SIFF Day 9-11: ShortsFest and more

La Mission (US) : A

Starring Benjamin Bratt and written/directed by his brother Peter Bratt, "La Mission" is an outstanding ethnic/social/family/romance/character drama that succeeds where so many other films have failed: It touches upon a large number of issues without any of them feeling forced or contrived. Benjamin Bratt bravely sinks himself into the leading role, and gives an extraordinary, richly layered performance. While the cheesiness meter does ramp up a little high at times, this is an authentic and powerful film that's well worth watching.

School Days With a Pig (Japan) : B+

A 6th grade teacher decided to teach his students a lesson on life by asking them to raise a baby pig, with the plan to eat it at the end of the school year. Or will they?? This is a wonderful family film that puts a large group of kids in the spotlight, in a way that's rarely seen in movies. It maintains a good balance by covering both the awe-inducing side of the story (kids playing with the pig) and the more serious, grown-up side (kids deciding what to do with the pig). I was highly impressed with the classroom discussion scenes - How did they film it so well with so many kids speaking so many lines? All the child actors are very believable, and adorable. My only negative comment is that the second half seems to drag on a little bit. Overall though, an excellent movie that's recommended for all ages.

Like Dandelion Dust (US) : B

An adopted child becomes the center of much turmoil when his birth parents want him back and the court orders his adopted parents to oblige. This is a well-made mainstream tear jerker; not a chick flick as the male characters are just as important and complex as the females. Cinema cynics will gladly point out the cliched elements and the tugging of the heart string. Even so, this is an engaging movie thanks to a strong cast (especially the child actor). For most of the movie, it is difficult to decide who you should root for. During the screening, a lot of sniffling was heard from the audience - I imagine that if you a parent, you may get very emotional watching it. I'm not a parent, and I still was almost brought to tears.

City of Borders (US) (Doc) : B

Snow (Bosnia/Herzegovina) : C+

Still Walking (Japan) : C+

Yes, I Can See Dead People (Hong Kong) : C+


ShortsFest Opening Package : B+
(Repeat screening Tue Jun 2, 9:15pm, Egyptian)

An excellent and diverse group of short films ranging from the lovely to the cute to the absurd to the controversial. You may not love them all, and you would still come to appreciate the art of short films. Next year, bigger venue please?

2081 (US): B
A surrealistic look into a future where equality is taken to extreme measures.
The Bake Shop Ghost (US): A
A heart-warming story with a lot of delicious-looking cakes to boot!
The Herd (Ireland): B
A deer with an identity crisis keeps hanging around a herd of cattles. What could the farmer do?
Love: C+
An inconsistent and disturbing piece on an extreme act of love in the face of death. For me, short film is not necessarily an appropriate medium for a provocative story like this, since there is no sufficient time to establish motivation or develop characters.
Next Floor: B
Absurd comedy never looked so exquisite... and somewhat disgusting.
Photograph of Jesus: B+
A funny and imaginative presentation about the photo archive and some of the real requests they receive.
Post-It Love: A-
Even the most cynical will smile at this really cute little love story!

Disclosures (shorts package) : B

Highlights:
Kudan (Japan) : A-
The Spam Job (US) : B
Sparks (US) : B

The Family Picture Show (shorts package) : A-

A wonderful collection that highlights many different looks of animation, from computer graphics to pencil drawings. Clever use of mixed media brings unique charm to two shorts, while two others present innovative methods that I have not seen before: "Western Spaghetti," where items such as bubble wraps and colorful yarns stand in for boiling water and spgahetti strands; "Maggie and Mildred," which takes on the look of needle point arts.

Highlights:
Babau (Italy) : A-
Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death : A-

The World of Possibilities (shorts package) : B-

Unanswered questions and ambiguous endings... Sometimes they work, and many other times they are just frustrating.

Response Abilities (shorts package) : B

Proof that while it might be easier to make a good short film (compared to making a good feature-length film), it's also difficult to achieve greatness.

The Cock Collage (shorts package) : B

While this package contains several nice ideas, there still is an unfortunate dearth of gay-themed short films with solid production value and high overall quality.

Sensory Overload (shorts package) : B+

Note to self: Don't judge a shorts package by its name. This is one that I was reluctant to see for fear of suffering through a large pile of experimental mumbo-jumbo. On the contrary, it includes a few very pleasant surprises, and even has a high quota of stories that make sense!

