The 2010 Atlanta Film Festival: Press Edition

larrymcg421 · 04-05-2010, 08:37 PM

I have been attending the Atlanta Film Festival for 11 years and have blogged about the 2007 and 2009 events. I did a dynasty for my 2009 coverage here. I have never been more excited than this year, because I have received full press credentials for the event. Not only will I have access to all screenings, but I will have a chance to see many films before the festival starts. Like last year, I will provide reviews of all films I have seen, with some side stories on the atmosphere of the festival, and perhaps snag some interviews as well.

Last year's festival included some films that went on to indie success like (500) DAYS OF SUMMER and MOON, three short films that were nominated for Oscars, and some hidden gems like THAT EVENING SUN. Films that have screened at the festival in earlier years include RUN LOLA RUN, LOVELY & AMAZING, THE HEART OF THE GAME, KING OF KONG: A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS, and SPELLBOUND.

The festival will open on April 15th with the documentary FREEDOM RIDERS by Stanley Nelson, depicting an important moment in the civil rights movement and will close on April 23rd with THE SECRET TO A HAPPY ENDING, a documentary about local band Drive by Truckers. In between, there are a wide variety of films, including a behind the scenes documentary about Saturday Night Live, an alternate history Civil War mockumentary, and the always popular animated shorts programs.

I have planned to see 59 films during the festival (not including the many shorts programs) and will provide reviews in between and after screenings.

Also, like last year, I will continue updating throughout the year when certain films make their way to theaters or DVD.

larrymcg421 · 04-05-2010, 08:38 PM

Here are some trailers for various films that will be at the festival...

The Battle of Bunker Hill

NONAMES

NY Export: Opus Jazz

The Myth of Time

The Mountain Thief

The Good Heart

Dear Lemon Lima

yellowbrickroad

Winter's Bone

The Eyes of Me

Handsome Harry

larrymcg421 · 04-07-2010, 01:38 AM

The festival doesn't start until the 15th, but I was granted access to see certain films before the festival begins. I will be reviewing those as I see them. When the festival starts, I will switch to the day by day approach that I used last year.

Souled Out Comedy (5/10)

This documentary has a pretty interesting premise. It follows a group of African-American comics who are trying to shed the stereotypical expextations that follow them. For the most part, they avoid vulgarity and raunchiness that is prevalent on the scene. The film is structured as a series of (oddly staged) interviews with each comic interspersed with shots of their routines. The movie attempts to make a point about how the comedians struggle against these expectations (white audiences expect the worst and stay away, black audiences expect what they're used to and are disappointed). However, the film doesn't show any of these struggles. Not once are they booed off stage or shown performing in front of sparse crowds. The director also picks some bizarre ways to interview his subjects (they're either walking or driving and often seem distracted). The routines are often funny, but not so funny that you get the sense they are being held back by stereotypes, but moreso they are just going through the general difficulties that most comics have to deal with.

larrymcg421 · 04-07-2010, 09:45 PM

Cropsey (8/10)

Filmmakers Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zeman grew up in Staten Island, where as children they were told to beware of the boogeyman named Cropsey who murdered children that wandered too far into the forest. This urban legend turned out to frighteningly close to reality when Andre Rand was arrested for the murders of one of the children that had disappeared. The filmmakers have returned to their hometown as Rand is on trial for the murder of one of the other kids that had gone missing two decades earlier. The film follows the events of the trial, interviewing the key players and utilizing footage of news coverage.

The film uses some clever techniques to provide a chilling backdrop for what could otherwise be a run of the mill true crime documentary. There is a creepy score, many cuts to eerie footage of the forest, and some truly terrifying footage of an undercover news report that Geraldo Rivera did when he exposed a nearby mental hospital. They also deftly handle the multiple aspects of the trial, providing a balanced portrait that is fair to the victims but also casting doubt on the evidence against Rand, including undermining the credibility of the witnesses against him.In the end, the filmmakers have presented a haunting portrait of a hidden aspect of their hometown.

larrymcg421 · 04-08-2010, 02:40 AM

9500 Liberty (9/10)

This is an intensely powerful political film that details the battle over immigration reform in Prince William County, Virginia. The trouble starts when the county Board of Supervisors considers a resolution targeting illegal aliens that contains broad language including a probable cause mandate allowing officers wide authority to check papers without any evidence of wrongdoing. The film shows how the resolution divided the county on racial lines.

The filmmakers have a very strong argument to make. Regardless of one's feelings on illegal immigration, they demonstrate how hatred and bigotry was a driving factor in the political process. The Board Supervisor Corey Stewart becomes a major champion of the resolution and he shares a disturbing alliance with an extreme right wing blogger. The resolution itself was actually drawn up by a anti-immigration group called FAIR that is considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. And there are many, many clips of citizens speaking up at board meetings using inflammatory and at times outright racist language.

The film is also successful at detailing the efforts of the community to combat this injustice. People from all backgrounds come together to attack the resolution and in one of the more powerful moments of the film, they make a strong stand in support of the police chief, whose job is threatened by Stewart after the chief holds a meeting with the community to explain how enforcement would take place. The film shows us how racism can still influence politics in this day and age, but it also shows how a community can use the same political process when they come together to defeat bigotry.

larrymcg421 · 04-08-2010, 10:51 PM

Love on the Rocks (5/10)

Love on the Rocks is reminiscent of previous Atlanta Film Fest selection Make Out With Violence. Both films present a combination of stark violence and humor and showcase strong technical skill that promises a decent future for the filmmakers. Unfortunately, both films also have issues when it comes to storytelling, and Love on the Rocks specifically struggles with a shifting tone that just does not work.

After a shockingly violent opening, the story opens with Amber and Barry having just broken up. Both try to move on, but find themselves involved with very disturbed individuals. Amber begins dating a man that is a brutal serial killer, while Barry gets involved with a hypnotist that trains him to act like a dog. The film follows these two separate storylines until they intersect.

The major problem is the jarring transitions between the two stories. The serial killer angle is appropriately bizarre and contains some memorably disturbing sequences. However, Barry's story is just far too silly to exist in the same film. It does take away from the film's serious symbolic ending when it just followed Barry and other men walking around on all fours in dog outfits. Despite this, I look forward to seeing what director Justin Edwards and appealing lead actress Lauren Jennings do in the future.

larrymcg421 · 04-09-2010, 08:10 PM

Dumbstruck (8/10)

One of my favorite types of documentaries that often show up at film festivals are the ones that focus on people with a specialized hobby or passion that seems far from the mainstream. Past festival screenings have included movies about classic arcade games (King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters), Scrabble (Word Wars), and semi-pro baseball (Faded Glory). Dumbstruck is another film in this genre and it follows the lives of five ventriloquists who are at various points in their careers.

The success of a film likes this heavily hinges on the personalities of the subjects that are chosen, and former West Wing writer Mark Goffman has found six engaging individuals. Terry Fator is the star attraction, as we witness his transformation from struggling performer to winner of America's Got Talent to signing a $100 million contract for his Vegas show. Along the way we also meet former beauty queen Kim, nervous 13 year old Dylan, cruise ship performer Dan, and the financially struggling Wilma.

What's really surprising about this film is the sense of community that the ventriloquists have developed. When Wilma is facing a foreclosure on her home, it is donations from her ventriloquist friends that help save it. The film builds to a year end convention which is attended by each of the individuals, including Terry Fator who has now attained celebrity status. Watching the way they bond over their shared craft turned out to actually be a moving portrait of people chasing their dreams.

larrymcg421 · 04-11-2010, 02:37 PM

Feed the Fish (4/10)

This is one of the higher profile films at the festival because it features a couple recognizable faces in the cast, most notably Tony Shalhoub as an oddball sheriff and Northern Exposure's Barry Corbin, both playing off their own popular images. Unfortunately it is also one of those typical festival films that is just too quirky for its own good. It quickly loses any sense of reality and becomes hard to care about anything.

Joe Peterson is a writer of violent children's books who has had a nasty case of writer's block. He decides to head to a small town in northern Wisconsin to take part in the town's annual Polar Bear Plunge. While there, he quickly makes enemies among the town's odd residents. He does eventually find romance with a perky local waitress, but she happens to be the daughter of the town sheriff.

Unfortunately, the film doesn't work because so much of it is trying too hard to be funny, including a labored attempt at penis reattachment jokes. Shalhoub's sheriff is not a full-fledged character, but just an excuse for him to do a riff on his Monk routine. When Joe's girlfriend from back home shows up, the plot goes through some fairly predictable romantic comedy elements. So here we have a movie that is either too quirky or too predictable. It misses the proper balance and thus falls completely apart.

larrymcg421 · 04-12-2010, 05:33 PM

Divorcing God (5/10)

Here's an interesting documentary focusing on a sad situation (divorce) that takes a look at what it's like when a devout Christian has to deal with it. The idea is good and the central subject certainly sympathetic. The problem is the director's inability (or unwillingness) to cover all sides of the situation, and thus we are only left with half a story.

Gil and Sydney are devout Christians so firm in their belief that they don't even believe in kissing before marriage. They stay true to this belief through their engagement and eventually get married. Sadly, only a few months after their wedding Sydney is seeking a separation. Gil strongly believes that divorce is wrong and that God meant for him to be with her. He stays true to this belief although it appears to be a lost cause.

The biggest problem is that we don't hear from Sydney much at all until the very end of the movie, where she has a tearful monologue about feeling ostracized because of her decision. Without getting more info from her, it feels like an incomplete film. It's hard not to feel bad for Gil as he is presented in the film, but we never really know what happened. At one point, Gil feels the need to point out that it was his idea they didn't kiss before marriage. The film (via the harsh title) seems to suggest that she wasn't as strong a believer as he was, but perhaps there was more to the story.

larrymcg421 · 04-13-2010, 03:09 AM

Big Font Large Spacing (7/10)

I admit to feeling a sense of trepidation as I read the premise to this film. Big Font. Large Spacing promises to tell the story of two college students, Tom and Steve, who suddenly realize they have one night to complete a 5000 word essay for their philosophy class or they will flunk out of school. Reading that, I wondered why this was feature length instead of a short film format that would be better suited to such a thin premise. But writer-director Paul Howard Allen goes beyond the confines of that description and has actually authored a surprisingly insightful and funny film about relationships.

The scenes with the two guys are pretty standard fare, but they are funny. They continually get distracted playing video games, smoking pot, or trying to plagiarize another person's paper. The director uses a clever method of tracking their progress with constant intercuts showing how many words they've written. Unfortunately, the Steve role is a bit underdeveloped. He's funny, but a little too stuck in the stereotypical screw up best friend (think Zach Galifanikas) role.

Where the film really shines is when it develops the two lead female characters. Susan is Tom's girlfriend and Debbie is her roommate. The two have a decidedly antagonistic relationship, resenting each other for various reasons. In between scenes of the guys feverishly working on their essays, there's some really strong and thoughtful dialogue as the two women talk things out. They actually become more interesting than their male counterparts and pretty much steal the show.

larrymcg421 · 04-14-2010, 01:00 AM

Alley Pat: The Music is Recorded (8/10)

James "Alley Pat" Patrick was an Atlanta-based black DJ who gained notoriety in the 50s for his blunt, sometimes shocking commentary. He had no editor and never thought twice about what he was going to say. Yet it was these qualities that helped him gain a loyal following throughout the decade and become an important figure in the civil rights movement. Utilizing seemingly unlimited access to tapes of Patrick's shows, Director Tom Roche's film follows his career and provides an honest and funny portrait of this very interesting man.

One of the most interesting aspects of Alley Pat's radio show was how he utilized sponsorships. He was a savvy businessman and was able to get "ads" sold directly to him. But unlike the modern radio hosts worshipping the products they are endorsing, he would aoften denigrate the product. For example, for a local auto repair shop he said, "if they don't do it right the first time, they'll do it again". He would denigrate restaurants and other businesses, but was still able to get sponsors because people would flock to these establishments just because Alley Pat mentioned them. Other memorable parts of the radio show included his confrontational interviews with local pastors and a frequent female caller who always claimed to have just slept with him.

The most memorable aspect of the film comes near the end when Roche focuses on Patrick's friendship with civil rights icon Hosea Williams. The two often directly challenged one another with humorous insults on several talk show appearances, but behind the scenes they were inseparable. When Hosea Williams dies, Patrick is called to speak at his memorial service at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The speech he gives is a hilariously politically incorrect and moving testament to who his late friend realy was. We also find out some of the hidden things Patrick did during the civil rights movement, such as bailing out civil rights leaders. This is a very good film because it is directly honest and extremely funny, the same exact qualities that made Alley Pat such a success.

larrymcg421 · 04-15-2010, 01:48 AM

Godspeed (2/10)

One of the great things about attending festivals is finding hidden gems that don't get much attention or often fon't even get released. One of the bad things about attending festivals is that you'll occassionally run into some truly awful filmmaking. There are at least one or two films every year that are almost completely without merit. Godspeed certainly fits that category this year, a dismal drama that belongs on late night basic cable.

The first problem is the plot, which is far too thin to sustain a feature length running time. Charlie Shepard is a faith healer whose family is brutally murdered one night while he is having an affair with another woman. Years later, now a shell of his former self, he runs into a mysterious woman that appears to have some clues to his past. And that's about it. We find out very quickly who this woman is, how she's connected to him, and what she wants. And yet the film continues plodding along, taking an achingly long time to wrap things up.

The film features some pretty dreadful acting, with an ensemble cast that manages to stand where the director told them, but cannot find any nuance in their performances and spit out lines with an obnoxiously wooden delivery. Joseph McKelheer (who also wrote the awful script) is especially bad in the lead, bringing no charisma to the role of a guy that was supposedly a faith healer. This is one awful film that you should avoid at all costs, and I certainly hope it is the worst I see at this year's festival.

molson · 04-15-2010, 02:01 AM

I enjoyed your reviews and recaps in past years, I'll be reading.

larrymcg421 · 04-15-2010, 03:03 AM

Thanks, molson!

The festival starts tomorrow night at 8pm. I'm hoping to finish all the screeners I received before then, but I may have to work them in to my standard coverage.

larrymcg421 · 04-15-2010, 04:18 PM

Here's a random assortment of shorts I was available to screen before the festival:

The Adventures of Ledo and Ix (7/10)

Animated short that follows two video game characters from an old fashioned Final Fantasy-style adventure game as they ponder their existence and wander into that black space past the edge of the map. It's a clever premise with funny and solid execution.

The Ballad of Friday and June (3/10)

Remember all those funny moments from Up where the talking dogs shouted for squirrels or tennis balls? Well replace the computer animation with a live human and a puppet dog and that's what you've got here. Oh and also replace the funny jokes with secondhand ones that were probably cut from Up's script. (They even directly copy the squirrel joke.)

Cud (8/10)

Documentary short about Will Harris, a beef farmer from southwest Georgia. In the mid-90s he began to change his method of production to avoid the corporate system and sell only grass fed beef. The doc is good a making an argument for why this is better, but the real reason it works so well is that Harris is a very interesting individual who has a passion for his farm and strongly believes in what he is doing.

The Feast of Stephen (7/10)

From the Gay Shorts program comes this film directed by none other than James Franco. Shot in black and white, it tells the story of a gay teenager who is chased down by a group of bullies after they catch him staring at their basketball game. This is certainly an uncomfortable film, but Franco shows a very striking visual sense as director.

Follicle Frolic (6/10)

3 minute short film about a strange man who is obsessed with his male roommate's long, flowing hair. Has some funny moments and the ending is certainly unexpected.

Gayby (5/10)

A gay man and straight woman who have been friends since college (see: Will & Grace) decide to have a baby, but instead of in vitro fertilization, they plan on doing it the old-fashioned way. The story follows the awkwardness between them before, during, and after the event. It does capture the awkwardness very well and has a couple of funny moments, but this is a very limited premise.

Horn Dog (5/10)

The fourth in Bill Plympton's animated shorts series about an oddly shaped dog (kinda looks like a really fat bat) and his comic misadventures. Last year I enjoyed previous entry Fire Dog. In this entry, he takes a liking to an exquisite female show dog, but her owner isn't happy about it. This one has a couple funny moments, but the twist isn't very funny and the hero not quite as likeable this time around.

Ledo and Ix Go to Town (9/10)

Remember those old school RPG's when you finally found a new town but were constantly frustrated at all the NPC townsfolk that were absolutely useless? That's where our heroes Ledo and Ix find themselves in this hilarious sequel than surpasses its predecessor. Other hilarious bits involve Ix's obsessions with upgrading and equipping weapons and Ledo's struggle to take a chicken out of town.

Spoiler (6/10)

A man who enjoy spoiling the endings of movies for people waiting in line gets a shock as he receives a videotape that shows his own brutal death, and the footage looks frighteningly real. There is some interesting stuff here, but it's ironic that the ending of this film is quite predictable, not that I would dare spoil it for you.

Yulia (7/10)

Animated story of a single woman who gets electrocuted and finds herself in an empty room with no doors, but five levers labeled with different items (Chair, Hammer, Man, Cat, and a Heart). When the heart lever finally gets pulled, the result is much different than what she originally imagined. Unfortunately, I think it was a mistake to include this as part of the Lesbian Shorts program (instead of Animated Shorts), since that telegraphs the ending. Still, it's a cute story with a memorable animation style.

larrymcg421 · 04-16-2010, 04:34 AM

More shorts....

Ana's Playground (9/10)

Terrific short film with surprisingly strong production values. In an unnamed war torn country, a group of kids are playing soccer when the ball accidentally ends up in the middle of a sniper zone. A little girl decides to enter the area and try to retreive the ball, but must figure out how to dodge the sniper's shots. Really impressive story with a vivid backdrop. I wouldn't mind seeing this developed into a feature length film.

Asbury Park (4/10)

Melodramatic tale of a man returning home after a jail sentence has some decent cinematography, but otherwise plays out like an after school special. Features some bad overacting in the climactic scene.

Ice Scream (3/10)

Torture porn as a short film. That's basically what we have here. And even when the filmmakers have a twist, it simply leads to more ridiculous violence. The filmmakers certainly think they've made some great badass film with their ridiculous heavy metal music cue at the end.

The Last Cigarette (8/10)

A father comes to visit his estranged (and now pregnant) daughter, begging her to return home. She lets him talk to her, but only for the length of one cigarette. This is an extremely Well acted dramatic short with a perfect ending.

The Machine (6/10)

Animated story that feels a little too derivative of Dark City. Has an interesting animation style and haunting score, but the story and resolution are a bit predictable.

