SIFF: A Second Chance

Selected films from SIFF 2009 will receive an encore presenatation this weekend. The two short film packages, in particular, will be a rare chance to catch these excellent mini-movies. I also recommend the following: talhotblond, Humpday, Swimsuit Issue, The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle. I am planning to see: The Cove, Morris: A Life With Bells on.

http://www.siff.net/cinema/seriesDetail.aspx?FID=158

SIFF 2009: A Summary

So, I finally feel like a worthy passholder! I attended a total of 75 screenings during this festival, for an average of 3 per day. Adding the commute and in-between time, it was like having an 8 hours/day, 7 days/week job for those 25 days... If you think that's unbelievable, know that some passholders saw a lot more, especially those who took advantage of the advanced press screenings (which I barely did). Still, 75 is plenty for me, and by far a new personal record. In the six years prior, I only averaged 32.5 per year, with a maximum of 43.

Even though I enjoyed the experience and caught a lot of good movies, I'm not sure I want to do this again in future years. I pretty much had to put my life on hold for 25 days, other than a few things here and there. (I did go out of town for the Portland Dragon Boat Festival. If I hadn't, I could've hit a total of 90...) With a few hundreds of films to choose from, SIFF is always an exercise in letting go and accepting my limits. In the grand scheme of things, a better life balance would serve me well!

Nine of the 75 screenings I attended were short film packages, so I actually saw 66 feature-length films and 70+ short films. Here is a list of my favorites among those 66 features (see previous blog entries for full reviews):

My Top Documentaries
This festival had a great selection of documentaries covering far-ranging topics and styles.

1. We Live In Public (US) - How will the Internet really impact our lives?
2. A Sea Change (Norway/US) - Imagine all the fish disappearing from the oceans...
3. Gotta Dance (US) - Seniors learn to dance hip-hop for an NBA team.
4. Kimjongilia (France/US/South Korea) - An artful and stunning exposé of North Korea.
5. Prodigal Sons (US) - Family stories don't get any more fascinating than this!

My Top Narrative Films

1. The Hurt Locker (US) - An incredibly gripping story of bomb techs in the Iraq war.
2. Paper Heart (US) - This mockumentary about love is sweet, light, and super-charming!
3. La Mission (US) - An outstanding ethnic/social/family/romance/character drama.
4. (500) Days of Summer (US) - An innovative look at the age-old question of love.
5. Moon (UK) - A thoughtful and unexpectedly satisfying sci-fi drama.
6. Welcome (France) - A.k.a. "The Swim Coach & The Illegal Immigrant Boy."
7. Hachiko: A Dog's Story (US) - An unapolegetic tear-jerker that is ultimately uplifting.
8. The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle (US) - A brilliantly bizarre comedy. Seattle-based indie!
9. North Face (Austria) - Intense mountain-climbing drama based on real events.
10. School Days With a Pig (Japan) - Fifth graders have to decide on the fate of their pet pig.

Best Actors
For whatever reason, I saw many strong male performances and no stand-out female performances.

1. Sam Rockwell, for playing a moon worker in isolation, in "Moon."
2. Mark Duplass, for strong performances in two indies, "Humpday" & "True Adolescents."
3. Benjamin Bratt, for playing a conflicted man in "La Mission."
4. Jim Sturgess, for a star-making turn in "Fifty Dead Men Walking."
5. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, for his mature performance in "(500) Days of Summer."

My Wishlist - Movies I Missed & Want To See

1. Departures (Japan) - Oscar Best Foreign Film winner and favorite among passholders.
2. Tetro (US/Argentina) - Francis Ford Coppola's new political drama.
3. Tears of April (Finland) - One of the "hidden gems" as rated by passholders.
4. The Cove (US) - Documentary audience award winner.
5. Sweet Crude (US) - Ambitious documentary by a Seattle filmmaker.
6. Morris: A Life With Bells On (UK) - Spoof comedy on English folk dance!
7. Marcello Marcello (Switzerland) - A charming story set in Italy.
8. Seraphine (France) - Story of a famous painter & house cleaner. Best Actress winner.
9. The Necessities of Life (Canada) - SIFF has a tradition of powerful films about the Inuit culture.
10. Fly Filmmaking Challenge 2009 - Don't know if I'll get a chance to see these very special films now that I missed them during the festival.

Finally, Isn't It Ironic...

that my three least favorite films of the festival are the Opening Night film ("In the Loop"), the Closing Night film ("OSS 117: Lost in Rio"), and a film from mainland China, my home country ("The Shaft").

SIFF Final Day (25): Reviews

Unmistaken Child (Israel) (Doc) : B+

A fascinating documentation of a lengthy search for the reincarnation of a Buddhist Lama. While I wish some of the details were explained in more details, the unassuming approach (using no narrations) allowed me to appreciate the beauty of the story with little distraction. Also features great camera work and music.

