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New York City

The Times of Bill Cunningham

February 16, 2020 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

The Times of Bill Cunningham is a documentary about the fashion photographer who was known for riding around New York City on his bicycle taking pictures of whatever interested him. Most of the film is taken from a 1994 interview done by director Mark Bozek. We get to hear Cunningham tell his own story as we see some of the millions of photographs he had taken over decades.

It is fair to say that Cunningham was obsessed with fashion. He relates that even as a child he couldn’t pay attention in church because of his fascination with women’s hats. He went on to design hats early in his career—even doing so while stationed in France during a tour in the Army in the early 1950s. He went on to open his own millenary shop as William J.

When he was given a used camera by a friend, his obsession with fashion found a new expression. He began to take pictures of anything that struck him. He was especially interested in “the way women dressed in their own lives”.  His photograph of Greta Garbo in a nutria coat drew the attention of the New York Times. (They were interested in a photo of Garbo; Cunningham was interested in the nutria coat.)

The film (in narration read by Sarah Jessica Parker) refers to him as “the Nostradamus of fashion and society.” He saw himself not so much as a critic or even as a photographer. He thought of himself as a documenter. As such his photos were not limited to high fashion—although the fashion shows were a big part of his work. He was there for society events to see what celebrities were wearing, but he also took pictures of everyday people on the streets—including the homeless. He also chronicled the Gay Pride celebrations. (The New York Public Library asked for his collection of those photos for its archives.) He wanted to record the world not just as society wanted to be seen, but also to show us the world as it really was.

The film shows us the muted eccentricity of his life. Although he lived in the world of fashion, much of his life he wore hand-me-down clothes. (He says when someone would die, their widow would give him the clothes.) He lived in a small studio over Carnegie Hall with minimal furniture. (He refers to living in “a cave”.) Even when the 2010 documentary about him (Bill Cunningham: New York) premiered, he didn’t see it. He stayed outside the theater photographing people.

©Harold Chapman / Topfoto / The Image Works

Where the film comes up short is that except for photos, it missed the last 20 years of his life, except for a few comments made about those years. But those are not his own reflections on life as we hear in the interview. Cunningham wanted to give us new ways to see the world. Instead this film just gives us a brief glimpse of what he saw.

Photos courtesy of Greenwich Entertainment

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: documentary, Fashion, New York City, New York Times, photography

Uncut Gems: It’s About to Pay Off

December 12, 2019 by Julie Levac Leave a Comment

Image result for uncut gems

The comedic powerhouse that is Adam Sandler has yet again flexed his dramatic skills in the new film by Josh and Benny Safdie, Uncut Gems.  Some will recall Adam Sandler previously playing the strong dramatic role of Charlie Fineman in the 2007 film, Reign Over Me. 

In Gems, Sandler completely embodies the lead role of Howard Ratner, an eccentric jewelry store owner with a severe gambling addiction. When his bets don’t pay off, he gets himself into very risky and often dangerous situations in order to make a buck and pay off his debts. Fueled by greed and consistent harassment by a trail of creditors, Howard doesn’t seem to be able to keep his head above water.

Image result for uncut gems

Right from the beginning of the film, we get an overall sense of chaos. It begins with chaotic music and over top of the dialogue, to the point where you can’t fully understand everything being said. We follow Howard as he hops from one location to the next, smooth-talking his way through business and personal dealings. The Safdies use the hectic and claustrophobic nature of New York City, mixed with Jewish jeweler culture, to their advantage as it only heightens the chaotic nature of the film.

Image result for uncut gems

Howard is quite a selfish character who will do whatever is necessary to get what he wants. After being caught cheating with his girlfriend, Julia (Julia Fox), he becomes separated from his wife, Dinah (Idina Menzel). As he gets caught up in numerous distractions, he seems to have less involvement with his children, From work to gambling to chasing Kevin Durrant for a diamond, Howard essentially has no time left for what’s most important. To top it off, the safety of his family becomes at risk after Howard’s numerous shady actions.

As more and more weight piles on top of Howard’s shoulders, he quickly begins to unravel.  Always sly, he soon begins to show his many vulnerabilities and becomes increasingly desperate to fix the trouble that he’s got himself into by doubling down on some of the same behaviours that got him into that place to begin with.

