Another 17 Films to Think About

Below I have listed the seventeen films I saw at Cinefest in Sudbury. Some I may have changed my mind about, but here is how they came out immediately after viewing.

Perhaps I was too hard on Bright Star. Most everyone else who saw it thought it was great, but when I sighed at the end and Sandra said to me, "You sighed because it was so wonderful?" I replied, "No, I sighed because I'm tired and glad it's over." It was so slow and I had no love for any of the characters. They were all tedious people.

Glad I saw these nine:
Sticky Fingers, Excited, J'ai Tué Ma Mère, Mid-August Lunch, Puck Hogs, Humpday, Cairo Time, Three Blind Mice, Unmistaken Child.

So so two:
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, The Coca-Cola Case.

I wouldn't recommend these four:
Year of the Carnivore, Je Me Souviens, Bright Star, Détour.

Sticky Fingers

In brief:
Roy Dupuis and his gang pull a heist then lose the money and try to get it back. Lots of fun.

Ramblings:
Plot twists are a bit over-the-top, but that can't spoil the overall fun. Great characters. Reminds me a bit of the British Ealing comedies.

Excited

In brief:
Bruce Sweeney does it again. Splendid acting and well-developed plot. Perhaps a bit racy, but then it was about premature ejaculation.

Ramblings:
Characters were very believable. Close, but no one went over the top. Recommended.

Year of the Carnivore

In brief:
Did she make it up as she went along? Interesting lead character and actor but plot was not much fun.

Ramblings:
Is it any worse or better when the men are forced into sex by a woman?

Je Me Souviens

In brief:
About strikers and communism and other things. Wordy script. No reason to see this one. I left before the end.

Ramblings:
I talked to others who said it got worse.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

In brief:
Great visuals ... plot meandered ... just so/so.

Ramblings:
Heath Ledger didn't save this one.

Bright Star

In brief:
Like watching paint dry.

Ramblings:
No redeeming features.

J'ai Tué Ma Mère

In brief:
I was getting a little tired of the characters about three-quarters of the way through, but it was worth sticking it out to the ending which paid off and saved the movie.

Ramblings:
Canada's Oscar nominee. Lead actor was also the director and writer. Twenty-one years old. Incredible talent. The closeups shot the wrong way bugged me to no end. You give the actors room .... on the side they're looking.

Mid-August Dinner

In brief:
Absolutely wonderful Italian story of a mother and son and their "new" friends. The actors are perfect and believable.

Ramblings:
One of my favorites of the festival.

Puck Hogs

In brief:
Very funny docu-drama about a hockey team in a small town. Well worth seeing, though a bit racy.

Ramblings:
The actors are standouts. It never goes too far over the top for this kind of mocumentary -- but it does come close every once in a while.

Humpday

In brief:
Story about macho-posturing that was saved by excellent acting by the two leads.

Ramblings:
What could have been merely funny was also touching. Difficult to describe without giving away a lot of the plot. Not many people in the audience. A pity for them. It was not quite as advertised -- but much more.

Detour

In brief:
A Woody Herman look-alike has an adventure that is more than he bargained for.

Ramblings:
Interesting story idea that goes too far in the graphic violence and is spoiled by over-the-top acting by two of the leads. I don't think the director or actors were always on the same page -- is this a comedy or a thriller -- I don't think they could decide and they sometimes seemed as if they were acting in different movies.

Plot twist(s) were obvious but badly executed. What could have been funny was not.

The Coca-Cola Case

In brief:
Interesting documentary about Coke's union busting in Colombia is very much like any other doc about corporate greed.

Ramblings:
NFB was a partner in producing this. CEO of Coke makes as much in one hour as a Colombian worker could make in two years.

Cairo Time

In brief:
Excellent love story told almost effortlessly. Couldn't imagine anyone else than Patricia Clarkson doing this one.

Ramblings:
Long Q & A after the film added to the experience. This one works at all levels. Great cinematography, acting, story. Well worth seeing.

Three Blind Mice

In brief:
Well-done film about sailors and "today's navy," though set in Australia could have happened anywhere.

Ramblings:
Some people left early because of the preponderance of the f-word. Was actually at last year's TIFF but I missed it then.

Multi-layered and many stories told but it never seems overly complicated. Excellent acting, editing. Documentary style cinematography adds to the realism.

