Mysteries of Lisbon- Marvellous Ruiz

I don't know if there's much I want to say about this film - because there would be TOO MUCH to say about it, and I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise of this encounter -, apart from a huge thank you to Raul Ruiz. MYSTERIES OF LISBON is a wonder. A fantastic painting. A thrilling story. An OVNI in today's cinema. Four hours and a half of enigma, vengeance, love, history, stolen identities. Ruiz's camera movements unveil the plans, characters and sets very slowly, very cleverly, as if the story was written and read seconds after seconds by the audience. There's only one advice I would give: run and see it if you get a chance, because you will probably never discover something that unique soon.

MJ.

Short Films - Closing Night Party - SIFF Center

A great night to close this Memorial weekend - drinks, food, discussions around films.

MJ.

From SXSW, the pleasant Natural Selection

The first and very well-known signification of natural selection comes to mind when you read the title of this film - of course, natural selection, the process by which biologic traits become more or less common in a population due to consistent effects upon the survival or reproduction of their bearers, a key mechanism of evolution. However, that's not it. Showed at the Egyptian theater - sorry if that's the one place I've been naming a lot lately, but it's convenient to see films there and the room is quite nice -, I am talking about NATURAL SELECTION, a pretty interesting drama/comedy around the whole "sperm donor/ finding your parents or biological children" (I hope you remember THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT right now) genre.

Directed by Robbie Pikering, a young filmmaker born and raised in Texas who graduated from the very famous Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, this film is the story of Linda, a Christian housewife whose husband is found unconscious in a sperm donor clinic one morning. When she finds out about this - she and her husband haven't had sex for 25 years because she's sterile and the husband considers having sex without the idea of procreation a sin -, she decides to find the biological son of her dying husband, and to bring him back to his bedside. However, when she arrives in front of the house of a 24 year old junkie and starts the journey back with him, things get a little complicated...

It is an impressive first feature - the script is well constructed, you don't get bored, all the elements of a good drama/comedy are there. Even if I found it a bit predictable at time, I quite enjoyed it. The main actress, Rachael Harris (from THE HANGOVER among other works), is incredible, and the final part of the film - more dramatic and centered on her character's emotions and situation - entirely relies on her perfect performance. Some moments were too much - including the very bruised face of Raymond - but it is still a good film found in SXSW. It actually won various Awards there - Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award, Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Music - I know right, THAT'S A LOT !

(And just so you know: I've been pretty impressed by all the first features I've seen and that are showing at SIFF this year - to quote only a few: BELLE EPINE by R.Zlotowski, EVERY SONG IS ABOUT ME by J. Trueba, JESS + MOSS by C.Jeter, LOVE LIKE POISON by K. Quillevere - and I am fascinated by all the talent out there and the fresh faces ready to keep on making wonderful films - I'm done congratulating those, but a word had to be said.)

MJ.

DAY 7 - Senses wide awake

Two Ewan McGregor films this year at the Seattle International Film Festival - actually, it was Ewan's year, because there was always a Tribute Day for him on Saturday... If the first one wasn't of my taste, as you have all been able to read in my previous article, this one called PERFECT SENSE was... pretty interesting and powerful - it premiered at Sundance earlier this year.

UK Director David McKenzie is used to festivals and awards - he was even presented as an Emerging Master a few years ago at SIFF -, and this film deserve all the attention it got. It is a love story taking place right before the end of the world. When Susan (the marvelous and dramatically gorgeous Eva Green) discovers with her co-workers that people all around the world have lost their sense of smell after a terrible phase of sadness, she understands that something isn't right. The day after, she meets chef Michael, who offers her a meal in his restaurant - an empty place as people can not smell their food anymore. Suddenly, Susan starts crying, and understands that she won't escape from this terrible disease. Michael takes her home, lies down in bed with her to comfort her, and wakes up with the same feeling of sadness. No one will escape from this, and people slowly starts loosing all their senses : their taste, their hearing capacity, and finally their sight - but before what, they experience an extreme phase of each sense. Michael and Susan fall in love as people try to adapt and go on with their life even though the disease is spreading. They fall in love, knowing that their love might not be strong enough to overcome this apocalypse.

