As I did last year, I’m counting my days at the festival, not the days of the festival itself. Technically the day before was Day One, as that was the Opening Night Gala, which I did not attend. I heard it was a fun time at Benaroya Hall with lots of good local eats available for the guests, and a good movie to boot (The Extra Man).
Category Archives: cinema
Go See This Movie!
I must recommend everyone see Fantastic Mr. Fox. Sadly looked over, this was a joy to watch on the big screen. So hurry, ’cause it might still be in your local theatre, maybe even in your “dollar” theatre. It’s based on a Roald Dahl tale which I’ve never heard of, much less read. Which makes the story interesting because it’s not one about children getting one over on adults, which is a common Dahl plot. Instead, it tells us about a community, and a family, that comes together to preserve itself against all odds. Wes Anderson directed it, and it does have his timing which I think can be unsettling for some. But still, go see it.
Revelations
I was struck recently, today in fact, by the beauty of a smile. Not just any smile. A true, genuine, heartfelt smile. The transformative power of that seemingly simple act of distorting one’s face has really knocked my socks off. There are people out there who are pulchritudinous no matter their expression. But even the most loathesome countenance can be turned into the beaming face of an angel with a good laugh.
This may sound hokey, but trust me. Next time you’re contemplative (even if you have to schedule in the time) pay attention to people’s faces. Find one you consider “ugly”, then wait for it. Wait for that expression of joy to spread across that ugly mug, and you will see beauty. And hopefully it will stir a little happiness inside. And everyone is beautiful when they’re happy.
Maybe this cheese is squeezing out of me because I just saw the film Precious, a dirty filthy film about dirty filthy people, and beautiful ones, too (some being the same people, get it?). Some good performances from people whom we are used to seeing in their best light, but here, they are generally not that pretty. Mo’Nique is far from her role on “The Parkers”, and Mariah Carey did not make me vomit – which is surprising since the mere thought of Glitter makes me queasy. I actually didn’t know it was Ms. Carey until the end credits, which is to her credit. [wink] Anyway, it was well done in that it didn’t flog you tirelessly with the tragedy that is the title character. We get to escape with her when things get tough in her fantasies of a better life. Good flick.
SIFF 2009: part three of three
The festival has drawn to a close. Here are highlights from the final weekend.
Wonderful World
I cannot say that this was an altogether bad film. There were some funny moments and important lessons were learned. It came across, however, as a bit too cliché. It was writer Joshua Goldin’s directing debut, and he’s no spring chicken. I had hoped he would have known better, but instead this seemed to be the product of years of Hollywood programming. My biggest gripe (and it’s becoming a gripe with more films as time goes by) is the reliance on sex to further the plot. Matthew Broderick’s lead character does indeed need a spiritual awakening, but is the only thing that will get his attention a buxom exotic beauty? As soon as she appeared on screen, I knew that they would end up in bed together. Movies are a fantasy world, right? Let’s imagine a place where men don’t always think with their crotch.
It was nice seeing Michael K. Williams on the big screen. His character Omar is one of my favorites on TV’s “The Wire”. It would have been better to see the relationship between him and Broderick fleshed out a little more. As it was, most of their connection – apparently deep since Broderick escorts him halfway around the world – has to be assumed by the viewer.
Inju, the Beast in the Shadow (Inju, La Bête Dans L’ombre)
I must admit the main reason I saw this film was Benoît Magimel (delicious in La Pianiste). I was encouraged by the reference to Edgar Allan Poe in the film’s description. It is a fun French film noir set in Kyoto, Japan in the present day. There is murder, sex, intrigue, and an ostensibly smart man who really should have known better. What is obvious to the audience, is not so to the protagonist, Magimel, who is lead, of course, by his crotch with a bit of inflated ego mixed in. More entertaining than I had expected, the film hearkens back to the golden era of noir, which is pleasing in these times of excessive CGI violence and record-breaking profanity.
A Pain in the Ass (L’emmerdeur)
Hilarious French slapstick! See it!
North (Nord)
Another road movie of sorts, this one takes place on a snowmobile and a pair of cross country skis. A depressed Norwegian man must travel north to see his son one more time before his estranged wife moves south with her new husband. He makes a couple friends along the way, and I discover a new band!
