I've been gone on vacation for three of the last four weeks, so the film-going has been sparse, but now that vacation is over, it's back to the movies for me. Here's what's new for this week.
THE LAST MOUNTAIN is one of the strongest documentaries of the year. It tells of the pillage of the mountains of Appalachia by the coal industry, which has had dire, deadly results to the people who live in the area, as well as nearly every citizen in the US--poisoned water supplies, lung clogging pollution, cancer cases that are shockingly alarming, and gross, costly corruption of our national government. This is a shocker. GRADE-------- A
A disturbing film that lightly fictionalizes the Rape of Nanking in 1937, when the Japanese Imperial Army captures the capital of China, and then proceeds to literally massacre nearly every citizen in sight, this unpleasant film is painful to watch, even though CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH is very well made. I was exhausted and sickened by the end (think of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN's first 20 minutes, stretched into over 2 hours.) The story feels hopeless, bombastic and depressing. See this only if you are interested. GRADE------B-
Not a promising title, but HORRIBLE BOSSES manages to be a bit funny and clever in that new vulgar comedy category that includes films like WEDDING CRASHERS, BRIDESMAIDS, KNOCKED-UP, THE HANGOVER, GET HIM TO THE GREEK and several others. The cast is quite game, and includes Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Anniston, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jamie Foxx and Donald Sutherland and a nearly unrecognizable Colin Farrell. If you can stomach the crude language and sexual preposterousness, then there are some laugh out loud moments and I was not bored. GRADE------B-
We've seen troubled kids struggling in high school before, and this variation doesn't add much to the mix. The main character, TERRI, is a large fat boy, who wears his pajamas to class (I guess because they are more comfortable, but not much is made of this point, except that he gets a lot more dirty looks...) who is counseled by a sympathetic vice principal (John C. Riley) and ends up befriending several other "odd- ball" students, who all have issues with authority, sex, confidence, drugs, etc. Some weird scenes and unpleasant sexuality issues still do not lift this out of the "seen it before" category. GRADE-------C+
It's taken me a while to catch up with THOR (at the bargain theatres now), and $3 is definitely all that it's worth. I found myself wanting to nod off a couple of times. There is a lot of mumbo jumbo that takes place on another planet between Thor's race and some Ice creatures, that didn't make much sense, and that is cut into the subplot of Thor being banished to Earth by his wise father/king Anthony Hopkins, because of his bad attitude, and sort of falling for smarty scientist Nathalie Portman. There is one fight scene on earth between Thor and what looks like a TRANSFORMER--otherwise most of the best (but minimal) action happens on the other planets, in the near dark. Not so hot. GRADE--------C
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Tree of Life, The Trip, Buck, Page One: Inside NY Times Bridesmaids
Went to see BRIDESMAIDS again, and it is just as funny, vulgar, clever and sweet as the first time, and my wife really liked it. Getting her to laugh at a comedy is getting tough these days. My 82 year old aunt said that it was disgusting and vulgar, but she and her lady friends found themselves laughing in spite of themselves. It will not disappoint you. GRADE------------ B+
PAGE ONE;INSIDE THE NY TIMES is an inspiring account of the struggles of the Times to compete financially and in otherways with the changing face of news organizations around the nation. It is also a damning indictment of how shallow news is on the internet (ie Huffington Post), and it made most of us want to subscribe. GRADE----B+
BUCK tells the true story of the man who inspired THE HORSE WHISPERER--he survived a cruel abusive childhood to become a sensible,thoughtful communicator of horses (and people). A very heartwrenching, moving story. GRADE--------B+
THE TRIP recently was discussed a couple weeks back. This is based on a British TV series where two or more characters travel around Britain sampling the cuisine and accommodations of various restaurants and hotels, and then verbally critique them, with lots of jokes, impressions and fun. I like this movie version--the two leads are charming and funny as they try to out-impression each other. GRADE-----B-
TREE OF LIFE is an ambitious tale which starts with the sad news that one son has died at the age of 19. Then the story flashes back, WWWAAAAAAYYYYY back to the creation of the heavens and the earths, with stunning National Geographic style photography of what early life might have looked like, although we've seen these images before. Shots of molten lava, cells dividing, light shows (think 2001 SPACE ODYSSEY), then sea creatures--many bizarre shots of plant,sea, insect life---all to the religious and classical score that make this seem grandiose. Then we suddenly have a scene straight from JURASSIC PARK with a dinosaur stomping on the head of a weaker creature. I am not kidding. Now, I'm not exactly bored, since the mother and father and brother are spouting, over the top of the music and imagery, platitudes like "What was God thinking" and "Does He know us all?" and "Why must life be like this" ETC ETC ETC. At times I wanted to giggle, but this is played with deadly seriousness, and I appreciated that the director was trying to reach places and feelings that movies seldom go to. When the narrative does pickup again (about 20 minutes later!!!!!!), the story flashes back and forth in time to the 1950's and then to current time when the surviving son (Sean Penn) wonders, at times pointlessly through the urban jungle of sky scrappers, pondering his childhood, that was filled with fun, mischief, abuse from his father (Brad Pitt), love and understanding from his mother, etc. I kept expecting a (symbolic) dinosaur to come out of nowhere and stomp on him. This is a thin plot for an abstract, impressionist movie. What annoyed me most is the current fashion of directors/cinematographers to use an aggressive HAND HELD camera, which is dizzingly frustrating to watch, and throws me out of the plot/experience. If the camera work had been easier to watch, I might have the heart to give this unique film a B-, but as it is, it is an ambitious experiment that doesn't work like it should. GRADE----------C+
PAGE ONE;INSIDE THE NY TIMES is an inspiring account of the struggles of the Times to compete financially and in otherways with the changing face of news organizations around the nation. It is also a damning indictment of how shallow news is on the internet (ie Huffington Post), and it made most of us want to subscribe. GRADE----B+
BUCK tells the true story of the man who inspired THE HORSE WHISPERER--he survived a cruel abusive childhood to become a sensible,thoughtful communicator of horses (and people). A very heartwrenching, moving story. GRADE--------B+
