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Johnny Hallyday Gets His Vengeance |
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| 12/12/2009 |
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Johnnie To wins the Black Lion, Black Dynamite the Special Jury Prize. Florence Loiret-Caille and Emir Kusturica share the Best Performance nod. Audiences opt for Harry Brown while young critics choose Killer Poet as Best Documentary.
The International Jury of the 19th Courmayeur Noir in Festival has presented the Black Lion for Best Film to Johnnie To’s Vengeance “for the strong visual and narrative images of friendship at the extreme and for the ability of the director to merge comedy and thriller in a compelling way.”
The Special Jury Prize was presented to Scott Sanders’ Black Dynamite “for the intelligent, innovative, witty writing and pitch-perfect performances. The consistently hilarious film also features a great original soundtrack.”
The jury decided this year to split the Best Performance prize, between Florence Loiret-Caille (Jérôme Bonnell’s The Queen of Clubs) and Emir Kusturica (Christian Carion’s Farewell), stating “Of the many fine performances, we have with difficulty selected two remarkable examples: the former for her brave, nuanced portrayal of a sometimes fragile, sometimes ferocious woman, the latter for his seemingly effortless depiction of a passionate, betrayed individual.”
The FoxCrime People's Choice Award went to Harry Brown by Daniel Barber.
The jury of young European critics – comprising Louise Burkart, Davide Latocca, Arianna Viglino, Alexine Dayné, Alessio Zemoz, Mandy Cornelis, Marie Guérin, Frédéric Ravach, Camille Brunel and Alexis Fradier – presents the 20009 DOCNOIR Award to Killer Poet by Susan Gray. Said the jury: “The film distinguishes itself from the other competition titles for the coherence between its subject and its presentation. We were struck by its tormented and original existential arc and the profoundly human approach of the direction, which tells the story in all its emotions.”
The jury gave a Special Mention to Between Bears and Wolves by Denis Sneguirev “for its powerful aesthetic choices and original point of view.”
This year’s festival will be remembered for the 3-D of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Avatar, Diablo Cody’s charm and the boundless hunger of Jennifer. For Bill Murray’s wildly entertaining cameo in Zombieland, for the most sparkling awards ceremony ever, for the new duo comprising festival director Marina Fabbri and the lively French actress Florence Loiret-Caille, and many other events (just read the site!).
But there is one thing we would like to point out, regarding the results of the choices made this year’s jury and audiences. The awarded films are very different from one another and reflect an eclectic selection where realism, reinterpretations of genres, horror, cop dramas, comedy and much more alternated throughout the week of screenings. Nevertheless, all of this year’s winners share a common theme: revenge. Starting with the visionary Johnnie To and his poetic, nostalgic Johnny Hallyday/Costello who comes to Hong Kong seeking revenge; then the irresistible Black Dynamite played by Michael Jai White, who avenges his brother’s death to the rhythms of music and marital arts; and Harry Brown, who on the dark London estates offs the teenagers that murdered his elderly friend. Perhaps there is revenge even in Farewell: that of a colonel who feels betrayed by Soviet communism and betrays his country…to get even.
It is December 2009 and they say the world will end in three years. But what the Mayans couldn’t foresee is that we’ll be here next year, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Courmayeur Noir in Festival. |
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