Author: festreviews

TIFF 2018 Review: ROJO (Argentina 2018) ***1/2

festreviews 2018 movies, movie, Movie Review, TIFF 2018 Movie Reviews, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2018. Go to TIFF 2018 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.

Rojo Poster
Set in Argentina during the mid-1970s, Benjamín Naishtat’s hypnotic drama follows a successful lawyer whose picture-perfect life begins to unravel when a private detective comes to his seemingly quiet small town and starts asking questions

Director:

Benjamín Naishtat

Writer:

Benjamín Naishtat

Stars:

Alfredo Castro, Diego Cremonesi, Andrea Frigerio

Director Benjamín Naishtat is clearly an expert at creating tense situations.  The beginning 10 minute sequence jet before the title ROJO appear on the screen tells it all.  The protagonist, a lawyer is rudely singled out in a restaurant by a mysterious stranger to leave his table.   

The lawyer lets him have it saying that he is rude and would in life never get what he wants because of his behaviour that he cannot help because he is a victim of his upbringing.  This causes an alteration outside with the stranger shooting himself and the lawyer dumping the body ithe desert.  A detective shows up asking questions.  The lawyer is shown to be nit that well brought upeithr, psychologically abusing his wife so much that she cannot even tell him comfortably that she has to go to the lady’s.  ROJO is an event driven character study set in

Argentina during the mid-1970s, when the military dictatorship, the “Dirty War,” the disappeared.   The 70’s atmosphere is effectively created with everything from clothes to the cars and props.  A tense and absorbing film from start to a satirical finish.

Trailer: http://www.cineuropa.org/en/video/rdID/357258/f/t/

Read Poem: Hopeless Wonder by Bradford Lee Mace

festreviews Uncategorized

poetryfest's avatarPOETRY FESTIVAL. Submit to site for FREE. Submit for actor performance. Submit poem to be made into film.

I opened my book
invited you in
your character evolved
the plot thickened

Happy ending in sight
no end to our love
the pages had hope
even life from above

But you smeared the ink
before it could dry
not even whiteout
could save our goodbye

The dagger my soul
thrust deep within
I was lost for words
my heart left broken

I knew I was wrong
my first inclination
I surrendered to love
despite my hesitation

I gave you the benefit
despite having doubt
left now to wander
lifelessly without

No explanation why
not even a plea
is this really over
how can it be

No thoughts of your own
not even a word
your silence my death
all I wanted your love

By Bradford Lee Mace
http://www.bradfordleemace.com

View original post

Read Poem: Oh Summer! Don’t Leave Me by Lateefah16

festreviews Uncategorized

poetryfest's avatarPOETRY FESTIVAL. Submit to site for FREE. Submit for actor performance. Submit poem to be made into film.

I’m going to miss your warm days
that filled me with iced tea
I wish you weren’t leaving
handing me over to fall with ease
dark clouds with hints of mint and harvest trees
dances and festivals to commence its release

I’m going to miss your calm lakes and strong waves
that brought me to the beach countless days
the steaming rays of your sun
tanning me brown
no matter the linen I wear

I’m going to miss the smell of your wild roses
sunny daisies, red tulips, pink lilies
the touch of each crisp oak bark
maple rich and fresh like from the stars
OH!
don’t get me started on your summer nights
lit to my fearless heart’s delight
engulfed with striking possibilities
Hershey’s kisses and skinny dipping
peach ice cream that have me licking

I’m going to miss each endless moment wrapped together
sipping margaritas and martinis
dry…

View original post 42 more words

TIFF 2018 Review: FALLS AROUND HER

festreviews 2018 movies, movie, Movie Review, TIFF 2018 Movie Reviews, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2018. Go to TIFF 2018 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.

Falls Around Her Poster
A relentless pursuit to seek reclamation through isolation.

Directors:

Darlene Naponse,

Writer:

Darlene Naponse

Stars:

Tantoo Cardinal, Lewis Hodgson, Johnny Issaluk

FALLS AREOUN HER is a true Northern Ontario and Anishinaabe First Nation film that celebrates the winter of Canada as seen in the landscapes of lake, forests and rivers.  The film stars Tantoo Cardinal shining as a world-famous Anishinaabe musician (there is a shot her singing at the stat of the tim – showing some good original music) who returns to the reserve to rest and recharge — only to discover that fame (and the outside world) are not easily left behind.  

Her sister Betty (Tina Keeper) senses there may be more to Mary’s need for isolation and urges her to reconnect with family and old friends.  As Mary gets out more and even starts dating, it seems as though new possibilities are on the horizon.  She has demons to rid off which includes her past manager who is quite the woman abuser, though he gets what he deserves in the end as the film shifts uncomfortably towards horror slasher mode. 

Otherwise it is a relatively dull affair, all good intention aside.

TIFF 2018 Review: LIFE ITSELF (USA 2018) ****

festreviews 2018 movies, movie, Movie Review, TIFF 2018 Movie Reviews, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2018. Go to TIFF 2018 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.

Life Itself Poster
Trailer

As a young New York couple goes from college romance to marriage and the birth of their first child, the unexpected twists of their journey create reverberations that echo over continents and through lifetimes.

Director:

Dan Fogelman

Writer:

Dan Fogelman

Stars:

Oscar Isaac, Olivia Wilde, Annette Bening

I overheard the television the other day for a minute that blared the words of actor Mandy Patinkin interviewed for the film: “this is one of the best scripts I have ever read.”  I cannot agree after viewing LIFE ITSELF the new film directed and written by Dam Fogelson about various lives intertwining as if life the narrator was playing a good joke on mankind.  

Abby (Olivia Wilde) is a New York graduate student. Her boyfriend, Will (Oscar Isaac), loves her deeply, but the depth of his commitment overwhelms her sometimes. What’s his story?  Their circle includes Annette Bening and Mandy Patinkin as parents who have their own stories to live out.  And Antonio Banderas and Laia Costa do remarkable work when the action shifts to Spain. As each character’s story is revealed, the fascination increases between lovers, between children and parents, between America and Europe and even between past and present.  

Abby studies unreliable narrators in fiction but as she notes in her thesis, “Life itself is the ultimate unreliable narrator.”  Best way of enjoying this movie, is to just sit back and enjoy the excellent storytelling.

Trailer: https://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/life-itself/

TIFF 2018 Capsule Review: OUT OF BLUE (UK 2018)

festreviews 2018 movies, movie, Movie Review, TIFF 2018 Movie Reviews, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2018. Go to TIFF 2018 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.

Out of Blue Poster
When Detective Mike Hoolihan is called to investigate the shooting of leading astrophysicist and black hole expert, Jennifer Rockwell, she is affected in ways she struggles to comprehend.

Director:

Carol Morley

Writers:

Martin Amis (based on the novel by), Carol Morley

Stars:

Patricia Clarkson, James Caan, Mamie Gummer

This is a British film with Brit director Carol Morley (DREAMS OF LIFE) from her script based on Martin Amis’s 1997 novel Night Train set in the U.S.  It follows Mike Hoolihan, a homicide detective’s (Patricia Clarkson) investigation into the shooting of a leading astrophysicist and black-hole expert. 

The killing destabilizes her view of the universe and herself.  The film aims at an examination of a highly intelligent, indeed metaphysical, exploration of existence but it ends up all over the place including an out of place odd scene with Hoolihan dancing in a strip club with the other female dancers.  The solution to the killing is revealed mid-way through the film and the film meanders into her existence and guilt after.  

Clarkson is as usual, excellent in her role (minus the pole dancing) but this is a wasted performance in a character the script never bothers to get the audience to identify with.