THE TRIP recently was discussed a couple weeks back. This is based on a British TV series where two or more characters travel around Britain sampling the cuisine and accommodations of various restaurants and hotels, and then verbally critique them, with lots of jokes, impressions and fun. I like this movie version--the two leads are charming and funny as they try to out-impression each other. GRADE-----B-
TREE OF LIFE is an ambitious tale which starts with the sad news that one son has died at the age of 19. Then the story flashes back, WWWAAAAAAYYYYY back to the creation of the heavens and the earths, with stunning National Geographic style photography of what early life might have looked like, although we've seen these images before. Shots of molten lava, cells dividing, light shows (think 2001 SPACE ODYSSEY), then sea creatures--many bizarre shots of plant,sea, insect life---all to the religious and classical score that make this seem grandiose. Then we suddenly have a scene straight from JURASSIC PARK with a dinosaur stomping on the head of a weaker creature. I am not kidding. Now, I'm not exactly bored, since the mother and father and brother are spouting, over the top of the music and imagery, platitudes like "What was God thinking" and "Does He know us all?" and "Why must life be like this" ETC ETC ETC. At times I wanted to giggle, but this is played with deadly seriousness, and I appreciated that the director was trying to reach places and feelings that movies seldom go to. When the narrative does pickup again (about 20 minutes later!!!!!!), the story flashes back and forth in time to the 1950's and then to current time when the surviving son (Sean Penn) wonders, at times pointlessly through the urban jungle of sky scrappers, pondering his childhood, that was filled with fun, mischief, abuse from his father (Brad Pitt), love and understanding from his mother, etc. I kept expecting a (symbolic) dinosaur to come out of nowhere and stomp on him. This is a thin plot for an abstract, impressionist movie. What annoyed me most is the current fashion of directors/cinematographers to use an aggressive HAND HELD camera, which is dizzingly frustrating to watch, and throws me out of the plot/experience. If the camera work had been easier to watch, I might have the heart to give this unique film a B-, but as it is, it is an ambitious experiment that doesn't work like it should. GRADE----------C+
Thursday, June 16, 2011
VIVA RIVA!, THE TRIP, ART OF GETTING BY, BEST OF SIFF
It is hardly a politically correct movie, with scenes of abuse, rape, prostitution, drug abuse, torture, religious corruption, porn addiction, etc,etc,etc....This film VIVA RIVA! shown several weeks ago at SIFF is NOT DULL, and these days that is something to recommend it. It's a lively, sometimes funny, sometimes brutal story of a friendly gangster who steels a truckload of gasoline from a more brutal gangster, and spends the movie running from other gangsters and the police, plus the corrupt military which in this case is headed by a nasty lesbian. You get the picture, but you will not be bored. GRADE----------B
Another SIFF entry opening today is THE TRIP, a two character talk-a-thon that features actor and comedians and impressionists Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon playing themselves as they drive through northern England visiting lots of fancy restaurants and trying to play one-upsmanship with each other. It's like a comic version of MY DINNER WITH ANDRE, and contains beautiful scenery, luscious looking food and an a capello version of Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights sung by the two leads. What's not to like? GRADE-----------------B
Appropriately named, THE ART OF GETTING BY is a tired young man coming of age movie, with Freddie Highmore playing a high school senior who over thinks his life so much so that he can hardly function as a student, son, and boyfriend. When the girl Emma Roberts makes a pass at him he nearly becomes catatonic. Can he pull himself together in time to save his mother's marriage, get the girl, and graduate from High School? Does anyone really care? Do teens really talk like sullen philosophers? Why does the director insist on using the hand held herky jerky camera so damn much? These uncompelling questions are answered in THE ART OF GETTING BY. Barely.
GRADE-------------C
_________________
See my BEST OF SIFF 2011 report in the previous blog (June 14)---
In the meantime, SIFF has brought back some films for the BEST OF SIFF playing this weekend only at SIFF CINEMA at the SEATTLE CENTER/MCCAW HALL. Some I have not seen. Some shown are decent, if unexciting, like BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER'S JOURNEY, which is the type of documentary that seems likely to play continuously on PBS, since it is mostly about a key player on/behind SESAME STREET. I thought ON THE ICE was very interesting, with Barrow Alaska becoming an eerie, white, sinister character in the sad murder mystery that threatens to rip apart the small Eskimo community. Also well done is the Norwegian film KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND, about (the miserable and cold) life in an island prison for wayward boys. An audience favorite is the sentimental but effective PAPER BIRDS--bring Kleenex. And the documentary TO BE HEARD is a clear-headed, hopeful story of three high school students who dream of using their talents as hip-hop poets as their ticket out of the ghetto--but a lot stands in their way.
But if you have only two hours to spend, GO SEE HOW TO DIE IN OREGON--the best that is being shown this weekend. It's a heartbreaking, devastating documentary about the Right to Die initiative in Oregon a few years back, which later came to Washington state. The shocking opening scene follows an elderly sick man as he ends his own life of pain, and then it follows several key patients and proponents as it explores their beliefs, hopes, philosophies of life and death, and decisions. The film is actually very empowering and hopeful, and in spite of some grim facts, you will leave the theatre rather exhilarated.
Another SIFF entry opening today is THE TRIP, a two character talk-a-thon that features actor and comedians and impressionists Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon playing themselves as they drive through northern England visiting lots of fancy restaurants and trying to play one-upsmanship with each other. It's like a comic version of MY DINNER WITH ANDRE, and contains beautiful scenery, luscious looking food and an a capello version of Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights sung by the two leads. What's not to like? GRADE-----------------B
Appropriately named, THE ART OF GETTING BY is a tired young man coming of age movie, with Freddie Highmore playing a high school senior who over thinks his life so much so that he can hardly function as a student, son, and boyfriend. When the girl Emma Roberts makes a pass at him he nearly becomes catatonic. Can he pull himself together in time to save his mother's marriage, get the girl, and graduate from High School? Does anyone really care? Do teens really talk like sullen philosophers? Why does the director insist on using the hand held herky jerky camera so damn much? These uncompelling questions are answered in THE ART OF GETTING BY. Barely.
