Showing posts with label DIFF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DIFF. Show all posts
Friday, February 22, 2008
The Lookout
There's a couple of clichés and a couple of plot holes, but enjoyable overall. One of the more mainstream movies I've seen at DIFF, but that doesn't mean that it's any less worthy of praise. So the praise is going to get lavished on Matthew Goode as Gary Sprago, the "baddie" who rips up the screen in a completely unhammy way.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
More films from the Film Festival
So then...
1) Return To Gorée - A documentary following Youssou N'Dour as he "jazzes up" his music, and tries to examine his roots, and the routes that slaves might have taken. It's slightly overlong, but the sheer proffessionalism of the musicians sparks some intense moments. There's an interesting clash between N'Dour and a accapella group from Atlanta, concerning religion (N'Dour is Muslim, the group are Christian). However it's not developed and explored in the manner it could have been.
2) Comrades In Dreams - A lovely lovely documentary examining a cinema in each of India, America, Burkino Faso and North Korea. The discrepencies and parallels that are highlighted are both touching and insightful. The two most interesting strands were the Burkino Faso story and (perhaps obviously) the North Korean one. The group in Burkino Faso were practising an almost communist form of self-reliance and bartering which was uplifting to watch. The belief in North Korea of the power of movies to uplift the farmers (comrades) and workers was remarkable to watch. The cult of Kim Jong-Il was extremely prevalent but not in the expected manner, the depth of feeling concerning "dear leader" was slightly breathtaking. And North Korea looks like a beautiful country.
3) Irish Film Board Shorts - There were two things to take from this showing of shorts, namely that the Irish pysche is still as twisted and dark as it used to be when it came to story-telling, and all the interesting films being made in Ireland are as Gaeilge. Mainly the films I saw were overlong, and could have done with some serious editing, but Rolla Saor (Free Roll) and An Creatúr were probably the stand out efforts. The Short Shorts were better overall, their shortened time perhaps focusing the minds of the directors. Considering that Declan Conlon and Marcella Plunkett were in it, Basket Case was a dissapoint, Owen O'Neill didn't seem to know what kind of movie he wanted to make, apart from the fact that he knew he wanted to borrow heavily from Pat McCabe. Also, the above two actors aside, some of the casting jarred.
1) Return To Gorée - A documentary following Youssou N'Dour as he "jazzes up" his music, and tries to examine his roots, and the routes that slaves might have taken. It's slightly overlong, but the sheer proffessionalism of the musicians sparks some intense moments. There's an interesting clash between N'Dour and a accapella group from Atlanta, concerning religion (N'Dour is Muslim, the group are Christian). However it's not developed and explored in the manner it could have been.
2) Comrades In Dreams - A lovely lovely documentary examining a cinema in each of India, America, Burkino Faso and North Korea. The discrepencies and parallels that are highlighted are both touching and insightful. The two most interesting strands were the Burkino Faso story and (perhaps obviously) the North Korean one. The group in Burkino Faso were practising an almost communist form of self-reliance and bartering which was uplifting to watch. The belief in North Korea of the power of movies to uplift the farmers (comrades) and workers was remarkable to watch. The cult of Kim Jong-Il was extremely prevalent but not in the expected manner, the depth of feeling concerning "dear leader" was slightly breathtaking. And North Korea looks like a beautiful country.
3) Irish Film Board Shorts - There were two things to take from this showing of shorts, namely that the Irish pysche is still as twisted and dark as it used to be when it came to story-telling, and all the interesting films being made in Ireland are as Gaeilge. Mainly the films I saw were overlong, and could have done with some serious editing, but Rolla Saor (Free Roll) and An Creatúr were probably the stand out efforts. The Short Shorts were better overall, their shortened time perhaps focusing the minds of the directors. Considering that Declan Conlon and Marcella Plunkett were in it, Basket Case was a dissapoint, Owen O'Neill didn't seem to know what kind of movie he wanted to make, apart from the fact that he knew he wanted to borrow heavily from Pat McCabe. Also, the above two actors aside, some of the casting jarred.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Nightbus, The Band's Visit (DIFF post)
Saw these two films last night as part of my 12 film odyssey that is DIFF. The Band's Visit is a lovely little movie from Israel. Its glacial pace isn't a barrier to enjoying the movie, instead it enhances the attempt to portray the town it's set in as slow moving. The acting is superb, Sasson Gabai and Saleh Bakri stand out especially. Both of their characters are reserved, yet both characters manage to convey their feelings in an understated way. My only complaint would be with regard to the contrived nature of the composition of some of the shots, but overall the positives overwhelm any misgivings.
Unfortunately Nightbus is a different proposition. It's a juvenile attempt at portraying the affects of war that is poorly written and is salvaged (only somewhat) towards the end of the film.
Unfortunately Nightbus is a different proposition. It's a juvenile attempt at portraying the affects of war that is poorly written and is salvaged (only somewhat) towards the end of the film.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
DIFF - Any recommendations?
So, the Dublin International Film Festival website is up and running here,and apart from "the Farreller" opening the festival, I'm not familiar with any of the movies. So does anyone have any ideas on what I should go see? Or, indeed, avoid?
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