Film Shorts
* BroadcastLocal directors and filmmakers show their films and receive feedback. Call 236-2869 for info.
* Buffalo Soldiers See review this issue.
* Camp See review this issue.
* Cascade Independent Film Fest
CIFF celebrates a wide range of solid
local and national films. On Fri Aug 8, see shorts: the digitally animated, 3-D
"Bat City", the equally animated, sweet tale of "Bug Girl", "For the Love of the
Tune" (a paean to Irish women in music), the environmentalist film "Reclaimed
Treasure: the History of Silver Falls" and the creepy "Clyde." On Sat Aug 9, the
human rights films: "Dignity II," a documentary about group homes for the
mentally ill in the aftermath of the Reagan Era; journalist John Pilger's
in-depth look at the issues motivating suicide bombers in "Palestine is Still
the Issue"; and logging film "Ancient Forests: The Power of Place." Sun Aug 10,
the intense "Monsoon Wife" details the horrors of prostitution in Cambodia;
devilish camp action film "Lethal Force"; and "Aftermath," getting to the heart
of the matter of post-9/11 war state. Overall, a decent little festival with
some highly unique entries. Playing at the Clinton Street.
* The Cuckoo
In a reverse Three's Company set in the
Finnish Laplands during WWII, a peacenik Finnish soldier, a testy Russian
soldier, and a Lapland widow all find themselves living under the same thatched
roof--and none of the three speak the same language. The dry humor of
miscommunication and misdirected lust unfold in this unusual, dark comedy.
(Jennifer Maerz)
Dong Sung
A nine-year-old boy lives in a monastery with an older
novice and the abbot. When a woman arrives who is mourning her dead son, she
offers the two boys a trip to the city, and allows them to glimpse the life
they're missing.
The Far Horizon
Apparently all of the real Indian squaws were dead
from small pox, because the directors for this 1955 film about macho men Lewis
& Clark could only find Donna Reed to play the role of feisty femme fatale
Sacajawea. Tossing historical accuracy aside for drama, beautiful scenery, and
lustful plot undertows, this film is probably not for history buffs, but will
appeal to those who found Undaunted Courage kind of dry. (Screening is
free)
Freaky Friday
Despite the generally amiable Jamie Lee Curtis
and the overwhelming presence of feigned teen rock band sequences (the
greatest joy that the pubescent live-action genre affords), the new Freaky
Friday movie is not the old Freaky Friday movie. Absent: Jodie
Foster, Barbara Harris, Boss Hogg, and (in the most unfortunate oversight) the
earth-shattering car-chase/water-skiing/hang-gliding finale. Present: an
uninvested Jamie Lee, obligatory modernizations, and (most inexplicably)
something called "Asian voodoo." (Zac Pennington)
G-Sale
Uabashedly based on the mockumentary style Christopher
Guest perfected with films like Spinal Tap and Waiting for
Guffman, Randy Nargi's G-Sale follows "obsessive garage salers"
around Bogwood, Washington as they describe their garage sale MO, what they do
with the crap they get at garage sales, and the rivalries between them. The
characters follow the prototypical personalities established by Guest; some
decent acting and good scriptwriting essentially makes up for the fact that the
style's not so original or as funny as its predecessors. It's worth seeing, but
you get the feeling that Nargi would have been better off selling his great
thematic idea to Guest (thereby preventing him from making the excruciating film
A Mighty Wind). (Julianne Shepherd)
Galileo
Just like 8 Mile, no one believes in the main
character Galileo. His critics, including the lofty Pope, think that he is from
another planet and resist his revolutionary freeform style and thinking. And
just like Eminem, Galileo ultimately discovers that he must only believe in
himself and that history is the judge. An adaptation of Joseph Losey 1947 stage
production.
Gifting It
A documentary about the power of the gift, demonstrated
through footage of the Burning Man festival. Eyeroll. Sigh.
