Movies: July 2014 List

It's August! We are now past the halfway mark of the year and, in just two months, our world will be buzzing again with movies after movies vying for that coveted Oscar ride through February next year. I have released my top 10 films of the year through the first six months of 2014 last month. That list is now completely dated. Why, you ask. It's because I saw in July what I think is the best movie of the year - and, perhaps, one of the most important films in the history of American cinema. I am referring, of course, to Richard Linklater's epic masterpiece, "Boyhood." I wrote a full review of that film and the link can be found here: http://raymonddeasislo.blogspot.com/2014/07/film-review-boyhood.html

July was not a good month for me in terms of the number of movies I saw. I only saw 11 films throughout the month - thanks to never-ending deadlines at my day job - but it was still a great month in terms of quality. I saw six brilliant, interesting films at this year's Outfest including the late Robin Williams' haunting turn as a repressed sixty-something man grappling with his homosexuality and his devotion to his wife (played superbly by Kathy Baker!) in Dito Montiel's "Boulevard". When I watched the movie, I had no idea that it was one of the final four movies that Mr. Williams would leave his devastated fans with. His performance, though impressive, is not likely going to net him an Oscar nomination but it was a showcase and a testament to his unparalleled talent as an actor who can weave through comedy and drama so effortlessly.

At Outfest, I also got to see Eytan Fox's latest film, the hilarious "Cupcakes", which I truly enjoyed. It's a crowd-pleasing and entertaining comedy about 6 friends who represented Israel at a global singing competition similar to Eurovision. The movie is a departure from Fox's more topical and serious films but it's a winning film nonetheless that invites loving comparison to some of Pedro Almodovar's fabulous and colorful comedies.

Another American film I saw was "Last Weekend" (dirs. Tom Dolby, Tom Williams), which featured Patricia Clarkson's masterful turn as a society matriarch on the verge of something - or everything. She may just have been menopausal or whatever but her performance lifts the movie even if you have lingering doubts about the motivations behind the character.

Other films I saw at Outfest include the excellent Russian film "Winter Journey" (dirs. Lubov Lvova, Sergey Taramaev), the flawed but engaging French film "Salvation Army" (dir. Abdellah Taïa) - quick, can you guess why is the title such?? - and the Canadian film "Sarah Prefers to Run" (dir. Chloe Robichaud) which premiered at Cannes in 2013.

Outside of the festival, I finally got to see Bong Joon-Ho's much-heralded "Snowpiercer" which I didn't find quite satisfying. It was suspenseful and stylish, yes, but its allegorical symbolism, though radical, is just too obvious that it rendered the supposedly explosive climax almost inconsequential. I was rooting for the train to actually derail just to have an ending to the film. Which it did!










I also saw Michel Gondry's latest, the lovely "Mood Indigo." My review is here: http://raymonddeasislo.blogspot.com/2014/07/review-mood-indigo.html

Here are some pics (collaged) of Patricia Clarkson from the Outfest and my selfie with the Oscar-nominated actress.

And, lest I forget, the list of the movies I saw in July.

Mulan (China) DVD  4 Stars
Mood Indigo (France) 4 ½ Stars
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (US) 5 Stars
Snowpiercer (Korea/US) 4 ½ Stars
Salvation Army (Morrocco) 3 Stars
Cupcakes (Israel) 5 Stars
Boulevard (US) 4 Stars
Winter Journey (Russia) 4 ½ Stars
Last Weekend (US) 3 Stars
Sarah Prefers to Run (Canada) 3 ½ Stars
Boyhood (US) 5 Stars

See you at the movies!

xx
Raymond Lo