February 23, 2022

Mean Girls & The Great Resignation

Employee Appreciation Day is March 4, 2022. 

Get it? It’s March 4th… “March Fourth”.

As in… to march fourth / forward. Employees are marching fourth. And they aren’t looking back. The Great Resignation continues to be a threat to businesses and bottom lines everywhere because employers don’t know what to do to attract and retain top talent.

How do employers stop the bleeding? 

I’m in the job market now. And I gotta tell you… it’s a wild ride. On one hand, I read article after article in the WSJ and the NYT, and quotes from leaders who are desperate. “Where are the workers?” “How can I compete?” – say business owners, CEOS and COOs. 

Well, I want to tell you that the great workers are out there. Here I am. Ready to work. For the past few months, I’ve been attempting to run the gauntlet of your truly awful hiring process. And even more ironic, most of the companies I’m meeting with, are actually in the Talent Acquisition business. No, these aren’t transportation companies, or biochemistry labs… these companies core services (and position themselves as experts) are all about Talent Acquisition and Talent Management. Talk about the cobbler’s children having no shoes. 

Attention Fortune 500 companies (you can skip this paragraph if you’re a small/medium business/SMB)! Seriously, how did you get so successful? You are so slow! Talent doesn’t wait. Panel interviews with 5-8 members of the team that take 2-4 weeks to schedule. The hiring process can take 10-12 weeks. This is how SMB is beating you and winning top talent. Intuitively, you know this. You approve budgets for expensive AI tools that your HR leaders demand but your hiring process is still awful. CEOs / COOs, I hear you boo-hooing in business podcasts talking about “what keeps you up at night”. You talk about attracting and retaining great talent… want to know why you can’t find great people? Your hiring process sucks. Despite how much people are complaining about how their businesses aren’t growing because they need to hire people, so… what are you actually doing to fix the problem? 

Your journey starts with a single step… you need to decide who you are and what you stand for. Sounds simple enough, right? Because if you are a good company and you listen to your team (really listen), then you are way ahead of the pack. You already did the really hard part. You built a great company. But you aren’t leveraging your great company well because nobody outside your walls knows your story. That’s marketing. Not consumer marketing. Talent Marketing. So stop hiring more salespeople (if you can even find any or afford them) and start building a Talent Brand.

Here’s how to start.

3 (Real Talk) Strategies To Become an Employer of Choice: 

  1. First… and if you only do one thing: Invest in a Talent Brand
    • Now more than ever, talent needs to understand who you are (so your best candidates have a reason to stick around). The simple reason candidates are not applying for your jobs is because you still haven’t told them WHY TO APPLY. That one-pager with high level info about your health insurance and 401(k) isn’t going to cut it. You know why? Because that’s what everyone does. Candidates demand real information. What actually makes you unique as an employer? Start thinking of candidates as window-shoppers. Supply your consumers with all the reasons why they should invest 2, 4, 6, 10+ hours of their valuable time in an attempt to join your company. They will stop window-shopping and buy your jobs.
  2. Sell your opportunities
    • With very rare exception, employers are no longer in the driver’s seat. So why are recruiters behaving like bouncers? There are some standout superstars. The best recruiters I have spoken with (I’m looking at you, Patty Fortune) engage and invite people in. Ask your HR leaders about where there are stumbling blocks.
      • Hire salespeople and cross-train them as recruiters (see #3) because salespeople understand how to listen and provide a hot prospect with a reason to stay engaged. Some recruiters act like ‘mean girls’. And I’m not just talking about the women. Men, too. Looking for a job is tough. The really good recruiters understand and empathize with candidates. The great recruiters understand how to sell the opportunity.
      • Read your job descriptions. Are they sexy? Are they fun and engaging? Or do they read like the back of a vitamin supplement bottle with 27 bullet points. When was the last time your HR leadership overhauled your job descriptions? Every time someone starts a new role, they should be adding to the job description so it’s accurate. Good job descriptions are more than bulleted lists. They should reflect who you are.
  3. Take a chance on me
    • We have an enormous problem. There aren’t enough people to do the jobs we have. Think about that. Really let it sink in. And this labor shortage isn’t just because of a worldwide pandemic. No. In fact, this tight talent market was only exacerbated by Covid. The harsh business conditions we feel today were predicted in 2010. And lots of companies invested then in better HR processes. While it’s true that you can’t control the world’s talent market, you can control the everyday hiring practices in your organization. Encourage your recruiters and hiring managers to meet with candidates who don’t have all 20 out of 20 bullet points from a job description. We’ve all become too dependant on AI and it’s taken over hiring. We need to put the “human” back into Human Resources. You know this intuitively: the best candidates have that “Je ne sais quoi”. Uncovering their unique talents will require a bit of digging.
      • Make the ‘phone screen’ stage matter. Take 20 minutes and really learn about a person because most of the phone screens I’ve been on a total waste of my time and more importantly to you, the thousands upon thousands of hours your company invests for your recruiters to do them.

A final note

Do not ever, ever tell a candidate “This place prints money”. Yes. This really happened to me while speaking with a Fortune 500 company. The hiring manager who recently had joined a major insurance company, located in Milwaukee, WI told me “this place prints money”. Can you imagine anything less motivating to hear during an interview? Basically, his clear message to future employees: “it doesn’t matter what your contribution will be because this company will be successful no matter what“. And you know what? There are some greed-driven and unimaginative candidates who will accept his invitation to sit back and collect a paycheck. And someday, sooner than later, that business will close its doors like every other arrogant company that has when it falls under the weight of its own hubris.

The time to act is now. Companies that are investing in smart and daring leaders are reaping the rewards and future-proofing their companies. They are hiring leaders who behave like humans — with humility and grace. Great talent is searching for you. Help them to find you by 1) investing today in a better employment brand strategy, 2) showing your deep understanding that people are your best asset and, 3) stop following your job descriptions like they are gospel.

Betsy Rowbottom

Betsy Rowbottom

I am an entrepreneur + cheerleader teammate excited to join the right organization who needs my Talent Acquisition & Talent Brand expertise.

Take A Chance On Me

Get in touch:

Betsy Rowbottom @ LinkedIn

Posted in Entrepreneur, Innovation, Job Search, Milwaukee, recruiting, Talent Acquisition, Talent Branding, Vistage | 9 Comments »

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February 9, 2022

A British-inspired kitchen (in Milwaukee)

I’ve been obsessed with interior design since… well, forever. It’s always been a fun passion. I love how pieces fit together and tell a story: Drama. Cozy. Moody. Functional. I’ve painted every apartment I’ve ever rented… and designed kitchens, bathrooms, and whole houses for ex-boyfriends, friends and family. But I’ve never done my very own kitchen. Until now.

In February, 2020; right before the world discovered exactly what we were in for, I met a wonderful builder who came highly recommended. But to say that he was “just a builder” is not a fair statement. Dustin Christian of Focal Point Carpentry in Milwaukee, WI, was a co-creator. A true “maker”. I was excited to collaborate with Dustin and wanted to engage him on what would be fun for him to build… and of course, what would be fun and beautiful for me to live in. Then Covid hit. And the world shut down. Except… the world of home design kicked into hyperspeed… and so, he got buried in work. Like buried. I waited more than a year to work with him because I believed that he was “the one”. And he was! The upside of working with a person instead of an entire company is that you only need to tell one person what you’re looking for. The downside is, that person is not scalable. He is only one guy. Lucky for me, Dustin is super talented!

