More SXSW Movie Reviews

3.17.07
The best movie today was I'm a Cyborg but That's Ok. It was a funny story with many Amelie-esque fantastical occurrences. This is also in my SXSW top 3 movies. I'm a Cyborg...is exactly the type of movie I go nuts over. I loved it so much I refused to see any night films. It's like when you forgo the mint because the meal was so divine you want the taste to last as long as possible.

3.16.07
Today I watched the documentary Audience of One. It was a great illustration of how extreme faith can lead a group of people into great financial debt and plunge them into lunacy. There is a parallel to the Bush mantra "stay the course". The reverend of a pentecostal church has a vision to make a sci-fi movie about Joseph. He has no movie making knowledge and refuses to listen to expert advise because "it's in God's hands". Well disaster and hilarity ensue culminating in 3 wasted years and millions of dollars of debt. This was SO disturbing it was funny, especially with his 8 point plan for the church including: make 47 movies a year (they couldn't make 1), to develop organic computer chips, establish an airline with resorts all over the world and be the first group to inhabit another planet. It's almost incredible that this was a real documentary.

The Danish movie, After the Wedding takes place in Denmark and India. I put this in the top 3 movies of my SXSW film rankings. I was impressed by the extreme contrast between the two locations of an Indian orphanage and a wealthy Danish family's mansion because both locations are uniquely beautiful. The never a dull moment story line is engrossing.

3.15.07
Maybe Baby is a documentary about single women in their 30's and 40's using invitro fertilization to have children. I enjoyed this film because it showcases the emotions and actions that stem from a strong natural drive.

I also saw August Evening and would have enjoyed it except it dragged out too much. It was too long and that's bad coming from someone who LOVES long movies. The actors were great and I would be raving but I was daydreaming of a fast forward button.

3.14.07
Today was a cry baby day. The documentary Blindsight about a group of Tibetan blind students was so touching and positive I really couldn't recommend it enough.

Reign Over Me starring Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler will be one of the best films this year! Definitely need plenty of kleenex for this one. I love this movie for it's take on one man's grief and the perceptive take on family and friend relationships. Sandler's performance was engrossing but I really enjoyed Cheadle's discomfort as a married man (to Jada P Smith) being hit on. It is quite memorable. The director and the stars of the film were present for this screening; unfortunately, all the audience questions after the movie were terrible. I don't blame them though because I myself was pretty star struck.

3.13.07
Last night I saw Knocked Up. It would recommend this to anyone. It had a wide ranging appeal and had me and a friend laughing to tears!

Today I saw Arranged and A Lawyer Walks into a Bar. Arranged was a beautiful movie about the friendship between a Jewish and Muslim teacher going the process of arranged marriages. The Lawyer movie was entertaining but a bit sad since it does such a good job of chronicling the psychosis a law student goes through studying for the dreaded Bar Exam. The best part of the movie was the cameo of Joe Jamail. Someone should make a movie concentrating on him alone.