Rabbit Hole, Undertow, Polanski, A.and K. Hepburn

It has finally arrived at a theatre in Seattle and I didn't write last week, so you only have a couple days left to see (in a theatre) the beautiful, magical, moving triangle love story that was a great audience pleaser at both SIFF and the Lesbian and Gay Film Fest this past year. UNDERTOW (CONTRACORRIENTE) also won the audience awards at the Chicago, Miami, San Sebastian, Cartagena, and Sundance film festivals last year. Stunningly photographed on a beautiful Peruvian coastal fishing village, UNDERTOW tells how a young couple expecting their first child deal with the husband's male lover. The shocking big twist mid-film throws the story into another realm, and at first I was annoyed, but the movie doesn't backtrack from the issues raised and by the end, the audience is carried along on waves of emotional retribution. GRADE-------A-

There are a lot of movies about death and bereavement, including LOVE STORY, ORDINARY PEOPLE, PHILADELPHIA, SCHINDLER'S LIST, etc, and here is another one called RABBIT HOLE. It is a serious tale of a couple trying to cope with the death of their four year son due to a car accident, and for a while they go about it in their own way because together they can't seem to agree on how it should be handled. There are some odd bursts of humor, and some very thoughtful platitudes (many uttered by Dianne Wiest as the grandmother), and the parents, as played by Aaron Eckhart and Oscar winner and current nominee Nicole Kidman are often very effective. It covers familiar ground, and it will leave you feeling a bit somber in spite of its upbeat (for the grieving couple, anyway) ending. GRADE------B

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Best of the many DVD's of the last two weeks would be Roman Polanski's THE TENANT (1976) which features the director as a young man who moves into the Parisian apartment of a young woman who has just thrown herself out of the high story window to her death. Many of her things are still in the apartment and seem to affect the new comer by making him paranoid, nervous and very insecure. The excellent international cast includes Isabelle Adjani, the deceased girl's best friend and possible future love interest for the new tenant, Shelley Winters as the somber concierge, Melvyn Douglas as the grouchy building owner, and the intimidating neighbor Jo Van Fleet who tries to make trouble. It is still as odd and creepy and perverse as I remembered it to be, and culminates in an amazing and riveting scene of pseudo/sexual/gender confusion and hysteria that sticks with you even after 35 years. GRADE-----A-

It's been a while since I'd seen Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant cavort so effortlessly and charmingly in the romantic spy mystery thriller CHARADE (1963), and as many times as I've seen it, the mystery aspect (where is the quarter million dollars?) is still quite effective, and will definitely surprise the first time viewer. I recently bought the new Criterion Collection version and it makes the colors and sound and dialogue and music just pop. Bad prints and washed out colors of ALL other earlier DVD versions should be avoided at all costs. It's been written that this is the best Alfred Hitchcock film that Hitchcock never directed, and it is one of the rare times when I would agree with that comparison. Composer Henry Mancini, writer Peter Stone and director Stanley Donen are all in top form, and a droll Walter Matthau and sinister James Coburn add greatly to the entertaining proceedings. GRADE------A-

It was the first viewing for me of the George Cukor classic comedy ADAM'S RIB (1949) with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy as a sparring married couple of lawyers on the opposite sides of a sensational attempted-murder case. The real surprise for me was the sharp supporting cast including first time movies for a sparkling Judy Holliday, amusing Jean Hagen, the bumbling Tom Ewell, and the smooth as silk David Wayne. These four were all successful Broadway stage actors at the time, and they all shine for the first time on the screen. I liked it for it's sophisticated comic attitude towards the battle of the sexes and for the 6 great actors who manage to hit every irony, joke and barb right on the head. GRADE-------A-

A recent French coming-0f-age film COLD SHOWERS (2006) which played a number of film festivals, focused on a struggling middle class family where the mother and father are shrewish and unemployed, respectively, and the teen son who happens to be a Judo fanatic, must deal with his bickering parents and his long time girlfriend, who starts demanding more from their relationship by introducing a new male classmate into their sexual play. There are a lot of teasing, sex and nudity scenes, and there's an atmosphere of tension that keeps you watching.
GRADE-------B-

