The title intrigued me before I read the word rap in the description, so I gave it a quick pass.
Photo courtesy of Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
I love music and rap is not music to me. Well…actually, I don’t mind some rap. I just detest the non-stop swearing and the anger.
I decided to choose another movie starring Saoirse Ronan over this one. But then, the day before the screening, James McAvoy was in the news. He got punched by someone in a bar that I walked by every day while in Toronto on the way to screenings. Had I known he was in there, I might have walked in. He’s okay though. So his movie sparked my intrigue – I looked it up and there it was – the rap movie I declined to see “California Schemin”…so I decided to read up on it some more.
Lesson learned: never judge a movie by one word! This was one of the best films I’ve seen at the fest – based on a true story that has way more to offer than just rap. The film dives into themes of identity, ambition, and the cost of reinvention.
This is McAvoy’s directorial debut. Based on the wild true story of Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains.
Two childhood friends from Dundee – Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, dream of hip-hop stardom but are dismissed by the British music industry for their Scottish accents. So they reinvent themselves as American rappers from Southern California, complete with fake identities and flawless West Coast personas. And silly made up names. What starts as a cheeky hustle spirals into a full-blown con, as they land record deals, appear on MTV, and tour with their heroes.
It stars Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McLean Ross as the duo, with supporting roles from Lucy Halliday and Rebekah Murrell.
Critics are praising its mix of humor and heart, with Rotten Tomatoes showing a 92% positive rating from early reviews.
McAvoy’s direction balances the absurdity of the con with deeper questions about identity and authenticity. He plays a small role in the film as a record studio executive.
This movie is a feel-good underdog tale that dives into themes of identity, ambition, and the cost of reinvention. And the lengths young artists will go to break through a system that refuses to take them seriously.
Not to be confused with a 2014 thriller called California Scheming, which is unrelated.
California Schemin’ is already on its way to screens, with StudioCanal leading the charge. If you see it , let me know what you think.
THE CHRISTOPHERSis what happens when you lock a dying art legend, a brilliant forger, and two ultra-greedy adult children in a dusty London townhouse and shake vigorously. It’s less a film and more a masterclass in verbal fencing.
Photo courtesy of The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
This was the World Premiere of another brilliant Steven Soderbergh film. Soderbergh is best known for films like Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Ocean’s Eleven and Twelve, Erin Brockovich, and the drug thriller Traffic – for which he won an Academy Award.
His latest film is about the art world and unfinished business…namely; unfinished masterpieces. I loved this film. Especially the performances. The fabulous Ian McKellen (he should win an Oscar for this role – truly!) plays Julian Sklar, a famous, gloriously decrepit art world relic who is equal parts genius and monster. He’s absolutely brilliant!
He’s the kind of character who’d sell his soul for a good review, then demand royalties. Not having painted for years, the once-revered British painter’s reputation took a nosedive after a scandal involving a reality TV program he was involved with. Now he’s a bit of a recluse.
One of the most intriguing characters in THE CHRISTOPHERSis played by Michaela Coel, who brings a layered complexity to the character of Lori Butler, an ex art-student who is hired by the artists’ materialistic kids to secretly forge their father’s unfinished paintings. But Lori’s motivations go beyond money. Coel is captivating in both looks and demeanour as the forger with a vendetta.
Their scenes crackle with tension, wit, and a kind of layered resentment.
The two estranged kids; Barnaby Sklar (flamboyantly played by James Corden) and Sallie Sklar (played by sharp-tongued Jessica Gunning who was last seen in Baby Reindeer – interestingcasting), form a hilariously dysfunctional duo whose greed fuels the film’s central plot.
It will be interesting to see how this film fares when it’s released to theatres. No matter what anyone has to say about this film, the acting is superb on all levels.
Tiff 50 (TIFFTY) has now come to a close. It was a stimulating and entertaining mix of movie watching and get-togethers. I’ll leave you with a few pictures while I sort out my next reviews for you.
