Film Review: CHRISTINE, USA, LGBT/Coming of Age

December 24, 2017December 24, 2017 festreviews 2017 movies, Kierston Drier, movie, Movie Review CHRISTINE, Kierston Drier, LGBT/Coming of Age, Short Film Movie Review, USA

Gorgeously shot with exceptional casting, CHRISTINE is the poignant story of precious young Christine who can’t beat her friend in an arm wrestling match, her friend decides to help her. At her request, he cuts her hair and shares his clothes with her, and in a few meaningful but speedy moments Christinee completely transforms- at least, almost. She still can’t seem to best her friend in arm wrestling- something deeply distressing to her.

The beauty of this film is that it accomplishes so much with so little dialogue. There is an excellence in this piece with its simplicity and yet profundity of meaning. Without over burdening the scenes with expositio the meaning behind the film is still perfectly conveyed- the testament of character is far more than skin deep. Christine’s friendship with her male counterpart has the almost tangible feeling of being founded within childhood and yet extending through it and into adolescence. With the nostalgic anachronistic feeling of a youthful summer day, this film captures the early moment of coming-of-age for Christine and she begins the journey of independence and self discovery. A film about knowing yourself, even amidst finding out who you are, CHRISTINE is a film will touch your heart while it makes you think.

by Kierston Drier

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CHRISTINE, 10min, USA, LGBT/Coming of Age
Directed by Jessica Adler

With the help of her best friend, Christine redefines her perception of strength and what it means to be herself.

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Film Review: ALAN WILLIAMS METAL ARTIST, UK, Documentary/Art

December 24, 2017December 24, 2017 festreviews 2017 movies, Kierston Drier, movie, Movie Review, Uncategorized ALAN WILLIAMS METAL ARTIST, Documentary/Art, Kierston Drier, Short Film Movie Review, UK

ALAN WILLIAMS METAL ARTIST is a spectacular piece of cinematic documentary storytelling. Shining with incredible images from every frame and with fantastical creations waiting to leap out in every corner, Alan Williams carries us, the audience, along with him while he turns seemingly useless scrap metal in to utterly stunning works of mastery.

At seven minutes, to see so much in so small a time is an ambitious feat, but director Ben Cox is able to put together a brilliant documentary in that impressively small time frame. A film that sparks as much passion as the artist himself clearly has for his work, ALAN WILLIAMS METAL ARTIST is a captivating visual journey of art and beauty. A delight for the eyes and the artists’ heart.

by Kierston Drier

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ALAN WILLIAMS METAL ARTIST, 7min., UK, Documentary/Art
Directed by Ben CoxAlan Williams: Creatures of the Deep offers an insight into the mind and work of the immensely talented Brighton sculptor Alan Williams, who turns scrap metal into amazing animal figures

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Film Review: MISSING PEACE, USA, Documentary/Drama

December 24, 2017December 24, 2017 festreviews 2017 movies, Kierston Drier, movie, Movie Review, Uncategorized Documentary/Drama, Kierston Drier, MISSING PEACE, Short Film Movie Review, USA

A deeply controversial and highly moving film, MISSING PEACE follows two people, Chloe and Jeremy, who suffer from Body integrity Identity Disorder- a disorder that compels them to deeply believe their sense of self is more actualized if they were differently abled. In Chloe’s case, all her life she has struggled with a deep desire to be unable to use her legs. In Jeremys’ case, (and he has hidden his identity for fear of backlash for his feelings) he has always longed to be hands-free.

For someone without BIID, wrapping the mind around the condition may be difficult, even concerning, due to the stigma attached to being differently-abled, but for Chloe and Jeremy, this condition goes much deeper than the surface. For our two heroes, the body they feel they belong in is one that is, respectively, missing hands or unable to walk. The body they currently have feels as though they should not be in it.

MISSING PEACE does what every documentary aims to do- open up and explore an area of life that may not be known or understood by the “everyman”. It attempts, with remarkable sensitivity, to capture the difficult and trying world of a human being at odds with society and its’ view on their own sense of self. Perhaps another reason why this film rings so powerful is that it attempts to rid itself of subjectivity. MISSING PEACE allows its focus to be the journey’s of the heroes, not any potential judgements that may be held by the filmmaker. Instead the audience is asked to makeup their own opinion. We see the damage and pain caused to our heroes because of the world they live in, while the viewer may still struggle to understand the reality the heroes live in. Ultimately the choice is up the viewer, but the story is no less important, no less meaningful- no less necessary to be heard. A film not for the faint of heart, it speaks to the bravery of Chloe, Jeremy and director Jenna Gartlan, to take on such a deep and emotional topic. Well done to all.

by Kierston Drier

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MISSING PEACE, 17min., USA, Documentary/Drama
Directed by Jenna Gartlan

Missing Peace follows Chloe Jennings-White and Jeremy as they struggle with Body Integrity Identity Disorder. Chloe wishes to be paraplegic, and Jeremy wants to cut off his hands.

