The following are reviews from the short post Memorial Day week starting Tuesday 26 May through Thursday 28 May. I took a bit of time off this week, so "only" 14 films for this period.
GRADE:
A-
MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED---Superior, thoughtful US documentary about the state of education in the USA, it suggests that a new approach might be the style embraced by High Tech High, a new school that mixes collaboration, integrated subjects, and instead of tests uses public display of student projects to enhance students incentives to perform. Fascinating and hopeful.
B+
THE GRUMP---Drool comedy from Finland about a stubborn old farmer who after a leg injury must live with his high performance daughter in law and mawkish son, and of course everyone must go through some changes. Still, the film features some big laughs as well as clever plot twists.
B
THE INVISIBLE BOY---Italian film starts off simple--young teen discovers his powers of invisibility to do pranks, visit girl's locker room, escape from those who bully him, etc., but the film morphs into what feels like a full length episode of TV'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (only better than that!) complete with evil masterminds, other students with special powers, death defying escapes, and it's open for a sequel! Certainly not as extravagant as USA superhero films, but the low key charm keeps it based in an entertaining reality.
FRONT COVER---USA film set in fashion industry about gay Chinese American designer who is assigned to make over a famous Chinese born actor making his US debut. Their relationship moves from combative to friendship to sexual, with all the problems that celebrity can bring. Nothing earth shattering here, but the well made film has a flippant energy, is well cast, incorporates much needed humor, and is remarkably, slickly entertaining.
HOW TO WIN AT CHECKERS (EVERY TIME)---Thai film that tells story of close friendship between two young men who have been lovers since childhood (!) and must face issues of living in poverty, drug use, gang activity, and a military draft that threatens to split them up. The film casually and liberally accepts homosexuality, drug use, child abuse, and features scenes that involved a younger brother in the world of prostitution and other criminal activity. In spite of this, the film feels authentic, and has humor and passion for it's characters.
THE PRICE OF FAME--French comedy drama that needs some serious, major editing in the first hour, as it tells the true story of two low-life criminals who attempt to steal the coffin of the recently departed Charlie Chaplin to extort money from his estate. Once the body has been stolen, the film picks up much needed humor, wit, interest and energy. By the end, the film has magically transformed into a charming, wistful allegory that would finally make Chaplin proud.
BEING EVEL--- Fine US documentary of the life, legend and exploits of daredevil Evel Knievel--"the only man in history who has become very wealthy by trying to kill himself" as Johnny Carson once said while introducing him.
B-
A LITTLE DEATH--Australian sex comedy containing vignettes about different fetishes and fantasy of five different couples in suburban Sydney. There's enough reality mixed in to temper the satire, and while many scenes are funny and slapstick, some sober moments keep things grounded. The ending is startling and may leave a bad taste, but it's mostly a titillating little treat.
XENIA--Greek film about relationship between would be singer on national "star search" TV show and his younger gay brother who manages to cause "drama" in every scene. Now motherless, the two search for their lost biological father. Most scenes are well crafted and believable, despite the aimless search and odd characters who populate their lives, but the younger brother's character may get on your nerves.
IN THE GRAYSCALE--From Chile comes this sober look at a married, freelance architect who is trying to create a new monument, but instead becomes distracted by a gay teacher who has been hired as his guide around the city. He becomes torn between his wife and family, and this new love. Could be called "The Dilemma of the Bi-Sexual." Lovely scenery, but the film in extremely introspective and leisurely, and we've seen this situation before.
C+
NN (NO NAME)--From Peru comes this somber look at a forensic team who are exhuming bodies from the "disappeared" persons from 25 years ago. One body seems like a match for a missing husband, the wife anxious to have some closure, but many tests and delays cause frustration for her and the doctor leading the search. Very slow and enigmatic style removes any dramatic punch this film needs, and the final scenes leave many questions unanswered.
C-
NOT ALL IS VIGIL--Spanish documentary style drama which slowly follows a few days in the life of elderly couple as they visit hospital and return home. Long, long, long takes follow wife as she walks down hospital halls. Static camera eavesdrops on man as he reminisces about the past, and follow the couple arguing about how to turn off an alarm, which goes off with annoying regularity. This is the JEANNE DIELMAN version of geriatrics, but not nearly as interesting.
RUN--Ivory Coast film about man who murders the Prime Minister (an ex-friend) at the start of the film, and then the film flashbacks to events that led him to that action. There's a friend who lovingly smears his nearly naked body with lotions and eggs in several scenes, and a very large woman who makes a living eating enormous quantities of food in front of often starving townspeople. Odd scenes like that make this film curious, and perhaps symbolic of....something? but it remains slow and unapproachable.
D
THE BODA BODA THIEVES--From Uganda comes an amateurish film about a new, young motor bike taxi driver trying to replace his injured father, only to have his bike stolen a day later. The film features aggressively hand held camera work, and a sound track that was added after the photography, where either you don't see or know who exactly is speaking, or the lip syncing is distractingly off.
Add to that characterizations that are all posturing or cliches. SAVE YOUR TIME AND MONEY.
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