O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Music
Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey", set in the deep south during the 1930's. In it, three escaped convicts search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman pursues them.
Starring: George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, John Turturro, Holly Hunter, John Goodman
Director: Joel Coen
Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2010-2011 A ~Do It Again~ (2010-2011)
Music
Since 2000, J-pop diva Hamasaki Ayumi has spent every New Year's Eve with her fans by performing a Countdown Live concert. 2010 is no exception, as Ayu returns to Tokyo's Yoyogi National Gymnasium to welcome 2011 with her fans at her 10th Countdown Live. As always, the Do It Again concert features a mix of classic Ayu hits and her latest songs, including those from her 2010 album Love Songs and the special collaboration single Dream ON (with a special appearance by Urata Naoya). In addition to the concert, the long-awaited video release also includes a making of documentary.
Starring: Ayumi Hamasaki
Director: Chikara Tanaka
Yi Yi (2000)
Drama | Music | Romance
NJ Jian, his wife Min-min and their two kids are a typical middle-class family, sharing their Taipei apartment with Min-min's elderly mother. NJ is a partner in a computer hardware firm which made big profits last year but will go bankrupt soon if it doesn't change direction. He warms to the idea of teaming up with Ota, an innovative designer of games software in Japan, and enjoys spending time with the charming and urbane Japanese man. Things start to go wrong for the Jians on the day that Min-min's brother Ah-Di gets married. That's the day when Min-min's mother suffers a stroke and is rushed to hospital in a coma from which she may never awaken.
Starring: Nien-Chen Wu, Kelly Lee, Elaine Jin, Hsi-Sheng Chen, Jonathan Chang
Director: Edward Yang
MTV Video Music Awards 2011 (TV 2011)
Awards | Music
The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards took place on August 28, at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. On July 20, the nominees were announced. Katy Perry received the most nominations this year at ten, followed by Adele, and Kanye West, who are both tied at seven.
On August 28, 2011, Katy Perry won three awards, including Video of the Year for "Firework". Adele also won three awards out of seven nominations, including Best Cinematography and Best Editing for "Rolling in the Deep". Lady Gaga won two awards, including Best Female Video. Britney Spears won two awards, including was honored with the MTV Video Vanguard Award for her contribution to the recent history of MTV, with a tribute that included a group of children dancing to her biggest hits while wearing some of her most iconic costumes from music videos as well as live VMA performances.
Starring: Lady Gaga, Brian May, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Nayer, Adele, Chris Brown, Britney Spears, Beyoncé Knowles, Young the Giant, Bruno Mars, Amy Winehouse, Lil Wayne, Jessie J, Cobra Starship, Sabi
The Soloist (2009)
Music | Biography | Drama
Journalist Steve Lopez discovers Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a former classical music prodigy, playing his violin on the streets of L.A. As Lopez endeavors to help the homeless man find his way back, a unique friendship is formed, one that transforms both their lives.
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander, Lisa Gay Hamilton
Director: Joe Wright
Zatôichi / Takeshi Kitano's Zatoichi (2003)
Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Music
Zatoichi is a 19th century blind nomad who makes his living as a gambler and masseur. However, behind this humble facade, he is a master swordsman gifted with a lightning-fast draw and breathtaking precision. While wandering, Zatoichi discovers a remote mountain village at the mercy of Ginzo, a ruthless gang-leader. Ginzo disposes of anyone who gets in his way, especially after hiring the mighty samurai ronin, Hattori, as a bodyguard. After a raucous night of gambling in town, Zatoichi encounters a pair of geishas–as dangerous as they are beautiful–who've come to avenge their parents' murder. As the paths of these and other colorful characters intertwine, Ginzo's henchmen are soon after Zatoichi. With his legendary cane sword at his side, the stage is set for a riveting showdown.
Starring: Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Okusa, Yui Natsukawa, Guadalcanal Taka
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Whisper of the Heart (1995)
Anime | Romance | Family | Drama | Music
A young girl finds that all the books she chooses in the library have been previously checked out by the same boy. Later she meets a very infuriating fellow… could it be her "friend" from the library? The boy's grandfather has a violin sales and service shop. The boy wants to be a violin maker like his grandfather.
Starring: Youko Honna, Kazuo Takahashi, Takashi Tachibana
Director: Yoshifumi Kondô
De-Lovely (2004)
Biography | Drama | Music | Musical
A musical portrait of American composer Cole Porter in which the musician looks back on his life as if it was one of his spectacular stage shows, with the people and events of his life becoming the actors and action onstage. Through elaborate production numbers Porter's elegant, excessive past comes to light–including his deeply complicated relationship with his wife and muse, Linda Lee Porter.
Starring: Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce, Kevin McNally, Alan Corduner
Director: Irwin Winkler