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Film Review: PLAYGROUND, USA, Documentary/Society

December 24, 2017December 24, 2017 festreviews 2017 movies, Kierston Drier, movie, Movie Review, Uncategorized Documentary/Society, Kierston Drier, PLAYGROUND, Short Film Movie Review, USA

A heart wrenching story of a community reeling after the death of a preteen boy, shot by a police officer in a local park, PLAYGROUND is a seventeen minute short that showcases how one community copes with loss by banding together.

Strong and poignant, PLAYGROUND follows Brick City Community Theatre near the Lakeview Terrace public housing project in Cleveland. The community around the theatre puts on productions about the local life, involving both youth and senior community members. PLAYGROUND follows one such production, an original created around the recent death and uses the trauma to empower and support the community members.

A deeply touching and moving piece, with excellent composition and execution, PLAYGROUND will remind us all of our fundamental similarities, are basic need for human connection and the transformative and healing power of the arts. A bow of credit to the directors Drew Dickler and Jakob Hochendoner.

by Kierston Drier

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PLAYGROUND, 17min., USA, Documentary/Society
Directed by Drew Dickler

Afternoons at 4, residents from Lakeview Terrace, a public housing project in Cleveland, gather at their community center to transform their life stories into art and their grief into understanding.

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Film Review: COSPLAY: BEHIND THE MASK, USA, Documentary/Sci-Fi

December 24, 2017 festreviews 2017 movies, Kierston Drier, movie, Movie Review, Uncategorized COSPLAY: BEHIND THE MASK, Documentary/Sci-Fi, Kierston Drier, Short Film Movie Review, USA

Enter that incredible, rich, vibrant world of COSPLAY: BEHIND THE MASK. Directed by Hendricksen Armand, this movie dives into the tapestry of talent behind Cosplay. Cosplay involves dressing up like a well known character from a book and TV show, usually (But not exclusively) found within the anime media community. Think Sailor Moon, DragonBall and Pokemon- and those are just major well known shows. Other shows or movies including well known action heroes are often included as well. Conventions that create hubs for fans of the shows often have attendees that dress the part of their favorite characters. What is incredible about this is that the costumes are largely created by attendees. Often elaborate and time consuming, the creative lengths attendees go to to create larger-than-life costumes and true adherence to character is inspiration.

Such incredible works and labors of love are not without issue, however. COSPLAY: BEHIND THE MASK follows a handful of dedicated and talented cosplayers as they discuss making their costumes, but also some of the concerns that follow them at conventions. They are often mistaken at conventions as paid performers, touched or groped without their consent and made to feel uncomfortable, often because their work is so believable. Our talented cosplayers also discuss the sexual overtones and undertones often associated with their work. Since the outfits of their characters are often sexualized, it is difficult to dress the part without facing the same reaction.

COSPLAY: BEHInd THE MASK must be commended on it’s open and honest portrayal of cosplay, with all its’ joys and concerns. Bright, colorful and fun, while still being deep, meaningful and thought-provoking, this is layered and fascinating film. A special shout out must be given to the key cast, as they are all instantly loveable, and all remarkably gifted both as creators and performers. A film to see!

by Kierston Drier

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COSPLAY: BEHIND THE MASK, 20min., USA, Documentary/Sci-Fi
Directed by Hendricksen Armand

A look into the life of cosplayers who try to shatter the boundaries of reality by transforming themselves into characters from comic books, TV shows, and movies.

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Film Review: LEAD THE PARADE, USA, Documentary/Society

December 24, 2017December 24, 2017 festreviews 2017 movies, Kierston Drier, movie, Movie Review, Short Film Movie Review, Uncategorized Documentary/Society, Kierston Drier, LEAD THE PARADE, Short Film Movie Review, USA

A sharp, but compassionate look at the world of disenfranchised youth, LEAD THE PARADE is a fifteen minute short coming to us from director Omino Gardezi. Packed with meaning in every frame and brimming with the emotional reality that is life for the underprivileged, LEAD THE PARADE showcases groups like New York’s Partnership with Children, a community organization that works with children to help lift them out of otherwise difficult situations.