One Night (7/10)

Utilizing a clever editing style, this short tells the story of a young woman who went to a lesbian bar the night before and got home bloody and bruised. The film intercuts between these two moments and unravels pieces to the story a bit at a time. The resolution is unexpected and emotionally gripping. Only drawback is one key scene that is poorly directed.

Puppets of War (6/10)

Take All Quiet on the Western Front, replace the live actors with puppets, and that's pretty much what you get here. The puppetry work is admittedly impressive, but the fact that it's puppets makes it difficult for the film to build dramatic tension.

Winner: Best Short Film (7/10)

Danny Caine is a filmmaker hot on the heels of winning Sundance with a short film that was 5 seconds long (including end credits and a blooper reel). Now he's at the home of a hollywood producer, trying to convince him that he's ready to direct a big budget feature. Intermittently amusung, but the funniest part comes at the end when they show the 5 second film.

larrymcg421 · 04-16-2010, 06:01 AM

Opening Night: April 15, 2010

Freedom Riders (7/10)

The Atlanta Film Festival has really gone all out in previous years to make the Opening and Closing Nights into big events. Last year the fest opened with Howard Zinn film The People Speak and featured a bevy of stars in attendance for the Q&A (Josh Brolin, Eddie Vedder, Jasmine Guy). This year they open with another socially conscious film, Stanley Nelson's documentary about a landmark moment in the civil rights struggle.

The Freedom Riders were a biracial group of civil rights activists who in May 1961 left Washington DC to travel through the south, in defiance of segregationist state and local laws. The first trip to Alabama ended with one bus being destroyed and the group on the other bus being beaten by a mob once they arrived. It seemed like the idea would die, but a group of college students took up the cause and departed on their own Freedom Rides. Brutality and jail time were in store for each group that made the trip, but they kept coming and coming and coming, until the federal government was finally forced to intervene.

It is a pretty straightforward documentary, following the events in a simple ABC fashion, kinda feeling like a good historical doc that you might find on PBS or the History Channel. At times, it feels more like a historical lesson than a film. However, Nelson does a few things that add enough artistry to the film to rise above that description, much like he did in his haunting previous documentary about the Jonestown Massacre.

He utilizes some amazing footage, including a kitschy Greyhound Bus commercial at the time that serves as nice juxtaposition, footage from a Czech news report about the mob riots, and most shockingly footage of the burning bus shot from a home video camera that had been confiscated by the FBI for over 4 decades. Another thing he gets right is his willingness to criticize some of our more revered historical figures. John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy both come off looking really bad here due to their constant unwillingness to commit federal resources to protect the riders. Nelson even documents that there was heavy criticism of Martin Luther King Jr. for his refusal to take part in the rides.

Most importantly, Nelson was able to interview the individuals who took part in this movement. The Freedom Riders discuss the events from their own perspective. One of the more incredible moments of the story is when they talk about signing wills before they got on the bus. They knew it could’ve been one of the last things they ever do. Their dedication to achieving freedom and equality in the face of such danger is inspiring.

Also interesting was the Q&A afterwards which included director Stanley Nelson and many of the original Freedom Riders. They talked about how the strategy for the civil rights movement was largely based on the tactics Gandhi employed in India, something Nelson admits he had cut from the film. They even provided some amusing anecdotes about their time in prison and how they came up with songs to pass the time. It was definitely a good start to the festival.

larrymcg421 · 04-17-2010, 06:54 AM

Disappointing day two at the festival...

Crossing in St. Augustine(CB Hackworth) 7/10

The civil rights theme of the festival continues with this documentary that takes a look at an often overlooked chapter in the civil rights movement. In 1964, Andrew Young was brutally beaten while trying to cross a street in St. Augustine. The film takes a look at what happened before and after this event, and how it had a profound impact on the passage of the 1964 civil rights bill and the city of St. Augustine.

The film is structured from Andrew Young's point of view. He narrates it from the perspective of returning to present day St. Augustine and going to the same exact spot where the beating took place. Despite this, it manages to avoid seeming like a self serving story because Young doesn't even see himself as a hero. In fact a key line in the film mentions how he was actually sent to St. Augustine to calm things down (King was worried that tensions would jeopardize negotiations in Washington), and he's glad that he completely failed. Also, the film gives most of the credit for the eventual success in St. Augustine to a man named Dr. Robert Hayling.

It does have a couple flaws. Some of the present day interview segments seem very stagey (especially when his wife and daughter talk to the camera) and a tangent late in the film where they mention how some African-Americans feel things were better under segregation (because there was a better sense of community) should have been shelved unless they were willing to properly explore it. Still, this is a refreshing documentary because it does a solid job of covering a subject that has not received much attention.

Family Affair (Chico Colvard) 6/10

One of the more uncomfortable documentaries I have seen. This unpleasant film is about a family that has been torn apart by multiple tragedies. It is told from the point of view of the filmmaker as he tries to come to terms with the rather bizarre current dynamic of his family. While the willingness to explore such subject matter is admirable, this is a film that could probably have used more time in the editing booth.

When Director Chico Colvard was 10 years old, he accidentally shot his sister in the leg. This traumatic event ended up serving as the impetus for his sister to reveal that their father had been molesting her and their two other sisters for years. Their father wound up going to jail for one year, mother left town, and they grew up in foster homes. Shockingly, the beginning of the film shows footage from a present day family Thanksgiving celebration with the father in attendance and the now adult girls treating their father pleasantly as if nothing had ever happened.

This is all very disturbing stuff, which makes it even more important that the material be handled appropriately. However, the editing is really choppy and many of the interviews are awkwardly handled. A surprisingly pleasant interview with his mother seems rather jarring in tone to the rest of the film. It definitely could have used either more polish from a more experienced documentary filmmaker or at least more personal approach, which is lacking because the director chose to narrate from behind the camera.

The Good Heart (Dagur Kari) 3/10

Here's one of the bigger disappointments of the festival so far. Brian Cox is one of the best character actors we have in Hollywood right now. A character drama centered around him shouldn't be too difficult to pull off. But director Dagur Kari's film is a mess that features uneven acting, worthless supporting characters, and one of the worst endings I've seen in a long time.

Jacques (Cox) a lonely, bitter bartender who has no shortage of contempt for others, even including his few very loyal patrons. He has constant heart problems and on one hospital visit he meets a homeless man (Paul Dano). Thinking he doesn't have much longer to live, Jacques decides to take this man under his wing and train him to take over the bar. But he's decidedly not happy with some of the changes that take place, including a woman entering the picture.

This is one of those films where we watch a curmudgeon slowly turn into a good guy. There have been good examples of this genre, but The Good Heart is littered with disastrous flaws. Cox is good, but he overacts for most of the movie. Paul Dano's performance is heavily mannered. As for the female character, there's no point in criticizing the performance since she's nothing more than a transparent plot device whose actions make very little sense. The denouement is a particularly revolting set of circumstances that proves the only purpose of every character in the film is to make Jacques a good guy, a transition that is not believable for one second.

Slap Down (Jesus Christ) 4/10

Having been to the Atlanta Film Festival for 11 years, I've learned that if you attend one of the weekend midnight screenings, you're in store for something different. Slap Down certainly fits that bill, and then some. It's a revenge story told in an absurdist narrative structure that makes it very hard to figure out what's going on for at least the first 15-20 minutes.

Dec (Dec Stone) is a young man who unwittingly ends up with posession of a mysterious box that is the center of a battle between the Secret Agents and the Mafia. When the Mafia kidnaps Dec's sister to force him to bring them the box, he turns to the Secret Agents for help. They respond by teaching him a fighting technique called "Slap Down" and he sets off on his quest to take down the Mafia and get his sister back.

It's much weirder than that description probably leads you to believe. Think of it as an unholy hybrid of Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch, and Stephen Chow. (One major failed attempt at humor is the fact that Jesus Christ is credited as director). The camera cuts feverishly, moves forwards and backwards in time, balances gruesome violence with silly comedy, and contains some truly bizarre fight sequences. Despite all of the clever techniques employed, it soon becomes clear that they are working with a very thin narratives. Sorry Jesus, but your movie is not very good.

molson · 04-17-2010, 11:34 PM

Still waiting for this year's "Moon" - the movie from last year's festival that would have probably been under my radar if not for this thread. Instead, I got to see it at the theater, and it rocked.

larrymcg421 · 04-18-2010, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molson

Still waiting for this year's "Moon" - the movie from last year's festival that would have probably been under my radar if not for this thread. Instead, I got to see it at the theater, and it rocked.

That's really great to hear stuff like that!

I just got back from day three, where I saw six films. One of them was really good, but still no Moon (or 500 Days of Summer) yet. I have very high hopes for some stuff coming up in the next couple days.

Hoping to finish day three reviews before I leave for day four, because I'd rather not get behind, but my bed is calling my name....

larrymcg421 · 04-19-2010, 11:33 AM

Today started off really well, but was a disappointment overall...

The Athlete (Davey Frankel, Rasselas Lakew) 7/10

We open the day with a film that sounds like your typical sports underdog story, but has an interesting structure and some unique qualities that help it rise above other examples of the genre. It follows the story of Abebe Bikila, an Ethiopian athlete who in 1960 became the first African to win an Olympic Gold Medal.

The film opens after your typical sports movie has ended. Bikila has already achieved his great success and has become a hero to the people in his hometown, which the film shows through real newsreels covering those events. He is now in training for the 1972 Olympics, despite many people telling him he will be too old by then. Tragically, a car accident takes that decision out of his hands.

Still, Bikila refuses to quit, and the film does a terrific job of capturing his tremendous competitive spirit. What really works is the decision by directors Davey Frankel and Rasselas Lakew to not litter the film with distracting subplots. Bikila mentions a family, but they are not seen. There is no romance, no big court case, and minor characters do not overstay their welcome. This is Bikila's story and it is a wonderful one.

Racing Dreams (Marshall Curry) 7/10

Another in the long line of festival documentaries about people taking part in unique competitions. This one follows three kids from ages 11 to 13 as they look to become the next World Karting Association's National Champion. If you're thinking the standard go karts you see at amusement parks, you're wrong. These vehicles exceed 70 MPH and there are many serious accidents throughout the film.

The success of documentaries in this genre depends heavily on whether the filmmakers have chosen interesting subjects to follow. and in these three kids, they've done a pretty good job. Brandon is a feisty troublemaker who often gets suspended from school and was disqualified last year for rough racing. Annabeth is passionate about racing, spending 48 weekends out of the year racing in various events across the country. All of them dream of one day driving in NASCAR, but financial difficulties make it hard to keep competing at their level.

The only person that doesn't garner much interest is Josh, in part because the filmmakers themselves don't seem too interested in him. they seem more interested in a burgeoning romance between Annabeth and Brandon, which is certainly cute (Annabeth borrows Brandon's trophy and writes her phone # on the bottom of it), but seems to have been pushed along by the filmmakers. The film also builds a bit of ample tension int he final race, as there is a fear one of the drivers will be disqualified. The film is a memorable look at kids chasing their dreams.

The Battle for Bunker Hill (Kevin Willmott) 5/10

What if a small town got cut off from the rest of the world? What if there were rumors that it had to do with a terrorist attack and some people took advantage of that situation to control the town by mob rule? What if you saw a television series called Jericho and then several years later an independent film popped up at a film festival with the exact same premise?

Now to be fair, there's nothing necessarily wrong with taking a familiar premise and putting a fresh spin on it. And at least the filmmakers seem to have attempted that. Unfortunately, director Kevin Willmott seems so concerned with making sure the audience understands the political argument he's making that he forgets to make sure it is deftly woven into the narrative. Nearly every scene has a comment on a modern political event. The villains are clearly meant to represent both teabaggers and the Bush administration ("You're with us or you're against us" shouted several times). The main character was recently in jail for insider trading. There are also attacks on racism, homophobia, and a mean-spirited clunky attack on organized religion. This gets to be a bit much.

The result is a movie that is not very entertaining. Everything that happens is so transparent that it's hard to care about what happens to any of the characters in it. I certainly agree with many of the political analogies that were made in the film, and certainly a great movie could be made from exploring them, but you still need a good story. You still need strongly developed characters. This film has neither of those and thus it falls completely apart.

Tierra Madre (Dylan Verrechia) 5/10

Aidee Gonzalez (playing herself) is an exotic dancer in a Mexican border town. She's lived a rough life, with a worthless husband who is no longer in the picture. She has a dream for saving up money to buy a house for and her daughter. Told in an interesting mixture of documentary and narrative, this film is unfortunately derailed by bad acting and weak character development.

One of the major sins this movie commits is to skip past some important events by having the main character tell us about them in a voiceover. Some of the major personal things like her first kiss with her new girlfriend are just mentioned and not shown. In fact, we go straight through the beginning of that relationship to where they've already moved in. And the characterization of her girlfriend is so weak that there's little reason to care about the relationship.

Surprisingly, the best scenes come from Aidee's daughter and her best friend. Both deliver natural performances that are actually much better than any of the adult actors in the film. The two of them have honest, interesting discussions about her mother's life and their own futures that are far more interesting than anything else in the movie. While I sympathize with what Aidee has gone through in real life, it is simply not portrayed very well in this film.

NoNAMES (Kate Lindboe) 6/10

Kevin and his friends are stuck in a small Wisonsin town. Alcohol, drugs, and wild parties are pretty much their only escape. During one of these parties, Kevin's girlfriend CJ is raped by a childhood friend. She refuses to press charges and just wants to move only. NoNAMES is about how these events changed each of the characters and set them on a different path for the future.

This is one depressing film. Despite his efforts to change his life, the main character seems to have the worst possible luck in almost every single scene. The rapist keeps coming back and causing damage. And yet, it's Kevin that still gets treated like trash by local law enforcement and CJ's parents. That either could come to the conclusion that Kevin is at fault is frustrating and maddening.

To be fair, this is not a film without merit. Director Kate Lindboe has a really good sense of how to work with her actors, and with them she's created an authentic portrait of male friendship. I just wished she had used that in a better story. There is a nice, quiet moment late in the film that would have been a perfect ending. Unfortunately, the film runs on for several more minutes in an ending that seems needlessly prolonged. Chalk this one up as a missed opportunity.

Pushin' Up Daisies (Patrick Franklin) 7/10

Here's another midnight festival screening, and another strange film. However, this one is strange in all the good ways. I love the premise for this film. A struggling filmmaker returns to his hometown of Tokyo, Georgia to make a documentary about the connection between flowers and the various stages of human life. Unfortunately, the documentary gets interrupted by a zombie invasion of the town.

This isn't the first zombie comedy and it won't be the last. But this one is filled with some very funny ideas. For example, the central joke is that zombies aren't so scary. After all, they move very slowly and are pretty easy to get away from. So they attempt to continue the documentary by shooting around the zombies. This leads to hilarious situations, including memorial services for families whose relatives came back to life as zombies and had to be killed again.

When sticking to these ideas, the film works very well. It is a bit less successful later on when it seems to lose focus and make an attempt at pathos by discussing the main caracter's issues with his late parents. There's also a heroic speech given by one of the supporting characters that runs on way too long. It starts off funny, but soon becomes rather repetitive and annoying. But that's not enough to take away the many pleasures that this film brings. It's a fun example of original ultra-low budget filmmaking.

larrymcg421 · 04-20-2010, 06:50 AM

A wildly uneven day with one of the best movies I've ever seen at the festival, and also one of the worst...

Exit 117 (Kevin James McMullin) 8/10

Here's a nice little slice of life about a group of friends just graduated from high school that are trying to figure out what to do with their lives. Now that description sounds pretty generic. It's certainly a common premise for independent films and I was disappointed in last year's similarly themed The New Twenty. However, Exit 117's winning characters help make this one of the better examples of this genre.

It's quite an achievement for writer-director Kevin James McMullin that he's able to create characters that are so sharply drawn and multi-dimensional when he's dealing with so many of them. There are at least 7 central characters and many other supporting that are also well drawn. The decision to hire actors with no experience pays off because they give very natural performances that help create a sense of authenticity.

Also remarkable is that the film was made for only $850, yet McMullin was able to craft it so well that there were no technical issues hampering enjoyment of the film. In fact, there are several impressive shots throughout and the director is really able to create a nice sense of place in this seemingly dead end New Jersey town. The plot description mentions that it is meant to be an antidote to MTV's Jersey Shore and they've certainly accomplished that. This is a positive, uncynical look at real people with real hopes and fears.

The Myth of Time (Jaguar X) 1/10

A surrealist film from director Jaguar X (whatever) based on the Mayan creation myth. This is one dreadful film and I pretty much hated every single second of it. It is overly pretentious filmmaking at its worst and possibly the worst film I have ever seen in 11 years of attending the Atlanta Film Festival.

I had to read the guide to get the plot because I barely understood anything that happened. Apparently, it's about "The Dark Eyed One ... and his experiences as a child solider, first love, and ultimately The Revelation". That's great, but I shouldn't have to read the press kit to figure out what I just saw. Example: There's a tribal scene where a white man keeps repeatedly talking about what his "Negro mother" is going to do to the hero. I'm sure Mr. Jaguar X knows what that means, but I'm honestly not interested.

The film is also extremely unpleasant. It's filled with ugly violence (at one point, there's a series of shots showing kids being murdered) and disturbing sexual situations. I've seen worse in other movies, but without a narrative that makes sense it is just unpleasant and difficult to watch. As things got worse and worse, I started to pass the time by counting how many people walked out of the screening. My final number came to 18.

The Mountain Thief (Gerry Balasta) 10/10

There's perhaps no bigger contrast between two movies than The Mountain Thief and The Myth of Time. There's also perhaps no better way to illustrate my taste in film than the different approaches made by these two filmmakers. The Mountain Thief is a genuinely heartfelt story that is the very antithesis of pretentious filmmaking.

Director Gerry Balasta tells us a story about a poor family that lives in a Philippines garbage town, where trash has been dumped so often that it has actually created a mountain of garbage. The people in this community make their living by collecting trash and there seems to be very little hope of finding a way out, especially since it makes more financial sense for the family to have children helping than sending them to school. Julio and his blind child Ingo are barely getting by when tragedy strikes and threatens not only their place in the community, but more importantly their rights to collect garbage.

Instead of hiring professional actors, Balasta picked his cast from people that lived in the garbage town and conducted an acting workshop with them. The result is (much like Exit 117) natural acting that manages to be quite affecting. The film also looks beautiful, with many grand shots of the mountain, suggesting that despite the misery that these people live in, the mountain takes on an almost mythic quality and is seemingly revered by the characters. After all, it's all they've got. The end credits contain information on the real people involved, and what Balasta has helped do for them since the movie was made. If you don't find this moving, then you must have made a deal with the devil.

