Who’s Camus Anyway?
Mitsuo Yanagimachi
Film Movement (2006)
Japanese (English Subtitle)

By Nicholas Nocketback

Art House Films Belong in the Art House, Not Mine

If Robert Altman were Japanese, this’d be his film; however, he’d probably not be named Robert Altman, but more along the lines of Robisho Altmazuki. That being said (or written in this case) I hate Robert Altman films and found this one about on par with those.
At a University in Tokyo, students are making a film about a young man that kills an elderly couple with a hammer. Sounds like it could be interesting, right? Old people and hammers usually make for a memorable experience. Not so much in this case. If you’re in film school or just incredibly pretentious, check this out. Otherwise…

The Orphanage
J.A. Bayona
New Line (2008)
Spanish (English Subtitle)

I am really thankful I rented two films because after watching that art house flop, this was a celluloid orgasm. If you haven’t already, peep out this bad boy. If you were into Pans Labyrinth, you’ll feel this one. While there are no ornate mystical CGI beings, there are some pretty frightening moments. Bayona has masterfully crafted a film that blends magical realism with the banality of everyday life.
The female lead was an orphan in this considerable gothic house in Spain. She gets adopted before something very wrong happens to the orphans. Cut to several years later and the adopted female lead is a mother and moves into the now abandoned house. She and her husband plan on adopting several special needs children and making the home a haven. ‘Nuff said, after that, as you can guess, shit gets bloody wicked. It’s basically a bizzaro Never Never Land guided by what can only be described as a pint sized Michael Myers. Watch it with a special needs child for the full effect.