Guillermo Del Toro Interview

Wow, sorry guys, been a while. Anyway heres an interview from IGN.com with no other then Guillermo Del Toro regarding Pan's Labyrinth. The interview provides a good example of how Spanish cinema is marketed to a Western audience (The UK in particular), since its quite rare for world cinema to appear on such a website that focuses on more 'general' films such as Hollywood blocksters i.e. Spiderman 3 or Transformers, where as world cinema is a much more specific audience. This results in Pan's Labyrinth gaining much more publicity and exposure then perhaps the average Spanish film.

Pans Labryinth Fanbase

With many successful films there often fanbases and particular websites that pay tribute to that film or its director, Pans Labryinth is no exception , just a small post here showing a Thread dedicated to the film from the Del Toro fansite, (which in turn, decdicated to the director of the film).

It could be said that fansite and forum, as well as this particular thread support that Pans Labryinth has earned a cult status among film fans and movie goers due to its large success.It is most likely that good UK/western marketing has played a part in this. Click on the post title to view the thread itself.

Cheers
Alec

Reception for Volver

As with "Pan's Lab", Pedro Almodóvar's Volver was well recieved with the film being nominated for an Oscar, along with another 39 wins & 47 nominations of various award which include:


Academy Awards, USA
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated Oscar Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Penélope Cruz



Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Silver Condor Best Foreign Film, Spanish Language (Mejor Película Iberoamericana)
Pedro Almodóvar
Spain.


BAFTA Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Actress in a Leading Role
Penélope Cruz


Best Film not in the English Language
Agustín Almodóvar
Pedro Almodóvar



Bodil Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated Bodil Best Non-American Film (Bedste ikke-amerikanske film)
Pedro Almodóvar
Spain.


British Independent Film Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2006 Nominated British Independent Film Award Best Foreign Independent Film



Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated Critics Choice Award Best Actress
Penélope Cruz

Best Foreign Language Film



Cannes Film Festival
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2006 Won Best Actress
Penélope Cruz
Carmen Maura
Lola Dueñas
Blanca Portillo
Yohana Cobo
Chus Lampreave
To the female ensemble cast.

Best Screenplay
Pedro Almodóvar


Nominated Golden Palm
Pedro Almodóvar



Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2006 Nominated CFCA Award Best Actress
Penélope Cruz


Best Foreign Language Film
Spain.


Chlotrudis Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Chlotrudis Award Best Supporting Actress
Carmen Maura


Nominated Chlotrudis Award Best Director
Pedro Almodóvar



Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won CEC Award Best Actress (Mejor Actriz)
Penélope Cruz


Best Director (Mejor Director)
Pedro Almodóvar


Best Film (Mejor Película)


Best Score (Mejor Música)
Alberto Iglesias


Best Screenplay, Original (Mejor Guión Original)
Pedro Almodóvar


Best Supporting Actress (Mejor Actriz Secundaria)
Carmen Maura


Nominated CEC Award Best Cinematography (Mejor Fotografía)
José Luis Alcaine


Best Editing (Mejor Montaje)
José Salcedo


Best Supporting Actress (Mejor Actriz Secundaria)
Lola Dueñas


Best Supporting Actress (Mejor Actriz Secundaria)
Blanca Portillo



Czech Lions
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Czech Lion Best Foreign Language Film (Nejlepsí zahranicní film)



César Awards, France
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated César Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger)
Pedro Almodóvar



David di Donatello Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated David Best European Film (Miglior Film dell'Unione Europea)
Pedro Almodóvar



Empire Awards, UK
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Empire Award Best Actress
Penélope Cruz


European Film Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2006 Won Audience Award Best Film
Pedro Almodóvar


European Film Award Best Actress
Penélope Cruz


Best Cinematographer
José Luis Alcaine
Tied with Barry Ackroyd for The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006).

Best Composer
Alberto Iglesias


Best Director
Pedro Almodóvar


Nominated European Film Award Best Film


Best Screenwriter
Pedro Almodóvar



Flaiano Film Festival
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2006 Won Best Actress
Carmen Maura



Fotogramas de Plata
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Fotogramas de Plata Best Film (Mejor Película Española)
Pedro Almodóvar
Tied with Laberinto del fauno, El (2006).