Who Saw Him? (Claudia Rorarius) 5/10

From the Pink Peach program (films about LGBT issues) comes this strange German film from director Claudia Rorarius. It follows a gay man in his thirties as he attempts to find the father that he last saw 25 years earlier. This journey takes him to Italy where he tries to get on a family reunion show hosted by a transvestite.

The most odd thing about this movie is the bleak and flat tone. This is a very dry story that lacks any kind of emotional power, which is a serious detriment for a story that feels very personal. After all, the lead actor is playing himself and the story is based on events in his own life. Thus, it seems like a bizarre choice for the director to hold back so much in almost every single scene.

Gianni Meurer does a solid job playing himself in the lead role. There is one long monologue halfway through where the film seems to pick up some emotional momentum. But the director quickly puts a halt to that. It's also a rather unpleasant film to look at as the filmmaker overemphasizes darkness to set the mood. With little emotion and an awful visual scheme, the is an unpleasant film to watch.

Animation Extravaganza

This is always one of my favorite programs at the festival and I was actually disappointed that they reverted back to one program instead of the two they showed last year. (Note: some of these were pre-screened and the reviews are repeated here)...

The Adventures of Ledo and Ix (Emily Carmichael) 7/10

Animated short that follows two video game characters from an old fashioned Final Fantasy-style adventure game (see picture above) as they ponder their existence and wander into that black space past the edge of the map. It's a clever premise with funny and solid execution

The Anchorite (Matthew Maloney) 7/10

This one uses a haunting visual style to tell the story of a homeless artist struggling to complete a mural and to find a place for himself. Interesting story that is wonderful to look at.

The Fence Underneath Us (Steven Bednar) 6/10

A fox narrates about his life on a fox farm, discovering that there is a fence underneath preventing him from tunneling out. This one is only 3 minutes and too short to be memorable.

Goodbye Mr. Pink (Helen Piercy) 8/10

A mixture of live action and stop motion animation is used tell this story about a rabbit that has just died and two kids discussing what the rabbit's afterlife will be like. They are unaware that their words have a direct effect on the rabbit's afterlife. This is a charming story with many hilarious moments.

Happy and Strictly in 'Fuzzy Business' (Robert Paraguassu, Layne Braunstein) 7/10

Two animated characters (kinda shaped like the ghosts in Pac Man) that appear to be street cleaners pass the time by dreaming about being so rich they can start their own Bearline (get it?). Amusing enough and impressive animation considering this was made in 48 hours.

Horn Dog (Bill Plympton) 6/10

The fourth in Bill Plympton's animated shorts series about an oddly shaped dog (kinda looks like a really fat bat) and his comic misadventures. Last year I enjoyed previous entry in the series Fire Dog. In this one, he takes a liking to an exquisite female show dog, but her owner isn't happy about it. This one has a couple funny moments, but the twist isn't very funny and the hero not quite as likeable this time around.

Ledo and Ix Go to Town (Emily Carmichael) 9/10

Remember those old school RPG's when you finally found a new town but were constantly frustrated at all the NPC townsfolk that were absolutely useless? That's where our heroes Ledo and Ix find themselves in this hilarious sequel than surpasses its predecessor. Other hilarious bits involve Ix's obsessions with upgrading and equipping weapons and Ledo's struggle to take a chicken out of town.

The Lighthouse (Yelislava Gospodinova) 8/10

A lighthouse keeper is horrified by the death of birds that are attracted to his lighthouse and keep crashing through the windows to their deaths. He comes up with a solution, but it could have tragic consequences. Eerie story that feels like an animated Twilight Zone episode. Black and white animation style adds alot to the atmosphere.

The Machine (Rob Shaw) 7/10

Second time seeing this one and I liked it alot more this time around. A machine powered by gears (and nickels) tells a story about a man that creates a robot and watches the robot destroy everything and everyone. Has an interesting animation style and haunting score, but the ending is still a bit predictable.

Prayers For Peace (Dustin Grella) 10/10

Incredibly moving story about a man dealing with the loss of his brother who was a soldier that died in Iraq. This was drawn using pastels on a chalkboard and we see each scene drawn from scratch. This helps create an intimate, emotional vibe. There's a shocking audio cue at the end that shows just how personal the film is for director Dustin Grella.

Spaceman on Earth (Shant Hamassian) 7/10

Another animated outing that combines animation and live action. This is a funny science fiction story set in the 50s about an astronaut hero who keeps accidentally annoying his alien neighbor to no end and eventually finds himself on the run as a suspected communist.

The Story of Scrivener and His Aislyn (Evan Curtis) 7/10

One of the more disappointing entries in this program. The idea is solid: a young boy finds a film canister in the ocean and falls in love with the power of movies. He goes about filming things with his old camera. I love the use of old film footage inserted into the animation, creating a nice constrast to get across the point of how powerful the cinema can be. The film just feels like it needed to be fleshed out a bit more to create the kind of magic it is looking for.

larrymcg421 · 04-22-2010, 03:24 AM

The festival awards ceremony was held the night before. Films that were in competition were eligible for awards in different categories such as Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, and various awards for shorts voted on by jury members specifically picked for those categories. Here are this year's winners...

Feature Length

Narrative Feature: Putty Hill (Matt Porterfield)
Documentary Feature: Family Affair (Chico Colvard)
Pink Peach Feature: 8: The Mormon Proposition (Reed Cowan)

Shorts

Narrative Short: Firstborn (Etienne Kallos)
Narrative Short Hon Mention: Ana's Playground (Eric D. Howell)
Documentary Short: Born Sweet (Cynthia Wade)
Documentary Short Hon Mention: Woman Rebel (Kiran Deol)
Animated Short: The Machine (Rob Shaw)
Animated Short Hon Mention: Prayers for Peace (Dustin Grella)
Pink Peach Short: Curious Thing (Alain Hain)

There will also be an audience award announced at the end of the festival. I'll also be handing out my awards when I write my festival wrap up. Now on to today's reviews...

Putty Hill (Matt Porterfield) 9/10

The first film I see after the awards announcement happens to be the jury winner for Best Narrative Feature. It's easy to see what the jury liked about this movie. There is some really good filmmaking going on here. Putty Hill dissects the hopes and fears of people in a Baltimore neighborhood as they prepare for the funeral of a young man named Corey that was well known in the community. Director Matt Porterfield does a great job of creating a community of people and making the town they live in so recognizable that it feels like an extra character in the film.

Porterfield uses an interesting structure to the film. It's shot like a documentary and there is an off camera voice asking questions to the various characters and capturing various events. But you never get the sense that someone is actually filming a documentary. Even when uncomfortable questions are being asked, none of the characters seem to think they can just stop answering. This helps explain how he can capture certain private moments, like a discussion between Corey's sister and grandmother. It also makes it feel like the viewer is there, like you've traveled to Baltimore to attend the funeral of someone you knew.

Also working in the film's favor is the improvisational style employed. The movie was cast with untrained actors and they improvised most of the dialogue. It creates a real feeling of authenticity as you don't see anyone playing it up for the cameras or suddenly spouting some brilliant dialogue that feels written. The most wonderful moment is the memorial service itself, which takes place at a karaoke bar and the very real heartfelt performances given are quite moving. Putty Hill is a unique, memorable film and is among this year's best festival screenings.

Dear Lemon Lima (Suzi Yoonessi) 10/10

Adapted from a short film that played at the Atlanta Film Festival three years earlier comes this story of a 13 year old half-Eskimo girl named Vanessa who is recovering from summer heartbreak as she enters a private school. She immediately finds herself at the bottom of the social food chain and her efforts to win back the love of her life are seemingly hopeless. However, she gets a chance to prove herself when she is named captain during the school's Snowstorm Survivor competition, where she picks all the school's cast offs (known as FUBAR's) to be on her team.

This is a fantastic movie that finds a perfect balance of tone. Not one moment is too quirky, nor does it ever get too serious. And the chief reason for that is the wonderful performance of Savanah Wiltfong in the lead role. Knowing that her character already has quirky elements and there's already a sense of silliness to the proceedings, she does something rather remarkable for an actress of her age and actually underplays the character. There's very little showing off on her part. None of her line deliveries are obnoxiously offbeat. She never once makes bizarre facial expressions. Instead, she creates a winning lead character with a low key, nuanced performance.

The film has a wonderful visual style. The sets and costumes are populated with solid bright colors, creating a cheery, positive atmosphere. Writer-director Yoonessi also does a remarkable job creating fully fleshed out supporting characters, including a neighbor boy whose mom is very strict, a popular girl who has more heart than we initially suspect, and especially Vanessa's ex Philip who is certainly played as a stuck up jerk, but a realistic three dimensional jerk. All of this helps creating a wonderful world for her memorable lead character to inhabit. This is a charming, witty, tremendously entertaining film.

Open Five (Kentucker Audley) 7/10

The term mumblecore has received some controversy, mainly because many of those directors credited with making films in that genre despise the word. But whatever word you use, it is clear the style of mumblecore is here to stay as you can see it populating the film festival ciruit. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's a movement towards more low key, intimate filmmaking and away from the self-conscious overly cynical films that used to dominate the indie scene. As someone who prefers the former to the latter, I find films like Open Five rather refreshing.

The simple plot is befitting of the genre. Two girls from New York come down to Memphis to visit two guys, one of whom is a musician and the other a low budget filmmaker. They visit dive bars, BBQ restaurants, Graceland, energetic churches. They talk about their relationships and how they'll continue once the trip is over. For the most part, this is really solid stuff. The people involved are interesting, and the improvisational dialogue style really works.

The only major issue I had with the film was the awkward shooting angles used in many scenes. Many of them are shot with us looking at the back of a character's head. This awkward blocking is really distracting. Now I know the essence of mumblecore is to film on extremely small budgets and the improvisational style makes it hard to get coverage, but there had to be a better way to shoot these scenes. Otherwise it's a nice, relaxing film and a good example of the mumblecore genre.

Yellowbrickroad (Jesse Holland, Andy Mitton) 8/10

Yellowbrickroad has a very interesting mystery premise. In 1940 the entire town of Friar, NH walked north on a trail into the woods. They never returned. Teddy Barnes (Michael Laurino) is someone who has always been obsessed with this story, and finally (after being stonewalled for years) has been given the information he needs to find the trail. He gathers a crew, including his wife, a psychiatrist, a local resident, a couple friends and they head north to find answers.

This is a really good example of the horror/suspense genre, and will certainly be enjooyed by fans of Lost and The Twilight Zone. Directors Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton make some really good choices throughout the film. Most notably, they use a minimalist sound design to create some really strong atmosphere. There is no score to speak of and that creates a sense of loneliness for the characters. Also, when sound is used it provides a strong contrast to the rest of the film and is actually quite frightening.

A problem that suspense films of this nature usually run into is that the premise is so intriguing that there is no way the eventual explanation can live up to that. But Yellowbrickroad avoids that problem by setting up the story where the answers are not the driving force, but moreso what certain characters are willing to do to get those answers. There is one particularly impressive shot where the filmmakers create a genuine scare with some smart editing techniques and their understanding that you don't need to linger on every big moment. Moments like this are what makes Yellowbrickroad a winning horror/suspense film.

Winter's Bone (Debra Granik) 8/10

One of the most impressive things I've noticed at this year's festival is that several films have done a terrific job of creating a real sense of place and community. Films like Exit 117, Putty Hill, and The Mountain Thief have all been successful at accomplishing this. Sundance favorite Winter's Bone manages to do the same with a deeply observed portrait of people living in the Ozarks.

Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) is a 17 year old girl who is raising her two younger siblings all by herself. Her mother is mentally ill and never speaks. Her father is a criminal who is out on bail and has put up the house as collateral. When he fails to show for his court date, Ree must go out and find him (or his body) or risk losing the only thing her family has left. Her journey takes us through many different parts of this community and gives us a sense of the sad, desperate lives that they lead.

This is a film filled with wonderfully rich characterizations. Most notable is John Hawkes performance as Ree's uncle Teardrop. What first appears to simply be nothing more than a dangerous villain turns out to be a fascinatingly complex individual. Hawkes is an actor I've noticed before (on Deadwood and in previous ATLFF closing night film Me and You and Everyone We Know), but this performance is his crowning achievement. Debra Granik's story does go in some unexpected directions and takes us on a dark, suspenseful journey through the Ozarks.

Izulde · 04-22-2010, 03:50 AM

Love these reviews.

I'd be interested in seeing a few films profiled thus far.

larrymcg421 · 04-24-2010, 12:31 AM

Thanks, Izulde! Like last year, I'll keep you guys posted when some of these movies get released.

I think YellowBrickRoad has the best potential to really break out.

larrymcg421 · 04-24-2010, 12:33 AM

Finally catching up on some of these. Here are my reviews for day 6 (April 20)...

The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek (Wendy Jo Cohen) 7/10

The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek is one of the lost stories of the civil war. Six hundred union soldiers defended against a Confederate army of over three thousand. They were successful at preventing a planned invasion of Washington D.C. Unfortunately, this story was hushed up by both sides because they didn’t want it getting out that the union army was led by a gay colonel, an elderly Chinese immigrant, a one-armed prostitute, and a nerdy escaped slave. Wendy Jo Cohen’s movie finally sheds light on this incredibly important battle.

Of course, this is all made up. It’s actually a mockumentary and it’s certainly a fun one at that. The story is played out like a Ken Burns documentary and the funniest part of the movie is that the director really nails the Ken Burns style. She uses a self serious narrator to take us through the events, supported by interview segments with various talking heads (historians, scholars, relatives) and utilizes voiceovers to read the letters written by the participants. When sticking to this general concept, the movie contains some really funny deadpan humor.

Unfortunately, the director felt the need to amp up the humor and the film gets increasingly silly in the second half. Some of the actors playing the historians start to act out instead of playing it straight. One of the interview segments is on a street corner with some prostitutes. And yet another interview segment shows a naked man in the background. The event itself is already silly and treating it seriously was what made it funny. Adding silliness on top of that makes the film lose its balance. It’s still funny enough for me to consider it a good film, but it could have been so much more if the director had more confidence to see her vision through to the end.

The Things We Carry (Ian McCrudden) 5/10

The Things We Carry is such a well-intentioned film and feels so personal for the filmmakers that it pains me to say it is just not very good. It follows the story of a young woman who is returning home after her mother’s death. This forces her to reconnect with her estranged sister, who stayed in their hometown to look after their mother. The two work out their differences as they try to track down an item left for them by their mother’s junkie friend.

When focusing on the relationship between the two sisters, the movie does have some merit. The film was developed by two sisters (Alyssa Lobit is the writer and star, Athena Lobit is the producer) and they seem to understand how to authentically portray a sibling relationship. The acting between the two leads (Catherine Kresge plays the other sister) is good enough. It’s when focusing on other aspects of the story that the film falls apart.

The drug subplot is a real problem here. One of the junkie friends (played by Johnny Whitworth) seems to have importance at the beginning of the film, but gets almost completely cut out of the third act for seemingly no reason. The constant flashbacks to memories of their mother are also not handled well, trying to find a balance between how sweet she could be and how her drug addiction caused pain, but mostly just straining credibility. The plot device of having them bond while trying to find this mysterious box is a bit too transparent and creates an unnecessary “big moment” at the end, which seems completely out of place for this film. Less plot devices and more scenes of the two sisters trying to reconnect in a natural setting would have gone a long way toward making this a good movie.

American Jihadist (Mark Claywell) 7/10

Interesting documentary about Isa Abdullah Ali, an African-American Muslim who is strongly committed to his cause and not afraid of letting anyone know it. This film brings to mind last year’s festival selection American Fugitive: The Truth About Hassan. The major difference here is Ali is walking free, despite a history of taking up arms in defense of his religion. American Jihadist talks about his life and the decisions that led him to where he is today.

Ali isn’t your typical Muslim extremist. He feels as if he is fighting for the downtrodden and will go to many places around the world to carry on that fight. The most interesting is when he moves to Bosnia because the government has taken action against Muslims. Claywell is able to get footage of Ali and his family in Bosnia, where they appear to be very happy and fit in perfectly. He gets candid with Ali and his family, no one seemingly worried about how their frank comments could get them in trouble.

The drawback to the film is that it skips over some important aspects of the story. There’s footage of an interview with the US Secretary of Defense, who says that Ali will be arrested if found. Yet the movie mentions that Ali turns himself in at one point and is immediately released. There’s very little explanation for either why Ali decided to turn himself in or why the US let him go. But this is still an interesting look at the life of a man who passionately believes in something and is surprisingly content with his life.

Documentary Shorts

Born Sweet (Cynthia Wade) 9/10

This 28 minute short (pictured above) tells us about a poor Cambodian village where in the past aid groups dug wells for the citizens, not knowing that they were tapping into arsenic deposits. The result is a town fraught with arsenic poisoning. The film focuses on a specific person, 15 year old Vinh Voeurn, who dreams of being a karaoke star. In the midst of an extremely sad situation, this wonderful film finds hope with a winning conclusion.

No Excuses (Whitney Trower, Michele Richardson) 6/10

Kyle Maynard is a congenital amputee who owns a gym called No Excuses Athletics. This documentary is only three minutes long and seems mostly designed to shock the audience by showing Maynard’s private workout routine, including an amazing shot of him doing pull ups. He’s an inspirational person, but we barely learn anything about him. He’s certainly interesting enough to deserve more time devoted to him than this.

Pax (Sarah Harvey) 8/10

This is such a sweet story that it almost feels too good to be true. Sgt. Bill Campbell is an Iraq war veteran on disability due to traumatic brain injury. Through a program called Puppies Behind Bars, he is given a trained dog (named Pax) to help him recover from the trauma. The film documents Bill’s visit to the prison where he meets Laurie, the woman who trained Pax. This is an incredibly moving film that would probably get too sappy if it was any longer, but is just right at 22 minutes.

Woman Rebel (Kiran Deol) 8/10

At 37 minutes this is one of the longer shorts at the festival and it tells a pretty remarkable story. Silu is a female soldier fighting as part of the revolutionary army in Nepal, a struggle which went on for more than 10 years. The movie shows what happens when the revolutionaries and the government come to the peace table. Silu ends up running for office and is elected to parliament. It’s a powerful testament to what can happen when people put guns down and seek peaceful solutions.

