Here's what I watched over the long Memorial Day weekend, taking Monday off from movie watching to do laundry, dishes, shopping, and lawn mowing.
MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO YO MA and the SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE---U.S.A.---- From the director of BEST OF ENEMIES 2015 and TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM 2013 comes this popular film about Yo Yo Ma, music and his building up the ENSEMBLE from different countries. Curiously, the film flips back and forth between different musician's stories, their sometimes very personal stories, and glorious bits of music being preformed in concert or on the street. The editing felt rather haphazardly scattered. Still, the stories are fascinating, the musicians are intriguing, the instruments are played with passion, and the music is fascinating to listen to. GRADE----B+
THE PEOPLE VS FRITZ BAUER---Germany---Bauer is a tireless Jewish attorney general who after WWII seeks to find and prosecute Nazi war criminals, and he gets a strong lead that Adolf Eichmann is alive and living in South America. He cannot arrest anyone in another country, so he seeks the help of the Israeli Mossad to take the credit, but personal moral corruption charges in his own office make this difficult. Based on a true story, this is a riveting film, full of suspense on several different levels--the strongest is the complicated Bauer himself, who drinks and smokes so much you think he might succumb at any moment to emphysema or heart failure. GRADE-------B+
BRAND NEW TESTAMENT--Belgium--Satire has angry man playing God, making horrible (funny) rules for people, like when toast drops, it always lands on the jelly side, and the line you get into will always move the slowest. His daughter rebels, sending out messages to the world telling how long you have left to live, then sabotages the computer so he can't fix it, then she runs from home to start a group of apostles (like her statue that comes to life, JC, advises her to). For the most part the jokes are amusing and sometimes a bit bizarre, but never sacrilegious. The film is filled with small stories of her characters that become her apostles ie. a lonely woman with a false arm, falling for a serial murderer who has tried but failed to kill her, and a young boy with only a few weeks to live wants to live life as a young girl. It is a completely original comedy. GRADE-----B+
LAST CAB TO DARWIN---Australia--Old Rex is dying of cancer, so he takes a road trip across country to find a doctor willing to euthanize him. Odd experiences along the way illuminate his character, and the people he left behind. One of a number of films with a "death or dying" theme, this one works the best because of the consistent humor and near lack of sentimentality. GRADE------B+
QUEEN OF IRELAND---Ireland---Documentary of a famous Irish drag queen who almost accidentally becomes a lightening rod for gay rights and marriage equality in recent Irish political history. GRADE-------B
THE FINAL MASTER---China----Plot wise it feels like this 109 minute movie was cut down from about three hours, but the cinematic technical skill is impressive, and for once it is amazing to actually see the well choreographed martial art fights that fill the film presented without shaking camera or special effects. GRADE------B
THE INTERVENTION--U.S.A.----Low budget comedy similar in spirit to THE BIG CHILL, but without the great music, of group of friends who gather for a weekend to encourage one couple to break up. Of course, things aren't always what they seem, and many issues and secrets unfold. Enjoyable script and skillful cast (including Melanie Lynskey, Clea Duvall, Natasha Lyonne and others) make for a pleasant 90 minute romp. GRADE--------B-
THE ARCHITECT---U.S.A.---Slight but enjoyable filmed in Seattle area satire about a couple trying to build a house with an architect who has a mind of his own. It was amusing at times, and nails the frustration, but it will probably evaporate from my mind in a week. Long time indie actor Parker Posey stars as the wife torn between spouse (Eric McCormick) and the attractive James Frain. GRADE-------C+
BEWARE THE SLENDERMAN---U.S.A.--Alternatively dull and fascinating, this documentary should have concentrated more on the 12 year old girls (and their parents) who are set to go to trial for the attempted murder of a third friend, and less on the urban myth Slenderman character--a made up creature tall and thin, with no face, and tendrils stretching from his back, who haunts kids. GRADE--------C+
PRETTY ONES----Argentina-----This extremely hand held (jittery) video diary features lots of talk talk talk about girl friendship and shows snap shots of earlier ages, but was so boring and unpleasant that I fled the theater after 20 minutes, along with about 30 other viewers. Biggest amount of walkouts I've ever seen at any SIFF screening. From what I did see, I'd rate it-------GRADE---D
----------------------------------
A BIGGER SPLASH---Not a SIFF screening, but I had some time to kill, so I watched Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson and Matthias Schoenaerts display copious amounts of naked flesh on a sunny Italian island which culminated in dangerous personal exchanges with a great degree of sexual tension. I liked it. GRADE--------B+
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Saturday, May 28, 2016
SIFF Screenings Wed 25 MAY----Fri 27 MAY-----WOMEN HE'S UNDRESSED, THE INNOCENTS, MA MA, PAUL A QUEBEC, SPARROWS, HUNT FOR WILDERPEOPLE, and THERAPY FOR A VAMPIRE
Here's what I saw in the last 3 days 25-27 May.
WOMEN HE'S UNDRESSED---Australia--Splendid documentary on three time Oscar winner for best costume design Orry-Kelly, who started in Sydney, moved to New York City where he lived with Cary Grant, and then they moved to Los Angeles. He started at Warners in B melodrama, quickly became Bette Davis preferred clothing designer (DARK VICTORY, JEZEBEL, NOW VOYAGER etc.) and then CASABLANCA. He spent a while in rehab due to his drinking, then came back to costume OKLAHOMA!, SOME LIKE IT HOT and GYPSY and hundreds of others. The film is packed with film clips featuring some spectacular dresses---especially notable is the barely there dress Marilyn Monroe wore to seduce Tony Curtis in SOME LIKE IT HOT. There are a dozen talking heads and some reenactments with his mother and others. An excellent example of how documentaries can inform and entertain. GRADE-----------------A
THE INNOCENTS--Poland/France--Set shortly after the end of WW2, a young Red Cross doctor is recruited in secret to help in a small Benedictine convent, where 9 months earlier, the Germans and then the Russians used the convent as a war staging facility, raping and impregnating nearly a dozen women. The serious film demonstrates the struggle between scandal and sanctity, religion vs agnosticism, and godlessness and innocence. It plays at times like a super sized segment of TV's CALL THE MIDWIFE, and is compelling viewing. GRADE------------A-
MA MA--Spain/France--Magna (a luminous Penelope Cruz) is having a bad week. Her husband is leaving her, she's been laid off her teaching job, and now she has breast cancer. She meets a man through her son's soccer playing, who himself is going through the grieving process--his wife and daughter have been in a serious car crash, and they begin to support each other. A friendly, multi-talented doctor gives additional support. The film is a lush, unabashed melodrama by top Spanish director Julio Medem (SEX AND LUCIA 2001, ROOM IN ROME 2010) and may require handkerchiefs to view. I found it very moving and satisfying. GRADE--B+
SPARROWS--Iceland/Denmark--Teen is moved to northern Iceland when his mother and new husband leave for Africa, to live with his dead beat father and his grandmother. Drinking and drug, use and poverty are rampant, and he finds himself alienated by kids his own age. He has trouble identifying with his father and his partying friends. Well made and acted, the film has some shocking scenes, and a powerful final scene. GRADE---------B+
PAUL A QUEBEC--French Quebec--Large close knit family is differently affected by the impending death of the patriarch. Film deals with intimate details as the father is finally moved to elder care facility and slowly dies. Grim, depressing subject matter is handled with some humor and love--it's well made and some animation makes it seem cheerful at times, but it will be a hard sell in the long run. GRADE---------B
STRANGER--Kazakhstan--Sweeping story of man's life from childhood where he looses his parents, taking to the mountains to live off the land among the animals. Society changes over 50 years but he lives alone shunning convention. There are some moving, some odd, some exciting scenes, but even when the film makes a few left turns towards the end, it is always engrossing in an ethnocentric manner. GRADE-----------B
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE--New Zealand--"Bad egg" foster kid ends up on a farm with the sweet Aunt Bella and cranky Uncle Hec (Sam Neill) and finally thinks he has it made, until a tragedy sends him and his Uncle into the forest with the police on their trail. Film is sprite comedy, full of puns and slapstick--Kid and Uncle are particularly amusing, and film is a wonderful lark, the perfect "guilty pleasure." GRADE----------B
THERAPY FOR A VAMPIRE--Delightful comedy spoof has count vampire seeing a shrink to complain that he's sick of his wife of 300 years. Another wonderful guilty pleasure, with great set design, special effects and clever lines. GRADE----------B
THE LAND--U.S.A.--Set in poor section of Cleveland, film has teen skateboarder best friends coming across a stash of pills during their petty crime spree, and they decide to sell these pills themselves, unaware that a vicious drug "queen" won't tolerate being double crossed. Well filmed with steady camera work, mostly at night, with many interesting characters and intense situations. GRADE-----------B-
WHILE THE WOMEN ARE SLEEPING--Japan--Vacationing writer and his wife meet an older man who seems to have a strange relationship with a twenty year old woman--writer learns that older man likes to video this woman as she sleeps, in order to document the "last day of her life". The moody tension and voyeurism theme keep your attention, but the oblique, unspecific ending is disappointing. GRADE-------B-
IF THERE'S A HELL BELOW--U.S.A.---Suspenseful low budget thriller (basically a two person character study times two) develops a sickening mean streak by the end, but clever use of eastern Washington wheat fields and a shocking ending make for some effectively creepy viewing. GRADE--------B-
OTHER GIRLS--Finland--Four girlfriends each get their own story of love and growing up just before high school graduation, although the plotting gets predictable. Final girl, a lesbian, is weakest story, and seems to have been added on as filler. GRADE------C+
WELCOME TO NORWAY!--Norway--Terrific idea--using unsuccessful hotel in small village as housing for different groups of migrant refugees--is wasted with broad performances, silly and unbelievable plotting, and trying to use the tribulations of these people (like murder, rape, starvation, etc.) as punch lines. Easy to watch but I found myself wincing frequently. GRADE-------C+
FIRST GIRL I LOVED--U.S.A.--Tiresome teen comedy drama about young love between two girls suffers from poor acting, shaking camera work, and insipid dialogue. (There's a 10 minute texting scene that had such stupid, banal dialogue typed onto the screen that I wanted to scream.) GRADE--------------D
