HOUSE OF HUMMINGBIRD--South Korea--A much deeper and subtle film than last year's award winner EIGHT GRADE to which this Korean film is being compared, this scores on so many levels dealing with sexuality, abuse, family, friendship, loyalty, etc,----it's a stunning beauty. GRADE-------A
DRIVEWAYS--USA--A moving and subtle surprise had many viewers bursting into tears during the final moments--including myself, as mother and son try to clean out a hoarder's house of a dead relative. GRADE--------A
AN ALMOST ORDINARY SUMMER--Italy--Cheerful, heartfelt comedy/drama with joint families brought together by their patriarchs coming wedding. GRADE--------B+
THE GROUND BENEATH MY FEET--Austria--Pressures of a high profile job, a boss who is her lover, and a psychotic sister in an institution bring stress and paranoia to a stressed out overachiever. GRADE--------B+
TIMELESS BEAUTY--France/China--Lives and careers of older (above age 55) models and how interesting and unique they are. Also profiles are plus sized models and those with unusual faces and skin. GRADE-------------B+
THE REALM--Spain---With it's pulsing disco like instrumental score and fast pacing, this film is engrossing to watch, even if the plot details are rushed by and it's not really clear until near the end what exactly is at stake. GRADE -------------- B+
THE MAN WHO BOUGHT THE MOON--Italy/Argentina--The comic magic realism eventually pulls you into the silliness of the plot and into a strong, satisfying finale. GRADE------B+
LONG TIME NO SEA--Taiwan--Local teacher becomes a surrogate father for lonely boy whose father works far away, with his grandmother helping him survive. GRADE-------B+
HALSTON---USA--Life and death of fashion icon in the 1980's gets a slick, informative outing, especilally fascinating for those interested. GRADE--------B+
FOR SAMA--United Kingdom/Syria--While the film is technically rough due to a hand held camera, there's no denying the power of a young mother with baby and her doctor husband trying to help patients during the six month bombing of Aleppo by the Syrian President, and Russia. Still, it's painful, unpleasant viewing. GRADE--------B
ENAMORATA--Mexico--From 1946 comes this beautifully restored film (by Martin Scorsese) of this epic romance (with humor) of a rich woman being pursued by a vulgar revolutionary. The plot may have been borrowed from Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.
GRADE--------B
AWAKENING OF THE ANTS--Costa Rica--Simple,charming story of a young family, but wife doesn't want any more children, against husband,s wishes. GRADE--------B
TROOP ZERO-----USA---Oscar winners Viola Davis and Allison Janney and also Jim Gaffigan add some impressive gravitas to this story of misfit girls trying to be scouts and winning a contest that would sent their voices on a record into outer space. Sweet, charming, and sometimes very funny and sad. GRADE--------B
PREMATURE--USA----Good title for this immature script about black teen pregnancy and resolution. I rolled my eyes a lot and tried to keep from talking back at the screen during the banal and frequently profane dialogue. GRADE-------C-
I DO NOT CARE IF WE GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS BARBARIANS--Romania/Czech Republic--Obscure and boring political discussions may be of more interest for Romanians steeped in cultural politics and historical references, but more traditional movie goers may want to flee the theater as myself and several dozen viewers did in the first 45 minutes. GRADE------D
BURNING CANE--USA--Poor technical qualities including garbled sound, photography in dark rooms, and extreme hand held camera scenes, make this one film that had some walkouts, including myself by the 45 minute mark. I realize the filmmaker is only 18, but there's not much to praise in this grim tale of religious and alcoholic abuse. GRADE------------D
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