The first week of September was spent sailing the Inside Passage from Seattle to Alaska with family and friends. Five days later I came down with a whopper of a cold, and my computer seems to be possessed by molasses, so I am WWWAAAYYY behind in reporting films. So I will be brief and hopefully succinct.
Woody Allen continues to amaze and astonish me with his skillful and intelligent writing and direction, and this time he has the incredible presence of Cate Blanchet to deal with--and she grabs the title role of BLUE JASMINE in both hands and proceeds to shake the living daylights out of it. There's also an incredible supporting cast (as usual), but Blanchet is so mesmerizing that you can't stop watching, even though this story of a wronged women going mad when she loses her rich but sleaze bag husband (Alex Baldwin, natch) to prison and must live with her salt of the earth sister (Sally Hawkins) in a rough New York neighborhood seems desperate and depressing. She is first in line for this years Oscar race, and would be the one to beat. GRADE-------A-
From France comes the astonishingly compelling melodrama YOU WILL BE MY SON (TU SERAS MON FILS). The elderly owner of a large vineyard finds his health slipping, and his best friend and partner is dying, so he turns to the partner's clever son to take over the vineyard, by- passing his own faithful but dull son who assumes he will be taking over the reins. It's strong, fluid film-making and I was transfixed to the bitter and shocking end. GRADE------A-
The documentary INEQUALITY FOR ALL explains in horrifying detail how the increasingly widening income gap in American is causing even more problems than you might think. GRADE--------A-
A dynamic and realistic low budget film SHORT TERM 12 deals with a half way house where abused and difficult teens (addicted, behavioral issues, etc) learn to deal with their problems. It is run and staffed, for the most part, but young adults, who have many issues and problems of their own. The film features some very naturalistic performances by many first time actors, and becomes quite profound in illuminating human behavior. GRADE-----A-
AFTERNOON DELIGHT is another low budget wonder, about a bored housewife who visits a strip club with her husband and some friends, meets a stripper, and in an effort to turn the sex worker's life around, offers her a job as a nanny for her young son!!!! Of course, some colors can never change, and the film is perceptive and very interesting--it takes turns you never expect. GRADE----B+
PRISONERS goes darker and deeper than any recent Hollywood film in memory, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Father of a kidnapped daughter, Hugh Jackman goes rather crazy in his efforts to find her and a neighbor child. It's a chilling and creepy story, well done. GRADE----B+
A reenactment documentary of the tragic events that lead to the 11 deaths of K2 mountain climbers in 2008, THE SUMMIT is very gripping and sad. GRADE------B+
Julia Louis-Drefuss and James Gandolfini make an engaging couple in the adult romantic dramedy ENOUGH SAID. The film making is subtle and assured and the relationships are believable, and the dialogue and banter is witty yet low key. GRADE-----B
UNFINISHED SONG (aka SONG FOR MARION) rushed into and out of town in a week, but when I saw it at SIFF it invoked some deep emotional responses as it deals (somewhat) with the grieving process among the elderly. Cancer sufferer Vanessa Redgrave is the happy and cheerful wife to her grumpy old man husband of many years Terrance Stamp. Her dying wish is for him to sing like he used to--she is part of a community chorus of elders-- but his bad temper and cranky demeanor make him difficult to deal with. The actors are all quite good, and there are several moments in the film that moved me (and others) to tears, but it is not a maudlin experience. GRADE-----B
THERESE is a French film dealing with the topic of "female hysteria" in the 1800's and the efforts of a doctor to cure (and perhaps, exploit) her. The film is controversial to contemporary audiences because of the inherent sexism on display, yet the film is lurid and compelling enough to keep your attention. GRADE-----B
I recently saw INSIDIOUS (2011) and enjoyed the haunted house/possesed child story immensely--and the ending was a shocking thrill!!! So I was looking forward to INSIDIOUS Chapter 2. It picks up where the original left off, and it is thrillingly made, although the plot goes into over drive, and in doing so goes over the top. Still, I was not bored. It may be very important to have seen the original film as there are many references to characters and events in the past, and new comers to this film will be lost. GRADE-----B-
IN A WORLD is a modest but perceptive comedy about the world of voice over and commercial actors. Written, directed and starring Bell Lake, this amusing film has our heroine competing with her father and her lover for an important preview voice over assignment, meeting other wacky actors, and dealing with the uncertainty of getting paid enough money to make a living. She, and other characters are also looking for love in the shallow world of Los Angeles. GRADE------B-
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I saw three silent films (shown recently on TCM) that I'd never seen before, and what a revelation they all were. THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1924) stars Douglas Fairbanks as he falls in love with a princess and must preform several deeds to win her hand. There are lavish sets and costumes and incredible (for its time) special effects. Fairbanks is amazingly dashing and sympathetic and the long (nearly 2 hours) film made me forget there was no spoken dialogue. Buster Keaton's masterpiece THE GENERAL has enough plot for several films, yet the film making is funny, clever, and clear. Set during the Civil War, Keaton is a train conductor who is not accepted to fight for the Confederacy, yet manages to confound the Union soldiers who steal his engine (called GENERAL). Filmed in Oregon, yet it manages to look very Southern! The sight gags are amazingly executed and are incredibly dangerous looking! I also watched Alfred Hitchcock's last silent film THE MANXMAN (1929) and was intrigued at how intense and emotional he made this love story triangle. Two best friends fall in love with the same woman--a familiar plot but handled in a unique and thoughtful way. THE THIEF OF BAGDAD and THE GENERAL each both GRADE------A and THE MANXMAN Grade------B
The bio pic of Jackie Robinson, the first African American base ball player to hit the major league, the film 42 is a pleasure to watch----again. GRADE----B
Smooth and skillfully suspenseful, Grace Kelly and Cary Grant make Hitchcock's TO CATCH A THIEF (1955) easy on the eye, and the French Riviera is great to look at, too. GRADE----B
Gary Cooper and Charlton Heston square off in the suspense drama WRECK OF THE MARY DEARE (1959) and Gary Cooper wins. It's an arresting, engrossing drama based on a true story of a ship that may or may not be involved in illegal activities. GRADE------B
I saw DONNIE BRASCO (1997) when it first came out, but watching it again, I didn't recall a single scene. It's a low key "based on a true story" drama about a young cop (Johnny Depp) who goes deep undercover to expose a New York gangster (Al Pacino) who has taken Donnie under his wing. The actors are good, and the story is well served, but I have to say that the film is so underwhelming that no wonder I didn't remember a single scene from 16 years ago. GRADE-----B-
Julianne Moore is the main attraction for seeing THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE OHIO (2006), another "based on a true story" about a mother of 10 kids who enters hundreds of contests in the late 50's and early 60's and manages to support her family on the winnings. Her dead beat, alcoholic husband (an unsympathetic Woody Harrelson) works at cross purposes to the family's well being. I kept wondering, if she is so clever (and lucky), why doesn't she leave him? GRADE-----B-
