Saturday, May 14, 2011

Home Moives: April 2011

Masters of Cinema's Le Amiche (1955) Blu-ray/DVD included in this month's Home Movies at In Review Online.

After gorging myself on 39 films at MSPIFF (not to mention the ones I caught on screeners beforehand), it was kind of hard to immediately pull up my bootstraps and think about rallying for DVD and Blu-ray releases for April. But with the help of In Review Online colleague Jordan Cronk, we tackled nine spiffy new releases (all Blu-ray, because we are Hi-def snobs) that won't make anyone sad. The best release I reviewed was the amazing Taxi Driver package put together by Sony. I checked out the Blu-ray a mere week after seeing the new 35mm print at the Trylon, making for a good comparison. On Jordan's side, he champions the new Blu-ray of Blow Out from Criterion that ultimately got our nod for release of the month.

That being said, among the other seven releases reviewed, including films from Ken Loach, Jean-Pierre Melville, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jane Campion and Michelangelo Antonioni, there is not a clunker in the bunch. Enjoy.

Home Movies: April - In Review Onine

Thursday, May 5, 2011

MSPIFF log 5.03.11

Beginners (2010)
dir. Mike Mills
USA

Day 20
38th Film
(6/10) Recommended
Trailer









Tyrannosaur
(2010)

dir. Paddy Considine
UK

Day 20
39th Film
(6/10) Recommended

When this film started, I was completely unnerved that I was facing another film that expected me to sympathize with some pathetic bastard caged in the dramatic aura of: 'but deep down, he's a really great guy.' It pulled itself out of that hole eventually and redeemed itself a little. It's got a violent streak in it, but it also has some heart. Eddie Marsan is frightening.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

MSPIFF log 5.01.11

El Infierno (2010)
dir. Luis Estrada
Mexico

Day 18
37th Film
(1/10) Not Recommended
Trailer

What a slog. A two-and-a-half hour soap opera that couldn't make the turn on either serious drama or convincing comedy. Some of the most uneven storytelling I've seen in some time. If this is what blockbusters look like in Mexico, count me out.

MSPIFF log 4.30.11

Tomorrow Will Be Better (2010)
dir. Dorota Kedzierzawska
Poland/Japan

Day 17
33rd Film
(7/10) Recommended

Tomorrow Will Be Better chronicles three Ukranian street kids in their attempt to sneak into Poland. The three leads are played by homeless kids the director met while scouting for locations. The kids are expected to carry the film and for the most part they do with their unexpected charisma, especially real-life brothers Evgeny and Oleg Ryba. (Can't find a poster or a trailer for this bugger, but it's a really solid film.)


My Joy (2010)
dir. Sergei Loznitsa
Russia/Germany/Ukraine/Netherlands

Day 17
34th Film
(9/10) Highly Recommended
Trailer

Wow, did I love this film. More on this later.











Project Nim (2011)
dir. James Marsh
UK

Day 17
35th Film
(7/10) Recommended
Trailer










Stake Land
(2010)

dir. Jim Mickle
USA

Day 17
36th Film
(2/10) Not Recommended
Trailer

I saw Mullberry Street during HorrorFest a couple years ago, so my expectation were set pretty low. Ultimately, this is a rehash of a rehash or a rehash that takes itself way too seriously considering the appropriation and lack of originality. It wants to be "Walking Dead," but doesn't come even close.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

MSPIFF log 4.29.11

Experimental Film Program
A Film (2010) dir. Hisham Bizri, USA/Lebanon
Retrograde Premonition (2010) dir. Leighton Pierce, USA
If You Can't See My Mirrors, I Can't See You (2010) dir. Jenny Hogarth, Kim Coleman, UK
Vertical Kromvex Mirror (2009) dir. Christian Newby, USA/UK
This Quality (2010) dir. Rosalind Nashashibi, UK
Commercials (2007) dir. Erica Eyers, Canada/UK
Sister (2009) dir. Sue De Beer, USA
Two Banana Dance (2010) dir. Diane Torr, UK
The Hottest Day of the Year (2010) dir. Keren Cytter, Germany/Israel
The Coat (2010) dir. Keren Cytter, Germany/Israel
Somewhere Only We Know (2009) dir. Jesse McLean, USA

Day 16
31st Film

An uneven program of work that overall made me feel like I was back in art school.


Film Socialisme (2010)
dir. Jean-Luc Godard
Switzerland/France

Day 16
32nd Film
Trailer

I was totally unprepared for the density of this film, its ideas and format. It's an incredible piece of work that I am conflicted on in many ways. Attempt a review after only one viewing? Ha! I will try! More on this later.

Monday, May 2, 2011

MSPIFF log 4.28.11

Home For Christmas (2010)
dir. Bent Hamer
Germany

Day 15
29th Film
(7/10) Recommended
Trailer

Enjoyable drama that is not nearly as predictable as one might think. Hated that pop song at the end (also in trailer.)





Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film
(2010)

dir. Pip Chodorov
France

Day 15
30th Film
(5/10) Take It or Leave It
Trailer

Only a cursory survey of experimental film, but thoughtfully done with a personal touch. A great introduction to the mood and the work of the time.

MSPIFF log 4.27.11

Rio Sonata (2010)
dir. George Gachot
Brazil

Day 14
27th Film
(7/10) Recommended
Trailer

All you really need is Nana Caymmi performing and you have a captivating film. An icon of Brazilian music, Caymmi still very much has it. Footage of recent and past performances are just amazing, especially one early in her career with Gilberto Gil where you could barely hear her due to the applause. A must see for fans.






Pure (2010)
dir. Lisa Langseth
Sweden

Day 14
27th Film
(4/10) Not Recommended
Trailer

(Does not star Keira Knightly.) For the majority of this film, I was able to go along with the scenario: A trouble teenager finds an emotional well when she stumbles upon Mozart's "Requiem" on YouTube, and finds inspiration to turn her life around. It is a leap, especially given the gritty, authentic pathos the film is going for. However. Deep within the third act, the film forced me into a corner of happily-ever-after disbelief. Am I giving something away? Probably. But not the specific (and important) plot device I had an issue with.

MSPIFF log 04.26.11

Kawasaki's Rose (2009)
dir. Jan Hrebejk
Czech Republic

Day 12
25th Film
(5/10) Take It or Leave It
Trailer

This is definitely the point where I start to get a little jaded about the middle-of-the-road festival films. I don't have many complaints about this film, but I also don't have much praise.








The White Meadows (2010)
dir. Mohammad Rasoulof
Iran

Day 12
26th Film
(7/10) Recommended
Trailer

Visually stunning (see left) and metaphorically rich, The White Meadows is a film I will have more to say about when I do a festival wrap for In Review Online. Someday. Stay tuned.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

MSPIFF log 04.24.11

(I'm behind on my log. What are you gonna do.) Skipped another day at MSPIFF. In this case I missed 4/23 for a little softball training with my Ghost Monkeys (Minneapolis E League, look out!) and to give space for Meek's Cutoff which is likely going to be the best film I saw during the Fest that wasn't at the Fest. Here's what I saw on Sunday:

Position Among the Stars (2011)
dir. Leonard Retel Helmrich
Indonesia/Netherlands

Day 11
20th Film
(8/10) Recommended
Trailer

A snap decision to check out this documentary set in Indonesia was a good one. Situating himself right alongside the fly on the wall, director Leonard Retel Helmrich gets more than a snapshot of Jakarta life. A girl graduates from high school, a boy steals some cloths, a grandmother takes her Muslim grandson to a Catholic church, a wife fries her husband's prized fighting fish, and an old woman escapes the hustle and bustle of the city. There is definitely more to Position Among the Stars than meets the eye. Buried under the personal stories is a framework of specific structure and rigorous documentarian formalism. Position is the third in a trilogy. I must see the others! (Check out the trailer linked above! People with vertigo beware!)

Street Days (2010)
dir. Levan Koguashvili
Georgia

Day 11
21st Film
(3/10) Not Recommended
Trailer

Ten years ago, when you bought a cake in China, you couldn't really be sure what you would get flavor-wise. The few times I did buy a cake, I made a point of asking if the cake was sweet or salty. Inevitably, the person behind the counter would excitedly say 'Both!' as if that would be the best answer. This is kind of the case with Street Days: does it have tragedy or drama or comedy? It has it all! Jarring suicides, apathetic adults, funny costumes, depressing situations and drug use! The mixing pot was a little too full on this one and I could not reconcile the lead character's inability to pull his shit together.



The Interrupters (2011)
dir. Steve James
USA

Day 11
22nd Film
(8/10) Recommended
Trailer

Steve James change the landscape of documentary film with Hoop Dreams 17 years ago. (Was it really that long ago?) It, along with Roger and Me, help shepherd a new era of US documentary films with a rich and vibrant representation of the potential power and populism of the medium. The Interrupters brings James back to Chicago to work with author Alex Kotlowitz in documenting the amazing work of "violence interrupters." A part of CeaseFire, these interrupters work to mediate violence on a street level. Needless to say, the stories and personalities are riveting. At 2 hours and 20 minutes (slimmed down from 2 hours and 40 minutes), the film is a completely engaging work. Picked up by Cinema Guild, this film will certainly make the rounds.


Who Killed Chea Vichea? (2010)
dir. Bradley Cox
Cambodia/Thailand/USA

Day 11
23rd Film
(7/10) Recommended
Trailer

Short but concise documentary about the murder of a union leader in Cambodia. Look for it on PBS.






Small Town Murder Songs (2010)
dir. Ed Gass-Donnelly
Canada

Day 11
24th Film
(6/10) Take It or Leave It
Trailer

An odd film set to chapters and murder songs that stars Peter Stormare and Martha Plimpton. Unassuming and strange.