It’s disheartening when you’re watching a very good movie from a group of people you love, and then as the film reaches its home stretch you can see the wheels slowly coming off. That’s what “Knuckleball” was like. It’s a great idea, and a twisted premise with some great performances, but by the final twenty minutes it gets unnecessarily weird with a twist that feels tacked on and absolutely out of left field. Which is not to say “Knuckleball” is a bad movie, since right up until the final twenty minutes, I’d highly recommend it as a wrenching of the “Home Alone” formula that also kind of feels like a spiritual companion piece to M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Visit.”
Category Archives: Festivals & Events
Female Filmmaker Friday: Tremble All You Want (Katte ni furuetero) (2017) [Fantasia 2018]
A young woman who has never dated lives in her imagination and in memories of the one boy who made her teenage heart flutter. As she tries to reconnect with him, another option opens right in front of her. What will she go for and how will it affect her life?
Directed by Akiko Ohku who also wrote the screenplay based on the novel by Risa Wataya, Tremble All You Want is a sweet story about holding onto the past, looking for what one wants, having standards, and learning to let go. The way to film is built and written is sweet but not overly so, the lead of Yoshika has an active imagination and it adds a big chunk of whimsy to the story and makes it about more than just a girl chasing a boy who may or may not give her a second thought. Some of the scenes have a bit of a feel similar to that of Amelie while not having a similar color palette and shooting style, something that is definitely good in establishing mood but also in establishing the director as doing her own thing here.
Aragne: Sign of Vermillion (2018) [Fantasia 2018]
Saku Sakomoto’s “Aragne” is a real stab at anime horror that embraces its nonsensical story, and never actually delivers a narrative at any point during its run time. “Aragne” is thankfully a merciful hour long film, but one that’s a disorienting, and incoherent experience. And not in the artistic way. More in the realm that Sakomoto seems to have half assed a lot of the film and kind of took it in to the realm where he makes it looks intentional the whole way through.
La nuit a dévoré le monde (2018) [Fantasia 2018]
Overnight, Paris is overrun by zombies. Seemingly, everyone has turned into the undead while Sam slept after a party. As he finds himself alone, he finds ways to survive and not lose him mind.
Most Wanted at Fantasia International Film Festival 2018 [Fantasia 2018]
Fantasia 2018 starts this week! This week!
Kermit arm flailing time, it’s time to get excited and get deciding on what to see. OMG So. Many. Movies. I mean I want to see it all! But this year I cannot go for all the fest, but only a few days, so I will have to make choices, but not just yet, as right now is time to dream. Dream of what I want to see, not just what I can see. Here is, in a totally not scientific way, but a nerdtastic way, the films that have me muppeting all over the place.
A Selection of Shorts from FilmOut San Diego [FilmOut San Diego 2018]
Hookup (USA) (2018)
Adam found a hookup on an app and is going to meet up with him at his place. When he gets there, he is smitten by the man and his great taste. Once things start moving forward to their intended destination, Adam finds himself in a regrettable situation.
A Selection of the Short Film of Toronto True Crime Film Festival [Toronto True Crime Film Festival 2018]
Don’t Be a Hero (USA) (2018)
In this short film by writer/director Pete Lee, Missy Pile plays Lizzi Jo a middle-aged woman living with her mother, working a dead-end job, who robs bank to break her monotonous life every once in a while. In this inspired by a true story film, the storytelling is strong and the acting is on point. The costumes are fun and the way this is all shot is fantastic. The film starts off with synthwave which feels annoying at first, but then becomes a big part of the film and of what helps it feel complete. It’s a short that is potent on emotions and filled with talented people in all positions.