Here's what I saw over the long Memorial Day Weekend-----and everything was better than average.....
I, DANIEL BLAKE--Great Britain--I saw this 8 months ago in Vancouver BC and FINALLY it will be getting a well deserved release in July, but for now, it was the best of VIFF 2016 in my opinion, and I think it will be the Best of SIFF 2017. It plays SIFF on June 2nd and June 5th. DON'T MISS IT! GRADE---- A
THE BAR---Spain--One of my favorite over the top directors Alex de la Iglesia is back in fine form with this horror comedy that had the youngish audience moaning, laughing and squealing with discomfort from nearly first to last. When a young woman stops at the bar to charge her phone, she is suddenly and mysteriously trapped with others in what becomes a whirlwind conspiracy of murder and government control. I loved this wild ride which indeed goes over the top with nasty thrills.
GRADE--------A-
ORIGINAL BLISS--Germany--Martina Gedeck excels as an unhappy wife seeking to renew her relationship with God and her husband, but she counsels with a famous doctor who has his own set of sexual problems, resulting in a disturbing and shocking finale. GRADE-------B+
LITTLE HOURS--USA--Based on a story from THE DECAMERON, this smart, consistently funny comedy has a wonderful comic cast (who mostly play it "straight") including Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Aubrey Plaza, John C. Riley, Molly Shannon, Fried Armisen, Nick Offerman and others. Filmed on location in Italy, this raunchy plotted film tells of a servant who must hide out in a nunnery because he was caught with his master's wife. Unfortunately, this convent is full of horny, nubile nuns. When I wasn't giggling, I had a big stupid smile on my face. GRADE------B+
THE ORNITHOLOGIST--Portugal/France--Beautifully photographed and kinky and flawed, with lots of sexual and religious and profane imagery, this odd film is certainly not boring. Not for the timid festival film goer, but many will find this film memorable in a salacious way. GRADE------B
FERMENTED--USA--A smart, informative, fast paced documentary about fermented foods and drink from around the world. GRADE------B
MAY GOD SAVE US---Spain--The first 45 minutes of this fast paced detective cop thriller has an annoying shaking camera going in many scenes, but the photography becomes calmer by the end. During a hot summer when the Pope is visiting Madrid, a serial killer is attaching old women. GRADE-------B
THIS IS OUR LAND--France--A naive woman is seduced into running for local politics of a small town on a ticket of racism and fascism, just as she's falling in love with an old boy friend with an unsavory past. Well acted and engrossing. GRADE-----B
THE ODYSSEY--France--The pedestrian plotting of this Jacques Cousteau bio pic is overwhelmed by fabulous photography--above and below the ocean surface, and first rate technical prowess. The cast is also beautiful. GRADE------B
PENDULAR--Brazil/Argentina/France--Intriguing art installations and personal interpretive modern dance movements are interspersed with explicit yet artistic sexual scenes between two artists who live in a unique, huge warehouse. There's not much dramatic plotting, but it is intriguing to watch. GRADE------B-
TOM OF FINLAND--Finland--Bio pic about the world famous gay artist known for his erotic and sexual drawings of hyper-masculine muscle men, drawn at a time when such drawings were considered pornography, and illegal. For such a dynamic and controversial subject matter, the drama is rather restrained, despite better than average film making. GRADE-------C+
ZIP AND ZAP AND THE CAPTAIN'S ISLAND--Spain--The continuing adventures of two brothers who become trapped on a strange island and their parents disappear. The film making is full of creative special effects and photography, but the plot feels predictable and becomes tiresome and overlong. GRADE--------C+
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Friday, May 26, 2017
SIFF Screenings Monday May 22----Thursday May 25-------Best Bets--A DATE FOR MAD MARY, ROBERTO BOLLE ART OF DANCE, ANGRY INUK, THE WEDDING PLAN, MELLOW MUD, COME TOGETHER, LAST ANIMALS
Here's all I screened during the last four days----
CABARET (1972)--Incredibly, there are some people who've never seen this masterpiece--my favorite movie musical of all time The presentation was excellent and the loud crowd made the 50 minute drag show before the film a lot of fun. GRADE-------A
MAURICE (1987)--England--Excellent restoration in 4K (coming soon to art houses and Blu Ray) of film made of E.M. Forester's novel about sexual repression in the early 1900's. Directed by James Ivory, and featuring a very young Hugh Grant, James Wilby, Rupert Graves and Ben Kingsley. GRADE--------A-
A DATE FOR MAD MARY--Ireland--Mary tries desperately for a date to her best friend's wedding; Sounds typical, but a mid film twist, while not unexpected, adds a new dimension to the romantic/comedy genre. GRADE--------A-
ROBERTO BOLLE--THE ART OF DANCE--Italy--Beautifully photographed dance film with world famous male ballet dancer who tours world dancing in antiquity locations. Sometimes his narration seems too grandiose, so I just thought in my mind---Oh shut up and dance, and he usually did, to stunning effect. A must for dance and music lovers. GRADE--------A-
ANGRY INUK--Canada--Well made, brightly photographed documentary about Inuk culture, and how much they suffer when money groups try to destroy their history and livelihood when they try to use histrionics and sentiment to stop the killing of seals, of which the Inuk use 100% of the animal, while hypocritically ignoring the extinction of elephants, rhinos, and other vanishing species. GRADE---------B+
A WEDDING PLAN--Israel--A bride plans her wedding, including cake, dress and banquet hall, but without a groom, trusting that God will provide that with in the next 28 days.....a charming, humanistic romantic comedy even if the plot is a chick flick fantasy. A bit of hand held camera work. GRADE-----------B+
THE LAST ANIMALS--USA--Strong documentary with lovely photography details the shocking slaughter of elephants and rhinos that are causing extinction at dangerous levels due to ivory and tusks. GRADE--------B
MELLOW MUD--Latvia--A teen and her younger brother must learn to survive without adults in the rural area of a small town after grandma dies suddenly. Sensitively done, even thought it is a bit familiar. I wish there was less hand held camera work. Much hand held camera work. GRADE--------B
DINA--USA--Intimate and charming documentary of two autistic adults who are planning a wedding and their struggle to find sexual satisfaction. Much hand held camera work. GRADE-----------B-
BECOMING WHO I WAS--South Korea-- I'm not sure if this is fiction or documentary--this tells the story of a Buddhist boy in India who is a reincarnation of a Tibetan monk, so his aging teacher takes him on a long trip to find the village he grew up in in his previous life. Lovely scenery and photography, with a bit of hand held distractions. GRADE--------B-
BAD INFLUENCE--Chile--An indigenous Mapuche teen meets a delinquent urban teen who is sent to the country in an effort to change his behavior. Their friendship helps both in certain ways, but hand held camera detracts from nice story. GRADE----------B-
COME, TOGETHER--South Korea--Curious drama about stress in an urban family and how it affects their relationships--each member has issues that seem to take forever to resolve. About 15 minutes too long, but well acted and directed. GRADE-------B
WHOSE STREETS?--USA--Chaotic, hand held documentary about an unarmed black man in Ferguson Missouri killed by a white policeman generates some power as the community reacts.
GRADE----------B-
PERSON TO PERSON---USA--This feels like a low grade Woody Allen film, with a dozen characters followed through the urban jungle of New York City in one day, but not much of importance happens, and the characters, though pleasant at times, do not generate our sympathies. If this was on TV I'd turn the station. GRADE----------C
THOSE REDHEADS FROM SEATTLE--USA--Reissue of a 1953 musical that has been restored in beautiful 3-D, and the sound track sounded good. Unfortunately, the story/plot is an old chestnut--if this was on TCM I'd watch for 10 minutes, then turn the station. GRADE------C
THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE IS......--Italy--These attractive looking actors talk and scream so fast that I could literally not keep up with the subtitles that flashed across the screen. This is a manic, unfunny comedy, and I wanted to walk out after 10 minutes, but I lazily stuck it out. Ugh.