Unmistaken Child

In brief:
Close up look at the belief in re-incarnation in Buddhist culture that occasionally lacks focus but in the end reveals a mysterious world.

Ramblings:
It's difficult to imagine the weight on the shoulders of a two-year-old boy. The adults seem to be so deep in their beliefs. Another one from last year's TIFF where I missed it. Great look at village life. Wish I'd seen this before my trip to the Himalayas this summer.

An Education

In brief:
I followed this one and loved the characters till about a half hour from the end. Then it fell kind of flat as they tied up the plot loose ends.

Ramblings:
At the end, this just seemed like a typical love story movie with all the loose ends tied up in a bow. Absolutely loved the main character. I heard someone remark "She looks like Audrey Hepburn." Perhaps, but she certainly showed maturity beyond her supposed age. Not a great movie but a good one.

Creation

In brief:
One word for this one is "gentle." Not sure why, but I bought into it completely and felt satisfied when it finished.

Ramblings:
Great stock footage added to the story. Were some of the animals animatronics? There was a credit at the end of the movie. Paul Bettany's hairline was a sight to behold as his forehead increased and decreased as the story went back and forth in time.

Well worth seeing.

Comparisons

After seeing thirty-three films in a row, you can't help but compare them and categorize them. I also am interested in why certain ones affected me one way and others in a different way.

I liked them at first
In a couple of films I felt blind-sided. I would be rooting for the main characters and then they would change inexplicably and end up not being what I had thought they were. This happened in a couple of movies. More comparison below.

Two Movies set in India
Both "The Waiting City" and "Cooking With Stella" were shot in India -- in fact, I saw them one right after the other -- but I had a negative reaction to "Stella," made by a Canadian and absolutely loved "City," made by an Australian.

Now, "Stella" is a comedy and I noticed that none of the comedies I saw at the festival were on my list of favorites. "City" is a human drama which is the type of movie I gravitate toward.

I was willing to laugh at the petty thievery at first, but things that made me uncomfortable were the depiction of the Indian police, the lack of scruples of the Indian staff, the instant change of character of the Indian nanny, the gullibility of the Canadians. I also found it hard to believe the final plot twists which seemed contrived, fantastical, and a strange way to wrap up the story.

Two Movies with Violent Plots
Both "Leaves of Grass" and "High Life" dealt with crime, criminals, and punishment. However, I bought into "High Life" but did not enjoy the last half of "Leaves of Grass."

Was it because the production values were so high ... or was the violence so graphic and thoughtless ... not sure, but I couldn't accept it in "Leaves of Grass." In "High Time" it was just as pointless but the movie was shot with a grittier style and I accepted it more easily. Not sure why.

More comparisons to come.

38 (Oops 37) TIFF Films

Glad I saw these eighteen:
The Young Victoria, Huacho, V.O.S., Colony, The Band that Wouldn't Die, Eyes Wide Open, Triage, How to Fold a Flag, The Men Who Stare at Goats, 25 Carat, The Joneses, Capitalism: A Love Story, Jean Charles, A Single Man, Cole, High Life, Videocracy, The Waiting City.

So so ten:
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Broken Embraces, Like You Know it All, I am Love, Same Same But Different, Get Low, Leaves of Grass, Micmac, Vincere, Cooking with Stella.

I wouldn't recommend these ten nine:
Happiest Girl in the World, The House of Branching Love, Independencia, A Serious Man, Life During Wartime, The Last Days of Emma Blank, The Time that Remains, Police, Adjective, The Search.

Coming up next week in Sudbury another seven TIFF films:
Creation, An Education, Unmistaken Child, Three Blind Mice, Cairo Time, The Coca-Cola Case, Humpday, Mid-August Lunch, J'ai Tué Ma Mère, Bright Star, Imaginarium, Excited, Sticky Fingers, The Damned United

The Waiting City

In brief:
In my estimation this was a perfect movie. Great plot, great acting, something to say.

Ramblings:
After I had seen this, I decided that I'd had enough. Plus I lost the ticket for the next movie so that must have been a sign.

Shot in Calcutta in a Mother Theresa's orphanages about an Australian couple who try to adopt a child from the orphanage. Much more satisfying meeting of the cultures than "Cooking with Stella."