On the TIFF Lightbox Rooftop after the People’s Choice Awards. Cheers to another 50!The lovely and talented Sarah MacLaghlan at the Premiere of “Lilith Fair – Building a Mystery – the untold story.” Photo: d. kingProducer of “Lilith Fair” – Dan Levy. I love this guy. Photo: d. kingExecutive Producer – Boss Lady Diane Sawyer (ABC News – btw, how amazing does she look?) with Mike Kelley, head of ABC News Studios. Photo: d. kingA little behind the scenes.Who is this man? I know I’ve seen him before. Photo: d. king
The TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is in full swing and celebrating 50 years. Happy Anniversary TIFF! This is my second time at this amazing Festival of Festivals (it used to be called that) and it truly is a feast for any film lover with so much to choose from.
“All that matters has already been written” – George Orwell’s last words, at the age of 46, nearing death from tuberculosis.
My first film before spending 4 nights in Montreal to visit family, was the North American Premiere of 2+2=5. It was approved for a documentary by the Orwell family. I was hesitant at first because I knew it would be heavy and somewhat depressing – just like some of the books I read in high school that Orwell wrote – specifically “1984” and “ANIMALFARM.” Although totally unrelatable at the time, I was truly fascinated by those books. But now, sadly; they’re relatable!
“2 + 2 = 5” is a metaphor for forced belief in falsehoods. It shows how a totalitarian regime can manipulate reality and demand obedience; not just in actions, but in thoughts. If the Party says 2 + 2 = 5, then you must not only say it, but believe it. It’s about breaking down your ability to trust your own logic and senses. It comes down to crazy making psychological control.
If all that matters has already been written, then why bother writing at all?
Maybe because the writer’s task is to say it better, clearer, or more urgently. Don’t count on me for that. Orwell certainly did that, as his work still punches through decades later – his books are a nod to the idea that the past holds the keys to understanding the present – and that ignoring it is dangerous.
Was Orwell an unfortunate teller? Or maybe from another planet, sent to give us mere earthlings warnings of what may come if we allow it? You’ve gotta wonder.
George Orwell wrote 1984 in 1949 as a warning, not a blueprint. He had witnessed the rise of totalitarian regimes such as Stalin’s USSR, Hitler’s Germany, and the manipulative propaganda of wartime Britain. His goal was to expose how language, surveillance, and psychological control could be weaponized to crush dissent and rewrite reality.
Orwell warned of a world where truth is manipulated (think how the media is operating) and how fear keeps people in line. In the book 1984, the protagonist, Winston, works at the Ministry of Truth. His job is to alter historical records, erasing inconvenient truths and replacing them with Party-approved versions. Quite chilling.
The iconic line spoken by Jack Nicholson as Colonel Nathan R. Jessep in the 1992 film A Few Good Men. The line was an improvisation by Nicholson; the original screenplay for the scene included the line, “You already have the truth!”.
Makes you wonder what the actual truth is sometimes.
Even though this documentary was about Orwell, there were other authors who also wrote dystopia fiction and philosophical resistance to authoritarianism and such:
Aldous Huxley (BRAVE NEW WORLD) imagined a society where people are pacified by pleasure and distraction. Pleasure as control, consumerism, loss of identity.
Ray Bradbury(FAHRENHEIT 451) about censorship and intellectual freedom.
H.G. Wells (THE WAR OF THE WORLDS) is a classic example of dystopian fiction, and one of its simplest and most chilling illustrations of dystopia is this:
One day, without warning, giant alien machines descend from the sky. They’re far more advanced than anything humans have ever built. They don’t communicate. They don’t negotiate. They just start obliterating cities, vaporizing people, and harvesting humans like cattle. Society collapses almost instantly. Governments fail. Technology is useless. People flee in terror, and survival becomes the only goal. Talk about chilling! And more recenty…
Margaret Atwood (THE HANDMAID’S TALE) about gender, power, and resistance.
These authors didn’t just write fiction—they wrote philosophical warnings. Each one tackled the question of how societies can be shaped, controlled, and ultimately dehumanized.
How does this resonate with today? These versions aren’t just relics of the past – they feel like blueprints for dissecting today’s world, by recognizing the tension between individuality and conformity.
They’re like flashlights in a foggy digital age. They tackle:
Mass surveillance: Governments and corporations track digital footprints – think facial recognition, data mining, and predictive algorithms.
Disinformation: “Fake news,” deepfakes, and algorithmic echo chambers mirror Orwell’s “doublethink” and “newspeak.”