SIFF Day 8: Reviews

The Hurt Locker (US) : A

To call this "intense" or "gripping" is a huge understatement. From the beginning, "The Hurt Locker" drops us right into a different world, where lives hang on by a thread, and humanity only surfaces in brief glimpses. The movie does all its work with amazing honesty and constraint, without ever getting aggressively loud or overly sentimental. While the explosions and gun fights are effective, it is through many wordless moments that the movie really draws us in and shakes us to the core. In an excellent ensemble cast, Jeremy Renner stands out with a truly magnetic performance.

Carmo, Hit the Road (Spain) : B

Rembrandt's J'Accuse (Netherlands) (Doc?) : B-

SIFF Day 7: Review (only 1 movie today)

An Island Calling (New Zealand) (Doc) : B+

The story happened in Fiji, where an affluent gay white couple were brutally murdered by a native Fijian man. Was it motivated by anti-gay sentiment, racial tension, personal history, or political conflict? (Half of the couple, John Scott, was the director of Fiji Red Cross and assisted a group of hostages during a then-recent coup.) John's brother Owen was a driving force behind this excellent documentary, and he provided a strong sense of emotional resonance without ever coming from grudge or revenge. The movie took its time exploring the history of the Fiji society, allowing the story to unfold naturally as we learn about its background setting. The result was powerful, sensible, and thought-provoking.

SIFF Day 6: Reviews

Dancing Across Borders (US) (Doc) : B

Philanthropist Anne Bass discovered Sy, a teenage dancer performing in Cambodia, and sponsored him to come to the U.S. and train in classic ballet. What started as home video footage (to send to Sy's mom) eventually turned into a documentary project, which first-time filmmaker Anne Bass handled with love and care. We follow Sy through years of training and performances, which eventually led him to Seattle's Pacific Northwest Ballet. The power of this movie comes from the personal and artistic journey of Sy, allowing us to appreciate him as a beautiful person both inside and out. Wonderful performance footage, often showing dance pieces in their entirety, provided a great bonus. As a fan of dancing in general and a non-fan of ballet specifically, I was really impressed and touched by Sy's performances.

Moon (UK) : A- (website)

I expected to like this movie, and I did like it, but in a totally unexpected way. I thought this was a sci-fi suspense thriller; turned out it's more like a sci-fi character drama. The first act was kinda slow, and during the second act I seriously doubted whether the movie would work. However, the third act really pulled it off and turned in a very satisfactory ending. I'll take this over so many other movies that start strong and finish weak.

The look of this movie, a blend between old-school realistic and CG-based ultra-clean, was attractive and soothing. Sam Rockwell gave a pitch-perfect performance. In fact, the movie was written specifically for him - and he really delivered.

Zift (Bulgaria) : B

I took a gamble on this one since it didn't look like my usual kind of movie. The SIFF website stated "Genres: Cult, Detective/Mystery, Drama, Erotic, Film Noir, Thriller." Huh?? I’m glad that it turned out to be an enjoyable and enticing ride instead of a flashy mess. The story-telling devices and Noir elements worked well, the protagonist was fascinating and powerful, and it all led up to a memorable final act.

SIFF Day 5: Reviews

Gotta Dance (US) (Doc) : A- (website)

Grandmothers dancing hip-hop? Fun, fun, fun!! A group of seniors age 60 and above - 12 women and 1 man - were recruited by the New Jersey Nets to form a new dance team. Director Dori Berinstein ("Some Assembly Required") brings us through their journey of hard training, warm camaraderie, national fame, and audience adoration in this heartfelt and inspiring documentary.

We Live In Public (US) (Doc) : A (website)

Even though you may have never heard of him, Internet pioneer Josh Harris was a genius, a visionary, a weirdo, a dangerous force and a tragic figure all rolled into one. He jump-started the .com boom; built a web TV operation before most people even had the Internet; and ran an ambitious "Big Brother Extreme" in an underground bunker at the turn of the millennium. More than ten years in the making, this documentary is bedazzling in its technical details and unsettling in its social implications. Are we doomed to become slaves to the Internet? Do human beings ultimately crave intimate connections or unwittingly destroy them? Watch the movie and ponder away.

Today's SIFF audience received a very special treat when Josh Harris himself showed up for the post-film Q&A. In person he appeared calm, poised, and surprisingly "normal." Just don't ask him what he thought of the movie - He still hasn't watched it! I asked him about the ultimate goal and motivation behind all the provocative "experiments" he put on. He explained that he wants to "implement" where our society is heading toward, so we can all see what it's like in reality. Whether people choose to follow that path, or choose something different, that's not his concern. Indeed, this ultimate techie sees himself as an artist, an illustrator of our future. Something interesting to keep in mind when you watch this movie.