GRADE----------D+
THE REAGAN SHOW--USA--This dull documentary focuses on the Reagan relationship with Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980's, but misses any chances of wit, humor, and flubs by
avoiding any current similarities between Trump and his Russian counterpart. The film is incredibly flat and boring. GRADE-----D
CABARET (1972)--Incredibly, there are some people who've never seen this masterpiece--my favorite movie musical of all time The presentation was excellent and the loud crowd made the 50 minute drag show before the film a lot of fun. GRADE-------A
MAURICE (1987)--England--Excellent restoration in 4K (coming soon to art houses and Blu Ray) of film made of E.M. Forester's novel about sexual repression in the early 1900's. Directed by James Ivory, and featuring a very young Hugh Grant, James Wilby, Rupert Graves and Ben Kingsley. GRADE--------A-
A DATE FOR MAD MARY--Ireland--Mary tries desperately for a date to her best friend's wedding; Sounds typical, but a mid film twist, while not unexpected, adds a new dimension to the romantic/comedy genre. GRADE--------A-
ROBERTO BOLLE--THE ART OF DANCE--Italy--Beautifully photographed dance film with world famous male ballet dancer who tours world dancing in antiquity locations. Sometimes his narration seems too grandiose, so I just thought in my mind---Oh shut up and dance, and he usually did, to stunning effect. A must for dance and music lovers. GRADE--------A-
ANGRY INUK--Canada--Well made, brightly photographed documentary about Inuk culture, and how much they suffer when money groups try to destroy their history and livelihood when they try to use histrionics and sentiment to stop the killing of seals, of which the Inuk use 100% of the animal, while hypocritically ignoring the extinction of elephants, rhinos, and other vanishing species. GRADE---------B+
A WEDDING PLAN--Israel--A bride plans her wedding, including cake, dress and banquet hall, but without a groom, trusting that God will provide that with in the next 28 days.....a charming, humanistic romantic comedy even if the plot is a chick flick fantasy. A bit of hand held camera work. GRADE-----------B+
THE LAST ANIMALS--USA--Strong documentary with lovely photography details the shocking slaughter of elephants and rhinos that are causing extinction at dangerous levels due to ivory and tusks. GRADE--------B
MELLOW MUD--Latvia--A teen and her younger brother must learn to survive without adults in the rural area of a small town after grandma dies suddenly. Sensitively done, even thought it is a bit familiar. I wish there was less hand held camera work. Much hand held camera work. GRADE--------B
DINA--USA--Intimate and charming documentary of two autistic adults who are planning a wedding and their struggle to find sexual satisfaction. Much hand held camera work. GRADE-----------B-
BECOMING WHO I WAS--South Korea-- I'm not sure if this is fiction or documentary--this tells the story of a Buddhist boy in India who is a reincarnation of a Tibetan monk, so his aging teacher takes him on a long trip to find the village he grew up in in his previous life. Lovely scenery and photography, with a bit of hand held distractions. GRADE--------B-
BAD INFLUENCE--Chile--An indigenous Mapuche teen meets a delinquent urban teen who is sent to the country in an effort to change his behavior. Their friendship helps both in certain ways, but hand held camera detracts from nice story. GRADE----------B-
COME, TOGETHER--South Korea--Curious drama about stress in an urban family and how it affects their relationships--each member has issues that seem to take forever to resolve. About 15 minutes too long, but well acted and directed. GRADE-------B
WHOSE STREETS?--USA--Chaotic, hand held documentary about an unarmed black man in Ferguson Missouri killed by a white policeman generates some power as the community reacts.
GRADE----------B-
PERSON TO PERSON---USA--This feels like a low grade Woody Allen film, with a dozen characters followed through the urban jungle of New York City in one day, but not much of importance happens, and the characters, though pleasant at times, do not generate our sympathies. If this was on TV I'd turn the station. GRADE----------C
THOSE REDHEADS FROM SEATTLE--USA--Reissue of a 1953 musical that has been restored in beautiful 3-D, and the sound track sounded good. Unfortunately, the story/plot is an old chestnut--if this was on TCM I'd watch for 10 minutes, then turn the station. GRADE------C
THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE IS......--Italy--These attractive looking actors talk and scream so fast that I could literally not keep up with the subtitles that flashed across the screen. This is a manic, unfunny comedy, and I wanted to walk out after 10 minutes, but I lazily stuck it out. Ugh.
GRADE----------D+
THE REAGAN SHOW--USA--This dull documentary focuses on the Reagan relationship with Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980's, but misses any chances of wit, humor, and flubs by
avoiding any current similarities between Trump and his Russian counterpart. The film is incredibly flat and boring. GRADE-----D
Monday, May 22, 2017
SIFF Friday May19--21---Best Bets---BRIGSBY BEAR, THE MIDWIFE, ENTANGLEMENT
Here's what I saw during regular screenings for the weekend.
BRIGSBY BEAR--USA--Nearly a perfect little comedy that had me grinning from ear to ear nearly the entire film, this first film is well written and directed and has a wonderful cast including Kyle Mooney (from Saturday Night Live), Claire Danes, Mark Hamill, and Greg Kinnear, each one giving clever, charming performances. James (Mooney) has been fixated on a children's TV show since childhood--becoming a geeky fan with the adventures of a bear with super powers who can save the planet as well as provide an educational lesson with each episode. When his adopted parents are arrested, he sets out to make a movie continuing the adventures of said Brigsby Bear with the help of new friends, family and police. GRADE--------B+
THE MIDWIFE--France--A smooth, seductive drama with the incomparable Catherine Deneuve as a free spirited woman who comes back into the life of the daughter of her ex lover, played by another French wonder, Catherine Frot, because she has alienated nearly everyone else in her life. The film is pleasurable drama, with intelligence and emotion. GRADE---------B+
ENTANGLEMENT--Canada--A depressed, suicidal young man searches for an adopted sister he never really had in order to set his life on a straighter path, in this romantic comedy/drama that deals with reality, connectedness, and mental health. GRADE-----------B+
BEACH RATS--USA--Low budget, hand held drama about a teen who experiments with drugs and sexuality during a stressful time when his father is dying. He hooks up on line with gay older men, but convinces himself that he loves his patience new girl friend, and hangs out with his macho friends, further denying his sexuality. A very decent effort by a second time female director, who gives this film an honest and engaging feel. GRADE--------------B
MENASCHE--USA/ Israel---This modest character study involves a nebbish widowed Jewish man who is irritatingly religious and annoying in his outlooks, but determined to keep custody of his pre teen son, in spite of the lack of flexibility in his job and the annoyance he causes friends, family and workplace. Filmed in a small Hasidic community in Brooklyn, and all in Yiddish, this hand held film feels quite personal and intimate. GRADE-----------B
THE FORCE---USA--Lots of hand held documentary moments that tell the story of the Oakland police force through a couple of years under investigation for corruption and while trying to retrain the officers to become less racist in their treatment of a large diverse population. GRADE----B-
THE UNKNOWN GIRL--Belgium/France--When a young prostitute is killed in the neighborhood outside a small medical clinic, the young doctor who had refused to open her door because the hour was late feels guilty and tries to find out information about who the victim was. Half way through the film, before the police tell her to stay out of the murder investigation, I was thinking in my mind--"What does this woman think she's doing by putting herself into what's turning into a violent, dangerous, corrupt situation?" Annoying hand held camera work and red herrings detract from over all effect of this engaging but little film from the Dardenne brothers (LA PROMESSE 1996, ROSETTE 1999, KID WITH A BIKE 2011, etc.) GRADE-------B-
THE FABULOUS ALAN CARR--USA--Modestly enjoyable documentary about the flamboyant (read gay) producer/promoter of some famous actors, and such entertainments as GREASE 1 and 2, CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC, and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. GRADE-------B-
