★★★★☆ Ever since capturing last year's Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, In a Better World (2010) has found its painterly presented tale of morality come under a lot of scrutiny. However, Susanne Bier's strikingly beautiful film deserves to be viewed separately from the buzz surrounding its prestigious award and be observed for what it is - a powerful domestic drama played out on a epic scale, with two of the most assured child performances of the year courtesy of Markus Rygaard and William Jøhnk Nielsen.
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- 1/9/2012
- by CineVue
- CineVue
Chicago – Susanne Bier’s “In a Better World” has stuck with me. After seeing it in theaters five months ago, I was a little hard on the film due to the fact that it beat out so many great ones for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, including “Dogtooth,” “Incendies,” and the film that most people thought would win, “Biutiful.” I still question that decision, but this is a stronger film than I first gave it credit for — a bit more shallow and cut-and-dry than it should have been but a dramatically satisfying rental, now available on Blu-ray and DVD.
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
Bier is a talented director (I would argue that her underrated “Things We Lost in the Fire” and spectacular “Brothers” are superior films to this one) with a gift for performance — drawing complex, interesting performances from her cast. She does so again here with excellent work...
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
Bier is a talented director (I would argue that her underrated “Things We Lost in the Fire” and spectacular “Brothers” are superior films to this one) with a gift for performance — drawing complex, interesting performances from her cast. She does so again here with excellent work...
- 9/11/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
This past year's Best Foreign Language Film Oscar race was an especially meaty one. From Canada's riveting "Incendies" to Greece's oddball domestic horror dramedy "Dogtooth," the nominees were a diverse bunch, to say the least. The winner of the pack, however, Denmark's "In a Better World," now hits DVD and Blu-ray, allowing audiences nationwide the chance to see what all the fuss is about.
Directed with precision and warmth by Susanne Bier ("Brothers," "After the Wedding"), one of Denmark's most popular and talented filmmakers, "In a Better World" is a 'message film' that also serves as a supremely involving drama in its own right.
Swedish star Mikael Persbrandt plays Anton, a doctor who lives with his two sons and estranged wife in a small town in Denmark, and regularly embarks on humanitarian missions at an African refugee camp. When his older son, 10-year-old Elias (Markus Rygaard) is bullied at school,...
Directed with precision and warmth by Susanne Bier ("Brothers," "After the Wedding"), one of Denmark's most popular and talented filmmakers, "In a Better World" is a 'message film' that also serves as a supremely involving drama in its own right.
Swedish star Mikael Persbrandt plays Anton, a doctor who lives with his two sons and estranged wife in a small town in Denmark, and regularly embarks on humanitarian missions at an African refugee camp. When his older son, 10-year-old Elias (Markus Rygaard) is bullied at school,...
- 8/30/2011
- by Nigel Smith
- NextMovie
Susanne Bier's Oscar-winning drama means well, and ought to feel relevant, but there's just something lacking
The title would appear to be a synonym, or euphemism, for "dead" – that is to say, the English title. The original Danish title, Haevnen, means Vengeance. There is certainly a sombreness hanging over this well-intentioned movie from the Danish director Susanne Bier, which arrives here garlanded with praise and this year's Oscar for best foreign film. It has some ideas about rage, respect and revenge which could hardly be more urgent, right about now, in modern Britain.
I wished I liked it more. But, for all its good points, this film is a high-concept contrivance of the sort Bier turns out easily, and looks like a faintly preposterous cine-soap opera for haemophiliac-hearted liberals. Its agonised dilemmas and wounds exist only to be resolved within a couple of hours.
Like Bier's 2004 movie Brothers – a...
The title would appear to be a synonym, or euphemism, for "dead" – that is to say, the English title. The original Danish title, Haevnen, means Vengeance. There is certainly a sombreness hanging over this well-intentioned movie from the Danish director Susanne Bier, which arrives here garlanded with praise and this year's Oscar for best foreign film. It has some ideas about rage, respect and revenge which could hardly be more urgent, right about now, in modern Britain.
I wished I liked it more. But, for all its good points, this film is a high-concept contrivance of the sort Bier turns out easily, and looks like a faintly preposterous cine-soap opera for haemophiliac-hearted liberals. Its agonised dilemmas and wounds exist only to be resolved within a couple of hours.
Like Bier's 2004 movie Brothers – a...
- 8/18/2011
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
In the film’s production notes, Danish director Susanne Bier of this year’s Oscar and Golden Globe-winning foreign-language film, In A Better World, has some stark words, which with the current unrest in the UK, bring even more poignancy to her new theatrical release: “Are we immune to chaos, or obliviously teetering on the verge of disorder?”
The story begins by following Anton (Mikael Persbrandt), a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic Danish town, and his work at an African refugee camp, surrounded by imminent danger. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts and difficult choices between choosing revenge and forgiveness, especially after his bullied 10-year-old son, Elias (Markus Rygaard), befriends a grieving new boy, Christian (Jøhnk Juels Nielsen), who involves Elias in a dangerous act of revenge with potentially tragic consequences.
Bier’s film is a disquieting but...
The story begins by following Anton (Mikael Persbrandt), a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic Danish town, and his work at an African refugee camp, surrounded by imminent danger. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts and difficult choices between choosing revenge and forgiveness, especially after his bullied 10-year-old son, Elias (Markus Rygaard), befriends a grieving new boy, Christian (Jøhnk Juels Nielsen), who involves Elias in a dangerous act of revenge with potentially tragic consequences.
Bier’s film is a disquieting but...