I’ve been inspired by so many great interior designers. I’d say my kitchen is a mashup of the styles of Jean Stoffer, Joanna Gaines & Leanne Ford. I love their simplicity and elegance. Lots of HGTV designers are waaaaay too blingy for me. I like understated and functional (hey, what can I say? I’m a Taurus) with clean lines and maximizing every square inch with purpose and intentional delight. As Jean Stoffer said on her show, The Established Home, we like As British As Possible! #ABAP

The following photos shows what we did. Images are what *really* matter — everybody (including me!) loves images of beautiful kitchens… and the notes matter, too. All the many choices that I made and why. The many, many, many choices!

A British-inspired kitchen

Windows closed
Windows open (vertical)
Windows open (vertical)
Storage everywhere
Accessible cutting boards
Extra large Holophane center light rescued from an airport hangar
Garbage accessible from counters
Open shelving to display plants and everyday dishes + glasses
Glass doors to bring in more light
Original 1925 slate windows updated with hydraulic struts
Deep sink with Rohl faucet
My Ferrari: This Viking 30″ stove with this dramatic slate green and black marble subway tile is pure DRAMA
Walnut butcher block countertops and deep drawers for my pot lids and Sil-Mat baking mats
The Viking range is the star, so opted for a cold rolled steel simple range hood
Black marble 3×6 tile that adds texture and dark & moody drama
LOVE my new pantry – tight spaces require smart planning
Open shelving on the end is tucked away

10 lessons I learned remodeling my kitchen

  1. Start with a To Do list of what’s important to you
    • Let’s be clear here. I don’t mean a list of what brand of stove and farm sink you want, but a list of what really matters. To me, I wanted my kitchen to feel like a ship’s galley. Well-appointed with thoughtful touches. Unexpected delight in every nook and cranny. Translation: I wanted every beautiful thing to have its place.
  2. Lazy Susans are lazy
    • I had a dirty little corner. Or I should say… a future dirty little corner… See, I have a blind corner. 24″ deep, 24″ long where the countertops met. What do other people do with this space challenge? They put in a lazy Susan where oddly-shaped vases and dusty old coffee grinders go to die. I didn’t want a rickety old lazy Susan. So instead, Dustin busted a hole through the wall so the contents are accessible from the other side. Voila! Now, that’s just good space-planning. In my case, it’s accessible from the stairway. So instead of some totally wasted, inefficient space, I have a cabinet that works perfectly to store my dog’s raincoats, boots, leashes, etc. Exactly where I need everything, as I’m dashing out the door… perfect.
  3. Get that stuff off the counter
    • Your “countertop garages” aren’t fooling anybody. I knew I needed a good place to stash “the stuff”. You know “the stuff” that is what people see that sits on the countertops. So instead, I have an open bookcase with my microwave, toaster and electric kettle (see photo below). Works perfectly.
  4. Buy good appliances (on sale)
    • I understand that buying stuff on sale isn’t always possible. Especially with covid wreaking havoc on our supply chains, etc. But it is possible. I purchased my Viking range at Best Buy at the end of the season — whatever that means, as a floor model. It was $2,500 vs. $7,000+ brand new. That’s a substantial savings. I still had the same great customer service from Viking (the stove wasn’t heating up properly, and even though the stove’s warranty had passed, they agreed to repair it because I hadn’t make any other claims — so it’s definitely worth asking!) Good companies stand by their products.
  5. Old floors vs. new floors
    • I poured over lots and lots of british kitchen porn before I settled on what I was going to do in my kitchen. So when the floor refinishers told me that “pine floors don’t take stain well, and pine floors are soft and not ideal for dogs nails”, I questioned my design. But ultimately, I still opted to refinish the original 1925 floors in the kitchen for a few reasons:
      • It was cheap! Removing the linoleum was the wild card. Would we found asbestos? Nope! We didn’t. So we removed the linoleum that covered up all that pretty original hardwood floors and gave them their day in the sun. Literally.
      • I made the pine floor look like a conscious design choice. I told the floor guys to leave all the nail holes so they look authentic and rustic (Joanna Gaines taught me well). I knew I didn’t want to remove the perfectly good floors just to put in new oak or maple, so I stained them a light/medium color to warm them up as well as balance the industrial look of the concrete countertops and stainless steel appliances and light fixtures. 
      • Over time, these floors will patina (just like the concrete countertops) so they will get marks and scars and that’s part of the design look. They aren’t supposed to be perfect.
  6. Lighting. Lighting. Lighting… Oh yeah, and don’t forget about lighting.
    • Lots of great designers like Jean Stoffer, Joanna Gaines and Leanne Ford talk about good lighting design. Well, it’s all true. And in my 1925 house, the kitchen lighting was basically a center ceiling light. One light for all of your baking, chopping, cleaning needs. One light. 
      • I searched for a showstopper center pendant, and found a super cool and unique vintage light on eBay made by Holophane in the 1940s for factories and warehouses (I had to buy a set, and only needed one… so let me know if you want one!). My kitchen light actually came out of an airplane hangar… I know because I went to the airport and purchased them from the pilot who was changing over his lighting. Even better… a light with a story.
      • I also put some of the other lighting (less task-oriented, more mood-enhancing) on smart switches.
  7. This is your kitchen. Period. Full stop.
    • I don’t live at your house so don’t follow this guide. Don’t follow anyone else’s prescription for a beautiful kitchen. I lived in my home for almost 15 years before I embarked on this kitchen remodel so I knew everything that didn’t work well. I scoured Pinterest for images that inspired me and gave me warm fuzzies. Use search terms based on the styles you love, “Farmhouse” might be too generic… so be creative. I searched for “British kitchen design modern” and found a lot of what inspired me. Looking at an image for a cutting board cutout made me weak in the knees. And now, when I walk into my gorgeous kitchen, I look at my beautiful exposed cutting boards and my heart does a little backflip.
  8. Fresh flowers win the day
    • I get it. Freshly cut flowers feel decadent. Because… you know, nobody needs flowers for survival, but hey, we also don’t *need* music or art. Flowers are 100% extra. But I am also extra, so I need some fresh flowers in my kitchen. It could be a $5 bouquet of daffodils (spring is coming!) to remind you that this is a special place that you want to be.
  9. Flip it and reverse it
    • The original kitchen windows were almost 100 years old along with the original hardware (metal hinges). The pair of windows above the sink opened horizontally which was problematic because if one was unloading the dishwasher, when you stood up quickly, you could easily whack your head on a corner of the window frame. Ouch. So, we rehung the original windows on hydraulic strut so they could pop up vertically overhead (see photos)
  10. Garbage isn’t just a band
    • I really like smart garbage solutions 1) I have a dog and I don’t want any opportunities for scavenging shenanigans when I’m not there, and 2) because we use our garbage cans ALL THE TIME so why not make it work well? So I designed the concrete countertop to have two accessible lids for garbage and recycle so that I don’t have to constantly open a giant drawer everytime I want to throw away a scrap. I can also chop something close by and just empty the contents right into the garbage from the counters. Genius.

