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Home Archives for sundance 2015

February 25, 2015 By iluvcinema Leave a Comment

Sundance 2015 Review: I am Michael

To say that I am Michael is entering somewhat controversial and polarizing waters given its subject – the story of Michael Glatze, once an ardent gay rights activist, who shocked all of those around him when he declares himself no longer homosexual and becomes an anti-gay Christian pastor.

The film, based on a New York Times article “My Ex-Gay Friend” by Benoit Denizet Lewis, is the first-time feature of screenwriter/director Justin Kelly.

Spanning over a decade, we first see Michael (James Franco), as an outspoken gay rights activist who uses his voice to reach out to the gay youth.

Actually, this statement above is not wholly true, because when the film starts, we see the Michael of the present. How does that work, you may ask? Well you see, the film is very fluid with the linearity of the narrative. We start in the present, then shift to the past, eventually catching up with the present and moving forward to a very interesting denouement, with, if you can imagine, a bit of a “cliffhanger” – I really cannot think of a better word for it.

But I digress – back to the story …

After a health scare, Michael begins to question the role of faith in his life. He then goes on a spiritual quest, which for him, ends (or begins?) with his renunciation of his homosexuality. The rest of the film deals with the fallout of his declaration has on himself and those around him.

I Am Michael does try in earnest to play the story straight down the middle, leaving its protagonists to present both sides of the argument – fair enough. And I would say that if there is a shortcoming of the film it is just that – the presentation does not feel the most organic. In some ways, while the story is very compelling, the way it is presented here makes it sometimes feel like it would be better served in the documentary format. In fact, in preparation for the film, director Kelly spent time with Glatze. How much that contributed to the final product I am not too sure, but I would be a bit interested to know.

The film holds interest for me because of its handling of the role and influence faith and religion in each of our lives.

For me, the film’s accessibility hangs on James Franco’s performance, which I feel is certainly worthy of your attention here. The supporting cast, notably Zachary Quinto as Michael’s ex-boyfriend Bennett deliver solid performances, when they are given something to do.

I Am Michael is executive produced by Gus Van Sant. In addition to Sundance, the film screened most recently at the Berlin Film Festival.

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Image Credit: JAZO PR

Filed Under: film festival, Reviews Tagged With: i am michael, sundance 2015, sundance 2015 i am michael

February 24, 2015 By iluvcinema 1 Comment

Sundance 2015 Review: Coming of Age Stories

For my last double-bill recap for Sundance 2015 (one more singular review tomorrow), I would like to focus on a couple of dramas about young women, coming of age in two separate time periods: 1950s post-war Brooklyn, New York and 1970’s swinging San Francisco. These also have the honor of being a couple of my favorite films of the festival.

 

Brooklyn

Adapted by author Nick Hornby (based on the novel of the same name by Colm Tóibín), Brooklyn stars Saoirse Ronan as Eilis Lacey, a young woman from Ireland sent across the sea to find a new life in the land of opportunity. Under the patronage of a fellow transplant, a priest played by the always delightful Jim Broadbent she finds work and a place to stay. But is it enough to make a life? We witness Eilis’ struggles to make this new place her home; the residents and matron (the ebullient Julie Waters) of the all-female boarding house where she resides help her along the way. It also doesn’t hurt that she meets a young man (AWWW).

As all of this is going on, we catch glimpses of her family’s (mother and sister) life back in Ireland. And at the point where these two threads converge, like Eilis, we are caught in having to make a very harrowing decision.

If it sounds like I am being a bit vague – well yeah, I am. I don’t want to spoil anything for you because for me it was so lovely to watch the layers fall away on this film.

It has been said before, but I will say it again – Ronan is a talent to be reckoned with. Her face is so expressive, especially in the quieter moments – you feel what she is feeling because she makes it seem so real.

She is supported of course by an awesome cast including the aforementioned Broadbent and Waters, as well as Domhnall Gleeson and Emory Cohen.

Brooklyn is directed by John Crowley (Boy A). Since its debut at Sundance, Fox Searchlight has acquired distribution rights to the film; wide theatrical release dates TBD.

15456-1-1100

 

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Sourced from the graphic novel by Phoebe Gloeckner, The Diary of a Teenage Girl regales us the always-relatable growing pains and misadventures of a teenager – here in the form of aspiring comic book artist Minnie Goetze (played by newcomer Bel Powley). While these aspirations do play a role in our story, the “main event” centers on the relationship she has with her mother (Kristen Wiig – the coolest librarian EVER) and Monroe, her mom’s latest boyfriend (Alexander Skarsgård). Christopher Meloni makes an appearance as her professorial ex-stepdad who still serves as a father figure in her life.

