The film slate for the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival will be released, in part, beginning on Tuesday. That is - the list of big ticket movies (the galas and special presentations) is coming out.
Not long ago, Indiewire listed several films they hope will play the fall festival circuit. Since I'm not going to Venice or Telluride (damned job, always getting in the way!) I'll get selfish and hope many of these premiere at TIFF. Not that they can't play both, of course.
Indiewire posted 50 - but I'm going to post the five I'm dying for. Who knows if they'll be at TIFF or not - but I'll be ecstatic if so, and if not... well, I guess I'll just have to wait a little longer.
Inside Llewelyn Davis
The Coen Brothers! Filmed in NYC? Absolutely.
Looper
Let's see if I can finally figure out what all the fuss is about.
Seven Psychopaths
Martin McDonagh's follow-up to The Guard, which I enjoyed a great deal.
Argo
I've never anything short of loved a movie directed by Ben Affleck. Now there's a sentence I would have never believed ~six years ago I'd be typing now. I'd say this one is a near certainty at TIFF, no?
The Master
PTA!PTA!PTA!PTA!
Other than those few noted exceptions, what I'm most looking forward to is whatever the Midnight Madness and International programming have in store. Past TIFF finds have been as varied as Kill List, The Secret In Her Eyes, I Killed My Mother, Shinboru, Fish Tank. I have confidence in the programming team and I'm excited about 2012 at TIFF.
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Dor's Summer of Catch-Up
It's a widely known fact for which I am constantly derided: I have seen very few films that were released before the late 90's. The late '90's is when I realized my spare time (other than the weeks I devoted to following a certain late '90's singer song/writer) was best spent in my local multiplex, seeing films. Or better yet, at my local Blockbuster, renting recent indies.
Prior to that, my life consisted of dodging high-school homework by chatting up cute boys in AOL chat rooms. Finally I chatted up the right person in an AOL chat room who said "you know what, Dor, let's meet in real life. And once we get along? Let's watch a shit ton of movies."
The late '90s is when I figured out that just anyone, and I mean anyone, could buy a $200 flight to Sundance and find themselves in the middle of a smorgasboard of indie goodness. Which I did - remind me to post one day about my first Sundance back in the dark ages of January, 2000. (OVER TWELVE YEARS AGO 'CAUSE I AM REAL OLD NOW.)
I guess what I'm trying to say is - No, I haven't seen Back to the Future.
I haven't seen that, and I haven't seen Jaws, and I haven't seen [fill in the blank with some horrendous blindspot]. Yes, everyone has them. I'd like to think my number of blindspots is disproportionally high considering the fact that I've seen over 200 movies in a theater in the last six months.
My point, then, and thanks for allowing the meander, is that this is the Summer of Catch Up. Can I save enough face? No, probably not, I'll always be gasping for air in this great dog paddle of cinephilia. (Which may not be a word.)
And don't give me any more credit than I deserve. Really all I'm doing is trying to keep seeing movies in a time where the multiplex is largely dominated by things I don't want to see and the arthouse is taken over by movies I've seen once (or four times) already, thanks to Sundance, SXSW, SIFF, what have you.
If you're bored enough to peruse my stupid list of every movie I've seen in 2012 you'll see I've proudly taken in my first viewing of such classics as Old Boy, Nashville, Annie Hall and even Psycho. Which actually I didn't add to that list for some reason but I loved fervently.
And it's only mid-July! I have even more catching up to do.
After perusing the schedules of MoMI, Film Forum, IFC, etc, if any one of my NYC pals wants to join, do holler.
Prior to that, my life consisted of dodging high-school homework by chatting up cute boys in AOL chat rooms. Finally I chatted up the right person in an AOL chat room who said "you know what, Dor, let's meet in real life. And once we get along? Let's watch a shit ton of movies."
The late '90s is when I figured out that just anyone, and I mean anyone, could buy a $200 flight to Sundance and find themselves in the middle of a smorgasboard of indie goodness. Which I did - remind me to post one day about my first Sundance back in the dark ages of January, 2000. (OVER TWELVE YEARS AGO 'CAUSE I AM REAL OLD NOW.)
I guess what I'm trying to say is - No, I haven't seen Back to the Future.
I haven't seen that, and I haven't seen Jaws, and I haven't seen [fill in the blank with some horrendous blindspot]. Yes, everyone has them. I'd like to think my number of blindspots is disproportionally high considering the fact that I've seen over 200 movies in a theater in the last six months.
My point, then, and thanks for allowing the meander, is that this is the Summer of Catch Up. Can I save enough face? No, probably not, I'll always be gasping for air in this great dog paddle of cinephilia. (Which may not be a word.)
And don't give me any more credit than I deserve. Really all I'm doing is trying to keep seeing movies in a time where the multiplex is largely dominated by things I don't want to see and the arthouse is taken over by movies I've seen once (or four times) already, thanks to Sundance, SXSW, SIFF, what have you.
- Enter the Museum of the Moving Image and their $150 dual membership with free tickets (shit, I am a sucker for free tickets)
- Enter the Film Forum's Universal 100 series and their $7 double features (not to mention tasty popcorn)
- Enter the IFC Hitchcock weekend programming (which is free for members), which is how I went from having seen one Hitchcock film to having seen eight. Humblebrag. Yeah I know there are a million more.
If you're bored enough to peruse my stupid list of every movie I've seen in 2012 you'll see I've proudly taken in my first viewing of such classics as Old Boy, Nashville, Annie Hall and even Psycho. Which actually I didn't add to that list for some reason but I loved fervently.
And it's only mid-July! I have even more catching up to do.
After perusing the schedules of MoMI, Film Forum, IFC, etc, if any one of my NYC pals wants to join, do holler.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Cinemania - a doc about NYC hardcore film buffs
I've seen countless documentaries about fandom, subcultures, and people on the fringes. I dare say it's my favorite documentary sub-genre. From sports fans to bird-watchers, I cannot get enough. I wouldn't put Cinemania in the upper ranks in terms of quality within its contemporaries, but because of the familiar subject matter, I enjoyed it a great deal.
I desperately wanted to live-tweet my impressions as I was watching. But I try not to be terribly irrelevant so I resisted the urge.
Allow me, though, to type here what I would have said.
I think the reasons I didn't think it was a better film was because of its unstructured nature. Way too much time was spent following the subjects as they just wandered through pedestrian crowds and subway platforms going from movie to movie.
I also wouldn't not have minded a bit more diversity in the subjects. Like - all these folks were hoarder types without jobs. Maybe one can't find shades of grey within intense movie fandom - it's clear these guys are on a different level than I - but, it would have been interesting to see a slight variation. Not only folks on the fringes.
I found it very interesting to see what movie theaters looked like 10-15 years ago. It looks like the Film Forum has not changed much.
I wish the IFC center had been open while they were filming this. I wonder if any of these guys are members. I will look out for them. I know at least one of them has died, though. (?)
I am particularly susceptible to this but… the movie makes me want to get off my couch and see movies. It's definitely stressful, like I am missing stuff. The subjects described this feeling of not knowing how to decide what to see, having so many conflicting showtimes, etc. That resonated for me.
I wasn't sure if most of these guys never see any first-run films, or of the movie just decided to focus more on their love for the old stuff, but it seemed odd that someone would love movies so much and not be as excited by what's coming as they are for what's past.
They don't seem to watch too much in their own homes but there was one scene where a couple of them did. It was sure painful to watch them pop in a DVD and watch it on the shittiest little TV. WTF guys.
I wish there were more interviews with programmers/theater staff.
Loved the MoMI stuff, 'cause I never went there before it was renovated
I would love to have one of these fierce motherfuckers behind me nowadays when there's someone on their smart-phone, or talking, or something.
I'm so glad I am not too particular about technical details. That's taking it too damned far. I don't even usually notice. I guess though once you notice, you can't turn it off, you can't unsee.