Space-saving kitchen ideas + breakfast nook POP of color

#3 — Get stuff off the counters! Open shelves are a great place to stash “the stuff” and keep the counters free from clutter.
#10 Garbage is something you use a lot — make a plan that makes it pretty & functional
My Viking stove is the Ferrari in my kitchen so I designed a dark & dramatic backdrop around it to make it the star.
Storage and RO water

Before & After photos

Before & After kitchen photos
Before (left): Removed the reddish “Tuscan” ceramic tiles. Removed the doorway on the left (to the hall). Ceiling fan was too low in the room and not necessary. The only things that are the same are the two doors 1) to the back bedroom and 2) to the pantry/spice cabinet on the far right
After (right) Wowza! Big change! 1) We removed the doorway on the far left so we could install a substantial row of cabinetry. Next, we added trim/drywall to finish the wall between the exposed cream city brick and the new cabinetry. Added flush lighting for additional task lighting. Cabinets on the left also contain slide-out pantry shelves.
Before and After Kitchen Photos
Before (left): The east wall was an entirely a wall of cabinets. Good for storage, but not great because most were really impractical to access. Two of the lower cabinets were for “feed bags” so they louvered out, not ideal. Also, the windows felt remote/encased because they were.
After (right): We opted to stash the refrigerator in the far right corner. It’s a much more practical place for it. The fridge cabinet is HUGE because it’s a full depth refrigerator (the counter depth would have looked good, but I didn’t want to lose the capacity I need, so we built the box around it).

During photos

I realize that most people don’t “show their work” but I think showing the during is an important part of the process because every decision begets another decision. The design is always changing and adapting to the challenges of the day.

Resources

Paint colors:

  • Sherwin Williams SW2848 Roycroft Pewter
    • This is the best color of deep green that looks different in different lights
  • Sherwin Williams SW6385 Dover White
    • This is a beautiful warm and modern white

Decor:

Cabinetry

  • Custom made by Focal Point Carpentry in Milwaukee, WI

Sink + Countertops

  • Sink is not a big brand, bought on Amazon. Simple and inexpensive. Opted to invest in a nice faucet instead.
  • Rohl faucet bought on eBay. It was $800. Gulp. But so worth it because cheap faucets (are pretty expensive, too!) and fall apart within a couple of years. I opted for a substantial faucet. Retail would have been $1,200+.
  • Walnut butcher block purchased at LL Flooring
  • Custom concrete countertops

Appliances

  • Viking range purchased at Best Buy (the one I purchased isn’t available, but this is similar)
  • Maytag refrigerator (chosen because of its sleek lines, towel bar handle and affordable price tag
  • Bosch dishwasher
  • Insinkerator disposal
  • Reverse Osmosis Water system (tankless) made by Waterdrop
  • Range hood insert

Hey! Can you tell how much I love my new kitchen!? Thanks for reading about it! Let me know if you need help with your project! 🙂

Posted in Fixer Upper, Home Improvement, Midwest Home, Visit Milwaukee | 5 Comments »

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December 28, 2021

2021 Telluride Film Fest Recap

TFF BFFs

Well, this was a really weird year. The world continues to be weird. But considering that 2020 had no Telluride Film Fest at all, so I’m grateful that we had one this year. And I’ve said this before in previous posts when I’ve written about my love for the Telluride Film Fest, but in 2021, my gratitude for it was exponentially higher. I go for the films, but I stay for the friends. Well, actually… that’s not even true. I go for the friends, and I stay for the friends. Telluride Film Fest is my favorite thing because it combines lifelong friendships with the best films of the year. What could be better?

I saw 23 films of the 80+ films in the 2021 program. Not bad.

Ok, enough blubbering… let’s get to the films!

List in alphabetical order:  

A Hero B

The Automat B+

Belfast B

Bergman Island A

The Card Counter A

C’mon C’mon A+

Cyrano A

The Duke B

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain B

The French Dispatch B

The Hand of God B

Julia B

King Richard B

The Lost Daughter A

Marcel the Shell A

Nuclear Family A

The Power of the Dog A

Procession B

Red Rocket B+

River A

The Same Storm B

Spencer B

Unclenching the Fists C

C’mon C’mon 

My #1 super favorite! 

To me, this is a perfect film. Truthful dialogue and beautiful performances from Gaby Hoffmann is pitch-perfect in her role as a dedicated (and overwhelmed) mother and wife to a man with mental health challenges and sister to an unattached bachelor (and emotionally stunted and soft-spoken radio journalist) played by Joaquin Phoenix. And the kid, Jesse… wow! Played by the remarkable Woody Norman – what a performance! Shot on black and white film, the film is raw, gritty and real. I hope Mike Mills wins for best screenplay… and this film should get a Best Picture nomination. Maybe even a win!? 

C’mon C’mon trailer here

The Power of the Dog

Prediction (and hope!): Jane Campion will win for Best Director 

And Jane Campion should win for this epic film. For many reasons… the Academy likes to celebrate a body of work (even though a nomination is supposed to be this film… we know that they like to give prizes for people who have earned this level of achievement throughout their career). This is not the story I expected. I thought it was your ‘typical 1925 Montana rancher’ story… well, I guess that’s not typical to begin with. But this story is less ‘western’ and more of a cat & mouse with the next generation holding more cards than it appears. It’s the kind of film that, the more I reflect on the nuance and rich story, the more I love it. I can’t wait to see it again when it shows in theaters. 

The Power of the Dog trailer here

Now playing on Amazon Prime 

The Power of the Dog film cast & director

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain 

Um. Hello!? Have we officially run out of white men to celebrate? I mean, Louis Wain seems like a nice enough guy who enjoyed painting cats, but I mean… can we see an equally-budgeted film about a woman who did amazing things? Maybe Shirley Chisholm? Huda Shaarawi? Lilian Bland? How about Hedy Lamarr (who invented the technology for cellular phones and bluetooth?) Sure, we got a low budget documentary,  Bombshell which was great… but come on, Hollywood, you must do better. 

No need to watch the trailer. 

If you must, you can see this film on Amazon Prime

The Lost Daughter 

This is Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut — and it’s a story that I have ever seen portrayed on film before about a mother (portrayed by Olivia Colman) who has an emotionally-challenged past. Imagine that!? Women telling their own stories! What a world! This is a quiet film full of mysterious mounting suspense between Olivia Colman and Dakota Johnson’s characters. 

Now playing at the Oriental (Milwaukee) and streaming on Netflix

Cyrano 

Prediction: Peter Dinklage will win Best Actor 

There are so many great surprises in this film that I don’t want to say much about it. I’ll just say that if you love love… this film is magnificent. It’s a musical directed by Joe Wright and written by Erica Schmidt, based on Schmidt’s 2018 stage musical of the same name. Schmidt’s husband, Peter Dinklage stars as Cyrano. The original music was composed by The National (Matt Berninger, as well as Aaron Dessner + Bryce Dessner (who basically composed every other great film at Telluride Film Fest this year including: The Power of the Dog + River). 

