To anyone following this blog....

I'm trying to simplify things (which will hopefully allow me to post more) and will be shifting my primary blog to my website.  Please follow me there at www.thecinemaphile.com

Thanks!

Cinema Hooligante!

Very excited to read the press release from Milwaukee Film this morning announcing the lineup for Cinema Hooligante, the Milwaukee Film Festival's cult film and midnight movie program.

The highlights of the lineup include 35 mm prints of Enter the Dragon and 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Here's a link to the full Hooligante lineup.

I'm not so excited because I plan to see all of them; these films tend to be scheduled downtown at midnight.  But if this is any indication of the caliber of the rest of the lineup, this should be another amazing year.

Upstairs/Downstairs

I tend to use the word "hate" lightly... I hate baked beans, I hate the sun in my eyes, etc.  but rarely do I feel a pure hatred as much as I hate my upstairs neighbors.  First of all, there are six people up there in a three bedroom place, and four of them are children under the age of 13.  Secondly, they are so inconsiderate with the amount of noise they make; stomping, screaming, pounding, and a television with a subwoofer that is right on the floor above where I sit and blaring.

Seriously, tonight there was so much going on up there that I finally got up, went outside and rang the doorbell.  Of course, there was no answer.  So I stood under their window and yelled "You have neighbors!"  That worked for about 5 minutes... Now there's no stomping because they're watching a movie that's all rumble and so loud I can't hear my own TV.  There's a million other issues with hem, but that's just the issue du jour.

I give up.  This should inspire me to save more so I/we can get a house where we don't have to worry about this.  That brings up a whole 'nother can of issues, but saving money isn't a bad thing regardless.

The Matrix

Not much to report today (that's why I love Sundays) but I did watch most of the last half of The Matrix, and it holds up surprisingly well.  There are a couple of snicker-worthy parts (Neo and Smith's climatic fight) but it's still really entertaining.

In other viewing news, I'm hoping to get through the rest of season 2 of The Wire in the next couple of days.  (Can you tell nothing much is going on right now that I'm talking about TV shows?). Better cut my losses for tonite.

Saying goodbye

Today I had to say goodbye to an old friend who passed away from cancer and leukemia.  This was someone I worked with, but she and I were close.  We had our differences, mainly political and lifestyle, but she was genuinely a good person.

After she got sick and had to stop working, I didn't stay in touch with her, which made me feel guilty until it turned into acceptance, especially since she didn't reach out to me either.  She was sick for a while, but I feel like her death was sudden, mainly because I always assumed she would be there, and we would just reconnect...someday.

I've learned a hard lesson, because now the guilt consumes me.  Facing her husband today was so difficult, and honestly, I didn't know what to say to him.  I guess I learned a hard lesson about taking someone for granted, and I hope this doesn't happen again.

Anyway, I'm really glad Chris was there with me, and then we went on a nice, long meandering drive, despite the fact he needed to get some things done.  I love that guy.

Blogging is not my friend...

...but it will be!

This is my valiant attempt to work on the blogging thing.  What I really wanted to do was pretend that I don't have gaping holes in my blogging history and start a new blog, but hey, what fun would that be?  Plus, what the hell would I do with all of my review and film festival blogging histories?  Meh.  I'll go the sloppy but responsible route.

So yeah, dusting off the keyboard, cracking my knuckles and getting back in the swing of writing.  I once asked Augusten Burroughs what his best advice would be for a fledgling writer who has the desire, but not the discipline to write, and he told me to write every day.  Even if it's for 5 minutes, write every day. 

So that's my promise.  It may be gibberish, it may be inane, but I'm going to dedicate a minimum of 5 minutes a day to ye olde blog. 

Unfortunately, 5 minutes is about all the time I have at the moment, but I'm excited to quickly share some 2013 Milwaukee Film Festival news:  My vacation days are set, and today I applied for my credentials.  As exhausted as I always am by the end of the festival, I'm always so excited for it to happen every year, and 2013 is no exception.  I'm not sure what the venues will be yet, and I don't think they're releasing the program schedule for at least another month, but they did announce that their country focus will be Germany, so that's pretty awesome.  I don't remember ever being disappointed with any German films I've seen.  Here's a link to the Passport Germany program.  I'm particularly excited that Wings of Desire will be shown.  I hope Chris will join me for that one (and maybe another one or two films!)