WOMEN HE'S UNDRESSED---Australia--Splendid documentary on three time Oscar winner for best costume design Orry-Kelly, who started in Sydney, moved to New York City where he lived with Cary Grant, and then they moved to Los Angeles. He started at Warners in B melodrama, quickly became Bette Davis preferred clothing designer (DARK VICTORY, JEZEBEL, NOW VOYAGER etc.) and then CASABLANCA. He spent a while in rehab due to his drinking, then came back to costume OKLAHOMA!, SOME LIKE IT HOT and GYPSY and hundreds of others. The film is packed with film clips featuring some spectacular dresses---especially notable is the barely there dress Marilyn Monroe wore to seduce Tony Curtis in SOME LIKE IT HOT. There are a dozen talking heads and some reenactments with his mother and others. An excellent example of how documentaries can inform and entertain. GRADE-----------------A
THE INNOCENTS--Poland/France--Set shortly after the end of WW2, a young Red Cross doctor is recruited in secret to help in a small Benedictine convent, where 9 months earlier, the Germans and then the Russians used the convent as a war staging facility, raping and impregnating nearly a dozen women. The serious film demonstrates the struggle between scandal and sanctity, religion vs agnosticism, and godlessness and innocence. It plays at times like a super sized segment of TV's CALL THE MIDWIFE, and is compelling viewing. GRADE------------A-
MA MA--Spain/France--Magna (a luminous Penelope Cruz) is having a bad week. Her husband is leaving her, she's been laid off her teaching job, and now she has breast cancer. She meets a man through her son's soccer playing, who himself is going through the grieving process--his wife and daughter have been in a serious car crash, and they begin to support each other. A friendly, multi-talented doctor gives additional support. The film is a lush, unabashed melodrama by top Spanish director Julio Medem (SEX AND LUCIA 2001, ROOM IN ROME 2010) and may require handkerchiefs to view. I found it very moving and satisfying. GRADE--B+
SPARROWS--Iceland/Denmark--Teen is moved to northern Iceland when his mother and new husband leave for Africa, to live with his dead beat father and his grandmother. Drinking and drug, use and poverty are rampant, and he finds himself alienated by kids his own age. He has trouble identifying with his father and his partying friends. Well made and acted, the film has some shocking scenes, and a powerful final scene. GRADE---------B+
PAUL A QUEBEC--French Quebec--Large close knit family is differently affected by the impending death of the patriarch. Film deals with intimate details as the father is finally moved to elder care facility and slowly dies. Grim, depressing subject matter is handled with some humor and love--it's well made and some animation makes it seem cheerful at times, but it will be a hard sell in the long run. GRADE---------B
STRANGER--Kazakhstan--Sweeping story of man's life from childhood where he looses his parents, taking to the mountains to live off the land among the animals. Society changes over 50 years but he lives alone shunning convention. There are some moving, some odd, some exciting scenes, but even when the film makes a few left turns towards the end, it is always engrossing in an ethnocentric manner. GRADE-----------B
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE--New Zealand--"Bad egg" foster kid ends up on a farm with the sweet Aunt Bella and cranky Uncle Hec (Sam Neill) and finally thinks he has it made, until a tragedy sends him and his Uncle into the forest with the police on their trail. Film is sprite comedy, full of puns and slapstick--Kid and Uncle are particularly amusing, and film is a wonderful lark, the perfect "guilty pleasure." GRADE----------B
THERAPY FOR A VAMPIRE--Delightful comedy spoof has count vampire seeing a shrink to complain that he's sick of his wife of 300 years. Another wonderful guilty pleasure, with great set design, special effects and clever lines. GRADE----------B
THE LAND--U.S.A.--Set in poor section of Cleveland, film has teen skateboarder best friends coming across a stash of pills during their petty crime spree, and they decide to sell these pills themselves, unaware that a vicious drug "queen" won't tolerate being double crossed. Well filmed with steady camera work, mostly at night, with many interesting characters and intense situations. GRADE-----------B-
WHILE THE WOMEN ARE SLEEPING--Japan--Vacationing writer and his wife meet an older man who seems to have a strange relationship with a twenty year old woman--writer learns that older man likes to video this woman as she sleeps, in order to document the "last day of her life". The moody tension and voyeurism theme keep your attention, but the oblique, unspecific ending is disappointing. GRADE-------B-
IF THERE'S A HELL BELOW--U.S.A.---Suspenseful low budget thriller (basically a two person character study times two) develops a sickening mean streak by the end, but clever use of eastern Washington wheat fields and a shocking ending make for some effectively creepy viewing. GRADE--------B-
OTHER GIRLS--Finland--Four girlfriends each get their own story of love and growing up just before high school graduation, although the plotting gets predictable. Final girl, a lesbian, is weakest story, and seems to have been added on as filler. GRADE------C+
WELCOME TO NORWAY!--Norway--Terrific idea--using unsuccessful hotel in small village as housing for different groups of migrant refugees--is wasted with broad performances, silly and unbelievable plotting, and trying to use the tribulations of these people (like murder, rape, starvation, etc.) as punch lines. Easy to watch but I found myself wincing frequently. GRADE-------C+
FIRST GIRL I LOVED--U.S.A.--Tiresome teen comedy drama about young love between two girls suffers from poor acting, shaking camera work, and insipid dialogue. (There's a 10 minute texting scene that had such stupid, banal dialogue typed onto the screen that I wanted to scream.) GRADE--------------D
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
SIFF Screenings Fri 5/20 thru Tue 5/24 featuring PATHS OF THE SOUL and MAN CALLED OVE and WEINER, plus older film noir............
Here's what I've watched at SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL in the last 5 days.......
PATHS OF THE SOUL---China/Tibet--I like to call it KOWTOW: THE MOVIE, because this group of villagers on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Lhasa spend all day everyday during this weeks and weeks long sojourn throwing themselves prostrate on the ground as they inch their way to their destination. In all seriousness, the film becomes meditative and spiritual, for the travelers and the audience. Incredible, beautiful experience for receptive movie goers. GRADE---------A-
A MAN CALLED OVE--Sweden/Norway--Comedy drama of angry old man and his neighbors. Between his broad attempts at suicide due to his wife's recent death, we learn about his life growing up, his formative youth and family, and the laughs come in spite of the occasional tears. GRADE----------B+
WEINER--USA--Engaging documentary about politician Anthony Weiner's downfall due to his sexting of his private parts over social media, and his attempts for a comeback to run again for NYC mayor race. In ways it's like watching a train wreck. GRADE-----B+
COME WHAT MAY--France--Excellent production of group of villagers fleeing the Nazi invasion. including a British soldier who has lost his battalion in combat, a possible double agent, a child separated from his father, a young teacher, a wine connoisseur, etc. The production is highlighted with what may be Ennio Morricone's most beautiful score. Film is a bit episodic, and ends quietly without a spectacular conclusion, but it is still a pleasing picture filled with suspense, drama, and the tragedy of war. GRADE--------B+
SCANDAL IN PARIS--U.K--1946--Before director Douglas Sirk became known for sumptuous melodramas like IMITATION OF LIFE (1959), WRITTEN ON THE WIND (1956) and MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (1954) among many others, he directed this amusing comedy based on a scoundrel who escapes from prison, steals garters off women he is seducing, and ends up chief of police. The witty and dry delivery of George Sanders is spot on and the script which is based on the life of a true character is clever, amusing and engaging. GRADE-------B+
FAMILY FILM--Czech Republic--Wealthy parents leave on a long sailboat cruise to South Pacific, while the 17year old girl tries to take care of the 15 year old boy, but soon the uncle must intervene. Suddenly the parents disappear, and the tension changes the family dynamic, and a family skeleton arises. You've never seen a film like this one (the family dog plays an important role) but thankfully it is quite engaging, even if you don't like the "politics." GRADE--------B
AS I OPEN MY EYES--Tunisia--This strong first film about a teenage girl who must decide to go to university to study medicine, or develop her budding career as a controversial singer in a band, is nearly sabotaged beyond repair by many scenes with overly chaotic photography. In spite of many warnings (from friends, family, and police) about her song's political content, this stubborn woman continues to dangerously flaunt her opinions in public...... GRADE---B-
RAINBOW TIME--U.S.A.--Writer and director Linas Phillips does an even better job acting as the lead in this comedy drama about a developmentally challenged adult who is a pain in the ass, especially when dealing with relationships with women. He causes much discomfort as his brother is trying to start a new relationship with a woman going through a divorce. The pacing feels a bit slow at times, and the low budget betrays some technical short comings, but the film is worth seeing in the positive way it deals with people who are different. GRADE------B-
DISORDER--France--Slow burning thriller about a troubled security man who tries to protect a woman whose husband is involved in a dangerous arms deal. There's too many questions that are never answered, and the final scene is obscure, so the slickly made film ends in a frustrating manner. GRADE-------------B-
SLEEPING GIANT--Canada--Low budget, but well intentioned, this film is set in a small vacation town and follows three young teen boys as they get into trouble, talk trash, discuss sex, and engage in very very dangerous, stupid activities. Not easy to watch, but the actors are fine and there are some very strong scenes. GRADE---------B-
OTHER PEOPLE--U.S.A.--Independent film about gay young man who returns home from New York City after a failed attempt at writing, to help take care of his dying mother. Known comedian Molly Shannon does a brave, chilling job as the cancer patient, but the film, although it has some humor, is mostly very sad and grim by the end. GRADE--------B-
CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (aka FALSTAFF)--Spain/U.K.--Revival of Orson Welles tale combining several of Shakespeares tragic plays, and featuring the recurring character Falstaff, well played by a very FAT Welles. I wasn't familiar with most of those plays, and wish I had some subtitles to follow the narrative better, but the actors are very interesting, including John Gielgud, Margaret Rutherford, Jeanne Moreau, Keith Baxter and others. Print and sound were very good. GRADE-------B-
ETERNAL SUMMER--Sweden--This felt like ETERNAL MOVIE that would never end. Totally annoying tale of young lovers who go on the run robbing banks and worse, but neither one is sympathetic enough to care about. The movie is filmed with CONSTANT shaking camera photography, and the ending is totally unbelievable. Yuck. (Interestingly enough, the male lead in this film, Filip Berg, was also featured in the superior MAN CALLED OVE--see above--he plays the younger Ove, and seeing the actor in back to back roles was fascinating. Many film goers didn't recognize him.) GRADE------D
Viewed on TCM------------------------------------------