Twenty one years ago, LONGTIME COMPANION (1990) was possibly the first film to deal with the AIDS crisis, and tried to do so by putting a human face on the disease by letting us get to know the people affected. It is a bit dated and each scene is set about one year later than the last, so that we keep thinking, "OK, who is going to die this scene..." but the very interesting thing for me this viewing (the first since 1990) was the young cast of near unknowns in 1990. Today many of them have really gone on to bigger and better things and it's easy to see why they did based on the acting in this film. Probably the most well known actor at the time was Bruce Davison, who has never been better, and he was Oscar nominated for this role as the rich guy who heartbreakingly tries to convince his deathly ill partner to just "let it go." Mary-Louise Parker is effective as the "best-friend" ( writer Craig Lucas doesn't use the term "fag hag" here), and ironically she went on to star in the important AIDS themed epic ANGELS IN AMERICA play and TV film. Patrick Cassidy, Dermot Mulroney and especially Campbell Scott have all seen their stars rise from this well meaning and emotional film. GRADE------B-

A smart little family drama that played briefly in Seattle, PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND (2008) features some lovely acting by Felicity Huffman and Bill Pullman as the parents of the precocious 10 year old Elle Fanning, who's lead in the ALICE IN WONDERLAND play at school triggers some outrageous and inappropriate behavior. Her teacher Patricia Clarkson and principal (Campbell Scott, see above review) try to help, but they all realize that the troubled girl might just "fall through the looking glass" unless they can discover the secret of her unusual behavior and odd creativity. Smart and attentive viewers should be able to figure out the denouncement, but nonetheless, this a lovely, clever film. GRADE-------B-

Last but certainly not least in the big cinematic picture, I watched the sequel to the 1969 version of TRUE GRIT, with John Wayne reprising his Oscar winning role as ROOSTER COGBURN (1975) and Katherine Hepburn almost typecast as the Bible thumping missionary. The plot is not terribly creative or original, and a week later I've almost forgotten it, but it is a true pleasure watching Wayne and Hepburn go at each other with wit and energy and a great deal of affection. It was their first time together and for both, one of the last big films of their incredible careers. GRADE------C+

R.E.D, Conviction, Last Train Home plus more Dickens

LAST TRAIN HOME is a fascinating documentary about the eye opening mass holiday migration that nearly all of China takes at the same time--like what happens to a lessor degree in the Christmas holiday season in the US, but in China most factories close down for the two week period, and most everyone wants to go home to visit family since so many workers have left their families to find work in the city. Of course, there are never enough seats on the planes or trains to accommodate everyone at the same time, and this causes lots of emotional stress and a great expense of time and money just to spend what may end up to be a few days with their family. (If ever a country needed to space out their vacation time for workers, this is the one.) The film follows a family trying desperately to board an overcrowded train, and having to spend several days at a very packed train station waiting for room--it seems to be every man for himself. Then when they finally get to their destination, the stress of living apart takes it's toll, especially on the young kids, who resent living with grandparents apart from their parents. It's an emotional roller coaster of a film. Grade-----B

An action popcorn movie, easy to watch with some great moments by the actors including Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, John Malkovitch and Mary Louise Parker, the film R.E.D (which stands for Retired Extremely Dangerous) soon disappears from memory within hours after viewing. The setup has the FBI trying to terminate a retired agent (Willis), but of course he's too good for them in spite of the 25 to 1 odds. He sets out to recruit some other ex-agents to find out why this is happening and discovers that the corruption comes from very high up. The bullets fly, there's lots of running around the country, and far-fetched plotting. Forgettable fun.... Grade-----B-

Two-time Oscar winner Hillary Swank seems to do her best work playing down home, lower class characters (such as her winning performances in BOYS DON'T CRY and MILLION DOLLAR BABY) and she is the main attraction here. In CONVICTION, based on a true story, she spends nearly twenty years trying to free what she believes to be the unlawful incarceration of her beloved brother for murder, going so far as to become a lawyer during the process. It is an intriguing story, but the film making is routine, making it feel more like a quality made-for-TV drama than a theatrical release. The story and the actors keep you interested, however. Grade-----B-

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The following eight films were shown as part of the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival held last week at several theatres. Three of them I saw screened at SIFF last May. But since they may not get anymore of a release than festivals, I'm writing about them as possible DVD rental options, since most were quite good.

