Gone Girl Film

Old post from November 2014 I didn't publish until now:

I saw "Gone Girl" in the theater last night. It was better than I expected. I wanted to see it because of all the divisive and polarized commentary in newspapers. New York Post would have you believe that you shouldn't take it seriously, it's just entertainment, and it's a thriller. As a film goer I found "Gone Girl" relate-able even if horrifying, like Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

Who's the victim, the hapless adulterer husband, or the woman who was told be everything she could be but once within the confines of marriage, must be less than herself? So she pulls off the most ridiculous coup - it became apparent to me she escapes from one jail cell to another. Resentment comes from refusing to acknowledge our own complicity in owning a set of the prison keys.

Some critics say this film doesn't say anything about modern marriage. Hmm, not so sure about that. According to a November 2014 Elle issue article, almost 25% of marriages are ones where the woman has more earning power than her husband, and those marriages end most likely in divorce. Also there was a time marriage was about family alliances, taking care of a woman who many not have useful skills outside the home, the roles of husband and wife were very clear. Now, a woman doesn't need security from a man depending on where she's from and what she's capable of. Marriage for her, is a liability.

Certainly the film is melodramatic, it's 2 and a half hours long and not having read the book, I'm sure misses some serious character development points. For example if Amy is a true psychopath, how is it she has no friends? Or if she is so accomplished, again how does she not have friends? The things I wonder about.

2012 Notes from the Films

So I'm back with my annual Filmfest DC review.  I saw eleven this year and the best part is I achieved it all seeing it with friends and family, old and new and young ;). 

The Sandman - I thought this was one of the best films, precluding that I didn't see 5 Broken Cameras or Monsieur Lazahar which also got top faves from the audience.  I'm into nihilistic dream-sequence dramas with an actual story line and good acting while taking place in an absurd fantastical almost real setting, kind of like one of my faves, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. 

Abu, Son of Adam - I like this film because it kind of reminds me of my pops.  Except I didn't think it was good enough to warrant a Academy Awards submission.

Facing Mirrors - Five star movie, although the post-text will have you believe the Iranian government is progressive because it allows sex change surgery and will provide loans for the operation.  The story is heart-rending, with some of the finest character acting I've seen anywhere.

Terraferma - Good movie if it hadn't been shown in conjunction with Facing Mirrors or The Sandman.  It was a subtle drama and emotional at once.

Goodbye - This movie trapped you in the theater with thoughts of escape.  It's the point of the whole story (or lack thereof), the purpose of the film is better described through the background of its actual director, his first since being released from Iranian prison.

Crazy Wisdom - really nice glowing documentary on Tibetan lama Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who brought Eastern Buddhism to the West.

Blood in the Mobile - a Micheal Moore-esque documentary.  Heart-rending video footage shows enough damning evidence as does a corporation's inability to eloquently rebuff questions surrounding its supply chain.  Not as relevant once one does some homework though. 

War of the Arrows - epic historical war drama from the Republic of Korea.  Lots of China bashing and cheering for the good guys.  Feel good film, worth seeing on the silver screen.

Almanya - Welcome to Germany - one of my favorites, tells the story of Turkish immigrants to Germany, its plot of East colliding with West with hilarious results is applicable to immigrants' stories in any Western country.  I laughed, I cried, I'm glad I spent time to watch this movie. 

Cousinhood - crowd favorite, I thought it was in the realm of 'Last Kiss' and 'The Hangover' (read Dude flick).  Certainly shows men's vulnerabilities but the portrayal of women, particularly the supporting actress who plays Martina was so one-sided.  The women's character were essentially caricatures: the Mother, lover, angel Martina, the crazy controlling banshee Tona, and bitchy whore daughter (forget her name), insecure indecisive ex-fiancee.  I had too much trouble suspending my disbelief on the lack of character development in the women to really enjoy the movie.  There's a reason why this director is still single (maybe unrealistic expectations of women?) but I will give him a pass for dealing with the peculiarities of producing reasonable length films. 