PITFALL--1948--The title wasn't familiar to me, but I had seen this at a film noir night several years ago, and it is a superior drama featuring Dick Powell, who plays a middle class insurance salesman who becomes involved for one day with an attractive client (Lizabeth Scott) who has a boyfriend in jail. She is also pursued unhappily by a private investigator/ex cop (a creepy Raymond Burr). Tension rises when Burr threatens to go to Powell's wife (Jane Wyatt) with the details which would cause Powell's world to collapse. The actors are great, the direction is fast--just wish the title was more memorable. GRADE-----A-
TIMETABLE---(1956)--Insurance investigator and cop try to figure out the perfect burglary that happens on a train, with no obvious clues. There's a whopper of a twist half way through, and film is satisfying and rather sad for a main character. GRADE----B
COVER UP (1949)--Insurance sleuth investigates a suicide, but discovers it to be murder, yet he meets resistance from everyone in the small town. Very low budget, but has its moments. GRADE-------C+
PATHS OF THE SOUL---China/Tibet--I like to call it KOWTOW: THE MOVIE, because this group of villagers on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Lhasa spend all day everyday during this weeks and weeks long sojourn throwing themselves prostrate on the ground as they inch their way to their destination. In all seriousness, the film becomes meditative and spiritual, for the travelers and the audience. Incredible, beautiful experience for receptive movie goers. GRADE---------A-
A MAN CALLED OVE--Sweden/Norway--Comedy drama of angry old man and his neighbors. Between his broad attempts at suicide due to his wife's recent death, we learn about his life growing up, his formative youth and family, and the laughs come in spite of the occasional tears. GRADE----------B+
WEINER--USA--Engaging documentary about politician Anthony Weiner's downfall due to his sexting of his private parts over social media, and his attempts for a comeback to run again for NYC mayor race. In ways it's like watching a train wreck. GRADE-----B+
COME WHAT MAY--France--Excellent production of group of villagers fleeing the Nazi invasion. including a British soldier who has lost his battalion in combat, a possible double agent, a child separated from his father, a young teacher, a wine connoisseur, etc. The production is highlighted with what may be Ennio Morricone's most beautiful score. Film is a bit episodic, and ends quietly without a spectacular conclusion, but it is still a pleasing picture filled with suspense, drama, and the tragedy of war. GRADE--------B+
SCANDAL IN PARIS--U.K--1946--Before director Douglas Sirk became known for sumptuous melodramas like IMITATION OF LIFE (1959), WRITTEN ON THE WIND (1956) and MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (1954) among many others, he directed this amusing comedy based on a scoundrel who escapes from prison, steals garters off women he is seducing, and ends up chief of police. The witty and dry delivery of George Sanders is spot on and the script which is based on the life of a true character is clever, amusing and engaging. GRADE-------B+
FAMILY FILM--Czech Republic--Wealthy parents leave on a long sailboat cruise to South Pacific, while the 17year old girl tries to take care of the 15 year old boy, but soon the uncle must intervene. Suddenly the parents disappear, and the tension changes the family dynamic, and a family skeleton arises. You've never seen a film like this one (the family dog plays an important role) but thankfully it is quite engaging, even if you don't like the "politics." GRADE--------B
AS I OPEN MY EYES--Tunisia--This strong first film about a teenage girl who must decide to go to university to study medicine, or develop her budding career as a controversial singer in a band, is nearly sabotaged beyond repair by many scenes with overly chaotic photography. In spite of many warnings (from friends, family, and police) about her song's political content, this stubborn woman continues to dangerously flaunt her opinions in public...... GRADE---B-
RAINBOW TIME--U.S.A.--Writer and director Linas Phillips does an even better job acting as the lead in this comedy drama about a developmentally challenged adult who is a pain in the ass, especially when dealing with relationships with women. He causes much discomfort as his brother is trying to start a new relationship with a woman going through a divorce. The pacing feels a bit slow at times, and the low budget betrays some technical short comings, but the film is worth seeing in the positive way it deals with people who are different. GRADE------B-
DISORDER--France--Slow burning thriller about a troubled security man who tries to protect a woman whose husband is involved in a dangerous arms deal. There's too many questions that are never answered, and the final scene is obscure, so the slickly made film ends in a frustrating manner. GRADE-------------B-
SLEEPING GIANT--Canada--Low budget, but well intentioned, this film is set in a small vacation town and follows three young teen boys as they get into trouble, talk trash, discuss sex, and engage in very very dangerous, stupid activities. Not easy to watch, but the actors are fine and there are some very strong scenes. GRADE---------B-
OTHER PEOPLE--U.S.A.--Independent film about gay young man who returns home from New York City after a failed attempt at writing, to help take care of his dying mother. Known comedian Molly Shannon does a brave, chilling job as the cancer patient, but the film, although it has some humor, is mostly very sad and grim by the end. GRADE--------B-
CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (aka FALSTAFF)--Spain/U.K.--Revival of Orson Welles tale combining several of Shakespeares tragic plays, and featuring the recurring character Falstaff, well played by a very FAT Welles. I wasn't familiar with most of those plays, and wish I had some subtitles to follow the narrative better, but the actors are very interesting, including John Gielgud, Margaret Rutherford, Jeanne Moreau, Keith Baxter and others. Print and sound were very good. GRADE-------B-
ETERNAL SUMMER--Sweden--This felt like ETERNAL MOVIE that would never end. Totally annoying tale of young lovers who go on the run robbing banks and worse, but neither one is sympathetic enough to care about. The movie is filmed with CONSTANT shaking camera photography, and the ending is totally unbelievable. Yuck. (Interestingly enough, the male lead in this film, Filip Berg, was also featured in the superior MAN CALLED OVE--see above--he plays the younger Ove, and seeing the actor in back to back roles was fascinating. Many film goers didn't recognize him.) GRADE------D
Viewed on TCM------------------------------------------
PITFALL--1948--The title wasn't familiar to me, but I had seen this at a film noir night several years ago, and it is a superior drama featuring Dick Powell, who plays a middle class insurance salesman who becomes involved for one day with an attractive client (Lizabeth Scott) who has a boyfriend in jail. She is also pursued unhappily by a private investigator/ex cop (a creepy Raymond Burr). Tension rises when Burr threatens to go to Powell's wife (Jane Wyatt) with the details which would cause Powell's world to collapse. The actors are great, the direction is fast--just wish the title was more memorable. GRADE-----A-
TIMETABLE---(1956)--Insurance investigator and cop try to figure out the perfect burglary that happens on a train, with no obvious clues. There's a whopper of a twist half way through, and film is satisfying and rather sad for a main character. GRADE----B
COVER UP (1949)--Insurance sleuth investigates a suicide, but discovers it to be murder, yet he meets resistance from everyone in the small town. Very low budget, but has its moments. GRADE-------C+
Thursday, May 19, 2016
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Screenings MAY 16-19 plus Bette Davis double bill----NOW, VOYAGER and THE LITTLE FOXES
This is what I saw during this week of press screenings, in order of quality.
DON'T THINK TWICE--USA--Writer, director and cast member Mike Birbiglia creates another fast, smart comedy--a couple years back came SLEEPWALK WITH ME--a sprightly if inconsequential comedy. This one was much funnier, faster, and smarter as it tells the story of a New York City improv troupe which is falling apart due to different members leaving for other opportunities.
GRADE--------B+
WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD MEN GONE--Denmark---When it first started, I was annoyed that nearly all the men were mean, abusive, SOB's. When Sofia and her half sister leave home, the tone changes dramatically as they try to relate to her broken, ex-military biological father with varying degrees of success. If you can get past the first 30 minutes, then the rest of the film is quite empowering for them and the audience. GRADE-------B+
ICE AND THE SKY---France--A technically challenging documentary about explorer and glaciologist Claude Lorius who explores the Antarctica for nearly 50 years, and proves conclusively that CO2 greatly changes the weather on the planet because of his work with deep ice. GRADE----B
HIGH SUN--Croatia/Serbia--Three separate stories take place over a 30 year period, one set during the conflict in Croatia in 1992, the second set just after the war during a time of reconstruction, and the third in a modern 2002, showing the lasting effects of war. Interestingly the same actors portray the characters in each section, and at first I thought they could all be the same characters--it would be logical, but they are not. The theme is different kinds of love, patience and loyalty. Intriguing and at times moving. GRADE-------B
DEMON--Poland/Israel--The bride groom becomes possessed by a spirit of the past in this intriguing, chilling, dramatic and symbolic wedding story that is filled with imagery and themes of the holocaust that might have needed a better third act. Many questions are raised but few answered, yet this leisurely Eastern European film is quite engrossing, filled with dancing, booze and a great leading man performance. GRADE-----B
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN: THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES--France--Gorgeous looking family film about a boy and his big white shaggy dog, who set out to find a friend lost in a plane crash in the mountains during a forest fire!!!! Nothing spectacular, but easy to watch. GRADE-----B-
BUGS--Denmark--Two chefs explore the world in search of new sustainable food for the masses, namely BUGS. There is humor and a squeamish factor that keeps you entertained, but the film feels like it is missing a big moment. GRADE------B-
CARNAGE PARK--USA--Low budget midnighter delivers the gross thrills and violence that would keep anyone awake, and I found it vividly engrossing, if distasteful at times. I was not bored. But the last 20 minutes has the heroine in a dark, dark tunnel with the camera whirling around, which is very disappointing. It you like this sort of thing, it's not bad. GRADE-------B-
KEDI--Turkey--Cats, Istanbul, cats and more cats. For cat lovers, what's not to love. Not really a documentary, but more of a pleasant to watch meditation on cat life in the ancient city. GRADE-------B-
TICKLED--New Zealand--You might think that this is a documentary of the tickling fetish. You would be wrong. A documentary film maker finds that this industry is a cover for a dark, abusive, powerful predator, and although the film could loose about 10 minutes, it is a fascinating story. GRADE----------B-
RARA---Chile/Argentina---An important topic (children being raised by a lesbian couple--the biological father is trying to gain custody out of the blue!) is given a lack luster treatment, in this emotionally obscure and dramatically distant film. Big disappointment. GRADE--------C
THE FREE WORLD--USA--Recently released ex-con becomes involved with an abused woman against all logic! Nicely acted, but it moves at snails pace, and so many bad choices are made that it's hard to feel much empathy for these desperate characters. GRADE------C-
PLEASE SEE EARLIER BLOGS FOR MORE SIFF FILM REVIEWS!
