| SIFF Mini Reviews Week Three - Continued |
[May. 18th, 2012|12:55 pm] |
Ratings:
* = Had nothing to offer
** = Had some moments
*** = I liked it
**** = I thought it was quite good
***** = I loved it
*****Moonrise Kingdom
Pathway: Love Me, Do!
USA, 2012 (94 minutes)
Very funny and very strange. I loved the beetle earrings. . . and everything else.
Festival Screenings:
June 5, Egyptian Theatre, 7:00pm
****Any Day Now
Pathway: Give Me Drama!
Somewhat emotionally manipulative, of course I was sobbing, even though I knew the ending already. The actor with Down’s Symdrome was very good as were the two men. I found it odd that the lawyer wore a wig (and it was a dreadful wig—I guess we were supposed to think it was his real hair) and the female impersonator wore his own hair.
Director Travis Fine scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 26, Harvard Exit, 6:00pm
May 27, Harvard Exit, 2:30pm
*Step Up to the Plate
Pathway: Creative Streak
France, 2011 (90 minutes)
A snooze-fest that might have been improved if I knew the names of the ingredients of the concoctions. But still the scenes of the chefs jogging were totally lost on me. The piano score was annoying and too loud. A friend said the score was the only thing he liked.
Festival Screenings:
May 26, Egyptian Theatre, 1:30pm
May 29, Egyptian Theatre, 6:45pm
June 1, Kirkland Performance Center, 6:30pm
****Unforgivable
Pathway: Give Me Drama!
France/Italy, 2011 (113 minutes)
Many people I spoke to did not like this film. I found it enjoyable, not only for the views of Venice, but I liked the plot which was one for grown-ups. I liked the characters too.
Festival Screenings:
May 23, Harvard Exit, 6:30pm
May 24, Harvard Exit, 3:30pm
***How to Steal 2 Million
Pathway: Thrill Me
South Africa, 2011 (89 minutes)
This was a standard heist movie, but well done with appealing South African characters.
Director Charlie Vundla scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 27, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 8:30pm
May 29, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 3:30pm
May 31, Harvard Exit, 8:30pm |
|
|
| SIFF Mini Reviews Week Three - Continued |
[May. 18th, 2012|12:15 pm] |
Ratings:
* = Had nothing to offer
** = Had some moments
*** = I liked it
**** = I thought it was quite good
***** = I loved it
****The Eye of the Storm
Pathway: Give Me Drama!
Australia, 2011 (114 minutes)
Perhaps the book was better than the film, but the acting was superb. Geoffrey Rush, Charlotte Rampling and Judy Davis were all typecast, but gave excellent performances.
Director Fred Schepisi scheduled to attend.
Fetival Screenings:
May 25, Everett Performing Arts Center, 6:30pm
May 26, Egyptian Theatre, 4:00pm
May 27, Egyptian Theatre, 6:30pm
*****Liberal Arts
Press Screening: 12:00pm
Pathway: Creative Streak
I’d rather die than go back to college, but Josh Radnor and Richard Jenkins did not want to leave. But they didn’t go to school in NYC. In the opening scene the Josh Radnor character has his laundry stolen. I knew lots of folks who had their clean laundry stolen in the city, but no one loses dirty laundry. I was on the alert for errors in the script after that, but actually found none, I liked the characters, especially the Romantic Lit teacher played by Allison Janney. Apparently she and the star of the film are on TV shows I don’t watch.
Festival Screenings:
May 22, Pacific Place Cinemas, 7:00pm
May 27, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 6:00pm
***Year of Grace
Pathway: Make Me Laugh
Spain, 2012 (90 minutes)
The young man and old lady stuck together by his university go from not getting along at all to successfully going into business together much too abruptly. I had other problems with the script, but they were overcome by the fact the film was set in Barcelona.
Director Ventura Pons scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 25, Pacific Place Cinemas, 6:30pm
May 26, Pacific Place Cinemas, 4:00pm
May 27, Everett Performing Arts Center, 3:30pm
*Hail
Pathway: To the Extreme
Australia, 2011 (104 minutes)
I walked out of this film before the violent demons surfaced. I so far only know of one person who liked it.
Director Amiel Courtin-Wilson scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 21, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 9:00pm
June 6, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 4:00pm
June 9, Pacific |
|
|
| Week Three SIFF 2012 Mini Rewiews |
[May. 14th, 2012|05:59 pm] |
***Gimme the Loot
Pathway: Thrill Me
USA, 2012 (81 minutes)
Two bombers (taggers--graffiti artists) plan to bomb the Mets Apple. They have plans within plans and you begin to see that it will all be for nothing. Even as a former New Yorker I difficulty understanding the dialogue.
Festival Screenings:
May 26, Pacific Place Cinemas, 9:15pm
May 28, Pacific Place Cinemas, 4:00pm
*Hemel
An anorexic young lady has an inappropriate relationship with her father. (Inappropriate emotionally, not sexually), but her sexual partners are inappropriate too. Number one on my squirm list so far this year.
***The Imposter
Pathway: I Didn't Know That!
