Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Final weekend of SIFF Screenings-- Fri June 9--Sun Jun 11-----Best Bets--GHOST STORY, THE NET, HANDSOME DEVIL, SONG OF COTTON------Plus BEST OF SIFF 2017

Here's what I saw the final weekend of SIFF......



GHOST STORY---USA--Coming soon to a theatre near you, this is a "ghost" story like nothing you've seen before.  Extreme long shots held any where from 1 minute to 5 minutes (!) punctuate this simple but moving story of loneliness and history--from a ghost's point of view!!!             GRADE---------A-

THE NET--South Korea--When a simple North Korean fisherman accidentally crosses the border  to South Korea, he becomes locked in a struggle to return to the North, when the South only want to liberate him or turn him into a spy.  Powerful and tragic.                GRADE---------A-

HANDSOME DEVIL---Ireland--A gay teen struggles to fit into an all male prep school, but finds an unusual friendship from within the boisterous rugby team.  Charming comedy/drama.          GRADE----------     B

SONG OF COTTON--China--After seeing at least 3 Chinese films that I didn't like at all, this drama about a young divorcee pregnant by her lover who becomes a caretaker to an old man with a mean and cranky daughter becomes an insightful experience.         GRADE------------B

FEATHER--Italy--Domestic comedy about a teen couple who become pregnant and feel pressure on all sides about what steps to take.  The parents and relatives are all wacky, the kids keep their feet mostly on the ground, and I enjoyed this weird trifle of a film.         GRADE------B-

THE FEELS--USA--A group of lesbians and some others gather for a pre-wedding celebration of two women from the group, and during the drinking the first night, some secrets pop up that disturb some of the friends.  This is light drama with some laughs thrown in, nothing too heavy.         GRADE-----B-

INLAND ROADS--New Zealand--While hitchhiking, a 15 year old girl survives a car crash that kills one older brother, and ends up staying on with the surviving brother's family, where she learns some ways to grow up.  Nice acting, but slight story has too much hand held camera work to keep me involved.            GRADE--------C+

THE KING'S CHOICE--Norway--Both the Fool Series and the Golden Space Needle awards put this epic historical story about Norwegian resistance to the Nazi invasion during WWII in the top 10 films of the festival, but this film had so much aggressively jiggling hand held camera work in EVERY scene that it made me nauseous to watch.            GRADE-----C+





MY TOP CHOICES FOR BEST FILMS FROM SIFF 2017

At the End of the Tunnel
The Bar
Brisby Bear
Date for Mad Mary
A Dragon Arrives
A Ghost Story
God's Own Country
Heal the Living
Hippopotamus
I, Daniel Blake
The Journey
Kills on Wheels
Lane 1974
Little Hours
The Net
Sami Blood
Small Town Killers
Soul on a String
Weirdos
Woodpeckers

There are about 40 more films that I enjoyed quite a bit (rated B+, B, and B-) and I will write about them if and when they open for some sort of regular run later in the year.


FAVORITE DOCUMENTARIES

Angry Inuk
Death and Life of Marcia P. Johnson
The Farthest
Paris Opera
The Quest
Roberto Bolle--The Art of Dance


TOP REVIVALS

Cabaret 1973
Maurice 1987


WORST FILMS

Beautiful Kokonor Lake
Boundaries
The Hero
Hello Destroyer
Infinity Baby
It's Only the End of the World
Struggle for Life
Wallflower


TOP FILMS FROM THE FOOL SERIOUS (Full Series) AWARDS

At the End of the Tunnel
The Journey
In Syria*
I Daniel Blake
King's Choice
Wind River*
Paradise*
The Net
Kills of Wheels
Bye Bye Germany*

 *I have not seen these films yet, but believe they will open up in the next few months.
 For the first time, the same film At the End of the Tunnel appeared as Best Film on both the Golden Space Needles Awards (audience balloting through SIFF) and the Fool Serious Awards (independent balloting by Full Series members.)