Cold Weather (Aaron Katz) 10/10

The day closes with one of the best films of the festival. Earlier I wrote about Kentucker Audley’s Open Five and how it fit into the mumblecore genre. Well, Aaron Katz has done something very interesting here by taking the style of mumblecore and infusing it with a mystery premise. The result is a startlingly original movie that is an outstanding example of independent filmmaking.

Doug (Cris Lankenau) recently dropped out of a forensic science program at college and moved back home to live with his sister Gail (Trieste Kelly Dunn). He gets a blue collar job where he makes friends with Carlos (Raul Castillo) over their shared enjoyment of Sherlock Holmes novels. When Doug’s ex-girlfriend Rachel (Robyn Rikoon) fails to show up for a date with Carlos, they begin to get worried and start to investigate her disappearance.

Director Aaron Katz creates some fantastic moments precisely because of what he chooses not to do. There is a sequence that revolves around the need to steal a briefcase in a diner, but Katz only shows us the perspective from outside as we see the getaway car waiting. But this is no ordinary suspense film. The mystery is just a backdrop to explore the relationships between the four leads and the wonderfully natural performances from the cast go a long way toward making this work. Katz has made a wonderful film filled with low-key humor, suspenseful moments, and complex relationships.

larrymcg421 · 04-27-2010, 01:13 PM

Day 7 reviews finally done...

Only one of the films really stood out today, but thankfully there were no misfires either. This is shaping up to be one of the best year's in festival history.

CUTUD: The Crossing (Scott Wurth) 7/10

Here is another festival documentary with a religious theme. It follows a group in the Philippines who re-enact the crucifixion of Christ. And it's not a magic show with a bunch of fancy tricks. These people actually get nailed to the cross. Wurth's intense and shocking film explores the individuals involved in these ceremonies, the commercialization of the event and the natural controversies that ensue.

The movie explores the history of the event and how the local government has had changing opinions about it. They discuss some of the rivalries, particularly over who gets to be on center cross. Some of the best parts involve the reasons certain individuals participate. For example, Ruben is a man who survived a fall from the third floor of a building and now feels he owes it to God for saving him. Another man is recovered from a drug habit and wants to prove to God that he is truly reformed.

The film builds to the climactic moments where we see the participants nailed to the cross. It is as disturbing and shocking as you'd expect it to be, but also a revealing testament to what people will do if they strongly believe in something. If there's a problem here, the film is too short. At only 42 minutes, the film doesn't have enough time to explore the many subplots and controversies it brings up. It certainly held my interest, but left me wanting more.

Handsome Harry (Bette Gordon) 7/10

Another Pink Peach selection, Handsome Harry is a surprisingly laid back film considering the nature of the plot. It's about a Vietnam vet named Harry (Jamey Sheridan) who gets a call from dying former war buddy Tom Kelly (Steve Buscemi). Tom wants to make amends for something they both did to a fellow soldier (Campbell Scott). It quickly becomes clear (especially since we know it's a Pink Peach film) that they beat this person up because he was gay.

The film follows the structure of a road trip movie as Harry travels to meet the other members of the unit that were involved in the beating, finding that they have all gone in wildly different direction and have varying opinions about the actions they took. The structure is just a little too neat. The story goes from A to B to C in a rather ordinary fashion and I wish they had dispensed with some ill-advised subplots, like Harry's dalliance with the wife of one of his former buddies.

The best thing about the film is the nuanced acting by both Jamey Sheridan and Campbell Scott. This movie doesn't to the grand melodrama that the backstory would seem to suggest. There are only a handful of scenes between the two characters, but they are all a fine example of exquisite acting. It's nice to see both a director and actors have enough confidence in the material that they don't need to overplay everything. They bring the film to a wonderfully bittersweet ending.

The Eyes of Me (Keith Maitland) 7/10

The Eyes of Me is a documentary that follows a year in the life of four high school students. that's certainly nothing new for a documentary, but the difference here is that all four students are blind and they are attending the Texas School for the Blind. Keith Maitland's film is an interesting exploration of how different people cope with this problem.

Certanly the student that will get the most attention is Chas, a Senior who lives in his own apartment and struggles both with schoolwork and paying his bills. He has a dream of being a rapper and is so dedicated that he will run a really long cord outside his apartment to steal electricity for his computer. He's a compelling figure that definitely has ups and downs during his senior year.

The two female students, Meghan and Denise, are also very interesting, providing a strong emotional arc to the film. The one student who doesn't come across well is Isaac, who is not very likeable as portrayed in the film. Whenever he was on screen, I was looking forward to the film switching back to one of the other kids. It's not a perfect documentary, but Maitland does a number of things right (including some incredibly well done animated interludes) that make this a winning documentary.

8: The Mormon Proposition (Reed Cowan) 8/10

Last year's opening night film was a politically themed documentary based on the writings of Howard Zinn. Zinn narrated the film and had an ill-advised blunt opening sequence about modern politics that probably lost alot of the audience wasn't already on his side. Well, I'm glad to report that 8: The Mormon Proposition is a politically themed documentary that avoids this mistake by focusing on a more emotional appeal.

Reed Cowan's film is about the battle over Proposition 8 in the 2008 California election, where the state was voting on whether to ban same sex marriage. Going in, I expected the film to take a direct harsh attack on the Mormon church for its policies and there is certainly some of that, but what makes this film so good is the decision to focus on one gay couple and their emotional appeal to be accepted and allowed to marry.

By doing this, Cowan makes an argument that will be more successful in reaching out to those on the fence. The film opens with their marriage and shows just how important that is to them. It's hard for even the most cold hearted person to not be somewhat touched by their enthusiasm and love for one another. Their are several attacks against the Mormon church of course, some of them more successful than others, but this film finds its true power in the simple story of two memorable people in love fighting a society that says they shouldn't be.

The Square (Nash Edgerton) 7/10

Nash Edgerton's The Square is preceded by one of his earlier short films called Spider (which will also be the case in the theatrical release). which does a great job of getting the audience ready for his dark sense of humor. This is one of the chief pleasures of The Square, a film noir with some fairly standard elements that is elevated by Edgerton's artistry.

Raymond Yale (David Roberts) is a married man having an affair with Carla (Claire van der Boom), who is also married. Carla notices her husband has some money stashed in the attic and hatches a plan with Raymond to steal the money and have the house burned down so her husband will think the cash was lost in the fire. It doesn't go as smoothly as hoped and they must now deal with the consequences as their lives begin to spin out of control.

One of the pleasures of flms like this is watching the perfect plan foiled piece by piece. But Edgerton adds some really twisted humor in this film, especially during a scene where a dog is swimming to meet another dog. This makes it more interesting than your standard film noir. The only complaint here is that Edgerton lets come scene run too long and includes scenes that should have been excised altogether. The pacing is problematic at times, especially during the middle section. Still, it's a stylish, darkly funny movie that is a strong start for a filmmaker that seems to have a bright future.

larrymcg421 · 04-30-2010, 02:26 AM

I spent my final full day of the festival watching as many shorts programs as I could. The results were mixed, but there were some wonderful short films among this year's crop.

Lesbian Shorts

(Still from Yulia)

The Roe Effect (Kiel Scott) 6/10

Unpleasant and depressing story about two female high school students in a relationship, but an unwanted pregnancy threatens to destroy their relationship. This one has a really bad ending.

Simple Pleasures (Matthew Mendelson) 4/10

I know it's a short film. but very little happens in this one. A woman tries to rekindle a romance with her co-worker, but finds someone else. Yawn. The director tries mixing up the narrative, but his attempt is not successful at making this film interesting.

Public Relations (Gianna Sobol) 7/10

The two lead actresses (Summer Bishil, Sienna Farall) are so appealing in this one and the film has such a bubbly spirit that I'm surprised it wasn't made as a feature. Supporting characters are annoying caricatures, but the ingratiating leads carry the day.

To Comfort You (Marc Saltarelli) 7/10

Moving story about a worried mother calling her sick daughter. The title has a double meaning as it becomes quickly clear as the phone is just as much about comforting the mother. Depressing story, but it contains some very good acting from both leads.

Yulia (Antoine Arditti) 8/10

Animated story of a single woman who gets electrocuted and finds herself in an empty room with no doors, but five levers labeled with different items (Chair, Hammer, Man, Cat, and a Heart). When the heart lever finally gets pulled, the result is much different than what she originally imagined. Unfortunately, I think it was a mistake to include this as part of the Lesbian Shorts program, since that telegraphs the ending. Still, it's a cute story with a memorable animation style.

One Night (Laura Jean Cronin) 8/10

Utilizing a clever editing style, this short tells the story of a young woman who went to a lesbian bar the night before and got home bloody and bruised. The film intercuts between these two moments and unravels pieces to the story a bit at a time. The resolution is unexpected and emotionally gripping. Only drawback is one key scene that is poorly directed.

Comedy Shorts

(Still from Winner: Best Short Film)

Winner: Best Short Film (Peter Meech) 7/10

Danny Caine is a filmmaker hot on the heels of winning Sundance with a short film that was 5 seconds long (including end credits and a blooper reel). Now he's at the home of a hollywood producer, trying to convince him that he's ready to direct a big budget feature. Intermittently amusung, but the funniest part comes at the end when they show the 5 second film.

The World of Film Festivals (Jim Jacob) 8/10

Very simple film is just one guy talking about the ins and outs of film festivals. The actor (director Jacob himself) really knows how to sell deadpan humor. This was one of the funniest of the program.

Quality Time (Colin Marshall) 5/10

Two brothers reunite due to their father's sickness and get into a series of spats and misadventures. Tries for a mixture of humor and pathos, but it is not very funny and the two leads are unlikeable jerks.

Follicle Frolic (Mark Potts) 7/10

3 minute short film about a strange man who is obsessed with his male roommate's long, flowing hair. The director utilizes voiceover to create some very funny moments and the ending is certainly unexpected.

The Apostles (Jeff Chan) 7/10

What if Jesus skipped out on the bill during The Last Supper and the apostles argued over how to handle it? Has enough funny moments to work, but doesn't quite live up to thwe premise's full potential.

The Ballad of Friday and June (Tate English) 6/10

Story of a lady and her talking puppet dog. I wrote a pretty scathing review of this one before the festival, but I actually liked it a bit better this time around. The puppet dog's final line is admittedly very funny and the attempts at pathos seemed to work better.

Helium Man (Nicholas Piper) 7/10

Funny story about a young man who overdoses on helium and now has the ability to float. He discusses with his friend how they can utilize this power to make him a superhero. This short takes a limited premise and infuses it with enough humor to make it work.

How to Ride a Train (Katie Dillon) 7/10

Taking inspiration from a book written for women in the 1920's, explaining how they should ride a train, director Katie Dillon delivers a very funny little short imaginging just how the idea for that book happened. It's a short, simply joke, but it's a good one.

Pet Peeves (Brooke Adams) 3/10

Sherry has just recently moved in with Jack, bringing along her dog OJ. Jack and OJ do not get along and he is frustrated by the way she pampers the dog. At 22 minutes, this is the longest film in this program, and there's really no reason for that. It's played too broadly and aims for a clever twist that is not funny at all.

Spleenectomy (Kirsten Smith) 5/10

A couple big names headline this short, in which Anna Faris plays an actress who is turned down for a role as a doctor, because theater director Larry Miller doesn't find her convincing. An opportunity presents itself for her to prove him wrong. This is all played so broadly that I'm sure it will be a sitcom following Two and a Half Men next fall.

Looking For Love Shorts

(Still from Tell Me Who)

The Regular (Jamie Kirkpatrick) 7/10

A nice guy is striking out at a bar as all the chicks seem more interesting the psuedo suave ladies men. Things change when he takes the mic. Very simple idea with terrific execution, although the ending contains a twist that is unnecessary.

Mister Green (Greg Pak) 3/10

Set in a future where global warming has devastated the Earth, a government official has his eyes opened to the path for a better tomorrow. I really liked the visual style to the film, but man is this just a dreadfully preachy story. It sure takes alot of nerve to use a Gandhi quote at the end to drive home the point.

Further Lane (Mesh Flinders) 7/10

This story is told with a mysterious tone and follows the goings on at a beach house. Very interesting short that showcases some natural directing talent from Flinders. He composes shots very well and utilizes to a minimalist storytelling format to good effect.

Greased (Roxine Helberg) 4/10

Story of a young couple involved in a radical political organization. One of them may know a secret. Will they tell or commit the ultimate betrayal? another short where the directors shows a nice visual sense, but doesn't have an interesting story at all.

Tell Me Who (David Lipson) 10/10

Clearly the class of this program and one of the best shorts of this year's festival, this story is about a young man who doesn't have much luck with females, but gets a surprise letter from a secret admirer who is leaving town the next day. He makes it a mission to track this woman down before she leaves. It's a wonderfully executed story. Director David Lipson excels at creating a natural rhythm for plot progression and does a great job of populating the background of his shots with nice details (most memorable is a shot of the hero leaving a photo store with the clerk watching him from inside). He's also willing to let the audience figure things out without beating them over the head, a rare commodity even amongst independent filmmakers these days.

The Tedious Existence of Terrell B. Howell (David Silverman) 7/10

Terrell B. Howell is a boring, strait laced man whose monotonous daily routine is upset when a young woman comes on to him at the gas station. Much of the style and tone is borrowed from Desperate Housewives and they go pretty far for the joke, but the lead performance by Steve Coulter is terrific. He nails every single line reading and almost singlehandedly makes this movie work.

African-American Shorts

(Still from She Got Problems)

Life on Earth (Jeff Keith) 8/10

Memorable story about a very depressing situation. Lea is 18 years old and is about to age out of the foster system. A social worker has suggester to her and others in the same situation to look for careers in low leverl service jobs. Lea rebels against this idea, inspired by her experiences with plant life. This is an inspiring story about not giving up on your dreams, no matter the situation.

Jackson Parish (Edward McDonald) 7/10

A successful businessman returns home to the deep south to visit his estranged father. He gets mixed up in a dispute between his father and a mean-spirited white neighbor who is sitting on their land. Thoughtful story is a nice piece of character study with some really impressive acting.

I Own You (Gary Anthony Williams) 5/10

A married interracial couple find out that her ancestors owned his as slaves. What starts off as a joke begins to cause problems when he starts (with prompting from friends) interpreting innocent statements as being racist. Everything is played out in a broad sitcom style, which ruins alot of the humor. However, there are some undeniably funny moments.

Train (Darius Clark Monroe) 8/10

A young man notices a woman being attacked on a train, but has a hard time getting up the courage to help her. Only 7 minutes long, but this packs a powerful punch and will certainly put you in the mind of the main character, making you wonder how you'd act in the same situation.

She Got Problems (Alison McDonald) 7/10

Alison McDonald both directed and stars in this very, very funny comedy about an African-American woman who is frustrated at her inability to find a man. McDonald does a great job of mixing different techniques, including documentary style interviews, musical numbers, and animation. And she also brings a winning screen presence to the film.

Asbury Park (Robert Anderson) 3/10

Melodramatic tale of a man returning home after a jail sentence. Director Robert Anderson showcases an eye for creating a sense of time and place, but the story is pretty weak and plays out like an After School special. The climactic contains some very bad overacting.

Drama Shorts

(Still from Ana's Playground)

Metropolis Ferry (Juan Gautier) 6/10

Returning from Morocco, David and his brothers witness an incident at the Spanish border and decide to do something about it. The film is well made, but the story doesn't really go anywhere interesting. It is probably a bit too intricate for a short film and the director could use some more time to explore what he wants to do.

Cigarette Candy (Lauren Wolkstein) 9/10

A marine returns home after serving in Iraq, but has difficulty playing the part of hero to his hometown family and friends because it doesn't fit with the horrible memories of what happened. This short film is extremely well written and the director and actors know how to play this dramatic story without going over the top. The final shot is outstanding.

Confession (Enrico Marcellino) 7/10

Extremely short film runs only 2 minutes. It's about a Catholic man who goes to confession and asks forgiveness for something he is about to do. Predictable, but still pretty shocking.

The Odds (Paloma Baeza) 7/10

Interesting choice for the Drama Shorts program, because this film is actually quite funny. A casino owner interrogates a man to find out how he cheated to win so many hands in a row. The discussion goes back and forth and the interrogater is amusingly made to look like a fool. The final twist was unfortunate, because I think the film worked much better without it.

Puppets of War (Corey Ellis, Francis McDonald) 5/10

Take All Quiet on the Western Front, replace the live actors with puppets, and that's pretty much what you get here. The puppetry work is admittedly impressive, but the fact that it's puppets makes it difficult for the film to build dramatic tension.

Ana's Playground (Eric D. Howell) 10/10

Terrific short film with surprisingly strong production values. In an unnamed war torn country, a group of kids are playing soccer when the ball accidentally ends up in the middle of a sniper zone. A little girl decides to enter the area and try to retreive the ball, but must figure out how to dodge the sniper's shots. Really impressive story with a vivid backdrop. I wouldn't mind seeing this developed into a feature length film.

larrymcg421 · 05-01-2010, 05:54 PM

The Secret to a Happy Ending (Barr Weisman) ***1/2

In recent years, not only has the Atlanta Film Festival turned opening and closing night into big event films, but they've also strongly catered to local interest. Films like The Lena Baker Story and Last Days of Left Eye have opened the festival in recent years, and Freedom Riders was this year's opener. This year's closing night film was Barr Weisman's The Secret to a Happy Ending, a documentary about the Drive By Truckers, a southern rock band based in Athens, GA. It turns out to be a solidly entertaining rock documentary about a very engaging band.

The Drive by Truckers were formed in 1996 by musicians Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley. At first, they were a small band that released a couple of LP's and went on tour with a revolving door of musicians in the background. In 2001, they had finally set on a stable group and recorded their most ambitious album called Southern Rock Opera. They started to get alot of attention at this point with favorable reviews and a defining point for the band (and a major focus of the film) happened when guitarist Jason Isbell joined the group.

Isbell's narration opens the film fairly ominously as he notes that the idea for the band sounds like one that would never work, but that it did work and he hopes it still will in the future. This certainly promises that we will witness some tension over the next two hours. However, while the film does explore some of the tension, it is done in a more laid back fashion. Weisman is more interested in exploring their inspiration for the songs they write and the emotional impact that music has on both the band and their fans.

One of the most interesting songs is "The Southern Thing", which talks about duality in the south. The band is very proud of their southern roots, but also recognize much of the negative aspects in southern history. For example, witness these powerful lyrics, "You think I'm dumb, maybe not too bright/You wonder how I sleep at night/Proud of the glory, stare down the shame/Duality of the southern thing". The film also talks about the background of many of their other songs, included the song that inspired the film's title.

