Going into any year’s respective Oscar season, one area of Academy Awards is often unknown to the general public: the foreign film category.
With most of the film’s not getting the chance to screen outside of places like New York or La, many of the films that are nominated for the Best Foreign Film award seem to come out of nowhere, particularly knowing the process behind getting nominated (each country can submit only one film for consideration).
Well, with nominated films like A Prophet and The White Ribbon both hitting DVD earlier this year, and the award winner The Secret In Their Eyes still making its way throughout theaters stateside, Israel’s submission and subsequent nominated film, Ajami, has finally been released on DVD.
And I have to say, it was well worth the wait.
Ajami, named after an area of Jaffa where Jews, Christians, Palestinians and Arabs attempt to live together,...
With most of the film’s not getting the chance to screen outside of places like New York or La, many of the films that are nominated for the Best Foreign Film award seem to come out of nowhere, particularly knowing the process behind getting nominated (each country can submit only one film for consideration).
Well, with nominated films like A Prophet and The White Ribbon both hitting DVD earlier this year, and the award winner The Secret In Their Eyes still making its way throughout theaters stateside, Israel’s submission and subsequent nominated film, Ajami, has finally been released on DVD.
And I have to say, it was well worth the wait.
Ajami, named after an area of Jaffa where Jews, Christians, Palestinians and Arabs attempt to live together,...
- 9/5/2010
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
Ajami (15)
(Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani, 2009, Isr/Ger) Shahir Kabaha, Ibrahim Frege, Eran Naim. 125 mins.
If any situation justifies the multi-angled Crash/Amores Perros-style treatment, it's modern-day Israel. Co-written and directed by an Israeli and a Palestinian, mostly using non-professional actors, this is more hip, streetwise and even-handed than we're used to. Set in a mixed neighbourhood of Tel Aviv, the plot skilfully juggles intertwined stories of feuds, families, drugs and violence involving characters from all faiths.
Trash Humpers (18)
(Harmony Korine, 2009, Us/UK) Brian Kotzue, Travis Nicholson, Rachel Korine. 78 mins.
Korine preserves his enfant terrible reputation with a scrappy, seedy home video following a group of masked delinquents around. It's a vaudeville of depravity (they literally hump dustbins) that manages to be grimy without being explicit.
Wild Grass (12A)
(Alain Resnais, 2009, Fra/Ita) André Dussolier, Sabine Azéma. 104 mins.
Veteran Resnais crafts a silky, genre-hopping middle-aged romance that's full of wonders and mysteries.
(Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani, 2009, Isr/Ger) Shahir Kabaha, Ibrahim Frege, Eran Naim. 125 mins.
If any situation justifies the multi-angled Crash/Amores Perros-style treatment, it's modern-day Israel. Co-written and directed by an Israeli and a Palestinian, mostly using non-professional actors, this is more hip, streetwise and even-handed than we're used to. Set in a mixed neighbourhood of Tel Aviv, the plot skilfully juggles intertwined stories of feuds, families, drugs and violence involving characters from all faiths.
Trash Humpers (18)
(Harmony Korine, 2009, Us/UK) Brian Kotzue, Travis Nicholson, Rachel Korine. 78 mins.
Korine preserves his enfant terrible reputation with a scrappy, seedy home video following a group of masked delinquents around. It's a vaudeville of depravity (they literally hump dustbins) that manages to be grimy without being explicit.
Wild Grass (12A)
(Alain Resnais, 2009, Fra/Ita) André Dussolier, Sabine Azéma. 104 mins.
Veteran Resnais crafts a silky, genre-hopping middle-aged romance that's full of wonders and mysteries.
- 6/18/2010
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Taylor Lautner could follow the step of his "Twilight" co-star Kristen Stewart who has just landed Orange Rising Star Award at 2010 BAFTAs. The 18-year-old hunk has been announced as one of the contenders to win Best Performance by Leading Young Actor at the 31st Annual Young Artist Awards for his portrayal of Jacob Black in "The Twilight Saga's New Moon". For the said prize, he will be up against Jake T. Austin ("Hotel For Dogs"), Jimmy Bennett ("Alabama Moon"), Max Records ("Where The Wild Things Are") and Devon Bostick ("Adoration").
