tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3 2010-03-05T00:20:08Z Notes and reviews from Cinequest, San Jose's annual film festival. Movable Type 3.2 tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3123 2010-03-05T00:17:17Z 2010-03-05T00:20:08Z

The Boneman is a pressing German drama where in a swirling mass of blatant intrigue, we wonder who's the good guy/bad guy. Josef Hader plays an ex-cop (Brenner) who reposesses lease cars. His last assignment has him wandering around a...

Fred www.ealasaid.com/cineblog/ The boneman (Knochenmann)]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3122 2010-03-04T23:32:07Z 2010-03-04T23:34:35Z

The Animated Shorts is the best set of titles I've seen in 8 years. Simply a delight. The group covers hope and sadness, the surreal and sublime, the joy of entertainment, and the fun of silliness. Animated Shorts plays again...

Fred www.ealasaid.com/cineblog/ Animated Shorts]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3121 2010-03-04T23:29:52Z 2010-03-04T23:34:35Z

I'll keep this one simple: "Exploding Girl" is a sleeper/snore. Script was empty and the overall presentation more than a tad slow. The story was boring. I give it a must-pass....

Fred www.ealasaid.com/cineblog/ The Exploding Girl]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3120 2010-03-04T23:26:08Z 2010-03-04T23:34:35Z

Raspberry Magic is a delightful little soufflé set in the simple world of an 11-year old. Monica (Lily Javaherpour) plays a young lady intent on proving a horticultural premise; a raspberry plant will thrive if it receives touch-therapy. Her need...

Fred www.ealasaid.com/cineblog/ Raspberry Magic]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3119 2010-03-04T23:24:00Z 2010-03-04T23:34:35Z

Applause is a film of angst and despair. From start to end, the film places you on scene as voyeur, watching the dysfunctional world of Thea (Paprika Steen) crumble. That's the plot. That's it. Nothing else. What makes this film...

Fred www.ealasaid.com/cineblog/ Applause]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3118 2010-03-04T23:20:19Z 2010-03-04T23:34:35Z

This documentary lives at two levels. The first are the stories, a telling and touching group where the culinary envirnoments are engaged and, whether in triumph and tragedy, we learn of our humanity and history through food. The central theme...

Fred www.ealasaid.com/cineblog/ Cooking History]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3117 2010-03-02T04:51:44Z 2010-03-02T05:30:10Z

Remaining Screenings: 3/5, 1:30 PM (Cam 12) How hard can it be to host an orgy? Harder than you'd think, especially if the people involved are half a dozen neurotic thirtysomethings. "Cummings Farm" is ostensibly a comedy, but most of...

Ealasaid www.ealasaid.com Cummings Farm]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3116 2010-03-02T04:50:47Z 2010-03-02T05:27:39Z

Remaining Screenings: 3/2 9:00 PM (Cam 12) Documentary director Cullen Hoback returns to Cinequest (past offerings included the fantastic "Monster Camp") with a film that blurs the lines between truth and fiction so completely that it's hard to tell what...

Ealasaid www.ealasaid.com FrICTION]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3115 2010-03-02T04:47:51Z 2010-03-02T05:17:25Z

Remaining Screenings: 3/4, 12:00 PM (Cam 12) "The Robbers" Is a pitch-black comedy from China. It veers from near-slapstick comedy to grim violence and back again as it tells the story of a pair of brothers and the village they...

Ealasaid www.ealasaid.com The Robbers (Wode Tangchao Xiongdi) ]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3114 2010-03-02T04:44:19Z 2010-03-02T04:48:29Z

An irascible curmudgeon, Jacques (Brian Cox/Bourne Identity), owns a rather unique bar, a dusty hole in the wall that he created as a male sanctuary. No women, no walk-ins, no frills. If you're not invited, you're not welcome. Seems he's...

Fred www.ealasaid.com/cineblog/ The Good Heart (Opening Night film)]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3113 2010-03-02T04:43:20Z 2010-03-02T04:48:29Z

Kill the Habit is a film I found difficult to care about. It carried an interesting idea but didn't get off the ground. Galia (Lili Mirojnick) wants drugs. She visits her source at an apartment, and in an argument, bashes...

Fred www.ealasaid.com/cineblog/ Kill the Habit]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3112 2010-03-02T04:40:27Z 2010-03-02T04:48:29Z

The Tijuana Project is a must see film. It is a documentary that embraces hope in the hopeless, extracts destiny from the destitute, and allows us, the viewers, to feel, feel to the very depths of our souls for the...

Fred www.ealasaid.com/cineblog/ The Tijuana Project]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3111 2010-03-01T22:11:35Z 2010-03-02T04:48:29Z

Cinequest, San Jose's annual independent film festival, is nearing its closing date of Saturday, March 6, but there are still several action-packed days of events and films left. Check www.cinequest.org for details and ticket sales....

Ealasaid www.ealasaid.com Cinequest Nears Its Close]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3110 2010-03-01T21:51:33Z 2010-03-02T04:48:29Z

This year, as part of its twentieth anniversary festivities, Cinequest will be bestowing one of its rare Life of a Maverick Awards on Deepak Chopra. Cinequest Director and Co-Founder Halfdan Hussey sat down to explain a little of the process...

Ealasaid www.ealasaid.com Halfdan Hussey on the Selection of Deepak Chopra for a Life of a Maverick Award]]> tag:www.ealasaid.com,2010:/cineblog//3.3108 2010-02-22T21:59:25Z 2010-03-02T04:48:29Z

Screenings: 3/3, 6:45 PM (Cam 12); 3/5, 4:00 PM (Cam 12); 3/6, 4:00 PM (Cam 12) Jay Holstein is a Jewish studies professor at the University of Iowa, an ordained rabbi, a gun enthusiast, and one of the most brilliant,...

Ealasaid www.ealasaid.com Professor]]>