Holy crap, it's coming!

I'm so thrilled to say that I spent my lunch hour today poring over the Milwaukee Film Festival program book for the first time!  I got it on Saturday but only was able to glance at it before today, and of course, there are a million movies I want to see.

I'm not going to get too excited until I have confirmation of my press credentials (which really should be any day now I think) so I'm not going to make a definite schedule until then, but it's looking like at least 37 to 39 films this year.  I'm really excited about the new venue at the Fox Bay Cinema; from what I understand, it's a film critic's dream because it's a "cinedine" so not only will there be sustenance for those of us who are there all day, but it also has tables that I can make notes on.  That's right: no squinting with the steno pad pressed up against my nose and bizarre, barely legible handwriting!  Plus, there's a Starbucks down the street, so that can't be all bad.

This year I'm planning on taking some photos and trying to integrate social media into my experience (we'll see how that whole thing goes...) so it could get interesting for me.

So, once I get my creds, I'm all over this like white on rice.  I can still stand with my nose pressed up against the window though.

Bridesmaids (2011)

BRIDESMAIDS (2011)

Director: Paul Feig

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd

Bridesmaids starts out with a bang (literally) and throws us into the life of Annie (Wiig) a failed bakery owner living in Milwaukee who is hard up for money and fulfillment in her life. This desire is never more apparent when her life-long best friend Lillian (Rudolph) announces that she is getting married and moving to Chicago. Not only does Annie realize that her life is going to change, but that Lillian has begun to change and evolve without her. After Lillian asks her to be the maid of honor at her wedding, Annie’s life takes a turn for the crazy as she fights to keep things the way they’ve been, yet still be there for her friend.

Bridesmaids is a really crude film, but there’s something really refreshing about it. There has been a glut of successful and stupid “guy’s comedies” in the recent past and this film, co-written by Wiig lets the girls scratch their own metaphorical balls and get down and dirty like the guys do, but not without being hilarious at the same time. There were a number of sight gags that were practically stroke-inducing, I laughed so hard (“is that your fella?”) and there were a number of instantly quotable lines. Wiig, an obviously gifted comedic actress really shines in the film, though her affectations are derivative of a lot of female comedians now, including Chelsea Handler and Samantha Bee. Melissa McCarthy was a riot in the film, completely playing against type as a crude, mannish member of the wedding party who says what everyone is thinking, and then some.

Though Bridesmaids succeeds as a romantic comedy, it does have quite a few flaws: the dialogue is incredibly clever and snappy, and Annie is written as someone who is too much of a caricature to exist, or if she did, she would be an exhausting person to know. There were also a bunch of loose ends, and while the romance between Annie and Officer Rhodes (O’Dowd) was sweet, it wasn’t really fleshed out a lot, which was necessary only because it became such an important part of the film.

Despite its faults, Bridesmaids is a really fun film and I enjoyed watching it. I think that a lot of what is wrong with it can be forgiven, or at least pushed to the side because it doesn’t pretend to be an important film; it just opened some doors that we were never able to fully walk through. It’s certainly not a film that everyone would enjoy, but if you can get past the plot holes and embrace the gross out humor it’s actually really clever and entertaining.

3 out of 5 stars



Rango (2011)

RANGO (2011)

Director: Gore Verbinski

Starring: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty

Rango (voiced by Depp) is a wildly imaginative chameleon who has lived a sheltered life up until the point he finds himself alone and wandering the Mojave Desert. He winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless Wild West town populated by many desert animals, including a lizard named Beans (Fisher) and run by the Mayor (Beatty) an old turtle. Rango decides that he can make up whatever past he wants, so he tells the townsfolk tales of false bravado, after which they elect him sheriff of their lawless town. After their water supply goes missing, Rango has to try to save the town, using his ingenuity and imagination while saving face for his new friends.

