Review: 'The Letters'
Mother Teresa's 50-year epic journey from a cloistered nun to a renowned and iconic humanitarian is brought to the big screen in the drama The Letters. Director William Riead assembles a powerful cast to bring the letters Mother Teresa wrote to her spiritual advisor, Father Celest van Exem, to life. Her story is truly a fascinating one but, unfortunately, the film can't quite match the totality of the story, lacking the passion and vigor to keep our interest for the duration of its 114-minute runtime.
In the beginning, Sister Teresa was just another one of the many cloistered nuns living in the impoverished city of Calcutta, India's capital. One unsuspecting afternoon, she believes to have heard the voice of God call her to leave her current teaching position and serve the poor in the slums. This "call within a call", she writes in one letter, was the beginning of her true life's passion, becoming a voice for those in dire need of help and love. In 1950, she was elected to "Mother" after her self-started congregation- The Missionaries of Charity- was recognized by the pope and the church.
'The Letters' had the potential to be such a powerful, emotional, and laudable film with the word "Oscar" written all over it.
In a similar narrative style to The Notebook, Father Celest van Exem acts as a narrator using Mother Teresa's letters as the script. The story jumps from the past to present day, as the priests push her canonization into sainthood after her death in 1997. As far as performances go, Juliet Stevenson transforms into Mother Teresa, adopting her frail mannerisms and gentle soul. She exudes confidence and heroism as the driving force behind the story.
The biggest critique comes from the film's pacing. The beginning was so rushed, that in a state of confusion I actually had to rewind and rewatch the first few minutes to get a better understanding of the story. The second act- where Mother Teresa overcomes a hasty unwelcoming from the Hindus who distrusted her presence in their community because of her Catholic beliefs, to finally gaining their acceptance- takes it's time to build and develop. This is the crux of the story, so the attention paid here is expected, but then the third act rushes by too quickly. In the last few minutes of the film, she has accepted a Nobel Peace Prize, becomes a globally recognized and worshiped name, and has enlightened the world on her "call within a call".
The Letters had the potential to be such a powerful, emotional, and laudable film with the word "Oscar" written all over it. Instead, what we have here is a fair, melodramatic biopic that underwhelms when compared to what truly great work Mother Teresa accomplished.
The Letters is now playing in over 1,000 theaters nationwide including the Laemmle Playhouse 7, ArcLight, AMC, and Pacific Theaters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyAujrEur-U&feature=youtu.be
First Look at Sam vs Jeremiah in 'Sam Klemke's Time Machine'
Review: 'Kingdom of Shadows'
With all of the negativity and tragedy in the news lately, the last thing one wants to think about is another face of evil, but we cannot turn a blind eye to the ugly truths that are life's reality. This time, evilness comes in the form of rampant drug cartels in Mexico, whose utter disregard for human life is traumatizing it's own citizens. Kingdom of Shadows is a documentary that profiles three individuals trying to live among the corruption from Mexico's devastated city of Monterrey. Innocent people are dying and fingers are pointing blame in all directions, but one thing is made crystal clear- drugs in Mexico present a real problem and they come with deadly consequences.
The three people we follow through the film have all been personally affected by this ongoing war against drugs. Sister Consuelo Morales defiantly takes on the Mexican government in her quest for answers to support of the families whose loved ones have gone "missing". She acts as voice for the victims who believe the police and state officials know more than they are letting on. The second man is Don Henry Ford Jr., a rancher from Texas who was once a prominent marijuana smuggler. He crossed the Texas/Mexico border numerous times until he was eventually caught and jailed. He recounts his days of working for top Mexican drug lords as well as his regrets on the direction his life has gone.
However, director Bernardo Ruiz's documentary, much like this issue, cannot be ignored.
The third person, and by far the most interesting, is Oscar Hagelsieb. Once an undercover agent, Oscar, now a senior Homeland Security Officer, talks about his close encounters with smugglers and the daily fear for his safety and the safety of his family. Recovered video footage of his undercover work is so riveting, it is nearly impossible to look away.
