anyone else seen this yet? it seemed to have garner some praises from the sundance. I just saw it tonight, it was very well-acted, didn't like the ending, but don't know how I would end it, this is actually the first film where I actually asked myself, how would I have done it differently.
it was still a very good film though.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-maria30f.html
I'd like to go to Toronto to see this however..
Warner has announced the release of Spanish film Maria Full of Grace which tells the story of a bright, spirited 17-year old who becomes entangled in the ruthless world of international drug trafficking. The disc will be available to own from the 7th December this year, priced at around $27.95. The film itself will be presented in anamorphic widescreen along with Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround tracks. The only extra feature will be an audio commentary with writer/director Joshua Marston. English, French and Spanish subtitles will also be provided.
the film is in Spanish but it's a Colombian film.
I just got back from seeing it as well and I thought it was excellent. It's the kinda movie that'll get a lot of IFP awards. What didn't you like about the ending, Pete?
You two went together, didn't you?
SPOILERS
QuoteI felt like that ending, with her choosing to stay in America made it look like it was all worth it. So the story, instead of being about Maria Alvarez, becomes about another heartbreaking tale of the things people will do to give their children a brighter future here in the US.
i saw it about a week ago and i thought it was great, i too was a little sketchy about the ending at first, but then i realized that it was good and fitting
The whole story is so well done and so real... I liked the tagline of the film that says "Based on 1,000 true stories". Liked it a lot
i saw this in new york a few months ago and forgot to post my thoughts. it's truly fantastic, i think. the acting, especially by the beautiful leading lady, is top notch. i loved how expressive her face was, even when she wasn't saying or doing anything, this look in her eyes let the audience know exactly what she was thinking, how she was feeling, etc.
anyway, the movie made me ache it was so intense. A great debut and a perfect, perfect, perfect ending.
You guys all got me way too excited about this movie... this was just a good movie... it wasn't that great... nothing we haven't seen before... good all around, but just good... not great.
be nice
This is now on DVD.
I just saw it and I really liked it. I wouldn't call it the best film of the year, but it's definitely a top ten film. It's a great coming of age story that looks at the drug issue without being preachy. The lead was amazing, especially for a debut. Sometimes I felt the handheld was a little bit too much, other times it worked perfect.
****1/2 out of 5 stars.
as a native spanish speaker i can say that aside from the main actress, most of the acting and the delivery of dialogue of the secondary and tertiary characters was awful...
other than that, it was an all around good film, iMO.
Quote from: ProgWRXas a native spanish speaker i can say that aside from the main actress, most of the acting and the delivery of dialogue of the secondary and tertiary characters was awful...
other than that, it was an all around good film, iMO.
My netflix sleeve said that she wants to go to a magical land of "el norte" where streets are paved with gold.
Is this a screwup by them or did something get lost in translation?
do you mean Lost in Racism :?:
well its not really a screw up, just a stupid way of saying that most south american people think the US has all the solutions to their problems and that it is a somewhat magical place...
sadly, there are people who think exactly that way...
Quote from: RegularKaratethis was just a good movie... it wasn't that great... nothing we haven't seen before... good all around, but just good... not great.
yeah it was good, but not something i could get excited about. stephen king said it was his favorite film of 2004. i did like how much the film put you in the shoes of the main character, just some of the sound in the plane and only using her view of nyc not like big wide establishing shots, just as she sees it out the cab window.
Quote from: SHAFTRMy netflix sleeve said that she wants to go to a magical land of "el norte" where streets are paved with gold.
Is this a screwup by them or did something get lost in translation?
haha, yes! i thought that was hilarious.
Marston driving 'Convoy' to WIP
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Joshua Marston will write and direct his next project, temporarily titled "The Iraqi Convoy Project," for Warner Independent Pictures.
Marston, who established himself with his debut feature "Maria Full of Grace," which dramatized drug-running, is turning his attention to another socially conscious topic: American truckers who have made a one-year commitment to drive goods for U.S. contractors through the Iraqi war zone because of financial hardships back home.
Cherry Road Films will finance the development of the project. Marston, whose plate was full with various projects, cleared his schedule after he discussed the idea with WIP's Michael Andreen and Tommaso Fiacchino from Cherry Road. The director quickly developed a six-page e-mail outlining his vision for a story.
Marston will be fictionalizing the material, creating a character-driven film within a bigger social context.
The writer-director is expected to begin working on the script immediately. Although there is no deadline for the script, the intent is to get the project done quickly because of the story's timely nature.
i saw this guy on the IFC awards or whatever, and he seemed like an asshole.
Quote from: MacGuffinJoshua Marston will write and direct his next project, temporarily titled "The Iraqi Convoy Project," for Warner Independent Pictures.
Then it's not independent, is it?
Great, we have another John Sayles on our hands (and I mean that in the worst possible way).
Quote from: peteSPOILERS
QuoteI felt like that ending, with her choosing to stay in America made it look like it was all worth it. So the story, instead of being about Maria Alvarez, becomes about another heartbreaking tale of the things people will do to give their children a brighter future here in the US.
That's what's supposed to be. If she had done the other thing, well, that's not what happens in reality most of the time.
Quote from: RegularKarateYou guys all got me way too excited about this movie... this was just a good movie... it wasn't that great... nothing we haven't seen before... good all around, but just good... not great.
another case of a single great performance making a whole movie. and not in a bad way like monster.
the nomination was justified. most engaging performance of the year, easily. if u didn't find her as captivating then i guess the movie would suck. i admire vulnerable performances like this more than shitty hide-behind-make-up-and-get-fat theatrics.
marston just got lucky.
Quote from: Pubrickmarston just got lucky.
Someone should have told him that before he gave the longest acceptance speech in history at the Spirit Awards.