Cinema Becomes Her: Allison's Movie Blog

Sundance 2023: “When It Melts”

2023-01-30T10:17:00.003-08:00

Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition Special Jury Award for Best Performance went to Eva Marchant (When It Melts). Marchand stars as the young Eva who experiences disappointment in one of the most harrowing performances I have seen. Actress Veerle Baetens (The Broken Circle Breakdown) made When It Melts her feature debut as a director; she adapted the screenplay with Maarten Loix based on the book The Melting by Lize Spit.

"BABYLON" (2022, DAMIEN CHAZELLE)

2022-12-16T00:01:00.016-08:00

”It’s bigger than you.”

Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie) comes to Hollywood, convinced she’s a star. And she dances, fights, and snorts her way to the top. At the same time, Manny (Diego Calva) wants to break in while he’s told to stay in his lane. Brad Pitt plays Jack Conrad, an actor who might be through; it’s astounding how much Conrad’s situation in Hollywood mimics Pitt’s right now.

The level of insanity, as we time travel to this den of iniquity is just completely outrageous. Director Damien Chazelle really didn’t hold back. One of the costume highlights was Estelle’s (Katherine Waterston) gold dress. It was also pretty surreal to see Olivia Wilde’s scream-out match with Brad Pitt.

One weak link was Nellie LaRoy’s overall look. The wild red dress she wears to the initial party makes sense. However, her messy hair looks like it’s straight out of the 1980s. She would have been run out of town in the 1920s! Also, LaRoy’s mascara smears, but doesn’t run when she cries. I'm not sure waterproof mascara had been invented yet! It seems like all the costumes and sets were perfect, yet this was a huge stain on the movie.

I also find it very interesting that Mandy Moore was the choreographer for this film. All the dance moves feel natural yet completely wild.

The anti-Semitic slurs were unwarranted. Everything that leads up to final bit seemed superfluous. Any director who makes a film over two hours is unbridled and is not thinking about the audience's bladder and should be restrained.

I am pretty sure that there will be a mixed reaction to this film. It goes too far, and for what purpose? It doesn’t have the charm of La La Land. It instead focuses on shock value and might pander to an audience who is already film literate.
Hey audience, did you know about silent pictures? Did you know that when things transitioned to talkies, things got complicated and many people were out of a job? Hey audience, did you know that there were literally hundreds of movies and one movie in particular that already covered this history? Yikes!

I suppose it’s up to the audience to decide whether they want to see this train wreck. At times, it’s very entertaining and well-done and at times I wondered not only who greenlit this, but who in the world would be able to market it! Good luck.

Vegan alert:
-Elephant exploitation
-Ice cream and conversations about ice cream
-Furs
-Fox stole
-Lobster
-Animal chained (alligator) -Man eats rats
-Riding on horseback

"PETER VON KANT" (2022, FRANÇOIS OZON)

2022-09-04T07:54:00.005-07:00

The camera sees everything.

Someone gave me the advice not to see R.W. Fassbinder's Beware of a Holy Whore until I had seen more of his films. I did not heed that advice; it was approximately the 4th Fassbinder film I saw and I was lost.

Peter von Kant is perfect for the Fassbinder aficionado. Director François Ozon made Water Drops on Burning Rocks in 2000 based on an unproduced Fassbinder screenplay. We knew that Ozon appreciated Fassbinder: as a gay man and a cinéaste as well.

Ozon takes his Fassbinder appreciation to the next level here, imagining Petra in Petra von Kant as a man. And not just any man! "Peter" (Denis Ménochet) reflects R.W. Fassbinder himself and the men in his life while combining the set design of Petra von Kant. The film will definitely be more enjoyable if you've seen Petra and know at least a little something about Fassbinder. That is a shame, because a lot of people don't have the time to research Fassbinder before going into the movie.

It's noted in the credits that this film was liberally adapted from Petra von Kant and so it is, with the timeline of what happened in his life. Fassbinder was married to a woman, but did not have children. He met with Romy Schneider in Paris to potentially cast her in a film, but not until the late seventies (Peter starts off in 1972).

I have probably only seen Isabelle Adjani on-screen twice in the films One Deadly Summer and Bon Voyage and the rest of her available films on VHS, DVD, and streaming. So it was a treat. Her character, Sidonie, starts off very vain and shallow, but beautiful and tremendous. Thankfully, her character builds and she is given something substantial to work with toward the end. Her costumes are also magnificent.