I really loved the concept of one's love life failing because it couldn't compare to cinematic images. I'll be thinking of that comment for a while. As if I hadn't been thinking about it for some time already.
Overall I am quite thankful for the recommendation and glad I saw it. I'd like someone else to make a follow up with maybe a slightly different structure - a little broader, not necessarily focused on individuals but rather a community. I'd Kickstart that real quick.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
My favorite movies of 2012 so far - in honor of the top two being released this weekend
Of the 198 movies I have seen in theaters so far this year, here's a list of the ones I liked the best.
1. Take This Waltz
Release Date: June 29th (and playing now on VOD)
2. Beasts of the Southern Wild
Release Date: TODAY in LA/NY, and click here for more info.
3. The Invisible War
Release Date: June 27th
4. Oslo, August 31st
Release Date: Out now! More Info
5. Jeff Who Lives at Home
Release Date: Just came out on DVD/Blu-Ray
6. Teddy Bear
Release Date: August 22nd at the Film Forum (thanks Kenji!)
7. Polisse
Release Date: Now Playing
8. Moonrise Kingdom
Release Date: Now Playing
9. Vivan las Antipodas!
Release Date: I don’t know
10. Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Release Date: Now Playing
Monday, June 18, 2012
In which I gush about the Museum of the Moving Image. GAHHH!!!
When I started writing this dorky blog, one of the first things I did was write a list of movie goals for 2012. At the top of that list was to visit the Museum of the Moving Image, which comes highly recommended by several movie-loving pals that I respect.
You could place the actual fountain of youth in Queens, though, and it'd probably take me a few months to make it out there. So, even as the fanatic consumer of movies that I've become of late, I still made only my first visit this past weekend.They're doing a Paramount in the 1970's series, so my friend Irene and I chose Marathon Man, a film I don't think I'd even heard of let alone seen. I didn't care much about what I saw there anyway - I just wanted to finally get there. What a gorgeous, gorgeous place. I had no idea Queens was this cool. Loved it. Even more than I was expecting to love it.
Sleek, clean, sexy, airy, open - are these the words that come to mind when you think of a movie theater? Think again. Granted, this place is, by definition, a museum. And I did not arrive early enough to explore this side of it.
Don't worry though, because in typical fashion I have joined up. It was actually crazy cheap. $100 per year and that includes unlimited access to their weekend programming. Queens folks - let's be movie buddies! I am going to live there! Especially while the IFC center is still showing Pina, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and others I've seen before.
Oh, and Marathon Man was pretty great, too.
You could place the actual fountain of youth in Queens, though, and it'd probably take me a few months to make it out there. So, even as the fanatic consumer of movies that I've become of late, I still made only my first visit this past weekend.They're doing a Paramount in the 1970's series, so my friend Irene and I chose Marathon Man, a film I don't think I'd even heard of let alone seen. I didn't care much about what I saw there anyway - I just wanted to finally get there. What a gorgeous, gorgeous place. I had no idea Queens was this cool. Loved it. Even more than I was expecting to love it.
Sleek, clean, sexy, airy, open - are these the words that come to mind when you think of a movie theater? Think again. Granted, this place is, by definition, a museum. And I did not arrive early enough to explore this side of it.
Don't worry though, because in typical fashion I have joined up. It was actually crazy cheap. $100 per year and that includes unlimited access to their weekend programming. Queens folks - let's be movie buddies! I am going to live there! Especially while the IFC center is still showing Pina, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and others I've seen before.
Oh, and Marathon Man was pretty great, too.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Miscellaneous movie rambles: TIFF, NYFF, Dark Knight Rises, Moonrise Kingdom. Et Cetera.
Since it's been a while since I've written anything here, I didn't want the five of you reading this (hi mom) to think I hadn't actually been seeing movies. As if!
Quite the contrary, of course. Though the busiest I've been is a three-movie weekend a couple days back. Reason being? Freakin' everything in theaters now is something that played a festival earlier this year making it something I've seen already. Please put away your tiny violins. The pity symphony is playing in my head already.
I'll catch up with a hodge podge.
Moonrise Kingdom - Yes, yes, yes! Peek into my wallet and you'll find a perhaps surprising absence of the Wes Anderson Fan Club card. I never joined, in part because the first one of his I saw was Rushmore and I plain old didn't get it (though upon revisiting I do see its merits). Royal Tenenbaums was just fine. The first of his I loved was The Life Aquatic. The Darjeeling is weaksauce, something I felt like he made just to carry on his brand in an off year or something. Fantastic Mister Fox delighted me as much as it could. But I now join a few of my friends in proclaiming that Moonrise Kingdom is far and away his best so far. I don't find "but it's so Wes Anderson-like" to be a valid criticism. Saying he has an engrained style is not interesting to anyone with eyes. Look past it, and you'll find too much depth, heart, and humor to be focused on any hipster sensibilities you may think he's cramming in.
I was expecting a bit more of Elena. This would not have cleared my top ten of Sundance had I seen it there. But I think I was thrown off by a trailer that made it seem a bit more nail-biting than it turned out to be. Not bad at all - in fact I'd probably go so far as to recommend it. I suppose it was built up.
Five Broken Cameras - anguish. Speechlessness. This was made by a guy who broke, you guessed it, five cameras filming the protests he and his community organized against illegal Israeli settlements. So many questions arose when I watched this, that I was cursing myself for not seeing it at a film festival where I would have no doubt benefited from the audience's outrage-fueled attempts to understand. Though I suppose this is one topic not terribly easy to understand. I'll say that I'm glad I saw The Law In These Parts first. That was a pretty good primer.
More miscellany:
NY Film Festival ticket packages are on sale now for members. If I want the "VIP"est package I can pay $50,000 and get tickets to all the galas, two tickets to any screening, etc. Who wants to go in on it with me? Anyone?? In all seriousness - one strategy might be to do the $1,500 pack and get two tickets to any Alice Tully screening. But this would involve actively avoiding in Toronto the 50%+ of NYFF films that will screen there first. Hmmm. Something tells me that will not be the way to go. If I had $1,500 extra lying around to support my movie hobby (spoiler: I don't) I'd spend it on the Video Free Brooklyn indiegogo reward level that involves Bobcat Goldthwait doing stand-up in my living room. Similarly tempting.
Toronto Film Festival made an announcement that ticket selection for ticket packages will be available online this year, which interests me since I did plan to buy in advance this year for the first time. But this does make me wonder:
1) Seriously, they weren't online before? Wow, Canada.
2) How much of a hot flaming stressful mess will that be? Remind me to take anti-anxiety meeds the day that happens. I don't do too well with websites crashing when I am buying tickets. Stress.
I bought tickets with John and Mark to see the The Dark Knight Rises. Oh, but there's more - we are going to do the marathon. The complete trilogy. That is, after a full day of work, we'll march on over to 68th Street for the 6 PM (FIRST TIME IN IMAX) showing of Batman Begins (which I'm ashamed to say I've never seen all the way through). Then, we will stay put and after a short break, we'll watch The Dark Knight again in all its glory. Followed by a midnight screening of you guessed it - The Dark Knight Rises. Now that's going to be fun. Looking terribly forward!
Quite the contrary, of course. Though the busiest I've been is a three-movie weekend a couple days back. Reason being? Freakin' everything in theaters now is something that played a festival earlier this year making it something I've seen already. Please put away your tiny violins. The pity symphony is playing in my head already.
I'll catch up with a hodge podge.