Meanwhile, Emma Roberts and Saoirse Ronan are put under the same category, facing each other for the Best Performance by Leading Young Actress kudo. The "Hotel For Dogs" star and the "The Lovely Bones" beauty are additionally joined by Abigail Breslin ("My Sister's Keeper"), Jolie Vanier ("Shorts") and Yara Shahidi ("Imagine That") in the competition for the award.
The nominations...
Meanwhile, Emma Roberts and Saoirse Ronan are put under the same category, facing each other for the Best Performance by Leading Young Actress kudo. The "Hotel For Dogs" star and the "The Lovely Bones" beauty are additionally joined by Abigail Breslin ("My Sister's Keeper"), Jolie Vanier ("Shorts") and Yara Shahidi ("Imagine That") in the competition for the award.
The nominations...
- 2/22/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato are placed in competition against each other at the upcoming 31st Annual Young Artist Awards. As the Young Artist Foundation unveiled this year's nominees, it is revealed that the two Disney stars and best friends are vying for Leading or Supporting Young Actress title in a category for TV movie, mini-series or special.
Both Selena and Demi received the nomination for their performance as Carter Mason and Rosalinda respectively in "Princess Protection Program". Beside each other, they are also up against two other hopefuls, Tori Barban of "The Christmas Hope" and Patricia Raven of "Dear Harvard".
The two teen stars are not the only Disney's leading lady to get nominated for 2010 Young Artist Awards. Miley Cyrus has earned a nod for Leading Young Actress in TV series for her role on "Hannah Montana". She is listed among four other contenders that include the star of Nickelodeon's "iCarly", Miranda Cosgrove.
Both Selena and Demi received the nomination for their performance as Carter Mason and Rosalinda respectively in "Princess Protection Program". Beside each other, they are also up against two other hopefuls, Tori Barban of "The Christmas Hope" and Patricia Raven of "Dear Harvard".
The two teen stars are not the only Disney's leading lady to get nominated for 2010 Young Artist Awards. Miley Cyrus has earned a nod for Leading Young Actress in TV series for her role on "Hannah Montana". She is listed among four other contenders that include the star of Nickelodeon's "iCarly", Miranda Cosgrove.
- 2/22/2010
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
The nominees of the 31st Annual Young Artist Awards have been announced. "Hotel for Dogs," "Twilight Saga: New Moon," and "My Sister's Keeper" are among the nominees.
The Young Artist Awards benefits the Young Artist Foundation -- a non-profit organization which awards scholarships to financially and/or physically challenged young people seeking a future in the entertainment industry.
Winners will be announced at a gala be held on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at the Beverly Garland, Studio City, California.
Nominees of the 31st Annual Young Artist Awards (feature film categories):
Best Performance In A Feature Film
Leading Young Actor
Jake T. Austin .Hotel For Dogs.
Jimmy Bennett .Alabama Moon.
Max Records .Where The Wild Things Are.
Taylor Lautner .Twilight Saga - New Moon.
Devon Bostick .Adoration.
Best Performance In A Feature Film
Leading Young Actress
Emma Roberts .Hotel For Dogs.
Abigail Breslin .My Sister's Keeper.
Jolie Vanier .Shorts.
Yara Shahidi .Imagine...
The Young Artist Awards benefits the Young Artist Foundation -- a non-profit organization which awards scholarships to financially and/or physically challenged young people seeking a future in the entertainment industry.
Winners will be announced at a gala be held on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at the Beverly Garland, Studio City, California.
Nominees of the 31st Annual Young Artist Awards (feature film categories):
Best Performance In A Feature Film
Leading Young Actor
Jake T. Austin .Hotel For Dogs.
Jimmy Bennett .Alabama Moon.
Max Records .Where The Wild Things Are.
Taylor Lautner .Twilight Saga - New Moon.
Devon Bostick .Adoration.
Best Performance In A Feature Film
Leading Young Actress
Emma Roberts .Hotel For Dogs.
Abigail Breslin .My Sister's Keeper.
Jolie Vanier .Shorts.
Yara Shahidi .Imagine...