Last year's festival included a documentary called We Fun, which focused on the local Atlanta music scene. I really disliked the film because the music it chose to showcase was underwhelming and the bands documented came across as egotistical jerks or bizarre performance artists. Thus it was smart for Weisman to focus more on the music than on the interfighting. Two of the band mates were married and later got divorced, one of them (Isbell) eventually leaving the band. The film only briefly covers these topics, which may alienate some viewers, but fits in with the film's overall tone.

Unlike other rock documentaries, you're not going to find the visceral concert footage set in large venues. Weisman's film definitely has a rough edge to it, but that not only fits in with the dive bars and local playhouses that the band performs in, but also the 70s style rock sound that the band so memorably captures. The Secret to a Happy Ending is a documentary that features great music and winning personalities. It is a terrific choice for closing night and definitely a "Happy Ending" for the festival.

04-05-2010, 08:38 PM	#2
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Here are some trailers for various films that will be at the festival... The Battle of Bunker Hill NONAMES NY Export: Opus Jazz The Myth of Time The Mountain Thief The Good Heart Dear Lemon Lima yellowbrickroad Winter's Bone The Eyes of Me Handsome Harry __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner Last edited by larrymcg421 : 04-06-2010 at 02:31 AM.

04-07-2010, 01:38 AM	#3
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	The festival doesn't start until the 15th, but I was granted access to see certain films before the festival begins. I will be reviewing those as I see them. When the festival starts, I will switch to the day by day approach that I used last year. Souled Out Comedy (5/10) This documentary has a pretty interesting premise. It follows a group of African-American comics who are trying to shed the stereotypical expextations that follow them. For the most part, they avoid vulgarity and raunchiness that is prevalent on the scene. The film is structured as a series of (oddly staged) interviews with each comic interspersed with shots of their routines. The movie attempts to make a point about how the comedians struggle against these expectations (white audiences expect the worst and stay away, black audiences expect what they're used to and are disappointed). However, the film doesn't show any of these struggles. Not once are they booed off stage or shown performing in front of sparse crowds. The director also picks some bizarre ways to interview his subjects (they're either walking or driving and often seem distracted). The routines are often funny, but not so funny that you get the sense they are being held back by stereotypes, but moreso they are just going through the general difficulties that most comics have to deal with. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner Last edited by larrymcg421 : 04-08-2010 at 01:37 AM.

04-07-2010, 09:45 PM	#4
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Cropsey (8/10) Filmmakers Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zeman grew up in Staten Island, where as children they were told to beware of the boogeyman named Cropsey who murdered children that wandered too far into the forest. This urban legend turned out to frighteningly close to reality when Andre Rand was arrested for the murders of one of the children that had disappeared. The filmmakers have returned to their hometown as Rand is on trial for the murder of one of the other kids that had gone missing two decades earlier. The film follows the events of the trial, interviewing the key players and utilizing footage of news coverage. The film uses some clever techniques to provide a chilling backdrop for what could otherwise be a run of the mill true crime documentary. There is a creepy score, many cuts to eerie footage of the forest, and some truly terrifying footage of an undercover news report that Geraldo Rivera did when he exposed a nearby mental hospital. They also deftly handle the multiple aspects of the trial, providing a balanced portrait that is fair to the victims but also casting doubt on the evidence against Rand, including undermining the credibility of the witnesses against him.In the end, the filmmakers have presented a haunting portrait of a hidden aspect of their hometown. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner Last edited by larrymcg421 : 04-07-2010 at 09:46 PM.

04-08-2010, 02:40 AM	#5
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	9500 Liberty (9/10) This is an intensely powerful political film that details the battle over immigration reform in Prince William County, Virginia. The trouble starts when the county Board of Supervisors considers a resolution targeting illegal aliens that contains broad language including a probable cause mandate allowing officers wide authority to check papers without any evidence of wrongdoing. The film shows how the resolution divided the county on racial lines. The filmmakers have a very strong argument to make. Regardless of one's feelings on illegal immigration, they demonstrate how hatred and bigotry was a driving factor in the political process. The Board Supervisor Corey Stewart becomes a major champion of the resolution and he shares a disturbing alliance with an extreme right wing blogger. The resolution itself was actually drawn up by a anti-immigration group called FAIR that is considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. And there are many, many clips of citizens speaking up at board meetings using inflammatory and at times outright racist language. The film is also successful at detailing the efforts of the community to combat this injustice. People from all backgrounds come together to attack the resolution and in one of the more powerful moments of the film, they make a strong stand in support of the police chief, whose job is threatened by Stewart after the chief holds a meeting with the community to explain how enforcement would take place. The film shows us how racism can still influence politics in this day and age, but it also shows how a community can use the same political process when they come together to defeat bigotry. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner Last edited by larrymcg421 : 04-09-2010 at 02:53 AM.

04-08-2010, 10:51 PM	#6
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Love on the Rocks (5/10) Love on the Rocks is reminiscent of previous Atlanta Film Fest selection Make Out With Violence. Both films present a combination of stark violence and humor and showcase strong technical skill that promises a decent future for the filmmakers. Unfortunately, both films also have issues when it comes to storytelling, and Love on the Rocks specifically struggles with a shifting tone that just does not work. After a shockingly violent opening, the story opens with Amber and Barry having just broken up. Both try to move on, but find themselves involved with very disturbed individuals. Amber begins dating a man that is a brutal serial killer, while Barry gets involved with a hypnotist that trains him to act like a dog. The film follows these two separate storylines until they intersect. The major problem is the jarring transitions between the two stories. The serial killer angle is appropriately bizarre and contains some memorably disturbing sequences. However, Barry's story is just far too silly to exist in the same film. It does take away from the film's serious symbolic ending when it just followed Barry and other men walking around on all fours in dog outfits. Despite this, I look forward to seeing what director Justin Edwards and appealing lead actress Lauren Jennings do in the future. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner Last edited by larrymcg421 : 04-08-2010 at 10:51 PM.

04-09-2010, 08:10 PM	#7
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Dumbstruck (8/10) One of my favorite types of documentaries that often show up at film festivals are the ones that focus on people with a specialized hobby or passion that seems far from the mainstream. Past festival screenings have included movies about classic arcade games (King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters), Scrabble (Word Wars), and semi-pro baseball (Faded Glory). Dumbstruck is another film in this genre and it follows the lives of five ventriloquists who are at various points in their careers. The success of a film likes this heavily hinges on the personalities of the subjects that are chosen, and former West Wing writer Mark Goffman has found six engaging individuals. Terry Fator is the star attraction, as we witness his transformation from struggling performer to winner of America's Got Talent to signing a $100 million contract for his Vegas show. Along the way we also meet former beauty queen Kim, nervous 13 year old Dylan, cruise ship performer Dan, and the financially struggling Wilma. What's really surprising about this film is the sense of community that the ventriloquists have developed. When Wilma is facing a foreclosure on her home, it is donations from her ventriloquist friends that help save it. The film builds to a year end convention which is attended by each of the individuals, including Terry Fator who has now attained celebrity status. Watching the way they bond over their shared craft turned out to actually be a moving portrait of people chasing their dreams. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-11-2010, 02:37 PM	#8
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Feed the Fish (4/10) This is one of the higher profile films at the festival because it features a couple recognizable faces in the cast, most notably Tony Shalhoub as an oddball sheriff and Northern Exposure's Barry Corbin, both playing off their own popular images. Unfortunately it is also one of those typical festival films that is just too quirky for its own good. It quickly loses any sense of reality and becomes hard to care about anything. Joe Peterson is a writer of violent children's books who has had a nasty case of writer's block. He decides to head to a small town in northern Wisconsin to take part in the town's annual Polar Bear Plunge. While there, he quickly makes enemies among the town's odd residents. He does eventually find romance with a perky local waitress, but she happens to be the daughter of the town sheriff. Unfortunately, the film doesn't work because so much of it is trying too hard to be funny, including a labored attempt at penis reattachment jokes. Shalhoub's sheriff is not a full-fledged character, but just an excuse for him to do a riff on his Monk routine. When Joe's girlfriend from back home shows up, the plot goes through some fairly predictable romantic comedy elements. So here we have a movie that is either too quirky or too predictable. It misses the proper balance and thus falls completely apart. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-12-2010, 05:33 PM	#9
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Divorcing God (5/10) Here's an interesting documentary focusing on a sad situation (divorce) that takes a look at what it's like when a devout Christian has to deal with it. The idea is good and the central subject certainly sympathetic. The problem is the director's inability (or unwillingness) to cover all sides of the situation, and thus we are only left with half a story. Gil and Sydney are devout Christians so firm in their belief that they don't even believe in kissing before marriage. They stay true to this belief through their engagement and eventually get married. Sadly, only a few months after their wedding Sydney is seeking a separation. Gil strongly believes that divorce is wrong and that God meant for him to be with her. He stays true to this belief although it appears to be a lost cause. The biggest problem is that we don't hear from Sydney much at all until the very end of the movie, where she has a tearful monologue about feeling ostracized because of her decision. Without getting more info from her, it feels like an incomplete film. It's hard not to feel bad for Gil as he is presented in the film, but we never really know what happened. At one point, Gil feels the need to point out that it was his idea they didn't kiss before marriage. The film (via the harsh title) seems to suggest that she wasn't as strong a believer as he was, but perhaps there was more to the story. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-13-2010, 03:09 AM	#10
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Big Font Large Spacing (7/10) I admit to feeling a sense of trepidation as I read the premise to this film. Big Font. Large Spacing promises to tell the story of two college students, Tom and Steve, who suddenly realize they have one night to complete a 5000 word essay for their philosophy class or they will flunk out of school. Reading that, I wondered why this was feature length instead of a short film format that would be better suited to such a thin premise. But writer-director Paul Howard Allen goes beyond the confines of that description and has actually authored a surprisingly insightful and funny film about relationships. The scenes with the two guys are pretty standard fare, but they are funny. They continually get distracted playing video games, smoking pot, or trying to plagiarize another person's paper. The director uses a clever method of tracking their progress with constant intercuts showing how many words they've written. Unfortunately, the Steve role is a bit underdeveloped. He's funny, but a little too stuck in the stereotypical screw up best friend (think Zach Galifanikas) role. Where the film really shines is when it develops the two lead female characters. Susan is Tom's girlfriend and Debbie is her roommate. The two have a decidedly antagonistic relationship, resenting each other for various reasons. In between scenes of the guys feverishly working on their essays, there's some really strong and thoughtful dialogue as the two women talk things out. They actually become more interesting than their male counterparts and pretty much steal the show. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-14-2010, 01:00 AM	#11
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Alley Pat: The Music is Recorded (8/10) James "Alley Pat" Patrick was an Atlanta-based black DJ who gained notoriety in the 50s for his blunt, sometimes shocking commentary. He had no editor and never thought twice about what he was going to say. Yet it was these qualities that helped him gain a loyal following throughout the decade and become an important figure in the civil rights movement. Utilizing seemingly unlimited access to tapes of Patrick's shows, Director Tom Roche's film follows his career and provides an honest and funny portrait of this very interesting man. One of the most interesting aspects of Alley Pat's radio show was how he utilized sponsorships. He was a savvy businessman and was able to get "ads" sold directly to him. But unlike the modern radio hosts worshipping the products they are endorsing, he would aoften denigrate the product. For example, for a local auto repair shop he said, "if they don't do it right the first time, they'll do it again". He would denigrate restaurants and other businesses, but was still able to get sponsors because people would flock to these establishments just because Alley Pat mentioned them. Other memorable parts of the radio show included his confrontational interviews with local pastors and a frequent female caller who always claimed to have just slept with him. The most memorable aspect of the film comes near the end when Roche focuses on Patrick's friendship with civil rights icon Hosea Williams. The two often directly challenged one another with humorous insults on several talk show appearances, but behind the scenes they were inseparable. When Hosea Williams dies, Patrick is called to speak at his memorial service at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The speech he gives is a hilariously politically incorrect and moving testament to who his late friend realy was. We also find out some of the hidden things Patrick did during the civil rights movement, such as bailing out civil rights leaders. This is a very good film because it is directly honest and extremely funny, the same exact qualities that made Alley Pat such a success. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-15-2010, 01:48 AM	#12
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Godspeed (2/10) One of the great things about attending festivals is finding hidden gems that don't get much attention or often fon't even get released. One of the bad things about attending festivals is that you'll occassionally run into some truly awful filmmaking. There are at least one or two films every year that are almost completely without merit. Godspeed certainly fits that category this year, a dismal drama that belongs on late night basic cable. The first problem is the plot, which is far too thin to sustain a feature length running time. Charlie Shepard is a faith healer whose family is brutally murdered one night while he is having an affair with another woman. Years later, now a shell of his former self, he runs into a mysterious woman that appears to have some clues to his past. And that's about it. We find out very quickly who this woman is, how she's connected to him, and what she wants. And yet the film continues plodding along, taking an achingly long time to wrap things up. The film features some pretty dreadful acting, with an ensemble cast that manages to stand where the director told them, but cannot find any nuance in their performances and spit out lines with an obnoxiously wooden delivery. Joseph McKelheer (who also wrote the awful script) is especially bad in the lead, bringing no charisma to the role of a guy that was supposedly a faith healer. This is one awful film that you should avoid at all costs, and I certainly hope it is the worst I see at this year's festival. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-15-2010, 02:01 AM	#13
molson General Manager Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Mountains	I enjoyed your reviews and recaps in past years, I'll be reading. Last edited by molson : 04-15-2010 at 02:02 AM.

04-15-2010, 03:03 AM	#14
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Thanks, molson! The festival starts tomorrow night at 8pm. I'm hoping to finish all the screeners I received before then, but I may have to work them in to my standard coverage. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-15-2010, 04:18 PM	#15
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Here's a random assortment of shorts I was available to screen before the festival: The Adventures of Ledo and Ix (7/10) Animated short that follows two video game characters from an old fashioned Final Fantasy-style adventure game as they ponder their existence and wander into that black space past the edge of the map. It's a clever premise with funny and solid execution. The Ballad of Friday and June (3/10) Remember all those funny moments from Up where the talking dogs shouted for squirrels or tennis balls? Well replace the computer animation with a live human and a puppet dog and that's what you've got here. Oh and also replace the funny jokes with secondhand ones that were probably cut from Up's script. (They even directly copy the squirrel joke.) Cud (8/10) Documentary short about Will Harris, a beef farmer from southwest Georgia. In the mid-90s he began to change his method of production to avoid the corporate system and sell only grass fed beef. The doc is good a making an argument for why this is better, but the real reason it works so well is that Harris is a very interesting individual who has a passion for his farm and strongly believes in what he is doing. The Feast of Stephen (7/10) From the Gay Shorts program comes this film directed by none other than James Franco. Shot in black and white, it tells the story of a gay teenager who is chased down by a group of bullies after they catch him staring at their basketball game. This is certainly an uncomfortable film, but Franco shows a very striking visual sense as director. Follicle Frolic (6/10) 3 minute short film about a strange man who is obsessed with his male roommate's long, flowing hair. Has some funny moments and the ending is certainly unexpected. Gayby (5/10) A gay man and straight woman who have been friends since college (see: Will & Grace) decide to have a baby, but instead of in vitro fertilization, they plan on doing it the old-fashioned way. The story follows the awkwardness between them before, during, and after the event. It does capture the awkwardness very well and has a couple of funny moments, but this is a very limited premise. Horn Dog (5/10) The fourth in Bill Plympton's animated shorts series about an oddly shaped dog (kinda looks like a really fat bat) and his comic misadventures. Last year I enjoyed previous entry Fire Dog. In this entry, he takes a liking to an exquisite female show dog, but her owner isn't happy about it. This one has a couple funny moments, but the twist isn't very funny and the hero not quite as likeable this time around. Ledo and Ix Go to Town (9/10) Remember those old school RPG's when you finally found a new town but were constantly frustrated at all the NPC townsfolk that were absolutely useless? That's where our heroes Ledo and Ix find themselves in this hilarious sequel than surpasses its predecessor. Other hilarious bits involve Ix's obsessions with upgrading and equipping weapons and Ledo's struggle to take a chicken out of town. Spoiler (6/10) A man who enjoy spoiling the endings of movies for people waiting in line gets a shock as he receives a videotape that shows his own brutal death, and the footage looks frighteningly real. There is some interesting stuff here, but it's ironic that the ending of this film is quite predictable, not that I would dare spoil it for you. Yulia (7/10) Animated story of a single woman who gets electrocuted and finds herself in an empty room with no doors, but five levers labeled with different items (Chair, Hammer, Man, Cat, and a Heart). When the heart lever finally gets pulled, the result is much different than what she originally imagined. Unfortunately, I think it was a mistake to include this as part of the Lesbian Shorts program (instead of Animated Shorts), since that telegraphs the ending. Still, it's a cute story with a memorable animation style. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-16-2010, 04:34 AM	#16
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	More shorts.... Ana's Playground (9/10) Terrific short film with surprisingly strong production values. In an unnamed war torn country, a group of kids are playing soccer when the ball accidentally ends up in the middle of a sniper zone. A little girl decides to enter the area and try to retreive the ball, but must figure out how to dodge the sniper's shots. Really impressive story with a vivid backdrop. I wouldn't mind seeing this developed into a feature length film. Asbury Park (4/10) Melodramatic tale of a man returning home after a jail sentence has some decent cinematography, but otherwise plays out like an after school special. Features some bad overacting in the climactic scene. Ice Scream (3/10) Torture porn as a short film. That's basically what we have here. And even when the filmmakers have a twist, it simply leads to more ridiculous violence. The filmmakers certainly think they've made some great badass film with their ridiculous heavy metal music cue at the end. The Last Cigarette (8/10) A father comes to visit his estranged (and now pregnant) daughter, begging her to return home. She lets him talk to her, but only for the length of one cigarette. This is an extremely Well acted dramatic short with a perfect ending. The Machine (6/10) Animated story that feels a little too derivative of Dark City. Has an interesting animation style and haunting score, but the story and resolution are a bit predictable. One Night (7/10) Utilizing a clever editing style, this short tells the story of a young woman who went to a lesbian bar the night before and got home bloody and bruised. The film intercuts between these two moments and unravels pieces to the story a bit at a time. The resolution is unexpected and emotionally gripping. Only drawback is one key scene that is poorly directed. Puppets of War (6/10) Take All Quiet on the Western Front, replace the live actors with puppets, and that's pretty much what you get here. The puppetry work is admittedly impressive, but the fact that it's puppets makes it difficult for the film to build dramatic tension. Winner: Best Short Film (7/10) Danny Caine is a filmmaker hot on the heels of winning Sundance with a short film that was 5 seconds long (including end credits and a blooper reel). Now he's at the home of a hollywood producer, trying to convince him that he's ready to direct a big budget feature. Intermittently amusung, but the funniest part comes at the end when they show the 5 second film. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-16-2010, 06:01 AM	#17
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Opening Night: April 15, 2010 Freedom Riders (7/10) The Atlanta Film Festival has really gone all out in previous years to make the Opening and Closing Nights into big events. Last year the fest opened with Howard Zinn film The People Speak and featured a bevy of stars in attendance for the Q&A (Josh Brolin, Eddie Vedder, Jasmine Guy). This year they open with another socially conscious film, Stanley Nelson's documentary about a landmark moment in the civil rights struggle. The Freedom Riders were a biracial group of civil rights activists who in May 1961 left Washington DC to travel through the south, in defiance of segregationist state and local laws. The first trip to Alabama ended with one bus being destroyed and the group on the other bus being beaten by a mob once they arrived. It seemed like the idea would die, but a group of college students took up the cause and departed on their own Freedom Rides. Brutality and jail time were in store for each group that made the trip, but they kept coming and coming and coming, until the federal government was finally forced to intervene. It is a pretty straightforward documentary, following the events in a simple ABC fashion, kinda feeling like a good historical doc that you might find on PBS or the History Channel. At times, it feels more like a historical lesson than a film. However, Nelson does a few things that add enough artistry to the film to rise above that description, much like he did in his haunting previous documentary about the Jonestown Massacre. He utilizes some amazing footage, including a kitschy Greyhound Bus commercial at the time that serves as nice juxtaposition, footage from a Czech news report about the mob riots, and most shockingly footage of the burning bus shot from a home video camera that had been confiscated by the FBI for over 4 decades. Another thing he gets right is his willingness to criticize some of our more revered historical figures. John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy both come off looking really bad here due to their constant unwillingness to commit federal resources to protect the riders. Nelson even documents that there was heavy criticism of Martin Luther King Jr. for his refusal to take part in the rides. Most importantly, Nelson was able to interview the individuals who took part in this movement. The Freedom Riders discuss the events from their own perspective. One of the more incredible moments of the story is when they talk about signing wills before they got on the bus. They knew it could’ve been one of the last things they ever do. Their dedication to achieving freedom and equality in the face of such danger is inspiring. Also interesting was the Q&A afterwards which included director Stanley Nelson and many of the original Freedom Riders. They talked about how the strategy for the civil rights movement was largely based on the tactics Gandhi employed in India, something Nelson admits he had cut from the film. They even provided some amusing anecdotes about their time in prison and how they came up with songs to pass the time. It was definitely a good start to the festival. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner Last edited by larrymcg421 : 04-16-2010 at 06:02 AM.