The Policeman - a film for those more familiar with traveling in Israel and perhaps the peculiarities of policing and defending that nation.  I liked it because it reminded me of Israel: Eastern Europeans in the Mediterranean.  It might be somewhat prophetic as well.

fiend about film

I'm contemplating going to this year's Banff Film Fest. Only because I can't wait until the legendary homage to the year's best films about mountain culture comes to D.C.'s National Geographic in the late winter/early Spring of NEXT year. But I realize I've been extremely negligent about reviewing films I saw at this year's DC International filmfest. You'll have to pardon me as most of the time I was living out of the trunk of my car and found blogging through a blackberry is a real pain.

Ashes of American Flags: Wilco Live
What a great band and what a great documentary on them! The premise is the D.C.-based director felt bad about the last documentary he produced on Wilco, where Jeff Tweedy appeared to be ... well an asshole. When a Q&A was held after the screening, the audience couldn't satiate their thirst for answers on working with the band. Turns out Wilco really is that good live, and very little sound mixing had to be done for the scenes. Additionally the directors provided some great footage of some historic American music venues, sandwiched between panoramas from the bus as they drove into towns, cities, and through the country-side.

The Blind Sunflowers
Really amazing film. I still feel guilt for leaving the film before the Q&A was finished with the Spanish-speaking director, but alas, it was a school night. Not at all a peppy film like the title might make you think, (focus on the Blind). It centers around a family, internally resistant to the Franco regime, but must contend with the outside world while keeping appearances, knowing some of their loved ones are in a struggle to leave.

The Chaser
The most disturbing film I've seen this year. It's not that you don't know who the killer is, but it's just wondering if the so-called 'good' guys will ever catch up. Graphic displays of gory death, I shudder to even think about it. I'm curious to see how the Korean film industry will go global after this one.

Ciao Bella
Cute, really cute and funny. Flick about horny teenagers but with an international twist. Son of a dentist Persian teen and a Swedish gal heart-broken after a summer fling.

Hasan and Marcos
My Arabic school friends and I got so used to screenings every Friday night at Middlebury, we couldn't resist watching this one. I think the audience took it more seriously than it needed to be taken. Yes it's funny, yes it's over the top. And someone correct me, but I thought the politics were a bit over the top too (as in the religious divide it tries to portray).

Ramchand Pakistani
I really enjoyed this film. Incredibly nuanced with balanced portrayals of the affected family members. It is a bit long as many films from the subcontinent tend to be.

Skin
What an incredible film and one of the more powerful I've seen on the subject of race. And how absurd it is, the notion that humans are different because of the color of their skin. Because it's based on a true story, it resonates more to how brutal members of families can be to one another, and much more humankind.

our lolitas

I saw "Hard Candy." An art house film and not atypical from what I've come to expect from Lion's Gate films. Anyone will tell you pedophilia is horrible and few people care to tackle the dicey issue. But watching this movie made me think of J. Lo's "Enough." Why? Same 'big white elephant' issue put into a movie but not being necessarily true to the real conundrums of the issue. Mainly, dealing with human beings who are more complex than the caricatures of the monstrosities they represent. "Enough" is mainly about a battered wife and her abusive husband, and "Hard Candy" is about a pedophile and an extremely vengeful righteous teenager. There were parts of the movie where I wanted the pedophile to get away from the teenager who literally tortured him (Abu Ghurayb style). Hey maybe it is just me, but a bonus for the movie for making me realize I'm not into the whole eye for an eye thing.

# 9: Housewarming

Delightful. I have to exercise my creative brain muscles since all I've been writing are dry term papers and products for work. But yes, DC film fest's closing feature, "Housewarming," was just excellent and wonderful, a perfect note to end the District's cinematic annual event. I would maybe write why I think you ought to see it, however I'll leave you with the dedication from the lead actress, 'to the immigrants who enrich our lives ...'

I'm not an immigrant but my parents are and with all the protests, strikes, and political harbingering in DC about immigration laws, the film is very timely. I look around my apartment, and there is not a lot of Bengali cultural influence I see. Instead there's a replica of a Hummingbird guitar hung on my wall, a few Rajput art prints, Korean folk art prints, a touch of Picasso and Van Gogh, and my own eclectic penchant for zebra stripes, beige microfiber upholstery, and metal and glass touches. Yes, multi-culturalism has enriched me as the daughter of immigrants, and I continue to look forward to their contributions. Right now, the protests remind me and revitalize the notions on which this country was built on, namely our founding fathers who saw these lands as sanctuary from persecution and the adventure of economic opportunity.

