SIFF Screenings---BEST BETS----100 YEAR OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED, KINDERWALD, STUNT MAN, THE LITTLE HOUSE, HAPPY CHRISTMAS

It's the third weekend of films, and here's what I've seen, in order of preference.

GRADE A-

100 YEAR OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED--A funny Swedish film with the style and wit and exuberance of a Wes Anderson film, much like THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.  The man in the title has a wild, possibly unbelievable adventure, but there are laughs and surprises in every scene. 

GRADE B+

KINDERWALD--A U.S. independent film, partially in German, about the mysterious disappearance of two young boys who are camping in the woods with their widowed mother and their uncle during the mid 1850's.  It is reminiscent of PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, but not as ethereal or compelling.  Still, the feeling of nature and mystery and loss is great, and the odd bunch of characters involved in the search keep you on your toes.

THE STUNT MAN--Reissue of the 1980 classic film that Seattle made famous.  Introduced at SIFF as a film without a distributor, the film went on for a long Seattle run and was ultimately nominated for three Oscars, including one for Peter O'Toole as a mega maniac director who may or may not be a dangerous, irresponsibly man out to kill THE  (mysteriously on the run) STUNT MAN.  I hadn't seen it since the famous SIFF screening, and as I watched, I didn't remember a single moment from the first time, so it was like seeing if for the first time, and I enjoyed it very much.

GRADE B

HAPPY CHRISTMAS--When little sister comes to live with her brother and his wife and baby, she demonstrates her inability to handle her drug and alcohol use, causing friction between the married couple.  Wonderful comedic performances by Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey and Lena Dunham are nearly upstaged by the hilarious antics of the two year old baby that figures in many scenes.  It's an improvisational comedy/drama that feels funny, fresh and seems destined to divide the audience into younger vs older regarding values and likability.

THE LITTLE HOUSE--Solid, gentle story told mostly in flashback about a young maid working for a middle class family in Tokyo just before the start of WW2, who discovers her mistress is having an affair with a younger man who works for her husband.  The film does not become sentimental or melodramatic due to the low key performances and pacing, and is mostly a pleasure to watch.

GRADE B-

LITTLE ACCIDENTS--A U.S. film with a great cast (Josh Lucas, Elizabeth Banks, Chloe Sevigny, Boyd Holbrook, etc) and involving story about a troubled young teen who lost his father in a mining accident. When he witnesses the accidental death of an older teen but declines to advise authorities, grief forces the teen's mother, wife of the mine manager, into the arms of the only survivor of the original mining accident.  Unfortunately, this film is severely undermined (no pun intended) by the continued, pointless use of a busy hand held camera technique, which distracts from the powerful story, which could have resulted in a higher grade.

GRADE C

FIVE STAR--U.S. independent film features strong if familiar story set in a New York slum about the relationship between a sensitive but dangerous thug who introduces drug running to the son of one of his best, but deceased, friends.  The dialogue and vernacular feels authentic, but nerve racking jerky hand held camera work diminishes  our interest and involvement.

LAYOVER--Another U.S. independent film but featuring a French actress with a forced 12 hour stop in L.A. who spends the night partying and getting rides with a French stranger.  Just before this film started, I was talking to a SIFF group of regulars, complaining about all the hand held films being shown this year, and I mentioned that I especially hated the hand held jiggly tracking shot that follows a character from behind  down a long hallway, street, concourse,  trail, etc, especially when the shot is a closeup of the hair.  Wouldn't you know, but LAYOVER features at least 10 such shots.  Talk about a waste of film and time.

RED KNOT--Another U.S. independent film about a young couple on their honeymoon taking a trip to Antarctica on a ship, so the writer-husband can meet scientist and other writers.  The wife gets jealous and starts to flirt with the captain, and the relationship of the couple degenerates quickly.  The film has some lovely shots of snow, ice, penguins, seals and other scenery, but unfortunately the ship is rocking constantly, and the director has also chosen to use more hand held camera techniques.  You have got to be kidding!!!!!!!!