WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER, 50/50, MY AFTERNOONS w/MARGUERITTE, Tucker and Dale VS Evil, Detective Dee & Mystery of Phantom Flame, Happy Happy, Hedgehog

I didn't see much new last week, but a lot of films have opened that I saw a while back, so there is much to recommend this week.

I saw THE HEDGEHOG a second time, and still find it to be a superb, thoughtful drama on loneliness, coming of age, second chances and the dangers of judging a book by its cover. This time, the role of the concierge (the symbolic hedgehog of the title )seemed so much more important than the difficulty of the 11 year old girl's pending suicide, and it is underplayed perfectly by the French actress Josiane Balasko so that I held my breath at some of the moments that define her life, in spite of having seen this film before. GRADE-----A

Next up is a charming, but not too sentimental, French film with the incomparable Gerard DePardeau entitled MY AFTERNOONS WITH MARGAURITTE, and the title says a lot, but not all there is. He is a simpleton who lives next to his aging mother, and he has a lovely girlfriend and a plain yet satisfying life, and then he meets the lonely old woman on a park bench, who teaches him how to read (understand) classic novels. It's the perfect film to watch sipping mint tea on a dreary day. You'll be pleasantly warmed and surprised at the direction the film goes in. GRADE------A-

For lovers of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000) and the like, you won't want to miss DETECTIVE DEE and the MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME, a lively cross between stylish kung-fu epics and Sherlock Holmes mysteries with a dab of science fiction, filmed with lush sets and visual effects and carefully paced so that even when things get a little wild and unbelievable, the film is ravishing to the eye. Extremely entertaining. GRADE---------B+

The new film 50/50 is based on a true story of a young man who feels fine but discovers he has serious spinal cancer. The comedy/drama is well intentioned, and may hit a nerve with those who have struggled with cancer. I found the film rather vague, and in the month since I saw it, it has nearly evaporated from my mind. Still, it is easy to watch, and the actors are all fine. GRADE---------B-

A rowdy, possible midnight cult movie called TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL, is the outrageous comedy that spoofs films which take place in a cabin in the remote woods, where teens are offed by hillbilly maniacs with chain saws. In this case, the "maniacs" are merely two nice guy drinking buddies on a long weekend trip to fix up their remote woods cabin, and the teens are vapid, silly creatures who leap to the wrong conclusions, and often to their own self-inflicted, grizzly deaths. It is a clever hoot, and does not overstay its welcome. GRADE------B

The Norwegian film HAPPY HAPPY is an odd, cheerful film in spite of dealing with the unhappy marriages of two couples who live in the deserted countryside. Scenes of infidelity, sexuality, child cruelty, and loneliness are amusingly presented, and framed by a Norwegian quartet singing gospel and pop songs from the 50's and 60's as a counterpoint. Quirky, but fun. GRADE---------B

The new sex comedy WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? suffers poorly in direct comparison to the recent BRIDES MAIDS, with which it shares several passing plot devises (upcoming wedding, the heroine has just lost her job and most recent boyfriend, etc) but the biggest disappointment is that the lengthy previews (which I thought were quite promising) not only give away EVERY SINGLE PLOT POINT AND JOKE, but the preview also contains most of the major laughs, so that every time a new scene or scenario begins, you already know the punch line/trajectory. Too bad, because there is a clever idea--Anna Faris plays a modern woman who has slept with 20 men--way too many she realises, and tries not to go over that number because a magazine article has said that more than that means a strong likelihood that she will never end up in a permanent relation, so she tries to look up her past boyfriends to see if they have changed or if maybe NOW they will connect better. Helping her is her hunky (and frequently nude) neighbor Chris Evans, and of course we all know where this plot is headed. Faris is watchable--she has an odd, imperfect oval face--not a beauty, but her perky personally carries her far. Just wish I'd seen this one sight unseen. GRADE--------C+

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October is a busy month for FILM FESTIVALS in the area. Coming up I'll be seeing films from the 70MM Films at CINERAMA, Asian FILM FEST, VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (VIFF) and LGBT Film Festival. I recently went to the SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL at SIFF Cinema and saw 2 interesting films.

The first was called 80 DAYS about childhood friends who rediscover each other nearly 60 years later, when both are in their 70's. One woman has been married to the same man for over 50 years, and her life has been predictable and filled with drudgery--her husband seems to ignore her existence. The other woman is a lesbian who is about to lose her brother. They meet as they are caring for the sick at the local hospital, and slowly, their loneliness and memories create a strong bond between them. The married woman becomes troubled by her growing sexual attraction to her friend. The film starts out leisurely, but builds considerable drama from the situation, and features a startling resolution in the final scene--just the simple expression on a face that ends the film. Watch for this Basque language treasure on Netflix. GRADE-------B+