- 2/21/2010
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The title of the Academy Award-nominated drama Ajami refers to the neighborhood in Tel Aviv’s Jaffa sub-city where the action begins. In the opening scene, a boy is shot dead in the street, because of a misunderstanding related to a mob vendetta. The man whom the assassins meant to kill, Shahir Kabaha, attempts to broker a deal to keep his family safe, but he needs money, and his illicit romance with his boss’ daughter threatens both his livelihood and his life. Meanwhile, Kabaha’s co-worker Ibrahim Frege has just arrived back in town from the Palestinian territories—illegally—and ...
- 2/18/2010
- avclub.com
Quickcard Review
Ajami
Directed by: Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani
Cast: Shahir Kabaha, Ibrahim Frege, Eran Naim
Running Time: 2 hrs
Rating: unrated
Complete Coverage – 33rd Portland International Film Festival
Country: Israel
Plot: Palestinians’ and Israelis’ lives intersect, usually in violent ways, in an interracial neighborhood in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Who’S It For? This nominee for the Best Foreign Feature Oscar is Israel’s answer to Pulp Fiction.
Overall
Ajami sort of confounded my expectations. I was expecting a more linear film, which this isn’t. First-time filmmakers Copti and Shani were definitely influenced by Tarantino to create their elliptical narrative. Like Pulp Fiction, the film is divided into chapters that focus on different characters, all of whom ebb and flow into one another’s lives. Also both films deal heavily with drugs and violence and the consequences of messing with either. But from there, the paths diverge as Ajami takes a much more serious turn,...
Ajami
Directed by: Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani
Cast: Shahir Kabaha, Ibrahim Frege, Eran Naim
Running Time: 2 hrs
Rating: unrated
Complete Coverage – 33rd Portland International Film Festival
Country: Israel
Plot: Palestinians’ and Israelis’ lives intersect, usually in violent ways, in an interracial neighborhood in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Who’S It For? This nominee for the Best Foreign Feature Oscar is Israel’s answer to Pulp Fiction.
Overall
Ajami sort of confounded my expectations. I was expecting a more linear film, which this isn’t. First-time filmmakers Copti and Shani were definitely influenced by Tarantino to create their elliptical narrative. Like Pulp Fiction, the film is divided into chapters that focus on different characters, all of whom ebb and flow into one another’s lives. Also both films deal heavily with drugs and violence and the consequences of messing with either. But from there, the paths diverge as Ajami takes a much more serious turn,...
- 2/11/2010
- by Megan Lehar
- The Scorecard Review
Kino International
Reviewed for New York Cool by Harvey Karten
Grade: B
Directed by: Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani
Written By: Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani
Cast: Shahir Kabaha, Ibrahim Frege, Fouad Habash, Youssef Sahwani, Ranin Karim, Eran Naim, Scandar Copti
Screened at: Review 2, NYC, 11/19/09
Opens: February 3, 2010
The word on the street is that Israelis do some great things with technology, but movies are not their forte. Every once in a while, there.s an exception, in this case .Ajami,. a film whose appeal is nonetheless limited by its complexity. To get an idea of the film.s substance, think of Paul Haggis.s .Crash,. which interweaves a collection of characters during a two-day period in L.A., including a police detective with a druggie mother and thieving brother, a racist white veteran cop with an idealistic partner, an Iranian-immigrant father who buys a gun to protect his shop, a Hispanic locksmith...
Reviewed for New York Cool by Harvey Karten
Grade: B
Directed by: Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani
Written By: Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani
Cast: Shahir Kabaha, Ibrahim Frege, Fouad Habash, Youssef Sahwani, Ranin Karim, Eran Naim, Scandar Copti
Screened at: Review 2, NYC, 11/19/09
Opens: February 3, 2010
The word on the street is that Israelis do some great things with technology, but movies are not their forte. Every once in a while, there.s an exception, in this case .Ajami,. a film whose appeal is nonetheless limited by its complexity. To get an idea of the film.s substance, think of Paul Haggis.s .Crash,. which interweaves a collection of characters during a two-day period in L.A., including a police detective with a druggie mother and thieving brother, a racist white veteran cop with an idealistic partner, an Iranian-immigrant father who buys a gun to protect his shop, a Hispanic locksmith...
- 12/2/2009
- Arizona Reporter
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