Cineppets: Dan the Man

DAN IN REAL LIFE
Peter Hedges, dir; USA; 98"
Reviewed 10/23/07

Lately, little Rhody has been awash in film productions from UNDERDOG, to HARD LUCK, to 27 DRESSES. Each time a new film is trumpeted as being made in RI, anticipation soars that it will be the one that will put our petite state on the filmmaking map. So far, the cinematic scorecard hasn't been nearly so exciting as the recent Red Sox World Series run. I was looking forward to seeing DAN IN REAL LIFE. I like Steve Carell and the film sounded interesting- a widower falls in love with his brother's new girlfriend. Maybe this could be our big film breakthrough? I don’t think so; the reviews have been mixed. Add a dab of Carell's hang-dog expression, a dash of adorable children, a heaping of college-circuit star Dane Cook, top it all off with a generous dollop of Juliette Binoche, and you've got the ingredients for a cutesy-sweet comedy treat. But I think someone must have replaced the real sugar with Splenda, because by the end of watching the flick I had a bit of a headache. It was, at times, a little too indulgent. With DAN we see the limits of Steve's comedy. He stays close to his Charlie Brown shtick. The story calls for plenty of zany situations, as Steve spends a long weekend with his parents, siblings, daughters, nieces, nephews, and love interest in a cramped beachside cottage. I would have thought more booze would be needed, but apparently non-stop crossword tournaments and talent shows are the glue that keeps this family together. It's a good film for a bus ride, but prepare to leave feeling over-satiated: like drinking an Awful-Awful with your chocolate sundae.

Cineppets- and I'm sticking to it!

THE DARKNESS OF TRUTH
Kristian A Söderström, dir; Sweden; 60"
Reviewed at RIIFF 2007 (winner International Discovery Award)

When I saw this film at RIIFF, I happened to walk in at the last ten minutes. It was the middle of the day and I had a few moments to spare. Now, in the midst of the festival, when the staff is ramped up and expecting the next fire to stamp out, having a half-hour with nothing to do can be a scary thing. It's like being in the eye of a storm. You know there's more of the tempest left to come. So, instead of worrying about what's next, I figured I would try and relax and catch part of a flick. Which all leads me back to DARKNESS. It's not really a movie to kick back and let your thoughts unwind to: Sandra, a young female student, rents a room from Anna-Lisa – a middle-aged actress and former ballet dancer in Berlin. Sandra discovers Anna's diary and the nasty, bitchy entries that she has been posting about the young lodger. Tensions mount- Anna turns out to be a beautiful mess- and the movie climaxes with a shocking revelation. Since I saw the revelation first, what point is there in watching the rest of the film? Well, I did happen to meet the director Kristian and the leading actress Maria Fahl Vikander, who plays Anna. They were staying in Providence for the festival week and I really enjoyed chatting with them. After the festival, I thought I'd ought to see the rest of the film. I wasn't disappointed and, in fact, the ending had a punch that I hadn't experienced the first time I saw it. The loose, handheld cinematography lends itself well to building the story and made me feel like a silent spectator in a private drama.

Cineppets: Does this sound too cutesy?

I've just coined this word- it's a cross between Cine and Snippets. I don't know if I like it or not, but I thought I would put it up on the blog and see how it looked. Let me know what you think. Either this is the coolest thing since JLo or it belongs in the dumpster with Bennifer. Thanks.

Onto another Cine Snippet (or Cineppet):


"Family Reunion"
Godir Gestir, dir; ICELAND; 20 mins
Reviewed at RIIFF 2007

What at first appears to be a predictable story ends with a sweet twist. New York-based lesbian Katrin returns to her native Iceland for her grandfather's birthday carrying a secret that she doesn't know how to share. This is a tidy little film about love and acceptance.

Cine Snippets: "The Orchard"

"Cine Snippets" is a new concept that I'm taking for a test run. The idea is to give a quick and punchy review of current independent film. It is something that you can scan in a couple of minutes. Most of us are pressed for time now-a-days, so this is a fast way to get the scoop-from my perspective- on current films. Let me know what you think:

"The Orchard"
Hu Ze, dir; CHINA

To collect money for his mother's organ transplant, main character Wong Bo hatches a twisted scheme to cultivate body parts. A creepy tale of maternal devotion- think Bates motel- director Ze challenges his audience to watch the drama unfold. The narrative is punctuated with meditative scenes- and the overall pace of the film in languid. If you can sit through the slow bits, especially the static three minute bathroom door shot, then you may reaps some cinematic rewards. It is an intriguing film, but definately not suited for those with short attention spans.