Secret Festival #1 (Country?) year? ****
I can't tell you what film we saw because I signed an oath of secrecy. But I can tell you that this movie made up for how completely crappy secret festival was last year. During the introduction Carl Spence promised us that this year's secret festival would be great. I sure hope the next three weeks are as good as this one.

Are hints against the oath of secrecy? Hint: It is a remake and in some respects is better than the original. That's vague enough, yeah?

Elegy (USA) 2007 ****
Based on the novella The Dying Animal by Philip Roth, it stars Ben Kingsley in a subtle yet stunning performance of a man who has never allowed himself to love and yet he fears the loneliness of old age. The film also stars Dennis Hopper as his best friend, Peter Sarsgaard as his estranged son, Patricia Clarkson as his long time casual girlfriend and Penelope Cruz as the woman who opens his heart. The story was engaging with a powerful and emotional ending. The directing was assured and the acting was great, particularly Ben Kingsley's masterful performance.

Elegy was followed by a tribute to Sir Ben Kingsley. He was awarded a Golden Space Needle award for outstanding achievement in acting. The award was designed by local glass artist Dale Chihuly (who also designed last year's award to Sir Anthony Hopkins). Artistic director, Carl Spence and Managing director, Deborah Person presented the award prior to the screening of Elegy.

After the screening, Sir Ben sat down for a Q&A and several clip packages were shown of his career. The best was the first set. It started with Ghandi being all saintly followed by a clip from Sexy Beast with Don Logan being all foul mouthed and psychotic. Genius!

They talked about Elegy since the audience had just watched it. Kingsley told us that he liked the fact that director Isabel Coixet operated the camera herself and watched the performances through the lens rather than disappearing behind the monitors as most directors do these days.

He talked about how he got the part of Ghandi. Richard Attenborough called him out of the blue while he was changing costumes backstage during the David Edgar production of Nicholas Nickleby. He had to go for a screen test but Attenborough offered him the part when he saw Kingsley with costume and make-up preparing to do his screen test. After Ben accepted the part, "Dicky" Attenborough still made him do the screen test.

Sir Ben was gracious and charming and thanked the audience profusely. steve98052 posted some photos here if you're interested. Also, I sincerely hope that this story is true. Thanks, ptousig, for posting that apocryphal 100 percent accurate rumor.

It Always Rains on Sunday (UK) 1947 *****
This archival offering is an Ealing Studios drama set in post WWII London. The story follows a cast of characters during one day in the East End. The main story concerns an escaped convict who seeks refuge with his former fiance who has since married a dependable yet boring man. Criminals and coppers, lovers and cheating husbands also populate this world. The story is dark and cynical and is therefore very good in my estimation. A classic.

Dream Boy (USA) 2007 ***
Gay coming of age story that turns into a romance, then turns tragic and then misses a turn and gets lost in a ghost story. Well, okay, then. Based on a novel of the same name by Jim Grimsley, the film actually follows the book fairly accurately. The acting and directing are solid.

Total Movies seen: 18
Total Bags of Popcorn consumed: One

*= Unclean, unclean
**= Crap, but doesn't make your eyes bleed
***= Watchable to good
****= Great
*****= Masterpiece/Classic

Tags: movies, siff 2008

Yesterday was a very, very good day of movies. We saw some real winners, which means I don't even mind that my backside is already starting to get sore from sitting in movie theaters all day.

Two posts in one day means I get caught up. Go me!

Terra (USA) 2007 ****
Computer animated film with a "message" that free will must be exercised in order to achieve peace and individuals questioning authority are necessary in order to build a better society. But forget about the message, this movie has a great story and beautiful animation with an all star voice cast including James Garner, Evan Rachel Wood, Luke Wilson, and the always hilarious David Cross (even when he's just an animated robot).

Heartbeat Detector (France) 2007 ***1/2
Adaptation of François Emmanuel's "La Question Humaine"- The film follows Simon (Mathieu Amalric), who enjoys his work as a corporate psychologist weeding out all of the "undesirable" employees. He is assigned to investigate the mental status of the company's CEO who seems to have become unstable. Simon's life slowly begins to deteriorate as his investigation uncovers the company's dark role in WWII.

Simon becomes haunted with the truths he uncovers and he must ask himself, "What is more important the institution or humanity?" This film features a strong performance from Amalric and the story is engrossing and well done. However, just shy of 2 and 1/2 hours, the movie seemed overlong and could have used some editing.

The Wrecking Crew (USA) 2008 *****
"The Wrecking Crew" was the name given to a loose group of about 20 to 30 studio musicians used in the LA recording industry during the 1960's. They recorded more number one singles than the Beatles. They cut records with Elvis Presley, Herb Alpert, the Beach Boys, Sonny and Cher, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Phil Spector and the Wall of Sound, and the Monkees among many others. The film asserts that they provided "the soundtrack to our lives".

This documentary was made by Denny Tedesco the son of one of the most famous of The Wrecking Crew, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, who passed away in 1997. The director has assembled interviews with many of the living members: bass player Carol Kaye, Glen Campbell, drummer Earl Palmer, and Hal Blaine to name a few. The filmmaker provides personal footage of his dad that he filmed and a conversation with four of the wrecking crew, including his father. Then there are interviews with other musicians talking about the crew like Monkee, Mickey Dolenz who admits he never thought of himself as a musician. He approached the Monkees as an actor. And Nancy Sinatra talks about the recording of "These Boots are Made for Walking". Of course, the soundtrack of the film provides lots of great old tunes from the 1960's.

Ultimately, it's just musicians reminiscing about their music and their lives. I loved it.

Sita Sings the Blues (USA) 2007 *****
Brilliant, and I do mean brilliant animated film. Do not miss this one. In 2002, cartoonist Nina Paley was dumped by her husband in an email. Inspired by her break-up she made this movie. Based on the Indian story, the Ramayana, it is about the suffering of Sita who "loves her man" , Rama, in spite of his ill treatment of her. The animation is gorgeous, the script provides lots of laughs, and the music is wonderful. Interspersed throughout the film, Sita sings the blues- voiced by jazz great Annette Hanshaw. This movie is pure genius.


Cafe de los Maestros (Argentina/USA/Brazil) 2008 ****
Documentary about Tango music, the filmmaker interviews legendary Tango musicians, singers and composers who reminisce about the golden age of the Tango. Some are working on reconstructing old classics that were never before written down, others are recording and they are all rehearsing. The film culminates with a concert honoring the Tango at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. Great music. Well done doc.

Total Movies seen: 23
Total Bags of Popcorn consumed: Two! I had popcorn for lunch yesterday. So healthy and nutritious.

*= Unclean, unclean
**= Crap, but doesn't make your eyes bleed
***= Watchable to good
****= Great
*****= Masterpiece/Classic

Tags: movies, siff 2008