I had my first film festival experience this weekend at the 28th Starz Denver International Film Festival. It was very cool. Saw Transamerica starring Felicity Huffman. What a good film. Felicity totally deserves the slowly building Oscar buzz she is getting. If she gets nominated that would be great but I would still vote for Claire Danes if I had a vote that is. Considering it is usually the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender films that are dark and tradgic that get any real buzz it's nice that this funny, dramatic, heartwarming one is getting any attention. Hell it's just nice having a film with a storyline with a central character that is transgender that doesn't end in some sort of tradgedy.
Felicity isn't the only highlight of the films cast. It also features nice performances from Elizabeth Pena, Fionnula Flanagan, and Graham Greene, in small supporting roles. Again if I were a voting member of any award giving comittee I would have to at the very least nominate Fionnula Flanagan for supporting actress. Kevin Zegers who played the son of Felicity's character was amazing. He's been around since he was a small child but I'm not familiar with him.. He should have a big career in front of him.
As an added bonus to all of this Duncan Tucker the films writer and director was present and did an audience Q&A following the screening. It was great to hear some of his stories and how everything has come together for his little film. Especially an interesting one about Dolly Parton writing a song that will play during the end credits when the film is officially released next month. Always have liked Dolly, like her even more now.
I think I will skip the extended review with plot details for this one. I encourage people to go see this film if you have the chance. It's a roadtrip movie as different and funny as you will ever find.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Monday, November 14, 2005
Shopgirl
Waiting for a movie with Claire Danes can be as tormenting as waiting for one with Jodie Foster. But as with Foster it is always worth the wait and for some reason with Claire they always come in groups. I am not a Steve Martin fan so I'm never looking forward to him in anything and in a drama I was a bit worried. I was pleasantly surprised though. Perhaps it's because he wrote the novella and the screenplay so he was very in touch with the character. Whatever it was I don't know if anyone else would have done justice to the role. Jason Shwartman was very good in his role.
While their performances were good and exactly what the movie needed it really lived and died on Claire's performance. No way this movie gets the attention it is if not for Claire. Doesn't matter who it was really if she had phoned in even a single moment the film was in trouble. Claire didn't and if anyone doesn't understand why she's getting all the buzz it's as simple as this, in subtlety does Claire's greatness lie. It is not just in this film that that is true. Claire's true greatness has always been in what she brings to the small often silent moments of her projects. Anyone episode of My So-Called Life will prove that.
Spoiler time:
The part when he was talking to his therapist and her to her friends about their relationship was really great. It was very intersting to see a scene that shows so perfectly how completely different two people can hear something. It was very funny how he thought what he said was so clear and to the point when it wasn't and how much more she read into it. Perspective really is everything at any given moment in a relationsip.
Along those same lines it was a nice character turn for him in that even though he didn't want anything to serious and committed he still felt torn by certain things. And clearly felt that their relationship was a little more than what he initially thought or he wouldn't have felt the need of telling her about sleeping with that other woman over Thanksgiving.
Jason's goofiness was refreshing for the film. When he was out on the road with the band and still couldn't stop being weird was great. A lot of times in movies he would have come back this whole different person who was all mature and groan up. Basically the younger version of Steve's character. I liked that, that didn't happen. Sure he had his moment when he ran into her in the parking lot in his suit but that was really just a mask. He was still the guy whose really awkward around woman and never manages to say the right thing but isn't ever saying the wrong thing either.
This movie was worth the full price I paid and then some.
While their performances were good and exactly what the movie needed it really lived and died on Claire's performance. No way this movie gets the attention it is if not for Claire. Doesn't matter who it was really if she had phoned in even a single moment the film was in trouble. Claire didn't and if anyone doesn't understand why she's getting all the buzz it's as simple as this, in subtlety does Claire's greatness lie. It is not just in this film that that is true. Claire's true greatness has always been in what she brings to the small often silent moments of her projects. Anyone episode of My So-Called Life will prove that.