GRADE-------------C
_________________
See my BEST OF SIFF 2011 report in the previous blog (June 14)---
In the meantime, SIFF has brought back some films for the BEST OF SIFF playing this weekend only at SIFF CINEMA at the SEATTLE CENTER/MCCAW HALL. Some I have not seen. Some shown are decent, if unexciting, like BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER'S JOURNEY, which is the type of documentary that seems likely to play continuously on PBS, since it is mostly about a key player on/behind SESAME STREET. I thought ON THE ICE was very interesting, with Barrow Alaska becoming an eerie, white, sinister character in the sad murder mystery that threatens to rip apart the small Eskimo community. Also well done is the Norwegian film KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND, about (the miserable and cold) life in an island prison for wayward boys. An audience favorite is the sentimental but effective PAPER BIRDS--bring Kleenex. And the documentary TO BE HEARD is a clear-headed, hopeful story of three high school students who dream of using their talents as hip-hop poets as their ticket out of the ghetto--but a lot stands in their way.
But if you have only two hours to spend, GO SEE HOW TO DIE IN OREGON--the best that is being shown this weekend. It's a heartbreaking, devastating documentary about the Right to Die initiative in Oregon a few years back, which later came to Washington state. The shocking opening scene follows an elderly sick man as he ends his own life of pain, and then it follows several key patients and proponents as it explores their beliefs, hopes, philosophies of life and death, and decisions. The film is actually very empowering and hopeful, and in spite of some grim facts, you will leave the theatre rather exhilarated.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Final SIFF Report thru June 12, BEST OF SIFF 2011
My screenings for the final weekend included:
PRINCESS-----------GRADE B
Finnish film based on a true story about a woman with mental problems, finally rejected by her mother, and ending up in a mental hospital. It's familiar stuff (think ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST, etc) but the microcosm of society is still fascinating to watch. The woman believes (and acts) like she is some sort of royalty and gets the other patients and doctors to fall in line, to humorous and moving results. The actors are all effective, and really gives the viewer pause as to what really is the line between reality and insanity.
IF I WANT TO WHISTLE, I WHISTLE-----------GRADE B
A Romanian eighteen year old boy is about to be released from reform school when he learns that his deadbeat mom is planning to take his younger brother to Italy with her for work--and he hates his mom for years of neglect. He flips out, and pursues the only path he feels is left to him to prevent this from happening--violence. The film takes place entirely in the reform school, but is not claustrophobic at all, and the cast, many of them non-professional ring very true. Nicely done.
ALMANYA-------------GRADE A
Comic German film about a large family of Turkish descent who are thrown into a tizzy when the patriarch announces that the whole family will accompany him during the next vacation break, back to Turkey to visit a new "vacation" home that he has recently purchased. The film lovingly (and perhaps a bit sentimentally) flashes back to the time when the grandfather was immigrating to Germany with his new young family, then flashes forward to show the the adventures they are having adjusting to a Turkey that most of them know nothing about. The film is presented endearingly to show that in spite of their differences, this is a family that will stick together to overcome any adversity, while learning new respect for their heritage. A pleasure to watch.
SEVDAH FOR KARIM-------GRADE B+
This tough minded film set in Sarajevo after the war, has Karim working in the fields clearing away the many explosive mines that have been left behind by the USA and others, making very little (if any) money, and trying to fight off despair and depression. His best friend is a brutish ruffian, and Karim falls in love with his friends girl, which only leads to further angst and guilt. "SEVDAH in Bosnian means an unfulfilled yearning, longing, or love sickness" (per SIFF program) and this becomes a metaphor for what is happening emotionally to many of the (youthful) population since the war ended. A thoughtful, grim, intellectually sad film.
NORWEGIAN WOOD---------GRADE C
Young Japanese man pursues two mentally unstable women, in spite of repeated warnings and blatant symptoms that come evident to him over a few years. Early on, during sex with one woman who used to date his best friend who committed suicide, he blurts out, upon discovering that she is still a virgin, "why didn't you have sex with my friend?"---a logical question spoken at an inappropriate moment. From that point on, however, his logic seems to have been overtaken by---what? His penis? or his EGO? or his YOUTH? I kept wanting to make inappropriate vocal comments to the main character's actions--mostly to the tune of "Run run run as fast as you can away from this damaged woman...." but the film, which is beautifully photographed and directed, feels relentlessly hostile and cynical towards the romanticism that should have or could have been the real effective point of this drama. A frustrating and unsatisfying experience.
ILLEGAL-------------GRADE B
I want to give this film an "A"--it could be one of the best of SIFF. It has a gripping story and a bravura lead performance by a woman who is an illegal in France from Russia, via Poland, and she gets arrested and sent to a detention/holding center, and struggles to mother, via phone, her 13 years old boy who is living with a kind neighbor. The plot, characters, actors, subplots are all GREAT. THE BIG PROBLEM---this film is photographed with the most AGGRESSIVELY hand-held camera I've seen all month, to the point that it distracts from the natural tension created from each scene, and I literally could not watch most scenes for very long without feeling nauseous and/or dizzy. What a shame!!!!!!!!!
LATE AUTUMN--------GRADE B
Well filmed in Seattle and surrounding areas, to excellent stylistic and emotional effect, this slight would be romance deals with a woman released temporarily from prison (!) for killing her abusive husband, to attend her mother's funeral, and meeting up with a gigolo, with whom she ends up spending some time, and the two seem attracted to each other (!) Yes, the plot is a bit awkward and forced at times, and the final bit of "action" seems very unnecessary, but the actors are good and the film is easy to watch.
THE POLL DIARIES--------GRADE A
SIFF goes out with a BANG for me with a viewing of this German/Russian/Estonian film based on the early life of a famous German poet Oda Schaefer (whose work seems to be unavailable now). Fifteen year old Oda returns to her family estate called Poll just before the outbreak of WWI with the body of her recently deceased mother and a co joined twin fetus stored in alcohol for her remarried "doctor" father, who loves to cut up and study the bodies of anarchists found nearby. She soon finds and hides and nurses to health a wounded "anarchist" and learns many life lessons in the meantime. The film set designs and locations are quite striking, with much of the action taking place in a sawmill turned laboratory (filled with jars of bizarre, assorted specimens, much like a little shop of horrors) and nearby is the estate, a strange looking three story mansion at the very end of a pier that is literlly built on a pile of rocks in the ocean, and the top two stories have extensions and balconies that make the entire building looking like a fragile but stocky letter "T". The film direction is elegant in an old fashioned, epic manner, the actors are spot on and I was gripped from beginning to end by the odd, suspenseful mood that was created. There's nothing like "pickled babies" to remember SIFF 2011 by.