Friday, June 9, 2017

SIFF Screenings Mon. Jun 5 through Thur. Jun 8-------Best Bets--------GOD'S OWN COUNTRY, THE JOURNEY, AMERICAN FOLK, KILLS ON WHEELS, THE QUEST, BORDERS, BETTER WATCH OUT, DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON

It's been a busy last week of screenings.  Here's what I've seen this last week.


THE JOURNEY--United Kingdom--Spectacular acting with Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, John Hurt and Freddie  Highmore, about political peace making in Northern Ireland.          GRADE-----A

GOD'S OWN COUNTRY--United Kingdom--Splendid drama reminds us of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN but set in rugged Yorkshire, England where two farm hands discover warmth and love amid a dreary life of sheep herding.  Some hand held camera work keeps this fine romantic film from a top rating.       GRADE--------A-

KILLS ON WHEELS--Hungary--Unique violent fantasy drama of young men in wheelchairs who gang up with a gangster hit man.              GRADE------------B+

AMERICAN FOLK--USA--Two strangers drive and sing their way across the USA when the 9/11 tragedy grounds all air planes.  Powerful and uplifting in a simple way.         GRADE--------B+

THE QUEST--USA--A black family from North Philadelphia is dramatically profiled over the course of 5 years, covering sickness, a shooting, cancer and other conflicts.  Will be shown eventually on the PBS program POV.             GRADE-----------B+

BORDERS--Burkina Faso--A serious but at times lighthearted, and very colorful film about four different women trying to travel across West Africa, facing corruption and other dangers.           GRADE--------B

BETTER WATCH OUT---USA---A funny, sick "midnighter" film with appropriate violence and shocks and twists--a cross between  home invasion scenarios and twisted teen escapades.  If this is your thing, you will find it fun.  Oh yeah---filmed at Christmas time.               GRADE-------B

SANTA AND ANDRES--Cuba/Colombia--A gay man and a lonely woman sent to guard him find companionship despite different political views.                   GRADE-------B

DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON--USA--Documentary about a 25 year cold case, where a transgendered gay man is found murdered, but the police claimed it was suicide.  Fascinating  account of misjustice.                   GRADE-----------B

KALUSHI--South Africa--Bio pic about a freedom fighter trying to win justice and equality for poor blacks prior to desegregation.             GRADE---------B-

GOOK---USA--A hand held camera extravaganza about the day of the Watts riots and burning in Los Angeles, focusing on two Korean brothers struggling to run a shoe store  while being harassed by some black gang members.  Profane and chaotic but has some powerful moments.      GRADE---C+

SUSANNE BARTSCH: ON TOP--USA--Gay icon and fashion director and party planner in NYC is profiled in this occasionally interesting documentary.               GRADE------C+

TROUBLE---USA--Angelica Huston and Bill Pullman are antagonistic siblings and are strong reasons to watch this  modest comedy drama.           GRADE------C+

IN THE RADIANT CITY--USA--Slow, protracted drama about a man returning to his hometown after 20 years, whose testimony sent his brother to prison.  Actors are fine but let down by poky script.             GRADE--------C+

ON THE ROAD--United Kingdom--Docu-drama follows a head banger band (loud), with  much aggressive hand held camera work complete with strobe lighting and after 35 minutes I left.  Only for the interested film goer.          GRADE-----------C

WALLFLOWER---USA--Local Northwest production about a mass murderer.  Most of the film is spent at a rave (dark, loud, hand held camera) and an after rave all night party (dark, loud, hand held camera) making this very difficult to see and listen to.  (Imagine being the only person who is not drunk or high and trying to have a conversation--that's what the killer has to contend with--no wonder he kills everyone.   I left after one hour.      GRADE---------C-

KNIFE IN CLEAR WATER--China--Austere, extremely meditative (read sleepy time for the viewer) film about elderly man trying to decide how to honor his dead wife--kill some chickens or kill the old ox.             GRADE----------C-

