Like a pleasant sunny day trip to the country, MID-AUGUST LUNCH is pleasant, short, and easy to enjoy, if not remember. This low-key, charming Italian film centers on a middle-aged man who lives with his elderly mother, and then is cajoled into taking care of three more elderly women all on the same weekend, and each comes with different demands, medications and temperaments. Of course, food seems to join them all together. Just when it seems the film may get as annoying for the viewer as it has been for the host, the film is over, leaving a smile on our faces. GRADE---B-
SIN CITY (2005) is, on DVD, still a bruising, fascinating to watch film-noirish version of Frank Miller's graphic novel, with plenty of gross violence and gore to keep your blood pumping. Nearly all the scenes were shot against a blue screen and the effects in the background were added later--visually stylish but at times the film loses the humanity and high drama that is being sought from some of the more sympathetic characters. The most effective of several subplots has Mickey Rourke (just prior to his breakthrough role as THE WRESTLER) finding himself framed for the murder of his prostitute girl friend, and running into ruthless, corrupt cops and politicians all over town who want him dead. It's a unique vision. GRADE---B+
NIGHTS IN RODANTHE (2008) has Richard Gere and Diane Lane as the lovers who must struggle with their respective family issues--she is trying to separate from her husband and keep her teenage children from hating her, and he is struggling with the death of one of his patients during a basic plastic surgery operation. They end up together at a deserted inn (the pilings of the huge hold house look like they were literaly buried in the sand during a very low tide--very unsafe structure) during a hurricane, and the encounter changes their lives. Pretty scenery, nice actors, but a pit predictable. Still, if you love Nicholas Sparks books then you'll like this story. GRADE----C+
Also saw two George Raft films on TCM. The first is HOUSE ACROSS THE BAY (1940) with Raft as an imprisoned con who risks losing his wife to either his lawyer or a plane builder while he sits in prison. NOCTURNE (1946) sees Raft as a detective trying to prove that the suicide of a composer is really a murder. Modestly entertaining, but sometimes predictably plodding. GRADE for Both---C+
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL--known as SIFF, starts officially on May 23rd but as a full series pass holder I get to screen some films early at special press screenings which begin officially on Monday May 3rd--TOMORROW. Probably 90% of the films I see in the next 6 weeks will be SIFF films. I plan to give brief notes on each film and a rating so that when the festival opens officially on the 23May readers may have about 30 films to consider seeing based on my comments, and may want to buy a ticket (or three). Keep an eye on this blog for comments (good or bad) about new foreign language films, independent films and documentaries that will be opening up later in the year. Thanks for reading.
If you want to contact me with movie comments or questions you can use my blog email which is
cinematicallyjeff@gmail.com. Thanks for reading.
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