04-17-2010, 06:54 AM	#18
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Disappointing day two at the festival... Crossing in St. Augustine(CB Hackworth) 7/10 The civil rights theme of the festival continues with this documentary that takes a look at an often overlooked chapter in the civil rights movement. In 1964, Andrew Young was brutally beaten while trying to cross a street in St. Augustine. The film takes a look at what happened before and after this event, and how it had a profound impact on the passage of the 1964 civil rights bill and the city of St. Augustine. The film is structured from Andrew Young's point of view. He narrates it from the perspective of returning to present day St. Augustine and going to the same exact spot where the beating took place. Despite this, it manages to avoid seeming like a self serving story because Young doesn't even see himself as a hero. In fact a key line in the film mentions how he was actually sent to St. Augustine to calm things down (King was worried that tensions would jeopardize negotiations in Washington), and he's glad that he completely failed. Also, the film gives most of the credit for the eventual success in St. Augustine to a man named Dr. Robert Hayling. It does have a couple flaws. Some of the present day interview segments seem very stagey (especially when his wife and daughter talk to the camera) and a tangent late in the film where they mention how some African-Americans feel things were better under segregation (because there was a better sense of community) should have been shelved unless they were willing to properly explore it. Still, this is a refreshing documentary because it does a solid job of covering a subject that has not received much attention. Family Affair (Chico Colvard) 6/10 One of the more uncomfortable documentaries I have seen. This unpleasant film is about a family that has been torn apart by multiple tragedies. It is told from the point of view of the filmmaker as he tries to come to terms with the rather bizarre current dynamic of his family. While the willingness to explore such subject matter is admirable, this is a film that could probably have used more time in the editing booth. When Director Chico Colvard was 10 years old, he accidentally shot his sister in the leg. This traumatic event ended up serving as the impetus for his sister to reveal that their father had been molesting her and their two other sisters for years. Their father wound up going to jail for one year, mother left town, and they grew up in foster homes. Shockingly, the beginning of the film shows footage from a present day family Thanksgiving celebration with the father in attendance and the now adult girls treating their father pleasantly as if nothing had ever happened. This is all very disturbing stuff, which makes it even more important that the material be handled appropriately. However, the editing is really choppy and many of the interviews are awkwardly handled. A surprisingly pleasant interview with his mother seems rather jarring in tone to the rest of the film. It definitely could have used either more polish from a more experienced documentary filmmaker or at least more personal approach, which is lacking because the director chose to narrate from behind the camera. The Good Heart (Dagur Kari) 3/10 Here's one of the bigger disappointments of the festival so far. Brian Cox is one of the best character actors we have in Hollywood right now. A character drama centered around him shouldn't be too difficult to pull off. But director Dagur Kari's film is a mess that features uneven acting, worthless supporting characters, and one of the worst endings I've seen in a long time. Jacques (Cox) a lonely, bitter bartender who has no shortage of contempt for others, even including his few very loyal patrons. He has constant heart problems and on one hospital visit he meets a homeless man (Paul Dano). Thinking he doesn't have much longer to live, Jacques decides to take this man under his wing and train him to take over the bar. But he's decidedly not happy with some of the changes that take place, including a woman entering the picture. This is one of those films where we watch a curmudgeon slowly turn into a good guy. There have been good examples of this genre, but The Good Heart is littered with disastrous flaws. Cox is good, but he overacts for most of the movie. Paul Dano's performance is heavily mannered. As for the female character, there's no point in criticizing the performance since she's nothing more than a transparent plot device whose actions make very little sense. The denouement is a particularly revolting set of circumstances that proves the only purpose of every character in the film is to make Jacques a good guy, a transition that is not believable for one second. Slap Down (Jesus Christ) 4/10 Having been to the Atlanta Film Festival for 11 years, I've learned that if you attend one of the weekend midnight screenings, you're in store for something different. Slap Down certainly fits that bill, and then some. It's a revenge story told in an absurdist narrative structure that makes it very hard to figure out what's going on for at least the first 15-20 minutes. Dec (Dec Stone) is a young man who unwittingly ends up with posession of a mysterious box that is the center of a battle between the Secret Agents and the Mafia. When the Mafia kidnaps Dec's sister to force him to bring them the box, he turns to the Secret Agents for help. They respond by teaching him a fighting technique called "Slap Down" and he sets off on his quest to take down the Mafia and get his sister back. It's much weirder than that description probably leads you to believe. Think of it as an unholy hybrid of Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch, and Stephen Chow. (One major failed attempt at humor is the fact that Jesus Christ is credited as director). The camera cuts feverishly, moves forwards and backwards in time, balances gruesome violence with silly comedy, and contains some truly bizarre fight sequences. Despite all of the clever techniques employed, it soon becomes clear that they are working with a very thin narratives. Sorry Jesus, but your movie is not very good. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner Last edited by larrymcg421 : 04-22-2010 at 03:29 AM.

04-17-2010, 11:34 PM	#19
molson General Manager Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Mountains	Still waiting for this year's "Moon" - the movie from last year's festival that would have probably been under my radar if not for this thread. Instead, I got to see it at the theater, and it rocked.

04-19-2010, 11:33 AM	#21
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Today started off really well, but was a disappointment overall... The Athlete (Davey Frankel, Rasselas Lakew) 7/10 We open the day with a film that sounds like your typical sports underdog story, but has an interesting structure and some unique qualities that help it rise above other examples of the genre. It follows the story of Abebe Bikila, an Ethiopian athlete who in 1960 became the first African to win an Olympic Gold Medal. The film opens after your typical sports movie has ended. Bikila has already achieved his great success and has become a hero to the people in his hometown, which the film shows through real newsreels covering those events. He is now in training for the 1972 Olympics, despite many people telling him he will be too old by then. Tragically, a car accident takes that decision out of his hands. Still, Bikila refuses to quit, and the film does a terrific job of capturing his tremendous competitive spirit. What really works is the decision by directors Davey Frankel and Rasselas Lakew to not litter the film with distracting subplots. Bikila mentions a family, but they are not seen. There is no romance, no big court case, and minor characters do not overstay their welcome. This is Bikila's story and it is a wonderful one. Racing Dreams (Marshall Curry) 7/10 Another in the long line of festival documentaries about people taking part in unique competitions. This one follows three kids from ages 11 to 13 as they look to become the next World Karting Association's National Champion. If you're thinking the standard go karts you see at amusement parks, you're wrong. These vehicles exceed 70 MPH and there are many serious accidents throughout the film. The success of documentaries in this genre depends heavily on whether the filmmakers have chosen interesting subjects to follow. and in these three kids, they've done a pretty good job. Brandon is a feisty troublemaker who often gets suspended from school and was disqualified last year for rough racing. Annabeth is passionate about racing, spending 48 weekends out of the year racing in various events across the country. All of them dream of one day driving in NASCAR, but financial difficulties make it hard to keep competing at their level. The only person that doesn't garner much interest is Josh, in part because the filmmakers themselves don't seem too interested in him. they seem more interested in a burgeoning romance between Annabeth and Brandon, which is certainly cute (Annabeth borrows Brandon's trophy and writes her phone # on the bottom of it), but seems to have been pushed along by the filmmakers. The film also builds a bit of ample tension int he final race, as there is a fear one of the drivers will be disqualified. The film is a memorable look at kids chasing their dreams. The Battle for Bunker Hill (Kevin Willmott) 5/10 What if a small town got cut off from the rest of the world? What if there were rumors that it had to do with a terrorist attack and some people took advantage of that situation to control the town by mob rule? What if you saw a television series called Jericho and then several years later an independent film popped up at a film festival with the exact same premise? Now to be fair, there's nothing necessarily wrong with taking a familiar premise and putting a fresh spin on it. And at least the filmmakers seem to have attempted that. Unfortunately, director Kevin Willmott seems so concerned with making sure the audience understands the political argument he's making that he forgets to make sure it is deftly woven into the narrative. Nearly every scene has a comment on a modern political event. The villains are clearly meant to represent both teabaggers and the Bush administration ("You're with us or you're against us" shouted several times). The main character was recently in jail for insider trading. There are also attacks on racism, homophobia, and a mean-spirited clunky attack on organized religion. This gets to be a bit much. The result is a movie that is not very entertaining. Everything that happens is so transparent that it's hard to care about what happens to any of the characters in it. I certainly agree with many of the political analogies that were made in the film, and certainly a great movie could be made from exploring them, but you still need a good story. You still need strongly developed characters. This film has neither of those and thus it falls completely apart. Tierra Madre (Dylan Verrechia) 5/10 Aidee Gonzalez (playing herself) is an exotic dancer in a Mexican border town. She's lived a rough life, with a worthless husband who is no longer in the picture. She has a dream for saving up money to buy a house for and her daughter. Told in an interesting mixture of documentary and narrative, this film is unfortunately derailed by bad acting and weak character development. One of the major sins this movie commits is to skip past some important events by having the main character tell us about them in a voiceover. Some of the major personal things like her first kiss with her new girlfriend are just mentioned and not shown. In fact, we go straight through the beginning of that relationship to where they've already moved in. And the characterization of her girlfriend is so weak that there's little reason to care about the relationship. Surprisingly, the best scenes come from Aidee's daughter and her best friend. Both deliver natural performances that are actually much better than any of the adult actors in the film. The two of them have honest, interesting discussions about her mother's life and their own futures that are far more interesting than anything else in the movie. While I sympathize with what Aidee has gone through in real life, it is simply not portrayed very well in this film. NoNAMES (Kate Lindboe) 6/10 Kevin and his friends are stuck in a small Wisonsin town. Alcohol, drugs, and wild parties are pretty much their only escape. During one of these parties, Kevin's girlfriend CJ is raped by a childhood friend. She refuses to press charges and just wants to move only. NoNAMES is about how these events changed each of the characters and set them on a different path for the future. This is one depressing film. Despite his efforts to change his life, the main character seems to have the worst possible luck in almost every single scene. The rapist keeps coming back and causing damage. And yet, it's Kevin that still gets treated like trash by local law enforcement and CJ's parents. That either could come to the conclusion that Kevin is at fault is frustrating and maddening. To be fair, this is not a film without merit. Director Kate Lindboe has a really good sense of how to work with her actors, and with them she's created an authentic portrait of male friendship. I just wished she had used that in a better story. There is a nice, quiet moment late in the film that would have been a perfect ending. Unfortunately, the film runs on for several more minutes in an ending that seems needlessly prolonged. Chalk this one up as a missed opportunity. Pushin' Up Daisies (Patrick Franklin) 7/10 Here's another midnight festival screening, and another strange film. However, this one is strange in all the good ways. I love the premise for this film. A struggling filmmaker returns to his hometown of Tokyo, Georgia to make a documentary about the connection between flowers and the various stages of human life. Unfortunately, the documentary gets interrupted by a zombie invasion of the town. This isn't the first zombie comedy and it won't be the last. But this one is filled with some very funny ideas. For example, the central joke is that zombies aren't so scary. After all, they move very slowly and are pretty easy to get away from. So they attempt to continue the documentary by shooting around the zombies. This leads to hilarious situations, including memorial services for families whose relatives came back to life as zombies and had to be killed again. When sticking to these ideas, the film works very well. It is a bit less successful later on when it seems to lose focus and make an attempt at pathos by discussing the main caracter's issues with his late parents. There's also a heroic speech given by one of the supporting characters that runs on way too long. It starts off funny, but soon becomes rather repetitive and annoying. But that's not enough to take away the many pleasures that this film brings. It's a fun example of original ultra-low budget filmmaking. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner Last edited by larrymcg421 : 04-22-2010 at 03:26 AM.

