'After So Many Days' Review: Newlywed Musicians Risk It All
Chasing a dream is often unrealistic, especially in the arts, because there can be high risks with little to no reward. Enter Jim and Sam, a band who’ve been playing together the last 10 years with the goal of building a real following. Though they have recorded albums and had some success, they have never had the following they envisioned. Having married 6 months earlier, Jim Hanft and Samantha Yonack decide to take their future into their own hands. They have one goal: play a live show every night for a year. Through the insanity of canceled tours and being together 24/7, Jim and Sam keep their love of music–and each other–as their North Star. The laughter and genuine connection make After So Many Days a must-watch for all.
Jim and Sam’s path as musicians trying to grow a following is not a unique endeavor, but their fearlessness to film their journey, warts and all, shows a vulnerability that not many are willing to explore. The film does not have a script or a production crew, but the unpolished, earnest nature of the filming adds to the charm that is their music. After So Many Days captures what Jim and Sam love doing most: playing music for people.
The most meaningful performances are the ones in unusual locations: a laundromat, a bodega, a gondola lift, and a nail salon; and these are where Jim and Sam find their own version of success. After So Many Days does not end with the fanbase they wanted, per se, but with a greater appreciation and understanding of why they love music: the connection. Back home after their last performance, Jim wearily encapsulates the worth of their adventure: “Music uplifts, it feels, it connects us all.” Jim Hanft and Sam Yonack's ability to build connections with those who gave them a chance and let them perform was far more rewarding than the fan base they thought they needed.
After So Many Days shows us how the pursuit of an idealized dream can be surpassed by our love for one another. We all yearn to connect and be understood, and this film is another way to unite us all. I am proud to say I am now a lifelong fan of Jim and Sam, and can’t wait to feel their magic and connection whenever performances can resume!
Distributed by Gravitas Ventures, 'After So Many Days' is now available on iTunes and Amazon, and will screen at Nashville Film Festival.
Truth, Lies, and COVID-19: 'Totally Under Control' is An Exposé You Need To See
With the presidential election 3 weeks away, it is not surprising that directors Alex Gibney, Ophelia Harutyunyan, and Suzanne Hillinger made sure their doc Totally Under Control, a look at the current administration’s mishandling of the Coronavirus pandemic, was completed and released as soon as possible. In order to conduct their interviews, the filmmakers and their crew ensured social distancing and secure camera setups, going as far as making “COVID Cams,” which were built offsite and delivered to the interviewees. For most Americans, the onslaught of news coverage has kept us all abreast, but Gibney, Harutyunyan, and Hillinger further expose the failures of the current administration and confirm that they better start packing.
Every doctor, health expert, and government official interviewed agreed that a pandemic was an inevitable threat and reality for the US. Dr. Rick Bright, BARDA Director from 2016-2020, explains that in 2019 the federal government conducted an exercise simulating a pandemic that used a highly lethal influenza that started in Asia. Not only is this eerily similar to Coronavirus and should have guided those in power with their decision making, but the biggest offenses came from a complete disregard to this data and playbook. Dr. Bright went into a meeting with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, and used the data from the exercise to answer questions about how much money would be needed. His answer of $10 billion came from the 2019 exercise data and, as Dr. Bright put it, “ruffled feathers” and “created a shitstorm” resulting in Azar not inviting him to meetings for a while as a form of punishment.
An unsurprising takeaway from the doc is the downplay and disregard towards the research, science, and data during the early months of the pandemic. Dr. Mike Bowen, Executive Vice President of Prestige Ameritech, voted for 45 in 2016 and contacted the administration about the need to open US manufacturing of N95 masks multiple times. Instead, the CDC changed the guidelines to not use masks and specifically not N95. Furthermore, the documentary gets its title from an actual quote from 45 when asked what he was doing about COVID-19. The lying is second nature. Footage from his rallies is a disgusting display of ego-stroking and manipulation while the country dove headfirst into a recession with more than 200,000 deaths from his apathy.
Filming completed on October 1st, and the next day 45 tested positive for COVID-19. The irony is not lost on any of us, but if anyone thinks this will lead to any meaningful action then they are just as disillusioned as he is. Totally Under Control speaks to the importance of voting, and why we need to ensure that it is taken seriously in this election. This administration cannot continue. Please, make sure you have a voting plan, do meaningful research, and then vote!
Distributed by NEON, Totally Under Control is available On-Demand Tuesday, October 13, 2020, and on Hulu October 20, 2020.
'Siempre, Luis' Invites You to Meet the Latinx Activist That Inspired "Hamilton"
Luis Miranda’s name may not be as well known as his son’s, multiple Tony award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, but by the end of Siempre, Luis it is his name that you will always remember. This is director John James’ first documentary and he does an extraordinary job of creating a compelling portrait of an unbreakable man who is passionate about his family, his work, and his home of Puerto Rico.
