Dir. Danny Boyle
B
This is hardly the type of endearing and charming film one would expect from the director of “Shallow Grave,” “Trainspotting,” and “28 Days Later.” While the set up is typical Boyle—putting everyday people in extraordinary circumstances and revealing their true motives—there are no killer roommates, zombies or heroin addicts. Rather, the protagonists are two young brothers, Damian Cunningham (Alex Etel), the youngest of the brothers who daydreams of saints and Anthony (Lewis McGibbon), a grade school student well-versed in the art of the deal. Having recently lost their mother, the boys have relocated to a brand new housing development with their father, Ronnie (James Nesbitt). The day they arrive, a bag of money literally drops from the sky and into their lives. The movie chronicles the evils (and joys) that money tends to bring out in people. Charming and sweet, the film escapes being too precious, and settles just right with its subtle integrity and hilarious wit. While it may be a bit too subtle for the typical American audience (as it is lacking a high body count or indestructible superheroes) it’s definitely worth the full price of admission. —Brittany D Friesner
Dir: Darren Grant D- |
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There is no doubt director and native Seattleite Darren Grant is talented. He has built a career around directing hip hop videos and has recently gone on tour as “Medea,” a hilarious big, crazy, gun-toting black woman. This character even appears in his latest film, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” but unfortunately Medea’s presence doesn’t make much sense in this incredibly sappy (and poorly written) love story. The highly predictable script goes nowhere and is entirely too long—try 118 minutes of pure pain. Oh, and then there are the Christian undertones, which I won’t even go in to. The only saving grace is Grant’s acting. He plays three different characters in the film, which leaves me to believe, he should focus more on acting and humor, and less on the dramatic screenplays. —Karla Esquivel
Dir. Petra Epperlein & Michael Tucker B |
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TOne of the most remarkable things about this documentary is that it doesn’t preach to its audience. Presented in a non-partisan manner, the film allows for the audience to draw its own conclusions. The footage follows American soldiers of the 2/3 Field Artillery, a group known as the “Gunners,” residing in one of Uday Hussein’s bombed out, former residences. These soldiers are shown doing their daily duties—checking carelessly tossed garbage bags for possible explosives, doing routine intelligence follow-up by raiding suspected bomb-makers’ houses and even visiting a local orphanage. Some scenes are difficult to watch, but the viewer is spared from any gratuitous violence. Most shots make an impact simply for their ordinariness—the boredom and repetition that come from keeping the peace and trying to rebuild a nation who, for the most part, doesn’t want help. The work is intense, but also slow and steady, done by many who are outside of their hometown for the first time in their lives. What you don’t see on the nightly television news is the soldier’s perspective. We all talk about educating ourselves on what is happening in Iraq to our men and women in service. Well, here is your chance. —Brittany D Friesner
Dir. Dan Harris
A-
Imaginary Heroes" shows the fragile lives of a family torn apart after the eldest brother (and star athlete) takes his own life. As in any family, there are elements of dysfunction and secrets, yet first-time director Dan Harris celebrates these. At the center of the story is Tim (Emile Hirsch), the youngest brother and black sheep of the family who carries around a mysterious sketchbook he chooses to share with no one. He has a rather odd relationship with his mother Sandy (Sigourney Weaver), who talks openly with her son as if he’s her best friend. His father (Jeff Daniels) also medicates himself with a variety of prescription drugs and deals with the death of his son by simply dropping out. Like pieces of a puzzle, the dark family secrets are tantalizingly revealed. The script, laced with dark humor, is sensational. And the cinematography should not be forgotten; Harris creates scenes (especially the character’s drug-induced ones) to look like a psychedelic painting, making “Imaginary Heroes” a cinematic work of art. —Karla Esquivel