See previous blogs for many films playing this next week. Films rated B- or better are recommended.
ROSARIO-----------GRADE--- C+
Pale melodrama with good looking actors--pretty to watch but shallow and forgettable historical drama about Philippine woman in the 1920's who moves from man to man in search of security and love.
JUCY------GRADE B-
Contemporary Aussie film about rivalry between two fun loving best friends. Easy to watch comedy, the two leads seem to be having a great time, and so do we.
ROTHSTEIN's 1ST ASSIGNMENT-----GRADE (F)
I walked out after 20 excruciating minutes of hand held camera shots from a moving car window, unidentified photographs (some repeated many times), voice over interviews of old people with such bad sound that you couldn't hear what was being said (subtitles, anyone?), and finally black film with scratches and squiggles like film being put through a projector that goes on for 10 seconds or more. Obviously this director's first project, and he had nothing interesting to say or no skills to say it.
BOY MEETS BOY--------GRADE A-
A shorts program, and the cause celebere of the weekend--a terrific collection (for a change)of gay themed shorts, which culminated in an X-rated explicit film of two friends talking about past sexual partners, and wondering why they'd never hooked up as lovers. Suddenly they do, and they do it ALL with cheerful abandonment. The film shocked a few folks, but I thought it was refreshingly honest and well made for a film about sexual attraction.
ABOVE US ONLY SKY-------GRADE B-
Well made and acted German film, but the frustrating plot sets up a mystery about what happened to this woman's suicidal husband, then instead of answering that question, switches gears to show how she handles her grief---by starting up a sudden new relationship with his look alike. A bait and switch story.
RED EAGLE---------GRADE B-
Thai film about a crime fighting super hero---addicted to morphine! The sound was tinny and the projection looked cheap, but still this was fun to watch in a popcorn movie sort of way. AND, it is to be continued.....
CODEPENDENT LESBIAN SPACE ALIEN SEEKS SAME-----GRADE C
Title says it all plot wise in this low budget film that I wanted to like more, but it was so low key and laid back that I kept dozing.
WE ARE THE NIGHT----------GRADE B+
A smooth, stylish, shit-kicking German vampire movie with a chic lesbian theme, and with one of the most interestingly horrifying opening scenes at SIFF so far this year. The ending collapses a bit until you realize that it's ripe for a sequel---yeah!!!!!
BLACK VENUS---------GRADE C+
If you have a high tolerance for long scenes of physical, mental, verbal and sexual abuse, then you will appreciate this painful-to-watch movie. This is a realistic recreation of the Hottentot Venus true story, but the abusive sequences go on way too long (and there are many of them in this three hour film)and that causes the energy to be sucked out of the narrative. Exhausting, disturbing and disappointing.
SUMMER CODA-------GRADE B-
Pleasant enough Aussie film of a VERY tentative love relationship, but this film could have used some tightening and editing, and less talk and more action.
THESE AMAZING SHADOWS--------GRADE B+
Documentary on the National Film Registry and how they are saving/preserving 25 films a year, important movies from the past. Many, many film clips and talking heads---what's not to like for any film buff?!?
YOUNG GOETHE IN LOVE-------GRADE B-
German historical costume drama is watchable but not terribly remarkable as it covers the early year when Goethe writes his first book based on his doomed romance with an engaged woman.
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