BLINDED BY THE LIGHT--Great Britain--I first saw this musical charmer back in May in a packed house that went bananas by the end, and it became one of the best of SIFF for the year. Based on a true story, it tells of a Pakistani family that has immigrated to Great Britain in the 1980's only to find themselves caught up in Thatcher inspired bigotry and cruel jobless statistics. The teenaged son discovers the powerful music of Bruce Springsteen and how it speaks to him in his helpless situation--no jobs and a father who doesn't support his goals, but he remains steadfast in his effort to satisfy his personal dreams. In spite of a few plot cliches, the film is exuberantly dramatic and engagingly entertaining. GRADE--------------A
MAIDEN--Superb documentary of the first all female crew to sail around the world in 1989 in the Whitbread Round the World Race. Organizer Tracy Edwards, the driving force behind this effort is portrayed, warts and all, as determined and empowering, and the director Alex Holmes uses 30 year old interviews of crew members and actual horrifying sailing scenes to keep us entertained.
GRADE---------A
THE FAREWELL----USA/China--Lovely and moving comedy/drama about a family that refuses to tell grandmother that she has terminal cancer, thinking that she should enjoy her last days free of thoughts of death. Instead the family all gathers in China to celebrate a wedding of a young couple that don't seem to be very interested in marriage or each other. GRADE-------A-
THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO---USA--The dynamics of a close male friendship are explored in the face of truth denials and a changing gentrified city. San Francisco itself has never been explored so lovingly, so cinematically, and so much of a main character as in this film. Despite a low budget, the film making is polished and professional, and the first time director is one to watch. GRADE--------A-
THE ROYAL THUNDER REVUE: A BOB DYLAN STORY BY MARTIN SCORSESE--USA--Here's a meandering but fascinating account of the series of concerts begun in 1975 which continued intermittently for several decades, and featured a rotating mixture of talent that included Joan Baez, Mick Ronan, Sharon Stone and other friends. Dylan is in white face for most of the shows. It was interesting for me and it evoked a time and place long past, but if you aren't into Dylan you might not find the film very involving. Still the photography is excellent as is the sound and music, which were all remastered for this film, showing on Demand. GRADE----------A-
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD--USA--A laid back, comedic look at 1968 in Hollywood leading up to the Sharon Tate murders, offering pleasing performances by handyman/driver Brad Pitt, (sort of reminiscent of his breakthrough early role in THELMA AND LOUISE) and Leo DiCaprio as his actor/boss who is on the down swing of his career. This is mostly about their friendship, but they are neighbors to the up and coming actress Sharon Tate who is pregnant by her husband Roman Polanski. Violence seems to linger around the edges of the film until the final 20 minutes when there's a confrontation with some of the Charles Manson gang--a fatal fantasy of things to come in a couple days. Burstingly filled with 60's pop icons of music, movie posters, hot cars, and numerous movie clips, the film is a pleasure for any film buff to behold, and feels like Tarantino's most generous film to date. GRADE----------B+
FAST AND FURIOUS PRESENT HOBBS AND SHAW--USA--An awkward title to be sure. Like other instalments of the FAST AND FURIOUS franchise, especially the last one (FURIOUS 7)--this one is filled with outrageous fist fights, unbelievable car chases and a preposterous plot--all on steroids. At the time I enjoyed most of the chaos, but in time I will probably forget about the plot, as I did with 7 which I recently saw again and didn't realize I'd seen it until towards the end. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Stratham battle each other, and then team up to battle a genetically enhanced "superman" Idris Elba. There are also some amusing jokes and funny cameos by some famous
names that enliven the proceedings, and there is also a kick ass cohort Vanessa Kirby who plays Stratham's sister. She appeared last year in MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 6: FREEFALL, and on TV on THE CROWN as Queen Elizabeth's sister Margaret. She is hot stuff, to be sure. GRADE-------------B+
WILD ROSE--Great Britain--A young brash, British singer just out of prison is willing to abandon her two young kids (to her mother) to make an attempt at singing in Nashville, TN. Her singing voice is impressive and all the actors are quite good. GRADE--------B+
BRIAN BANKS--USA--Smart bio pic based on true story. Banks is a star foot ball high schooler
with a promising career but he is waylaid by a false sexual accusation and spends 6 years in prison, finally seeking help from a lawyer who works with wrongly accused prisoners. Greg Kinnear is the lawyer, but the whole cast shines. GRADE--------B+
ALADDIN--USA---Colorful and pleasing live action remake of the animated Disney feature , with Will Smith in the unenviable position of redoing the hilariously unforgettable Robin Williams genie role. Thankfully, Smith is good is his own way. Songs like A WHOLE NEW WORLD and YOU NEVER HAD A FRIEND LIKE ME are still highlights, and I enjoyed the set and costume designs. GRADE-----------B
LION KING--USA--Here's another live action remake of the animated Disney musical, though strangely, these creatures talk with unexpressive faces. The cartoon animation took more liberties, and was more effective that way. The songs are all there and nicely done, including CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT, CIRCLE OF LIFE and I CAN'T WAIT TO BE KING. GRADE-------B
THE KITCHEN--USA--A slow starter, but this gangster film about three wives left to fend for themselves when their husbands are sent to three years of prison gains considerable power by the intense finale. They take over the husband's business of "protection (and collection)"
