PRAYER BEFORE DAWN--Thailand/Great Britain--A last minute addition to the Festival, this TBA offering is a hard hitting film with no subtitles about a drug user who is confined in a Thai prison, and uses his boxing skills to get into a better position. Based on a true story, this is tough to watch sometimes due to prison violence and fighting, but it was not boring. GRADE-----B+
CHAMPIONS--Spain--It is a comedy that plays by the numbers----arrested assistant coach with a major attitude problem is assigned to work with mentally disabled athletes, and makes them a winning team. I will admit there were some funny scenes in the early going, and the ending was the most surprising and funny and moving fifteen minute scene I've witnessed. Saved by the ending. GRADE------------B
EIGHT GRADE------A modest low budget comedy about a shy middle schooler trying to broaden her horizons and learning about life. The lead is sweet and funny and the film goes more for truth than laughs. Winner of best actress and best film for the Golden Space Needle awards, although I can name a dozen or more better actors and films than EIGHT GRADE. GRADE-----B
SOUFRA---In a refugee camp near Beirut, women with no jobs or future try to make a new beginning with selling food--something they know about, first at a local food market, and then by using a food truck, which requires a lot of double talk with an unsympathetic government. Fairly smooth and competent, but it lack some needed punch. GRADE-----------B
RETURN TO MOUNT KENNEDY---USA---Some of Robert Kennedy's family and friends attempt a summit climb 50 years after Sen Kennedy climbed to the top with Jim Whitaker. Well filmed but less than amazing. GRADE--------B-
WRATH OF SILENCE--China----Lots of running around, sometimes carrying a child in a bag, lots of shady characters and corruptions, but not much style. The chatting elderly Chinese speakers behind me, and then the cell phones that kept ringing, finally drove me home to an early night.
GRADE--------C
HERE ARE MY FAVORITE FILMS FROM SIFF 2018--all rated A or A- with a couple B+
Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex, Fashion, Disco--documentary
Ballet Now--documentary
Belle de Jour--revival
C'est la vie!
The Children Act
First Reformed
The Guilty
Hearts Beat Loud
The Last Suit
Leave No Trace
Mademoiselle Paradis
McQueen-documentary
My Name is Myeisha
Naila and the Uprising--documentary
Naples in Veils
On Chesil Beach
Queerama-documentary
Sancho the Bailiff--revival
See You Up There
Three Identical Strangers--documentary
Thunder Road
I'll write more about them as they open---but quick, FIRST REFORMED is a stunner by long time director Paul Schrader, with a fantastic Ethan Hawke losing his religion, and ON CHESIL BEACH packs a subtle punch---both are Now Playing. Hurry to see them.
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