Rango is an absolutely delightful film from start to finish. It is incredibly entertaining, thanks to expert work by Verbinski and top notch voice talent headed by Depp. He was truly enjoying himself in this film, and his voice talent is just as impressive as his regular acting ability. Rango is a great throwback to classic westerns, including many homages to the genre, be it character design, a classic western plot, or even the mariachi band (made up of owls) who act as the film’s Greek chorus, always gleefully Rango’s ultimate demise, whether it’s true or not.

I am not a fan of most animated films and usually avoid them like the plague, particularly CG ones, but there was so much to like about this film, starting with the impressive animation. Roger Deakins, in my opinion the most amazing cinematographer working right now, was called in to consult on the framing of shots, and this expert consultation was obvious. There were so many amazing sequences (watch the chase scene between Rango’s posse and the thieves about 2/3 into the film, for example) that would have been impressive in live action, but were breathtaking in this form.

Rango also boasts a very intelligent script that features clever film references that will only be caught by “film people”, but isn’t so esoteric that it’s not for everyone. In fact, most times, it’s completely absurd and hilarious; I was laughing really hard throughout most of the film. It really was an enjoyable film that I can recommend to everyone, even the most jaded film lovers, since I’m solidly in that column as well.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Drive (2011)

DRIVE (2011)

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive stars Ryan Gosling (whose character is simply billed as “Driver”) as a stunt driver, mechanic and part time getaway driver. As complicated and exciting as his life may seem, his life becomes more fulfilled when he befriends his neighbor Irene (Mulligan). Soon after, Irene’s husband is released from prison and “Driver’s” life spirals into real danger when he gets involved with the mob in order to protect Irene and her young son.

The plot sounds like it could be interesting and noir-ish, but it’s really not. Drive is nothing more than a plodding story rife with ridiculously long pauses in dialogue accompanied by wistful looks. Within a half hour I was completely bored and frustrated with the pacing of the film, which seemed to last far beyond its 100 minute running time. Not helping is the god awful music that plays throughout a lot of the film. The J-Pop sounding lyrics and voice coupled with the bad 80’s synth lines are laughably and distractingly bad.


Gosling and Mulligan are both good, proven actors but they didn’t help this film along at all. If they were supposed to have chemistry, I didn’t get the memo. Their blank stares only made them seem disinterested. This could be more forgivable for Irene’s character since she’s so undeveloped, but we’re supposed to believe that the Driver is supposed to be mysterious and like Eastwood’s iconic “Man with No Name”, when really he comes across as really dim. Much has also been made of Albert Brooks’ supporting role as a mob boss, but I just didn’t see it. Yes, it was a different role than he has ever played, and he did a fine job, but just because you play a really minor role against type and brandish a straight edge razor doesn’t make a role revelatory. Even Ron Perlman, who, despite growing increasingly simian in appearance is usually good for a few machismo moments, underserved as a mean mobster.


I’m not sure how it’s possible to make a film about a stunt driver who happens to get mixed up in the mob while making some tricky getaway drives so completely hapless and boring, but Refn manages it to do this in spades. There are a couple of good driving sequences, and a few violent moments that are so sudden and out of place that they are actually welcome because at least something is happening, but that little bit of redemption is quickly smothered by a lot of mediocrity. Drive is a film that should never have been made past a 25 minute running time because there simply is not enough material to work with; at least with the presentation we’re given. Drive has been universally hailed, but I think what is being mistaken for style is, quite frankly, pretention.


2 out of 5 stars

Margin Call (2011)

MARGIN CALL (2011)

Director: J.C. Chandor

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Irons, Paul Bettany

The financial crisis of 2008 (to present) is a topic that has been explored ad nauseam in countless films, both feature and documentary, books and newspaper and magazine articles, so finding a twist to make “your” film stand out among the rest is imperative. With Margin Call, first-time writer-director J.C. Chandor successfully pulls this off by offering a quiet, yet powerful imagining of the crisis at its incubation and inception stages.

