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Lymelife
Brother’s Steve & Derick Martini (director) wrote this film based on their Long Island upbringing in the 70’s. If you’ve seen the film The Ice Storm, I think you’ll agree that it has a very similar feel, although slightly more humorous. This may sound strange considering the movie is named after a debilitating disease; however, Lyme Disease is not the basis of the plot, it’s just weaved interestingly into the fabric of the story. Which is told from the perspective of a skinny, self-conscious youth, played appealingly by Rory Culkin. He deals with a bully, long-time crush, an older brother on leave from the service and his parent’s marriage falling…
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PFF & Cinefest09 – Last Day
One day 11, I saw Surveillance (USA,Germany) A Jennifer Lynch film (Boxing Helena and daughter of David Lynch –Mulholland Drive, Twin Peaks) it features Bill Pullman (Jeff Daniel’s clone) & Julia Ormond as Scully and Mulder types. It’s such a bloody, twisted, crime thriller, you forget to take note of much else. And the final twist totally came at me with surprise, although my friend Diane figured it out early on, and said she still felt engrossed. – Rating: Pretty Middle Toe And I saw, Sita Sings the Blues, a magnificently original animated film created, animated, written, produced, funded etc… by newcomer, Nina Paley. She weaves a respectfully, irreverent telling…
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PFF & Cinefest09 – Day 9
This is my friend Robert. Robert likes gruesome horror movies. I needed Robert to come with me to see Plague Town (USA). Robert says Plague Town is better than Saw (insert any roman numeral). As for me, I’m intrigued by deformed, soulless children and a tall dark beauty with blindfolded doll’s eyes in place of her own, but when I’m actually there watching it (through the slits of my fingers) I ask myself, why am I torturing myself with all this torture? If you’re like Robert and other “Danger After Dark” cinofiles, then Plague Town is a definite must! [Director: David Gregory / Screenwriters: John Cregan, David Gregory] Ratings: Pretty…
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PFF & Cinefest09 – Day 9 Continued
After Plague Town, I was all too glad to be heading to a comedy, Cuttin’ Da Mustard (USA). This is one of the films from the “Fade to Black” series of the festival. It was good to see the attendees were mixed, although the attendance was light. Director / Screenwriter: Reed R. McCants gives us a little taste of what it was like to be a young, aspiring actor in New York. The twist being, this young actor is a functional illiterate. The character, Rolo (Brandon T. Jackson) based on McCants, is presented with the realization that actors need to read. The humor comes into play when he joins a…
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PFF & Cinefest(09) – Day 8- The Burning Plain
The Burning Plain (USA) is Oscar contending, incredibly crafted – good! I’m in awe that this a debut for Director and Screenwriter, Guillermo Ariaga. It’s difficult to give commentary on this film without creating a mine field of spoiler alerts. Not because the film is categorized as mystery or suspense, but it would be wrong to reveal the incredibly beautiful and meaningful relationships of the characters and separate story lines. It takes a lot of pluck to create a film where the audience must trust the filmmaker is leading them somewhere, the only way to do it successfully is to a) be a well-known director (Scorsese, Eastwood) or b) make…