- 8/16/2011
- by Lisa Giles-Keddie
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In a Better World directed by Susanne Bier (Things We Lost in the Fire), the winner of this year’s Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, will be released on a two-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack on August 30 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Markus Rygaard (.) and William Johnk Nielsen look to the future in In a Better World.
The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack carries a list price of $45.99, discounted to $31.99 on Amazon.
The drama-thriller movie follows the life of Anton (Mikael Persbrandt) and his wife Marianne (Trine Dyrholm), who have two young sons (Markus Rygaard and William Johnk Nielsen), are separated and struggling with the possibility of divorce. Anton is a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic town in Denmark, and his work at an African refugee camp. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts that...
Markus Rygaard (.) and William Johnk Nielsen look to the future in In a Better World.
The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack carries a list price of $45.99, discounted to $31.99 on Amazon.
The drama-thriller movie follows the life of Anton (Mikael Persbrandt) and his wife Marianne (Trine Dyrholm), who have two young sons (Markus Rygaard and William Johnk Nielsen), are separated and struggling with the possibility of divorce. Anton is a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic town in Denmark, and his work at an African refugee camp. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts that...
- 6/28/2011
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
In A Better World (Haevnen)
Directed by: Susanne Bier
Cast: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen
Running Time: 2 hrs
Rating: R
Release Date: April 29, 2011 (Portland)
Plot: Anton (Persbrandt) works as a doctor at a refugee camp in Africa. He sees horrors every day, but isn’t prepared for the same thing at home. When his son, Elias (Markus Rygaard) makes a new friend, violence seeps into his home life.
Who’S It For? People who like films that don’t conform to expectations. Fans of unique and beautiful films.
Expectations: Bier’s 2003 Dogme film, Open Hearts, was really spectacular. I was hoping for something equally interesting.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Mikael Persbrandt as Anton: Caught between two worlds, Anton works as a doctor among victims in an unnamed war-ravaged country in Africa. When he returns to Denmark, he has the comfort of his sons, but is estranged from his wife, Marianne...
Directed by: Susanne Bier
Cast: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen
Running Time: 2 hrs
Rating: R
Release Date: April 29, 2011 (Portland)
Plot: Anton (Persbrandt) works as a doctor at a refugee camp in Africa. He sees horrors every day, but isn’t prepared for the same thing at home. When his son, Elias (Markus Rygaard) makes a new friend, violence seeps into his home life.
Who’S It For? People who like films that don’t conform to expectations. Fans of unique and beautiful films.
Expectations: Bier’s 2003 Dogme film, Open Hearts, was really spectacular. I was hoping for something equally interesting.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Mikael Persbrandt as Anton: Caught between two worlds, Anton works as a doctor among victims in an unnamed war-ravaged country in Africa. When he returns to Denmark, he has the comfort of his sons, but is estranged from his wife, Marianne...
- 4/29/2011
- by Megan Lehar
- The Scorecard Review
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Chicago – Susanne Bier’s “In a Better World” was a surprising winner at the Academy Awards when Best Foreign Language Film was announced, leading many to wonder what could have beaten the critically-acclaimed “Dogtooth” or “Biutiful,” which clearly had a lot of love considering its Best Actor nomination. “In a Better World” must have been pretty great, right? Yes and no. It’s a better film than a few of the Academy’s recent decisions (“Departures” comes to mind), but also nowhere near as complete a film as a number of alternate choices. This category is still a mess, as proven by the win for this interesting but ultimately a bit too shallow examination of revenge and parenthood.
Don’t get me wrong. “In a Better World” is a good film. Bier is a talented director, as proven by the excellent “Brothers” (which was remade with Tobey Maguire and...
Chicago – Susanne Bier’s “In a Better World” was a surprising winner at the Academy Awards when Best Foreign Language Film was announced, leading many to wonder what could have beaten the critically-acclaimed “Dogtooth” or “Biutiful,” which clearly had a lot of love considering its Best Actor nomination. “In a Better World” must have been pretty great, right? Yes and no. It’s a better film than a few of the Academy’s recent decisions (“Departures” comes to mind), but also nowhere near as complete a film as a number of alternate choices. This category is still a mess, as proven by the win for this interesting but ultimately a bit too shallow examination of revenge and parenthood.
Don’t get me wrong. “In a Better World” is a good film. Bier is a talented director, as proven by the excellent “Brothers” (which was remade with Tobey Maguire and...
- 4/15/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Bob Ellis on the Oscar-winning The King’s Speech (available on DVD this month), Biutiful, The Company Men and the passing of Sidney Lumet.
The Oxford scholar Peter Levi had a theory that Shakespeare was popular because he had only one theme. A man or a woman, he said, is given a task to which he or she is unequal, and comedy or tragedy follows. Thus Hamlet, an adequate joshing student, is a poor avenger, Brutus, an adequate stoic philosopher, a poor generalissimo, Othello a fine generalissimo but a dumb older husband of a young white wife, Malvolio a shambolic wooer, Viola a lousy transvestite, and so on.
This theory well fits The King’s Speech and explains its international popularity. We all of us as children have been made to recite, or sing, or perform acrobatics on stage, and have dreaded the anguished humiliation the experiment was bound to bring to us.
The Oxford scholar Peter Levi had a theory that Shakespeare was popular because he had only one theme. A man or a woman, he said, is given a task to which he or she is unequal, and comedy or tragedy follows. Thus Hamlet, an adequate joshing student, is a poor avenger, Brutus, an adequate stoic philosopher, a poor generalissimo, Othello a fine generalissimo but a dumb older husband of a young white wife, Malvolio a shambolic wooer, Viola a lousy transvestite, and so on.