Ozon included Fassbinder actress Hanna Schygulla to play Peter's mother. It's touching and fitting. Schygulla always brings the necessary humanity to a role.

Khalil Gharbia plays Amir Ben Salem, a young, fresh version of the actor El Hedi ben Salem who played Ali in the Fassbinder film, Fear Eats the Soul. Amir's relationship with Peter, along with the creepy, butleresque Karl (Stefan Crepon) provides for some interesting scenes. Ultimately, Karl is there for more than decoration and I love his character arc where he is able to stand up to Peter after he is abused for so long.

I'd definitely recommend the film, but there is so much information that is all out of order. Ozon and Fassbinder are both geniuses and masters, so perhaps just dive right in whether you're a fan of one or both or if they're new to you.

Vegan alert:
-Fur
-Leather
-Silk
-Eggs for cake and whipped cream (requested)

"Phantom Love" (2007, Nina Menkes)

2022-03-25T20:21:00.010-07:00

Phantom Love is director Nina Menkes' fourth full-length feature. In stunning black and white, it answers the question "What did you do all day?" as it follows a woman who watches the news, pets her cat, files her nails, gambles, and spends quality time with her significant other.

Other animals are shown, including an octopus poetically floating through the water and bees during a scene that is an homage to Snow White.

Phantom Love is interesting, Tarkovskian, delightful, and passionate. It's also a great example of what a filmmaker can do with a budget while still making it exhilarating. Ultimately, it's a look into what it's like to be a woman.

"Resurrection" Sundance Review (2022, Andrew Semans)

2022-02-02T10:33:00.010-08:00

“You didn’t know, but I was watching you.”

Resurrection is a head-scratcher. First, just like Charlotte Gainsbourg in Lars von Trier’s Antichrist or Toni Collette in Ari Aster’s Hereditary, Rebecca Hall delivers an amazing performance that is far beyond whatever else the movie has to offer. Tim Roth is also extraordinary and his character, David, is creepy and unnerving on so many levels. However, the rules of the movie’s world are so far-fetched and suspension of disbelief only goes so far.

Rating: 6/10

Vegan alert:
-Margaret gives chicken to her daughter Abbie (Grace Kaufman).
-David says he cut someone’s fingers off.

"Good Luck to You, Leo Grande" Sundance Review (2022, Sophie Hyde)

2022-01-28T18:54:00.005-08:00

-Allison McCulloch

Nancy (Emma Thompson) is a woman who has lived her whole life restrained by religion and other social orders and is now ready to see what she's missing. Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) is there to help her find out what she desires. When he asks Nancy what her fantasy is, what woman wouldn't want to be asked that?

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is literally the feel-good, anti-shaming film of the year. Mostly set in a room between the leads, the dialogue is really good. It might work better as a play. It does kind of get tiresome going back and forth as Nancy is trying to figure out what she wants. But it is impossible to be bored with either Thompson or McCormack for long, so all in all, it's an entertaining watch.

Vegan alert:
Reference to ham

"Emily the Criminal" Sundance Review (2022, John Patton Ford)

2022-01-25T12:18:00.000-08:00

I looked forward to seeing Emily the Criminal, because I knew that Aubrey Plaza pushes the boundaries. While it is no Black Bear or Ingrid Goes West, it has a solid supporting cast that includes Gina Gershon, Theo Rossi, and Megalyn Echikunwoke. It also marks Plaza's first starring role with her Evil Hag Productions.

Such an exciting time to be alive as Plaza waltzes through the movie macing and tasing anyone who gets in her way. The movie was rooted in reality as Plaza's Emily is burned with student debt and has trouble getting to the place where she needs to be. All in all, despite having some reservations, it was a fun watch.

Vegan alert:
Chicken Tarasco

"TikTok, Boom." Sundance Review (2022, Shalini Kantayya)

2022-01-25T09:50:00.000-08:00

“On TikTok, anything can happen.”

I liked the style of the documentary. Many TikTok influencers were interviewed and discussed. I personally don't use TikTok that much. However, now that it has over 2 billion downloads, more than any other app, perhaps it's time to up my game.

Starting out as Douyin, a Chinese app, the company merged with Musical.ly; the founders created TikTok, an app for the whole entire world.

