In which I see the second of two short film collections. This one is entitled Pandemonium Boulevard. How it’s described in the catalog: “And then, quite suddenly, all hell broke loose.” It’s a fantastic description, but the films didn’t all live up to the hype. “How I Survived the Zombie Apocalypse” was corny and predictable, and felt too much like a rip-off of “The Sarah Connor Chronicles”. “In The Dark”, starring my main man Wil Wheaton, was a funny little tale of a man planning his first murder, but it wasn’t scary. Some nice creepiness came from “Culebra” and “Off Season”. The former showing a supernatural consequence of illegal immigration (my fear of tunnels is magnified when the tunnel in question is a sewage pipe). The latter starred Bill Sage and a dog and had a real good isolation vibe. I was happy to see Mr. Sage again; he’s a regular in Hal Hartley films – one of my favorite directors. The Hungarian “Epilogue” was a visually interesting and enjoyable take on guilt, but, again, not scary.
Category Archives: pop culture
The New “Like”
The other day my pal Toni and I were waiting in line for a movie in front of this girl and her friend who incessantly used the word “like” in her conversation. Almost literally, every two to three words was “like” as if the girl just had some uncontrollable tic. Once I noticed it, I couldn’t stop hearing that word. I brought it to Toni’s attention so I wouldn’t be alone in my hyperobservance of this girl’s speech. I thought to myself “is ‘like’ even popular anymore?” Didn’t its overuse fall out of favor years ago?
SIFF 2010: Day One
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).
Them’s Fightin’ Words
So, Obama’s Chief of Staff called some of his colleagues “retarded,” and a bunch of other people got mad, most notably, Ms. Palin. Seems it’s not nice to disparage mentally challenged people, even behind closed doors (I’m not disagreeing). But I have to ask, what do his comments have to do with people with learning disabilities specifically? He wasn’t calling them retarded, he was calling his colleagues retarded (or their actions). What does retarded mean? Just like another word I wrote about recently, it means what we want it to mean.
In the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, I find that the definition of the transitive verb retard can be “to slow up especially by preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment : impede.” And in this sense, I do believe it could be said this is exactly what Mr. Emanuel was trying to convey in his weekly strategy meeting. To quote the Wall Street Journal, he “warned [the group] not to alienate lawmakers whose votes would be needed on health care and other top legislative items.” So was he really likening them derisively to people with mental handicap, or was he expressing his opinion that their actions were hindering accomplishment?
I’m going with the latter.
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.