This theory well fits The King’s Speech and explains its international popularity. We all of us as children have been made to recite, or sing, or perform acrobatics on stage, and have dreaded the anguished humiliation the experiment was bound to bring to us.
- 4/11/2011
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
In a Better World
Directed by Susanne Bier
2010, Denmark/Sweden, 119 mins.
Sometimes all it takes is a misplaced subplot to ruin a perfectly good film. This is the case with Susanne Bier’s latest film In a Better World, which took home Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards this year. Had Bier stuck with the main storyline involving the friendship of two outsider kids who hatch a plot of revenge, it would have been a good movie. The fact that Bier shoehorns in a subplot about one of the boy’s dads going over to an unnamed country in Africa ravaged by genocide to tend to their medical needs completely sinks the movie. In the end, those scenes in Africa take up 50% of the film’s running time and the imagery of the wounds of the African people becomes exploitative.
It’s a shame, because the film looks...
Directed by Susanne Bier
2010, Denmark/Sweden, 119 mins.
Sometimes all it takes is a misplaced subplot to ruin a perfectly good film. This is the case with Susanne Bier’s latest film In a Better World, which took home Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards this year. Had Bier stuck with the main storyline involving the friendship of two outsider kids who hatch a plot of revenge, it would have been a good movie. The fact that Bier shoehorns in a subplot about one of the boy’s dads going over to an unnamed country in Africa ravaged by genocide to tend to their medical needs completely sinks the movie. In the end, those scenes in Africa take up 50% of the film’s running time and the imagery of the wounds of the African people becomes exploitative.
It’s a shame, because the film looks...
- 4/4/2011
- by Josh Youngerman
- SoundOnSight
Director: Susanne Bier Writer: Anders Thomas Jensen Starring: Mikael Persbrandt, William Jøhnk Nielsen, Markus Rygaard, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, Odiege Matthew Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier’s (Brothers, After the Wedding) seemingly apolitical diatribe on the cycle of violence and retribution in our post 9/11 society (a narrative trope that seems to be becoming increasingly prevalent nowadays) took home the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year Oscar at the 83rd Academy Awards, and after viewing In a Better World at SXSW 2011, I can see why... Christian's (William Jøhnk Nielsen) mother recently died after losing a battle with cancer. After the funeral, Christian relocates with his father, Claus (Ulrich Thomsen), from England to Denmark. Christian detests quitters and he believes that his father quit caring about his mother thus causing her death. Christian’s deeply suppressed grief begins to reach its boiling point when he notices a bully picking on Elias (Markus Rygaard...
- 4/4/2011
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
In recent days, many people have thrown around the word "accessible" in writing about Susanne Bier's work, a description that has no doubt has led to Hollywood interest in remaking at least two of the Danish filmmaker's previous films including the already-produced Jim Sheridan take on "Brothers." For some, it's been a compliment and others, a curse - Bier deals in direct terms with her audience and while she tells stories that are easy to digest, it's because they're undeniably about the human condition.
Bier's win for this year's Best Foreign Language Film at this year's Oscar for "In a Better World" was yet another confirmation that she's working on a global stage, yet it's long been evident from her films that it's been a goal to cut across borders. In her latest film, she achieves the near-impossible with a parable about violence that spans from the small scale...
Bier's win for this year's Best Foreign Language Film at this year's Oscar for "In a Better World" was yet another confirmation that she's working on a global stage, yet it's long been evident from her films that it's been a goal to cut across borders. In her latest film, she achieves the near-impossible with a parable about violence that spans from the small scale...
- 4/1/2011
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Getty Director Susanne Bier
Danish director Susanne Bier isn’t a household name in the U.S., even though she has helmed a number of critically acclaimed films such as “Brothers,” (the original version) and “After the Wedding.” She was also behind the English-language “Things We Lost in the Fire,” starring Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro.
Her latest work, “In a Better World,” has already won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, and is...
Danish director Susanne Bier isn’t a household name in the U.S., even though she has helmed a number of critically acclaimed films such as “Brothers,” (the original version) and “After the Wedding.” She was also behind the English-language “Things We Lost in the Fire,” starring Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro.
Her latest work, “In a Better World,” has already won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, and is...
- 3/30/2011
- by Barbara Chai
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Reviewed by Jeremy Mathews
(from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival)
Directed by: Susanne Bier
Written by: Anders Thomas Jensen
Starring: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, William Jøhnk Juels Nielsen and Markus Rygaard
“In a Better World” is a testament to cinema’s power. With an overwhelming assault of ideas and emotions, Susanne Bier’s film ruminates on the tyranny of violence, the challenges of nonviolence and the desire for revenge. Its characters are so deeply felt and their decisions so crucial that it’s impossible not to become invested in the story.
It starts as a friendship develops between Elias (Markus Rygaard), an awkward, bullied schoolboy, and Christian (William Jøhnk Juels Nielsen), a new classmate who arrives in Denmark from London after his mother’s death. They quickly bond when Christian beats up the reigning school bully with a bike pump and threatens him with a knife, telling him to...
(from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival)
Directed by: Susanne Bier
Written by: Anders Thomas Jensen
Starring: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, William Jøhnk Juels Nielsen and Markus Rygaard
“In a Better World” is a testament to cinema’s power. With an overwhelming assault of ideas and emotions, Susanne Bier’s film ruminates on the tyranny of violence, the challenges of nonviolence and the desire for revenge. Its characters are so deeply felt and their decisions so crucial that it’s impossible not to become invested in the story.