When I found out that this was the feature film debut for director/screenwriter Marielle Heller, I was equally surprised and pleased. This was an imaginative, inventive and overall fun journey through Minnie’s world, even as it dealt with some of the darker elements that lie therein. And be warned, her world, especially for that of a young woman, does have decidedly twisted and unfortunate turns. It is again (in my opinion) a marvel that Heller was able to extract from this the lightness that many of the moments deserved.

This of course is bolstered by the strength of the performances of her cast. They all were able to successfully balance the material and modulate between the hilarious moments to the more serious matters when they present themselves.

The film also has a great sense of time and location, and not necessarily in a postcard sense either. The Diary of a Teenage Girl does well in capturing the spirit and vibe of that San Francisco counterculture era.

Not sure about the distribution/release date on this one, but rest assured, it is one to look out for.

diary

* The Diary of a Teenage Girl was the winner of the US Dramatic Special Jury Award for Excellence in Cinematography.

Images credit: The Sundance Institute

Filed Under: film festival, Reviews Tagged With: brooklyn, sundance 2015, the diary of a teenage girl

February 20, 2015 By iluvcinema Leave a Comment

Sundance 2015 Review: Portraits of Artists

Happy Friday all! Thank the cinematic gods, but my Sundance reviews are finally winding down. Today, I am featuring a couple of artist-related biographies I had the pleasure of watching last month. Unlike some of the narrative features I have covered, these docs are soon to be available to a wide audience.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

 

Introduction

I may have mentioned this before, but big screen or small, I really like biographical documentaries. This year at Sundance provided me with a double bill of portraits of talented, yet enigmatic in many ways, personalities from the world of music and film.

 

Listen to Me Marlon (directed by Stevan Riley)

As much as I like the work of Marlon Brando, the man himself has equally fascinated me. I mean there is so much there to wonder about and discover. And love him or hate him, he left a legacy for fans such as me to chew on.

For me, it all started while I was in the summer of 1996. In school and with limited entertainment options, I was forced to find other means of passing my down time. It is then that I picked up his 1994 autobiography, Songs My Mother Taught Me (collaborated with Robert Lindsey). I loved this voluminous, VERY descriptive account of the span of his life. That said, one does end up wondering how much of what he is telling us is actual, concrete fact and how much is an invention or embellishment of what was. Either way, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Ever since then, I have been hooked, as evidenced nearly a decade later, when I attended a panel discussion where the likes of Arthur Penn and Eli Wallach discussed Brando’s work and impact on the world. It was certainly a night to remember.

Fast forward to the present day and here we are with a documentary that literally speaks for itself. Hundreds of hours of audio tapes and personal home videos and photographs have been condensed into a 95-minute personal and professional scrapbook of sorts.

Overall, the film works, save for what can only be best described as “Max Headroom” moments – a digitized rendering of Brando’s head narrating. At times, this really took me out of the story.

Listen to Me Marlon will air on the Showtime network (coming soon).

Marlon Brando

 

What Happened, Miss Simone? (directed by Liz Garbus)

A very intimate and informative profile of the iconic singer/pianist, What Happened, Miss Simone? traces Simone’s life from the backwoods of North Carolina to dimming lights of Paris.

What happens in between is a revealing and sometimes shocking play of triumphs, tragedies and controversies. I never considered myself super knowledgeable about the woman, but I am familiar with a fair portion of her musical catalog. So believe me when I tell you that this film was a real revelation for me. The depths of what I did not know about her was astonishing – from her prodigious beginnings through to her successes and her ardent political activism. I think my favorite fun fact is that for several of her halcyon years, she lived in my hometown of Mount Vernon (NY).

While there is a sampling of her music and performances littered throughout the 102-minute film, it is the roller coaster of her life that captures you as a viewer. Through archived audio and video footage, interviews with family and friends and passages taken straight out of her private diary, this is a rare glimpse at the eccentricities and personal demons that would ultimately for a time, consume this one of a kind talent.

Also to the film’s credit, Simone’s daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly as an Executive Producer. I’ll leave it at that.

What Happened, Miss Simone? is scheduled for release on Netflix this spring.

Nina Simone

 

Image credit: The Sundance Institute

Filed Under: Documentaries, film festival Tagged With: documentaries, listen to me marlon, netflix, showtime, sundance 2015, What Happened Miss Simone

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