Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
I saw the film that won the Grand Prize at this festival, and I thought it was insanely boring and ultimately pointless, featuring a charisma-free lead performance. I’m shocked to see how well it did here.
Hi Harry
I had the honor, a few weeks ago, to publish here the first review for “Blueberry”-and by the way, I have now seen the movie a second time, and met with the incredibly-nice-and-available-director Jan Kounen on a debate he did four nights in a row in selected theatres; and “Blueberry”, though it didn’t get the box office success it deserves, definitely hold a very special place in my heart. Now enough with this, I am here today to talk about the Paris film festival that took place from March 30th to today April 6th.
I had the opportunity to see a few good or interesting (or both) movies and I thought I’d share some of my comments, in case you have the chance to see some of them (or maybe already have).
One of the focus of the festival this year was a tribute to Outfest (Gay and Lesbian Film Festival) with the screenings of some good movies, including “Goldfish Memory” and “La confusion des genres”; and an interesting U.F.O, “Trembling before G-d”.
Goldfish Memory by Liz Gill with Sean Campion and Flora Montgomery is an Irish sex comedy. The plot is somewhat similar to “Melrose Place”, only way better. As the tag line says “the only cure to heartache is a new lover”, so the group of characters spends the movie exploring the many dating possibilities of modern Dublin.
The end result will certainly not revolutionize cinema, but the movie is light, pleasant, funny and supported by a delightful cast of unknowns (with a special distinction for Sean Campion).
La confusion des genres by Ilan Duran Cohen with Pascal Greggory, Nathalie Richard, Julie Gayet, Alain Bashung, Cyrille Thouvenin is a great movie, one of my favourites from the festival. The main character, played by Pascal Greggory (an amazing actor that no one knows in France except for hard-core film buffs), is a bisexual lawyer who wants to marry his colleague, Laurence, but also sleeps with one of his former lover’s younger brother, Christophe, and is attracted to Marc, one of his clients (in prison for murder), and his ex-girlfriend Babette , a hair-dresser.
The plot summary can’t really express how great this movie is. The cast is flawless, but the key, in my mind, is the tone of the movie, and the way the characters deal and talk about sex and their confusion towards their feelings. Very genuine and at times hilarious, this is a gem.
Trembling before G-d by Sandi Simcha DuBowski
Still in the Outfest section, this documentary deals with a group of gay Orthodox Jews who struggle to reconcile their faith and their sexual orientation.
This is an unusual but interesting subject and the stories told by this group of people are sometimes really overwhelming. Two bad the director sometimes overdoes the “shadow show” trick. And it certainly would have helped to have more background on the Jewish religion, quite obscure for the average atheist like me; which is too bad because it restricts the potential audience considerably.
The second focus of this year’s film festival was documentaries. In addition to “Trembling before G-d”, three more were on the program. Unfortunately, the biggest attraction for me, “Capturing the Friedmans”, was cancelled at the last minute (but it’s released today in theatres so I’ll definitely catch it).
So there were too more documentaries, both good, one being even my favourite movie of the festival.
First, “Bright Leaves”, by Ross McElwee, is a fun documentary which isn’t about anything really, but manages, in its clearly unmethodical and sometimes erratic way, to talk about very deep and fascinating subjects. In this documentary, McElwee travels back to his native North Carolina and draws a subtle picture of the social, economical and psychological environment of tobacco in this state. With simple touches, he grasps the amazing influence that the culture of tobacco has on this region. The quality of the movie isn’t consistent, but it’s always authentic. It also deals with cinema and the director’s disproportionate love for one movie in particular, “Bright Leaf” (with Gary Cooper, Lauren Bacall and Patricia Neal), that Ross McElwee is obsessed for quite a good reason, Gary Cooper’s character may have been based on McElwee’s own grandfather, an unfortunate tobacco manufacturer who lost his fortune to the Duke clan. All and all, not a masterpiece, but a fun and entertaining movie.
Now for my favourite of the festival, “The other final” by Johan Kramer, is a documentary about soccer. For the record, I personally hate soccer. But as the title explains, this is not about a huge game between, say, Brazil and Germany, but “the other final”, organized on the same day (for the last world cup in 2002), and on the same continent, but between the two worst countries of the FIFA : Bhutan (n° 202) and Montserrat (n°203). The director, Johan Kramer, had this idea after the painful elimination of his own team, the Netherlands.
