DIFF 2018: Day 4

Three Identical Strangers is a terrific documentary that tells a truly amazing story about triplets separated at birth who are unaware of each other’s existence until two of the brothers’ chance encounter at the age of 19 in 1980. To make the situation even more jaw-dropping, the third brother discovers the others from a national news story about what was only thought to be only a set of identical twins. Through a series of interviews with two of the brothers and other family members, it is quite clear that the triplets had an uncanny resemblance to each other despite never have known one another. For the first few years, they are inseparable as if they grew up as brothers in the same family and enjoy bachelorhood together in wild 1980s New York City. The movie becomes even more riveting with a series of remarkable twists that are not altogether happy. It is a mind-blowing movie that definitely is worth seeing just for the wild turns in such an already truly unbelievable story.

Tejano is a small budget Texas independent narrative film that tells the story of a desperate American citizen farmhand living and working near the Mexican border in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas who becomes a small-time drug smuggler for Mexican drug dealers in order to pay for his sick grandfather’s medical care. He is asked to intentionally break his arm so that cocaine can be molded into a cast and easily evade American authorities. However, things go horribly awry while he is crossing the border, and he ends up on the run from the murderous Mexican cartel headed by a ruthless female leader who only wants to see him dead.

DIFF 2018: Day 3

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As I have done in years past, I will be posting short reviews of the movies that I will be watching over the course of the 2018 Dallas International Film Festival. Check back at the end of every day until May 10th to keep up with the latest in independent and documentary filmmaking at the largest film festival in Dallas.

On Her Shoulders is an emotionally powerful documentary about a 23-year-old refugee and activist fighting for recognition of the 2014 genocide of the Yazidi religious minority in Northern Iraq by ISIS terrorists. The film follows Nadia Murad as she travels the world visiting with government leaders and the United Nations to advocate for her ethnic group to receive the help needed for the vast number of refugees. As a sex slave who lost most of her family to the brutal terrorist organization that took over her community, she becomes the heroic voice of the Yazidi even as the simple retelling of her story causes her great emotional suffering. It is a heartbreaking film that is a must-see for those who want to understand the plight of refugees, and it gives a unique perspective on those who are actively engaged in promoting humanitarianism despite its many challenges and dangers.

Tully

tully_xlgDirected by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jason Reitman best known for 2007’s Juno and 2009’s Up in the Air and written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody best known for 2007’s Juno, Tully is a must-see comedic drama about the ups and downs of motherhood that is brought to life by the painfully realistic script and superb acting performances. The plot revolves around a mother of three named Marlo, played by the always terrific Oscar winner Charlize Theron, who has a particularly challenging time with the birth of her third child. Like most parents, she is exhausted and sleep deprived to a point in which she is desperate for help of any kind, especially when her husband Drew, played by Ron Livingston, seems to be too busy at work. She also has to deal with her young son who is having behavioral issues at a prestigious elementary school. Initially, Marlo scoffs at her wealthy brother Craig, played by Mark Duplass, who offers to pay for her to have a so-called night nanny, a nanny only to care for a newborn infant at night so that the parents can get rest. Over time, she is more open to the idea and eventually a young free-spirited woman named Tully, played by Mackenzie Davis from the TV show Halt and Catch Fire, comes over to be the night nanny. Marlo and the vivacious Tully quickly develop a close friendship and have intimate conversations about family and in particular the difficulties that comes with motherhood. Although it sounds like a rather straightforward story, the excellent writing makes for a deeply moving experience in which there are funny and sad moments underscored by an unprecedented level of raw honesty about parenthood. There are some very unexpected events that make it even more of an appealing indie-style film that above all feels so real. The realism comes from the fact that it does not gloss over the many occasions when being a parent feels impossible, such as the constant juggling of taking care of oneself, cleaning up messes, running on very little sleep, and struggling to do what is best for your child. Despite all this, Marlo, as do most parents, realizes that it is worth it to raise a child and that motherly love somehow allows her to deal with the unpleasant aspects of parenting and become the best parent possible. Overall, I found it to be a truly remarkable movie with a top-notch directing/writing duo that delves deep into what it must be like to be a mother and provides yet another example of why Charlize Theron is such a talented actress.

