78 more days...

Cruising with Cyn
Collection of useless information circuitous to the OPERATION: Poisson Rouge Adventure.

This 6 week installment of Cyn's Cinema, we will be exploring movies that have been filmed in the regions we will be visiting. Take some time off from your everyday life and watch a movie with scenes from Barcelona, Naples, Rome, Florence, Nice and Toulon.

Let us know if you've seen any of these movies and what your thoughts are.

Title	Year	Genre	IMDb Rating	Staring
The Oxford Murders	2008	Thriller, Crime	6.1	Elijah Wood, John Hurt
Synopsis:	At Oxford University, a professor and a grad student work together to try and stop a potential series of murders seemingly linked by mathematical symbols.
Sightings:	Filmed in the UK.
Thoughts:	Sounds good, very mathmatical for the Lang eggheads.
Vicky Christian Barcelona	2008	Comedy, Drama	7.4	Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson (director Woody Allen)
Synopsis:	Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.
Sightings:	The main characters themselves are exploring Barcelona. Barcelona Harbor, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain Boulevard of Barcelona, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain Santa Maria Del Mar Church, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Thoughts:	I'd watch it.
Movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer	2006	Genre	7.5	Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman.
Synopsis:	Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw), born in the stench of eighteenth century Paris, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. His work, however, takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume. Synopsis written by Nuno Cordeiro
Sightings:	Filmed in Barcelona particularly featuring the Barrio Gótico and el Pueblo Español (central plaza). Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Thoughts:	Good cast but I pass
Frágiles	2005	Horror	6.3	Calista Flockhart
Synopsis:	At her new job in a rundown children's hospital, a nurse desperately tries to keep her patients safe from a plague of random, mysterious attacks
Sightings:	Filmed in Barcelona and set in the Mercy Falls Children’s Hospital.
Thoughts:	Calista Flockhart in a horror movie?! I'd watch it.
The Machinist aka El maquinista	2004	Mystery, Thriller	7.8	Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Synopsis:	An industrial worker who hasn't slept in a year begins to doubt his own sanity
Sightings:	The film features gorgeous sets from the city of Barcelona, including exterior shots of the Port and the Tibidabo Amusement Park. Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Thoughts:	Sign me up for this one
The Spanish Apartment aka L'auberge espagnole	2002	Comedy, Romance, Drama	7.3	Romain Duris, Judith Godrèche
Synopsis:	As part of a job that he is promised, Xavier, an economics student in his twenties, signs on to a European exchange program in order to gain working knowledge of the Spanish language. Promising that they'll remain close, he says farewell to his loving girlfriend, then heads to Barcelona. Following his arrival, Xavier is soon thrust into a cultural melting pot when he moves into an apartment full of international students. An Italian, an English girl, a boy from Denmark, a young girl from Belgium, a German and a girl from Tarragona all join him in a series of adventures that serve as an initiation to life. Synopsois written by Sujit R. Varma
Sightings:	Unknown
Thoughts:	I'd watch it.
All About My Mother aka Todo sobre mi madre	1999	Drama	7.8	Penelope Cruz, Cecilia Roth
Synopsis:	A single mother in Madrid sees her only son die on his 17th birthday as he runs to seek an actress's autograph. She goes to Barcelona to find the lad's father, a transvestite named Lola who does not know he has a child. ... With echos of Lorca, "All About Eve," and "Streetcar Named Desire," the mothers (and fathers and actors) live out grief, love, and friendship. Synopsis written by {jhailey@hotmail.com}
Sightings:	The movie is said to capture the city's natural essence. Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Thoughts:	I'd watch it - movie won an Oscar.
Barcelona	1994	Comedy, Drama, Romance	6.6	Miro Savino
Synopsis:	Ted, a stuffy white guy from Illinois working in sales for the Barcelona office of a US corporation, is paid an unexpected visit by his somewhat less stuffy cousin Fred, who is an officer in the US Navy. Over the next few months, both their lives are irrevocably altered by the events which follow Fred's arrival, events which are the trivial stuff of a comedy of manners at first but which gradually grow increasingly dramatic. Synopsis written by Tim Horrigan {horrigan@hanover-crrel.army.mil}
Sightings:	Unknown
Thoughts:	I might watch this. Movie won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
Uncovered	1994	Thriller	5.9	Kate Beckinsale
Synopsis:	While restoring an old painting showing a woman and two men playing chess, Julia discovers the text "Who killed the knight" underneath the paint. The owner of the painting tells her that one of his forefathers was killed, the painting might identify the murderer. When Julia's friend is killed she understands that there is more to it. She consults Domenec, a chess genius who reconstructs the game from the painting. With any piece he takes, somebody dies. Synopsis written by Radboud Bruinsma {Radboud_Bruinsma@hg.maus.de}
Sightings:	Filmed in Barcelona, the architecture in the Ciudad Condal, particularly, that of Gaudí are shown.
Thoughts:	I'd watch it.
A Room with a View	1986	Comedy, Drama	7.5	Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter
Synopsis:	When Lucy Honeychurch and chaperone Charlotte Bartlett find themselves in Florence with rooms without views, fellow guests Mr Emerson and son George step in to remedy the situation. Meeting the Emersons could change Lucy's life forever but, once back in England, how will her experiences in Tuscany affect her marriage plans? Synopsis written by Bridget Jones
Sightings:	Unknown.
Thoughts:	I'd watch it.  In fact it is being televised on 2/25 on Turner Classic Movies and I set the Tivo up to record it.
The Passenger aka Professione: reporter	1975	Drama, Mystery	7.7	Jack Nicholson, Maria Schneider
Synopsis:	A journalist researching a documentary in the Sahara Desert meets a gunrunner who dies suddenly. When the journalist notices that they have a similar appearance, he assumes the recently deceased's identity and accepts the consequences that it brings. Synopsis written by MuzikJunky
Sightings:	The movie catches glimpses of the streetcars of the period, as well as the terrace of la Pedrera, with its chimneys and ‘characteristic’ shapes, quite different from how it is today. Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain La Pedrera - 92 Passeig de Gràcia, Eixample, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Thoughts:	Good cast but I pass

Next week we'll move onto watching movies taking place in Naples.