Whatever your politics, it is true that former President Donald Trump scared people by threatening to ban TikTok and it created a geo-political storm between US & China.

There is the danger of sketchy adults preying on children and anti-Chinese and Muslim content has been banned. Feroza Aziz had to hide her message behind an eyelash curling video in order to find that TikTok had banned her account after eventually finding her message which dealt with Muslim abuse being perpetuated by Chinese authorities.

Overall, I was impressed by the issues that the documentary brought to light. Not only was it filmed in New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Vancouver, Berlin, Bangkok, and China, but it also credited the TikTok accounts of the users they interviewed. Definitely check it out if you're interested in TikTok, but want to stop scrolling for a moment.

Vegan alert:
Spilled milk

Vegan points:
Dancing dog

"Call Jane" Sundance Review (2022, Phyllis Nagy)

2022-01-21T21:27:00.003-08:00

"Nobody’s Jane. We’re all Jane."

Phyllis Nagy made this film about “the power of exercising choice” as she stated in her introduction to the film at Sundance this year. Phyllis Nagy (writer of Carol) makes her feature directorial debut.
Joy (Elizabeth Banks) goes through a radical transformation as a strait-laced housewife who ends up helping women in a way she never thought possible. First, Joy finds herself at the whims of her husband; she also needs approval for a medical procedure from an all-male board at the hospital who aren't eager to put themselves in her shoes.

“It’s life or death for all of them.”

I love the fact that Phyllis Nagy is here to educate the younger generation. We get some of the same issues here as in the Hulu series Mrs. America: males can be pigs and white women overlook issues facing African American women.

Some scenes aren't as energetic as I'd like them to be. However, other scenes such as Joy seeking other options for medical care lead her to scary doctors' offices that would send most women screaming away from.

The film had a great set design, costumes, and music choices. I loved the period umbrellas and the pink dress that Elizabeth Banks wore in a scene when she was at the psychiatrist's. Perhaps it's the best abortion film since Mike Leigh's Vera Drake.

In the Q&A, Nagy expressed that she wanted to make something that would provoke “intergenerational” and “intersectional” conversations. They shot on film (!) with one camera in 23 days! I love how Nagy put so many women in key roles including Greta Zozula, who was the director of photography.

Sigourney Weaver told us that the younger generation took abortion rights for granted, which is unfortunately true. A lot of women these days (including me) weren't even born yet when the U.S.A. gained abortion rights in 1973. It was unthinkable for most of my adult life that we'd ever revert back to a time when women couldn't make decisions about their own bodies. That is why it's important to stand up for our rights, write and call our representatives in Congress, and to have these kinds of conversations.

Rating: 7/10

Vegan points: 
-Joy chops celery and carrots  
-Joy's husband doesn’t like frozen meatloaf

Vegan alert: 
-Ordered out for Italian food because of the meatballs 
-Charlotte (Grace Edwards) makes hamburger noodles

"Lou Reed & John Cale: Songs for Drella" (1990, Edward Lachman)

2021-11-08T09:14:00.003-08:00

I had a great experience watching Songs for Drella when it had a limited 3-day-run at Film Forum in NYC with director/cinematographer Ed Lachman in attendance.

I'm a huge Andy Warhol fan, so hearing songs about him as "Drella" was totally my thing. The name is a mashup of Dracula and Cinderella and was coined by Warhol superstar Ondine. This was filmed three years after Warhol's death.

Lachman told the story of how he thought the footage from this film was lost, but he found it in his apartment during the pandemic. Also, years before, Lachman's first encounter with Lou Reed was insane as Reed kicked down Lachman's tripod while telling him to "Do it like Andy" (handheld).

The rehearsals of Songs for Drella were shot. Lou Reed didn't want any cameras between him and the audience. Lachman notes that WE are the audience.

It gets a little meta. In "Style It Takes", Cale and Reed reference The Velvet Underground and another song says "John Cale" is "looking really great".

"I Believe" is a chilling song about Valerie Solanas, the woman who shot Andy Warhol. Lou Reed sings that he "would've pulled the switch on her" himself, although she had already died in 1988.

The film ends with "Hello It's Me", a touching goodbye to Andy with Lou Reed singing and John Cale on the violin. Some songs were filmed in color, but this was filmed in black and white. I was able to ask Lachman at the Q&A why he chose to do this. He had always wanted certain songs filmed in black and white. A lot of Andy's films were in black and white as well as the Hollywood films that Andy loved.

