Stefan Ruzowitzky's The Counterfeiters opens on a beach in Monte Carlo where Salomon Sorowitsch (the great Karl Markovics) is sitting in a nice suit and a briefcase. Ten minutes later, Salomon walks into the swankest hotel in the gambling paradise and opens the case to discover a king's bounty of crisp bills. You'd mean the guy was James Bond's ragged older brother but, in truth, the guy has earned the right to be a ruthless money-spender.
Based on the true report of a group of Jewish counterfeiters that worked for the Nazis, Ruzowitzky casts Sorowitsch as the morally negligent foreman of a radical of counterfeiters. Already an accomplished counterfeiter before organism caught, Salomon (his friends call him Solly) gets put in job of the money counterfeiting operation by Herzog (an imposingly whiny Devid Striesow), the commander of his electric current camp and the world who originally arrested Salomon.
Sorowitsch gets a morally righteous kick in the stones by blighter prisoner Adolf Burger (played with copious rage by August Diehl), who would later go onto write the nonfiction story that the film is based on. Adolf starts laying it on thick when Sorowitsch is handed the task of making consummate counterfeits of the American dollar. Burger, given the news that his married woman was shot for trying to escape, uses his job at the lightpress to sabotage all of Sorowitsch's molds. Herzog and his diabolical right-hand man Holst (Martin Brambach) threaten to shoot random employees unless they can make a perfect counterfeit dollar.
Things are leftfield relatively ambiguous to Salomon until Holst executes the young Kolya (Sebastian Urzendowsky), a offspring man world Health Organization took Sorowitsch as his father figure. The filmmaking also seems ambiguous. It's a consistent film, in tone and in fib, but with films as outlandishly boldness as Fateless and last year's brilliant Black Book rethinking the War, its victims, and perceptions of the consequence, something as terminally normal as The Counterfeiters comes off as hay in a hayrick. That goes for well-nigh every facet of the production as well the playing: Cinematographer Benedict Neuenfels' camerawork does its job succinctly but with no vitality and Marius Ruhland's score sounds like it came out of a stool. And don't get me started on the paint-by-numbers production design.
My fury o'er what films the Academy chooses to nominate, forget alone those that bring home the bacon, might ne'er subside, but The Counterfeiters certainly isn't the worst film they've ever picked (my alternative: Life is Beautiful). That being aforementioned, how a film like this sneaks past genuinely great films like 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, The Host, or the aforementioned Black Book may be one of those gravid mysteries that are never meant to be resolved. For now, however, The Counterfeiters joins that stratum of films like Tsotsi and The Sea Inside that are just good enough to look like they matter and ar digestible sufficiency for the Academy to continue its unparalleled losing streak in celebrating esthetic accomplishment. Be sure to tune in Sunday.
Aka Die F�lscher.
Fake!
See Also
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
The Counterfeiters - 8/5/2008
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Concord Down
Artist: Concord Down
Genre(s):
Drum & Bass
Discography:
Man for All Seasons METH71 VLS
Year: 2006
Tracks: 2
Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
LiveDaily Song of the Day: The Presets - "This Boy's In Love"
Today's Song of the Day is by The Presets [ tickets ]. The pair's featured cut is "This Boy's In Love," a track from their recent May release, "Apocalypso."
Friday, 6 June 2008
Sharon Stone Apologises Over China Karma Blunder
Sharon Stone has apologised for her comments towards China, stating that she is deeply sorry over the insensitive remarks made about how the country’s earthquakes were a result of bad karma over their treatment of Tibet.
In a statement, the Basic Instinct star says: "Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people.
"I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people."
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang has acknowledged the apology, stating, "We hope that as an actress she should contribute to our two peoples' mutual trust, understanding and friendship."
Do you think Sharon’s comments are forgivable? Be sure to leave your comments below.
In a statement, the Basic Instinct star says: "Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people.
"I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people."
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang has acknowledged the apology, stating, "We hope that as an actress she should contribute to our two peoples' mutual trust, understanding and friendship."
Do you think Sharon’s comments are forgivable? Be sure to leave your comments below.
Thursday, 29 May 2008
Sunday, 25 May 2008
Sopranos star for Marvin Gaye film
'The Sopranos' star James Gandolfini has been cast opposite 'Law & Order' star Jesse L Martin in a new film about the last years of soul legend Marvin Gaye.
Variety reports that 'Sexual Healing' will chronicle Gaye's (Martin) self-imposed exile in Belgium and his return to the big time with the help of promoter Freddy Cousaert (Gandolfini).
The Lauren Goodman-directed film will be produced by Gandolfini's company, Attaboy Films, and the actor will work as producer on the project.
Filming of 'Sexual Healing' is due to begin on 15 April, with locations in Ostend, Massachusetts and Los Angeles.
Variety reports that 'Sexual Healing' will chronicle Gaye's (Martin) self-imposed exile in Belgium and his return to the big time with the help of promoter Freddy Cousaert (Gandolfini).
The Lauren Goodman-directed film will be produced by Gandolfini's company, Attaboy Films, and the actor will work as producer on the project.
Filming of 'Sexual Healing' is due to begin on 15 April, with locations in Ostend, Massachusetts and Los Angeles.
The Office star cast in Mendes new comedy
The American version of 'The Office' star John Krasinski will play the lead in Sam Mendes' as yet untitled comedy.
According to Variety magazine Krasinski, who plays Jim in the hit TV series, will star alongside Maya Rudolph and Cheryl Hines in the relationship comedy.
