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SXSW - March 9th
Ahhh, a full day of screenings where I got into everything I wanted, and they were all great! Also, multiple Star Wars actors, which was a fun coincidence.
Forge
I adored this one! Two Chinese-American siblings in Miami get caught up in a forgery ring, as the FBI catch on and begin to close in. Fantastic script, amazing cast (including Kelly Marie Tran as the FBI art crimes agent), sleekly made and tightly paced. The ending was a bit abrupt, but it worked. I really appreciated they let all the characters be messy and human: they all had motivations and depth, for better or worse.
Arrest the Midwife
A timely subject and a compelling documentary about the dire need for midwifery in the United States, focused around several New York State midwives who are being prosecuted for practicing illegally. Very strong and compassionate in its intimate portrayal of the women involved, especially impressive in the participation they got from the isolated Mennonite community, but ultimately I felt like it was hampered by its own pro bias? It seemed clear they hadn't really sought out more voices to interview - even from the NYC community who were working on changing the legislation with them, and definitely no one from a dissenting POV (except a very token interview with the prosecutor on one case).
Also, it assumed a familiarity with the issue and skimmed over giving information about the broader problem: frequently interviewees would discuss maternal mortality rates and midwifery success rates and maternal care deserts and such without the film establishing basic facts first. It made it feel like they were preaching to the choir, assuming their audience was already informed and in their side. Given the short run time, I wonder if they ran out of funding or rushed to release for some reason. Still enjoyable and informative, and very good at the character portrait aspect, but could have been stronger and more balanced.
We Bury the Dead
Atmospheric, thoughtful zombie movie starring Daisy Ridley as Ava, whose husband is in Tasmania when an experimental military bomb goes off, blowing up Hobart and emitting an EMP pulse that causes the rest of the island to go brain dead. Ava signs up for the burial crews in a desperate attempt to find her husband, because there are rumors that some of the bodies are waking up.... (You see where this is going.)
Right from the start, the film was so empathetic, really capturing Ava's grief, and her compassion and curiosity about the dead (Daisy's enormous sad brown eyes didn't hurt, that lady really knows how to use them.) Her partner Clay's completely opposite attitude made a fun contrast, played wonderfully and occasionally funny by Brenton Thwaites. And I think even though in very classic genre fashion, kept it from being the same old story.
Also it was just a damn pretty and well-made film. The moody opening, the big vistas of the roadtrip part, a memorably shot zombie chase through a wrecked bus, subtle but solid effects to portray the enormity of the disaster even while keeping it focused on the human aspect.
My one quibble is again that the ending was a bit abrupt. It should have been set up better, or let breathe a bit. But I was satisfied coming out and had a great ride.
Spreadsheet Champions
Earnest, nerdy documentary about a worldwide Excel spreadsheet competition. Exactly what I expected, nothing groundbreaking, but incredibly charming and I even learned some things about the history of spreadsheets! The 6 competitors they followed were the best part: very diverse and colorful and sympathetic. Mason, the teenaged US competitor, was especially hilarious and showed up for the Q&A, so that was a delight.
Forge
I adored this one! Two Chinese-American siblings in Miami get caught up in a forgery ring, as the FBI catch on and begin to close in. Fantastic script, amazing cast (including Kelly Marie Tran as the FBI art crimes agent), sleekly made and tightly paced. The ending was a bit abrupt, but it worked. I really appreciated they let all the characters be messy and human: they all had motivations and depth, for better or worse.
(spoilers)
I loved that they let Coco, the painting forger and younger sister, be ruthless at the end and attack Emily (the FBI agent) and get away. That was exactly the person she was all along, and I'm glad they didn't make the girl soft all of a sudden. Instead it was her "too nice" brother who let misplaced sentiment and trust get the better of him.Arrest the Midwife
A timely subject and a compelling documentary about the dire need for midwifery in the United States, focused around several New York State midwives who are being prosecuted for practicing illegally. Very strong and compassionate in its intimate portrayal of the women involved, especially impressive in the participation they got from the isolated Mennonite community, but ultimately I felt like it was hampered by its own pro bias? It seemed clear they hadn't really sought out more voices to interview - even from the NYC community who were working on changing the legislation with them, and definitely no one from a dissenting POV (except a very token interview with the prosecutor on one case).
Also, it assumed a familiarity with the issue and skimmed over giving information about the broader problem: frequently interviewees would discuss maternal mortality rates and midwifery success rates and maternal care deserts and such without the film establishing basic facts first. It made it feel like they were preaching to the choir, assuming their audience was already informed and in their side. Given the short run time, I wonder if they ran out of funding or rushed to release for some reason. Still enjoyable and informative, and very good at the character portrait aspect, but could have been stronger and more balanced.
We Bury the Dead
Atmospheric, thoughtful zombie movie starring Daisy Ridley as Ava, whose husband is in Tasmania when an experimental military bomb goes off, blowing up Hobart and emitting an EMP pulse that causes the rest of the island to go brain dead. Ava signs up for the burial crews in a desperate attempt to find her husband, because there are rumors that some of the bodies are waking up.... (You see where this is going.)
Right from the start, the film was so empathetic, really capturing Ava's grief, and her compassion and curiosity about the dead (Daisy's enormous sad brown eyes didn't hurt, that lady really knows how to use them.) Her partner Clay's completely opposite attitude made a fun contrast, played wonderfully and occasionally funny by Brenton Thwaites. And I think even though in very classic genre fashion,
(spoilers)
the movie predictably had a 'humans are the monsters' interlude, Ava's intimate, mirrored understanding of Riley's desperation and grief(spoilers)
(but also she's willing and able to kill him dead when necessary, which is important. Can't have too much empathy in a zombie movie or you get your face bitten off.)Also it was just a damn pretty and well-made film. The moody opening, the big vistas of the roadtrip part, a memorably shot zombie chase through a wrecked bus, subtle but solid effects to portray the enormity of the disaster even while keeping it focused on the human aspect.
My one quibble is again that the ending was a bit abrupt. It should have been set up better, or let breathe a bit. But I was satisfied coming out and had a great ride.
Spreadsheet Champions
Earnest, nerdy documentary about a worldwide Excel spreadsheet competition. Exactly what I expected, nothing groundbreaking, but incredibly charming and I even learned some things about the history of spreadsheets! The 6 competitors they followed were the best part: very diverse and colorful and sympathetic. Mason, the teenaged US competitor, was especially hilarious and showed up for the Q&A, so that was a delight.
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I do hope that doc gets distribution! I've done some preliminary searching (though it's very early to know) and just found a dozen reviews with endless Excel puns, as is right and proper.