# 8: Antarmahal

Shoddy effort from filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh. The time period, acting, characters and behaviors were pretty far removed from letting anyone in the audience identify with such. Most of the time I was trying to figure out why this movie was made? And I was rather disappointed since I thought Ghosh's "Chockher Bali," was one of the most feeling movies made.

# 7: In Bed

Pretty darn good acting and a nice character piece. Also thankfully does not delude anyone with the happy ending a casual sexual encounter can lead to anything more. Or will just lead to more painful emotional sharing and still back to square 0. There were some cheesy parts but it was nice the director showed that, because frankly cheesy things happen when baring parts of bodies to lovers. I was amazed he could unravel such a complex story all stemming from a motel room and a few hours spent between two strangers who's only respite from each other is the bathroom.

# 6: 3 Needles

Was a movie on how AIDS/HIV manifests in three very different areas of the globe. It stars seasoned movie actors like Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh, and Chloe Sevigny. Despite the great cinematography and the intriguing stories the movie is difficult to digest. The director Thom Fitzgerald was present and when the rolling credits were finished, movie goers seemed to be slightly stunned and waited a few seconds before applauding.

Yeah, it was one of those movies. Fitzgerald explained to the theater he wanted to show how economics was partly responsible for driving the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Perhaps one of the biggest problems was his reliance on a narrator who added no real context to the story. Fitzgerald should have explained the circumstances of the Chinese blood donation programs (you know a short rolling paragraph would've helped or something), French Canadian insurance policies, and despite his best told story being South Africa, it would have been helpful to know took place in South Africa. Otherwise we could have taken it for any other African country rather than the fairly modernized developed country. Already a long film, there could have been less narration and extraneous story-telling and more context to effectively deliver Fitzgerald's message.

# 5: Passion

I am still digesting this movie. I wasn't sure of where it took place, (Baghdad, Cairo?) until I just checked the description: Aleppo, Syria. I admit I've been feeling out of it and with a swollen left ankle (from my first bug bite of the season no less) triggering hamstring spasms, a gashed right arm, possible chipped jaw, bum still hurting from horse injuries, and stressing about finals this movie made me stop thinking of my own relative misery to think about well ... how important is freedom and modernity? How important is tradition? How much does democracy and freedom really benefit people when under the yoke and unswayable powers of their families and social networks? It's not the Constitution that gurantees freedom, but is it our detachment and ability to protect ourselves from those we love the ultimate armor? Justice is retrospect and always late.

I know odd questions to ponder, but if you see this movie maybe you'll get a gist of what I mean.

# 4: The Underground Game

Was a really good movie. I am intrigued by the director Roberto Gervitz and want to see more of his films. As one friend pointed out, initially the characters revealed nothing redeeming, admirable, or even relational to most people. Mid-way through you could start feeling for the sap who was getting played by a high-class hooker, the blind-woman who seemed to be a know-it-all, and the tattoo artist with an autistic daughter. Although the characters were unique, their pain was physically magnified (not spoiling it for you) through some brutal scenes. Also the plot wasn't what I would call terribly unique, somewhere along the lines of classics like "Breakfast at Tiffany's" or "Pretty Woman" come to mind. I probably would have like it more had it a more tragic ending ... (I am a fan of love stories with tragic endings coupled with bittersweet hope like "Out of Sight," "Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love," "Troy," and although debatable, "Star Wars: Episode III").

# 3: Hip Hop Colony

Was not a documentary I expected. Funny thing is my friend and I were probably one of 15 people in the theater, unusual for a DC film fest screening. We made instant buddies with some other hip-hop aficionados who were not the typical tweed-blazer adorned DC film-fest goer.

Long for a documentary, the movie was refreshing in the way it was framed. First starting off with an introduction to Africa and Kenya by a British narrator, I was annoyed (I'm annoyed by most narrators if you can't tell, however, George of the Jungle gets props for having the best use of a humorous narrator) because I thought it was rather 'colonial' to have a white-sounding Brit narrate the advent of hip-hop in Kenya, a musical form imported from the United States. However, as the director showed Kenyans making hip-hop their own, transforming it into 'genge,' we heard less of the narrator and more from the seemingly tight knit family-like community of Kenyan artists.