The plot follows an expectant couple (Krasinski and Rudolph) as they travel the country in search of a place to settle and raise a family.
The film, written by husband and wife duo Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, is due to begin shooting next month in Connecticut.
Further details have yet to be revealed by 'American Beauty' director Mendes.
According to Variety magazine Krasinski, who plays Jim in the hit TV series, will star alongside Maya Rudolph and Cheryl Hines in the relationship comedy.
The plot follows an expectant couple (Krasinski and Rudolph) as they travel the country in search of a place to settle and raise a family.
The film, written by husband and wife duo Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, is due to begin shooting next month in Connecticut.
Further details have yet to be revealed by 'American Beauty' director Mendes.
Mother alleging Spears was drugged
Britney Spears' mother has alleged that the 26-year-old singer was "drugged" by her self-styled manager, Sam Lufti, in order to take control of her life, home and money.
Reuters reports that Lynne Spears' allegations were contained in a sworn declaration submitted to the court in order to obtain a temporary restraining order against Lufti.
The restraining order against Lufti forbids him from contacting Spears in any way.
In the declaration, Lynne Spears alleged: "Mr Lutfi drugged Britney. He has cut Britney's home phone line and removed her cell-phone chargers. He yells at her. He claims to control everything - Britney's business manager, her attorneys and security guards at the gate."
Lynne Spears describes arriving at her daughter's home on 28 January and finding her in a confused state.
She said: "Britney... became very agitated and could not stop moving. She cleaned the house. She changed her clothes many times. She also changed her dogs' clothes many times. Britney spoke to me in a tone and with the level of understanding of a very young girl."
The singer's mother claims that Lufti told her and a friend that he gave the 26-year-old tablets ground up in her food to keep her quiet and told the troubled entertainer that she had to take "10 pills a day" if she wanted to see her two young sons.
Britney Spears' father Jamie and attorney Andrew Wallete have been granted temporary control of the star's assets, pending further legal proceedings.
A judge has ruled that Spears must be examined by a court-appointed psychiatrist to determine if she understands the legal proceedings.
Reuters reports that Lynne Spears' allegations were contained in a sworn declaration submitted to the court in order to obtain a temporary restraining order against Lufti.
The restraining order against Lufti forbids him from contacting Spears in any way.
In the declaration, Lynne Spears alleged: "Mr Lutfi drugged Britney. He has cut Britney's home phone line and removed her cell-phone chargers. He yells at her. He claims to control everything - Britney's business manager, her attorneys and security guards at the gate."
Lynne Spears describes arriving at her daughter's home on 28 January and finding her in a confused state.
She said: "Britney... became very agitated and could not stop moving. She cleaned the house. She changed her clothes many times. She also changed her dogs' clothes many times. Britney spoke to me in a tone and with the level of understanding of a very young girl."
The singer's mother claims that Lufti told her and a friend that he gave the 26-year-old tablets ground up in her food to keep her quiet and told the troubled entertainer that she had to take "10 pills a day" if she wanted to see her two young sons.
Britney Spears' father Jamie and attorney Andrew Wallete have been granted temporary control of the star's assets, pending further legal proceedings.
A judge has ruled that Spears must be examined by a court-appointed psychiatrist to determine if she understands the legal proceedings.
Bob Geldof - Geldof Curbs Peaches Wild Ways
LATEST: Rocker BOB GELDOF has made his troubled daughter PEACHES move back home - because she was surrounded by "bad influences" at her pad in North London, according to reports.
The 19-year-old was quizzed by police after she was caught on tape buying drugs from Amy Winehouse's alleged dealer - but then escaped police charges for lack of evidence.
And because of her alleged drug-buying escapade, The Boomtown Rats star has laid down a list of rules for the teen to abide by.
A source tells British newspaper London Lite, "She will have to cut off all her mates who she has met recently, because Bob sees them as bad influences.
"She is not allowed to DJ for a while or go to many parties because she is worried that she could be led astray again.
"Her cash and credit cards have been taken away, so now she has to ask him for money to do anything."
It is not the first time the teen has been caught up in controversy. She was accused of shoplifting in October 2006 and caused a stir again last month (20Apr08) when she was blamed for stealing an expensive gown from London store Victim.
See Also
New Witness Comes Forward In R Kelly Child Pornography Case
Troubled R+B star R.KELLY has been hit with another setback in his underage sex case - a new witness is set to testify she had sex with the star and an underage girl.
The I Believe I Can Fly hitmaker is currently awaiting trial on 14 counts of child pornography, with proceedings due to start in May (08).
Kelly is accused of filming himself having sex with an underage girl, who is believed to have been 13 or 14 at the time of the assault.
But reports now claim a new witness has come forward to testify against the star, claiming she enjoyed a threesome with the singer and the teenager at the centre of the
case. It is expected the woman will confirm the girl was underage at the time of the act.
The I Believe I Can Fly hitmaker is currently awaiting trial on 14 counts of child pornography, with proceedings due to start in May (08).
Kelly is accused of filming himself having sex with an underage girl, who is believed to have been 13 or 14 at the time of the assault.
But reports now claim a new witness has come forward to testify against the star, claiming she enjoyed a threesome with the singer and the teenager at the centre of the
case. It is expected the woman will confirm the girl was underage at the time of the act.
Anti-Heros
Artist: Anti-Heros
Genre(s):
Rock: Punk-Rock
Discography:
American Pie
Year: 1996
Tracks: 12
Amy Winehouse cancels plans to begin recording her third album
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