Margin Call features a great cast of character actors including Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Kevin Spacey, Simon Baker and Jeremy Irons, all portraying employees at an investment bank. The 24-hour period covered in the film begins with sweeping layoffs, including Eric Dale (Tucci), a middle manager who is on the verge of making a devastating discovery about the company’s finances. As he leaves, he hands the information over to Peter Sullivan (Quinto), one of his former underlings, with the warning, “Be careful.” After Sullivan analyzes the file and completes the puzzle, his discoveries not only prompt the involvement of every key player at the firm all the way up to CEO John Tuld (Irons), but set into motion the financial crisis that our world’s economy is still trying to recover from.

Margin Call is about as straight-forward a film can be without being a documentary, and it strongly reflects Chandor’s previous work in that genre. What was impressive about the film was that it breathed new life into a stale topic, and did it quietly and without hyperbole. The cast of the film give understated performances despite the highly charged theme, which was impressive. The film could have been played more theatrically, like Glengarry Glen Ross, with a bunch of stressed out people yelling at each other, but it went in the opposite direction, where they were struggling with trying to find a way out, feeling defeated and even wondering how their actions that very evening and day will impact the average man on the street. Margin Call doesn’t kid anyone though; there are no heroes here, merely “survivors” and sacrificial lambs.

There’s nothing flashy about Margin Call, and frankly, there will be some people who will probably be bored with it because there isn’t a lot of action in it. But it is a cerebral and daring presentation of facts that have already been revealed, simply told in an interesting enough way to warrant viewing; notable since this topic has been so pervasive in our lives for more years than I care to recall.

3.5 out of 5 stars



The Descendants



The Descendants (2011)
Director: Alexander Payne
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley

When his wife goes into a coma following a boating accident, Matt King (Clooney) has to balance his busy business life with trying to reconnect with his daughters Alexandra (Woodley) and Scottie (Amara Miller).  This would normally be a stressful time for King, an attorney whose native Hawaiian family is about to sell a large plot of land for millions, an issue that is big news in Hawaii, but further complications pop up as more layers of the lives of he and his family are peeled back. 

The thing I love about Alexander Payne films, and The Descendants is no exception, is that no matter how laid back the tone of the film, the protagonist is always pushed to a breaking point where they end up doing ridiculous things they never imagined they would do, but along the way achieve an amazing level of self-discovery.  Clooney's Matt King is self-assured and comfortable until he really opens his eyes (and has them forced open in some instances) and sees that he never had as much control or happiness as he thought, and this discovery is more perplexing than devastating.  Clooney is a versatile actor who is just at home playing a lovable, flawed guy as he is the dashing leading man.  I think it's more fun to see Clooney in the former roles because he's very natural, plus it's fun to see a guy with matinee idol looks making a boob out of himself once in a while.  

Woodley and Miller are great in the film as the young daughters with issues of their own.  Miller, as younger daughter Scottie, is a tomboy on the verge of puberty and Woodley's Alexandra is a teenager whose rebelliousness has landed her at a strict boarding school away from the family.  Woodley in particular is amazing; from what I can tell, this is one of her first feature films after doing episodic dramas on television, and she has an amazing amount of range and talent.  After King reunites with his daughters, the dynamic is not easy, nor even natural.  Like Sideways and About Schmidt, Payne's previous two films, self-discovery and strengthened relationships occur as a result of a journey.  In The Descendants, there are a couple of journeys, all poignant and educational, but also hilarious many times, thanks to Clooney's expert comedic timing and the addition of Alexandra's boyfriend Sid (Nick Krause) who is crude and not very bright, but who has a good heart.  

Though the subject matter was heavy (and what Payne film isn't?) there was still a laid back and breezy feel to The Descendants, partly because of the environment (they were in paradise, after all) but I think the excellent acting and masterful direction and screenplay written by Payne are a large part of The Descendants' success as well.  I've always been a fan of Payne's films because I love their introspection, intelligence and eccentricities, and The Descendants lived up to my expectations after waiting 8 long years for another Payne film (2004's Sideways was a long time ago).  I experienced a great deal of joy watching this film, and afterward described the feeling as "delicious" to my companions.  Though that may sound like a very Holly Golightly thing to say, it really sums up The Descendants quite well, actually.  Delicious and sublime. 

