Many of you know Michael Moore the Academy-Award-winning film-maker and progressive writer and commentator.
Over the past six years I've gotten to know Michael Moore the movie buff by attending the Traverse City Film Festival. TCFF is about "just great movies" and brings the best independent, foreign and undistributed films to Northern Michigan. TCFF is six days of film fans enjoying movies, talking about them in line, and mingling with film-makers and the occasional celebrity.
TCFF just wrapped up this week, and I've posted a mini-review of the films I saw after the jump. I had to leave the festival early for a family event, but I did catch 11 movies in the 2+ days. I usually see 18-20 movies, but I was very happy with the ones I saw.
The festival web site is here.
Everything Must Go
Will Ferrell brings his serious acting chops to portray a down-on-his-luck alcoholic salesman who, in the course of one day, loses his job and returns home to discover that his wife has left him, thrown all his belongings on the front lawn, and changed the locks. With nowhere to go, he turns the front lawn into a recliner shantytown that eventually becomes a yard sale of epic proportions. This Raymond Carver suburban pastoral is an unforgettable gem that’s heartbreaking and heartwarming.
I liked this movie a lot, although it was darker than I expected. I think this has been in theaters already, but I missed it first time around.
Bride Flight
Inspired by the historic air race from London to Christchurch, this lush period drama follows the destinies of three women who become friends en route from dreary postwar Holland to New Zealand, and whose lives are forever changed by a their encounter with a handsome bachelor named Frank. The most expensive Dutch film ever made, this epic romance from director Ben Sombogaart features gorgeous photography and a rare cameo from Rutger Hauer.
I loved this movie. Part of my motivation for seeing it was because it was set in New Zealand, but I fell in love with the characters and the story. It was a fairly complex story with three major character arcs, but it held my attention throughout.
Romantic Anonymous
Pathologically timid Jean-René owns a failing chocolate factory on the brink of bankruptcy, and he’s just as unlucky in his love life. But the answers to his business and personal prayers are answered when the equally shy but gifted chocolatière Angélique summons up the courage to apply for a post at Jean-René’s factory. Unexpected sparks fly as the terminally abashed pair must overcome their social anxiety disorders to find a fairy-tale romance.
Loved this one too. So cute and well done. We cleaned out all the chocolate at the snack bar after this movie, though, so if you see it, be warned that you will crave chocolate after seeing this wonderful movie.
The Women on the 6th Floor
In this breezy French period comedy of manners, stodgy Parisian stockbroker Jean-Louis Joubert is trapped in a boring bourgeois existence and an unhappy marriage. But after Jean-Louis gets acquainted with the lively group of Spanish maids who have moved into the sixth floor servants’ quarters of his building, he rediscovers his joie de vivre. Following a particularly nasty spat with his neurotic spouse, Jean-Louis seeks refuge on the sixth floor, where the spirited Spaniards help give him a new outlook on life.
Another winner. I had a teeny quibble when Jean-Louis went to Mass, but this was a funny, warm movie.
The Trip
This latest work by acclaimed director Michael Winterbottom is part foodie road movie, part mockumentary and part celebrity impression showcase, with a healthy smattering of buddy rivalry thrown into the mix. Actors Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon embark on a tour of the most impressive eateries in the north of England, sparring over plates of scallops, and engaging in impromptu competitive impersonations of the likes of Michael Caine, Al Pacino and Woody Allen in this bitingly clever film, which packs the punch of a surprisingly introspective drama to boot.
I liked this movie, but it was about 15 minutes too long. Some of the sequences dragged out just a little too much, so they could have been more tightly edited. I did crave scallops after the movie, though!
Steve Coogan was great.
We ride at 10:300-ish! (You have to see the movie to get this line).
Trophy Wife
This colorful farce abounds with French cinema legends, class conflict and plenty of feathered hairdos. Suzanne (Catherine Deneuve), the middle-aged wife of an umbrella factory manager, has always been considered a potiche: a silent symbol of her husband’s prestige. But when the man of the house is taken hostage by his workers, Suzanne steps in to run the family business—and astonishes everyone by being extraordinarily good at it. This tribute to ‘70s women’s lib from acclaimed director François Ozon is a true delight.