SOLITAIRE--Lebanon/Jordon/Egypt----Lebonese woman brings home her groom to be from Syria--her mother hates Syrians since her brother was killed by a Syrian bomb during the war, and sets in comic motion a plan to disrupt the wedding. The film feels static, like a filmed play, and comes across as a "chick flick" in spite of some amusing lines and clever characterizations. GRADE---------B-
THE WEDDING PARTY--Nigeria--Things start to go south early in the day of a wedding--vengeful ex-girl friend seeks to seduce the groom, the best man must be changed, the parents of the couple hate each other, the wedding planner is ineffective, etc. These cliches, and others, are nearly overshadowed by the colorful, musical chaos that the wedding brings, but the film also has to deal with over the top characters and some bad actors. I wished I liked this more, but the film is pretty predictable, despite the exotic locale of middle class Nigeria. GRADE---------C+
BRIGSBY BEAR--USA--Nearly a perfect little comedy that had me grinning from ear to ear nearly the entire film, this first film is well written and directed and has a wonderful cast including Kyle Mooney (from Saturday Night Live), Claire Danes, Mark Hamill, and Greg Kinnear, each one giving clever, charming performances. James (Mooney) has been fixated on a children's TV show since childhood--becoming a geeky fan with the adventures of a bear with super powers who can save the planet as well as provide an educational lesson with each episode. When his adopted parents are arrested, he sets out to make a movie continuing the adventures of said Brigsby Bear with the help of new friends, family and police. GRADE--------B+
THE MIDWIFE--France--A smooth, seductive drama with the incomparable Catherine Deneuve as a free spirited woman who comes back into the life of the daughter of her ex lover, played by another French wonder, Catherine Frot, because she has alienated nearly everyone else in her life. The film is pleasurable drama, with intelligence and emotion. GRADE---------B+
ENTANGLEMENT--Canada--A depressed, suicidal young man searches for an adopted sister he never really had in order to set his life on a straighter path, in this romantic comedy/drama that deals with reality, connectedness, and mental health. GRADE-----------B+
BEACH RATS--USA--Low budget, hand held drama about a teen who experiments with drugs and sexuality during a stressful time when his father is dying. He hooks up on line with gay older men, but convinces himself that he loves his patience new girl friend, and hangs out with his macho friends, further denying his sexuality. A very decent effort by a second time female director, who gives this film an honest and engaging feel. GRADE--------------B
MENASCHE--USA/ Israel---This modest character study involves a nebbish widowed Jewish man who is irritatingly religious and annoying in his outlooks, but determined to keep custody of his pre teen son, in spite of the lack of flexibility in his job and the annoyance he causes friends, family and workplace. Filmed in a small Hasidic community in Brooklyn, and all in Yiddish, this hand held film feels quite personal and intimate. GRADE-----------B
THE FORCE---USA--Lots of hand held documentary moments that tell the story of the Oakland police force through a couple of years under investigation for corruption and while trying to retrain the officers to become less racist in their treatment of a large diverse population. GRADE----B-
THE UNKNOWN GIRL--Belgium/France--When a young prostitute is killed in the neighborhood outside a small medical clinic, the young doctor who had refused to open her door because the hour was late feels guilty and tries to find out information about who the victim was. Half way through the film, before the police tell her to stay out of the murder investigation, I was thinking in my mind--"What does this woman think she's doing by putting herself into what's turning into a violent, dangerous, corrupt situation?" Annoying hand held camera work and red herrings detract from over all effect of this engaging but little film from the Dardenne brothers (LA PROMESSE 1996, ROSETTE 1999, KID WITH A BIKE 2011, etc.) GRADE-------B-
THE FABULOUS ALAN CARR--USA--Modestly enjoyable documentary about the flamboyant (read gay) producer/promoter of some famous actors, and such entertainments as GREASE 1 and 2, CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC, and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. GRADE-------B-
SOLITAIRE--Lebanon/Jordon/Egypt----Lebonese woman brings home her groom to be from Syria--her mother hates Syrians since her brother was killed by a Syrian bomb during the war, and sets in comic motion a plan to disrupt the wedding. The film feels static, like a filmed play, and comes across as a "chick flick" in spite of some amusing lines and clever characterizations. GRADE---------B-
THE WEDDING PARTY--Nigeria--Things start to go south early in the day of a wedding--vengeful ex-girl friend seeks to seduce the groom, the best man must be changed, the parents of the couple hate each other, the wedding planner is ineffective, etc. These cliches, and others, are nearly overshadowed by the colorful, musical chaos that the wedding brings, but the film also has to deal with over the top characters and some bad actors. I wished I liked this more, but the film is pretty predictable, despite the exotic locale of middle class Nigeria. GRADE---------C+
Friday, May 19, 2017
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Week 3 Screenings MAY 15--19-----BEST BETS --THE FARTHEST, THE PARIS OPERA, FINDING KUKAN, WEIRDOS, CITY OF GHOSTS,
SIFF opens officially tonight with an Opening Night screening and party, and then 8 screens starting Friday. Here's what I've seen this week at advance press screenings.
THE FARTHEST--Ireland--Beautiful photography explores the Voyager space missions that started in the mid 1970s (and are still going!!!), and the film shows the wonderful photographs of the planets that these aircraft captured. A fascinating, uplifting documentary of science and space exploration at its best. GRADE-----------A
THE PARIS OPERA--France--Not what I expected, but more of an impressionistic exploration of a season with stories of singers, dancers, technicians and executives, and always wonderful music in the background. A must see for lovers of music and dance. GRADE----------A
WEIRDOS---Canada--Charming and moving comedy-drama about a teenage boy who leaves his home to go stay with his mother over two hours away. He is accompanied by his girl friend, and the "spirit/ghost" of Andy Warhol. This little black and white coming of age gem was very well received by nearly the whole audience and received perhaps the biggest applause (which is rare) at any screening so far this year. GRADE-----------B+
CITY OF GHOSTS---USA---I didn't think I wanted to see this, but the well made film documents the efforts of a group of Syrians trying to resist the Isis takeover of Raqqa, from within the city and outside from other countries. The engrossing film is both informative and filled with dramatic tension. GRADE---------B+
FINDING KUKAN--USA---Engrossing mystery film about the "lost" winner of the 1941 Academy Award for documentary feature and how the filmmaker tries to piece together the puzzle of how that film got made. The provocative film which featured the "rape of Nanking" in China by the Japanese during WWII was photographed by a world famous camera man but the real "producer" was a dynamic American/Chinese woman called Li Ling-Ai, who had her hands in every aspect of the production. GRADE----------B+
THE MAN--Denmark--Possibly the most discussed and argued about film so far, this drama features a world famous artist who suddenly feels threatened by his up and coming artist son who specializes in urban street art. The father is a very selfish and unpleasant character, but vividly acted, and the twist ending got tongues wagging. GRADE--------B
THE GIRL WITHOUT HANDS--France--This lesser know fairy tale by the brothers Grimm gets a unique animated treatment in a spare, watercolor treatment that is very impressionist and sometimes difficult to watch, and especially not for young children. GRADE-------B
THE WINTER---Argentina--Sparse, tense drama about an older sheep ranch foreman who is being replaced at the end of the season by a much younger man. The younger man must live by him self during the long cold winter, dealing with some odd occurrences. Filmed in evocative Patagonia. Not the most dramatic film, but the characters are engrossing. GRADE------B
DIVINE DIVAS--Brazil--There's a very good documentary film struggling to get out of this historical drama stuffed with musical interludes about aging drag performers in Brazil who put on a 50 year anniversary show in an acclaimed "drag" theatre, but the film at 110 minutes needs to be edited to about 90 minutes, and some reshaping might help gain our sympathies earlier. GRADE --------- B-