Overall, it's worth checking out for fans of The Velvet Underground, Andy Warhol, or cinematographer Ed Lachman, who shot most of Todd Haynes' films (including The Velvet Underground documentary).

Vegan alert:
Andy called Lou a "rat" as referenced in the song: "Work"

False Positive (2021, John Lee)

2021-06-29T13:05:00.004-07:00

“Welcome to the family.”

Hints of Swallow, Rosemary’s Baby, and Gaslight, it’s the movie that will terrify you, especially if you are a woman.

Gretchen Mol’s role as Nurse Dawn calls to mind Kirsten Dunst in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in a way.

In the Q&A for Film Independent, director John Lee explained that the genre is psychological satire. What a relief! Before knowing that, I felt guilty/weird for laughing at some bits. Note that lead actress Ilana Glazer wrote the screenplay! Justin Theroux and Pierce Brosnan will forever haunt me, because of their performances in this film.

Rating: 7.5/10

Vegan alert:
-Boss orders tuna
-Roasted duck as an option at the restaurant

Film Independent screener
Available to watch on Hulu

2021 Tribeca Film Festival Coverage

2021-06-24T13:14:00.002-07:00

[Wolfgang documentary]

Here are links to the reviews of the films I covered at Tribeca this year!

See For Me
Poser
Mark, Mary, and Some Other People
No Man of God
Wolfgang
The Lost Leonardo
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres
The Conductor
Building a Bridge
Ferguson Rises
The One and Only Dick Gregory

SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: "My Name is Pauli Murray" Review

2021-01-31T20:00:00.002-08:00

My Name is Pauli Murray was a documentary that I wasn't going to miss when it played at Sundance 2021, because of the directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen's previous film, RBG. My Name is Pauli Murray ended up being my personal favorite of the festival as well.

Pauli Murray fought for gender equality as a queer writer, lawyer, professor, and priest. Identifying as male, scholars and family held onto the she/her pronouns instead of embracing the he/his they/their pronouns that Pauli Murray identified to more closely. Their Aunt Pauline was the family member who got it the closest: referring to Pauli as her "boy-girl". At first, Pauli traveled under a male guise and said it was for protection, but later told doctors they appeared to be a woman but was really a man.

Racially, Pauli was African-American, Irish, and Cherokee. In 1940, Pauli and friend Adelene McBean were arrested for not moving to the back of a Greyhound bus in Virginia. The documentary also covers how Harvard Law School rejected their application and due to racist hiring practices, they were forced to set up their own law firm. Pauli wanted to get out of the United States to escape the constant lynchings, teaching law school in Ghana until it was apparent that government was dictatorial.

The documentary also cover their relationships with Peggy Holmes and Irene Barlow. After Barlow's death, Murray went to seminary, completely changing their career to become a priest.

Pauli Murray passed away on July 1, 1985 at the age of 74. Ahead of their time, they unfortunately weren't able to take the hormones they wanted and to live as the sex they identified as. However, their work lives on. Their story serves as a reminder that we are all complex human beings and we have to fight for what we think is right.

Vegan alert:
-Leather jacket
-Developed a tapeworm from eating cheap hamburgers

The Hunt (2020, Craig Zobel)

2020-03-15T08:21:00.001-07:00

"Why do you own 7 guns?"

When I heard about this movie, I thought it sounded in absolute poor taste. Certainly, I wasn't going to go to the movie theater to see this film. However, due to circumstances beyond my control, this was Saturday's film. For the first time, I ended up at the AMC in Arcadia, CA.

"Just calm the f*** down!"

The movie opens with a group text. The film title is written in one of the texts, which made for an interesting transition. Its strength is so many strong characters. There's a rumor on the internet that a bunch of "elites" are shooting up "deplorables". Athena (Hilary Swank) thinks using that word is better than "rednecks". I felt that the film showed the ignorance of people who resorted to name-calling and violence.

"Ava DuVernay liked one of my posts."

Even though the film is littered with familiar faces like Emma Roberts and Ike Barinholtz, The real star of this film is Crystal (Betty Gilpin). With her street smarts, she sees through everything and is physically prepared to take anyone or anything on. The couple at the gas station played by Reed Birney and Amy Madigan also make for a nice balance of comedy and horror.

"Who has the hand sanitizer?"