It starts as a friendship develops between Elias (Markus Rygaard), an awkward, bullied schoolboy, and Christian (William Jøhnk Juels Nielsen), a new classmate who arrives in Denmark from London after his mother’s death. They quickly bond when Christian beats up the reigning school bully with a bike pump and threatens him with a knife, telling him to...
- 3/28/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Reviewed by Jeremy Mathews
(from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival)
Directed by: Susanne Bier
Written by: Anders Thomas Jensen
Starring: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, William Jøhnk Juels Nielsen and Markus Rygaard
“In a Better World” is a testament to cinema’s power. With an overwhelming assault of ideas and emotions, Susanne Bier’s film ruminates on the tyranny of violence, the challenges of nonviolence and the desire for revenge. Its characters are so deeply felt and their decisions so crucial that it’s impossible not to become invested in the story.
It starts as a friendship develops between Elias (Markus Rygaard), an awkward, bullied schoolboy, and Christian (William Jøhnk Juels Nielsen), a new classmate who arrives in Denmark from London after his mother’s death. They quickly bond when Christian beats up the reigning school bully with a bike pump and threatens him with a knife, telling him to...
(from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival)
Directed by: Susanne Bier
Written by: Anders Thomas Jensen
Starring: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, William Jøhnk Juels Nielsen and Markus Rygaard
“In a Better World” is a testament to cinema’s power. With an overwhelming assault of ideas and emotions, Susanne Bier’s film ruminates on the tyranny of violence, the challenges of nonviolence and the desire for revenge. Its characters are so deeply felt and their decisions so crucial that it’s impossible not to become invested in the story.
It starts as a friendship develops between Elias (Markus Rygaard), an awkward, bullied schoolboy, and Christian (William Jøhnk Juels Nielsen), a new classmate who arrives in Denmark from London after his mother’s death. They quickly bond when Christian beats up the reigning school bully with a bike pump and threatens him with a knife, telling him to...
- 3/28/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
Sony Pictures Classics have debuted the first domestic poster for Academy Award nominee In A Better World.
Directed by Susanne Bier, In A Better World stars Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, William Jøhnk Nielsen, Markus Rygaard, Kim Bodnia and Wil Johnson.
Synopsis: The lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. But loneliness, frailty and sorrow lie in wait.
In A Better World will be released in the Us on April 1.
Source: Imp...
Directed by Susanne Bier, In A Better World stars Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, William Jøhnk Nielsen, Markus Rygaard, Kim Bodnia and Wil Johnson.
Synopsis: The lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. But loneliness, frailty and sorrow lie in wait.
In A Better World will be released in the Us on April 1.
Source: Imp...
- 2/21/2011
- by Jamie Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Rating: 3.5/5
Writer: Anders Thomas Jensen
Director: Susanne Bier
Cast: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, William Jøhnk Nielsen, Markus Rygaard
In A Better World is the story of two families both struggling with multiple kinds of loss. When the young sons of each family meet, a friendship of convenience is born, each using the other to different ends. When the lives of others are threatened, though, the boys’ parents must come together to deal with the problematic emotional core of the troubled relationship. It is a wonderful story that is kept just shy of greatness by a script that lacks confidence in its audience to empathize with its characters without spelling out their motivations.
Read more on Sundance 2011 Review: In A Better World…...
Writer: Anders Thomas Jensen
Director: Susanne Bier
Cast: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, William Jøhnk Nielsen, Markus Rygaard
In A Better World is the story of two families both struggling with multiple kinds of loss. When the young sons of each family meet, a friendship of convenience is born, each using the other to different ends. When the lives of others are threatened, though, the boys’ parents must come together to deal with the problematic emotional core of the troubled relationship. It is a wonderful story that is kept just shy of greatness by a script that lacks confidence in its audience to empathize with its characters without spelling out their motivations.
Read more on Sundance 2011 Review: In A Better World…...
- 2/8/2011
- by Brian Kelley
- GordonandtheWhale
With its recent Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination, Susanne Bier‘s Danish drama In a Better World has gained a lot of publicity in the last few weeks. To coincide with that is the film’s trailer, which comes to us from Yahoo (via /Film). The Danish title is Hævnen, which translates in English to The Revenge. Alas, In a Better World is still the name we’ve been given.
I haven’t heard too much about this movie so far, although the reviews have been fairly positive. Above all, I like that it seems to be exploring the psychological aspects of revenge, and not necessarily the physical, something we see far too much of in American films. While that can be entertaining, it’s often handled simplistically, and usually reduces a serious matter to mere entertainment.
And I can’t say that this looks like entertainment, as the...
I haven’t heard too much about this movie so far, although the reviews have been fairly positive. Above all, I like that it seems to be exploring the psychological aspects of revenge, and not necessarily the physical, something we see far too much of in American films. While that can be entertaining, it’s often handled simplistically, and usually reduces a serious matter to mere entertainment.
And I can’t say that this looks like entertainment, as the...
- 2/3/2011
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
William Johnk Nielsen in In a Better World
Photo: Sony Pictures Classics The trailer for Susanne Bier's In a Better World, which won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and has since been nominated for Oscar's Best Foreign Language Feature, has just arrived online and having seen the film and loved it I can't suggest you watch it. The trailer doesn't do the film any favors by showing snippets of information that allude to what you should expect without much ambiguity whatsoever. This is a great film and one I went into knowing absolutely nothing about and that worked in the film's favor immensely especially with the way it weaves the stories of two families together, both directly and indirectly.