United Kingdom, 2012 (99 minutes)
SIFF says: A dark-haired, dark-eyed French Algerian man from Spain miraculously passes himself off as a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy from Texas, fooling international officials and, most incredibly, the boy's family as well in this true, unbelievable story.
And they’re not kidding. Absolutely unbelievable.
Director Bart Layton scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 23, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 8:30pm
May 29, Harvard Exit, 9:00pm |
|
|
| SIFF MIni Reviews Week Two |
[May. 14th, 2012|08:17 am] |
***Starbuck
Pathway: Make Me Laugh
Canada (Quebec), 2011 (109 minutes)
An enjoyable, but loosely structured comedy about a sperm
donor who has fathered 500 or so children. Some of the
characters were just too annoying and there were plot holes,
but just let an American studio get a hold of the rights and
they will make millions on this idea.
Festival Screenings:
May 31, Kirkland Performance Center, 8:00pm
June 1, Egyptian Theatre, 6:30pm
June 7, Egyptian Theatre, 9:00pm
***Elena
Pathway: Give Me Drama!
Russia, 2011 (109 minutes)
Although some found it depressing and slow, I really liked
the Phillip Glass score and the beautiful apartment in which
Elena lives with her rich husband.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, Pacific Place Cinemas, 11:00am
May 24, Pacific Place Cinemas, 7:00pm
**How to Survive a Plague
Press Screening: 2:00pm
Pathway: Give Me Drama!
USA, 2012 (110 minutes)
A documentary chronicling the history of Act Up an their
affiliated Treatment Action Group, who were responsible for
many advances in medication for AIDS. I learned a lot, but
the hand held camera work on the historical footage was hard
to take.
Director David France scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 20, Harvard Exit, 12:00pm
May 21, Pacific Place Cinemas, 9:00pm
***The Sex of the Angels
Pathway: Love Me, Do!
Spain/Brazil, 2012 (105 minutes)
Didn’t we see this film last year? Acually, Tom Twicker made
a better movie, but these actors were younger and prettier.
Director Xavier Villaverde scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, Egyptian Theatre, 9:15pm
May 20, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 2:30pm
June 5, Kirkland Performance Center, 8:30pm
**Las Acacias
Press Screening: 12:00pm
Pathway: Show Me the World
U.S. Distributor: Outsider Pictures
Argentina/Spain, 2011 (85 minutes)
A truck driver gives a ride to a woman and her baby.
Nothing happens, just lots of driving.
Festival Screenings:
May 19, Egyptian Theatre, 4:30pm
May 26, Harvard Exit, 4:00pm
May 28, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 5:30pm
***Valley of Saints
Press Screening: 2:00pm
Pathway: Show Me the World
India/USA, 2012 (82 minutes)
An interesting way of showing the environmental degradation
of a beauty spot in Kashmir.
Director Musa Syeed scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, Harvard Exit, 9:00pm
May 19, Harvard Exit, 12:00pm
June 3, Kirkland Performance Center, 6:00pm
***Eden
Pathway: Give Me Drama!
USA, 2012 (98 minutes)
There are better films on sexual slavery, such as we saw last
year, but as this one appeared to take place in Washington
State (and there were those in the audience who did not
believe that this actually can happen here) I suppose it
needed to be made. As I was watching this “true-life” story,
I kept wondering what had happened off screen.
Director Megan Griffiths scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 19, Egyptian Theatre, 9:15pm
May 21, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 4:30pm
May 29, Everett Performing Arts Center, 8:30pm
****The Mexican Suitcase
Pathway: Creative Streak
Mexico/Spain, 2011 (86 minutes)
More than 4,500 negatives taken by photographers Robert Capa,
Gerda Taro, and David Seymour during the Spanish Civil War
were found in a Mexico City closet. This film is a must for
those with an interest in the war.
Director Trisha Ziff scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 3:30pm
May 19, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 8:30pm
June 3, Pacific Place Cinemas, 9:00pm
**Sleepwalk With Me
Pathway: Make Me Laugh
USA, 2012 (90 minutes)
Sleepwalking can lead to some strange scenarios, but this
film just didn’t do it for me, even Carol Kane and Lauren
Ambrose couldn’t save it.
Festival Screenings:
May 23, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 9:00pm
May 19, Harvard Exit, 9:00pm
***LUV
Pathway: Give Me Drama!
USA, 2012 (94 minutes)
An adorable 11 year old and his ex-con uncle explore
Baltimore on a day that only gets worse. Excellent acting by
the young star and featuring Danny Glover and the Allstate
guy.
Director Sheldon Candis scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 8:30pm
May 19, Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center, 7:15pm
**Tey
Pathway: Give Me Drama!
Senegal/France, 2012 (86 minutes)
Many were mystified by this film. The key is the fact that
the SIFF blurb contained the word ‘poetic.’ Literally it
makes no sense, but it showed the last day of a man who dies
at the end, and everyone knows he will, even himself.
Director Alain Gomis and actor Saul Williams scheduled to
attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 6:00pm
May 19, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 2:30pm
**Wetlands
Pathway: Give Me Drama!
