Friday, March 27, 2009

6 Movies Down. . .5 More To Go!

We cannot say enough about this year's Cleveland International Film Festival -- what a wonderful experience and an inspiring environment to be a part of. You can just feel a buzz of positive energy around you upon walking into the otherwise stark Tower City, surrounded by others just as excited to see another eye-opening film as you are.

All six films we have viewed has been great -- as mentioned earlier, Kisses and Gomorrah are highly recommended. Toyko! was quite interesting, a film that showcased three vignettes directed by three different directors, each expressing their opinions about the city. Both of us enjoyed Prom Night in Mississippi, a documentary about a High School that has always had a Black Prom and a White Prom, that is until Morgan Freeman offers (a second time, the first time he was denied) to pay for a Prom under the condition that it's integrated. Next was I'm Gonna Explode, a Bonnie and Clyde meets Harold and Maude-esque film that was just as disturbing as it was endearing. Last night we checked out Chaser, a South Korean psychological thriller that was quite intense reminding us (yet again) that non-American films are not afraid to have unhappy endings. It is rumored that Chaser will be remade by the guys who brought us The Departed. . .

That brings us to this evening where we'll be seeing Alexander The Last, a quirky love story directed by Joe Swanberg (Hannah Takes The Stairs) and produced by Noah Baumbach (The Squid & the Whale, Margot at the Wedding, et al).

In the meantime, better get down to Visible Books for an Argentinian Wine Tasting! For now, we hope you guys are seeing some great movies and enjoying the CIFF as much as we are*

2 comments:

Allison M. said...

could't get out of work to see the prom one. really wanted to see it.

Kelly and José said...

Allison - I think Prom Night In Mississipi might be expanding to a wider distribution eventually, so there is hope!

-Kelly