I'm calling it right now, Fateful Findings is going to win SIFF 2013. Regardless of category; best dialog, plot, love story, computer hacking - this film takes the experience to eleven. Admittedly, for some that might be to negative eleven. But in the bad movie olympics, Fateful Findings sticks the landing to take the gold, silver and bronze. A hell of a lot of fun to watch by myself, I cannot believe it won't be 10 times more enjoyable at its world premiere midnight screening. I seriously cannot wait for the equally improbable sequel. Take a gander at the trailer - if you're intrigued, RUN to buy a ticket. In a just universe, they'll sell out.

On one hand Fateful Findings is an absolute masterpiece of "can't look away" dysfunction, for which the phrase "hot mess" seems too complimentary. On the other hand, the bizarre and often unexplained vision makes it hugely entertaining - in ways many other bad films such as The Room don't approach. One doesn't need to throw spoons at the screen to enjoy Fateful Findings. Though I suppose a few cocktails or bit of other now legal in Washington substances couldn't hurt. Troll 2, you've now got some serious competition.

more...

Time to outline my favorite SIFF program: NW Connections! Anytime I see a bunch of local filmmakers, local locations, or really -- ANY KIND OF CONNECTION to my hometown I get a little excited, so give me a minute. Because I am hyperventilating over this first one: 

Lynn Shelton's new film (YAYYYYYYY!) Touchy Feely, stars Rosemarie DeWitt (DOUBLE YAYYYYYYY!!) as a massage therapist who suddenly gets the ooks about touching other people. Whoops. That sounds like a career killer. It also has Ellen Page (TRIPLE YAYYYYYY!!!). Anyway. It sounds awesome. OBVIOUSLY. It is LYNN SHELTON. My only real complaint is that I'll be out of town when it screens. *sob* {Screens 5/23, 7pm at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center, and again 5/25, 1:30pm at The Egyptian} 

And you know I am ALL OVER Dead Meat Walking - A Zombie Walk Documentary, because HELLO. Awesome. Close-ups of zombie makeup, hoards of crawling living dead coming at the camera, and interviews with Zombie enthusiasts, as well as Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon! I LOVE YOU), and special F/X maestro Tom Savini!!! YES. Side note: I hope someone tells us when the Zombie invasion of the Light Rail is, because I wanna be on it when it happens. (I have just given someone that idea for free. you're welcome). {Screens 5/24, 11:55pm at the Egyptian, and again on 5/25, 8:30pm at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center} 

more...

{Hyde Park on Hudson opened in Seattle on Friday, December 14, and is screening at the Landmark Egyptian Theater as well as the Bellevue Lincoln Square Cinemas}

Hyde Park on Hudson is a fascinating film, but not in a particularly positive way. It's fascinating as a demonstration of how any numerical 1-5 star type rating approach would miss how good the best parts are, and how "meh" the rest of the picture is.

Hyde Park follows a relationship between FDR (Bill Murray) and a somewhat distant cousin Daisy (Laura Linney). Over a critical weekend in the British/U.S. relationship on the eve of World War II, the Roosevelts entertain the King and Queen of England in their home.

The picture is a grab-bag of messages. History lessons, thinly veiled commentary on the nature of media presence in the modern era, dark romance, and aspects of period costume drama crash together. Producing a work that's mostly pretty dull, but decorated with an occasional flash of genius.

more...

{Robot & Frank opens at The Egyptian today, Friday 8/31, through Thursday, 9/6}

The near future, as imagined by Jake Schrier in his feature film debut Robot & Frank, forgoes silver jumpsuits and flying cars in favor of a refreshingly plausible iteration, where the main observable difference (besides the run-down Prius with fading paint) is that the adults are named Madison and Hunter and Ava and Jake.  Susan Sarandon plays a Susan-Sarandon-aged character named Jennifer, which carbon dates her to around 1975.

The other notable advancement is that helper robots are around to cook and clean for, say, crotchety ex-cat-burglars like Frank Langella’s Frank, whose declining memory and the legacy of his lousy parenting skills make him an ideal candidate for robotic assistance. No one, even his own children, could reasonably be expected to put up with him for long. If he weren’t Frank Langella, who’s totally awesome as always, he’d be an insufferable pain in the ass.

more...

