Tuesday, April 14, 2009

At 41 Hours and Counting


Monday, MSPIFF finally posted their full schedule and program, just three days before opening night. So I haven't had much time to read every tiny little detail. But here's the schedule I've come up with as of today.

Lots of things could change. Like if I hear buzz about something (like I did tonight), I may change my mind (like I did tonight) at the last minute. Or, more likely, MSPIFF won't get a film or a print won't have subtitles, or it'll be scheduled in a theater that doesn't play a specific format.

No matter what, if you're planning to join me for any of these films, call me. That button on the right side of my blog actually works. Click it, type in your number, and you can call me FOR FREE and completely privately from whatever phone you choose. Just confirm with me that I'll be at the theater and saving a seat for you!

All films, except for opening night on April 16th (which will be at Block E, downtown), are at St. Anthony Main. Free parking for cars AND bikes.

Here goes, the "final" schedule!

April 16

7:00 500 Days of Summer

April 17

6:45 The Karamozovs
9:55 Three in Love

April 18

12:00 The Necessities of Life
2:30 Liberation Day
5:30 Wrong Rosary
6:45 Rumba
8:30 Lion's Den

April 19

1:00 Littlest Shorts
2:50 Trust Us, This is All Made Up (the page has a wrong date on it--should be the 19th, not the 29th)
5:30 William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe
7:00 American Violet
10:00 Song for the Southern Seas

April 20

5:00 I Am From Titov Veles
9:30 The Photograph

April 21

5:00 Minnesota Shorts: Documentary
6:50 Apron Strings
8:45 The Fighter

April 22 (Earth Day! I will be computer-free and I will bike and/or bus it)

5:10 What Remains of Us
7:00 Minnesota Shorts (this ALWAYS sells out--get your tickets now)
9:45 Horn of Plenty

April 23

5:10 Forgotten Transports: To Estonia
7:15 A Walk to Beautiful
9:45 The Mermaid

April 24

5:10 Letters to the President
7:00 Bang-Bang Wedding
9:15 White Man's World

April 25

12:15 Taarka
2:35 Wounded Knee
4:45 Breaking Upwards
8:30 Getting Home

April 26

1:00 The Red Jacket
3:00 All Ages Animation
5:15 Fados
7:15 Kisses
10:15 Blind Loves

April 27

5:15 Sleepwalking Land
6:30 Rough Aunties

April 28

5:45 Stars on Earth
9:30 Mothers and Daughters

April 29

5:00 Salt of This Sea
6:45 TBA? (an empty spot on my schedule--I may want to see whatever MSPIFF decides to put in this slot)
9:45 Mutum (I may have seen this last year, and I'm confused--maybe it was supposed to come last year but never made it through customs?)

April 30

5:15 How About You?
7:30 Dunya & Desie
9:00 Apron Strings

Friday, April 10, 2009

Some More Reviews


Every Little Step

Pros: Great music, a storyline that roughly follows A Chorus Line, and compelling characters you want to root for.
Cons: I can't think of one.

I don't like musicals, but LOVED this film.

My rating: Worth $10 and the price of a babysitter.


Up

Pros: It's Pixar's next film. Up is a date movie as much as it's an adventure film.
Cons: It's a little long. The strong female character in the beginning isn't throughout the film, and there are no other females.

My rating: Worth a matinee. You have to see this one on the big screen to appreciate the animation--especially textures and light.


Moon

Pros: The science and technology doesn't get in the way of the story or the main character's humanity, and is mostly good. The moon scenes are fantastic. GREAT acting by Sam Rockwell.
Cons: If you're a sci fi geek, you might find the plot twist a bit transparent.

My rating: See this at the ONLY showing at MSPIFF, Monday, April 27th at 7 pm. What else do you have to do on a Monday night? The view of downtown from St. Anthony Main is fabulous, the parking is free, and there's lots of great food and drink to to be had.

And get your tickets now--this Sundance 2009 film might be sold out by the 27th.

Monday, April 6, 2009

First MSPIFF Reviews

Wolf

Pros: high production values, stunning cinematography, interesting culture clash premise.
Cons: cultural references accessible only to Swedes, thin plot, and a narrative that should have been made into a short film

My rating: You could do better at MSPIFF unless you like slow, beautifully shot films.

The Girl from Monaco

Pros: interesting premise, believable acting, non-Hollywood plot twists and ending.
Cons: the film seems to be about how stupid men can be when they follow their libido.

My rating: Worth checking out if you like beautiful women and beautiful locations and French film.


Food, Inc.


Pros: the film makes a strong case for changing our food buying and eating behavior without guilt or gore, ends on a positive note about what's being done and what you can do.
Cons: the film makes a strong case for changing our food buying behavior. (This is only a con if you're strongly attached to your Frito Lays or your Cheerios). The film doesn't do a good job at addressing the economic inequalities it exposes.

My rating: If you only see one film at MSPIFF, this is the one.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

MSPIFF Preview!

One rom-com, one drama, and one documentary, each 95 minutes.

I really do need to build a home theater.

The Girl From Monaco (France)
Wolf (Sweden)
Food, Inc. (USA)