I have been writing about animal abuse on-screen and behind the scenes in my "vegan alerts". Sometimes I'll note abuse to humans if it is so horrific or if it can't be ignored. Never before have I felt that there was such a level of abuse toward humans that it felt like they were being treated like animals or worse.

"Don't First Amendment me."

What could have been an absolute mess, though, was handled with such eloquence. The action scenes were all choreographed so well and increased the tension. It was a whip-smart socio-commentary that was both brutal and humorous. It showed that with hate, it is possible for both sides to cut deeper and deeper until there is nothing left. People can think they are right and that the other side is wrong; hopefully in the real world, we will not resort to anything like this.

"It's f***ing great."

Beyond this film, it was crystal clear that without some kind of discussion and without empathy, we are just brainless morons fighting and destroying each other. And is that what anybody wants?

Rating: 8/10

Vegan alert (light spoilers):
-Guy on plane requests fish
-Pig in a crate and used for bait
-Deer heads at gas station and Athena's house
-Story about box turtles being smashed with hammer
-Athena uses butter and gruyère on her grilled cheese
-Reference to cow falling on head
-Caviar

Vegan points:
Don (Wayne Duvall) makes a reference to vegans.

A Faithful Man (2018, Louis Garrel)

2020-03-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

This is a public service announcement. With all the closures and cancellations due to the Coronavirus/COVID-19, more and more people are staying at home. Netflix is okay and all, but I recently resubscribed to MUBI. It wasn't because of the panicking; they actually had good films programmed.

Director Louis Garrel has a very famous father: director Philippe Garrel. It must be hard to live in his shadow. As an actor, Louis has been doing well for years. This is Louis' second feature that he's directed. The first: Les Deux amis (2015) is pretty unknown to me, even though I'm a French film fanatic.

A Faithful Man stars model-turned-actress Laetitia Casta (who also played Brigitte Bardot in the Gainsbourg biopic directed by Joann Sfar). In France, I once bought an issue of Vogue just because it featured Casta with the most amazing fuchsia hair on the cover. Whether blonde, brunette, or otherwise, Casta's presence is electric. Her character, Marianne, and Louis Garrel's Abel live together. What starts out as a very standard film quickly turns out to be the blackest of black comedies.

Co-written by Jean-Claude Carrière (co-writer of several Buñuel films including Belle de jour and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie), the film is very sophisticated. It turns in a weird direction when it shifts to the POV of Ève (Lily-Rose Depp). Ève has a crush on Abel and turns up at every corner, trying to prove her love for him despite the fact that he is in a relationship with someone else. Lily-Rose Depp, like Louis Garrel, also has famous parents: Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp. Bearing a very striking resemblance to her mother, especially in this film, she is like a young Paradis that never aged at all. Lily-Rose holds her own, but I would have liked to see her character developed in a more interesting way.

Thanks to MUBI for bringing his second feature to the very small screen. It expires at midnight tonight for U.S. audiences, so get on it!

Vegan alert:
Animals at farm (intended for slaughter)

First Cow (2020, Kelly Reichardt)

2020-03-13T09:29:00.001-07:00

SPOILER REVIEW

"What a sweet girl you are."

First Cow opens with Alia Shawkat (credited as "Woman with Dog") going for a walk along such a beautiful backdrop and discovering human bones buried in the dirt. We are never brought back to present day à la Gangs of New York, but I suppose that is fine. The movie's negative is 35mm and the aspect ratio is 1.37 : 1; for some reason when it was projected, it had a square 16mm look.

"Tastes like something my momma made."

I was struck how in touch with nature this film was: the plant life and the tenderness shown toward animals (when they weren't being killed or exploited). The narrative was strong albeit a little slow. The premise is that two opportunists, Cookie Figowitz (John Magaro) and King Lu (Orion Lee) steal milk from the only one cow (Evie) in town to make biscuits. At first, they're careful and then they get greedy. In addition to living among fur trappers, cruelty to humans is also explored: a baby is left in a bar for an undetermined period of time and a story is told about a man who received twenty lashes for mutiny.

It's an interesting character exploration which is where director Kelly Reichardt excels. The characters are not limited to humans and the scenery is simply gorgeous.

