Keep driving, Marty! We're getting the hell out of that competition.
Everyone says it's a weak competition this year. People say this every year, but this year my mate Ingo said it, and he's my most trusted source for movie opinion, even if he is a German film student. I can't help but agree, though I can't remember the competition being that much stronger in other years.
For what it's worth, here's my incomplete round-up.
HOWL - The story of Allen Ginsberg's obscenity trial + embarrassing animations. Quick capsule review: Turdburger
MY NAME IS KHAN (out of competition) - Bollywood style 9/11 soap featuring annoying autism acting. Quick capsule review: Please stop doing that face.
IF I WANT TO WHISTLE, I WHISTLE - tense Romanian young offenders drama. Quick capsule review: stark, scary and well-acted. But should he should chill out about his mum.
SHUTTER ISLAND (out of competition) - Scorcese does Hitchcock. Quick capsule review: Lightweight and silly, but very entertaining.
A WOMAN, A GUN AND A NOODLE SHOP - Chinese re-make of the Coens' Blood Simple, re-imagined in medieval China, as a farce. Quick capsule review: Bizarre and weirdly perfect in its old-fashioned way.
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (out of competition) - Banksy documentary. Quick capsule review: Fucking brilliant.
CATERPILLAR - Japanese amputation fun. Quick capsule review: AAARRGGHH!
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (out of competition) - American liberal lesbo-comedy. Quick capsule review: Really good acting and lovingly realized characters. But they may extremely annoy you, and there are a lot of bad bits.
HOW I ENDED THIS SUMMER - Russian movie set on an Arctic weather station. Only two characters. One of them makes a decision near the beginning which makes absolutely no sense and therefore ruins the rest of the film. Quick capsule review: JUST TELL HIM!
Where does this leave us? Only one stand-out film (EXIT). The rest: Meh. What's for dinner?
If they rename the Russian film it might have a chance. Should be titled "How I Ended This Winter," though.
ReplyDeleteLove your rev. of "The Kids are All Right." My thoughts exactly. And WAY to aware that what it was doing might shock some aunt Betsys in the audience. Julianne Moore was funny though.
What about Tuan Yuan? I really liked it: good acting & interesting and well-told story. And the scene at the civil registry office - just great!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I didn't see that one, TP. The German press seemed disappointed that such a low-key movie was chosen as an opening picture. But it got some good reviews.
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