Canada (Quebec), 2011 (111 minutes)
Canadians drunks try to save the family farm. No cows were
injured and no pregnant women were raped in the making of
this film.
Director Guy Édoin scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 3:00pm
May 19, Harvard Exit, 6:00pm
May 22, Harvard Exit, 9:30pm |
|
|
| Week 1 SIFF 2012 previews |
[May. 4th, 2012|07:06 pm] |
Ratings:
* = Had nothing to offer
** = Had some moments
*** = I liked it
**** = I thought it was quite good
***** = I loved it
**** Superclasico
Pathway: Make Me Laugh
Denmark, 2011 (99 minutes)
A depressed man flies from Denmark to Argentina with his son in tow, to try and save his marriage. I found the odd detail enjoyable: the dancing cockroaches, the most interesting man in the world (met in a bar), off-hand references to Kirkegaard and Sartre. All in all this is a light and fun comedy, even for those who have no interest in soccer, uh, I mean football.
Festival Screenings:
May 19, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 7:00pm
May 20, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 12:00pm
May 24, Egyptian Theatre, 4:00pm
** Fat Kid Rules the World
Pathway: Make Me Laugh
USA, 2012 (98 minutes)
I usually don’t care for Seattle films, but this wasn’t too bad. Perhaps I was distracted by trying to identify all the locations. Hey, they live in the Biltmore! There was some inconsistent parenting and I’m not sure about the drug policy of the film, but, I always like it when a fat kid ends up on top!
Director Matthew Lillard scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center, 7:00pm
May 19, Egyptian Theatre, 6:30pm
May 28, Everett Performing Arts Center, 6:00pm
***1/2 Polisse
Press Screening: 2:00pm
Pathway: Give Me Drama!
France, 2011 (127 minutes)
This film moves at a break-neck speed. The title refers to a child’s spelling of police. This is the French version of Child Protective Services. They are a branch of the Police Department – and particularly disliked by the rest of the police. Of course, much of the film deals with the emotional response of the workers to the plight of the unfortunate children. Some of the scenes might be considered inappropriate to American viewers, but the French have different views and values on this subject than Americans. In many ways, I found this the most valuable part of the film.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 9:00pm
May 20, Harvard Exit, 2:30pm
*** Starry Starry Night
Pathway: Love Me, Do!
The visuals of this film were first rate (be sure to stay for the credits that play with the illustrations upon which the film was based.) The music on the other hand was annoying. The story was less than exciting, but not too slow.
Director Tom Shu-Yu Lin scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 19, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 6:30pm
May 20, Pacific Place Cinemas, 4:00pm
May 22, Pacific Place Cinemas, 9:30pm
*** Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
Pathway: Creative Streak
USA/China, 2012 (91 minutes)
According to Ai Weiwei, art is all about communication. Using social media and posting cell phone videos are all part of his vision. Chronicling his run-ins with the authorities as well as his artistic methods are part of this documentary.
Director Allison Klayman scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, Pacific Place Cinemas, 6:30pm
May 19, Pacific Place Cinemas, 4:00pm
* 38 Witnesses
Pathway: Thrill Me
France/Belgium, 2012 (104 minutes)
This film is only loosely based on an incident in 1980’s New York. The laws in Belgium and the circumstances of the incident are quite different. The focus of the film is the refusal of the witnesses to give an account of happened as well as their lack of action. The film moved so slowly, with endless pans of the workplace and apartment of one of the characters, I found it less than engaging.
Festival Screenings:
May 21, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 6:30pm
May 23, Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center, 8:30pm
May 28, Egyptian Theatre, 9:15pm
** True Wolf
Pathway: Sci-Fi & Beyond
USA, 2012 (76 minutes)
The wolf was a beauty, and the “home movies” made by her guardians were somewhat interesting. What really surprised me were all the anti-wolf sentiments expressed by the residents of Montana. I’m not too sure why this was in the Sci-Fi category, it seemed like a typical documentary, as far as I could tell.
Festival Screenings:
May 31, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 6:30pm
June 1, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 4:00pm
**** Safety Not Guaranteed
Pathway: Sci-Fi & Beyond
USA, 2012 (85 minutes)
Another Seattle film, this one was engrossing. I kept wondering if the nerdy guy who placed the ad and inspired the journalists to investigate was the real thing or just a crackpot. Will the time travel take place? What is his real reason for wanting to go back in time? See it and find out!
Director Colin Trevorrow scheduled to attend.
Festival Screenings:
May 23, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 7:00pm
May 25, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 4:30pm
**** Cracks in the Shell
Pathway: Creative Streak
Germany, 2011 (113minutes)
This film is supposed to be reminiscent of Aronofsky’s Black Swan. I actually liked this film more, although it took a while to digest. It was very heavu duty. What is the connection between mental illness and talent? Are directors always as evil as they are portrayed in this film and others? The acting was excellent all through the film, especially Christina Drechsler, the handicapped sister.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, Pacific Place Cinemas, 9:30pm
May 22, Egyptian Theatre, 9:00pm
May 25, Everett Performing Arts Center, 9:30pm
* The Do-Deca-Pentathlon
Pathways: Make Me Laugh
USA, 2012 (90 minutes)
The ultra-competitive brothers were not as interesting to me as they were to some. I kept asking why? This film did not enlighten me.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 7:00pm
May 22, Pacific Place Cinemas, 4:30pm
*** High Ground
Pathway: Thrill Me
USA, 2011 (90 minutes)
Disabled veterans prepare to climb a Himalayan peak. They tell the stories of “what happened” to them. It is all worth it when they get to the summit. I mean it was worth it to me to see the views from up there.