Hilarious, entertaining, exotic (if only for one reason: who the hell knows where Bhutan and Montserrat are? Well, I didn’t) and finally, moving, this gem brings soccer back to where it started, far from the glamour and money of big countries : to the communion of two countries and two people for the simple love of the game. It would almost make me love this sport. Almost.
If I was in charge of giving out awards, I definitely would have given the top prizes to the three following movies:
Hypnotic/Doctor Sleep by Nick Willing with Goran Visnjic and Miranda Otto is a non-teen horror movie. While treating a homicide detective for smoking, hypnotherapist Michael Strother has a telepathic vision of a young girl floating beneath the surface of a stream. The escaped victim of a ritualistic serial killer, the girl has become mute, and Michael is called upon by Scotland Yard to unlock the secrets she holds in order to catch a man who believes he has discovered the key to immortality.
The script, co-written by Willing and William Brookfield but based on a novel, is surprisingly good and Willing shows great skill in keeping the suspense up during the whole movie.
There are some pretty scary moments, that apparently scared the shit out of some members of the audience, who started screaming, which actually increased my own nervousness.
Of course, like in all horror movies, the story is not really believable, but as the writer said during the Q & A, as someone asked him if he thought something like that could happen, “I think that some people think it could happen” which is a good definition of a horror movie: the point is to convince the audience that the story is believable, even if it’s not.
Goran Visnjic delivers a fine performance and Miranda Otto, in her pre-Lord of the rings career, is as good as her character is boring. All and all, a good effective thriller/horror movie. Don’t like the title though : “Doctor Sleep”? What the hell?
Happy hour by Mike Bencivenga with Anthony La Paglia, Eric Stoltz, Caroleen Feeney
Set in present day New York City, "Happy Hour" is the story of a friendship between a once promising writer now alcoholic (LaPaglia), the young friend who idolizes him (Stoltz) and the woman (Feeney) who comes to love him.
This movie probably moved me more than all the others combined (except maybe for “The other final”). I should specify that I really love Eric Stoltz, such an interesting actor. Anthony La Paglia is really great in the movie, and so is newcomer (though she’s made a number of movies, I had never heard of her before) Caroleen Feeney. “Happy hour” is a tragicomedy, as tragic as it is funny, as moving as it is authentic. The characters are interesting and touching, the dialogues are witty, the script is well-written, and above all, “Happy hour” deals with my two favourite subjects in the world as far as movies are concerned: friendship and writing. (Well, alcoholism as well, in its unglamorous realistic way). When I clapped at the end (as it is the custom during festivals) I actually meant it… “Happy hour” is a beauty, unpolished but true. I’d take a second round any time.
Rhinoceros Eyes by Aaron Woodley with Michael Pitt, Paige Turco, Gale Harold
“Rhinoceros eyes”, at times, made me think of a Tim Burton movie on acid. Some of the visions the main character experiences are certainly very burtonian, and Woodley apparently also shares Burton’s love for outcasts. “Rhinoceros Eyes” is a coming-of-age story revolving around Chep (Michael Pitt), a young, reclusive prop-house employee who falls in love with a detail-obsessed movie production designer named Fran (Paige Turco).
Fran's need for authentic props sends Chep to great and questionable lengths as he tries to satisfy her requests, and ultimately...win her heart. At least, that’s what the imdb summary says. The end result is way weirder, given that Chep starts to be overwhelmed by visions in which some of the props come to life and take control over him. The U-turn the movie takes in the second part toward hallucinations is a chaotic one, and it doesn’t always work. Actually, I personally think it would have been more interesting to focus on the relationship between Chep and Fran and his inability to connect with the real world, leading him to confuse fantasy (here, a specific film) and reality. But Michael Pitt, in a DiCaprio-in-Gilbert-Grape mixed with Johnny-Depp-in-Edward-Scissorhands turn, is so good that the movie’s small flaws are soon forgiven. “Rhinoceros Eyes” is also the funniest movie I’ve seen in a while, particularly thanks to the hilarious sub-story of Chep’s boss’s crusades against apes (or, in this case, four guys dressed as apes on Halloween with which Chep’s boss and colleagues have a fight in a bar). This sub-story kind of leaves behind the Tim Burton connection into a more Monty Pythonesque world. In a nutshell, “Rhinoceros Eyes” is a UFO, very hard to review, but definitely worth watching.
