Concert and A Big Movie, Plus Some Indie Films
Friday night I went to see Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds. My buddy Brian plays saxophone for them and has been touring with them for over a year and I'd yet to see them live. I've always heard good things and they certainly did not disappoint. They put on an incredible show with a great mix of raw-energy, blues, jazz, rock and roll. Hell, a few of the Fogcutters (Brian's other, Portland-based big band, band came out for a couple of songs).
Big Ol' Dirty Bucket opened for them and were equally as good, too.
Check out both bands, for sure.
Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, here:
Big Ol' Dirty Bucket, here:
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"Maleficent"
starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Juno Temple, Sam Riley
Ok, the cinematography and visual presentation of "Maleficient" is unbelievably fantastic. At times, bright and beautiful; other times dark, but it all goes with the tone of the story, which is actually darker and stranger than the "normal" stories that Disney is associated with. The landscapes throughout the film are visually stunning. The creatures are great and well used in the fantasy world.
I have to admit, I was worried when I heard that Angelina Jolie was cast as the lead as the wicked witch/fairy, but she really drives it all home and carries the film. Her sucked in cheekbones (computerized or not) are quite unappealing, though, but perhaps it was all meant for the story, which I suppose I can let side, because it definitely makes her come off even scarier. And that's the thing about this rendition of "Sleeping Beauty," it's a bit scarier and darker than the original cartoon. When I saw it in the theatre, about a month or so ago, there were many younger kids and honestly, I'm not sure if they really enjoyed it as much as the adults in the audience.
Here is a Disney film, with live-action stars that is very good and engrossing. It's just over an hour and a half, but it's a wonderful ride, which is exactly what Disney is or at least should be known for- taking the viewer on a journey. There's emotion, there's deeper meaning, there's good character development, even in the case of Sleeping Beauty (played well by Elle Fanning, who I think might even be a better actress than her better known sister Dakota Fanning). They've taken the well-known and respected fairy tale and spun it on its head, at the same time creating a whole new context for the characters. I really think it was brilliant to tell the story through the perspective of Jolie's witch/fairy- much like how "Wicked" has done it for the story of "The Wizard of Oz." It works really well.
I really enjoyed the film, more than I thought I would.
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"A New York Thing"
starring: Jonathan Zaccai, Fanny Valette, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Greta Gerwig, Leo Fitzpatrick
written and directed by: Olivier Lecot
The indie film that surprised me is "A NY Thing" which tells the story of a French writer, Antoine, who follows another French girl back to New York, after what we can assume was a sexual meet-and-greet in France. The girl, Alice (played so well and natural by Fanny Valette, who oozes sexuality just simply through the look in her eyes each time she's on screen) is coming back to New York and back into the arms of her boyfriend. Alice also has a roommate, Tamera (played by the ever-so quirky Greta Gerwig, who has quickly become my indie darling crush, and admittedly the reason why I put the film in my Netflix queue). Tamera falls for Antoine, and they might fool around a bit, but Antoine is clearly in New York to win the complete and full heart of Alice, whom he believes loves him, too, and just needs to be coaxed or convinced of it a little more. That's exactly what he does, and Alice does not necessarily deny him or it.
This film is a great story, albeit, a story that could be told over and over again on film and get worse and worse, but something about this one works. The backdrop of Manhattan is even overused in film, but the artsy-ness of the scene works well with the story. And by the end you are sort of rooting for the two French lovers to find each other, because you can tell they would make each other happier. It's like Alice is pretending for the sake of pretending. The film, though, is not.
...................................................................................
"Comes a Bright Day"
starring: Timothy Spall, Imogen Poots, Craig Roberts, Ben Cura, Geoff Bell, Josef Altin
written and directed by: Simon Aboud
A working-class London lad with big dreams romances an out-of-his-league blonde against the backdrop of a bloody jewelry store heist that escalates into a hostage situation in British indie “Comes a Bright Day.” Substituting style for substance and quirkiness for character is tonally all over the map. The film is a bizarre blend of genres when a romantic love story unfolds during a life threatening hostage situation. There was even some comedy sprinkle in. But the hodgepodge of themes felt exactly like that, a jumbled mixture of dissimilar themes that did not mix well.
"The Do-Deca-Pentathlon"
starring: Mark Kelly, Steve Zissis, Jennifer Lafleur, Julie Vorus
written and directed by: Jay and Mark Duplass
I've really enjoyed the Duplass brothers' film catalogue and recently discovered they are part of the subgenre known as mumblecore, part of the subgenre in the indie film scene. Here's what I like about their films, aside from the fact that they tell simple stories that could very well be taken from anyone's family history, they tend to use "regular" looking actors to play these ordinary characters. This helps the audience connect better/more with the characters, if they are average, regular-looking guys (for the most part).
