Review: The Stylish YOUR TIME IS UP Rings Hollow

I discussed the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), or more precisely their graduation feature projects, for my recent piece on When Winter Screams, a film I enjoyed with some reservations. Now it's time to take a look at the... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012 Review: Jeon Soo-il's Languid EL CONDOR PASA

A regular staple at the Busan Film Festival, Jeon Soo-il is a local filmmaker whose body of work has steadily brought him acclaim and accolades from around the world. He is not as famous as some of the more prominent... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012 Interview: FATAL Director Lee Donku Talks Violent Sex Crimes, Working in a Bathhouse, and Respect Towards Women

One of the most talked-about films this year at the Busan International Film Festival was the low-budget debut feature Fatal, which screened as part of the event's signature 'New Currents' competition. It's a section of the festival reserved for first... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012 Review: Political Torture Drama NATIONAL SECURITY is Intense and Gripping

Corruption, injustice and terror have always been a sad reality of politics. Over the years, many filmmakers have gone to great lengths (sometimes even putting their lives in peril) in a bid to give a voice to the victims of... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012: Awards Announced, JISEUL Picks Up 3

The 17th Busan International Film Festival just held its Closing press conference at which the award winners of the event were announced. Festival director Lee Yong-Kwan was in attendance along with the following Jury members: Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio; David... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012 Review: PLUTO Signals the Arrival of a Brilliant New Talent

Film festivals can be a great place to catch up with big films from established luminaries of world cinema but for the ardent cinephile, the most exciting thing is to make a fresh discovery. With patience and some discerning selecting,... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012 Review: Lee Dong-ku's FATAL Is a Blistering Debut

Fragile and ephemeral, life is a series of moments, of complicated and random connections that constitute the fabric of our character. Each decision we make affects our path irrevocably: our actions may not always be consequential but they are nonetheless... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012 Review: Strong Performances Can't Save Revenge Flick AZOOMA

When exploring Korean cinema, you can't go very far without bumping into a revenge thriller. Park Chan-wook's 'Vengeance' trilogy and Kim Jee-woon's A Bittersweet Life (2005) are just a few of the more high profile examples. However, of late, this... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012 Review - Sex, Sex and More Sex in Park Chul-soo's B·E·D

A small and sensual chamber piece, Park Chul-soo's new feature B·E·D (his 27th) brings to mind Green Chair (2005), his most significant work of the last decade. However, whereas that erotic film was a fascinating study of an unconventional relationship, Park's new film can't... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012 Review - E J-yong Out in Front for BEHIND THE CAMERA

E J-yong's new feature Behind the Camera is a follow-up to his popular mockumentary Actresses (2009), which featured famous stars playing themselves as they took part in a Vogue shoot. That film poked fun at Korea's entertainment industry and its... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012 Review: MAI RATIMA Marks an Impressive Debut from Yoo Ji-tae

Directorial debuts arrive with a weight of expectation, but especially when they come from a major thespian making his first foray behind the camera. Yoo Ji-tae is one of Korea's most well-known actors, he is a celebrity whose marriage last... More »

By Pierce Conran

BIFF 2012 Review: COLD WAR Proves a Disappointing Opener

If Cold War, the opening film of this year's Busan International Film Festival, is heralding a new paradigm for commercial Hong Kong Cinema, then I can't say that it's something I'm very excited about. Over-produced and austere, it features strong... More »

By Pierce Conran

Leading Voices in Global Cinema

Todd Brown, Founder & Editor Toronto
Peter Martin, Managing Editor Dallas
Ryland Aldrich, Festivals Editor Los Angeles
James Marsh, Asian Editor Hong Kong
Brian Clark, European Editor Paris

Twitchvision: Talking STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, MUD and THE ICEMAN

Another Twitchvision chat with Scott Laurie, this time me gushing about J.J.'s latest Star Trek film, which I unabashedly loved.Also talked about he fabbo Mud, and the less fabbo The Iceman, both with Michael Shannon doing his thing.Video embedded below.Update: Was asked to come in today and pick a few... More »

Learning from the Masters of Cinema: Henri-Georges Clouzot's THE MURDERER LIVES AT 21

While Henri-Georges Clouzot is best remembered for many of his later films, including The Wages of Fear and Diabolique, the French filmmaker's 1942 debut has gone largely unseen by Western audiences until now. The Murderer Lives at 21 (L'Assassin Habite au 21), based on the novel by Belgian author Stanislas-Andre... More »

China Beat: What did China See in IRON MAN 3?

Much has already been written, both on these pages and many others, about the landmark Hollywood-China co-production that is Marvel and DMG Entertainment's Iron Man 3. The film, directed by Shane Black, is the third solo outing for Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark, and has proved a phenomenal success around... More »

FEAR & LOATHING AT CANNES, PART 2: I'M IN LOVE WITH EVERYBODY'S GIRL

CHAPTER 4: THE PHILOSOPHY OF ANNA KARINA AND BUTT PLUGSI'm sitting outside at a small Café that my editor told me to meet him at. I'm a 10 minute walk from the Marche Du Film convention hall and I'm still waiting for my editor to arrive so he take guide... More »

CINEMA HOLOCAUST ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA, PART 1: THOSE GOD DAMN FILM BLOGGERS

MIKE'S JOURNAL. MAY 13. MORNINGI wake up sometime around five AM. My flight to France doesn't leave until five PM. I should be there for security check in sometime around 3PM. There is no reason for me to be up this early but I'm feeling anxious. I have an itch... More »