____________________________________
Squeezed in two Bette Davis classics on DVD this week.
NOW VOYAGER 1942--Excellent example of quality "woman's picture" melodrama, with Davis in fine form as dowdy repressed spinster dominated by her controlling mother. Claude Rains is a doctor who brings her out of her shell and sends her on a 6 month cruise (complete with stylish new wardrobe!), where she meets and falls for married man Paul Henreid, who is stuck in a loveless marriage. Realizing she can't have him, she selflessly becomes a surrogate mother for Henreid's depressed child, who reminds her of herself when she was a young teen. It does seem a bit long, but Davis is fascinating in every scene, and the film contains a memorable music score by Max Steiner (which won the Oscar) and contains a number of classic scenes, including the dual lighting of two cigarettes by Henreid, who then hands one to Davis, and the most famous line, "Don't ask for the moon, we have the stars!" Based on a novel by Olive Higgins Prouty, who also wrote STELLA DALLAS. GRADE--------A-
THE LITTLE FOXES 1941--The very fine stage play by Lillian Helllman is transformed into a very effective film, with Davis playing a true viper, a woman so eagar for wealth she's willing to trample on her two brothers, her daughter, and her own husband. It's a chilling study of greed that seems even more true today---think Koch brothers and Trump. There are many fine actors on display here (including Herbert Marshall, Teresa Wright, Dan Duryea, Patricia Collinge, etc. and they all have some great scenes), so she can't really steal the whole film, but the dialogue is the real star. GRADE----A-
DON'T THINK TWICE--USA--Writer, director and cast member Mike Birbiglia creates another fast, smart comedy--a couple years back came SLEEPWALK WITH ME--a sprightly if inconsequential comedy. This one was much funnier, faster, and smarter as it tells the story of a New York City improv troupe which is falling apart due to different members leaving for other opportunities.
GRADE--------B+
WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD MEN GONE--Denmark---When it first started, I was annoyed that nearly all the men were mean, abusive, SOB's. When Sofia and her half sister leave home, the tone changes dramatically as they try to relate to her broken, ex-military biological father with varying degrees of success. If you can get past the first 30 minutes, then the rest of the film is quite empowering for them and the audience. GRADE-------B+
ICE AND THE SKY---France--A technically challenging documentary about explorer and glaciologist Claude Lorius who explores the Antarctica for nearly 50 years, and proves conclusively that CO2 greatly changes the weather on the planet because of his work with deep ice. GRADE----B
HIGH SUN--Croatia/Serbia--Three separate stories take place over a 30 year period, one set during the conflict in Croatia in 1992, the second set just after the war during a time of reconstruction, and the third in a modern 2002, showing the lasting effects of war. Interestingly the same actors portray the characters in each section, and at first I thought they could all be the same characters--it would be logical, but they are not. The theme is different kinds of love, patience and loyalty. Intriguing and at times moving. GRADE-------B
DEMON--Poland/Israel--The bride groom becomes possessed by a spirit of the past in this intriguing, chilling, dramatic and symbolic wedding story that is filled with imagery and themes of the holocaust that might have needed a better third act. Many questions are raised but few answered, yet this leisurely Eastern European film is quite engrossing, filled with dancing, booze and a great leading man performance. GRADE-----B
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN: THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES--France--Gorgeous looking family film about a boy and his big white shaggy dog, who set out to find a friend lost in a plane crash in the mountains during a forest fire!!!! Nothing spectacular, but easy to watch. GRADE-----B-
BUGS--Denmark--Two chefs explore the world in search of new sustainable food for the masses, namely BUGS. There is humor and a squeamish factor that keeps you entertained, but the film feels like it is missing a big moment. GRADE------B-
CARNAGE PARK--USA--Low budget midnighter delivers the gross thrills and violence that would keep anyone awake, and I found it vividly engrossing, if distasteful at times. I was not bored. But the last 20 minutes has the heroine in a dark, dark tunnel with the camera whirling around, which is very disappointing. It you like this sort of thing, it's not bad. GRADE-------B-
KEDI--Turkey--Cats, Istanbul, cats and more cats. For cat lovers, what's not to love. Not really a documentary, but more of a pleasant to watch meditation on cat life in the ancient city. GRADE-------B-
TICKLED--New Zealand--You might think that this is a documentary of the tickling fetish. You would be wrong. A documentary film maker finds that this industry is a cover for a dark, abusive, powerful predator, and although the film could loose about 10 minutes, it is a fascinating story. GRADE----------B-
RARA---Chile/Argentina---An important topic (children being raised by a lesbian couple--the biological father is trying to gain custody out of the blue!) is given a lack luster treatment, in this emotionally obscure and dramatically distant film. Big disappointment. GRADE--------C
THE FREE WORLD--USA--Recently released ex-con becomes involved with an abused woman against all logic! Nicely acted, but it moves at snails pace, and so many bad choices are made that it's hard to feel much empathy for these desperate characters. GRADE------C-
PLEASE SEE EARLIER BLOGS FOR MORE SIFF FILM REVIEWS!
____________________________________
Squeezed in two Bette Davis classics on DVD this week.
NOW VOYAGER 1942--Excellent example of quality "woman's picture" melodrama, with Davis in fine form as dowdy repressed spinster dominated by her controlling mother. Claude Rains is a doctor who brings her out of her shell and sends her on a 6 month cruise (complete with stylish new wardrobe!), where she meets and falls for married man Paul Henreid, who is stuck in a loveless marriage. Realizing she can't have him, she selflessly becomes a surrogate mother for Henreid's depressed child, who reminds her of herself when she was a young teen. It does seem a bit long, but Davis is fascinating in every scene, and the film contains a memorable music score by Max Steiner (which won the Oscar) and contains a number of classic scenes, including the dual lighting of two cigarettes by Henreid, who then hands one to Davis, and the most famous line, "Don't ask for the moon, we have the stars!" Based on a novel by Olive Higgins Prouty, who also wrote STELLA DALLAS. GRADE--------A-
THE LITTLE FOXES 1941--The very fine stage play by Lillian Helllman is transformed into a very effective film, with Davis playing a true viper, a woman so eagar for wealth she's willing to trample on her two brothers, her daughter, and her own husband. It's a chilling study of greed that seems even more true today---think Koch brothers and Trump. There are many fine actors on display here (including Herbert Marshall, Teresa Wright, Dan Duryea, Patricia Collinge, etc. and they all have some great scenes), so she can't really steal the whole film, but the dialogue is the real star. GRADE----A-
Saturday, May 14, 2016
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, Burt Lancaster double feature, and 12 more SIFF screenings, including MIDSUMMER IN NEWTOWN documentary, and SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU featuring first date of Barack and Michelle!
