"RAFIKI"
"Good Kenyan girls become good Kenyan wives," but Kena and Ziki long for something more. When love blossoms between them, the two girls will be forced to choose between happiness and safety.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Movie #1581 ........................."Rafiki"
Movie #1581 "Rafiki" is the first Kenyan film to screen at Cannes, and meanwhile banned in its home country. This film is a tenderly realized tale of forbidden teenage love with a super colorful backdrop. Despite their fathers are opponents in the next election (topical and romeo and julietish) , Keena and Ziki experience immediate chemistry when they meet, and their relationship grows until it becomes dangerous to their lives to be together --- and then they must choose. I would give this film 4 out of 5 stars, and I hope it is chosen to be a nominee for an oscar for foreign language film. It is very topical, with a strong theme, story and action.
"RAFIKI"
"RAFIKI"
Movie #1580 ........................."I Am Not a Witch"
Movie #1580 "I am not a witch" --- not a good choice at the Milwaukee Film Festival for me to see. It sounded somewhat interesting from the description in the booklet , and it started out kind of in an intriguing way, but from there, it just went on and on, and became so silly of a premise, that I wasn't sure what to make of it --- it seemed more under science fiction or fantasy. This was billed as the UK's official entry for this year's foreign language film Oscar. "It is a perfect parable for our modern gender struggles. Drawn up on spurious charges of witchcraft, young Shula is sentenced to life at a state-run witch camp. Tethered to a long white ribbon meant to keep her from flying away, she soon becomes a political pawn used by the superstitious camp director, forcing Shula to choose between a life spent in bondage or risking it all for freedom." Sounds bizarre, and it is....with no emotional pull to care about Shula in the film because it is a very stoic performance of most of the people in the film. I give it 2 stars out of 5.
"I AM NOT A WITCH"
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In a Zambian village, the residents cast a suspicious eye on new arrival Shula, an 8-year-old orphan girl. After a minor misunderstanding, she's labeled a witch and banished to an internment camp -- where she must decide whether to risk escape.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Movie #1579 ........................"Shoplifters"
Movie #1579 "Shoplifters" is the film we stayed for the second day at the Chicago Film Festival, and we both found it a BIG disappointment. This was the winner of the Palm D'Or at Cannes? Usually, that means the film should be pretty good, but this one was not appealing to me . These very poor, homeless people take in a little girl who is being abused, and as she gets acquainted with the family and their shoplifting activities, so does the audience --- the opening was okay, and I thought the interest would be sustained throughout the film, but it wasn't. Focus was all over the place, and the storyline didn't seem to go anywhere as the film went on. It lacked dialogue that would have been helpful to get, and the story's pacing was too slow to get across the emotional reaction it wanted from the audience. I would not recommend this film , and the people around me agreed. BUT critics do not, so go figure. I give it 2 stars out of 5.
"SHOPLIFTERS"
"SHOPLIFTERS"
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Earning only meager incomes, Osamu and his wife supplement their wages by shoplifting, with help from son Shota. While heading home on a winter night, father and son come across a freezing young girl and make a fateful decision to take her home.
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Movie #1578 ........................."Beautiful Boy"
Movie #1578 "Beautiful Boy" --- and here's another movie as many people as possible should see because we don't seem to have a handle on the problem explored in this film. (I said the same for "the Hate U Give" ) The problem is crystal meth addiction and the hold it gets on the user that is ever so difficult (more times than not , impossible) to shake. And what this does to the parents and the rest of the family. I can't say enough about the strength of acting in this film --- Timothee Chalamet is a wonder, and (is it too early?) a possible academy award nominee again, for the second year in a row. What a part for him and what he does with it --- the whole gamut! And Steve Carell is so universal as the father trying to deal with a kid he adores! The movie is a very difficult film to watch, so I realize it isn't for everyone, but if you want some eyeopening scenes played out in front of you on the ever invasive and troubling drug problem in our families, you'll want to see it. The Biggest question is searches an answer for is: as a parent, how do you deal with such a problem? It is such a heartbreaking but inspiring film, based on two books written by father and son , Dave and Nic Sheff that you'll want to put this on the list to see! 4.5 stars out of 5.
