Category Archives: Film

ACT at Odell Brewery…or Do you want VR with your beer?

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ACT Human Rights Film Festival

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ACT Human Rights Film Festival held a Kick-Off Screening at the SIE Film Center in Denver.

Filmmaker Beth Murphy was there for the Q & A for What Tomorrow Brings.

The festival is put on by the Communication Studies Department at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO.

I was there, hot toddy in hand…to support the festival!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Odell Brewing Company hosted the Schedule Release Party on Thursday, March 28th, 2017. Odell is brewing a special beer for the ACT Film Festival called Screening Sessions IPA!

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The 2nd Annual ACT Human Rights Film Festival will bring 16 films to the CSU campus and the Lincoln Center Theater in Fort Collins, many with filmmakers in attendance. Stay tuned for a Very Important Guest Appearance…to be announced Monday!

The program covers both national and international human rights issues, and includes humor and beauty to sweeten your educational experience. Topics range from the first South Indian female taxi driver (Driving with Selvi) to Tehran’s underground techno scene (Raving Iran), from solitary confinement in American prisons (Solitary) to a flamboyant drag queen in Ireland who fought for marriage equality (Queen of Ireland).

Two documentaries that I recommend are Jackson, a stirring tale of staff and patients in the only abortion clinic in Jackson, MI and What Tomorrow Brings, highlighting how education can change communities in the first all-girls school in a remote Afghan village.

The lively event at Odell brewery was packed on a rainy Spring evening. There were program listings to read through, tickets to be purchased on iPads and live music by the lead singer of The Seers, Brian Collins. There were announcements and trailers and a moving virtual reality short film.

Who Am I  was produced by Blueshoe Media — Kyle Rasmussen (CSU alumni) and Amy Hoeven. The short film immerses you into the encounters of first-generation CSU college students with immigrant high school students from Fort Morgan, CO. I was amazed to learn that there’s been Somalian refugees coming to this conservative town for a decade. It’s a bit of a sweaty (and occasionally, nauseous-inducing) experience once you’ve got the VR headset and headphones on but the VR film is both memorable and thought-provoking. Check it out during the Opening and Closing Night programs.odell-poster2.jpg

Purchase your Festival tickets now! And stay tuned for an exciting announcement on Monday, April 3, 2017! There’s an actor/singer/activist coming to Fort Collins!

 

 

If you’re going to see just 1 Oscar-nominated film…see 5!

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So here we are, almost Academy Awards time…Have you seen all the films? Have you heard the scores? And what’s the difference between Sound Editing and Sound Mixing anyway?

This is an unusual year for me as I haven’t seen all the films but if you asked me which one of the nominated films to see—what would I recommend? My answer may surprise you. I would tell you to go see the Oscar-nominated Live Action Shorts!

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Seeking out shorts!

This doesn’t mean that I think the Best Picture nominations aren’t deserving! I’ll give you a quick run-down of how I’d rate them another time, perhaps. What makes this collection of five films from five countries so remarkable? These gems of great storytelling will move you, inspire you, and make you cry or laugh. They represent a distillation of what makes movies amazing: the craft of storytelling at it’s most focused and assured!  So please, go seek out the Shorts Programs. Many big cities are screening the Oscar-nominated Live Action and Animated Shorts and the Documentary Shorts are also brilliant–though that is a 3-hour program.

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)

  • Ennemis Intérieurs — my least favorite

    Sélim Azzazi

    La Femme et le TGV –what a brilliant poster!

    Timo von Gunten and Giacun Caduff

    Silent Nights — just brilliant and Kim Magnusson’s 6th nominated film!

    Aske Bang and Kim Magnusson

    Sing — great film for the whole family

    Kristof Deák and Anna Udvardy

    Timecode — when you gotta dance!

    Juanjo Giménez

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“Keep On, Keepin’ On”– it should have been the Closing Night film for SDFF37!

