subject: The Five Best Foreign Films of the 2000s on Satellite TV [print this page] Author: Oswald Melman Author: Oswald Melman
When you take a trip to the movie theater or stay home to check out some of the new film releases, you may often drift to the old reliables: the mainstays of American cinema like Scorsese and Tarantino, Clooney and Pitt. Why not? There have been so many memorable films produced by American actors and directors, its easy to look to them for something special. However, when youve see all the big movies, its a perfect time to explore the world of foreign cinema. While some directors like Pedro Almodovar have gotten a big name in recent years, there are a number of others who have slipped under the radar. For a good place to start, check out these five foreign films on satellite TV networks, the best to come out during the last decade.
1. Irma Vep. The name Olivier Assayas may not mean much to American audiences, but the French director has been one of Europes top filmmakers for over a decade. This film, which features Hong Kong star Maggie Cheung (speaking English), revolves around a French director trying to remake a classic vampire film (to figure out the title, rearrange the letters to find vampire). A fascinating meditation on filmmaking and foreigners in Paris, Irma Vep may be the most accessible of the French masters films see it on the Independent Film Channel in HD.
2. Oldboy. If you think of foreign films as slow and obsessively romantic, see the Korean Oldboy and find the antidote. This shocking, violent film follows the kidnap and imprisonment of a drunkard. The catch is, neither he nor the audience knows why or where he is imprisoned. One day, he finds a way out and seeks revenge of the most violent fashion. However, it seems like his former tormenter is still pulling the strings. The director manages to mix in allusions to classic Hollywood while remaining fresh and original.
3. In the Mood for Love. Hong Kong master Wong Kar Wai has made English films (see the average Blueberry Nights), but this masterpiece is the place to start. Starring Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, it is a story of unrequited love between two people whose spouses are being unfaithful to them (with one another) in 1940s Hong Kong. See thus stylish film on the Sundance channel with satellite TV.
4. Volver. Another great foreign film with a reference to Hitchcocks Vertigo, this Almodovar film cemented his and Penelope Cruzs reputations around the world. They are simply the best duo working together in film. Part ghost story, part tragedy, this modern classic is still sparking conversation on premium satellite TV networks like HBO.
5. Gomorrah. The author of this book about the Naples mafia had to go into hiding to avoid certain death. What he risked his life for was to tell a story of just how far the mafia has gone in Italy. A fascinating film which has been celebrated worldwide, it can be seen on Showtime in high definition.About the Author:
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