And now a word from our sponsors… well, no, actually, a word from my roommate, who apparently was pretty impressed by a movie I myself did not see (I have to level with you :I was too busy watching the French version of “American Idol”, and, yes, I sound how sad this sounds).
Spring, summer, fall, winter….and spring by Ki-du Kim with Oh Young-Su, Kim Ki Ki-duk
A wooden house in the middle of a lake, in the bottom of a valley, a door in the middle of a room and no walls. A cathartic journey for the spectator who has to strip off of any trace of civilization: noise, crowd and consumption. A cathartic journey for the pupil who lives with his master, and experiences natural life, until a young girl is brought to the master to be cured.
A philosophical tale out of space and out of time, strengthened by a poetical depth and some humorous notes among few dialogs, leaving situations speak for themselves, to the rhythm of the seasons, following one another, like periods of life. Spectacular pictures.
Back to me, to finish, a few words about other (in my opinion) more modest pictures…
THE GOOD INTENTIONS BUT DOES NOT QUITE CUT IT IN THE END AWARD
The wooden camera by Ntshavheni Wa Luruli with Junior Singo, Dana de Agrella, Lisa Petersen, Jean-Pierre Cassel
This moving tale of a south African boy living in the Pretoria ghetto starts very well, and says some interesting things about this country, but lacks the impact of, say, a “City of God” (though this one is about Brazil). The point the director tries to make about racism is somewhat conventional, and the movie will probably attract only the fans of Jean-Pierre Cassel, in a small part.
THE DEPRESSING BUT PROMISING AWARD
Les corps impatients by Xavier Giannoli with Laura Smet, Nicolas Duchauvelle, Marie Denarnaud is the story of Charlotte and Paul, two 20 year-old in love, who find out that Charlotte is dying. Paul is conflicted between is love for Charlotte and his attraction to her childhood friend, Ninon. The three start an intense and deadly relationship…
I’m not much for movies about cancer or other horribly depressing diseases. The directors tend to manipulate the viewers’ feelings and I’m never comfortable with that. Though “Les corps impatients” deals with death, it avoids this manipulation and focuses on the three characters and the way they use sex to escape an inevitable death. The three actors are so amazing and good looking it should be illegal. Though everyone in France talked about Laura Smet, who plays Charlotte, because her mother is Nathalie Baye (quite a famous actress here) and his father no other than Johnny Hallyday (most famous singer in France); I was personally as impressed by the other two, who show a great potential.
THE BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES NEW ZEALAND CINEMA NOW AWARD
For good by Stuart McKenzie with Michelle Langstone, Tim Balme, Miranda Harcourt
Stuart McKenzie worked with Jane Campion on the script for “In the cut”. Knowing that, it’s impossible not to see the strong similarities between “In the cut” and “For good”. They both deal with the major character (a woman) finding herself attracted to a murderer (or, in the case of “In the cut”, someone who might be a murderer). Here, Lisa, ten years after the murder of a girl she once knew, decides to interview the girl’s killer a few day before he’s granted parole. She finds herself torn between her attraction for this man and her feelings of guilt towards the dead girl. The movie is not entirely successful (I personally don’t like the ending) but the psychological element is really subtle and genuine and the cast is very good as well. I think we should watch out for Stuart McKenzie in the future. Is he the next Peter Jackson? Probably not, but there’s potential.
THE MARC BLUCAS IS IN IT, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT ? AWARD
I capture the castle by Tim Fywell with Tara Fitzgerald, Rose Byrne, Bill Nighy, Marc Blucas, Henry Thomas.
Well, Bill Nighy (the only great thing about “Love actually”) and Rose Byrne are really great, but “I capture the castle” (terrible title) has not much to offer besides that. Well crafted, but pretty boring. And for those who wondered, I don’t hold any particular grudge against Marc Blucas, I just hated the character he played in “Buffy the vampire slayer” so I can’t really be unbiased about him.
And that’s it for the Paris film festival. Sadly, it’s now back to real life for me…
If you publish this call me Mimile
P.S. By the way, the results are out: the jury awarded the Grand Prix to “Hypnotic” (Doctor Sleep) as well as the best actor prize for Goran Visnjic (who I would love even more if I could actually spell his name, let alone pronounce it correctly). Good choice, I must say.
Again... really? Seriously? This film won top prizes at a festival? I think Euro-Clooney is a blank, and I don’t get the love for this particular dreary thriller-without-thrills. Some other stuff in that list sounded much more interesting...
|