Il Divo
Toni Servillo stars as Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, a particularly infamous man. (If you want to know if those ears are for real, watch him in Gomorra) A story with many players, spanning over a couple decades, a summary of events was given at the beginning of the film in several minutes of text only on the screen. This was a good thing, because then you can forget about trying to keep up with who’s who, who did what, etc. and just be taken in by the sights and sounds that make up this film. Excellent sound editing and use of the soundtrack and stunning visuals make it worth watching. I’m glad I got to see it at Cinerama on that huge screen. It has the makings of a blockbuster, if it weren’t for that Italian language thing. Movies with subtitles don’t generally go over well with the American masses. Too bad.
Home
A heartwarming and heartbreaking portrait of a family. We are introduced to them as they live their pastoral, idyllic lives beside a vacant highway amid vast fields. They are offbeat yet harmonic with each other. But then the highway opens, and their lives are completely changed. We watch as they first try to accept, then reject the chaos just beyond their front yard. It infects them, both individually and collectively. Home is a fascinating study of how progress can undermine humanity. Isabelle Huppert is delightful as always (see again La Pianiste, and another favorite, Hal Hartley’s Amateur).
OSS117: Lost in Rio (Rio ne répond plus)
Closing night selection of the festival. Director Michel Hazanavicius was on hand to introduce the film. More silliness from OSS117, the spy you love to hate. Some people complained the film was “more of the same”, but really, were they expecting the racist, misogynist, clueless character to have some sort of evolution? Enjoy it for what it is, and you will be much happier for it. Playing at SIFF Cinema 19 June, 7 pm. www.siff.net for tickets
SIFF 2009: part two of three
My summation continues . . .
Small Crime (Μικρό Έγκλημα)
A comedic whodunnit set in Cyprus, I found this quite enjoyable. The leading man (Άρης Σερβετάλης-Aris Servetalis), though somewhat hapless, was quite charming, and I was rooting for him from the start. Someone dies in the tiny village, and the 2nd in command of a police force of two sets out to solve the mystery. Well put together with plenty enjoyable characters.
Against the Current
Super-small budget film about a widower (Joseph Fiennes) who decides to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the death of his wife and child by swimming down the Hudson River into the Atlantic Ocean. His best friend, played by Justin Kirk (“Weeds”, Puccini for Beginners), has promised to accompany him on this journey, and a casual acquaintence, Elizabeth Reaser, has joined as well (what’s a movie without sexual tension?). There are some road movie elements as they make their way down river—encounters with the locals, Reaser’s crazy mom played by Mary Tyler Moore . . . While Fiennes’ character really gives no compelling reason why he should die, he never really gives one why he should live. I think this film is a good conversation piece, but I’m not really sure if I liked it.
Final Arrangements (Bouquet Final)
A fun French film about a child of bohemians who resorts to getting a “real job” at a funeral home when his artistic dreams fail to pay the rent. Funny and slapsticky with a good amount sappiness mixed in. I’m not sure how close to reality the funereal scenes are, but several were definitely cringe-worthy. (Having family in the biz, I probably am a little more critical, maybe.)
Swimsuit Issue (Allt Flyter)
Two Swedish films in a row! One last year, and one this year! Who knew they had so many? (I kid. I’ve actually seen at least two more in the interim. ha ha)
This was a cute film about a dad who, in an attempt to be sporting with his buddies, also ends up bonding with his daughter. Through a series of events, the men find themselves members of an all-male synchronized swimming team with the goal of winning the World Cup. There are the typical conflicts that could be expected when one gender takes a role that has traditionally belonged to the other, and they are presented in a very funny way. An audience favorite, it is replaying at SIFF Cinema on 21 June at 6pm. www.siff.net for tickets
Beauties at War (La Guerre Des Miss)
Entertaining, but a bit too predictable.
SIFF 2009: part one of three
Welcome to my SIFF 2009 Post Mortem. Highlights from this year: the 35th anniversary of the festival, Cinerama, West Seattle, and SIFFter. The last item being a nifty application, for online or for iPhone, giving access to all the films available at SIFF. On the face of it, a handy tool, but really it only served to offer me too many choices and making it diffcult to narrow down my schedule. In prior years, I’ve had to struggle to add more films to use up my vouchers. This year, I had to delete films from My SIFF. Oh, woe is me!