4 out of 5 stars

Maybe it's the cooling weather, or maybe it's because I haven't written in a while.  Or maybe it's because Chris may finally be getting my workspace together, but I've been feeling this desire to create.  Create what?  I'm not sure yet. 

I'm just looking forward to having, after more than a year and a half, a functioning space that I can use for reading, writing, etc. in this house.  I don't have "a space" and the lighting and (probably more so) my eyes are so bad that it's impossible to read anywhere, and my laptop has been firmly planted on the dining room table since we moved here. So, if I don't watch tv, I have to sit in the dining room and...that's about it.  So now that there's been some movement from Chris working on the den (though even this weekend it's been slow going... "ten minutes of messing around on the computer" has now turned into an hour) I have hope.  I really, really hope.  The situation has become kind of desperate, and even though I may not spend all of my time in there (that would be pretty isolationist of me) I just want an option.  Plus, it may kickstart some other improvements we should be making around here as well.

Here's hoping.

MFF Film #28 Outrage

OUTRAGE
Japan, 2010
Japanese with English subtitles
Director: Takeshi Kitano

At a gathering with Mr. Chairman, the head of the Sanno-kai syndicate that rules over Tokyo, one of the crime bosses is admonished for his ties with an outsider and warned that he has to sever this relationship or suffer the consequences.  What begins as a fake attempt to do this turns into an all out war, with allegiances changing and people in power playing with human lives as if they were pawns.

Outrage doesn't have a tremendously deep story, though the intricate plots that are conceived in order to move in on others' territory and advance within the yakuza are entertaining.  The manipulation of outsiders is particularly scary (think "protection money" schemes by the mob, only more scary and desperate) and the power structure of the yakuza is actually kind of fascinating.  In one scene, a man can ruthlessly kill four or five people in the span of 30 seconds, and in the next he is cutting off his finger as a sign of honor and sitting prostrate at the feet of Mr. Chairman.  It is this kind of dichotomy that makes the relationships within the organization so complicated.

Outrage is sleekly shot and just plain cool looking, but it is extremely violent; not just people getting shot violent, but really up close and personal violent, so it's not a film for people with weak stomachs.  There are so many characters involved that there is no one who stands out as a great villain (other than maybe Mr. Chairman, who is the craftiest of all of them) or anyone to root for, but I don't think it was director (and writer and star) Takeshi Kitano's intent; we're just supposed to experience them as a group of gangsters and not really "root" for anyone.

This isn't a film for everyone, and truthfully, it doesn't have a lot of story, but if you're looking for a well made, entertaining film that is full of action and violence, Outrage is a good one to watch.  Plus, there are some really creative torture methods that will make you cringe but think, "Wow, THAT was clever..."  And let's face it: despite its shortcomings, Outrage is better than 80% of the action films that are released in the United States any day. 

MFF Ballot Rating: 3 out of 5

MFF Film #27 - Becoming Santa

BECOMING SANTA
USA/Canada, 2010
English
Director: Jeff Myers

Jack Sanderson is a 44 year old man living in Los Angeles who, after losing his father (his mother passed away 10 years prior)decides that the best way to capture the Christmas spirit in a time when it's hard to find it would be to become Santa for a Christmas season.  The result is Becoming Santa, a documentary that chronicles Sanderson's journey, from getting his hair and beard bleached to attending an official Santa school in Denver.

Becoming Santa not only features Sanderson's journey, but features a large number of interviews with other Santas around the country, including some niche Santas like, "Civil War Santa".  Director Jeff Myers also delves into the history of the Santa story, dating back to St. Nicholas and even examines some of the racially provocative elements of the story, most specifically "Black Peter" who started out as a bad guy, but after some outcry over having a black person as the "bad guy" compared to the snowy white St. Nicholas, history was altered and now Black Peter is St. Nicholas' helper.  Never mind the mind-numbingly horrifying tradition of kids and adults alike dressing in black face to play the part, mainly in Europe. 

