Welcome to FlixChatter’s primary blog series! As is customary for this monthly feature, I get to post five random news item/observation/poster, etc. and then turn it over to you to share your take on that given topic. You can see the previous five-for-the-fifth posts here.
1. Since tonight I will be attending a Christopher Nolan‘s Conversation with Scott Foundas, chief film critic for Variety, I thought I’d dedicate my first question in Nolan’s honor.
Nolan is actually the first filmmaker whose complete works I have seen, though not in order as I’ve just caught up with his first film The Following (1998) a few years ago. I made a birthday tribute to him in 2012 by ranking his movies. Even though I wasn’t wowed by Interstellar, a so-so Chris Nolan film is still a darn good one. Foundas posted an article on Walker Art website on Nolan, calling him A Practical Magician of Modern Movies, which I think is an apt description.
So if you can ask one question to Nolan, what would it be?
….
2. I always like to include some kind of FIRST LOOK in FFTF, and this one just arrived yesterday courtesy of EW. It’s Martin Scorsese‘s upcoming drama SILENCE starring Andrew Garfield. It also stars Liam Neeson and Adam Driver due out in 2016.
Based on Shusako Endo’s 1966 novel, ‘Silence’ tells the story of a Portuguese Jesuit missionary who is persecuted along with other Christians in 17th-century Japan. Garfield portrays Father Rodrigues, pictured in an exclusive image with Shinya Tsukamoto, who plays a villager named Mokichi.
Per EW, Scorsese told reporters in a press conference in Taiwan that he’d been trying to find a way to adapt this novel since he first read it more than 25 years ago, and that its themes resonated with him deeply. “The subject matter presented by Shusaku Endo was in my life since I was very, very young, … I was very much involved in religion, I was raised in a strong Catholic family. … Further reflection is how [we] want to lead our life in the Christian faith … so ultimately this book drew my attention when it was given to me in 1988.”
The spiritual element certainly piqued my interest. Sounds like a meaty role for Garfield and I’m happy for him. I saw him in this British indie Boy A prior to his stint as Spiderman and he’s certainly a capable actor.
What’s your initial thoughts of Silence?
…
3. Now, since today is Cinco De Mayo, I usually highlight Mexican filmmakers and/or actors but this time around why not talk about Mexican cinema in general. I actually haven’t seen any film about the Battle of Puebla, which is what the Fifth of May commemorates. There’s one called Cinco de May: La Batalla that’s just released in 2013. This still below is from that film, has anyone seen it?
Lately Mexican filmmakers have dominated the award seasons, culminating with two Mexican directors and winning Best Picture Oscars back to back (Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity and Alejandro González Iñárritu for Birdman). But there are many others that have made a name in Hollywood and not just limited to directors, Emmanuel Lubezki is no doubt the hottest cinematographer working today.
So in celebration of Mexican cinema, what’s your favorite Mexican film?
…
4. I’ve been watching a ton of foreign films lately, thanks to MSPIFF AND my new crush Stanley Weber who’s so far have been mostly in French films (Violette, Thérèse Desqueyroux).
One of my top 3 picks from MSPIFF is definitely Girlhood (Bande de Files), a French coming-of-age drama that really spoke to me and featured one of my favorite scenes ever. I LOVE Karidja Touré‘s performance in that film, and it made me think how I wish more people would discover her. She’s still only 21 years old and based on this article, she is bilingual which helps… “Better practise my English so I can be a star in the States.” I’d love to see her get noticed the way Lupita Nyong’O practically took Hollywood by storm.
As for Stanley Weber, well he’s been my obsession in the past month or so. I’m not gonna lie, of course I was initially transfixed by his ridiculous good looks. He’s like a taller, sexier, more virile version of Chris Pine, with a hint of Richard Madden. But looks alone won’t get me all worked up about. Actors I love have to have the chops AND screen presence and Stanley’s got both in spades.
Classically trained at Cours Florent, French National Academy of Dramatic Arts and the London counterpart LAMDA, his background is theater but he’s done quite a few TV and film works in the past decade. Even in smaller supporting roles alongside big names of French cinema, Isabelle Adjani, Emmanuelle Devos, Audrey Tautou, etc. he more than held his own. He’s only 28 but seems much older than he looks, I kind of think of him like an old soul. As with ANY successful actor, versatility is key and I’ve seen him display his comedic chops in a British rom-com (Not Another Happy Ending) as well as portray a devilishly charming psychopath (BORGIA: Faith & Fear) convincingly. So yeah, I’m dying for him to get more leading roles, and soon!!
