Due to time constraints, I didn't get to see all the films I'd hoped to see. Here's what I saw over the long weekend......
It wasn't on my radar, but I thought I'd spend the day Saturday at the Egyptian, so I started with ATRACO! from Spain and Argentina. Set in 1955, the convoluted plot of the phony robbery of Eva Peron's famous jewels, which ends tragically, proved to be a delightful surprise. The sets and costumes were wonderfully atmospheric, and the comic film has style to spare as it roars through it's paces. A lovely entertainment. GRADE---B+
Apparently, according to SIFF, if the film that comes after ATRACO! is going to be a sell out, and you want to see it, you must LEAVE ATRACO! sometime before the end, get yourself a QUEUE card for the next film--in this case TOUCHY FEELY, a local production by Lynn Shelton who has a big following in the Northwest---and then go back to your seat to finish watching ATRACO! I think that is a rude and obnoxious thing for movie goers whether they want to stay for the next film or not. I didn't get out of ATRACO! in time for a queue card, so I wasn't allowed back in the theater, even though I'd arrived at 1045am to see ATRACO! and hopefully TOUCHY FEELY, which was slated to start at 1:30pm. The buzz from full series passholders was definitely negative as people were leaving TF--a group of five women all really disliked it, but of course there were two others that liked it, with reservations. I doubt I will see it at all with buzz like that, and an experience like that leaves a bad taste in my mouth towards wanting to see the film in general.
SING ME THE SONGS THAT SAY I LOVE YOU is a concert film tribute to the late singer/song writer Kate McGarrigle, featuring excellent performances by her children Rufus and Martha Wainwright, as well as Antony, Norah Jones, Emily Lou Harris and others. It's very moving and a bit maudlin at times, as the emotions took over, especially with Rufus, who still managed to sound terrific. But they need to get a better camera person. A couple of years ago, the McGarrigle's recorded a wonderful DVD of seasonal and Christmas songs called A NOT SO SILENT NIGHT (2009), and I think the same camera person did that film too. While I'm a big fan of their voices and music, the camera work is poor--giggly, sometimes out of focus, and awkwardly placed. In SING ME THE SONGS, many of the shots were from below the singer, and the microphones blocked their faces. Sometimes the camera was filming people on stage who were not even singing. In the case of Norah Jones, the camera was filming Rufus' tears and we got precious little views of Nora Jones beautiful rendition of MENDOCINO. GRADE----B-
DRUG WAR is director Johnnie To's newest high energy police thriller. The film is non stop action from beginning to end, and it is entertaining to watch, but it feels very familiar, and it is hard to care about any of the characters since they can ALL be described as "RUTHLESS" and "DRIVEN." (Cops and drug lords alike.) Caution: SPOILER ALERT ahead. Fortunately, EVERY ONE dies at the end, sparing us another generic sequel. GRADE------B-
The biggest treat of the weekend for me was STILL MINE, a Canadian film that got some great buzz from an earlier screening. A radiant Genevieve Bujold, who looks fantastic with out plastic surgery, and the ever reliable James Cromwell play a long married couple in their 80's struggling to stay together in spite of meddlesome but well meaning adult children, dementia and old age ailments, and obstructions regarding a new single level home they are trying to build. Moving and insightful. GRADE------A-
IN A WORLD.....takes us into the realm of the voice over (or commercial narration) industry, and was surprisingly witty and amusingly acted by writer/directer Lake Bell, who plays a neurotic character (not unlike you'd find in a Woody Allen film) who struggles to establish herself in an industry where her father and her lover are sexist and her worst competition. Very likable and a smart comedy. GRADE-----B
A film from Rwanda is a novelty, but THE PARDON is by a first time director who needs more practice and money. I've seen a couple films about the genocide, but this film had such bad actors, poor sound, awkward camera work and unsubtle themes that I lost patience after 55 minutes and walked out of the theatre. GRADE------D+
THE FIFTH SEASON is a fable about a small town where all the crops fail, the chickens won't lay eggs, the cows won't give milk, etc, and so naturally, suspicion and accusations fly, and tragedy occurs in the end. It's a lot like a Shirley Jackson story, with lots of themes about mob mentality and suspicion of those that are not like us. The film has a clear, deadpan visual style, and is moody and clever, but not totally satisfying due to the coldness of characters and subject matter. GRADE---B
Timing issues landed me at a fascinating revival film from India called KALPANA (1948), with a great looking print that had been cleaned up by Martin Scorsese's film restoration project. There is little plot, but lots of inspired and feverish dancing and singing as it tells the story of a dancer who starts a national academy for the arts and finds himself torn between two women. I found myself mesmerized by the swinging, thrusting, balletic, inventive dancing, and abstract and noirish art and set direction--much like watching the finale of THE RED SHOES. This film is in glorious and stylish black and white. GRADE----A-
A LADY IN PARIS centers on a middle aged home care giver from Estonia who ends up working for a very cranky old woman (the fabulous Jeanne Moreau, who also looks great with out plastic surgery!) and they develop a tentative friendship. The film has some dark moments, and the acid tongued Moreau gives the film an edgier quality that keeps the film from turning into schmaltzy mush.
GRADE------B+
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Do men ever "look great without plastic surgery"?
ReplyDelete