It is a tragic SciFi film - out of the theater, I felt terribly anxious. But it is a wonderful and totally moving piece of art. The actors are brilliant, the editing is absolutely perfect, the use of photos from different cultures, countries and people is clever and constructive, the choice if using Eva Green's voice over is ideal - it puts you in the right mood to understand the world's situation as it is possible for the filmmaker to show us everything in a hour and a half. Of course, it is not easy, it is sad, it is frightening, it is disturbing, but if one is able to go beyond all those feeling, the final acknowledgment is that PERFECT SENSE is a beautiful film.

And you can always wonder what you would do in such a terrible situation - the film's response is : try to modify your view on life and love. Above all : love.

MJ.

DAY 6 - Beginners is a beginner's film

The Neptune theater in the U district

DAY 6. Beginners was showing for the second time, and as we really wanted to see it, we put aside the fact that it would take us a while to go and to come back from the U district. I liked the display for SIFF at the Neptune (picture above), but unfortunately, I have to say that I wasn't as convinced by the film itself.

American filmmaker Mike Mills first directed music videos for Moby, Yoko Ono or Air. He also worked as a graphic designer - you will see later why it matters to tell you this - and did albums covers for bands such as Beastie Boys or Beck. He directed his first feature, THUMBSUCKER, in 2005 - funny his wife Miranda July's first feature was also made in 2005. BEGINNERS is Mike Mill's second feature - produced in 2010, just like THE FUTURE, July's second film: what a coordinated couple! However, his film isn't as impressive as hers...

Oliver is a 38 year-old single man. He works as a graphic designer, and he tries hard to provide a band called "THE SADS" with a perfect album cover. But Oliver's life isn't very satisfying at the moment : he just lost his father, who died of cancer, and does not seem to be able to make any relationship work. Arthur, his father's dog, seems to be the one and only individual able to understand and communicate with him. Oliver is lost in his life - a few years before dying, his father told him that he was gay - had been his entire life - and he keeps remembering what his parents were like, what the world was like, what happiness, sadness, family, stars, beauty, animals, nature, looked like back in his childhood. One day, at a party, he meets Anna, an actress just as lost and confused as he is. And they fall in love...

On paper, it does seem like a pretty nice story. And the trailer actually looked great. However, the film is very imperfect. The editing is confusing and the story doesn't really start - ever. Anna's character (played by the annoying Mélanie Laurent - I sincerely can not stand her) is superficial and uselessly depressed - on the screen, she's an actress who never works, who spends her time in luxurious hotel rooms, who has a suicidal dad, but apart from that, she's empty of content. Oliver and herself are supposed to be in love - they've just met, they have sex, walk around L.A, go paint some graffitis on blank walls, do some roller skating - but they don't give any love to the audience - they're the saddest couple ever and hardly talk to each other. They move in together, decide - for no reason - that it might not be a good idea after all, break up, and get back together - for no reason either.

There are some cute moments - the dog's character is touching and funny, the whole idea of showing pictures and objects from the past is well-treated, the different sets are gorgeous - but what I keep from this second work is an oppressive film, with a melodramatic and sad music on the top, that simply leaves you apathetic and hopeless.

To forget about it, we all went to Boom Noodle for drinks - and I decided not to think about this film ever again.

MJ.

DAY 5 - The (bizarre) future of Miranda July

A big thank you to Landmark Theaters for giving SIFF the possibility to show films on their screens.

Monday, May 23rd. Day 5 of SIFF. The second screening of Miranda July's THE FUTURE was up at SIFF Cinema. As we spent the weekend at the office, we were really looking forward to this film. THE FUTURE is Miranda July's second feature - her first film ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW, directed in 2005, won the Camera d'Or at Cannes Film Festival, and was also showing at SIFF - and it was in competition at Sundance earlier this year.

The room was pretty packed, and everyone seemed pretty excited. Once again, the great trailer/ bumper of SIFF was shown, with WE ARE THE NIGHT's trailer - a female vampires film that looks really intense. Miranda July said a few words, and then, the film begun...