On top of it all, it seems that Howard just longs to be loved. He doesn’t seem to know what he has until it’s gone. He shows remorse, but it’s often too little, too late.

Aside from the incomparable Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems was blessed with a dominant supporting cast, including one of my personal favourites of the film, LaKeith Stanfield, who plays the very convincing plug, Demany. We also see some unsuspecting talent in Kevin Garnett and The Weeknd, who play themselves.

Overall, this is a film that should not be missed, and I would not be shocked to see a number of award nominations for Uncut Gems in the future.

Uncut Gems is scheduled for a limited release in the United States on December 13, 2019, and will be released nationwide on December 25, 2019.

Filed Under: Reviews, TIFF Tagged With: Adam Sandler, Benny Safdie, Gambling, Idina Menzel, Josh Safdie, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, LaKeith Stanfield, New York, New York City, The Weeknd, Uncut Gems

21 Bridges – Hunting Cop Killers

November 21, 2019 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

“There are 21 bridges in and out of Manhattan. Shut’em down. Three rivers. Close them. Four tunnels. Block them. Stop every train line that leaves the island – Amtrak, PATH, New Jersey Transit, LIRR—and loop the subways. Then we flood the island with blue.”

That is certainly a dramatic undertaking! Just think of closing down all of Manhattan! That is the hook for 21 Bridges, a police thriller from director Brian Kirk and producers Joe and Anthony Russo.

Taylor Kitsch and Stephan James star in 21 BRIDGES

When a pair of criminals (Taylor Kitsch and Stephan James) steal cocaine from a restaurant used by a drug dealer, they are surprised by some police. In the shootout several police are killed. Detective Andre Davis (Chadwick Boseman) is brought in to investigate, and teamed up with narcotics detective Frankie Burns (Sienna Miller), a single mom struggling with the pressures of life. When it becomes obvious the killers are in Manhattan, and since it’s 2:00 a.m., the decision is made to shut down the island to find the killers. In a race against the clock the killers try to find their way out while Davis and the police zero in on them.

Davis is the real focus of the film. It opens with the words from Romans 13:4 being read at a funeral, and focusing on a child with tears in his eyes. It turns out that this is his father’s funeral, after his father, also a police officer, was killed in the line of duty. That verse, which of worldly authorities executing justice on God’s behalf, color how we see Andre throughout the film.

Chadwick Boseman stars in 21 Bridges

When we next see Davis, he is meeting with a police board. It turns out he has been involved in eight shootings in nine years—all justifiable. It is no wonder he is chosen to find these killers. No one wants them taken alive—except maybe Davis. The angry precinct captain (J.K. Simmons) is perfectly clear that he sees no point in prolonging the execution of justice. But Davis, we discover is not about killing bad guys—he’s about finding the truth. And the truth turns out to be far more complicated that just shutting down Manhattan. And when the truth is uncovered, Davis is determined to continue to be the manifestation of justice.

The film is very much a story of good vs. evil. However, the clear boundary between the two in the first half of the film becomes more complex in the second half. That makes the biblical quote that opens the film a bit sticky to consider. It is one thing to think of police as working with God’s authority to execute justice (I have some quibbles with this interpretation in the film, but I’ll let that pass), but what about when what we see the police acting in why that is clearly not in line with God’s justice? That becomes the central question of the latter part of the film.

J.K. Simmons, Chadwick Boseman and Sienna Miller star in 21 BRIDGES Image Courtesy of STXfilms

Oh, and the shutting all the bridges, etc.? I think it would make a really interesting film to focus on the logistics of that actually happening. Here it is really a minor plot point that very little actual attention is paid to. I wouldn’t be surprised that a plan to do that exists, but in this film it is far too spur of the moment to really be given credence.

Photos courtesy of STX Financing

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Brian Kirk, Chadwick Boseman, crime thriller, J.K. Simmons, New York City, Russo Brothers, Sienna Miller, Stephan James, Taylor Kitsch

Brittany Runs a Marathon: Finishing Well

August 30, 2019 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Written and directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo, Brittany Runs a Marathon tells the story of a hard-partying woman (Jillian Bell) who is challenged to change her life when she receives a wake-up call from her doctor regarding her physical health. Motivated to lose weight, Brittany opts to train for the New York City marathon while taking the opportunity to re-examine her priorities, friends and family relationships in an effort to prepare herself for the emotional journey ahead.

