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Reviews
Evening (2007)
Sleeper Hit of the Season
I'm in Germany, so I hadn't really seen any previews for this film. I finally got to see it and simply fell in love. I laughed, I cried, and I saw a little of myself in each of the characters.
This film is about the dying main character, Anne, and all of the interactions between her, her friends and then how those interactions (and regrets) play forward into her children through time. It shows that she thinks she has made mistakes and is regretting what might have been. By the end, however, Anne realizes that everything happens for a reason.
One of the things that impressed me was the subtilty of this movie. Through many flash backs and flash forwards we see how like Anne her children are - and how much Anne is hoping to give them reassurance that in life, there are no mistakes. One is like the "mom" Anne, who is older and more stable, with a career, kids and a husband - everything Anne wanted to be. The other is like the "young" Anne - impulsive and panicking at the prospect of becoming committed to her boyfriend and the child she's carrying. Additionally, between the present and past views, we discover that the interaction between friends has matured and that some bonds - especially those between long time friends - are what really count. Perhaps it is these long time friends and loved ones that know us better than our children ever possibly will.
I found the movie quite complex, and deeply moving. The interactions between the characters weren't always verbal - and left the intelligent movie goer able to read between the lines and see what was there but never said. The chemistry amongst the group was superb, and allowed us to know the answers to a lot. Among the things that you are left to read between the lines (watch the interaction of the characters closely for the answers)- What really happened between Leah and Harris when Leah was getting ready to go off to school? Was Buddy really gay and in denial (let alone in love with Harris)? How much did Buddy's death truly play into the lack of happiness (and/or regret/guilt) that Harris and Anne felt after having spent the night together? Did Harris really regret his life - and when he saw Anne - have a simple way of telling her so? What did he expect her to do? Was Harris really all he was cracked up to be - or what Leah said - just another pretty face that was meant to be a woman's mystery? This was beautifully filmed, with breathtaking sunsets and sunrises and fabulous lighting on the island and in Anne's bedroom. The outfits were suited to the era's flash forwards and flash back and truly added to the magic. I particularly loved the scene with Merril Streep (leah) and Vanessa Redgrave(anne) in the bed together. It really shows how much more like sisters the characters were - than nearly any other.
While I will admit that I was briefly distracted by some of the strange angles in the camera shots (you can see her bra here, weird angle crotch shot of one of the actresses when she's sitting slouched in a chair is distracting because of the striped pants...to name 2), it is a minor annoyance in my overall delight with this film.
If I had to give it an award, I'm not sure which actress I would give it to, because they all deserve it. Well worth watching - and well worth watching with your parents and grandparents - as the beginning of a discussion of their life.
Botched (2007)
Sure to be a cult favorite at the film fest!
I too saw this last night at the Fantasy Film fest in Berlin where it had its world premiere. I hadn't seen any previews for it and almost didn't go. At the last minute, I changed my mind and grabbed a ticket.
I'm so glad I did!
The first 20 minutes, I thought oh lord, this is going to be terrible. On the contrary, this 20 minutes established the plot line and the first few characters personality and allowed us to figure out who was "serious" and "normal" and who were the slapstick artists playing off the deadpan. Once established, this cheaply made movie was quite simply a laugh riot for those who have a morbid sense of humor and enjoy creative torture methods.
The description in the film fest magazine really says it all: "And you thought you were unlucky? - During a heist in Russia, a professional thief (Dorff) finds himself dealing with twin serial killers, insane hostages, double-crossing psycho Russian hard-men and the real possibility of a horrible death."
By the end, the audience was laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes. It was gruesome, gory, campy and funny. It's one I'm buying when it comes out on video - because it fits my morbid humor quite well.
~Rose