So, 2012 is over and a new year of movies is about to begin! However, until the award season is done, those of us who love cinema (and don't have the means or connections to get see limited releases or press screenings) have to make a mad dash and use any means (which may include some of the less-than-savory nature) to see the most highly praised films that slipped through the cracks during the year. Being a young college student from Eastern Kentucky, I am a prime representative of that particular group (in fact, I've been elected three years running). In years past this has been a very fulfilling, though often lonely, venture. Thankfully this year I have you guys! As such, I have decided to use this particular post to briefly record some of the smaller, lesser known releases (or films that were big releases a long time ago but I didn't see when they were out) and let you know where you can find them in case my reviews make you want to check them out. Ready. Set. GO!
THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES: For those of you not familiar, THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES is a documentary focusing on the lives of David Siegel, owner, founder, and CEO of Westgate Resorts -- the "largest time-share company on the planet," and his trophy wife Jackie as they are in the process of constructing their new monstrosity of a home, "Versailles," modelled after the palace of Louis XIV (and appropriately the top floor of some Vegas casino). Then the 2008 market crash happens and the Siegels are forced to deal with a failing company and the prospects of selling their precious dream home and living the shockingly difficult life of millionaires instead of billionaires. Needless to say, the Siegel's aren't likable. They are like a political cartoon's representation of the 1% brought to life and paraded out for our viewing pleasure. While it's a perfect look into the 2008 economic crisis and the effect on the wealthiest in the country, allowing for an abundance of schadenfreude for its viewers, it blends that perfectly with the compassion it somehow makes you feel for Jackie. Is it the sheer pathos that comes from the Siegel's absolutely lovely Filipino housekeepers who left their families to try and make enough money to build a better for them? Of course not. It's not even the same compassion you feel for David Siegal's grown son from his first wife whose father seems to care nothing about him. But there's something sadly endearing about the fact that she has a husband who openly says he draws no strength from his marriage and sees his wife simply as another kid. It's a truly fascinating and maddening glimpse into the lives of the super-rich -- a life where Jackie and David actually seemed worried about telling their kids they might have to actually go to college in order to make their own way in life -- juxtaposed beautifully with the brutal reality of how "actual" people live. Plus it's got a fantastic villain in David Siegel, who is a disgusting human being that I hope I never have the misfortune of meeting. You can watch THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES on Netflix Watch Instantly. 8 out of 10
GIRL WALK//ALL DAY: It's not often that a movie is pure, unadulterated joy. But that is exactly what GIRL WALK//ALL DAY, the new film/"feature length music video" by Jacob Krupnik, is. Set to mashup artist Girl Talk's newest album ALL DAY, GIRL WALK's loose narrative tells the story of "the Girl" (Anne Marsen) as she dances her way through New York City. Through the day, she constantly interacts with various New York natives, eventually encountering the other subjects of the work, the charismatic, tap-dancing though often sensual "Gentleman" (Dai Omiya) and the skelton-jumpsuit sporting, poppin'-and-lockin', hip-hop "Creep" (John Doyle), in her desperate quest for people to dance with. However, the story isn't what's important. It's the dancing. A stunning blend of classic ballet, tap dance, and many modern forms that I can't begin to name is beautifully filmed and cleverly edited with a fantastic eye and a sharp wit and the result is pure energy and enjoyment. At one point about half-way through the film, "the Girl" is dancing around two rabbis. After ignoring her for a few moments, one of the two turns to her and asks (in a silent, subtitled exchange), "Why are you dancing?" "...Because I'm happy," she explains gleefully. "You should always be happy," the rabbi replies as he rejoins the other and continues away. And that's the point of GIRL WALK//ALL DAY. The world isn't perfect. It is often cynical and filled with people who forsake fun and enjoyment out of the fear of looking silly. But you should always be happy. Leave your apprehensions behind! Go out and have some fun! That's exactly what watching GIRL WALK//ALL DAY is. With Girl Talk's amazing (albeit nearly unmarketable) mix of hip-hop and classic pop hits and the immense charm and lovableness of its protagonists, GIRL WALK//ALL DAY is one of the most uplifting, well-made, unique, and all-around fun pieces of cinema in 2012. AND IT'S FREE! Just go to http://girlwalkallday.com/watch-the-film 9 out of 10
INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE: Telling two primary stories that follow the creators of three well known indie games, SUPER MEAT BOY and FEZ, in varying stages of completion, INDIE GAME is not simply a documentary for gamers. It's not simply a documentary for people who enjoy underdog stories. It's a documentary for anyone who enjoys well-made movies and well-told stories. One of the hardest things to do when filming a documentary is crafting a genuinely compelling narrative out of real-life events. Whether it be the heartbreaking stuggles of FEZ creator Phil Fish to both deal with his countless critics, a sabotaging ex-business partner, and his own perfectionism while attempting to finish a game four years in the making or the creators of SUPER MEAT BOY, Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, dealing with impossible deadlines, onset depression, and overwhelming fear of failure, INDIE GAME makes you connect with these flawed and obviously tortured individuals on a deep, emotional level. INDIE GAME is an incredibly insightful movie that not only portrays the hardships of trying to create a game with two people instead of a crew of 1000 like a HALO or CALL OF DUTY might have, but also really makes one really consider (especially when this is what I do with a lot of my time) how criticism affects those you're criticizing. It's not wrong to criticize, in fact it's fantastic. But it should always be constructive. Criticism that only insults is nothing but destructive. It's this type of criticism that these creators must deal with. And it's their ability to overcome this criticism and to eventually succeed beyond their wildest dreams that allows for such an amazing catharsis by the end of the film. With fantastic cinematography and brilliant editing that combines live action scenes, talking heads, and video game excerpts with incredible fluidity and a truly uplifting and engaging narrative, INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE is easily one of the best documentaries of 2012. INDIE GAME can be seen on Netflix Watch Instantly 8 out of 10
TAKE THIS WALTZ: "I'm afraid of connections," Michelle Williams's character Margot opines to the enigmatic Daniel. This is the message of the whole film, people. It film gives it to you in the first 5 minutes and proceeds to beat you over the head with it over and over again for the rest of its inexcusable 2 hour runtime. I normally don't tell people to not see a movie, but don't watch this film. INSTAGRAM: THE MOVIE tells the story of Margot, one of those indie "writers" who actually doesn't do any writing (you see her keyboard once), who is in the weirdest marriage in America with the strange, sexless Lou (Seth Rogen) but who becomes smitten with the mysterious artist who doesn't want the public to see his art even though it's fantastic and instead drives a rickshaw (oh, yeah) for a living. I don't really want to spend time ranting about this movie, so I'll just run down what's wrong with it quickly. 1.) The script is beyond childish, with none of its characters actually being real characters (even though the actors put in solid performances, especially Williams, given what they're to work with). It's bland and derivative, filled with one indie movie cliche after the other and hipster shit galore. AND there is a ridiculous subplot involving Sarah Silverman playing an alcoholic who is awesome but it serves absolutely no purpose. 2.) You are supposed to care about these characters because they're so unique and quirky, but they don't feel like real people. Michelle Williams's Margot is the most maddening woman on the planet and instead of sympathizing with her, you are left wanting to do many of the horrible things Seth Rogen mentions doing to her in the couple's "pillow talk." 3.) The main problem in the film can be solved in the first 15 minutes if these people would just talk to one another. But no, they have to go through the same motions over and over and over again. It's Sarah Polley's way of trying to build eroticism and emotion, but all it does is increase frustration. And that's all this movie is. It's a frustrating and tone-deaf mess that brings nothing new to table and doesn't know where to end, continuously hammering its message home in more and more hamfisted ways, that by the end you'll be hoping those fists will just put you out of your misery. TAKE THIS WALTZ can be seen on Netflix Watch Instantly (but I wouldn't). 3 out 10
THE DEEP BLUE SEA: All the posters and screenshots from Terence Davies's newest film, THE DEEP BLUE SEA (no, Samuel L. Jackson does not get eaten by a shark in this one) are either of Rachael Weisz as 1950s London housewife, Hester Collyer looking depressed and smoking a cigarette (see above) or Rachael Weisz and her on-screen love interest Tom Hiddleston (Loki from THOR and THE AVENGERS) romantically embraced in a house or on a street. That being said, only one of these accurately portray the true nature of the film -- and there's a reason I chose the photo I did. This is one of the more depressing movies I've seen this year. Per the classic phrase "caught between the devil and the deep blue sea" (a phrase which is unfortunately uttered in the film to really make sure you get the message), THE DEEP BLUE SEA is about a woman caught between two undesirable choices.
In it, Rachael Weisz's character is stuck between two men, her husband who is much, much older, probably gay, way too attached to his mother and who refuses to give her a divorce after finding out about her affair with charming, young businessman, Tom Hiddleston. What follows is a series of flashbacks mixed with present day scenes of Hester slowly moving away from her husband and her budding (and then quickly failing relationship) with Hiddleston. Although Rachel Weisz's turn as Hester is both powerful and gripping, very well deserving of her Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress, it cannot save the film from being the dismal, unromantic slog that it is. I can take a film that is depressing. I quite enjoy films that accurately portray a character going through real emotions. What I cannot forgive is a film that is simply uninteresting. None of the characters besides Hester have any real depth and consequently I cared little about their relationships or interactions with Hester or each other. The setting for the film is gorgeous with some brilliant cinematographic choices including one particular scene where the camera follows smoke from Hester cigarette as it twists and twirls, filling the room around her. However, what the look ultimately does for the film is to make you realize just how much time was spent on making the film look era appropriate -- time that should have been spent on the actual story and script. It's melodramatic, poorly written, and, apart from Weisz, poorly acted. In other words, needs more sharks. THE DEEP BLUE SEA can be watched on Netflix Watch Instantly. 5 out of 10
HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE: Recently nominated for Best Documentary at the 85 Annual Academy Awards, HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE chronicles the early years of the AIDS epidemic as well as the beginnings and ongoing efforts of ACT UP (Aids Coalition to Unleash Power) and TAG (Treat Action Group) as they fight to help people with AIDS and to bring about legislation, medical research and treatment and policies to ultimately bring about an end to the disease. Told primarily through extensive archive footage of both movements and talking head segments of the survivors today, HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE is both incredibly fascinating and deeply troubling. The film provides a first hand account and then shows directly how society treated, and continues to treat, people afflicted with HIV/AIDS. These portrayals are not objective, mind you, being filmed primarily by other afflicted men and women. However, they don't have or need to be. What is demonstrated is the cruelty towards these sick and dying individuals by both the government and their fellow men and women. And it's sickening. But in choosing to focus on the creation and development of these two fantastic groups, the film find the positive in the negative. These groups are doing amazing work for people afflicted with HIV/AIDS and this fantastic documentary will both instill you with hope and make you want to do your part to help, to ACT UP (Netflix Watch Instantly). 9 out of 10