Moonrise Kingdom - Yes, yes, yes! Peek into my wallet and you'll find a perhaps surprising absence of the Wes Anderson Fan Club card. I never joined, in part because the first one of his I saw was Rushmore and I plain old didn't get it (though upon revisiting I do see its merits). Royal Tenenbaums was just fine. The first of his I loved was The Life Aquatic. The Darjeeling is weaksauce, something I felt like he made just to carry on his brand in an off year or something. Fantastic Mister Fox delighted me as much as it could. But I now join a few of my friends in proclaiming that Moonrise Kingdom is far and away his best so far. I don't find "but it's so Wes Anderson-like" to be a valid criticism. Saying he has an engrained style is not interesting to anyone with eyes. Look past it, and you'll find too much depth, heart, and humor to be focused on any hipster sensibilities you may think he's cramming in.I was expecting a bit more of Elena. This would not have cleared my top ten of Sundance had I seen it there. But I think I was thrown off by a trailer that made it seem a bit more nail-biting than it turned out to be. Not bad at all - in fact I'd probably go so far as to recommend it. I suppose it was built up.
Five Broken Cameras - anguish. Speechlessness. This was made by a guy who broke, you guessed it, five cameras filming the protests he and his community organized against illegal Israeli settlements. So many questions arose when I watched this, that I was cursing myself for not seeing it at a film festival where I would have no doubt benefited from the audience's outrage-fueled attempts to understand. Though I suppose this is one topic not terribly easy to understand. I'll say that I'm glad I saw The Law In These Parts first. That was a pretty good primer.
More miscellany:
NY Film Festival ticket packages are on sale now for members. If I want the "VIP"est package I can pay $50,000 and get tickets to all the galas, two tickets to any screening, etc. Who wants to go in on it with me? Anyone?? In all seriousness - one strategy might be to do the $1,500 pack and get two tickets to any Alice Tully screening. But this would involve actively avoiding in Toronto the 50%+ of NYFF films that will screen there first. Hmmm. Something tells me that will not be the way to go. If I had $1,500 extra lying around to support my movie hobby (spoiler: I don't) I'd spend it on the Video Free Brooklyn indiegogo reward level that involves Bobcat Goldthwait doing stand-up in my living room. Similarly tempting.
Toronto Film Festival made an announcement that ticket selection for ticket packages will be available online this year, which interests me since I did plan to buy in advance this year for the first time. But this does make me wonder:
1) Seriously, they weren't online before? Wow, Canada.
2) How much of a hot flaming stressful mess will that be? Remind me to take anti-anxiety meeds the day that happens. I don't do too well with websites crashing when I am buying tickets. Stress.
I bought tickets with John and Mark to see the The Dark Knight Rises. Oh, but there's more - we are going to do the marathon. The complete trilogy. That is, after a full day of work, we'll march on over to 68th Street for the 6 PM (FIRST TIME IN IMAX) showing of Batman Begins (which I'm ashamed to say I've never seen all the way through). Then, we will stay put and after a short break, we'll watch The Dark Knight again in all its glory. Followed by a midnight screening of you guessed it - The Dark Knight Rises. Now that's going to be fun. Looking terribly forward!
Monday, May 28, 2012
#SIFF2012 Days 2 & 3 - Snows of Kilimanjaro, Wonder Women! Law In These Parts, ____, Crown Jewels.
Upon the completion of my third day of movies (and sun!) at the Seattle International Film Festival I can happily and surprisingly-to-no-one announce how much I'd love to add this to my yearly slate of festival visits.
Yesterday, Sunday, was a two-movie day. No need to take my temperature. I'm feeling fine. It is, I've learned, completely acceptable to see only two movies in one day at a film festival. I did it, and the world did not end.
The first movie I cannot tell you about. Wait, what? Dor, being discreet? It's not in my nature, no. But, they have this awesome thing in Seattle called the Secret Film Festival which lasts four Sundays and comes with a separate ($45) pass. They show movies they cannot tell you about, for whatever reason. Movies they aren't supposed to show for some reason, or movies they don't want announced, before during or after they play. But wait, what about Twitter? I know. Believe me, I know. But Secret at SIFF actually means secret! I saw this Sunday's film with a crowd of hundreds of early-rising, chance-taking citizens of Seattle and not single one of them filled their followers in on the movie after the fact. As such I have no intention of being the first. I'll mention that I liked the movie and I love the whole idea of a secret fest.
Next on my list was The Law In These Parts, which has for some reason been on my "eh no I don't really need to see that" list from the other film festivals it has played. But boy am I glad I gave in and got a ticket because it was some movie. It concerned a subject on which I am ill-informed, and that is the Israel occupation of Palestinian territories. Even more than that, the movie chose to focus on solely the laws that were enacted and have been applied to citizens of those territories since the late 60's until today. I feel like you have a particularly vested interest in the topic (not so much) or a general passion for documentary film to go for this film. You can imagine which one describes me. Anyway, this one wins major points in my book for the director's laments at the beginning and the end about the nature and inherent bias of the medium of documentary film. So, so glad I saw it!
Memorial Day is a day off for me, which is the reason I even decided to travel this weekend in the first place. It typically falls right around my birthday (which is Wednesday this year, the 30th) so I equate this three-day weekend with indulgence. Who am I kidding - I equate every weekend (and most weekdays) with indulgence.
Anyway, I spent this day doing what I do best and that's sitting alone in a dark room watching movies. The day began with a French film called The Snows of Kilimanjaro which I frankly loved. I'd missed it at Rendezvous with French Cinema, not because it wasn't on my radar but because I had tickets and was too tired to go to more than the 13,263 films I'd already seen in that series. Luckily SIFF had my back and I could see this moving (if a bit heavy-handed) lament on family, forgiveness, poverty, marriage and class. I don't think the title represents the film well at all. I hope it gets a decent US release, because I enjoyed it a great deal.
Next was possibly my least favorite of SIFF and that is called Crown Jewels. It's not often I see a Swedish film that's less than very good. Even good would be unexpected. This one really pushed my limits of belief, patience, and understanding. And it was two sodding hours! Why!! I don't even have the energy to type out what I didn't like, but if anyone's seen it I'd love to chat with you but I feel like all I'd be doing is shaking my head and having false start after false start, like that comedian that Fred Armisen plays on Weekend Update sometimes who tries to read the news and just says "I mean, but really now, and when you think about it, but the thing I really hated, and I say this objectively..."
After that, I was able to salvage the day (actually more than salvage it) with a documentary - always a safe bet for me and one that usually tips the scales in favor of a good movie day. And how could I go wrong with an inside look at pop culture + feminism + comic books? I learned a bit, I giggled, I was inspired and I had hope for a new generation. Might sound a bit cheesy but Wonder Women! was all that and more. I couldn't help but think my friend Jason would be all over this movie. I also couldn't help but compare it to another documentary I saw this year that centered on the comic book universe, and this one blew it out of the water in terms of accessibility to a non-comic book audience. Not that I disliked the Spurlock.
At any rate, it's been a great SIFF so far. I may or may not see more movies while I am in town. If I do, I may or may not write about them, since my flight leaves at midnight, and then I land in NYC, go straight to work, and then go straight to my birthday party. It's a tough life.
Yesterday, Sunday, was a two-movie day. No need to take my temperature. I'm feeling fine. It is, I've learned, completely acceptable to see only two movies in one day at a film festival. I did it, and the world did not end.
The first movie I cannot tell you about. Wait, what? Dor, being discreet? It's not in my nature, no. But, they have this awesome thing in Seattle called the Secret Film Festival which lasts four Sundays and comes with a separate ($45) pass. They show movies they cannot tell you about, for whatever reason. Movies they aren't supposed to show for some reason, or movies they don't want announced, before during or after they play. But wait, what about Twitter? I know. Believe me, I know. But Secret at SIFF actually means secret! I saw this Sunday's film with a crowd of hundreds of early-rising, chance-taking citizens of Seattle and not single one of them filled their followers in on the movie after the fact. As such I have no intention of being the first. I'll mention that I liked the movie and I love the whole idea of a secret fest.
Next on my list was The Law In These Parts, which has for some reason been on my "eh no I don't really need to see that" list from the other film festivals it has played. But boy am I glad I gave in and got a ticket because it was some movie. It concerned a subject on which I am ill-informed, and that is the Israel occupation of Palestinian territories. Even more than that, the movie chose to focus on solely the laws that were enacted and have been applied to citizens of those territories since the late 60's until today. I feel like you have a particularly vested interest in the topic (not so much) or a general passion for documentary film to go for this film. You can imagine which one describes me. Anyway, this one wins major points in my book for the director's laments at the beginning and the end about the nature and inherent bias of the medium of documentary film. So, so glad I saw it!
Memorial Day is a day off for me, which is the reason I even decided to travel this weekend in the first place. It typically falls right around my birthday (which is Wednesday this year, the 30th) so I equate this three-day weekend with indulgence. Who am I kidding - I equate every weekend (and most weekdays) with indulgence.
Anyway, I spent this day doing what I do best and that's sitting alone in a dark room watching movies. The day began with a French film called The Snows of Kilimanjaro which I frankly loved. I'd missed it at Rendezvous with French Cinema, not because it wasn't on my radar but because I had tickets and was too tired to go to more than the 13,263 films I'd already seen in that series. Luckily SIFF had my back and I could see this moving (if a bit heavy-handed) lament on family, forgiveness, poverty, marriage and class. I don't think the title represents the film well at all. I hope it gets a decent US release, because I enjoyed it a great deal.
Next was possibly my least favorite of SIFF and that is called Crown Jewels. It's not often I see a Swedish film that's less than very good. Even good would be unexpected. This one really pushed my limits of belief, patience, and understanding. And it was two sodding hours! Why!! I don't even have the energy to type out what I didn't like, but if anyone's seen it I'd love to chat with you but I feel like all I'd be doing is shaking my head and having false start after false start, like that comedian that Fred Armisen plays on Weekend Update sometimes who tries to read the news and just says "I mean, but really now, and when you think about it, but the thing I really hated, and I say this objectively..."
After that, I was able to salvage the day (actually more than salvage it) with a documentary - always a safe bet for me and one that usually tips the scales in favor of a good movie day. And how could I go wrong with an inside look at pop culture + feminism + comic books? I learned a bit, I giggled, I was inspired and I had hope for a new generation. Might sound a bit cheesy but Wonder Women! was all that and more. I couldn't help but think my friend Jason would be all over this movie. I also couldn't help but compare it to another documentary I saw this year that centered on the comic book universe, and this one blew it out of the water in terms of accessibility to a non-comic book audience. Not that I disliked the Spurlock.
At any rate, it's been a great SIFF so far. I may or may not see more movies while I am in town. If I do, I may or may not write about them, since my flight leaves at midnight, and then I land in NYC, go straight to work, and then go straight to my birthday party. It's a tough life.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
#SIFF2012 Day One - The sun is shining, but not on the characters in the movies I've chosen.
The Seattle Film Festival - or my brief four-day stint anyway - has arrived. Because I desperately wanted a vacation and because film festivals are typically far from relaxing in any sense, I am taking this one a little easy. Of course you can hardly not take SIFF easy considering movies don't start before 11 AM and virtually nothing is sold out. That said, my first day of movies will be my busiest, with four. I may leave this town with only ten films under my belt. And that's... okay....? Right?
So far SIFF has brought three movies into my life I would not have otherwise seen.
CAN
Turkish, which I couldn't figure out until the credits. (Embarrassing.) Honor, family, responsibility, blood, desperation, karma. All factor in quite nicely to this confusing-on-purpose Sundance award-winning drama. Not in the least bit predictable, and quite touching in ways one wouldn't expect. See it... if you CAN!
(ha)
GOODBYE
Don't count on me to be well-versed in the politics affecting the two Iranian directors who as I hear it have been forced not to make films for the next X years. Similarly don't expect a history lesson on why it fucking sucks ass to live in Iran right now, because as you may or may not know, I am neither learned nor well read. I am well-watched, though, enough to know that I loved Mohammad Rasoulof's last feature called White Meadows. So of course I wasn't going to miss his follow up.
I'm glad I saw it? But I don't think it's for everyone. Dark, dark, dark. In every sense of the word. Well-done? Absolutely. There were a few long shots that I don't even think I blinked during. You do feel you're there with the character, a woman in Tehran who's lost her license to practice law, and has a plan to fix her situation and potentially reunite with her absent husband. There's an undercurrent here that screams of This Is Very Important. And I'm glad that I saw it. I can't say I enjoyed it or would recommend it to many, though.
YEAR OF GRACE
Why did I pick this one? I imagine because the description contained the word "Barcelona." I am such a sucker for Spain. Well, the movie was slight. Very, very, very slight. And with a script I'd call anything but well-written, or sensical even. People laughed. People around me and behind me - people I don't know, so I cannot even attempt to suppose what about these tinny characters and familiar journey they found the least bit funny. I will say that the ending was so satisfying (if unearned) and just plain sweet (IF COMPLETELY UNBELIEVABLE) that on some level the movie was salvaged in my mind, though only a little.
So far SIFF has brought three movies into my life I would not have otherwise seen.
CAN
Turkish, which I couldn't figure out until the credits. (Embarrassing.) Honor, family, responsibility, blood, desperation, karma. All factor in quite nicely to this confusing-on-purpose Sundance award-winning drama. Not in the least bit predictable, and quite touching in ways one wouldn't expect. See it... if you CAN!
(ha)
GOODBYE
Don't count on me to be well-versed in the politics affecting the two Iranian directors who as I hear it have been forced not to make films for the next X years. Similarly don't expect a history lesson on why it fucking sucks ass to live in Iran right now, because as you may or may not know, I am neither learned nor well read. I am well-watched, though, enough to know that I loved Mohammad Rasoulof's last feature called White Meadows. So of course I wasn't going to miss his follow up.
I'm glad I saw it? But I don't think it's for everyone. Dark, dark, dark. In every sense of the word. Well-done? Absolutely. There were a few long shots that I don't even think I blinked during. You do feel you're there with the character, a woman in Tehran who's lost her license to practice law, and has a plan to fix her situation and potentially reunite with her absent husband. There's an undercurrent here that screams of This Is Very Important. And I'm glad that I saw it. I can't say I enjoyed it or would recommend it to many, though.
YEAR OF GRACE
Why did I pick this one? I imagine because the description contained the word "Barcelona." I am such a sucker for Spain. Well, the movie was slight. Very, very, very slight. And with a script I'd call anything but well-written, or sensical even. People laughed. People around me and behind me - people I don't know, so I cannot even attempt to suppose what about these tinny characters and familiar journey they found the least bit funny. I will say that the ending was so satisfying (if unearned) and just plain sweet (IF COMPLETELY UNBELIEVABLE) that on some level the movie was salvaged in my mind, though only a little.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Miscellaneous movie-related ramblings: Polisse, The Avengers, Hitchcock, SIFF, etc.
Since returning from Hot Docs a couple of weeks ago, my movie-going has been light, from a volume perspective.
A few things I did want to note, though.
This weekend alone, I've had a diverse film intake consisting of a Rooftop Films short program, The Avengers, the 1935 Hitchcock spy drama The 39 Steps and then this morning Polisse.
It was my first Rooftop Films program of the year, and I ventured all the way to east 23rd Street for it. Which if you know me, is quite a distance for this staunch west-sider (sad, I know). These shorts were not for me. Maybe it was the obnoxious people chit-chatting behind me, or the unexpectedly cool air causing my teeth to chatter. But, I think it was more the quality of the shorts. Bizarre, pointless, anti-climactic. Maybe I'm a philistine. But... I left early to catch The Avengers finally at Kips Bay.
I know I see a lot of littler movies but I have absolutely nothing against a blockbuster like this. Spiderman, X-Men - I love these movies. And their sequels (though never the third for some reason). Though I don't have any emotional connection to the comic books, that is, I didn't grow up to with these characters, I can still find something to enjoy in a good superhero movie. I am perfectly happy to call The Avengers a good superhero movie. Glad I saw it, wish I hadn't fallen asleep through about twenty minutes in the middle, won't probably buy the DVD, will certainly see the sequel. <shrug> No complaints.