The producers of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR are on to a good thing, and they have been since the first CAPTAIN AMERICA film--namely Chris Evans as the lead, an all-American (white) look with plenty of old fashioned values of loyalty, country and apple pie. This version is expanded by including most of the Marvel cartoon characters including Iron Man, Black Widow, Falcon, Hawkeye, Vision and others, and adding some newer characters, including Ant Man, and Scarlet Witch both have just recently been added in films from last year. (Robert Downey Jr. Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner, Paul Bettany, Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Olsen, respectively.) But two new characters are introduced in this film: Chadwich Boseman plays Black Panther and Tom Holland plays a newly rebooted Spider Man, and both are quite impressive, both as characters and actors. The death and destruction caused by these superheros has caused world outrage, and a majority of countries want to reign in their activities, which divides the Avengers somewhat equally for and against the world resolution. When a nefarious evil plot is discovered by Captain America, but not believed by Iron Man, there is a wild, violent and funny fight between the two factions. At least this fighting was logical (and somewhat amusing.) In the earlier film this spring BATMAN VS SUPERMAN, there is little believability in their hostility and the film becomes a boring slug fest. Even though Capt. America is nearly 2 1/2 hours, the time seems to fly by, with much humor, action, and some diverting thought provoking dilemmas. GRADE----------B+
VIEWED ON DVD-----------------------
ELMER GANTRY--1960--Burt Lancaster is such a powerhouse in ELMER GANTRY that it is hard to get that character out of your mind. I hadn't seen this for 30 years or more, and thought I remembered it well, but the drama plays out in ways I'd forgotten. What I hadn't forgotten was the grinning hustling forceful character that Lancaster plays, and he won his only Oscar for that role, although he was nominated three more times (FROM HERE TO ETERNITY 1953, BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ 1962 and ATLANTIC CITY 1980) Also effective is the cheery, sexy, sympathetic prostitute portrayed by Shirley Jones, who won the supporting Oscar that year, beating out Janet Leigh in PSYCHO! The story of a fast talking con man who tries to convince Jean Simmons that he can effectively preach her religion to warm up the revival-tent crowds, is a stinging portrayal of religious fervor, and has many remarkable scenes. The film also won for best screenplay based on another medium. GRADE-----------A-
BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ--1962--I remembered watching this on TV with my grandfather in the late 1960's, and being fascinated by the story of a man imprisoned for life who finds friendship and purpose with caring for birds that come into his solitary cell. What I forgot is that all his bird activities were in the prison in Leavenworth Kansas, and by the time he is transferred to Alcatraz, birds (and indeed other pets) were no longer allowed for prisoners. That fact in NO WAY diminishes the engaging story or the stunningly low key portrayal of the murderer Burt Lancaster plays. Of course, after watching the film I did some research on the real Robert Stroud, and realized that the script was softened somewhat--since the real Stroud was a pimp who murders a man for interfering with one of his girls, and one of the main reasons for continual solitary confinement was that he was "a violent, aggressive homosexual" who was always in trouble with other inmates. Still Burt Lancaster was/is an amazing actor who has a long series of fine films to his credit, including LOCAL HERO 1983, AIRPORT 1970, SWIMMER 1968, THE PROFESSIONALS 1966, JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG 1961, SEPARATE TABLES 1958, CRIMSON PIRATE 1952, ETC........ Incredibly, some of the films that he TURNED DOWN were RED RIVER 1948, BEN HUR 1959, THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD 1965, PATTON 1970, the DIRTY HARRY series 1971, and most incredibly, STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE 1951!!!!!!!! He lobbied for THE GODFATHER (1974) with no luck, and held rights to KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN 1985 but a heart attack prevented him from playing the role William Hurt won his Oscar for. GRADE-------B+
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Screenings May 9th--12th
SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU--USA--Surprisingly charming story of what might have happened on the first date that Barack Obama had with his future wife Michelle, 17 years before they became President and First Lady. Crowd pleaser, and not politically partisan in the slightest. GRADE----A-
MIDSUMMER IN NEWTOWN--USA--Documentary about group of theatre professionals who come to Sandy Hook town of Newtown one year after the "event" where two dozen children and teachers were killed, to put on a musical version of Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMERS NIGHT DREAM. Interviews with parents, kids, teachers are interspersed with scenes of the play, where most of the roles are preformed by actual students. Expect happy tears through most of this moving, hopeful. exhilarating film........ GRADE-------A-
SONITA--Iran-- A young teen is being forced to marry (for money so her brother can afford to marry his girl) by her mother. The Afghan teen is living in Iran, and the film maker is trying to film her attempt to become a rapper, and she asks the director to pay off her mother so she doesn't have to be married! When she makes a popular protest rap song condemning forced marriages, she gets an opportunity of a scholarship, but can she get back to Afghanistan to get her legal birth certificate, a passport and a visa, without her mother "kidnapping her" into marriage!!!!!! This documentary has a lot of built in tension, and it also raises a lot of questions, but it is always engrossing. GRADE-----B+
THE IF PROJECT--USA-- A compassionate police woman becomes involved in a writing program for female inmates, specifically, what IF things had been different in their lives before being arrested. Locally filmed in Northwest Washington, the film profiles several offenders and follows their efforts to change their lives. (Think ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK without the bitchiness, violence and sex.) GRADE--------B
SUNSET SONG--U.K.--Set in rural Scotland before WWI, film follows young woman trying to escape the dreary farming life and her abusive father. Filled with beautiful, sparse photography, and lovely acting, the leisurely film gets a bit long in the tooth, but thankfully has subtitles so that we can hear all the dialogue. GRADE--------B
TANNA--Australia-- Beautifully photographed film, set on the island nation of Vanuatu, this is a simple story--a remake of ROMEO AND JULIET set amongst two tribes in the jungle.
MICROBE AND GASOLINE--France--New Michel Gondry film (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF SPOTLESS MIND 2004 and SCIENCE OF SLEEP 2006) is charming if inconsequential story of friendship between two young teen boys who set out on a road trip through France. GRADE------B-
CLOSET MONSTER--Canada--Young teen into monster make up and photography has teen girl best friend, and questions his sexuality. Film suffers in comparison to SLASH (see last week) which is much much more effective and funny. This film is a nice try, but busy camera and editing distract from the emotional involvement, and a steel rod is a gruesome, bloody symbol of sodomy in several scenes. GRADE----------B-
THE VIOLIN TEACHER--Brazil--Brilliant violinist loses his nerve when he tries out for national symphony, and takes a job teaching poor kids in the ghetto of Sao Paulo, changing his life and that of his students. The film is technically well made and full of music, but we have seen this scenario dozens of times before--the exotic setting of Brazil helps but the story is predictable. GRADE-----B-
THE LURE--Poland--Horror, fantasy, musical film about deadly mermaids who come ashore looking for love and feasting on humans. The first 30 minutes works best as the set up becomes bizarrely creepy and sexy, but soon the plot becomes chaotic and dull, and you are left with a giant empty feeling of W.T.F did I just watch. GRADE-------C+
THE OLIVE TREE---Spain/Germany--Spoiled, selfish young woman in major self-denial, lies to her uncle and (ex?) boyfriend to "borrow" a truck to travel from Italy to German to pick up a giant olive tree that the family sold years before because she thinks it will help her ailing grandfather's health. This film starts with a lie, and she builds on the lies through most of the film. I hate movies where the whole plot is based on a lie. She needs to be horsewhipped, but film takes a sentimental, idiotic, maddening (for me) approach. Many seemed to like this, so I was in the minority on this one. GRADE----------C
ZOOM--Canada/Brazil--Fantasy film, partly animated, but totally stupid, has human model maker obsessed with the smallness of her breasts, getting stupidly involved in drug smuggling, while cartoon actor/director discovers his penis has shrunk (no, really) causing him to lose his artistic edge, plus other illogical and dull story tangents, all intertwined only to discover that........it's all only a (nightmare) dream. Who ever wrote this P.O.S probably was on an alcoholic bender for the week. Last time that happened to me was in college, and the next morning I read what I wrote and burned it. Perhaps the film can be recommended to 13 year old boys, but surely there are better films for them. (Those that liked this film agreed with me on the last three sentences!) GRADE-----D
I'd recommend any of the above films rated B- or better. Please see SIFF.NET or paper booklets for schedule information.
VIEWED ON DVD-----------------------
ELMER GANTRY--1960--Burt Lancaster is such a powerhouse in ELMER GANTRY that it is hard to get that character out of your mind. I hadn't seen this for 30 years or more, and thought I remembered it well, but the drama plays out in ways I'd forgotten. What I hadn't forgotten was the grinning hustling forceful character that Lancaster plays, and he won his only Oscar for that role, although he was nominated three more times (FROM HERE TO ETERNITY 1953, BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ 1962 and ATLANTIC CITY 1980) Also effective is the cheery, sexy, sympathetic prostitute portrayed by Shirley Jones, who won the supporting Oscar that year, beating out Janet Leigh in PSYCHO! The story of a fast talking con man who tries to convince Jean Simmons that he can effectively preach her religion to warm up the revival-tent crowds, is a stinging portrayal of religious fervor, and has many remarkable scenes. The film also won for best screenplay based on another medium. GRADE-----------A-
BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ--1962--I remembered watching this on TV with my grandfather in the late 1960's, and being fascinated by the story of a man imprisoned for life who finds friendship and purpose with caring for birds that come into his solitary cell. What I forgot is that all his bird activities were in the prison in Leavenworth Kansas, and by the time he is transferred to Alcatraz, birds (and indeed other pets) were no longer allowed for prisoners. That fact in NO WAY diminishes the engaging story or the stunningly low key portrayal of the murderer Burt Lancaster plays. Of course, after watching the film I did some research on the real Robert Stroud, and realized that the script was softened somewhat--since the real Stroud was a pimp who murders a man for interfering with one of his girls, and one of the main reasons for continual solitary confinement was that he was "a violent, aggressive homosexual" who was always in trouble with other inmates. Still Burt Lancaster was/is an amazing actor who has a long series of fine films to his credit, including LOCAL HERO 1983, AIRPORT 1970, SWIMMER 1968, THE PROFESSIONALS 1966, JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG 1961, SEPARATE TABLES 1958, CRIMSON PIRATE 1952, ETC........ Incredibly, some of the films that he TURNED DOWN were RED RIVER 1948, BEN HUR 1959, THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD 1965, PATTON 1970, the DIRTY HARRY series 1971, and most incredibly, STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE 1951!!!!!!!! He lobbied for THE GODFATHER (1974) with no luck, and held rights to KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN 1985 but a heart attack prevented him from playing the role William Hurt won his Oscar for. GRADE-------B+
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Screenings May 9th--12th
SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU--USA--Surprisingly charming story of what might have happened on the first date that Barack Obama had with his future wife Michelle, 17 years before they became President and First Lady. Crowd pleaser, and not politically partisan in the slightest. GRADE----A-
MIDSUMMER IN NEWTOWN--USA--Documentary about group of theatre professionals who come to Sandy Hook town of Newtown one year after the "event" where two dozen children and teachers were killed, to put on a musical version of Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMERS NIGHT DREAM. Interviews with parents, kids, teachers are interspersed with scenes of the play, where most of the roles are preformed by actual students. Expect happy tears through most of this moving, hopeful. exhilarating film........ GRADE-------A-
SONITA--Iran-- A young teen is being forced to marry (for money so her brother can afford to marry his girl) by her mother. The Afghan teen is living in Iran, and the film maker is trying to film her attempt to become a rapper, and she asks the director to pay off her mother so she doesn't have to be married! When she makes a popular protest rap song condemning forced marriages, she gets an opportunity of a scholarship, but can she get back to Afghanistan to get her legal birth certificate, a passport and a visa, without her mother "kidnapping her" into marriage!!!!!! This documentary has a lot of built in tension, and it also raises a lot of questions, but it is always engrossing. GRADE-----B+
THE IF PROJECT--USA-- A compassionate police woman becomes involved in a writing program for female inmates, specifically, what IF things had been different in their lives before being arrested. Locally filmed in Northwest Washington, the film profiles several offenders and follows their efforts to change their lives. (Think ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK without the bitchiness, violence and sex.) GRADE--------B
SUNSET SONG--U.K.--Set in rural Scotland before WWI, film follows young woman trying to escape the dreary farming life and her abusive father. Filled with beautiful, sparse photography, and lovely acting, the leisurely film gets a bit long in the tooth, but thankfully has subtitles so that we can hear all the dialogue. GRADE--------B
TANNA--Australia-- Beautifully photographed film, set on the island nation of Vanuatu, this is a simple story--a remake of ROMEO AND JULIET set amongst two tribes in the jungle.