This film is the story of two brothers, Jeremy and Mark (played by Mark Kelly and Steve Zissis, respectively) who created an at-once friendly competition titled the Do-Deca-Pentathlon to determine who was the better brother, once and for all. The only trouble is, years ago, it ended in a tie and Jeremy has made it well known that he will never give up on showing up his brother, one way or another. And, like a good brother, he knows exactly how and what buttons to push.
The brothers' mother has decided to throw a birthday party for Mark, who is now happily married and has an adolescent son of his own. His brother, Jeremy shows up, somewhat uninvited and begins to push Mark's buttons yet again. The friendly competition starts out rather innocently, but then quickly develops into the obsession that created the divide in their brotherly relationship years ago. This film is on the shorter side of an hour and a half, so the writers/directors have to speed through a few scenes and the story seems shortened and perhaps not given enough attention, but it also really works and makes for an enjoyable ride for the viewer as we watch and worry for poor Mark.
Big Ol' Dirty Bucket opened for them and were equally as good, too.
Check out both bands, for sure.
Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, here:
Big Ol' Dirty Bucket, here:
..........................................................................
"Maleficent"
starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Juno Temple, Sam Riley
Ok, the cinematography and visual presentation of "Maleficient" is unbelievably fantastic. At times, bright and beautiful; other times dark, but it all goes with the tone of the story, which is actually darker and stranger than the "normal" stories that Disney is associated with. The landscapes throughout the film are visually stunning. The creatures are great and well used in the fantasy world.
I have to admit, I was worried when I heard that Angelina Jolie was cast as the lead as the wicked witch/fairy, but she really drives it all home and carries the film. Her sucked in cheekbones (computerized or not) are quite unappealing, though, but perhaps it was all meant for the story, which I suppose I can let side, because it definitely makes her come off even scarier. And that's the thing about this rendition of "Sleeping Beauty," it's a bit scarier and darker than the original cartoon. When I saw it in the theatre, about a month or so ago, there were many younger kids and honestly, I'm not sure if they really enjoyed it as much as the adults in the audience.
Here is a Disney film, with live-action stars that is very good and engrossing. It's just over an hour and a half, but it's a wonderful ride, which is exactly what Disney is or at least should be known for- taking the viewer on a journey. There's emotion, there's deeper meaning, there's good character development, even in the case of Sleeping Beauty (played well by Elle Fanning, who I think might even be a better actress than her better known sister Dakota Fanning). They've taken the well-known and respected fairy tale and spun it on its head, at the same time creating a whole new context for the characters. I really think it was brilliant to tell the story through the perspective of Jolie's witch/fairy- much like how "Wicked" has done it for the story of "The Wizard of Oz." It works really well.
I really enjoyed the film, more than I thought I would.
................................................................................
"A New York Thing"
starring: Jonathan Zaccai, Fanny Valette, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Greta Gerwig, Leo Fitzpatrick
written and directed by: Olivier Lecot
The indie film that surprised me is "A NY Thing" which tells the story of a French writer, Antoine, who follows another French girl back to New York, after what we can assume was a sexual meet-and-greet in France. The girl, Alice (played so well and natural by Fanny Valette, who oozes sexuality just simply through the look in her eyes each time she's on screen) is coming back to New York and back into the arms of her boyfriend. Alice also has a roommate, Tamera (played by the ever-so quirky Greta Gerwig, who has quickly become my indie darling crush, and admittedly the reason why I put the film in my Netflix queue). Tamera falls for Antoine, and they might fool around a bit, but Antoine is clearly in New York to win the complete and full heart of Alice, whom he believes loves him, too, and just needs to be coaxed or convinced of it a little more. That's exactly what he does, and Alice does not necessarily deny him or it.
This film is a great story, albeit, a story that could be told over and over again on film and get worse and worse, but something about this one works. The backdrop of Manhattan is even overused in film, but the artsy-ness of the scene works well with the story. And by the end you are sort of rooting for the two French lovers to find each other, because you can tell they would make each other happier. It's like Alice is pretending for the sake of pretending. The film, though, is not.
...................................................................................
"Comes a Bright Day"
starring: Timothy Spall, Imogen Poots, Craig Roberts, Ben Cura, Geoff Bell, Josef Altin
written and directed by: Simon Aboud
A working-class London lad with big dreams romances an out-of-his-league blonde against the backdrop of a bloody jewelry store heist that escalates into a hostage situation in British indie “Comes a Bright Day.” Substituting style for substance and quirkiness for character is tonally all over the map. The film is a bizarre blend of genres when a romantic love story unfolds during a life threatening hostage situation. There was even some comedy sprinkle in. But the hodgepodge of themes felt exactly like that, a jumbled mixture of dissimilar themes that did not mix well.