Here's the opening paragraph to my review from the Toronto International Film Festival last year: Susanne Bier's In a Better World is a fascinating look at the difference between revenge,...
Photo: Sony Pictures Classics The trailer for Susanne Bier's In a Better World, which won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and has since been nominated for Oscar's Best Foreign Language Feature, has just arrived online and having seen the film and loved it I can't suggest you watch it. The trailer doesn't do the film any favors by showing snippets of information that allude to what you should expect without much ambiguity whatsoever. This is a great film and one I went into knowing absolutely nothing about and that worked in the film's favor immensely especially with the way it weaves the stories of two families together, both directly and indirectly.
Here's the opening paragraph to my review from the Toronto International Film Festival last year: Susanne Bier's In a Better World is a fascinating look at the difference between revenge,...
- 2/3/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The South by Southwest Film Festival announced its feature film line-up Wednesday, piling heaps of cinematic goodness on an already stellar program that includes Jodie Foster’s The Beaver, Duncan Jones’ Source Code, Ti West’s The Innkeepers, Conan O’Brien’s tour documentary, and the latest Simon Pegg-Nick Frost comedy, Paul, with Seth Rogen.
Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) returns to the festival with her latest film, Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried, after the writer-director spoke on a screenwriting panel in 2009.
Plus a few favorites from the Sundance Film Festival last month, like Tom McCarthy’s Win Win, Morgan Spurlock’s The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and Max Winkler’s Ceremony.
I’m extremely excited, even if I’m already having flashbacks to intense sleep deprivation. Like the last two years, I’ll be on the ground covering as much of the festival as I can within the packed 9 days of screenings,...
Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) returns to the festival with her latest film, Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried, after the writer-director spoke on a screenwriting panel in 2009.
Plus a few favorites from the Sundance Film Festival last month, like Tom McCarthy’s Win Win, Morgan Spurlock’s The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and Max Winkler’s Ceremony.
I’m extremely excited, even if I’m already having flashbacks to intense sleep deprivation. Like the last two years, I’ll be on the ground covering as much of the festival as I can within the packed 9 days of screenings,...
- 2/3/2011
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
‘Tapping into the cultural zeitgeist,’ at SXSW 2011
Austin, Texas – The SXSW 2011 Feature Film Lineup was unveiled Wednesday afternoon. The festival lineup will consist of 130 features, in nine full days of programming, promising to deliver a film-going experience unlike previous years.
With a reputation for taking chances on relatively unknown filmmakers, the SXSW panel of judges carefully picked 130 films from 1,792 feature-length film submissions, (1,323 U.S. and 469 international). The program consists of 60 World Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 16 U.S. Premieres.
The main competition categories return with eight Narrative Features, and eight Documentary Features, both competing for their respective Grand Jury Prize. New for films in competition this year, are awards for screenplay, editing, cinematography, music, and acting.
(The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week.)
Here are a few of the Features to be screened, among many others.
Narratives:
The Beaver (World Premiere)
Dir.
Austin, Texas – The SXSW 2011 Feature Film Lineup was unveiled Wednesday afternoon. The festival lineup will consist of 130 features, in nine full days of programming, promising to deliver a film-going experience unlike previous years.
With a reputation for taking chances on relatively unknown filmmakers, the SXSW panel of judges carefully picked 130 films from 1,792 feature-length film submissions, (1,323 U.S. and 469 international). The program consists of 60 World Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 16 U.S. Premieres.
The main competition categories return with eight Narrative Features, and eight Documentary Features, both competing for their respective Grand Jury Prize. New for films in competition this year, are awards for screenplay, editing, cinematography, music, and acting.
(The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week.)
Here are a few of the Features to be screened, among many others.
Narratives:
The Beaver (World Premiere)
Dir.
- 2/3/2011
- by Albert Art
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Readers of Sound On Sight can be sure that we will indeed be covering the SXSW Film Festival once again. As previously reported, Duncan Jones’ latest film Source Code is opening the festival and there will also be premieres for the documentary Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, Greg Mottola’s Paul, and Jodie Foster’s The Beaver. Now the full line-up has been announced it is incredible.
Hit the jump to check out the line-up, and be sure to visit our site during the event.
The 2011 SXSW Film Festival runs from March 11 – 19th in Austin, Texas.
SXSW Film Announces 2011 Features Lineup
Austin, Texas – February 2, 2011 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers.
Hit the jump to check out the line-up, and be sure to visit our site during the event.
The 2011 SXSW Film Festival runs from March 11 – 19th in Austin, Texas.
SXSW Film Announces 2011 Features Lineup
Austin, Texas – February 2, 2011 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers.
- 2/3/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
The South By Southwest Film Conference and Festival announced this year's features lineup. The festival takes place March 11-19 in Austin, Texas.
There are a total of 130 features screening this year including 60 world premieres, 12 North American premieres and 16 U.S. premieres! This year the a total of 1,792 feature-length films were submitted, which is the most ever.
There are going to be some amazing films shown this yea. Opening night kicks off with Duncan Jones' Source Code (Moon). The fest rolls on with Jodie Foster‘s The Beaver, Greg Mottola‘s Paul, Sundance Grand Prize doc winner How to Die in Oregon, Errol Morris‘ Tabloid, Victoria Mahoney‘s Yelling to the Sky, Azazel Jacob‘s Terri. There will also be a special screening of Catherine Hardwicke‘s Red Riding Hood.
The Midnight and SXFantastic sections will be announced with the shorts program next week.