500 YEARS---USA--A majorly frustrating historical documentary about the opposition to corruption and the genocide of the indigenous Mayan population in Guatemala. Many segments are informative and powerful, but the film feels like it was edited in a blender, by jumping back and forth and back and forth to different time periods, and often repeating information with many many shots of public demonstrations. However, the clothing worn by much of the indigenous population is beautiful to look at, and there is some good music in the foreground and back ground. GRADE---------C+
TEA PETS--China--The animating is colorful and smart, but the plot is mostly insipid rip-offs of better films (TOY STORY and others) and the 99 minute film goes on and on and on--it felt like 3 hours long. Occasionally amusing, but would mostly appeal to the under 12 crowd if they are patient. GRADE----------C
STRUGGLE FOR LIFE--Belgium--The first 15 minutes of this silly "comedy" are off puttingly amusing at times, but soon the plot dumbs down and becomes frantic without any laughs or common sense, and the actors play it as broadly as an ocean liner, to tiresome effect. GRADE----D+
THE FARTHEST--Ireland--Beautiful photography explores the Voyager space missions that started in the mid 1970s (and are still going!!!), and the film shows the wonderful photographs of the planets that these aircraft captured. A fascinating, uplifting documentary of science and space exploration at its best. GRADE-----------A
THE PARIS OPERA--France--Not what I expected, but more of an impressionistic exploration of a season with stories of singers, dancers, technicians and executives, and always wonderful music in the background. A must see for lovers of music and dance. GRADE----------A
WEIRDOS---Canada--Charming and moving comedy-drama about a teenage boy who leaves his home to go stay with his mother over two hours away. He is accompanied by his girl friend, and the "spirit/ghost" of Andy Warhol. This little black and white coming of age gem was very well received by nearly the whole audience and received perhaps the biggest applause (which is rare) at any screening so far this year. GRADE-----------B+
CITY OF GHOSTS---USA---I didn't think I wanted to see this, but the well made film documents the efforts of a group of Syrians trying to resist the Isis takeover of Raqqa, from within the city and outside from other countries. The engrossing film is both informative and filled with dramatic tension. GRADE---------B+
FINDING KUKAN--USA---Engrossing mystery film about the "lost" winner of the 1941 Academy Award for documentary feature and how the filmmaker tries to piece together the puzzle of how that film got made. The provocative film which featured the "rape of Nanking" in China by the Japanese during WWII was photographed by a world famous camera man but the real "producer" was a dynamic American/Chinese woman called Li Ling-Ai, who had her hands in every aspect of the production. GRADE----------B+
THE MAN--Denmark--Possibly the most discussed and argued about film so far, this drama features a world famous artist who suddenly feels threatened by his up and coming artist son who specializes in urban street art. The father is a very selfish and unpleasant character, but vividly acted, and the twist ending got tongues wagging. GRADE--------B
THE GIRL WITHOUT HANDS--France--This lesser know fairy tale by the brothers Grimm gets a unique animated treatment in a spare, watercolor treatment that is very impressionist and sometimes difficult to watch, and especially not for young children. GRADE-------B
THE WINTER---Argentina--Sparse, tense drama about an older sheep ranch foreman who is being replaced at the end of the season by a much younger man. The younger man must live by him self during the long cold winter, dealing with some odd occurrences. Filmed in evocative Patagonia. Not the most dramatic film, but the characters are engrossing. GRADE------B
DIVINE DIVAS--Brazil--There's a very good documentary film struggling to get out of this historical drama stuffed with musical interludes about aging drag performers in Brazil who put on a 50 year anniversary show in an acclaimed "drag" theatre, but the film at 110 minutes needs to be edited to about 90 minutes, and some reshaping might help gain our sympathies earlier. GRADE --------- B-
500 YEARS---USA--A majorly frustrating historical documentary about the opposition to corruption and the genocide of the indigenous Mayan population in Guatemala. Many segments are informative and powerful, but the film feels like it was edited in a blender, by jumping back and forth and back and forth to different time periods, and often repeating information with many many shots of public demonstrations. However, the clothing worn by much of the indigenous population is beautiful to look at, and there is some good music in the foreground and back ground. GRADE---------C+
TEA PETS--China--The animating is colorful and smart, but the plot is mostly insipid rip-offs of better films (TOY STORY and others) and the 99 minute film goes on and on and on--it felt like 3 hours long. Occasionally amusing, but would mostly appeal to the under 12 crowd if they are patient. GRADE----------C
STRUGGLE FOR LIFE--Belgium--The first 15 minutes of this silly "comedy" are off puttingly amusing at times, but soon the plot dumbs down and becomes frantic without any laughs or common sense, and the actors play it as broadly as an ocean liner, to tiresome effect. GRADE----D+
Friday, May 12, 2017
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Press Screenings Week Two May 8-11----Best Bets: HEAL THE LIVING, NOWHERE TO HIDE, MOKA, GOLDSTONE, BACKPACK FULL OF CASH--plus GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
Here's what I watched during May 8-11---these films will be playing at SIFF starting later next week. See free program guide for schedules and theatre and times.
HEAL THE LIVING--France---For me the top film of the first two weeks of screenings. Here's a drama that has lyrical scenes of mysterious, moving beauty and speaks to the mind and heart as well. More than a dozen main characters tell the story of how tragedy can become a transformative means of finding love and understanding. As heart wrenching as some moments are, the tears by the end are for joyous, unsentimental reasons. GRADE------A-
NOWHERE TO HIDE--Norway, but filmed in Iraq--A male nurse is given a small camera and told to photograph his life and family and daily living during a five year period during the dangerous civil war that invades Iraq in the wake of approaching ISIS forces. The camera work is shaky and rough during the first year, but soon becomes smoother and more powerful as the film captures the devastation the young family is going through, and we see the father/nurse losing weight and growing white hair during this period. Powerful and disturbing. GRADE------B+
GOLDSTONE--Australia--This slow burning thriller features an Indigenous detective arriving at a small isolated community controlled by corrupted citizens trying to protect an evil company. The photography is evocative and eerie. GRADE-----B
MOKA--France--Another slow burning thriller has a grieving woman seeking the driver of a car that killed her son, with plans to seek vengeance. The actors are particularly effective, and the suspense grows has she becomes closer to her prey. GRADE------B
BACKPACK FULL OF CASH--USA--The well made documentary about the state of America's public school (specifically in Pennsylvania) opens eyes as it details the privatization (private schools, charters and vouchers, and religious schools) that has a unfair effect on the most poor and struggling students. My only (minor) complaint is that much of this is quite familiar to me already, but it may be eye opening to the general public. GRADE------B
TWO IRENES--Brazil----A shy 13 year old girl discovers another student with the same name as her, and they bond over a secret relationship. Low key, subtle drama, nicely done. GRADE-----B
AFTER THE STORM--Japan--Very low key slice of life domestic drama is so gentle that I kept drifting off to sleep. Obnoxious, dead beat divorced husband becomes jealous of ex wife's new boyfriend, and tries to ingratiate himself to his son with whom he is estranged. Not much happening here, but family dynamics are interesting. GRADE-------B-
GHOLAM--United Kingdom--London Iranian cab driver tries to lead a simple life, but his past catches up to him. Actor Shahab Hosseini is very effective as a compassionate man trying to stay out of trouble. GRADE-------B-
HEDI--Tunisia--As his wedding approaches, Hedi becomes uncertain, and begins to rebel against his demanding mother. GRADE--------B-
THE HERO--USA--Character study of an aging Western actor who refuses to deal honestly with his new illness, this slow and corny drama is strictly for fans of Sam Elliott. Warning: several hand held jiggly camera scenes. GRADE----------C