Spoiler time:
The part when he was talking to his therapist and her to her friends about their relationship was really great. It was very intersting to see a scene that shows so perfectly how completely different two people can hear something. It was very funny how he thought what he said was so clear and to the point when it wasn't and how much more she read into it. Perspective really is everything at any given moment in a relationsip.
Along those same lines it was a nice character turn for him in that even though he didn't want anything to serious and committed he still felt torn by certain things. And clearly felt that their relationship was a little more than what he initially thought or he wouldn't have felt the need of telling her about sleeping with that other woman over Thanksgiving.
Jason's goofiness was refreshing for the film. When he was out on the road with the band and still couldn't stop being weird was great. A lot of times in movies he would have come back this whole different person who was all mature and groan up. Basically the younger version of Steve's character. I liked that, that didn't happen. Sure he had his moment when he ran into her in the parking lot in his suit but that was really just a mask. He was still the guy whose really awkward around woman and never manages to say the right thing but isn't ever saying the wrong thing either.
This movie was worth the full price I paid and then some.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
NCIS
As I said in my post earlier I was very upset with Kate's death and worried about her replacement both actress and character. They through some nice twists in there with Ziva in the beginning making you wonder what she was up to and if she should be trusted. The whole story with Ari wrapped up nicely and really gave you a good feel for Ziva.
So far I love her character and am very impressed with Cote de Pablo, an actress that I had no knowledge of prior to her joining the show. Tony continues to annoy and get more annoying almost by the episode but she is a very good counter too that. Not only in the sameway as Kate was but also in her own way. I also like how there is a bit of Gibb's in her. Her being a more dangerous driver than him is halarious. They do a great job with her not understanding thing's about American culture and sayings. Like when she saw a yard sale sign and wanted to know why some one would sell their yard.
While I hope Abby will evenutally warm to her I like that she is hostile towards Ziva at the moment. I'm hoping they will have to work together sometime soon. The hostility and abbrasiveness between the two will be good for quite a few laughs I think.
So far I love her character and am very impressed with Cote de Pablo, an actress that I had no knowledge of prior to her joining the show. Tony continues to annoy and get more annoying almost by the episode but she is a very good counter too that. Not only in the sameway as Kate was but also in her own way. I also like how there is a bit of Gibb's in her. Her being a more dangerous driver than him is halarious. They do a great job with her not understanding thing's about American culture and sayings. Like when she saw a yard sale sign and wanted to know why some one would sell their yard.
While I hope Abby will evenutally warm to her I like that she is hostile towards Ziva at the moment. I'm hoping they will have to work together sometime soon. The hostility and abbrasiveness between the two will be good for quite a few laughs I think.
The Fog
It is my tradition to go to a movie on Halloween. (Yeah I know I'm way behind.) So this year I choose The Fog. Some of you might be asking why that and not say Saw 2. Well the answer is timing. While I probably will see Saw 2 I chose to wait because if I go to scary movies to soon I always end up with those annoying people (usually girls/women dragged there by their boyfriends) who don't like being scared and thus don't like scary movies and do aleaviate their fear they start talking when ever it gets tense so they won't be scared. So while seeing them with a big audience is nice because you can since everyone elses tension and fear it's not an option for me any more.
As for the movie itself. I wasn't expecting very much and got even less. They spend to much time showing the back story which totally killed the movie. The ending was the dumbest horror ending I've seen and I've seen some bad horror films. On the upside Selma Blair and Maggie Grace gave nice performances which is probably the only thing that saved this movie.
I'm not going to go into a big huge review like I have with other films. So I'll just get to the end. Paid full price and it wasn't really worth it. Matinee price would not be a waste of money. It's pretty late into it's run so at this point unless you have a two or three dollar theater in your area you should just save the money and wait for dvd.
As for the movie itself. I wasn't expecting very much and got even less. They spend to much time showing the back story which totally killed the movie. The ending was the dumbest horror ending I've seen and I've seen some bad horror films. On the upside Selma Blair and Maggie Grace gave nice performances which is probably the only thing that saved this movie.