Which foreign actor/actress you noticed lately that you wish would get their big break in Hollywood?
….
5. This month’s Five for the Fifth’s guest is Tom from Digital Shortbread!
Seeing that Avengers: Age of Ultron has just rolled on through, I thought it’d be interesting to gauge what people think of highly anticipated movie events.
Is hype generally a good thing or generally a bad thing, in your view, when it comes to movies?
…
Well, that’s it for the May 2015 edition of Five for the Fifth, folks. Now, please pick a question out of the five above or better yet, do ‘em all! 😀
…
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Love all of these questions!
1) I’d ask Nolan if he’d ever consider hiring a better editor. LOL…I kid, but really.
2) Silence is one of my most anticipated of next year. I even got the book to read this year in preparation. Hype around this from fans of the book is HUGE.
3) Hmmmm…favorite Mexican film? Y Tu Mama Tambien?
4) This may come as no surprise, but I’m going to Suzanne Clement. She’s really only been given good roles from wonderkid Xavier Dolan, but she’s INCREDIBLE and speaks English, so she really should be given a cross over break soon, hopefully!
5) Hype is a tricky thing. Over hype is a problem (you know, hyperbole), but a good amount of hype can stir interest and gain an audience that may be hard to get initially.
Hi Drew!
Ahah yeah, no kidding!
I hope Silence lives up to the book, it sounds like a very intriguing subject as well as a personal one.
I have a feeling Y Tu Mama Tambien would get many votes!
I read that Clement is Canadian so yeah I’d think she has no trouble starring in Hollywood films!
1. What were his thoughts about MAN OF STEEL? Specifically, the darker aspect that seems fine for BATMAN but incongruous for SUPERMAN.
2. Don’t know much about it at this point. Sounds intriguing, though.
3. Y Tu Mamá También by Alfonso Cuarón
4. Can’t think of one at the moment.
5. Both. I don’t think you can have one without the other. Some films need it because they wouldn’t automatically get the attention otherwise. Some are overly hyped to the point audiences are going to be disappointed no matter what because the film has been overbuilt in their imagination.
Hi Michael! Oh that’s a good question for Nolan, I just might ask that if nobody else asks him about it.
Y Tu Mamá También is on Netflix I think, I should check it out. It’s a very risque movie, no?
It has its moments 😉
Always fun answering these questions, here are my for this month:
1. I’d ask him if he would ever consider handing off his scripts to other writers, even though I loved his Dark Knight trilogy and Intersteller, all of those films needed have the scripts polished. I know his answer will be a stern NO and since he’s a powerful filmmaker now, no studio will ever ask him to do that.
2. I cannot wait to see SILENCE but I’ll always say that every time a new Scorsese film comes out.
3. I haven’t seen a lot of Mexican films to know much about them, let alone pick my favorite. But Cauron is definitely one of my favorite filmmakers working today.
4. I don’t pay attention to actors much so I can’t answer this one.
5. I agree with Michael. You can’t avoid the hype especially in the world we live in now. Of course most hyped up films rarely meets expectations, MAN OF STEEL and PROMETHEUS were some good recent examples. Way overhyped and the final products were so so.
Hi Ted! Too bad you won’t be going tonight, I mean it’s you who told me about this event!
That’s a good question but I don’t know if he’d even answer that, like you said he seems like a bit of a control freak.
Yeah, Scorsese seems to be one of those rare filmmakers who are quite consistent in delivering quality work.
Ahah and I don’t think you watch a lot of foreign films, no? Btw, did you say you love the original Man of Fire? Well, Stanley’s just done a film with the director of the 1987 film, Élie Chouraqui, it’s called L’origine de la violence. I wish it’ll get an international distributor soon!!
Yeah I’m bummed too that I wasn’t able to buy a ticket. You’re going to do a post about it right? I can just read about it here then.
I only watched mostly foreign films from the far east, China and Korea. Some French and British flicks but not a lot from South America. I did see all of Del Toro’s earlier films but some of them were produced in Spain so I don’t think they count as Mexican films.
I’ve never heard of L’origine de la violence, I’ll have to look that up. And yes I enjoyed the original Man of Fire but I didn’t think the film was well directed.
Enjoy the talk with Nolan tonight, I’m sure it will be a full house!
Good questions!
1. I’d ask him how the hell he came up with Memento.
2.Silence looks good. My fun fact for you is that it was the Portuguese who introduced tempura to Japan.