The next morning was The 39 Steps, which is my fourth time seeing a (new to me) Hitchcock film at the IFC Center this month. To say a movie is my least favorite, out of Pyscho, Rear Window and To Catch a Thief is not a very powerful statement because of course it was still pretty awesome. I am really loving this series the IFC Center is doing. It's a bummer that I will miss Vertigo next weekend while I am in Seattle.
I may not have mentioned that I've booked four days in Seattle for the Seattle International Film Festival. It's not technically my first time at SIFF since I did take in one screening of Bartleby (with Crispin Glover) maybe ten years ago. Nevertheless I'll feel like a total newbie and am looking forward to seeing movies AND discovering a few good bars, restaurants, crafty gifty type stores, coffee shops, etc. I am staying in Belltown and I have a car so, the sky is the limit in terms of adventure times. Should be fun.
The best thing I have seen this weekend (and probably one of the best things I've seen this year) is a French police drama called Polisse. Wow, y'all. It follows the child protection unit of a French police force as they go about the gritty, often devastating, sometimes astonishing and funny, always gripping work of these very human social servants. You can absolutely tell it was based on actual case files. There were so many chances to push the story into melodrama territory, and some might say it went there, but I think the script towed a very subtle line and made the right decisions at every turn. I don't know if I could watch it again but I would very highly recommend it. Oh - and so many of the actors were familiar, mostly from movies I saw at Rendezvous with French Cinema 2012 also at the IFC Center. Except for one of the leads, Joey Starr, who played a very different character in Sleepless Night. And is apparently a French rapper.
Worth mentioning here, while I'm rambling, is a super annoying thing that happened this morning at the IFC Center. I arrived at 10:50 for my 10:55 AM movie and when I went in to grab a seat, I found the lights off, and a movie playing. Subtitles and all. I came back out to the lobby and said "did you tell me the wrong theater? There's already a movie playing there." The usher said no, that's where Polisse was showing, and it must be the trailers. So I went back in, took a seat, and was like that's weird, it's in French, and showing a cop and a kid. Sounds like Polisse, but that isn't meant to start for another five minutes. I go back out and again they tried to tell me it was the pre-show. I went back in one more time and was even more convinced. I finally went out a third time and they agreed that they'd started the movie early accidentally, and they re-started it.
I get that things happen. Just last weekend, a movie started 30 minutes late. But I don't like that it took me three times to convince them that the movie had started early. Do I not go there two or three times a week? Should I not clearly know the difference between the pre-show and the actual movie? The lights were off. The door was shut. This is not my first rodeo, folks. Oh well.
Later tonight I will see The Dictator, finally. So ready to laugh after the heaviness of Polisse!
A few things I did want to note, though.
This weekend alone, I've had a diverse film intake consisting of a Rooftop Films short program, The Avengers, the 1935 Hitchcock spy drama The 39 Steps and then this morning Polisse.
It was my first Rooftop Films program of the year, and I ventured all the way to east 23rd Street for it. Which if you know me, is quite a distance for this staunch west-sider (sad, I know). These shorts were not for me. Maybe it was the obnoxious people chit-chatting behind me, or the unexpectedly cool air causing my teeth to chatter. But, I think it was more the quality of the shorts. Bizarre, pointless, anti-climactic. Maybe I'm a philistine. But... I left early to catch The Avengers finally at Kips Bay.
I know I see a lot of littler movies but I have absolutely nothing against a blockbuster like this. Spiderman, X-Men - I love these movies. And their sequels (though never the third for some reason). Though I don't have any emotional connection to the comic books, that is, I didn't grow up to with these characters, I can still find something to enjoy in a good superhero movie. I am perfectly happy to call The Avengers a good superhero movie. Glad I saw it, wish I hadn't fallen asleep through about twenty minutes in the middle, won't probably buy the DVD, will certainly see the sequel. <shrug> No complaints.
I may not have mentioned that I've booked four days in Seattle for the Seattle International Film Festival. It's not technically my first time at SIFF since I did take in one screening of Bartleby (with Crispin Glover) maybe ten years ago. Nevertheless I'll feel like a total newbie and am looking forward to seeing movies AND discovering a few good bars, restaurants, crafty gifty type stores, coffee shops, etc. I am staying in Belltown and I have a car so, the sky is the limit in terms of adventure times. Should be fun.
Worth mentioning here, while I'm rambling, is a super annoying thing that happened this morning at the IFC Center. I arrived at 10:50 for my 10:55 AM movie and when I went in to grab a seat, I found the lights off, and a movie playing. Subtitles and all. I came back out to the lobby and said "did you tell me the wrong theater? There's already a movie playing there." The usher said no, that's where Polisse was showing, and it must be the trailers. So I went back in, took a seat, and was like that's weird, it's in French, and showing a cop and a kid. Sounds like Polisse, but that isn't meant to start for another five minutes. I go back out and again they tried to tell me it was the pre-show. I went back in one more time and was even more convinced. I finally went out a third time and they agreed that they'd started the movie early accidentally, and they re-started it.
I get that things happen. Just last weekend, a movie started 30 minutes late. But I don't like that it took me three times to convince them that the movie had started early. Do I not go there two or three times a week? Should I not clearly know the difference between the pre-show and the actual movie? The lights were off. The door was shut. This is not my first rodeo, folks. Oh well.
Later tonight I will see The Dictator, finally. So ready to laugh after the heaviness of Polisse!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
I went to Hot Docs for a quick second and now I am writing some stuff about it.
Here are the docs I saw in my 48 hours in Canada.Vivan Las Antipodas!
Radioman
Charles Bradley: Soul of America
There Is No Sexual Rapport
Love Story
McCullin
Ping Pong
We Are Wisconsin
Call Me Kuchu
By far my favorite was Vivan Las Antipodas! which might be my favorite doc of the year so far, if not top three. I tweeted something about it having the visual grandeur of Samsara mixed with the emotional intimacy of Life in a Day. But I failed to mention how desperately it made me want to jump on a plane and go somewhere, anywhere. Hawaii, really. Oddly.
This fest has been on my "one day I'll go to there" list for a few years now, ever since my dear friend and Toronto cheerleader Alison began a campaign that somehow lambasted me for missing Hot Docs all the while she continued missing Sundance year after year. "But it's so easy!" She'd urge. "If you don't get in to the screening from the rush line, they give you a free ticket to see something else!" I'm a sucker for a chill film festival. Combine documentaries and the Toronto setting? Done and done.
Vacation days are my currency, folks. Money's nice, but you can always get more, push comes to shove. Vacation days are finite. Twenty - no more, no less. Christmas trip home to mom and dad, birthday long weekend, TIFF, Sundance, an indulgent week staying long past I should have gone home from SXSW - all of those needs to be crammed in to 20 precious days.So, Hot Docs had to be a 48 hour sojourn. I am lucky to live an hour's flight from the city. I planned an eight or nine movie weekend and pulled it off.
I saw a nice mix of stuff I'd missed from SXSW, stuff that I'd never heard of before but jumped out at me in the program, and a few that weren't even on my radar til Twitter buzz chained my mind.
How about a bit of a list.
Best film of my 2012 Hot Docs: Vivan Las Antipodas!
Best festival popcorn: Hot Docs Bloor Cinema popcorn mixed with a handful of M&M's - a Zemell original.
Worst festival venue: The Cumberland. Sorry. So long. Crap seats, and their bathrooms? really? The hand dryers had all the strength of an old lady blowing you a kiss from 20 feet away.
Oddest quirk of the festival: The audience award ballots were on the back of your ticket stub. yeah no. I'm keeping that shit.
Movie Shiri would love the most: Ping Pong. All about senior citizens from around the globe competing in the 80+ table tennis world championships. Some fierce bitches up in there, folks.