Luis was known by his siblings as “the brain” and his parents had high expectations. He reminisced about the pressure to perform well in school, saying that if he brought home a mark of 95, his mother’s first question was, “Did anyone get 100?” His gut told him that he was meant for more, outside of Puerto Rico. In 1970, he moved to New York to attend NYU and quickly became a leader and liaison for the Latinx community. Luis helped his community organize their needs and voice into active voting. He demonstrated to the candidates how vital Latinx voters are by creating strategic campaigning for Latinx communities that hadn’t been done before. He worked on the campaign for Mayor Ed Koch as the Director of Hispanic Affairs, as well as Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the Senate, both of which won. His work on these campaigns and countless others created the space for Latinx politics and culture to be heard, listened to, and represented.
With impactful and touching interviews from Miranda, his family, and those who worked with him, James creates the portrait of an unbreakable man whose family and country come first, always. Luis looks at every challenge head-on and is never scared by them–so it’s easy to see how the apple (Lin-Manuel) inherited these qualities from the tree. The source of Lin-Manuel’s inspiration for his character Alexander Hamilton in his revolutionary musical Hamilton is clear, Luis is non-stop. Even after his heart attack in 2016, Luis would help Lin-Manuel open Hamilton at the University of Puerto Rico as a way to help rebuild after Hurricane Maria hit in 2017. Protests from employees seeking tuition reform for their children threatened the opening, but Luis found a way. In the short 4 week run, they raised almost $15 million for the arts and made sure that local Puerto Ricans had a set price of $10 a ticket, while tourists paid full price.
Siempre, Luis tells the beautiful story of a unique, proud immigrant who found a way to live his American dream and keep Puerto Rico closest to his heart. Miranda is passion and devotion personified. Lin-Manuel lovingly says that his father, “...is a relentless motherfucker,” and in the living nightmare that is 2020, I think we could have our leaders aspire to model themselves after Luis Miranda.
Distributed by HBO, Siempre, Luis is now playing on HBO and HBO Max, and On-Demand October 7, 2020.
'All In: The Fight for Democracy' is Your Look at Voter Suppression and How To Stop It
Quick Take: While it may feel easier to tune-out the current political, environmental, and emotional chaos of 2020, I urge you to engage with this defiant and informative documentary masterpiece about voter suppression.
With the 2020 presidential election soon approaching, we are still living in a pandemic, our economy is deep in a recession, and political unrest has led to parties weaponizing human rights to gain favor and power. And while it may feel easier to tune-out or self-preserve, I urge you to engage with the defiant and informative masterpiece that is All In: The Fight for Democracy. Lisa Cortés and Liz Garbus’ documentary shows how voter suppression has been instrumental in keeping Black voices silenced not only in the past but today.
The documentary follows Stacey Abrams, a voting rights activist, lawyer, and author, as she fights for the governor seat in Georgia. After barely losing to former Secretary of State Brian Kemp, Abrams continues to use her platform to combat voter suppression by shining a light on it. We hear from a variety of voices like Andrew Young, Eric Foner, and Lauren Groh-Wargo, who each add their own experience and expertise. This brings out an awful truth: voter suppression is a constantly evolving monster. Even during the time of Coronavirus, we see how voter suppression has evolved in most states’ primary elections and the ongoing debate around mail-in ballots.
All In teaches a necessary civics lesson and focuses on the hypocrisy of “All men are created equal.” The racism that our country is founded on has been prevalent throughout every political decision and tactic. The current Black Lives Matter movement reaffirms this fact. Our reputation of “Home of the Free, Land of the Brave” may have you wonder why it is so difficult to vote today, and the simple answer is power. Abrams says it best, “When elected officials feel that they may not have the power anymore, they have two choices: They can either be more responsive to those they lead, or they can eliminate the people they have to answer to.” Our representatives continually stand on the necks of our Black citizens because the idea of losing their position is greater than the lives they were elected to serve.
All In: The Fight for Democracy shows us the harsh realities that many voters face, but it does give us hope. Hope that we can do our best by exercising our right to vote. Hope that we can change with this election. Hope that we will not regress. Hope that we can become the America we always said we were.
Distributed by Amazon Studios, All In: The Fight For Democracy will be available on Amazon and drive-in theatres on September 18, 2020.
'Lingua Franca' Holds a Mirror to Evaluate Our Role in Transphobia and Anti-Immigration Reform
Quick Take: One of the most important films of 2020, Lingua Franca is a subtle and sensual story giving its audience a mirror with which to evaluate their role in transphobia and anti-immigration reform.