*********************************************************************************
BEST FILMS of SIFF 2011
I saw 130 films this year at SIFF, which includes 3 that I saw at other places within the past year. There were more D's and F's than ever before (9 films), and the largest number of grade C than ever before (about 26). Still, there were 95 films that I graded B- or better!!!!!!! Here's a list of films to watch for that were my favorites..........
Top Fiction Films
THE POLL DIARIES
ALMANYA
THE WHISTLE BLOWER
A FEW DAYS RESPITE
CLINK OF ICE
WASTED ON THE YOUNG
AMADOR
3 (THREE)
CRYING OUT
AFTERNOONS WITH MARGARITTE
WEEKEND
PAPER BIRDS
PERFECT SENSE
DETECTIVE DEE & MYSTERY OF PHANTOM FLAME
WE ARE THE NIGHT
STOOL PIGEON
SPUD
SEVDAH FOR KARIM
The above are B+ or better. Here's a few more great films rated B: ABSENT, BURKE & HARE, COPACABANA, FOUR MORE YEARS, THE FUTURE, GUN HILL ROAD, HAPPY HAPPY, KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND, LIFE OF FISH, MAGIC TRIP: KEN KESEY'S.., ON TOUR, POR EL CAMINO, PRINCESS, ROMEOS, ROUTE IRISH, SAIGON ELECTRIC, SALVATION BLVD, SMALL TOWN MURDER SONGS, SOUND OF NOISE, TOAST, TOUCH, THE TRIP, VIVA RIVA!,WIN WIN ...
----------
Top Documentaries
HOT COFFEE
HOW TO DIE IN OREGON
LAST MOUNTAIN
MARATHON BOY
12 ANGRY LEBANESE
BUCK
PROJECT NIM
PAGE ONE: NEW YORK TIMES
SOMETHING VENTURED
TABLOID
TO BE HEARD
CAMERAMAN: LIFE AND WORK OF JACK CARDIFF
The top four Documentaries would be near the top of my top 10, when I mix the fiction and documentaries together--they were really really strong this year.
I will try to write more about each film as it opens in theatres this coming year.
For the record, these films, I thought, were really awful......although they each have their supporters.........ALL YOUR DEAD ONES, LYS, FLYING FISH, RED EYES, THE RESCUERS, and fighting it out for bottom--both were literally unwatchable for a variety of reasons--- ROTHSTEIN'S FIRST ASSIGNMENT and VAMPIRE. I'd give the edge to ROTHSTEIN--it literally drove me from the theatre at 30 minutes.
PRINCESS-----------GRADE B
Finnish film based on a true story about a woman with mental problems, finally rejected by her mother, and ending up in a mental hospital. It's familiar stuff (think ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST, etc) but the microcosm of society is still fascinating to watch. The woman believes (and acts) like she is some sort of royalty and gets the other patients and doctors to fall in line, to humorous and moving results. The actors are all effective, and really gives the viewer pause as to what really is the line between reality and insanity.
IF I WANT TO WHISTLE, I WHISTLE-----------GRADE B
A Romanian eighteen year old boy is about to be released from reform school when he learns that his deadbeat mom is planning to take his younger brother to Italy with her for work--and he hates his mom for years of neglect. He flips out, and pursues the only path he feels is left to him to prevent this from happening--violence. The film takes place entirely in the reform school, but is not claustrophobic at all, and the cast, many of them non-professional ring very true. Nicely done.
ALMANYA-------------GRADE A
Comic German film about a large family of Turkish descent who are thrown into a tizzy when the patriarch announces that the whole family will accompany him during the next vacation break, back to Turkey to visit a new "vacation" home that he has recently purchased. The film lovingly (and perhaps a bit sentimentally) flashes back to the time when the grandfather was immigrating to Germany with his new young family, then flashes forward to show the the adventures they are having adjusting to a Turkey that most of them know nothing about. The film is presented endearingly to show that in spite of their differences, this is a family that will stick together to overcome any adversity, while learning new respect for their heritage. A pleasure to watch.
SEVDAH FOR KARIM-------GRADE B+
This tough minded film set in Sarajevo after the war, has Karim working in the fields clearing away the many explosive mines that have been left behind by the USA and others, making very little (if any) money, and trying to fight off despair and depression. His best friend is a brutish ruffian, and Karim falls in love with his friends girl, which only leads to further angst and guilt. "SEVDAH in Bosnian means an unfulfilled yearning, longing, or love sickness" (per SIFF program) and this becomes a metaphor for what is happening emotionally to many of the (youthful) population since the war ended. A thoughtful, grim, intellectually sad film.
NORWEGIAN WOOD---------GRADE C
Young Japanese man pursues two mentally unstable women, in spite of repeated warnings and blatant symptoms that come evident to him over a few years. Early on, during sex with one woman who used to date his best friend who committed suicide, he blurts out, upon discovering that she is still a virgin, "why didn't you have sex with my friend?"---a logical question spoken at an inappropriate moment. From that point on, however, his logic seems to have been overtaken by---what? His penis? or his EGO? or his YOUTH? I kept wanting to make inappropriate vocal comments to the main character's actions--mostly to the tune of "Run run run as fast as you can away from this damaged woman...." but the film, which is beautifully photographed and directed, feels relentlessly hostile and cynical towards the romanticism that should have or could have been the real effective point of this drama. A frustrating and unsatisfying experience.
ILLEGAL-------------GRADE B
I want to give this film an "A"--it could be one of the best of SIFF. It has a gripping story and a bravura lead performance by a woman who is an illegal in France from Russia, via Poland, and she gets arrested and sent to a detention/holding center, and struggles to mother, via phone, her 13 years old boy who is living with a kind neighbor. The plot, characters, actors, subplots are all GREAT. THE BIG PROBLEM---this film is photographed with the most AGGRESSIVELY hand-held camera I've seen all month, to the point that it distracts from the natural tension created from each scene, and I literally could not watch most scenes for very long without feeling nauseous and/or dizzy. What a shame!!!!!!!!!
