Blackfish (2013)

Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Starring: Killer Whales and the crazy people who work with them

More info: IMDb

Plot: Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.

My rating? 7.5/10

Will I watch it again? Maybe

After struggling to keep from passing out from hunger, I FINALLY got something to eat - fresh popcorn, Coke and a damn tasty hot dog.  It's really tough to find real food around here (at the Sundance Film Festival) when you don't have time because you're going from movie to movie to movie.  So there I am, munching on corn & Coke, watching the opening credits of BLACKFISH as a SeaWorld killer whale EATS a trainer in the tank.  That'll get your shit right and fast.  It's a fascinating and damning documentary.

Hearing what the many former trainers had to say about their experiences really hit hard, not to mention the dozens and dozens of attacks, 3 of which resulted in death. The footage of one attack stands out.  A SeaWorld whale, Tilikum, grabs the trainer by his foot, takes him to the bottom of the 60+ deep tank for more than a half minute (and possibly up to 90 seconds, I can't recall), brings him back up, repeats that, releases him only to grab his other foot and repeats the dive, eventually releasing the guy and still chases after him as he swims to safety.  The trainer was COMPLETELY calm the entire time.  Unbelievable.

We learn an awful lot about the creatures, from how they live in the wild, how they were captured for use at SeaWorld and other like attractions 40 years ago to how they are treated and how they behave as a result.  The bottom line is they do not belong in captivity to be used in this manner.  I'm not some far-leaning extremist wack-o activist; I'm far from it but these animals don't deserve this.  I could have told you that before I saw this but now I have an excuse.

El mariachi (1992)

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Starring: Carlos Gallardo, Consuelo Gomez, Jaime de Hoyos, Peter Marquardt, Reinol Martinez, Ramiro Gomez, Jesus Lopes, Luis Baro

More info: IMDb

Tagline: With a guitar in his hand and a price on his head, he wasn't looking for trouble...but trouble came looking for him.

Plot: A traveling mariachi is mistaken for a murderous criminal and must hide from a gang bent on killing him.

My rating:? 8/10

Will I watch it again? Yes!

Boy, oh, boy was this a treat.  The last time I saw this it was on video 18 years ago.  Now I'm watching it on the big screen at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City at the Sundance Film Festival with Robert Rodriguez in attendance.  It was twenty years ago that Rodriguez brought this, his first feature, to Sundance and it catapulted him into the spotlight and made him the toast of the independent film world.  The budget on this flick was only $7,000!!!

Rodriguez introduced the picture and gave us a treat by leading it with an 8 minute short he shot on video 6 years prior at the age of 16 called, ISMAEL JONES AND THE EYES OF THE DEVIL...that was fun!  You could see in that short the talent and eye he had at an early age.  It was a lot of fun.

EL MARIACHI was a load of fun from start to finish.  I'd forgotten how bleak the ending was (there are times when I can appreciate my dodgy memory).  I'm going to bust out my DVD of this when I get back and delve into the commentary and extras.


Rodriguez and Gallardo gave us an entertaining and informative Q&A after the show.  One reason I dig this guy so much is his enthusiasm for not only about making movies but by encouraging everyone to do the same.  After one of his talks (even watching him talk about such things on DVD extras) I get pumped up enough to go out and make my own damn movies.  I just need to get my hands on a couple of cameras and HELLO, HOLLYWOOD!!!

Sundance Film Festival Day 6

Tuesday, January 22

Not much sleep last night, maybe 5.5 hours.  That's alright.  It's for a good cause.  Today started off with a program of several short films which, as expected, was a mixed bag of good and not so good.  I took a break from watching movies for a little while to catch a panel on science and the movies which was fun and interesting.  The panel consisted of Paula Apsell (senior executive producer of NOVA), Jon Amiel (director of the Charles Darwin film, CREATION), Scott Burns (writer of CONTAGION), Dr. Andre Fenton and Dr. Lisa Randall (both super smart science-y types, LOL).  I really enjoyed that.

Next I was off to a two-fer at the Eccles Theatre with the not so hot VERY GOOD GIRLS (I think my testosterone levels were too high to enjoy this one) and LOVELACE, a dark film about Linda Lovelace, the star of DEEP THROAT.  After that it was back to the house to type this up.

Except for the Q&A folks, I did spot Jennifer Carpenter (Deb on DEXTER) in the audience at the premiere of LOVELACE and scrummy Jamie Lee Curtis at the premiere of VERY GOOD GIRLS.

Tomorrow it's INTERIOR: LEATHER BAR (sounds like fun), A.C.O.D. (which has super-cutie, Amy Poehler) and ending the day with BIG SUR (about Jack Kerouac).