Best Movie Actress (Mejor Actriz de Cine)
Penélope Cruz


Nominated Fotogramas de Plata Best Movie Actress (Mejor Actriz de Cine)
Lola Dueñas


Best Movie Actress (Mejor Actriz de Cine)
Carmen Maura



French Syndicate of Cinema Critics
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Critics Award Best Foreign Film
Pedro Almodóvar



Golden Globes, USA
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated Golden Globe Best Foreign Language Film


Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Penélope Cruz



Goya Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Goya Best Director (Mejor Director)
Pedro Almodóvar


Best Film (Mejor Película)


Best Lead Actress (Mejor Actriz Principal)
Penélope Cruz


Best Original Score (Mejor Música Original)
Alberto Iglesias


Best Supporting Actress (Mejor Actriz de Reparto)
Carmen Maura


Nominated Goya Best Cinematography (Mejor Fotografía)
José Luis Alcaine


Best Costume Design (Mejor Diseño de Vestuario)
Sabine Daigeler


Best Make-Up and Hairstyles (Mejor Maquillaje y/o Peluquería)
Ana Lozano
Massimo Gattabrusi


Best Production Design (Mejor Dirección Artística)
Salvador Parra


Best Production Supervision (Mejor Dirección de Producción)
Toni Novella


Best Screenplay - Original (Mejor Guión Original)
Pedro Almodóvar


Best Sound (Mejor Sonido)
Miguel Rejas
José Antonio Bermúdez
Manuel Laguna
Garrido


Best Supporting Actress (Mejor Actriz de Reparto)
Lola Dueñas


Best Supporting Actress (Mejor Actriz de Reparto)
Blanca Portillo



Guldbagge Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated Guldbagge Best Foreign Film (Bästa utländska film)
Pedro Almodóvar



Hollywood Film Festival
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2006 Won Hollywood World Award
Pedro Almodóvar



Image Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Penélope Cruz


Outstanding Independent or Foreign Film



Irish Film and Television Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated Audience Award Best International Actress
Penélope Cruz



London Critics Circle Film Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won ALFS Award Foreign Language Film of the Year


Nominated ALFS Award Actress of the Year
Penélope Cruz


Director of the Year
Pedro Almodóvar


Film of the Year



National Board of Review, USA
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2006 Won NBR Award Best Foreign Language Film
Spain.


Online Film Critics Society Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated OFCS Award Best Actress
Penélope Cruz


Best Foreign Film



Polish Film Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Eagle Best European Film (Najlepszy Film Europejski)
Pedro Almodóvar
Spain.


Robert Festival
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated Robert Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film)
Pedro Almodóvar



San Sebastián International Film Festival
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2006 Won FIPRESCI Film of the Year
Pedro Almodóvar



Satellite Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2006 Won Satellite Award Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language
Spain.

Nominated Satellite Award Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Penélope Cruz


Best Director
Pedro Almodóvar


Best Screenplay, Original
Pedro Almodóvar



Screen Actors Guild Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Penélope Cruz



Spanish Actors Union
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Award of the Spanish Actors Union Film: Lead Performance, Female (Protagonista Cine - Categoría Femenina)
Penélope Cruz


Film: Performance in a Minor Role, Female (Reparto Cine - Categoría Femenina)
Chus Lampreave


Film: Supporting Performance, Female (Secundario Cine - Categoría Femenina)
Blanca Portillo


Nominated Award of the Spanish Actors Union Film: Supporting Performance, Female (Secundario Cine - Categoría Femenina)
Lola Dueñas


Film: Supporting Performance, Female (Secundario Cine - Categoría Femenina)
Carmen Maura



Spanish Music Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won Music Award Best Score (Mejor Álbum de Banda Sonora de Obra Cinematográfica)
Alberto Iglesias



Valdivia International Film Festival
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2006 Won Audience Award
Pedro Almodóvar


Special Jury Award
Pedro Almodóvar



Vancouver Film Critics Circle
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2007 Won VFCC Award Best Foreign Language Film

All the above are from and can be found at the Internet Movie Database Website, click the title for more.

Second Critical Review for Volver

Hey back from a very enjoyed holiday and now having wacthed Pedro Almodóvar's Volver, which i found interesting and pretty good, heres the second review for it, from Total Film's website.

