Showing posts with label German Films. Show all posts
Showing posts with label German Films. Show all posts

Thursday, December 05, 2019

A Review of a Great Film, SYSTEM CRASHER


Writer and Director, Nora Fingscheidt and me...
Los Angeles, CA--Being a member of the Screen Actors Guild I am blessed to get to see a lot of films and meet the creative forces behind them. That’s exactly what happened tonight as I saw a German film, System Crasher.  

It was a project dreamed up by a lovely young film student by the name of Nora Fingscheidt.   The film began seven years ago as a thought that has culminated in an Oscar competing film in the best foreign film category.  The entire cast was captivating. 

The film stars nine-year-old, Helena Zengel as Benni, a young, somewhat abandoned child.  This child is under care of the government and they can hardly cope with her.  She’s a bright girl and is fiercely independent. 

Benni's real problem is obvious she has been denied a two parent household and all of the love and attention that every child deserves. She’s considered a System Crasher. 

Benni has somewhat dangerous meltdowns that makes placing her in foster homes nearly impossible.  Her care givers do the best they can to tame this wild child under the circumstances.

The film also stars, Albrecht Schuch in a compelling role as Benni's assigned Social Worker Escort, Micha.  Micha crosses the line when he becomes personally involved in a somewhat understandable surrogate parental capacity.   

Just like Micha, you can’t help but fall in love with Benni as she travels through some rather horrific misadventures.

I have to say it’s one of the better films I’ve seen and I wish the writer and director, Nora Fingscheidt a trip up to the Oscar podium in February.  As for the young starlet she’s been visiting with none other than Tom Hanks. We will be seeing a lot more of her.

It soon may be available on Netflix. The English Trailer is below.
Being a member of the Screen Actors Guild I am blessed to get to see a lot of films and meet the creative forces behind them. That’s exactly what happened tonight as I saw a German film, System Crasher.  

It was a project dreamed up by a lovely young film student by the name of Nora Fingscheidt.   The film began seven years ago as a thought that has culminated in an Oscar competing film in the best foreign film category.  The entire cast was captivating. 

The film stars nine-year-old, Helena Zengel as Benni, a young, somewhat abandoned child.  This child is under care of the government and they can hardly cope with her.  She’s a bright girl and is fiercely ind

Sunday, June 25, 2017

13 MINUTES, A Crimefile News Film Review


 Political assassination is a sensitive subject especially for those that believe in their government and support their leaders.
Hindsight can make heroes or villains out of those who take the law into their own hands to end evil regimes. 
13 Minutes is about an assassin that saw his absolute social responsibility to kill a very popular politician, Adolf Hitler.
It was November of 1939 when carpenter and metal worker, Georg Elser, 36 undertook the killing of the most protected man in the world. 
Elser had associated with Communists and had joined a workers union.  Elser considered Hitler both a criminal and a Gypsy.  He felt the ambitious dictator was dangerous for humanity.
Elser hatched a clever plot to plant a bomb behind the speaker’s platform at the popular Burgerbraukeller Hall where Hitler gave an annual longwinded speech.  Elser was able to sneak into the venue at night spending two months rebuilding a wood and plaster column concealing an intricate and powerful time bomb. 
Hitler arrived but was pressed for time and gave a much-abbreviated speech.  He came with his high ranking henchmen including Josef Goebbels, Reinhard Heydrich, and Rudolph Hess.  Unfortunately the intended target left the venue just 13 minutes before the bomb went off. 
The huge blast killed eight people and another 62 were injured.   The relentless Gestapo dragnet for the bomber had begun.
Days later, Elser was detained at the Swiss border and found with tools and drawings connected to his failed plot.  He was handed over to the Gestapo.   The interrogation became the responsibility of Kripo (criminal police) head, Arthur Nebe.   
What followed was the six years of redundant, unimaginable torture and internment in the Dachau Concentration Camp.  They loosened Elser’s lips by threatening the love of his life a married woman named, Else Harlen, and his own close family members.
The movie is indeed a historical thriller. The films Director Oliver Hirschbiegel crafted into the grisly torture scenes cinematic flashbacks of Elsers’ remarkable life and relationships.   
As for the acting throughout the film every actor carries his or her weight in great style.   Christian Friedel as Georg Elser knocks his role out of the ballpark.  He’s followed by veteran actor, Burghart Klausner, (The People vs. Fritz Bauer and Bridge of Spies) who expertly plays Arthur Nebe. There is always a woman involved in these things and the very sensuous, Katharina Schuttler, played Elsner's married love interest. 
The film is in German and is certainly worth the effort to read the English subtitles.  It opens on 30 June at select theaters around the nation. 
Go see this film it won’t disappoint! Here's the trailer!