What is THE FUTURE about? It is hard to say precisely, as it isn't a common and simple film. It starts with Papa's voice over - Papa is a cat in a shelter waiting to be adopted by Sophie and Jason, and his voice is actually Miranda July's. Then come Sophie and Jason, seated in a sofa - that's the picture above - talking about their laziness while Sophie is watching a YouTube video of a young woman filming herself dancing hip-hop in her living-room. Sophie is a dance teacher for kids - she is not very good at it though, but she tries hard. The couple have taken an important decision : they're going to adopt a sick cat that has 6 months to live. However, when they learn that the animal could live up to 5 years if they take good care of him, they panic. They have one month before taking the cat home. One month of total freedom. Jason quits his job to become a solicitor for an environmental company, and Sophie gives herself 30 days to film herself performing 30 dances. However, things won't turn out the way they thought, and science-fiction elements are slowly integrated to the story.

It is a bizarre film. Very self-centered and crazy. At first, I didn't know where it was going, and felt that all the absurd of the characters and their life wasn't well treated. But when the craziest part of it rose, it became really interesting - Miranda July's metaphoric treatment of relationships, commitment and depression is impressive, touching and sad - sad in a good way, because as she said during the Q&A afterwards, sad things are sometimes worth experiencing to come back to life, and she believes that people can take it. Life isn't always fun and easy. And this tripping/ weird/ original film is a good proof of that.

Carl Spence - SIFF's Artistic Director - and Miranda July - director - for the Q&A

Miranda July - such a clever mind in such a tiny body -

Yes, I have. Have you?

MJ.

DAY 4 - THE perfect Sunday film

Yesterday was another Box Office day BUT... we managed to escape for two hours, to run to the Egyptian theater and to watch FOUR MORE YEARS (in Swedish : Fira Ar Till - and don't ask me to pronounce it). If it wasn't in our festival's picks at first, I must confess that I am pretty glad we went to see it. Because even though it isn't a masterpiece - and again, what is a masterpiece? a film that would won a Palme d'rr at Cannes Film Festival (no comment on this remark)? - it is a very convincing, charming, adorable and pleasant film - especially for a Sunday afternoon.

A quick summary for those who would be interested in seeing it - it's screening again tonight at 9.30 pm at the Egyptian, and also on MAY 28TH at the AMC Pac Place at 1pm. Directed by Tova Magnusson - Norling, FOUR MORE YEARS tells the story of liberal political leader David Holst, a handsome and funny man running for Prime Minister in Sweden. When David's polls start to fall down and clearly make him realize that he won win, everything falls apart. However, one morning, he stumbles on his political enemy - a socialist - in the elevator and falls in love. The only problems are that : he is married, his new lover, Martin, is a man, his mother is a devoted christian against divorce, socialists and homosexuals, and he has to fight to get back on track for this carrier.

Good actors, nice music, some cute cute cute moments - all the elements to have a great time watching a film, and to feel GOOD when it's over.

MJ.

DAY 3 - SIFF is also... the Box Office

Saturday. 11.30 am. Daily meeting at the office. People missing for the Box Office - from 12 pm to 7 pm.

SIFF is also last minute jobs - learning how to make badges, print tickets, answer the phone, deal with issues and people. We missed two films - but it was pretty fun to see how this whole ticketing process works from the inside, and to get to take pictures of dozens of people because they have to, and see how they react to it.

Some real treasures - such as "is SIFF screening films in San Francisco" (???) - and an interesting day with sweet Tony !

The ticketing machine - quick and always right!

MJ.

Seattle, be proud of your sons!

God knows which city they are playing in tonight, but almost three weeks after, I'm still thinking about the Fleet Foxes' show at the Moore Theatre on May 3rd in Seattle.
The Seattle-based band Cave Singers opened the sold-out night at the beautiful theatre and set the tone for the night. They really did a good job in warming up the room which was almost full for their set. Everybody was really stocked about the show. I really liked seeing the two bands play in their own city as the audience was showing their pride and excitement towards the bands.

The Cave Singers killed it!

May 3rd was a special night for the Foxes too: their second album was officially out, and it was guitarist Skyler Skjelset and drummer Josh Tillman's birthdays.

