? Any discussion of … Continue reading →

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“Le Weekend” and “The Act of Killing” (Film Reviews)

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Cliff Burns

Le Weekend (2013) Director: Roger Michell Screenplay: Hanif Kureishi Cast: Lindsay Duncan, Jim Broadbent, Jeff Goldblum The cast shines but it’s Hanif Kureishi’s savvy, wise script that is the real star of “Le Weekend “.  Kureishi is a gifted writer, his screenplays and … Continue reading →

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Reviews of “The Great Beauty” and “The Wind Rises”

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Cliff Burns

The Great Beauty (2013) Written & Directed by Paolo Sorrentino Cinematography:  Luca Bigazzi Cast:  Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferilli, Carlo Buccirosso Academy Award-winner for Best Foreign Film. “The Great Beauty” is a fitting, but never servile, homage to the … Continue reading →

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“Blancanieves” (2012): Movie Review

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Cliff Burns

Blancanieves (2012) Written and Directed by: Pablo Berger Cast:  Maribel Verdu, Emilio Gavira, Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Angela Molina, Sofia Oria, Macarena Garcia The story is familiar, you’ve known it since childhood. The film teases us for possessing that foreknowledge, giving us … Continue reading →

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“The Turin Horse” (Directed by Bela Tarr and Agnes Hranitzky)

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Cliff Burns

“The Turin Horse” (2012) Directed by: Bela Tarr & Agnes Hranitzky Written by: Bela Tarr & Laszlo Krasznahorkai Cast: Janos Derzsi, Erika Bok This reviewer has sat through a number of excruciating cinema-oriented experiences. I’ve seen “Caligula” and at least … Continue reading →

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“Amour” Academy Award Winner (Best Foreign Film)

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Cliff Burns

Amour (2012) Written & Directed by Michael Haneke Cast:  Emmanuelle Riva, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Isabelle Huppert, Alexandre Tharaud * * * * * It is about the end of things and takes place in the last weeks, days, hours. There are … Continue reading →

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PopMatters Names “Best Indie/Foreign Films of 2012”

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Cliff Burns

As previously mentioned, my chum Gord is very good about zipping fascinating, mind-bending articles and YouTube clips my way, doing his best to further my alt-culture education. This past week, he sent me Popmatters’ picks of the “Best Indie & … Continue reading →

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