SIFF Sighting: I AM BELFAST (Documentary; Ireland)

Tassoula's review of I AM BELFAST is now available on her blog.

You can access that post here.

I AM BELFAST screened at the 42nd Annual Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF Sighting: SUMMERTIME (Romance; France)

Tassoula is intermittently covering #SIFF2016. Her first review of the festival, of the French film SUMMERTIME, is now available on her blog.

Read that review here.

SUMMERTIME will screen Wednesday, June 1 at AMC Pacific Place during the 42nd Annual Seattle International Film Festival. Go here to purchase tickets. 

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!

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: 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: 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.

~~~ 

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: STANDING ASIDE, WATCHING (Drama; Greece)

Modern-day Greece is struggling.

Amidst a game-changing financial crises, young citizens who are trying to make a life in larger cities are being forced to return home. This is the case for our main character, Antigone (Marina Symeou), who comes back to her depressed, coastal town to start over.

The pace is frustratingly slow as the film begins and we are introduced to the locals. What we soon learn is that this small community mirrors that of the American Wild West—violence and corruption dominate and everyone enduring it is either too tired or too scared to confront it.

Amidst abusive situations our heroine refuses to suppress her rage and accept that things will never change.

Having grown up in a male-dominated, Greek home, I both recognized the unbalanced strength and chauvinism of the men, and silently cheered as the strong women held their own.

It's not an uplifting look at what becomes of a society in ruin, but an honest one.

STANDING ASIDE, WATCHING will be shown at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival May 23 and 25. For tickets, go here.

~~~

SIFF Sighting: BURT'S BUZZ (Documentary; Canada)

"It's important to separate one's wants from one's needs."

Those are the words the iconic co-founder of Burt's Bees, and he faithfully lives by them.

This film shows a man of contradiction: Burt is a hoarder who embraces simplicity; a gun enthusiast that hates war. He started his company by selling honey on the side of the highway; now he's merely the figurehead for the giant brand its become. And that's okay with him.

BURT'S BUZZ will be shown at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival May 26 and 27. For tickets, go here.

~~~

SIFF Sighting: MIRAGE MEN (Documentary; United Kingdom)

In the late 1940s, residents in the U.S. began reporting sightings of flying saucers—what would a few years later be referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Some were frightened by them; others fascinated.

A few decades later when World War II Veteran Paul Bennewitz began talking up the things he was seeing from his home in New Mexico, the NSA cruelly began messing with his mind. They sent him "encrypted" messages supposedly from aliens; planted "evidence" of spaceship crashes on land nearby his house and flat out told him that aircrafts which belonged to the military were really vehicles from other planets. Their games drove him crazy, making him such a laughing stock amongst his peers that no one would believe a word he said.

This was all justified because of a "counterintelligence" campaign meant to preserve secret technology that was in development nearby at the USAF base. And of course, the believers think it was an elaborate cover-up of actual alien evidence, but this documentary has several folks from all sides of the fence going on record to share their truths.

Though the presentation is engaging (archive footage spliced in with talking head interviews), the reality that one of our veterans (and who knows who else) was used as a sacrificial lamb in our government's counterintelligence ruse is hard to digest.

MIRAGE MEN will be shown at the 40th Seattle International Film Festival May 20 and 21. For tickets, go here.

~~~

SIFF is Almost Here

The 40th Seattle International Film Festival begins two weeks from tonight.

Here's a sneak peek of some of the presentations I'm most excited about:

 

Richard Linklater's Boyhood, playing May 31

The One I Love, starring Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass, playing June 8

They Came Together, starring Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler, playing June 7 & 8

1,000 Times Goodnight, starring Juliette Binoche with Larry Mullen, Jr. of U2, playing May 23 & 25

Niall Heery's Gold, playing May 20

4-Minute Mile, playing June 5, FUN FACT: Tassoula is an extra in this film!

And of course, I have a whole host of documentaries I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to see, so stay tuned for my most-anticipated list from that genre.

Cinebanter Special Edition: TOP 10 OF 2013 (PART 1)

The mp3 of this show is here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula disagree on THE WOLF OF WALL STREET and find common ground with CAPTAIN PHILLIPS as they announce their long-awaited TOP 10 of 2013. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:32 TOP 10 of 2013 (10 - 6)
• Break
• 23:01 TOP 10 of 2013 (5 - 1)
• Break
• 1:03:51 Credits & Outtakes

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!