See the complete lineup below via...
There are a total of 130 features screening this year including 60 world premieres, 12 North American premieres and 16 U.S. premieres! This year the a total of 1,792 feature-length films were submitted, which is the most ever.
There are going to be some amazing films shown this yea. Opening night kicks off with Duncan Jones' Source Code (Moon). The fest rolls on with Jodie Foster‘s The Beaver, Greg Mottola‘s Paul, Sundance Grand Prize doc winner How to Die in Oregon, Errol Morris‘ Tabloid, Victoria Mahoney‘s Yelling to the Sky, Azazel Jacob‘s Terri. There will also be a special screening of Catherine Hardwicke‘s Red Riding Hood.
The Midnight and SXFantastic sections will be announced with the shorts program next week.
See the complete lineup below via...
- 2/2/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
The South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) just announced their entire 2011 feature film lineup, and there’s isn’t a lot of note, with regards to this blog’s focus.
Titles you should be aware of – all of which we’ve previously profiled on Shadow And Act – include, Victoria Mahoney’s feature film debut, Yelling To The Sky (which will actually make its world debut at the Berlin Film Festival later this month); plus Blacktino, the first feature film from writer/director Aaron Burns, a self-described “blacktino nerd from Austin, Texas,” who got his start at Robert Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios doing visual effects; Benda Bilili, a documentary about a band of homeless, disabled Congolese; and last, but not least, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, a documentary about the black man that happens to be the man behind the puppet (which also played at Sundance).
There might be...
Titles you should be aware of – all of which we’ve previously profiled on Shadow And Act – include, Victoria Mahoney’s feature film debut, Yelling To The Sky (which will actually make its world debut at the Berlin Film Festival later this month); plus Blacktino, the first feature film from writer/director Aaron Burns, a self-described “blacktino nerd from Austin, Texas,” who got his start at Robert Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios doing visual effects; Benda Bilili, a documentary about a band of homeless, disabled Congolese; and last, but not least, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, a documentary about the black man that happens to be the man behind the puppet (which also played at Sundance).
There might be...
- 2/2/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
The South by Southwest Film Festival has announced their features lineup for the 2011’s Festival, which will take place March 11th to the 19th in Austin Texas. Read the full press release after the jump. SXSW Film Announces 2011 Features Lineup Austin, Texas – February 2, 2011 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers. The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week. “This is the most exciting moment for us. After a fantastic festival of discovery in 2010, we can finally unveil the line up for this year’s event,” says Film Conference and Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “SXSW prides itself on taking chances, sifting for...
- 2/2/2011
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
In a Better World, movie nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film – that’s the movie we’re going to talk about today.
Markus Rygaard and William Johnk Nielsen in In a Better World
It’s a 2010 Danish drama directed by Susanne Bier and written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen. And, when you have this kind of team on board, you get the final result – awards all over the place!
Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (September 14, 2010), the movie was also presented at this year’s Sundance Film Festival (few days ago).
When asked, at the Toronto Film Festival, why she decided to change the English title of her latest film “In a Better World” from its original Danish translation “The Revenge,” Susanne Bier told that she was concerned it would be perceived as a horror film.
In a way, “In a Better World” actually fits that bill nicely,...
Markus Rygaard and William Johnk Nielsen in In a Better World
It’s a 2010 Danish drama directed by Susanne Bier and written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen. And, when you have this kind of team on board, you get the final result – awards all over the place!
Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (September 14, 2010), the movie was also presented at this year’s Sundance Film Festival (few days ago).
When asked, at the Toronto Film Festival, why she decided to change the English title of her latest film “In a Better World” from its original Danish translation “The Revenge,” Susanne Bier told that she was concerned it would be perceived as a horror film.
In a way, “In a Better World” actually fits that bill nicely,...
- 1/31/2011
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
After announcing the 58 films in four categories that would be eligible for awards at Sundance, the film fest has now announced the next 57 movies to be screened this coming January. These 57 films are of course out of competition and will be included in Premieres, Next, Spotlight, New Frontiers and Midnight categories. Most are big name projects from already established filmmakers and some have already made their way around film festival in 2010. The list includes Kevin Smith’s Red State, Tom McCarthy’s Win Win, Morgan Spurlock’s documentary The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Submarine, I Saw the Devil (which had plenty of buzz at Tiff) and my most anticipated film of 2011, Hobo With a Shotgun.
Here is the full list:
Premieres
To showcase the diversity of contemporary independent cinema, the Sundance Film Festival Premieres section offers the latest work from American and international directors as well as world premieres of highly anticipated films.
Here is the full list:
Premieres
To showcase the diversity of contemporary independent cinema, the Sundance Film Festival Premieres section offers the latest work from American and international directors as well as world premieres of highly anticipated films.
- 12/3/2010
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Festival Adds New Native Showcase
As Previously Announced, Slacker to Screen From the Collection
Park City, Ut – Sundance Institute announced today the lineup of films selected to screen in the 2011 Sundance Film Festival out-of-competition sections Next (<=>), Spotlight, New Frontier, Park City at Midnight, as well as a new Native Showcase. The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs January 20-30 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. The complete list of films is available at http://www.sundance.org/festival/.
Trevor Groth, Director of Programming said, “The Sundance Film Festival is uniquely a festival of discovery and we are once again privileged to showcase the work of talented new artists, including a special section devoted to Native filmmakers. But it’s also exciting to see returning directors honing their skills and emerging with dazzling new films. And the Next section highlights visionary work that shows aesthetic creativity is not limited by budget.
