“Lady Bird” Directed by Greta Gerwig Perhaps one of the most moving films about adolescent individuation…and the obstacles in the path of that goal…ever made, Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” is without peer. I mean it. Whether discussing its honest script, … Continue reading “Lady Bird”
“Aurora Borealis” (Hungary) Directed by Márta Mészáros The plethora of good Hungarian films dealing with the WWII experience (whether pre- or post-war) at this year’s Chicago Film Fest has been extraordinary. So it’s fitting that my last festival screening was … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l. Film Fest #24: “Aurora Borealis” (Hungary)
“Have A Nice Day” (China) Directed by Jian Liu This trifling from China, an animated film based on a graphic novel, is oddly interesting for its occasional artistry and characters at best. Alas, at worst it is dull and has … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l. Film Fest #23: “Have A Nice Day” (China)
“Princess Cyd” (USA) Directed by Stephen Cone A wildly successful coming-of-age (& coming-of-middle-age) story set in the bright light of a perfect Northside Chicago summer, “Princess Cyd” is an enjoyable and dense jumble of emotions. More specifically, it is a … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #22: “Princess Cyd” (USA)
“The Quartet (Kvarteto)” (Czech Republic) Directed by Miroslav Krobot I must admit that when I first completed my screening of this bizarre little film, I threw my hands up in the air and thought, “what on earth was the point”? … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #21: “The Quartet (Kvarteto)” (Czech Republic)
“Borg/McEnroe” (Sweden/Denmark/Finland) Directed by Janus Metz My notes for this film consist of one word: “Boring”. Looking back, that’s probably not a fair moniker. It’s actually pretty good when inspecting individual elements. But by film’s end…it’s pretty damned close. Based … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #20: “Borg/McEnroe” (Sweden/Denmark/Finland)
“The Scythian Lamb” (Japan) Directed by Daihachi Yoshida This odd little Japanese offering, based on an award-winning Manga production of the same name, is pleasingly curious, mysterious and, most surprisingly, very human. The film revolves around a governmental decision to … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #18: “The Scythian Lamb” (Japan)
“1945” (Hungary) Directed by Ferenc Török One of the four or five best films I’ve seen this year, Ferenc Török’s “1945” is an example of what can happen when you have a clear vision of your story, a brilliant script, … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #19: “1945” (Hungary)
“The Racer and the Jailbird” (Belgium) Directed by Michael R. Roskam What happens when you take a great director who introduced us to a great actor through their collaboration in a brilliant (and Oscar-nommed) film six years ago, and give … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #17: “The Racer and the Jailbird” (Belgium)
“Oh, Lucy!” (USA/Japan) Directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi Many of the films I’ve seen at this year’s Festival revolved on the theme of being alone vs. being lonely. In this instance, a middle-aged, single and unhappy Japanese woman finds herself falling … Continue reading 53rd Chicago Int’l Film Fest #16: “Oh, Lucy!” (USA/Japan)
The No Spoiler Critic 