"BEAUTIFUL BOY" 2018 I would give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse, and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years
"BEAUTIFUL BOY" 2018 I would give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse, and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years
Monday, October 29, 2018
Movie #1577 ........................."Wildlife"
Movie #1577 "Wildlife" was the third movie on the second day that I saw at the Chicago Film Festival -- this one cost a bit more to get into because it had a Q and A with Carey Mulligan, one of the stars. This is her film, with a great supporting acting nod from Jake Gyllenhal (who is always good, to me). They are a married couple raising a little boy and trying to deal with him holding down jobs --- at the beginning of the film, they find themselves again in a new area with Jake looking for a job. When he goes away to work in a mine, young mom Mulligan is left to hold the family and house together and find a job on her own --- she finds it easier to get a sugar daddy who will support them with his money. There's a lot of awkwardness in the film because the son is the narrator so we see all this desperation described above through his very young eyes. I liked the tenseness, the slow deliberation of the film, and the very strong acting from all three members in the family. I give it 4 stars out of 5.
"WILDLIFE"
"WILDLIFE"
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The emotional perils of adolescence are already challenging enough for Joe Brinson, but after his parents' move to Montana causes friction between them, Joe begins to realize that his family is dissolving in front of him.
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Movie #1576 ........................."Jumpman"
Movie #1576 "Jumpman" was the second movie on the second day that we saw at the Chicago Film Fest, and we found it weak, bizarre and too abusive to watch. The guy in it was good, though, and there were some interesting moments, but that was it. We had seen a film before on the subject --- a young person with the disease where you don't feel harm to your body when it is abused. The other one was better because he was searching for a way to cure the disease because he didn't want to live his life that way --- this film was more about this "mother" exploiting it in this kid. Didn't like. 2 stars out of 5. Don't bother.
"JUMPMAN"
"JUMPMAN"
Movie #1575 ..........................."Couch Potatoes"
Movie #1575 "Couch Potatoes" was the first movie on the second day of the Chicago Film Fest, and it didn't make the day start off with a bang! The kids were so disrespectful to the dad (lead) in the film that I just couldn't get past that. No one was really likable --- the kids too disrespectful -- the dad is too lenient to let things go by (he's bullied by the kids, really) I honestly don't remember a lot of it
"COUCH POTATOES"
DIRECTOR: FRANCESCA ARCHIBUGI (ITALY)
Contemporary Milan is the backdrop for this comedic examination of the strained relationship between a father and son. Giorgio is a t.v. host; Tito is his teenage son who enjoys nothing more than hanging out with his friends, biking through the streets, playing video games. The tension between them is heightened when a woman from Giorgio's past resurfaces with news that could upend tito's romantic life. Out of 5 stars, I would give it a light 3. (100 mins)
"COUCH POTATOES"
DIRECTOR: FRANCESCA ARCHIBUGI (ITALY)
Contemporary Milan is the backdrop for this comedic examination of the strained relationship between a father and son. Giorgio is a t.v. host; Tito is his teenage son who enjoys nothing more than hanging out with his friends, biking through the streets, playing video games. The tension between them is heightened when a woman from Giorgio's past resurfaces with news that could upend tito's romantic life. Out of 5 stars, I would give it a light 3. (100 mins)
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Movie #1574 ........................."What They Had"
Movie #1574 "What They Had" is the 4th movie I saw at the Chicago Film Fest (the last one I watched on the first day), and it was well played by heavy duty stars: Blythe Danner, Hillary Swank, Michael Shannon, and Robert Forester. We've seen the story already --- a relationship degenerates because the wife is suffering from alzheimer's and runs away from home unless her caretaker husband ties her to the bed. Consequences? Brother and Sister (Swank and Shannon) argue about what to do with the folks next. Tough situation --- very awkward discussions that you really don't want to listen, but you think you should because it might happen to you and your family..... I have to admit that it was at times like watching the experiences that my brother and I had to go through. And an even major subject it explores is the toll this whole experience has on the caretaker, in this case, their dad. I would give it 4.5 for the competence of the film and for the truth it tells. This is a tough one to watch!