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Keep On, Keepin’ On  is an inspiring film about the jazz trumpeter, Clark Terry and his legacy: his mentorship of young jazz musicians.  Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock and Diana Reeves all pay tribute to this wonderful man.  When Australian filmmaker, Alan Hicks began making this film, he’d film for 3 months and then tour as a musician for 3 month to earn enough money to continue.  When he made the decision to return to his home, Hicks was convinced by Clark Terry that he needed to stay in Arkansas and finish telling the story. So he sold his surfboard to finance the airfare to Sundance to find a producer.  There he meet Paula DuPré Pesmen.  She was no stranger to first-time filmmakers having produced both The Cove and Chasing Ice. Together, they embarked on a musical journey that Paula said, “honors the joy of Clark’s enduring spirit”.

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Red carpet at Starz–“Keep On, Keepin’ On”

Alan Hicks had been following the story of Clark Terry’s relationship with young blind protégé, Justin Kauflin.  Both Justin and Dianna Reeves were in Denver for the screening.  Alan Hicks and his wife now live in Denver, something he says, he could never have imagined. “Here”, he says incredulously, “they ski and make movies–and there’s this wonderful film community!”

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Dianna Reeves graces us with her vibrant presence

Introducing "Keep On, Keepin' On" SDFF37

Alan Hicks, Paula DuPré Pesmen and Brit from the Denver Film Society

Keep On, Keepin' On at SDFF37

 

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Justin Kauflin plays piano at the Buell Theater in Denver, CO

Lisa Kennedy from the Denver Post led an animated discussion and then, Justin Kauflin played two piano pieces: one, the theme music he composed for the film, called “Exodus” and the composition he titled, “For Clark”.

Justin has been on tour with Quincy Jones and has recorded an album.  He still speaks weekly with Clark Terry and if he still isn’t confident in “his voice”; Justin knows he’s blessed to have had this wonderful experience with the best mentor anyone could ever hope for. Clark Terry is a jazz legend who links the past with all the jazz greats he played with, to the future, with all the jazz talents he’s trained.

Keep On, Keepin’ On  was awarded the True Grit Award and both screenings were major crowd-pleasers. Too bad the Starz Denver Film Festival decided they needed to program “Like Sunday, Like Rain”, in the hopes of some celebrity attendance that didn’t happen.  They “missed the boat” on having this amazing film, with its local connection, as the feel-good Closing Night film!

 
Keep On Keepin’ On opens at the Sie Film Center December 5! TICKETS

 

What are you going to see at Starz?

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The Denver Film Festival kicks off this Wed, Nov 12th at the Sie Film Center and continues till Nov 23rd.and what a wealth of exciting films, panels and parties!
The printed program is difficult to read: tiny print and chaotic layout with a calendar grid that will make you blind.  Fortunately, the online version is clear and concise.
Here are a few of my favorite films in the program:
The Imitation Game–Sat, Nov 15 @ 8pm
​Sure to be an Oscar-contender for Best Film and for Benedict Cumberbatch–this is a thrilling biopic of Alan Turing, the Brit who broke the Enigma Code in World War II.
Keep on Keepin’ On–Sat, Nov 22 @ 2pm
There have been some wonderful documentaries about music this year and this is a particularly heart-warming film about a famous jazz musician and his blind prodigy.
The Look of Silence–two screenings
Director Joshua Oppenheimer’s companion piece to The Act of Killing (nominated for an Oscar), this documentary follows one man’s emotional journey to find closure by confronting the members of the death squad who killed his brother (and thousands of others) in the Indonesian massacre of the 1960’s.​  Horrifying and heart-rendering.  An amazing work!
Two Days, One Night–multiple screenings
One of the Dardenne brothers most accessible films, Juliette Binoche gives an understated, touching performance as a women who must convince her fellow workers to give up their bonus to save her job.  Simple and brutally-honest.
3 Still Standing–-Mon, Nov 17 @ 3:45 & 9pm
One of my favorite documentaries from the Mill Valley Film Fest, this showcase of three comedians, Will Durst, Larry”Bubbles”Brown and Johnny Steele is a loveable tale of some wickedly funny guys.
See the early show and stay for a stand-up show with the comedians.  It’s a perfect way to experience the film!
There are great documentaries, features and short films with an interesting program of Brazilian cinema, Queer films and a spotlight on Women + Film and Colorado Filmmakers.
I hope to see you at Happy Hour at Henderson’s!
I’ll be holding a Manhattan and trying to decipher my notes scribbled in the dark!

