Seen at the San Francisco International Film Festival: “For the Love of Movies”

Smokler on April 28, 2009

Critics-typing 

What is it? Documentary on the history and future of American film criticism.

How was it? Hurried. I don't often say this about documentaries but FTLOM needed to be about 40% longer (at 81 minutes, it feels like an hour-long A&E special. With commercials). It sprints from history to interview to larger philosophical questions so at issue in the 21st century–"What qualifies someone to be a critic?" "How much do or should filmmakers value critical opinion?"– without really giving many of them consideration or even a second point of view.  Result? A filmmed outline, adroitly checking off points made without asking why make them.

I am not unmindful of concerns bugetary and resource-driven. Another 30 minutes of film might simply be money the filmmakers didn't have. But that doesn't excuse what is fundamentally missing here, a sense of joy in accomplishment. These critics love what they do, see it as vital to the culture and are thinking long about their role in this changing new era of instantaneous publishing and democratization of opinion.

Couldn't we let them talk about that? Couldn't we let their passions speak for themselves?

A pity. I attended a fantastic panel on film criticism at SXSW 2009 moderated by the film's director, Gerald Perry. I met the producer Amy Geller at that same session, who couldn't have been nicer. And yes, both that session and this documentary made me nostalgic for my own reviewing days and eager to see more movies. 

Then why does the watching of this one feel like the wrong kind of work? Maybe having a critic make it was the error. It feels too much like another day at the office.

At the film's conclusion, legendary critic Andrew Sarris says "I wouldn't rather be doing anything in the world. I love this." I wish this movie about his profession conveyed the same longing.

Should I see it? Yes. Decide for yourself. Then pester the filmmakers like mad for a full-length DVD release. There is a whole other movies-worth of golden footage out there. I just know it.

For the Love of Movies is playing May 3 and 4 at the Sundance Kabuki in San Francisco.

Seen at the San Francisco International Film Festival: “Kisses”

Smokler on April 25, 2009

Kisses

What is it? Irish Huckleberry Finn about a pre-teen boy and girl (next store neighbors) who run away from their crappy North Dublin housing project and hide out in the big city, along the banks of the Liffey.

How was it? Sweat, watchable, pleasant. Feels like a lesser known John Cheever short story or perhaps just a right-out-of-film-school project, even though its the director's third project. Acting is hardly what you you'd call natural (more like National-College first-year-student natural) but the cinematography is smooth and elegiac, the script sure and efficient. Written and directed by the same man, one Lance Daly. Picked up for distribution by Oscilloscope Pictures, The Beastie Boys production outfit.

Should I see it? Yes, but don't go out of your way. Would make for a great matinee, a 3:15 PM palette cleanser between a noon and 5 PM screening.

Kisses is playing Mon. April 27th, Tues, April 28, and Thurs. April 30, all at the Sundance Kabuki in San Francisco.

SXSW 2009: Documentaries should be brought. On.

Smokler on April 10, 2009

Bigskyfestival

Later during the first night of SXSW 2009, I got into a conversation with a woman named Debbie Cerda, who is based in Austin and indicated efforts were afoot to start a documentary film festival in town.

She may has well have said "The world is made of ice cream. Here's a spoon."

You see, I love documentaries. Since The Thin Blue Line changed my life over 20 years ago, I've been fascinated with the idea that movies may serve a role similar to investigative journalism: To probe what we think we know, to bring to light what we don't yet. And since you self-select interest the subject of a documentary, you're rarely let down. If gospel music isn't your thing, its unlikely Say Amen, Somebody will change your mind. if the subject interests you, there probably isn't an annoying star performance or an obnoxious product placement to derail your enjoyment.

So when I started going to film festivals in the early 1990s (TIFF with my dad was the first), I naturally gravitated towards the docs. With hundreds of movies to choose from and just a few days to see them in, why not bank on a category that rarely lets you down?  In an average year at my local film festival, I may see a dozen movies, 10 of them documentaries.

it was thanks to my friend James McNally and his fabulous blog Toronto Screen Shots that I first heard about all-documentary festivals like Hot Docs (Spring in Toronto v. TIFF in the fall), Silverdocs (June, Washington D.C), docfest (May in New York) and Full Frame (April in Durham, N.C).

These are the biggies. In recent year's I've been hearing about the True/False Film Festival (February, Columbia, MS) and the Big Sky Festival (also February, Missoula, MT). My friend Roman swears by True/False. Small charming university towns give a film festival a feel of communal celebration.

I haven't been to any of these yet. But one year soon, the fiance and I will make a vacation out of attendence, as she is as crazy for docs as I am (reason #573 we're getting married). If this Austin festival comes to pass, so much the better. We go there anyway.

Resources for documentary fans.