Documentary Written and directed by Anna Broinowski I have mixed feelings about documentaries that recreate scenes with actors, but Anna Broinowski's doc about author/con-artist Norma Khouri justified them beautifully. None of the events recreated in the film actually happened, and Broinowski reminds us of that by showing us the freshly murdered girl, covered in stage … Continue reading Forbidden Lie$
Category: Reviews
Youssou N’Dour: Return to Gorée
Music documentary Written by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud and Emmanuel Gétaz Directed by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud It's sad when a great idea and an important subject lose their way. I don't know whether to blame filmmaker Pierre-Yves Borgeaud or the film's subject, singer/song-writer Youssou N'Dour, but Return to Gorée isn't the film it should have been. Part of … Continue reading Youssou N’Dour: Return to Gorée
Elegy
Sexual drama Written by Nicholas Meyer, from a novel by Philip Roth Directed by Isabel Coixet Beautiful young women attract older men. Some are even attracted to them. In a typical Hollywood entertainment, a 30-year gap between the romantic leads is just par for the course. But Elegy's filmmakers use it to explore a proud … Continue reading Elegy
The Grocer’s Son
Family drama Written by Eric Guirado and Florence Vignon Directed by Eric Guirado A young man, emotionally alienated from his family, must take over the family business when his father can no longer run it. The experience allows him to discover who he really is. No, it's not The Godfather. The family owns a modest … Continue reading The Grocer’s Son
Ping Pong Playa
Sports Comedy Written by Jimmy Tsai and Jessica Yu Directed by Jessica Yu We all know the sports movie formula: Plot twist puts lovable loser(s) into a situation where he, she, or they must rise over adversity, get over the mental block that's been holding them back, train tirelessly for the length of a montage, … Continue reading Ping Pong Playa
I Served the King of England
Period comedy Written and directed by Jirí Menzel From a novel by Bohumil Hrabal If you weren't lucky enough to be born wealthy, and you haven't made your own fortune, You should devote your life, for your own, selfish reasons, to serving the filthy rich? Whether you're a waiter or a prostitute, you'll have a … Continue reading I Served the King of England
Love Comes Lately
Drama Written by Jan Schütte, from three stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer Directed by Jan Schütte I hesitate to describe Love Comes Lately above as a "drama," since it isn't particularly dramatic. On the other hand, it's not very funny, either. Nor is it exciting, historical, romantic, or erotic. I think it's supposed to be … Continue reading Love Comes Lately
American Teen
Documentary Written and directed by Nanette Burstein I can't think of another documentary that felt so much like narrative fiction. American Teen follows four kids in their last year in a Warsaw, Indiana high school. They apply for college, they get drunk, they fall in and out of love. In other words, they do what … Continue reading American Teen
Trumbo
Documentary Written by Christopher Trumbo Directed by Peter Askin Trumbo walks a fine line between performance art and documentary. Like any conventional showbiz biodoc, it delivers plenty of film clips, old photos, home movies, and interview clips of people close to the subject. But it also spends much of its time on famous actors (Joan … Continue reading Trumbo
Wonderful Town
[F] Drama Written and Directed by Aditya Assarat Wonderful Town has nothing to do with the 1953 Broadway musical of the same name, although a few songs would liven it up. This Thai drama allegedly examines the long-term psychological aftereffects of a devastating natural disaster. According to the press release, the town of Takua Pa, … Continue reading Wonderful Town
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