Stop the Violence

The Interrupters (2011)
Dir - Steve James
DIFF

My last film of DIFF 2011. I'd be sadder but I'm so elated that I don't have to see the damn pre-show reel again that it's almost unbearable.

This is my first Steve James film. No, I've never seen Hoop Dreams. I don't care for sports so watching a documentary all about basketball never really sounded appealing. However, I will definitely be checking out more of his work after seeing this wonderful documentary. It runs around two-and-a-half hours but never gets boring. Very serious and heartbreaking, though there are a few moments of laughter which is good when you are surrounded by such sadness. These people in the Ceasefire program are doing a good thing and really putting their necks on the line to try and stop the violence in Chicago. A great tale that I hope millions get to see.

Crazy Irish Cowboy

The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy (2011)
Dir - Tanner Beard
DIFF

Decided to check this out with Micah even though the screening was scheduled for 10p and I had to be up at 5a. Because of this, and an already present lack of sleep, I found it hard to focus on parts of this movie. Mostly due to the many story lines and not being sure what to follow more. In the end everything comes together and tells a pretty interesting story about a slaughter of some white man thieves by an indian tribe after they gave them "firewater" and got them trashed. This story is a bit small to encompass a full feature which is probably why they have so many other stories going at the same time. I was happy to see mention of the other legend that John Wilkes Booth fled to Grandbury, TX and lived there under an false identity. This is something I've heard about before but never seen it in a film.

An interesting film that fans of Texas history and/or westerns will surely enjoy.

Buttwhore

Wuss (2011)
Dir - Clay Liford
DIFF

I was a bit apprehensive about this after seeing Liford's last feature, Earthling, last year at DIFF. I didn't like it and was worried this would be another that would fall flat for me. Luckily it is not bad at all, but I didn't love it. Overall I feel pretty indifferent towards this. There are some very funny moments and a couple of really good performances but there are quite a few scenes that go on a bit too long and go nowhere. Most anytime the main character, Mitch, is with his friends or dealing with his physically/mentally abusive older sister. This probably won't get a wide release but if it ever comes to DVD it's worth a rent.

German TV Be Crazy!

She Deserved It, aka Sie hat es verdient (2010)
Dir - Thomas Stiller
DIFF

If Lifetime Movies in the US were more like this they would probably have a lot more viewers. This film dealing with bullying and inspired by some real life events. It never really pulls any punches and goes to dark, depressing places. Unfortunately it does share some of the problems with Lifetime Movies. I really wish more of the story would have been explored than they did. This film also jumps around out-of-order, but unlike in the previous film I watched, it's not really necessary here.

Even though there is a lot wrong with this I still really found it to be good. I'm not sure if I know how to explain why I liked it even with all of its flaws, but I did. Maybe you'll get a chance to see it someday.

I just know between this and Miike's Visitor Q the rest of the world has much better TV.

Psychos in Love

Apart (2011)
Dir - Aaron Rottinghaus
DIFF

The joy of film festivals is going into something blind and being pleasantly surprised. This is an independent film from a first time feature director that was shot primarily in a smaller town outside of Houston. You couldn't really tell that the budget was limited because everything about this was so well made. Shot beautifully, wonderfully acted and a tight script. It's told in a disjointed, non-linear fashion (think Memento) that doesn't get confusing but adds a lot to the film's mystery. Hope this gets a wider release because I think a lot of people will really like what they see.

Oh, and gotta love that Joey Lauren Adams gets big billing when she's only in the film for about 5 minutes.

Not Your Typical Sci-Fi

By Day and By Night, aka De Dia y De Noche (2010)
Dir - Alejandro Molina
DIFF

Saw this in the program and thought that I'd like to give a Mexican sci-fi film a shot. As it turns out, this is more of a drama set on the sci-fi backdrop of a future society. This film is very slow and quite boring at times but the ideas behind the film - all the way up to the ending - are quite good. I wish I liked this more. Maybe if it were a short it wouldn't be such a struggle.

In the Nuthouse

The Ward (2010)
Dir - John Carpenter
DIFF

I heard bad things about this from many people after seeing it at other festivals so I went in with low expectations. While I left not disliking the film I didn't really find anything remarkable about it either. The film is just kind of... there. A lot of slow bits and nothing really engaged me.

Huh?

The Oregonian (2011)
Dir - Calvin Lee Reeder
DIFF

This was the one midnight film, out of only three, that I knew nothing about. Turns out it's an experimental surreal flick about a woman lost in the woods. It's a little unsettling at times, due to the shaky camerawork and grating sounds, and even funny others. This is not the best surreal feature I've seen but it definitely has some good things to offer the viewer. Would probably have made a very interesting short.

Send in the Clowns

The Last Circus, aka Balada triste de trompeta (2010)
Dir - Álex de la Iglesia
DIFF


Saw this at Fantastic Fest and it was one of my top five of the festival. I loved it even more after this viewing. Beautifully shot and it's a wonderfully crazy tale that I hope more people get to see very soon.


A full review will be up on Gordon and the Whale soon. 

Très Bien!

Potiche, aka Trophy Wife (2010)
Dir - François Ozon
DIFF


I haven't seen all of Ozon's films but everything I have watched, I've liked. This is no exception. A very funny tale, adapted from a play, with strong performances all around. Music plays a rather large role with a couple of "musical numbers" and the score has an awesome sound to it as well. Very 70s.

Education is Key

Zero Percent (2010)
Dir - Tim Skousen
DIFF

This doc follows a few of the inmates in Sing Sing maximum security prison as they try to earn a college degree. State funding has been stripped away from higher education to those incarcerated so a group, Hudson Link, works with Mercy College and private donations to help those behind bars better themselves so they are ready to become a more productive member of society upon release. Most long term prisoners will soon return to the big house within a couple years of parole but that has not been the case with the over 200 who have graduated from this program. Helping to broaden their minds is not a hopeless cause like some would believe but have given these men hope and a real shot at a second chance.

Elmo Loves You

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (2011)
Dir - Constance Marks
DIFF

LOVED this! I was never a huge Elmo fan, he a was a little after my Sesame Street time and I'm a diehard Grover fanatic, but this sheds a light on the man behind the muppet and Elmo's deserved role in the hearts of children the world over. Inspiring, touching, funny and heartwarming.

Is Print Media Dead?

Page One: A Year Inside The New York Times (2011)
Dir - Andrew Rossi
DIFF

I'm not a newspaper subscriber, nor have I ever been, but I have read many a black and white over the years. Most of the time I read my news online but the fact that all of these print media outlets are going under is really sad. I do love tangible things - books, magazines, DVDs/Blus - so another experience going away reminds me how close we are to most all physical media disappearing. This film takes you into the newsroom and you see what The New York Times is doing right in this world of new media in order to stay relevant. There are sad times, good times and many laugh out loud moments. Times reporter David Carr is hysterical and I want more of him!

For Love or Money

Lucky (2010)
Dir - Gil Cates, Jr.
DIFF

My first film of the Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) 2011 and it was a good pick. This is darkly comic and supplies plenty of laughs. Great surprise to see Jeffery Tambor and I knew the lead girl, Ari Gaynor, looked familiar but I couldn't place it until after the film. She plays Olivia's (Anna Torv's) sister on the super awesome show Fringe! Had I realized this when I was standing next to her in the press room earlier I would have definitely said something and probably acted like a fool. Guess it's better I didn't know.