Other distractions the past two weeks have limited my movie watching, but the three newest arrivals have all been tops.
At first I was a bit disappointed that the true life characters in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (Laurence Olivier, Marilyn Monroe, Sybil Thorndyke, and Arthur Miller) did not really look so much like the iconic images we see of them. In other words, these are not impersonations, per se. But as the film progressed, I cared less and less that they were not look-a-likes, but became more impressed that the characterzations were actually quite sharp and seemed very real. Especially impressive is Michelle Williams as Monroe, who seems vulnerable one moment and then switches gears impressively to almost "vamp" it up as the public Marilyn the next moment. The film is based on a true story by a young "gofer" who is assigned to keep an eye on Monroe during the British shooting of THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL (1958) and to report back if she had trouble with drugs or alcohol. The film becomes an interesting document on the pressures of film-making and noterioty, and inspite of the limited focus of the story, becomes another BBC triumph of quality productions that have the power to move an audience as well as entertain. GRADE--------A-
A new Australian film produced by director Jane Campion and directed by Julia Leigh
called SLEEPING BEAUTY is one of the strongest films dealing with sexuality that I've seen in quite a while. Emily Browning, who's short list of credits include LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS (2004) and SUCKER PUNCH (2011), is featured as a young college student who becomes a high class call girl. Nothing she's done before can prepare you for this one. She is put to sleep while a learing older man does with her what he wants, and becomes quite popluar in this "niche." The tone is implicitly explicit (without going to the X-rated) but the atmosphere becomes very insidious. At the Vancouver Intl Film Fest where I saw this in October, some of the audience was extremely uncomfortable with the film to the point of much nervous and inappropriate laughter and comments, and a few people walked out. But the film is deadly serious and dreamily photographed and so compelling to behold, that it dares you to keep watching. This is a director to watch out for.
GRADE--------A-
Last screened at SIFF in 2010, and one of the most popular films then, comes a surprising film from Russia called HIPSTERS, and it is like nothing you've ever seen from Russia before. It still has that heavy seriousness to the actors and some of the dialogue, but the film has more in common with an MGM musical, by way of MTV. Set in the 1960's, the HIPSTERS are rebels, kids who would rather wear their hair in pompodours and loud colorful dresses and shirts, than be conformists. They are experimenting with music (jazz), sex, drugs and rock and roll, and they are very Russian, still. But as with any group of experimentors (think US hippies) once real life sets in like mortgage/rents, marriage, babies, etc, the story changes focus again. But the music is fun, the costumes are outrageous, the energy is electric and the cliches are minimal. GRADE-------A-
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On DVD, I saw a modestly entertaining Steve McQueen film based on a novel by William Faulkner called THE REIVERS (1969). It tries hard to be a lighthearted, homey comedy during the first half, with luke warm conflicts between black and white folks in a small Southern town, and I wasn't so impressed. But as it progresses, the conflicts become more pointed and the drama picks up, and by the end I enjoyed the story, set through the eyes of a 12 year old boy who has misadventures with his grandfather's hired hand (McQueen) and McQueen's distant black relative (Oscar nominee Rupert Crosse) including a stay at a whorehouse, dealings with a corrupt racist sheriff and illegall horseracing. The charm and easy going personality of McQueen is undeniable. GRADE-------B-
Showing posts with label Hipsters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hipsters. Show all posts
Friday, December 9, 2011
Friday, June 4, 2010
SIFF REPORT June 1-3 (Plus GET HIM TO THE GREEK)
GRADE ---A
HIPSTERS--Russia--Set in the 1950's and featuring jazz and blues music and songs (some original and some classic) this is a creative telling of a group of mostly young people who are rebelling against repression by wearing outrageously colorful clothing and engaging in wild dancing and pranks, much to the disgust of Communist party regulars who all wear drab grey and black suits. This might relate to the "beatnik" and pre-hippie (and McCarthy)era in the USA when being different brought censorship and blacklisting. But this movie is mostly for fun, and even if some of the lyrics don't make a lot of sense (like they should do on a Broadway play, for example) it's easy to sit back and watch the engaging choreographed dancing and movement and songs and the amusing costumes. And most importantly, there is plenty of plot that feels just about right. This film puts a smile on just about EVERYONE'S face.
AGORA--Spain/US--Rachel Weisz shines as the real-life philosopher and astronomer who taught at the famed library of Alexandria in the fifth century and becomes embroiled in religious conflict between Jews and early Christians and pagans. None of the religious factions come off very well-- and it's horrifying to realize that these conflicts (religious wars) have been plaguing humanity for over 2000 years. This is a serious, intelligent, intimate epic told with visual flair and energy.
---------------------
GRADE----B+
BLESSED--Australia--The director finds emotional poetry in the bleak and sad lives of several troubled teens over the course of one day, and then repeats the same story from the parents point of view, with heartbreaking results.
UNDERTOW----Peru--Despite some obnoxious presentation glitches (the color and sound flicking in and out) and the appearance of a large watermark warning every 15 minutes throughout the film, this remains possibly the most moving film of SIFF this year so far. (See also THE HEDGEHOG and LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB.) A new father in a poor fishing village is torn between societal acceptance and his attraction to his artist lover. Take BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, DONA FLOR AND HER TWO HUSBANDS, and GHOST, and put them in a blender with a pinch of hot sauce--this is a lovely fantasy film.
---------------
GRADE --- B
BRIDE FLIGHT--Netherlands--Romantic melodrama about 3 women who immigrate from the Netherlands to New Zealand, and all involved to some degree with the same man over 50 years.
LAST TRAIN HOME--China--What starts as a horror documentary about billions of Chinese who try to migrate home from their long distance jobs for the New Year every year, and end up waiting for sometimes days to get out on overcrowded trains and buses, turns into a sad and chilling tale of the strain this type of migrating worker situation puts on the all the family.