I Know You Know (UK) : B

A coming-of-age drama and suspense thriller (in a mild sense), this film features a stand-out debut performance from a young Arron Fuller, and a memorable turn by Robert Carlyle ("The Full Monty") as his father. The story, though not as rewarding as the lead performances, gets told in a polished and enjoyable fashion.

Warlords (Hong Kong/China) : B (website)

From "The Banquet" to "Curse of the Golden Flower" to this... The Chinese cinema seems to have taken on an obsession with Shakespearean tragedies. It's a solid piece of war epic, with three solid male leads and some solid character conflicts. Just remember to stay away if you are afraid of seeing blood.

Baby Love (France) : B-

A gay couple, one desperately wanting to have kids and the other one adamantly against it. Plus, gay couples are not allowed to adopt in France (for now). Many of the plot turns are cliched, though as a whole it's still enjoyable to watch. In other words, it's not bad. Just one major bone to pick: The film shows part of a straight sex scene, but cuts away just when two men start getting intimate. A strange double-standard to have for a supposedly gay movie.

SIFF Day 4: Reviews

$9.99 (Israel/Australia) : B+ (website)

A claymation movie that's gritty and cryptic, instead of cutesy and sleek? I'm there! My friends and I had a lengthy discussion afterwards about the characters, the endings, and those unexpected PG-13 moments. That makes it a good movie, right?

Pop Star On Ice (US) (Doc) : B+ (website)

A documentary that follows Johnny Weir, the openly flamboyant U.S. champion figure skater, through three years of triumph, frustration, hard work, and self-expression. Taking a restrained yet self-assured approach, the film lets all the different sides of Johnny Weir come through, without either demonizing or idolizing this undeniably intriguing young man.

I'm No Dummy (US) (Doc) : B (website)

If you are ever curious about ventriloquists (or "vents"), this is a good documentary for learning about these brilliant comedians and character actors. The attraction of this film comes not from innovative storytelling or dramatic setups, but simply from the talent and charm of the performers. The best part about seeing it at SIFF was that three ventriloquists were on hand for a Q&A session - or rather, an impromptu performance session. That was quite a treat!

SIFF Day 3: Reviews

I love movies! Today I caught two that I really liked, and they were so different from each other - innocent vs. nasty, real vs. surreal - yet they were both quirky, refreshing, and creative. Throw in another solid documentary and a campy comedy, and a little time spent at the Folklife Festival, I got myself a great day!

Paper Heart (US) : A

Cute, warm and romantic, this pseudo-documentary about the realness of love might make you wish it was all real. See it if you get a chance!

The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle (US) : B+

Black comedies with unusual visual elements tend to be plagued by two problems: One, when substance is sacrificed in favor of style; two, when the story gets too strange for its own good and loses all its color and steam before the end is in sight. It's impressive that "Little Dizzle" by and large avoided both of those problems. Memorable characters and wonderful acting round out what it takes to make a great piece of entertainment. The opening sequence is brilliant, and so are several other sequences throughout the movie. Unfortunately, I'm not too sure about how the story resolved at the end.

Trimpin: The Sound of Invention (US) (Doc) : B-

Documentary about a brilliant artist/musician/engineer/inventor. I wanted to see more!

Chef’s Special (Spain) : B

Campy, soapy fun.

Also, the opening night film:

In the Loop (UK) : C

A political satire that focuses more on antics than storylines.

SIFF Movie Reviews

Before the festival officially starts (tonight), here are a few reviews from press screenings:

Humpday (US) : B+ (website)

Seattle filmmaker Lynn Shelton tells an intriguing story based on the real-life "Humpfest," an amateur porn festival organized by "The Stranger." Two long-lost friends, both straight male, reunite after embarking on very different life paths. On a dare (or is it?), they decide to enter the Humpfest by filming themselves having sex. Did I mention one of them has a wife? So here we are, a hotel room, two straight dudes, and a video camera. What's next?? Despite the sensationalistic premise, Lynn and her two leading men handled the story with an admirable sense of honesty and subtlety, allowing you to connect with the characters and ultimately feel for them.

