(SIFF 2014) Wrap Up: The Best, Good, Average, Below Average and BAD Films according to MK!

by MK Scott

After 25 Days, I managed to see only 37 out of the 440 films at the 40th Annual Seattle International Film Festival. I saw  28 Features and 9 Shorts, Mostly Gay and Doc oriented. The List below is what I thought was the BEST, GOOD, Above Average, AVERAGE, and Below Average. Be sure to catch these at a Film Festival or theater in the coming year.

BEST

Plummer and Maclaine still got IT!

Elsa and Fred  (USA) -The US version of a Famed 2005 film from Spain. This version you have 2 legends (Shirley Maclaine and Christopher Plummer) showing they still have IT.  Especially when they re-enact the fountain scene from  'La Dolce Vita'. A Masterpiece!


We Came Together (USA) -A salute to the Rom-Com Genre, SNL Style with Amy Pohler, Paul Rudd, Bill Hader, Ed Helms and the FAB Christopher Meloni. A Must See!

Pierrot Lunaire (Germany/Canada)-Pierrot is a Trans-man in love with a beautiful woman and dreams of being the perfect man. When the woman finds out he does not have a Penis, he goes out and cuts one off for himself! One of the original Trans focused films since 2011's Romeos.

You Must be Joking (USA) -Every year SIFF has a film that is So-Gay, that they don't promote as Gay. Like Last years, the Little Tin Man, just because the main character (Sas Goldberg) isn't Gay, her being a young Streisand and her BFF (Jake Wilson, who also directed) is HOT and Gay, makes this way gayer than the Biggest Gay film at the Fest (Helicopter Mom). A MUST SEE!

Trust Me (USA)- Clark Gregg had a Great year. Last year he was in The Avengers, Much ado about Nothing and stars in own TV Series Agents of SHIELD. In his spare time he managed to write and direct a film about a Child Star turned Hollywood Agent, who always want to do the right thing, but Hollywood has its own set of rules. Think of this as the (Anti) Player. This film, you see Gregg's strength as an actor, rather than the robot he plays  for MARVEL.


DOCS
Regarding Susan Sontag (USA) -The Lesbian version of last year's hit, BIG JOY: The James Boughton Story.


Shorts 

Dragula (USA)-Simply Entertaining! Watch Barry Bostwick as an unrecognizable Aging Drag Queen.

GOOD

Sexy!

Gerontophilla  (Canada) - A Gay Harold and Maude! A confused (and Cute) young man leaves girlfriend behind by getting a job as a care giver and begins a sexual relationship with a 81 yr old Black Man.

Keeper of Lost Causes (Belgium)-Cold Case, Euro Style as detective is demoted to Dept Q (Cold Case room) and he is convinced that a woman, who has been missing for 5 yrs is alive and is in danger. He is Right, but as the case progresses the motives are shocking. Edge of your seat Must see! 

Land of the Storms (Hungary) -A Gay Soccer player returns to his hometown and Hooks up with a closet case and the Fur flies when his ex-Boyfriend visits and a REAL triangle is created. The Ending is quite a shocker, but since it is set in Hungary, it seems plausible.


Alex of Venice (USA)-Workaholic Alex has a hard time figuring out why her husband (Dreamy, Chris Messina) wants to leave her. Her Father (Don Johnson) is getting Alzheimer's and her sister is a loose cannon. Loved it!

My Last Year with Nuns  (USA)-Seattle Actor, Matt Smith, takes his one man show to Narrative format as his relives his youth as a Catholic school boy as he repents for bullying acts Racism and Homophobia.


DOCS
To Be Takei (USA) -From Internment Camp to being Typecast to his Pioneering achievement in Star Trek to Politics to Sulu again, and now Gay Activist. See George Takei feud with Shatner and bicker with his long time partner. I see a Reality show here.

I am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (USA) -After 44 years, Caroll Spinney is still Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street and watch this incredible DOC and his life. Even after some Highs (China) and Lows (a Red Monster, named Elmo) to near disaster with almost being in the Challenger Disaster. Spinney, 80, has no plans to retire anytime soon.

Internet's Own Boy (USA) Aaron Schwartz, a founder of Reddit and many other revolutionary sites that we bloggers use today was a Robin Hood at exposing Government corruption. As he was facing trial for multiple charges, took his own life. This story is a Must See for any Blogger that want to pay homage.


Shorts
Best (UK) -A Groom Hooks up his Best Man one last time before tying the knot.

Passing Ellenville (USA)- 2 Transgenders, One man and one woman on surviving in a small town.

Last Farewell (Sweden)-A Casper Andreas film, without Pretty boys and sex. A elderly man learns his daughter pulled the plug on his late partner from his ghost.

Aban + Khorshid (USA)-2 Iranians fall in love. Don't tell Iran.