I’m always most excited about SIFF’s Northwest Connections showcase, and more so this year than ever, since Lynn Shelton’s Your Sister’s Sister is screening on opening night! If I had my way, a film by a Seattle director would ALWAYS open the fest. But uh, until I’m charge, I guess that probably won’t happen. Anyway! Let’s dive into this year’s schedule.

I can’t say enough good things about Your Sister’s Sister, and I’m sure it will open soon after the fest in Seattle, so if you’re unable to attend Opening Night, don’t fret—you should be able see it soon enough! It’s a really fantastic piece of REAL storytelling. With relatable characters and a lot of laughs … I mean, duh. It’s Lynn Shelton! But seriously, I really, really, really think it’s her best work yet. And now I can’t wait to see her recently completed film,Touchy Feely. {Screens at the Opening Night Gala, May 17, Marion Oliver McCall Hall}

A second standout that I’ve was lucky enough to preview is Eden by Megan Griffiths. Can I tell you guys how pleased I am about two of my favorite female directors being spotlighted at SIFF? I AM VERY PLEASED. FOR REALS. And even more pleased that Eden is fucking spectacular, and worthy of that Stranger Genius Award. Chronicling a young girl’s abduction and capture at the hands of a super-icky gang of dudes who run a sex slave house near Vegas, Eden tells the story with non-exploitive delicacy, beautiful care (it’s based on a true story), and some goddamn amazing performances. Obviously, this film makes me want to swear. But only because I REALLY loved it. {Screens  May 19, 9:15pm, The Egyptian, & May 29, Everett Performing Arts Center}

SIFF is obviously trying to win my heart by choosing a filmed-in-Seattle gem as their Closing Night film. Grassroots (Kudos, Stephen Gyllenhaal, for actually filming a movie about Seattle IN Seattle, and not in Vancouver like a lot of other jerks), is about an obnoxious music critic (OH, WE HAVE THOSE??) who decides to run for City Council in order to make his dream of public transportation a reality. Politics + monorail hilarity + my hometown = this on must-see list. {Screens at the Closing Night Gala, June 10, 6pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown}

more...

Back from SXSW last week, and I feel I have a lot of movie watching catching up to do. It seems as if Seattle theaters are stuffed with interesting things to checkout. This weekend isn't making things any easier. I've tried to narrow down to three sets of suggestions - but it wasn't easy.

In the "maybe one needs to look deep into their soul to see if something broken beyond repair" option, there's the kids killing kids onscreen category. Or as the Hollywood marketing machine calls it, The Hunger Games. I haven't seen it, but I'm certainly looking forward to it. Especially on the beautiful screen of the Cinerama. Those books were great - I mean common, who wouldn't shed a tear for the relationship problems Katniss has to deal with. Seriously. If you'd like to catch it without the non-drinking crowd then The Big Picture will also be hosting 21-and-over screenings all week. If that's not enough for you in the way of young adult bloodsport, you'll want to make a double feature out of it with Battle Royale, the legendary Japanese film that's similar, yet I'm sure quite different, finally available in the US. You can choose between home video, a Friday 11pm screening at the Northwest Film Forum, or midnight presentations both Friday and Saturday at the Egyptian.

More movie madness after the jump...

more...

{A Cat in Paris screens at SIFF on May 30th, 1:00pm at the Everett Performing Arts Center, on June 5th, 1:00pm at the Kirkland Performance Center, and on June 11th, 11:00am at the Egyptian Theatre}

I sometimes like to play a little game while watching animated films called “Why Is This Movie Animated?” Animation is not a genre—we can all agree on this, yes? There are roughly as many genres of animated films as live-action ones, and all sorts of reasons to animate besides getting kids in a theater. But especially as the price of special effects goes down, I’m sometimes curious why someone would decide a story is best told with drawings rather than actors.

A Cat in Paris was good for this game. Though the style of animation isn’t photorealistic at all (it’s much more stylized and primitive), it conveys the feeling of reality faithfully, with subtle details like moonlight shadows on the folds of clothing. Very few things happen that couldn’t as easily be filmed as drawn—a couple of minor script tweaks and you’re there. And finally, the plot feels so familiar that I’m surprised I can’t think of a particular film with the same story. It goes like this: Zoe is a girl who’s stopped speaking since her father was killed. Her mother is a police officer intent on catching the killer. And a cat burglar, who’s accompanied by Zoe’s cat while she sleeps, gets mixed up in the case.

more...