Festival Screenings:
May 19, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 6:00pm
May 20, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 2:00pm
May 25, Everett Performing Arts Center, 4:00pm
*** Trishna
Pathway: Love Me, Do!
United Kingdom, 2011 (113minutes)
Trishna hooks up with Jay (you know he’s going to be bad) and they go to Bombay where he tries his hand at producing in Bollywood. The dancing segments are short and unfinished. And, of course, they all die, the end.
Festival Screenings:
May 18, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 6:30pm
May 20, SIFF Cinema Uptown, 3:30pm |
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| SIFF 2011 Press Screening Mini-Reviews Week Six |
[Jun. 9th, 2011|06:36 pm] |
***Por El Camino
Brazil, 2010 (84 minutes)
Director: Charly Braun
Cast: Jill Mulleady, Esteban Feune de Colombi, Guilhermina Guinle
Two attractive travellers meet and travel together through beautiful South American scenery -- Uruguay?
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Thu., June 9 Pacific Place Cinemas
11:00 AM Sat., June 11 Pacific Place Cinemas
Director Charly Braun and actor Esteban Feune de Colombi scheduled to attend.
****All Your Dead Ones
Colombia, 2010 (88 minutes)
Director: Carlos Moreno Cast: Álvaro Rodriguez, Jorge Herrera, Martha Márquez, Harold De Vssten, John Alex Castillo Awards: Sundance Film Festival 2011 (World Cinema Cinematography Award, Dramatic)
Innovative comedy about a pile of bodies. Excellent satire of election day in Colombia. Delightful ending!
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Fri, June 10 Harvard Exit
4:15 PM Sun, June 12 Neptune Theatre
Actor Jorge Herrera scheduled to attend.
**Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians
USA, 2011 (93 minutes)
Director: Bryan Storkel
This documentary could have been quite interesting, but it wasn't.
Festival Screenings
6:00 PM Sat, June 11 Admiral Theater
3:30 PM Sun, June 12 SIFF Cinema
Director Bryan Storkel scheduled to attend.
**Funkytown
Canada (Quebec), 2011 (133 minutes)
Director: Daniel Roby Cast: Patrick Huard, Justin Chatwin, Sarah Mutch, Raymond Bouchard, Paul Doucet
Overlong, suitable only for those really interested in the Disco scene in the 70s.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Fri, June 10 Pacific Place Cinemas
3:30 PM Sun, June 12 Pacific Place Cinemas
Director Daniel Roby scheduled to attend.
***The Destiny of Lesser Animals
Ghana/USA, 2011 (89 minutes)
Director: Deron Albright Cast: Yao B. Nunoo, Fred Amugi, Abena Takyi, Sandy Arkhurst, Xolasie Mawuenyega
A Ghanaian police officer desperate to return to America embarks on a dangerous journey to recover his counterfeit passport and then gets his priorities in order. Predictable but sweet and uplifting.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Sat, June 11 Harvard Exit
3:30 PM Sun, June 12 Admiral Theater
Director Deron Albright scheduled to attend.
**To Be Heard
USA, 2010 (87 minutes)
Directors: Amy Sultan, Roland Legiardi-Laura, Deborah Shaffer, Edwin Martinez Featuring: Pearl Quick, Anthony Pittman, Karina Sanchez
Not really the best or most interesting documentary, about inner city kids encouraged to express themselves in poetry
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Thu, June 9 SIFF Cinema
11:00 AM Sat, June 11 SIFF Cinema
Directors Roland Legiardi-Laura and Amy Sultan and subject Pearl Quick scheduled to attend.
***Tabloid
Press Screening: 2:00 PM
U.S. Distributor: IFC Films USA, 2010 (87 minutes)
Director: Errol Morris
Lurid, unbelievable (could this really be true?), fun
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Thu, June 9 SIFF Cinema
3:45 PM Sat, June 11 Admiral Theater
Norwegian Wood
Japan, 2010 (133 minutes)
Director: Tran Anh Hung Cast: Kenichi Matsuyama, Rinko Kikuchi, Kiko Mizuhara, Kengo Kora, Reika Kirishima
Showed with no subtitles. I guess I'll see it on Saturday.
Festival Screenings
6:00 PM Sat, June 11 Egyptian Theatre
3:30 PM Sun, June 12 Egyptian Theatre
**Lys (preceded by Roman’s Ark)
Germany, 2011 (52 minutes, 76 minutes total)
Director: Krystof Zlatnik Cast: Hanna Schwamborn, Horst-Günter Marx, Marc Hosemann, Catherine Bode Ecki Hoffmann
Both were pretty disappointing. Lys looked pretty, but was a rehash of an old story.
