Paris Movies
Going to the movies in Paris is a rite of passage. Go to the movies and become part of cinema history.
Endives and Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'tis
Endive.fr
If you haven’t already heard the news, Dany Boon’s film “Bienvenue Chez Les Ch’tis” a humorous portrayal of a town in France’s northern Picardy region (also referred to as Pas de Calais), has become a box office hit, rivaling the 1966 “La Grande Vedrouille” with with one of France’s funniest actors Louis de Funes. Apparently Hollywood is poised to jump on the Ch’tis bandwagon by buying an option to make an ‘American version’ of this hugely successful comedy. It remains to be seen whether Hollywood is capable …
Date: April 19th, 2008 |
2 comments
Cedric Klapisch's Paris
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2008
If you’re really lucky, once in a blue moon, you might get to see it snow in Paris. An endless expanse of white against the phantom shadows of winter branches – not unlike cinema in black and white. Cedric Klapisch is more than lucky with his newly released film Paris (which is currentlyl showing in Paris as well as the Lincoln Center in NYC through March 9th, 2008). He knows how to capture the mundane events of everyday life and discover the sublime. Isn’t that the artistry of directing? Any truly great director has committed him or herself to a clandestine agreement with the viewer. “What I have to show you will stay with you for the rest of your life.”
Rarely do snowflakes settle long enough onto the Parisian landscape to leave a lasting impression, and likewise, only on the brink of death does one truly begin to savor and register the myriad details of your hometown. When one’s hometown is Paris, there’s so much to lose – that one can go almost crazy trying to absorb every nuance. So discovers Pierre (Romain Duris) – a young Parisian, handsome – elegant – energetic – and possibly about to die.
Date: March 5th, 2008 |
No Comments
George Clooney and Nespresso
Just how much would you be willing to pay for a good cup of expresso? 1000 Euros? For the past year, French moviegoers have been treated to the humorous George Clooney ad for Nespresso coffee. It was filmed at a Nespresso cafe created just for the ad in Santa Monica, California.
Now, Nespresso has its very own boutique at 119 Champs Elysees. You may not bump into George Clooney here, but you can pick up a fine expresso coffee maker for a mere 999 Euros.
Date: February 13th, 2008 |
No Comments
Never-ending Film Festival
Perhaps one of the great unsung glories of Paris is its plethora of movie theaters. But it’s not the sheer number that overwhelms me as much as the vast choice of film titles. Picking out a movie in Paris is like going to the biggest candy shop in the world. I’d be willing to wager that Paris, if it doesn’t offer the most varied programming of international films (in their original version) on any given day of the week, compared to any city in the world you choose, it has to be one …
Date: October 26th, 2007 |
No Comments
Ratatouille gets high marks
Le Parisien movie reviewer has given Ratatouille three stars, a rating of ‘Excellent’.
“Take the family!” Le Parisien suggests.
Brad Bird receives high marks for a film which is described as ‘inventive’ and ‘funny’.
Le Parisien is also impressed by the fact that the technicians have done their culinary homework by enrolling in cooking and wine courses. The recipes are authentic.
Date: August 1st, 2007 |
No Comments
La Graine et le Mulet: The Secret of the Grain
Abdellatif Kechiche’s film La Graine et le Mulet recently won Best Film in the prestigious Cesar awards, comparable to an Oscar award in the U.S.
Hafsia Herzi also won a Cesar as best new emerging talent for her portrayal of Rym, the vivacious adopted daughter of Slimane Beiji (played by Habib Boufares). Beiji represents the patriarch of an Arab immigrant family settled in Sete - a fishing town in southern France.
First, a word about the film’s title: La Graine et le Mulet
The English translation isn’t really quite right: The Secret of the Grain. It should be: The Grain and the Mullet
Date: March 26th, 2008 |
1 comment
Best Actress 2008: Marion Cotillard
You may remember back in July, 2007 Parislogue reviewed ‘La Mome’. I urged fans to see this film at that time. Even if you aren’t a Piaf fan, it’s almost impossible to separate the sounds of Piaf, ‘La Vie en Rose’, with the twisting streets of Montmartre and the image that so many of us retain of the Paris of yesteryear.
Now, it looks like Ms. Cotillard has received a super Valentine’s day gift. The film was originally released on February 14, 2007 and now, a year later, the Valentine’s box of chocolates arrives in the form of not only an Oscar but a Cesar as well.
In January, 2008, I was rooting for Cotillard to win this year’s ‘Best Actress’ saying,”Sometimes a role and an actor are preordained to meet.” Rolling Stone went one step farther - saying that Cotillard’ performance was ‘a performance for the ages’. I heartily agree.
Date: February 25th, 2008 |
No Comments
Star-Gazing: Fabrice Luchini
Fabrice Luchini, Rue de la Gaite
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007
When it comes to Hollywood stars, I might as well be blind. It would be easy for me to bump into Mat Damon or Brad Pitt - and never know it - but for some reason, Fabrice Luchini, who may not be so well known to American movie-goers (unless you’ve seen the film Beaumarchais). is an actor that I recognize toute suite.
(One of the reasons why French movie stars and singers love to come to the US is for …
Date: November 1st, 2007 |
No Comments
Metro Music
You Tube has a number of really good ’slice of Metro life’ music videos. If you haven’t checked them out lately, you should. My favorite today is: Talented Guys “Naturally Seven” Sing in the Metro
What I like about this video is that the music is so good and so smooth that eventually Metro riders can’t help but join in!
Ronin was trying to track down the names of classical musicians playing at the Denfert Rochereau Metro stop, so if anybody knows them, leave a comment, please!
Were the musicians possibly the same as featured …
Date: August 6th, 2007 |
No Comments
More on Paris, Je T'Aime
View of the Eiffel Tower from the 31st floor of Residence Massena
Metro: Porte de Choisy
Photo by Chris Card Fuller, ©2006
If you’re watching the film Paris, Je T’Aime, from the viewpoint of looking at Paris neighborhoods or arrondissements, you may be either surprised or disappointed by how each director portrays the arrondissement he or she has chosen for a five-minute movie.
Date: July 30th, 2007 |
No Comments