When I think hip-hop, I'm used to thinking about American hip-hop where wealth is prominently displayed, women are sub-human objects, and lyrics glorify gangster life-styles. Hip Hop Colony showed how Kenyan genge demonstrated none of these characteristics, rather the music was about identity in Kenya and adjusting to the world changing around them.

Crossing the Bridge: The Sweet Sound of Istanbul

Review Deux: Tonight my mom and I went to see a documentary about the music scene in Istanbul. Here are my mom's observations: she basically didn't like it very much, although it was a survey about music in Istanbul, it didn't go into depth on any of the music styles it presented, and the production of movie seemed rather haphazard.

Initially I was annoyed by the German narrator who kept talking about himself traveling in Turkey, impatient to actually hear and see the music of Istanbul. First we were presented with Turkish grunge, then rap, then regional differences such as Romani and Kurdish music. Finally he went back to the classics. As endearing a social cultural icon such as Sezen Aksu can be singing her nostalgic songs, the effect is ruined by close-ups of bad plastic surgery (am I shallow for saying this?).

I admit the movie made me yearn to visit Turkey and lose myself in Istanbul; much the same way Lost in Translation made me feel about Tokyo. I also appreciate the nod and lengthy section given to street buskers ... I wish DC had more. It's great to be greeted by the soothing sounds of a busking electric guitar or saxophone, amplified perfectly by Metro station's acoustics, giving my deprived-of-jam brain a little candy in between work where its over-pressed and school where I attempt to muster a glimmer of intellect. Also don't be fooled by the movie's poster, there is no belly dancer (or dancing) with a guitar slung along her torso.

film fest dc, Three Times

So one of my favorite film festivals kicked off last night. Some buddies and I went to see "Three Times," a Taiwanese about the ever changing fashions of time yet never changing underlying emotions concerning love. I think I have eight more films to see in this whole festival (I was not kidding when I said was crazy about the DC international film fest). So far two films I badly wanted to see on Saturday are already sold out: Water and Iraq in Fragments.

I'll offer a short review of Three Times, it's a slow film. I think you really have to appreciate cinematography or be a film student to appreciate this movie. I am neither, and I found I enjoyed some of the 'times'/chapters more than others. Perhaps more resonating with the younger crowd is the story of the lovers in Taipei in 2005. The first story takes place in 1966 and its just adorable. The mid-movie story taking place in 1911 was harder to get into, and I confess my film companions slept through that one. I'm not familiar with the director or his work, and this was supposed to be his most seductive film, I admit the acting and the beautiful Shu Qi were definitely high points.

Vendetta

Don't take it politically as many critics would have you feel.

"V" is based off a comic book, and thus should still be treated as one of many movies in the genre like 'Spiderman' or 'Dare Devil.' Do not try to compare it to the current administration. This movie is assuming that for the next 20 years the U.S. ceases to have elections and continues on an imperialist path. This is not that deep a movie.

Did I mention it's pro-terrorism? Enjoy it folks. It's still pretty awesome.

the constant gardener

Something about this movie was disturbing. It's a serious film, supposed to be a thriller, but in that intellectual kind of way that makes a commentary on world affairs or society or something. But frankly it falls flat. Supposedly based around a love story, where Justin, a British diplomat begins to investigate the brutal death of his young activist wife Tessa. First, it's a weird relationship to begin with, and not convincing at all. Justin is a quiet soft spoken green-thumbed gentleman who's probably in his late thirties if not early forties. Tessa is an outspoken, mischievous, bleeding-heart, 24 year old vixen. An unlikely pairing if you ask me, and let's not get into how they met, with her embarrassing herself during one of his speeches, asking him for drinks, and then sleeping with him afterwards.

Oh yeah, and how does she get to Kenya? By asking him to take her with him, even though goodness knows how deep their relationship is. Justin 'is flattered' that Tessa would allow him to take her as his lover or wife. WEIRD. On top of that, he takes her without fully knowing exactly what she wants to do in Kenya, and it isn't until after her death that he tries to figure out what she was doing.

**** SPOILERS***** And the ending too. A bit pat that a pharmaceutical company would hire goondas to take her out, and then later the grieving Justin **** SPOILERS*****

Oooh, if you want to see a creepy thrilling movie, Cronicas is out. Check out my review here.

wes craven

"I had only one thought (as he held a knife to my throat the whole time)."

