You guys. This event is going to be AMAZING! I mentioned it in my Face the Music roundup, but I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss it.  

DJ Larry Mizell Jr. has curated a kick-ass crew of hip hop musicians to re-imagine The Wiz at Emerald City Visions (A Hip Hop Reinterpreation of The Wiz)!!! OC Notes reinterprets the classic music, live performances of Don’t Talk to the Cops and Metal Chocolates, and video mixing by DJ DV-One. I love these one-of-kind events at SIFF. So even though it’s the same night as our Rockstar New Wave Karaoke bash, I’m recommending it! (psst: if you go to the 7pm show, you can still make it to Chop Suey to sing with us < / shameless plug >!!!)

AND! We’ve got a pair of tickets to giveaway!!! Just send a note to tig {at} threeimaginarygirls {dot} com with the subject line "Ease on Down the Road". We'll pick a winner on Monday, 5/28, so be sure to get your email in to us before then for a chance to win.

{Emerald City Visions (A Hip Hop Reinterpretation of The Wiz) | Friday, June 1 | The Triple Door | 7pm All Ages| 9:30pm 21+| $15, $13 SIFF Members}

{Robot and Frank screens May 20, 6:00 PM at Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center.}

The near future, as imagined by Jake Schrier in his feature film debut Robot and Frank, forgoes silver jumpsuits and flying cars in favor of a refreshingly plausible iteration, where the principal difference between now and then are that the adults are named Madison and Hunter and Ava and Jake, and helper robots are around to cook and clean for, say, crotchety ex-cat-burglars like Frank Langella’s Frank, whose declining memory and the legacy of his lousy parenting skills make him an ideal candidate for robotic assistance. No one, even his own children, could reasonably be expected to put up with him for long, but the robot, who’s programmed to be somewhat charmingly emotionally manipulative, teases out the best in him.

The movie makes a few tonal missteps (rookie mistakes, most likely) and has an entirely unnecessary and implausible twist towards the end, but otherwise it’s completely enjoyable.

more...

While I'm rapidly falling behind the prolific SIFF madman Imaginary Embracey in number of films viewed (yes, I'm jealous) I had a few picks to share for this weekend. As well as a counterpoint to offer on Sleepwalk With Me. ;-)

I'm sure there are a ton of other great things playing and I'm looking forward to checking out some of the recommends from Imaginary Embracey's list myself. This list is limited to films I can vouch for in advance. My full thoughts on everything I've seen, or at least written about can be found in other spots online if you're planning further in advance than this weekend.

In no particular order...

Las Acacias (Argentina) - A tired, grizzled truck driver's boss asks him to give a ride to a woman traveling to Argentina with her baby. He doesn't want her there. The baby is preternaturally cute. There's not a lot of talking, a lot of mate consumption, and in the end an understated super-compelling film. In keeping with the less is more ethos of the filmmaker I'm just going to say you should buy a ticket. I'll wait... Seriously, I loved this film which was one of the most beautiful surprises for me at Palm Springs 2012. And I only walked in by mistake because something else was booked. You on the other hand dear reader, have no such excuse. Add it to your schedule now!

Sleepwalk With Me - Comedian/director Mike Birbiglia takes us along for a thinly veiled autobiographical ride as he becomes an accomplished performer, plans his wedding, simultaneously contemplates whether he wants to get married and struggles with a remarkably dangerous sleepwalking problem. We're always hearing how great comedy comes from great personal pain. But it's rare for a film to demonstrate it so convincingly. This moving picture that has a lot of bits some of us may feel more than a little uncomfortable with due to self recognition. But it's hilarious and directly shows that process of turning real life trauma into hilarious stand-up.

My Sucky Teen Romance - With a bright pop look to it, some amusing dialog and earnest, likable (albeit not super slick) performances populating it I think it's hard not to enjoy My Sucky Teen Romance.  It's not a parody of vampire films, at least not a full on one.  Instead it feels more like a tragic romantic comedy that does get some of its laughs at the expense of Twilight and a trial and error process of figuring out which vampire lore applies in the kid's particular situation.  With many a nod towards the fact that it's hard out there for the teens...  If you're a mass consumer of vampire pop-culture I'd say My Sucky Teen Romance is definitely worth your time. There's a more comprehensive review lurking out there if you'd like to read more.

more...

A gritty South African noir, a gorgeous French-Canadian melodrama, and a cloying gay "message movie" from right here in the US of A are among the hits and misses on offer during SIFF 2012's first full week.  

