Venice, Toronto, Vancouver 2011. Johnnie To's "Life Without Principle"
David Hudson“Relentless and exciting, and expansive in its critique of the various ways institutions screw the individual.”
Venice
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Wei Te-sheng's "Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale"
David HudsonMight the 4½-hour version now playing in Taiwan “feel” shorter than the 2½-hour cut screened in Venice and Toronto?
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Venice and Toronto 2011. Ermanno Olmi's "The Cardboard Village"
David HudsonFor some, The Cardboard Village is a venerable work from an old master — but the trades are having none it.
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Venice and Toronto 2011. Xu Haofeng's "The Sword Identity"
David Hudson“An utterly up-to-date classic, a comic-epic swordplay film for a postmodern age.”
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William Friedkin's "Killer Joe" and "French Connection"
David HudsonEven recognizing that Killer Joe is no French Connection, many critics appreciate its “bruising, full-contact entertainment.”
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Venice and Toronto 2011. Whit Stillman's "Damsels in Distress"
David HudsonRaves, mostly, for Stillman’s first feature in 13 years.
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Venice and Toronto 2011. Aleksandr Sokurov's "Faust"
David HudsonMost critics will have been pleased to see Faust win the Golden Lion. But not all of them.
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Venice 2011. Cai Shangjun's "People Mountain People Sea"
David HudsonCritics are all over the map when it comes to this winner of the Silver Lion.
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Venice 2011. Images from the Unwritten
Daniel KasmanCovering a festival always leaves worthy films by the wayside, so rather leave some unmentioned, here are images to inspire interest.
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Venice 2011. Top Picks
Daniel KasmanFor those that must partake, an ordered list of films seen and favorites from Venice 2011.
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Venice 2011. Epic Festival Finale
Daniel KasmanMy final film at the 2011 Venice film festival is appropriately conclusive: Lav Diaz’ 6-hour Century of Birthing.
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Venice 2011. Financial Panthers
Daniel KasmanJohnnie To’s Life without Principle, his second film of 2011, and second dealing with the current financial crisis, premieres at Venice.