2020 has been a year of firsts: a global pandemic, masks as a necessity, education and jobs moving online. But the monumental achievement is the landmark film, Lingua Franca, making history as the first film directed and starring an openly trans woman of color, the deft and brilliant Isabel Sandoval. Sandoval’s voice as the screenwriter, lead actor, editor, and co-producer is a gift. She shares her experience and struggles with the audience, not to mention, her character has depth and intimacy never before seen due to the lack of representation historically for transgender voices.
The film is set in our current political world with 45’s fear-mongering hostility against immigration and gender identity impending and looming. Olivia (Isabel Sandoval) is an undocumented transgender Filipina woman working as a caretaker to an elderly Russian-American, Olga (Lynn Cohen), in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach. The only way she can rid the constant fear of ICE raids and anti-immigration news is marriage and leaving love out of the equation. The constant panic and fear tap into the migrant experience, trying to make a life in a country whose citizens are spoon-fed rhetoric that immigrants are the enemy. When Olga's grandson Alex (Eamon Farren) comes back home after his time in some form of rehabilitation, he lives with Olga and becomes fascinated with Olivia.
"Lingua Franca" means a language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different. Nothing could better describe the relationship between Olivia and Alex. In the beginning, their interactions are focused on Alex learning Olga’s routine and how to care for her, and grows into a genuine interest in Olivia and her culture. As they become more intimate, they find their language but the secrets between them only continue to grow. The long pauses and tension between Alex and Olivia communicate far more than words ever could. Sandoval is a genius in these moments as she uses subtlety and framing, rather than heavy-handed dialogue and forecasting, to show Olivia’s isolation and true desire for love and romance
Lingua Franca is a subtle and sensual story giving its audience a mirror with which to evaluate their role in transphobia and anti-immigration reform. Isabel Sandoval shows us the heartbreak and living terror immigrant trans women experience in America daily. She has made a film with cultural currency and a story that needs to be seen by all.
Distributed by ARRAY Releasing, Lingua Franca is available on Netflix this Friday, August 28, 2020.
'Chemical Hearts' Will Get You In Your Feelings
Quick Take: Lili Reinhart gives a phenomenal performance in this YA adaptation, which sentimentally captures the fiery nature of teenage feelings.
When we fall in love, our brains are flooded with dopamine and serotonin, also known as the “love drugs.” This chemical concoction makes that attraction addictive. For Henry Page (Austin Abrams) this reaction happens almost immediately when he and Grace Town (Lili Reinhart) are partnered as Editors in Chief for their school newspaper in Amazon Studios' new film Chemical Hearts. Like many teenage romance films, this story is based on the Young Adult novel Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sullivan and the title refers to the chemical reactions in the brain that result from love.
What sets this romantic drama apart from the rest is writer/director Richard Tanne’s use of adolescent struggle and pain. Through Henry and Grace, we see that you cannot force your love on a person if they aren't ready. Tanne uses the idea of brain chemistry and chemical connections to heighten Henry’s attraction and tireless desire to be with her. But for Grace, the attraction is a welcomed distraction from the everyday reminder that her great love is gone forever.
Abrams and Reinhart’s carefully crafted characters are the most addicting part of this film. Abrams uses small, perfectly timed gestures and pauses to show Henry’s indecisive nature and eagerness to be with Grace. Nothing was more relatable than watching Henry try to craft a perfect text to send, one that would get Grace to respond, only to quickly erase it and sigh an admittance that that tactic is the worst. It's realistic and relatable, not to mention cueing my own memories of doing the same. Reinhart gives Grace layers and depth that show the intricacies and nuances of grief, and how depression can be incapacitating. She has been open about her personal journey with depression making this performance not only grounded but phenomenal.
Although the stereotypical teenage clichés are sprinkled throughout, Chemical Hearts captures the fiery nature of teenage feelings. Though we want our love story to be perfect and simple, Tanne reminds us that we all have cracks, and the hard part isn’t finding love but accepting ourselves.
Distributed by Amazon Studios, Chemical Hearts is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video today.
Mental Illness, Jesus Proclamations Fuel 'Three Christs'
Based on the book “The Three Christs of Ypsilanti” by Dr. Milton Rokeach, an empathetic doctor finds three patients who all believe they are Christ and begins to explore their identities altogether, in one room, believing there is a better way to treat and help the mentally ill rather than abiding by the industry standard.
Three Christs begins with Dr. Alan Stone (Richard Gere) recording notes for a trial. Right away, we are alerted that something went wrong, he is accused of or a witness to something terrible, and the film will focus on the mishaps of this study.
In the summer of 1959, Dr. Stone decides to leave his job and begins work at Michigan’s Ypsilanti State Hospital to study paranoid schizophrenics. Rather than using the techniques of his colleagues (electroshock therapy, inducing comas, drugs, and lobotomies), he wants to use group conversations, compassion, and understanding as treatment. This is unheard of and leads to many subplots of deception and manipulation by hospital chief Dr. Orbus (Kevin Pollak) who is skeptical of Dr. Stone’s altruism.
The three patients (Peter Dinklage, Walton Goggins, Bradley Whitford) have different and distinct personalities which are the most enthralling and interesting parts of the storytelling. Joseph Cassel (Dinklage) comes from an abusive upbringing and uses escapism to handle and manage the trauma. He uses an English persona to create his Christ and longs to visit England to continue his mission and ministry. Though the script has moving dialogue, it is Dinklage’s subtlety and nuance that make Cassel vulnerable and someone to champion.
While the male characters seem to have a clear motivation, Dr. Stone’s wife, Ruth (Julianna Margulies), does not. She is a brilliant psychiatrist as well, but decided to be a chemistry teacher. It is disheartening that Margulies' character is so underdeveloped; she is used as a function for Dr. Stone and his brilliance without one of her own. At the beginning of the film, she is seen as a strong, intelligent woman who quotes Freud and has a strong sex drive. By the middle of the film, she is consumed by jealousy and driven to drink because her husband has a young, attractive research assistant (which is how she and Dr. Stone met). This arc does nothing to further the study, or pose a conflict to Gere’s character’s mission. One begins to wonder why she is included in the narrative at all if the story could be told without her.
Although grounded in a historical study that challenged the inhumane treatment of mental illness, Three Christs does not play as a genuine nor thought-provoking film. The rising action and climax are predictable and detract from what could have been a strong message about our human dignity and duty. I wanted the entire film to push my comfort zone, to make me question what archaic, outdated practices are still standard in the 21st century, and then to strive to make them better.
THREE CHRISTS (2020)
Starring Richard Gere, Peter Dinklage, Walton Goggins, Bradley Whitford
Directed by Jon Avnet
Written by Jon Avnet and Eric Nazarian
Distributed by IFC Films. 117 minutes.
Now playing at Laemmle’s Monica Film Center.
'Light From Light' Explores the Meaning and Mystery of Life
From the trailer alone, one would expect Light from Light to be a classic paranormal thriller with jumps and ghosts galore. Instead, writer-director Paul Harrill gives us a character-driven drama that explores our human desire to create a life with purpose, and along that journey, we create our own internal ghosts. With the help of Greta Zozula’s cinematic eye behind the lens and the soft sounds of Adam Granduciel and Jon Natchez’s score, we enter a world where Shelia and Richard are haunted by past pains and recent traumas, and their journey together will lead to enormous revelations.
Shelia (Marin Ireland) is a single mother who has “the gift” of prophetic dreaming. At the beginning of the film, we watch Shelia’s radio interview about her career in paranormal investigation and her recent departure from that field. Shelia shows evidence of a jaded and reluctant self-image through the story of her first dream at eight-years-old. That experience gave her the “gift,” however, as she grows and continues sharing her dreams, she is asked if she’s a believer. Shelia expertly avoids answering the question, not sure what she believes in.
Richard (Jim Gaffigan) is recently widowed. His wife died in a private plane crash and now believes that her spirit is trying to communicate to him. From his keys being moved to where she stood in their kitchen to their bedroom lights flickering, Richard is searching for answers and what his purpose is now. When Shelia agrees to investigate, she brings her son Owen (Josh Wiggins) and his study partner Lucy (Atheena Frizzell) to help. Lucy is sweet and open about her feelings towards Owen. Conversely, he is protective and curbs the potential romance. He admits that he could fall in love with her, but with differing plans after graduation, he bluntly states, “...why get together if we know it’s going to end?” Little do any of them know that this exploration into paranormal phenomena will give them little clarity into the afterlife, but shine a light on how to best live the life they have, now.
Ireland and Gaffigan give performances that are modest and delicate yet rich in sensitivity. Those familiar with Ireland’s depth onstage will continue to be in awe at her sincerity and realism. Her interactions with Gaffigan show the gentle touch of a woman who wants to comfort and help, yet doesn’t understand how to turn inward. Fans of Gaffigan will expect a performance with hilarity but be delighted at the earnestness he brings.
The most impressive aspect of Harrill's script is that we are not given any solid, concrete answers. Harrill lets the audience draw its own meaning from the ending. This shifts the focus from “Is Richard being haunted?” to a study of how humans create a life of meaning with incomplete knowledge. And if the title is any indicator, we can gain light from life’s mysteries if we allow ourselves. – Ashley DeFrancesco
LIGHT FROM LIGHT (2019)
Starring: Marin Ireland, Jim Gaffigan, Josh Wiggins, Atheena Frizzell, David Cale
Directed by: Paul Harrill
Written by: Paul Harrill
Distributor: Grasshopper Film
Running time: 82 minutes
Playing: Opens this Friday at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre