Rubber Sole
August 5, 2014 Leave a comment
A review by Lane J. Lubell of a film that took a special film award at TCFF.
July 30, 2014 Leave a comment
I attended the opening film, which this year was the Spanish language film La Grand Family After a Michael Moore took the stage to welcome the opening to the festival’s 10th year, he offered a touching tribute to his recently deceased father, featuring a compilation of clips of his bit parts in Michael’s movies
. After introducing board members, —- who played —– came out onto the stage to introduce the film, she also returned at its conclusion to take questions. Daniel Sanchez Arevalo, directs a charming tale of a family of five brothers gathered together on the day of the youngest brother’s wedding. If 18 seems a bit young for people to get married, it’s important to understand the film opens with his surprise public proposal which took place in a classroom eight years earlier this s even is not only heartwarmingly cute, serves to provide needed background as well sets in place a critical plot line. The intertwining stories of each family member, reveals the inevitable sibling rivalries but also a few unexpected turns as the wedding ceremony is delayed by the father’s Heath all this occurs on the same day Spain is playing in the final game in the World Cup.
Searching for Sugar Man
May 30, 2014 Leave a comment
I am heart-sick over the news that Malik Bendjelloul, the director whose documentary “Searching for Sugar Man” won an academy award last year, has killed himself. The Swedish film director was just 36 years old and left behind a grieving family that called him a man who “chased the world for stories to tell.”
“Searching for Sugar Man” won major awards from the Oscars to the writers guilds, as well as awards at the Sundance Film Festival. The movie also gave Sugar Man Rodriguez back the life in the spotlight he so richly deserves. He opened my eyes to a great talent who’s music moves me despite me being just 18 yrs old, and I have had the good fortune of being able to see him perform live twice. Once was at a concert, but the first was at the Traverse City Film Festival when he surprised the audience by performing a few songs after the showing of the film “Searching for Sugar Man.”
I also count myself lucky that I got to meet Malik Bendjelloul while working at the festival. I do not understand what drives one to kill them-self, but I saw nothing that game me any insight as to why he would have taken his own life. He was talented, personable modest and kind. His death is a great loss.
Lane J. Lubell
Finding Vivian Maier
April 17, 2014 Leave a comment
I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the Chicago Premier by Jeff Garlin, the executive producer. It was also interesting to get to talk to the directors John Maloof and Charlie Siskel as well as sit through the Q & A after the showing.
I must say this was a story that, as a filmmaker and Chicago resident, is a must see.
Woody Allen addresses allegations
February 14, 2014 Leave a comment
Larry Lubell, Guest writer
Clearly Woody Allen’s decision to begin dating the adopted daughter of his current long-time girlfriend, Mai Farrow, showed uniquely poor judgement. Let me also say that my heart goes out to Dylan Farrow, I do not question that she believes she was molested, but that does not mean the event took place. Sexual assault is a vile crime, and when those actions are against a child they are especially damaging. I defend her right to speak out, as I do her brother’s right to stand by his sister. There is no questions that they both suffered from the events stemming from the ugly divorce battle between their parents.
I will say that I do not believe that Woody Allen ever assaulted his child.
Am I a fan of Allen’s legacy in film- Yes. he is without question one of the greatest writer/directors of all time. That statement has no barring on his guilt or innocence, my conclusion is based on the facts as I understand them.
The act which Dylan Farrow spoke of in her letter claimed, Allen led her to a “dim, closet-like attic” and “then he sexually assaulted me.” That accusation that is at the core of this matter, requires that a nanny named Monica Thompson had lied about Dylan not being out of her sight and quitting her job claiming Mia pressured her to support her claims, and that Mia’s allegations resulted in a criminal investigation and the State selected a team of medical experts, from the Yale-New Haven Hospital, especially trained to find evidence of child sexual assault, who after six months concluded that Dylan had not been molested.
Do a search on “False Memory experiments” and see how easy and common it is to place false memories, the tests are chilling.
This is tricky, in that I have nothing but contempt for child molesters, I also fear a Kafkaesque world where an accusation equals guilt. A world where one must prove the innocence and where even a team of experts declaring no evidence supported your guilt is not sufficient. It is frightening to realize that any of us stand one angry spouse, or disgruntled ex employee away from our lives being destroyed.
Read the article, it does give a significant amount of factual information, then draw your own conclusions.
Golden Globe 2014
January 15, 2014 Leave a comment
Alright! Tonight is the Golden Globes, the award ceremony most notorious for upsets. Let’s see how I fare. (these are predictions, not my own opinions).
Predictions Below. Please Comment!
Best Motion Picture – Drama:
1) 12 Years a Slave
2) Gravity
Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical:
1) American Hustle
2) Her
3) Nebraska
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama:
Globes might say: Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club
Everyone else would say: Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical:
If they choose the funniest: Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street
if they choose the most dramatic: Bruce Dern – Nebraska
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama:
Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock for Gravity is possible but it’s certainly unlikely
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical:
1) Amy Adams – American Hustle
2) Meryl Streep – August: Osage County
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture:
1) Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club
2) Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture:
1) Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave
2) Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle
Best Director:
1) Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity
2) Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave
Best Screenplay (Hardest category):
1) Eric Warren Singer & David O. Russell – American Hustle
2) Spike Jonze – Her
3) John Ridley – 12 Years a Slave
Best Animated Feature:
FROZEN!!!!!
Best Original Score:
1) Steven Price – Gravity
2) Hans Zimmer – 12 Years a Slave
Best Original* Song:
1) Let it Go (Demi Levatto) – Frozen
2) Please Mr. Kennedy (Justin Timberlake, T-Bone Burnett, Ed Rush & George Cromarty, and Joel & Ethan Coen) – Inside Llewyn Davis*
3) Sweeter than Fiction (Taylor Swift) – One Chance
* not really original
Best Foreign Language Film
1) Blue is the Warmest Color
2) The Great Beauty
3) The Wind Rises
Let Me also just state that I am rooting for Behind the Candelabra, House of Cards, and Parks & Recreation
Dallas Buyers Club
November 13, 2013 Leave a comment
This is my newest review. I saw this film Saturday night and was quite impressed.
Read review for
Don Jon, Review
October 4, 2013 Leave a comment
Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt),a 20 something bartender, opens the movie by listing those things that he values most, his car, his family, his church, and the unending stream of women he picks up in bars. He seems so successful at these conquests that the His two friends, that routinely accompany him, nick-named him “Don Jon.” Despite his ability to reliably attract “10s” into his bed each weekend; it is his obsession to watching porn that he tells us is his real climax.
Read Review
Cockneys VS Zombies
August 8, 2013 Leave a comment
No one could ever accuse this film of false pretenses, the name clearly describes both its plot as well as the tone.
Review Cockneys VS Zombies.
cinemashadow 