Sam Smith (Craig Roberts) is hotel bellboy or as he describes it, a bag carrier and general bitch for the rich. One day his manager sends him on an errand that takes him to a jewelry store. Before he does that he makes a quick stop at a local café where he meets a girl named Mary Bright (Imogen Poots) who catches his eye. The two exchange a few words before leaving. This sets the tone for a potential romantic comedy, but then things get darker. It just so happens that the two would meet again in just a few short moments.
Upon entering the jewelry store he has already made up his mind that he would like to date her. Fate is on his side as she works at the jewelry store that he was sent to go to. But fate also had something else in store for him when two guys with guns show up to rob the place. Suddenly they become involved in a hostage situation. The gunmen assumed that the robbery would be a quick smash and grab and did not take in account to be trapped inside the store surrounded by police. Now confined to the store they must come up with another plan. In the meantime, Sam and Mary continue to get to know one another despite the inopportune setting. Sam soon finds out that Mary is planning on leaving the country in less than a month, which assumes they make it out of this situation alive. I've enjoyed Imogen Poots in her other films and have seen definite potential in her acting career, if she would be given more of a chance. Aside from this British, indie film, she's also been in another great indie film "Greetings from Tim Buckley" as well as the remakes of "Fright Night" and "Jane Eyre," and before that "28 Weeks Later" and other indie films "Me and Orson Welles" and "Solitary Man" with Michael Douglas and Jenna Fischer.
The film works for the most part and I definitely give the rookie director credit for having the story mainly stay in one area, the bank, as the film develops, which really forces the characters/actors to focus themselves as the center of attention.
.................................................................................."The Do-Deca-Pentathlon"
starring: Mark Kelly, Steve Zissis, Jennifer Lafleur, Julie Vorus
written and directed by: Jay and Mark Duplass
I've really enjoyed the Duplass brothers' film catalogue and recently discovered they are part of the subgenre known as mumblecore, part of the subgenre in the indie film scene. Here's what I like about their films, aside from the fact that they tell simple stories that could very well be taken from anyone's family history, they tend to use "regular" looking actors to play these ordinary characters. This helps the audience connect better/more with the characters, if they are average, regular-looking guys (for the most part).
This film is the story of two brothers, Jeremy and Mark (played by Mark Kelly and Steve Zissis, respectively) who created an at-once friendly competition titled the Do-Deca-Pentathlon to determine who was the better brother, once and for all. The only trouble is, years ago, it ended in a tie and Jeremy has made it well known that he will never give up on showing up his brother, one way or another. And, like a good brother, he knows exactly how and what buttons to push.
The brothers' mother has decided to throw a birthday party for Mark, who is now happily married and has an adolescent son of his own. His brother, Jeremy shows up, somewhat uninvited and begins to push Mark's buttons yet again. The friendly competition starts out rather innocently, but then quickly develops into the obsession that created the divide in their brotherly relationship years ago. This film is on the shorter side of an hour and a half, so the writers/directors have to speed through a few scenes and the story seems shortened and perhaps not given enough attention, but it also really works and makes for an enjoyable ride for the viewer as we watch and worry for poor Mark.
This could be the premise for another comedy about arrested adolescence; have you noticed how many 30-ish men in the movies seem to yearn for their carefree teenage years? But this movie is a little more than that. Co-written and co-directed by the Duplass brothers, Jay and Mark, and assuming that Jay could be short for Jeremy, the film is possibly autobiographical — although the Jeremy and Mark in this film could never possibly collaborate on anything.
No deep Freudian tangles are excavated to explain the enduring rivalry. The original Do-Deca-Pentathlon left wounds that never healed. Mark is now on the hefty side, has been seeing a shrink, and his wife urges him to slow down and take it easy. Jeremy seems to glide through life, but nobody can drive a new Chrysler 300 on his poker winnings if he's not competitive.
Alice and Stephanie both know about the Do-Deca-Pentathlon and think it's ridiculous. So it is; the rematch events include not only a 5K run and Ping-Pong, but shooting hoops, leg wrestling, laser tag, skeeball, air hockey, swimming, another breath-holding bout and a terrifying arm-wrestling showdown in which the heads of both brothers seem likely to explode.
Stephanie puts her foot down. She sees how this can lead to a heart attack. The mother calls for everyone to relax and enjoy a nice family gathering. But it relentlessly grows clear that nothing is more important than the Do-Deca-Pentathlon, and that it is fueled by a mutual desperation that nothing has ever been quite right since the first one ended in a tie.
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