The Rider

rider_xlgDirected by Chinese-American filmmaker Chloé Zhao in her second feature film, The Rider is a powerfully emotional movie about the struggles of a young rodeo star in the American West; it is notable for its beautiful cinematography and sublime acting performances from nonprofessional actors. Partially based on the lead actor’s own life, the heartbreaking story follows Brady Blackburn, played by the terrific newcomer Brady Jandreau, after he is involved in a horrific horse riding accident in which he suffers a traumatic brain injury that sidelines him from his promising rodeo career. The film is a rather depressing metaphor for the economically depressed working-class American living in the rural West but has a hopeful message: continue to make a life for oneself even after the loss of one’s dreams. Set on South Dakota’s Lakota-Sioux Pine Ridge Reservation, Brady is of Native American heritage and must overcome the difficulties of living on an impoverished Indian reservation while coping with his debilitating injury that prevents him from doing the only thing he knows, riding and training horses. The filmmaker lends an important degree of realism by casting real life former cowboys and rodeo stars like Brady and his severely disabled real-life friend Lane Scott as well as Brady’s real father Tim Jandreau and his intellectually impaired younger sister Lilly Jandreau who play the character Brady’s tough father and endearing sister. Over the course of the film, Brady stubbornly tries to get back on horses and attempt a comeback on the rodeo circuit riding bucking broncos despite the serious medical implications. It is a rather simple yet evocative movie that is more of a meditation on life in the American West by presenting quiet scenes around the campfire or riding horses surrounded by breathtaking Western landscapes in which the characters, particularly Brady, contemplate life and their future dreams. Besides its Western themes, the filmmaker subtly addresses the challenges experienced by those with disabilities and how they cope with their new lives; I was surprised by how many characters suffered from an impairment, including the brain injured Brady, Brady’s paralyzed friend Lane, an older amputee cowboy, and the mentally challenged Lilly. Overall, I found it to be one of the more poignant and deeply contemplative cinematic treatments of the realities of living in the impoverished American West, especially those in the dangerous rodeo world.

Avengers: Infinity War

The nineteenth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that started with 2008’s Iron Man and the third film in The Avengers franchise since 2012, Avengers: Infinity War is an entertaining comic book superhero movie whose title is particularly apt as a result of the seemingly infinite number of Marvel characters all appearing in their greatest war yet. The plot revolves around the appearance of the most threatening villain Thanos, played by Josh Brolin, and his quest to capture all six Infinity Stones, mystical stones imbued with great magical powers, in order to control the universe and remake his own planet. Practically all of the superheroes who have had their own Marvel film seek to prevent the god-like Thanos from destroying half of humanity in his ploy to solve overpopulation. The ensemble cast is jam-packed and features Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Hulk, Chris Evans as Captain America, Tom Holland as Spider-Man, Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, and Chris Pratt as Star-Lord. Although the plethora of superheroes and storylines is at times over-the-top and complicated to a casual viewer, the filmmakers are able to present a somewhat surprising cohesive story by having several of the characters grouped together and involved in separate parts of the film. When the superheroes do all come together, the audience is in for spectacular CGI-enhanced action sequences that can be best described as comic book porn. The movie also has aspects of a drama in which the powerful protagonists display raw human emotions, including grief over fallen comrades. However, there are several moments of trademark tongue-in-cheek humor for a comic book movie, especially when it comes to the characters from the more comedic Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Overall, I was impressed by the sheer amount of superheroes assembled for a motion picture and found it to be a largely enjoyable experience despite probably jamming a little too much into one bloated comic book lovefest.

