DCIFF '15: "Southeast 67" Review
“Southeast 67” is a documentary that speaks to the power of education, altruism, hard work and love. Using a mixture of archival footage and photos, and shooting presently with some of the first I Have A Dream program students, it tackles the age old question of who wins: nature or nurture? The documentary refreshingly dares to answer “life isn’t that black and white.”
In the 1980s, Washington D.C. was known as the “Murder Capital”. Stewart Bainum, a businessman in the area, promised college scholarships to 67 rising seventh graders through the I Have A Dream program. Out of the 67 Dreamers, 72% graduated from high school and 6 went on to get degrees. Writer/director Betsy Cox catches up with some of the Dreamers and their teachers, Phyllis Rumbarger and Steve Bumbaugh, and captures a family reunion on screen amongst the group. It’s clear that the time in the program was a special moment in everyone’s life.
Each personal story presented is diverse. No two Dreamers are the same. The entrancing part of being able to catch up with the Dreamers twenty years later, is that you can formulate an answer to whether the opportunity to get out of a drug and violence filled environment to pursue a better education was enough to put them on the path to success. For some of the Dreamers that appear in the documentary, the opportunity came at a price that we may not instantly think of. Most of them were worried more about their mother being in an abusive relationship, possibly overdosing on drugs in their absence, or where they would get money to live while being away. These haunting thoughts kept some of them paralyzed to move forward, while others were able to take full advantage of the opportunity. Yet, the outcomes twenty years later are equally positive in their own way.
One of the most intriguing things about the documentary is seeing the generational impact of decisions. Sadly, many of the Dreamers were fighting just to make it into the middle class, but the opportunity to have hope for a different future had a lasting impact that has touched their children's lives. The film could have easily slipped into the sensationalism of one white man giving 67 underprivileged black kids a helping hand. Instead, it focuses on love, which sees no color, and permeates each frame from the inside out with undeniable results. “Southeast 67” plays at the DC Independent Film Festival on Friday, February 27th at 7:30PM.
Rating: B
DCIFF '15: "Blood, Sweat, and Beer" Review
It would be easy to dismiss a documentary about beer, or think that it would be best displayed in the background of a fraternity party. While “Blood, Sweat, and Beer” does make you want to grab a cold one, directors Chip Hiden and Alexis Irvin have crafted a film that’s more about the American dream, dedication to a burgeoning trade, and following your passion no matter the cost. Whether you’re a beer connoisseur or not, this documentary speaks to everyone on some level.
The film follows two main stories. In Braddock, PA, a trio of 23 year olds start The Brew Gentlemen Beer Company against all odds. Braddock, a run down former steel town, has suffered from years of abandonment and a population decrease. The young men hope that their brewery will be a beacon of hope for the city’s revitalization. While that lofty goal sounds great, the struggle to see the brewery come together finds them working around the clock with little to no income. It’s do or die for them, and the hundreds of thousands of dollars that investors have put in the company has to be paid back.
In Ocean City, Maryland we’re introduced to Danny Robinson. Robinson is a brewer whose business struggles to get sales on the boardwalk on a regular day, but is now in a nasty trademark lawsuit battle. The filmmakers track his story over the course of a year, from the storefront opening to his final court date. Robinson’s underdog story is perhaps the emotional core of the film as he continues to try and run his business with the mammoth suit hovering over him. Yet his resolve to keep pressing forward is what the American workforce is built on.
Towards the end, the film struggles to stay on track. It dips into the realm of women in the craft brewing industry. While it’s a worthy topic to explore, it comes out of no where and is gone just as quickly as it appears. While it certainly doesn’t derail the film, it would have been great to learn more and have it weaved throughout the film or not touched at all.
Coming off of their debut documentary, “The Dream Share Project”, Hiden and Irvin have managed to infuse their passion for people following their dreams with their love for craft beers in their latest project. Ultimately, “Blood, Sweat, and Beer” is an informative documentary about craft brewing through the lens of brewers trying to earn a living. “Blood, Sweat, and Beer” plays at the DC Independent Film Festival March 1st at 2:40PM.
Rating: B-
"Whiplash" Review
“Whiplash” is “Rocky” with band instruments! No, really! It has an underdog with a dream, bloody training montages, and the coach that’s trying to push him to greatness. It’s an utterly mesmerizing film about the lengths some people will go and subject themselves to in order to achieve perfection!
You know that goofy smirk you make, when a character you’re rooting for does well? You’re guaranteed to make more than a few of those throughout the film. Never have you rooted for a protagonist so quickly than with freshman Andrew (Miles Teller). From the opening frame he’s in a room by himself practicing the drums, laboring away at his passion. We’ve all been in his shoes as the nervous, new kid on the block. He’s awkwardly trying to figure his way through the fictional Schaefer Conservatory. He’s doing what he loves most at the number one school in the country.
