Tag: Sarasota Film Society

Shortcomings, a discussion provoking film

Randall Parks full length directorial debut, Shortcomings (based on a graphic novel by Adrian Tomine was a fine, intriguing watch for me. Listening to a podcast this morning unpacking the film, the trio kept referring to the main character, played by After Yang’s Justin H. Min as an incel. Like a healthy Buddhist, I’m not… Continue reading Shortcomings, a discussion provoking film

Theater Camp, Fire Comedy (as the kids say)

Theater Camp was a perfect comedic film. Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman and Noah Galvin have written a model script with deadpan humor and heart. The former two directed the film and let’s hope this trio will be the next Christopher Guest in creating a string of mockumentary style comedies. In this case, the title explains… Continue reading Theater Camp, Fire Comedy (as the kids say)

Filling in the Film Holes re. Two Past Mammoth Films

Time Magazine just released another of their polls, “the best movies from every decade”. I had some holes in my film files, so just like summer construction, it was time to fill in some potholes. I rented Brian De Palma’s Blowout with John Travolta and a very young and too believably creepy John Lithgow. Dennis… Continue reading Filling in the Film Holes re. Two Past Mammoth Films

Past Lives, Present Jives, Imbalance Thrives

*Fair Warning: Spoilers are here, breaking my promise, but just this once: Day Two of ponderings (with gratitude toward @Filmspotting for helping nudge me to my current feeling for the film). My reaction and thought process about the film Past Lives has changed like phases of the moon. So it’s appropriate that today’s Super Moon… Continue reading Past Lives, Present Jives, Imbalance Thrives

It Ain’t Over; I Sure Hope Not

It Ain’t Over is a touching documentary written and directed by Sean Mullin. I fought back tears several times and credit Yogi Berra’s gorgeous life story most, but Sean Mullin assuredly spun the tale in a very entertaining way. Mostly through excellent old films and news clippings, Mullin uses Berra’s beautiful granddaughter as the springboard… Continue reading It Ain’t Over; I Sure Hope Not

Master Gardener: Suffocating the Seeds

I really wanted to love Master Gardener, Paul Schrader’s third film of the ‘man in a room trilogy’, primarily because of my polar opposite experiences of the first two. I ADORED First Reformed and was fully on board with his messaging of environmental concerns, religious hypocrisy and oppression and of course the phenomenal performances of… Continue reading Master Gardener: Suffocating the Seeds

Madame: Collette & Keitel

Madame is a homework movie I watched for my upcoming talk on Mafia Mamma on April 14th at Burns Court Theater. Madame is written and directed by Amanda Sthers who also wrote Mafia Mamma. Reading her book Holy Lands (also turned into a film), I’m fully understanding her style, whimsically moving. Madame never made it… Continue reading Madame: Collette & Keitel

Emily, Smothering Heights

Emily, written and directed by Golden Globe nominated actress Frances O’Connor, is an inventive tale based on the life of Emily Bronte. For a first time directorial debut, Emily is quite stunning despite its Victorian age setting. Let’s face it, first love stories have been done to death, so for O’Connor to come up with… Continue reading Emily, Smothering Heights

Living: Many Intimate Moments

Living, a film based on a previous 1952 film by legendary cinema giant Kurosawa was written by Nobel Prize winning author Ishiguro. A creation of such origin was bound to be special and Living, while not a perfect 10, certainly contains many gorgeous moments. Realize that gorgeous doesn’t necessarily mean positive evocative emotions, as some… Continue reading Living: Many Intimate Moments