The film primarily focuses on Sanderson, however, and what a gem this guy is.  He possesses an amazing sense of humor, and is an incredible wit.  His comments and facial expressions had the audience I was in laughing, and I was in tears most of the time.  I genuinely wanted to be this guy's friend.  Though he is going balls out in his quest, (though he looked really cool, bleaching the hair and beard was just an astounding commitment) he is also very grounded and throughout the film, expresses indecision and doubt over whether this is something he would want to continue, despite everyone "in the know" asserting that he could be one of "the world's top Santas" if he stuck with it. 

Becoming Santa is one of the most enjoyable films I've seen in a long time, and it charmed me to death.  I don't think there was a time when I wasn't smiling while watching, (and usually laughing) and it exuded joy.  I'm not known for being a big fan of children, but seeing the pure, unadulterated joy and excitement on the childrens' faces when Sanderson would appear as Santa was incredibly heartwarming and it really hit me right in the heart because when was the last time you were that unabashedly happy about anything?  Becoming Santa made me happy and I not only loved it, but it may go into my coveted Christmas film yearly viewing schedule from now on.  See this movie, you won't regret it.  Better yet, wait until you need a pick me up and then see it.  You'll thank me.

MFF Ballot Rating: 5 out of 5

MFF Film #26 - The Human Resources Manager

THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
Israel/Germany/France/Romania, 2010
Hebrew/English/Romanian with English subtitles
Director: Eran Riklis

When a suicide bomber is killed in Jerusalem, her death is partly blamed on her former employer, a bakery, because she had been recently terminated.  As part of a public relations cleanup, the human resources manager is dispatched to identify her body and transport it back to Romania, her native country.  He never knew the woman, yet to save his job, he accepts the assignments and embarks on a strange  road trip involving an equally strange cast of characters who are picked up along the way.

I enjoyed The Human Resources Manager, but was led to believe that it was going to be more humorous than it turned out to be.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the overall tone of the film was very dry.  I did appreciate some of the sight gags (the replacement vehicle for their broken down van being an enormous, military-issue Humvee was a nice touch).

I didn't feel like I saw an outstanding film after seeing The Human Resources Manager, but it was an average, decent film that did the most with a minimal story, partly due to a good pace.  Unfortunately, the biggest problem with The Human Resources Manager is its distance and slight coldness.  None of the main characters were really fleshed out, so there wasn't a lot of sentimentality nor much to relate to beyond the most superficial level. 

The Human Resources Manager is efficiently made and enjoyable on some levels, but walking out of it, I didn't have any strong feelings about it.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) I expect a film to have at least some residual effect on me, and The Human Resources Manager simply didn't do that for me.

MFF Ballot Rating: 3 out of 5

MFF Film #25 - Shorts: Out of this World

SHORTS: OUT OF THIS WORLD
Various Countries/Languages




Pioneer
A father tells an unusual bedtime story to his son.  This was beautifully filmed and intimate, with two endearing characters and an unbelievable story.  MFF Ballot Rating: 5 out of 5.

Time Freak
A man invents a time machine, but finds that he's not using it as he originally planned.  Clever, funny and entertaining - I really enjoyed this one.  MFF Ballot Rating: 4 out of 5.

Grandpa's Wet Dream
A Japanese grandfather's late in life obsession with porn leads him to become in actor in his favorite production company's films.  At first I thought the title was going to be a clever play on words, but nope, it was aptly named, This was a good short - funny and odd.  MFF Ballot Rating: 4 out of 5.

When the Wind Changes
After two annoying guys get on their friend's nerves one time too many, something happens and they receive their punishment in spades.  I loved this short and laughed really hard during most of it.  It was such a clever idea and really enjoyable - definitely an audience favorite.  MFF Ballot Rating: 5 out of 5.

Bukowski
While on vacation at a hotel with his family, a young boy finishes reading Charles Bukowski's book, Pleasure of the Damned.  He then takes on the persona of Bukowski and roams the hotel, encountering many of the hotel staff who are amazed when he introduces himself as Bukowski.  I absolutely LOVED this film and was both charmed and bowled over by it.  It was so clever and original, and I'm afraid that its nuances may have gone over the heads of anyone who doesn't know Bukowski or his work, but I thought it was absolutely brilliant.  MFF Ballot Rating: 5 out of 5.

