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All I Want (2017)
an interesting look at 'consciously uncoupling'
Expectations, conventions and...friends. When a married couple decides to separate, mutual friends can often be a casualty in proceedings, having to choose sides somehow. This deftly directed film offers an alternative vision: it weaves the closely-entwined threads of friendship within a group of longtime pals into a touching portmanteau that reflects on personal courage and possibilities pre- and post-breakup. The wonderful ensemble cast go a long way in carrying the argument that, indeed, breaking up doesn't have to be a zero-sum game. Catch this movie for a bittersweet yet hopeful take on moving on when a relationship has run out of road.
Love Is Not Enough (2019)
You'll be immersed in these characters' world
Love is not enough - always a catchy premise. This movie didn't disappoint with its deft explorations of a totally relatable modern dilemma. Great Saturday afternoon viewing for me. Lost myself in the world of young American college grads from Detroit looking to navigate financial and personal relationships in a capitalist society. So funny in good unexpected ways - love the script. An enjoyable indie comedy by Shawn Woodard that's worth watching!
8 Remains (2018)
Interesting feminist revenge / redemption flick
The female protagonist undergoes a journey of self-awareness and transformation through a time-travel plot. The film gathers emotional strength in the second half when story strands and characters come together in the film's resolution. While not immediately obvious at first glance, it seems like the film narrative is channelling a composite of female experiences at the hands of an emotionally manipulative man, and is arguably a feminist revenge / redemption flick with supernatural twists and turns. Juliane Block's '8 Remains' has really lovely visuals and special effects and I particularly like the graphics accompanying end-credits.
Dirty Beautiful (2015)
Boy meets girl...at an intersection
Tim Bartell's 'Dirty Beautiful' is a charming indie film that has the bonus of being edited by Daniel Raim. I wasn't sure about the film's beginning, but then 'Dirty Beautiful' dug its heels in and through a tightening narrative managed to really engage emotionally and convey its sweet heartwarming spirit. There seems to be a yearning in the filmmaker's vision to see through a caring but dysfunctional relationship, and this kind of relatability to real life may provoke some viewers to actually ask themselves, if caught in such a scenario: should I stay or should I go? Watch and find out!
We'll Test It on Humans (2016)
Hilarious
What a hoot of a comedy. Good fun. Watch this for something a bit different!
The Evil Down the Street (2019)
Suspenseful!
The Evil Down the Street has the true sensibility of the horror film genre, and offers viewers a genuinely suspenseful ride. It's a pity the ending came abruptly, missing maybe just a beat or two, although there's a lovely circularity in the final shot with the opening scene. The mixed acting quality compromised the film's potential, but Tara Milante who plays elder daughter Kristen is very engaging in her role and lends a strong relatable quality to the family story at the core of this film.
Love All You Have Left (2017)
Eloquent exploration of grief
Caroline Amiguet carries the film with a strong emotional authenticity in her role as the grieving mother of a much-loved child who is killed in a school shooting. The opening sequence is remarkable for its efficacy in packing in joy, loss, grief and unspoken tragedy through a series of wonderfully conceived shots. The film has a very original premise that connects two otherwise seemingly unrelated characters and worlds in order to explore the philosophy of loss. This could have become unwieldy in execution but instead the film delivers an assured narrative that is both heartwarming and eloquent. Please do watch. The film offers such food for thought.
Ekaj (2015)
A film about lost souls and redemption
Ekaj is a film that embraces the cinema of naturalism, and puts the audience right in the moment with the actors -- to great effect. In contrast to the current blaze of Hollywood's superhero movies, this film offers a grittier glimpse of the superhero we all have to be in the everyday, as we battle issues of the self manifested in many forms, sometimes tragic. The script and edit, pared down to essential staccato points that are however clever and artistic, help the film convey its compassionate heartbeat as we follow the main character's journey from darkness to light. Well-directed and filmed. Kudos to principal actors Jake Mestra and Badd Idea for delivering the semi-documentary feel. Be inspired by this film's gentle encouragement and reflections on self-worth and second chances.
Purdah (2018)
A sensitive look behind the veil of conservatism
With intimate access, Purdah captures the complexities of a Muslim Indian family's life, with a sensitivity that comes from true insight into the examined society that is the backdrop of this film. Set in this decade, the film leads us into the Mirza family's individual dreams - and constraints - through the middle daughter's abiding passion for playing cricket. From there, the dynamics between religious/social conservatism, intrinsic personalities and various professional goals within the family play out. There is an unexpected transformation of family fortunes. The film enables us to relate emotionally as each family member - with a focus on the girls - seeks to bridge their religion and their reality. Poignantly, there is a sense of deeper pain left unsaid as the family charts its course between modernity and tradition. The excellent editing, music and sound design deserve special mention. A film worth watching!
Chasing the Win (2016)
Fascinating insider coverage of the highs and lows of premier horse-racing
I enjoyed watching this documentary about the high-stakes dreams of a horse-racing team playing in the big league....riding on the supposed skills of an untested horse trainer and a gelding with personality and spirit. The film is gripping both in pace, narrative and insights into a world closed off to most of us. The multi-year footage is well-edited and critically, reflects intimate access to the principals and the field of premier horse-racing. As a horse-lover, I am also very taken with the equine star, Kinsale King, whose charm comes through on-screen. The documentary is not just about money at stake. A heartwarming film very much worth watching even if you aren't into racing - through this film, you soon will be.
Stadium Anthems (2018)
Enjoyable - worth watching more than once
Stadium Anthems takes a familiar subject - the state and fate of the Western music recording industry - and updates the analysis with an original creative vision, a searing tone and a #MeToo heart at its core. The film offers a commentary on both old and new forces at play: the hedonism of the largely male music gods tending to their "sexual ecosystem"; the auto-cue that facilitates mediocre artists; seductions of sensationalist culture; disruptive technology and online music streaming that confronts industry players with cheaper and wider competition; and the eternal struggle between 'commerce' and 'art'.
The script's visceral tone suggests a highly personal take on the development of the mainstream music industry. Indeed, a wonderful surprise at end-credits reveals that writer-director Scott Douglas Brown and the cast variously penned and performed the many original songs in the film; this is film that comes from the inside out.
The film's pulse, then, is vibrant, and also urgent. To the unprepared viewer, the quirky Stadium Anthems at first glance seems open to accusations of trying too hard on gags, but is in fact a sincere and intelligently designed story. Such is the gripping pace and plot craft that smartphone distractions need not apply. There are a couple of unexpected shapeshifter characters who at film's end delivers Stadium Anthems' own vision of hope for art and the music industry...in heartwarming fashion. Go give this film a good long chance.