What to do when your town has no movie theater…

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No theater?  No problema.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of movies…oh wait, is film not as important as all that?!

Well, to some of us, movies are right up there – on par with a beer at a local watering hole or dinner out on the town.  But what do you do if your town has no movie theater?  Here in Boulder County, there are a few places with no Cineplex.  Longmont will have an upscale cinema in the new Twin Peaks Mall but until then, both Longmont and the village of Niwot are sans cinema.

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What might seem like an absence is an illusion.  With a little planning and bit of adventure, you’ll find there are plenty of chances to go to the movies.  Libraries, Universities, art galleries and even unexpected venues may have film nights you weren’t aware of—many with films that would never have a chance to screen at a local Cineplex.

Firehouse Art Center in Longmont has hosted Free Film Night on the 1st Friday of the month for the last few years.  I’ve had the pleasure of programming some of the most recent screenings with local documentary films and film festival favorites.  This Friday, November 6, features a filmed live performance of “Rocks Karma Arrows”.  This production by the Motus Theater group recalls the Sand Creek Massacre that happened 20 years ago and how it’s influenced the history of Boulder County.  The screening will be followed with a discussion with the director, Kristen Wilson.  And did I mention…it’s FREE. 7pm, Firehouse Art Center1172785_663452923679966_568692727_o

How about a cinematic vacation in Italy?  With a visit to the CU campus, you can travel with the International Film Series on a comedy road trip with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon on “The Trip to Italy”.  The companion piece to the witty, and often silly, British restaurant tour, “The Trip” (2010), this film is screening Fri and Sat @ 7:30 in Muenzinger Auditorium.  There’s also a lovely German film, “The Strange Little Cat” for those interested in an artful look at chaotic family life by a talented first-time filmmaker—Sun, also 7:30 @ the Muenzinger Auditorium.  $8 general admission.

There are films screened at many public libraries and Longmont has a night for Teens and Tweens they call Longmont Library After Dark! Students in grades 6-12 enjoy pizza, gaming, movies, and an anime club! This is designed to be a drop-off program so please register by calling 303-651-8477.  Participants need to be signed up by noon, Nov 8 to ensure adequate staffing.  For an Oscar-winning documentary, come see “Man on Wire” (2008) Thu, Nov 13 as part of the “Great 21st-Century Documentaries” @ 7:30.  Free, Longmont Library.

We have a few film screens dedicated to art-house and independent film in Boulder County: the Boedecker Theater at the Diary Center for the Arts, Cinearts at the Century Theater in Boulder and there are short films screened before all films at the Cinebarre Theater in Louisville…but did you know that there are screenings at eTown Hall?  This coming week, there is the documentary “Arise” on Nov 11 presented by Global Greengrants Fund focusing on women and the environment and Nov 13 — Best of BIFF Shorts: some of the best short films from 10 year’s of the Boulder International Film Festival.  Both screenings at 7pm at eTown Hall. $10 plus ticket fees.

This is just a smattering of the film offerings in Boulder County.  There’s always something cinematic happening in your ‘hood.  You just need to know where to look!

Did I miss a film listing or a film event in Boulder County for this coming week?

Well, don’t let it happen again!  Email me at 2jillie@gmail.com or post a comment!

“Chef”–cooking up a few misconceptions?

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Two films that I didn’t get around to watching till recently, both featured Twitter.  One film, Frank, featuring Micheal Fassibinder in a plaster of paris head (why would you cover that man’s gorgeous head?), used Twitter as a way for the least-talented band member to create a buzz and a following for the band.  Chef,  written and directed by the lovable Jon Favreau, uses it as a central plot device.  The Chef loses his job over a tweet that he assumes is private but instead goes viral.  The social media tool is used to build a connection between father and son and Twitter also magically drums up business for their new food truck.  I say, magically, because the young son played realistically by Emjay Anthony, manages to create a fan base, send out map coordinates for where the food truck is traveling and posts professional photos all while the young man is learning to be a cook!  It’s an interesting time when the last three movies I’ve seen, all feature social media prominently in their story lines.

