A Mighty 12 Film Reviews!

Hello…if you’ve been reading my entries, you may think I don’t actually get to the movies. Well, that is just not so. So here are quickie recaps.

I agree w/Neil about “Ellie Parker,” it was much fun. Of course I'm predisposed to films with Naomi Watts — I even sat thru “Le Divorce” for goodness sake! Her comedy skills get a right workout, and there are many unexpected plot twists, such that I don’t want to go into more detail ‘cause it’ll ruin it for you lovely viewers. I think I might see it at a public screening again, just to get the audience reaction. Don’t think this has distro yet. UPDATE: Just spoke with director Scott Coffey today and the film does have distro, should be out at the end of the year.

Just saw “Grizzly Man,” a fascinating doc about Timothy Treadwell who lived w/bears in Alaska for 13 summers before one of them decided he’d had enough and ate both Tim and his girlfriend. The fact that the doc is by Werner Herzog makes it even more fascinating of course, and the story’s really about Tim not the bears; it’s the story of one man’s obsession, and that’s always, well, fascinating. It’s also clear that despite his somewhat desperate love for the animals, in many ways Tim still didn’t understand them. At times it was rather like watching someone dangling their hand in front of a shark, oblivious to the danger. This has distro; see it!

Enjoyed “Final Cut,” about the making of “Heaven’s Gate.” It looks to me like something done for TV, so you might be able to catch it there. Made some good points about how this was possibly the film that broke the director’s hold over movie making. Didn’t esp make me want to see “Heaven’s Gate” again though, I saw it on first release and didn’t like it, but as that was 1980 or 81 (in the UK), can’t totally recall why, prob thought it was too long and dull.

“The Last Mogul” was a doc about Lew Wasserman, who rose from nothing to become a Hollywood biggie. Great insider stuff, lotsa hints about mob tie-ins. A highlight: an exec saying he thought the only time Wasserman had an orgasm in his life was the weekend “Jaws” opened (cause of the box office receipts, duh). Also didn’t know Wasserman had his hands in so many areas of the biz, like the “Movie of the Week.” But oddly, he wasn’t bright enough to pick up on cable. Don’t know if this has distro.

“Murderball” has been talked about here I think, I finally saw it, and liked it. You must know the basic premise by now; guys in wheelchairs play a very violent ball game. I was somewhat put off by the macho jock attitude of the guys that at times reeked too much of Frat Row — or maybe I was just jealous that their sex lives are more active than mine (not that that’s difficult). One guy enthused about the opportunities available for him here as opposed to where his parents were from, Portugal, saying over there he’d be seen as an embarrassment. Made me think how things like public transportation w/lifts, sidewalks with ramps, computers, etc., make it easier for people w/disabilities here. Though a reformed health care system also wouldn’t hurt. But that’s the focus of Michael Moore’s next doc. This has distro, it’s out in July I believe.

Went to the premiere of “Malfunkshun: The Andrew Wood Story” even though I’d seen the film at the press screening, and I’m very glad I did. Some new sequences added, and the quality of the print was better (plus it had credits!). The focus is on Andy of course, but also the Seattle scene in its early stages, the era of “innocence” as director Scot Barbour would call it. Prob put some more up here later, Scot hopes to get a distro deal w/some theatrical release, followed by a DVD w/rare audio material (he’s working w/Stone Gossard, ex-Mother Love Bone/current Pearl Jam on this). Packed house, and a standing ovation, a rarity at SIFF. And as my companion Tom Kipp put it, “There’s more grunge royalty in one room than there’s been in a long time.” In attendance; Stone, Kim Thayil, Greg Gilmore, Bruce Fairweather, Andy’s mom, Layne Staley’s mom! There’s a 2nd showing this Thurs, only rush tickets available now, followed by a party at the Mirabeau.

“March of the Penguins” is a nature doc about…well, take a guess! The penguins are cute and fuzzier than I thought. But perhaps I’m just getting tired of nature docs…in all of them, the filmmaker feels compelled to show how the Cycle Of Life naturally means creatures end up devouring each other. While this doesn’t upset me as much as it did poor “Grizzly Man,” who really couldn’t seem to even accept this basic fact of nature, neither do I particularly want to watch it. This has distro. Trivia tip: Helen L likes penguins.

“Adam & Steve” had its moments, though I gotta say, using diarrhea as a plot point is not my cup of tea (or anything else). As predicted, both Parker Posey and Chris Kattan stole the film for me from the bonafide leads (writer/director Craig Chester, Malcolm Gets), two gay guys making a go of it in NYC. Nice C&W swing dance production number too. And a great opening line, when Craig and Parker first enter Danceteria mid-‘80s; “Oh, I guess this isn’t goth night!” Nyuk nyuk. No distro yet.

“36,” a French thriller, Daniel Auteuil, Gerard Depardieu. There was definite “action” fare, but it seemed to come in fits and starts, making this a bit slower than I’d expected, so the final climax didn’t have the punch it could’ve. Guess that’s a “mixed” notice. I believe this does have distro.

“Nightmare” drew a good house, it’s an archival film about poor Kevin McCarthy who is troubled by nightmares that implicate him in a murder. Kevin plays psychotic very well, esp when he’s sweaty. Some nice hard-boiled dialogue too.

“Police Beat” has captured attention cause it’s a locally made feature, juxtaposing a policeman’s daily beat around Seattle with his troubled love life. Gotta say, it didn’t really hold my interest. Don’t know if it has distro, but I’m sure it’ll play again in Seattle anyway.

Oh yeah, “Platform.” Very very slow, static, following a performing troupe of teens in the backwood of China just as the Cultural Revolution is coming to an end. If they’d done some more performances (as the description implied) it woulda been more interesting, heck if anything had actually happened in the movie it woulda been more interesting.