LATE AUTUMN--------GRADE B
Well filmed in Seattle and surrounding areas, to excellent stylistic and emotional effect, this slight would be romance deals with a woman released temporarily from prison (!) for killing her abusive husband, to attend her mother's funeral, and meeting up with a gigolo, with whom she ends up spending some time, and the two seem attracted to each other (!) Yes, the plot is a bit awkward and forced at times, and the final bit of "action" seems very unnecessary, but the actors are good and the film is easy to watch.
THE POLL DIARIES--------GRADE A
SIFF goes out with a BANG for me with a viewing of this German/Russian/Estonian film based on the early life of a famous German poet Oda Schaefer (whose work seems to be unavailable now). Fifteen year old Oda returns to her family estate called Poll just before the outbreak of WWI with the body of her recently deceased mother and a co joined twin fetus stored in alcohol for her remarried "doctor" father, who loves to cut up and study the bodies of anarchists found nearby. She soon finds and hides and nurses to health a wounded "anarchist" and learns many life lessons in the meantime. The film set designs and locations are quite striking, with much of the action taking place in a sawmill turned laboratory (filled with jars of bizarre, assorted specimens, much like a little shop of horrors) and nearby is the estate, a strange looking three story mansion at the very end of a pier that is literlly built on a pile of rocks in the ocean, and the top two stories have extensions and balconies that make the entire building looking like a fragile but stocky letter "T". The film direction is elegant in an old fashioned, epic manner, the actors are spot on and I was gripped from beginning to end by the odd, suspenseful mood that was created. There's nothing like "pickled babies" to remember SIFF 2011 by.
*********************************************************************************
BEST FILMS of SIFF 2011
I saw 130 films this year at SIFF, which includes 3 that I saw at other places within the past year. There were more D's and F's than ever before (9 films), and the largest number of grade C than ever before (about 26). Still, there were 95 films that I graded B- or better!!!!!!! Here's a list of films to watch for that were my favorites..........
Top Fiction Films
THE POLL DIARIES
ALMANYA
THE WHISTLE BLOWER
A FEW DAYS RESPITE
CLINK OF ICE
WASTED ON THE YOUNG
AMADOR
3 (THREE)
CRYING OUT
AFTERNOONS WITH MARGARITTE
WEEKEND
PAPER BIRDS
PERFECT SENSE
DETECTIVE DEE & MYSTERY OF PHANTOM FLAME
WE ARE THE NIGHT
STOOL PIGEON
SPUD
SEVDAH FOR KARIM
The above are B+ or better. Here's a few more great films rated B: ABSENT, BURKE & HARE, COPACABANA, FOUR MORE YEARS, THE FUTURE, GUN HILL ROAD, HAPPY HAPPY, KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND, LIFE OF FISH, MAGIC TRIP: KEN KESEY'S.., ON TOUR, POR EL CAMINO, PRINCESS, ROMEOS, ROUTE IRISH, SAIGON ELECTRIC, SALVATION BLVD, SMALL TOWN MURDER SONGS, SOUND OF NOISE, TOAST, TOUCH, THE TRIP, VIVA RIVA!,WIN WIN ...
----------
Top Documentaries
HOT COFFEE
HOW TO DIE IN OREGON
LAST MOUNTAIN
MARATHON BOY
12 ANGRY LEBANESE
BUCK
PROJECT NIM
PAGE ONE: NEW YORK TIMES
SOMETHING VENTURED
TABLOID
TO BE HEARD
CAMERAMAN: LIFE AND WORK OF JACK CARDIFF
The top four Documentaries would be near the top of my top 10, when I mix the fiction and documentaries together--they were really really strong this year.
I will try to write more about each film as it opens in theatres this coming year.
For the record, these films, I thought, were really awful......although they each have their supporters.........ALL YOUR DEAD ONES, LYS, FLYING FISH, RED EYES, THE RESCUERS, and fighting it out for bottom--both were literally unwatchable for a variety of reasons--- ROTHSTEIN'S FIRST ASSIGNMENT and VAMPIRE. I'd give the edge to ROTHSTEIN--it literally drove me from the theatre at 30 minutes.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
SIFF Report thru June 9th
Final weekend ahead, and still a lot to see. Here's the latest that I saw on Wed and Thur.
THE YELLOW SEA--------GRADE TBA
Another big OOOOOPPPPPSSS for the press screenings---shown without subtitles---so if you want to see it (the picture looks impressive during the first 10 minutes) make sure to call SIFF Info line to check that the subtitles will be included.
POR EL CAMINO--------GRADE B
I'm not sure exactly why I enjoyed this breezy, nearly plot less, would be romantic, road trip through Uruguay, but the scenery sure stays with me, and the characters don't jump right into bed, either. Very pleasant.
SPUD------------GRADE B+
John Cleese is the influential teacher at a private South African boys school in 1990 and the young hero has not yet developed into puberty (the term "spud" referring to his small undeveloped genitalia), and as it starts you will be thinking that this story is going to be very familiar, and for a while it is. But the characters are all likable and become unusually rounded for such a comedy/drama, the shenanigans are realistically subdued, and the film becomes quite moving by the end.
MARATHON BOY-------GRADE A
Another GREAT documentary, this one is set in India, and tells the story of a 3 year old boy who loves to run. He is adopted out of poverty by his coach, who runs an athletic/training orphanage with his wife, but because the boy is so young, controversy arises when he tries to run half and full marathons. Ethics, politics and social conflicts put up barriers between the coach and the child. There is a shocking development towards the end that I didn't see coming. This film, along with HOT COFFEE and HOW TO DIE IN OREGON are all sponsored by HBO, which will be handling their release, and they should show up on HBO later this year. THE LAST MOUNTAIN is also getting a theatrical release this summer. These are the 4 top films of SIFF this year.
ROMEOS---------GRADE B
This lively German film by a first time woman director is quite good, especially considering the complicated subject matter. Lukas is a trans-gendered 20 year old going FTM (female to male)who depends on his best friend, a lesbian, for moral support during this process. In college he falls for a flirty, bisexual hustler who doesn't know about Lukas' FTM situation. There is a lot of sexual tension, humor,
pathos and drama that feels quite real for the main character. The key role of Lukas is played by a first time actor called Rick Okon, and I kept thinking that this is one of the strongest break-through roles since BOYS DON'T CRY that I've seen.
