Here are some pretty fine films seen so far this summer....
Could be the best of SIFF, and certainly one of the more challenging films you'll see this year, this is the Irish film CALVARY. The first scene has a priest in a confessional booth being told that next Sunday he will be killed because the want to be killer was abused as a child, and feels the need for revenge after all this time. The voice has been obscured so the priest has no idea who this threatening man can be. The rest of the film has him spending his week among his parishioners in this small town, and wouldn't you now it, it seems quite a few have reason to kill him, even though he seems like a pretty nice, thoughtful guy. The film plays like a murder (to be) mystery thriller with a lot of potential killers making the priest's life unpleasant, but the best part is that the film also deals with themes of philosophy, death, hate, love, revenge, loneliness, and forgiveness. GRADE-------A
You might think that the conceit of filming over 12 years to show the growth of a child into adulthood is a cheat, but watching BOYHOOD, the new film by Richard Linklater, you become so engrossed in the story and the characters that it becomes a pleasure and a treat to observe. Like the fascinating British documentary series 7UP (which includes instalments every 7 years---14 UP, 21 UP, etc, the most recent being 56 UP, where the same children have been interviewed every 7 years and you see how they were as a child and how they now think as an adult), BOYHOOD uses what comes naturally to tell the story of a fractured family struggling with daily life, love and work, and of course, all the actors are aging at the same pace. It's an impressive achievement. GRADE------A-
Many years ago when I first saw STAR WARS, I remember feeling giddy with delight at the wondrously strange characters that were introduced in scene after scene, and most of them had great comic appeal. I felt that same feeling with the new film GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY --like stepping into a creative world where you could never predict how a character would look or act or turn out. GOTG has so much humor and energy that you can't help but enjoy the ride, and I look forward to the next installment. GRADE-------A-
So, what can you expect from a film produced by both Steven Speilberg AND Oprah Winfrey? Yep, you got it, and that's what you get. THE 100 FOOT JOURNEY may not be the most creative film ever made, but when you mix exotic characters with a "food" making film and add in warm and fuzzy charm, it is easy to swallow. The high note for me was how incredibly convincing Helen Mirren was as a stuffy French chef who makes the most of her character's changing attitude towards, well, towards cooking, relationships, other cultures, and life in general. She alone makes this journey special. GRADE--------B
A straight forward blast of kick ass science fiction action thriller, LUCY is a great showcase for the reliable Scarlet Johanson. Her character finds herself injected with a substance that causes her to become a major brainiac, and she must find a cure before she.....dies?!? No sequel here (or maybe there will be.....), but the film moves along without any hesitation, propelling you to the end with out the slightest feeling that perhaps there are a few plot holes ignored, or way over the top moments. A satisfying popcorn movie it ever there was one. GRADE--------B
Another film exalted by the power of a subtle performance, A MOST WANTED MAN is one of Phillip Seymour Hoffman's last films, and you can see why he was so highly regarded as an actor. There is no sight of ego here, just an absorbing, compelling spy story, written by John le Carre and featuring some nicely understated turns including Robin Wright, Willem Dafoe and Rachel McAdams. The title seems weak, but the production is strong. GRADE------B
A familiar true story about a struggling high school football team features some powerful moments of game play, coming back from the bottom, finding faith in yourself, recovering from illness and loss---in other words, we've seen it all before, but I did not find it boring or offensive. just a bit predictable. WHEN THE GAMES STANDS TALL tries hard and has some good production values so see it if you are interested. GRADE------C+
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Some DVD choices seen recently...
VIEW FROM THE TERRACE (1960)---Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward play an unhappily married upper class couple in a long (149 minutes) version of John O'Hare's soapy drama that features some interesting characterizations by Myrna Loy (as Newman's alcoholic mother) and a new comer Ina Balin (as an innocent who falls for the married Newman), and Patrick O'Neal (as Woodward's lover) and others. It's a surprise that they became married in real life after being so hateful towards each other here. Still, I found the film engrossing as it tries to explore the pull of career vs happiness in life. GRADE----B
HOME BEFORE DARK (1958)---Jean Simmons plays a depressed wife just returning from the mental hospital who seems to be affected because she's not sure if her husband loves her or not. Perhaps in her paranoia she thinks he loves her step-sister (Rhonda Fleming). One thing is clear--this woman really is mentally unstable. A border (Efrem Zimbalist Jr) in her large home seems to like her
but all I wanted to do was yell at the TV screen for him to "RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN---SHE'S NUTS!) It's to Jean Simmons credit that her character is as sympathetic as she is. Another long drama at 136 minutes. GRADE------B
In the western DECISION AT SUNDOWN (1957), Randolph Scott rides into town with a partner to seek revenge on the man who he feels caused the death of his wife. In the course of the afternoon, everyone in town is affected and changed by this character, including Scott, who finds out that his wife may not have been what she seemed.....(SLUT!) Despite the low budget, the film is careful to build solid characterizations from many of the towns people, including the bar keep, the doctor, the groom and his bride to be, Scott's partner, the sheriff, the scorned woman, the hidden alcoholic, and others. It's a fascinating and tense film, directed by the under appreciated Budd Boetticher. GRADE------B
Another western by Boetticher is simpler but quite effective. THE TALL T (1957) again features Randolph Scott as a loner who ends up on a stage coach that is being held up by three murderous, desperate men, including the leader played by Richard Boone. He joins up with a glammed down Maureen O'Hara to try to turn the tables of these 3 after being kidnapped for ransom. There are some scenes of disturbing violence (thankfully off screen) that keep this film provocative, and again, the director gives even the bad guys interesting menace. GRADE-----B
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