Censorship & control: In some regimes, dissent is criminalized, and history is rewritten – Ministry of Truth lives on.
So was 1984 a warning or a manual? It was unquestionably a warning, but one so precise and psychologically astute, that it inadvertently became a toolkit for control.
About the film:
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) takes a deep dive into the writing of George Orwell (1984) to explore its potent relevancy to our current times.
George Orwell titled his dystopian 1949 novel 1984, but it feels utterly current in 2025 when phrases like “Big Brother is watching you” might refer to Big Government, Big Business, or Big Technology. Orwell is overdue for a fresh look and filmmaker Raoul Peck makes for an incisive and stirring guide. Peck has long put great writers at the centre of his work, most notably in his Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro about James Baldwin.
“I knew that I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts,” Orwell wrote. Those simple assets carried him far. While he’s best known as the author of Animal Farm and 1984, this film opens us to a wider range of his writing that drew from his personal experience of poverty in Down and Out in Paris and London, of colonialism in Burmese Days, and of revolutionary uprising in Homage to Catalonia.
Peck pulls lines and impressions from these works and others, enlisting British actor Damian Lewis to embody the voice of the author. Visually, Peck uses film footage from multiple adaptations of 1984 and Animal Farm. He layers in contemporary news and documentary footage to evoke the alarming rise of totalitarianism, surveillance, and government violence in our present day.
It’s both conversely reassuring and frightening to see how much analysis Orwell brought to what we’re experiencing today. –THOM POWERS
Part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025.
Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025
You might not know her; but if you don’t know her songs, then you’ve been living under a rock.
Diane Warren: Relentless is a raw, in-depth documentary about the most persistent songwriter in show business.
A “BEST OF FEST” audience favorite from hollywood’s most coveted songwriter – with Beyoncé, Cher, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand and Toni Braxton among her many devotees.
Warren describes herself as weird; doesn’t like the word NO, is worth billions but not interested in spending it and prefers animals to people. But who can blame her on that one?
This sensitive, snappy but mesmerizing woman has been nominated for 15 Oscars® – and never won. She has been nominated for multiple Oscars for Best Original Song, including for her song “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” from the movie Armageddon, sung by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. It’s such a beautiful song but there are so many more. Instead, she was the first songwriter to receive a well-deserved honorary Oscar at the 13th Governors Awards in November 2022.
I personally tend to gravitate towards documentaries and this one is one of my favorites. It’s an uplifting story that goes to prove how a rebellious, anti-social child from humble beginnings with a mother who kept hounding her to become a secretary, can become one of the great songwriters of all time. An amazing accomplishment!
“Relentless” is a powerful adjective. It describes someone or something that is unyielding, persistent, and, often, unshakable. Someone who pursues their goals with unwavering determination, never giving up despite obstacles or challenges. They are tireless in their efforts and continue to push forward, no matter what.
Diane Warren was supposed to be here in person for a Q&A after the film but very sadly, her Malibu home was totally destroyed in the recent L.A. fires. Bess Kargman, the director, put Warren on speaker phone so that audience members could ask a few questions.
The festival is now over but I’ve left the link to what was shown here:
FOLLOW the Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (Instagram: @psfilmfest | Facebook: PalmSpringsFilmFestival | Twitter: @PSFilmFest) and use #PSIFF2025.
A delightfully empathetic film about a woman who tends to wounded hummingbirds up in the Hollywood Hills. The California Premiere was part of the 36th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF).
Photo courtesy of Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Terry Masear is an angel of a person who either finds, or takes in hummingbirds who are injured and nurses them back to health. Her phone rings with people wanting to drop birds off to her.
More often than not, her efforts reap rewards. Sometimes they fail, but she never gives up on the delicate little creatures. As the story points out, this joyful, gorgeously shot portrait teaches us as much about these fragile, amazing creatures as it does about the tenacity of the human heart.
Masear painstakingly feeds babies from little droppers who’ve been left behind by in most cases, a deceased mother. She does her utmost to try to get the ones with damaged wings to fly again. Her world revolves around a special relationship with hummingbirds and she knows a lot about them.