* Gremlins
Why can't teenagers simply do what they are told? After
a doltish teenage boy breaks every rule regarding his cuddly new pet, an army of
devious and burpy muppets is unleashed into a small town. If last week's
rambunctious Purple Rain sing-a-long is any indication, this second
installment in the Mercury's Summer Movie Megathon will be more fun than
any one person should be permitted.
* Hell's Highway
From the late 1950s to the 1970s, the sight of a
16mm projector in Driver's Ed class struck fear in the heart of the bravest
student. Movies like Signal 30, Mechanized Death, and Wheels of
Tragedy were typically boring educational films--right up until the moment
they showed actual footage of auto wrecks and bloody corpses. At that point
someone in the class either ran outside, threw up, or fainted. Hell's
Highway interviews the creators of the scholastic/snuff genre (doughty
Midwesterners all) and charts the rise and fall of Richard Wayman's Highway
Safety Foundation, hinting that his motives weren't completely pure. An
interview with two brothers still traumatized by the movie The Child
Molesters begs the question: did these films do their job, or did they
simply brutalize their audience? Hell's Highway is fascinating and
occasionally funny, but you won't leave the theater laughing. (Dan Howland)
* The Housekeeper
In The Housekeeper, a 51-year-old sound
engineer (Jean-Pierre Bacri) has a brief romance with his 21-year-old
housekeeper (Emilie Dequenne). As the singer Peggy Lee once put it, that's all
there is. You'll find nothing below or above, behind or beyond that scenario.
The Housekeeper is simply and perfectly about a 51-year-old sound
engineer who has a brief romance with his 21-year-old housekeeper. The young
woman seduces the old man; the couple then takes a vacation by the sea. The
movie is perfect.
* I Capture the Castle
Taking back the English period piece from
those Merchant-Ivory hacks, this is one girl's coming-of-age film that anyone
can enjoy. Two sisters live with their family in a remote castle, and their
romantic prospects are severely limited, until two American brothers inherit the
land they are living on. The star of the movie is good, old-fashioned
repression, and it is refreshing to see the more traditional happy ending
replaced by unresolved longing. (Andy Spletzer)
* Incubus
A sci-fi film that plays out entirely in the language of
Esperanto--a language slightly less prevalent than Klingon. Marc (William
Shatner) is seduced by a succubus named Kia. When she discovers she is in love
with Marc, she sets out to destroy him.
Jet Lag
With his tired, hound dog eyes and withdrawn countenance,
Jean Reno (The Professional) is an apt choice for the title character in
Jet Lag. Felix is a world-class chef traveling from New York to Munich to
attend his ex-girlfriend Nadia's dad's funeral. But when Felix's plane is
grounded in Paris, his travel itinerary is accidentally intertwined with Rose
(Juliette Binoche), a beautician on the run from her drab suburban life and
abusive boyfriend. In spite of flawless performances by both actors, the
emotional chemistry never quite comes to a boil, leaving us with a cute movie,
but not a lot of passion. (Phil Busse)
The Legend of Suriyothai
Written and directed by one of Thailand's
royal princes, the story is set in the 16th Century when the country was first
unifying. Threats include an invading Burmese army to the north and corruption
within the royal family. Quite popular in its native country, it is reminiscent
of those expensive made-for-TV movies we made a few years ago, The Bible
and all that, where spectacle often overwhelms the characters, and you're better
off knowing the story beforehand. (Andy Spletzer)
* The Maltese Falcon
Private detective Sam Spade is harassed by
the police after his partner is killed while tailing a man. Made in 1941 and
starring Humphrey Bogart, this is your chance to see a fabulous new print.
Mondays in the Sun
The title is a great description of
unemployment, and it turns out to be the best part of the movie. A Spanish
shipyard has shut down. The economy is depressed. Four men represent four
different takes on how unemployment has affected the citizens. Despite some
solid performances and plenty of good intentions, this is the kind of movie that
would have worked better as a play. (Andy Spletzer)
Return to the Chamber
The kung fu chop suey (comedy) sequel to
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.
S.W.A.T. See review this issue.
MEANS WE RECOMMEND IT