Cyrano trailer here

And because we love Peter Dinklage, here’s Peter Dinklage talking about Cyrano. 

The Hand of God

We are all longing to travel and see beautiful places. We’ve been cooped up for almost two years, so do yourself a favor and watch The Hand of God to travel, even if just for a couple of hours, to Italy. Immerse yourself in this Italian family full of joy and pain. 

The Hand of God trailer here

Now playing on Netflix

Belfast

Kenneth Branagh’s very personal story that follows his upbringing. The story sets in 1969 and the performance of the 9 year-old Buddy is one of the great performances (the other one was by Woody Norman in C’mon C’mon). 

Belfast trailer here

Nuclear Family 

Prediction: Best Documentary Oscar nomination 

This documentary follows the important historical events of Ry Russo-Young and her sister who were raised by their lesbian mothers in the early 1990’s. In the center of the story is a landmark legal case between her biological mother and biological (sperm donor) father. Worth watching.

Nuclear Family trailer here

Now playing on HBO 

The Duke 

Everybody loves a good heist movie, right? This is a fun one! I also love me some Jim Broadbent — oh and Helen Mirren (who sauntered leisurely around the Telluride Farmer’s Market and looks like a local — I didn’t want to invade her privacy by snapping a photo, so you’ll just have to take my word for it). Helen Mirren is a beauty. 

The Duke trailer here 

Julia 

Oscar-winning directors (Julie Cohen + Betsy West — another Betsy!) of RBG show us the fascinating story of Julia Child. We’ve seen a lot about her life, but this depiction shows a more playful side with candid outtakes of her PBS show. 

Julia trailer here

River 

Prediction: Best Documentary Oscar nomination 

I went to see this as a palette cleanser because I wanted to be immersed in the beauty of nature. And boy! It delivered! I felt like I was floating on a river. Filmed in 39 countries, River is truly an escape. 

River trailer here

Spencer

Well, this movie is good, but — haven’t we had enough of Diana’s story? I was engaged with this film, but I left feeling like I didn’t learn anything new. I dug “The Shining” scene of Diana in the giant walk-in freezer in Balmoral Castle was cool. Kristen Stewart’s pouty performance was good, but I am not sure we needed another poor Diana story. 

Spencer trailer here

Red Rocket

Yes, this means what you think it means. 

This is a fun ride about a porn star (played by Simon Rex) who returns home to turn new tricks with a whole cast of characters from his past.  Lots of non-actors makes the story feel real and gritty. 

Red Rocket trailer here

The Same Storm

The film was shot entirely during the lockdown of summer 2020, it’s a snapshot of life during quarantine. 

The Same Storm trailer isn’t available at the time of publishing

A Hero

I’m not going to tell you what this is about… except that if there was a Curb Your Enthusiasm soundtrack, this film would have been a comedy. Because what starts with a small mishap leads to tension when the stakes keep going up and up and up and up and up… and the audience almost can’t take it. 

A Hero trailer here

Playing now on Amazon Prime

Bergman Island

Love me some Vicki Krieps (I could watch Phantom Thread on repeat) and she’s great in this film along with Tim Roth. I love stories about complicated romantic entanglements and this film feels almost like a documentary. It’s so real. Gritty. Messy. And also full of deep love only shared by longtime partners. Loved the escape of visiting Fårö, an island off the coast of Sweden, where Ingmar Bergman shot many of his films, too. 

Berman Island trailer here

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On 

Love Jenny Slate! She is a true original. Did you see Obvious Child? Well, I did. Many times. And I love Marcel. Yes, it’s the same Marcel with 100+ million hits on YouTube. Only in this film, we get an entire story, not just a hang-glider Dorito joke or two. Instead, we are presented a fun, profound look at humanity. Life and death. Family. Marcel knows what’s important.  

No trailer yet. Here’s a “first look” – forgive the awful computer V.O. 

And/or if you haven’t seen Marcel before… here’s a look at him.

Unclenching the Fists

I didn’t love this one. A bit tedious.

The Automat

This was a really fun look at the early days of automation… for food. It’s a time-capsule. Bonus: a fun interview with Mel Brooks talking about his memories of the Automats around NYC. 

The Automat trailer

The Card Counter 

(this was a sneak preview so it didn’t appear in the program) 

Whoa. Oscar Isaac is blowin’ up! He’s in everything! This is a thrill-ride dynomite powder keg (like all Paul Schrader films) about a military intelligence officer who was ordered to torchure prisoners, and learned he was good at it. Tiffany Haddish, Willem Dafoe and Tye Sheridan co-star in this revenge story. 

The Card Counter trailer here

The French Dispatch

Here’s what I have to say about The French Dispatch. Wes Anderson likes making movies. Just like Woody Allen likes making movies… he has a new film coming out in January, Rifkin’s Festival. Imagine that!? He’s 86 years old and he has a new film! Woody has made more than 70 films. And many of them are terrible. A few are good. And then, there’s that pesky stuff about his side interests… molesting kids isn’t great for your career… but I digress… and this is basically how The French Dispatch goes. There’s no real through line. It’s a bunch of short stories. There are fun moments. And as always, the film is art-directed within an inch of its life… but it’s not a great Wes Anderson film. Nope. It’s better than every Fast and Furious film put together, but it’s not a great Wes Anderson film. Like Woody, Wes loves to make movies. So some of them are going to be 7/10 instead of 10/10. That’s ok. I’ll see the next one. And the next one.

The French Dispatch trailer here

Procession 

This documentary is bananas. And I don’t mean in a good way. It’s not B-A-N-A-N-A-S in a Gwen Stefani way. This ain’t no hollaback girl. This is a dark and sad film about men who were abused by priests who have never been held accountable. The film depicts six men who were sexually assaulted and their anger in the present day. They are attempting to gain closure. It’s a really hard film to watch… Confession: (on brand) I watched this film on Netflix while folding laundry because I couldn’t give the film my 100% attention. 

Procession trailer here 

King Richard

I didn’t see this at the Telluride Film Fest because I figured it would be widely available and it was/is. It’s the story of Venus and Serena and their generous, powerful, domineering, future-proofing dad. Specifically, it’s about Richard Williams’s powerful vision to make tennis superstars. Spoiler: he did it. 

King Richard trailer here

Missed these and looking forward to seeing in the theater soon:

The Rescue 

The Encounter

Muhammad Ali 

The Velvet Underground

Bitterbrush 

The Real Charlie Chaplin

Becoming Cousteau

Petit Maman

Fauci 

Citizen Ashe

Torn

Hungry for more Telluride Film Fest info? Download the 2021 Program here.

See you in 2022!

Posted in art films, film festival, film festivals, film review | Leave a Comment »

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December 13, 2020

I love you all.

On Monday, I got my second “negative” COVID-19 test result after my two-week 4,700+ mile road trip. I was relieved and felt like I dodged a bullet. It’s difficult not catching the deadly virus when so many people have it. Three of my closest friends in Milwaukee (one person who has been in my quarantine bubble of only three people, me, my mother and her since March) have all caught C-19 in the past few weeks. None of them are exactly sure where they caught it. A grocery store? Pumping gas? They always wear masks and felt like they were following all the CDC rules but they still caught it. All have survived, but perhaps passed COVID-19 to more immune systems that were not as strong or… lucky. 