Roman's Ark was unattractive and had a distasteful story.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Fri, June 10 Neptune Theatre
11:00 AM Sat, June 11 Neptune Theatre
Director Krystof Zlatnik scheduled to attend.
***Spud
South Africa, 2010 (108 minutes)
Director: Donovan Marsh Cast: John Cleese, Troye Sivan, Jason Cope, Tanit Phoenix
One in a long line of boy's school stories, from Tom Brown's School days. This one was predictable but pleasant. John Cleese is always good.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Sat, June 11 SIFF Cinema
1:30 PM Sun, June 12 Harvard Exit
**Absent
Argentina, 2011 (87 minutes)
Director: Marco Berger Cast: Carlos Echevarria, Javier De Pietro, Antonella Costa
Awards: Berlin Film Festival 2011 (Teddy Award, Feature Film)
Dull, slow, nuff said.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Fri, June 10 Harvard Exit
1:30 PM Sat, June 11 Harvard Exit
Director Marco Berger scheduled to attend. |
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| SIFF 2011 "Juan" |
[Jun. 5th, 2011|11:03 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | siff film | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | thrilled | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Don Giovanni | ] |
***** Juan
I had not planned to review any regular screenings, but Juan is at the top of my favorites list so far and this treatment of Mozart's Don Giovanni merits a few comments, even though it has no more screenings at SIFF. I have seen many productions on Don Giovanni on stage and on screen, and this is the best ever. The opera was in English and gave the filmmakers a chance to change some of the particulars of the events. For example, there has been, since first performed, a controversy as to whether Anna was raped, but in this version, she states that she is going to make up a story about being raped. There are lots of cuts, Anna'a aria "Or sai chi l'onore," although one of my favorites, does not really make sense with this new treatment of her motivations. In the aria, "Non mi dir," she breaks up with Ottavio, not to mourn her father's death, but because she can't get over Juan and continues to think of how hot he was. And the actor/singer Christopher Maltman is hot. The story ends with the original scene of Juan's end, the tacked on sextet at the end is cut and that is a good thing from a dramatic, if not a musical point of view. There were some obvious vocal edits and not all the updates are improvements on the original, but I loved it and will see it again when it opens in Seattle and will buy the DVD when it becomes available. But Mozart is my favorite composer, I'm helpless. Yes, Don Juan has made another conquest. Special thanks to D for saving me from a very expensive taxi ride home. |
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| SIFF 2011 Press Screening Mini-Reviews Week Five |
[Jun. 3rd, 2011|12:28 pm] |
***Magic Trip: Ken Kesey's Search for a Kool Place
U.S. Distributor: Magnolia Films
USA, 2011 (107 minutes)
Directors: Alison Ellwood, Alex Gibney
Cast: Featuring: Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, "The Merry Band of Pranksters"
I'm sure it was not an easy edit to get 30+ hours down to less than 2. The narration was helpful and gave an idea of what it was like on the bus.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Thu, June 2 Egyptian Theatre
3:15 PM Sat, June 4 Egyptian Theatre
Director Alex Gibney scheduled to attend.
**Flying Fish
Sri Lanka, 2011 (125 minutes)
Director: Sanjeewa Pushpakumara
Cast: Chaminda Sampath Jayaweera, Rathnayaka Marasinghe, Kausalya Fernando, Sumathy
Sivamohan
This was so brutal and depressing, it tops any revenge feature I've ever seen. There is a real shocker towards the end that I have never seen on the screen before.
Festival Screening
6:30 PM Tue, June 7 Pacific Place Cinemas
4:00 PM Thu, June 9 Pacific Place Cinemas
Director Sanjeewa Pushpakumara scheduled to attend.
****Hot Coffee
USA, 2011 (88 minutes)
Director: Susan Saladoff
Cast: Featuring: John Grisham, Al Franken
Rarely does a documentary change my mind. Many of the "frivolous" lawsuits involve unimaginable suffering on the part of the plaintiffs. The most troubling question was was, "Why are juries not capable of determining a monitary payment for a wrong, but can decide if a person must pay with his life for a wrong?"
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Thu, June 9 Harvard Exit
11:00 AM Sat, June 11 Harvard Exit
Director Susan Saladoff scheduled to attend.
****Toast
United Kingdom (96 minutes)
Director: SJ Clarkson
Cast: Featuring: Helena Bohnam Carter and Freddie Highmore
A fun and nostalgic look at the early life of Nigel Slater that shaped his relationship
to food. The tone, the colors, the food!
Festival Screenings
6:30 PM Sat, June 11 Neptune Theatre
11:00 AM Sun, June 12 Neptune Theatre
Director SJ Clarkson scheduled to attend.
***Revenge of the Electric Car
USA, 2011 (95 minutes)
Director: Chris Paine
Cast: Narrated by Tim Robbins
The Return of the Son of Who Killed the Electric Car?, we get a happy ending (mostly) this time.
Festival Screenings
8:30 PM Wed, June 8 Kirkland Performance Center
7:00 PM Fri, June 10 Egyptian Theatre
4:30 PM Sun, June 12 Harvard Exit
Director Chris Paine scheduled to attend June 8 screening.