HOLY ROLLERS: THE TRUE STORY OF CARD COUNTING CHRISTIANS------GRADE B-
A true documentary based on a group of Christian black-jack players based in Seattle is notable mainly for emphasizing how 1) Christians or otherwise can justify gambling, as long as money is being made, and 2)Christians and otherwise can be as deluded, sinful and selfish as any one else. It raises some interesting ideas, but at 93 minutes seems unfocused at times and could lose 15 minutes to editing.
FUNKYTOWN-----------GRADE B-
Set in the mid 1970 during the disco era, this slick, hoary,melodramatic cliche, filled with sex, drugs and music in Quebec, feels like a Guilty Pleasure from the start, especially with most scenes punctuated with some great disco classic covers. But the film does go on too long, and the fun starts to fizzle as cliche piles on to cliche in deadly seriousness.
THE DESTINY OF LESSER ANIMALS----------GRADE B
Interesting ethno-centric film from Ghana about a police officer trying to track down his stolen counterfeit passport so he can escape to America. Part mystery, part thriller, part character study, and part allegory to patriotism.
THE REDEMPTION OF GENERAL BUTT NAKED---------GRADE B-
Liberia's General Butt Naked was a terrifying brutal soldier during his country's 14 years of civil war, ruthlessly attacking, raping and murdering over 20,000 people (by his own admission) while naked. After the war he reinvents himself as a Bible-toting preacher, trying to turn his henchmen towards God and religion and seek forgiveness for his many sins. This is a powerful documentary, as it follows him running into survivors whose family he murdered, and it raises a lot of questions, like should he be prosecuted for war crimes, and should he be trying to convert people to Christianity when just a few years earlier he'd have rather killed them. Can we believe him? (The war time tribunal recommended amnesty towards him!) But part of the problem with the film is the rough handheld cinematography, and many of those questions remain unresolved.
THE YELLOW SEA--------GRADE TBA
Another big OOOOOPPPPPSSS for the press screenings---shown without subtitles---so if you want to see it (the picture looks impressive during the first 10 minutes) make sure to call SIFF Info line to check that the subtitles will be included.
POR EL CAMINO--------GRADE B
I'm not sure exactly why I enjoyed this breezy, nearly plot less, would be romantic, road trip through Uruguay, but the scenery sure stays with me, and the characters don't jump right into bed, either. Very pleasant.
SPUD------------GRADE B+
John Cleese is the influential teacher at a private South African boys school in 1990 and the young hero has not yet developed into puberty (the term "spud" referring to his small undeveloped genitalia), and as it starts you will be thinking that this story is going to be very familiar, and for a while it is. But the characters are all likable and become unusually rounded for such a comedy/drama, the shenanigans are realistically subdued, and the film becomes quite moving by the end.
MARATHON BOY-------GRADE A
Another GREAT documentary, this one is set in India, and tells the story of a 3 year old boy who loves to run. He is adopted out of poverty by his coach, who runs an athletic/training orphanage with his wife, but because the boy is so young, controversy arises when he tries to run half and full marathons. Ethics, politics and social conflicts put up barriers between the coach and the child. There is a shocking development towards the end that I didn't see coming. This film, along with HOT COFFEE and HOW TO DIE IN OREGON are all sponsored by HBO, which will be handling their release, and they should show up on HBO later this year. THE LAST MOUNTAIN is also getting a theatrical release this summer. These are the 4 top films of SIFF this year.
ROMEOS---------GRADE B
This lively German film by a first time woman director is quite good, especially considering the complicated subject matter. Lukas is a trans-gendered 20 year old going FTM (female to male)who depends on his best friend, a lesbian, for moral support during this process. In college he falls for a flirty, bisexual hustler who doesn't know about Lukas' FTM situation. There is a lot of sexual tension, humor,
pathos and drama that feels quite real for the main character. The key role of Lukas is played by a first time actor called Rick Okon, and I kept thinking that this is one of the strongest break-through roles since BOYS DON'T CRY that I've seen.
HOLY ROLLERS: THE TRUE STORY OF CARD COUNTING CHRISTIANS------GRADE B-
A true documentary based on a group of Christian black-jack players based in Seattle is notable mainly for emphasizing how 1) Christians or otherwise can justify gambling, as long as money is being made, and 2)Christians and otherwise can be as deluded, sinful and selfish as any one else. It raises some interesting ideas, but at 93 minutes seems unfocused at times and could lose 15 minutes to editing.
FUNKYTOWN-----------GRADE B-
Set in the mid 1970 during the disco era, this slick, hoary,melodramatic cliche, filled with sex, drugs and music in Quebec, feels like a Guilty Pleasure from the start, especially with most scenes punctuated with some great disco classic covers. But the film does go on too long, and the fun starts to fizzle as cliche piles on to cliche in deadly seriousness.
THE DESTINY OF LESSER ANIMALS----------GRADE B
Interesting ethno-centric film from Ghana about a police officer trying to track down his stolen counterfeit passport so he can escape to America. Part mystery, part thriller, part character study, and part allegory to patriotism.
THE REDEMPTION OF GENERAL BUTT NAKED---------GRADE B-
Liberia's General Butt Naked was a terrifying brutal soldier during his country's 14 years of civil war, ruthlessly attacking, raping and murdering over 20,000 people (by his own admission) while naked. After the war he reinvents himself as a Bible-toting preacher, trying to turn his henchmen towards God and religion and seek forgiveness for his many sins. This is a powerful documentary, as it follows him running into survivors whose family he murdered, and it raises a lot of questions, like should he be prosecuted for war crimes, and should he be trying to convert people to Christianity when just a few years earlier he'd have rather killed them. Can we believe him? (The war time tribunal recommended amnesty towards him!) But part of the problem with the film is the rough handheld cinematography, and many of those questions remain unresolved.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
SIFF Report June 7
Many of the following will be screening during the last week of SIFF 2011. A grade of B- or better is worth seeing.
