stockholm film festival 2007
So, I’ve been a good boy and actually went to the film festival this year (the first since I moved here in 1998). And this, this is what I have seen:
Into the wild
Didn’t know much about this movie except that Sean Penn was the director. But it is a truly great, and at least partly true, story about Christopher McCandless – a young man trying to free himself, from the norm, from society and even his family. Emile Hirsh make a believable protagonist, and should be a definitive candidate for an Oscar.
The Ten
A comedy episodial about the ten commandments, in true Saturday Night Live style. Quite a few laughs, but no consistent quality and perhaps a bit incoherent.
Grand Ma (short movie)
A 12 minute long story about a terminal grand mother with relatives gathering around. Few words, beautiful pictures, and a nice message.
In the Valley of Elih
A great low key thriller, with solid performances of all key players.
Surprise 2 – Km 31 (Kilómetro 31)
The only disappointment of the fest, a Spanish version of a combination of The Ring and The Grudge. Looked good the first scene or two, and from there it went straight downwards. Almost fell asleep in the middle of the movie, but although it’s nice looking and all, it fell quite short.
Eastern Promises
This is a really solid thriller. London is the theater, Russian mobsters are the people stirring the pot, and trafficking is the story background. Viggo Mortensen gets to play his best role so far, directed by the masterful threads of David Cronenberg. As usual, we are offered a few scenes of primed gore, which quite a few of the fest audience gross out on. Cronenberg at his best, focusing on people and meaning, rather than story.
We Own the Night
Pretty decent cop thriller about the regular drug trade. Russians (again) making the earnings, and the cop family gets in between. A war that can have only one end starts. Darkish tone on this flick making it a positive addition to a genre seemingly full of mediocrity.
Ark (short movie)
Clever mind-tricking animated short about a man searching for a cure the the world’s plague and going for the suicidal variant when failing. Not top notch animation, but good indeed.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le scaphandre et la papillon)
Based on the book with the same name by Jean-Dominic Bauby. About a man who gets a stroke and end up in Locked-In Syndrome and whose only way to communicate is to blink with the last working muscle in his body – the left eyelid. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a truly great, and very poignant, story – and the best of the ones in this festival. Not many remarks on the bad side, a few scenes could have been cut a bit shorter. Otherwise – the photography, the acting, the scenography, the music, and backed by the deeply tragic, but still very inspirational story, this is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. Shame on any jury not giving this at least one award!
The War on Democracy
Ah. The documentary, the vile, dividing flicks with few hidden messages.
John Pilger is famous for his criticism of mainstream media and western warfare policies, and few reporters has actually seen as many wars and its effects.
In The War on Democracy, John takes us on a journey to South and Latin America, to visit a few of the countries there, to revisit the democracy and government developments during the 20th century. We are are told a story of USA meddling by proxy, intelligence agencies , coup d’états and open war. This is a very important tale of recent history, a base for future choices. And yet I watched it in an almost empty, big theater…
No Country for Old Men
The Coen brothers never fail. They might produce a somewhat weak produce sometimes, but they never fail. This one is not even close to failing – a dense thriller played in a slowish pace about a killer hunting money from a failed drug deal and the man who thought he would get away with it.
I think I will need a second sitting with this one to fathom and appreciate it fully though. Should be an obvious Oscar candidate.
I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK
One of the little strange birds of the festival. Chan-wook Park is back after his Vengeance trilogy, with a colorful story about a girl who believes she is a cyborg and checked into a mental hospital. It’s a odd pick and won’t be found among the blockbusters, but well worth a view.