West of the Moon
An old man narrates his life, which is full of fantasy, with a killer ending.  This short was creative, incredibly beautiful and so visually stunning.  Outstanding.  MFF Ballot Rating: 5 out of 5.

Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha 46
An astronaut is launched into space to explore and retrieve something for the space program, but ends up finding something completely unexpected.  This short was awesomely filmed and riveting from start to finish.  I thought the scenes in the rocket were cool, but once Yuri landed, the cinematography got even cooler.  MFF Ballot Rating: 5 out of 5.

MFF Film #24 - A Good Man

A GOOD MAN
USA, 2011
English
Director: Bob Hercules, Gordon Quinn

A Good Man documents the conception of and rehearsals for legendary choreographer Bill T. Jones' new piece about Abraham Lincoln's legacy, which premiered at the Ravinia in Chicago.  The contemporary dance piece is ambitious enough, but Jones' uncertainty over his true feelings about the subject, particularly after exhaustive research, leaves him uncertain about what direction he wants the piece to take.

Bill T. Jones is a fascinating person, and though I am not the biggest fan of modern dance, nor pretend to understand most of it, A Good Man was incredibly interesting.  Jones is incredibly accomplished, driven, a true intellectual and a strict perfectionist, which, rather than alienate the dancers in his company, commands the respect of his dancers and inspires them to strive for more.  Regardless of one's appreciation level for modern dance, it is impossible to not be impressed by the dancers' fluidity, talent and sheer athleticism.  Because Jones was still conceptualizing the piece as rehearsals continued, they were required to be extremely adaptable and improvisational, which is one of Jones' own strong points.

A Good Man is not a biography of Bill T. Jones, in fact, the bits and pieces we learn about him are really only revealed because of their relevance to the work he is currently producing.  Rather, it is a front row look at the creative process and motivations behind an art form that is normally very subjective in its interpretation.  Though "A Good Man" is the term for Lincoln that Jones grapples with, it is undoubtedly an appropriate term for Jones as well.  Produced by Kartemquin Films, which releases amazing documentaries, A Good Man is a superb film that deserves its spot in their pantheon.

MFF Ballot Rating: 4 out of 5

2011 Milwaukee Film Festival - Day 8

2011 Milwaukee Film Festival - Day Eight (Final Day)
Noon

So I decided to embark on my last day early so I could finish my reviews from yesterday.  When I pulled in the parking lot I was the only car here, and when I looked up next after writing for a while the lot was full.  LOL concentrate much?

So it's the last day of the festival and I've had a great time and seen some good movies.  But I'm definitely wiped after trying to balance seeing films, home life and writing reviews quickly enough so I can get it done before returning to work on Tuesday.  I can't deny that I've felt a little isolated, despite being surrounded by people.  I love films so much and love nothing more than talking about them, but it's a lot more fulfilling when you're discussing them with someone you actually saw the film with. 

Though I'm tired and have a ton of writing to do, I'm working on seeing all five movies today, because that will make 30 films seen, and if I don't get a round number in, that makes my OCD itch! 

2:25pm

Really nice crowd for the shorts program, and it's a really mixed bag, which is kind of fun.  Shorts programs seem to traditionally attract a younger crowd, so it's refreshing to see a fair amount of "seasoned" members in the audience.

I'm alert, but man, when I looked at the clock and saw it was just 2:25 I really have to wonder how I'm going to make it through four more movies and 10 more hours...yikes.  Water may have to be substituted for some good old fashioned caffeine.  Unfortunately, Marcus Theatres have Pepsi products and fountain-served Diet Pepsi is akin to drinking a soda that's had ice melting in it for three hours, so maybe not.  Anyway, I'm boring myself with this conversation so I'm going to sit back and see if I can eavesdrop on a more interesting conversation...

Bonus!  A woman behind me just shrieked because she spilled cheese on herself less than two minutes after her husband brought her nachos.  I knew if I paid attention something more entertaining than me would happen.