Perhaps she’s attempting to fix their broken spirits, as she herself once went through deep emotional distress. We find out that Masear suffered from childhood abuse and then later on, she looked after her husband of 30 years as he went through a long decline of Alzheimer’s disease. It wasn’t easy.
Overall, this is a beautiful story about nature’s little wonders.
My friend Rosa holding this little feeder. Photo: d. king
Six fascinating, lesser-known traits about our little friends:
Incredible Metabolism: Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any bird species. Their tiny bodies require enormous amounts of energy, and they can consume up to twice their body weight in nectar and insects daily.
Napping Experts: To conserve energy, hummingbirds can enter a state of torpor, a mini-hibernation that allows them to significantly slow down their metabolism, sometimes by up to 95%. During this state, their heart rate drops drastically from over 1,000 beats per minute to as low as 50 beats per minute.
Color Perception: Hummingbirds can see colors that are beyond human perception, including ultraviolet. This ability helps them spot nectar-rich flowers that stand out more vividly to their eyes than they do to ours. They can spot a flower a mile away.
Adaptability: While they’re known for their small size and delicate appearance, hummingbirds are remarkably adaptable. Some species can thrive in various environments, from the tropics to the North American deserts and even high-altitude Andean peaks.
Speed and Agility: These birds are speed demons, capable of flying at speeds exceeding 30 miles per hour. They also have the unique ability to fly backward and hover in midair, thanks to their ability to rotate their wings in a full circle.
Longevity: Despite their high-energy lifestyle, some hummingbirds can live quite long lives for such small birds, with some species living up to nine years or more in the wild.
The film festival is over now. Today is Best of the Fest with information below:
This Masterpiece of a movie is part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival – 2025.
Photo courtesy of Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025
This movie is beautifully filmed, told through the innocent but savvy eyes of gun toting, cigarette smoking Bobo; the eight-year old daughter of Zimbabwean land owners.
The title grabbed my attention while scrutinizing the multitude of film listings online. Then I noticed that it was filmed in South Africa and set in Rhodesia in 1980, the year Robert Mugabe took power as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and started the end of white colonialism.
The history of land ownership in Zimbabwe is complex and deeply rooted in colonial history. Who owned what first is a bit sketchy. Hmmm…sound familiar?
The war began as a struggle against the white minority government led by Prime Minister Ian Smith, who had declared unilateralindependence from Britain in 1965. This declaration was made without the consent of the majority black population. The war resulted in significant loss of life and displacement, with estimates of around 20,000 people killed overall. The conflict also led to the end of white minority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe as an independent nation.
Throughout the movie, Bobo keeps referring to her black help as “Africans” and white people as not real Africans. Here’s a little bit of info about that: the classification of white Africans as non-Africans has deep roots in the history of racial segregation and apartheid in South Africa. During the apartheid era (1948-1994), the government implemented strict racial classifications that divided people into categories. It is that same division today that causes violence, harm, conflict and confusion.
As it so happens, I’ve been messaging back and forth with a friend I met in Cape town who is originally from Zimbabwe. I told her that I was interested in seeing this film. Her reply: “Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight is a true story about my home town in Zimbabwe. OMG read the book years ago. It’s a film???? Jealous. Tt takes place in my town. Did it mention the name Bulawayo?
Good info, because I did not know that it was a screenplay from a book which piqued my interest even more so. The movie was adapted from Alexandra Fuller’s real life memoir by the same title.
What’s even more impressive about this film is that Embeth Davidtz; the Director/Producer/Screenwriter/Actor, was able to capture and convey a story so compelling and frightening without showing the actual violence which took place. You know it’s coming, but you don’t know when and how. Keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
Bobo is played by seven-year-old Lexi Venter who is amazing as a mature but also innocent child, in almost every scene. It took me a while to realize that Bobo’s mother was played by Embeth Davidtz, who was here in person for Q&A after the film. An astounding performance as a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, fighting to keep her family’s land. What an awesome accomplishment in every department. Now who’s jealous!
Davidtz, who was born in the United States but raised in South Africa, chose to shoot in her home country and cast an entirely South African cast. The scenery is breathtaking.