---and actually do a better job than their men, but they anger other men trying to move in. This being the 1970's when women are supposed to be more subservient, it was interesting to see how they each change as the years go by, until their husband's are all released from prison, and things come to a head. Usually comedians, Melissa McCarthy and Tiffany Haddish are especially good as their styles clash. Elizabeth Moss as the abused wife changes in ways very creepy as she discovers how good she is at "wet" work (disembodiment) taught to her by a handsome but psychopathic young hit man. It is not a perfect film but it goes places that you've never seen before in a gangster setting. GRADE-------B
THE ART OF SELF DEFENSE---USA--A timid man (Jesse Eisenberg, naturally) is attacked one night, inspiring him to join karate classes from a charismatic teacher. When he becomes more secure, he starts the advance night classes, discovering some strange behavior from the instructor and fellow students. The film is creepy and funny, as it explores the dangers of toxic masculinity, although it suffers stylistically in comparison with FIGHT CLUB 1999--a superior film with which it shares some similar themes. GRADE-------B
A FAITHFUL MAN----FRANCE---This odd drama starts with a young man being kicked out of the apartment he shares with his girlfriend because she is pregnant--by another man. Years later when that man dies, the girlfriend comes back into his life--and he let's her! She then requires that he pass a test--fidelity with another woman! I wasn't sure what the motivations were here, but it is played with a straight face by all concerned. Perhaps it is a rift on Woody Allen, French style. GRADE---------B
LIFE IN THE DOGHOUSE--USA--A Netflix documentary about Danny and Ron's Rescue. They house up to 100 rescue dogs a night in their house, bringing sick and abused dogs to health and trying to find homes for all of them (Nearly 10000 in the last 10 years!) Heartwarming and frustrating, dogs have taken over nearly every inch of their home, yet with some volunteer and paid help, they manage to keep a clean and organized home. Moving and inspiring. GRADE-----B
GOOD BOYS--USA--Here's a case where the preview of coming attractions works against the enjoyment of the film. Nearly every decent sight gag and joke appears in the trailer, including the final big guffaw. The tween boys keep coming up with sex situations that they don't know anything about, and sometimes that is funny, but it you've seen it in a commercial, it's not so funny. Over all, the boys are sweet and innocent and well meaning as they try to replace the
broken drone with the help of older teen girls trying to buy drugs (which fortunately the tweens can't open the child proof top.) I wish I could give this smart effort a higher grade, but in the end so many jokes fall flat because of overexposure. GRADE-------C+
CRAWL--Young woman finds her father injured in the basement of his house during a hurricane, with a slew of hungry alligators trying to eat her and dad, while the house slowly fills with backwater from the storm. Ludicrous situation generates some suspense, but there are too many narrow escapes, and a couple knee slapper scenes, and in the end I was hoping the alligators would eat ALL the humans--alas, some escape the chomping. GRADE------C
THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN--USA--You know you are in trouble when the lead of the movie is a dog who narrates the film with more intelligent thoughts in his head and has more to say than all the human characters PUT TOGETHER. That dog talks, talks, talks and it doesn't feel like truth, plus the sentimentality meter goes off the charts by the end. Plus so much plot is projected in advance that there is no suspense as to what will happen next. GRADE-----C-
DANCING ELEPHANT--India--Creative ideas abound but there is not a clear point of view or style. Felt like it was written and directed by committee. A 13 year old ballerina is put in a coma by a car accident---15 years latter she awakes to find she is now 200 lbs. She tries to put together her old dancing group and with the help of a strange teacher tries to put on a show, but we don't really have any sympathy for her and the film makes us wince, a lot. GRADE------D+
WATCHED ON DVD/TV
MEMBER OF THE WEDDING--1952--USA--First film version of Carson McCullers play about a 12 year old tomboy in Georgia angry that her older brother is getting married and moving away without her. Fred Zinnemann sensitively directed, with Julie Harris, Ether Waters and Brandon deWilde. The actors are very effective, but the (poetic prose) dialogue feels mannered and stilted. GRADE--B
THE WILD ONE--1953--USA---Early Marlon Brando film--he's a biker who crashes into a small conservative town with dozens of biker friends, and havoc ensues. He intimidates the older people with his threatening manner but of course underneath he just wants to befriend the girl, daughter of the sheriff. Some of the dialogue is funny today--talking like beatniks and such. Leather jackets and jeans and motor bikes became very popular after this film. GRADE----B
MARVELLOUS 2014--Great Britain--TV film based on a true character who is a "special" man who lives with his mother without any talent or knowledge of money or responsibility, but nonetheless manages to find jobs and meet famous people because of his exuberant personality. He is played to the hilt by Toby Jones, and that makes it worth watching. I think I viewed this on Prime. GRADE----B-
THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE 1945--USA--Dorothy McGuire is a mute girl working in a big fancy house in the early 1900s but there is a wet and windy storm outside, and a village murderer of young women who have physical handicaps, and her life is in danger, so says everyone who works there. Unfortunately, the murderer is clearly identified by a close up of their eye, and if you look carefully it is clear whose eye it is--and this occurs early in the film. Still, it was fun to watch the cast which includes George Brent, Ethel Barrymore, Kent Smith, Elsa Lanchester and Rhonda Fleming. GRADE--------B-
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