As Previously Announced, Slacker to Screen From the Collection
Park City, Ut – Sundance Institute announced today the lineup of films selected to screen in the 2011 Sundance Film Festival out-of-competition sections Next (<=>), Spotlight, New Frontier, Park City at Midnight, as well as a new Native Showcase. The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs January 20-30 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. The complete list of films is available at http://www.sundance.org/festival/.
Trevor Groth, Director of Programming said, “The Sundance Film Festival is uniquely a festival of discovery and we are once again privileged to showcase the work of talented new artists, including a special section devoted to Native filmmakers. But it’s also exciting to see returning directors honing their skills and emerging with dazzling new films. And the Next section highlights visionary work that shows aesthetic creativity is not limited by budget.
- 12/3/2010
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Some major Venice, Tiff, Nyff titles have been added to Sundance including high quality premium titles in Attenberg, Meek's Cutoff and Submarine. Gregg Araki will once again have had the chance to showcase his films at top fest on the circuit, his latest film Kaboom which was shown at Cannes and Tiff will find it's final fest presentation in Park City. Denis Villeneuve will deliver one extra push before the Oscars (Incendies is a top tier pick among all the nominees). Mumblecore member Joe Swanberg is also in the section but with a world premiere of his film. Attenberg /Greece (Director and screenwriter: Athina Rachel Tsangari) Marina, a young woman living with her father in a decaying, seaside factory town, acquires a new perspective on the mysteries of human nature after she meets a stranger. Cast: Ariane Labed, Yorgos Lanthimos, Vangelis Mourikis, Evangelia Randou. U.S. Premiere Elite Squad 2 (Tropa...
- 12/2/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Yes, you read that right, they are out of competition but into lesbians courtesy of the midnight lineup.
What do we have to look forward to waiting two years for? Let's see..
Hobo With a Shotgun
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same (you had me at lesbian)
Attenberg (I'm loving the coming Greek weird wave)
And many many more films, some of which we'll probably never get to see. Damn.
Full list after the break.
Next ()
Eight American films selected for their innovative and original work in low- and no-budget filmmaking. Each is a world premiere.
Bellflower / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Evan Glodell) - A ballad for every person who has ever loved and lost - with enough violence, weapons, action and sex to tell a love story with apocalyptic stakes. Cast: Evan Glodell, Jessie Wiseman, Tyler Dawson, Rebekah Brandes.
The Lie / U.S.A. (Director: Joshua Leonard; Screenwriters: Jeff Feuerzeig,...
What do we have to look forward to waiting two years for? Let's see..
Hobo With a Shotgun
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same (you had me at lesbian)
Attenberg (I'm loving the coming Greek weird wave)
And many many more films, some of which we'll probably never get to see. Damn.
Full list after the break.
Next ()
Eight American films selected for their innovative and original work in low- and no-budget filmmaking. Each is a world premiere.
Bellflower / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Evan Glodell) - A ballad for every person who has ever loved and lost - with enough violence, weapons, action and sex to tell a love story with apocalyptic stakes. Cast: Evan Glodell, Jessie Wiseman, Tyler Dawson, Rebekah Brandes.
The Lie / U.S.A. (Director: Joshua Leonard; Screenwriters: Jeff Feuerzeig,...
- 12/2/2010
- QuietEarth.us
Following yesterday's announcement of the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions, the Sundance Film Festival has unveiled the second part of their lineup, which includes the more starry-eyed Premieres section, the best-of-fests Spotlight section, the sure-to-be-culty Park City at Midnight section, the low-budget Next section, and the more experimental New Frontier section (an extension of New Frontier Program, the collection of video art installations which has already been noted here for playing James Franco's dramatic multimedia examination of "Three's Company.")
In addition to the return of filmmakers like "Chuck & Buck"'s Miguel Arteta, "Clockwatchers" director Jill Sprecher, Kevin Smith and "The Station Agent"'s Thomas McCarthy to Park City, the festival will also welcome less frequent or first-time Sundance attendees such as Hollywood types Al Pacino ("Son of No One") and Tobey Maguire ("The Details") and mumblecore alums Joe Swanberg ("Uncle Kent," which announced it's been...
In addition to the return of filmmakers like "Chuck & Buck"'s Miguel Arteta, "Clockwatchers" director Jill Sprecher, Kevin Smith and "The Station Agent"'s Thomas McCarthy to Park City, the festival will also welcome less frequent or first-time Sundance attendees such as Hollywood types Al Pacino ("Son of No One") and Tobey Maguire ("The Details") and mumblecore alums Joe Swanberg ("Uncle Kent," which announced it's been...
- 12/2/2010
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
The Sundance Film Festival announced the in competition film line-up for the film festival running January 20th through January 30th 2011 in Park City, Utah.
Today the festival has announced the line-up for the non-competition films and there is one hell of a line-up! There are a ton of great films that will be premiering at the festival, and if you're going you have a lot of great films to choose from!
Each film has an incredible cast and a great story. These films include Cedar Rapids, about a man traveling to an insurance conference, featuring Ed Helms, John C. Reilly and Sigourney Weaver; Kevin Smith's Red State, about a group of misfits encounter extreme fundamentalism in Middle America; The Details, about domestic tensions spawned by raccoons with Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks, Laura Linney, Ray Liotta, Dennis Haysbert; I Melt With You, starring Thomas Jane, Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe, Christian McKay,...
Today the festival has announced the line-up for the non-competition films and there is one hell of a line-up! There are a ton of great films that will be premiering at the festival, and if you're going you have a lot of great films to choose from!