MICROBE AND GASOLINE--France--New Michel Gondry film (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF SPOTLESS MIND 2004 and SCIENCE OF SLEEP 2006) is charming if inconsequential story of friendship between two young teen boys who set out on a road trip through France. GRADE------B-
CLOSET MONSTER--Canada--Young teen into monster make up and photography has teen girl best friend, and questions his sexuality. Film suffers in comparison to SLASH (see last week) which is much much more effective and funny. This film is a nice try, but busy camera and editing distract from the emotional involvement, and a steel rod is a gruesome, bloody symbol of sodomy in several scenes. GRADE----------B-
THE VIOLIN TEACHER--Brazil--Brilliant violinist loses his nerve when he tries out for national symphony, and takes a job teaching poor kids in the ghetto of Sao Paulo, changing his life and that of his students. The film is technically well made and full of music, but we have seen this scenario dozens of times before--the exotic setting of Brazil helps but the story is predictable. GRADE-----B-
THE LURE--Poland--Horror, fantasy, musical film about deadly mermaids who come ashore looking for love and feasting on humans. The first 30 minutes works best as the set up becomes bizarrely creepy and sexy, but soon the plot becomes chaotic and dull, and you are left with a giant empty feeling of W.T.F did I just watch. GRADE-------C+
THE OLIVE TREE---Spain/Germany--Spoiled, selfish young woman in major self-denial, lies to her uncle and (ex?) boyfriend to "borrow" a truck to travel from Italy to German to pick up a giant olive tree that the family sold years before because she thinks it will help her ailing grandfather's health. This film starts with a lie, and she builds on the lies through most of the film. I hate movies where the whole plot is based on a lie. She needs to be horsewhipped, but film takes a sentimental, idiotic, maddening (for me) approach. Many seemed to like this, so I was in the minority on this one. GRADE----------C
ZOOM--Canada/Brazil--Fantasy film, partly animated, but totally stupid, has human model maker obsessed with the smallness of her breasts, getting stupidly involved in drug smuggling, while cartoon actor/director discovers his penis has shrunk (no, really) causing him to lose his artistic edge, plus other illogical and dull story tangents, all intertwined only to discover that........it's all only a (nightmare) dream. Who ever wrote this P.O.S probably was on an alcoholic bender for the week. Last time that happened to me was in college, and the next morning I read what I wrote and burned it. Perhaps the film can be recommended to 13 year old boys, but surely there are better films for them. (Those that liked this film agreed with me on the last three sentences!) GRADE-----D
I'd recommend any of the above films rated B- or better. Please see SIFF.NET or paper booklets for schedule information.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SIFF) Press Screenings have begun. Highlights so far......HOW MOST THINGS WORK, SLASH, PRESENTING PRINCESS SHAW, and INDIGNATION
Since I'll be seeing three press screenings a day in general plus more when the festival begins, I'm going to start blogging twice a week through the end of SIFF. I might not have a lot to say about each film, but will try to say more throughout the year as they open in the Seattle area. Here's what I saw May 4-6, in order of preference. Check SIFF.net or the catalogue for showtimes.
INDIGNATION--USA--Writer and/or producer of many Ang Lee films (including CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, THE HULK, EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN, THE WEDDING BANQUET) and other independent productions, James Schamus has now jumped into the director chair, as well as written the screenplay based on the Philip Roth novel INDIGNATION. There are at least three or more extended sequences (about 20 minutes each in length) that are as breathlessly lucid as anything you will see at the movies this year. This is an incredibly well made, well written, well acted film--so intense, funny, sad. It follows a very independent-minded college student during his first year at college in the early 1950's, and it deals very directly with guilt----sexual, Jewish, parental, intellectual , religious GUILT. GRADE-------A
PRESENTING PRINCESS SHAW--USA/ISRAEL- It may not have the technical skill that some documentaries possess, but this is the ultimate CROWD PLEASER--a true life fairy tale about a poor black woman from New Orleans whose YouTube films with singing and talking are discovered by a talented Israeli music producer, who remakes these songs into popular cult status. GRADE----B+
SLASH--USA--A fifteen year old high school boy discovers online erotic fan fiction with the help of an older girl. The film is funny and perceptive. The 15 year old looks and acts just like "SAM" on the reality TV show PROJECT RUNWAY, who was recently kicked off after making the top 4. The girl looks uncannily like British pop singer KATE BUSH looked in the early 1980's with her long straight dark hair, bangs, and big dark eyes. Both actors are very fascinating. Michael Johnston and Hannah Marks are the leads, and Michael Ian Black has a crucial role later in the film. This one was a big, pleasing surprise. GRADE-----B+
HOW MOST THINGS WORK--ARGENTINA--Dream like and symbolic and lyrical, this film follows a young woman who sets out on a sales road trip after her father dies, in the hopes of making enough money to travel to Italy to visit her estranged mother. Great final scene. GRADE-----B+
CONCERTO--BEETHOVEN JOURNEY--U.K.--Crammed with music from beginning to end, this one features pianist Leif Ove Andsnes talking about the life of Beethoven and his piano concertos and inter cuts them with performances that he took on the road for four years. The photography is rather static, but his observations are enlightening and the soundtrack plays parts of Beethoven's piano concertos gloriously. GRADE-------B
HORIZONS--CUBA, SWITZERLAND--Not much dialogue in this ballet film set in Cuba, with some fascinating shots of society and architect, which follows a young want to be ballerina, a 20-something ballerina on the brink of super stardom, and a 94 year old diva who continues to teach and dance, even after loosing her eyesight! Highly recommended for ballet fans. GRADE------B-
THE LAST KING--NORWAY--Stylish, busy, bloody action film set in the 11th century, about protecting an infant, whose king father has just died, and some want the child killed for political gain. Lots of chasing through the snow on horses, sleighs and SKIS!!!!!! Serviceable film, but nothing too special. GRADE----B-
VIOLATORS--U.K.--British teen age girl in dismal housing project struggles to keep her two brothers fed and schooled amid much sexual propositioning and scamming. This is a film in desperate need of SUBTITLES---most people I talked to couldn't understand half the dialogue, and the final ending is muted because we aren't exactly sure what was said and/or resolved. GRADE-----C+
TRUMAN--SPAIN, ARGENTINA--It may have won five Goya Awards including Best Picture, but I can only assume it was a slow year for Spanish films. This leisurely, talky film is about two friends who discuss the dying wishes of one of them---money, medicine, family, doctors, what to do about the dog, etc. I'm not normally opposed to themes of death, but EVERY SINGLE TIRESOME, SENTIMENTAL SCENE features death and dying discussions. Seen it all before in better films. GRADE-----C+
-----------------
I highly recommend any film rated "B+" or better. Films rated "B" or "B-" are usually pretty good, and worth seeing if interested.
VIEWED ON DVD---------
PAINTED LADY--1997--BBC TV film (over three hours) featuring the mighty Helen Mirren in a role that allows her portray a faded 60's rock star, a private detective, a sophisticated art dealer, an obscure countess from Poland, and a connoisseur and historian of fine art!---sometimes all of these characters in a single scene. I must say in spite of some illogical moments, she pulls it off with panache, and I found the film to be fascinating in a convoluted manner. (Think Nazi's, stolen art, fake paintings, sex, undiscovered masterworks and murder all mixed up together, plus MUSIC!) I didn't realize that the film wasn't over at the end of 95 minutes---the end of the first half is terrifying and disturbing, and I sat there stunned to think that this was a grotesque version of a serial killer plot where people are randomly murdered. Fortunately the second half started about one minute later while I sat there in disbelief. I couldn't go to bed, so I watched the whole thing until 145am. This film definitely got under my skin in spite of some holes in the plot. GRADE-------B+
INDIGNATION--USA--Writer and/or producer of many Ang Lee films (including CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, THE HULK, EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN, THE WEDDING BANQUET) and other independent productions, James Schamus has now jumped into the director chair, as well as written the screenplay based on the Philip Roth novel INDIGNATION. There are at least three or more extended sequences (about 20 minutes each in length) that are as breathlessly lucid as anything you will see at the movies this year. This is an incredibly well made, well written, well acted film--so intense, funny, sad. It follows a very independent-minded college student during his first year at college in the early 1950's, and it deals very directly with guilt----sexual, Jewish, parental, intellectual , religious GUILT. GRADE-------A
PRESENTING PRINCESS SHAW--USA/ISRAEL- It may not have the technical skill that some documentaries possess, but this is the ultimate CROWD PLEASER--a true life fairy tale about a poor black woman from New Orleans whose YouTube films with singing and talking are discovered by a talented Israeli music producer, who remakes these songs into popular cult status. GRADE----B+
SLASH--USA--A fifteen year old high school boy discovers online erotic fan fiction with the help of an older girl. The film is funny and perceptive. The 15 year old looks and acts just like "SAM" on the reality TV show PROJECT RUNWAY, who was recently kicked off after making the top 4. The girl looks uncannily like British pop singer KATE BUSH looked in the early 1980's with her long straight dark hair, bangs, and big dark eyes. Both actors are very fascinating. Michael Johnston and Hannah Marks are the leads, and Michael Ian Black has a crucial role later in the film. This one was a big, pleasing surprise. GRADE-----B+
HOW MOST THINGS WORK--ARGENTINA--Dream like and symbolic and lyrical, this film follows a young woman who sets out on a sales road trip after her father dies, in the hopes of making enough money to travel to Italy to visit her estranged mother. Great final scene. GRADE-----B+
CONCERTO--BEETHOVEN JOURNEY--U.K.--Crammed with music from beginning to end, this one features pianist Leif Ove Andsnes talking about the life of Beethoven and his piano concertos and inter cuts them with performances that he took on the road for four years. The photography is rather static, but his observations are enlightening and the soundtrack plays parts of Beethoven's piano concertos gloriously. GRADE-------B
HORIZONS--CUBA, SWITZERLAND--Not much dialogue in this ballet film set in Cuba, with some fascinating shots of society and architect, which follows a young want to be ballerina, a 20-something ballerina on the brink of super stardom, and a 94 year old diva who continues to teach and dance, even after loosing her eyesight! Highly recommended for ballet fans. GRADE------B-
THE LAST KING--NORWAY--Stylish, busy, bloody action film set in the 11th century, about protecting an infant, whose king father has just died, and some want the child killed for political gain. Lots of chasing through the snow on horses, sleighs and SKIS!!!!!! Serviceable film, but nothing too special. GRADE----B-
VIOLATORS--U.K.--British teen age girl in dismal housing project struggles to keep her two brothers fed and schooled amid much sexual propositioning and scamming. This is a film in desperate need of SUBTITLES---most people I talked to couldn't understand half the dialogue, and the final ending is muted because we aren't exactly sure what was said and/or resolved. GRADE-----C+
TRUMAN--SPAIN, ARGENTINA--It may have won five Goya Awards including Best Picture, but I can only assume it was a slow year for Spanish films. This leisurely, talky film is about two friends who discuss the dying wishes of one of them---money, medicine, family, doctors, what to do about the dog, etc. I'm not normally opposed to themes of death, but EVERY SINGLE TIRESOME, SENTIMENTAL SCENE features death and dying discussions. Seen it all before in better films. GRADE-----C+
-----------------
I highly recommend any film rated "B+" or better. Films rated "B" or "B-" are usually pretty good, and worth seeing if interested.