Fifty Dead Men Walking (UK) : B+

OK, I'm going by some blind faith here, since I missed about half of the dialogue due to those darn Irish accents. Even so, I could clearly see that this is a first-rate action drama based on real events from the conflicts between the Brits and the IRA. Jim Sturgess ("Across the Universe", "21") further establishes himself as a young star to watch. With a natural intensity and charisma, he easily steals the movie from his costar, Sir Ben Kingsley. Rating may be adjusted after I get to see it again with captions on.

Amreeka (US) : B

Six years after the invasion of Iraq and with a new President in office, perhaps we are finally at a place to look back on that time and see the story from a different side. This film successfully conveys some of the challenges and struggles faced by Middle Eastern immigrants during that uncertain time, without getting too sentimental or preachy. The physical appearance of the main character and the family-centered story may remind some of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," except this is a lot more serious and less chick-flicky. The first part of the story was filmed in Palestine, home country of writer-director Cherien Dabis.

OSS 117: Lost in Rio (France) : C+

A blatantly un-PC spy movie spoof, where the Bond-like agent 117 acts more like Austin Powers or the Pink Panther. While I did laugh along to many of the silly gags, it all got old really fast, and the whole experience was like eating a big Sundae with cheapo ice cream and dry, flavorless brownie base.

SIFF Day 24: Reviews

Today was a good day. For the first time during this festival, I saw four movies in a row that I rated B+ or higher! If only the last movie had continued the streak...

Hachiko: A Dog’s Story (US) : A- (website)

I've cried to "Hachiko" and I'm not ashamed! You could say this is a blatant tear-jerker and heart-string-tugger, yet I don't think it is manipulative. The emotional power comes from the simple story - which is based on true events - and the fact the the dog is just so darn cute. If you love dogs, and you don't mind that gooey emotional stuff, go see this movie. It will bring out the love in you.

Kimjongilia (France) (Doc) : A- (website)

With elements of an art collage and a performance piece, this is a stunning exposé of a country where extreme oppression and atrocity are still going on today. By the way, the title means "The Flower of Kim Jong-Il."

talhotblond (US) (Doc) : B+ (website)

There are two documentaries in this festival that focus on the social impact of the Internet. "We Live in Public" (my rating: A) was about a genius millionaire; "talhotblond" is about a few ordinary people. The story, however, is far from ordinary: A middle-aged man forms an online sexual relationship with an 18-year-old girl, by pretending that he is an 18-year-old Marine soldier. The relationship escalates, another young man gets involved, and it all leads to some tragic consequences. Some viewers apparently thought this is a fictional film; sadly, it is not. As a documentary, this film is skillfully put together and fluently paced.

The Spy and the Sparrow (US) : B+

A stylish, well-written, and wonderfully acted character drama.

Flame & Citron (Denmark) : B

At $9 million, this is the most expensive Danish production to date, and it does look appropriately expensive. So what's the story? Let's see... There was a lot of gunshots, many deaths, some conflicts and disagreements, suspicion, Nazis... At the end, some texts tell us the future fates of some characters. I didn't feel that I really cared.

SIFF Day 23: Reviews

American Primitive (US) : B+

During the post-film Q&A, we learned that this movie was almost entiredly based on the director's own family story. That level of authenticity adds to the gravity of the story, which is about two teenage sisters in the 1970s dealing with their father's homosexuality. The story is told from the viewpoint of older sister Madeline, and I have to say it's refreshing to have a teenager movie that's not about teenage rebellion, teenage depression, or teenagers doing very bad things! The movie is a little broad, a little cheesy, and secretly wholesome almost to a fault. Despite all that, it works, and I quickly felt bonded with Madeline's life and her various relationships. Although some people might have objections to the ending, I personally found it to be entirely satisfactory.

The Hills Run Red (US) (Horror) : B

I'm not a fan of horror movies, yet I somehow decided to watch this one. I enjoyed it, and got scared a lot without being completely spooked or scarred for life. In a genre that's so tired and overdone, this movie manages to be clever but not winky-winky. It's a throwback to old-fashioned horror and also has some good twists and turns, including a nice ending. Solid performances from the cast as well.

Youssou N'dour: I Bring What I Love (Senegal) (Doc) : B

A solid documentary on the power of music and the journey of a musician with grand aims. If you like African music then you would really appreciate this film.

Wonderful World (US) : B

No thanks to a title like "Wonderful World," I went into this movie with my cliche detector on high alert. And it did go off quite a bit... At the end though, I found myself caring about the main character (an expert performance from Matthew Broderick) and feeling connected to his journey. That's the sign of a good movie, right?

