Berlinale 75: Islands, Reflection in a Dead Diamond, and Köln 75

by Elisa Giudici

 

Three more reviews for you from the 75th edition of the Berlin Film Festival, all of them successful films, too. 

KÖLN 75 by Ido Fluk (Belgium/Poland/Germany)

The word that best describes this film is energetic. While it firmly belongs to a well-trodden genre, Köln 75 immediately stands out for the sheer force and irresistible vitality of its young protagonist. That energy pulses through this fast-paced, sharp-witted musical biopic, which engages directly with its audience, frequently breaking the fourth wall to recount a remarkable yet nearly unthinkable chapter of 1970s music history.

The film centers on the legendary Köln Concert, Keith Jarrett’s solo performance that would later become an iconic album. What makes the story feel so fresh, though, is its unexpected perspective...

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Beauty Break: Born on New Year's Day

No "showbiz history" today but, as with Christmas, how strange would it be to have your birthday fall directly on a holiday. Some of you know out there. Do tell in the comments. It must be especially weird to be a New Year's Day baby since people pack so much importance on to this day as a fresh start. And here comes a long a baby with a literal fresh start on everyone's collective fresh start day. 

Here are a dozen showbiz beauties born on this day...

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Cannes Carpet #3: Thandie, Ava, Jane, and lots of Kristen Stewart

by Nathaniel R

Kristen, Laura, Jane, Thandie

We've already gawked at Cannes beauty thrice (Jury Arrival, Red Carpet Collection 1, Red Carpet Lineup 2) and now the final group of 16 delicious gowns before closing night. (And yes we'll eventually get to Cate Blanchett!). Let's start with these four: Kristen Stewart, Laura Harrier, Jane Fonda, and Thandie Newton...

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Red Carpet Lineup: BAFTA w/ Cate, Rooney, Angela...

Jose here. London, bloody London, or rainy for that matter. It seems that as usual, it was either freezing, rainy or both at the BAFTA red carpet, and while sometimes the inclement weather makes for some truly adorable moments when actresses must accesorize accordingly (remember Marion's cute faces trying to stay dry in 2013?) sometimes it doesn't (Kate's gigantic umbrella in 2009 was a tragedy) This year we had two beautiful ladies showing us the right and wrong way to do it. Rooney Mara took on the red carpet in Givenchy Haute Couture which she chose to cover under a shapeless black coat. Once she removed it, there wasn't much to see either, she has worn this exact same dress at least 100 times by now. She gets points for being so funny/dismissive about the red carpet game though.

No, everyone's yelling at you"

...she said to a reporter who asked if she liked the experience.

more after the jump...

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