Based on a true story, Marathon is a fun but thoughtful film that crosses the finish line on the strength of lead Jillian Bell. While the film features strong performances from supporting cast members (especially Utkarsh Ambudkar), this is Bell’s film to carry. As Brittany, Bell creates a character that the audience both cheers on throughout her journey, yet also bears the scars of her burdens. While some might focus the narrative on the larger issue of the impact of the marathon itself, Colaizzo wisely focuses the story entirely on Brittany’s personal journey, giving the film a more intimate feel. As a result, the film both allows Bell to shine through her comedic forte but also explore her dramatic side as well. 

With the marathon looming in the distance, Marathon is a story about one woman’s hard work to get her life together, rather than just ‘getting healthy’. Having been shunned and called lazy due to her weight most of her life, Brittany’s real battle is within. No matter how many pounds she sheds, she still views herself through the warped lens of others, causing self-loathing and disgust. For her, the marathon becomes an opportunity to not only get into shape but also to grapple with her own emotional demons as well. (“The marathon was never about losing weight. It was about taking responsibility for your life,” her brother-in-law wisely reminds her.) 

Drawing ever closer on the calendar, the marathon soon becomes a metaphor for the battle for Brittany’s peace of mind. Brittany doesn’t need to run because of some compulsion to win. She needs to run to tell herself that she can finish well, not just in the race but also in her own life. Hilarious and touching, it’s Brittany Runs a Marathon’s interest in exploring responsibility and growth as opposed to merely physical health that really sets it apart from the pack. 

Brittany Runs a Marathon jogs into theatres on August 30th, 2019

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Brittany Runs a Marathon, Jillian Bell, New York City, New York City Marathon, Paul Downs Colaizzo, Utkarsh Ambudkar

Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf

June 13, 2018 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

“This is what you’d like to see in nature.”

Gardens bring us pleasure, even if we have to work to keep them beautiful. Gardens bring a bit of nature close to us, even if it is in an artificial setting. But Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf seeks to make gardens that reflect nature. Filmmaker Thomas Piper has brought us Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf, a visually enjoyable visit to some of the amazing gardens Oudolf has designed.

Piper is a documentarian who has specialized in films about contemporary art. And the gardens that Oudolf designs are truly works of art. Oudolf began with a nursery to grow perennial plants, but in time branched out into designing public gardens that often seem to be like a trip into nature. Oudolf’s gardens include The High Line in New York City, Lurie Garden in Chicago, as well as gardens in London, Paris, and the Netherlands.

The film takes us to some of the gardens he has designed and lets us look over his shoulder as he works on a design for a new garden. In the process we move through the year from winter to winter to see how the gardens change over time. We also come to understand that the beauty of a garden is not limited to the colorful times of blooming, but even when the plants become “skeletons” there is still a beauty to be found. The film also takes us with Oudolf as he travels to see the beauty of nature in various places: the Texas Hill Country during the bluebonnet season, a prairie restoration in Iowa, and a post-industrial forest in Pennsylvania. Here he finds inspiration for his work.

Piet Oudolf’s plans for the gardens at Hauser & Wirth Somerset.

Because the film views these landscapes as art, it is careful to let us see the beauty—not only in the plants themselves, but in the design that Oudolf creates on paper. It also allows us time to savor the visual world, and to reflect on the relationship between humankind and nature.

There is a certain poetic feel to the film that invites us to consider the way nature enhances our lives and also how we fit in to nature. This is especially true as the film moves into the second winter, because at that point it gives us time to reflect on death—death that exists in nature before newness comes, and the death that is inevitable in every life.

The gardens at Hummelo in the fall.

Photos courtesy Argot Pictures

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: art, Chicago, documentary, horticulture, Netherlands, New York City, Thomas Piper

Landing Up: Looking for Home

May 16, 2018 by J. Alan Sharrer Leave a Comment


Life in the 21st century is vastly different than it was even a generation ago.  We can communicate with people around the globe instantly using wireless technology.  Social media has allowed people to crowdsource their opinions and direct changes in everything from parenting to government. Some cars on the road can now drive themselves without any input from a human.