I MISS YOU--Argentina--A subtle and sad story of a family whose son "disappears" during the ruthless military dictatorships in the 1970's.
PATAGONIA--Argentina/Wales--Familiar but well done tale cutting between two stories--an old woman wants to go from Argentina to Wales to visit the farm where she was born, and in the other, a couple goes from Wales to Patagonia to take pictures and finds a strain on their relationship.
-------------------
GRADE----B-
RUN IF YOU CAN--Germany--Menage a trois between a paraplegic, his care taker and a young musician.
----------------------
GRADE ----C+
FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS--Spain--A strong first hour is undercut by melodrama and quirky plot twists from THE TWILIGHT ZONE, by way of ER. A young doctor finds his hands can heal, but that comes at a price.
---------------------
GRADE-----C
SENIOR PROM, MEET MONICA VELOUR, MOTHER JOAN OF ANGLES
GRADE-----C-
TURISTAS, THE ATHLETE
-----------------
GRADE------D
KITES--Not from SIFF, but features actors speaking tritely in Hindi, Spanish and English (sometimes all at the same time)--this is more of a non stop music video with stupid action plot and beautiful shiny white teeth actors, who look great in their underwear.
---------ALSO, not from SIFF----------------
GET HIM TO THE GREEK----Vulgar, crude, lewd, drug and alcohol drenched story about a simple music executive trying to get an out of control rock musician from London to Los Angeles in time for a comeback concert. If you are not offended by sexuality, nudity, profanity, vomit, etc,etc,etc....then this just might be the FUNNIEST FRICKING MOVIE OF THE SUMMER!!!!
GRADE------A-
HIPSTERS--Russia--Set in the 1950's and featuring jazz and blues music and songs (some original and some classic) this is a creative telling of a group of mostly young people who are rebelling against repression by wearing outrageously colorful clothing and engaging in wild dancing and pranks, much to the disgust of Communist party regulars who all wear drab grey and black suits. This might relate to the "beatnik" and pre-hippie (and McCarthy)era in the USA when being different brought censorship and blacklisting. But this movie is mostly for fun, and even if some of the lyrics don't make a lot of sense (like they should do on a Broadway play, for example) it's easy to sit back and watch the engaging choreographed dancing and movement and songs and the amusing costumes. And most importantly, there is plenty of plot that feels just about right. This film puts a smile on just about EVERYONE'S face.
AGORA--Spain/US--Rachel Weisz shines as the real-life philosopher and astronomer who taught at the famed library of Alexandria in the fifth century and becomes embroiled in religious conflict between Jews and early Christians and pagans. None of the religious factions come off very well-- and it's horrifying to realize that these conflicts (religious wars) have been plaguing humanity for over 2000 years. This is a serious, intelligent, intimate epic told with visual flair and energy.
---------------------
GRADE----B+
BLESSED--Australia--The director finds emotional poetry in the bleak and sad lives of several troubled teens over the course of one day, and then repeats the same story from the parents point of view, with heartbreaking results.
UNDERTOW----Peru--Despite some obnoxious presentation glitches (the color and sound flicking in and out) and the appearance of a large watermark warning every 15 minutes throughout the film, this remains possibly the most moving film of SIFF this year so far. (See also THE HEDGEHOG and LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB.) A new father in a poor fishing village is torn between societal acceptance and his attraction to his artist lover. Take BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, DONA FLOR AND HER TWO HUSBANDS, and GHOST, and put them in a blender with a pinch of hot sauce--this is a lovely fantasy film.
---------------
GRADE --- B
BRIDE FLIGHT--Netherlands--Romantic melodrama about 3 women who immigrate from the Netherlands to New Zealand, and all involved to some degree with the same man over 50 years.
LAST TRAIN HOME--China--What starts as a horror documentary about billions of Chinese who try to migrate home from their long distance jobs for the New Year every year, and end up waiting for sometimes days to get out on overcrowded trains and buses, turns into a sad and chilling tale of the strain this type of migrating worker situation puts on the all the family.
I MISS YOU--Argentina--A subtle and sad story of a family whose son "disappears" during the ruthless military dictatorships in the 1970's.
PATAGONIA--Argentina/Wales--Familiar but well done tale cutting between two stories--an old woman wants to go from Argentina to Wales to visit the farm where she was born, and in the other, a couple goes from Wales to Patagonia to take pictures and finds a strain on their relationship.
-------------------
GRADE----B-
RUN IF YOU CAN--Germany--Menage a trois between a paraplegic, his care taker and a young musician.
----------------------
GRADE ----C+
FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS--Spain--A strong first hour is undercut by melodrama and quirky plot twists from THE TWILIGHT ZONE, by way of ER. A young doctor finds his hands can heal, but that comes at a price.
---------------------
GRADE-----C
SENIOR PROM, MEET MONICA VELOUR, MOTHER JOAN OF ANGLES
GRADE-----C-
TURISTAS, THE ATHLETE
-----------------
GRADE------D
KITES--Not from SIFF, but features actors speaking tritely in Hindi, Spanish and English (sometimes all at the same time)--this is more of a non stop music video with stupid action plot and beautiful shiny white teeth actors, who look great in their underwear.
---------ALSO, not from SIFF----------------
GET HIM TO THE GREEK----Vulgar, crude, lewd, drug and alcohol drenched story about a simple music executive trying to get an out of control rock musician from London to Los Angeles in time for a comeback concert. If you are not offended by sexuality, nudity, profanity, vomit, etc,etc,etc....then this just might be the FUNNIEST FRICKING MOVIE OF THE SUMMER!!!!
GRADE------A-
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