Cinebanter Special Edition - TASSOULA'S TOP 10 OSCAR PICKS

The mp3 of this episode can be found here.

In this episode, Tassoula shares her Top 10 Oscar picks for 2015.

There are no spoilers, just basic commentary on some of the nominated films, writers, directors, musicians and actors.

In addition, written reviews of several of the films Tassoula discusses can be found here:

• Still Alice
• Live Action Short Film Nominees
• Selma
• The Imitation Game
• The Theory of Everything
• Nightcrawler
• Boyhood
• Finding Vivian Maier

Enjoy!

Cinebanter - TELEBANTER SOLO: Tassoula's Top 10 of 2014

The mp3 of this episode can be found here.

In this episode, Tassoula shares her Top 10 Television Shows of 2014.

There are no spoilers, but basic plot lines of certain shows are discussed ... so you've been warned.

Enjoy!

Cinebanter Rewind: DRAG ME TO HELL (2009)

The mp3 of this episode can be found here.

In this episode, a classic, horror-filled Cinebanter episode is revisited just in time for the Halloween holiday.

The breakdown is as follows:

• 0:00 Intro by Tassoula
• 0:32 Original 2009 Review of DRAG ME TO HELL
• 28:54 Credits

We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane!

Cinebanter Mini Edition: BOYHOOD Q&A

The mp3 of this episode can be found here.

In this mini episode, Tassoula shares audio from the Richard Linklater Q&A that she attended back in May.

If you haven't yet seen the film, please be aware there are spoilers here (as the audience asking the questions had just screened it).

To see if Boyhood is playing in your town, visit the official website.

An Evening with Damien Echols and Lorri Davis

Damien, Tassoula and Lorri

Damien Echols and his wife Lorri Davis recently came to Seattle to promote their new book, Yours for Eternity, and Tassoula was lucky enough to attend and meet them.

The lecture portion of the evening, hosted at Seattle's Town Hall, is available in audio format free of charge here.

Cinebanter listeners may recall Michael and Tassoula extensively spoke about the documentary trilogy Paradise Lost, which detailed the journey of the West Memphis Three: Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley.

The wrongly convicted inmates were released in August of 2011.

New Written Reviews Now Available

Tassoula spent the holiday weekend at the movies; see what she thought of all of them with this list of her written reviews:

• A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
• LIFE ITSELF
• TAMMY
• DELIVER US FROM EVIL

~~~

Cinebanter Special Edition: SIFF 2014 RE-CAP

A Scene From STILL LIFE

The MP3 file of this episode can be found here.

In this episode, Tassoula re-caps the recent 40th Annual Seattle International Film Festival. She shares her favorite documentary from the event, plus her top three films. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:32 Tassoula's re-cap of the festival
• 10:12 Outro

Thanks to Brad Daane, Mark Cummins and Vincent Do for the original music used in this episode, and to the folks at SIFF for granting Tassoula press access to hundreds of fantastic films for the 8th consecutive year.

SIFF Sighting: THE ONE I LOVE (Romantic Comedy; USA)

Ethan (Mark Duplass) and Sophie (Elisabeth Moss) are a married couple going through a rough patch.

Though Ethan gives re-igniting their flame a college try, Sophie still isn't past their troubles, so they agree to couples' therapy.

Their shrink (Ted Danson, perfect for the part) assigns them a weekend away to work on their issues and that's when things start to get weird.

I can't go any further without completely spoiling the film, so I'll just say this is hilarious, thought-provoking, confusing, charming and odd. First-time screenwriter Justin Lader does an incredible job of entertaining while floating the big lingering questions, and all the while making the audience hungry for bacon.

I can't wait until this is released in theaters. I'll be first in line to see it again.

THE ONE I LOVE screened at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival.

~~~

SIFF Sighting: CALVARY (Comedy; Ireland)

If you were told you had a week to live, not because you're ill, but because someone is planning your murder, how would you live out your last days?

Father Lavelle (Brendan Gleeson) is faced with this problem when a parishoner notifies him in confession that he suffered abuse as a child at the hands of the Catholic church. Though Father Lavelle was not the abuser, the confessor believes guilt by association is a good enough reason to end the priest's life.

Rather than go to the police, the Father chooses to deal with this threat internally and independently. It's both courageous and stupid.

The entire film then progresses through random conversations, awkwardly funny exchanges and random reflections leading up to the "will it or won't it happen?" moment.

Though the performances are solid, the screenplay fails and by the time the climax is reached, the audience is more apathetic than invested.