However, some things remain the same. Humanity still cannot teleport à la the video game, Halo, American Idol is still on television, traffic jams are still a way of life and people are still homeless, whether by situation or choice. In fact, the National Alliance to End Homelessness says that in 2017, an estimated 553,742 people were homeless on any given night in America.  That’s a pretty staggering number.

But what would you do if you were homeless and had to hide it in order to have a dream life with the one you love? In the film Landing Up (out today on DVD and VOD), director Dani Tenenbaum explores this concept in the form of Chrissy (Stacy Maltin) and her friend Cece (E’dena Hines).  It’s a dark, gritty film that explores the underbelly of homelessness, eventually leaving the viewer with a nasty taste in their mouth.

Chrissy and Cece look like two normal individuals that you’d encounter at the grocery store, but homelessness is a reality the two constantly experience. Chrissy and Cece are doing everything in their power to save up enough money to acquire their dream home—an apartment that the two can call their own.  Living In New York City, this is far from an easy task. People are always desiring places to live, and as a result, the prices of residences are beyond exorbitant. What can Chrissy and Cece do?

The answer is not what one would immediately expect. Chrissy takes menial jobs passing out flyers for a comedy club. She and Cece sit on the street and panhandle. And they take advantage of people who see them as attractive, resorting to prostitution to not only make money, but have a roof over their heads for one evening.  In fact, Chrissy keeps a journal with the names and numbers of guys she’s picked up—along with unique names she’s given them for herself (Callie; Katie Jo; etc.).  Cece has only known the homeless shelter and is in a relationship with an extreme control freak who hurts her constantly—yet she keeps returning to him time and time again. Of course, the homeless shelter is an option, but even things aren’t what they seen there.

Chrissy meets David (Ben Rapoport) while sitting under a tree under the park one afternoon, and the two develop a relationship immediately.  However, this isn’t the normal type of one-night stand Chrissy is used to; she loves David.  He’s a brander at an advertising firm and shares an apartment with another guy, who is suspicious about Chrissy from the outset.

The questions are many for Chrissy: How long can I put up a fantasy so I can perhaps get out of the homeless life?  Will I be able to trust David with my secret?  How will he respond to the knowledge that he’s dating a homeless person?

Maltin does a great job as Chrissy, trying to figure out how to balance homelessness with a life she’s only dreamed of.  She’s strong, vulnerable, and conflicted—sometimes all at once. Hines, in her last performance before she was brutally murdered (5 Flights Up, in which she played Morgan Freeman’s granddaughter), presents a caring hand and sympathetic ear while developing her own brand of inner fortitude and endurance. But to make the film work, Maltin and Rapoport have to look the role of a couple—and they do this quite easily.  Tenenbaum’s ending, however, is jarring in that Chrissy’s revelation of homelessness to David occurs indirectly—and in the final seconds of the film.  It feels like a cop-out.

One poignant scene in Landing Up worth discussing involves Chrissie confiding to David after he confronts her about a video of Chrissie he saw on the internet. She deftly defends herself, then tells him, “My parents said I was unsaveable.”  I sincerely wanted to cry when I heard that.  The truth is quite different in real life.  We don’t always get to choose the circumstances of our lives, but we can do our best in the meantime.  Thankfully, nobody is beyond the reach of God and his love.  The prophet Hosea put this on display when he was told by God to marry Gomer, a prostitute.  She bore him three children, then ran away to another man.  Instead of completely cutting ties with her as a result, God told him to get her back. Hosea gathered up some funds and purchased Gomer again, this time telling her, “You shall stay with me many days” (Hosea 3:4a NKJV). The point is that even when we’re far away from God, doing everything possible to stay out of his sight, he has a long enough arm that can gently reach out and bring us back to him. And just like Hosea, he bought us at a great price in the form of Jesus’ death and subsequent return to life.

May we remember that even in our worst days, God is never far away.  We just have to talk with him.  And thankfully, that has remained the same throughout the centuries.

A WORD OF CAUTION: Landing Up is well-constructed and paced, but it is not a film for the family.  As of my screening, it did not have a rating, but I would give it a hard R at the least.  When you’re dealing with the subject matter in the film, lots of swearing, drinking, and racy scenes will occur—and they are on full display.   