Cinebanter #128 - Nebraska

The mp3 of this show is here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula are underwhelmed by NEBRASKA. In The Last Five®, Michael attempts to turn his daughter into a film snob, while Tassoula sees several flicks in honor of her own birthday. The final segment features the hosts responding to listener feedback about their show on 12 YEARS A SLAVE, and announcing January's show. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro

• 00:32 Review of NEBRASKA

• Break

• 20:04 To Sum It Up

• Break

• 22:49 The Last Five®
• Break

• 53: 07 Listener Feedback (Jordan in Boston)
• 1:02:34 Credits & Outtakes

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: DOLPHINS; WHISPER OF THE HEART; TOY STORY 3; LIFE ACCORDING TO SAM and STORIES WE TELL. Tassoula's Last Five were: DELIVERY MAN; GREMLINS; THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE; REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE and SAVING MR. BANKS.

Want to contribute to the show and help with production costs and server fees? Click on the "Make a Donation" button to the left of this blog.

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!

Cinebanter #127 - 12 YEARS A SLAVE

The mp3 of this show is here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula wonder what they're missing in 12 YEARS A SLAVE. However, after finding some common ground in their review, all hell breaks loose in The Last Five®, when Michael accuses Tassoula of spoiling two films during the segment. Michael also announces the film for December. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro

• 00:32 Review of 12 YEARS A SLAVE

• Break

• 24:30 To Sum It Up

• Break

• 25:48 The Last Five®
• Break

• 1:00:15 Credits

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: ENOUGH SAID; BONNIE & CLYDE; CAPTAIN PHILLIPS; ALL IS LOST and DOLPHINS. Tassoula's Last Five were: CAPTAIN PHILLIPS; STORIES WE TELL; 500 DAYS OF SUMMER; BROADCAST NEWS and LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER.

Want to contribute to the show and help with production costs and server fees? Click on the "Make a Donation" button to the left of this blog.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins 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!

Thanks for the shout out, Valentina!

Cinebanter #123 - THE HEAT

The mp3 of this show is here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula clash over the humor of THE HEAT. In the Last Five®, Michael dives into some HBO documentaries, while Tassoula takes in a mediocre horror flick. The two also respond to Listener Feedback about their BEFORE MIDNIGHT episode. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro

• 00:32 Review of THE HEAT

• Break

• 21:27 To Sum It Up

• Break

• 22:15 The Last Five®

• Break

• 57:06 Listener Feedback

• Break

• 1:07:27 Credits

Michael's Last Five in this episode were: UNTOLD SCANDAL; HANNAH ARENDT; BEHIND THE CANDLEABRA; THE CRASH REEL and GASLAND. Tassoula's Last Five were: LOLA VERSUS; LOVE, MARYLIN; MORE THAN HONEY; CHERNOBYL DIARIES and THE EAST.

Want to contribute to the show and help with production costs and server fees? Click on the "Make a Donation" button to the left of this blog.

Special thanks to Brad Daane and Mark Cummins 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: THE HUNT (drama; Denmark)

Lucas (Madds Mikkelsen) is a likeable kindergarten teacher about to win custody of his teenage son, starting a relationship with a new girlfriend.

Klara (Annika Wedderkopp) is the daughter of his best friend, who lives next door. She attends his school, confuses her words and unknowingly accuses him of sexual abuse.

With Oscar-worthy performances, the film is a heart-wrenching exploration of what can happen when one is wrongly accused.

THE HUNT screens June 6 at the 39th Annual Seattle International Film Festival. For tickets, click here.

It's RUST AND BONE for Cinebanter #120

This just in: Michaelvox has chosen RUST AND BONE to be the topic of our next episode, which will air later this month.

In the meantime, please send us your feedback on our TOP 10 of 2012 show!

Cinebanter Special Edition - TOP 10 OF 2012

The mp3 of this show is here.

In this episode, Michael and Tassoula deliver their better-late-than-never TOP 10 OF 2012. They also share honorable mentions and the worst movies they saw last year. The breakdown is as follows:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:32 TOP 10 OF 2012 (part 1)
• Break
• 21:29 TOP 10 OF 2012 (part 2)
• Break
• 53:34 Credits

Want to contribute to the show and help with production costs and server fees? Click on the "Make a Donation" button to the left of this blog.

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!