The second feature I saw was called KIDNAPPED but a better title might be HOME INVASION or NIGHT OF TERROR. On the first night a family moves into their new home, three men (who worked for the moving company that helped them move) break into their home and terrorize the couple and teen daughter for money. The film takes place mostly in long single takes and real time (like Hitchcock's ROPE-1948), and there are many effective, brutal scenes of violence. But as the film progress, about half way through, you realize that things are only going to get worse-- the violence becomes more brutal and intense, and the film loses it's momentum. The film ends with some over the top violence, and a mean cruel cheat of an ending that curdles in your throat. GRADE--------C+

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Just a couple DVD films this week. Up first is an excellent Czech film directed by the great Oscar winner Jiri Menzel (CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS-1966.) In the film I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND (2006), the young Czech hero dreams of becoming a millionaire during the years leading up to WW2. He gets his big chance when he meets a Hitler-loving fraulein who pulls him, humorously, into the Nazi world, where he works at a baby-making clinic! Despite some questionable political unpleasantness, the film manages to be raunchy, erotic, comic and profoundly dramatic in equal measures. A real treat. GRADE---------A-

The next is a dark film noir called THE KILLERS (1946) which featured Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien and Albert Dekker, based on a short story by Hemingway. The excellent Lancaster, in his film debut, is killed in the early scenes, and the film flashes back to find out who he was and why he is killed. It's an intriguing set up and a worthy film noir. GRADE----------B

I saw director Derek Jarman's arty SEBASTIANE (1976) at a SIFF midnight screening 35 years ago, and mostly remembered the copious male nudity and moody lyricism provided by the lush photography and scenery and synthetic music (by Brian Eno.) Those things still impressed me this week. It's an interesting take on the martyrdom of St. Sebastiane, who was persecuted and killed mostly for being a Christian Jew, but possibly (according to this film) for ignoring the sexual advances of his lusting leiutenant. Oscar winner Tilda Swinton (MICHAEL CLAYTON-2007) started her career by starring in 5 or 6 of Jarman's later films (but not this one)--they all feature queer themes, sex, nudity, and politics, but none are more effective, possibly, than SEBASTIANE. GRADE-------------B

First 4 Days of SIFF

GRADE --B+

MILK OF SORROW--(Peru/Spain)--A poor woman with many fearful issues steeped in tradition and mysticism, goes to work in the "big house" for a rich pianist to raise money to take her dead mother to the ocean. (The dead woman stays stored under the bed at home for what seems like several weeks!!!!) A curious, lyrical film that is moving while it is bizarre.

LOOSE CANNONS--(Italy)-The son of a wealthy business man tries to tell his family that he is gay to get out of taking over the family business of pasta production, but his older brother steals his thunder for the same reason. The film is beautifully shot and acted, but seems uneven with the introduction of some broad comedy when his four very gay friends visit from the big city. Still, it's generous of spirit and the characters are warm and likable (if sometimes a bit stereotypical.)

TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL--(Canada)--This is everything a midnighter film should be--a superior mix of horror, gore, big BIG laughs, energy, and quality (if improbable) script. It kept every one awake and cheering to the end.

QUEEN OF THE SUN--(U.S.A.)--Frightening yet positive documentary on the bees that are disappearing around the world at an alarming rate.
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GRADE--B

PERRIER'S BOUNTY--(Ireland)--Entertainingly comedic and violent crime caper with the wacky Jim Broadbent afraid to fall asleep lest he die-- he's the father of the young man who becomes involved with the mob because he's neglected to pay back a loan on time.

CASTAWAY ON THE MOON--(S.Korea)--Charming love story develops as two socially challenged people connect--from opposite sides of a river, and without even meeting.

TWISTED ROOTS--(Finland)--Interesting family drama about a father with a fatal hereditary disease who tries to get his biological children to test for the disease, and the ramifications of the illness on the extended family.
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GRADE--B-

WOMAN WITHOUT PIANO--(Spain)--Deliberately paced drama of a woman who tries to leave her husband one night, and ends up wandering around town meeting an odd group of characters.

AIR DOLL--(Japan)--Leisurely paced drama of a plastic life size doll who comes to life and starts a "life" of her own when her owner is not around--it runs deep with themes of possessiveness in a relationship, love, passion, and the true meaning of being alive.
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GRADE--C+

ON THE TOWN (1949)--(USA)--Leonard Maltin's four star rating (which I read after seeing this movie revival) doesn't hold up today. There's only one really memorable song (New York, New York, What a Wonderful Town) and the the rest are energetically if unmemorably preformed by a gung-ho cast (Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Ann Miller, etc). The Technicolor looks great but the sound was still tinny and scratchy, and the corn in the plot and dialogue would choke a tractor. I've seen a lot better.

THE EXTRA MAN--(USA)--One of the weaker opening night films, with the main bright spot being Kevin Kline's often hilarious line readings of what turns out to be a dreary, creepy plot--he plays an ageing gigolo who tries to get his young room-mate into the "business" of dating old woman.

CUPID'S ARROWS (SHORTS)--(Various countries)-- Not one of the five shorts I saw were very memorable, although most were polished technically. The best (PUBLIC RELATIONS) was a lesbian themed short which featured Summer Bishil who was so good in TOWELHEAD a few years ago.
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I don't think you'll go wrong if you see any film I've rated B- or better.........................