Filed Under: Current Events, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Ben Rapoport, Danit Tenenbaum, E'dena Hines, homelessness, Landing Up, Love, Morgan Freeman, New York City, Stacy Maltin

Kiki – Community for the Marginalized

February 24, 2017 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

“When someone steps on to the ballroom floor, they’re not just competing in categories. They’re telling a story. Someone who walks says, ‘I am beautiful. This is who I am. I’m lovely no matter what you say, what you think. I’m beautiful.’”

The LGBT community is far more diverse than we may usually think. One subculture within that broader community is voguing, which combines expressive dance, elaborate costumes, and a ton of attitude. In New York City, young LGBT people of color may take part in the Kiki scene. This has been chronicled by Sara Jordenö in her Spirit Award nominated (for “Truer than Fiction”) documentary Kiki.

For those unfamiliar with voguing, you might want to think of it as “So You Think You Can Dance” through the lens of a Gay Pride parade. The film takes us into some of the Kiki balls, where various “houses” compete amidst a raucous revelry. The houses are in one sense teams, but they often serve as a kind of surrogate family. The heads of the houses are often called Mother and Father. This grows out of the marginalization that many LGBT people have had to deal with through their lives. Within these houses each person can find acceptance for who they are.

The diversity of the community is seen in the various people we meet. They each have their own story and find themselves on their own spot on the sexuality spectrum. We discover the labels we apply don’t always fit the way we think they should. (This is one of the reasons that Q [Queer] is often added on the LGBT. It signifies that the gender identification of some doesn’t quite fit the categories of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender.) Some of those we meet have stories of rejection, others have been accepted by their families, but still feel like outsiders in the world at large.

The film also takes time to highlight stories that continue to be important in the LGBT community, even as acceptance has grown through the years. Homelessness, HIV, and sexual exploitation in term of sex workers continue to be some of the things young LGBT people face as they try to find their way in a world that is often hostile to them. The community that has grown up around the Kiki balls is for some a lifeboat in a stormy sea. The voguing scene is not just about providing expression to marginalized people. It also provides community action that seeks to address some of the issues being faced.

For many outside this community, the extremes of dress and sexualized behavior may be disconcerting and perhaps even repellant. But the community that has been formed in the process is one that provides nurture, safety, and stability for many.

Photos courtesy of IFC Films

 

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: dance, documentary, Harlem, HIV, homeless, LGBT, New York City, Sara Jordenö, sex worker, voguing

Christmas, Again: An Empty Christmas

December 11, 2015 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

“You must love this—living in a camper on the streets of New York spreading Christmas cheer.”

In Christmas, Again Noel (Kentucker Audley) works the night shift at a New York City Christmas tree lot. He has worked here for the last few Christmases. But this year he is doing it without the woman who has been part of his life. He is still heartbroken. One night he finds Lydia (Hannah Gross) passed out on a park bench and brings her to his trailer to recover. Perhaps you see the possibilities for a little romantic comedy or for Noel to rekindle the spark of Christmas cheer that seems to have died out for him. Yes, those possibilities exist, but those are not the roads writer/director Charles Poekel chose to follow. Instead we have a story with all the trappings of Christmas, but without any sense of what we think of as holiday spirit.

xmasbanner

Noel’s life is flat and depressing. There is a sense of emptiness that fills his days and Lydia add a bit of life, but in the end they are all fleeting. That gives the film a very morose air. That is what makes the quote above so painful. What seems like a wonderful situation that fits with our hopes for Christmas stories really is the antithesis of those hopes. Perhaps in years past Noel has loved doing this (hence, he has returned year after year). This year, however, is filled with his grief of a lost relationship.

This story is a reminder that it is easy to be involved with the season without actually connecting with any of the joys or meaning that the season represents. Even going around on Christmas Eve delivering trees, is really just more work that Noel must do. He enters into places where Christmas is being celebrated, but he never is part of the celebration. Those coming to this film hoping for a happy Christmas story will be very disappointed. But for those who want to see some of the emptiness that Christmas holds for others, Christmas, Again could fill the bill.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Charles Poekel, Christmas, Hannah Gross, Kentucker Audley, New York City

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