I'm not going to go into a big huge review like I have with other films. So I'll just get to the end. Paid full price and it wasn't really worth it. Matinee price would not be a waste of money. It's pretty late into it's run so at this point unless you have a two or three dollar theater in your area you should just save the money and wait for dvd.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Prime
This was a pretty good movie. It did have one big problem which you can read about farther down in the red spoiler area. All the acting was good which was vitally important to the movie. Sometimes with comedies they can still play well with subpar acting this was not one of them. This was one where you had to pay attention and keep up with the dialogue to catch the jokes. You also have to keep up with everything that's been happening because it isn't one of those set up the one-liner kind of scripts. A lot of it just came from natural dialogue that was made funnier by knowing what came before it or was quite possibly coming after it. I have a tendancy to laugh so hard at stuff that I miss some of the follow up laughs. This moive had everyone laughing so hard at times that even if I had stopped laughing it would have mattered because you couldn't hear the dialogue over the laughter.
Don't read if you don't want to know what happens this will give away a major plot point.
First off while the thing with David's friend throwing pies in the faces of women who don't want to go on a second date was mildly amusing it was also very lame. That was the only time you saw any of his friends just that one guy and his immaturity. Of course when it came to the friends and age stereotypes the movie didn't do much to dispel them. David had one friend who was very immature and that did eventually rub off on him. Rafi on the other hand worked in the fashion industry and had three gay male friends and one heterosexual female friend who were all very mature and wanted to settle down.
Rafi had her immature moments. She wants to see other people and then throws a fit when she found out he had a one nighter with one of the models she works with. They never established that her and the model had anything but a working relationship so she had no business getting so pissed about it.
Loved when he brought her to his place, which was his grandparents' place. Uma did a a great job of collapsing in shock and embarrassment over that.
Now to the movies big problem to me and that was the ending. I don't mind that they didn't end up together, but the way they orchastrated it was awful. Rafi spends all this time whining about him not being able to give her what she needs (when what she really means is what she wants a a baby and a family) and then when he's finally getting on track with his career and willing to give her what she wants she tells him no because he will regret it. I can't stand taht whole telling someone what they want and feel thing. While it didn't completely destroy the movie it did make me dislike Rafi a lot.
Despite my one issue with the plot it was still worth the full price of admission.
Don't read if you don't want to know what happens this will give away a major plot point.
First off while the thing with David's friend throwing pies in the faces of women who don't want to go on a second date was mildly amusing it was also very lame. That was the only time you saw any of his friends just that one guy and his immaturity. Of course when it came to the friends and age stereotypes the movie didn't do much to dispel them. David had one friend who was very immature and that did eventually rub off on him. Rafi on the other hand worked in the fashion industry and had three gay male friends and one heterosexual female friend who were all very mature and wanted to settle down.
Rafi had her immature moments. She wants to see other people and then throws a fit when she found out he had a one nighter with one of the models she works with. They never established that her and the model had anything but a working relationship so she had no business getting so pissed about it.
Loved when he brought her to his place, which was his grandparents' place. Uma did a a great job of collapsing in shock and embarrassment over that.
Now to the movies big problem to me and that was the ending. I don't mind that they didn't end up together, but the way they orchastrated it was awful. Rafi spends all this time whining about him not being able to give her what she needs (when what she really means is what she wants a a baby and a family) and then when he's finally getting on track with his career and willing to give her what she wants she tells him no because he will regret it. I can't stand taht whole telling someone what they want and feel thing. While it didn't completely destroy the movie it did make me dislike Rafi a lot.
Despite my one issue with the plot it was still worth the full price of admission.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Reunion Returns
On the eve of it's return from the baseball imposed hiatus I thought I'd do a little recap.
1986
We meet the six friends. Will Malloy, Jenna Moretti, Carla Noll, Samantha Carlton, Craig Brewster, and Aaron Trumball.
Samantha and Craig are dating but apparently broke up for a bit and her and Will (who is Craig's best friend) got together and now Sam is pregnant. The only person who knows this is Carla.
Will takes the fall for a car accident that Craig caused while drunk that killed a father of three.
Aaron finallyy gets his chance with Jenna.
Carla and Samantha head off for London.
