Saw these 3 movies at 2007 toronto film fest, Gone with the Woman (GwtW), With Your Permission (WyP) and Forever Never Anywhere (FNA).
While WyP and GwtW both deals with perspectives of male/female relationships, both from the male PoV and the struggles it sometimes involves.
WyP is layered with reverse situation setups, slow plot revelations and memorable performances. Nothing is perfect, however, as WyP is every so slightly marred by a ... hmmmmmmm .... how shall I put it, ... an under-communicated closing shot. (As in Q&A the director pointed out she wanted a happy ending shot with a sense of "blue").
With that in mind, GwtW is a bit disappointing because it uses generalizations, and some stereotypes. There are high points of dialog, visualization but it feels like another version of 'Hi-Fidelity' ... grown men trying grow into their age .. by .. finding the missing one true self. And the execution feels Hollywood also.
FNA does not have the same theme, or belongs to the same category .. or any other that I can recall. It is fresh, humorous with some risk taking ... sometimes may have traversed over the limits of some viewers (but at no time degrades or degenerates into something less), is my most enjoyable film from the festival.
So 8 for WyP, 9 for FNA, 6 for GwtW.
Edit 2008: Still the same feeling. Gone with the women is not memorable for me. I can hardly recall this movie now. Only part I can vaguely remember is some painting of the dresser and throwing it out the window or something. While I want to see Forever Never Anywhere again and With Your Permission I might have judge it too harsh just because the ending didn't fit. Still insist WyP is much more poignant and thoughtful.
While WyP and GwtW both deals with perspectives of male/female relationships, both from the male PoV and the struggles it sometimes involves.
WyP is layered with reverse situation setups, slow plot revelations and memorable performances. Nothing is perfect, however, as WyP is every so slightly marred by a ... hmmmmmmm .... how shall I put it, ... an under-communicated closing shot. (As in Q&A the director pointed out she wanted a happy ending shot with a sense of "blue").
With that in mind, GwtW is a bit disappointing because it uses generalizations, and some stereotypes. There are high points of dialog, visualization but it feels like another version of 'Hi-Fidelity' ... grown men trying grow into their age .. by .. finding the missing one true self. And the execution feels Hollywood also.
FNA does not have the same theme, or belongs to the same category .. or any other that I can recall. It is fresh, humorous with some risk taking ... sometimes may have traversed over the limits of some viewers (but at no time degrades or degenerates into something less), is my most enjoyable film from the festival.
So 8 for WyP, 9 for FNA, 6 for GwtW.
Edit 2008: Still the same feeling. Gone with the women is not memorable for me. I can hardly recall this movie now. Only part I can vaguely remember is some painting of the dresser and throwing it out the window or something. While I want to see Forever Never Anywhere again and With Your Permission I might have judge it too harsh just because the ending didn't fit. Still insist WyP is much more poignant and thoughtful.