Highlights for Monday-Sunday, 5/21 - 5/27:

DON'T MISS:

Elena
{screens May 24 at 7pm at Pacific Place}
Gripping, stylish, gorgeously crafted Russian tale of a coveted bequest, pitiless class conflict, and the misdeeds of a tenuous marriage. He's rich, in poor health, and drawing up a will; her lazy son's trashy family needs dough. But noted filmmaker Andrei Zvyaginstev (The Return) doesn't allow their story to follow any prescribed path. Tension arrives in slight movements and subtle unravelings; it's a beautifully slow burn, and patience is rewarded manifold. Feast your eyes.

How to Survive a Plague
{screens May 21 at 9pm at Pacific Place}
Outsiders throughout history have been organizing to solve seemingly insurmountable problems; the dilemma du jour in mid-'80s NYC was the AIDS crisis. This marvelously thorough documentary focuses on organizations ACT-UP and TAG, their struggles with prevailing ideas of the day and their roles in the mid-'90s breakthrough of combination therapy. Via amazing archival footage we see the activists age and progress over the course of three presidential administrations and millions of deaths. A passionate and extraordinarily moving account of a hard-won turning point.

The Imposter
{screens May 23 at 8:30pm at the Uptown, May 29 at 9pm at the Harvard Exit}
Spellbinding, infuriating, beautifully executed documentary thriller about a French Algerian mystery-man who in 1997 passed himself off as a missing San Antonio teen, fooling international officials and (most astoundingly) the boy's actual family. Queasiness in the first half ends abruptly when an awesomely old-school local P.I. rolls in (complete with Johnny Cash fanfare) and gets the show on the road, leading the crazy-ass story to an edge-of-your-seat climax. The film satisfies, even if the real-life outcomes do not.

more...

Here we go again! Our local month-long cine-megathon hits this Thursday, with Lynn Shelton's fantastic new film Your Sister's Sister -- Imaginary Amie's favorite opening night selection in seven years -- headlining the kickoff festivities.

But then what? Well, of the twenty opening weekend features I've been able to catch in advance, I've come across handful of absolute must-sees, a couple of total stinkeroos, and a whole slew of mid-level entertainments with at least a lil' somethin' to enjoy (and usually a lil' somethin' not to enjoy, too).

And if these early films are any indication, well, fasten your seatbelts. It's gonna be a bumpy SIFF.

Are you ready? Well, we are. Highlights for Friday-Sunday, 5/18-5/20:

DON'T MISS:

Ai WeiWei: Never Sorry
{screens May 18 at 6:30pm and May 19 at 4pm at Pacific Place}
Ai Weiwei is arguably China's most polarizing contemporary artist, frequently harassed by authorities for conveying (through his art and otherwise) criticisms of his government's blatant disregard for civil rights and heinous lack of transparency. Filmmaker Alison Klayman got amazing access to Ai himself and makes great use of archival footage in crafting a compelling portrait. But even after the artist finds himself silenced, it's really the work that speaks, however large in scale, boldly and beautifully.

Elena
{screens May 18 at 11am and May 24 at 7pm at Pacific Place}
Gripping, stylish, gorgeously crafted Russian tale of pitiless class conflict, a coveted bequest, and the misdeeds of a tenuous marriage. He's rich, in poor health, and drawing up a will; her lazy son's trashy family needs dough. But noted filmmaker Andrei Zvyaginstev (The Return) doesn't allow their story to follow any prescribed path. Tension arrives in slight movements and subtle unravelings; it's a beautifully slow burn, and patience is rewarded manifold. Feast your eyes.

more...

{Running 11/25 through 11/29, at the SIFF Film Center. Tickets $10, $5 for SIFF members. SIFF passes and vouchers are available at the Box Office.}

Clarence Reid was a hell of an R&B/pop rock music writer and performer, starting in 1959 and finding an apex crafting a calvalcade of passionate soul sides for Paul Kelly, KC & the Sunshine Band, Betty Wright, Ann Sexton, and Gwen McCrae in the pre-disco boom years of 1971 to 1975. Reid's own naturally powerful, from-the-gut bark-croon can be heard on many universally appealing love songs on his own records too, even after the point that he invented the "dirty rapper" supervillain persona Blowfly.

The tightly structured new biographical documentary The Weird World of Blowfly doesn't actually tell us how Reid became this nasty-ass, darkly humorous, always obscene, dressed-as-a-ghetto-wrestler, emerging (or hiding) from a promising and succesful soul-pop singer/songwriter. The expert pacing, editing, and shooting isn't about revealing much overt internal history or intentions, if any is to be gleaned. It doesn't even give us backstory on what this sort of character usually means in music either black or white (think controversial C&W iconoclast David Allan Coe wearing his mask too and singing dirty around the same time as Reid's morphing).