The Girl from Monaco (France) : C+

From the technical side, this is a perfectly fine film. The problem is, I simply couldn't buy into the motivations and decisions of the main characters. In the great words of Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler, "Really??" If the film had a different cast and they approached the characters differently, then I might have been able to like it.

SIFF Day 22: Reviews

North Face (Austria) : B+

This mountain climbing drama is closely based on the story of four climbers' 1936 attempt to summit The Eiger ("Ogre"), the last unconquered peak in the Alps. The story is told with such gravity and tension that it works wonderfully as a nail-biting thriller, and all the more so when you realize that this was a real-life story. The secondary storyline of the spectators down below successfully adds another dimension to the narration. Unfortunately, the fictional elements eventually step into the realm of sensationalism, which detracts somewhat from the power of the story.

NOTE: If you are interested in this topic, check out the 2004 documentary "Touching the Void," which I absolutely loved. It is not a pure documentary per se, since it utilized dramatic re-enactment to tell the story.

Afghan Star (Afghanistan) (Doc) : B

A fascinating look at the Afghan TV show that is the equivalent of "American Idol," this documentary works both as entertainment and as social study. You will be so grateful that you don't live in Afghanistan! (Especially if you are a woman...)

The Red Race (China) (Doc) : B

This film follows a group of young Chinese kids as they go through rigorous gymnastic training in hope of future glory. With no narration and virtually no interviews, this is a rare breed of a documentary. Such an "objective" and "slice of life" approach is consistent with the trend I see in a lot of Chinese narrative films, and it may not be something that most Western audience are used to. If you are OK with that, you may find this documentary to be very effective in what it sets out to convey. One particular shot, which stays on two young girls for what seems like minutes with no camera movements, is especially impactful.

SIFF Day 21: Reviews

My Suicide (US) : B+

The early part of this movie is an explosion of disturbing imagery, mixed-style animation, and profanity-laiden narration. If that sounds like MTV-generation stupidity, which I usually don't care for, know that it was all done so deliberately and creatively that it actually worked really well. The pace slows down later to allow the unfolding of a more traditional story arc, which is effective and thought-provoking. In the end though, I find myself wondering what the movie would've been like if the story was told in a straightforward way throughout. I'm afraid that for me, the extraordinary style did keep me at a certain distance from the underlying substance. In addition, the movie is decidedly rooted in the angst and frustration of the teen generation, and that's something I personally never identified with.

Overall, an impressive piece of art and a memorable viewing experience.

Garbage Dreams (US) (Doc) : B

This documentary about young people who process garbage for a living in the city of Cairo is well-constructed and touching, though a little too mellow and repetitive.

Cold Souls (US) : B-

Paul Giamatti alone makes this movie worth watching. I just wish the movie was move deserving of him.

During the Q&A, writer-director Sophie Barthes said she was tired of hearing the comparison with "Being John Malkovich." Unfortunately, given the storyline, such a comparison is inevitable, and "Being" was so brilliant that the said comparison doesn't do "Cold Souls" any favor. While the story is solid and the cinematography is successful, the implication of the core premise is severely underdeveloped, and the one scene that is the potential highlight turns out to be a major let-down. (Something very similar happened in "Being John Malkovich" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," and both of those scenes were brilliant.)

So, thanks Paul... and sorry, Paul.

System Calibrated

While discussing my scoring systems with a friend, I realized that I had not been fully utilizing the scale of grades. Technically I graded the movies from D to A+, except I used both ends very sparingly, meaning that most movies were crowded around B and B+. I decided to "stretch out" the scale and essentially convert the old A- to A, and the old C+ to C. Here is the new system:

A+ : Exceptionally great movies, movies I absolutely love, best of the year or better.
A : Great movies that I absolutely recommend.
A- : Near-great movies with a few minor flaws, still highly recommend.
B+ : Good movies that are enjoyable, impressive and/or uniquely valuable.
B : Solid movies that pass the grade, worth seeing if it fits your taste.
B- : Just OK or so-so, with some clear flaws.
C+ : Not good, though there are one or two redeeming qualities.
C : My time would've been better spent elsewhere.
D : Gosh, why did I ever choose to see this??

SIFF Days 18-20: Reviews

Over the weekend, I was out of town for a nice break from movies. After coming back on Sunday night, I caught another movie and went right back into SIFF mode. One final week to go...

(500) Days of Summer (US) : A- (website)

Fans of clever romance movies rejoice! This one could be a new classic. Utilizing a successful non-linear time structure, this movie is full of genuine emotions and subtle humor, with stories and characters that are highly relatable. (According to director Marc Webb, some scenes and dialogues were lifted from the writers' own experiences.) The best thing about this movie is its rich visual language, with many creative storytelling devices put to great use.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (TV's "3rd Rock from the Sun," now all grown up) is highly impressive as the lovelorn Tom, while Zooey Deschanel embodies the charm of the title character rather perfectly. The soundtrack is also one to watch, following the tradition of "Garden State" and "Juno." Check out this movie in regular release later this summer!

