This year, we have been on a rollercoaster ride, writing, reviewing and interviewing filmmakers who have been working very hard to achieve originality, and in this issue, we want to take our readers on another rollercoaster ride through the best and worst projects of 2010 and welcome the new year with expectations for outbreaking quality and production in the film scene.
Best independent movie of the year:
Heliopolis
Best Egyptian filmmakers this year:
Daoud Abd El Sayed for Rasayel Bahr
Khaled Marei for Asal Eswed
Mohamed Amin for Benteen Min Masr
Top best comedy of the year (Egyptian-American):
Due Date: A Road Trip movie that has an odd couple going along on it.
Asal Eswed.
Worst blockbuster of the year:
Clash of The Titans : 3D
Welad El Balad
Best movie quote or phrase of the year:
“Howa Keda Already Kolena Akhadna ya Gama3a” Hesham Maged, in Sameer wa Shaheer wa Baheer
Movie character of the year
Ahmed Helmy in Asal Eswed.
Best upcoming actors of the year:
Emmy Samir Ghanem, Ramzi Lehner and Ahmed Dawood
Your awaited movies for 2011:
Little Fockers (Xmas 2010) we can never get enough of those funny ‘fockers’ can we?
Ring Road, by Tamer Ezzat
Movie review:
“Alzheimer”
After being invited by the editorial team once more to write in the December issue, I was slightly hesitant as I didn’t wish to impose my personal opinion again, which might not mean much to some of you. However, I came to realize, that after watching Adel Emam’s “Alzheimer”, I knew right away that this review would end up being a very personal appraisal more than anything.
There is no doubt that growing up as teenager in the 90’s, and living in the Gulf, that Adel Emam was more than a just iconic figure to me, and almost all of my entire generation. We were so fascinated by the man, his infinite charisma, his eminent sense of humor, and his over all stardom. I remember having non-Egyptian, Arab, friends who came to visit us in Egypt, and the first thing they wanted to do upon arrival was reserve tickets to his play. That always came on top of their must-do lists in Egypt; before even the customary visit to the pyramids or citadel, or the old markets. He resembled everything about Egypt, and we were devoted to him for that. It made us proud.
Sorry to say, the glare started fading out over the first years of this decade. The reality within his characters slightly drifted, which was his edge, and what gave him his real strength. It got to be slightly phoney, and the settings he appeared in were more slapstick, and staged for his benefit alone. Everything unfolded his way in the plot, and he was somehow an enforced superman. Certainly there were those personalities that came along the way that struck the right chord, and reminded us of the great legend he is. The most apparent of those roles were in “Yacoubian Building” and “Hassan & Morcos”. I guess the reason for that, other than the reality in both of these characters, was his great portrayal of an ‘older’ man, one who has had a life long experience, and comes off wiser, and is still putting up his fight, rather than the champ who has everything coming easy.
Yet, with those redundant changes over the years, he still kept us going to the movies happily every time. And in spite not having the exact same experiences we did earlier, but still everyone wanted to see him, and he is still our favorite with no comparison.
This year, 2010, I have to say going to see him in Alzheimer, was a real and very nostalgic experience. I sat there remembering the day I went to see ‘El Mouled’, and ‘El Leab Maa El Kobar’ in El Tahrir Cinema. I was watching the same man back then, with the same great smile and raised eyebrow signature look; clearly years older, but still as charismatic. His presence on screen captured millions today as it did back then. It was like watching an old friend who was very much missed, and appreciating what time has done to him, and to us as well. I think this was the main message within the movie itself.
This year, Adel Emam’s film is one for the real fans, and the new fans as well, like the 14-year-old boy who sat next to me watching this film, as I did once when I was his age. I think what this film says is that as doubtful as we can be, some legends may grow old, but will always be legends. I thank Adel Emam, on behalf of his very compassionate and dedicated fans for this year’s film, and for the films we grew up watching.
I hope this very personal review can encourage you to take a look at the film. If you hoped for an actual review of the plot and the characters, and the filmmakers, this was not it. I’m pretty sure there are numerous of articles out there that are liable to deliver on that. I just did not want to be repetitive, and wanted to take the opportunity to thank the man for aspiring us once more, just by being there in a great role.
