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+
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