B Indescribable Written by Giorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou Directed by Giorgos Lanthimos I'm not exactly sure what to make of Alps. It has just enough continuity to make you try and follow the story, but there's no story to follow. Many of the characters (primarily the female ones) seem sympathetic, yet their motivations and … Continue reading Alps
Category: Reviews
Farewell, My Queen
B Historical drama Written by Benoît Jacquot & Gilles Taurand, from the novel by Chantal Thomas Directed by Benoît Jacquot What was it like in Versailles in the final days of the French monarchy? Was the court panicked? In denial? Did anyone realize that they would soon lose their heads? Benoît Jacquot creates…or imagines…an answer … Continue reading Farewell, My Queen
Bonsái
A- Literary comic drama Written and directed by Cristián Jiménez Bonsái begins with a spoiler. Before anything else happens, a narrator tells us that Emilia will die before the end of the film, but that Julio will live, and that he will be alone. We're also told that he had been alone for a long … Continue reading Bonsái
Pink Ribbons, Inc.
C+ Documentary Directed by Léa Pool Breast Cancer kills nearly 60,000 North Americans a year. Even if yours is discovered early, and you do everything you're supposed to do, it could still kill you. Yet organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure have turned it into an upbeat campaign, heavily themed on the color … Continue reading Pink Ribbons, Inc.
Oslo, August 31
A- drama Written by Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier Directed by Joachim Trier Early in Oslo, August 31, a young man leaves the home of a beautiful woman he has just slept with, and attempts suicide. We know this is not going to be a happy picture. The young man is Anders (Anders Danielsen Lie), … Continue reading Oslo, August 31
Your Sister’s Sister
A- Romantic comedy Written and directed by Lynn Shelton Let's start with the title. Your Sister's Sister seems like a clumsy way of say your other sister or you. But since two of the three characters that dominate this movie are sisters who have to work out a close but problematic relationship, the title is … Continue reading Your Sister’s Sister
Life 2.0
When I saw this documentary at the 2010 San Francisco Film Festival, I was informed that it would likely receive a theatrical run. It never did--at least in the San Francisco Bay Area (I understand that it had brief runs in LA and NY). Since it's available on DVD and download through various outlets, I … Continue reading Life 2.0
Pandora’s Digital Box: David Bordwell’s Book on Films, Files, and the Future of Movies
Even cinephiles who embrace the look of digital projection (and I count myself among them) have plenty to worry about. The current digital transition threatens independent theaters, independent distributors, the accessibility of older movies (especially those outside the canon), and the long-term survival of yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's motion pictures. No one has contributed to … Continue reading Pandora’s Digital Box: David Bordwell’s Book on Films, Files, and the Future of Movies
The Intouchables
B Comedy Written and directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano I can’t really complain about France’s latest big commercial hit. As you’d expect, it’s a crowd pleaser. Based on a true story, it follows the thorny but eventually healing friendship between a wealthy paraplegic and the African immigrant hired as his caregiver. No surprise … Continue reading The Intouchables
Elles
C- sex drama Wrtten by Malgorzata Szumowska and Tine Byrckel Directed by Malgorzata Szumowska Let's get the expectations raised by this French/Polish co-production's NC-17 rating out of the way first. Yes, there is a lot of sex, and a lot of nudity (both male and female). And no, I didn't find anything in Elles to … Continue reading Elles
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