I Feel Pretty

Written and directed by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein who are best known for writing romantic comedies, I Feel Pretty is a marginally entertaining comedy that fails to live up to its uniquely creative concept and use of comedic superstar Amy Schumer. The fairly simple premise revolves around Schumer’s character Renee Bennett who suffers from low self-esteem as a result of not being considered conventionally beautiful and working a dead-end job. She works for the fictional high-end cosmetics company Lily LeClaire in the unglamorous internet sales division located in a Chinatown basement, but she has hopes of some day working at the Fifth Avenue headquarters alongside the idolized CEO Avery LeClaire, played by the hilariously high-pitched Oscar nominee Michelle Williams. One day Renee is at a SoulCycle class when she falls and hits her head after which she believes she has been magically transformed into a person with supermodel looks. Over the course of the movie, Renee runs into ridiculous situations with her new found beauty and begins a romantic relationship with the insecure Ethan, played by comedian Rory Scovel. She also lands her coveted job working at the headquarters with Avery and her grandmother Lily, played by Lauren Hutton. Even though others do not see her looks as any different than before, she becomes popular because of her extreme confidence. However, she loses track of the important things in her life, including her best friends played by Aidy Bryant and Busy Philipps. Overall, I found it underwhelming for a usually uproariously hilarious Amy Schumer who is better suited for her more vulgar comedic roles, and it fell short of trying to be a feel-good film that promotes positive messages about body image.

Lean on Pete

Directed by British filmmaker Andrew Haigh who is best known for 2015’s 45 Years, Lean on Pete is a heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking tale about a young man living in challenging circumstances who is able to overcome his life’s difficulties through his relationship with an aging racehorse. The film is notable for the truly astounding performance from the young actor Charlie Plummer who plays a 15-year-old named Charley Thompson recently arrived to Portland, Oregon living with his troubled single father Ray. Living somewhat of a vagrant lifestyle trying to scrape by with small jobs to help support him and his father and thereby unable to attend school, Charley stumbles into a job working for a down-on-his-luck horse trainer named Del, played by the terrifically grumpy Golden Globe winner Steve Buscemi, at the local race track. Buscemi’s character as well as a female jockey named Bonnie, played by Chloë Sevigny, take Charley on the lower racehorse circuit. He quickly forms a bond with one of the quarter horses, Lean On Pete, who is simply used by Del as a cash cow in second-rate races and is eventually destined to slaughter after several weak performances. Never having a real relationship with friends or family, Charley views Pete as more than just an old horse and more of a friend. After another personal tragedy, Charley decides to run away with Pete and set out on a epic adventure across the West to find his beloved aunt. The unlikely duo find themselves crossing lonesome and treacherous landscapes, meeting all sorts of characters, and running into trouble. In addition to the powerful performances, the filmmaker does an excellent job of setting up a compelling narrative structure by dividing the film into three parts that coincide with the character development of Charley as he suffers setbacks and discovers himself. Overall, I found it to be an emotionally powerful drama that beautifully shows the important connection between humans and animals and is filled with groundbreaking acting: introducing the world to the talents of the up-and-coming actor Charlie Plummer.

Super Troopers 2

super_troopers_two_ver2_xlgThe sequel to the 2001 cult comedy classic Super Troopers featuring the Broken Lizard comedic group, Super Troopers 2 is a ridiculously silly comedy that, like the original, is full of vulgar and very juvenile humor that tries to be nothing more than a more traditional slapstick comedy. The movie follows a group of former Vermont State Troopers who were fired after the shenanigans of the first film and are looking for a way to get back into law enforcement. The main characters are made up of the Broken Lizard comedy troupe: Jay Chandrasekhar playing Senior Trooper Arcot “Thorny” Ramathorn, Paul Soter playing Trooper Jeff Foster, Steve Lemme playing Trooper MacIntyre “Mac” Womack, Erik Stolhanske playing Trooper Robert “Rabbit” Roto, and Kevin Heffernan playing Trooper Rodney “Rod” Farva. The rather ludicrous plot involves the group of highly incompetent troopers led by Captain John O’Hagen, played by Golden Globe-nominated British actor Brian Cox, being recruited to help set up a new highway patrol station outside a small Canadian town transitioning into joining the United States after a border dispute between the two nations. They must take control from a group of three extremely stereotyped Canadian Mounties, including one played by Will Sasso of MADtv fame, who become engaged in prank war with the obnoxious American troopers. Many of the practical jokes that the characters play on one another are sometimes hilarious and almost always rely on gross-out and lowbrow humor that could be upsetting to some viewers. Over time, the ribald story becomes increasingly absurd with the appearance of the slick French-Canadian mayor Guy Le Franc, played by Rob Lowe, and a criminal organization smuggling drugs and a female version of Viagra outlawed in the United States. All of the Canadian characters are over-the-top composites of a stereotypical French-Canadian, complete with the different pronunciation of the word sorry and the notion that all Canadians are nice in addition to poking fun of the fact that some of them speak French and love hockey. Overall, I found it to be a mind-numbing comedy that furthers the stupidity of the original Super Troopers, which will definitely appease fans, that has its moments of uproarious hilarity fueled by some rather immature material.