Although I would imagine Seattle not being the easiest place for the band to play in - because of family, friends, label, immature press people - the show was really good and the band seemed pretty relaxed and happy.
The band played a 19-songs-long set cleverly mixing tunes from both the albums.
Also, the audience (or hardcore fans maybe?!) was very warm, respectful and thrilled by the sixth and "new" band member, Morgan Henderson, who was part of the Seattle-based band (again) Blood Brothers before joining the Fleet Foxes as a multi-instrumentalist (he plays, among other things, the clarinet, the saxophone and the upright bass).
On some songs, the band would be joined by a friend of theirs on the violin.

One of the highlights of the night, according to me, was when frontman Robin Pecknold played the traditional folk song Silver Dagger. Ok, it's not one of "his" songs but it was very moving for me as it was the first time I saw him perform the song after having listened to his version many many times before then.
Two Fleet Foxes' shows in less than a month and I'm still looking forward to the next one...in Paris!

Family portrait

PS: I was originally going to write an article about how disappointed I was when I got to read some free and mean criticisms written by "professional" Seattle columnists directed more to Robin Pecknold and fellows themselves than to their music. And the same happened with The Head and The Heart, who were reproached for having a "fake folk attitude", among other things.

Even though these journalists might not like the music, why can't they be proud of those young artists who allow Seattle to keep on having a good reputation as a music city and who make people outside the country attracted to it? As a matter of fact, these same young artists and the current Seattle music scene are the ones who made me want to move here for almost a year, all the way from Paris, France.
I just think it's lame and immature.
But, oh well, that's just my opinion...

A.C.

DAY 2 - Submarine or the enchanting world of Oliver Tate

Yesterday was SIFF first full day of screenings. SUBMARINE was showing at the Egyptian. The room was pretty packed - waiting for a great film about a coming of age boy, and its director, the nicest and funniest of all, Richard Ayoade -. The film, which was shown at TIFF - Toronto International Film Festival - last year, stars Craig Roberts, Yasmin Page, Noah Taylor and the fantastic Sally Hawkins. Seated in my chair, I first got to watch the groovy - very "film addict" - trailer of this year's festival. And then, in this old, Egyptian-style theater, so excited because it was my first SIFF film - apart from Opening Night -, it begun. And it was good.

SUBMARINE is a very good film. Not only a well-made, well-directed film, but also a fun and clever one. Adapted from the novel by the same name, written by Joe Dunthorne and published in 2008, set in Whales, it tells the story of 15-year old Oliver Tate, his love affairs and breakups, his familial fights, his life experiences - in a pretty absurd and eccentric way.

Oliver Tate's voice-over is present during the entire movie, which happens to be split in various sections : Epilogue, Part I, II, III and Prologue. The audience follows his discoveries with these sections - how he meets and falls in love with Jordana, how he suspects his parents's divorce and mother's affair with spiritual ninja/ psychic/ old friend Graham, how things turn bad, and good eventually. Always dressed the same - as in the picture above, duffelcoat it is -, Oliver is a loner and clever boy looking for love and letting dreams inhabit his reality: the first scene illustrates this perfectly, and i'st hilarious. The boy, seated in class, bored, imagines how people would react to his death - walks, flowers, sadness - and then to his resurrection. Jordana, who becomes his girlfriend pretty early in the film, brings him back to reality and forces him to face teenager's situations: kissing, going to the movies, sharing books, having sex, dealing with sickness. His parents, Lloyd and Jill, also drag him back to real life: their couple issues, the uncertain desire, the quest for physical attraction and relation - and how a boy can help improve - and also deteriorate - his parents' relationship.

Richard Ayoade, who wrote the script consulting with writer Joe Dunthorne, develops interesting, funny and clever characters, in this dark comedy. Michel Gondry and Wes Anderson's influences are all over the places, and Ayoade shots his actors with countershots and closeups and SPECIFIC colors - Oliver is Blue, Jordana is Red.

The "Blue" color of Oliver during the credits, at the end.

Richard Ayoade, on the set of SUBMARINE - his humor doesn't show, but it's here! -

Q&A with Beth Barrett - questions always answered in a fun way -

To sum-up : a nice first film. A wonderful first Q&A with a TOP director. SIFF is gonna be goooood.

MJ.

DAY 1 - SIFF Grand Opening, June 19th!