But it does catch us up with the 72 year-old mutant of punk and hip-hop and satirical smut, and touches many emotional bases on what may have been the psychological triggers that blew up into The Weird World of Blowfly. That's the 1971 depraved-sounding debut which viciously mocked politeness-driven soft rock and R&B with fart jokes and a whole lot of scat references, and is almost as recurrent in underground semi-pop music circles as Gil Scott-Heron, and surely as much as Tiny Tim.

more...

{Best of SIFF 2011 screenings take place June 17-19 at SIFF Cinema.}

You may have noticed we've hushed up about SIFF these last couple of days. That's because SIFF 2011 is a thing of the past. Did you miss out, despite our daily urgings to see this Alaskan crime thriller or that Spanish period drama? Are you kicking yourself for foregoing Seattle's month-long megalomaniac cinemathon yet again?

Well, you have a few chances for redemption. That's right, just when you thought it was safe to go back to Seattle Center, an action-packed three-day Best of SIFF 2011 program invades SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall this weekend (6/17 - 6/19), and will feature a mix of (mostly very deservingly-honored) Jury Award winners, Golden Space Needle Audience Award winners and fest favorites. So, you can partake of films you missed the first time 'round (shame on you) or revisit your SIFF favorites one more time (on the big screen instead of Netflix).

The full lineup, along with the intrepid TIG SIFF team's takes on the selections we reviewed, after the jump.

more...

Well, it's OVER once again! SIFF 2011 was a whirlwind of great films, Q&As, gabbing with other film nerds, happy hours, and parties. I'm sad it's over, but like most SIFF fans, I probably need a break before it starts all over again next year. In total, I saw 26 films (which honestly pales in comparison to say, Imaginary Rich, who is probably somewhere near 80), but there was so much goodness that I was able to pick ten favorites.

Watch for these to get locally-released, on demanded, or DVDd: 

A Cat in Paris: An awesome kitty cat named Dino lives a double life on the rooftops of Paris traveling between two houses: one, a police officer and her daughter, and other a crafty cat burglar. Beautiful animation, a swingy retro jazz soundtrack, and a funny/moving story. LOVED, loved, loved this.

Beginners: (this one is playing right NOW at The Harvard Exit!) Both quirky romance and a love letter to family, this one manages to be touching without being cloying. McGregor, Laurent, and Plummer all rock it - and the dog adds just the right touch of cute. 

Late Autumn: A woman let out of prison for 48 hours to attend her mother's funeral and a gigolo who's on the run from a customer's angry husband connect when they run into each on the bus. Depressing? Sure. But lovely all the same, plus lots of great Seattle scenery.

more...

I have to admit I was skeptical about this based on the description as it could have easily been cheesy and cliche, but Poupouidou (Nobody Else but You) turned out to be an atmospheric French thriller with some pretty fantastic performances.

Detective novelist David Roussea (Jean-Paul Rove) travels to the snowy town of Mouthe for a will reading when the murder of local cheese model/weather girl Candice Lecouer sparks an idea for his next book. It seems Candice believed she was the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe (and her path to fame and death certainly mimics the tragic star's own story).

While reading Lecouer's diaries, Roussea starts to fall for her and becomes determined to solve her murder - which proves problematic when the killer starts targeting him as well. Beautiful scenery, and I'm not gonna lie - a beautiful actress (Sophie Quinton is fantastic) - completely suck you into this film, and even though you think you know where the story's going, you're in for a few surprises.

{Poupoupidou screens at SIFF one more time, Sunday 6/12, 1:30pm at the Neptune}

more...

Ghost stories with legitimate scares are hard to come by - but this one definitely does it up right. The Village of Shadows starts out by telling a story within a story as two carloads of friends are headed towards a secluded town called Ruiflec for a nice, relaxing vacation-- until they get there and discover it's totally abandoned and CREEPY AS HELL.

The film jumps right into the action when one group discovers the other's empty car in the middle of the road, doors open, and covered in mud. As if that weren't disturbing enough, the vacation house is a depressing pit of despair and a haven for spirits that seem to possess the power to kill. Ohheygreat.

With overtones of both El Orphanato and The Devil's Backbone, plus a ghosty kid that rivals both Sadako from Ringu and that creeptastic dead boy from Ju-on, this French/German horror flick has got it goin' on. Nice atmosphere, and nice job with the twists - not to mention some seriously scary protagonists (the makeup and wigs from the flashbacks will haunt me FOREVER). Go see it!

{The Village of Shadows screens at SIFF on Saturday, 6/11, midnight at The Egyptian, and again on Sunday, 6/12, 9:15pm at The Neptune}

more...