Vegan alert:
-Squirrels hunted to eat and their lifeless bodies shown on table
-Jerky reference
-Men wear fur coats and caps and leather
-Man fishing with net
-Cow tied up on barge
-Man leads a squealing pig with rope (very possibly to slaughter)
-Man has oysters and clams for sale at market
-Girl is forced to carry a heavy pail of milk
-King rips parts off of sea creatures for food
-Men have a cow milking conversation
-Stolen milk
-Honey featured
-Reference to beaver pelts and later pelts are shown hanging up in the market
-Clafoutis
-Visiting captain (Scott Shepherd) is "sick" of salmon
-Totillicum (Gary Farmer) says that beaver tail is delicious
-Cream references

Vegan points:
-Cookie picks mushrooms and turns a salamander right side up.
-Discussion that trails off: "God would have put cows here if he would have wanted..."
-While milking a cow is inherently anti-vegan, Cookie would always talk to the cow and pet it while he was milking her.
-A man pets a duckling.
-The cow, Evie, appears in the credits.

Lost Transmissions (2019, Katharine O'Brien)

2020-03-12T09:14:00.004-07:00

"Don't let go. I'm drifting out of orbit."

I really enjoyed Lost Transmissions which included a subdued performance by Juno Temple and a screaming, schizophrenic Simon Pegg. Writer/director Katharine O'Brien was also the co-writer on The Automatic Hate, one of the top films of the 2010s.

I didn't really notice how against type Temple was playing until the Q&A. They discussed how she was more internal, which didn't strike me, because she was very present and still very full of different emotions. Temple plays Hannah, an upcoming American singer/songwriter that doesn't want to get caught up in the music "industry" and still wants to retain her sense of self. She still has issues and literal scars, but for the most part, she has overcome them. However, she still has a devil-may-care attitude: mocking Theo when he asks her to "whisper" the lyrics and sitting on the mixing board.

"They're not nails; they're claws."

Theo (Simon Pegg) thinks "they" are communicating underneath the static of the radio. Despite having lots of work, he thinks he has a "flatlining career". Other people refer to Theo's "insanity" and it's clear that he has issues as he insults people, trespasses on others' property, and goes in and out of mental hospitals. With a story personal to writer/director Katharine O'Brien, she talks about how this story was based on a friend of hers.

"Ghosts are memories that electrons have."

With cinematography by Arnau Valls Colomer, the film features Juno Temple's Hannah in the studio at the end. A beautiful double reflection occurred which Temple referred to as a "split reflection". Moments like this made me realize how smooth everything came out. They also used LiveGrain to give the film a more analog feel.

Jonathan Bates wrote most of the original songs and co-wrote "Sleepless Days, Sleepless Nights" with Juno Temple who also performed the song.

In the Q&A, Juno Temple talked about how she didn't think she could be a method actor or she'd be dead fifteen times over. Another interesting fact is that she said she color-coded her script based on her character's emotions.

A very interesting film, both it and its soundtrack is due to be released Friday, March 13, 2020.

Q&A with actress Juno Temple and writer/director Katharine O'Brien, moderated by Jeff Goldsmith

Vegan alert:
-Hannah puts milk in her cereal
-Hannah wears wool sweaters
-Man with fur coat
-Theo wears a fur cap
-Hannah's wool animal print sweater dress

House of Games (1987, David Mamet)

2020-03-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

"Save your money, Joe. Semper fi."

I was really impressed when I saw House of Games directed by David Mamet ten years ago: March, 2010. I just rewatched it at the Aero in Santa Monica, CA, as part of their noir film festival. Apparently, I bought the VERY last ticket, as I just happened to be at the Aero Sunday afternoon as well. I didn't necessarily think of the film as noir, but it worked for the programming.

"Oh, babe, you're mucking up my timing."

I have to say that the beginning felt a little bit stunted. I didn't remember all the details and Mamet fooled me once again, even though I got suspicious toward the end. Some things that perturbed me this time (light spoilers):
-It looked like the bartender was reading a script
-Mike (Joe Mantegna) talks to Margaret (Lindsay Crouse) so loudly about George (Ricky Jay) that he must have heard him
-Joey (Mike Nussbaum) and Mike explain a tell to Margaret so loudly while the cop is in the bathroom that he must have heard
-Mike and his pals borrow more than twice the amount of money they'll make back for a job
-Mike tells Margaret she'll have a strong urge to confess to a crime in front of the cabbie

"The bitch has killed us."

Vegan alert:
-Margaret has silk underclothes
-Waldorf salad (not vegan with mayo)

"Didn't I tell you? What did I just say?"

