It was a busy month for film going--I saw 18 films at the Vancouver International Film Festival. I will write about them when and if they arrived in Seattle for regular runs, but here is a brief listing of what I saw: DAUGTHER OF MINE (Italy), LIQUID TRUTH (Italy), MUG (Poland), FIRECRACKERS (Canada), MORI THE ARTIST (Japan), MICROHABITAT (South Korea).BECOMING ASTRID (Sweden), A FAMILY TOUR (Hong Kong) GRIZZLES (Canada), DOGMAN (Italy), COLD WAR (Poland), MANGO SHAKE (USA), THE PRAYER (France), THE HAPPY PRINCE (Great Britain0, ASH IS THE PUREST WHITE (China) and my three favorites PRICE OF EVERYTHING (USA), THE EYES OF ORSON WELLES (both USA documentaries), and YOMADINNE (Egypt).
Here's what I've caught in theatres and Netflix and on DVD.....
COLETTE---This also played at VIFF but I knew is was also opening in Seattle. It is a beautifully acted. directed, costumed, scored film--possibly the best role Kiera Knightly has had, and she really dominates. Dominic West as her husband is just as compelling, as this tells the story of Colette, the French writer, and her early years of her marriage with a domineering man and she has to really struggle to assert herself and find her own writing voice. Ironically, she does find her voice because her husband likes to lock her in her writing room, forcing her to write before he lets her out! The film also shows her sexual experiences with other women and the open marriage that this couple finds themselves in. GRADE-------------A-
THE SISTER BROTHERS---This film has some technical issues like some distracting hand held scenes, and many scenes filmed at night, where it is difficult to see what exactly is happening. (I actually miss the old night filter that used to be used---even though it was obvious that a filter was being used, at least you could see what was happening.) That being said, THE SISTER BROTHERS is a western that you've never seen before--the characters are so well fleshed out, and it shows that many men had deeper feelings (and ways to communicate that) than most of the westerns have demonstrated before. All the major characters go through some major changes and sympathies that might leave you uncertain and shaken and we come to know them well. We still are dealing with themes of cowardice, murder, guilt, greed and passion, but the film feels extremely fresh and at times it is quite moving. GRADE--------B+
OLD MAN AND THE GUN--If this is truly Robert Redford's final film as he has claimed, he is certainly going out on a very high note. This smooth, entertaining robber versus police film is a pleasure to watch, and the supporting cast (including Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover, Tom Waits and Casey Affleck) are all incredibly likable. There is nothing here you haven't seen before in some other format, but I had a grin on my face most of the time. GRADE-------B+
SEARCHING--Here's a modern telling through the use of email, Internet, audio camera, etc of a father desperately searching for his missing daughter--they are known to be very close, and when she suddenly disappears he is frantic with worry. The more he searches for her online, the more he realizes that he doesn't really know that much about her. There are some great twists here, and although there is not much humor, the film is fascinating to watch. John Cho and the police woman Debra Messing have great chemistry as they communicate (mostly by Facebook) in their desperate attempt to locate the missing girl before too much time has passed. Great twists occur in this one too, making it a fascinating watch. GRADE----------B+
THE WIFE---Glenn Close plays the long suffering wife of a famous writer, putting her own career on hold to raise a family and backup her husband as he accepts a world wide honor--the Nobel Peace Prize for writing The film slowly reveals more details in flashback to what for some will be a big surprise ending (me included) but the main attraction here is Close who has her characterization down in a stranglehold of tension and mystery and grace. GRADE------------B+
A STAR IS BORN---This is the 4th version of this story, and damn if it isn't one of the better ones--the special feature here is the astonishing character portrayed by singing star Lady Gaga. I've been a fan of her voice for a couple years now, but I was unprepared for the raw, naturalistic manners of her character, and how she plays so easily against the growling Bradley Cooper. The songs are mostly pleasant and memorable and the drama of one talent falling and one talent rising fast is still a very effective conceit in this new modern setting. GRADE-----------B+
JULIET, NAKED---Based on a comic, dramatic novel by Nick Hornby, this film is a naturalistic slice of life. Rose Byrne plays the long suffering girlfriend of Chris O'Dowd, who is obsessed with a reclusive, faded rock singer (Ethan Hawke) who had one good record over 25 years ago. When Byrne accidentally connects with Hawke on line, this sets up a life changing experience that will affect all three characters. The gentle film manages to be serious, funny and profound, many times at the same time. A pleasure for sophisticated viewers. GRADE-------B+
A SIMPLE FAVOR---More twists and turns occur in this comedy thriller with some clever dialogue as a single mother finds that her new mysterious friend has left her child in her care, and has promptly disappeared. She takes it upon herself to try to find her, along with the husband of the missing woman. Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively and Henry Golding get weirdly close and personal, and some of the supporting cast get some juicy lines in this wild and entertaining romp. GRADE------B
PRIVATE LIFE---Now playing on Netflix, this well acted story of a soon to be middle aged couple struggling with issues of infertility with all the issues that entails, has some nice scenes of anger, humor and pathos to keep us involved. I know from personal experience that this merry go round is exhausting, demeaning and insulting, and my wife and I didn't last but a couple months before we jumped off. These poor people seem to be addicted to the long term frustrations. Fabulous actors include Paul Giamatti, Kathryn Hahn, Kayli Carter, Molly Shannon and Denis O'Hare. GRADE-------B
