Comments on: Notes From the LA Film Festival http://livingincinema.com/2007/06/27/notes-from-the-la-film-festival/ Movie reviews, news and opinion Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:57:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Craig Kennedy http://livingincinema.com/2007/06/27/notes-from-the-la-film-festival/comment-page-1/#comment-184 Craig Kennedy Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:23:40 +0000 http://livingincinema.com/?p=156#comment-184 The festival got off to a pretty weak start and I was beginning to regret my selection methodology (one step removed from throwing darts at a dartboard). Both of the first couple of films had a lot of potential, but I'm probably being nicer to them than I'd be if I'd seen them out of the context of the festival. Does that make any sense? I've never seen Wendigo or Habit, but I mostly like what Fessenden was doing with The Last Winter. The environmental message was a little heavy handed, but when he just concentrated on ratcheting up the tension it was pretty good stuff. Le Gros and Perlman were both good. The main flaw was ultimately showing more than the budget could really allow for. Benton was a pretty good storyteller. I wish I could convey more of that. The festival got off to a pretty weak start and I was beginning to regret my selection methodology (one step removed from throwing darts at a dartboard). Both of the first couple of films had a lot of potential, but I’m probably being nicer to them than I’d be if I’d seen them out of the context of the festival. Does that make any sense?

I’ve never seen Wendigo or Habit, but I mostly like what Fessenden was doing with The Last Winter. The environmental message was a little heavy handed, but when he just concentrated on ratcheting up the tension it was pretty good stuff. Le Gros and Perlman were both good. The main flaw was ultimately showing more than the budget could really allow for.

Benton was a pretty good storyteller. I wish I could convey more of that.

]]> By: Chuck http://livingincinema.com/2007/06/27/notes-from-the-la-film-festival/comment-page-1/#comment-183 Chuck Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:20:35 +0000 http://livingincinema.com/?p=156#comment-183 I saw Fessenden's Wendigo back when it just hit DVD and have to say I didn't really get the appeal. It seemed to generate mild culty acclaim based on respect of intention more than actual execution. Haven't seen Habit, which actually sounds more interesting than Wendigo. I love Bonnie and Clyde, and I think one of the reasons its so fascinating is that (besides the violence) the film is so schizophrenic in sensibility. Yes, its want to be New Wave, and against the grain, and life like, but it also wants to revel in movie star studio conventions (the stars are MUCH better looking than their real life counterparts, and more sympathetic.) The unusual blend of the two gives the film a live wire friction that is unforgettable. I also love Benton's underseen Nobody's Fool, which has, I think, one Newman's very best performances. It's a lovely movie, and twists tears from this movie stuffed cynic every time he sees it. Ditto Kramer Vs. Kramer, I'm a child of divorce myself (who isn't?) and I find that film very near unwatchable in poignance. Hoffman has rarely been so free of ego (I say that lovingly, as a major fan.) I saw Fessenden’s Wendigo back when it just hit DVD and have to say I didn’t really get the appeal. It seemed to generate mild culty acclaim based on respect of intention more than actual execution. Haven’t seen Habit, which actually sounds more interesting than Wendigo.

I love Bonnie and Clyde, and I think one of the reasons its so fascinating is that (besides the violence) the film is so schizophrenic in sensibility. Yes, its want to be New Wave, and against the grain, and life like, but it also wants to revel in movie star studio conventions (the stars are MUCH better looking than their real life counterparts, and more sympathetic.) The unusual blend of the two gives the film a live wire friction that is unforgettable.

I also love Benton’s underseen Nobody’s Fool, which has, I think, one Newman’s very best performances. It’s a lovely movie, and twists tears from this movie stuffed cynic every time he sees it. Ditto Kramer Vs. Kramer, I’m a child of divorce myself (who isn’t?) and I find that film very near unwatchable in poignance. Hoffman has rarely been so free of ego (I say that lovingly, as a major fan.)

]]> By: Joel http://livingincinema.com/2007/06/27/notes-from-the-la-film-festival/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Joel Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:42:40 +0000 http://livingincinema.com/?p=156#comment-182 The Year After and The Last Winter both sound interesting to me although I think I could also just as easily see them on DVD. Thanks for surviving Honor of the Knights. The Year After and The Last Winter both sound interesting to me although I think I could also just as easily see them on DVD. Thanks for surviving Honor of the Knights.

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