Saddest part: In McCullin, about a war photographer, the part where he met starving children in a Beirut hospital.
# of Days I will try to attend next year: 10.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Embarrassingly untimely Tribeca Film Festival thoughts:
Before I forget about Tribeca entirely I wanted to jot down some of my impressions of this year's fest.
Full list is below, but you'll see that my absolute favorites were YOSSI and TAKE THIS WALTZ. That latter of course is my favorite EVAHHH OMG. Should I shut up about it for now? Will I ever?
It was a fine year for me and Tribeca. I saw 17 of the 19 movies I planned. I ran out of steam at the end, which is none too surprising considering the challenge of working full time, then movies on nights and weekends, plus a few extra-curriculars.
The year belonged to Alex Karpovsky, who directed Rubberneck, starred in Supporting Characters, and had a guest-starring role on Girls premiering just before Tribeca.
Notable for me was the fact that I really disliked the film that won the Audience Award. Called ANY DAY NOW. This almost never happens. Jury awards - sure. That's a crapshoot, c'mon. But the audience? I mean. That's me. Who am I if not the audience. If anything, I typically find an autience award winner good but overrated. At worst. But this one? Nearly walked out. I found it sappy and its characters painfully one-dimensional. I don't begrudge anyone for liking it, because there's no denying it had a good heart.
All my Tribeca films:
Yossi (9)Rubberneck (6)Supporting Characters (7)Babygirl (5)The Revisionaries (7)A Better Life (6)Jackpot (7)Take This Waltz (10)Sleepless Night (8)Off Label (4)Caroline and Jackie (5)Russian Winter (5)Resolution (8)Side by Side (7)Any Day Now (3)First Winter (8)Down East (7)
Full list is below, but you'll see that my absolute favorites were YOSSI and TAKE THIS WALTZ. That latter of course is my favorite EVAHHH OMG. Should I shut up about it for now? Will I ever?
It was a fine year for me and Tribeca. I saw 17 of the 19 movies I planned. I ran out of steam at the end, which is none too surprising considering the challenge of working full time, then movies on nights and weekends, plus a few extra-curriculars.
The year belonged to Alex Karpovsky, who directed Rubberneck, starred in Supporting Characters, and had a guest-starring role on Girls premiering just before Tribeca.
Notable for me was the fact that I really disliked the film that won the Audience Award. Called ANY DAY NOW. This almost never happens. Jury awards - sure. That's a crapshoot, c'mon. But the audience? I mean. That's me. Who am I if not the audience. If anything, I typically find an autience award winner good but overrated. At worst. But this one? Nearly walked out. I found it sappy and its characters painfully one-dimensional. I don't begrudge anyone for liking it, because there's no denying it had a good heart.
All my Tribeca films:
Yossi (9)Rubberneck (6)Supporting Characters (7)Babygirl (5)The Revisionaries (7)A Better Life (6)Jackpot (7)Take This Waltz (10)Sleepless Night (8)Off Label (4)Caroline and Jackie (5)Russian Winter (5)Resolution (8)Side by Side (7)Any Day Now (3)First Winter (8)Down East (7)
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Tribeca Film Festival kicked off with two of my favorite things - drinks with @ninjaworrier, and high quality Israeli cinema.
Tribeca started today! That means my pal @ninjaworrier is in town, as evidenced below.
For a film festival that's in my backyard I tend to under-attend year after year. A few screenings here or there, sure, but I am usually terribly distracted when it's Tribeca time. This year I'm not fucking around, though. I have 20 tickets, including two (one for me, one for John) for Take This Waltz.
The first film of the festival for me was YOSSI which is the "10 years later" sequel to the Israeli groundbreaking gay army drama YOSSI & JAGGER which I liked. I might have loved this one even more, though.
It's a decade after the events that ended Yossi's tender two-year romance with his fellow officer in the Israeli army. He's going through the motions of a life and medical career but past events have left him a lonely and scarred man, until one day a patient with a familiar face happens to come into his hospital, stirring up feelings he's forced to face.
So sweet, so moving, so intimate, heartbreaking, hopeful. Great music including Keren Ann (paging Shiri!) and some good classical stuff too. I was totally lost in this guy's world for an hour and a half,
For a film festival that's in my backyard I tend to under-attend year after year. A few screenings here or there, sure, but I am usually terribly distracted when it's Tribeca time. This year I'm not fucking around, though. I have 20 tickets, including two (one for me, one for John) for Take This Waltz.
So sweet, so moving, so intimate, heartbreaking, hopeful. Great music including Keren Ann (paging Shiri!) and some good classical stuff too. I was totally lost in this guy's world for an hour and a half,
Full Frame Wrap Up Post
I made my third visit to Full Frame last week, meaning I've attended 20% of their festivals since it was their 15th year.
I dare say it was my favorite in terms of film quality though we know it just means I got lucky with my choices.
"After the jump" as they say, I will post snapshots, movie list and favorites, oh my.
All the movies I saw at Full Frame:
Features:
Eating Alabama
Jesse Owens
Samsara
Beauty is Embarrassing
The Waiting Room
Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet
Intimate Stranger
Herman's House
Radio Unnameable
How to Survive a Plague
First Position
Escape Fire
Trash Dance
Mr. Cao Goes to Washington
Shorts:
Kiss the Paper
Needle Exchange
Translating Edwin Honig: A Poet's Alzheimers
Santa Land
Fanuzzi's Gold
Again, I didn't see anything I disliked, which is virtually unheard of at any film festival. And there were a few I quite loved. Highlights were:
Radio Unnameable - a glimpse into the career of local legend radio DJ Bob Fass, and a wonderful NYC story I did not know
Beauty is Embarrassing - a quirky, hard-working, very human, uplifting and FUNNY portrait of artist Wayne White
Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet - one of several docs that made me feel so lucky to be alive but so in awe of the strength of others.
Samsara - Never have I more wanted to get out of my seat and just go traveling. The second the credits started rolling I started cataloging all the beautiful things I have to see still in this life.
How to Survive a Plague - Wow, what a movie. Don't fuck with NYC gays - they're smarter and tougher than you could even imagine, and this movie shows how their tenacity and mobilization directly contributed to advancements in AIDS treatments
I dare say it was my favorite in terms of film quality though we know it just means I got lucky with my choices.
"After the jump" as they say, I will post snapshots, movie list and favorites, oh my.
All the movies I saw at Full Frame:
Features:
Eating Alabama
Jesse Owens
Samsara
Beauty is Embarrassing
The Waiting Room
Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet
Intimate Stranger
Herman's House
Radio Unnameable
How to Survive a Plague
First Position
Escape Fire
Trash Dance
Mr. Cao Goes to Washington
Shorts:
Kiss the Paper
Needle Exchange
Translating Edwin Honig: A Poet's Alzheimers
Santa Land
Fanuzzi's Gold
Again, I didn't see anything I disliked, which is virtually unheard of at any film festival. And there were a few I quite loved. Highlights were:
Radio Unnameable - a glimpse into the career of local legend radio DJ Bob Fass, and a wonderful NYC story I did not know
Samsara - Never have I more wanted to get out of my seat and just go traveling. The second the credits started rolling I started cataloging all the beautiful things I have to see still in this life.
How to Survive a Plague - Wow, what a movie. Don't fuck with NYC gays - they're smarter and tougher than you could even imagine, and this movie shows how their tenacity and mobilization directly contributed to advancements in AIDS treatments
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Battle Buxom Babes
Battle of the Buxom Babes: pLylyth vs eSkarre
Battle of the Busty Babes by *ShoNuff44 on deviantART
The buxom beauties did battle today during shower hour, giving their male ...
... want to leave you with nothing but a bunch of pictures of buxom babes, ...
... California, hundreds of buxom babes proclaimed their constitutional ...
... of Khiladi: Partner Edition packed with buxom babes, silly gags, action, ...