"Plot
Domestic goddess Raimunda (Penélope Cruz) has plenty on her plate, working drudge jobs to support her lecherous, loutish husband and 14-year-old daughter (Yohana Cobo). When hubbie’s murdered and her mother (Carmen Maura) returns from the dead, the stage is set for some bad behaviour, shock revelations and all-round female trouble...
Volver – to come back or return – is an exceptionally fitting title for Pedro Almodóvar’s Palme D’Or contender. It’s a return, after the male-dominated duo of Talk To Her and Bad Education, to a story saturated with Almodóvar’s love and compassion for women of all shapes, sizes and sentiments; a hearty tribute to the Spanish maestro’s rural La Mancha roots and a captivating reunion with two of his former muses – Cruz, who appeared in All About My Mother, and Maura, the gleaming star of his career-launching ’80s movies.

They play mother and daughter in a feisty, supernatural-inflected melodrama about the redemptive power of female bonding, although Almodóvar keeps his muses apart until a third-act crescendo, when the emotional floodgates are opened. If you only know Cruz from her insipid English-language forays, prepare to be astounded: as spirited mama Raimunda, she’s earthy, sensual, electric – a radiant combo of Mildred Pierce (one of many camp classics Pedro tips his hat to) and Anna Magnani, made up as the spitting image of Sophia Loren at her sultry, early-’60s peak. Almodóvar’s camera can’t get enough of her, zooming in for soul-scorching close-ups on her limpid eyes (framed by chunky black eyeliner and frequently welling with tears), ogling her like a builder as she swings her hips through the Madrid barrios or lingering above her remarked-upon cleavage while she does the washing-up.

Despite La Cruz’s force-of-nature turn and Almodóvar’s clever, peppery writing (which sees a welcome re-emergence for his trademark farcical trimmings), Volver falls short of being a masterpiece to equal All About My Mother, the usually adept blend of comedy, thriller and melodrama not always gelling here. But it’s still the work of a poised and ambitious creative force. His early, giddy lunacy may have been replaced by a more sober maturity, but Almodóvar’s ability to generate vibrant, brightly hued characters and powerful, engaging drama remains as strong than ever.

Verdict
As career-salvaging efforts go, this is a corker for Cruz. It’s also a strong return to the female-oriented melodramas of Pedro’s early years."

As always click on the title to go the site itself.

Cheers
Alec

Holiday

Hey just posting to say that i'll be leaving to go to Chichester in the countryside today. So there wont be updates in a while, sorry bout that, however as you may have noticed i have left two new posts to suffice.

I'll be back in a week so until then, see you later and take it easy.

Cheers
Alec

First Critical Review for Volver

Hey, well now heres the first crictal review for the second film im studying Pedro Almodovar's Volver released in 2006. The following review is from the Empire Online website.

"Plot
A story about three generations of women. Raimunda (Cruz) works menial jobs to support her daughter (Yohana Cobo) and deadbeat husband three years after the death of her mother (Maura). Her sister Sole (Dueñas) is lonely, and her friend Agustina (Portillo) suffers from cancer and the disappearance of her own mother.

Verdict
A mature and beautifully told tale of family and the ghosts that haunt us.


Reviewer: Helen OHara"
****

As ever for the full Empire review just click on the title.

Cheers
Alec

Reception for Pan's Labyrinth

The post deals with the success director Guillmero Del Toro's 'Pan's Labyrinth' enjoyed when released November 2006.

Awards included the film winng 3 Oscars as well as another 55 wins & 51 nominations for other awards which were:

Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography
Best Makeup

Ariel Awards
Best Director
Best Movie

BAFTA Awards
Best Costume Design
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Makeup & Hair

Constellation Awards
Best Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-series

Fantasporto
Best Film

Goya Awards
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Makeup and Hair
Best New Actress (Ivana Baquero)
Best Original Screenplay
Best Sound
Best Special Effects


National Society of Film Critics
Best Picture

Saturn Awards
Best International Film
Best Performance by a Younger Actor

Spacey Awards
Space Choice Awards

Also the film made $37 million in North America while making $80 million worldwide. In its native country Spain, it almost made $12 million, and it is the fourth highest domestically grossing foreign film in the United States (according to Wikipedia).It has made a furhter $16 million from its DVD release.