SIFF Day 16 (Jun 3): Hollywood vs. Independent

My plan was to catch the French RomCom "The Names of Love" at Pacific Place, 1:30pm, and then take a break for the next timeslot. To my surprise, the show was sold out! I took advantage of this unexpected break from SIFF to catch up on two recent Hollywood hits. Then it was back to SIFF with two foreign (English-language) independent films. It was quite fascinating to experience the contrast of Hollywood vs. independent in one day. Score-wise, things evened out pretty well. I will expand on that comparison later; for now just the quick reviews, since I desperately need to catch some sleep before heading to movies again!

(Non-SIFF) Thor - B+

Kenneth Branagh instills a sense of gravity and regality to this decidedly Hollywood story, which is actually refreshing in this day and age when most superhero movies seem obligated to include irreverent comic reliefs. Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman nicely embody the charisma of their characters - In this case it's more about being a movie star than being a fine actor.

(Non-SIFF) Bridesmaids - B+

After a barrage of crazy antics and gross humor - which is not really my thing - the second half of the film settles into a new focus on emotions and introspection, bringing the story out of pure cliches and into a surprising place of heartfelt connection.

Weekend (UK) - A-

I don't know if director Andrew Haigh set out to make a gay version of "Before Sunrise," but either way he definitely succeeded in that regard (which is high compliment in my book!). Following two newly acquainted men through a weekend, with one of them set to leave the country on Sunday, "Weekend" is a rare gem that is a great gay film as well as a great romance film. Once the characters and plot progression settle into place, the film rolls on with remarkable authenticity and intelligence. The dialogues and conflicts feel incredibly real, which is of course enhanced by the palpable chemistry between the two leads (Haigh auditioned over 60 actors before making the pick). Sealing the deal is a wonderful ending, again reminiscent of "Before Sunrise," and again very authentic. I didn't care for the gratuitous and liberal inclusion of alcohol and drug use; I felt that they were mostly irrelevant to the story. But by the same token, since they were mostly irrelevant, they didn't cause much harm either.

Me with director Andrew Haigh

Small Town Murder Songs (Canada) - B-

The true stars here are the songs, gospel-rock concoctions by the band Bruce Peninsula that punctuate key scenes throughout the film. Another device, religious quotes in huge fonts serving as "chapter markers," seems less effective. The rest of the film, though solidly directed and acted, is perhaps more lightweight than the premise implies. I craved something stronger from the story.

Director Ed Gass-Donnelly answering questions