Buxom Babe Busts Outta the Big House! The following piece was created for ...
.. most buxom babes go from zero to 38D on their road trip across America!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival starts THIS THURSDAY.
I am officially excited for this, the most intimate and relaxing festival of all the ones I go to. It'll be my third year (though non-consecutive).
Here is a list of the movies I plan to see, including shorts.
Under African Skies
First Position
Must Read After My Death
How to Survive a Plague
Radio Unnameable
Jonestown
Translating Edwin Honig
Intimate Stranger
Needle Exchange
Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet
The Waiting Room
Beauty is Embarrassing
Marley
Jesse Owens
Kiss the Paper
Eating Alabama
Here is a list of the movies I plan to see, including shorts.
Under African Skies
First Position
Must Read After My Death
How to Survive a Plague
Radio Unnameable
Jonestown
Translating Edwin Honig
Intimate Stranger
Needle Exchange
Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet
The Waiting Room
Beauty is Embarrassing
Marley
Jesse Owens
Kiss the Paper
Eating Alabama
Five movies in two countries in four days
I didn't realize I had Monday off, so I scheduled myself to return from my Toronto mini-vacation on Monday morning in time for a full work day.
When I learned my company granted us the day off, and then I remembered my apartment belongs to my subletters til 6 PM, I knew I'd be going straight to the movie theater from La Guardia following my 9 AM arrival.
In Toronto, during the first free moment I had after work on Friday, I made a beeline for the TIFF Bell Lightbox and saw whatever ended up working OK time-wise, which in fact was GERHARD RICHTER PAINTING, a film about an artist whose name I'm embarrassed to say I hadn't heard of til I saw it on the Film Forum's "coming soon." You might as well know now - I'm neither very intelligent nor cultured. What can I say.
I did however take note of one of his pieces, a small one, at the MoMA last week and then was like yeah I could see that movie.
GERHARD RICHTER PAINTING was not a formal introduction to the painter in any way. Were I inclined to learn more about his influence on art, his upbringing, anything of the sort, Wikipedia would teach me a great deal even after watching an hour and a half movie all about him. I can tell you in great detail, though, how he paints. And it is definitely a credit to the filmmakers that I was totally entranced while watching. I'm not sure if you can spoil a documentary like this, so I feel okay mentioning that there were some truly frustrating/heartbreaking parts of his process where as a viewer I'd become fairly attached to the painting we'd watched him painstakingly create, only to stand by while he white-washed it, unsatisfied with the final product. This surprised me. My reaction, that is.
Also in Toronto I went to the former TIFF venue the Cumberland to see FOOTNOTE. This has been on my list for some time since it's rare to see an Israeli film that is anything but delightful and engaging. I would use those both of those words to describe this quirky family dramedy about competing father/son scholars. Having seen the trailer no less than five thousand times I was pretty sure I had this movie pegged, but it still managed to surprise me with both its ending and a few of the devices used to tell the story. Charming, but certainly the weakest of the four (of five) Best Foreign Film nominees I've seen from the 2011 Oscars.
Back in NYC as I said I made today a nonstop film assault at my three favorite downtown theaters. The IFC center was first on my list (and in my heart) for WE HAVE A POPE which I missed at TIFF and again at its sneak preview a few weeks earlier, which I ditched to hang out with friends in town. Sometimes there must be more to life than movies. They say. Anyhow - fine movie, not going to change my life. Actually more eh than anything. The only thing I've seen of the director's work was his Palm D'Or winning THE SONS ROOM which packed a much deeper emotional punch than this lightish fare.
Next I popped over to the Film Forum to check out THE ISLAND PRESIDENT which has been receiving glowing recommendations, most recently from my dear friend @janisgilman whose opinion I trust when she says she loves something (but not when she hates something).
THE ISLAND PRESIDENT was my favorite of the day and worked really well as an underdog story (both of a man, a political party, a nation, maybe the world). This is one of the climate change movies that made the strongest case for "NO REALLY, DO SOMETHING RIGHT FUCKING NOW PEOPLE" out of the many looming nightmare "humanity is fucked" documentaries that have been made. And it was also the one that, for me, focused more on what someone is actually doing to solve the problem than on proving that there's a problem in the first place. I find that a much more compelling tale than spending 88 minutes of a 92 minute movie describing in detail the downward path we're on, and then spending four of the final minutes on a tacked-on epilogue with a hopefully score playing over a couple of plucky folks coming up with some very "duh" ideas to fix things.
This movie worked on so many levels - as a portrait of someone persevering against immense adversity, as a plea for help from a beautiful place suffering in ways most people far away could never imagine, and as a wake up call for those ignoring problems that will surely land in their backyards sooner rather than later. Charming, inspiring, entertaining. Educational without being preachy or condescending. Just about everything I hope for in a non-fiction film. See it if you haven't yet.
My last film of the day (that I know of, it's not even 7 PM) was THE BULLY PROJECT. Or is it just called BULLY? At any rate, I've been wanting to see this since it was the toast of Tribeca nearly one year ago. I should have seen it back then, before I was tainted by all the praise, before I was influenced by the annoying as hell, sanctimonious publicity around the MPAA ratings debacle. Not that I don't hate the MPAA with a flaming passion. But. Anyway.
I donno about this movie, guys. I'm a human being, so there were absolutely some moving parts. I mean, most of it was moving. You can't be a living breathing person and not feel something very strong for these families and these kids who have suffered so much. But, I had some problems with the film if I am evaluating it objectively, or trying.
First of all, I get it. I get it. I get it. Bullying is bad. I feel like I was asked to watch four or five hours of raw footage of kids and families just dealing with the effects of it, before the film even started offering any slant or commentary besides "this is happening." And maybe that only bothered me because it's been so well covered in the past year since this was made - and I know, I know, I know. It's happening. Maybe most people seeing this in bumfuck Kansas or Florida or whatever won't be able to make the connections I feel like most people could have made in 30 minutes of "bullying is happening and it is bad" type of footage. You know what I'd like? I'd like the entirety of BULLY to be condensed into 30 minutes, and then I'd like another hour and a half of actually exploring the incredibly complex issue. Not just saying "it's entirely complex" or putting people in corners, in very black or white "these are the good guys and these are the bad guys" distinctions. Because I feel like that's how we'll start to actually maybe make some headway on solving the problem. And maybe it's a different movie - but I would have liked the film to speak with some experts - ANY experts - on the topic. Way too many personal stories; way too much footage of the CLEARLY well-intentioned administrators being made out to look ineffective. I am not a teacher and I know hardly any teachers but I think they're a fairly easy target and I can't imagine they're anywhere near the root of the problem.
This subject deserves more, I guess, is what I am saying. That's not to say anything about the intentions of the film - because without a doubt, awareness is a solid step in the right direction. The last 10 minutes were strong and they took way too long to arrive.
Also I could write a paper on how the movie completely glossed over the fact that so many of these families owned guns, advocated hunting, and at least one child talked about violence against animals. I digress - that gets a bit too political for this here viewing blog.
I'm glad I saw it, and I will not begrudge the film any of its praise. I was incredibly moved by the story of the gay high school girl - both her own strength and that of her family. I think there was something very interesting to learn about a comment her dad made about how his entire world view changed the day his daughter came out. It's a cliche to say it, but if the attention the film is getting means it's shown to any families in a similar situation who can take anything valuable from that father's tale, then it has been a success. I just think it is too loaded of an issue for this to be considered in any way shape or form the definitive documentary on the topic. I hope very much that it opens up a dialogue for richer, more nuanced, less personal and more objective takes on the issue.
When I learned my company granted us the day off, and then I remembered my apartment belongs to my subletters til 6 PM, I knew I'd be going straight to the movie theater from La Guardia following my 9 AM arrival.