With cases surging everywhere, people are afraid to leave their homes. Mostly because they might catch COVID-19 or but for some because they will face judgement and scrutiny from friends who will condemn their “selfish behavior”. As many people saw, I posted photos of my road trip daily. Part of the reason I wanted to travel was because creating art feels good for my soul. Taking pictures at the five national parks we visited, Monument Valley and the mountains of Colorado was my biggest motivation. Being surrounded by nature and all the beauty it offers replenishes my inspiration fuel tank. After one FB post, a friend wrote “A road trip? During a pandemic? Really?” I felt a pang of shame. She called me out on my selfish and ruthless behavior and I was embarrassed. 

In the last couple of weeks, I have thought a lot about her comment. Just now when I went to locate it, I couldn’t see it. Maybe she deleted because she later decided that her ‘hall monitor’ comment was unfair or too harsh? Or maybe she saw the other positive comments and felt outnumbered? I’m not sure of her motivation.

I get it. In March, we were told to go inside and stay inside. To get groceries delivered. To stay safe so you can protect not only your own life, but the lives of neighbors. But the thing I didn’t consider is that for too many people being so isolated is not safe. A month ago, with winter looming, and the darkness coming daily by 4PM, I felt like I needed some light. I needed nature before the frozen darkness curtain closed for the next few months. So… I made a run for it. A run for beauty and nature with one of my best friends (who can sing karaoke like Kermit). I ran for laughter and breathtaking vistas that I’d only seen on Google. 

Over the past three weeks, I’ve lost three friends. Their death certificates did not cite COVID-19 as the cause of death, but that’s what killed them. Perhaps all three people struggled with sobriety over the past several months and the lack of structure (loss of a steady job), lack of human connection (due to trying to remain safe from catching the deadly virus) and perhaps feeling alone with their grief for the overwhelming sadness that so many people are feeling these days. It’s all too much. 

I say ‘perhaps’ because I don’t know why they died. I believe that each person was alone and battling their demons as they have before. 

This is not intended to be another blog post about how terrible 2020 continues to be. Instead, this is a call to action. We are not powerless. Those of us who still have some fuel left in our inspiration fuel tank can reach out to our friends and acquaintances to remind them that they are seen and important. Maybe it’s true that no one can really save anyone. I’m not sure. But then again, who wants to be saved anyway. It’s not about saving anyone. It’s about doing what we can to be the light. To share our light. If we have light to spare, perhaps someone needs it. And I’m not suggesting posting an 800-number to prevent suicide. I’m suggesting making a list of friends or acquaintances who have struggled with mental health challenges in the past. Maybe you have a friend who has been on depression meds for years and seems fine… but you don’t know for sure. Text them. It’s a gentle and kind way to show our love. Our lives are so isolated right now and for the foreseeable future. Reach out and touch someone because too many people are in real pain. 

Currently, we are facing an unceasing, unending, unrelenting confinement. The vaccine is coming. Someday. We just don’t know how soon. For now… (all we have is now), so the prospect of someday (especially after almost 10-months of “someday”), many people are losing faith in someday. Whatever psychological resources they had in May or June or July have now been exhausted. The call is coming from inside the house. The unrelenting voice (our voice), the one who shows us no mercy or compassion is growing louder and louder. How do we escape that voice? Talk to a friend. No friend would ever say the things we say to ourselves. We would never stand for it. But our inner voice… that’s the real bully. 

We all have an inner (and in some cases, an outer) hall monitor. The critic who is omnipresent reminding you that you are doing it wrong. You’re eating too much (insert sweatpants meme here). You’re watching too much TV. You’re drinking too much. You’re X too much. Or the opposite. You’re X not enough. Not strong enough. Not lovable enough. Not brave enough. Whichever way the hall monitor wants to strike, they know how to punch our lights out because they know all of our weaknesses. There’s no escape from her.

As if our inner bully wasn’t enough… People are also suffering from collective grief. Many of us have lost close friends and family members directly or indirectly to this plague. Early in the pandemic, my brother was hospitalized and even had to be intubated for days. We were terrified that we might lose him. For weeks, we weren’t sure what would happen next. That kind of trauma sticks around in your cells for a while. We were beyond grateful that he received excellent care and he survived. But that level of fear and anxiety is not quickly forgotten. Now multiply those dark emotions by thousands because too many of us who have lost friends, our grief feels exponential. 

“for there is nothing heavier than compassion. Not even one’s own pain weighs so heavy as the pain one feels with someone, for someone, a pain intensified by the imagination and prolonged by a hundred echoes.”

― Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being

This is the right time for us all to start flexing our compassion muscles. My friend Kimiko told me that when we are compassionate, it activates the reward center of the brain (whereas empathy lights up a mirroring pain center). I want to learn more about how compassion and empathy are different and how to employ them better. As you know… I process everything through talking. I’m so grateful to the people in my life who have given me endless hours of their compassionate and generous listening. I feel heard. I feel seen. It’s 4AM and I am writing this because I couldn’t sleep. I feel afraid to lose another person senselessly to this plague. This plague of darkness. 

Here’s my request: I am fine. This missive is not a call for help for me. I am writing because I know that my friends are not posting their fears on FB. They may not call an 800 suicide hotline. Or find their sponsors to get real help. For the friends I’ve already lost, I feel heartbroken. Perhaps we can prevent more heartbreak… I am asking you to reach out to a few friends today. Not tomorrow. Or the next day. Or if you don’t have their number, then send a FB message to a friend who you know has struggled with addiction or mental health challenges in the past. Maybe they are 100% A-OK fine. I hope they are! Maybe they have been sober for decades. These are extraordinary times. 2021 doesn’t look much brighter. The vaccine appears to still be months away. Some people don’t have months left in their fuel tank. They need help now. They need people to reach out and remind them that they matter because it might be the only kind voice they’ve heard in a while. 

Don’t worry about your words or language. Saying to a friend “I care about you and you matter to me” is powerful. Listening is powerful. Connection in whatever form is powerful. My friend Cady always signs off her group messages with “I love you all”. It feels so good to hear that. Love is powerful. 

I love you all.

Additional resources:

https://qprinstitute.com/

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June 24, 2020

Enough is enough

Enough is enough. 

We’ve all said it in the last few weeks. We’ve had enough. Enough of what is the main difference between us. 

What have you had enough of?

Some of us have had enough of black men and women dying senselessly at the hands of morally bankrupt police officers.  Some of us have had enough of looters stealing and protesters destroying historic statues. 

Which side are you on? Depends on how you see the world.

Let’s assume for a moment that racism and inequality bothers everyone. And it does, in theory. It bothers most people when they look at a photo from 1902 of a man hanging from a tree and think to themselves “Oh my god, those white people were savages. I’m not like that.” Nobody says “I’m a Racist”, right? Ok, only the super crazies do. I don’t know anyone like that (that I know of) They aren’t related to me. Just the light racists. But here’s the thing. A racist is a racist.

