Final weekend at SIFF ended with a bit of a whimper since I didn't have much left to see, but at least two of them were very good.
MAYA ANGELOU AND STILL I RISE--U.S.A.---Apparently the first documentary on the life and times of poet, actor, singer, dancer and novelist Maya Angelou, whose first novel I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS inspired countless writers to dig deep into their own experiences for naturalistic and truthful tales. This is everything that a good documentary should be---enlightening, informative and entertaining. Watch for this to show up on PBS in February. GRADE------A
HOLDING THE MAN--Australia--Superior technical production and stalwart group of Aussie actors including Kerry Fox, Guy Pierce and Anthony LaPaglia keep this intense dramatic love story, which starts when two young men begin college and stay together until the AIDS epidemic tears them apart 20 years later, fresh and focused and surprisingly unsentimental. Also helpful is an appropriated music score featuring top hits from the 1980's that follow this gay love story to it's sad ending--when Rufus Wainwright croons a recent new song near the end, there weren't too many dry eyes in the theatre. Based on the novel by one of the protagonists. GRADE----------B+
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP---Ireland/France---Based on the Jane Austin novelette of letters about LADY SUSAN, this stylish film has been "fleshed out" by writer/director Whit Stillman into a mostly satisfying period picture with lovely costumes, magnificent set design, and many laughs. My main problem is that the dialogue is rapid fire and I missed many witty (I'm sure) lines that others seem to have understood. It will surely stand up to repeat viewings. GRADE-------B
ODDBALL---Australia--Another fine Aussie production, this "family" film features an enthusiastic dog who is trained to protect the small penguin community on a small island that foxes have been trying to decimate. Based on a true story, and set in and filmed in Victoria, Australia, this odd blend of comedy, drama, nature picture and wild animal antics is charming and unique. GRADE-----------B
THE LOBSTER--Ireland--The first feature I saw AFTER SIFF has got to be one of the most bizarre feature films I've seen in years. Set in another reality, people are required to live in pairs, and this hotel is set up to encourage such relationships. If a single person has NOT met their match within 45 days, then they are transformed into the animal of their choice. Veering wildly between comedy, drama and satire and science ficton, this film is certainly unique, but the deadpan humor and deadly consequences take away some of the possible fun. GRADE-----B
THE LOVE WITCH--U.S.A--The costumes and set design were colorful eye popping treats, but this campy story of a woman who "bewitches" men with her love potions and then they die gets long in the tooth very fast. If you can tolerate camp (perhaps at midnight, stoned or drunk) then you might enjoy this slim effort. This was a last minute addition to the schedule on the last Saturday, and it felt underwhelming. GRADE-------D+
VIEWED ON TV------------
HARVEY (1950)---U.S.A.--It has been over 20 years since I saw this filmed version of the Mary Chase play and I remember being a bit annoyed at the scenes where Jimmy Stewart is talking to his big invisible pooka (in this case a 6 foot tall white rabbit spirit). This time though his performance seemed so convincingly sweet that this didn't bother me at all. Best of all is the supporting case who play their roles with such clever and witty enthusiasm that they nearly steal the show from Stewart. Josephine Hull is so amusingly distracted by her brother's illusions that I laughed out loud a number of times--she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for this part and clearly steals her scenes. The good news or the bad news.......apparently Steven Spielberg is going to direct a remake of HARVEY
and it could be ruined if the rabbit is actually shown.............. GRADE-----------B+
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL RECAP!
MY FAVORITE SIFF FIMS--Fiction (alphabetical)
AMAMA: WHEN A TREE FALLS
BEING 17
THE BACCHUS LADY
INDIGNATION
THE INNOCENTS
LAST CAB TO DARWIN
PATHS OF THE SOUL
SCENT OF MANDARIN
SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU
SUMMERTIME
plus (alphabetical)
CLOSET MONSTER
COME WHAT MAY
DEMON
DON'T THINK TWICE
HOLDING THE MAN
HUNT FOR WILDERPEOPLE
HOW MOST THINGS WORK
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
A MAN CALLED OVE
MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO YO MA AND SILK ROAD...
PEOPLE VS FRITZ BAUER
SANDSTORM
SLASH
SPY TIME
SPARROWS
THERAPY FOR A VAMPIRE
WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD MEN GONE
FAVORITE SIFF FILMS--Documentary
TOWER
MAYA ANGELOU AND STILL I RISE
LIFE, ANIMATED
WOMEN HE'S UNDRESSED
MIDSUMMER IN NEWTOWN
CONCERTO: BEETHOVEN JOURNEY
WEINER
FAVORITE GUILTY PLEASURES!!!!!
SCANDAL IN PARIS (revival)
DRAGON INN (revival)
SPY TIME
CARNAGE PARK
THE MIDDLE MAN
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
THE FINAL MASTER
REALLY DISLIKED
COMPLETE UNKNOWN
THE PRETTY ONES
MUCH LOVED
ZOOM
Two prominent themes were abundant this year at SIFF-----the first were films that featured DEATH and DYING as the major "activity" or plot of the film. These included (with ** meaning they were better than average):
BETWEEN LAND AND SEA**
BIG SONIA**
BRAND NEW TESTAMENT**
BURN BURN BURN**
CARNAGE PARK**
COCONUT HERO
THE COOP
THE GREASY STRANGLER
LAST CAB TO DARWIN**
MAMA**
THE MIDDLE MAN**
OTHER PEOPLE**
PAUL A QUEBEC**
TOWER**
TRUMAN**
YOU'LL NEVER BE ALONE
The other theme was the film that featured DOGS (and other animals) as key plot devices, including;
AMAMA: WHEN A TREE FALLS**
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN: ADVENTURE CONTINUES**
BRAND NEW TESTAMENT**(gorilla!)
FAMILY FILM**
THE FREE WORLD
HOW MOST THINGS WORK**
KEDI** (cats)
NEWS FROM PLANET MARS**
ODDBALL** (dog and penguins)
SCENT OF MADARIN**(horses)
TRUMAN**
OVERALL, I loved more than 85 films (out of 115) viewed this year, rating them a "B-" or better grade. There were only one dozen that I rated poor--the rest were average, and of course, you can find some film goers that would be happy to defend those that I rated poorly. For example, some films that I disliked---- DAWN, ALL THE BIRDS HAVE FLOWN SOUTH, COMPLETE UNKNOWN, THE GREASY STRANGLER, MUCH LOVED and ZOOM have many admirers!!!!!! I do not like agressive hand held camera work, and many of my average films got lowered ratings because of that, especially SANDSTORM which is a superior film in many other ways--I gave it a B but if it had been easier to watch it would deserve an A-........
I will try to note in my cinematicallyjeff blog when a film is opening theatrically. Some of the above SIFF films are already playing---LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, WEINER, SUNSET SONG, CHEVALIER, THE FINAL MASTER are out NOW.
Promised soon for this summer are INDIGNATION, CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT, HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE, MUSIC OF STRANGERS, the popular (fan favorite SIFF Golden Space Needle award winner) CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, MAMA, TICKLED, LIFE ANIMATED, OUR KIND OF TRAITOR, DON'T THINK TWICE, CAFE SOCIETY and SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU (which imagines a first date 20 years ago with Barack and Michelle!). Release dates are always subject to change.
My personal favorites this year include: the shocking INDIGNATION, based on a Philip Roth novel and directed by James Shamus, a frequent Ang Lee collaborater, AMAMA: WHEN A TREE FALLS--a film set in Basque, about conflicts and changes at an old family run farm, TOWER--a stunning documentary done mainly in animation, but with film clips, interviews and news reels showing courage and bravery when a sniper takes over the University of Texas in 1967, THE INNOCENTS--a supersized CALL THE MIDWIFE type story about abused, inpregnated nuns near the end of WWII, SCENT OF MANDARIN--a melodramatic, nearly over the top French film about love between a handicapped man and his nurse during the Great War in the early 1900's, and MIDSUMMER AT NEWTOWN--a non political film that should be required viewing for every single politian who questions gun control issues in this country.
There were 187 voting FOOL SERIOUS (full series) pass holders this year (of which I am a member) and their favorite films were CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, OUR LITTLE SISTER, THE INNOCENTS, BATTLE OF SEVASTOPOL, A MAN CALLED OVE, SPY TIME, HOLDING THE MAN, 13 MINUTES, LAST CAB TO DARWIN, THE BACCHUS LADY, HUNT FOR WILDERPEOPLE, AMAMA: WHEN A TREE FALLS, BETWEEN SEA AND LAND, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP and documentaries TOWER, MAYA ANGELOU, WOMEN HE'S UNDRESSED, THE WEEKEND SAILOR.
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