Sunday, December 27, 2009

Public Enemies

Gangster movies are a tradition of American Cinema. Public Enemies continues in that tradition by depicting the crime life of John Dillinger. The film is an adaptation of Bryan Burrough's book Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-43 has a wonderful trailer that makes this film appear to be a great biopic of Dillinger. However, the film falls short in that it's narrative flows in a choppy fashion that fails to fully engage the viewer.

The love story between Dillinger and Billie Frechette is possibly the only engaging point in the film as we watch the hardened criminal show a softer side as he attempts to look after the love of his life. From the first moment when he is dancing with her and very evasive on what he does for a living to chasing off the coat check patron who is being abusive to Billie, Dillinger shows a side that is in contrast to his violent criminal life.

Public Enemies attempt to tell such a complex story as Dillinger's is flawed in that it's story seems just a portrayal of disconnected and random events leading up to Dillinger's demise. This is the gamble whenever adapting from an existing work. Choices must be made in what to keep and what to cut and it seems Public Enemies may have made the wrong choices.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

The Masseur (Masahista)

Reprinted courtesy of Sean C. At the Movies

I had been losing faith in Filipino cinema in recent years, mostly due to the work of Crisaldo Pablo. He has given the cinematic world such gems as Doubt (Duda), Bathhouse and Circles (Bilog). These films remind me of a Filipino versions of Richard Anthony Films projects Traveling to Olympia, Revenge in Olympia and Slice of Terror. All of these films are pseudo soft-core porn/erotica with very weak stories and very uneven acting. But The Masseur is different.

The story is of a young man who works in a massage parlor to earn money for his family who live in a suburb. The day before his father dies, he has a client who crosses his professional boundaries and make him re-examine his entire life.
This film was both sensual and engaging. The physical intimacy between the characters was not gratuitous, but instead realistic. It provided a framework of strangers in the night looking for a moment of human connection. This connection is in sharp contrast the the distance that exists between the protagonist and his father. A distance that is ironically shortened since death.

I want to thank director Brillante Mendoza for restoring my faith in modern Filipino queer cinema. I am looking forward to his future projects to serve as a counter balance to the works of Crisaldo Pablo.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

The Ten

A 2007 selection from SIFF, The Ten is a series of interconnected shorts related to the Christian Ten Commandments, framed through a single narrator on a blank stage with two giant tables of the Ten Commandments behind him. Far from being religious and preachy, The Ten is funny, witty and at times borderline sacrilegious in its interpretation of the Commandments.

Each story builds upon the prior through the use of the same characters. at the same time as the narrator has his own back story playing out in between the Commandment stories with the story characters playing additional cameos.

The majority of the stories are not literal interpretations of the Commandments intent, except perhaps for the story on "Thou Shall Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Goods" in which two neighbors engage in a modern day keeping up with the Joneses over who can have the most CAT Scan machines.

The Ten is a testament to independent filmmaking taking a traditionally held concept and making it something wholly new and entertaining for a modern audience. Definitely needs to be experienced first hand since no review can ever properly describe this rich film which has something for everyone.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Hiatus

Due to a variety of things going on, the Filmfreak Mafia will be on hiatus. Watch for our return in time for the 14th Annual Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Fest in October 2009.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Reprinted courtesy of Sean C. At the Movies

Sweeney Todd marks the 6th collaboration between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp (see Edwad Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). Based on a Stephen Sondheim musical, Burton's version is dark and brooding. The songs amplify this mood and make the bloody imagery even more unsettling.

Sweeney Todd's quest for revenge against those who wronged him and his family is understandable and the final irony (you need to watch this Romeo & Julietesque moment for yourself) leaves you speechless. This serves as a ying to the yang of the love story between Anthony and Johanna. This formula creates a film that leaves you cheering for both the lovers and the murderer.

In this modern age of vigilante justice, Sweeney Todd can serve as a warning to others, that while perceived justice may be served, but karma is a bitch.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Annie Hall

Love him or hate him, Woody Allen is an institution of the American cinema. His 1978 Academy Award winning film Annie Hall is among the most influential of all his works. This very simple film about a middle age New York comedian recounting the failure of his relationship with Annie Hall solidified the many now commonly used narrative device, most notably characters directly addressing the viewer mid-scene.

During the course of the movie we see its protagonist Alvy Singer, played by Woody Allen, exemplify the stereotypical neurotic New Yorker, who engages in continuous comical self-reflection and categorical summarizing of people he meets and sees. This narrative technique is one that would later be used extensively by the television hit Seinfeld.

At the end of the day, and after trying a number of times, Alvy and Annie could not make their relationship work no matter how much they loved each other. This is a powerful message that will always resonate with viewers that love is not enough to keep two people together. But the memories will always make for a wonderful story.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Julie & Julia

Have you ever had a hero who inspired you to make a major change in your life? If so, then Julie & Julia is your story as much as it is of Julie Powell and Julia Child. Julie & Julia is an innovative film which follows the lives of both women as they discover the that the joy of cooking has surpassed simply a hobby and has become a means for defining their lives.