Chef is a lovely fairy tale of film.  A work-obsessed man loses his job and must learn to love his son and reinvent himself.  Hardly ground-breaking but setting the action on a food truck and featuring some wonderful actors that aren’t frequently given good roles makes for an enjoyable ride!  John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Sofía Vergara and Oliver Platt all give wonderful performances and it’s fun to see Dustin Hoffman in a juicy part.  My issue with the film is that it is a fairy tale.  Money magically appears to finance the venture, one character quits his job after just being promoted so he can make sandwiches with the chef and love blossoms when you follow your heart.

A friend, and divorce coach, had some good advice to families that might watch this film together.  Mandy Walker writes about Wish Fulfillment in children from separated parents.  And hopefully, anyone who loses their job won’t think that transforming your life doesn’t generally end with an enemy with a pocket-full of cash offering to make your dreams come true…

And can someone tell me what role Amy Sedaris played?  I sure missed her!

Rating: 4 beers, but don’t share them with your son

Bechdel Rating: passes

“Men, Women and Children” — technology and our place in the cosmos

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Sneak peek screening

I love preview screenings.  Especially for a film that will be at the Mill Valley Film Festival for Opening Night when those of us who work don’t usually get in to see the films!

Jason Reitman’s new movie, Men Women & Children is an alarmist’s view of how technology is damaging all of our interpersonal relationships.  There are some stand-out performances by the teenagers in the cast, particularly Ansel Elgort and Kaitlyn Dever as our central pair of technology-crossed lovers.  But I found the casting to be a problem.  Emma Thompson is one of my favorite actors but in this film, we only get to hear her voice.  Adam Sandler and Jennifer Garner are cast against type, and although it’s nice to see actors seeking challenges, the film suffers.  The characters would have been better served had they been portrayed by actor’s with less star power and the weight of audience expectation.

The film goes back and forth trying to show today’s world as inconsequential in the grand scheme of the universe at large.  It does so, ponderously, with lovely shots of planets and a tale of the Voyager satellite and a Carl Sagan quote.  The focus is on the relationships of three families and how technology is driving them apart (gaming, online porn, looking at a phone or through a camera instead of being present) and how important small moments of engagement can be.  Earth is a tiny dot but our connections to one another create our world.

It’s an important message–but the characters behave in ways that stretch credibility.  Men Women & Children posits that teens are vulnerable and they make poor choices, but that parents act just as irresponsibly.  We’re all struggling to find ways to connect, to be intimate and to protect our families.  The orchestrated child-in-peril plot is used for optimal dramatic impact but the hyperbole is justified if Men Women & Children gets conversations started between parents and teens!

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Opening Night MVFF 37

Update: I did get to hear the Q & A for this film at MVFF!

Jason Reitman was like a hip teenager teasing Kaitlyn Dever in the lobby by imitating what she’d sound like if she was in a video game. They had a fun rapport and she later joked that she had to teach him what Snapchat was all about.  “This film is about intimacy, not about the internet” and “I had no idea there were websites to teach you how to be anorexic!” were among the director’s funny comments. It was also interesting to hear about all the work (and expense!) that went into creating the fake porn sites and clickable faux internet for the characters to surf.  We also learned of the extended masturbation scene that was cut so as to not encourage teen boys to try putting whip cream inside a football and warm it in a microwave… There were some grumbles from the exiting festival crowd about the predictability of the dramatic ending and a few people seemed to agree with me with the miscasting (particularly Adam Sandler) but overall, they seemed to have a lot to talk about.  And that’s what good films do…create conversations!

Some good tips on Teens and Social Media from Dave Taylor featured on Christian Toto’s Blog

Rating: 3 Jameson on the rocks, ordered from a hotel bar where your spouse may be cheating on you

Bechdel test: Passes, and hip hip hooray for the rock in the window at the end!