3. I’ll go for Cronos as my fav Mexican film. I love all Del Toro’s movies.
4. I’d like to see Iko Uwais from The Raid movies in a big Hollywood action movie. I know he’s involved in the new Star Wars in some way but don’t know what.
5. I don’t mind hype, as long as it doesn’t reveal too much about the movie. I hate when we know all the best bits before the film is even released.
Hi there Mikey!
Ahah, now that’s a question, might need a whole lecture on it 😛
Fun trivia, I did NOT know that!
Cronos is horror right?
Oh I’d LOVE to see Iko Uwais get a big break in Hollywood action movie, but I don’t know if he could speak decent English. It’d be nice to see an actor from my home country for a change though.
1. Does he ever anticipate making another film on the scale of The Following?
2. Silence looks like it could be a cracker
3. You can’t beat Pan’s Labyrinth
4. I concur with Mikey from Screenkicker
5. Like most other things, in moderation! The problem is that Hollywood simply cannot do anything in moderation. I don’t think the hype surrounding Interstellar did the film any favours, for instance. It was a different film to what the hype merchants were selling it as
Hi Mark!
Oh I’m gonna ask him about that too, whether he’d be keen on making an indie film again or at least a smaller scope than his recent blockbusters.
Pan’s Labyrinth is indeed a fantastic film.
Yay! As a fellow Indonesian, I support Mr. Uwais! 😛
Thanks Ruth! If I think of any other questions for Mr N I’ll let you know!
A little hype can be a good thing, but I have to admit one of the things I have really grown to like about not following all the movie news sources is that I can more easily limit my intake on such things. I like seeing the occasional movie trailer, but generally once I’ve decided I want to see the film, I don’t want to know anything more about it, you know what I mean?
Yep, I feel exactly the same way Morgan.
hype can be nothing unless you make it something. Personally I just ignore it and watch movies going in blind.
And regardless of hype, am I the only person thoroughly over all this super-hero stuff?!
Hi Jordan! I’m getting superhero fatigue too and I’m sure we’re not the only ones. Any thoughts on the other questions? 😉
– Nolan – probably what others have said, will he ever make stuff like Following or Memento again. or The Prestige.
– I look forward to any Scorcese movie, that one looks pretty decent
– Never seen a Del Toro movie, and can’t think of a Mexican film I have even seen. God I’m uncultured!
– He is kinda breaking into Hollywood now (though his last film was a VERY french film), I choose Matthiu Amalric. Have loved him since I first saw him in Polanski’s latest film
Hi again Jordan! Ahah don’t feel bad, I haven’t seen many Mexican films either, so my fave would have to be Pan’s Labyrinth for now.
I’ve only seen Matthiu Amalric in Quantum of Solace but yeah he seems like a very good actor.
he pops up in The Grand Budapest Hotel for a few scenes. You should check out Venus in Fur or The Blue Room, both amazing French films with Amalric as lead
1.) Will we see any smaller productions from you in the future, like Memento?
3.) I still have so many to see. Today I’m going with Pan’s Labyrinth
4.) Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has made a name for himself in Game of Thrones, but has yet to star in a great Hollywood film. I hope it happens. For me his best movies are still the Scandinavian ones, Nattervagten (1994) and Headhunters (2011)
“one of my favorite scenes ever”. I heard there’s a memorable dance scene in Girlhood, is that the scene you allude to Ruth?
5.) Good question. It depends, because it brings a lot of joy to people to see Han solo and Chewy again, yet we don’t want the plotline spoiled by the trailers which is the case with the upcoming Southpaw
Hi there Chris!
I didn’t get a chance to ask any question to Nolan, there were just too many people who raised their hands.
I’m w/ you on Pan’s Labyrinth.
Oh yeah, Nikolaj has done sooo many great works and I think Hollywood HAS noticed him, he just needs the one movie that’d cement his career. Yes that is EXACTLY the scene I’m speaking of in Girlhood, though that finale is also one that made a lasting impression.
1. When will Nolan make… a comedy? I think he’s got a knack for it as some of his film do have humor.
2. It’s Scorsese as that first pic looks interesting so I will definitely see it.
3. Y Tu Mama Tambien
4. Easy, no one. I don’t want anyone to be ruined and misused by Hollywood.
5. Hype is a bad thing as I always go into watching films with low to zero expectations unless it’s from a filmmaker I’m familiar with regardless of what kind film that person is making. After all, that Mayweather-Pacquiao farce is an example of what happens when everything doesn’t live up to the hype.
Hi Steven!
I was gonna ask Nolan about that but there were too many people who raised their hands. It’d be interesting to see him do a comedy though.