Kingdom of Shadows is heavy handed, especially with its unfortunate release at a time when war and terror is an extremely sensitive subject. However, director Bernardo Ruiz's documentary, much like this issue, cannot be ignored. This is a country where mass graves are multiplying by the day and hundreds of innocent people are "disappearing". Kingdom of Shadows may not have the answers to solve the problem it presents onscreen, but educating viewers is the first step. There have been films before Shadows, like Cartel Land and Narco Cultura, and there will be more to come. Unfortunately, the subject matter in this film is becoming much too similar.
Kingdom of Shadows opens at the Downtown Independent in Downtown L.A., Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and on VOD this Friday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV1MfCRes2k
Review: 'Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict'
Art in Los Angeles has been an increasingly popular cultural activity lately; with the opening of the new contemporary art museum, The Broad, in Downtown LA, the millennial generation has seemed to put a bigger significance on experiencing art in person (whether or not this is just for social media purposes is a topic for another day). Today marks the release of a well-timed documentary that gives art lovers and creative types alike a colorful biography about one of the biggest influencers in art history, Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict.
Everyone who knew Peggy loved her for her eccentricity and uniqueness. An heiress to the Guggenheim family fortune, Peggy often called herself the "black sheep" of her upper-class family. She loved being the center of attention and even shaved off her eyebrows as a teenager in rebellion to her preception of society's pressure on young women at the time. Peggy reveals her tragic upbringing, which included the death of her father when he drowned aboard the Titanic, to her biographer in audio tapes that were long thought of as lost but thankfully have been found for audiences to enjoy.
From giving Jackson Pollock his first break to being credited as one of the first galleries to mix European and American art, Peggy's candidness and vulnerability when talking to Weld are both inspiring and heartbreaking.
Director Lisa Immordino Vreeland uncovered the recordings between Peggy and biographer/ author Jacqueline B. Weld in Weld's basement and upon hearing the tapes, knew Peggy's story had to be told. This interview would also be the last Peggy ever gave before her death and Vreeland treats the significance of these tapes with the utmost respect and care. The "who's who" of the avant-garde world, including Marina Abramovic and Larry Gagosian, the art dealer who owns the Gagosian Gallery chain of art galleries reminisce about Pegg and the life-changing contributions she made to the art world. From giving Jackson Pollock his first break to being credited as one of the first galleries to mix European and American art, Peggy's candidness and vulnerability while talking to Weld are both inspiring and heartbreaking.
Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict is just as diverse and spectacular as Ms. Guggenheim herself was. The film will leave viewers with a sense of wanderlust and admiration for a woman who helped define the art world as we know it. Guggenheim had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year and opens theatrically today.
Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict is now playing at the Nuart Theatre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8yy8Opyjcs
Charlie Kaufman, Jennifer Jason Leigh on 'Anomalisa'
With high winds (blaming that on the semi-decent audio quality) and only a few minutes to spare before the Anomalisa screening at the 2015 AFI FEST, Cinemacy had the opportunity to talk to Charlie Kaufman and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Our interview is short and sweet!
Anomalisa opens in select theaters on December 30, everywhere January 2016.
AFI Fest Review: 'Funny Bunny'
In the "American Independent" film category this year is director Alison Bagnall's oddball dark comedy Funny Bunny, an introspective look at a peculiar love triangle with three very quirky characters. Each one struggling with inner demons, they realize that their problems are what unites them, forming the most unlikeliest of friendships. Despite the lighthearted title, nothing is particularly funny about Funny Bunny, but it does leave one reflecting on human connections and the search for happiness.
Gene (Kentucker Audley) is a childhood obesity advocate who distracts himself from his failing marriage by going door-to-door in the hopes that someone will give him the five minutes he needs to get through his well-rehearsed pitch. When he knocks on the door of a large mansion, he is surprised to be greeted by a boy who calls himself Titty (Olly Alexander). Titty lives alone in the giant house and keeps himself entertained by pretending to be an owl and obsessing over a girl he knows only from her webcam antics, which include trying on wigs, sticking out her tongue in her array of funny faces, and playing with her bunny.
Reminiscent of last year's Felt, Funny Bunny is a good festival pick, and perfect for those with a taste for eccentric films.