VIEWED ON DVD---------
PAINTED LADY--1997--BBC TV film (over three hours) featuring the mighty Helen Mirren in a role that allows her portray a faded 60's rock star, a private detective, a sophisticated art dealer, an obscure countess from Poland, and a connoisseur and historian of fine art!---sometimes all of these characters in a single scene. I must say in spite of some illogical moments, she pulls it off with panache, and I found the film to be fascinating in a convoluted manner. (Think Nazi's, stolen art, fake paintings, sex, undiscovered masterworks and murder all mixed up together, plus MUSIC!) I didn't realize that the film wasn't over at the end of 95 minutes---the end of the first half is terrifying and disturbing, and I sat there stunned to think that this was a grotesque version of a serial killer plot where people are randomly murdered. Fortunately the second half started about one minute later while I sat there in disbelief. I couldn't go to bed, so I watched the whole thing until 145am. This film definitely got under my skin in spite of some holes in the plot. GRADE-------B+
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
SING STREET, THE BOSS, HOLOGRAM FOR A KING, EVERYBODY WANTS SOME, plus DOLORES CLAIBORNE, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, OLD AQUAINTANCE (Bette Davis), and I AM CURIOUS (YELLOW)-yawn!
SING STREET--For those who loved Irish director John Carney's last two musical efforts ONCE (2007) and BEGIN AGAIN (2013), then his newest SING STREET will be very satisfying indeed. Set in Ireland in the 1980's, this low budget, realistic film has the young high school kid trying to impress the beautiful mysterious girl loitering outside his school by claiming he needs her for the making of a video to accompany the music his band is recording. Trouble is, he doesn't have a band, YET. The film is musical and dramatic and very funny, and captures the teen age milieu with great sensitivity and humor. (His parents are splitting and his older brother wants to live vicariously through his musical efforts.) The ending, though a bit fantastic, is very moving, and the screening I saw had prolonged, warm applause. I enjoyed this comedy drama even more than ONCE and BEGIN AGAIN, which both had authentic and sincere musical and romantic moments. GRADE-------A-
HOLOGRAM FOR A KING--German director Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN, "3", CLOUD ATLAS, PERFUME: STORY OF A MURDERER) came into my radar in 1997 at a late 930pm SIFF screening when I was very tired and wanted to just go home to sleep, but that film WINTER SLEEPERS grabbed my attention like a potent cup of espresso. His international hit RUN LOLA RUN (1998) electrified audiences a year later, and every film since has had his creative stamp and energy to recommend it. He also creates most of the music score, giving even his oddest films a hypnotic tension. In HOLOGRAM, Tom Hanks plays a sales man in Saudi Arabia--a fish out of water, and most of the film is about his attempt to acclimate to this strange society. There's not a lot of plot, but the undercurrent of anticipation, his emotional upheavals, and his transformation makes for another hypnotic, satisfying experience. GRADE-------B+
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!--New film from Richard Linklater (last year's BOYHOOD director) comes "a spiritual sequel to (his) DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993)" reads the poster--and I wasn't so sure that was a recommendation for me, nor were the trailers. For the first 15 minutes I regretted watching what starts off as a stoner/drunken/sexist comedy drama about a group of college guys sharing a house because they are all jocks of the school's baseball team. But suddenly I got it!! Linklater directs with a light as a feather touch, as the guys interact, connect with each other, party, philosophize, play jokes, swear, try to out macho each other, and drink and smoke weed for the weekend before classes begin, and I began to laugh and connect with each character. I'm not sure each character can really be so eloquent in their speech as Linklater writes, but there was a certain brilliance in the effort that cannot be ignored. GRADE-----------B+
THE BOSS----The new gross out comedy with Melissa McCarthy just proves that she is the queen of mean if she wants to be, and still be pretty funny. Unlike some R rated comedies of late, at least McCarthy nails the laugh or joke, and in spite of a script that falls apart by the end (co-written and directed by her husband Ben Falcone) THE BOSS is mildly entertaining if you can stomach the vulgarities. GRADE------B-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following films were viewed on DVD
DOLORES CLAIBORNE 1995------One of my favorite guilty pleasures of the 1990's, this film holds up remarkably well as a classic melodrama mystery. with a sterling cast including Kathy Bates at her peak, Jennifer Jason Leigh at her peak, and director Taylor Hackford matching his fine efforts of OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1982), AGAINST ALL ODDS (1984) and RAY (2004). The photography is especially fine, including a sequence of startling beauty and terror as the film recreates a total eclipse of the sun in a memorable climactic scene. Based on a story by Stephen King, DOLORES CLAIBORNE is especially memorable for the sharp and sarcastic dialogue that the main characters spit out with humorous venom. One of my favorites: Dolores is being released from jail after an interrogation for murder in a small town, when two kids on bikes ride by taunting "Hey Miss Claiborne, kill anybody else today?" She snaps back "Not yet but if I change my mind I know exactly where I'm going to start...." Another favorite is repeated a couple times by different female characters: "Sometimes being a bitch is the only thing a woman has to hold on to." The plot may be an old chestnut of an abusive husband and his long suffering family, but the film is lucidly compelling entertainment. GRADE----A
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS 1974----A classy film adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel, this smart mystery earned 6 Oscar nominations, winning one for the memorably mousy characterization achieved by Ingrid Bergman. I clearly remember the "who did it", but it's always a pleasure to see it all spelled out in it's twisted, complicated manner. Featuring an unrecognizable Albert Finney as detective Poirot, the talented cast includes Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, Lauren Bacall, Wendy Hiller and others. It may not have any suspenseful chills, but sometimes professionalism goes a long way. GRADE----B
HEAVEN KNOWS, MR ALLISON 1957--A tough marine (Robert Mitchum) and a Catholic Nun (Deborah Kerr) find themselves stranded on a deserted island in the south Pacific during WWII in this charming, intense character study directed by John Huston. Like Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in THE AFRICAN QUEEN, this film contrasts the temperments of each character, but in this case the division between them is vocational, with Mitchum falling in love, and Kerr staying true to her "marriage" to Jesus Christ. It may be light weight comparatively, but the film has plenty of action, suspense, humor and tragedy. GRADE-------B
PAUL 2011----This cheerful, wacky comedy about an alien traveling with two sci-fi geeks on a road trip has enough nasty gags and pratfalls to satisfy most viewers, British actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have come from England to Arizona for a convention, and end up meeting alien played with sarcastic humor by Seth Rogan. Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig and Sigourney Weaver are also delightfully included in the cast. GRADE--------B
LINCOLN LAWYER 2011---This role and his next in MUD (2012) led to an Oscar for Mathew McConaughey in THE DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013). It's a twisty, clever courtroom thriller, although we may have seen it all before. The fine cast includes Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe and William H. Macy and others. GRADE-----------B
OLD ACQUAINTANCE 1943--This potboiler is not one of Bette's best, but she and Miriam Hopkins manage to hold our attention in this drama of best friend's torn apart when both become successful writers. The Hopkins character is played so broadly as to be unbelievable, while the Davis character is played with restraint and logic--two vastly different acting styles. Makes me wonder why these two are/were friends in the first place. GRADE----B-
JAMAICA INN 1939--I'd never seen this Alfred Hitchcock film, generally considered one of his least successful, but last month I saw a BBC version, which I thought very little of, so I was curious. This version changes the story considerably--at the time it was threatened with censorship if the clergy was involved with murder and other crimes, so Hitchcock changed the villain to the police captain. Charles Laughton was fascinating to watch--he often is, and Maureen O'Hara in her first American lead (she came from Ireland) was also beguiling. The story, based on a novel by Daphne DuMaurier, is obviously a tough one to visualize--the characters kill and rob ships that they have lured onto the beach to be wrecked, and the aunt and uncle of the girl are so evil and unpleasant that there is little to sympathize with. Still, this Hitchcock version has some visual thrills. GRADE-----B-
BONNEVILLE 2006--Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Joan Allen play Mormon woman on a road trip to deliver the ashes of Lange's recently deceased husband to her step daughter. Unfortunately the story is slim and predictable, and moves at a snail's pace. The charms of the three women can't quite compensate for slack direction. GRADE------C+
ALEX CROSS 2012--Tyler Perry is a detective/psychologist (!) tracking down a sadistic serial killer (an effective Matthew Fox) in this brutal, creepy film. GRADE------C+
THE BLACK TOWER 1985--This BBC mini series of the P.D.James mystery novel is straight forward stuff, and although it was more coherent than some mysteries I've seen, there was very little thrill to it. In a rare plot conclusion, Detective Dalgliesh DOES NOT solve the mystery, and seems shocked when the killer suddenly confesses!!! GRADE------C+
MURDER ON THE HOME FRONT 2013---Another British PBS mystery that I watched for nearly an hour before realizing we'd seen it before--apparently nothing was too memorable about it the first time, although set in London during the blitz, this mystery thriller features some grotesque shots of naked cadavers during autopsies. GRADE------C+
DOUBLE 2014--Jesse Eisenberg works in a grim, depressing job, and wants to meet up with co worker Mia Wasikowska. One day his doppelganger joins the firm--they look alike but this version is lively and animated--his exact opposite. The slow film is strong on gloomy, quirky set design--it felt like a protracted combination of a Twilight Zone episode with a little BRAZIL style thrown in--and an update of the Bartleby story. Would I watch it again? I would prefer not to. GRADE-------C+