"You thought," he replied, "It was all beyond your control."

"No, that I would never let it happen again."

And then she plunges a ball-point pen into his thorax (or is that a part of a bug)? Red Eye, good freakin' edge of your seat movie, and refreshingly under an hour and a half.

UPDATE:

I wonder if half the attraction of this film for me was that the characters meshed so well, specifically Cillian and Rachel. The whole time there was an underlying sexual tension, even after he reveals himself to be a cold-blooded terrorist. **SPOILER ALERT*** The look they give eachother at the end of the movie does not seem to be one of hate. Rachel's character almost looks at Cillian's like, "Man, why did you have to go and be such a homicidal freak?? We could've been perfect together." And its seems they could have since the strength of her character is a match for his. ***End of Spoiler***

At the same time I'm disturbed by the trend of overt graphic sexual situations being turned into graphic misogynistic violent situations to bring down the rating. Entertainment Weekly did an article on how the new drama sitcoms involve more violence against women, to attract viewership and avoid jeopardizing networks fearing FCC wrath in the wake of Janet Jackson's nipple exposure. Hmm, what's better? Violence against women or sexual situations/nudity?

Almodovar

Recently I saw a Pedro Amodovar film, "Bad Education." Enjoying his previous film "Talk to Her," I thought this I would really like this film, and even though it was entertaining, I wasn't crazy about it, not as much as "Talk to Her." I've noticed Almodovar starts his films with a really slow buildup--lots of character development, which is why I like his movies, and then accelerates the plot (usually with a twist ending) by the last fourth of the movie.

mr. & mrs.

Having a Tuesday serve as one's Saturday's means that at a whim, I can ride my bike to the Regal Chinatown theater, buy myself a matinee ticket to a first run movie and not worry about lines or obnoxious people in the theater. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Being a huge fan of Bonnie and Clyde and Angelina Jolie, I can say the film was entertaining ...

*** spoiler alert***

For a marriage on the rocks all I read in the chemistry between Jane and John was sex, not the stuff I imagine life-long loves are made of. In fact there was no mention of love, not even after they made up. There was very little character development ... no building of a love story like Bonnie and Clyde, there was just the first time they met where after getting drunk they have sex, and then fastforward 5-6 years into the future, beat the crap out of eachother and then have make-up sex. Also I wasn't satisfied with the ending. If they turn on the enemy that set them against each other, all they did was apparently shoot down an entire mercenary army that was very bad at aiming at two obvious targets in the middle of a home retail salesroom. So where did they go after the firm? Maybe it was just an excuse to watch two hot bodies shoot it out. And you can't make it tragic by having them die in each other's arms. They're bad asses, assassins. But even these assassins have hearts that don't melt and its about killing and fucking.

Now don't get me wrong, I have no problem with sex. But maybe I'm a hopeless romantic and I keep thinking that somewhere actual courtship is alive. I don't get this going out with a group of friends and hooking up, and I don't get this dating someone just because they are a 'nice person.' Of course don't listen to me. I've been single, celebrated the one year anniversary on Memorial Day weekend. Maybe I'm willing to wait years to feel like I've been hit by tsunami, just because someone who made my knees turn to runny butter looked at me a certain way.

sith

Last night in an effort to start my staying up late marathon, I went to go see Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. I was a bit late on the ball game, but I thought it was so MUCH better than the previous two and I'm glad Lucas waited years for Hayden Christensen to grow into the male beauty he now is. I can't critique Star Wars for its dialogue, it's like criticizing a romance movie for the improbability of its plot. If anything Sith seemed like a cautionary tale on how uncommunicative partners ruin romances and love makes people blind. Like a chick flick.

Doc fest time!

AFI's Silver DOC's festival runs from 14-19 June (only five days?). Anyway, I'm luckily not working because of my odd hours so I'll happily attend some of the showings, particularly on Wednesday when I have that odd day off. I have to admit, I'm disappointed by their lack of adventure film documentaries, the Banff Film Festival only whetted my thirst for some more reality-based edge-of-your-seat gripping gutsy outdoors films. You would think that having the Discovery Channel co-sponsor this event there would be more nature type documentaries but there are some promising ones:

Romantico
Darwin's Nightmare
Favela Rising
Three of Hearts
Bob Smith-USA

Anyone want to go see?