After 25 Days, I managed to see only 51 out of the 447 films (I know someone who saw a 100! ) at the 39th Annual Seattle International Film Festival. I saw 36 Features and 15 Shorts, Mostly Gay and Teen oriented. The List below is what I thought was the BEST, GOOD, FAIR, and Below Average. Be sure to catch these at a Film Festival or theatre in the coming year.
Best
Kings of Summer (USA)Stand by Me Meets Lukas -Nick Robinson is great as a teen that drags his 2 friends into the woods and builds a bachelor pad to impress a girl but only to lose her to one of his friends.
Ludwig II (Germany)
The Tudors meets Madness of King George-A Bavarian Gay King is obsessed with music and Art and struggles with God and his desires. He eventually goes Mad but still is devoted to his desired. The story is Epic.
The Spectacular Now (USA)
Say Anything meets Fast Times: A Party Boy/Teen Alcoholic is torn between the Party Girl and the Plain girl who totally GGG. So what's the problem? FATE.
Laurence, Anyways (Quebec)
Love Story meets Bad Education: A Couple Love is tested when Laurence wants to start living as a woman and his wife is unable to handle it. In Almodovar style, the story is revieting to the melodramatic ending .
DOCS
Her Aim is True- (USA) A NW Treasure
Evergreen- (USA) Excellent Coverage
Valentine Road- (USA) a Big Heart
Unhung Hero- (USA) Funny Journey
Shorts (Both won GNAs)
Woody (Australia)-Masterpiece!
Spooners- (USA) a Riot!
Good
Geography Club- (USA) Get Real meets the Breakfast Club: 2 Jocks share secret kisses and then are conflicted when one wants to join the Top secret GSA called the Geography Club. Shades of Get Real entered my mind.
Free Fall-(Germany)-Summer Storm meets Police Academy: German Hot throb, Hanno Koffler (Summer Storm) is married with a child on the way, but can't seem to keep away was fellow Police trainee, Kay (Max Riemelt) and they share a steamy affair, but Kay is Outed, and disappears, leaving Koffler's Marc, left with holding his balls. Very Riveting!
Middleton-(USA)-College Road Trip Meets Back to School: Andy Garcia stars as an un-happily Married, Dad taking his son to visit a college, who meets an un-happily Married Mom on the college tour and they go off and relive their college dayz and learn something in the process. Very smart, original and Funny!
Spud 2 (S. Africa)-Porkys meets Dead Poets Society -Never Saw Part I, but was instantly able to see the sexual Hijinks of Porky's and John Cleese playing the Robin Williams role from Dead Poets Society. Classic!
Test- (USA) Jeffery meets Alive and Kicking-The Lead is fearful of getting AIDS and instantly rejects the male slut, who both are part a male Ballet group. The Film ends on a High note, and shies away from Tragedy.
2 weddings and a funeral-(S. Korea) Between Love and Goodbye meets Wedding Banquet-a Fake wedding of 2 Doctors in S. Korea, They are Both Gay, but each have their own agendas but will Love conquer all? Refreshing Asian Humor!
Shadowed- (USA) All About Eve meets Single White Female- A woman is murdered and her husband is suspected and cleared and goes on a camping trip with his friends and is seduced by his sister in law, when suddenly it is clear she wants her sisters Life. The real story is even more intriguing. It was really good for a film based in NW, while not getting too campy, but more Film Noir.
Little Tin Man - (USA) Wizard of Oz meets Tootsie: a small actor wants to show his range by auditioning as the Tin Man in a Oz remake. He also wants to get the girl in the end. His Gay Brother is Hysterical. Every year, a film is overlooked and is not in the LGBT category, this one screams Gay Interest and rings true on any typecasting based on Sexual orientation or size.
Yellow- (USA) Postcards from the Edge meets Moulin Rouge -A female drug addict goes from reality to Fantasy as she heads home to confront her past. I loved it especially the Big Cat fight and when Melanie Griffith turned into a Pig!
Last I Heard- (USA) the Godfather meets The Hours-A former Mobster is released from Prison and must deal with his daughter (Renee Props) coming out as a Lesbian but that is a Minor story. The major story is dealing with old age and not being the King of the Neighborhood anymore. Paul Sorvino's performance saved it for me.
DOCS
Big Joy: James Broughton-(USA) A man that no one knows about but should.
Our Nixon (USA) -Nixon's stupidity at its best!
Out of Print - (USA) Great Doc about eBooks and the future of publishing.
Terms and Conditions May Apply- (USA) Data used by Govt thanks to Bush
Shorts (Too Many to name):
Win or Lose
The Naturalist
Arcane
Machine head
Peach Juice
Little Plastic Figure
Fair
Concussion (USA) The L word meets Klute: A Lesbian suddenly freely becomes a Call Girl, and it was out of boredom and not from the her Head Injury! The leads performance saved it.Five Dances (USA)-The Black Swan meets Big Gay Musical: Dancing was great, but the lack of Acting Showed.
C.O.G. (USA) -David Sedaris finds Religion. Watching Jonathan Groff walk away from Gay Sex to find religion with fellow Gay Denis O'Hare was painful to watch.
Out in the Dark-(Israel) The Bubble meets Yentl: a Palestinian must choose his Terrorist Family or his Hot Jewish Lover or head to Forbidden Territory.
Mutual Friends (USA)-Singles meets Parting Glances: Cheyenne Jackson plays it straight and is rarely scene, but the Party scene saved it for me.
Teddy Bears (USA)- -David Krumholz's Performance was the Best Part.
Drinking Buddies (USA) Norma Rae meets Sideways: I was bored until Anna Kendrick Lit up the screen!
Putzel-(USA)-Woody Allen style Love story: It was Funny in a Jewish sort of way!
DOCS
Interior, Leather Bar-(USA) A Franco Produced Reality Show, gave it a good College Try. Director. Travis Mathew, did his Best to follow along.
KINK-(USA) Another Franco Produced Freak Show, and I learned a little something that Rape Fantasies are IN and Fucking Machines are OUT. Also you know you have been around when someone who almost hosted you in NY, was in this movie and is a Gay Bondage Film director. Ouch!
Shorts (Too Many to name)
In the Bedroom
Taboule
Malaria
Noodle Fish
Palmipedarium
BELOW AVERAGE (See at your own Risk):
Poor
Epic-(USA) From Star Wars to Wizard of OZ to the Borrowers, it Lost me after Beyonce's character was killed off during the first half!Pit Stop-(USA) The 2 leads were magic on screen, but only shared it during Last 10 minutes of the film!
Shorts (Too Many to name)
The Hunter
Isle of Dead
Burger
Bad
VHS 2-(USA) I fell asleep and could not keep up. Let's hope there is not a Part 3.Nothing Awful, thank goodness!
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