Catherine Deneuve was marvelous in this movie, which I really liked.
The Princess of Montpensier
Acclaimed director Bertrand Tavernier’s latest opus is a ravishing romantic swashbuckler set in 16th century France against the backdrop of the Catholic/Protestant wars. At the center of the drama, the charming and intelligent Marie de Mézières has ensnared the hearts of France’s nobles, including the dashing, rakish Henri de Guise and his rival Philippe de Montpensier. Passions flare and swords cross as Marie’s romantic web unravels in this intelligent, updated twist on the costume drama genre.
This was a great costume drama, but parts of the story were too jumpy – the pieces didn’t always fit together. I never sympathized with Marie and men would instantly fall in love with her, which wasn’t believable.
Being Elmo
Each year, the festival offers films that surprise—movies you’ll find yourself telling friends about. This year, your heart will be stolen by this cross-generational, audience-award–winning delight, in which you’ll meet the creative genius behind the worldwide superstar “Elmo,” Kevin Clash. This rare look behind the scenes of the magical world of the Muppets will have you leaving the theater wanting to hug someone. In person: Kevin Clash, Director Constance Marks
This was GREAT. Many members of the film team were in attendance, and they were so enthusiastic about Elmo, it was catching. Kevin Clash is a wonderful person, which transfers to his character Elmo.
Trollhunter
In the Norwegian countryside, a series of unexplained bear poaching incidents lead a trio of plucky film students to the mysterious hunter Hans: the one man charged with keeping the country’s troll population in check. Armed with an arsenal of UV lights and a tricked-out jeep, they set out to document just exactly what “wildlife preservation” means in Norway. Director André Øvredal’s monster movie is a rare treat: a riveting and rollicking ride that combines a deadpan Scandanavian comedic sensibility with
classic creature feature thrills.
This was the best of the midnight horror movies. Really well done, and the writers definitely knew their troll legends.
Deadheads
Meet Mike. Mike is dead. In fact, he’s a zombie. And with the help of his similarly zombified friend Brent, Mike’s about to set on a road trip to win back the love of his, um, life. This hilarious and action-packed zom-com, described as the “Ferris Bueller” of zombie flicks, follows the undead duo as theybtrek across the country to Michigan (where the film was shot), all the while being hotly pursued by a group of ruthless bounty hunters. Plenty of gory horror action and an equal amount of laughs make this
the perfect midnight flick.
I really, really wanted to like this movie, but could not. We were not told why Mike and Brent are different from the other zombies, and while we eventually figured out why Mike was able to keep his mind, Brent was a complete mystery. There was a super-silly girl with a fake squeaky voice who appeared at random intervals, and we never knew why she was around.
Habanastation
Cuban director Ian Padrón presents his first feature-length film as “a fictional story about reality.” Tracing the lives of two Cuban classmates with contrasting lives, Padrón follows a privileged student who wanders blind into the dangers of Carlos’ neighbourhood, La Timba. What follows is an unforgettable journey of friendship and inspirational discovery. Featuring members of the internationally renowned children’s theater company, LaColmenita, Padrón’s stylistic feature is guaranteed to warm the heart.
Best movie I saw. Warm, funny, enlightening, and really well written and acted. Many of us contributed $5, $10 or whatever to help the director finish this movie, and it’s doing very well in Cuba. There are people in Hollywood who are working to find a distributor in the US, so hopefully many others can see it.
There's another story about Habanastation. Last year, Michael brought several Cuban filmmakers to the festival with five or six of their movies. Everyone loved them, and during one of the post-movie Q&A, we all learned that Ian Padron had a movie that was nearly finished, but he needed $10,000 to complete it. Michael put out a challenge for TCFF fans to contrbute the money, and he matched a portion of it. We raised the money in less than a month, mostly in $5 and $10 donations, and this is the movie that we "financed". If this movie gets a US distributor, please see it, and stay through all the credits. You'll see a thank-you that brought the crowd to its feet; one to the people of Traverse City and TCFF.