Ahah, I hear ya about what you said about Hollywood ‘ruining’ a bunch of foreign actors’ life, but there are also plenty who can rise above them… I mean just looking at the French actors like Juliette Binoche, Audrey Tautou, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, etc. they still manage to forge a good career in their native land. That’s what I want for both actors I mention, that they still retain their ‘indie’ roots if you will.
Thanks for having me today Ruth!
#1) Christopher Nolan, if you made contact with aliens what would be the first thing you tell them?
#2) Silence sounds intense. Don’t know much about it but I like the casting and I am behind Scorsese all the way!!!! Very excited about this one.
#3) I remember The Orphanage creeping me out sufficiently. I haven’t gone near it in a long while.
#4) I think foreign actors are best left to their respective industries and stay far afield from Hollywood. Hollywood has been known to ruin careers (Johnny Depp). But to answer the question more satisfactorily, I’d like to see Lea Seydoux experience a rise to prominence. She was tremendous in Blue is the Warmest Color and was definitely welcome in Grand Budapest Hotel.
Hey Tom, no thank YOU to be a part of FFTF!
Ahah, if only I could ask Nolan YOUR question. I didn’t end up getting a chance to ask him anything, too many people raised their hands.
Yeah, I like the premise & casting of Silence, that does sound quite intense.
I heard about The Orphanage, definitely not gonna be able to handle such a movie.
Ooooh suddenly I picture Léa Seydoux w/ my boy du jour Stanley Weber… if they were to do a passionate romance movie together that’d be electric!!
2. This is the first I’ve heard of Silence, it sounds really interesting. Not sure if this was the role, but I heard Emma Stone broke up with Garfield because he was becoming dark like a character he was playing.
Hi Eddie! Oh I didn’t know Stone and Garfield broke up but then again I hardly follow any Hollywood gossip.
1. I’d ask Nolan about handling the hectic production of Following, since it was shot only on the weekends for several months.
2. Scorsese is one of my favorite filmmakers, so I can’t wait for Silence. I’m still not sure it’ll actually be released this year, though. Not convinced that Scorsese will hurry to finish his passion project.
3. My favorite Mexican film is probably Amores Perros, which is also my favorite Inarritu film.
4. I’d love to see Mira Barkhammar, Mira Grosin, and Liv LeMoyne (the girls from We Are the Best!) get noticed by Hollywood. I have no idea what kind of Hollywood movie they’d be right for, though.
5. Hype depends on the individual. Not everyone is excited for some movies, but I do think it can hurt one’s expectations at times.
Hello Josh!
Oh Nolan did talk a bit about filming Following and how they rehearsed things for about 6 months before production starts so the cast already knew their parts well by the time they had to film, which is on weekends as surely the cast/crew had other jobs then.
I think it’s fine that a filmmaker take their time on the project, it’s not like a superhero movie that HAS to be released at a certain time frame.
Oh I still need to see Amores Perros!
You raised a valid point whether a Hollywood film would suit some of these foreign actors. I’d like to think that my crush Stanley can fit into many genres being produced today 😀
I have to got to work so this will be short.
3)Since their were a lot of picks for Pan’s Labrynth Here’s a few lesser known films that are some of my favorotes:
Thesis aka Tesis and Abre los Ojos aka Open Your Eyes (remade as the inferior Vanilla Sky). Alejandro Amenábar’s (The Others) first two films. El Topo and The Holy Mountain by Alejandro Jodorowsky. Midnight cult classics. Dali would have been proud.
Thanks Dave for the recommendations, Abre los Ojos sounds the most appealing to me.
1. “Did you really think cooper flying among book shelves in SPACE was a good idea? ”
2 Meh. I’ll see it, but I don’t have much interest in this. Garfield kinda annoys me ever since these dull Spiderman films.
3. Amorres Perros, probably
4. huh…the girls in the movie Respire by Melanie Laurent were really wonderful
5. I think if the movie is good hype adds to and if it’s bad hype makes it even worse. The only issue is mediocre film that was hyped – I already forgot almost everything about Ultron ::/
Hi Margaret!
Surprisingly there were no questions on Interstellar, mostly on his Batman movies. Yeah Interstellar is perhaps my least fave of his work.
I didn’t care for Garfield’s Spidey films but I guess I can’t blame him for taking on the role. Hope that’s behind him now though, his indie roles are quite good.
Gotta see Respire, I like Melanie Laurent and I’d love to see Stanley get the kind of opportunities she has now.
