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.