J.K. Simmons is an atmosphere changer as Fletcher, the school’s core band maestro. Fletcher commandeers respect, and has a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to his band. He brings Andrew up from “JV” to play with the big boys in the core after hearing him practicing alone. As Andrew slowly assimilates into the core, he witnesses and becomes the subject of Fletcher’s abusive push to make his band great.
The humiliation at the hands of his director drives Andrew to practice harder. As he becomes more laser locked on achieving greatness, he also destroys relationships and sometimes himself in the process. Regardless, Andrew’s arch over the course of the film is something to see as you watch the underdog rise!
This film is an excellent example of when a writer also being the director can create something truly amazing due to his or her deep understanding of the film they are making. Damien Chazelle absolutely knocked this film out of the park in pacing, tone, and direction! Simmons range throughout the film is undoubtedly incredible. He walks the line of genius and psychopath with ease as he pushes his students in dehumanizing verbal rants and the occasional hurling of instruments. Miles Teller turns in a terrific performance as a young student willing to pay the cost to be the best. It’s obvious that Teller gave all of himself to the role as he physically sweats and bleeds over his drum kit. The chemistry between the two is perfect as they have a battle of will.
“Whiplash” is definitely one of the best films of the year! The final scene, much like a “Rocky” movie, is one of the best emotional showdowns without the use of words or fists-just music-that I’ve seen in film. It’s an all around hypnotic film that will have you playing to the beat of its drum!
Rating: A+
"Two Days, One Night" Review
If there is one foreign film you should see this year it’s “Two Days, One Night” from the Dardenne brothers. In short, one woman fights to keep her job over the course of a weekend. The film’s simple premise however, provides the groundwork for a universal human story.
Sandra (Marion Cotillard) is a young Belgian mother who just received the news that her employer is going to terminate her position at the local factory while she is out on sick leave. In fact, after taking a vote, her co-workers elected to take a 1,000 euro bonus rather than keeping her in her position. With only two out of sixteen voting in her favor, Sandra has one weekend to convince the majority to vote for her to keep her job in a secret ballot to be held on Monday.
As the weekend moves forward, Sandra, encouraged by her husband Manu (Fabrizio Rongione), slowly starts to visit each one of her co-workers to humbly ask for them to vote for her to keep her job to help her provide for her family. Each person she encounters has a heart-wrenching decision to make. For most, it’s providing for their own families versus supporting her to keep her job.
Cotillard is definitely one of the great actresses of our time. There is something magnificent about her performance in portraying the everyday blue collar worker with such grace and honesty. She absolutely vanishes into the role in a film directed by brothers who usually cast unknowns.
The Dardenne brothers’ direction in the film is present throughout. Their use of long takes in which the camera doesn’t cut away from the action, but lingers on long enough to make things feel awkward, captures the beauty of Sandra’s journey. The moments when she lets down her confident mask after putting her heart in her hand and offering it to her co-workers only to be rejected, or sheds tears of joy when a co-worker gives her their backing. Their understanding of the subject and use of the medium to tell the story is powerful.
The film is a suspenseful journey into one woman fighting for the ability to earn a living. It’s a reminder to be grateful for those of us who are employed. Most importantly, it’s a lesson in how to keep your head up and never lose yourself in spite of the circumstances.
Rating: A
"Dior and I": Middleburg Film Festival Review
Director Frederic Tcheng explores a world that most of us have no idea about outside of the label or knock off we wear in “Dior and I”. It’s a film full of moments that are superficial at best. It’s also a beautiful look at what harnessing our passion, talent, and drive can create in our lives and the lives of those around us.
The film documents the struggle of Raf Simons as he becomes the newest Creative Director at House of Dior. It leads up to his first collection showcase that he only has eight weeks to pull off. (Usually the process is allotted four to five months.) Simons is extremely nervous about the process, as anyone would be, and imposes his high expectations on the people working under him.
While Simons is a ball of nervous energy on screen, the heart of the film is the ateliers and workers who tirelessly grind day and night to create the signature collections that so many people love. Dior has a low turnover rate, with many of it’s employees having been their for over twenty years. We’re introduced to many of the key members of the staff. The family environment that Dior himself created is seen and felt throughout the film and most of that is evident in this segment of the film. Yet as parallel stories begin to weave together and become one, we see the common thread of Christian Dior. His impact and vision both haunts and motivates everyone long after his death.
In the days and hours leading up to the collection showcase, the pressure intensifies for Simons and the Dior employees. It’s in this moment that Simons breaks down and we see the human behind the mask. In fact, even during the showcase he bawls uncontrollably, and it’s beautiful! It’s a moment that anyone can relate to. The moment when you’ve put your all in to something and it comes together exquisitely; it’s an amazing feeling no matter who you are or what position you hold.
