It has been a while since I updated the site with SIFF reviews. Gonna try and do a bit of quick catchup tonight. I've been doing a lot of exploring making my first trips to the Renton and Everett satellite locations. Both were delightful in their own unique ways. I'm planning an article on these relatively new SIFF outposts - in the meantime don't be scared off from making the trip if there's something you want to see there. And don't forget to checkout the Kirkland with opening night on Thursday. I'm not especially excited about their first film there but I can't wait to have an option so close to home.
I'm trying my best to keep up writing about what I've seen. But for the most up to date info and daily suggestions throughout SIFF I'd highly recommend
keeping an eye on my twitter feed.
Policeman (Israel) - The first half is brilliant. In my view that's enough of a reason to watch. Through the 2nd part my interest waned a bit. Overall it's still absolutely worthy of your time. A tough member of an anti-terrorist team deals with a pregnant wife, a teammate dying from something they can't shoot and an investigation into civilian deaths make for a complex mix. It's all fascinatingly shot at a close personal level and communicated with a satisfyingly small amount of dialog. When he's faced with a homegrown Jewish terrorist cell there are some abrupt realizations on the part of our macho protagonist - not that we're given a lot of time to to process them along with him as they sneak up in the closing moments of the picture. The film, counter to the description I read is largely split into two halves - one following the commando and the other following the radicals. I was more interested in the former than the latter, though I suppose as a whole it makes an discussion worthy critique for current Israeli society. Not that I fully understand it. Nevertheless as a whole it is a more than interesting bit of filmmaking and I'm very happy I saw it for the first half at least.
Game of Werewolves (Spain) - Horror/comedy that's both funny and scary. Or maybe a bit scary but suitably bloody. After a nicely done animated explanation about how Tomas's ancestor literally fucked with the wrong Gypsy leading to a curse upon her town we're catapulted into the present. He has arrived at the family's semi abandoned home for peace and quiet. And also to receive an award for what sounds like a truly (amusingly) terrible novel. After reconnecting with an old friend it's not long until Tomas somehow has drawn the wrath of the entire village. We're talking pitchforks and being thrown into a labyrinth with some sort of monster. With nods to classic werewolf film stylings and clever use of the history of the Spanish Civil war there are a lot of things to like about this film. In the beginning I feared it would be a bit too obvious. But the filmmakers took things in enough random directions once the midpoint was hit to really keep me engaged. Should be a dynamite midnight film experience. As long as you can both squirm and find humor In someone's fingers "needing" to be chopped off. Don't fret, it actually makes perfect sense in context.
Your Sister's, Sister (USA) - The opening night film for SIFF 2012 totally rocked. Which is largely because Lynn Shelton rocks. Go with me on this for a bit...
I've liked each of her films more than the last, with only her first not being something I can enthusiastically recommend. Which is more a personal taste thing than a criticism. The story is a bit complicated in all it's implications to relate here. In short though - Mark Duplass plays a man who lost his brother a year ago. His best friend is his brother's widow. Stuck in a cycle of depression she sends him off to their remote island cabin to heal. When he shows up he meets her sister who had similar designs on the cabin. Discussions and issues and revelations ensue. For me it was a beautifully rendered piece of small scale film making that the Northwest should be particularly proud of. Even if
Humpday wasn't your thing I recommend seeing this one. Kudos to SIFF for choosing with
Your Sister's Sister my absolutely favorite opening night film since
You and Me and Everyone We Know.
Teddy Bear (Denmark) - Dennis is a brute of a man. A 38 year old tall and extremely muscular body builder. It's not hard to sense his best days in the sport are behind him - but he's still a sight to behold. While there may be the potential for violence in all of us it's hard to imagine Dennis as anything other than a human teddy bear from his actions. Incapable with women regardless of physique he's perhaps one of the physically largest mamma's boys in the history of cinema. Mom's also more than a little bit manipulative in keeping him at home. Dennis does want a partner and is intrigued by an uncle who has married a woman from Thailand. So he heads in that direction to meet someone. Turned off by the constant expectations from the locals that he's a sex tourist he finally hits a gym - where maybe a real connection exists. Things from that point on are mostly predictable, but delightful in how things turned out almost
exactly as I'd hoped they would. Sometimes predictable is good.
Intouchables (Spain) - This comedy was listed in the SIFF guide as one of the top grossing French films of all time. Which frankly made me a bit nervous. But it turned out to be truly funny and somewhat touching. Though I suppose there is a cynical view that it's basically a treatise as how enough money can make even being a quadriplegic somewhat tolerable. Based on a true story the focus is the relationship between Philippe, the rich severely disabled man and Driss the young, hip Senegalese ex-con immigrant with little filter between brain and mouth. Driss applies for a job as Philippe's caregiver, but only to qualify for the dole. Philippe is amused by Driss's brash demeanor and hires him. Things work out better than either expected - I don't think I'm ruining anything. Based on a true story things of this nature rarely end with the Driss character in jail for manslaughter. It wasn't the best thing I've ever seen but certainly pleasant enough. It's nice to have one's modest expectations exceeded.
OK - off now to try and watch another film. I've seen quite a bit more than I've written about. Things on the to-do list to write about include:
- Valley of Saints
- Robot and Frank
- Compliance
- Secret Festival #1
- Madrid, 1987
- Hemel
- Gimme the Loot
- The Women in the Septic Tank
- Two Days in New York
- Lola Versus
- Cousinhood
I particularly liked
Cousinhood,
Gimme the Loot, and
Valley of Saints.
Hemel, The Woman in the Septic Tank, and
Two Days in New York all struck me very positively as well. Personally, I think folks should see all of these films. Plus perhaps
Compliance which isn't "fun" but well done. Even if it does reinforce some of my low expectations of human nature. If nothing else it's a good primer on why having a bit of an attitude towards authority is a good thing.
In other notes....
I was a bit underwhelmed by
Robot and Frank which I think went a bit too soft on a brilliant concept (more later) - plus dementia as comedy is a seriously hard sell for me.
Lola Versus proved that it's possible I may be physically incapable of seriously disliking a Greta Gerwig movie - even if intellectually I'm not particularly fond of the story. Though I'm unwilling to push this hypothesis to the limits by checking out
Arthur. There may be a point too far even for something she's in.
Madrid, 1987 wasn't especially great. In the genre of folks stuck in a bedroom/bathroom for most or all of a film I'd put it way behind
In Bed and perhaps less annoying than
Room in Rome. This story of an older journalist and a young woman he improbably almost seduced trapped naked in a bathroom only comes alive when she's finally given a chance to really speak. Which takes to long and is way too brief in duration.