Before the start with Embeth Davitz. Photo: d. king
My late husband and I travelled almost everywhere in Africa and I remember he wanted to show me Victoria Falls, which is located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi River. We were told that the Zimbabwe side was still not totally safe even though this is in the order of about 20 years ago now. So we went to the Zambia side and stayed at the famous Royal Livingstone Hotel instead. A luxurious hotel on one side of the Falls with wild life freely roaming the property. I was in awe. Of course, my friend from Zimbabwe claims that her side is even more beautiful. Cannot imagine unless I go back someday. The sunset cruise on the African Queen on the Zambezi was just heaven. Had to throw that in as it’s one of my fondest memories.
I hightly recommend that everyone see this movie.
In closing; the story of war and hate versus good and peace is as old as humanity itself. Despite this, there’s a persistent flicker of hope that refuses to be extinguished. The path to peace is challenging, but not impossible. Let’s just stick with this hopeful possibility.
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A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story – part of the lineup at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
The by-line above is part of the title of this remarkabledocumentary about everything Liza Minnelli. Directed by Bruce David Klein.
Photo: courtesy of Palm springs International Film Festival.
That would be Liza with a “Z” (referring to the 1972 concert film made for television, produced by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse) who went on to win every entertainment award you can imagine, in every single category, and who is refreshingly honest as she tells her story in present day while going through old movie clips and reliving those times. She gives out solid advice like: “neverhang around with dull people.” From this doc it is clear she never has. I try not to, but sometimes they just happen to slip in.
As the daughter of Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli, she could’ve easily lived in her mother’s shadow. Instead, she became an iconic show biz force of her own nature. You find out about the relationship with her mother, her bond with mentor Kay Thompson who took Liza under her wings after Judy Garland passed away, her friends such as Charles Aznavour (considered the Frank Sinatra of France), Bob Fosse, Halston (an inseparable duo in the 70’s and 80’s, regularly supporting each other’s careers, traveling internationally and taking on the Studio 54 nightclub scene), her up-and-down marriages, personal and professional falls and showbiz triumphs.
By the way, Kay Thompson was a force of her own. The vivacious vocal coach, composer, dancer, actress, and choreographer was a staple in Liza’s life. She was there for Liza until the end of her life in 1998 at which time she lived in Minnelli’s penthouse on the Upper East Side. Thompson stayed by Liza’s side, through thick and thin, cheering her on through everything. Thompson became famous for creating the Eloise children’s books which she apparently modeled the main character after Minnelli, and for her role in the movie Funny Face. She helped shaped Minnelli’s career. Now; that’s a friend!
And I have a little story of my own. First off, I saw Liza Minnelli and Charles Aznavour perform together at Place Des Arts in Montreal in 1993. It was superb. I’ve always appreciated all kinds of music, and the sheer talent of these two. I would’ve rather seen them, than a regular rock concert. It was a very powerful, showstopper of an evening.
Then, on one of my many visits to New York City back in the day, I went with a friend to Elaine’s restaurant on the upper East side. We were finished dinner and debating whether or not to order dessert when all of a sudden Liza Minnelli and two of her friends came in and sat down at the very next table. We ordered dessert. After dessert I went to use the restroom and as I was washing my hands, a stall opened and out came Liza. We were the only two in the restroom and I did not utter a word – just a smile. Back to the table to try to eavesdrop, but only a bit. Ha.
Once again; while in the pass-holder lineup, I chatted with a woman who looked vaguely familiar. Once inside the theater, we sat next to each other, realizing that we had been to not one, but two of the same events recently but sat at different tables. Then we went through our phone pics to confirm and to see if we could find each other in the photos. She said “many people have more in common than not” which I also believe. Except the only thing I have in common with Liza was being at the same restaurant and washing our hands together. I usually don’t get star struck but I clammed up. I should’ve told her that I saw her concert with Aznavour in Montreal. I think she would’ve been pleased. Note to self: if I ever get the opportunity again, I will do so.
After watching this documentary, I have a new appreciation for Liza Minnelli. She’s so much more than her most amazing Oscar-winning performance as Sally Bowles in the 1972 film Cabaret. She’s a true friend who goes above and beyond as told by others such as Mia Farrow, Ben Vereen, Joel Grey, and Michael Feinstein. These friends share their insights and memories, providing a heartfelt and genuine portrait of Liza’s life and career.