One cornerstone of this piece is the concept of poverty equalling trauma. With massive numbers of children in urban settings living within poverty-stricken conditions a generation is at risk.

LEAD THE PARADE is a film that approaches these difficult concepts with sensitivity and faces the complex problems with openness. There is, in fact, a remedy for the trauma caused by poverty: Healthy and positive relationships with adults. LEAD THE PARADE is a strong film, filled with hope, compassion and positivity, but beyond that, it is a film with an uplifting message; Change is possible. It starts with us.

by Kierston Drier

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LEAD THE PARADE, 15min., USA, Documentary/Society
Directed by Omino Gardezi

In Lead the parade, The filmmakers embark on an intimate? ?conversation with Neuroscientist, mental health Specialists Social workers, Economist, Government and thought leaders to explore the impact a child’s early environment on their cognitive, social and emotional development, it will be? ?premiered on the Martin Luther King Jr. day and will be available for viewing at Lead the Parade.org

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Film Review: OCEANIC ALIENS, USA, Documentary/Wildlife

December 24, 2017 festreviews 2017 movies, Kierston Drier, movie, Movie Review, Short Film Movie Review, Uncategorized Documentary/Wildlife, Kierston Drier, OCEANIC ALIENS, Short Film Movie Review, USA

This classical-style documentary weaves wonderous thoughts and images in its short six minute time-slot. Set against the inky-dark world under the ocean, OCEANIC ALIENS follows a handful of rarely seen bioluminescent aquatic creatures.

A piece that explores the whole new world of bright and colorful life under the waves, OCEANIC ALIENS is a compelling watch. In true documentary style, it offers simple and direct information about each creature, and weaves a near-magical picture of the ocean as so much deeper, richer and teaming with life than we may have before believed.

Of specific note, is the exceptional footage. It is incredible difficult to film underwater and the images captured of these incredible and beautiful life forms is well worth that watch. A film for information lovers and film lovers alike.

by Kierston Drier

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OCEANIC ALIENS, 6min., USA, Documentary/Wildlife
Directed by Mike Johnson

Oceanic Aliens is an internationally award winning short documentary that explores one aspect of how little we truly know about planet earth. More is known about outer space than our very own oceans. This short documentary illustrates just one example of a little known class of marine species and their amazing attributes.

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FILM REVIEW: ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD (US 2017) ****

December 21, 2017 festreviews 2017 movies, movie, Movie Review, Uncategorized ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, Christopher Plummer, film reviews, gilbert seah, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, ridley scott

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The story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers:

David Scarpa, John Pearson (based on the book by)

Stars:

Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg

The big question everyone will be asking about ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD is how effective the replacement of Christopher Plummer in the titular role of Paul Getty. After the sexual harassment allegations surfaced on Kevin Spacey, director Ridley Scott (BLADE RUNNER) quickly replaced him with Plummer, doing the required re-shoots. After viewing ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, all traces of Spacey have been removed and it is nothing short of remarkable that Ridley has done such a great job. And Oscar Winner Plummer is great. Spacey would ave added a sly, comedic sarcastic element to his portrayal – his trait, but Plummer plays him straight, funny or serious depending on the situation. The world needs not need to see a more sarcastic Getty.

The film is narrated from the grandson, Paulo (Charlie Plummer, no relation to Christopher Plummer), giving the film his perspective on his grandfather. “He is not only the richest man in the world, but the richest man who ever lived!” Plummer as Getty shows the stingy side of a millionaire, how he trusts artifacts and objects instead of people, as these show themselves as they are, with nothing hidden. But just as his colleagues and friend betray him, he does the same with his grandson’s artifact.

The film contains a few ineffective segments. One odd one that stands out is a short segment set in 1838 in Saudi Arabia where Getty (in younger mode and Plummer decked in make up and dyed black hair to look younger) discusses oil. That scene is total unnecessary and could have been done away with to save money and Plummer looking a bit ridiculous. One cliched segment has the grandson walking the streets of Rome in the middle of the night accosting the prostitutes. When he remarks to one of them: “I can take care of myself,” one can guess that he is just about to be kidnapped. The next scene has him pushed into a car by the kidnappers.