Tulpan (Kazakhstan) : B-

A young man returns from the military and joins his relatives in the steppe, with the goal of acquiring both a herd and a wife. He is quite taken with the neighbor's daughter, Tulpan, even though his proposal was rejected and he hasn't even seen her in person. The characters are moderately charming and the story is laid back... Perhaps too laid back. At times, the movie feels about as exciting as being stuck in a sandstorm on the steppe. Verdict: Enjoy with a healthy dose of patience.

Art & Copy (US) (Doc) : B-

This documentary about art in advertising is masterful, enjoyable, informational, yet slightly disengaging. It was as if the director had no concern over whether the audience was interested in the topic... Kinda ironic for a movie about advertising, don't you think?

SIFF 2009 - Bring It On!!

14.
23.
27.
43.
27.
41.
34.

These are the numbers of screenings I attended at each year's SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) starting from 2002, my first year living in Seattle. Since 2003, I've purchased a full-series pass every year. Many pass holders attend 60+ screenings during the festival, and some even go above 100. For me though, due to work and other activities (such as dragon boating), I always had limited capacity for racking up big numbers.

This year, I am self-employed, I am no longer the captain of my dragon boat team, and I only have one scheduled weekend away during the festival. So, let's see what number I can pull off!!

* NOTE: I use the term "screening" to refer to one time block of film(s), or one "sitting." Most screenings consist of one feature-length film. Some are "shorts packages" that each contains a number of short films; some others include one feature-length film and one short film. SIFF typically plays close to 300 feature films and shorts packages during its 25-day run.

Summer Movie Reviews

The summer movie season has kicked off with a densely packed May schedule. For me though, with SIFF starting, "regular" movies may have to wait ("Angels & Demons," "Terminator Salvation," "Up").

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" : B- (It's flawed)

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and a slew of new characters from the X-Men universe - Those were enough reasons for me to watch this movie at its opening midnight show. Unfortunately, my optimism was not returned in favor. I liked all the characters, and most actors did a fine job settling into those characters. However, the script and the directing left much to be desired. Even worse, there were more than a few moments of let's-assume-the-audience-is-dumb, which is a surefire sign that the movie is not that intelligent either. Finally, as much as I enjoyed watching Wolverine charging around looking angry, I wish some of the other characters had received more screen time.

"Earth" : B+ (Very good)

True, this documentary is simply a condensed version of the TV series "Planet Earth." Even so, there is plenty of larger-than-life footage that deserves the big screen treatment, which means you gotta see this one in a movie theater! (It's probably not gonna be crowded, so you can pick a good seat.) The movie employs a loose storytelling structure that worked well, and moves at a brisk enough pace to keep me interested. I did find it jarring that several animal hunting stories were left unresolved, maybe in an effort to maintain a "G" rating??

"Star Trek" : A- (Great movie!)

Smart, exciting and precise, this is what a summer blockbuster should be like!! I knew next to nothing about the "Star Trek" TV series and previous movies, and I found this one to be perfectly accessible for me. My biggest worry before the movie was: "How long would it take for me to stop thinking, 'Hey, there's Sylar!'" (the Zachary Quinto connection). Thankfully, it didn't take that long.

In comparison, I was disappointed that the opening weekend gross of "Star Trek" ($79m) fell short of "Wolverine" ($85m). One week later, it turned out that there is justice after all. "Star Trek" dropped by only 46% in its second weekend, compared to 69% for "Wolverine." Which means that when all is said the done, "Star Trek" will be the one laughing its way to the bank.

Spring Movie Reviews

Didn't see too many movies this spring so here they are:

"Coraline" : A- (Great movie!)

I've always been a fan of stop-motion. Here, director Henry Selick ("The Nightmare Before Christmas") constructs a colorful, imaginative and moody world for Coraline, a braver, more determined version of Alice experiencing her own bizarro Wonderland. Stake is high as Coraline must rescue her own parents as well as several kids from the grasp of... Well, the story is not all that important (or perfect). What matters is that by the end of the movie, I not only enjoyed the visual feast, I also fell in love with Coraline... and her silent buddy boy.

Incidentally, I watched the movie in 3D. Not a bad trick... I just wish my 3D glasses were constructed better and didn't cause double-images.

"I Love You, Man" : B+ (Very good)

I went to this movie for one reason, and liked it for the same reason: Paul Rudd. His undeniable likeability and relatability carried the story and gave it a heart. I even forgave his character for performing one of the unforgivable comedy shticks in my book, known as projectile vomiting. Jason Segel's character also added enough intrigue to keep things interesting.