In Toronto, during the first free moment I had after work on Friday, I made a beeline for the TIFF Bell Lightbox and saw whatever ended up working OK time-wise, which in fact was GERHARD RICHTER PAINTING, a film about an artist whose name I'm embarrassed to say I hadn't heard of til I saw it on the Film Forum's "coming soon." You might as well know now - I'm neither very intelligent nor cultured. What can I say.
I did however take note of one of his pieces, a small one, at the MoMA last week and then was like yeah I could see that movie.
GERHARD RICHTER PAINTING was not a formal introduction to the painter in any way. Were I inclined to learn more about his influence on art, his upbringing, anything of the sort, Wikipedia would teach me a great deal even after watching an hour and a half movie all about him. I can tell you in great detail, though, how he paints. And it is definitely a credit to the filmmakers that I was totally entranced while watching. I'm not sure if you can spoil a documentary like this, so I feel okay mentioning that there were some truly frustrating/heartbreaking parts of his process where as a viewer I'd become fairly attached to the painting we'd watched him painstakingly create, only to stand by while he white-washed it, unsatisfied with the final product. This surprised me. My reaction, that is.
Also in Toronto I went to the former TIFF venue the Cumberland to see FOOTNOTE. This has been on my list for some time since it's rare to see an Israeli film that is anything but delightful and engaging. I would use those both of those words to describe this quirky family dramedy about competing father/son scholars. Having seen the trailer no less than five thousand times I was pretty sure I had this movie pegged, but it still managed to surprise me with both its ending and a few of the devices used to tell the story. Charming, but certainly the weakest of the four (of five) Best Foreign Film nominees I've seen from the 2011 Oscars.
Back in NYC as I said I made today a nonstop film assault at my three favorite downtown theaters. The IFC center was first on my list (and in my heart) for WE HAVE A POPE which I missed at TIFF and again at its sneak preview a few weeks earlier, which I ditched to hang out with friends in town. Sometimes there must be more to life than movies. They say. Anyhow - fine movie, not going to change my life. Actually more eh than anything. The only thing I've seen of the director's work was his Palm D'Or winning THE SONS ROOM which packed a much deeper emotional punch than this lightish fare.
Next I popped over to the Film Forum to check out THE ISLAND PRESIDENT which has been receiving glowing recommendations, most recently from my dear friend @janisgilman whose opinion I trust when she says she loves something (but not when she hates something).
THE ISLAND PRESIDENT was my favorite of the day and worked really well as an underdog story (both of a man, a political party, a nation, maybe the world). This is one of the climate change movies that made the strongest case for "NO REALLY, DO SOMETHING RIGHT FUCKING NOW PEOPLE" out of the many looming nightmare "humanity is fucked" documentaries that have been made. And it was also the one that, for me, focused more on what someone is actually doing to solve the problem than on proving that there's a problem in the first place. I find that a much more compelling tale than spending 88 minutes of a 92 minute movie describing in detail the downward path we're on, and then spending four of the final minutes on a tacked-on epilogue with a hopefully score playing over a couple of plucky folks coming up with some very "duh" ideas to fix things.
This movie worked on so many levels - as a portrait of someone persevering against immense adversity, as a plea for help from a beautiful place suffering in ways most people far away could never imagine, and as a wake up call for those ignoring problems that will surely land in their backyards sooner rather than later. Charming, inspiring, entertaining. Educational without being preachy or condescending. Just about everything I hope for in a non-fiction film. See it if you haven't yet.
My last film of the day (that I know of, it's not even 7 PM) was THE BULLY PROJECT. Or is it just called BULLY? At any rate, I've been wanting to see this since it was the toast of Tribeca nearly one year ago. I should have seen it back then, before I was tainted by all the praise, before I was influenced by the annoying as hell, sanctimonious publicity around the MPAA ratings debacle. Not that I don't hate the MPAA with a flaming passion. But. Anyway.
I donno about this movie, guys. I'm a human being, so there were absolutely some moving parts. I mean, most of it was moving. You can't be a living breathing person and not feel something very strong for these families and these kids who have suffered so much. But, I had some problems with the film if I am evaluating it objectively, or trying.
First of all, I get it. I get it. I get it. Bullying is bad. I feel like I was asked to watch four or five hours of raw footage of kids and families just dealing with the effects of it, before the film even started offering any slant or commentary besides "this is happening." And maybe that only bothered me because it's been so well covered in the past year since this was made - and I know, I know, I know. It's happening. Maybe most people seeing this in bumfuck Kansas or Florida or whatever won't be able to make the connections I feel like most people could have made in 30 minutes of "bullying is happening and it is bad" type of footage. You know what I'd like? I'd like the entirety of BULLY to be condensed into 30 minutes, and then I'd like another hour and a half of actually exploring the incredibly complex issue. Not just saying "it's entirely complex" or putting people in corners, in very black or white "these are the good guys and these are the bad guys" distinctions. Because I feel like that's how we'll start to actually maybe make some headway on solving the problem. And maybe it's a different movie - but I would have liked the film to speak with some experts - ANY experts - on the topic. Way too many personal stories; way too much footage of the CLEARLY well-intentioned administrators being made out to look ineffective. I am not a teacher and I know hardly any teachers but I think they're a fairly easy target and I can't imagine they're anywhere near the root of the problem.
This subject deserves more, I guess, is what I am saying. That's not to say anything about the intentions of the film - because without a doubt, awareness is a solid step in the right direction. The last 10 minutes were strong and they took way too long to arrive.
Also I could write a paper on how the movie completely glossed over the fact that so many of these families owned guns, advocated hunting, and at least one child talked about violence against animals. I digress - that gets a bit too political for this here viewing blog.
I'm glad I saw it, and I will not begrudge the film any of its praise. I was incredibly moved by the story of the gay high school girl - both her own strength and that of her family. I think there was something very interesting to learn about a comment her dad made about how his entire world view changed the day his daughter came out. It's a cliche to say it, but if the attention the film is getting means it's shown to any families in a similar situation who can take anything valuable from that father's tale, then it has been a success. I just think it is too loaded of an issue for this to be considered in any way shape or form the definitive documentary on the topic. I hope very much that it opens up a dialogue for richer, more nuanced, less personal and more objective takes on the issue.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Folks: Please help me choose my films for Tribeca.
Here is the first draft of my choices. Please tell me if I am missing something vital, or including something disastrous?
Yossi
Rubberneck
Downeast
Supporting Characters
Jack & Diane
Baby Girl
A Better Life
Mansome
Nancy Please
Freaky Deaky
Fame High
Sleepless Night
Take This Waltz
Off Label
The Giant Mechanical Man
Russian Winter
Resolution
Side by Side
Any Day Now
Queen: Days of our Lives
The Avengers
The Flat
Downeast
Yossi
Rubberneck
Downeast
Supporting Characters
Jack & Diane
Baby Girl
A Better Life
Mansome
Nancy Please
Freaky Deaky
Fame High
Sleepless Night
Take This Waltz
Off Label
The Giant Mechanical Man
Russian Winter
Resolution
Side by Side
Any Day Now
Queen: Days of our Lives
The Avengers
The Flat
Downeast
So I might have just emailed everyone I know in NYC...
To encourage them to see Take This Waltz when it plays the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21st.
This was my favorite film at the Toronto Film Festival in 2011. I was completely intoxicated by it, from the first scene. I love. This. Movie.
You might be interested in seeing this movie if you enjoy quality cinema, starting Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby and Sarah Silverman,and directed by Sarah Polley who made AWAY FROM HER. Please watch the trailer, and get excited.
Here are some production stills to admire. YAY I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE IT AGAIN!
This was my favorite film at the Toronto Film Festival in 2011. I was completely intoxicated by it, from the first scene. I love. This. Movie.
You might be interested in seeing this movie if you enjoy quality cinema, starting Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby and Sarah Silverman,and directed by Sarah Polley who made AWAY FROM HER. Please watch the trailer, and get excited.
Here are some production stills to admire. YAY I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE IT AGAIN!