PLUS---I squeezed in a viewing of the new science fiction film GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2. If you liked the first GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014) then you will like this story continuation, which is peppered with pop songs from the 1980s and 1990s, and features the same likable characters, plus introduces a couple more. My only complaint, which I often have in these types of films, is that the ending is much to big and chaotic---ie must kill the master of evil or the entire universe will be destroyed, so key up mega explosions and fights, but hardly any one will be killed or destroyed. GRADE--------B+
HEAL THE LIVING--France---For me the top film of the first two weeks of screenings. Here's a drama that has lyrical scenes of mysterious, moving beauty and speaks to the mind and heart as well. More than a dozen main characters tell the story of how tragedy can become a transformative means of finding love and understanding. As heart wrenching as some moments are, the tears by the end are for joyous, unsentimental reasons. GRADE------A-
NOWHERE TO HIDE--Norway, but filmed in Iraq--A male nurse is given a small camera and told to photograph his life and family and daily living during a five year period during the dangerous civil war that invades Iraq in the wake of approaching ISIS forces. The camera work is shaky and rough during the first year, but soon becomes smoother and more powerful as the film captures the devastation the young family is going through, and we see the father/nurse losing weight and growing white hair during this period. Powerful and disturbing. GRADE------B+
GOLDSTONE--Australia--This slow burning thriller features an Indigenous detective arriving at a small isolated community controlled by corrupted citizens trying to protect an evil company. The photography is evocative and eerie. GRADE-----B
MOKA--France--Another slow burning thriller has a grieving woman seeking the driver of a car that killed her son, with plans to seek vengeance. The actors are particularly effective, and the suspense grows has she becomes closer to her prey. GRADE------B
BACKPACK FULL OF CASH--USA--The well made documentary about the state of America's public school (specifically in Pennsylvania) opens eyes as it details the privatization (private schools, charters and vouchers, and religious schools) that has a unfair effect on the most poor and struggling students. My only (minor) complaint is that much of this is quite familiar to me already, but it may be eye opening to the general public. GRADE------B
TWO IRENES--Brazil----A shy 13 year old girl discovers another student with the same name as her, and they bond over a secret relationship. Low key, subtle drama, nicely done. GRADE-----B
AFTER THE STORM--Japan--Very low key slice of life domestic drama is so gentle that I kept drifting off to sleep. Obnoxious, dead beat divorced husband becomes jealous of ex wife's new boyfriend, and tries to ingratiate himself to his son with whom he is estranged. Not much happening here, but family dynamics are interesting. GRADE-------B-
GHOLAM--United Kingdom--London Iranian cab driver tries to lead a simple life, but his past catches up to him. Actor Shahab Hosseini is very effective as a compassionate man trying to stay out of trouble. GRADE-------B-
HEDI--Tunisia--As his wedding approaches, Hedi becomes uncertain, and begins to rebel against his demanding mother. GRADE--------B-
THE HERO--USA--Character study of an aging Western actor who refuses to deal honestly with his new illness, this slow and corny drama is strictly for fans of Sam Elliott. Warning: several hand held jiggly camera scenes. GRADE----------C
PLUS---I squeezed in a viewing of the new science fiction film GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2. If you liked the first GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014) then you will like this story continuation, which is peppered with pop songs from the 1980s and 1990s, and features the same likable characters, plus introduces a couple more. My only complaint, which I often have in these types of films, is that the ending is much to big and chaotic---ie must kill the master of evil or the entire universe will be destroyed, so key up mega explosions and fights, but hardly any one will be killed or destroyed. GRADE--------B+
Sunday, May 7, 2017
SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WEEK ONE SCREENINGS----May 3-May 5 Best Bets------CHAVELA--ETHEL AND ERNEST--FOOD EVOLUTION
Here's what I saw the first week of screenings:
CHAVELA--USA/Mexico---Riveting profile of Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, a popular lesbian, alcoholic singer, who with the help of director Pedro Almodovar makes an amazing comeback at age 72. Many friends and lovers provide intimate details of her biography, bringing her story to captivating life. GRADE-------A-
ETHEL AND ERNEST--Luxembourg--Based on a graphic novel by Raymond Briggs, this animated film is a tribute to his parents, which captures slice of life existence in London from the 1920's through the 1970's as they meet, marry, have a son, struggle through the WWII blitz, etc. Voiced by Brenda Blethyn and Jim Broadbent, this gentle film brought a continuous smile to my face. Although animated, this is more of an adult film, suitable for teens and up. GRADE----B+
FOOD EVOLUTION--US--This is a thoughtful, balanced documentary about the issues involving GMOs, trying to explain what it is and why some are fanatically against it. Excellent food for thought! GRADE--B+
PYROMANIAC---Norway---Decent drama about the son of the local fire chief who becomes fascinated with starting fires. (In case you think I'm giving away any secrets, this is known early in the film.) Film tries to show the psychological effects on the small town and different characters.
GRADE-------B
A DRAGON ARRIVES--Iran----No one I talked to seemed to know what the hell was going on in this story of a police inspector who is trying to understand a political murder amidst blackouts, ghost appearances, earthquakes and a baby born beneath the earth surface! Still, watching it was a curious experience, not entirely unpleasant. GRADE-------B
AFTERIMAGE--Poland--The final film of Polish director Andrzej Wajda, this tells the story of Polish artist Wladyslaw Strzeminski, who is persecuted by the the new government because he will not embrace the Socialist Realist movement. The film looks very good, the actors effective, but the film suffers from a one note feeling from scene to scene--the artist suffers increasing degradation from month to month, and the total effect is grim. GRADE-------B
LEMON---USA---A SIFF audience is a tough one for comedies. This absurdest comedy takes some getting used to and there are precious few laughs in the first half, but about half way through I started some giggling during a delightful family sing fest of "A Million Matzaballs" and ended up enjoying the film by the end, although perhaps too little too late. GRADE------C+
THE BLOOM OF YESTERDAY----Germany---This comedy/drama about a cranky Holocaust researcher and a new opinionated intern who have a love hate relationship is well acted and cleverly directed, but I didn't like any of these characters, and I found the plotting to border on the distasteful. I was grateful when this long unpleasant film was finally over. GRADE-----C+
HELLO DESTROYER---Canada--In a climate of violence, a minor league hockey player injures a fellow player, and is "shoved under the bus" by coaches and fellow players. This is a worthy subject, but the first hour features mostly EXTREME closeup scenes with a hand held camera, and mostly filmed at night in dimly lit locals. I couldn't get a look at the characters faces, and there were only two establishing shot in the first hour. It was so unpleasant and frustrating to watch that I walked out after one hour and ten minutes. GRADE----------D
CHAVELA--USA/Mexico---Riveting profile of Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, a popular lesbian, alcoholic singer, who with the help of director Pedro Almodovar makes an amazing comeback at age 72. Many friends and lovers provide intimate details of her biography, bringing her story to captivating life. GRADE-------A-
ETHEL AND ERNEST--Luxembourg--Based on a graphic novel by Raymond Briggs, this animated film is a tribute to his parents, which captures slice of life existence in London from the 1920's through the 1970's as they meet, marry, have a son, struggle through the WWII blitz, etc. Voiced by Brenda Blethyn and Jim Broadbent, this gentle film brought a continuous smile to my face. Although animated, this is more of an adult film, suitable for teens and up. GRADE----B+
FOOD EVOLUTION--US--This is a thoughtful, balanced documentary about the issues involving GMOs, trying to explain what it is and why some are fanatically against it. Excellent food for thought! GRADE--B+
PYROMANIAC---Norway---Decent drama about the son of the local fire chief who becomes fascinated with starting fires. (In case you think I'm giving away any secrets, this is known early in the film.) Film tries to show the psychological effects on the small town and different characters.