THE DOOR--China--Dull and confusing story of man who goes through a door to a different life of luxury and wealth.  Production values are fine, but it felt like an ending every five minutes for the last 30 minutes.              GRADE---------D+

THE BEAUTIFUL KOKONOR LAKE--China-- Busy, silly, excessively melodramatic  soap opera that spans over fifty years, but still feels like a vanity production for the writer/actress who at age 95 is recounting her life.  I wanted to like it but after 45 minutes I left.       GRADE-------D+



Sunday, June 4, 2017

SIFF Screenings Friday Jun 2----Sunday Jun 4--------Best Bets----WOODPECKERS, SOUL ON A STRING, THE HIPPOPOTAMUS, INVERSION

Here's what I watch for the weekend---


WOODPECKERS--Dominican Republic--Here's the break out film of SIFF--a tough prison film with a tender heart, observed with skillful direction (there's a fabulous minute plus long tracking shot  through nearly the whole prison, without cuts) and careful photography and editing--you can almost "read" the hand gesturing as male inmates talk to female inmates nearby.  There is a minimum of hand held camera movements---astonishing due to the fact that there are literaly dozens of characters in each scene. And best of all, in spite of the fact that the film deals with horrors and tragedies of prison life, there is a strong sense of life and romance that permeates the story.               GRADE-------------A

SOUL ON A STRING--China--At 140 minutes, this epic odyssey set in Tibet is filled with murder, revenge, mystic folklore,  and eye popping scenery of deserts, mountains, rivers and villages.  When a man with a dark past finds a mystic stone in the mouth of a deer he has just killed, he must return the stone to a mystic mountain many days away--in the meantime he encounters a determined young woman, a psychotic boy, and a man who is trying to kill him because he killed this man's father in his past.  Here's a skillful blending of the Western, road picture, romance, thriller and mysticism.
GRADE---------A-

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS--Great Britain--An alcoholic washed up poet and writer is sent to his god daughter's family home to investigate the possibility of miracles that have been reported. Written by the clever, wry Stephan Fry, the dialogue is full of cruel sarcasm, hilarious entendres and outrageous insults.  There's also a telling and tragic story here, steeped in bizarre sexuality,  and if you like such British entertainments, you will love this film.  Prepare to be offended.            GRADE----------B+

INVERSION--Iran--When the matriarch of the family collapses due to massive air pollution conditions in Tehran, the men in the family decide to send the unmarried single daughter to the north to live with the mother with clean air, with out consulting her, and forcing her to give up her business and her burgeoning relationship with a man.  Here's an insidious look at gender issues in an oppressive society.           GRADE---------B+

LANDLINE--USA--Set in New York City in 1995, this features comedian Jenny Slate as an older sister who is engaged to be married, but finds herself attracted to an old beau, while her younger sister is secretly involved in sex, drugs and clubbing.  They think their father is having an affair and hope to derail this without their mother becoming involved.  There are a number of fine laughs, mostly thanks to Slate's delivery and charm, and there's a very serious underplay going on, but the film doesn't transcend the set up.                GRADE------B-

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS--Great Britain--Based on some children's books, this is a well made film that seems far to complicated for younger children (different pirate groups and lingo, perilous conditions for kids, British spies, Russian spies, confusing and awkward locations, etc.) and becomes rather pedestrian for adult viewers.            GRADE-------------C+

BOUNDARIES aka PAYS--(French) Canada--A dull and boring film about local politics that has little of interest for general audiences, with mediocre actors and basic direction.  The four Canadians sitting next to me  turned to  each other when it ended and all agreed that this was the most boring film they'd seen in years.            GRADE----------D+

INFINITY BABY--USA--I was amused by director Bob Byington's quirky last film 7 CHINESE BROTHERS 2015, but this new black and white, deadpan quirkiness did not provide one laugh for me in the 45 minutes I watched, so I walked out.  The main conceit --trying to get adults to adopt babies who will be 3 months old for ever , is a big problem.  There is no where to go with this situation,and it is too bizarre to even be funny. You know you are in trouble when the director, during his introduction of the film, says he "made a good film, but only some of you may like it, and some of you will not like it."             GRADE--------D