Movie #1573 ........................."Olympia"
Movie #1573 "Olympia" -- the third film I watched at the Chicago Film Festival was this movie, filmed in Chicago and full of Chicago people. The lead actress playing the film's title name gives a terrific performance while writing a very solid script about decisions and sacrifices one has to make when choosing a career. I saw this with Megan, an alum, and she probably got even more out of it since she is closer in age to the lead role here, but I found it quite enjoyable. The love story most intrigued me --- I always wonder how really long distant relationships make it? And since that is a possibility here, it is the elephant in the room. She's an african american struggling to be recognized in her field and to succeed when odds are thrown her way. I rated it a 4. It has cartooning in the background occasionally, which is a fun nuance in this film.
"OLYMPIA" 2018 93 MINUTES Director: Gregory Dixon
Making her dazzling feature debut, Chicago writer-actor McKenzie China stars as a struggling artist, navigating work and romance in the Windy City. When her boyfriend asks her to drop everything and move cross-country, she soon discovers that her biggest obstacle may be herself. Featuring quirky animation and a revelatory central performance, Olympia is a heartfelt story for anyone who's ever felt adrift on the rough seas of adulthood.
"OLYMPIA" 2018 93 MINUTES Director: Gregory Dixon
Making her dazzling feature debut, Chicago writer-actor McKenzie China stars as a struggling artist, navigating work and romance in the Windy City. When her boyfriend asks her to drop everything and move cross-country, she soon discovers that her biggest obstacle may be herself. Featuring quirky animation and a revelatory central performance, Olympia is a heartfelt story for anyone who's ever felt adrift on the rough seas of adulthood.
Movie #1572 ........................."Animal"
Movie #1572 "Animal" -- the second movie we saw at the Chicago Film Festival was quite unusual. A man gets a death sentence from his doctor, and he is in need of a kidney donor or he will die. The film explores the question: how far will you go to do this? His son can be the donor, but the teen is too scared to do it ---- so how far can you push him to do it? Then, he finds a loser of a guy and his pregnant girlfriend who are somewhat homeless and would just do it for the money --- but the lead guy finds they lack morals and conviction so they try to milk as much as they can out of this poor guy. The script was written by the award winning script writer for "Birdman," and the story is intriguing, but it's so dark, and there are really no likable people in the movie. The best thing about it is that the theme is very strong --- and there are several themes dealt with, and that keeps the movie moving along. I would rate this 3.5 out of 5 --- it was just okay, and somewhat memorable for its subject matter, and the way the film tackles it.
"ANIMAL" 2018 112 mins with subtitles
Antonio has the perfect life : a loving family, a good job, and a nice house...... until he discovers he needs a kidney transplant. When all legal means for obtaining a new organ fail, he turns in desperation to the black market where his morality is put to the test by a conniving young couple. Oscar-winning screenwriter Armando Bo (Birdman) deftly directs this wickedly ironic thriller.
"ANIMAL" 2018 112 mins with subtitles
Antonio has the perfect life : a loving family, a good job, and a nice house...... until he discovers he needs a kidney transplant. When all legal means for obtaining a new organ fail, he turns in desperation to the black market where his morality is put to the test by a conniving young couple. Oscar-winning screenwriter Armando Bo (Birdman) deftly directs this wickedly ironic thriller.
Movie #1571 ........................."The Hate U Give"
Movie #1571 "The Hate U Give" -- I read this wonderful book so when I saw that the movie was out based on the book, I had to see it right away. Wow! I rarely say this, but I enjoyed the movie even a tad more than the book (which I gave 4.5 to). When I wrote the book blog , I wrote that I thought this is a book that should be read by everyone, and I feel the same about the movie --- maybe you need to be about 8 to more understand the violence that is played out here (don't worry, not r-rated violence, but very emotional) but otherwise, it is a must-see --- might end up being the best film I see this year, I'm not sure, but that was what I felt when I was done seeing it. Common's acting isn't a selling feature of the movie, but everything else works really well in getting this wonderful story across of this coming of age story of the witness of a white policeman shooting an african american teen in the streets of a black neighborhood. It is soooooo topical, and it gives such a view from the inside of both sides of the issue --- how blacks live in fear every time they are around policemen, and how they have to change their manners and the way they talk when in the company of certain white sectors in our country. It is very tough for them to be themselves and to NOT be seen strictly by their color. This is an eye opening film and should be required in all schools. It's that good!
- Overview
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Though Starr Carter lives in a lower-income black neighborhood, she attends a largely white prep school. When she sees a longtime friend shot by a white police officer, Starr finds herself caught between two worlds as she tries to do the right thing.
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