TO BE HEARD--------GRADE B+
Another in a long line of fine SIFF documentaries, this one focuses on three high school students in the Bronx who are gifted performers in the relatively new art of hip-hop poetry, which they hope will be their ticket out of the ghetto. The film is heartbreakingly candid as to what these kids face in their everyday world, and while a lot of hope is offered, the reality seems to be working against some of them. I was startled to hear their teachers using a lot of street vernacular and profanity in the classroom, and to see how emotionally close they become to their students, but hey--whatever works.
ABSENT-----------GRADE B
This is NOT a Hitchcockian thriller as the descriptions would have you believe. This suspense film from Argentina does create some tension (sexual and otherwise) as a teen age boy tries to insinuate himself into his male teacher's life by lying about his parents, friends and agenda, and creates emotional havoc in the well meaning teacher. Heavy handed during the first half, the film resists the temptation to make the teen (and the teacher) the "BAD GUY"---and ultimately becomes more interesting (and disturbing) by the end.
TABLOID-------GRADE B+
A new film by Errol Morris about a scandal in the early 1970's where an ex-beauty queen tracks down her missing fiance, kidnaps him out of his Morman missionary work, gets sent to prison, and then as the tabloids start digging, has her life splayed open to charges of prostitution and solicitation. One of those "truth is stranger than fiction" stories, this one is possibly the funniest and most entertaining documentary of SIFF this year.
BLACK FIELD------GRADE B-
Possibly the strangest plot twists since....THE CRYING GAME, this Greek film set in the 16th century, has a young novice nun with a big secret becoming fascinated by a wounded soldier taken in by the nunnery filled with nuns obsessed with ungodliness.
Yes, this one is loaded, but it is played out in all seriousness, and the photography and cinematography make it easy to look at. The final, bold controversial scene had jaws dropping all over the theatre, except for a few fleeing to the lobby.
KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND--------GRADE B
Engrossing Norwegian film based on a true story set in 1915 on island prison for wayward boys run by a very stern governor (played by Stellan Skarsgard who seems to be channeling Max von Sydow at his most constipated)who fails to see abusive warning signs that may lead to mutiny. The facility is so cold that you can see the breath of the characters in the dormitories and dining room!
NORWEGIAN WOOD------------GRADE TBA!
The screening ended for all but a dozen Japanese speakers at the 10 minute mark (Looks good though) when it was discovered that there were no ENGLISH subtitles on this print. Call SIFF to verify English subtitles for screenings this weekend!!!!
LYS and ROMAN'S ARK--------GRADE D and B-
Two short films on the same program, the German film LYS is a POS (piece of ----) where the story is slow and predictable, and the camera work apparently done by an 11 years boy on Speed and lumpy roller skates--painful to watch--most of us took a little nap. ROMAN'S ARK was technically the better film, a low budget short story about trying to find life in the future after a nuclear attack. Familiar but intriguing to watch.
ALL YOUR DEAD ONES---------GRADE D
Boring absurdest drama about Colombian farmer who discovers a pile of dead bodies in his cornfield. Then, after that amazing set-up, NOTHING HAPPENS FOR THE NEXT HOUR as 6 characters stand around looking at each other while a cell phone goes off constantly on screen--sometimes answered, sometimes not. A MAJOR, disappointing BOMB.
THE LIFE OF FISH---------GRADE B
In this intriguing melancholic film from Chile, a 30 something man wanders around a house party, saying his (very very long)goodbyes to a number of friends he hasn't seen in nearly 10 years. They are all tied together by a previous tragedy. The film reeks of regret, of lost friendships, missed opportunities, and the desire to change or correct the past.
BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD------- GRADE B
Well made and informative documentary on the life and death of the very public, very crazy (towards the end) World Chess Champion. Did his genius drive him insane, or did his psychosis make him a genius? Verrrrry interesting!
TO BE HEARD--------GRADE B+
Another in a long line of fine SIFF documentaries, this one focuses on three high school students in the Bronx who are gifted performers in the relatively new art of hip-hop poetry, which they hope will be their ticket out of the ghetto. The film is heartbreakingly candid as to what these kids face in their everyday world, and while a lot of hope is offered, the reality seems to be working against some of them. I was startled to hear their teachers using a lot of street vernacular and profanity in the classroom, and to see how emotionally close they become to their students, but hey--whatever works.
ABSENT-----------GRADE B
This is NOT a Hitchcockian thriller as the descriptions would have you believe. This suspense film from Argentina does create some tension (sexual and otherwise) as a teen age boy tries to insinuate himself into his male teacher's life by lying about his parents, friends and agenda, and creates emotional havoc in the well meaning teacher. Heavy handed during the first half, the film resists the temptation to make the teen (and the teacher) the "BAD GUY"---and ultimately becomes more interesting (and disturbing) by the end.
TABLOID-------GRADE B+
A new film by Errol Morris about a scandal in the early 1970's where an ex-beauty queen tracks down her missing fiance, kidnaps him out of his Morman missionary work, gets sent to prison, and then as the tabloids start digging, has her life splayed open to charges of prostitution and solicitation. One of those "truth is stranger than fiction" stories, this one is possibly the funniest and most entertaining documentary of SIFF this year.
BLACK FIELD------GRADE B-
Possibly the strangest plot twists since....THE CRYING GAME, this Greek film set in the 16th century, has a young novice nun with a big secret becoming fascinated by a wounded soldier taken in by the nunnery filled with nuns obsessed with ungodliness.
Yes, this one is loaded, but it is played out in all seriousness, and the photography and cinematography make it easy to look at. The final, bold controversial scene had jaws dropping all over the theatre, except for a few fleeing to the lobby.
KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND--------GRADE B
Engrossing Norwegian film based on a true story set in 1915 on island prison for wayward boys run by a very stern governor (played by Stellan Skarsgard who seems to be channeling Max von Sydow at his most constipated)who fails to see abusive warning signs that may lead to mutiny. The facility is so cold that you can see the breath of the characters in the dormitories and dining room!
NORWEGIAN WOOD------------GRADE TBA!
The screening ended for all but a dozen Japanese speakers at the 10 minute mark (Looks good though) when it was discovered that there were no ENGLISH subtitles on this print. Call SIFF to verify English subtitles for screenings this weekend!!!!