CALVARY screened at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival.

~~~

SIFF Sighting: 4 MINUTE MILE (Drama; USA)

Drew (Kelly Blatz) is a teenager from the wrong side of the tracks that doesn't want to end up like his crime-ridden family. Richard Jenkins plays the retired track coach destined to save him.

The chemistry between the two leads is strong and Seattle provides a beautiful backdrop to this heartbreaking story. Bring a hankie.

4 MINUTE MILE screened at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival.

~~~

SIFF Sighting: SEEDS OF TIME (Documentary; USA)

Cary Fowler is an agricultural genius who has dedicated his life to the evolution and preservation of the Global Crop Diversity Trust. This group collects seeds for a vault located in a not-so-vulnerable location in the middle of an ice bank.

For six years, documentarian Sandy McLeod followed his life as he lobbied, fought, worked and studied to progress the vault. This is his story.

In short: There are fewer responsibilities greater than helping ensure the long-term success of human life and this man has taken it on amidst divorce, cancer and whatever else life has thrown at him.

Though the politics can be frustrating and nature isn't always helpful, Fowler and his environmental disciples power through and never give up on their cause.

It's both frightening to watch (because of the scarcity of resources) and inspiring to see (because there is hope).

Fowler deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.

SEEDS OF TIME screened at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: BOYHOOD (Drama; USA)

"I thought there would be more."

The new Richard Linklater masterpiece Boyhood is filled with revelations like this that pass by so naturally you may miss them.

Ellar Coltrane (Mason) is phenomenal as a boy who ages 12 years before our eyes; Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke deliver pitch perfect performances as his parents, as does Lorelei Linklater who portrays his sister.

Don't miss it.

BOYHOOD screened at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: ONE CHANCE (Biography; United Kingdom)

Everyone has a dream, but not everyone pursues it.

Paul Potts (James Corden) works in a cellphone shop after nearly giving up on a singing career and takes a chance on auditioning for Britain's Got Talent.

The rest is history, and his journey getting there is played out beautifully in this crowd-pleaser that will leave you believing that nice guys can indeed finish first.

ONE CHANCE screened at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: DAMNATION (Documentary; USA)

Beginning in the 1930s, America began a love affair with the construction of dams. They brought power (one of America's favorite things), jobs and recreational opportunities, so they were generally hailed as positive developments.

But not by everyone...

Native American tribes that lived on land impacted by dam construction mourned the loss of nature's rhythms and those who fished those waters were devastated by the near-extinction of salmon that the dams caused.

Environmentalists, such as those who were part of the Earth First! movement, began taking action by way of elaborate stunts such as painting cracks down the dams. Decades later some of the dams are coming down, but not all of them.

This film definitely "takes sides" with the environmentalists, pointing out how wind power is wasted, wild salmon runs are in danger, and many of the existing dams aren't providing much for what the taxpayers are shelling out each year to keep them running.

It's hard not to get angry when you see that—yet again—Alaska residents are willing to risk their wildlife for presumed profit.

That said, I would have liked to see a little more balance and exploration of the (agreeably few) dams that have prevented floods, provided a sustainable method of power and helped the economy by employing citizens with long-term jobs.

It's a conversation worth having.

DAMNATION screened at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival.

~~~

SIFF Sighting: IT'S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE (Drama; Norway)

Jenny (Silje Salomonsen) is pregnant with her daughter Merete (Iben Osten Hjelle) when she's caught in the middle of a robbery.

Forced to defend herself, she begins shooting and hits two people. Sentenced ten years for murder, her family raises Merete until she is freed.

Once she's out of prison, Jenny, like so many, has trouble acclimating back to normal life. Though all she desires is to make a solid home for her daughter, she can't help but get caught up in the lifestyle of drugs and criminal activity that she was once a part of, which puts both of them in dangerous situations.

There's nothing much that's new here, but the story does serve as a reminder of how vital it is to isolate those caught up in such a lifestyle from their former demons.

Though I tired of the melancholy music playing over scenes of longing, I did quite like the main character and her sweet, endearing daughter. I rooted for them, even though some of the dramatic conventions were a bit overdone.

IT'S ALL MAKE BELIEVE will screen at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival on June 5 and 6. For tickets, go here.

~~~ 

Tassoula Got Schooled

This is a special announcement for Cinebanter fans: the audiobook that Tassoula narrated, Schooled by Christa Charter, is now available via Amazon and Audible.com!

Click here for purchase link, and if you like it, please leave a positive rating on the purchase site.

