The Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston) is currently in full swing. Films have been screening since last Wednesday at the Somerville Theatre, the Brattle Theatre, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston and the Coolidge Corner Theatre. The Daily had a chance to see a few of these films and give mini-reviews of a select few.
"That Evening Sun" (2009): First-time Director Scott Teems adapts a William Gay short story into a taut, slow-burning masterpiece. Hal Holbrook, at 84 years old, gives an outstanding performance as Abner Meecham, a character four years younger than the portraying actor. He carries the entire film, though the supporting actors, including Ray McKinnon as Lonzo Choat, are nothing to scoff at. The film is a slice of life that centers on the struggle that occurs when Abner leaves his nursing home to return to his farm, only to find that his son has leased it to an old enemy. Filmed on location near Knoxville, Tenn., "Sun" feels authentically southern. The dialogue is brisk and tense, with no word or utterance wasted. While not quite a morality play, many of the characters of "That Evening Sun" do exist in a gray area, and Teems forgoes hitting his audience over the head with morals, choosing instead to let them decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong. It certainly is an "indie" film, but this one deserves a wide release.
"Bronson" (2009): Some people can find comedy anywhere. Nicolas Winding Refn, who attempts to find comedy in the story of Charlie Bronson, dubbed "Britain's most dangerous criminal," is not one of these people. Bronson is a petty criminal whose only goal in life is to be famous. He blossoms in prison, serving time in 120 jails over 34 years, 30 of which are spent in solitary confinement. The film revels in trying to be shocking and unique, but falls short. It feels too loose, and although Bronson is portrayed as insane, the audience never quite gets the feeling that he's someone to fear. The cinematography is moody and well thought-out, and Tom Hardy does a commendable job as Bronson, but the film works better in theory than in execution. The only one benefiting from "Bronson" is Bronson himself: his wish for fame has finally come true.
"Big Fan" (2009): Robert Siegel, writer of "The Wrestler" (2008), wrote and directed this film, which stars Patton Oswalt, who loves the New York Giants more than life itself, but whose devotion is tested after he takes a beating from his favorite player. The film explores the psyche of this brand of mega-fan. Audiences expecting another "Wrestler" may be sadly disappointed, but those who approach "Big Fan" with an open mind will find a bittersweet, well-made melodrama with some outstanding acting. According to Siegel, who held a QandA with actor Kevin Corrigan after the screening, not all of his screenplays and future projects will be about sports, but even if they are, he looks to have a long career ahead of him.
"I Am So Proud of You" (2008): Don Hertzfeldt, offbeat animator extraordinaire, presents the second chapter of his planned trilogy of short films about the character Bill. "I Am So Proud of You" is a laugh-out-loud, pee-your-pants, tear-jerking dose of absurdity. The short film (22 minutes) is presented as part of the "Animation Shorts," but is easily one of the best films shown at the IFFBoston. Heartbreakingly humorous and humorously heartbreaking, what Hertzfeldt does in 22 minutes with stick figures puts other filmmakers to shame, as many fail to come close to this level of emotion in feature-length films with human actors.
"The Missing Person" (2009): Noah Buschel's "The Missing Person" is an attempt at translating the film noir genre, which had its heyday in the '40s and '50s, for a 21st-century audience. The plot centers on John Rosow (Michael Shannon), a private detective with a drinking problem and a hidden past, following him to California, Mexico and finally New York City as he tails a mysterious man and child. The story slowly reveals each missing piece of the plot until the end, when John comes face to face with his demons. Though it is independent and very much an art film, "The Missing Person" is perfect for anyone interested in film noir.
"(500) Days of Summer" (2009): It's extremely rare that a romantic comedy both breaks new ground and tugs at viewers' heartstrings, but Marc Webb's "(500) Days of Summer" does both incredibly well. Starring indie darlings Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, the film recounts Tom and Summer's relationship before and after they break up. Tom believes that Summer is his soul mate, while she doesn't believe in lasting love. The plot is told in a non-linear format, so the end of the couple's relationship is the first thing that the audience sees; as the movie continues, viewers must piece together what went wrong along the way. All of the performances, especially those of the two leads, are incredibly strong. Webb, a veteran music-video director, has a fast-paced, fun-loving style that is perfectly suited for his material. "(500) Days of Summer" could easily be the sleeper hit of the summer.
"The Burning Plain" (2008): Opening with a gorgeous and evocative image of a burning trailer against the backdrop of New Mexico mountains, Guillermo Arriaga's "The Burning Plain" continues his legacy of excellent filmmaking. Well-known as a screenwriter, especially for films like "21 Grams" (2003) and "Babel" (2006), Arriaga directs his own writing for the first time with this film. The film follows two women, Sylvia and Gina, played by Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger, respectively. Arriaga disjoints time and setting to make it seem as if there are many separate stories, but the interconnected story comes together into one cohesive plot at the end. Some may feel that "The Burning Plane" is too long and slow, but in the end, Arriaga's disturbing vision of how families' decisions affect each other is incredibly powerful and moving.