GRADE-------B
A DRAGON ARRIVES--Iran----No one I talked to seemed to know what the hell was going on in this story of a police inspector who is trying to understand a political murder amidst blackouts, ghost appearances, earthquakes and a baby born beneath the earth surface! Still, watching it was a curious experience, not entirely unpleasant. GRADE-------B
AFTERIMAGE--Poland--The final film of Polish director Andrzej Wajda, this tells the story of Polish artist Wladyslaw Strzeminski, who is persecuted by the the new government because he will not embrace the Socialist Realist movement. The film looks very good, the actors effective, but the film suffers from a one note feeling from scene to scene--the artist suffers increasing degradation from month to month, and the total effect is grim. GRADE-------B
LEMON---USA---A SIFF audience is a tough one for comedies. This absurdest comedy takes some getting used to and there are precious few laughs in the first half, but about half way through I started some giggling during a delightful family sing fest of "A Million Matzaballs" and ended up enjoying the film by the end, although perhaps too little too late. GRADE------C+
THE BLOOM OF YESTERDAY----Germany---This comedy/drama about a cranky Holocaust researcher and a new opinionated intern who have a love hate relationship is well acted and cleverly directed, but I didn't like any of these characters, and I found the plotting to border on the distasteful. I was grateful when this long unpleasant film was finally over. GRADE-----C+
HELLO DESTROYER---Canada--In a climate of violence, a minor league hockey player injures a fellow player, and is "shoved under the bus" by coaches and fellow players. This is a worthy subject, but the first hour features mostly EXTREME closeup scenes with a hand held camera, and mostly filmed at night in dimly lit locals. I couldn't get a look at the characters faces, and there were only two establishing shot in the first hour. It was so unpleasant and frustrating to watch that I walked out after one hour and ten minutes. GRADE----------D
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
THEIR FINEST, GET OUT, ZOOKEEPERS WIFE, GIFTED, GHOST IN THE SHELL, THE CIRCLE, KEDI, THE LURE, DON'T BREATHE, A QUIET PASSION
The British film industry loves World War II films and TV, and fortunately they do it very well. Case in point is the new, small gem called THEIR FINEST, set during the bombing of London during WWII when many beleaguered citizens are just trying to go about their normal lives under dangerous war conditions, including the creative talent of the British film industry. A young woman is hired to work on a studio film to bulk up women's dialogue, and she's pretty good, but faces a lot of prejudicial discrimination at the studio. The film is comic and romantic (there are some love conflicts) and suspenseful, and the mundane everyday activities become very fascinating and dramatic. (The film plays a lot like the PBS Masterpiece Theatre production of HOME FIRES currently showing on Sunday evenings. ) My main objection to this fascinating slice of life is that the film was projected very darkly--nearly every scene seems filtered through a night time screen, or in a bomb shelter, or at night. It was difficult at times to see the faces of the characters. I don't know if that was the director's intent, but I always feel that if you go to all the trouble, time and money to make a feature film, that you would want your audience to be able to clearly watch it. GRADE----------A-
This new fantasy comedic/suspense drama is clearly the most unique film of the year so far. GET OUT features an interracial couple that goes to visit her parents on their rich country estate for the weekend, and the black man starts to get weird vibes from mostly white inhabitants, but also from the few black characters--from the hired help and other guests during a large party. The film is very curious and suspenseful, but my only main complaint is the denouncement which, although satisfying, feels like a let down which degenerates into violence. Maybe you could say this is a cross between GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER and THE STEPFORD WIFES, but without the cloying condescending feeling of GUESS WHO'S.....Still, GET OUT is very creative and engrossing and the cast is very good. GRADE---------B+
There are a lot of problems with the new science fiction film GHOST IN THE SHELL, which is based on the Japanese animated film from 1995, but being dull is not one of them. The gung ho Scarlet Johannson portrays the main character who is "reborn" as a human robot--part machine with the mind of a human, and she is confused by conflicting memories of her past. She works for the company that created her, and seeks to find an evil corporation that is trying to infiltrate and destroy said company. The film is set far into the future, and has a unique set design that reminded me of a more intricate remake of BLADERUNNER 1982. There are some giant plot holes and sometimes it feels the rules keep changing from scene to scene, but I was engaged and appreciated the special effects and the actors, including well known Japanese actor Beat Takeshi Kitano (you'll at least recognize his grizzled face), newcomer Pilou Ashaet as her hunky assistant, and Oscar winner French actress Juliette Binoche as her doctor. GRADE----------B
Based on a best selling Dave Eggars novel, THE CIRCLE is a science fiction novel about privacy in the future. A young woman played by Emma Watson (HARRY POTTER fame) joins this high tech social progressive company, soon to find her self rapidly promoted, and offered a chance to be completely transparent to the world. She soon realizes that that is not always a good thing. Tom Hanks plays the head of the company who befriends her. I've not read the book, so I was engrossed in the story, and enjoyed some of the ethical dilemmas that occur. In one of his last films, the chameleon like actor Bill Pullman plays her father--as usual I didn't recognize him until the final credits. The film feels a bit underwhelming and anti climactic, but I had a good enough time. GRADE------B
This leisurely fascinating documentary features 6 or 7 cats that hang around the ancient city of Istanbul--they represent the thousands of homeless cats that the citizens put up with ---feeding them, playing with, and petting them as they roam the neighborhoods. The photography in KEDI is beautiful, the music score is exotic, the dozens of cats in the background are lovely and cute to watch. Not much happens in this film, and nothing very new is learned, but the old city Istanbul is intriguing, the film is easy to watch, and most definitely, this is for CAT (KEDI) fans. GRADE------B
There are some grotesque plot devices that might break the mood for you in the intense film DON'T BREATHE, but basically this is a straight forward thriller about three stubborn and spoiled young adults who decide to break into a house in a derelict part of Detroit and steal a small fortune from a blind vet. This proves to be harder than they thought, and the blind vet is, of course, no fool, as he can maneuver better in the nighttime darkness than the thieves. Unfortunately, this film has four main characters who do not claim our sympathies since the actions of all four are rather deplorable and cruel. Still, the film is very intense and watchable, and in spite of being a decent popcorn movie, you won't feel much like eating. GRADE-----------B-
I've seen a lot of WWII films about Nazi occupation, and this one is very decent, if a bit civilized. Jessica Chastain portrays THE ZOOKEEPERS WIFE, an animal lover who is devastated when Poland falls to the Nazi occupation, and her animals are shipped away to German zoos or killed outright. She and her husband offer to start a pig breeding farm to supply pork for the war effort but in reality they are appalled by what is happening to the Jews in their country, and use the zoo to hide and transfer Jewish inmates to safety. The film looks good, the actors are fine and the plot keeps moving without becoming saccharine. It may be a poor man's SCHINDLER'S LIST but there are worse problems a WWII film can have. GRADE-------------B-
Pleasant enough film of child genius being fought over by her uncle who has raised her since her mother's suicide, and her estranged grandmother who was unwilling to raise her then, but now wants to cultivate the child's incredible mind. GIFTED has a charming cast with Chris Evans as the uncle, McKenny Grace as the gifted child, Jenny Slade as a teacher, Octavia Spencer as her caretaker, and Lindsay Duncan as the grandmother. GRADE---------B-
Anne Hathaway has a lot of fun playing a party girl in New York City who is kicked out by her boyfriend Dan Stevens because she parties all night and sleeps all day and has no job. She ends up in her old home town and reconnects with an old school friend Jason Sudeikis, then discovers that a horrible monster COLOSSAL in Seoul seems to be connected to her movements, causing death and destruction in the morning whenever she has a night of drinking. It's a clever conceit, but the film drags on and on in a predictable manner, the only explanation coming at the end, and it is unconvincing and disappointing. GRADE----------C+
Made in 2015 but only recently released in the US is the bizarre Polish film THE LURE which got mixed reviews at SIFF 2016 from various film goers. This science fiction fantasy musical (!) film features female mermaids who come ashore to mate with humans, but there are many rules that must be followed for successful mating to occur. Unfortunately, the rules for such mating seem to change from scene to scene, and the motivations of these undersea creatures seem to become murky, to say the least. The special effects/costumes are quite sensual and effective in a spooky manner, and the characters speak in metaphors when they are not breaking into song. (The "enchanted" men appear in a nightclub cabaret band of sorts, and the mermaids fit right into the milieu) When jealousy occurs between the two mermaids, violence erupts, but again, what exactly are the rules and consequences? By the end I was frustrated and confused although the film is curious enough to sustain interest most of the time. GRADE------------C+