The girl captures Titty's attention to the degree that he even goes so far as to donate money for her bunny's "medical bills". Gene relates to the desperation in Titty's face as he, himself, is dealing with heartache, and decides to help Titty meet the girl in person. When Titty and Gene finally meet Ginger (Joslyn Jensen) she doesn't seem to be as "together" as he imagined from her online persona. Ginger is obviously just as lost as the two of them. A self-proclaimed staunch, animal rights activist, Ginger convinces Gene and Titty to help her and her friends release pigs from a local farm. This shared experience allows the trio to foster a relationship strong enough to let their guard down and learn to trust again.
Funny Bunny does have some cool elements to the film but, unfortunately, there isn't one characteristic that is strong enough to leave a lasting impression past its festival run. As expected, the performances from Olly Alexander and Kentucker Audley are strong and likeable. Joslyn Jensen does a fine job, but it isn't until the near end of the film when she is really given a platform to display her acting abilities. It is Ginger's total breakdown proves to be one of the best scenes of the film. Slightly reminiscent of last year's Felt, Funny Bunny is a good festival pick, and perfect for those with a taste for eccentric films.
Funny Bunny will be released in select NY theaters on November 13th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TNAR094FKw
AFI FEST 2015
As each fall season brings the year’s Academy Award-vying Oscar hopeful films, so to brings AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi, which CINEMACY attended this former weekend. Held in the heart of Hollywood at (formerly Grauman’s) TCL Chinese Theatre, the film festival features an impressive range of diverse films and special events, where new American Independent films play alongside documentaries from the Netherlands and feature-length narratives from China, and beyond. The festival’s opening night film this past Thursday was the highly anticipated drama By The Sea, directed by Angelina Jolie who also co-stars alongside her husband, Brad Pitt. The closing film premiers on Thursday and is another hyped title, The Big Short, starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, and Ryan Gosling.
Once again, the CINEMACY team set out to cover a wide variety of different films this year, look for our reviews throughout the week, and even a few of these titles to come out in theaters soon!
Review: 'Heart of a Dog'
A melancholic, yet beautiful, tribute to the human experience, artist/ director Laurie Anderson's Heart of a Dog combines animation, stock footage, and personal home movies to create a phenomenal experimental film, proving especially powerful for those of us who love dogs. The passing of her rat terrier Lolabelle, whom she not so subtly describes as her child, serves as the catalyst for the film. At just over an hour runtime, Heart of a Dog is a meditative journey through one woman's experience of love and loss that creates an unforgettable cinematic watch.
Technically, Heart of a Dog is categorized as a documentary, but it is more of a personal essay film as there is no true linear story to speak of. It plays out as a series of thoughts randomly connecting in Anderson's brain; the anecdotes about her childhood, the effects of 9/11, and the similarities between a dog's fears and our own are all explored and met with stark conclusions.
Fans of performance artist Marina Abramović may find similarities in Anderson's work and visual presentation, but is really a film for everyone so long as you are open to the experience and remain open-minded.
Some of the most interesting moments are when we see Anderson's daily life through her dog's point of view. The audience gets up close and personal with a slobbering bulldog, we cross the busy New York City streets and travel through the tall fields near the California coastline all from the perspective of her K9 companion. This, of course, is when Lolabelle still had her sight. Once her vision started to go, Anderson creatively found ways to keep Lolabelle's spirits up by teaching her how to play the piano and sculpt with clay. Granted, these things are near impossible to "teach" a dog, but the footage of Lolabelle enjoying these activities in her old age is one of the sweetest things I have ever seen.
Anderson, a Buddhist, has a way of speaking that puts the audience at ease. Her talk of death is not morbid, but rather wondrous, as she states she is not afraid of dying, "I came from the sky and knew that one day I would go back," and, "The process of death is the release of love." In the Tibetan afterlife the deceased, including Lolabelle, go through a 45 day decompressing period where their spirit and energy is transferred to their next life. It is comforting for Anderson to know Lolabelle will soon enjoy life on earth again, and instead of feeling lonely or sad for herself, she passes the time by painting murals of Lolabelle, which can be seen in the above picture.
Fans of performance artist Marina Abramović may find similarities in Anderson's work and visual presentation, but this is really a film for everyone so long as you are able to surrender to the experience and remain open-minded. Those going through a difficult time will especially find solace in Heart of a Dog as Anderson's spiritual knowledge is applicable to so many life situations. All around a daring and moving experience that deserves to be seen.
Heart of a Dog opens in Los Angeles at the Nuart today, national expansion to follow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnKVjZfKhYs