Cinebanter # 113 - PROMETHEUS

The mp3 of this show is here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula yet again disagree, as they review PROMETHEUS. In the Last Five®, Michael tells a story about childhood and Tassoula shares a recent travel adventure. Tassoula also shares her Top 3 films and experiences from the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro

• 00:32 Discussion of PROMETHEUS

• Break

• 13:23 To Sum It Up

• Break

• 14:11 The Last Five®

• Break

• 42:27 Tassoula's SIFF Recap

• 56:13 Credits and Outtakes

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: I AM A GHOST, MAGIC AND BIRD, MODERN TIMES, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD and ULTRA MARATHON MAN. Tassoula's Last Five were: THE INNKEEPERS, INSIDIOUS, NEW YORK STORIES, TAKEN and PURPLE VIOLETS.

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Special thanks to Brad Daane, Mark Cummins and Vincent Do for providing the original music in this episode.

Tassoula has reviews, musings and movie-related product links at Tassoula's Movie Review Blog.

Reviews and/or notes of movies Michael sees can be found at his MichaelVox website.

Feedback is always welcome - you may leave comments here or e-mail the hosts at cinebanter@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the show!

SIFF Sighting: A CHECKOUT GIRL'S BIG ADVENTURES (Romantic Comedy, France)

Solweig (Déborah François) was unable to pursue her dream of being a teacher because her father had an accident that left him in a coma. Faced with the reality that he may never wake up, she takes a job as a checkout girl to support herself and her ten-year-old brother.

To vent her frustrations about how she's treated by her superiors and the customers, she starts an anonymous blog, which becomes nationally known and prompts her employer to conduct a witch hunt to find the writer. Meanwhile, Solweig is busy accidentally falling in love with a stranger who came to her rescue on a cold, snowy night.

In this lighthearted comedy, which is based on a memoir, we experience a slice of life with folks we can't help but know—grocery store clerks. They work hard each day doing the same thing over and over again and frankly aren't treated so well. Toss in the added twist of an ill family member and the responsibility of caring for another and we have a very sympathetic situation.

Our heroine here keeps a chin up despite the drama and keeps us rooting for her in life and love.

Though terribly predictable and formulaic, the characters are very well-drawn (and for the most part, likeable) and the story is a sweet one to witness.

A CHECKOUT GIRL'S BIG ADVENTURES screened at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

Tassoula on the SIFF Red Carpet with Sissy Spacek

SIFF Sighting: ETHEL (Documentary, USA)

Everyone knows about JFK; most people also remember his brother, RFK, but what about Robert's widow, Ethel?

Ethel Skakel married Robert Kennedy when she was just 22, and together they produced 11 children. Their love was true, and as she tells it, happened at first sight.

In this amazingly intimate documentary by Ethel's youngest child Rory, Ethel herself—along with many of her children—tells the audience about her years on this earth from start to finish.

From her idyllic childhood in a (strictly Republican) Irish Catholic household to her absolute love for her husband and his service to America, to raising 11 children mostly on her own, Ethel has lived quite a life.

The stories her children tell here are nothing short of hilarious (she once brought home a seal to have as a pet; she once stole horses from a neighboring property to feed them). Her spunk, her smile and her spirit even now shine bright and are presented beautifully here in this funny yet moving portrait.

The Kennedy men will always be remembered for their contributions to our society. This film reminds us that the women in their lives had a lot to do with their efforts.

ETHEL screened at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: THE REVISIONARIES (Documentary, USA)

What happens when a volunteer school board gets to decide what textbooks public schools should use in their curriculum?

This horror—er, documentary—film tells us just that as the Texas Board of Education meets to determine what will and will not make the cut content-wise in textbooks for the next 10 years.

What's frightening? Many of the board members have less education (or at least less relevant areas of study) than the teachers who will be using them and also have no regard for the separation of church and state. So, their proposals include removing scientific explanations for evolution with creationist theories, and deleting musical genres such as hip-hop from the offerings.

Leading the brigade is a dentist named Don McLeroy (pictured above) who believes the earth is much younger than science has proven, yet also somehow reconciles that dinosaurs allegedly rode on Noah's Ark. It's all very frightening considering the size of Texas, and the power they have over publishing companies to determine what textbooks will be printed for schools all around the country.

Director Scott Thurman takes a clear stance here, but if you're a rational-thinking viewer, that shouldn't bother you. The school board meetings and debates would be entertaining if they weren't such a blatant example of the deterioration of our respect for the Constitution.

THE REVISIONARIES screened at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: LOVE FREE OR DIE (Documentary, USA)

Gene Robinson led a traditional life for many years. He married, had two daughters with his wife and then divorced a few years later.

He began dating Mark, who would become his husband, soon after. Oh—and he's also a man of the Lord.

In 2003, Gene became the first openly gay bishop to be consecrated in the Episcopal church. Struggling with death threats and the old-world beliefs of many who belong to the same faith, Gene has become a figurehead for religious equality and a symbol of hope for the Christian LGBT community.

This film tells his story and chronicles his time behind the scenes as his church was voting on crucial LGBT issues.

The footage of his various news coverage (60 Minutes, The Today Show, The Daily Show) is entertaining, and the interviews with Gene, his family and other bishops are earnest and sincere.

Really, the film is a simple reminder of how people who claim to follow the teachings of Christ should probably act a little more like Christ (non-judgmental) to achieve the peace and harmony our universe so richly deserves.

LOVE FREE OR DIE screened at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: RENT-A-CAT (Comedy, Japan)

Sayoko (Mikako Ichikawa), a single twenty-something, is sad following the death of her beloved grandmother.

To cope, she raises cats as companions, then builds a business out of it, renting the felines out to other lonely folk.

What makes her enterprise so charming is that she treats it much like a modern-day adoption agency. She makes her prospective customers pass "tests," which include a visit to their home from her to ensure the surroundings are suitable for her cats. And those who are serious about renting the animals happily comply.

All the while Sayoko is meandering through her own life, hoping to marry, taping goals on the wall for herself to hopefully achieve.

Bridget Jones she's not, but she does have a familiar desperate-single-girl-with-spunk essence.

Thought the film doesn't reach any unexpected heights, the situations our heroine finds herself in (a nightmare sequence is particularly hilarious) are a delight to watch.


RENT-A-CAT screened at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: FAT KID RULES THE WORLD (Comedy, USA)

Troy (Jacob Wysocki) has been medicating himself with food since his mother died. His father (Billy Campbell), a tough ex-marine, is worried about the friend he’s made in Marcus (Matt O’Leary), a junkie that’s using Troy for room and board in exchange for a promise to join his punk band.

The harsh dynamics of high school life are well-represented in this charming directorial debut from Matthew Lillard. Go see it—you’ll laugh a lot!

FAT KID RULES THE WORLD screened at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: LIBERAL ARTS (Comedy, USA)

Jesse (Josh Radnor), 35, travels to his alma mater to speak at a retirement ceremony for one of his beloved professors and meets 19-year-old Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen). They develop a 'connection' and Jesse has to determine whether or not the risks of being with her outweigh the joy.

The all-star cast, featuring Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney and Zac Efron are all wonderful, as are the leads in this charming 'what if' about morality.


LIBERAL ARTS screened at the 38th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.