04-20-2010, 06:50 AM	#22
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	A wildly uneven day with one of the best movies I've ever seen at the festival, and also one of the worst... Exit 117 (Kevin James McMullin) 8/10 Here's a nice little slice of life about a group of friends just graduated from high school that are trying to figure out what to do with their lives. Now that description sounds pretty generic. It's certainly a common premise for independent films and I was disappointed in last year's similarly themed The New Twenty. However, Exit 117's winning characters help make this one of the better examples of this genre. It's quite an achievement for writer-director Kevin James McMullin that he's able to create characters that are so sharply drawn and multi-dimensional when he's dealing with so many of them. There are at least 7 central characters and many other supporting that are also well drawn. The decision to hire actors with no experience pays off because they give very natural performances that help create a sense of authenticity. Also remarkable is that the film was made for only $850, yet McMullin was able to craft it so well that there were no technical issues hampering enjoyment of the film. In fact, there are several impressive shots throughout and the director is really able to create a nice sense of place in this seemingly dead end New Jersey town. The plot description mentions that it is meant to be an antidote to MTV's Jersey Shore and they've certainly accomplished that. This is a positive, uncynical look at real people with real hopes and fears. The Myth of Time (Jaguar X) 1/10 A surrealist film from director Jaguar X (whatever) based on the Mayan creation myth. This is one dreadful film and I pretty much hated every single second of it. It is overly pretentious filmmaking at its worst and possibly the worst film I have ever seen in 11 years of attending the Atlanta Film Festival. I had to read the guide to get the plot because I barely understood anything that happened. Apparently, it's about "The Dark Eyed One ... and his experiences as a child solider, first love, and ultimately The Revelation". That's great, but I shouldn't have to read the press kit to figure out what I just saw. Example: There's a tribal scene where a white man keeps repeatedly talking about what his "Negro mother" is going to do to the hero. I'm sure Mr. Jaguar X knows what that means, but I'm honestly not interested. The film is also extremely unpleasant. It's filled with ugly violence (at one point, there's a series of shots showing kids being murdered) and disturbing sexual situations. I've seen worse in other movies, but without a narrative that makes sense it is just unpleasant and difficult to watch. As things got worse and worse, I started to pass the time by counting how many people walked out of the screening. My final number came to 18. The Mountain Thief (Gerry Balasta) 10/10 There's perhaps no bigger contrast between two movies than The Mountain Thief and The Myth of Time. There's also perhaps no better way to illustrate my taste in film than the different approaches made by these two filmmakers. The Mountain Thief is a genuinely heartfelt story that is the very antithesis of pretentious filmmaking. Director Gerry Balasta tells us a story about a poor family that lives in a Philippines garbage town, where trash has been dumped so often that it has actually created a mountain of garbage. The people in this community make their living by collecting trash and there seems to be very little hope of finding a way out, especially since it makes more financial sense for the family to have children helping than sending them to school. Julio and his blind child Ingo are barely getting by when tragedy strikes and threatens not only their place in the community, but more importantly their rights to collect garbage. Instead of hiring professional actors, Balasta picked his cast from people that lived in the garbage town and conducted an acting workshop with them. The result is (much like Exit 117) natural acting that manages to be quite affecting. The film also looks beautiful, with many grand shots of the mountain, suggesting that despite the misery that these people live in, the mountain takes on an almost mythic quality and is seemingly revered by the characters. After all, it's all they've got. The end credits contain information on the real people involved, and what Balasta has helped do for them since the movie was made. If you don't find this moving, then you must have made a deal with the devil. Who Saw Him? (Claudia Rorarius) 5/10 From the Pink Peach program (films about LGBT issues) comes this strange German film from director Claudia Rorarius. It follows a gay man in his thirties as he attempts to find the father that he last saw 25 years earlier. This journey takes him to Italy where he tries to get on a family reunion show hosted by a transvestite. The most odd thing about this movie is the bleak and flat tone. This is a very dry story that lacks any kind of emotional power, which is a serious detriment for a story that feels very personal. After all, the lead actor is playing himself and the story is based on events in his own life. Thus, it seems like a bizarre choice for the director to hold back so much in almost every single scene. Gianni Meurer does a solid job playing himself in the lead role. There is one long monologue halfway through where the film seems to pick up some emotional momentum. But the director quickly puts a halt to that. It's also a rather unpleasant film to look at as the filmmaker overemphasizes darkness to set the mood. With little emotion and an awful visual scheme, the is an unpleasant film to watch. Animation Extravaganza This is always one of my favorite programs at the festival and I was actually disappointed that they reverted back to one program instead of the two they showed last year. (Note: some of these were pre-screened and the reviews are repeated here)... The Adventures of Ledo and Ix (Emily Carmichael) 7/10 Animated short that follows two video game characters from an old fashioned Final Fantasy-style adventure game (see picture above) as they ponder their existence and wander into that black space past the edge of the map. It's a clever premise with funny and solid execution The Anchorite (Matthew Maloney) 7/10 This one uses a haunting visual style to tell the story of a homeless artist struggling to complete a mural and to find a place for himself. Interesting story that is wonderful to look at. The Fence Underneath Us (Steven Bednar) 6/10 A fox narrates about his life on a fox farm, discovering that there is a fence underneath preventing him from tunneling out. This one is only 3 minutes and too short to be memorable. Goodbye Mr. Pink (Helen Piercy) 8/10 A mixture of live action and stop motion animation is used tell this story about a rabbit that has just died and two kids discussing what the rabbit's afterlife will be like. They are unaware that their words have a direct effect on the rabbit's afterlife. This is a charming story with many hilarious moments. Happy and Strictly in 'Fuzzy Business' (Robert Paraguassu, Layne Braunstein) 7/10 Two animated characters (kinda shaped like the ghosts in Pac Man) that appear to be street cleaners pass the time by dreaming about being so rich they can start their own Bearline (get it?). Amusing enough and impressive animation considering this was made in 48 hours. Horn Dog (Bill Plympton) 6/10 The fourth in Bill Plympton's animated shorts series about an oddly shaped dog (kinda looks like a really fat bat) and his comic misadventures. Last year I enjoyed previous entry in the series Fire Dog. In this one, he takes a liking to an exquisite female show dog, but her owner isn't happy about it. This one has a couple funny moments, but the twist isn't very funny and the hero not quite as likeable this time around. Ledo and Ix Go to Town (Emily Carmichael) 9/10 Remember those old school RPG's when you finally found a new town but were constantly frustrated at all the NPC townsfolk that were absolutely useless? That's where our heroes Ledo and Ix find themselves in this hilarious sequel than surpasses its predecessor. Other hilarious bits involve Ix's obsessions with upgrading and equipping weapons and Ledo's struggle to take a chicken out of town. The Lighthouse (Yelislava Gospodinova) 8/10 A lighthouse keeper is horrified by the death of birds that are attracted to his lighthouse and keep crashing through the windows to their deaths. He comes up with a solution, but it could have tragic consequences. Eerie story that feels like an animated Twilight Zone episode. Black and white animation style adds alot to the atmosphere. The Machine (Rob Shaw) 7/10 Second time seeing this one and I liked it alot more this time around. A machine powered by gears (and nickels) tells a story about a man that creates a robot and watches the robot destroy everything and everyone. Has an interesting animation style and haunting score, but the ending is still a bit predictable. Prayers For Peace (Dustin Grella) 10/10 Incredibly moving story about a man dealing with the loss of his brother who was a soldier that died in Iraq. This was drawn using pastels on a chalkboard and we see each scene drawn from scratch. This helps create an intimate, emotional vibe. There's a shocking audio cue at the end that shows just how personal the film is for director Dustin Grella. Spaceman on Earth (Shant Hamassian) 7/10 Another animated outing that combines animation and live action. This is a funny science fiction story set in the 50s about an astronaut hero who keeps accidentally annoying his alien neighbor to no end and eventually finds himself on the run as a suspected communist. The Story of Scrivener and His Aislyn (Evan Curtis) 7/10 One of the more disappointing entries in this program. The idea is solid: a young boy finds a film canister in the ocean and falls in love with the power of movies. He goes about filming things with his old camera. I love the use of old film footage inserted into the animation, creating a nice constrast to get across the point of how powerful the cinema can be. The film just feels like it needed to be fleshed out a bit more to create the kind of magic it is looking for. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-22-2010, 03:24 AM	#23
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	The festival awards ceremony was held the night before. Films that were in competition were eligible for awards in different categories such as Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, and various awards for shorts voted on by jury members specifically picked for those categories. Here are this year's winners... Feature Length Narrative Feature: Putty Hill (Matt Porterfield) Documentary Feature: Family Affair (Chico Colvard) Pink Peach Feature: 8: The Mormon Proposition (Reed Cowan) Shorts Narrative Short: Firstborn (Etienne Kallos) Narrative Short Hon Mention: Ana's Playground (Eric D. Howell) Documentary Short: Born Sweet (Cynthia Wade) Documentary Short Hon Mention: Woman Rebel (Kiran Deol) Animated Short: The Machine (Rob Shaw) Animated Short Hon Mention: Prayers for Peace (Dustin Grella) Pink Peach Short: Curious Thing (Alain Hain) There will also be an audience award announced at the end of the festival. I'll also be handing out my awards when I write my festival wrap up. Now on to today's reviews... Putty Hill (Matt Porterfield) 9/10 The first film I see after the awards announcement happens to be the jury winner for Best Narrative Feature. It's easy to see what the jury liked about this movie. There is some really good filmmaking going on here. Putty Hill dissects the hopes and fears of people in a Baltimore neighborhood as they prepare for the funeral of a young man named Corey that was well known in the community. Director Matt Porterfield does a great job of creating a community of people and making the town they live in so recognizable that it feels like an extra character in the film. Porterfield uses an interesting structure to the film. It's shot like a documentary and there is an off camera voice asking questions to the various characters and capturing various events. But you never get the sense that someone is actually filming a documentary. Even when uncomfortable questions are being asked, none of the characters seem to think they can just stop answering. This helps explain how he can capture certain private moments, like a discussion between Corey's sister and grandmother. It also makes it feel like the viewer is there, like you've traveled to Baltimore to attend the funeral of someone you knew. Also working in the film's favor is the improvisational style employed. The movie was cast with untrained actors and they improvised most of the dialogue. It creates a real feeling of authenticity as you don't see anyone playing it up for the cameras or suddenly spouting some brilliant dialogue that feels written. The most wonderful moment is the memorial service itself, which takes place at a karaoke bar and the very real heartfelt performances given are quite moving. Putty Hill is a unique, memorable film and is among this year's best festival screenings. Dear Lemon Lima (Suzi Yoonessi) 10/10 Adapted from a short film that played at the Atlanta Film Festival three years earlier comes this story of a 13 year old half-Eskimo girl named Vanessa who is recovering from summer heartbreak as she enters a private school. She immediately finds herself at the bottom of the social food chain and her efforts to win back the love of her life are seemingly hopeless. However, she gets a chance to prove herself when she is named captain during the school's Snowstorm Survivor competition, where she picks all the school's cast offs (known as FUBAR's) to be on her team. This is a fantastic movie that finds a perfect balance of tone. Not one moment is too quirky, nor does it ever get too serious. And the chief reason for that is the wonderful performance of Savanah Wiltfong in the lead role. Knowing that her character already has quirky elements and there's already a sense of silliness to the proceedings, she does something rather remarkable for an actress of her age and actually underplays the character. There's very little showing off on her part. None of her line deliveries are obnoxiously offbeat. She never once makes bizarre facial expressions. Instead, she creates a winning lead character with a low key, nuanced performance. The film has a wonderful visual style. The sets and costumes are populated with solid bright colors, creating a cheery, positive atmosphere. Writer-director Yoonessi also does a remarkable job creating fully fleshed out supporting characters, including a neighbor boy whose mom is very strict, a popular girl who has more heart than we initially suspect, and especially Vanessa's ex Philip who is certainly played as a stuck up jerk, but a realistic three dimensional jerk. All of this helps creating a wonderful world for her memorable lead character to inhabit. This is a charming, witty, tremendously entertaining film. Open Five (Kentucker Audley) 7/10 The term mumblecore has received some controversy, mainly because many of those directors credited with making films in that genre despise the word. But whatever word you use, it is clear the style of mumblecore is here to stay as you can see it populating the film festival ciruit. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's a movement towards more low key, intimate filmmaking and away from the self-conscious overly cynical films that used to dominate the indie scene. As someone who prefers the former to the latter, I find films like Open Five rather refreshing. The simple plot is befitting of the genre. Two girls from New York come down to Memphis to visit two guys, one of whom is a musician and the other a low budget filmmaker. They visit dive bars, BBQ restaurants, Graceland, energetic churches. They talk about their relationships and how they'll continue once the trip is over. For the most part, this is really solid stuff. The people involved are interesting, and the improvisational dialogue style really works. The only major issue I had with the film was the awkward shooting angles used in many scenes. Many of them are shot with us looking at the back of a character's head. This awkward blocking is really distracting. Now I know the essence of mumblecore is to film on extremely small budgets and the improvisational style makes it hard to get coverage, but there had to be a better way to shoot these scenes. Otherwise it's a nice, relaxing film and a good example of the mumblecore genre. Yellowbrickroad (Jesse Holland, Andy Mitton) 8/10 Yellowbrickroad has a very interesting mystery premise. In 1940 the entire town of Friar, NH walked north on a trail into the woods. They never returned. Teddy Barnes (Michael Laurino) is someone who has always been obsessed with this story, and finally (after being stonewalled for years) has been given the information he needs to find the trail. He gathers a crew, including his wife, a psychiatrist, a local resident, a couple friends and they head north to find answers. This is a really good example of the horror/suspense genre, and will certainly be enjooyed by fans of Lost and The Twilight Zone. Directors Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton make some really good choices throughout the film. Most notably, they use a minimalist sound design to create some really strong atmosphere. There is no score to speak of and that creates a sense of loneliness for the characters. Also, when sound is used it provides a strong contrast to the rest of the film and is actually quite frightening. A problem that suspense films of this nature usually run into is that the premise is so intriguing that there is no way the eventual explanation can live up to that. But Yellowbrickroad avoids that problem by setting up the story where the answers are not the driving force, but moreso what certain characters are willing to do to get those answers. There is one particularly impressive shot where the filmmakers create a genuine scare with some smart editing techniques and their understanding that you don't need to linger on every big moment. Moments like this are what makes Yellowbrickroad a winning horror/suspense film. Winter's Bone (Debra Granik) 8/10 One of the most impressive things I've noticed at this year's festival is that several films have done a terrific job of creating a real sense of place and community. Films like Exit 117, Putty Hill, and The Mountain Thief have all been successful at accomplishing this. Sundance favorite Winter's Bone manages to do the same with a deeply observed portrait of people living in the Ozarks. Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) is a 17 year old girl who is raising her two younger siblings all by herself. Her mother is mentally ill and never speaks. Her father is a criminal who is out on bail and has put up the house as collateral. When he fails to show for his court date, Ree must go out and find him (or his body) or risk losing the only thing her family has left. Her journey takes us through many different parts of this community and gives us a sense of the sad, desperate lives that they lead. This is a film filled with wonderfully rich characterizations. Most notable is John Hawkes performance as Ree's uncle Teardrop. What first appears to simply be nothing more than a dangerous villain turns out to be a fascinatingly complex individual. Hawkes is an actor I've noticed before (on Deadwood and in previous ATLFF closing night film Me and You and Everyone We Know), but this performance is his crowning achievement. Debra Granik's story does go in some unexpected directions and takes us on a dark, suspenseful journey through the Ozarks. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-22-2010, 03:50 AM	#24
Izulde Head Coach Join Date: Sep 2004	Love these reviews. I'd be interested in seeing a few films profiled thus far. __________________ 2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty)

04-24-2010, 12:31 AM	#25
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Thanks, Izulde! Like last year, I'll keep you guys posted when some of these movies get released. I think YellowBrickRoad has the best potential to really break out. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-24-2010, 12:33 AM	#26
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Finally catching up on some of these. Here are my reviews for day 6 (April 20)... The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek (Wendy Jo Cohen) 7/10 The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek is one of the lost stories of the civil war. Six hundred union soldiers defended against a Confederate army of over three thousand. They were successful at preventing a planned invasion of Washington D.C. Unfortunately, this story was hushed up by both sides because they didn’t want it getting out that the union army was led by a gay colonel, an elderly Chinese immigrant, a one-armed prostitute, and a nerdy escaped slave. Wendy Jo Cohen’s movie finally sheds light on this incredibly important battle. Of course, this is all made up. It’s actually a mockumentary and it’s certainly a fun one at that. The story is played out like a Ken Burns documentary and the funniest part of the movie is that the director really nails the Ken Burns style. She uses a self serious narrator to take us through the events, supported by interview segments with various talking heads (historians, scholars, relatives) and utilizes voiceovers to read the letters written by the participants. When sticking to this general concept, the movie contains some really funny deadpan humor. Unfortunately, the director felt the need to amp up the humor and the film gets increasingly silly in the second half. Some of the actors playing the historians start to act out instead of playing it straight. One of the interview segments is on a street corner with some prostitutes. And yet another interview segment shows a naked man in the background. The event itself is already silly and treating it seriously was what made it funny. Adding silliness on top of that makes the film lose its balance. It’s still funny enough for me to consider it a good film, but it could have been so much more if the director had more confidence to see her vision through to the end. The Things We Carry (Ian McCrudden) 5/10 The Things We Carry is such a well-intentioned film and feels so personal for the filmmakers that it pains me to say it is just not very good. It follows the story of a young woman who is returning home after her mother’s death. This forces her to reconnect with her estranged sister, who stayed in their hometown to look after their mother. The two work out their differences as they try to track down an item left for them by their mother’s junkie friend. When focusing on the relationship between the two sisters, the movie does have some merit. The film was developed by two sisters (Alyssa Lobit is the writer and star, Athena Lobit is the producer) and they seem to understand how to authentically portray a sibling relationship. The acting between the two leads (Catherine Kresge plays the other sister) is good enough. It’s when focusing on other aspects of the story that the film falls apart. The drug subplot is a real problem here. One of the junkie friends (played by Johnny Whitworth) seems to have importance at the beginning of the film, but gets almost completely cut out of the third act for seemingly no reason. The constant flashbacks to memories of their mother are also not handled well, trying to find a balance between how sweet she could be and how her drug addiction caused pain, but mostly just straining credibility. The plot device of having them bond while trying to find this mysterious box is a bit too transparent and creates an unnecessary “big moment” at the end, which seems completely out of place for this film. Less plot devices and more scenes of the two sisters trying to reconnect in a natural setting would have gone a long way toward making this a good movie. American Jihadist (Mark Claywell) 7/10 Interesting documentary about Isa Abdullah Ali, an African-American Muslim who is strongly committed to his cause and not afraid of letting anyone know it. This film brings to mind last year’s festival selection American Fugitive: The Truth About Hassan. The major difference here is Ali is walking free, despite a history of taking up arms in defense of his religion. American Jihadist talks about his life and the decisions that led him to where he is today. Ali isn’t your typical Muslim extremist. He feels as if he is fighting for the downtrodden and will go to many places around the world to carry on that fight. The most interesting is when he moves to Bosnia because the government has taken action against Muslims. Claywell is able to get footage of Ali and his family in Bosnia, where they appear to be very happy and fit in perfectly. He gets candid with Ali and his family, no one seemingly worried about how their frank comments could get them in trouble. The drawback to the film is that it skips over some important aspects of the story. There’s footage of an interview with the US Secretary of Defense, who says that Ali will be arrested if found. Yet the movie mentions that Ali turns himself in at one point and is immediately released. There’s very little explanation for either why Ali decided to turn himself in or why the US let him go. But this is still an interesting look at the life of a man who passionately believes in something and is surprisingly content with his life. Documentary Shorts Born Sweet (Cynthia Wade) 9/10 This 28 minute short (pictured above) tells us about a poor Cambodian village where in the past aid groups dug wells for the citizens, not knowing that they were tapping into arsenic deposits. The result is a town fraught with arsenic poisoning. The film focuses on a specific person, 15 year old Vinh Voeurn, who dreams of being a karaoke star. In the midst of an extremely sad situation, this wonderful film finds hope with a winning conclusion. No Excuses (Whitney Trower, Michele Richardson) 6/10 Kyle Maynard is a congenital amputee who owns a gym called No Excuses Athletics. This documentary is only three minutes long and seems mostly designed to shock the audience by showing Maynard’s private workout routine, including an amazing shot of him doing pull ups. He’s an inspirational person, but we barely learn anything about him. He’s certainly interesting enough to deserve more time devoted to him than this. Pax (Sarah Harvey) 8/10 This is such a sweet story that it almost feels too good to be true. Sgt. Bill Campbell is an Iraq war veteran on disability due to traumatic brain injury. Through a program called Puppies Behind Bars, he is given a trained dog (named Pax) to help him recover from the trauma. The film documents Bill’s visit to the prison where he meets Laurie, the woman who trained Pax. This is an incredibly moving film that would probably get too sappy if it was any longer, but is just right at 22 minutes. Woman Rebel (Kiran Deol) 8/10 At 37 minutes this is one of the longer shorts at the festival and it tells a pretty remarkable story. Silu is a female soldier fighting as part of the revolutionary army in Nepal, a struggle which went on for more than 10 years. The movie shows what happens when the revolutionaries and the government come to the peace table. Silu ends up running for office and is elected to parliament. It’s a powerful testament to what can happen when people put guns down and seek peaceful solutions. Cold Weather (Aaron Katz) 10/10 The day closes with one of the best films of the festival. Earlier I wrote about Kentucker Audley’s Open Five and how it fit into the mumblecore genre. Well, Aaron Katz has done something very interesting here by taking the style of mumblecore and infusing it with a mystery premise. The result is a startlingly original movie that is an outstanding example of independent filmmaking. Doug (Cris Lankenau) recently dropped out of a forensic science program at college and moved back home to live with his sister Gail (Trieste Kelly Dunn). He gets a blue collar job where he makes friends with Carlos (Raul Castillo) over their shared enjoyment of Sherlock Holmes novels. When Doug’s ex-girlfriend Rachel (Robyn Rikoon) fails to show up for a date with Carlos, they begin to get worried and start to investigate her disappearance. Director Aaron Katz creates some fantastic moments precisely because of what he chooses not to do. There is a sequence that revolves around the need to steal a briefcase in a diner, but Katz only shows us the perspective from outside as we see the getaway car waiting. But this is no ordinary suspense film. The mystery is just a backdrop to explore the relationships between the four leads and the wonderfully natural performances from the cast go a long way toward making this work. Katz has made a wonderful film filled with low-key humor, suspenseful moments, and complex relationships. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-27-2010, 01:13 PM	#27
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	Day 7 reviews finally done... Only one of the films really stood out today, but thankfully there were no misfires either. This is shaping up to be one of the best year's in festival history. CUTUD: The Crossing (Scott Wurth) 7/10 Here is another festival documentary with a religious theme. It follows a group in the Philippines who re-enact the crucifixion of Christ. And it's not a magic show with a bunch of fancy tricks. These people actually get nailed to the cross. Wurth's intense and shocking film explores the individuals involved in these ceremonies, the commercialization of the event and the natural controversies that ensue. The movie explores the history of the event and how the local government has had changing opinions about it. They discuss some of the rivalries, particularly over who gets to be on center cross. Some of the best parts involve the reasons certain individuals participate. For example, Ruben is a man who survived a fall from the third floor of a building and now feels he owes it to God for saving him. Another man is recovered from a drug habit and wants to prove to God that he is truly reformed. The film builds to the climactic moments where we see the participants nailed to the cross. It is as disturbing and shocking as you'd expect it to be, but also a revealing testament to what people will do if they strongly believe in something. If there's a problem here, the film is too short. At only 42 minutes, the film doesn't have enough time to explore the many subplots and controversies it brings up. It certainly held my interest, but left me wanting more. Handsome Harry (Bette Gordon) 7/10 Another Pink Peach selection, Handsome Harry is a surprisingly laid back film considering the nature of the plot. It's about a Vietnam vet named Harry (Jamey Sheridan) who gets a call from dying former war buddy Tom Kelly (Steve Buscemi). Tom wants to make amends for something they both did to a fellow soldier (Campbell Scott). It quickly becomes clear (especially since we know it's a Pink Peach film) that they beat this person up because he was gay. The film follows the structure of a road trip movie as Harry travels to meet the other members of the unit that were involved in the beating, finding that they have all gone in wildly different direction and have varying opinions about the actions they took. The structure is just a little too neat. The story goes from A to B to C in a rather ordinary fashion and I wish they had dispensed with some ill-advised subplots, like Harry's dalliance with the wife of one of his former buddies. The best thing about the film is the nuanced acting by both Jamey Sheridan and Campbell Scott. This movie doesn't to the grand melodrama that the backstory would seem to suggest. There are only a handful of scenes between the two characters, but they are all a fine example of exquisite acting. It's nice to see both a director and actors have enough confidence in the material that they don't need to overplay everything. They bring the film to a wonderfully bittersweet ending. The Eyes of Me (Keith Maitland) 7/10 The Eyes of Me is a documentary that follows a year in the life of four high school students. that's certainly nothing new for a documentary, but the difference here is that all four students are blind and they are attending the Texas School for the Blind. Keith Maitland's film is an interesting exploration of how different people cope with this problem. Certanly the student that will get the most attention is Chas, a Senior who lives in his own apartment and struggles both with schoolwork and paying his bills. He has a dream of being a rapper and is so dedicated that he will run a really long cord outside his apartment to steal electricity for his computer. He's a compelling figure that definitely has ups and downs during his senior year. The two female students, Meghan and Denise, are also very interesting, providing a strong emotional arc to the film. The one student who doesn't come across well is Isaac, who is not very likeable as portrayed in the film. Whenever he was on screen, I was looking forward to the film switching back to one of the other kids. It's not a perfect documentary, but Maitland does a number of things right (including some incredibly well done animated interludes) that make this a winning documentary. 8: The Mormon Proposition (Reed Cowan) 8/10 Last year's opening night film was a politically themed documentary based on the writings of Howard Zinn. Zinn narrated the film and had an ill-advised blunt opening sequence about modern politics that probably lost alot of the audience wasn't already on his side. Well, I'm glad to report that 8: The Mormon Proposition is a politically themed documentary that avoids this mistake by focusing on a more emotional appeal. Reed Cowan's film is about the battle over Proposition 8 in the 2008 California election, where the state was voting on whether to ban same sex marriage. Going in, I expected the film to take a direct harsh attack on the Mormon church for its policies and there is certainly some of that, but what makes this film so good is the decision to focus on one gay couple and their emotional appeal to be accepted and allowed to marry. By doing this, Cowan makes an argument that will be more successful in reaching out to those on the fence. The film opens with their marriage and shows just how important that is to them. It's hard for even the most cold hearted person to not be somewhat touched by their enthusiasm and love for one another. Their are several attacks against the Mormon church of course, some of them more successful than others, but this film finds its true power in the simple story of two memorable people in love fighting a society that says they shouldn't be. The Square (Nash Edgerton) 7/10 Nash Edgerton's The Square is preceded by one of his earlier short films called Spider (which will also be the case in the theatrical release). which does a great job of getting the audience ready for his dark sense of humor. This is one of the chief pleasures of The Square, a film noir with some fairly standard elements that is elevated by Edgerton's artistry. Raymond Yale (David Roberts) is a married man having an affair with Carla (Claire van der Boom), who is also married. Carla notices her husband has some money stashed in the attic and hatches a plan with Raymond to steal the money and have the house burned down so her husband will think the cash was lost in the fire. It doesn't go as smoothly as hoped and they must now deal with the consequences as their lives begin to spin out of control. One of the pleasures of flms like this is watching the perfect plan foiled piece by piece. But Edgerton adds some really twisted humor in this film, especially during a scene where a dog is swimming to meet another dog. This makes it more interesting than your standard film noir. The only complaint here is that Edgerton lets come scene run too long and includes scenes that should have been excised altogether. The pacing is problematic at times, especially during the middle section. Still, it's a stylish, darkly funny movie that is a strong start for a filmmaker that seems to have a bright future. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

