2005 Foreign, Alternative and Independent Films (1 Viewer)

[Adam_S]

Green Street Hooligans - :star::star::star:

Good film with a problematic voiceover and silly/unnecessary bookends. It also falls apart when it decides to shoehorn some melodrama into the third act (actually anytime before that when the brooding friend goes off to go brooding), abandoning the anarchy it had been embracing until then. Still an enjoyable film but riddled with problems somewhat easy to overlook


Loggerheads - :star::star:1/2

film with Bonnie Hunt (based on a true story) that's not sure if it's an art film, a family movie, a gay film, or a Lifetime movie. We get three narrative threads to follow in this film, and the only clue towards how they might possibly intersect is some background radio noise in the first act. The main one is a gay homeless wanderer attractive 20-something dying of AIDS--he's come because of the Loggerhead turtles at this particular north carolina beach. The second is his birth mother, who is finally deciding to try to find her child. The third is his adoptive mother and her attempts to reconcile his gayness with his personhood (or something).

The film is quite nice except that the adoptive parents come across as failed simpsons/family guy stereotypes that were written by writers people who are bitter and resentful of their parents. Bonnie Hunt's character (of the birth mother) is exceptional, she does a wonderful job of making the movie more than watchable. The main story is really the least interesting and has a needless if tasteful sex scene.

Too haphazard and uneven to really warrent a strong recommendation but it is well made with strong performances.

Everything is Illuminated - :star::star::star::star:

Elegant.

That's the best word for this skillful adaptation that synthesizes the core of what drove the book's narrative, resulting in a separate (and nearly equal) satisfaction and catharsis well earned. I think bookreaders will get slightly more out of the film and be slightly disapointed with it as well, but it's a relatively even tradeoff.

The boy who plays Alex was outstanding in his role. Elijah Wood did an adequete job of standing and watching, but his character had nothing to do. There's a final coda to the film that captures the spirit of what the book did with its narrative in a unique and perfectly appropriate way to the film medium. The Grandfather was exceptionally well handled and Sammy Davis Jr.Jr. stole the show.

The production design was excellent and the cinematography a joy to observe. Just a powerful and excellent piece of understated filmmaking all the way around. It won't blow you away or change your life, but it'll remind you something about humanness and perhaps gently prod your heart.

 

[Dave Hackman]

The Memory of a Killer

Angelo Ledda an aging hitman suffering from Alzheimer’s writes on his arm things to remember but when it comes to killing young kids even he remembers that is not allowed. Disgusted by his latest clients’ involvement with minors and their reaction to his unwillingness to complete his assignment, Ledda sets out to expose these untouchables by obtaining recorded proof and delivering two bullets to the chest and one to the head to those involved. As an insurance policy Ledda gives tips to a team of investigators and strings them along just incase he forgets to complete his task.

This is Leon when he is about 60. He’s still good at his job but a bit grayer and heavier. It’s nice to see an older person kicking butt. Grandpa gets around better then Steven Seagal as if that was much of an accomplishment and gets it on with a prostitute who is ½ his age though I doubt he will remember and I know she wont.

The story is never compromised and uses its entire 2 hours to give the viewer time to develop a fondness toward Angelo the hitman Ledda and Eric Vincke the lead investigator.

This is a good movie worth seeing and the subtitles were easy to see except during the shower scene when my eyes were unwilling to locate them.

B+

 

[Dave Hackman]

Good Night, and Good Luck.

Wow, this film is absolutely gorgeous. The colors are outstanding in the way they pop off the screen. Hold on that’s after Turner broadcasting gets a hold of it because this sucker is in B/W.

The star of this movie is without a doubt the cigarettes because they are everywhere in burning glory. These were the days when a glass of scotch and a cigarette where a reward for just waking up in the morning let alone a stressful situation such as being labeled a communist.

This story revolves around a CBS television broadcast team of reporters anchored by journalist Edward R. Murrow and their controversial decision to report on their weekly news show (See it Now) a couple of incidents where American citizens are being accused of having communist ties without substantial proof. This leads to a showdown between Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin.

This movie has excellent performances by all especially David Strathairn who plays Edward R. Murrow. George Clooney is the director and plays Fred Friendly the TV producer. Robert Downey Jr. plays Joe Wershba and Patricia Clarkson plays his company policy-violating wife Shirley.

This is a good film that doesn’t have any fat to get bored with and whips through the story effectively with top-notch performances. My only complaint is that it felt a tad short and I wasn’t ready for it to end.

A