51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #16: “Hitchcock/Truffaut” (U.S.|France)

“Hitchcock/Truffaut” (U.S.|France) Directed by Kent Jones In 1962, a very young Francois Truffaut came to Hollywood and did a series of interviews with Alfred Hitchcock, the guts of which would later make up one of the earliest texts about the … Continue reading 51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #16: “Hitchcock/Truffaut” (U.S.|France)

51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #15: “A Perfect Day” (Spain)

“A Perfect Day” (Spain) Directed by Fernando León de Aranoa Oy, this movie. Very funny. Very well-acted. And one of the most white-washed war movies you’ll ever see. Taking place somewhere in Bosnia, during the latter stages of the war … Continue reading 51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #15: “A Perfect Day” (Spain)

51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #14: “Macbeth” (UK|France|USA)

“Macbeth” (UK|France|USA) Directed by Justin Kurzel I overheard another Film Fest audience member refer to this as “Macbeth meets Mad Max.” Oh, if ONLY. I would’ve been happy if this film possessed even SOME of Mad Max’ drive, energy and … Continue reading 51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #14: “Macbeth” (UK|France|USA)

51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #13: “Youth” (Italy|France|Switzerland|U.K.)

“Youth” (Italy|France|Switzerland|UK) Directed by Paolo Sorrentino This is a tough one to write a review for. It’s very funny. It’s also very serious. It’s very obvious. And yet it’s very obtuse. It’s extremely sardonic while being concurrently sweet. You think … Continue reading 51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #13: “Youth” (Italy|France|Switzerland|U.K.)

51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #11: “How To Win Enemies” (Argentina)

“How To Win Enemies” (Argentina) Directed by Gabriel Lichtmann This is a trifling little comedy in the same vein as “Manhattan Murder Mystery”…but, alas, this movie does not have Woody’s writing or Diane Keaton and Alan Alda’s comedic chops. The … Continue reading 51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #11: “How To Win Enemies” (Argentina)

51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #8: “The Assassin” (Taiwan/China)

“The Assassin” (Taiwan/China) Directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien Listen, I love me some Chinese Dynastic cinema parables. I really do. I love the way they flow…the beauty of the countryside…the absolute conviction with which the actors surrender to their character…and, obviously, … Continue reading 51st Chicago International Film Festival Screening #8: “The Assassin” (Taiwan/China)