SLC
Bajo Jaurez – When you’re already seeing one film about the rampant crime in Jaurez, Mexico, why not see another? This morning it was a fictionalized portrayal of the sex trade. This evening it was a documentary that follows unsolved and highly publicized crimes against women in the same city. Focusing mainly on young women and girls who are kidnapped, raped and killed, this doc takes serious risks in subject matter, but ultimately fails to do much more than ask a lot of questions without giving any answers. Certainly there are a lot of women being killed. Yes, the Mexican government appears to be covering things up. But do we really have any idea what has been happening in Juarez over the past 13 years? Doesn’t look like it. While I appreciate the fact that the filmmakers took huge risks in bringing this story to a mainstream audience, it doesn’t seem like they really sought answers to their own questions. Why are women disappearing? Is the government covering things up? What hard evidence exists? If none can be found, why not? And ultimately, what can be done to affect a change? Beats me. All I can tell you is that there’s some really nasty stuff happening in Mexico that has a lot of people freaked out. And if you’re not going to answer any of the questions you raise, at least learn how to 1) focus the camera, 2) hold the camera steady and 3) expose correctly so things aren’t incredibly washed out and 4) hire a company that can create subtitles that don’t look like they were made on some kid’s circa 1985 Amiga computer.
Should you see this film? It’s worth checking out as a means to educate yourself about the evils of Juarez, Mexico. Beyond that, there are better things to do with your time.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Playing paparazzi
Park City
I purposefully took this afternoon off. Probably should have spent it sleeping, but I didn't. Some of the afternoon was spent meeting up with various friends who are also at this year's fest. But mostly I went and shot off a lot of film (both real and digital). Yeah... you knew it was coming :) I've actually been very focused in my time at the fest and haven't brought any kind of camera gear with me. Instead, I’ve opted to just watch films and enjoy the experience of being at the fest without feeling obligated to photographically capture everything around me. So… today I decided that I’d take a good chunk of my afternoon and shoot. However, I probably shot about half of the stuff that I wanted to because I got waylaid by a big, private screening. I was walking up Main around 3:30p this afternoon and discovered they were in the midst of setting up crowd control and a red carpet for some random event. So I hung out for a bit and ultimately convinced the head of event security that I was a member of the press, thus granting me access to the event and the “photographer area” along side the red carpet. Most of the random celebrities that showed up weren’t terribly interesting. However, I now have some rather nice pictures of Cuba Gooding Junior and Matthew Lillard. I then spent the rest of the afternoon taking pictures of icicles.
I purposefully took this afternoon off. Probably should have spent it sleeping, but I didn't. Some of the afternoon was spent meeting up with various friends who are also at this year's fest. But mostly I went and shot off a lot of film (both real and digital). Yeah... you knew it was coming :) I've actually been very focused in my time at the fest and haven't brought any kind of camera gear with me. Instead, I’ve opted to just watch films and enjoy the experience of being at the fest without feeling obligated to photographically capture everything around me. So… today I decided that I’d take a good chunk of my afternoon and shoot. However, I probably shot about half of the stuff that I wanted to because I got waylaid by a big, private screening. I was walking up Main around 3:30p this afternoon and discovered they were in the midst of setting up crowd control and a red carpet for some random event. So I hung out for a bit and ultimately convinced the head of event security that I was a member of the press, thus granting me access to the event and the “photographer area” along side the red carpet. Most of the random celebrities that showed up weren’t terribly interesting. However, I now have some rather nice pictures of Cuba Gooding Junior and Matthew Lillard. I then spent the rest of the afternoon taking pictures of icicles.
Emotionally damaged
Park City
Just got out of the Trade screening. Think it's safe to say it'll be awhile before I'm fully recovered from the experience. The film is phenomenally good. Great performances, excellent cutting, great photography and great attention to detail. The subject matter, however, definitely leaves you reeling. It's incredibly powerful and heart wrenching. God... what else can I say other than that it's a film you'll never forget. Just know what you're getting yourself into before seeing it. This is not a film for those unwilling to loose themselves in a dark, sinister and very real (the film's story is based closely on real life) world.
Now that I've filled a good chunk of space with drivel over how awesome and disturbing the film was, I'll go into a bit more detail on the story itself. The film takes place in Juarez, Mexico - a city know for crime and human trafficking. A young girl of 13 is abducted and her brother, Jorge, already doing petty theft from tourists, tracks her down through several levels of international organized crime to discover that she's been abducted for sale into sexual slavery. He manages to follow her trail across the border into the United States where he unites with an insurance fraud investigator (who we later learn has a personal connection to the story, played by Kevin Kline). Together they hatch a plan to save Jorge's sister and crush at least those immediately involved in her abduction. I realize I'm making this sound like an overblown Denzel Washington movie (ala Man on Fire), but trust in that this is not your typical big-budget "let's be really cliché, kill the baddies and blow shit up" Hollywood film. It's done with a lot of intelligence, sensitivity and polish that really bring the story to an almost-too-real reality.