LYS and ROMAN'S ARK--------GRADE D and B-
Two short films on the same program, the German film LYS is a POS (piece of ----) where the story is slow and predictable, and the camera work apparently done by an 11 years boy on Speed and lumpy roller skates--painful to watch--most of us took a little nap. ROMAN'S ARK was technically the better film, a low budget short story about trying to find life in the future after a nuclear attack. Familiar but intriguing to watch.
ALL YOUR DEAD ONES---------GRADE D
Boring absurdest drama about Colombian farmer who discovers a pile of dead bodies in his cornfield. Then, after that amazing set-up, NOTHING HAPPENS FOR THE NEXT HOUR as 6 characters stand around looking at each other while a cell phone goes off constantly on screen--sometimes answered, sometimes not. A MAJOR, disappointing BOMB.
THE LIFE OF FISH---------GRADE B
In this intriguing melancholic film from Chile, a 30 something man wanders around a house party, saying his (very very long)goodbyes to a number of friends he hasn't seen in nearly 10 years. They are all tied together by a previous tragedy. The film reeks of regret, of lost friendships, missed opportunities, and the desire to change or correct the past.
BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD------- GRADE B
Well made and informative documentary on the life and death of the very public, very crazy (towards the end) World Chess Champion. Did his genius drive him insane, or did his psychosis make him a genius? Verrrrry interesting!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
SIFF Report June 5
Saturday was such a good day for me, that I took off Sunday for biking, shopping, dishes, laundry and sleep. Here's what I saw that day.
A FEW DAYS RESPITE----------GRADE A-
Splendid small film about two men who are lovers, trying to escape from Iran, through Italy to France, where the older one finds work with an aging lonely, sympathetic woman, who has eyes for him, not knowing he is gay. There is a lot of tension and feeling that passes between the three protagonist, and the film is subtle yet engrossing and quite moving.
12 ANGRY LEBANESE: THE DOCUMENTARY----------GRADE A
Riveting and insightful story of Lebanese prisoners who participate in a dramatic workshop to present the play TWELVE ANGRY MEN before their peers, family and outsiders. The experience works not only to trigger reflection among the actors, many of whom have been in prison for more than 20 years and never had much self worth, but also to change the hearts and minds of outsiders and government officials towards prisoners.
CLINK OF ICE----------------GRADE A-
Perhaps the most audacious and wry French comedy of the decade, the film starts off slow, with a wealthy, smart writer drinking himself to death since he has just lost his wife, child, lover and has a mental block towards writing. He is soon visited by a man who claims to be the human incarnation of his cancer, and this cancer man is going to stay with him until the end. Suddenly the film takes off in all directions, with family, servants and friends weighing in on the situation--some can see the "cancer" (since they will someday be affected, too, apparently) and others cannot. Soon his faithful housekeeper has her own cancer following her around--even to bed....A wild, kinky, off the wall film, most amusing if you can get into it. Director Bertrand Blier (GOING PLACES, BEAU PERE, GET OUT YOUR HANDKERCHIEFS, MENAGE, etc) is back on top again!
TERRI---------------------GRADE C+
The day was pretty great until this American teenage coming-of-age would be comedy/drama about a fat teen who only feels comfortable in his pajamas (even at school),who lives with and takes care of his uncle who seems to have some form of dementia, and he likes to kill mice to feed to a large bird.....John C. Riley is the assistant principal who tries to befriend him by being logical, honest, and open, to varying results. The teens who populate this movie are very weird, interested in sex, drugs and alcohol (per norm) but in vacant unappealing ways. Tired stuff.
BURKE and HARE-------------Grade B
Set two hundred years ago in England, two hapless grave robbers discover that it is easier to murder than to rob graves in order to make a living. The comedy is sometimes broad but usually good natured, and the film is generous with developing some charming and delightful characters, which make for an easy going good time.
A FEW DAYS RESPITE----------GRADE A-
Splendid small film about two men who are lovers, trying to escape from Iran, through Italy to France, where the older one finds work with an aging lonely, sympathetic woman, who has eyes for him, not knowing he is gay. There is a lot of tension and feeling that passes between the three protagonist, and the film is subtle yet engrossing and quite moving.
12 ANGRY LEBANESE: THE DOCUMENTARY----------GRADE A
Riveting and insightful story of Lebanese prisoners who participate in a dramatic workshop to present the play TWELVE ANGRY MEN before their peers, family and outsiders. The experience works not only to trigger reflection among the actors, many of whom have been in prison for more than 20 years and never had much self worth, but also to change the hearts and minds of outsiders and government officials towards prisoners.
CLINK OF ICE----------------GRADE A-
Perhaps the most audacious and wry French comedy of the decade, the film starts off slow, with a wealthy, smart writer drinking himself to death since he has just lost his wife, child, lover and has a mental block towards writing. He is soon visited by a man who claims to be the human incarnation of his cancer, and this cancer man is going to stay with him until the end. Suddenly the film takes off in all directions, with family, servants and friends weighing in on the situation--some can see the "cancer" (since they will someday be affected, too, apparently) and others cannot. Soon his faithful housekeeper has her own cancer following her around--even to bed....A wild, kinky, off the wall film, most amusing if you can get into it. Director Bertrand Blier (GOING PLACES, BEAU PERE, GET OUT YOUR HANDKERCHIEFS, MENAGE, etc) is back on top again!
TERRI---------------------GRADE C+
The day was pretty great until this American teenage coming-of-age would be comedy/drama about a fat teen who only feels comfortable in his pajamas (even at school),who lives with and takes care of his uncle who seems to have some form of dementia, and he likes to kill mice to feed to a large bird.....John C. Riley is the assistant principal who tries to befriend him by being logical, honest, and open, to varying results. The teens who populate this movie are very weird, interested in sex, drugs and alcohol (per norm) but in vacant unappealing ways. Tired stuff.
BURKE and HARE-------------Grade B
Set two hundred years ago in England, two hapless grave robbers discover that it is easier to murder than to rob graves in order to make a living. The comedy is sometimes broad but usually good natured, and the film is generous with developing some charming and delightful characters, which make for an easy going good time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)