About a year ago, I was at a family wedding and a racist comment was made to my cousin’s non-white fiancé. We all were embarrassed by the comment so I didn’t confront the white woman who said it. And the young woman who is still engaged to my cousin didn’t condemn our entire family as racists (though, she could have). She made the decision not to make a generalization about our family. She went high, when we went low. 

Today, I regret not saying something. Getting involved felt aggressive. I don’t want her “to feel bad” because I made the assumption that she was embarrassed by her cruel comment. It felt like getting involved with something that didn’t belong to me. But I was wrong. When a racist comment goes unchecked, it’s accepted. I will not be silent anymore and I won’t ever make that mistake again. 

Our black brothers and sisters need solidarity. They need allies. Speaking up is the right thing to do because no racist behavior is acceptable. 

Tonight, some of us will watch “the news” and feel anger and frustration at people who are marching to raise awareness for much needed police reform in Seattle and Milwaukee and our entire country. You’ve missed the point of the protests. “Yeah…. ok, that cop killed a man… BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LOOTING? Yeah, the cop killed a man, BUT WHAT ABOUT PRESERVING HISTORIC STATUES?” Yeah, the cop killed a man, BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE GOOD COPS?” Protesting is American. We are protesting because it’s the best tool available to us. We are sayin: ENOUGH. I WANT THE WORLD TO CHANGE SO I’M CHOOSING TO SHOW UP FOR BLACK PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED FAIRLY. Period. So stop pointing out all the ways the protesters are getting it wrong. Stop posting ‘White Lives Matter’ messages on Facebook to create a reaction from your liberal friends and family. Stop. Be quiet. Listen to the voices that haven’t had equal airtime. Black Lives Matter. Black Voices Matter.

These are not easy conversations to have. But they are worth having so we can stop the endless cycle of violence and unfairness against black people.

Want to take the first step? Great! Educating yourself is a good place to start.

I watched a documentary called True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality that is streaming free on YouTube. The film shows how white people (good people) stood by and did nothing in 1900 when black people were lynched “because they weren’t even worth putting through the legal system” so white men killed them to teach them a lesson. Today, black people are incarcerated at more than 5 times the rate of whites. The imprisonment rate for black women is twice that of white women. We don’t lynch black people. We send them to jail. Systemic racism in action. This is why we march.

None of us is free until all of us are free. 

So. We can’t leave anyone behind. We need everyone because enough is enough. Black people are not treated fairly in our country. Fairness starts with us. It starts with telling the truth about who we are. I’m looking at you, Brian. I’m looking at you, Steve. I’m looking at you, Mary. We need to all be part of the solution so we can all be free. 

What have you done to extend help to your fellow black American today? If you say “nothing”, then you are part of the problem. It’s that simple. You can no longer shake your head at the news and say “Oh, that’s too bad.” Now is the time to act. Get out of your comfort zone. My cousin, Amy helped to organize a march in her predominately white suburban neighborhood. That’s taking action! It’s a risk to extend yourself for another person. To empathize with the sufferer, and show up. And it’s inspiring! Amy is part of the solution! Be like Amy!

If marching isn’t really your thing, that’s ok. There’s a deadly virus being passed from person to person. It’s understandable. But that doesn’t excuse you from doing nothing. 

Here’s some action steps: 

  1. Find a local march and experience the solidarity of marching with your neighbors who are also taking a stand and saying “enough is enough”
  2. Donate to NAACP and/or Equal so black people get fair representation in our country
  3. Have conversations with your family and friends to ask how they are part of the solution
  4. Watch this documentary about why this is happening and the history of racism in the United States
  5. Read a book that helps you to understand racism better. Here’s a few titles to get you started:

No judgment. No “what took you so long to see the light?” We need everybody. Join us. Be part of the solution instead of part of the problem because there is no middle. Choose a side. I hope you choose love and equality for all.

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June 4, 2020

Homer Rowbottom 2007-2020

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I loved him. And he loved me. We are the lucky ones.

 

June 4, 2020

 

Homer stopped eating a few days ago. I watched him carefully because everyone told me that he would tell me when he’s ready to go. I hovered over him for the past couple of weeks like any good helicopter parent. I glanced at him every few minutes to verify I could see his chest rising and so I knew he was breathing. Until today, when I knew that I had to make the ultimate sacrifice for his well-being over my desire to keep him alive because I didn’t want to live in the world without him. I don’t. Especially now. Has there been a darker time during my lifetime? I can’t recall one. Police brutality against peaceful protestors. Killer pandemic. Oh yeah, and there’s also an asteroid careening towards earth… It’s never the right time to say goodbye, but now is an especially bad time to lose my co-pilot.

 

This isn’t about me. This is a celebration and a reflection on all of the goodness Homer has heaped upon my life. For the past few months, I had been bracing for full pain impact for today when he took his last breath. I feel a bottomless pit of sadness, but I also feel big waves of the joy and unconditional love he has show me for the past 13 years. I’m so lucky he chose me on that beautiful June day in 2007 at the Wisconsin Humane Society. Homer enriched my life endlessly.

 

Anyone who has or had a dog understands. Anyone who presently has a monogamous relationship with their dog, really understands. Homer was my mate. Well, I should amend that. We aren’t lovers (ewww), but he’s a better listener, playmate, non-judging friend than any man I’ve ever dated or known. That’s because dogs are better than people. I’m not sure which Greek philosopher said this, but it’s true. Ok, I said it.

 

I named Homer “Homer” because I discovered him at the Wisconsin Humane Society on a warm and sunny day in June, 2007 just a few weeks after I bought my first home. I wanted to choose a name that represented that big moment in my life. My first home. What I didn’t know then, that I know now is that over the 13 years we spent together, Homer became my home.

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June, 2007 — about an hour after I rescued Homer (but who rescued who?)

 

Homie was the cutest puppy! Ever! And lots of people wanted him at the Humane Society that day. But I got him. He was the top prize for some good deed I did somewhere sometime.

 

Here’s just a few things that I loved and love about him:

  • Homer *always* let me sleep in whenever I wanted. He was selfless like that. And I’m not a doctor, but I think maybe his bladder was made of titanium steel. He had one accident in the house in 13 years. I am pretty sure I’ve peed on the floor more than he did.

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  • He didn’t need a leash (“um, leashes are for dogs! I am NOT a dog” – said Homer). He’d often trash-talk and chase squirrels up trees; and when a daring squirrel raced across our street, Homer, hot on its trail, screeched to a halt at the curb. So much restraint. He understood that the no-leash policy was a privilege not a right. He was so good. He was the best.
  • I could leave a dinner plate heaping with food on the eye-level coffee table and he wouldn’t touch it. He believed in the honor system.
  • He woke up the entire neighborhood when he SQUEAKED louder than the loudest car alarm to show his enthusiasm and joy to see you. Nobody was more happy to see me. Or anyone. His joy was boundless and indiscriminate.

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  • One summer several years ago, he overcame his fear of walking the plank (bravely walking on a dock) so he could go on booze cruises at my friends’ lake house. He showed me real courage so I didn’t feel so afraid in my everyday endeavors (which is a trait I’m using a lot these days).

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  • He was an excellent house guest when I traveled (and always welcome to join me at the lake). If I traveled farther than a weekend car trip, he could stay with friends who were happy to have him. I knew he’d behave so I could enjoy my adventures away from home. He missed me, but he was brave and generous like that.

