“The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki” (Finland) Directed by Juho Kuosmanen Finland is not known for a tradition of boxing films. I’m sure this is, in great part, due to the lack of international boxing champions or … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #12: “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki” (Finland)
“Paradise” (German/Russia) Directed by Andrey Konchalovsky So, as is the expectation for every iteration of the Chicago Film Fest, there exists a feature film about the Shoah (Holocaust for the uninitiated). Last year there was one such film by a … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #11: “Ray (Paradise)” (Germany/Russia)
“Strike A Pose” (USA) Directed by Ester Gold and Reijer Zwaan There are two types of bio-docs. The first has a certain filmcraft and style which illuminates the subject in a way that heightens the viewers’ emotions. The second simply … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #10: “Strike A Pose” (USA)
“Middle Man” (USA) Directed by Ned Crowley What a joy to see a wholly American film that is as wildly irreverent and dark as “Middle Men”. Made with mostly Chicago talent, this horrifyingly funny road movie, about a wannabe stand-up, … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #9: “Middle Man” (USA)
“The Teacher” (Czech Republic) Directed by Jan Hrebek Central and Eastern European films hold a soft spot in my heart. Their history, and its massive changes over the last three decades…and only three generations from a war that destroyed most … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #8: “The Teacher” (Czech Republic)
“Neruda” (Chile) Directed by Pablo Larrain Oh Pablo. You do know how to tell a story in the most prosaic…and bizarre ways! And this film can only be described as prosaic and bizarre. Let me see if I can describe … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #7: “Neruda” (Chile)
“The Confessions” (Italy) Directed by Roberto Ando Rarely has a movie of such big ideas been told in such a small way. This brilliant and sumptuously shot dark-comedy, tackles no less of an issue than worldwide income inequality and G8-induced … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #6: “The Confessions” (Italy)
“Ministry of Love” (Croatia) Directed by Pavo Marinkovic “Ministry of Love”, a post-Balkan War comedy from Croatia, is occasionally quite funny, poignant less often, and, alas, ultimately not terribly satisfying. Revolving around the adventures of a biologist turned governmental minister … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #5: “Ministry of Love” (Croatia)
“One Day Since Yesterday: Peter Bogdanovich & the Lost American Film” (USA) Directed by Bill Teck This will be brief, as the the print we screened was, apparently, not the final cut. There was missing music, some of the interviews … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #4: “One Day Since Yesterday” (USA)
“Christine” (USA) Directed by Antonio Campos I very rarely screen films at the Festival that I know will get a wide theatrical release. I prefer to catch the smaller films, or those that have no hope of distribution outside of … Continue reading 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Screening #3: “Christine” (USA)
The No Spoiler Critic 