Happy listening!

~~~

SIFF Sighting: A BRONY TALE (Documentary; USA)

When Ashleigh Ball got the job voicing a few of the characters in the television show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, she had no idea she'd become a cult heroine in the world of fandom.

The show, based on toys that were popular for young girls in the 80s, has oddly attracted a following of straight, adult males. Yes, males.

They have dubbed themselves "Bronies" and created an entire community centered around celebrating the program.

In this film, the crew travels to meet Bronies from all over the country as Ashleigh prepares for her first BronyCon in New York. We see the very definition of "masculine" in a Brony who builds motorcycles; the tender side of an Iraq veteran as he renews his love for art by drawing tributes to the show; an African-American DJ that specializes in Brony parties and a group of students from Northwestern who hold their own Brony meetups.

Though it may seem an odd thing to obsess over, nearly every Brony mentions that positivity is what draws them to the show and the community. These folks don't appear creepy or crazy; they're passionate and sincere. Above all, they're sweet.

Following Ashleigh's acclimation to the community throughout the film gives us a unique perspective of someone who is warming to the group's virtual embrace.

To paraphrase what director Brent Hodge said in the Q &A, it's nice to see a documentary that leaves you feeling good instead of bad.

He certainly achieved that with this fun, lighthearted look at one of our most unique subcultures.

A BRONY TALE screened at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival.

~~~

SIFF Sighting: MY LAST YEAR WITH THE NUNS (Comedy; USA)

Matt Smith was a Catholic kid growing up in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. It was the Mid-60s and the world was changing around him, but his antics with neighborhood pals transformed into timeless memories.

He turned these experiences into a Wonder Years-like stage monologue, which was then re-purposed for this film, which feels like a documentary, though the disclaimer states the situations and people are composites.

Smith is naturally entertaining with a fantastic gift for comedic delivery and timing, and his stories are hilarious, but I would have preferred a little more dimension than just straight, talk-to-the-camera vignettes. The moments where he dresses up or returns to the "scene of the crime" to re-enact are the strongest and tease us for what could have been had they employed actors to re-live the stories.

There's also an awful lot of spit in this movie, and I'll admit, that sort of lost me.

All in all, those who have ties to this iconic Seattle neighborhood, or grew up as a Catholic boy will probably find the film very accessible and relatable. Others will chuckle and get grossed-out.

MY LAST YEAR WITH THE NUNS will screen at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival on May 26. For tickets, go here.

~~~

SIFF Sighting: STILL LIFE (Drama; United Kingdom)

John May (Eddie Marsan) lives a solitary life, quietly going about his business as a government worker tasked with finding the loved ones of the recently deceased.

He takes great care to honor each of the dead: He plans funerals (though sometimes he's the only one in attendance); saves cremains longer than rules dictate just in case a friend or family member turns up; and keeps a book of photographs to memorialize those he has helped (though they'll never know).

John is a pleasant man, but doesn't appear to have any friends—and that may be why his compassion runs so deep for the loners he's helping.

When his new boss tells him that his work is too "slow," and they're downsizing him to provide a more efficient service, he just has one more case to solve before he departs.

His research leads him to meet Kelly Stoke (Joanne Froggatt), a next-of-kin who appreciates his kindness during a time of great shock and sadness. Their journey is a story in itself, twisting and turning with unexpected developments.

Eddie Marsan gives an Oscar-worthy performance as the heroic May, representing the ultimate professional in a career that not many would want. Downton Abbey's Froggatt is a welcome surprise late in the film, and their chemistry is delightful.

From the simplicity of the scenes to the hollow sets, the vibe of the film is masterfully executed by director Uberto Pasolini. The quiet pauses allow the audience time to digest the weight of confronting death while still keeping everyone engrossed in the story.

This one is not to be missed, folks.

STILL LIFE will screen at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival (fittingly) on Memorial Day, May 26. For tickets, go here.

SIFF Sighting: WORDS AND PICTURES (Romance; USA)

Jack (Clive Owen) is a film cliché. He's an angry English teacher with a drinking problem and a troubled relationship with his son.

Dina (Juliette Binoche) is an artistic spitfire on a mission to ignite her students since her physical limitations prevent her from being what she used to be.

One would assume they're destined to be together, and one would probably be right.

The thing that saves this formulaic story from being too sugar-sweet predictable is the incredible appeal of the two lead actors. Owen, despite the drunkenness, has never been more charming (though I missed his British accent); Binoche is both delicate and demonic in equal measure. You simply can't help but root for them.

As a writer (and full disclosure: former English major), I appreciated the defense of words; as a sucker for teacher heroes, I relished in the inspirational classroom energy.

Go see this one to enjoy it and find forgiveness in your heart for its faults.

WORDS AND PICTURES will screen at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival on May 17. For tickets, go here.

~~~