Beautifully filmed in a Peruvian coastal fishing village, the Spanish film UNDERTOW tells the story of a young married family man with a child on the way, but he also has a secret lover--a sensual male painter/artist who is viewed with suspicion by the locals. Half way through, the movie takes a surprising turn towards the supernatural, but manages to become a heartfelt and moving love story about tolerance, acceptance and the importance of loyalty. Grade----A-

Documenting the likable comedians and singers from New Zealand, THE TOPP TWINS: UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS tell the story of how twin girls born on a farm grew up to be the famous country/pop/folk singers and entertainers (and they yodel, too!) that they are today.
They are also fierce, but charming activists, fighting racism, sexism, global warming, nuclear proliferation and homophobia. And, yep, they are both lesbians, too. Delightful, funny and informative. Grade----A-

EYES WIDE OPEN (from Israel, in Hebrew with English subtitles) is a very thoughtful and intense drama set in Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox community. A butcher with a wife and children finds repressed homosexual feelings coming to the surface when he hires a handsome young outsider as his assistant. His happiness is quickly conflicted by the pressures of the insidious conformity that the community imposes on anyone who does not live according to the majority laws of their religion and responsibility. Beautifully acted and directed. Grade-----A-

SASHA (Germany/Croatia) is a young handsome teen living with his immigrant Croatian family in Cologne and trying to hide his sexuality from his girlfriend and parents, but when his sexy piano teacher announces that he is moving to Vienna, SASHA must make some big moves of his own. This comedy-drama is quite delightful as a wacky family farce, amusing romantic (mis) adventures, coming out drama, and showing the difficulties of trying to live someone elses dream. Grade-----B+

Oh, those Spanish twenty-somethings. A young man gets jealous of his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend, so he decides to befriend the new boyfriend to stay close to his ex. Since she doesn't want him back, that is his PLAN B (from Argentina). The film moves very slowly as they get to know each other, and is surprisingly contemplative in it's theme of how carefully thin the line can be between homo and hetro sexual proclivities It also explores bi- and ambi- sexual natures in very subtle ways. It is interesting, but you will need a lot of patience to get through some of the long takes, some of which include gratuitous crouch shots. (It plays like the Spanish version of the French JEANNE DIELMAN. Or is could have been made by Ming-liang Tsai-- the director of GOODBYE DRAGON INN and THE HOLE and THE RIVER--but not as insightful or fascinating.) Grade----B-

From Tunisia and France comes a film called THE STRING, about a young man who returns after the death of his father, from France to his family estate in Tunisia. His well meaning mother (it's been a long time since we've seen Claudia Cardinale....she looked and seemed more like a grandmother than mother) wants him to marry but he has other plans, mainly the handsome handy man employed at the estate. It's exotic and watchable, as the family members struggle with tradition and change and open sexuality, but I wish it had a bigger punch to it. Grade-----B-

A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE (from Czech Republic) is a short 60 minutes, but quickly paced film (with too much herky-jerky camera movements for my taste) about a married woman's discovery of her gayness. Her husband is not too happy with her affair with another teacher at her school, and does and says a lot of typical mean things that we have seen before in other movies about infidelity---these things would have been said even if she was seeing a man instead of a woman. Perhaps that is what is so interesting about this film. The actors are quite natural and likable, and the tension between the characters feels real. Grade----B-

From the Bahamas comes CHILDREN OF GOD, an exotic and sumptuous-looking film of an interracial love between two men--an introverted white artist and a sexy, irresponsible black man, but their ethnic differences hardly matter in this ambitious but pointless, convoluted plot. Things get complicated when the black man's mother and his girlfriend (!) show up unannounced. There's also a sub plot where a preacher's wife is spear heading a political anti-gay crusade on the island--her own marriage is troubled by the preacher who has given her a venereal disease because he's on the "down-low." Not very subtle stuff here. Grade-----C

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On DVD this week was an eight hour BBC version of Charles Dickens MARTIN CHUZZELWIT (1994) with Paul Scofield and Tom Wilkenson. While not as delightful and eyeopening as the recently reviewed LITTLE DORRIT, this intriguing and in depth version was satisfying as drama and for it's cast of wacky, memorable characters. Every actor seemed to really capture something funny or unique about their character's personality. Grade------B+

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.
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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.
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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.
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GRADE----B-

RUN IF YOU CAN--Germany--Menage a trois between a paraplegic, his care taker and a young musician.
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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.
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GRADE-----C

SENIOR PROM, MEET MONICA VELOUR, MOTHER JOAN OF ANGLES

GRADE-----C-

TURISTAS, THE ATHLETE
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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-