**Heading West
Netherlands, 2010 (98 minutes)
Director: Nicole van Kilsdonk
Cast: Susan Visser, Stefan Rokebrand, Viggo Waas,Koen Borkent, Annemarie Prins
One year in Amsterdam, a woman makes the wrong romantic choices, not her fault, I guess that is just how life is these days.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Wed, June 8 Pacific Place Cinemas
4:30 PM Fri, June 10 Egyptian Theatre |
|
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| SIFF 2011 Press Screening Mini-Reviews Week Four |
[May. 23rd, 2011|04:59 pm] |
****The Last Mountain
U.S. Distributor: Dada Films USA, 2011 (95 minutes)
Director: Bill Haney
This is the best documentary so far at SIFF. The locals are so articulate and logical and the corporate thugs are so jingoistic and crazy. And, of course, Big Coal has been and continues to be allowed to get away with murder.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Wed, June 1 Pacific Place Cinemas
4:00 PM Thu, June 2 Pacific Place Cinemas
Producer Clara Bingham scheduled to attend.
**Letters From the Big Man
USA, 2011 (115 minutes)
Director: Christopher Munch Cast: Lily Rabe, Jason Butler Harner, Isaac C. Singleton Jr., Jim Cody Williams, Karen Black
A forest service employee attracts everyone from loggers and environmental lawyers to Sasquatch. I'd consider myself lucky to be able to hike through the lovely scenery.
Festival Screenings
9:00 PM Thu, June 2 Everett Performing Arts Center
6:30 PM Fri, June 10 SIFF Cinema
4:30 PM Sat, June 11 SIFF Cinema
Director Christopher Munch scheduled to attend.
***Lesson Plan
USA/Germany, 2010 (76 minutes)
Directors: Philip Neel, David H. Jeffrey
This documentary, (we saw the German feature, Die Welle (the Wave) based on the same story at a previous SIFF) is even more frightening in light of a resurgent religious movement called The Third Wave with ties to the Wasilla Assemblies of God Church.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Tue, May 31 Harvard Exit
4:30 PM Wed, June 1 Harvard Exit
Directors Philip Neel and David H. Jeffrey and subject Ron Jones scheduled to attend.
**Small Town Murder Songs
Canada, 2010 (75 minutes)
Director: Ed Gass-Donnelly Cast: Peter Stormare, Aaron Poole, Martha Plimpton, Jill Hennessy Awards: Torino Film Festival 2010 (FIPRESCI Prize), Whistler Film Festival 2010 (Best Actress)
I think I am the only one who did not care for this film. It was slow and I couldn't identify with the main character. Everyone else seemed to like it a lot.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Fri, June 3 Harvard Exit
1:30 PM Sun, June 5 Harvard Exit
Director Ed Gass-Donnelly scheduled to attend.
***My So-Called Enemy
USA, 2010 (89 minutes)
Director: Lisa Gossels
The hostility and polarity reminded me of discussions of Vietnam in college. It was a life and death issue then as well, but the issues were very different. The focus on the girls and their opinions with no attempt to find consensus or even agreement on a single issue and the follow up for 10 years made this film even more informative.
Festival Screenings
6:30 PM Sun, June 5 Harvard Exit
4:30 PM Mon, June 6 Harvard Exit
Director Lisa Gossels scheduled to attend.
****Killing Bono
United Kingdom, 2011 (114 minutes)
Director: Nick Hamm Cast: Ben Barnes, Robert Sheehan, Krysten Ritter, Pete Postlethwaite.
Believe it or not I would not know Bono or U2 if they bit me on the ass. Given that, I'm surprised I enjoyed this film as much as I did. It was funny throughout. If you like the music, which I can't make any statements on, you will probably really like this film.
Festival Screenings
6:30 PM Thu, June 2 Neptune Theatre
1:30 PM Sun, June 5 Neptune Theatre
9:15 PM Wed, June 8 Admiral Theater
Director Nick Hamm to attend June 2 screening.
**Wasted on the Young
U.S. Distributor: Indomina Releasing
Australia, 2010 (97 minutes)
Director: Ben C. Lucas Cast: Oliver Ackland, Adelaide Clemens, Alex Russell, Georgina Haig, Gerraldine Hakewill
There was lots of unintelligible texting going on as well as videos that appeared to be nothing more than garbled images filmed on phones. I couldn't even figure out the final outcome.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Thu, June 2 Neptune Theatre
1:30 PM Sat, June 4 Harvard Exit
Director Ben C. Lucas scheduled to attend.
***Salvation Boulevard
U.S. Distributor: IFC Films
USA, 2011 (95 minutes)
Director: George Ratliff Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Greg Kinnear, Marisa Tomei
This was a laugh a minute, although sometimes I was embarrassed that I was laughing at such lame material. The Mexican Contractor who was preceived to be Satan by the preacher (Brosnan) was wearing a unicursal hexagram (a Thelemic symbol easily mistaken for a Star of David) around his neck. Wonder what that was about.