Through its very well balanced 50/50 division of time, Julie & Julia effectively conveys both Julia Child's training and rise to fame and Julie Powell's progressing through Mastering the Art of French Cooking, one recipe at a time.

The film offers a very subtle, but significant message: that our heroes can and very likely will disappoint, for their inability to live up to our expectations. This proves very true for Julie Powell when she learns that Julia Child is not supportive of The Julie/Julia Project and on fact has a very strong and negative opinion about it.

Amy Adams portrays Julie Powell's devastation in a most empathetic fashion that you cannot help but remember your own individual experiences in the same situation. It this moment in the film which gives the film its authenticity and reason enough for it to be watched by everyone.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Moon

WARNING: Spoiler Alert!
On the surface, Moon is the classic story of corporate greed, albeit in this case in the name of environmental responsibility. But as it progresses, it raises the very uncomfortable issue of what it means to be human in an ever changing and more scientifically advanced world. However, in the end, Moon simply leaves open the question and does not offer an answer.

The film opens with Sam Bell nearing the end of his 3 year contract managing a new mining operation on the moon which has provided the entire planet an unlimited and environmentally friendly energy source. Sam's only companion is a computer/robotic system named GERTY, a friendly version of HAL 9000, who also acts as a gatekeeper between Sam and life outside of the mining base. GERTY's secondary function is to protect Sam at all costs. Unfortunately, GERTY can no longer protect Sam after he has an accident while doing routine maintenance of the mining equipment.

Sam's disturbing revelation begin after he wakes up after the accident and GERTY insists that he not leave the base until the clean up crew arrives. Sam's curiosity gets the better of him and he returns to the site of the accident to find a second person on the moon he had never seen before. However, the person looks exactly like Sam. In fact, after the second man regains consciousness, he claims he is Sam and that the 'Sam' who he rescued is a clone.

The two Sams begin a struggle to determine the truth behind their current situation. Due to a genetic variation, the first Sam is aware that he is a clone, while the second Sam is not. So begins the two Sam's journey to discover how the corporation has kept the lie going for so long and planning how to return to Earth and the loved ones they believe have been left behind.

The most painful moment in the film is not when second Sam forces GERTY to confirm he is a clone, but when he contacts his home on Earth and discovers that his baby daughter he has been longing to see for 3 years is actually 15 years old now and that his wife whose recorded video messages have kept him going, has been dead for several years. But even worse, is when the second Sam hears the original Sam's voice on the video message. In spite of knowing that he is a clones, and one who is running 15 years behind the original Sam, second Sam still feels the loss of his wife and the lost years with his daughter.

But how can a clone with only implanted memories have genuine feelings about something that he has no first hand knowledge or experience in? Can science supersede the core tenants of the human experience? These are the questions that Moon does not answer, but simply throws in your face for your own individual digestion.

This is the type of story that the Filmfreak Mafia is all about. Stories that do not preach, but instead force individual reflection, so that we each can find the meaning within for ourselves.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Angels & Demons

Based on the novel by Dan Brown, who also authored The DaVinci Code, comes Angels & Demons, a story of the time old war between religion and science.

The story follows an obsessed priest, Patrick McKenna, who is convinced that science can only lead to a further deterioration of faith. To prove his point, he resurrects the Illuminati, a former "enemy" of the church, as a cover for his own machinations of science's seeming desire to destroy the Church. Through a series of clues and attempts to prevent senseless violence, Robert Langdon is back to save a Church he clearly does not believe in.

This same narrative structure was used in The DaVinci Code. However, through the magic of Hollywood adaptation, the established timeline in the novels is changed so that Robert Langdon's first run-in with the Church in the search of the final resting place of Mary Magdalen has already occurred. This minor change has no irreparable affect on the overall impact of the story as it is only mentioned in passing once.

Angels & Demons, much like The DaVinci Code, is a complex story filled with complex accusations against the Church using and abusing its power to stay in control of its constituents. True or not, the story is intellectually thought provoking and forces the viewer to examine their own individual relationship to religion and science and its involvement in their loves.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Every Little Step

Every Little Step is a documentary following the process of a revival production of A Chorus Line, the classic Broadway show, that follows the story of a series of dancers auditioning for a spot on a chorus line. What makes this documentary so special is not only the drive and dedication of those auditioning, but the love and passion of the production team, many of whom were part of the original 1975 production.

The film provides not only historical and little known insights into the creation of A Chorus Line (e.g. the story came from a series of audio taped interviews with dancers; the original title for Dance 10, Looks 3 was Tits and Ass; "Cassie" did not originally get the job on the chorus line), but also follows the performers through the painful process of initial audition, to call back, to final audition.

The performer whose audition is most powerful in this film is that of Jason Tam. Some of you may know him as Markko Rivera on One Life to Live. He is an NYU Tisch School trained performer whose has appeared in numerous productions in his young career. Auditioning for "Paul", Tam recreated in the initial audition the pain of rejection faced by the character to such an intense degree, that it not brings him to tears, but the producers as well. After Tam leaves, and before the producers can regain their composure, lead producer Bob Avian says "Sign him up."

