2016-02-07 – Filmfestivalen 2016

The American epic sessions – Docurecording by Bernard MacMahon

Music nonstop Posted by Martin 2016-02-07 22:38

It’s not
so much a documentary, insofar as it dwells on a certain phenomenon or event,
presenting facts and subjective views, making the audience more well dispersed
in the subject, as it is a bunch of old and contemporary musicians recording of
music on ancient equipment. That’s really all there is to this film, and that
makes it pretty awesome. While some musicians, like Beck, really thrive in
environments such as this, others, like some generic rapper, probably should
stick to more modern ways of recording sounds.

It’s fun
to watch Jack White’s unending enthusiasm for the techniques, and to witness
Steve Martin not talk, not even sing, just sit there playing awesome banjo
while Edie Brickell does the vocalising.

With few
exceptions, the music is brilliant (where can I buy the soundtrack?) and the
2.5 hours feels much shorter.

Passed
the Bechdel test

4 violins of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/the-american-epic-sessions

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4587946/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_2

Comments(0) https://giff2016.smedendahl.se/?p=17

Room – Bottle episode by Lenny Abrahamson

Gala Posted by Martin 2016-02-07 22:35

This is
essentially two films in one, one after the other. It’s hard to tell whether
each had worked on its own, but I for one think that the two halves compliment
each other, making their counterparts better for the experience. Claustrophobic
and intense, the opening act deals with the handling of despair and how to not
transfer that despair to the next generation, seeing that they have no way of
relating to the outside world.

The
closing act deals with transition and possible consequences, and an uncertainty
of the unknown. And both acts are brilliant on their own, but even moreso when
joined together. Abrahamson pulls just the right strings, balancing the
emotional tightrope without failing. The dialogue is spot on, the set design
praiseworthy and the supporting cast kicks arse (have Joan Allen and William H
Macy ever faltered?). But, due to the films central plot, it would have failed without convincing leads. Brie Larson
is nominated for a best actress Oscar, and rightfully so. But the real star is
actually 6 year old Jacob Tremblay. He’s simply terrific, and I don’t mean that
as in “he’s terrific, for a kid that age”. He’s simply terrific in
his own right.

Due to
inconvenient ferry traffic, I realised I wouldn’t make it to my intended film
across the river, and so swapped my ticket for this screening of Room instead.
I suppose I got lucky, and I hope Room will get distribution nationwide.

Failed
the Bechdel test

5 ponytails of 6

https://festival.giff.se/events/room

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3170832/?ref=acknowledge