Festival Screenings
9:15 PM Fri, June 3 Egyptian Theatre
1:00 PM Sun, June 5 Admiral Theater
Director George Ratliff scheduled to attend.
***Vampire
Canada/USA, 2011 (119 minutes)
Director: Iwai Shunji Cast: Kevin Zegers, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rachel Leigh Cook, Kristin Kreuk
Not as bad as Nicholas Cage's vampire movie, but not as good as "Let the Right One In." People walked out in droves, during the only disgusting and gorey scene. I liked the story; it could have had a better treatment.
Festival Screenings
6:30 PM Wed, June 1 Egyptian Theatre
4:00 PM Thu, June 2 Egyptian Theatre
8:30 PM Sun, June 5 Admiral Theater
**The Rescuers
USA, 2011 (94 minutes)
Director: Michael King
Genocide is far more common that we humans would like to admit. The holocaust (Hiler's final solution) is the best documented. Unfortunately, this documentary is not the best documentation available. I seen so many better on the same subject. This film needed a more ruthless editor.
Festival Screenings
10:00 AM Sun, May 29 Harvard Exit
4:00 PM Mon, May 30 Harvard Exit
Director Michael King scheduled to attend.
**Weekend
U.S. Distributor: Sundance Selects United Kingdom, 2011 (96 minutes)
Director: Andrew Haigh Cast: Tom Cullen, Chris New
A pleasant exploration of two men's different ideas about being gay, and having a relationship, that they explore on their first weekend together.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Fri, June 3 Harvard Exit
4:30 PM Sun, June 5 SIFF Cinema
Director Andrew Haigh scheduled to attend.
***Viva Riva!
U.S. Distributor: Music Box Films Democratic Republic of Congo/France/Belgium/South Africa, 2010 (96 minutes)
Director: Djo Tunda Wa Munga Cast: Patsha Bay, Manie Malone, Hoji Fortuna, Marlene Longange, Alex Herabo, Diplome Amekindra
I had heard that the Congo was anarchic and that the infrastructure crumbles more and more each day. What a great place to set a gangster movie! This was lots of Gangster fun and hopefully not TOO realistic, although I suspect it was.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Thu, May 26 Pacific Place Cinemas
4:00 PM Fri, May 27 Pacific Place Cinemas
Director Djo Tunda Wa Munga scheduled to attend. |
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| SIFF 2011 Press Screening Mini-Reviews Week Three |
[May. 17th, 2011|05:18 pm] |
**Saigon Electric
Vietnam/USA, 2011 (108 minutes)
Director: Stephane Gauger Cast: Van Trang, Quynh Hoa, Khoung Ngoc, Zen 04, Viet Max, Phan Tan Thi, Elly Nguyen
Saigon v. Hanoi breakdancers and some forgettable romance to fill the non-dancing parts. These kids were excellent dancers, too bad the camera work wasn't at the same level. Dancers were filmed in too-close-up and too much jerky hand-held work.
Festival Screenings
7:15 PM Sat, May 28 Neptune Theatre
3:00 PM Mon, May 30 Pacific Place Cinemas
6:30 PM Wed, June 1 Everett Performing Arts Center
Director Stephane Gauger scheduled to attend May 28 & 30 screenings.
***Every Song is About Me
Spain, 2010 (104 minutes)
Director: Jonas Trueba Cast: Oriol Vila, Barbara Lennie, Ramon Fontsere, Bruno Bergonzini, Valeria Alonso
A poet suffers from the indifference of the woman he loves. Pleasant enough, but mostly forgettable, but with a memorable last scene.
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Sun, May 29 Pacific Place Cinemas
12:00 PM Mon, May 30 Pacific Place Cinemas
6:30 PM Mon, June 6 Admiral Theater
Director Jonas Trueba scheduled to attend May 29 & 30 screenings.
****The Whistleblower
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films Canada/Germany, 2010 (118 minutes)
Director: Larysa Kondracki Cast: Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, Monica Bellucci, David Strathairn, Nikolaj Lie Kaas Awards: Palm Springs Film Festival 2011 (Audience Award)
Weisz is perfectly cast as cop-turned-peacekeeper in Bosnia uncovers a human trafficking ring that indites the private, corporate peace-keepers. Based on a true story. The titles at the end where they say so and so was convicted and served x amount of time were cut off, as were the credits; I was told that the problem had been fixed.
Festival Screenings
6:45 PM Sat, May 28 Egyptian Theatre
1:00 PM Sun, May 29 Egyptian Theatre
6:30 PM Tue, May 31 Everett Performing Arts Center
Director Larysa Kondracki scheduled to attend May 28 & 29 screenings
****On the Ice
USA, 2011, 96 Minutes
Language: Iñupiaq and English
The SIFF blurb says it all. Set amidst the frozen ice fields of Barrow, Alaska, Andrew Okpeaha MacLean’s debut feature film explores the nature of conscience in the aftermath of a fatal accident that nearly tears apart a close-knit community of native villagers. When Qalli (Josiah Patkotak) and Aivaaq (Frank Qutuq Irelan) return from a seal hunt with the news that their friend James (John Miller) fell into the sea, the entire town mobilizes to find the missing youth. As days pass with no sign of James, Qalli’s father becomes increasingly suspicious of his son’s involvement in the incident, leading to increased tension between Qalli and Aivaaq that eventually explodes in a dramatic showdown on the treacherous ice fields. Part nail-biting thriller, part meditation on the nature of guilt, Okpeaha’s film features stunning performances that propel an equally engrossing narrative that keeps the audience in its thrall until the final scene. With a portion of the dialogue spoken in the native Iñupiaq, On the Ice introduces the audiences to a culture not often seen while still managing to deliver a thrilling narrative of uncommon power and grace.