Yep, we’re in agreement about Ultron, utterly forgettable!
1. You need help when writing female characters. Sorry!
I’d also just a general conversation with him on what films he likes etc.
2. I’m looking forward to it! I like Garfield 🙂
3. The Orphanage
4. Suzanne Clement
5. Both! 🙂
Hi Jack! Totally agree w/ your question for Nolan. His films tend to be quite cold somehow, too.
I like Garfield too, you should check out Boy A.
2. Garfield was terrific in Boy A, wasn’t he? This movie does look interesting. I am not particularly religious myself, but I always appreciate seeing religion and spirituality explored in a serious way.
5. In general hype only works against me — when everyone is talking about how great a movie is, I am usually underwhelmed. I try to go into a movie knowing as little as possible, even though that means postponing reading a lot of film reviews. 🙂
Hello Irene! Yes Garfield was great in Boy A, he really has quite a range, he’s also wonderful in Never Let Me Go and Social Network.
“I always appreciate seeing religion and spirituality explored in a serious way” Indeed, and sounds like the story is a personal one for Scorsese.
Hi Ruth! Sorry I took ages to check out this post.
1. Eventually (when it’s finished), I would love to hear his opinion on Batfleck and Dawn of Justice.
2. Really looking forward to Silence. Scorsese is one of the best directors still working and Andrew is such an underrated actor. He was Oscar-worthy in The Social Network.
3. Difficult question, but I’m going to go with a three-way tie: Amores Perros, Y Tu Mamá También and Somos Lo Que Hay (that’s an incredible horror movie, later remade in America as “We are what we are”). I also love “Arráncame la Vida” (Tear this heart out). I would’ve loved to include El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth), but despite the director being Mexican and it representing Mexico at the Oscars, we don’t really consider it a Mexican film. It’s a Spanish film, through and through. Even more so with The Orphanage, directed by a Spanish man (Juan Antonio Bayona) and only produced by Del Toro.
4. Daniel Giménez Cacho (his most famous gig outside of Mexico has been narrating “Y Tu Mamá También”) and Karla Souza are two of my favorite Mexican actors and I would love to see them getting more attention outside of the country. She has a pretty important role in the TV series “How to get away with murder”, but haven’t seen it, so can’t really comment on her work there.
5. It’s a double-edged sword, I think. I love anticipating and getting all excited for a movie, but more often than not, it winds up not living up to expectations.
Hello Fernando! Hey, no such thing as a late comment man, I was on vacation anyway the past week.
Yeah I was actually curious what Nolan thinks of Man of Steel, but I didn’t get to ask him anything.
I think Garfield was robbed of a nom in Social Network!
I figure you’d have a great answer for #3! I might check out the first two but you already know how I feel about horror. Ah I didn’t realize Pan’s Labyrinth was more of a Spanish film.
I have to look up those two people you mentioned. That’s good that Souza seems to have caught the attention of TV execs at least.
How was it? (your vacation)
Bummer you didn’t get to ask Nolan anything, but it must have been so cool to be at his conference.
Glad you agree on Garfield!
Check them out and let me know how you felt. You could skip the horror, it’s also pretty graphic. I love it, though.
It was good! But I’m still so tired so I’m taking it easy and not blogging just yet. The Harry Potter thing at Universal is a blast!
Yeah it was cool just to absorb whatever Nolan had to say about his films and directing process.
I saw a couple of episodes of Penny Dreadful and boy was that graphic! I like the show & production design but it’s way too intense and scary for me. So I guess I just can’t handle horror.
I bet it’s fun! Can’t wait to experience it!
All questions are interesting Ruth 🙂
1. Hahahaha I Think you can guess my question 😉 “would you ask Cillian to play your movie again? This time as the lead”
2. I would definitely see t eve though Hollywood hasn’t been able to make a good adaptation of Japanese book/manga/anime. I read the book ages ago. I have to reread before I see the movie.
3. Since I am using my mobile (my dorm wifi is not working 😦 ) is 3 the Mexican related question? I have no answer for that.
4. Foreign actors I would love to get a break are Satoh Takeru and Kamiki Ryunosuke, they are so good. Their acting skills are improving in each movie/ series the play.
5. Hype can be bad and good at the same time. Depends
Ahah, your love for Cillian knows no bounds Nov! 😉 But y’know, now that I’m crushing madly on Stanley Weber, if I were to meet any director, I’d ask him/her to hire him, ahah.
I’m not familiar w/ Takeru nor Ryunosuke but I’ll take your word for it Nov!