Yesterday was THE day. SIFF - Seattle International Film Festival's - Opening Night. After a lovely projection at Mc Caw Hall and some honest and true speeches about films, Seattle and the act of sharing, the party - right across the hall - was just as great! A fun night that announces a creative and crowded festival!

From now on, and until the end of it - June 12th - I'll (try to) post pictures or reviews everyday - don't forget films are shown twice and sometimes three times in Seattle or in Renton/ Kirkland/ Everett. If something looks interesting to you, check SIFF website (or the free guide, or The Stranger) to find out where it's showing!

Happy festival y'all, and SEE FILMS - they're all interesting.

PS: Apologies for the pictures - being far in a dark room isn't always a good idea for a camera... but at least they'll give you an idea of the mood of the evening.

MJ.

The Big Mix

The first words I heard before seeing this film was "You'll see, it's a film in between CRY BABY, BREAKFAST CLUB, SCREAM and KABOOM". Of course, this description made it impossible for me NOT to see it. And indeed, I am not certain I'd be able to give a better log-line for this crazy, cynical, funny and very, very, very absurd film called DETENTION, directed by Joseph Kahn. This teen comedy/ parodic horror film, starring Dane Cook and Josh Hutcherson, is a fantastic and accurate pop culture representation, and a very entertaining piece.

Summary (I'll try, at least) : The film opens on the most popular - but awfully bitchy- female student at Grizzly Lake High School. While talking to the video camera, she explains to us how to be famous, idolized by geeks and slim - no eating or eating followed by vomiting on Mondays and Wednesdays -. However, she is soon murdered by CinderHella - a mummy-looking prom queen -. Then, the audience meets with Riley - smart but tactless brunette with a plastered leg -, Clapton - the hot guy with a skateboard -, Ione - the skinny annoying blonde - and Sander - the loser, that's all you have to know about him. The script follows their every-day life as teenagers - love stories, deceptions, best-friends' arguments, alcohol, sex, text messages and mockery - and includes weird, oh how weird, elements/ questions :

- Who is this prom queen mummy-looking serial killer?

- Why does Ione goes back to 1992 and gets into her mum's body?

- What happened to the actual headmaster at his prom when he was a student at the school?

- Is the general detention gonna help finding who the murder is?

- Who is the guy in detention since... 1990?

- Will the time machine work?

- Are Riley and Clapton going to fall in love?

Good jokes, high-speed rhythm and a colorful cinematography. In the end, what's left after watching this slasher comedy is some interesting performances, a f***** up script, some shots of adrenaline, half of a brain - the other half is still trying to figure out some pieces of the story -, and one though: how fun was high school - but how GLAD you are that it's over now.

CAUTION: if you are over 30, comfortably married or divorced, enjoying quiet evenings playing Scrabble or watching documentaries about the life of bees, trouts or lemurs, avoid this film - just saying, for your OWN good.

Still, if you want to: it's playing at SIFF as part of the FutureWave selection - 17+ however - on June 3rd at the Neptune (9.30 pm) and on June 5th at the Egyptian (9.15 pm).

Link (with trailer): http://www.siff.net/festival/film/detail.aspx?id=44396&FID=206

Detention premiered at SXSW '11

MJ.

Music To Get The Devil Dancing

They are part of what made Seattle and the Pacific Northwest so special.
I've heard of them since my teens.
They were one of the major influences to one of my favourite bands.
Buzz Osborne has legendary crazy hair.
The two drummers were stunning in their way of playing in unison.
This time I was old enough to attend the show.
Although it was impossible to take a decent picture of Buzz as he moves all the time, I simply am glad I've seen Melvins play at The Crocodile yesterday.

A.C.

Porte Lent Deux

Summer is here... for a day.

Nice area with small "food trailers".

The classic American truck.

Closer to heaven.

Rad Summer, the vintage shop with a hot tattooed saleswoman. (E Burnside & NE 28th)

Ghostland Observatory - some lights, some sounds and a LOT of dancing.

Obviously.

Crazy Portland flower.

Main Plazza - summer is everywhere.

The NW look -there's always something of Fleet Foxes in it.

Ending the night at the Crystal Ballroom - 80's Night!