Following are the films I did manage to see, and some commentary. Some are already scheduled for theatrical release, so you will have the opportunity soon to find out if you agree with me. Others you may have to wait a bit for the dvd.
Cell Phones Off, Please! Enjoy the Films!!!
I remember back in 1997, seeing Lost Highway at the Angelika at the midnight showing on opening night. The film is, in a lot of parts, quiet – long stretches of silence or near silence throughout. It was an amazing experience to be in a full movie theatre – in New York City especially – where no one made a sound. The audience as a whole was totally into the film and respected the silence. It was beautiful.
I had a similar experience five years earlier at a preview screening of Dracula at a nice midtown theatre. Not a particularly quiet movie, but still the audience did not detract from it by whispering, crinkling candy wrappers, or letting their cell phones ring (were cell phones even a big thing in ’92? There definitely wasn’t texting yet). We were allowed by the silent audience to make it a private experience while also sharing it with a couple hundred fellow filmgoers. This was in direct contrast to my 2nd viewing a week later at a multiplex in the East Village where there was a more typical NYC movie crowd. They laughed outloud at the cheesy parts, talked back to the characters on screen. . . And I cannot say it wasn’t enjoyable also, just in a completely different way. Still, I’m glad I saw it first with the quiet crowd.
Yesterday I completed my second week of films at the 35th annual SIFF festival. In between films, I overheard a conversation about the change in the audience “consideration”. (I think this may have been a general statement about film audiences, stemming from a direct observation of the SIFF audiences.) Every year, audiences are asked to turn off phones and beepers, a couple years they added “anything that lights up, including watches”, and this year they’ve added “no texting”. Despite these requests, people still pull out their phones mid-movie. I sometimes ask myself: Do people really need to be told not to text during a movie? And the answer is Yes, yes they do.
Last week I watched Small Crime at Uptown Cinema. It was a cute little comedy set in Cyprus. Apparently the female half of a newlywed couple sitting in front of me was from that part of the world and had extensive knowledge to share with her other half. Throughout the entire film, she was offering little tidbits to him which I’m sure were interesting. I couldn’t actually hear what she was saying, but considering the subtitles floated just above their heads, I sure did notice. It was quite distracting, but not wanting to distract anyone else, I refrained from saying anything to them. I did kick her chair a couple times “on accident”. To them I say, if you want to discuss it as you watch it – rent it and stay home!
There have been a couple films in which I find myself in serious need of a potty break. I sit there, trying not to squirm, trying to figure out if I can hold out ’til the end, or if I should just make a break for it. I really don’t like getting up in the middle of a film, but when Nature calls . . . So I can empathize with other people who are wondering “how much time has already passed?” and “how much longer until the credits roll?” Sometimes it’s a very helpful piece of information, sometimes it just eases an anxious mind. To these people I say – Wear a watch. Timex makes a really affordable white-face analog time piece that can be read in the light of most films, without even having to turn on the Indiglo. There is absolutely no reason you need to pull out a cell phone and light up the entire row just to find out what time it is. (You know what time the film started, take a guess!)
There is also no reason to have your phone on at all. If you really anticipate that someone might call or text you and cannot wait up to 2 hours for a reply, you really should consider renting a movie and staying at home. That way, if that emergency does take place, you can stop the film and resume it later, after the crisis has been averted. In this way, you are not annoying your fellow movie watchers, and you don’t have to miss the film. It’s a win-win situation.
The overheard conversation mentioned the more frequent home viewing as a cause for this type of inconsiderate behavior. I think there is more to it. As we become more addicted to our devices which connect us to other parts of the globe, we become less aware of our very immediate surroundings. If it weren’t a problem, we wouldn’t see signs at the coffee bar asking customers to refrain from cell phone usage while they are in line. Do people really need to be told to be more present in their immediate interactions with their fellow humans? Yes, yes they do. Will they listen? Hold on, I’ve got to take this call . . . .