Cooking with Stella

In brief:
They had me in the palm of their hand(s) up until the plot twist which lost me entirely and left me with a bad taste.

Ramblings:
I'm not sure if it's just a misunderstanding of cultures that bothered me so much.

Vincere

In brief:
Untold story of Mussolini's other wife with great acting. Told in an operatic style which seemed more suitable for this than when it was used in Tilda's movie.

Ramblings:
Even though I sat beside the lead actor at last night's screening of "Videocracy," I couldn't recommend this one to others. Some people will find it just choppy.

Videocracy

In brief:
Unbelievable access to Italian media whores and an ordinary guy who wanted to be one too.

Ramblings:
Is this what politics has come to? Very frightening film about celebrity culture.

Although it takes place in Italy, it reflects the American election of their celebrity president.

The Search

In brief:
Another film with long takes and people talking. Very wordy film ... with sub-titles that kept you reading and reading.

Ramblings:
I think the director got caught up in portraying himself on camera. The was probably about love but I couldn't stay for the Q & A to find out if that was true.

Police, Adjective

In brief:
Another Romanian film with long takes of nothing happening and the plot not being pushed ahead. I don't see the point, though I did want to stay till the end and see what happened.

Ramblings:
The movie actually had a point. Sorry I didn't have time to stay for the Q & A. Discussions about Romanian grammar and reading from a Romanian dictionary don't make for a very gripping film.

Micmac

In brief:
If you loved "Amelie," I'm sure you'll love this one too. I didn't like "Amelie" so ... Just too cute for me.

Ramblings:
In case you didn't notice, the cinematographer had a crane available and used it at every opportunity. The audience was rolling in the aisles but maybe I just don't have a sense of humour. Not for me.

High Life

In brief:
Spectacular heist film with outstanding performances by all the actors. Though based on a stage play, it is a movie through and through.

Ramblings:
Canadian movie filmed in Winnipeg. I couldn't imagine anyone else playing each of the roles. Why do I accept the gory details of this one but not the Edward Norton film I saw yesterday? It's the cinematography and art direction. This one is grittier and somehow the death and battle scenes are not "sanitized."

Cole

In brief:
Excellent movie directed and filmed by Carl Bessai about life in a small town. Excellent cast and story.

Ramblings:
Highly recommended Canadian story written by an American.

The Time That Remains

In brief:
Very obscure absurdist movie highlighting four periods in Palestinian history.

Ramblings:
The director was still explaining the movie fifteen minutes after it was finished when I left for the next film.

Leaves of Grass

In brief:
Edward Norton plays very different twins very well.

Ramblings:
This movie was a bit too graphically violent for me.

But I had some more thoughts about it the next day. The look of this one is very clean and the violence is very graphic -- in crystal clear detail. Would I have accepted it more easily if it had been a grittier looking movie? Not sure; however, a grittier look was precluded by the fact that Edward Norton played two roles and the cameras had to be locked down to make that easier to accomplish.

Get Low

In brief:
Robert Duvall as a hermit. Story kept my interest till the last half hour when it ran out of steam. The final explanation wasn't very captivating.

Ramblings:
I figured out most of the plot before the end. Didn't really care for the long explanation by Robert Duvall. By then Bill Murray, one of the best characters in the movie, faded into the background as did all the other characters.

A Single Man

In brief:
Christopher Isherwood book adapted and directed by Tom Ford. A bit of a grim story but Colin Firth was excellent in the lead role.

Ramblings:
Creative consultant was Don Bachardy. Very impressive work with the colour saturation of the video which went from grey to high saturation depending on Colin Firth's mood or interest.

Good supporting roles including Julianne Moore as best friend.

Andy Malcolm does foley in LA now? I have read the book but didn't remember it as such a depressing portrait of a gay character, though it certainly captures the mood of the 60s.

Jean Charles

In brief:
True story of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian electrician shot in error as a terrorist by the English police on July 22, 2005.

Ramblings:
Excellent performances by the pro and amateurs (some of whom were playing themselves).

Capitalism: A Love Story

In brief:
Michael Moore is taking on the corporations once again. Thoughtful documentary as usual.

Ramblings:
His on-camera scenes were a bit long, but his selection of personal stories were, as usual, very captivating.

The Last Days of Emma Blank

In brief:
This one got me thinking about my response to absurd situations in movies. A great take on what people will do for money.