ABOVE Average

Creep (USA) -Blair Witch Project meets Misery. When Mark Duplass (Safety Not Guaranteed) plays a lonely guy that lures a videographer in the woods for his own enjoyment. The Homoerotic vibe made this to very entertaining, but the Low budget style was a distraction.

Zombeavers (USA)- Gremlins meets Evil Dead. My High School mascot was Bucky Beaver and found this to be very funny and Campy. Later when the humans turn into Zombies, the fun stops.

Not GAY enough?

Helicopter Mom (USA) -Billed as the big GAY film of SIFF and screened during the annual GAY-LA, was a mistake and was obviously done because the stars are a Gay Ally, Nia Vardalos and Disney Cutie, Jason Dolley. The story itself is about a Super Mom (Think Beverly Goldberg of the Goldbergs) who assumes her son is gay (If he was straight, she didn't want another woman in his life) and signs him up for a Gay scholarship. The problem is the son is still in the Questioning or Bi-Sexual stage and is not ready to come OUT. The director told me they promise to address the issue in Part 2. What I applaud is the inclusion of B and Q from the LGBTQ . There have been any or few films to actually acknowledge that Bi-sexuals and Questioning people are part of the community. I think they accomplished that message.

Me, Myself and Mum (France)- Guillaume Gallienne is the Director and star as he plays himself and his mum. The performances are FAB, but you get a little confused if this a story of Gender Identity or his he really Gay. In the end, like Helicopter Mom, he ends up being Neither Trans nor Gay.

AVERAGE

Oops, He forgot to call Home!

Futuro Beach (Germany/Brazil)- When a German Biker's 'Friend' Drowns in Brazil, the Lifeguard that tried to save the 'Friend', Hooks up with the Biker almost immediately.  The Lifeguard leaves his family and moves to Germany to be with his new lover. 10 years later, the Lifeguard's little bro tracks him down and is pissed that he was abandoned and never Called.  End of Story.

Salvation Army (France)-A young Moroccan turns RENT Boy, to get away from his Dysfunctional Family, years later, gets a scholarship in Zurich and loses his meal ticket, He is then forced to spend the night at the Salvation Army shelter and meets a fellow Moroccan. END of STORY. 

Eastern Boys (France)- A young Gang member targets a rich business man, the gang also targets him and robs him blind. The Businessman realizes his Lover needs a father more than a lover and helps him to breaks ties with the Gang. The Businessman makes arrangements to adopt the young man. End of Story.

The Way He Looks (Brazil) A Blind Teenager develops feelings for the new student, who he thinks likes girls, finally, the feelings are exchanged as the 2 boys walk hand in hand into the sunset. End of Story.

Jimi: All is by My Side (UK) -Jimi Hendrix goes to London, before his Fame in the US. Three white girls go after him and each eliminate the competition. End of Story.

Night Moves (USA)-Jesse Eisenberg and Dakota Fanning are Environmental activists and they team up with Peter Sarsgaard to blow up a dam, and of course someone always gets hurt. End of Story.

Intramural  (USA) -Four Years after their team mate is paralyzed playing touch football, the team comes back to beat their rivals with the said team mate as their coach. End of Story.


SHORTS
Maikaru (USA) A Asian gay man in Seattle talks about life on the street. Using Animation.

BELOW AVERAGE (See at your own Risk):

Please take Pics of my Hole!

Wetlands (Germany)-A Female American Pie meets 50 shades of Grey. The Film was warned to be Vulgar, but NOT as bad as 'Another Gay Sequel'. A young Girl has hemorrhoids and a huge sexual appetite and while in the hospital, sets her sights on banging her hunky male nurse. Not Bad, but too Vulgar to be average.


DOC
Ignasi  G. (Spain)- A glimpse inside the life of a performance artist that goes on too long.


Shorts
Goat (S. Africa) -A ritual to cure Homosexuals. Will it work? Of course NOT!
Refuge (USA)-A elderly man talks about his Kinks. T.M.I.!

BAD

Real or Fantasy?

Fly, Colt, Fly (Canada)-The  legend of Colton Harris-Moore is re-enacted in Narrative and Animated form, with commentary and interviews from reporters from KOMO and KING. The animation was like watching an episode of ARCHER, the narrative portion was OK, and the Doc portion was like watching a KOMO News special. It was hard to comprehend what was real and what was just a folktale.BORING. I would rather wait for the Colton BioPic penned by Dustin Lance Black, coming soon. That film will be told from Colt's point of view. 


Great Films I missed:

Boyhood (USA)
The Fault in Our Stars (USA)
The Case Against 8 (USA)
Dior and I (France)
Yves Saint Laurent (France)
Lilting (UK)
Skeleton Twins (USA)
Obama Mama (USA)
Dear White People (USA)
Rhino Full Throttle (Germany)