Shorts:
Methel Island
Director: Meg Smaker
A quick look at Bethel Island and a handful of the small islands colorful characters. Accompanied by a song that is catchy beyond belief, Oh yeah the majority of the island is addicted to meth (in case the wordplay of the title was too challenging). This isn’t breaking bad sexy meth, this is I just lost my teeth and my job sad meth. Did I mention the song is catchy?
Grade-87
Ovo
Director: Mihai Wilson
We were monkeys the guys behind the visionary video of “little talks” for Of Monsters and Men deliver another mind bender with stunning visuals. Sparse on dialogue this is an intergalactic sci-fi psychedelic trip that showcases some beautiful imagery. The jellyfish scene alone is worth viewing the entire 15 minutes.
Grade-85
Features:
Goldberg and Eisenberg
Director: Oren Carmi
Starring: Yitzhak Laor, Yahav Gal
A computer programmer is stalked by a local thug who hangs out in the park trying to force his friendship. This Israeli import has a bit of a soft light addiction and is not exactly pet friendly. That aside the longer the film progresses the odder it gets ultimately turning into a bit of a strange little eCoen-esque feature (anyone who has seen Blood Simple or Millers Crossing will put this together). The oddball characters, the utilization of graphic imagery intermixed with outlandish comedic moments it’s all here. The soundtrack made me want to take an illicit substance and dance or at least watch someone else dance. If Oren can get a handle on allowing his Cinematographer to stop the abuse in the lighting department he will realize he has some real potential.
Grade -75
Rezeta
Writer/Director: Fernando Frias
Starring: Rezeta Veliu, Roger Mendoza
A jet setting model moves to Mexico City and after a few impulsive flings, falls In love with an artsy musician. More an examination of relationships than a typical romance Rezeta is a goer with minimal standards, hooking up with a sleazy photographer with a striking resemblance to Borat as well as a random guy she meets in a shop who in addition to suffering from premature ejaculation also has issues with Rezetas ability to forge roots (the guy can’t handle a blow job due to Rezeta’s inability to differentiate her roots between Serbia and Albania in a manner that satisfies him) and want to travel. Ulitmately she falls in love with a bit of her opposite. Rezeta plays out like a failed relationship it is at times sexy,funny and pointless all rolled into one.
Grade – 72
Copenhagen
Director: Mark Raso
Starring: Gethin Anthony and Frederikke Dahl Hansen
An obnoxious New Yorker travels to Denmark with his best friend and his best friends girlfriend. Quickly becoming the third wheel on his own guys trip, he is left on his own, in a foreign land. Aimlessly wandering through Coopenhagen with only an address he continues to look for his grandfathers home to deliver a letter his late father wrote when he was 8. Along his travels he meets a waitress who helps him find the home and travel through Copenhagen taking his picture in various spots that his father was photographed at. All the while the relationship gets stronger and stronger only to discover that not all is as it seems, what at first was a simple fish out of water love story soon becomes a story of forbidden love when we find out the relationship is between a 28 year old and a 14 year old (almost 15). This relationship should be completely inappropriate yet I found myself wanting this illicit affair to work out. Shot entirely in Denmark this is a charming and enjoyable tale with actual character growth. A great first time feature directorial effort, even if it made me feel like a creeper.
Grade -87
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