The Vancouver International Film Festival – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Oh, what to say about this movie which is a musing on fame, regret, and identity.

You know that I tend to see movies that I hope to write a good review about.

This one is marketed as a bittersweet comedy about a good looking world-famous actor, not unlike George Clooney. Oh my, it is George Clooney! Clooney plays a fading movie star in “Jay Kelly”, which is ironic, because by the end I felt like I was fading too.

Not to worry – my little review won’t hurt his career. And I like Clooney in other things, just not this one.

The film tries to be profound by showing a movie star questioning his fame, but ends up feeling like a celebrity’s therapy session we didn’t ask to attend. I don’t always know a lot in advance about the movies I choose to see at festivals. The title might initially intrigue me and I might like the actors and know a bit about the story, but what I’m seeing a lot of is dysfunctional family drama in almost every movie no matter what the storyline is. It gets tiring.

With Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and a European road trip, it had all the ingredients for charm. Instead it lacked spontaneity, realism and failed to captivate. Humour is all about surprise….and this one, at least for me, held no surprises. Imagine “Eat Pray Love” without the eating, praying, or loving. Or “Marriage Story” without the story.

The film is directed by Noah Baumbach – known for introspective dramas such as “Marriage Story” and “White Noise.”

Director’s Statement: “Jay Kelly: is about a man looking back at his life and reflecting on the choices, the sacrifices, the successes, the mistakes he’s made. When is it too late to change the course of our lives? Jay Kelly is an actor and as such the movie is about identity. How we perform ourselves. Who are we as parents, children, friends, professionals? Are we good? Are we bad? What is the gap between who we’ve decided we are and who we might actually be? What makes a life? Jay Kelly is about what it means to be yourself.

This is the last weekend for VIFF. You can enjoy movies all year long though at the Viff Centre.

https://viff.org/

Blood, Ballads, Dance Numbers, Drug Lords, Surgery…

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 1^st.

The festival is now over, however you can enjoy movies that are part of VIFF playing all year round.