In the present day of this episode we learn that a necklace of Carla's (scene in the flashbacks) was found on the body.
Also at some point Carla must have been married as her last name is now Holland, although she does not have a wedding ring on. So clearly she isn't married anymore (whether by divorce or death) or there is the other option that perhaps she just changed her name for some reason in the past 20 years.
1987
Sam has her baby (a girl) in London and gives it up for adoption.
Having served 9 months of his 12 month sentence Will returns to Bedford.
Sam and Carla return from London.
Sam goes to visit Jenna in New York and finds Aaron also staying with her. Later he tells Carla that he has dropped out of school.
Poor Aaron also gets his heartbroken when he learns that their summer together meant far less to Jenna than it did to him.
Will runs into his cellmate who gets him to help in robbing Craig's house. They get caught by Craig. In the end Craig ends up with the gun that is later used to kill one of the six friends.
Will also takes a job with Craig's dad's real estate development company.
Aaron heads for Seattle.
In the present day Carla throws the gun into the river. And we learn that Will is still alive and is now a priest.
1988
Sam locates the people who adopted her daughter and contacts them unfortunately they want nothing to do with her.
Not knowing what it's for Will offers to give her the money she needs. Unfortunately for him the project he was relying on to get that money in a bonus falls through and he ends up bribing the guy at the EPA to make it happen.
Carla takes a job as a nanny for the people who adopted Sam's daughter.
Will gets busted for his EPA payoff and can save himself by ratting out Mr. Brewster.
Will gives Sam the money and she promptly returns it and he pushes her back into Craig's arms.
In the present day we learn that Detective Marjorino is the stepson of the man killed in the 1986 car accident caused by Craig. And that Aaron is still alive and has become enormously successful.
Now it's on to 1989 and by 1990 we will know who for sure the murdered friend is.
1986
We meet the six friends. Will Malloy, Jenna Moretti, Carla Noll, Samantha Carlton, Craig Brewster, and Aaron Trumball.
Samantha and Craig are dating but apparently broke up for a bit and her and Will (who is Craig's best friend) got together and now Sam is pregnant. The only person who knows this is Carla.
Will takes the fall for a car accident that Craig caused while drunk that killed a father of three.
Aaron finallyy gets his chance with Jenna.
Carla and Samantha head off for London.
In the present day of this episode we learn that a necklace of Carla's (scene in the flashbacks) was found on the body.
Also at some point Carla must have been married as her last name is now Holland, although she does not have a wedding ring on. So clearly she isn't married anymore (whether by divorce or death) or there is the other option that perhaps she just changed her name for some reason in the past 20 years.
1987
Sam has her baby (a girl) in London and gives it up for adoption.
Having served 9 months of his 12 month sentence Will returns to Bedford.
Sam and Carla return from London.
Sam goes to visit Jenna in New York and finds Aaron also staying with her. Later he tells Carla that he has dropped out of school.
Poor Aaron also gets his heartbroken when he learns that their summer together meant far less to Jenna than it did to him.
Will runs into his cellmate who gets him to help in robbing Craig's house. They get caught by Craig. In the end Craig ends up with the gun that is later used to kill one of the six friends.
Will also takes a job with Craig's dad's real estate development company.
Aaron heads for Seattle.
In the present day Carla throws the gun into the river. And we learn that Will is still alive and is now a priest.
1988
Sam locates the people who adopted her daughter and contacts them unfortunately they want nothing to do with her.
Not knowing what it's for Will offers to give her the money she needs. Unfortunately for him the project he was relying on to get that money in a bonus falls through and he ends up bribing the guy at the EPA to make it happen.
Carla takes a job as a nanny for the people who adopted Sam's daughter.
Will gets busted for his EPA payoff and can save himself by ratting out Mr. Brewster.
Will gives Sam the money and she promptly returns it and he pushes her back into Craig's arms.
In the present day we learn that Detective Marjorino is the stepson of the man killed in the 1986 car accident caused by Craig. And that Aaron is still alive and has become enormously successful.
Now it's on to 1989 and by 1990 we will know who for sure the murdered friend is.
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