September 12
Note: I'm finding myself starting to fade in and out due to sleep deprivation, so I'm cutting tonight's capsules short. I've scribbled extensive notes for post-fest expansion, though; American Beauty, in particular, has oodles of things to mention.American Beauty
Directed by Sam Mendes
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, Peter Gallagher, Allison Janney, Scott Bakula, Sam Robards, Chris Cooper
U.S. Distribution: DreamWorks
*** / BNot, as touted, the best film to come along in years -- it's not even the best film of this year -- but this insidiously intriguing social satire is fascinating all the same for the diverse thematic undercurrents explored, rather than for its vaguely sitcom-ish literal narrative. It's easy to see why actors were drawn to Alan Bell's quirky, just-slightly-left-of-center screenplay, which truly coalesces in its final third for a memorable resolution. Among the cast, Chris Cooper is magnificent -- by all rights, he should be waking on February 14, 2000 with a special Valentine from the Academy.
Many more comments forthcoming on this sucker.
In attendance: director Sam Mendes, actor Kevin Spacey, producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Junks
[U.S.A. / 100 minutes / Gala / Uptown 1]
Ratcatcher
Directed by Lynne Ramsay
Cast: William Eadie, Tommy Flanagan, Mandy Matthews
U.S. Distribution: none as of this writing
*** / BCompelling, curiously poetic portrait of poverty and neglect centering around a 14-year-old Glasgow lad, with excellent acting by the ensemble cast and some beautiful imagery. Kenny sending Snowball to the moon is one of the wondrously sweet and touching sights likely to seen on the big screen this year.
More comments forthcoming.
[U.K. / 90 minutes / Contemporary World Cinema / Uptown 2]
Bloody Angels
Directed by Karin Julsrud
Cast: Reidar Sørensen, Gaute Skjegstad, Trond Høvik, Stig Henrik Hoff, Jon Øigarden, Laila Goody
U.S. Distribution: none as of this writing
** / CPlodding, often exasperating murder investigation set in a strange little Norweigan town where, by all appearances, the locals are conspiring against our protagonist. It's a trying picture, but a handful of sequences are stylishly directed -- Julsrud shows definite promise in her feature film debut -- and are often gripping. There's an interesting use of editing and sound to create a deliberately disorienting, even unsettling atmosphere.More comments forthcoming.
[Norway / 96 minutes / Discovery / Uptown 2]
But I'm A Cheerleader
Directed by Jamie Babbitt
Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Cathy Moriarty, RuPaul Charles, Mink Stole
U.S. Distribution: Fine Line
* ½ / DWhile the premise for But I'm A Cheerleader sounds like goofy fun -- a popular cheerleader, secretly suspected of lesbian tendencies by her friends and parents, is ambushed and sent to rehab camp -- the picture itself is more inane than silly. With a cast of supporting characters that includes RuPaul, Mink Stole, Richard Moll, Bud Cort, and other cult faves, I'm not expecting cinema verité out of this film, but everything is so overexaggerated and amateurishly directed that the movie lands with a clunk onscreen; it's a humour-free, thoroughly annoying dead zone. (Well, maybe not entirely humour-free; the film has one nice French kissing gag.) Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall are solid actresses; to say their roles fail to test or challenge them is a grave understatement. (And it was interesting to see Melanie Lynskey of Heavenly Creatures fame -- she's practically unrecognizable from the Jackson picture.) Think a really, really bad John Waters movie and you've got the basic idea.More comments forthcoming.
In attendance: director Jamie Babbitt, actors Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall, seemingly half of the crew
[U.S.A. / 90 minutes / Discovery / Uptown 3]
Le Petit Voleur
Directed by Erick Zonca
Cast: Nicolas Duvauchelle, Yann Tregouet, Jean-Jérôme Esposito, Martial Bezot, Jean-Armand Dalomba, Joe Prestia
U.S. Distribution: none as of this writing
*** / B+Not as emotionally resonant as The Dreamlife Of Angels, but completely absorbing and finely crafted -- it employs the same sort of blunt naturalism which lends a feeling of raw immediacy to the film. If there was any doubt, Zonca has clearly established himself as a major contemporary director.
More comments forthcoming.
[France / 65 minutes / Contemporary World Cinema / Cumberland 3]
The Limey
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Terrence Stamp, Lesley Ann Warren, Luis Guzman, Barry Newman, Peter Fonda
U.S. Distribution: Artisan
*** / BA tremendous vehicle for Stamp, who takes the role of the vengeance-seeking father by the teeth; it's a great performance in a stylishly-directed, simultaneously hard-edged and playful picture. (Luis Guzman also turns in a fine comic performance in a supporting role.) Soderberg and editor Sarah Flacks make great use of jump cuts and out-of-sequence / out-of-synch transitions to lend the film a jazzy feel even more extreme than that employed in Out Of Sight. (Sight star George Clooney indirectly appears in this one as an in-joke.) Generally entertaining and impressive, although the first half is decidedly stronger than the latter. (Best moment is its opening: Stamp's familiar voice menacingly enunciating "Tell me about Jenny" over a black screen.)
In attendance: director Steven Soderbergh, actor Terrence Stamp
[U.S.A. / 90 minutes / Special Presentation / Elgin]
Random Notes: I found it distracting that the print for the Scottish film Ratcatcher had subtitles despite the fact that the dialogue, though admittedly heavily-accented, was abundantly clear and coherent -- I found my eyes automatically registering the (often incorrect) subtitles as a result ... I was fortunate enough to run into Erik Gregersen (of Revenge Of The Audience fame) at The Limey; we coincidentally happened to be standing next to each other in the (huge) line-up ... the But I'm A Cheerleader "world premiere" screening was a bit chaotic, since the filmmakers showed up with a far larger group than the Uptown staff had apparently expected; seating dilemmas delayed the screening long enough that my post-Cheerleader sprint to the Zonca film was just in the nick of time ... this was my second Spacey Q&A session (he brought his directorial debut, Albino Alligator, back in 1996), and it's obvious that Toronto really loves Kevin Spacey ...
Alex Fung (aw220@freenet.carleton.ca)
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