TEN LITTLE INDIANS 1965---An awkward attempt to make this Agatha Christie novel AND THEN THERE WERE NONE fit into the swinging 60's, with jazzy music, and a jazzed pop song sung by actor/singer FABIAN who stars as one of the guests murdered one by one. Fortunately his death comes very early!!!!! The film is competent, but hardly thrilling or unique. GRADE-----C
I AM CURIOUS (YELLOW) 1967---Lots and lots of talk talk talk about (Swedish) politics, social politics, Martin Luther King, philosophy and sex. One of the early films to feature scenes of full frontal nudity by both male and female protagonists, but hardly deserving of the scandal that the film generated in the late 1960's. Yawn. GRADE-------C-
ONE FOR THE MONEY 2012--Katherine Heigl's talents are wasted in this predictable, by the numbers thriller that has her improbably getting a job as a recovery agent for a bail bonding company. It was also confusing and illogical. GRADE-----D+
HOLOGRAM FOR A KING--German director Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN, "3", CLOUD ATLAS, PERFUME: STORY OF A MURDERER) came into my radar in 1997 at a late 930pm SIFF screening when I was very tired and wanted to just go home to sleep, but that film WINTER SLEEPERS grabbed my attention like a potent cup of espresso. His international hit RUN LOLA RUN (1998) electrified audiences a year later, and every film since has had his creative stamp and energy to recommend it. He also creates most of the music score, giving even his oddest films a hypnotic tension. In HOLOGRAM, Tom Hanks plays a sales man in Saudi Arabia--a fish out of water, and most of the film is about his attempt to acclimate to this strange society. There's not a lot of plot, but the undercurrent of anticipation, his emotional upheavals, and his transformation makes for another hypnotic, satisfying experience. GRADE-------B+
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!--New film from Richard Linklater (last year's BOYHOOD director) comes "a spiritual sequel to (his) DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993)" reads the poster--and I wasn't so sure that was a recommendation for me, nor were the trailers. For the first 15 minutes I regretted watching what starts off as a stoner/drunken/sexist comedy drama about a group of college guys sharing a house because they are all jocks of the school's baseball team. But suddenly I got it!! Linklater directs with a light as a feather touch, as the guys interact, connect with each other, party, philosophize, play jokes, swear, try to out macho each other, and drink and smoke weed for the weekend before classes begin, and I began to laugh and connect with each character. I'm not sure each character can really be so eloquent in their speech as Linklater writes, but there was a certain brilliance in the effort that cannot be ignored. GRADE-----------B+
THE BOSS----The new gross out comedy with Melissa McCarthy just proves that she is the queen of mean if she wants to be, and still be pretty funny. Unlike some R rated comedies of late, at least McCarthy nails the laugh or joke, and in spite of a script that falls apart by the end (co-written and directed by her husband Ben Falcone) THE BOSS is mildly entertaining if you can stomach the vulgarities. GRADE------B-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following films were viewed on DVD
DOLORES CLAIBORNE 1995------One of my favorite guilty pleasures of the 1990's, this film holds up remarkably well as a classic melodrama mystery. with a sterling cast including Kathy Bates at her peak, Jennifer Jason Leigh at her peak, and director Taylor Hackford matching his fine efforts of OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1982), AGAINST ALL ODDS (1984) and RAY (2004). The photography is especially fine, including a sequence of startling beauty and terror as the film recreates a total eclipse of the sun in a memorable climactic scene. Based on a story by Stephen King, DOLORES CLAIBORNE is especially memorable for the sharp and sarcastic dialogue that the main characters spit out with humorous venom. One of my favorites: Dolores is being released from jail after an interrogation for murder in a small town, when two kids on bikes ride by taunting "Hey Miss Claiborne, kill anybody else today?" She snaps back "Not yet but if I change my mind I know exactly where I'm going to start...." Another favorite is repeated a couple times by different female characters: "Sometimes being a bitch is the only thing a woman has to hold on to." The plot may be an old chestnut of an abusive husband and his long suffering family, but the film is lucidly compelling entertainment. GRADE----A
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS 1974----A classy film adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel, this smart mystery earned 6 Oscar nominations, winning one for the memorably mousy characterization achieved by Ingrid Bergman. I clearly remember the "who did it", but it's always a pleasure to see it all spelled out in it's twisted, complicated manner. Featuring an unrecognizable Albert Finney as detective Poirot, the talented cast includes Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, Lauren Bacall, Wendy Hiller and others. It may not have any suspenseful chills, but sometimes professionalism goes a long way. GRADE----B
HEAVEN KNOWS, MR ALLISON 1957--A tough marine (Robert Mitchum) and a Catholic Nun (Deborah Kerr) find themselves stranded on a deserted island in the south Pacific during WWII in this charming, intense character study directed by John Huston. Like Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in THE AFRICAN QUEEN, this film contrasts the temperments of each character, but in this case the division between them is vocational, with Mitchum falling in love, and Kerr staying true to her "marriage" to Jesus Christ. It may be light weight comparatively, but the film has plenty of action, suspense, humor and tragedy. GRADE-------B
PAUL 2011----This cheerful, wacky comedy about an alien traveling with two sci-fi geeks on a road trip has enough nasty gags and pratfalls to satisfy most viewers, British actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have come from England to Arizona for a convention, and end up meeting alien played with sarcastic humor by Seth Rogan. Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig and Sigourney Weaver are also delightfully included in the cast. GRADE--------B
LINCOLN LAWYER 2011---This role and his next in MUD (2012) led to an Oscar for Mathew McConaughey in THE DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013). It's a twisty, clever courtroom thriller, although we may have seen it all before. The fine cast includes Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe and William H. Macy and others. GRADE-----------B
OLD ACQUAINTANCE 1943--This potboiler is not one of Bette's best, but she and Miriam Hopkins manage to hold our attention in this drama of best friend's torn apart when both become successful writers. The Hopkins character is played so broadly as to be unbelievable, while the Davis character is played with restraint and logic--two vastly different acting styles. Makes me wonder why these two are/were friends in the first place. GRADE----B-
JAMAICA INN 1939--I'd never seen this Alfred Hitchcock film, generally considered one of his least successful, but last month I saw a BBC version, which I thought very little of, so I was curious. This version changes the story considerably--at the time it was threatened with censorship if the clergy was involved with murder and other crimes, so Hitchcock changed the villain to the police captain. Charles Laughton was fascinating to watch--he often is, and Maureen O'Hara in her first American lead (she came from Ireland) was also beguiling. The story, based on a novel by Daphne DuMaurier, is obviously a tough one to visualize--the characters kill and rob ships that they have lured onto the beach to be wrecked, and the aunt and uncle of the girl are so evil and unpleasant that there is little to sympathize with. Still, this Hitchcock version has some visual thrills. GRADE-----B-
BONNEVILLE 2006--Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Joan Allen play Mormon woman on a road trip to deliver the ashes of Lange's recently deceased husband to her step daughter. Unfortunately the story is slim and predictable, and moves at a snail's pace. The charms of the three women can't quite compensate for slack direction. GRADE------C+
ALEX CROSS 2012--Tyler Perry is a detective/psychologist (!) tracking down a sadistic serial killer (an effective Matthew Fox) in this brutal, creepy film. GRADE------C+
THE BLACK TOWER 1985--This BBC mini series of the P.D.James mystery novel is straight forward stuff, and although it was more coherent than some mysteries I've seen, there was very little thrill to it. In a rare plot conclusion, Detective Dalgliesh DOES NOT solve the mystery, and seems shocked when the killer suddenly confesses!!! GRADE------C+
MURDER ON THE HOME FRONT 2013---Another British PBS mystery that I watched for nearly an hour before realizing we'd seen it before--apparently nothing was too memorable about it the first time, although set in London during the blitz, this mystery thriller features some grotesque shots of naked cadavers during autopsies. GRADE------C+
DOUBLE 2014--Jesse Eisenberg works in a grim, depressing job, and wants to meet up with co worker Mia Wasikowska. One day his doppelganger joins the firm--they look alike but this version is lively and animated--his exact opposite. The slow film is strong on gloomy, quirky set design--it felt like a protracted combination of a Twilight Zone episode with a little BRAZIL style thrown in--and an update of the Bartleby story. Would I watch it again? I would prefer not to. GRADE-------C+
TEN LITTLE INDIANS 1965---An awkward attempt to make this Agatha Christie novel AND THEN THERE WERE NONE fit into the swinging 60's, with jazzy music, and a jazzed pop song sung by actor/singer FABIAN who stars as one of the guests murdered one by one. Fortunately his death comes very early!!!!! The film is competent, but hardly thrilling or unique. GRADE-----C
I AM CURIOUS (YELLOW) 1967---Lots and lots of talk talk talk about (Swedish) politics, social politics, Martin Luther King, philosophy and sex. One of the early films to feature scenes of full frontal nudity by both male and female protagonists, but hardly deserving of the scandal that the film generated in the late 1960's. Yawn. GRADE-------C-
ONE FOR THE MONEY 2012--Katherine Heigl's talents are wasted in this predictable, by the numbers thriller that has her improbably getting a job as a recovery agent for a bail bonding company. It was also confusing and illogical. GRADE-----D+
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