FARMAGEDDON (Directed by Kristin Canty…90 min…Unrated)
Documentary cinema is an eye-opening art form, but lately, a slew of provocative docs about health and U.S. agriculture, such as Food, Inc. and Vegucated, make you want to live in a cave and escape from the all-consuming reach of Big Brother. Director and producer Kristin Canty’s documentary Farmageddonlooks at agribusiness in the U.S. and how it employs government agencies to harass small, independent farmers at the expense of us, the consumers.
The mother of four, Canty discovered that consuming raw milk from grass fed cows aided her then four-year-old son Charlie who suffered from allergies and asthma growing up. She later became horrified that farmers and consumers were getting raided around the country for doing the exact same thing, so she set out to make a movie about it.
The raw milk, which is un-pasteurized milk, contains healthy bacteria and enzymes that are missing in so many of the foods we consume everyday. “I cautiously gave my son the raw milk, and his allergies and asthma eventually diminished until he was fully cured,” Canty said. “Charlie is now fifteen. He is six feet tall, an amazing athlete, and doesn’t even sniffle.”
The aptly titled film is an eye-opening wake-up call about how the USDA and FDA have secretly waged war on America’s small farmers, including raids on local raw milk providers such as Rawesome Foods in Venice Beach, and Healthy Family Farms in Ventura County who doesn’t sell raw milk publicly but privately to Rawesome Foods. Yet the authorities entered their premises guns blazing as if they were seizing a dangerous crack house.
“I decided I needed to tell this story,” Canty explained. “My goal was to let these honest farmers using centuries old farming practices tell their side of the [story]. Farmageddon is in no way meant to convince anyone to drink raw milk, or eat grass fed beef, but rather an argument to allow those that want to make those choices to do so. It is simply about freedom of food choice. The government needs to stop harassing small farmers, private food buying clubs and co-ops. Without food freedom, we are not free.”
The hoops that government agencies make the small farmers jump through helps explains why so many times “healthier” food options are so expensive. Luckily, the film serves to put policymakers and regulators on notice that there is a growing movement of people aware that their freedom to choose the foods they want is in danger, a movement that is taking action with its dollars and its voting power to protect and preserve the dwindling number of family farms that are struggling to survive.
Actress Elizabeth OIsen, younger sister to the famous Olsen twins, made quite a splash in Hollywood with her debut performance in the psychological drama Martha Marcy May Marlene. Well, her follow-up role as the lead in Silent House is also impressive, even if the film may slightly fall victim to the dreaded sophomore jinx.
A dark and disturbing indie horror film (click here to see it’s creepy teaser site), the plot follows a girl and her father trapped inside their lakeside home, unable to escape as events become increasingly ominous in and around the house. Directed by filmmakers Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, who last brought us 2003’s extremely disturbing Open Water, Silent House is a remake of La Casa Muda (The Silent House), a 2010 horror film from Uruguay directed by Gustavo Hernández. Both Silent House films were shot time in one continuous take, without any edits or cuts, ala Alfred Hitchcock’s 1948 film Rope. Where Olsen’s character goes, the camera follows, and so does the audience as she tries to make sense of memories from her past and the mysterious figure stalking her.
“We were really excited about the idea of doing something in a single shot,” said director Kentis. “For a filmmaker, that is big - taking on a new challenge like this and telling a story in this way. You don’t get many chances to do something like that.”
Once committed to the project, the duo began to deviate from the original film. Lau took on writing duties and began intensive research after seeing La Casa Muda. “The original was based on a true story that took place in the 1940s in a village in Uruguay,” Lau explained. “There was this house and three bodies were found mutilated and incest was involved. The first question I asked myself is what happened, who was involved and why? This film is actually a portrait of a woman trapped in trauma. Telling this particular story in one continuous shot really made it possible to be intimately bound to Sarah's damaged experience of reality and her terror. Shooting in real time actually allowed us to play with time and memory in a way that corresponded with Sarah’s fragmented realities.”
Star Elizabeth Olsen agreed the inclusion of a continuous shot device added an extra, hopefully invisible layer to the type of scares audiences are accustomed to and are achieved through editing. “It’s a new way of creating those jumps, like, what you would get cutting to a door slamming, or seeing curtains over an open window blowing, or cutting to a girl screaming. We just don’t use those editing devices and I find that exhilarating. I don’t think people are going to pick up on the fact there are no cuts or that it’s all just one take. People don’t think twice about that, they’re just into it. What’s special is that this is a whole new way of storytelling.”