Friday, June 2, 2017

SIFF Screenings Tue May 30--Thur June 1------Best Bets-----AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, LANE 1974, MR. LONG, SMALL TOWN KILLERS, SAMI BLOOD

Here's what I saw Tue--Thur at SIFF Screenings----

LANE 1974---USA--A great local film (!!!) about a 13 year old whose mother keeps pulling her from on communal situation to another, which may have a devastation effect on her later life.  Excellent actors.  This is the first SIFF film that I did NOT want to end.             GRADE-------A-

AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL--Spain--A man in a wheelchair discovers his neighbors plan to rob a bank by tunneling under his house, and makes plans to sabotage them.  This is a shit kicker of suspense and tension, and even though the ending seemed a bit unbelievable, this film is an ideal popcorn thriller.             GRADE-------A-

MR. LONG--Japan/China--Despite the need for some editing and the predictable premise that the past will always come back to haunt you, the steady pace, careful photography, and human expressions keep this film involving, as a hired killer tries to find a new life.   Some hand held scenes are an unnecessary distraction.        GRADE----B+

SMALL TOWN KILLERS--Denmark--Comic acting, although sometimes over the top, is choice in this dark comedy about a miscommunication when two dumb guys hire a Russian hit man to "scare" their wives into being more affectionate (!)--and things get way out of control.  The witty plot reminded me of some serious comedies from Alec Guinness that were made in the 1950's like KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS (1949), LAVENDER HILL MOB (1951) and THE LADY KILLERS (1955), although some modern sensibilities have been added, for better or for worse.   Comedy is a subjective thing, but nonetheless, I laughed a lot.           GRADE------------------B+

SAMI BLOOD--Sweden/Norway/Denmark--A young teen indigenous to Lapland yearns to leave her tribal traditions and assimilate into urban society in the 1950's, learning to be ashamed about her people and creating guilt and regret in her life.  It's a thoughtful, engaging film.      GRADE-----B+

WHAT LIES UPSTREAM--USA--Grim documentary shows how a massive chemical spill in West Virginia poisoned the water for 300,000 people, and it may just be the tip of a corrupt political system that involves collusion with corporations and local officials that may eventually effect water systems nation wide.           GRADE------------B

THE LANDING--USA--I was taken in and entertained by this intriguingly constructioned fake documentary about the conspiracy theories that surrounded the Apollo 18 space capsule that landed in China when returning to earth.      GRADE-------B

ANISHOARA--Moldova/Germany--There was nearly no need for this gentle, lovely film to have subtitles, since most of the soundtrack is birds, buses, breezes and singing.  While not much plot, we learn a lot about village (leisurely) life, and Anishoara's loves and disappointments.      GRADE-----B-

CROWN HEIGHTS--USA--Based on a true story of a young black man incarcerated for a murder he did not commit for over 20 years, and his best friend to who worked tirelessly to free him,  along with a woman who would become his wife.  The film for me started poorly (dark, moody, shaking camera, awkward direction) but gathered some energy and power and becomes riveting by the end.  I've seen more compelling prison dramas, but this one has some heart.         GRADE-----------B- 

ZOOLOGY--Russia--A shy woman breaks out of her shell when she grows a tail and finds a lover, but the film has a lot of hand held camera distractions, and it is too timid to expand on the the initial (but great)  set up.  Needs to be remade as a bold midnight exploitation film.         GRADE-----C+

IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD--Canada/France--I often enjoy the films of Xavier Dolan, especially I KILLED MY MOTHER 2009 and TOM AT THE FARM 2013, but this turgid talk fest made mountains out of mole hills and presents nothing but a very dysfunctional family not telling the truth while being cruel to each other---all in extreme close up shots.   Only Marion Cotillard seems to emerge as an interesting character.  Tiresome.     GRADE--------D+