A new film by Brit Terence Davies, A QUIET PASSION, about the life and times of poet Emily Dickinson is a total and frustrating bore. The austere film making which worked well in his previous films SUNSET SONG 2015, DEEP BLUE SEA 2011 and HOUSE OF MIRTH 2000 seems dull and uninspiring here, and Cynthia Nixon (from TV's SEX AND THE CITY) is so stringent and angry throughout the film that it is hard to muster much sympathy, even when some lovely poems are read on the soundtrack. The long tiresome film is a chore to watch, and I wanted to exit the theatre after 20 minutes, but didn't because the screening was packed and I was in the middle of a long row. There were a lot of nasty complaints overheard in the aisle as we departed. GRADE--------D
______________________________________________________
THE FOLLOWING FILMS WERE VIEWED ON DVD------
MAGGIE'S PLAN 2016--The disarming charms of Greta Gerwig enliven the romantic comedy drama--she wants to have a baby on her own, but then falls for a married man (Ethan Hawke), causing him to divorce his intelligent wife (a fabulous Julianne Moore), then has second thoughts. The film feels much like a Woody Allen film, set in academia, and the characters act obtusely without much considered emotion. Written and directed by Rebecca Miller. GRADE-----B+
SUMMERTIME 1955--Katherine Hepburn is a single woman on her way to becoming an "old maid" when she unexpectedly falls in love with an older Italian man against her better judgment. The affair perpetuates the myth that Italian men cannot be faithful, and/or need to have the love of a mistress as well as a wife. David Lean directed, and Hepburn is fascinating to watch, natch. The photography lovingly details the glories of Venice in the 1950's. GRADE-----B+
FAMILY PLOT 1976--Alfred Hitchcock's last film is not one of his classics, but contains many of his trademark pleasures and suspense twists. The often campy actress Karen Black is nicely restrained as the mystery blond wigged kidnapper and she makes a good foil to the smoothly sinister William Devane as her partner. They cross paths with a wacky fake medium (a wacky Barbara Harris) and her cab driving boy friend (Bruce Dern) who are on the trail of a lost heir to a fortune. That talky scene starts FAMILY PLOT--unusual because Hitchcock was usually a very visual story teller, but once that is set up, the visuals, sexy humor and suspense take over and the film swishes along in classic fashion. I hadn't seen this film for over 20 years and it seems better to me and more well constructed, than ever. GRADE--------B
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT 1959--The first of three Kim Novak films I watched in a row. Written by Paddy Chayefsky, Novak plays a young divorced woman who falls into an affair with her much older boss, played subtly by Fredric March, and they must battle the ageism and sexism of their friends and family. GRADE------B
JEANNE EAGELS 1957--Novak stars in this film biography of theatre and silent film star Jeanne Eagels, who got on the fast lane to fame but didn't learn how to handle the attention, burning on drugs and alcohol by age 39. Jeff Chandler was good as the Italian average Joe who tried to love her, but she kept rejecting him when something better came along. (Every time I see Chandler I keep thinking of him as an Indian--he was so effective in many Westerns in his career.) GRADE-----B
A MURDER OF QUALITY 1991--A stand alone murder mystery from the BBC based on a novel by John le Carre, with Denholm Elliott as George Smiley, and one of the final appearances by the great Glenda Jackson, with Joss Ackland, Billie Whitelaw and a young Christian Bale. GRADE------------B
PAL JOEY 1957--Kim Novak starred with Frank Sinatra and Rita Hayworth in this wide screen technicolor trifle. She plays a good girl trying to keep Sinatra out of her panties. This is a film for the Trump/Fox generation, where men can come on to woman continually in an obnoxious manner just because they can, and it should all be OK. There's a lot of sleazy moments in this film, but it is redeemed, barely, by some wonderful classic songs, including THE LADY IS A TRAMP, MY FUNNY VALENTINE, and BEWITCHED BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED. GRADE------------B-
LAZY EYE 2016--A lonely, partnered gay man meets up with his ex-lover 15 years after their break up and tries to figure out what went wrong in this basically two character chamber drama which explores sexual attraction, jealousy, loyalty and friendship, in a small cabin near Joshua Tree California. In a small way, the film works, and the two leads are convincing. GRADE-----B-
WILD IN THE STREETS--1968--This independent, cheaply made drama caused a stir upon release with the wild premise that 14 year old teens should be given the vote, and "old" people over the age of 35 should be forced to retire. The film features a lot of music, the only memorable song is THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME which was a hit for Paul Revere and the Raiders in 1971 and again for the Ramones in 1993. The cast is willing, including Christopher Jones, Shelley Winters, Richard Pryor, Hal Holbrook and Ed Begley, but the script is not developed, and the dialogue borders on camp, but not in a good way. GRADE--------C+
Other film that I watched were made for TV by the BBC. They included 11 episodes of FOYLE'S WAR, at 90 minutes each, 3 episodes of Agatha Christie's MARPLE also 90 minutes each, and about 12 episodes of MIDSUMER MURDERS at 90 some minutes each. Most of them were of superior quality for television in general.
I have usually watched that much programming per month, I just don't write about it because this blog is especially for FILM, although much of what I watch is better than about half the films I see. In the previous months I've watched most of Agatha Christies's POIROT series from the BBC. I also almost always watch whatever is on Masterpiece Theatre on Sunday evenings--now I'm involved in CALL THE MIDWIFE as I've watched for several years. Also HOME FIRES and WOLF HALL, and I was a passionate watcher of DOWNTON ABBEY for all of it's run.
----------------
Starting this week begins the 2017 version of the SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. I will write briefly of the films screened each week and give more info as each film opens for an official run later in the summer through spring. Because I see about 130 films in the next six weeks, I am going to try to write twice a week, with shorter blogs. Thanks to all my friends and fans for reading.
This new fantasy comedic/suspense drama is clearly the most unique film of the year so far. GET OUT features an interracial couple that goes to visit her parents on their rich country estate for the weekend, and the black man starts to get weird vibes from mostly white inhabitants, but also from the few black characters--from the hired help and other guests during a large party. The film is very curious and suspenseful, but my only main complaint is the denouncement which, although satisfying, feels like a let down which degenerates into violence. Maybe you could say this is a cross between GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER and THE STEPFORD WIFES, but without the cloying condescending feeling of GUESS WHO'S.....Still, GET OUT is very creative and engrossing and the cast is very good. GRADE---------B+
There are a lot of problems with the new science fiction film GHOST IN THE SHELL, which is based on the Japanese animated film from 1995, but being dull is not one of them. The gung ho Scarlet Johannson portrays the main character who is "reborn" as a human robot--part machine with the mind of a human, and she is confused by conflicting memories of her past. She works for the company that created her, and seeks to find an evil corporation that is trying to infiltrate and destroy said company. The film is set far into the future, and has a unique set design that reminded me of a more intricate remake of BLADERUNNER 1982. There are some giant plot holes and sometimes it feels the rules keep changing from scene to scene, but I was engaged and appreciated the special effects and the actors, including well known Japanese actor Beat Takeshi Kitano (you'll at least recognize his grizzled face), newcomer Pilou Ashaet as her hunky assistant, and Oscar winner French actress Juliette Binoche as her doctor. GRADE----------B
Based on a best selling Dave Eggars novel, THE CIRCLE is a science fiction novel about privacy in the future. A young woman played by Emma Watson (HARRY POTTER fame) joins this high tech social progressive company, soon to find her self rapidly promoted, and offered a chance to be completely transparent to the world. She soon realizes that that is not always a good thing. Tom Hanks plays the head of the company who befriends her. I've not read the book, so I was engrossed in the story, and enjoyed some of the ethical dilemmas that occur. In one of his last films, the chameleon like actor Bill Pullman plays her father--as usual I didn't recognize him until the final credits. The film feels a bit underwhelming and anti climactic, but I had a good enough time. GRADE------B
This leisurely fascinating documentary features 6 or 7 cats that hang around the ancient city of Istanbul--they represent the thousands of homeless cats that the citizens put up with ---feeding them, playing with, and petting them as they roam the neighborhoods. The photography in KEDI is beautiful, the music score is exotic, the dozens of cats in the background are lovely and cute to watch. Not much happens in this film, and nothing very new is learned, but the old city Istanbul is intriguing, the film is easy to watch, and most definitely, this is for CAT (KEDI) fans. GRADE------B