  • He let me photograph him like I was William Wegman resulting in hundreds… ok, thousands of digital images of him (see MORE pix in the slideshow below). He was my muse.

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  • He was my best personal trainer and made going for walks fun. And if I only wanted to walk to the corner because I was running late… he popped a squat and pooped within 4 minutes. Homer was the all-time undisputed insta-pooper.
  • Homer loved nature and reminded me to stop to smell flowers and lilacs in our neighborhood. He appreciated the small stuff and as he aged, he walked slower and slower and found the shady spot under my magnolia to be a cozy spot.

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Homer under my magnolia

  • Everyone in our neighborhood knows Homer. Only a few people know my name.
  • He showed his love to everyone. Strangers. Me. Everybody. He didn’t play hard-to-get. And he had real favorites. He loved his Granny and kept her company while she sewed every day. He understood the power of togetherness.

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Homie and Granny doing their thing

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Homer spent lots of time in Granny’s Quilt Studio

 

And today, he leaned into the great unknown. Brave and showing no fear after dying slowly for months. Slow enough for me to grieve on layaway. I’ve been making small grief pre-payments for the last few months so today’s big grief lump sum didn’t hit me all at once.

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June 2, 2020

 

I will always love Homer more than most humans because he loved me 100% unconditionally. He loved me when I was unlovable because he didn’t think I was ever unlovable. He loved me when I was late to walk/feed him and kept him waiting and never complained or revenge peed on my favorite rug. Lots of people say they have the best dog, but we know the truth.

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A good Snuggle Party on the Couch Boat was our favorite

 

Homer was almost 13 years and 2 months old. About 92 in human years. He’s lived a wonderful long life and being 92 reminds me of another amazing bright light I admired who also left a beautiful legacy that lives on, and inspires me. Johnny Barnes believed that “life is sweet. Life is beautiful… it’s always sweet to be alive.” Homer lived by Johnny’s words.

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Last night – June 3, 2020

 

I don’t want to stop writing this because ending this is really the end. But I read that eulogies are supposed to be short. The best ones are less than 10 minutes long, so this one is already too long. But before I say goodbye for good, I want to also share my favorite EE Cummings poem that maybe shouldn’t be applied to a dog, but Homer wasn’t really a dog. Homer inhabited a physical body so I could see up close what real love looks like. And now he is a bright light who will shine brightly for me all of the rest of my days.

 

i carry your heart with me

 

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it (anywhere i go you go,

my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

 

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

 

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

 

I carry your heart, Homer. I carry it in my heart. 

 

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September 24, 2019

2019 Telluride Film Fest Recap

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In queue at the Werner Herzog Theater in Town Park

Telluride was HOT this year. Like actually hot. 80°. I usually pack wool socks and cashmere sweaters, but this year, standing in sun-drenched queues was like hiding out in rhinos.  Speaking of hot — so, did Telluride premiere the Best Picture of 2019 this year? Hard to say. Nobody predicted Green Book last year — the first year in a dozen that Telluride didn’t have the North American premiere of the Oscar’s best film. I’m not sure if we had the Best Picture this year or not but my favorite of the 2019 festival was: The Two Popes (currently 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and Variety review here). My review and trailer below.

List in alphabetical order:

The Aeronauts                         B

Diego Maradona                     A

Family Romance, LLC              B

Judy                                          B

The Kingmaker                       A

Lyrebird                                   C

Marriage Story                        A

Motherless Brooklyn              B

Pain and Glory                         A

Parasite                                      A

Portrait of a Lady on Fire          A

The Report                                  B

Tell Me Who I Am                     A

The Two Popes                         A+

Uncut Gems                                A

Waves                                          C

 

The Aeronauts        B

This film is about a lady pilot in 1862. Rad. “Pilot” a hot air balloon because airplanes weren’t even invented yet. Airplanes didn’t come along for 40+ years. The Aeronauts is a 2019 biographical adventure film written and directed by Tom Harper and stars that dynamic English duo: Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne (co-starred in The Theory of Everything). This is a movie (as opposed to a film) and feels very Disney – suspenseful with a strong girl-power message.

Trailer: The Aeronauts

 

Diego Maradona        A

Diego Maradona is directed by Academy-Award winner Asif Kapadia (Senna + Amy). He depicts people on their way up and up and up… and then the inevitable fall. The only difference in Diego Maradona is – he doesn’t die tragically as a young man. Somehow. And truthfully, I didn’t know anything about Diego Maradona, which didn’t impact my ability to enjoy his story and this documentary. Kapadia looked through thousands of hours of raw footage from 1980-1995 to create a time-capsule of Maradona’s rise and fall as an Argentine footballer (soccer player) who was worshiped on and off the field. He led Napoli from the bottom of the stats (think: The Bears) to its first league title (think: The Packers in 2011).

Trailer: Diego Maradona

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The portrait: The Man, The Legend inside of the Werner Herzog Theater

 

Family Romance, LLC    B

Noteworthy: Werner Herzog introduced this film at the screening I attended and said they shot about 300 minutes, and used about 80 minutes. Not bad. The film is weird, like most Werner films and funny. The acting feels almost like a reenactment, instead of a film. Quirky. Weird. Oddly watchable.

Trailer: Family Romance, LLC

 

 

 

 

Judy                 B

Renee Zellweger plays Judy Garland beautifully and will probably get an Oscar nomination for her performance. The story was good, but lacked a little emotional umph. Personally, I love Renee in comedies — Did you see her in Down With Love? Loved that movie and told her that when we spoke for a few minutes after the screening. She said she loves the amazing Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (who doesn’t —- me, too!).

Trailer:  Judy

 

The Kingmaker        A

This film makes a strong argument that Donald Trump and Imelda Marcos are related. Or maybe The Don is Imelda’s spirit animal. She should put him in her dilapidated zoo. Lauren Greenfield (who directed Generation Wealth on Netflix now and The Queen of Versailles, has uncensored access to Imelda Marcos. Yup, the lady with all the shoes. She’s back. Even more out of touch. Even more excess. Corruption. Greed. Total disregard for the constituency.

No trailer yet.

 

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Winner: Best film festival t-shirt

Lyrebird            C

I won’t remember the name or anything about this film in two years. There wasn’t much to remember or love about this film. Lyrebird is clunky and lacked style/vision. I didn’t care much about the characters or what happened to them. I liked Vicky Krieps performance, but that could be leftover from how much I loved her in Phantom Thread. Talk about style and vision! PTA knows all the tricks.

No trailer yet for Lyrebird. Just as well.

 

Marriage Story        A

Anyone who knows me (well), knows that I love me a good, sad breakup movie. I’ve seen Kramer vs. Kramer about 50 times. It’s gut wrenching and real and I eat that shit up. Marriage Story is the poor man’s K vs. K. Absent was Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, and the 2019 version is Adam Driver and ScarJo. They’re good, but nuance is missing (as it is from almost all scenes directed by Noah Baumbach). How do you add nuance? I am not sure. But I can tell when it’s not there. Even the title of the film — not much nuance. You know? Laura Dern (as Nicole/ScarJo’s attorney) delivers a mid-movie monologue that provides some great comedic lines.