With a solid performance by Olsen and a great look and feel created by the husband and wife filmmakers, Silent House has the makings of a fantastic horror film, destined to be a cult favorite, except for the fact the film falls flat during the third and final act. Whereas Open Water was a one-take home movie horror film that built in tension leaving you worried about what would happen, Silent House feels as though it opted for the easy and tired Hollywood ending, which we’ve seen before and never enjoy. The ending was actually reshot after the Sundance Film Festival and it would be extremely interesting to see what the original ending was supposed to be. The plays like a good ride but without the big payoff it deserves.
CHECK OUT THE TRAILER FOR CHRISTIAN BALE’S
NEW EPIC FILM ‘THE FLOWERS OF WAR’
Check out the new theatrical trailer of internationally acclaimed director Zhang Yimou's new film The Flowers of War starring Christian Bale and introducing Ni Ni.
A Wrekin Hill Entertainment film, The Flowers of War tells an epic story of love and sacrifice. Directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou (Raise the Red Lantern, Hero, House of the Flying Daggers), the film is set during the Japanese invasion of China and is told from a young girl's point of view, not as a history lesson, but as an intimate, elemental and paradoxically universal celebration of the human spirit.
Bale stars as a dissolute Westerner who seeks refuge in a Catholic Church. There he meets a beautiful Chinese courtesan who helps him rescue a group of schoolgirls from a terrible fate at the hands of the Japanese. The film represents one of China's most ambitious productions, involving the recreation of 1937 Nanking built from scratch over a one-year period and the collaboration of one of Hollywood's most sought after leading men in Bale.
The film opens December 23 in Los Angeles and San Francisco for a one-week qualifying run, and will open across the country in late winter 2012.
RED Summit Entertainment – 111 min; Rated PG-13
Who says the action film genre is only for the young? If The Expendables taught us anything, it’s that the geriatric crowd can kick as too. And in Red, they do just that.
When his idyllic life is threatened by a high-tech assassin, former black-ops agent Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) reassembles his old team in a last ditch effort to survive. An explosive action-comedy, the film stars Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren as the retired, extremely dangerous (hence “red”) former CIA agents. The team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into CIA headquarters where they uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.
Loaded with action and laughs, it’s refreshing to see the older crowd blow things up. Hands down, this is a fun film loaded with action and laughs. This is one of those films that appeals to just about everybody, action buffs, comedy lovers, and it’s even OK as ‘date night’ material.
The premise for Buriedis quite simple, Paul Conroy, a U.S. contractor working in Iraq, is kidnapped and is being held for ransom. The problem is that he’s being detained in a coffin buried underground. With only a cell phone and a flashlight, desperation consumes him to get rescued before he runs out of oxygen.
You might think that a film with one sole character, trapped in a coffin would get old really fast, or be too claustrophobic to watch, but surprisingly that’s not the case. Starring hunky Ryan Reynolds, the actor delivers a very impressive performance and proves there’s more to his talents than meets the eye. The film, directed by Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Cortés, is very powerful and extremely suspenseful.
Played out in real time, the stakes are high and, literally, there’s never a dull moment in this Hitchcock-like thriller. I had my doubts if Reynolds could really pull such a challenging role off but he did. This isn’t date-night material but if you like your movies soaked with drama and tension, then Buriedis for you.
WHITE WEDDING (Mitropoulos Films – 93min) Not Rated Now Playing At Nuart Theatre
Set against South Africa’s beautifully varied landscapes, White Weddingis a lighthearted, feel-good comedy about a couple’s attempt to make it to the altar on time for their picture-perfect white wedding.
A hit in its native South Africa, the film uses many languages to tell its story, including: English, Afrikaans, Tswana, Zulu and Township Taal (a mix of different languages). Filmmaker Jann Turner explains she didn’t set out to make a groundbreaking film but that’s what happened back home.
“For a long time now we’ve wanted to get away from the past and do something about who we are now. [This] is about South Africans and the way we react to one another with so much prejudice and baggage. If you’re forced to meet by circumstance like the people in the film and you see beyond the accent or the white or the black face then you discover the humanity and the similarities in one another and get over the intolerance. It sounds terribly grand but it only made sense in retrospect. We didn’t set out to make a film about our common humanity, we set out to entertain.”
Hardly an original plot, the slapstick and the silliness is funny enough but it’s the underlying look into a changing South Africa that is rewarding. This is a simple and sweet story if you’re looking for uncomplicated while avoiding intense entertainment.
THE EXTRA MAN (Magnolia Pictures – 105min) Rated R
A sophisticated comedy, The Extra Man, build as a sexless new comedy,tells the story of a man paid to escort and entertain older, wealthy women. And when a young dreamer looking for direction and a fresh start answers an add reading “Gentleman seeks same to share apartment” a young extra man in training is born.