Ramblings:
It was too realistic. Kurt said the other day (about another movie), "Don't take it literally." But the way this movie was shot, it was difficult not to take it literally.

However I loved a previous movie by the same writer, "The Waiter." For that one I bought into the absurdity of the situation quite readily and it was one of my favorite movies of the festival a couple of years ago. But this time, I couldn't harmonize the absurd with the real.

In retrospect, my reaction is tempered now as opposed to my immediate reaction of "Huh?" immediately after it ended.

The Joneses

In brief:
Great take on the consumer society. Highly recommended. Pitch perfect art direction.

Ramblings:
Too bad I knew the premise before the movie's first few scenes. Would have made them more shocking. I was completely taken in by the story. It should have ended 15 seconds earlier. It was a perfect script except for those last fifteen seconds which were completely unnecessary and ruined the credibilty of the two main characters. Even so, I highly recommend this one.

Life During Wartime

In brief:
Todd Solenz puts a lot of characters on the screen that I wouldn't want to invite to my house.

Ramblings:
Many disjointed scenes. Perhaps it would have helped to have seen "Happiness" more recently to figure out some of the plot and inter-connections between the characters. The boy who played the main character was the best thing in the movie. Three sisters -- so what?

Same Same But Different

In brief:
Flat and uninspired telling of a true story that wasn't helped by lackluster performances. Cameron Bailey said this was the only real romance movie at the festival ... if this is romance it was not very passionate.

Ramblings:
The setting and music were more interesting than the actors. The scenes outside the plot were certainly interesting and would have made a great documentary.

A Serious Man

In brief:
I was so looking forward to seeing this but I honestly didn't think it was very funny at all, though many of the audience were rolling in the aisles.

Ramblings:
Absolutely stunning re-creation of a 1967 American suburb. Great artistic design. Many bad things happen to good people but I couldn't relate to the situations. It might have helped to be Jewish since many of the jokes were in Yiddish or Hebrew.

25 Carat

In brief:
Absolutely great first film. If you like movies like "Lock, Stock and Smoking Barrel" you'll love this one.

Ramblings:
Director said it was shot in six weeks and made for a million Euros. Great main characters. Great situations. Constant surprises.

Independencia

In brief:
"Artistic" movie that will have a difficult time finding an audience.

Ramblings:
Apparently it was meant to look amateurish. It did that well. A bit too far out for me.

The House of Branching Love

In brief:
Very uneven acting and implausible changes in the characters make for a choppy divorce movie.

Ramblings:
Female star spoils this one. Her acting (or is it the script) is all over the place. It's hard to believe or understand her motivations a lot of the time -- except that it makes for funny situations. Her role is a victim to the plot.

People laughed a lot, though I didn't find some of the situations that funny. I wouldn't recommend this one.

The Men Who Stare at Goats

In brief:
Great story, well told.

Ramblings:
Well worth seeing but needs lots of time to think about. In the middle of a film festival there's not enough time. Can't really say much more right now.

How to Fold a Flag

In brief:
Another great documentary from the duo who did "Gunner Palace." This time they look at what happens when the soldiers who fought in Iraq come back or don't come back.

Ramblings:
Four absolutely riveting characters are highlighted. Seamless editing. Great cinematography. Emotional stories.

Triage

In brief:
Colin Farrell giving a stellar performance in a movie that takes a look at how war photographers deals with PTSD.

Ramblings:
It is written as a mystery and more of the story is revealed as the movie progresses but it's too bad that the plot will be told and there will be no surprises for the audience by the time this movie opens. Main reason I love seeing films at festivals.

All the other actors and especially Christopher Lee are exceptional too. Great story.

Eyes Wide Open

In brief:
Story that sometimes looks more like a documentary about a tradition and fundamentalist Jewish community in Jerusalem and how its members cope with those who veer from the path.

Ramblings:
Director told us that the cinematographer came from a documentary background. Shot on location. Excellent performances. Sometimes the narrative rambles a bit. Similar story-arc to "Brokeback Mountain," but the main character is more difficult to relate to than the Heath Ledger tortured soul -- perhaps because his day-to-day life is so dissimilar to anything a North American would understand.

It really need another title so people won't confuse it with the Stanley Kubrick film.