Each film has an incredible cast and a great story. These films include Cedar Rapids, about a man traveling to an insurance conference, featuring Ed Helms, John C. Reilly and Sigourney Weaver; Kevin Smith's Red State, about a group of misfits encounter extreme fundamentalism in Middle America; The Details, about domestic tensions spawned by raccoons with Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks, Laura Linney, Ray Liotta, Dennis Haysbert; I Melt With You, starring Thomas Jane, Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe, Christian McKay,...
- 12/2/2010
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Well, yesterday, we saw the full list of films in-competition; today, we get to see those titles that have been selected for Sundance 2011′s out-of-competition lineup.
And as I said with yesterday’s post, I’ll be going over the complete list, highlighting titles that need to be, taking into consideration this blog’s specific interests. The only title that immediately stands out is Brit John Akomfrah’s The Nine Muses, which MsWOO positively reviewed, after seeing it at the London Film Festival in October. Read her review Here.
But look for future posts profiling any other titles I deem worthy. I’ve applied for press credentials to attend next year’s festival. I won’t know until the 23rd of this month, whether I’ve been granted press access or not. If I am, I will attend the festival; and if I’m not, well, I probably won’t.
And as I said with yesterday’s post, I’ll be going over the complete list, highlighting titles that need to be, taking into consideration this blog’s specific interests. The only title that immediately stands out is Brit John Akomfrah’s The Nine Muses, which MsWOO positively reviewed, after seeing it at the London Film Festival in October. Read her review Here.
But look for future posts profiling any other titles I deem worthy. I’ve applied for press credentials to attend next year’s festival. I won’t know until the 23rd of this month, whether I’ve been granted press access or not. If I am, I will attend the festival; and if I’m not, well, I probably won’t.
- 12/2/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Well, if the Competition titles at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival don't generate any early year Oscar buzz, I think it's safe to say the Out of Competition titles will. Several films that have already been seen and positively reviewed can be found in the fest's Spotlight Line-Up along with a batch of anticipated hopefuls in the Premiere Section.
Beginning with the festival's premieres, Miguel Arteta (Youth in Revolt) is bringing Cedar Rapids to Park City where it will debut before it hits theaters only a couple weeks later on February 11. "Big Love" co-producers, Jill and Karen Sprecher are bringing an impressive cast for their crime drama The Convincer. Jacob Aaron Estes's The Details, which was shot only a few miles from my house in the Queen Anne district of Seattle, arrives with Elizabeth Banks, Laura Linney and Tobey Maguire in tow.
Mark Pellington (The Mothman Prophecies) will debut I Melt with You,...
Beginning with the festival's premieres, Miguel Arteta (Youth in Revolt) is bringing Cedar Rapids to Park City where it will debut before it hits theaters only a couple weeks later on February 11. "Big Love" co-producers, Jill and Karen Sprecher are bringing an impressive cast for their crime drama The Convincer. Jacob Aaron Estes's The Details, which was shot only a few miles from my house in the Queen Anne district of Seattle, arrives with Elizabeth Banks, Laura Linney and Tobey Maguire in tow.
Mark Pellington (The Mothman Prophecies) will debut I Melt with You,...
- 12/2/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Wednesday, the 2011 Sundance Film Festival announced the 58 films in four categories [1] that would be eligible for awards. Today, they've announced the next slice of their line up - 57 out of competition films in the Premieres, Next, Spotlight, New Frontiers and Midnight categories. This is generally where you get many of the bigger name projects and this year is no exception. We already knew [2] that Kevin Smith's Red State would be on the list, but there's also Tom McCarthy's new film Win Win, Morgan Spurlock's documentary The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, the highly buzzed-about Submarine, Fantastic Fest darling I Saw the Devil as well as Hobo With a Shotgun and a whole bunch more including films with Al Pacino, Tobey Maguire, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Spacey, Demi Moore, Paul Rudd and others. As we said yesterday, the announcement of the movies playing the 2011 Sundance Film Festival is like looking into our film futures.
- 12/2/2010
- by Germain Lussier
- Slash Film
Yesterday we revealed the in-competition line-up for this years Sundance Film Festival. Today the programmers have announced the second wave, the out-of-competition line-up. It includes six categories and you can check them all out below. We already knew Kevin Smith‘s Red State would be screening, as he announced on his podcast last night. The rest of this out-of-competition line-up is pretty unbelievable.
We get Cedar Rapids (from Youth In Revolt‘s Miguel Arteta), Mark Pellington‘s I Melt With You, My Idiot Brother starring Paul Rudd, Tom McCarthy‘s Win Win, as well as Dito Montiel‘s third feature The Son of No One. We also have new documentaries by Morgan Spurlock and Eugene Jarecki. Some of my favorite Tiff films are also making an appearance, including Submarine (pictured above) and Meek’s Cutoff. Check it out below.
Premieres
To showcase the diversity of contemporary independent cinema, the Sundance...
We get Cedar Rapids (from Youth In Revolt‘s Miguel Arteta), Mark Pellington‘s I Melt With You, My Idiot Brother starring Paul Rudd, Tom McCarthy‘s Win Win, as well as Dito Montiel‘s third feature The Son of No One. We also have new documentaries by Morgan Spurlock and Eugene Jarecki. Some of my favorite Tiff films are also making an appearance, including Submarine (pictured above) and Meek’s Cutoff. Check it out below.
Premieres
To showcase the diversity of contemporary independent cinema, the Sundance...
- 12/2/2010
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
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