PAPILLON---I never saw the 1973 version, but I could see Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman in the characters portrayed here by Charlie Humman and Rami Malek, respectively. The story of these prisoners repeated desperate attempts to escape Devil's Island and the horrible beatings and cruel actions kept me engrossed, and has inspired me to read the novel (I'm half way through) to fill in some of the details. GRADE----------B
OPERATION FINALE---Based on a true story, this tells of the Israeli attempt to catch and return to Europe the Nazi criminal Adolph Eichmann for trial. The main actors are good, including Oscar Isaac and Ben Kingsley as Eichmann, the the film is solid, but could use a little more punch to make it more memorable. GRADE-----------B
SIERRA BURGESS IS A LOSER----Playing now on Netflix, this sweet natured teen comedy drama steals some themes from Cyrano deBergerac, as a homely, full bodied girl tries to woo over the phone a popular football player who thinks he is speaking to a hot, but vapid cheerleader. The main charm of the film has Sierra trying to make the cheerleader seem smarter and more witty than she is, and the unexpected feelings that develop between all three. Although not quite as effective as an earlier film this year called LOVE, SIMON---this one has its charm in a low key way. GRADE---------------B
THE LITTLE STRANGER---Based on a novel by Sarah Waters, this low key Gothic thriller is too low key to make much of an impact, although the house is spooky, and the main characters work hard at interesting characterizations, including Domhnall Gleeson, Ruth Wilson and Charlotte Rampling. GRADE--------------B-
WE THE ANIMALS----Viewed originally last June at SIFF, this arty independent film about three wild boys who test the limits of their poor, struggling parents is an interesting , thought provoking idea, and one of the boys seems to be more sensitive and drawn towards sexual conflicts. Unfortunately, the film is shot with aggressive hand held camera work that pulls the viewer away from the drama, and gave me a headache. GRADE-------------------C+
THE LAND OF STEADY HABITS---Playing now on Netflix, this film about a divorced man unhappy with his life comes off as an unpleasant character study--he behaves badly with his son, his ex-wife, and friends and neighbors. It was easy to see why he is somewhat shunned in this small town and there seems to be no change or positive resolution to the situation. The actor's (including Ben Mendelson, Edie Falco and Connie Britton) do their best, but the script seems to let them down, and I felt rather depressed after watching this. GRADE------------C
THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN THE WALL---This one is a poor, poor man's Harry Potter imitation, and even the lively Jack Black and the intriguing Cate Blanchet aren't given much to do. I was rather bored, although some of the humor was amusing. When I saw it, it was playing with a 3-D presentation of the 20 minute film of Michael Jackson's THRILLER, which I'd never seen all of, so that made the morning a bit more special. GRADE-------C
GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN--Here's another ho hum "kids movie" based on an R.L Stine book. An evil mummy makes Halloween creatures come to life, but I found it all a missed opportunity and not very entertaining. Even my 9 year old grand daughter was non plussed. GRADE-----C
THE HAPPY TIME MURDERS---The film noir dialogue and characters (some human, some puppet) are OK, but the story seems obsessed with degrading sexual scenes involving the puppets, and some of the lines are really dirty and unfunny. Melissa McCarthy plays a similar character in some of her other films, and here it is all wasted. There were some teen age boys in the theater that gave some of the smuttiest jokes a dirty sneer but after a while even they fell silent. Yuck. GRADE------------------D
Viewed on DVR-------------------
NOVEMBER MAN (2014)---Ex James Bond Pierce Brosnan is back as a secret agent with a license to kill in this novel based on a series of spy thrillers, and it wasn't half bad. The director Roger Donaldson keeps the action swift and tense, and there are some memorable chase scenes. Brosnan is probably getting too old for this action stuff now, but I'd love to see NOVEMBER MAN become a series much like 007. GRADE----------B
INGRID GOES WEST (2017)---Ingrid has some issues--she is mostly friendless, but when she moves to LA she stalks a person famous on instagram only, and tries to befriend her, with mixed results. The film pokes fun at the vapid values of the iphone culture and has some scathing things to say about millennials. Aubrey Plaza is very funny as the stalker, and Elizabeth Olsen shines as the oh so correct glamour pus of the iphone. This is a minor masterwork. GRADE-----------B
FIRST DO NO HARM (1997)---I hadn't heard of this made for TV film, but there was a nice picture of Meryl Streep hugging a sweet looking boy on the cover so I took a chance, since Streep can not make a bad film. Fred Ward co stars as her husband--they are a working class couple who discover their son has an extreme form of epilepsy and they seek to find a solution since drugs do not work for him--much like the film LORENZO'S OIL Meryl Streep finds a possible cure in the ketogenic diet which is very effective in most cases of epilepsy. Obviously a labor of love, but the actors are nicely drawn and I'm happy to say Streep was very good as usual. GRADE-----------------B
HOLE IN THE HEAD (1959)---The cast is good (Frank Sinatra, Thelma Ritter, E.G.Marshall, Eddie Hodges, Carolyn Jones) and the director Frank Capra is no slouch. This was a Broadway play that feels like a filmed play. Sinatra is a "big" man with no money who stays in a hotel on the beach and has a son (Eddie Hodges). Together they sing the Oscar winning song "High Hopes" (Well we've got hiiigh hopes, we've got hiiiiigh hopes, we've got high apple pie in the skyyyyyy hopes....) and Sinatra argues with his brother and sister in law a lot---they want him to settle down and open a store but he's got hiiiiigher hopes than that. I wanted to like it more than I did, but it was a bit dull and not much happens. GRADE-----------C+
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"Nobel Peace Prize for writing" There is a Nobel Prize in Literature and a Nobel Peace Prize—does the film create a new category?
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