Friday, February 10, 2017

A Review of a Film I Love! Toni Erdmann Rocks!

Los Angeles, CA—I love German films because they helped me learn the German language when I was a young Army medical corpsman serving in that great nation.  Today German films and TV series are simply terrific!  

Toni Erdmann is a favorite and the shoe-in for the Best Foreign Film Oscar Award. It's in German, Romanian and English.  Of course The film is sub-titled in English. 
I had to see what the major film festival's buzz was all about. I won’t spoil it for you but will tell you it’s about a somewhat lonely old curmudgeon, Winfried Conradi aka Toni Erdmann (Peter Simonischeck) who refused to grow up. 

Our aging protagonist is never at a loss for a prank or joke and he longs to bring his successful and beautiful role model daughter, Ines Conradi, (Sandra Huller) back into his life. 

Our hero invades his daughter’s life as she is working hard on an Important business trip to Romania.  Needless to say the complications pile up in a big way.

This is a touching comedy that will have every father and daughter to rethink their relationship.  I loved the stellar acting and my money in on the Oscar for this film. 

This film was written and expertly directed by Maren Ade.  

One wonderful surprise happens when Ines sings accompanied by her father on a keyboard.

This film was not lost on our own Hollywood filmmakers that have announced an American remake of Toni Erdmann.  This will bring Jack Nicholson out of retirement and pair him with the fabulous, Kristen Wiig.

I don’t want to miss either version.  The story is so incredibly compelling.   
The Trailer:


   

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Annual Reception to Honor German Nominees for the Oscar Awards is Almost Here!

Pacific Palisades, CA—At Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard high on a hill with a stunning view overlooking the ocean is Villa Aurora.  This was once the playground of film icons such as Marlene Dietrich and Charlie Chaplin. 
Today Villa Aurora is an exciting artist’s residence, owned by the German government.  It’s contributions to art, music and film is immeasurable.  The same could be said here for the German government.  
The partnership between American and German filmmakers has brought thrilling film after film to both European and American audiences,
On Saturday February 21st German Films, Villa Aurora (Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles) and the Consulate General of The Federal Republic of Germany will host its Pre-Oscar event.  In honor of the German Oscar® nominees:
This year they will be honoring the following:
Director Wim Wenders -  nominated for THE SALT OF THE EARTH as Best Documentary Feature
Team of CITIZENFOUR  nominated as Best Documentary Feature:
Dirk Wilutzky ( Producer)
Mathilde Bonnefoy ( Producer)
Laura Poitras ( Director)
Patricia Schlesinger ( Commissioning Editor Norddeutscher Rundfunk)
Barbara Biermann ( Commissioning Editor Norddeutscher Rundfunk)
Bettina Reitz ( Director TV Bayerischer Rundfunk)
Hubert von Spreti (Commissioning Editor Bayerischer Rundfunk)
Sonja Scheider ( Commissioning Editor Bayerischer Rundfunk)
Carl Bergengruen ( Managing Director MFG Baden-Württemberg)
Team of THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL -  nominated for nine Oscars®  i .a. Best Motion Picture of the Year:
Charlie Woebcken ( Executive Producer Studio Babelsberg)
Henning Molfenter ( Executive Producer Studio Babelsberg)
Christoph Fisser ( Executive Producer Studio Babelsberg)
Jeremy Dawson ( Producer )
Miki Emmrich (   Line Producer)
Carl Bergengruen ( Managing Director MFG Baden-Württemberg)
Kirsten Niehuus ( Managing Director  Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg)
Generous Film Funding has made some great films possible over the years.  Renowned directors such as Paul Verhoeven, Quentin Taratino, Werner Herzog and so many other artists were able to thrill audiences because of this important support.
The German government understands that making films is important to a nations economy and quality of life.
I look forward to attending this gala and sharing with you interviews, video and some surprises from this exciting event. 
Here is my drone’s-eye view of the Villa on a somewhat dreary day last year.