“Little Tickles” (France) Directed by Andrea Bescond & Eric Metayer How does one describe an indescribably original, difficult, funny, horrific, and heartbreaking film – a film that spans decades, defies category, relies heavily on dance, plays with the ideas of … Continue reading 54th Chicago Int’l Film Fest #13: “Little Tickles” (France)
(An unedited version of this review was mistakenly published a few days ago. My apologies.) “The Belly of the Whale” (Ireland) Directed by Morgan Bushe This is the definition of a small buddy-buddy picture. Personally, I quite enjoyed it. However, … Continue reading 54th Chicago Int’l Film Fest #12: “The Belly of the Whale” (Ireland)
“Flammable Children” aka “Swinging Safari” (Australia) Directed by Stephan Elliott Lying somewhere in style between Aussie versions of my “Wet Hot American Summer” and 2016’s “Everybody Wants Some”, “Flammable Children” (known as “Swinging Safari” in its home country), Stephan Elliott’s … Continue reading 54th Chicago Int’l Film Fest #11: “Flammable Children” (Australia)
“Friedkin Uncut” (Italy/USA) Directed by Francesco Zippel “Great Buster” (USA) Directed by Peter Bogdanovich What a difference a director makes. As usual, the Fest featured more than a couple new documentaries illustrating and honoring the lives of some of film’s … Continue reading 54th Chicago Int’l Film Fest #10 & #16: “Friedkin Uncut” (Italy/USA) & “Great Buster” (USA)
“Volcano” (Ukraine) Directed by Roman Bondarchuk “Volcano” is Roman Bondarchuk’s love-letter, elegy and eulogy for a way of life altered by the effects of modern technological and economic change – in this instance a Ukrainian village which had previously existed … Continue reading 54th Chicago Int’l Film Fest #9: “Volcano” (Ukraine)
“Mr. Soul!” (USA) Directed by Melissa Haizlip & Samuel D. Pollard From 1968 to 1973, there was a television show on PBS those of you even a couple of years younger than my fifty-four revolutions around the sun will never … Continue reading 54th Chicago Int’l Film Fest #8: “Mr. Soul!” (USA)
“Boys Cry” (Italy) Directed Damiano & Fabbio D’Innocenzo Without a doubt, my impression of this film suffered from my having seen “Family First” less than 24 hours prior. They both tackle the same subject matter (small-time crime/honor among thieves), they … Continue reading 54th Chicago Int’l Film Fest #7: “Boys Cry” (Italy)
“Naples in Veils” (Italy) Directed by Ferzan Ozpetek Ferzan Ozpetek’s “Naples In Veils” may quite possibly be the most Italian movie I’ve ever seen. Seriously, if you were to make a caricature of an Italian romantic mystery, this is what … Continue reading 54th Chicago Int’l FIlm Fest #6: “Naples in Veils” (Italy)
“Ash Is Purest White” (China) Directed by Zhangke Jia Zhangke Jia’s “Ash Is the Purest White” is almost a great film – certainly a giant step above the two melodramatic features of his I’ve seen, “Mountains May Depart” and “Still … Continue reading 54th Chicago Int’l Film Fest #5: “Ash Is Purest White” (China)
“Entrepreneur” (Finland) Directed by Virpi Suutari Oy. This film. A documentary about what it means to be an entrepreneur on the extremes of the economic spectrum in Finland is half unbearable and half pretty good. But it’s all kinds of … Continue reading 54th Chicago Int’l Film Fest #3: “Entrepreneur” (Finland)
The No Spoiler Critic 