Breathe In (2013)

Director: Drake Doremus

Starring: Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones, Kyle MacLachlan, Amy Ryan, Brendan Dooling, Alexandra Wentworth, Lucy Davenport

More info: IMDb

Plot:  As summer turns to fall, music teacher Keith Reynolds privately reminisces about his days as a starving artist in the city. While his wife, Megan, and daughter, Lauren, look forward to Lauren’s final year of high school, Keith clings to those evenings he’s asked to sub as a cellist with a prestigious Manhattan symphony. When Megan decides the family should host foreign exchange student Sophie, the British high school senior soon rekindles an impetuous aspect of Keith’s personality.

My rating: 9/10

Will I watch it again? Yes.

Guy Pearce is a rock star in my book and the reason for my wanting to see this picture. It's a bonus that Amy Ryan (the scrummy girlfriend of Michael Scott (Steve Carell) in the U.S. version of THE OFFICE) also stars as well as Felicity Jones giving one hell of a performance.  What a beautifully heartbreaking film.  The audience at the Sundance premiere was clearly uncomfortable with the relationship between Keith (Pearce) and Sophie (Jones).  He's middle-aged with a wife and daughter and she's 18.  There was an abundance of uncomfortable laughter (much like TWO MOTHERS (2013)) which can be really annoying when you're investing yourself into a film.

Writers Ben York Jones and Drake Doremus (who also directed) have created a delicate story  and film that will challenge you to consider the boundaries of love as it pertains to what is acceptable in modern society.  I didn't have an issue with it.  Keith (Pearce) left the life he wanted to lead a long time ago.  His wife, Megan (Ryan), has chosen his current and miserable life - where and how they live, including his profession as a high school piano teach, a job he loathes.  He has regrets and resentment.  When he's given a chance to follow his dream, he wants to take it.  Sophia (Jones) is that opportunity, or at least the excuse for one. She encourages him where is wife not only discourages it but ridicules him for even thinking about it.

SPOILERS AHEAD...

Parts of what he's going through are things I can sympathize with.  Keith and Sophia never do anything more than share non-physical moments and eventually kiss.  The love they make isn't physical but emotional and musical.  There's a rare moment when they are home alone.  She offers to play something on the piano.  They both sit on the bench.  She plays a very lovely piece that ends with his hand gently and slowly touching hers. THAT'S the love scene.  That scene was tearing me up inside.  Through the music you could feel the emotions that are erupting inside her.  It was a remarkably beautiful scene.

END OF SPOILERS...YARRRRR!!!

I've mentioned a lot lately (at least it seems like it) that I don't always like happy endings.  A few of the films I've seen this year at Sundance wrap up all nice and tidy and everyone (or almost everyone) lives happily ever after or at least briefly ever after.

WHOOPS.  NOT QUITE DONE WITH SPOILERS YET...

I was so distraught to see this one end as it began, with the family intact and Keith choosing to continue his disappointing and miserable life, having given up his chance at happiness.  Now I realize that he and Sophia likely wouldn't have lasted, but it would've lasted long enough to begin to realize his dream to start a new life.  BREATHE IN is an unconventional love story that will certainly generate some strong reactions.

I for one was once faced with making a similar decision many years ago.  I made the right choice.  I left a marriage that was holding me back, from my dreams of being an entertainer as well as just being happy.  For the nearly twenty years since, I've been chasing those dreams and discovering new ones.  I made a difficult decision back then that was the toughest I've had to face and I've never once regretted it.  I'm so thankful I had the courage to leave.  I only wish Keith did, too.

SERIOUSLY, IT'S THE END OF THE SPOILERS...YARRRRRR!!!

Touchy Feely (2013)

Director: Lynn Shelton

Starring: Rosemarie DeWitt, Allison Janney, Ron Livingston, Scoot McNairy, Ellen Page, Josh Pais

More info: IMDb

Plot:  What happens when a family’s delicate psychic balance suddenly unravels? Abby is a free-spirited massage therapist. Her brother, Paul, an emotional zombie, owns a flagging dental practice, where he enlists the assistance of his equally emotionally stunted daughter, Jenny. Suddenly, transformation touches everyone. Abby develops an uncontrollable aversion to bodily contact, which seriously hinders her chosen profession and the passionate love life she once shared with her boyfriend. Meanwhile, rumors of Paul’s “healing touch” begin to miraculously invigorate his practice. As Abby navigates through an identity crisis, her brother discovers a whole new side of himself.

My rating? 6.5/10

Will I watch it again?  Nah.

Early on I felt like I wasn’t going to dig this.  The characters didn’t seem like people I was going to identify with or even care about.  By the end of the ride, though, I was thoroughly engaged in Jenny (Page).  She has a moment of venerability where she’s trying to confess her feelings to someone that felt so real I was almost in tears.  Wow, she's good.  Like everything I’m seeing here at the Sundance Film Festival the performances are all very good.