Lionsgate is releasing the film wide on April 13th for those of you interested in checking this out.
Just got out of the Trade screening. Think it's safe to say it'll be awhile before I'm fully recovered from the experience. The film is phenomenally good. Great performances, excellent cutting, great photography and great attention to detail. The subject matter, however, definitely leaves you reeling. It's incredibly powerful and heart wrenching. God... what else can I say other than that it's a film you'll never forget. Just know what you're getting yourself into before seeing it. This is not a film for those unwilling to loose themselves in a dark, sinister and very real (the film's story is based closely on real life) world.
Now that I've filled a good chunk of space with drivel over how awesome and disturbing the film was, I'll go into a bit more detail on the story itself. The film takes place in Juarez, Mexico - a city know for crime and human trafficking. A young girl of 13 is abducted and her brother, Jorge, already doing petty theft from tourists, tracks her down through several levels of international organized crime to discover that she's been abducted for sale into sexual slavery. He manages to follow her trail across the border into the United States where he unites with an insurance fraud investigator (who we later learn has a personal connection to the story, played by Kevin Kline). Together they hatch a plan to save Jorge's sister and crush at least those immediately involved in her abduction. I realize I'm making this sound like an overblown Denzel Washington movie (ala Man on Fire), but trust in that this is not your typical big-budget "let's be really cliché, kill the baddies and blow shit up" Hollywood film. It's done with a lot of intelligence, sensitivity and polish that really bring the story to an almost-too-real reality.
Lionsgate is releasing the film wide on April 13th for those of you interested in checking this out.
On the list for today...
SLC
Today I'm going to try and get tickets to...
- Trade, a gritty film set in a sinister world where young children are sold into sexual slavery. It's directed by Marco Kreuzpainter and stars Kevin Kline among other relatively unknown actors.
- Grace is Gone, a James C Strouse film with John Cusack about a patriot and father who receives news that his wife has been killed in Iraq.
- Bajo Juarez, a documentary from Mexico about border towns where there is a plague of unsolved crime against women
Today I'm going to try and get tickets to...
- Trade, a gritty film set in a sinister world where young children are sold into sexual slavery. It's directed by Marco Kreuzpainter and stars Kevin Kline among other relatively unknown actors.
- Grace is Gone, a James C Strouse film with John Cusack about a patriot and father who receives news that his wife has been killed in Iraq.
- Bajo Juarez, a documentary from Mexico about border towns where there is a plague of unsolved crime against women
Twists and turns
SLC
So… still trying to make up my mind on Joshua. Certainly there’s a huge creep factory and as well as a solid helping of “WTF was that?!”, but there’s also a lot to be said for the fact that the experience of watching the film is a lot like the world experienced by those in it…. i.e. you don’t really know what the hell is going on and you’re constantly trying to second guess what you’re being told by the frames on screen. Basically, Joshua is a story about a family who, after the birth of their second child, starts experiencing a lot of strange activities in their NYC apartment that seem to be attributed to their nine-year-old and uber creepy son. I actually came away from the screening feeling really unsure of what really happened… but listening to George Ratliff, the director, talk for 10-15 minutes following the film really helped firm things up and actually made me appreciate much more the craft in this film. I would love to go into more detail, but I’d be giving far too much away. So… I’m going to be vague and really just say that if you’re looking for something creepy and mind-fucking, this is worth checking out.
So... the rundown on films for the day:
Manda Bala – One of the best docs I’ve ever seen. Phenomenally good. Don’t show this to children…. Ever…
Fay Grim – Another great Hal Hartley film. Fun, quirky, political and ultimately a joy to watch.
Joshua – If you’d like a creepy mind-fuck, this will fit the bill nicely.
So… still trying to make up my mind on Joshua. Certainly there’s a huge creep factory and as well as a solid helping of “WTF was that?!”, but there’s also a lot to be said for the fact that the experience of watching the film is a lot like the world experienced by those in it…. i.e. you don’t really know what the hell is going on and you’re constantly trying to second guess what you’re being told by the frames on screen. Basically, Joshua is a story about a family who, after the birth of their second child, starts experiencing a lot of strange activities in their NYC apartment that seem to be attributed to their nine-year-old and uber creepy son. I actually came away from the screening feeling really unsure of what really happened… but listening to George Ratliff, the director, talk for 10-15 minutes following the film really helped firm things up and actually made me appreciate much more the craft in this film. I would love to go into more detail, but I’d be giving far too much away. So… I’m going to be vague and really just say that if you’re looking for something creepy and mind-fucking, this is worth checking out.
So... the rundown on films for the day:
Manda Bala – One of the best docs I’ve ever seen. Phenomenally good. Don’t show this to children…. Ever…
Fay Grim – Another great Hal Hartley film. Fun, quirky, political and ultimately a joy to watch.
Joshua – If you’d like a creepy mind-fuck, this will fit the bill nicely.
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