When young Louis Ives (Paul Dano) rents a room in the ramshackle apartment of Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline), a penniless, wildly eccentric and brilliant playwright that also serves as an “extra man,” a social escort for the wealthy widows of Manhattan high society. The two men develop a volatile mentorship, which leads to a series of urban adventures -- encountering everything from a leaping lion to a wildly jealous hirsute neighbor to drunken nonagenarians to a shady Swiss hunchback. Along his exploration into the heart of New York City, Henry and Louis have unexpected influences on each other and form a memorable bond that bridges their differences.
Easily Kevin Kline's funniest role in years, he really shines as the leading extra man. And teamed with Paul Dano, the duo truly creates a charming and endearing film.
The Extra Man is now playing at the Landmark Theater on Pico as well as the Sunset 5 in West Hollywood; Playhouse 7 in Pasadena; Town Center 5 in Encino; South Coast Village 3 in Santa Ana.
The story of a simple fisherman who catches a beautiful and mysterious woman in his net, this enchanting tale is a pure charmer.
In fact, it was during filming that the film’s leads, Colin Farrell and Alicja Bachleda, as the lovely Ondine, met and fell in love and it’s evident watching them onscreen. Filmmaker Neil Jordan (Interview With the Vampire, The Crying Game) helms a sweet and simple film with solid performances that make for an enjoyable movie-going experience.
Part fairytale and part whimsical love story, Ondineis an engaging treat. The film showcases that sometimes little movies, that is the non heavy duty shoot ‘em ups, can be just as rewarding. Here’s to sweet and simple cinema which, when done right, is so rewarding.
Ondine is now playing at The Landmark 12 in West Los Angeles, the Sunset 5 in West Hollywood, the Playhouse 7 Cinemas in Pasadena, and South Coast Village 3 in Santa Ana.
THE LIVING WAKE
(Original Media – 91min) Not Rated
Now Playing
It should be noted that calling The Living Wake‘absurd’is not an insult. In fact, it’s a better fit than dark comedy that has been bantered about some. This film isn’t for everyone, it’s one of those ‘love it or hate it’ indie films.
The Living Wake follows the last day of K. Roth Binew (Mike O’Connell), a self-proclaimed artist and genius about to succumb to a mysteriously and punctual demise. A failed artist and a successful alcoholic, K. Roth Binew is an over-the-top, self-aggrandizing antihero who can be too much to take at times, but then again, that’s the point.
Knowing his death is imminent our hero organizes his own wake and invites everyone he knows (he has no real friends) to prove what an icon he was. Aided by his one and only friend, the unrecognized poet and biographer Mills Joquin (Jesse Eisenberg) to chronicle his final hours, the duo set out on a mini adventure where Mills Joquin drives Binew around town on a bicycle-powered rickshaw before Binew’s time finally runs out.
This is really comedian Mike O’Connell’s vehicle (he also co-wrote the script) as he plays every note with the utmost gusto. Some moviegoers may find him too much to take as his delivery is extremely frantic to make up for the rather simple plot. If you like quirky and offbeat consider this your cup of tea, otherwise be warned, the film, a film festival favorite (AFI, Austin Film Festival, Cinevegas) marking the directing debut of Sol Tryon, may really try your patience.
Here’s a film for all barflies. This one is the real drinkers; not the sippers. The Good Heart is for those that order their drinks stiff and on the rocks because alcoholics watch movies too.
Starring Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity) as a grumpy owner of a seedy New York dive bar that is drinking and smoking himself to death, he soon meets a homeless youth played by Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood; Little Miss Sunshine) who has given up on life. Determined to keep his legacy alive the barkeep begins to train the youth as his protégé. Schooling his successor in the male-centric laws of his alcoholic clubhouse, the rules are straightforward: no new customers, no fraternizing with the customers, and absolutely no women. Young Lucas proves to be a quick study but soon begins to break each rule, especially when the lovely April shows up at the bar seeking shelter.
The Good Heartis a gritty and endearing story with wonderful moments of hilarity. Great performances from Cox and Dano make this one worth watching. To get in the mood a round or two is suggested and I’m sure you’ll want a shot of something strong afterwards too. Cheers to The Good Heart.
FOOTPRINTS (Our Gal Pictures, LLC – 80 min) Rated PG-13
CATCH THE SNEAK PREVIEW SCREENING AT THE EGYPTIAN APRIL 28
A love letter to Hollywood, indie film Footprintswill have a special sneak preview screening with champagne reception at the famed Egyptian Theatre (one of several local locations used in the film) on Wednesday, April 28. If you love all things Hollywood this one is for you.
From award-winning writer Steven Peros, author of the play and screenplay for Lionsgate’s 2002 The Cat’s Meow (directed by Peter Bogdanovich and starring Kirsten Dunst) comes this haunting and hopeful mystery about a young woman’s single day journey of discovery on Hollywood Boulevard from sunrise to sunset.
When a woman wakes up on the Chinese Theatre famous footprints she has no idea who she is or how she got there. She’s certain she’s dreaming so she often just goes with the flow and treats the strangers she runs into as characters in her head. As part of her journey to self-discovery she takess off from one local landmark to another, encountering tour guides, celebrity impersonators, a Scientology auditor and even a Hollywood Blvd poster shop owner.
Writer/director Steven Peros, in his directorial debut, has some great lines about Hollywood in the film, such as: “the strangest things happen in Hollywood in the middle of the night.”
And, “Hollywood has so much clutter, past, present, even the future. They all collide…sad people that look like ghosts.”
In fact, the filmmaker actually lives in Hollywood, right where he filmed Footprints.
I knew I wanted to make a film that was not quite magical realism, but had magic to it,” Peros explains. “Hollywood Boulevard, with its juxtaposition of Chinese and Egyptian Theatres, its prone elephants – inspired by Griffith’s Intolerance -- atop a shopping plaza, its sidewalk paved with stars, all seemed like the ideal setting for a tale equal parts Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland. Yet it would not be a children’s film.”
As the amnesiac digs deeper to find out who she actually is, she delves further into the Hollywood underbelly. It seems in fact that everyday people find themselves lost in Hollywood, without a clue as to where they’re going to next.
The American Cinematheque presents a special sneak preview screening of Footprints with cast & crew discussion and champagne reception on Wednesday, April 28 at 7:30pm at the Egyptian Theatre. Click here for tickets.
The Egyptian Theatre is located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Part ghost story, part drama, The Eclipsetells the story of Michael Farr (Ciarán Hinds), a widower and teacher raising two kids alone since his wife died two years earlier. Lately he has been seeing and hearing strange things late at night in his house and he isn't sure if he is simply having terrifying nightmares or if his house is haunted.
A volunteer at a local international literary festival, Michael is assigned to look after the attractive Lena Morelle (Iben Hjejle), an author of books about ghosts and the supernatural. As the two become friendly, Michael begins to tell her of his experiences. And for the first time he has actually met someone who can accept the reality of what has been happening to him.
Thanks in part to a mesmerizing performance by Hinds, who can always be counted upon for a solid delivery, the film really holds your attention while you’re trying to figure out if this is something supernatural or not. In fact, The Eclipseis reallyabout the challenges of love, fear of the unknown and release from the burden of grief. This is a great alternative if you’re looking for a gripping, challenging film with a story to get lost in void of big shoot ‘em ups and car chases.
TOE TO TOE (Strand Releasing – 104 min) Not Rated
IN THEATRES NOW
“Black bitch…” Those are the first two words uttered in Toe To Toe, a gripping adolescent drama that covers cultural and racial lines. While one girl uses those two words to motivate her to excel, they also turn campus life upside down as fingers start pointing.
Set in a politically correct prep school in Washington, DC, two girls, one black, one white, go toe to toe on and off the lacrosse field. Jesse is a privileged but troubled white girl whose slutty tendencies lead her on a path of self-loathing and self-destruction. Tosha is a fiercely determined African American teen from a poor DC suburb. Oddly enough, the two high school seniors hit it off but things go awry when a boy gets in between them. Eventually racist graffiti appears on Tosha’s locker and battles lines get drawn and everyone must choose a side.
Toe To Toeis a good example of what true independent film should be. An official selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, Toe To Toedoesn’t have big names actors and the narrative debut of writer/director Emily Abt. Recently selected as one of Variety’s ‘Top 10 Directors to Watch,’ Abt is an award-winning filmmaker whose previous two efforts were socially themed documentaries.
“I’m aware of the stigma that goes along with identifying oneself as a ‘social issue’ or ‘feminist’ filmmaker,” Abt explains, “but I don’t shy away from referring to myself as such. Films that challenge audiences to think, feel, change, fight, love are the ones I strive to create.”
Don’t confuse Toe To Toewith being a “chick flick” (my least favorite genre of all time), this is a well acted, well crafted drama about teen struggle, both black and white, and rich and poor. The film is the start of promising careers for its co-leads, newcomer Sonequa Martin and Louisa Krause, as well as director Emily Abt. A great alternative to big budget, popcorn films that offer little or no heart.