04-30-2010, 02:26 AM	#28
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	I spent my final full day of the festival watching as many shorts programs as I could. The results were mixed, but there were some wonderful short films among this year's crop. Lesbian Shorts (Still from Yulia) The Roe Effect (Kiel Scott) 6/10 Unpleasant and depressing story about two female high school students in a relationship, but an unwanted pregnancy threatens to destroy their relationship. This one has a really bad ending. Simple Pleasures (Matthew Mendelson) 4/10 I know it's a short film. but very little happens in this one. A woman tries to rekindle a romance with her co-worker, but finds someone else. Yawn. The director tries mixing up the narrative, but his attempt is not successful at making this film interesting. Public Relations (Gianna Sobol) 7/10 The two lead actresses (Summer Bishil, Sienna Farall) are so appealing in this one and the film has such a bubbly spirit that I'm surprised it wasn't made as a feature. Supporting characters are annoying caricatures, but the ingratiating leads carry the day. To Comfort You (Marc Saltarelli) 7/10 Moving story about a worried mother calling her sick daughter. The title has a double meaning as it becomes quickly clear as the phone is just as much about comforting the mother. Depressing story, but it contains some very good acting from both leads. Yulia (Antoine Arditti) 8/10 Animated story of a single woman who gets electrocuted and finds herself in an empty room with no doors, but five levers labeled with different items (Chair, Hammer, Man, Cat, and a Heart). When the heart lever finally gets pulled, the result is much different than what she originally imagined. Unfortunately, I think it was a mistake to include this as part of the Lesbian Shorts program, since that telegraphs the ending. Still, it's a cute story with a memorable animation style. One Night (Laura Jean Cronin) 8/10 Utilizing a clever editing style, this short tells the story of a young woman who went to a lesbian bar the night before and got home bloody and bruised. The film intercuts between these two moments and unravels pieces to the story a bit at a time. The resolution is unexpected and emotionally gripping. Only drawback is one key scene that is poorly directed. Comedy Shorts (Still from Winner: Best Short Film) Winner: Best Short Film (Peter Meech) 7/10 Danny Caine is a filmmaker hot on the heels of winning Sundance with a short film that was 5 seconds long (including end credits and a blooper reel). Now he's at the home of a hollywood producer, trying to convince him that he's ready to direct a big budget feature. Intermittently amusung, but the funniest part comes at the end when they show the 5 second film. The World of Film Festivals (Jim Jacob) 8/10 Very simple film is just one guy talking about the ins and outs of film festivals. The actor (director Jacob himself) really knows how to sell deadpan humor. This was one of the funniest of the program. Quality Time (Colin Marshall) 5/10 Two brothers reunite due to their father's sickness and get into a series of spats and misadventures. Tries for a mixture of humor and pathos, but it is not very funny and the two leads are unlikeable jerks. Follicle Frolic (Mark Potts) 7/10 3 minute short film about a strange man who is obsessed with his male roommate's long, flowing hair. The director utilizes voiceover to create some very funny moments and the ending is certainly unexpected. The Apostles (Jeff Chan) 7/10 What if Jesus skipped out on the bill during The Last Supper and the apostles argued over how to handle it? Has enough funny moments to work, but doesn't quite live up to thwe premise's full potential. The Ballad of Friday and June (Tate English) 6/10 Story of a lady and her talking puppet dog. I wrote a pretty scathing review of this one before the festival, but I actually liked it a bit better this time around. The puppet dog's final line is admittedly very funny and the attempts at pathos seemed to work better. Helium Man (Nicholas Piper) 7/10 Funny story about a young man who overdoses on helium and now has the ability to float. He discusses with his friend how they can utilize this power to make him a superhero. This short takes a limited premise and infuses it with enough humor to make it work. How to Ride a Train (Katie Dillon) 7/10 Taking inspiration from a book written for women in the 1920's, explaining how they should ride a train, director Katie Dillon delivers a very funny little short imaginging just how the idea for that book happened. It's a short, simply joke, but it's a good one. Pet Peeves (Brooke Adams) 3/10 Sherry has just recently moved in with Jack, bringing along her dog OJ. Jack and OJ do not get along and he is frustrated by the way she pampers the dog. At 22 minutes, this is the longest film in this program, and there's really no reason for that. It's played too broadly and aims for a clever twist that is not funny at all. Spleenectomy (Kirsten Smith) 5/10 A couple big names headline this short, in which Anna Faris plays an actress who is turned down for a role as a doctor, because theater director Larry Miller doesn't find her convincing. An opportunity presents itself for her to prove him wrong. This is all played so broadly that I'm sure it will be a sitcom following Two and a Half Men next fall. Looking For Love Shorts (Still from Tell Me Who) The Regular (Jamie Kirkpatrick) 7/10 A nice guy is striking out at a bar as all the chicks seem more interesting the psuedo suave ladies men. Things change when he takes the mic. Very simple idea with terrific execution, although the ending contains a twist that is unnecessary. Mister Green (Greg Pak) 3/10 Set in a future where global warming has devastated the Earth, a government official has his eyes opened to the path for a better tomorrow. I really liked the visual style to the film, but man is this just a dreadfully preachy story. It sure takes alot of nerve to use a Gandhi quote at the end to drive home the point. Further Lane (Mesh Flinders) 7/10 This story is told with a mysterious tone and follows the goings on at a beach house. Very interesting short that showcases some natural directing talent from Flinders. He composes shots very well and utilizes to a minimalist storytelling format to good effect. Greased (Roxine Helberg) 4/10 Story of a young couple involved in a radical political organization. One of them may know a secret. Will they tell or commit the ultimate betrayal? another short where the directors shows a nice visual sense, but doesn't have an interesting story at all. Tell Me Who (David Lipson) 10/10 Clearly the class of this program and one of the best shorts of this year's festival, this story is about a young man who doesn't have much luck with females, but gets a surprise letter from a secret admirer who is leaving town the next day. He makes it a mission to track this woman down before she leaves. It's a wonderfully executed story. Director David Lipson excels at creating a natural rhythm for plot progression and does a great job of populating the background of his shots with nice details (most memorable is a shot of the hero leaving a photo store with the clerk watching him from inside). He's also willing to let the audience figure things out without beating them over the head, a rare commodity even amongst independent filmmakers these days. The Tedious Existence of Terrell B. Howell (David Silverman) 7/10 Terrell B. Howell is a boring, strait laced man whose monotonous daily routine is upset when a young woman comes on to him at the gas station. Much of the style and tone is borrowed from Desperate Housewives and they go pretty far for the joke, but the lead performance by Steve Coulter is terrific. He nails every single line reading and almost singlehandedly makes this movie work. African-American Shorts (Still from She Got Problems) Life on Earth (Jeff Keith) 8/10 Memorable story about a very depressing situation. Lea is 18 years old and is about to age out of the foster system. A social worker has suggester to her and others in the same situation to look for careers in low leverl service jobs. Lea rebels against this idea, inspired by her experiences with plant life. This is an inspiring story about not giving up on your dreams, no matter the situation. Jackson Parish (Edward McDonald) 7/10 A successful businessman returns home to the deep south to visit his estranged father. He gets mixed up in a dispute between his father and a mean-spirited white neighbor who is sitting on their land. Thoughtful story is a nice piece of character study with some really impressive acting. I Own You (Gary Anthony Williams) 5/10 A married interracial couple find out that her ancestors owned his as slaves. What starts off as a joke begins to cause problems when he starts (with prompting from friends) interpreting innocent statements as being racist. Everything is played out in a broad sitcom style, which ruins alot of the humor. However, there are some undeniably funny moments. Train (Darius Clark Monroe) 8/10 A young man notices a woman being attacked on a train, but has a hard time getting up the courage to help her. Only 7 minutes long, but this packs a powerful punch and will certainly put you in the mind of the main character, making you wonder how you'd act in the same situation. She Got Problems (Alison McDonald) 7/10 Alison McDonald both directed and stars in this very, very funny comedy about an African-American woman who is frustrated at her inability to find a man. McDonald does a great job of mixing different techniques, including documentary style interviews, musical numbers, and animation. And she also brings a winning screen presence to the film. Asbury Park (Robert Anderson) 3/10 Melodramatic tale of a man returning home after a jail sentence. Director Robert Anderson showcases an eye for creating a sense of time and place, but the story is pretty weak and plays out like an After School special. The climactic contains some very bad overacting. Drama Shorts (Still from Ana's Playground) Metropolis Ferry (Juan Gautier) 6/10 Returning from Morocco, David and his brothers witness an incident at the Spanish border and decide to do something about it. The film is well made, but the story doesn't really go anywhere interesting. It is probably a bit too intricate for a short film and the director could use some more time to explore what he wants to do. Cigarette Candy (Lauren Wolkstein) 9/10 A marine returns home after serving in Iraq, but has difficulty playing the part of hero to his hometown family and friends because it doesn't fit with the horrible memories of what happened. This short film is extremely well written and the director and actors know how to play this dramatic story without going over the top. The final shot is outstanding. Confession (Enrico Marcellino) 7/10 Extremely short film runs only 2 minutes. It's about a Catholic man who goes to confession and asks forgiveness for something he is about to do. Predictable, but still pretty shocking. The Odds (Paloma Baeza) 7/10 Interesting choice for the Drama Shorts program, because this film is actually quite funny. A casino owner interrogates a man to find out how he cheated to win so many hands in a row. The discussion goes back and forth and the interrogater is amusingly made to look like a fool. The final twist was unfortunate, because I think the film worked much better without it. Puppets of War (Corey Ellis, Francis McDonald) 5/10 Take All Quiet on the Western Front, replace the live actors with puppets, and that's pretty much what you get here. The puppetry work is admittedly impressive, but the fact that it's puppets makes it difficult for the film to build dramatic tension. Ana's Playground (Eric D. Howell) 10/10 Terrific short film with surprisingly strong production values. In an unnamed war torn country, a group of kids are playing soccer when the ball accidentally ends up in the middle of a sniper zone. A little girl decides to enter the area and try to retreive the ball, but must figure out how to dodge the sniper's shots. Really impressive story with a vivid backdrop. I wouldn't mind seeing this developed into a feature length film. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

05-01-2010, 05:54 PM	#29
larrymcg421 Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Georgia	The Secret to a Happy Ending (Barr Weisman) 1/2* In recent years, not only has the Atlanta Film Festival turned opening and closing night into big event films, but they've also strongly catered to local interest. Films like The Lena Baker Story and Last Days of Left Eye have opened the festival in recent years, and Freedom Riders was this year's opener. This year's closing night film was Barr Weisman's The Secret to a Happy Ending, a documentary about the Drive By Truckers, a southern rock band based in Athens, GA. It turns out to be a solidly entertaining rock documentary about a very engaging band. The Drive by Truckers were formed in 1996 by musicians Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley. At first, they were a small band that released a couple of LP's and went on tour with a revolving door of musicians in the background. In 2001, they had finally set on a stable group and recorded their most ambitious album called Southern Rock Opera. They started to get alot of attention at this point with favorable reviews and a defining point for the band (and a major focus of the film) happened when guitarist Jason Isbell joined the group. Isbell's narration opens the film fairly ominously as he notes that the idea for the band sounds like one that would never work, but that it did work and he hopes it still will in the future. This certainly promises that we will witness some tension over the next two hours. However, while the film does explore some of the tension, it is done in a more laid back fashion. Weisman is more interested in exploring their inspiration for the songs they write and the emotional impact that music has on both the band and their fans. One of the most interesting songs is "The Southern Thing", which talks about duality in the south. The band is very proud of their southern roots, but also recognize much of the negative aspects in southern history. For example, witness these powerful lyrics, "You think I'm dumb, maybe not too bright/You wonder how I sleep at night/Proud of the glory, stare down the shame/Duality of the southern thing". The film also talks about the background of many of their other songs, included the song that inspired the film's title. Last year's festival included a documentary called We Fun, which focused on the local Atlanta music scene. I really disliked the film because the music it chose to showcase was underwhelming and the bands documented came across as egotistical jerks or bizarre performance artists. Thus it was smart for Weisman to focus more on the music than on the interfighting. Two of the band mates were married and later got divorced, one of them (Isbell) eventually leaving the band. The film only briefly covers these topics, which may alienate some viewers, but fits in with the film's overall tone. Unlike other rock documentaries, you're not going to find the visceral concert footage set in large venues. Weisman's film definitely has a rough edge to it, but that not only fits in with the dive bars and local playhouses that the band performs in, but also the 70s style rock sound that the band so memorably captures. The Secret to a Happy Ending is a documentary that features great music and winning personalities. It is a terrific choice for closing night and definitely a "Happy Ending" for the festival. __________________ Top 10 Songs of the Year 1955-Present (1976 Added) Franchise Portfolio Draft Winner Fictional Character Draft Winner Television Family Draft Winner Build Your Own Hollywood Studio Draft Winner

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