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SHELF LIFE is part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF).
I had an idea that this film would be quirky, but no idea about how the director would make it so. Normally when you go on a documented culinary journey, no matter what the cuisine, it leaves you craving for that food. You go because you’re a foodie and looking to find out more about a particular chef, or the origins of a certain dish or perhaps pick up some tips on how to prepare or serve it.
Unlike the documentary I saw at VIFF “The Chef and the Daruma” where I wanted to go for sushi right after; “Shelf Life” makes me want to question any cheese I put in my mouth. Says the woman who bit into a piece of soap thinking it was fudge because of its packaging. Anyway, it was a very interesting doc nonetheless. The scenery is breathtaking and each cheese maker is passionate about what they do.
This was a mid-morning documentary held at the historic Palm Canyon Theatre; a former school gymnasium which was transformed into a local theatre by a family from Kentucky and is still thriving almost 30 years later. This non-profit organization (on loan for PSIFF) is dedicated to the education of live stage productions for the enrichment of the greater Palm Springs community and its visitors. I love the feel of a rickety old-fashioned theatre with chandeliers.
Plus, you never know who you’re going to meet at 10:30 am in the pass holder line up for a film about cheese. So many interesting patrons. I met Jane, a pro film festival circuit regular who used to be Sonny Bono’s neighbor. Bono; the late mayor of Palm Springs, founded the Palm Spring Film Festival in 1989. It has grown substantially since then. We thank him for that, but also we thank him for helping discover a gal named Cher. Must say, the man had a good eye.
I also met a woman from Vancouver, BC seated in the next row who used to run the “Hollywood” theatre in Vancouver for many years. The very same elegant single-screen neighborhood cinema that I used to go to, especially for the $5 two-for-one ticketed Monday night special of movies that just left theatrical release. Best popcorn and Nanaimo Bars (only those in the know, know what that is).
But I totally digress….let’s get back to cheese. The documentary runs some parallels between the shelf life of cheese to those of humans. Because over time, we all get moldy but I never realized that this film would make me question my own mortality.
We all have a shelf life and don’t get me started on all the living micro-organisms that live on cheese – at least at the start. It’s not the most palatable or pleasing sight. And don’t think any of us were expecting that. Blue cheese might have to take a back seat for a bit.
Director Ian Cheney takes us on a journey through the world of cheese from places we already know make it like England & Switzerland, to places we had no idea make (or used to make it) such as Egypt and Japan. The cheese monger at the very beginning and ending of this intriguing and at times disturbing doc, reminded me a bit of John Malcovitch by his eccentric attitude and delivery.
After exiting the theatre I bumped into several people I know coming out of the same film. This is a somewhat small resort town with cultured people who enjoy cheese and supporting our local film festival. All in all, the reviews were mixed and thought-provoking for this unique documentary.
Then they said “cheese” standing in front of the PSIFF backdrop.
This Film has an Inspired Dinner scheduled at Eight4Nine Restaurant on Wednesday, January 9th. Seperate ticket neccessary. Check here for availability
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The 36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) kicked off on Thursday, January 2, with its Opening Night and its widely acclaimed *Talking Pictures program.
This review is for the movie “AUCTION;” an intriguing French drama, which I saw at the Annenberg Theatre (at the Palm Springs Art Museum) but there are a few more upcoming showings at the Camelot Theatre.
Image courtesy of PSIFF.
I’ve always been intrigued by live auctions. The adrenaline in the room is contagious. So far, I’ve only been to one live auction because I don’t want to run the risk of raising my hand again.
But really; I’m more intrigued by how art collectors know, or trust, why certain works of art are worth so much money. We’re not talking thousands, we’re talking millions. You must have a trained eye. Then again, how do they determine the worth of a certain painting? That was what got me to this movie. The idea that a lost masterpiece from 1939, from an artist I’ve never heard of, was re-discovered in recent years in the home of a young man who inherited the home from his deceased grandfather.
The young man noticed the painting in a book, so decided to contact a hotshot dealer to have the piece evaluated. André Masson, specialist in modern art, receives a letter according to which a painting by Egon Schiele had been discovered in Mulhouse, France.