Defamation (Israel) (Doc) : B+

A great documentary presents interesting opinions, raises challenging questions, and educates us on important topics. "Defamation" does all of those with ease and humor. While the movie talks about anti-semitism, it also serves as a discussion about dealing with the past. Do we continue to carry the burden from the past and let the negative events define us, or can we find a way to move on? With chilling quotes such as "never forgive, never forget," this movie will surely give you plenty to think about. For those who are familiar with the concept, it is all about the "victim mentality".

Krabat (Germany) : B

This is sort of a cross between "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter" - I dub it as "Fellowship of the Black Magic." Visually, the movie looks impressive even without being as flashy as those big-budget epics. More importantly, it has a solid story that integrates many significant themes and brings everything to a satisfying conclusion. Features a star-making turn for David Kross (the boy from "The Reader").

Hansel and Gretel (South Korea) : B

A dream-like fantasy, a Burton-esque world with children behaving like devils, and a revenge horror movie in disguise. While the movie feels a little drawn-out, and the insanity undertone gets a little too much for its own good, it is still an enjoyable ride that leaves a lasting impression.

The Paranoids (Argentina) : B

The opening shot of this movie shows a toy gorilla falling slow-motion in the woods. Like that opening, the movie is a little odd, yet oddly charming.

Fruit Fly (US) : B-

If you ever wondered what a low-budget indie gay musical would be like, this is it. Watching this movie is somewhat like watching a high school theater production. You could tear it to shreds if you want; or you could decide to be forgiving and just enjoy. The songs are smooth and catchy, the story is perfectly adequate, and the characters are not as cliched as you might fear. You would be hard-pressed not to groove along to campy numbers like "Public Transit" and "We Are the Hag." All in all, a commendable and adorable effort.

The Square (Australia) : C+

This is one of those stories where things keep going badly, until people start dying left and right. Would've been decent material for a black comedy. However, the movie is dead serious (no pun intended), which just makes it not believable and not enjoyable. I wasn't thrilled or touched, in fact I was a little bored. The dog thing is cute though.

SIFF Days 13-15: Reviews

Welcome (France) : A-

A touching story that addresses the illegal immigration issue, with strong performances from the lead actors.

Prodigal Sons (US) (Doc) : A-

Not the best-made documentary per se, yet this is simply too fascinating to miss. In fact, don't even read the synopsis if you haven't. Just watch everything unfold and be ready to react and to think.

True Adolescents (US) : B+

A 30-something slacker/loser/unlikeable character goes on a camping trip with two teenage boys who really dislike him. Tricky situation for sure, and writer/director Craig Johnson succeeded beautifully in constructing a story that's authentic, organic and touching. Features a great cast led by the great Mark Duplass. Mark Duplass rocks. Check him out also in "Humpday," another wonderful Seattle indie.

Swimsuit Issue (Sweden) : B+

Like a happy version of "The Full Monty," this movie rolls along at a brisk pace and entertains the audience from the beginning to the end, without ever getting too slapsticky (thankfully!).

Kabei - Our Mother (Japan) : B

This is the story of a woman's strength, set against a revealing look into the political oppression in Japan during WWII. The quiet and plain approach of the film is confidently effective, yet it leaves something to be desired by the end. Features a masterful performance by Sayuri Yoshinaga.

The Shaft (China) : C

I am disappointed that my loyalty to my home country cinema was not richly rewarded in this case. This is one of those Chinese movies where I watch one thing happen after another, and I keep wishing that the time was spent to advance the plot in more meaningful ways. This three-part movie tells the story of a family in a small mining town, and the challenges they each face as they struggle to define their future against their past. The three episodic stories are fairly compelling, yet the family connection between the characters are severely underutilized.

SIFF Day 12: Reviews

A Sea Change (Norway) (Doc) : A

Not only does this film deliver some incredibly important information regarding ocean acidification, it is done very effectively through Sven's personal messages and hopes for his grandchildren. It is shocking to realize that the situation might be so dire that a large number of ocean species may already be destined for extinction. Yet there is hope in that the technologies and resources are in fact readily available, and it's only a question of whether/when we will take actions. No matter how things turn out for our oceans and all the fishes in them, one thing is clear: We must all take serious responsibilities for the world we are creating, not in the far future, but in our children's and even our own lifetime. A must-see for citizens of earth.

Boy (Philippines) : B

Apparently, this movie was accepted into and then rejected from the Singapore International Film Festival, because it showed romantic love-making between two males. And romantic it is indeed, making great use of fish tanks as both visual and storytelling devices. The movie also offers an intriguing look into the macho dancer culture in the Philippines.

The Wedding Song (France) : B-