Category: Reviews
TJFF 2012: ‘Polish Bar’ is no Matisyahu
Polish Bar Directed by Ben Berkowitz Written by Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave USA, 2010 For those who aren’t in the know, there is an amazing phenomenon in the music community known as Matisyahu. With an eclectic style ranging from … [Read the Rest]
‘Hick’ is a strange, occasionally affecting mess
Hick Directed by Derick Martini Written by Andrea Portes USA, 2011 There ought to be a place for films in which young children are graphically exposed to the evils of the world. The problem is that if those films are … [Read the Rest]
‘Dark Shadows’ fails to correct Tim Burton’s trajectory
Dark Shadows Written by Seth Grahame-Smith Directed by Tim Burton USA, 2012 Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows, based on the late-1960s cult soap opera, suffers badly from wanting it both ways. One half wants to be Gothic horror centered on a … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘My First Wedding’ is a perfect storm of marriage clichés
My First Wedding Directed by Ariel Winograd Written by Patricio Vega Argentina, 2011 Grooms on their wedding day usually consider themselves the luckiest man in the world, but in Ariel Winograd’s My First Wedding, nothing can be further from the … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: Watching ‘The Prize’ in totality is an unsavory Pyrrhic victory
The Prize Written and directed by Paula Markovitch Mexico, 2011 After winning an essay contest at her school, seven-year old Cecilia (Paula Galinelli Hertzog) is showered with praise. Her teacher has the entire class form a line, and one-by-one, she … [Read the Rest]
‘Et maintenant on va où?’ cleverly embraces humanity in a time of great strife
Et maintenant on va où? (English title: Where Do We Go Now?) Directed by Nadine Labaki Written by Nadine Labaki, Thomas Bidegain, Jihad Hokeily Lebanon, France, Egypt, Italy, 2011. Men plan for war, suit up for war and engage in … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘We Need to Talk About ‘Dorfman’
Dorfman Directed by Bradley Leong Written by Wendy Kout USA, 2011 After her mother dies, Deb Dorfman (Sara Rue), a timid accountant, has to live with her perpetually grumpy father (Elliot Gould) in the San Fernando Valley. A hopeless … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘Off-White Lies’ is a lyrically offbeat comedy
Off-White Lies Directed by Maya Kenig Written by Maya Kenig and Dana Diment Israel/France, 2011 As a parent, you can’t prepare the world for your children; the best you can do is prepare your children for the world. So what … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘Let My People Go!’ is a cheerfully fun film that’s sadly unfunny
Let My People Go! Directed by Mikael Buch Written by Mikael Buch and Christophe Honoré France, 2011 While confiding with his Rabbi, Ruben (Nicolas Maury) begins checking off his laundry list of foibles. From his precarious relationship with a schoolteacher … [Read the Rest]
Hot Docs 2012: ‘Meet the Fokkens’ offers a charming, unusual personal narrative
Meet the Fokkens Written by Gabrielle Provaas and Rob Schröder Directed by Gabrielle Provaas Netherlands, 2011 There is a long tradition in documentary film of personalizing unusual individuals. In fact the entire genre of first-person narrative documentary has largely revolved … [Read the Rest]
Hot Docs 2012: ‘The Ambassador’ a brave, darkly funny exposé
The Ambassador Written by Mads Brügger and Maja Jul Larsen Directed by Mads Brügger Denmark, 2011 As strange as it might sound to some people, documentary filmmakers are often exceptionally brave individuals. They are people who are at least willing … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘Naomi’ is a study of incurious people being unlikeable for unknowable reasons
Naomi Directed by Eitan Tzur Written by Edna Mazia Israel/France, 2010 If prostitution is the world’s oldest profession, then tales of infidelity must be one of the oldest forms of storytelling. From the bible to Nabokov, Adele’s entire discography to … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘Something Wild’ is an exhausting, glib, and outdated look at sexual assault
Something Wild Directed by Jack Garfein Written by Jack Garfein and Alex Karmel USA, 1961 For an era as socially untactful as the 1960’s, Jack Garfein’s Something Wild, a story about a young rape victim struggling with the aftermath of … [Read the Rest]
TJFF 2012: ‘The Day I Saw Your Heart’ magically conciliates its flaws with French charm
The Day I Saw Your Heart Written and directed by Jennifer Devoldère France, 2011 In Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise, Julie Delpy prophetically describes what it means to be French. Delpy’s Celine, while philosophizing with Ethan Hawke’s Jesse, says, “Each time … [Read the Rest]
This Week in Soundtracks – May 1, 2012
A big week in soundtracks, with five new film soundtracks and two new television soundtracks released. Avengers Assemble[Soundtrack] by Various Artists One would think by looking at the track list for this soundtrack that The Avengers came out ten years … [Read the Rest]
