Austin Film Festival 2013 Day#3

The day started with a spellbinding doc ICEBOUND about a relay of men and dogs fighting incredible terrain in sub zero weather to bring a vaccine to children in Nome Alaska.  Makes you fall in love with dogs and the collaboration of Americans in 1925! Next film was 120 DAYS about a man's last days in Rauleigh N.C. with his family before he's deported to Mexico.  He was stopped at a light by a cop who set this horrendous separation in motion by profiling. I sobbed audibly when he left his family.  The Q&A with the filmmaker and the Spanish speaking photographer was so informative and sensitive to the family. The last film was a terror/horror film THE MAID'S ROOM which had potential.  Scary moments but an overall meh!  Shorts finally tomorrow and a table read of Vince Gilligan's new script with a reading by the talented Paula Brooks. 

Austin Film Festival 2013 Day #2

This morning THE LIFE AND CRIMES of DORIS PAYNE, a well made documentary about an elegant and notorious jewel thief in her 80's was a great way to start the day. I learned a great deal about stealing jewelry. The short that opened the show THE REHEARSAL was an adorable film of a magician rehearsing in his side show theater in Coney Island.  We then walked back over the river to The Rollins to see John Tuturro's campy and zany musical, ROMANCE AND CIGARETTES, starring James Gandolfini, Susan Sarnadon and Steve Buscemi. Christopher Walken has a cameo as well. Tuturro and Buscemi are Park Slopers where lots of the film was shot. There's lots of humor, very well cast and Sarandon gave a thoughtful and intelligent Q&A about the film and her craft.  This evening we just came from Texas Spirit theater where we saw LITTLE HOPE WAS ARSON, a documentary about the burning churches of East Texas and the investigation that followed to solve the crime.  While we have heard much about East Texas since moving here, this film was a great glimpse into the social fabric of this area.  An informative Q&A followed with the first time filmmaker and the ATF guy who solved the crime (lone star boots kind of guy).  Waiting on lines, talking to film lovers from all over and giving hugs to UT RTF kids working as crew and volunteers makes this such a great event.

Austin Film Festival 2013 Day #1

I just love picking up our film passes at The Driskill, feeling the energy and anticipation of so many film lovers and creative writers and wannabe filmmakers who come to town to participate in this film festival.  I never mind all of the walking we do as we leave our car south of the River and run back and forth between theaters.  And now that we're here 4 years I just love running into all of the filmmakers and film lovers I've come to know.  I never mind waiting on line for an hour because the conversation is always so exciting.  Our picks today were quintessential NYC films.  No problems being seated at The STATE Theater or The Rollins.  The first film PUTZEL about a family's connection to a smoked fish store was heartfelt and amusing.  Wonderful memories for me the daughter of a smoked fish grocer.  Then we saw JACK, JULES, ESTHER and ME with a wonderful Q&A with the director, a private tutor of rich kids in NYC.  He captures the world of adolescents, both rich and ethnic working class in their unique worlds beautifully.  Tonight was a ride through NYC with some delightful films. And delightful conversations.

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

Of course one cannot say enough about  Tom Hanks' performance.  He plays the "everyman" so naturally, respectfully and with enormous grace.  His humility and inner power comes shining through throughout this well shot film.  What I liked the best about this film (other than his performance) was the surprising story.  While the SEALS are presented as bigger than life hulks with brains (about rescue missions) had it not been for Captain Phillips' extraordinary bravery and personal choices we might have seen a different outcome.  To be able to fend off the gunshot from khat chewing terrorists who are crazed beyond belief required enormous survival tactics.  It was Captain Phillips who saved the day.  Do not miss this!

What Would Never Happen In New York #3

I would never ever be in a promo video for NYC Ballet.

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Short Term 12/Violet Crown

Anyone who has worked in a group home or residential treatment center with kids knows how this work changes you forever.  You will never ever assume that the world is a neutral place where kids grow up and can make the best of it.  You will have your eyes opened to the atrocities that occur within families and the evil that comes to fall on innocent kids.  The kids present you with so  much anger, mistrust, and  constant provocation and have such a hard time letting you get close. There are glimpses and moments of true affection.  But watch out.  Right after that moment they might steal money from you and you'll be pissed off again.  Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Short Term 12, spent two years working in a group home and has done a fine job of bringing you into that world.  So often the staff are young and idealistic just like I was in a group home for runaways in the Lower East Side of Manhattan many years ago. I come to films like this with a critical eye and Brie Larson and John Gallagher Jr. offer honest and gripping performances as the workers/lovers in this residence.  Keith Stanfield as an about to be aged out resident offers a wonderful performance as a brooding thoughtful and very hurt young man.  There is an original music score, fine photography and an important story to be told here.  Highly recommend this film to anyone interested in expanding their view of what happens in families.

Cutie and the Boxer/Violet Crown

We both loved this beautiful documentary shot in NYC for many reasons.  It portrays an 80y.o. man and his 59 y.o. wife as energetic, adorable, full of life with passion and strong opinions, and love of their art making careers.  Zachary Heinzerling shows us an imperfect marriage of 40 years whose foundation has persevered because of a wife's endurance.  We see a man whose desire to acclaim fame turns him into a narcissistic alcoholic who remains creatively productive, albeit an inadequate husband and parent.   I found this film exhilarating  because of it's honesty and more selfishly because I love and need to see older people living their lives free of all of the stereotypes we so often associate with older people.  There are no walkers, complaints about pain or non-visiting children. This is a beautiful portrayal of what happens in a marriage when people remain committed. More, more, more films like this say I.  Please?