Daniel, I imagine you’re referring to Extraordinary Stories. I’ll definitely have to see it.
People tell me TO DIE LIKE A MAN and THE ANCHORAGE are worth your time. I thought INFERNO was magnificent, oh, what could have been if Clouzot had completed the film. DOUBLE TAKE was also terrific and I was quite taken by Wanma Caidan’s THE SEARCH.
if anyone has any more info on VIFF, could they post it here
we’re trying to collate primary info on all film festivals into one thread.
Yes I was referring to Extraordinary Stories. There’s a strong article on it in the most recent Cinema Scope!
I’ll have to get a ticket, although I did find one negative review amongst all the praise. It’s running time is 4 hours and 10 minutes.
Also, based on your rating, I think I may catch Everyone Else this friday.
Oh absolutely, Everyone Else is one of the best films I’ve seen in a long time. Caught it at Berlin and thought it was good; by the time I revisited it at NYFF it may be a masterpiece.
Re: Extraordinary Stories, 4+hr films are what film festivals are all about! When is that movie ever going to come around again?
Masterpiece is a strong word. I’m excited.
Yeah, I must say I’m fond of the idea of being stuck in a theatre for 4 hours.
I want to go to this! A recommended 4+ hour Argentinian film sounds like my kind of thing. Hopefully the dates agree with me.
When are you going Adam?
I haven’t bought the ticket, but I’ll probably catch the 6:45pm screening on Thursday, Oct.15. It’s at the Cinematheque.
Agh. I’ll try to make it for that one, since it’s the only possible one I can go to now.
I have this teaching workshop to attend all day on Friday that I have to prepare for… I’ll let you know what happens.
Get your priorities straight, Myra.
So I just added some more movies. Facing Ali sold out so I won’t be able to catch that tomorrow which really sucks as it’s supposed to be an excellent documentary from BC AND Ali is supposed to be at the screening. So I picked Lebanon really quick.
Thurs Oct. 8 @ 6:30pm Toad’s Oil
Fri Oct. 9 @ 1:15pm Breathless (For the second time with a bunch of friends)
Sun Oct. 11 @ 6:45pm I Killed My Mother
Mon Oct. 12 @ 1:20pm Mother
Tues Oct, 13 @ 8:45pm Lebanon
Daniel, are you aware that your Ne Change Rien summary is quoted in the VIFF handbook? congrats!
CJ, You should be adding The White Ribbon, A Prophet, and Tetro to your schedule. ;o
A Prophet and Tetro are on my schedule, they were in the original 5 purchased. The White Ribbon, however, is only on Thursday at 3:00pm and I have school. I did buy a ticket so I might have to switch it or skip, not to sure yet.
Today I saw THE ANCHORAGE and its definitely a highlight from what I’ve seen so far. Highly recommended!
I hadn’t known that Adam, that’s awesome!
Ben: I also heard THE ANCHORAGE was great. Glad you liked it.
The White Ribbon tonight, I’m so excited!
I have been reading all your reports and Kurt’s blog.
Awesome!
We have a report from Vancouver over at The Notebook.
Adam: I’m outta Vancouver now. Sorry we couldn’t meet up because i would have loved to discuss more about FOR LOVE OF MOVIES with you.
Read Adam Nayman’s report and disagreed about FORBIDDEN DOOR and Ho Yuhang’s film but whatever, he’s a terrific critic.
THE ANCHORAGE was magnificent although I heard that some guy asked the directors at the Q&A why they made a boring movie. Pema Tsedan’s THE SEARCH was a highlight from ‘China’ (rumours circulated that Pierre Rissient recut the film down from a much longer original version), TRASH HUMPERS was brilliantly perverse and perversely brilliant, TETRO was good although collapsed under the weight of its own pompousness in the second half; loved INFERNO (the staged scenes were less than successful however), OXHIDE II was overrated and underwhelming, THE EXPLODING GIRL was a pleasure and a world away from the usual dreck one thinks of when the words ‘US’ and ‘indie’ are in the same sentence. Very pissed off about missing NE CHANGE RIEN (can the Auteurs buy the rights to this one and stream it? hahaha).
Adam, I found that when I watched The White Ribbon, I found it a film that I could admire technically, but found immense difficulty truly loving. Many have described it as subtle yet shocking and frightening, but I cannot help but disagree. I realize that the film’s implications are disturbing, but on the whole I found much of the film (dare I say it) straightforward. I recognize Haneke had no intentions of creating a large mystery (the outcome appears obvious in the early stages of the film), but I found that the sheer intrigue of Cache and the brute force of The Piano Teacher were lost in this case. The film seemed muted.
That being said, I enjoyed it. The acting was incredible, and Berger’s photography was perfect. I would rate it extremely highly, but would hesitate to call it a downright “masterpiece.”
But I’ve loved reading your reports. Keep them coming, your insights are excellent and appreciated.
PS: Couldn’t help but chime in on Broken Embraces. Totally agree on your stance. It was an immense disappointment. However, I would recommend continuing to peruse the Almodovar catalogue. Talk to Her and Bad Education are the next two films back from Volver, and they alone are worth it. Much darker and contemplative material.
See ya Ben! Glad you liked Trash Humpers, too. I’ll let you know how Ne Change Rien is.
Brentg, I actually completely understand your issues with The White Ribbon as at a certain point I shared them. However, it really was after I saw the film that it’s effect took place for me. Also, I think this “muted” feel you speak of was intentional.
And, yes, I’ll still give Almodovar a fair chance.
I’ll give you guys an update on what I’ve seen when I get back from Lebanon tonight. I must say though that I thought Punching the Clown was extremely clever.
I can’t remember if I put these ones somewhere else and I can’t be bothered to look.
Toad’s Oil 2/5 Has it’s moments but really floats around with little interest. Also has one of the worst/funniest scenes in recent memory, a CGI bear fight/chase which has everything from a large rock being thrown into the bears head to the almighty kick to the groin…of a bear. Like that old beer commercial. Yeeeeeeeeah.
Tetro 2.5/5 Beautiful cinemetography and some good performances but a pretty lackluster script.
A Prophet 4/5 Very well made, has some great scenes. A bit of a victim to the hype train.
I Killed My Mother 4/5 Same boat as A Prophet, good film but expectations were higher.
Mother 2/5 Wasn’t expecting the quality of “The Host” but underwhelming nonetheless. Surprised me as Korea’s entrant for the Academy Awards.
Punching the Clown 5/5 I am in love with this film at the moment. One of the more clever comedic films in years starring Henry Philips in a some what biographical role. How this man has not made it big is beyond me but he deserves it. In the Q&A they said they are in talks to make a tv spin-off which I am now very excited for.
Lebanon 2/5 I wrote some of my thoughts on it on here. Not quite sure how it’s gotten as much recognition as it has. My theory is after the success of Beaufort and Waltz with Bashir, every critic is quick to jump on the Lebanon war film band wagon.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, CJ. I have to say I’m disappointed to hear Lebanon was not all that. I’m seeing it this friday.
Kurt Walker
Days 1-5 of VIFF:
http://walkinginthecinema.blogspot.com/
(aka, FACE IS THE FILM TO SEE)