“Dior and I” is a documentary that allows a glimpse into the world of high fashion. In the wrong hands it would be a reality TV show that us regular folk point fingers and laugh at! Instead, it fights to push past the glitz and glamour to tell a universal tale of creativity at its best!
Rating: B
"Red Army": Middleburg Film Festival '14 Review
I’m not a sports fan, I’m a movie fanatic. The closest I’ve been to seeing a full game of hockey is “The Mighty Ducks” 1-3. So going in to see “Red Army” at the Middleburg Film Festival I was expecting to be bored by an archival documentary about a specific team in hockey’s past. Instead I was blown away by a fast paced, exciting film. “Red Army” is the perfect blend of sports drama, history lesson, and compelling cinematic storytelling!
The film focuses on the former Soviet Union’s Red Army hockey team. Director Gabriel Polsky brilliantly uses playful humor with the pre-baked dramatic themes of the Cold War, democracy vs. communism, and sports competition. The star of the film is Viacheslav Fetisov, the former captain of the Soviet national team, and he delivers first-hand commentary as we weave through time up to present day. Whether talking about the Red Army’s extreme work ethic and discipline, the thrill of winning Olympic Gold, or pain of failed and lost relationships, Fetisov is the heart and spine of the film. We also hear from other star players of the team, retired KGB officers, sports journalists, and government officials which gives the film a dual feel of a behind the scenes look at the hockey team and communism simultaneously.
Polsky shows his mastery of the medium using all the tools at his fingertips in a symbiotic effort to push the story forward. Lower thirds translate from Russian to English, the titles and awards of Fetisov quickly fill up every inch of the frame around him showing just how talented he was, Russian tunes compliment the visually silly but amazing work out routines of child hockey soldiers! He dollies the camera in to cap off an interview at times throughout the film, making the interviewee and viewer on edge, but many times evoking a priceless reaction from the on camera talent.
“Red Army” ultimately gives us a glimpse at how much can change in one lifetime. Whether it’s the change of thinking/regime from the USSR to Russia’s current state, Fetisov’s personal life from “child soldier” to holding the position of Minister of Sport in Russia for a time, or the sport of hockey itself, the film speaks to our ability as humans to learn, grow and change. Whether you're a sports fan or not, it’s a must see documentary!
Rating: A
Check out the live Q&A after the film:
"Fort Bliss": The Other Side of War
“Fort Bliss” has all the makings of a Lifetime Original Movie in theme. A decorated U.S. Army medic and single mother returns home after touring in Afghanistan to face a troubled relationship with her five year old son. The film however, is far from a Lifetime movie! It’s a character study that civilians probably have never thought about, and the military community knows all too well.
If “The Hurtlocker” spends 90% of it’s time in the war and 10% at home, “Fort Bliss” is just the opposite. In fact, you could say that it picks up where it left off. Maggie Swann (Michelle Monaghan) has been through it. We first meet her on the battlefield where the tough-as-nails medic saves a soldier who has a live explosive device lodged in his stomach. She’s a hero to the core, can hang with the boys, but wouldn’t take credit for anything but doing her job. Upon arriving home in the states she’s greeted by...no one. Her ex-husband Richard (Ron Livingston) meets her outside of the welcome facility to explain that her son doesn’t want to see her after her extended tour has left him with few memories of her.
This is where the real fight of the movie takes place. Swann desires to reconnect with her son Paul (Oakes Fegley) and goes to pick him up to take him home with her, but it’s an uphill battle. He’s been under the tender wing of Richard’s girlfriend Alma (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and doesn’t want to leave. Monaghan does fantastic work in this film, as from the beginning you can read so many thoughts on her face without her saying a word. You can tell she’s decompressing and trying to turn off the battle she just left in Afghanistan, while at the same time trying to fight for the love and connection with her son that they once shared. How do you get there? On the battlefield orders are made and actions take place, but when it pertains to someone’s heart...things aren’t so simple. Every decision Swann makes stems from the tug of war between her professional and personal emotions and ideals.
Written and directed by Claudia Myers, the film is a labor of love as Myers poured years of research into it. The balance of character driven drama and action on the battlefield is exciting to watch. It’s Monaghan’s performance that grounds the film in a real, tough, and universal struggle that anyone can relate too. The film opens today in select theaters and everywhere on Video On Demand. Check it out if you want to see a war movie that sheds light on the side of war we tend to forget, but should have a healthy respect and appreciation for!
Rating: B+
Check out my interviews with some of the stars of the film at the GI Film Fest earlier this summer!