CIFF 34 Quickies: HANNAH FREE, FALKENBERG FAREWELL, TOE TO TOE
Hannah Free (2009)–** An aging lesbian lays in a nursing home just rooms away from the comatose partner she is barred from seeing. Even with its topical subject, this softball romance never reaches a dramatic peak. What could have been a gay The Notebook is instead a cumbersome, often boring, theater adaptation that is actually hindered by its attempts to be more cinematic. A few good lines and an endearing performance by lead actress Sharon Gless make the film watchable, but everything else makes it totally forgettable. Directed by Wendy Jo Carlton. Falkenberg Farewell (2006)–**** Five friends try to keep on living any life they can in the small Swedish city of Falkenberg until one of them decides he’s had enough. Beautifully photographed and spontaneously acted, Jesper Ganslandt’s first feature does exactly what it sets out to do: shows...
Read MoreQuickie: CRAZY HEART
Crazy Heart (2009) — ***1/2 Quickie Review A washed-up, alcoholic country singer named Bad Blake tries to get his life and career in order after meeting an upstart music writer in Santa Fe. With the humble lyricism of a great country song, this understated drama from first-time director Scott Cooper aches with the spirit of musical roots. As Blake, Jeff Bridges gives a performance so good that lesser filmmakers would have let it consume the movie. Thankfully the story and the songs are a strong as the headliner, even if it doesn’t appear so at first glance. Also starring an outstanding supporting cast that includes Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, and Robert...
Read MoreQuickie: THE LOVELY BONES
The Lovely Bones (2009)–** Quickie Review A young girl who is brutally murdered remains in between heaven and earth, watching her family, her friends and even her murderer endure the aftermath of her violent death. As tepid as it is inauthentic, the Peter Jackson picture never finds a balance between fantasy, horror and reality. There are moments of great filmmaking here, but that can only go so far when the characters feel like they were written for a broadcast TV movie. As the killer, Stanley Tucci is lucky to have the most fully-realized character and performs admirably because of it. Everyone else, in particular a terribly miscast Mark Wahlberg, must contend with their shallow characters and a screenplay with as much emotional nuance as a drugstore greeting card. Also starring Saoirise Ronan, Susan Sarandon, and Rachel...
Read MoreQuickie: NINE
Nine (2009)–1/2* Quickie Review In 1965, Italian film director Guido Contini struggles to make his latest film while grappling with the women in his life. Based on the Broadway show that was inspired by Fellini’s 8 1/2, this movie musical is an affront to fans of cinema and musicals alike. In trying to capture the manic spirit of Fellini’s masterpiece, the film, not shockingly, fails to produce a coherent narrative. Director Rob Marshall’s theatrical flair further undermines the story with silly musical numbers that, as filmed, are neither necessary or entertaining. The excess of Hollywood glamour (including six Oscar winning actors), rather than helping the picture, turns a simple tragedy into a Titanic disaster. I cannot stress this enough: DO NOT GO SEE THIS MOVIE. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Judi Dench, and Kate...
Read MoreQuickie: The Road
The Road (2009)–** Quickie Review A father and son struggle to survive in an ashen wasteland left after an unknown cataclysm destroys the world as we know it. Director John Hillcoat treats this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s masterpiece like a Harry Potter book, focusing on the bleak landscape and atmospheric details rather than trying to get to the heart of the story. With sparse dialogue and detrimentally understated performances, The Road does better keeping people out of the characters’ minds than it does welcoming them in. Starring Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, Michael Kenneth Williams, Garet Dillahunt and Kodi...
Read MoreQuickie: Law Abiding Citizen
Law Abiding Citizen–**1/2 Quickie Review A man whose family was slaughtered during a home invasion goes after the justice system that allowed the murderer to get off with a slap on the wrist for testifying against his accomplice. What this action-thriller lacks in polished writing, it comes close to making up for in pure filmmaking. Just not close enough. Often muddled, even confused by its own basic details, the screenplay doesn’t give us the time to consider the moral and ethical dilemmas without a plot hole or silly contrivance. Still Gerard Butler’s domineering command of the screen, combined with Jamie Foxx’s star appeal, keeps us from looking at our watches. Directed by F. Gary...
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