Q&A with David Mamet (writer/director) and Eddie Muller (host)
March 9, 2020

Triangle: Remembering the Fire (2011)

2017-09-04T10:02:00.001-07:00

This is a great short film to watch on Labor Day. The extreme events in the documentary triggered change.

It's streaming on HBO Now for those that have that service. Or you can subscribe one month for free.

#FoodPics

2017-03-09T17:29:00.003-08:00

Feel free to watch the latest episode from the weekly comedy web-series Funny or Not Here We Come. This is "#FoodPics" which I directed and co-produced with Jennifer Hynes. Like-Subscribe-Share if you enjoyed!

Top Films (December 2016)

2017-02-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

La Religieuse/The Nun (2013, Guillaume Nicloux) AmazonPrime
Though Isabelle Huppert appears over an hour after the start of the film, it is very worthwhile. Pauline Etienne delivers a stunning performance.
Neruda (2016, Pablo Larraín)
Lion (2016, Garth Davis)
Tui shou/Pushing Hands (1992, Ang Lee)
Though an older film, it’s a gem from a top director.
Snowden (2016, Oliver Stone)
Amazing writing and acting. Stone turned Snowden’s story into a well-paced thriller.
Nocturnal Animals (2016, Tom Ford) Well-written and well-done, but very disturbing subject matter. Hoping Michael Shannon will get the Oscar!

Top Documentary:
Chicken People (2016, Nicole Lucas Haimes) Amazon Prime

Honorable Mention:
Patriots Day (2016, Peter Berg)

Top Films (July-November)

2016-11-29T14:08:00.005-08:00

Features
La Belle saison/Summertime (2015, Catherine Corsini) Probably the top film of the year for me so far.
I, Daniel Blake (2016, Ken Loach) Best film I saw at AFI.
The Rose (1979, Mark Rydell)
Morris from America (2016, Chad Hartigan) Great performances and lots of great, new, young performers.
Under the Shadow (2016, Babak Anvari) One of my favorites in competition for 2016's Best Foreign Language Film (Oscars)
Le Silence est d'or (1947, René Clair)

Top Documentaries
13th (2016, Ava DuVernay) Netflix
10 on Ten (2004, Abbas Kiarostami) bonus feature on Ten
Poto and Cabengo (1980, Jean-Pierre Gorin) formerly on Hulu
And the Pursuit of Happiness (1986, Louis Malle) formerly on Hulu
Somm (2012, Jason Wise)
Breathing Together: Revolution of the Electric Family/Growing Up in America (1971, Morley Markson) Video Link
Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World (2016, Werner Herzog)
The Eagle Huntress (2016, Otto Bell)
Author: The JT LeRoy Story (2016, Jeff Feuerzeig)
Gleason (2016, J. Clay Tweel)
The Lovers and the Despot (2016, Ross Adam, Robert Cannan)
Audrie & Daisy (Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk, 2016) Netflix
Amanda Knox (2016, Rod Blackhurst, Brian McGinn) Netflix
Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang (2016, Kevin Macdonald) Netflix
Burroughs: The Movie (1983, Howard Brookner) Great features on the DVD, including a commentary by Jim Jarmusch
The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists (1995, Les Blank)

Short Films
How to Win an Election (Sarah Klein, Tom Mason) Op-Docs Video Link
Untitled Portrait (1993, Cheryl Dunye) from the DVD The Early Works of Cheryl Dunye
A Well Spent Life (1972, Les Blank, Skip Gerson)
Gap-Toothed Women (1987, Les Blank)
Q & A (2015, Adam Epstein)
Everything Is Samuel L. Jackson's Fault (2013, Zoe Jackson) Video Link

Honorable Mentions
Elle (2016, Paul Verhoeven)
Julieta (2016, Pedro Almodóvar)
Christine (Antonio Campos, 2016) Great performance by Rebecca Hall that I hope doesn’t get overlooked.
Miss Sloane (2016, John Madden)
Anjô-ke no butôkai/A Ball at Anjo (1947, Kôzaburô Yoshimura)
Mes chères études/Student Services (2010, TV Movie, Emmanuelle Bercot)
Rhapsody in Blue (1945, Irving Rapper)
La Fille de nulle part/The Girl from Nowhere (2012, Jean-Claude Brisseau) Very bizarre, unique, poignant film
Interstate 60: Episodes of the Road (2002, Bob Gale) viewable on Amazon Prime
Lola Versus (2012, Daryl Wein)
Nikui an-chikushô/I Hate But Love (1962, Koreyoshi Kurahara)    formerly on Hulu
Fathers & Daughters (2015, Gabriele Muccino)
Café Society (2016, Woody Allen) Really, I thought this film was way better than the critics have been giving it credit for.
The Hollars (2016, John Krasinski)
Postales de Leningrado (2007, Mariana Rondón)
Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer/The People vs. Fritz Baer (2015, Lars Kraume)