Director Andrew Okpeaha Maclean and producer Cara Marcous scheduled to attend June 4 and June 5 screenings
** Nobody
Greece, 2010 (96 minutes)
Director: Christos Nikoleris Cast: Georgina Liossi, Antinoos Albanis, Efi Stamouli, Nikolas Papagiannis, Giorgos Papageorgiou, Dimitris Kapenakos
An edgy Greek update of Romeo and Juliet with a surprise ending.
7:00 PM Fri, May 27 Pacific Place Cinemas
1:00 PM Sun, May 29 Everett Performing Arts Center
4:30 PM Tue, May 31 Pacific Place Cinemas
Director Christos Nikoleris scheduled to attend May 27 & 29 screenings.
***Hit So Hard
USA, 2011 (103 minutes)
Director: P. David Ebersole Featuring: Patty Schemel, Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain
Formerly Hole's drummer, a homeless crack whore and dog-loving lesbian six year sober Patty Schemel shares the most intimate and outrageous moments in her tumultuous life. Courtney Love is a real bitch.
Festival Screenings
9:00 PM Fri, May 27 Egyptian Theatre
4:00 PM Sun, May 29 Neptune Theatre
Director P. David Ebersole, subject Patti Schemel and producers Todd Hughes and Christina Soletti scheduled to attend.
**On Tour
France, 2010 (111 minutes)
Director: Mathieu Amalric Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Julie Atlas Muz, Miranda Colclasure, Suzanne Ramsey Awards: Cannes FIlm Festival 2010 (Best Director)
Less predictable than Cher's Buslesque, with better acts, but no Christine Aguilara. Mostly forgettable.
Festival Screenings
9:00 PM Sat, May 28 Admiral Theater
9:30 PM Thu, June 9 Neptune Theatre
3:30 PM Sat, June 11 Neptune Theatre
Performer Suzanne Ramsey (a.k.a. Kitten on the Keys) scheduled to attend June 9 & 11 screenings.
****Perfect Sense
U.S. Distributor: IFC Films United Kingdom/Germany/Sweden/Denmark, 2011 (88 minutes)
Director: David Mackenzie Cast: Ewan McGregor, Eva Green, Ewen Bremner, Stephen Dillane, Connie Nielsen
Four Stars only because of Euan McGregor's adoreableness and Ewen Bremners need for sustitles for the Scottish impaired. Not science fiction, an exploration of sensuality, See ***Touch
Festival Screenings
9:15 PM Sat, May 21 Egyptian Theatre
4:30 PM Wed, May 25 Egyptian Theatre
***Paper Birds
Spain, 2010 (125 minutes)
Director: Emilio Aragón Cast: Imanol Arias, Llu’s Homar, Roger Princep, Carmen Machi Awards: Montreal World Film Festival 2010 (Audience Award)
Predictable story with black and white likeable characters.
Festival Screenings
8:30 PM Thu, May 26 Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center
6:30 PM Sat, May 28 Pacific Place Cinemas
12:30 PM Sun, May 29 Pacific Place Cinemas
Director Emilio Aragón scheduled to attend
***Touch
USA, 2011 (109 minutes)
Director: Minh Duc Nguyen Cast: Porter Lynn, John Ruby, Melinda Bennett, Long Nguyen, Hiep Thi Le
Focussing on the human need for touch, this sweet film was a little moralistic, but in a nice way.
Festival Screenings
6:30 PM Sat, May 21 Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center
6:30 PM Mon, May 23 Admiral Theater
Director Minh Duc Nguyen scheduled to attend.
*Man at Bath
France, 2010 (72 minutes)
Director: Christophe Honoré Cast: François Sagat, Chiara Mastroianni, Rabah Zahi
Pretty hard core if you ask me. The non-sexual parts make no sense; even the gay guys in the audience disliked this film.
Festival Screenings
9:30 PM Wed, May 25 Egyptian Theatre
4:30 PM Thu, May 26 Egyptian Theatre
Actor François Sagat scheduled to attend.
***An African Election
Ghana/Switzerland/USA, 2010 (89 minutes)
Director: Jarreth Merz
A lot of people were bored with this, but I found it fascinating. One had to pay pretty close attention to figure out which party was right/left of center, which had military support, and which was named the Patriot Party. Kudos to the Election Commissioner who kept the country at relative peace while partisans said things like, "We'll see you in the streets!"
Festival Screenings
7:00 PM Thu, May 26 Harvard Exit
4:30 PM Fri, May 27 Harvard Exit
Director Jarreth Merz scheduled to attend. |
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