Hey folks, Harry here with our first report from SUNDANCE on a whole bunch of titles instead of just a one or two film report. I love those reports cuz you learn more about a specific film, but this style allows for a quick little bite sized bits of info regarding a ton of films. Easy to pour through. That said, I'm looking forward to a bunch of these. Here ya go with Dingleberry's rundown...
Adams Apples - ***.5
This film was really original and refreshing. I have
seen about a dozen Danish films and have always been
intrigued how Danish films seem to all carry a certain
style. This is no different, but the humor in it I
think really sets it apart from some of the others. It
is directed by the guy who wrote last years Sundance
winner "Brothers." It also stars many of the same
actors who show up in a lot of the dogme films. The
film has quirky characters and really rich in
allegory. I can't wait to see this one again.
Factotum - *.5
This movie is really slow and is such a drag. I think
it wants to be a slacker comedy, but even though I
like Matt Dillon, it just wasn't funny. The end hits
its point home, but even still, it is not worth the
hour and forty minutes of bored.
Shorts Program V - **
The shorts program is always such a mixed bag.
Sometimes you get lucky and see more good ones than
bad ones. That is not the case here. The last short
was really really good and their is one other funny
one about a robbery, but all the rest I could leave
pretty easily. They did have one about 9-11 though. I
still don't see wait point they were trying to make
with mixing sex with 9-11, but whatever.
Clearcut - ***.5
The is a really well doc. Production values is
fantastic and the editing was top notch. See it if you
can as it offers much food for thought.
Animation Spotlight - *.5
There two I really liked but the rest were just okay.
The animation in many of them was top notch and really
interesting to see the different forms they were
playing with, but I got the feeling as long as the
animation was cool, they got into the festival. They
really need to find more animation shorts with better
narative to go along with the great art.
The Proposition - ***
The more I think about it, the more I am liking this
one that will draw many similarities to Unforgiven. It
is an Australian western that focuses on bad people. I
couldn't figure out how much sympathy we were supposed
to be giving to the characters, but the more I think
about it, the end does offer some redemption. The
writting is a little weak with some plot holes, but
the production values and cinematography will help a
lot of people over look that. Plus it is VERY violent
so I would stay away if you don't like gore.
Sólo Dios Sabe - ***.5
This film stars the guy from Y Tu Mama Tambien and The
Terminal and the girl from City of God. It starts off
as a road trip and then turns into a film exploring
religion. This film was really well done.
Lucky Number Slevin - **.5
This has a huge cast (Bruce Willis, Josh Hartnet,
Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsly, Lucy Liu and others). The
main reason to see this film is because of Lucy Liu. I
admitt I know have a huge crush on her and her
performance was just so fun. The film starts off with
some really funny and clever dialogue and keeps it up
for the first half. But the second half started
getting a little dull and I lost interest (although
this was a midnight movie so maybe I just started
getting tired).
One Last Dance - **
The pacing is a little off in this crime drama. It is
quirky which keeps it interesting, but overall I would
pass on it.
Come Early Morning - ****
The most shocking thing about this movie is that it is
written and directed by Joey Lauren Adams who you have
seen in most of Kevin Smith's films. While she might
always play a dumb blonde in most of her roles, this
film is brilliant and insightful. The acting by Ashley
Judd is top notch and I loved her character. This is a
great and powerful film about women that all women
(and men) should see. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
No. 2 - ***.5
I changed my schedule around to see this after I saw
so many people coming out of it crying. This is a
great feel good film about family that takes place in
New Zealand. If you are looking for something great to
take your parents to, this would be it (plus all the
actors and actresses are gorgeous in it).
Crossing Arizona - *
This film pissed me off. At first I loved the
compassion it was showing towards immigrants that are
always coming over. I think the majority of Americans
would be quick to have a zero tolerance policy for
them. So I loved how it showed the challenges they go
through and the humanitarian people that go and leave
water all over the desert to try and decrease the
death toll. What pissed me off is they then started
showing the Minute Men and the people against illegal
immigration using editing tricks and unflattering
footage to discredit anything they had to say. They
used all the footage of them with their radios not
working and saying stupid things and finding
unarticulated people expressing their side rather then
showing a well focused point of view of people against
illegal immigration and letting people decide for
themselves. If a movie wants to take one side over the
other, that is fine. But when the filmmakers
manipulate the other opinion through editing and
filming techniques, they are then are making
propaganda and not a documentary. This film had a
serious agenda and I hate to think of all the people
who will take it at face value. It is a hard subject
and I am not saying I agree with the Minute Men and
other people who share that same opinion. But I don't
agree with the crap these filmmakers were trying to
pass off as a documentary. During the Q&A I really
wanted to call the director and producer on it, but I
knew I would be eaten alive since the Sundance crowd
is all about the humanitarian side of it all.
Little Miss Sunshine - ***
Steve Carell and the rest of the cast is hilarious.
This was a great comedy diversion from seeing a full
day of serious films.