Series/Mini-Series
Making a Murderer (2015, Moira Demos, Laura Ricciardi) Netflix
Top of the Lake (2013, Jane Campion, Garth Davis)
L'Inde fantôme (1969, Louis Malle) formerly on Hulu

SoCal CIFF 2016

2016-08-28T16:10:00.001-07:00

If you're a filmmaker thinking about submitting your short film to film festivals, check out SoCal CIFF. In its third year, they were sold out opening night: August 12, 2016. It was held at the wonderful, historic Raleigh Studios where attendees of the festival gained exclusive entrance on the lot. In addition to complimentary drinks and food for their V.I.P.s, they also had a great exhibit featuring Sara Radovanovitch's eclectic art, and an amazing DJ: Shai'La Yvonne.

Filmmakers arrived from all over the United States and even other countries to promote their current projects, network, grant red carpet interviews, and participate in Q&As after their screenings.

Featuring over 60 shorts with such a level of quality, several managed to stand out including Audience Choice Winner "Q & A" (Adam Epstein), "#Amish" (Kacey Spivey), "Successful People" (Janina Maria), and "The Traveler" (Jonathan Lawrence, Anthony Bradford).

Some filmmakers were already looking ahead to film their next project. Writer/director/actor Oliver Singer mentioned that the script for the feature-length version of "A.W.O.L." was already written. Producer Annie Clark ("Cry Hard") spoke of wanting to make another short before attempting her first feature. Writer/director/actor/producer Tara-Nicole Azarian is at work on a feature-length cosplay documentary.

The festival closed with an exciting awards ceremony. Multiple award-winners at the festival were "S.A.M." (Best Science Fiction and Sean Kaufmann for Best Actor) and "Legend of Dark Rider" (Best Horror and Titus Paar for Best Director). The post-festival party was held at the Moment Hotel on Sunset Boulevard where filmmakers celebrated their awards and got in the final chance to network before the big weekend finished.

2016-08-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

[Paul Jury and Hailey Bright from the web-series "48 States of Granddad"]

The SoCal Clips Indie Film Festival had a sold-out opening night on August 12, 2016. My personal favorite short was "Q & A", directed by Adam Epstein. Writer Jacob Stark explained to me that this satire was inspired by a real question and answer session that occurred relatively close to the Los Angeles area. Other highlights included the first episode from the web-series "Successful People" and the dramatic "Tu & Eu".

Saturday's schedule will feature first-time producer Annie Clark's "Cryhard". She said it was her first movie ever and wants to make another short before making a feature in 2017. The budget was just 2,000 Canadian dollars, so it met the festival's limit of a $10,000 or less budget.

Also to look forward to is Paul Jury's "48 States of Granddad". He drove through the 48 continental states after college and wrote a book about it before adapting the story into a web-series. While he has also visited Hawaii, he is waiting for the Netflix deal to explore Alaska.

Top Films (June 2016)

2016-07-10T08:45:00.002-07:00

Top Documentaries:
De Palma (2015, Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow) Recently released in theaters.
Life, Animated (2016, Roger Ross Williams) Completely amazing. I had no idea what this movie was about before I saw it, just that it was from an Academy Award winning director. It was incredibly moving and highly recommended.
The Century of the Self (2002, Adam Curtis)
Vapor Trail (Clark) (2010, John Gianvito)
Miss Sharon Jones! (BarbaraKopple) I saw a sneak preview, but it'll be showing in Los Angeles in early August.
Dreamcatcher (2015, Kim Longinotto) I discovered an amazing list of films directed by women on Netflix that helped me find this movie.

Feature:
Conjuring 2 (James Wan) Pretty scary, but pretty weird that it was released in the middle of summer.

Short:
I, Dalio (2015, Mark Rappaport) available on Fandor