Movies – Page 2 – Just Giblets

May 9, 2014

Little Seen Film of the Day – Hollow Reed

HOLLOW REED is a tough, British, family drama from 1996 about child abuse. Oliver lives with his mother Hannah, and her boyfriend Frank. He still spends time with his father, Martyn, a general practitioner, who becomes suspicious of Frank after Oliver suffers a series of mysterious injuries which he cannot adequately explain. Eventually, Martyn is convinced of Frank’s abuse, despite Oliver’s silence, and Hannah’s refusal to believe such a thing, and he begins legal proceedings to obtain sole custody. At this point, Hannah’s lawyer brings up Martyn’s gay relationship with Tom to prove that he is an unsuitable father figure.

Director Angela Pope brings up a lot of tough and frustrating issues in this well-constructed film written by Neville Bolt and Paula Milne. Hal Hartley alum, Martin Donovan, is remarkable, British accent and all, as Martyn, a role quite unlike what he’d played to that point. The rest of the cast, including Joley Richardson, Ian Hart and Jason Flemyng are all outstanding, especially young Sam Bould as Oliver, whose stoic, silence is powerfully offset by the hurt, fear, and confusion in his eyes. It’s unfortunate that Pope’s filmmaking career didn’t go much further than this powerful film.

May 8, 2014

Little Seen Film of the Day – Suspicious River

This Canadian drama directed by Lynne Stopkewich (who made another great little seen film, KISSED) was based on a novel by Laura Kasischke. It’s a harrowing tale of sexual dysfunction and violence centered on Leila, the hotel desk clerk of a remote roadside hotel. Leila offers the hotel customers sex in exchange for money, and through this activity she meets Gary, who gets pretty rough with her during their first encounter. When he returns to apologize, she accepts, finding that she enjoys being roughed up during sex. Through a series of events, Leila and Gary grow closer, and her trust in him grows.

Leila’s only confidante is a young girl who plays around the inn. This girl comes from a difficult family life and Leila is drawn to her. As the film spirals to its intense climax, hidden secrets are revealed and Leila finds herself in deadly danger. A revelation from her past shines light on her recent destructive behavior and she must fight for her life.

Stopkewich tackles pretty heave subject matter, and the film’s star, Molly Parker shows in this early film in her career, that she’s not afraid to tackle yet another taboo subject. She turns in a powerful performance in this surreal and difficult film.

May 7, 2014

Little Seen Film of the Day: Jellyfish

JELLYFISH won the Golden Camera, and the Screenwriter’s Award at Cannes in 2007 when I saw it at the Toronto International Film Festival, but it was little seen here in the States. The theme of JELLYFISH is disappointment. There are three central stories in JELLYFISH, involving three young women living in Israel. All three of these women have suffered severe disappointments, the first years ago during her childhood, another just a day ago at her wedding. Batya lives alone in a rundown apartment, working as a waitress for a wedding caterer and continuously being overlooked by her parents. Joy is a Filipina domestic who doesn’t speak Hebrew and is trying to raise enough money to return to the Philippines to be with her young son. Keren is just married to Michael, but their honeymoon has been curtailed after she ends up in a cast at an embarrassing accident at their reception. The three women’s stories intersect at various points of the film, and it isn’t until the conclusion that the theme of the film unfolds.

Directors Geffen and Keret employ gentle magical reslism, most notably in the form of a mysterious little girl who appears from out of the sea to Batya and leads her without speaking to a path of realization. To tell anymore of the plot would surely take away from the enjoyment of watching things play out while enjoying the film. This is a delightful film, worthy of the accolades it has already achieved, and definitely worth the time of anyone to see it.

May 6, 2014

Little Seen Film of the Day: Colma: The Musical

A charming if somewhat amateurish indie musical that tells the coming-of-age stories of three teenagers recently graduated from high school living in Colma, CA. Billy, Rodel and Maribel are facing the challenges of young adulthood, and chasing their dreams. Billy aspires to be a performer, and auditions for the regional musical where he meets a college student named Tara, who is also an aspiring actor. Rodel is being raised by a single parent and is struggling with how to tell his father that he is gay. Maribel just can’t figure out what to do with her life. When Billy’s ambitions threaten to tear the three friends apart, all three must re-assess and find away to move on.

With its micro-budget and low production values, COLMA: THE MUSICAL is a tiny movie, but it has a really big heart. The musical numbers are strong. COLMA is the debut film by Filipino-American H.P. Mendoza, who stars, co-wrote the screenplay, and wrote all the music and lyrics. Director Richard Wong also co-wrote the film. There aren’t a lot of films out there telling the Asian-American experience, and it’s nice to see one that is so fresh and accessible. The film is far from perfect, but it’s a lot of fun and worth a screening.

May 5, 2014

Little Seen Film of the Day – Blues for Willadean

BLUES FOR WILLADEAN is not a perfect film – far from it. However it’s got heart, it tells an important story that will resonate strongly with some, and it features amazing performances from three spectacular women that make a viewing worthwhile no matter what you think of the film as a whole. Beth Grant is a fantastic character actor known for her comedic appearances in such films as DONNIE DARKO, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and most recently on the television show, “The Mindy Project.” It’s incredibly rare to see Beth in a leading role, and a dramatic leading role to top things off. And it’s wonderful to see. Beth is a real talent, and she gets to show her stuff in this tough role for which she won all sorts of awards on stage. Backed by Octavia Spencer and Dale Dickey, this is one power trio that knows how to infuse a movie with heart and soul.

Willadean is the wife of a blue collar truck driver, who attempts to escape the abusive prison she is trapped in. She dreams of one day getting a job, supporting herself and reuniting with her son who has escaped to live his own life. Her neighbor and best friend LaSonia does what she can, but as is often the case with domestic abuse, it is difficult to interfere, but with her own experiences with domestic violence driving her, LaSonia can’t stand by and do nothing. Then there is new neighbor, Rayleen, who is the catalyst for Willadean’s final rebellion. The three women, as well as Willadean’s husband, J.D. portray the different aspects of abuse with chilling truth. But Shores wisely infuses the dark tale with plenty of humor, and it is those scenes of humor, that also show the women bonding, that are really powerful stuff.