CIFF Quickie: Goodbye Solo
Goodbye Solo (2009)–**** Quick Review A Senegalese cab driver in Winston-Salem, North Carolina befriends an old man who wants to be driven to an area in the mountains where he plans to commit suicide. Another stunning film about people in the oft ignored corners of society, this quiet drama compels the audience to be aware of the selflessness and dignity of all people. Red West’s performance as the old man is deceptively understated, while Souleymane Sy Savane constructs a moving portrayal of a man discovering the ultimate meaning of friendship. The Blowing Rock mountain sequence is overwhelmingly affecting–physically, intellectually, and spiritually. A masterpiece from a filmmaker the world needs right now. Directed by Ramin Bahrani and beautifully shot by Michael Simmonds. This film was screened at the 33rd Cleveland International Film Festival. More at...
Read MoreCIFF Quickie: Orz Boys
Orz Boys (2008)–***1/2 Quick Review Two Taiwanese boys with rocky home lives rely on their imaginations (and a little mischief) as they make the journey to adulthood. Joyfully entertaining and, at times, rhapsodic, Orz Boy captures the spirit of childhood despite facing the turmoils of growing up. The cultural criticism combined with the story of early adolescents on the verge allows positive comparisons to The 400 Blows, while the animations give the film its unique artistic fingerprints. Directed by Ya-che Yang and starring Kuan-yi Lee and Chin-Yu Pang as the boys. From Taiwan. This film was screened at the 33rd Cleveland International Film Festival. More at...
Read MoreCIFF Review: Ask Not
Ask Not (2009)–*** Don’t ask a film like Ask Not to be unbiased. This documentary about the U.S. Military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy has a single charge: to educate people in the absurdity of a policy effectively banning gays from military service. For anyone not familiar with the failures of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Ask Not is a rapid fire, point-by-point argument for the abolishment of the ludicrous military law. But for your above-average news consumer, or even a regular “The Daily Show” viewer, the documentary isn’t an enlightening experience. More unfortunately, it’s not an emotional journey. The fault is in Ask Not‘s subjects, mostly activists touring the country educating college students or participating in sit-ins at recruiting stations. We don’t spend enough time with any given individual to see the true harm of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”...
Read MoreMovie Review: The Notorious Newman Brothers
The Notorious Newman Brothers (2009) My favorite Canadian indie brewers, the Butler Brothers, are back, this time in a feature directed by Ryan Noel (the composer on their last picture) and co-written by los hermanos Butler and Noel. And, yes, it’s funny. The Notorious Newman Brothers follows Max (Noel) a filmmaker whose combination of desperation, ineptitude, and general lack of confidence results in him taking out a classified ad to find subjects for a documentary. And who comes a-callin’? Paulie (Jason Butler) and Thunderclap (Brett Butler) Newman, two toughs who are as bad at being gangsters as Max is at being a director. That’s enough of a plot description because the real fun in The Notorious Newman Brothers is in watching the three actors deliver improvised banter–even when it’s not perfect–rather than seeing the story progress. Just like the...
Read MoreMovie Review: Watchmen
Watchmen (2009)–*** I know I’ve been hard on the Watchmen movie, but when I’m wrong, I say I’m wrong. And I was wrong. Zack Snyder’s adaptation of the groundbreaking graphic novel is as good a Watchmen movie as we are ever likely to see. That praise may seem dispassionate, but Snyder’s surface level direction and his commitment to a mostly faithful adaptation makes such an unemotional response easy. While the film isn’t very ambitious, playing it safe makes Watchmen good, even great at times. The film follows the former members of a masked heroes group known as the Watchmen. Nixon is seeking his fifth term as president and the Keene Act has outlawed costumed vigilantism. The former heroes have had to adjust to either retirement from crime fighting or a life way outside the law. When Eddie Blake (Jeffrey...
Read MoreQuickie: The International
The International–*** Quickie Review An Interpol agent (Clive Owen) and a Manhattan assistant district attorney (Naomi Watts) attempt to take on an international bank that has expanded into arms dealing. A solid, compelling thriller with two unlikely leads and even more unlikely director in Tom Tykwer, The International has all the right moves but reaches climax a little too quickly. Sure, the Guggenheim shootout may be one of the best action sequences ever put to film, but the improbable and otherwise lazy third act makes you wish you had left when the shooting stopped. Also starring Armin Mueller-Stahl and Ulrich...
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