Paul (Pais) gets a lot of laughs and justifiably so.  I’d swear he’s channeling Toby from the U.S. version of THE OFFICE.  Tomo Nakayama (as Henry) performs an acoustic song in the final act that’s absolutely beautiful.  What a voice this kid has!

Paul and Abby (Rosemarie DeWitt) go through ‘touch’ experiences where they lose or gain their mojo.  How do they ultimately deal with the loss in an effort to regain it?  Experiment with their first hit of ecstasy.  At the end of their trip they’ve experienced a rebirth, as it were, and all is right in the jungle at the end of the film.  The moral of the story is take drugs to get your ass out of a funk.  Stella should have done that to get her groove back.  That might sound like a simplified or light-hearted way of looking at it but that’s exactly what happened.  The film wraps up a little too neatly, quickly and simultaneously for my taste but then this is a light and gentle comedy and, in the end, an enjoyable one at that.

Two Mothers (2013)

Director: Anne Fontaine

Starring:  Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Ben Mendelsohn, Xavier Samuel, James Frecheville, Sophie Lowe, Gary Sweet, Jessica Tovey, Alyson Standen, Charlee Thomas, Dane Eade, Scott Pirlo

More info: IMDb

Plot:  A gripping tale of love, lust, and the power of friendship, Two Mothers charts the unconventional and passionate affairs embarked upon by two lifelong friends, Lil and Roz, who fall in love with each other’s sons. Afraid of facing the ire and judgment of their insular seaside community, they continue the relationships in secret over the years. Once the affairs are discovered, the revelation threatens to tear apart their lives and those of the young men, who must eventually choose between following a well-worn path or their true desires.

My rating? 7.5/10

Will I watch it again? Nah, once was good..

That this is based on a true story helps make it easier to swallow as it’s a pretty outrageous story to begin with.  The setup for the affairs almost had me.  The point where Wright (I forget which actor plays which role) has sex with Frecheville the first time worked but it was how Watts had her first encounter that felt like it needed a little more build up to give it that sense of “I can see that happening”.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m still on board at this point and I’ve got plenty of suspension of disbelief to pony up if necessary.

My eyes were glued to the screen.  I didn’t anticipate the outcome.  I’m along for the ride wherever it may take me.  My curiosity was being toyed with until the credits.  What’s going to happen next?  WTF?  And then maybe another WTF?  Wright and Watts are scrummy.  I really enjoyed this one.  It’s a most unusual story that has very good performances and a gorgeous Australian oceanfront locale.  I recommend this one if you think you can handle the subject matter.  It’s not for the tame but then It’s not a scorching, over the edge film, either.  It may challenge you.  Will you accept that this could happen and in the way it was laid out for you or do you outright dismiss it as immoral or downright wrong? 

At the Sundance Film Festival screening I attended (the world premiere at that), there was a surprising amount of laughter at inappropriate moments.  I was offended by it but realized afterward that it was likely due to nervousness.  I talked to quite a few people about it in the days since seeing it and most people didn’t like it.  One woman said the laughter came from how bad the film was.  I disagree and after spending ten minutes talking to her I disagreed with most things she said. I thought perhaps I may be more easily inclined to accept it because I’ve watched so many movies that maybe I might be desensitized to the point of digging it.  But how about maybe this is a really good film and it just isn’t for everyone…or even most?

Sundance Film Festival Day 5

Monday, January 21
5 days down, 5 more to go.

It was nice to get 7 hours of sleep last night.  8 would have been better but who's complaining at this point?  After checking up on a short film I saw the night before (THE CUB) it turns out it was funded by Kickstarter.  If I had known I would have thrown this guy a handful of dollars to support the picture.  I'm going to try to get with the guy before Sundance is over to talk about his next project and see if I could contribute to it.  This guy's got talent.

Today was a very nice late start.  I had a nice Mexican lunch and I was able to bang out enough reviews today to be caught up until the midnight show.  The first flick of the day was THE WAY WAY BACK which is now my favorite film at Sundance then I was bored with the Shia Labeof vehicle, THE NECESSARY DEATH OF CHARLIE COUNTRYMAN.  I had a nice beer at some joint and hammered out the last of the reviews to get ready to put up and then it was a midnight world premiere of ASS BACKWARDS which had some great laughs but not enough for me to recommend.  The two female leads were full of comic energy and talent but many of the jokes fell flat.

Tomorrow it's an hour and a half of short films, VERY GOOD GIRLS at 6:15 and then it's the premiere of  LOVELACE about the star of the 70s porn blockbuster DEEP THROAT, Linda Lovelace.  No sightings today outside of the Q&A's.