Of course not being familiar with Schiele, I Googled him. Of Austrian descent, he was known as an expressionist painter. It also noted that he was incestuously attracted to his sister Gerti, to the great consternation of their father (which makes sense, although father went on to die of syphilis himself). At age 16, Schiele took Gerti, then 12, by train to Trieste and spent the night with her.
What a lovely story. Kidding of course. A lot of artists of that era were tragic figures.
The painting in this film is slightly along the lines of Van Gogh Sunflowers, if the sunflowers are on their way out. It’s a dark painting with sad flowers -maybe alluding to how the artist himself felt at the time.
I also didn’t know that certain paintings were referred to as “degenerates” by the Germans during WWII. The looted ones which they did not deem worthy were either destroyed or given to families who they considered lower class. I’m guessing that is how the grandfather ended up with the painting in the first place.
This thrilling French drama (with English subtitles),directed by Pascal Bonitzer, is filled with deceit, surprises, double dealings and a few little things that don’t make complete sense. But it is very interesting and always good to learn something new…or old in the world of Art. Overall I enjoyed it very much.
The Fesival is on until January 13th. For tickets:
From Thursday, January 2 – Saturday, January 4, the *Talking Pictures program began with a Q&A following “A Real Pain” with actor, director and producer Jesse Eisenberg at the Annenberg Theater, “Sing Sing” followed by a Q&A with actor Colman Domingo, “Babygirl” followed by a Q&A with actress Nicole Kidman at the Richards Center for the Arts at Palm Springs High School, “Emilia Perez” presented by Kering followed by a Q&A with director Jacques Audiard and actors Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Edgar Ramírez, and “Wicked” followed by a Q&A with an extended introduction with actresses Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and director Jon M. Chu.
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NOTE: If you attend the Annenburg Theatre make sure to bring a sweater.
Blood, Ballads, Dance Numbers, Drug Lords, Surgery…
Photo courtesy of viff
Plenty of surgery…
This movie was chosen as the closing film at VIFF. It’s a strong message about how everyone deserves to live an authentic life no matter what the circumstances or the cost. And if money is no object, there could still be a price to pay!
I’d like to start off by saying that I have no personal connection to this movie – none! I have no intention of harming any cartel members. Okay; having said that…this movie is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. I think that anything I write here will not do it proper justice. It needs to be seen to be believed. It’s a work of art; really! With this movie I had no idea what to expect, and I was in awe of the actors’ ability to pull off such a complicated and interesting story with such believability and style.
If you love musicals, gun violence, reality TV and court dramas, you’ll probably love this movie. It covers all genres and interests. It does have a lot going on; but somehow it manages to all come together. It’s an incredible accomplishment from director Jacques Audiard (A Prophet; Rust and Bone) to make something like this work.
The cast of Zoe Saldana (Rita, a Mexico City defence attorney), Selena Gomez (Jessi – drug lord’s wife) and Karla Sofía Gascón (leader of a criminal organization before becoming Emilia Pérez) is outstanding. Gascón especially is absolutely mesmerising to behold as a cartel leader before transitioning to become a woman striving for actualization and redemption. This is Oscar-worthy material.
The Spanish actress was the first transgender woman to win an award for this film which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May.
I had to give a little more away than planned so readers can understand what they’re in for. However; there’s still so much left out that believe me, you’ll still be surprised to find out where the direction takes you.
In an interview with Variety Magazine Gascón said that she felt that it was “absolutely obvious” that she had to play both roles. “I do not see which actor would not have had this desire to follow their character in all its evolution,” she said, adding that “very few actors and actresses” get roles like the one she got in “Emilia Pérez.” “I haven’t seen many roles like it, not even with Javier Bardem or Marlon Brando’s careers.” Gascón admitted, however, that she dived into the role so deeply that she struggled to come out of it once filming wrapped.
I can only imagine. She did an impressive job of portraying two amazing characters. Zoe Saldana was excellent. I wasn’t really familiar with her work, but she’s amazing.
I would recommend this movie for anyone wanting a departure from the norm with something unexpected and exciting. And very well executed (to be taken two ways).
This movie is scheduled to be released to multiple theaters on November 1st.
The festival is now over, however you can enjoy movies that are part of VIFF playing all year round.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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