Every Little Step provides a very intimate look into the process both performers and producers go through in casting a major production. The process is often harsh at times. However, the film treats each performers vulnerability during the process gently and respectfully.

If you have ever wanted to know the struggles and joys of a performer's life, or if you just want to be swept up in a wave of raw human emotion, then Every Little Step is a film not to be missed.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Up

In its latest release Up, Pixar has created a film worthy of both children and adults alike. The story of an old man trying to keep a promise to his deceased wife and a young boy trying to gain the respect of his father, the story follows their fantastic journey across continents, and in the end are forced to face the cold hard truth that our heroes are not always the people we make them out to be.

Not often seen in a animated feature primarily marketed toward children, Up contains a montage of Carl Fredricksen and his wife Ellie's entire relationship, from their first meeting as children, until her death. This section of the film is especially appealing to adults and presented in a subdued fashion as to not scare children.

The message that clearly rings true for adults and serves as a warning to children is learning the truth about ones heroes. During the course of the film, Carl discovers he and Ellie's childhood hero, Charles Muntz, is not the champion of nature and wildlife he once believed. A parallel revelation occurs for Russell when he admits that his father is not the man he has been portraying him to be. Both Carl and Russell have been living in a fantasy of their own choosing and sharing the moment of absolute vulnerability brings them closer together.

The relationship between Carl and his young neighbor Russell is symbiotic. Carl who has never had children, sees Russell as a surrogate grandchild. Russell is desperate for approval from a father figure and uses Carl as a replacement for his father who is an absentee divorcee dad. The duo come to mean more to each other than biological family and is permanently solidified at Russell's final badge ceremony.

Up is a film that will become a timeless classic and provide new insights into itself and your own personal relationships -- the greatest gift of film.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Boy

In the tradition of the macho dancer film, Boy tells the story of a young man working in the gay bars of the Philippines to not only support himself, but to be less of a burden on his family. What sets this new film of filipino director Auraeus Solito (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) apart from its predecessors is the story primarily following a patron of the macho dancer and not the macho dancer himself.

Our protagonist is an semi-openly gay young man of 18 who on a furtive trip to his first gay bar, falls in love with Aries. In order to come up with the money for Aries fee, a prized collection of comic books and action figure collectibles is sold, and the boys share a magical night on New Year's Eve with the protagonist's mother.

The story is about more than that first sexual encounter. As the story unfolds both young men let down their guard to each other as their growing love for each other becomes more apparent to not only the audience but to themselves.

The protagonist admits his disappointment with both his parents, his father for relegating he and his mother to secondary status and his mother for tolerating it, while Aries admits that his work is more than a way to support himself, but also a way to satisfy his needs to be wanted and desired by those watching him.

Boy was banned on the eve of its premier at the Singapore International Film Festival for "normalizing homosexuality" and for its erotic content. While there is some incidental nudity and sexual situations, the story is in no way overshadowed by these elements. In fact, the encounter between the boys takes on a pilgrim sonnet element from Baz Luhrman's Romeo & Juliet and is no longer a business transaction between a client and john, but instead a beautiful moment between two new lovers.

In the end Boy is a film which shows that young love can be found in all the wrong places and still thrive. SIFF and Seattle is to be applauded for receiving this film with warmth, understanding and acceptance in a world in which there is a need for more films that have a message as well as an entertaining purpose.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Patrik 1,5


Patrik 1,5 was SIFF's 2009 Gay-La. The first of two screenings of the film during SIFF came just says after the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Proposition 8. For this family member, this movie renewed my faith in the possibilities of the future of tolerance for everyone.

The story follows a Swedish couple attempting to navigate the adoption system as a same sex couple and along the way discover that wanting a child brings with it unexpected complications for everyone.

Due to a typographical error, Goran and Sven believe they are adopting a 18 month old child, but in reality are sent a troubled homophobic 15 year old. Over the course of the film we see a full range of emotions poured out on the screen from Goran, Sven and Patrik. Multiple times when it seems like everything will work out, as often happens in life, a negative twist of fate intervenes.

This film is executed brilliantly through its serious dramatic acting, physical comedy and complimentary incidental music. In the end the film leaves you a feeling of peace and serenity that all can be right in the world. Patrik 1,5 is not to be missed by anyone with a heart and soul.

Friday, May 22, 2009

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Welcome to the family...

Welcome to the Filmfreak Mafia. We are the people seriously serious about film. We watch film in spite of the big stars and special effects. We watch films for the narrative stories and everything else is secondary. We see the narrative as paramount and with all other elements of filmmaking acting as elements to enhance the narrative and not replace it.

Every week the Filmfreak Mafia will bring you a new review of current or classic film with insight into why it deserves to be on the Filmfreak Mafia's hit list.

Are you ready?