Finding Your Feet

finding_your_feet_ver2_xlgDirected by Richard Loncraine who is best known for romantic comedies and 2006’s thriller Firewall, Finding Your Feet is the quintessential British romantic comedy revolving around a group of senior citizens looking for joy and love and is brought to life by the highly talented cast. We first meet one of the protagonists Sandra Abbott, played by Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton, after she discovers that her husband of many years has been cheating on her with her best friend. She moves out of her wealthy enclave to go to London and stay with her older sister Bif, played by Celia Imrie best known for 2012’s The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Unlike Sandra, Bif is very much a free spirit who is happy to live a modest life in a crowded inner-city apartment and has a group of eccentric friends who all take a dance class at the local community center. Eventually, Sandra is convinced to participate in the dance class in order to get over her pending divorce and reconnect to others her age and outside her comfort zone. Through a series of charming scenes marked by typically dry British humor, she meets Bif’s friends and dance classmates, including the down-to-earth and delightful Charlie, played by acclaimed British actor Timothy Spall, the jovial Ted, played by David Hayman, and the flirtatious Jackie, played by comedic actress Joanna Lumley. The romantic part of the movie comes into play as Sandra begins to fall in love with Charlie; at that very moment, Sandra evolves from being preoccupied with wealth and social status to falling for a man who has very little wealth and lives on a river barge in London. Their romance is complicated by unforeseen circumstances, including Sandra’s husband trying to make amends and Charlie’s past love life. Although much of the movie is an innocent feel-good movie, there are some sentimental moments in which life is brought down to earth through the universal aspects of aging, including grief and loss of loved ones. Overall, I found it to be a delightful British film filled with witty innocent humor and a realistic pinch of bittersweet emotions that is elevated by a terrific cast of characters.

You Were Never Really Here

Directed by critically acclaimed Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay who is best known for 2011’s We Need to Talk About Kevin, You Were Never Really Here is a very dark and sometimes disturbing film remarkable for its gritty atmosphere and superbly dedicated performance from Joaquin Phoenix. It follows the violent exploits of hired gun Joe, played by Golden Globe winner Phoenix in one of his best performances, as he takes on one of his toughest jobs rescuing girls from the criminal underworld. A powerful New York State Senator enlists Joe through the middleman McCleary, played by John Doman, to rescue his young daughter Nina, played by terrific newcomer Ekaterina Samsonov, from an underage sex ring in New York City. Effectively portraying Joe’s descent into madness, a majority of the movie shows Joe walking through the rough streets of New York City beset by intense hallucinations and traumatic flashbacks the result of his serious PTSD. The uncomfortable moments of insanity are heightened through the random use of jarring imagery and discordant music and sound effects. Surprisingly, it is a slow burn story that focuses on Joe struggling with his mental issues while investigating the whereabouts of the girl, only interrupted by scenes of extreme and sometimes graphic violence. Joe is a truly complicated figure who dispassionately kills people in brutal fashion primarily using a hammer; however, his actions are somewhat justified because the people that he is viciously attacking are truly repugnant bad guys trafficking young girls. Over the course of the plot, things go horribly awry as he stumbles into a vast conspiracy involving the Governor and corrupt police officers who murder those closest to him. Overall, I found it to be an unpleasant yet mesmerizing cinematic experience notable for the realistic performance from Joaquin Phoenix and the uniquely brilliant filmmaking style of Lynne Ramsay; as fair warning, it is definitely not for the faint of heart.