There are some grotesque plot devices that might break the mood for you in the intense film DON'T BREATHE, but basically this is a straight forward thriller about three stubborn and spoiled young adults who decide to break into a house in a derelict part of Detroit and steal a small fortune from a blind vet. This proves to be harder than they thought, and the blind vet is, of course, no fool, as he can maneuver better in the nighttime darkness than the thieves. Unfortunately, this film has four main characters who do not claim our sympathies since the actions of all four are rather deplorable and cruel. Still, the film is very intense and watchable, and in spite of being a decent popcorn movie, you won't feel much like eating. GRADE-----------B-
I've seen a lot of WWII films about Nazi occupation, and this one is very decent, if a bit civilized. Jessica Chastain portrays THE ZOOKEEPERS WIFE, an animal lover who is devastated when Poland falls to the Nazi occupation, and her animals are shipped away to German zoos or killed outright. She and her husband offer to start a pig breeding farm to supply pork for the war effort but in reality they are appalled by what is happening to the Jews in their country, and use the zoo to hide and transfer Jewish inmates to safety. The film looks good, the actors are fine and the plot keeps moving without becoming saccharine. It may be a poor man's SCHINDLER'S LIST but there are worse problems a WWII film can have. GRADE-------------B-
Pleasant enough film of child genius being fought over by her uncle who has raised her since her mother's suicide, and her estranged grandmother who was unwilling to raise her then, but now wants to cultivate the child's incredible mind. GIFTED has a charming cast with Chris Evans as the uncle, McKenny Grace as the gifted child, Jenny Slade as a teacher, Octavia Spencer as her caretaker, and Lindsay Duncan as the grandmother. GRADE---------B-
Anne Hathaway has a lot of fun playing a party girl in New York City who is kicked out by her boyfriend Dan Stevens because she parties all night and sleeps all day and has no job. She ends up in her old home town and reconnects with an old school friend Jason Sudeikis, then discovers that a horrible monster COLOSSAL in Seoul seems to be connected to her movements, causing death and destruction in the morning whenever she has a night of drinking. It's a clever conceit, but the film drags on and on in a predictable manner, the only explanation coming at the end, and it is unconvincing and disappointing. GRADE----------C+
Made in 2015 but only recently released in the US is the bizarre Polish film THE LURE which got mixed reviews at SIFF 2016 from various film goers. This science fiction fantasy musical (!) film features female mermaids who come ashore to mate with humans, but there are many rules that must be followed for successful mating to occur. Unfortunately, the rules for such mating seem to change from scene to scene, and the motivations of these undersea creatures seem to become murky, to say the least. The special effects/costumes are quite sensual and effective in a spooky manner, and the characters speak in metaphors when they are not breaking into song. (The "enchanted" men appear in a nightclub cabaret band of sorts, and the mermaids fit right into the milieu) When jealousy occurs between the two mermaids, violence erupts, but again, what exactly are the rules and consequences? By the end I was frustrated and confused although the film is curious enough to sustain interest most of the time. GRADE------------C+
A new film by Brit Terence Davies, A QUIET PASSION, about the life and times of poet Emily Dickinson is a total and frustrating bore. The austere film making which worked well in his previous films SUNSET SONG 2015, DEEP BLUE SEA 2011 and HOUSE OF MIRTH 2000 seems dull and uninspiring here, and Cynthia Nixon (from TV's SEX AND THE CITY) is so stringent and angry throughout the film that it is hard to muster much sympathy, even when some lovely poems are read on the soundtrack. The long tiresome film is a chore to watch, and I wanted to exit the theatre after 20 minutes, but didn't because the screening was packed and I was in the middle of a long row. There were a lot of nasty complaints overheard in the aisle as we departed. GRADE--------D
______________________________________________________
THE FOLLOWING FILMS WERE VIEWED ON DVD------
MAGGIE'S PLAN 2016--The disarming charms of Greta Gerwig enliven the romantic comedy drama--she wants to have a baby on her own, but then falls for a married man (Ethan Hawke), causing him to divorce his intelligent wife (a fabulous Julianne Moore), then has second thoughts. The film feels much like a Woody Allen film, set in academia, and the characters act obtusely without much considered emotion. Written and directed by Rebecca Miller. GRADE-----B+
SUMMERTIME 1955--Katherine Hepburn is a single woman on her way to becoming an "old maid" when she unexpectedly falls in love with an older Italian man against her better judgment. The affair perpetuates the myth that Italian men cannot be faithful, and/or need to have the love of a mistress as well as a wife. David Lean directed, and Hepburn is fascinating to watch, natch. The photography lovingly details the glories of Venice in the 1950's. GRADE-----B+
FAMILY PLOT 1976--Alfred Hitchcock's last film is not one of his classics, but contains many of his trademark pleasures and suspense twists. The often campy actress Karen Black is nicely restrained as the mystery blond wigged kidnapper and she makes a good foil to the smoothly sinister William Devane as her partner. They cross paths with a wacky fake medium (a wacky Barbara Harris) and her cab driving boy friend (Bruce Dern) who are on the trail of a lost heir to a fortune. That talky scene starts FAMILY PLOT--unusual because Hitchcock was usually a very visual story teller, but once that is set up, the visuals, sexy humor and suspense take over and the film swishes along in classic fashion. I hadn't seen this film for over 20 years and it seems better to me and more well constructed, than ever. GRADE--------B
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT 1959--The first of three Kim Novak films I watched in a row. Written by Paddy Chayefsky, Novak plays a young divorced woman who falls into an affair with her much older boss, played subtly by Fredric March, and they must battle the ageism and sexism of their friends and family. GRADE------B
JEANNE EAGELS 1957--Novak stars in this film biography of theatre and silent film star Jeanne Eagels, who got on the fast lane to fame but didn't learn how to handle the attention, burning on drugs and alcohol by age 39. Jeff Chandler was good as the Italian average Joe who tried to love her, but she kept rejecting him when something better came along. (Every time I see Chandler I keep thinking of him as an Indian--he was so effective in many Westerns in his career.) GRADE-----B
A MURDER OF QUALITY 1991--A stand alone murder mystery from the BBC based on a novel by John le Carre, with Denholm Elliott as George Smiley, and one of the final appearances by the great Glenda Jackson, with Joss Ackland, Billie Whitelaw and a young Christian Bale. GRADE------------B
PAL JOEY 1957--Kim Novak starred with Frank Sinatra and Rita Hayworth in this wide screen technicolor trifle. She plays a good girl trying to keep Sinatra out of her panties. This is a film for the Trump/Fox generation, where men can come on to woman continually in an obnoxious manner just because they can, and it should all be OK. There's a lot of sleazy moments in this film, but it is redeemed, barely, by some wonderful classic songs, including THE LADY IS A TRAMP, MY FUNNY VALENTINE, and BEWITCHED BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED. GRADE------------B-
LAZY EYE 2016--A lonely, partnered gay man meets up with his ex-lover 15 years after their break up and tries to figure out what went wrong in this basically two character chamber drama which explores sexual attraction, jealousy, loyalty and friendship, in a small cabin near Joshua Tree California. In a small way, the film works, and the two leads are convincing. GRADE-----B-
WILD IN THE STREETS--1968--This independent, cheaply made drama caused a stir upon release with the wild premise that 14 year old teens should be given the vote, and "old" people over the age of 35 should be forced to retire. The film features a lot of music, the only memorable song is THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME which was a hit for Paul Revere and the Raiders in 1971 and again for the Ramones in 1993. The cast is willing, including Christopher Jones, Shelley Winters, Richard Pryor, Hal Holbrook and Ed Begley, but the script is not developed, and the dialogue borders on camp, but not in a good way. GRADE--------C+
Other film that I watched were made for TV by the BBC. They included 11 episodes of FOYLE'S WAR, at 90 minutes each, 3 episodes of Agatha Christie's MARPLE also 90 minutes each, and about 12 episodes of MIDSUMER MURDERS at 90 some minutes each. Most of them were of superior quality for television in general.
I have usually watched that much programming per month, I just don't write about it because this blog is especially for FILM, although much of what I watch is better than about half the films I see. In the previous months I've watched most of Agatha Christies's POIROT series from the BBC. I also almost always watch whatever is on Masterpiece Theatre on Sunday evenings--now I'm involved in CALL THE MIDWIFE as I've watched for several years. Also HOME FIRES and WOLF HALL, and I was a passionate watcher of DOWNTON ABBEY for all of it's run.
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Starting this week begins the 2017 version of the SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. I will write briefly of the films screened each week and give more info as each film opens for an official run later in the summer through spring. Because I see about 130 films in the next six weeks, I am going to try to write twice a week, with shorter blogs. Thanks to all my friends and fans for reading.
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