But there are a few impressive scenes like the beginning black and white shot of a city with vintage cars. The scene evolves into colour and the famous Trini fountain is revealed while Italian dialogue heard in the background. It could be a scene right out of Fellini’s LA DOLCE VITA.

All the performances are outstanding from Michelle Williams as the angry mother slowly developing more tolerance towards the hired Chase to Plummer to Wahlberg. The best performance, however belongs to French actor Roman Duris (THE BEAT MY HEART SKIPPED, THE NEW GIRLDFRIEND) as the Getty’s grandson’s kidnapper.

Scott’s film is strong on emotions. Getty’s daughter-in-law played by Williams undergoes the entire spectrum of emotions and character including, anger, strength, vulnerability, love, sensitivity, tolerance and annoyance. All kidnapping films have the element of the Stockholm Syndrome. As the kidnapper and kidnapped are both male, the bonding is one of trust and respect, which makes for the film greatest surprises.

The film plays more of a suspense thriller than a biopic on the millionaire Getty. Still, there are enough screen time given to Getty to show him the man he could be. The words on the screen at the closing credits makes it clear that though the film is based on true events, dialogue and some events have been fictionalized. It would be interesting to know which parts of the film are fictionalized. The whole story, at the very end, seems like the perfect kidnapping caper, perfect for a good suspense film.

The film also contains a message. Watching Christopher Plummer as Getty teaches me, wealthy Scrooge, a few things while opening my eyes.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXHrCBkIxQQ

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I, TONYA (USA 2017) ***1/2

December 21, 2017 festreviews 2017 movies, movie, Movie Review Allison Janney, craig gillespie, film reviews, gilbert seah, I, margot robbie, sebastian stan, TONYA, tonya harding film

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2:24 |Trailer

6 VIDEOS| 28 IMAGES

Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the activity is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.

In 1994, the figure-skating world was shocked by the brutal attack on US medal hopeful Nancy Kerrigan. The more shocking news was that the attack was allegedly conceived and executed by those close to — and perhaps including — rival figure skater Tonya Harding. The film tells Tonya’s story and thus the title I, TONYA.

The story is revealed in tongue in cheek events with humour and irony while keeping to the main dramatic details.

Sad, funny but real this biopic of the infamous American figure Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) plays like a mockumentary as the film is bookended by interviews of the main characters 20 years after ‘the incident’. The film then unfolds in chronological order with Tonya as a child brought to the skating rink as a skating prodigy by her mother who would often slap her around for not doing her best.

‘The incident’ as described in those exact words in the film itself refers to the breaking of rival skater Nancy Kerrigan’s knee by Tonya’s ex-husband. The question was whether she knew of the plot. As the film explains she likely did not at the start, as it was all Jeff Gillooly’s (Sebastian Stan) idea but when she did get nailed for it, she was then banned from figure skating in any organization for life, a sentence in her own words, that was worst than prison.

Films have been often made of heroes and survivors, but it is seldom that one is made of white redneck trailer trash. That is Tonya Harding. But director Gillespie and writer Steven Rogers portray the skater as someone America loved to hate, but also paints her, despite her volatile and fierce personality someone vulnerable to her surroundings and acquaintances. She is treated brutally (physically and emotionally) by both her two closest relatives, hers husband and mother (Allison Janney).

Director Gillespie remembers that I, TONYA is after all a film about the sport of figure skating. The segments of skating have to be good and they are. Compare the recent tennis film BATTLE OF THE SEXES which made the mistake of including no exciting matches in it. Her triple axel at the 1991 championships is shown beautifully in slow motion.

Gillespie elicits some mighty fine performances from his cast most notably Robbie in the title role as well as Janney as her stern mother, LaVona.

The dialogue though in everyday words are at times so predictable, one can say the words just before the characters utter them. In one scene, after LaVona after throwing a knife that sticks into her daughter’s arms utter the words: “Every family has its ups and downs.” A comical line though the words are stolen from the play and film THE LION IN WINTER. But there are some good lines in the script as when LaVona says (and really believes) that she sacrificed being a loving mother so that Tonya can grow up to become a fierce skater.

Though the film deals partly with the daughter/mother relationship, it shows for once that the relationship is a sour irreconcilable one. Still the film finally gains the sympathy of the skater, that in her own words describes herself as the one America grew to hate.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXZQ5DfSAAc

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