Sorry, but thank god this is my last day of the sponsor trailer.  Man.

7:15pm

I didn't get a chance to blog before my last movie because I was joined by my boss and her husband.  Our company sponsored the screening of the 4:30 movie, and while it was well attended, it was unfortunately a mediocre movie.  It was nice actually talking to someone though (even people who choose to be anti-social crave companionship sometimes) and I genuinely really like her so it was really nice.

Just two movies to go.  Now I just have to keep the sound of my stomach growling from overpowering the sound of the film.  I'm kind of looking forward to returning to what I had previously deemed my boring rut of workworkwork, come home, zone.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

Ah yes, my day was just further made by hearing one 60 year old woman say to the other, "Give me knucks!"  LMAO

Let's get this show on the road!  Every single screening was late today and I'm running on fumes so this cannot move on fast enough.

11:30pm

Just made my last trek to my car from the North Shore Cinemas for quite some time.  Great theater, but I overstayed my welcome by just a bit.  The last screening went well, and since it was a Japanese film about the yakuza, it was populated by 20-something guys who undoubtedly still live at home, one of which let out a huge fart in the middle of the film.  Klassy with a capital K.  Time to drive home (I won't miss this drive, either) collapse and get up the next morning to do some cram writing. 

Good times.

MFF Film #23 - Shorts: Let's Get Animated

SHORTS: LET'S GET ANIMATED
Various countries/languages




Heirlooms
Several stories of the heirlooms people hold dear and the reason for their importance.  It was more notable for their stories than the actual animation, and it went on a little long.  MFF Ballot Rating: 2 out of 5.

Marvin
a boy is born with a hole in his head, and though he is accepted, a mishap causes him to literally lose his common sense, which he sets about finding.  This was a really cute short film that was funny, and had a nice message.  I also liked that it was told in rhyme.  MFF Ballot Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Deep
A couple of minutes in the life of the deep sea, only the sea life are made out of household tools.  It was interesting idea, but there wasn't much involved.  MFF Ballot Rating: 2 out of 5.

Bike Race
A friendly bike race among two friends ends up in a love triangle.  Told with simple white line drawings on a black background, and using real audio of the three main characters, both narratively and during the races, this was funny and really charming.  MFF Ballot Rating: 4 out of 5.

Chief Serenbe
A man goes hitchhiking in the city.  That's really all there is to it, and though some of the animation techniques were cool at the end, it was pretty forgettable.  MFF Ballot Rating: 2 out of 5.

A Family Portrait
A family sits for a professional portrait, but cracks appear in their relationships with one another, with an unexpected ending.  I loved this one, from its grotesque character designs to its cleverness.  There is a lot of story told in under five minutes and it is dark and shocking.  MFF Ballot Rating: 5 out of 5.

Something Left, Something Taken
A couple visiting San Francisco become convinced the man driving them from the airport is the Zodiac Killer.  This one was so clever and absolutely hilarious.  The animation was perfect for the story and i totally loved it.  MFF Ballot Rating: 5 out of 5.

Malban
A young man visits a widow and her two children looking for the name of the secret island her husband conducted ornithology research at.  The eldest daughter has to decide whether to reveal the location of the secret place she cherished with her Dad.  There wasn't much of a story, but the animation was beautiful.  MFF Ballot Rating: 3 out of 5.

Luminaris
A day in the life of the unusual profession of lightbulb makers.  The animation was stop-motion and used what looked like photographs.  It was strange and extremely creative.  MFF Ballot Rating: 3 out of 5.

Dot
A little girl has to run from the danger as life is literally unraveling behind her.  This was another stop-motion film that was cute and creative, and notable in that it is in the Guinness book for being the smallest animated film made.  (The materials were so small they were literally film through a microscope.)  MFF Ballot Rating: 3 out of 5.

The Eagleman Stag
A sardonic man narrates his life and accomplishments, including discovering a method of cell regeneration that he doesn't share with the world, out of spite.  This was really clever and funny, and extremely cerebral, with a cool black and white claymation-looking style.  MFF Ballot Rating: 4 out of 5.