EIFF 2007 Part 6
JOHN WATERS: THIS FILTHY WORLD is simply a film of John Waters' live routine, a kind of biography in the form of stand-up comedy. While there was nothing that left me in tears, there were nevertheless several laugh out loud moments and a lot of amusing anecdotes about his life in (trashy) film. If you find the work of John Waters too offensive or gross this film isn't for you; otherwise, it's worth a viewing.
If stoner comedies are your thing, WEIRDSVILLE may be up your street. Wes Bentley and Scott Speedman are the likable wasters who end up with more trouble than they bargained for when they cross a drug dealer. Missing drugs, a dead body, angry devil worshippers and a whole lot more all collide in a madcap comedy that lives up to its title without being so weird as to alienate. Like the Waters documentary mentioned above, it's not riotously funny but does manage to be consistently amusing with a few very funny highlights.
You'll have heard of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES. I had. Never seen it though; not until it appeared in the Anita Loos retrospective this year, that is. It's an amusing comedy of love and greed but while there are some memorable and deservedly famous songs in it, the film's main strength is in the partnership of Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe. Neither have ever been better, and the pairing is electric.
AND WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER? is a typically miserable British film in which Colin Firth comes to terms with the impending death of his father, a man he has never truly known and at times has simply disliked. It is only towards the end that he discovers his experiences were only the tip of the iceberg and that his family holds a few more secrets. It's an engaging enough film with good performances from the cast (including Jim Broadbent as the titular dad) but its air of bleak depression makes me wonder how likely a candidate it is for revisiting.
Did you see the Russian sci-fi/fantasy epic NIGHT WATCH? Did you like it? If the answer to this is no, then you'll not like the sequel, DAY WATCH, either. If however you were happy to be swept along by the original film's adrenalin rush then this sequel is sure to appeal, with the ante upped in terms of both spectacular action (the stunts and effects are truly mindboggling given the limited budgets involved) and the absolute incoherence of its nonsensical and downright silly plot.
Just one more day from this year's EIFF to be reported on. Back soon!
If stoner comedies are your thing, WEIRDSVILLE may be up your street. Wes Bentley and Scott Speedman are the likable wasters who end up with more trouble than they bargained for when they cross a drug dealer. Missing drugs, a dead body, angry devil worshippers and a whole lot more all collide in a madcap comedy that lives up to its title without being so weird as to alienate. Like the Waters documentary mentioned above, it's not riotously funny but does manage to be consistently amusing with a few very funny highlights.
You'll have heard of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES. I had. Never seen it though; not until it appeared in the Anita Loos retrospective this year, that is. It's an amusing comedy of love and greed but while there are some memorable and deservedly famous songs in it, the film's main strength is in the partnership of Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe. Neither have ever been better, and the pairing is electric.
AND WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER? is a typically miserable British film in which Colin Firth comes to terms with the impending death of his father, a man he has never truly known and at times has simply disliked. It is only towards the end that he discovers his experiences were only the tip of the iceberg and that his family holds a few more secrets. It's an engaging enough film with good performances from the cast (including Jim Broadbent as the titular dad) but its air of bleak depression makes me wonder how likely a candidate it is for revisiting.
Did you see the Russian sci-fi/fantasy epic NIGHT WATCH? Did you like it? If the answer to this is no, then you'll not like the sequel, DAY WATCH, either. If however you were happy to be swept along by the original film's adrenalin rush then this sequel is sure to appeal, with the ante upped in terms of both spectacular action (the stunts and effects are truly mindboggling given the limited budgets involved) and the absolute incoherence of its nonsensical and downright silly plot.
Just one more day from this year's EIFF to be reported on. Back soon!
Labels: Edinburgh Film Festival, Film festivals
posted by Alan at 7:36 pm
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