Trailer:  Marriage Story

 

Motherless Brooklyn        B

During the introduction to Motherless Brooklyn, the film was described to me and the rest of the packed theater as a “masterpiece”. Um. No. First, it’s unfair to say right before a film, because you’re expecting The Godfather and Motherless Brooklyn is not The Godfather. But, like I said… that’s not really fair. Ed Norton wrote, directed and plays a private detective afflicted with Tourette’s Syndrome, as he ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend. It’s meh. It’s another film that I won’t remember 3 years from now. Damn, good movies (aka: masterpieces) sure are hard to make.

Trailer:  Motherless Brooklyn

 

Pain and Glory        A

Pedro Almodóvar’s shares a beautifully personal story about a filmmaker who is afflicted with Woody Allen-level ailments: headaches, backaches, a tendency to choke on any solid food – and general depression. Antonio Banderas steps up to the role he was born to play. He should be nominated for an Oscar for it, and might even win but the film will have limited theater-run. See it in a theater for the full sensory experience.

Trailer:  Pain and Glory

 

Parasite            A

Parasite is the best South Korean black comedy thriller film you’ve ever seen. First, this is the only film that my friend Dan told me to ‘Run, don’t walk to see Parasite’. And I did. And it’s great. It’s great for lots of reasons, but my favorite reason is that you’ve never seen this film before. Every plot twist your brain is working on, you’re wrong. It’s going to be fresh and new and I’m not going to tell you anything. Just take my word for it. Or don’t take my word. It won the frickin Palme d’Or at Cannes – 2019.

Trailer:  Parasite

 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire    A

Portrait of a Lady on Fire — this is the film that I go to the Telluride Film Festival for. Because even if I happen to see a poster for this film in the lobby of my favorite art-house theater (the Oriental in Milwaukee) or even the trailer, I’m not sure I’d know how great this film is and take myself to the theater. But this film is quiet and nuanced, and the story builds and unfolds at the right pace. That said, it would be a difficult one to get through on TV at home.

Trailer:  Portrait of a Lady on Fire

 

The Report            B

We’ve seen these political cat and mouse films before. All The President’s Men did it best. Even The Post is a bit more suspenseful than The Report. These are tricky stories to tell. Adam Driver does a good job and the film is watchable; because unfortunately, we (humans) need to learn over and over that torture doesn’t work (as much as we wish it did… it just doesn’t) so the story feels fresh and new. As the end credits explain, no one was ever charged or censured, and many of those involved in the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” (EITs, more commonly known as torture) at CIA black sites around the world did not merely remain on staff; they were promoted.

Trailer:  The Report

 

Tell Me Who I Am        A

This is one of those ultra brutal docs that I will never forget. Like Act of Killing, a Telluride Film Festival selection in 2013 and a documentary that won every award because it’s great and the access to its subjects is unbelievable. What makes a great documentary? Truth. And relatability. This film is about truth and lies. And how the power of truth will set you free. It’s tragic and dark, but love and truth is there, too. Watch it. It will remind you the power of truth and family. And how family secrets will tear you apart. A universal story that anyone can relate.

No trailer released yet.

 

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My fab Film Fest fam

 

 

Still with me? Ok — well, here’s my pick for Best Picture!

 

The Two Popes        A+

Confession: I’m a lapsed catholic. And I think it’s relevant to share in my review of The Two Popes. See, I’m not  fan of the Catholic faith. My big gripes: 1) Women seen as second-class citizens. Women are less than men — lack of women in powerful positions. Priests. Bishops. Popes. Hello. It’s 2019 and for some reason, the Church is not subjected to equal-opportunity gender laws. 2) Gross displays of wealth in churches despite the Church’s stated mission to “live like Jesus” and spread resources among people who need food, shelter, etc. 3) Duh… sensible birth control — that women control. Yup, abortion… see #1. Ok, but despite (maybe because of) my beliefs about the Catholic Church, I loved The Two Popes. It was my favorite film of the festival. Top prize. And I wasn’t alone. A lot of people said it was their favorite, too. Ok, here comes the disclaimer. To see this film at home is to diminish your chances to see it’s full splendor. Because it’s a quiet story and watching it on Netflix at home while you do laundry and check FB, you’ll miss everything great about it. It’s a shame that this film won’t be seen in theaters because it deserves to be seen in the dark and quiet (ok, I’ll say it — a sacred) space. If you say this film isn’t amazing — I blame the environment, not the film. If Netflix releases The Two Popes in a theater near you, it will be brief, but go and pay the $10. It’s worth it.

Trailer:  The Two Popes

 

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Adam Sandler and the Safdie brothers discussing Uncut Gems

Uncut Gems            A

Hold onto your butts. Place your bets now. Adam Sandler will get nominated for an Oscar for this performance. He plays Howard Ratner, a jewelry store owner and gambler who is on the verge of winning big and losing big and winning big and… during this 2-hour thrill ride. I heard a few people say “I don’t like Adam Sandler… I won’t like it” and I get that but this film is worth seeing. Adam Sandler transforms himself in this role; you’re not watching Billy Madison.

Trailer to be released on Sept. 24, 2019

 

Waves                C

This film missed its mark for me. The pacing was wrong. It felt heavy-handed, over-directed. It’s overly melodramatic (which is usually my favorite!) but it felt manipulative. Directed by Trey Edward Shults, who has received a lot of praise for his work. I was like “meh”.

Trailer: Waves

 

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See you in August 2020, Telluride. If not, before. I’m looking at you, MountainFilm.

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March 16, 2019

Shrill – Amen, sisters!

You know how a book or movie or piece of art rings so true that it feels like it creates a new language and way of talking about something important? To me, that’s Shrill.

 

I just finished, ok, devoured the first six episodes of Shrill. The characterizations of Annie, a good-natured people-pleaser who stands up for herself, and tells a personal trainer she randomly meets in a coffee shop who offers “to help her to find the small person inside of her” to fuck off. It’s beautiful.

 

The thing most people (men) will miss about this show is that EVERY WOMAN RELATES TO ANNIE / LINDY because WE’VE ALL HAD IT. We’ve had it. We’ve all had too many messages during our lifetime to be thinner and prettier. And even if we are not 250 lbs, we stand with our sisters who are because it’s not easy being fat in this world. And they are us, and we are them.

 

This anthem isn’t pro-fat and anti-skinny. It’s pro-truth. It’s pro-Do You. And everyone can find the joy in being themselves.

Lindy

Before I knew about Shrill, the Hulu show that premiered this weekend, there was the book, Shrill… which I bought and read cover-to-cover (which I very rarely do because: Squirrel!  ADD) because before the book, there was a This American Life podcast. For me, that’s how I first learned and instantly loved Lindy West. Have you heard it? Do it. It’s the best This American Life podcast I’ve ever heard. And I’ve heard hundreds. It’s an incredible show from start to finish, not just Lindy’s story. Tune in.

 

Lindy West is a true feminist. She uses humor and relatable situations (god, a little too relatable — after having sex with a guy who asks her to leave by the back door, to avoid being seen by his total shithead roommates… ugh, the shame of dating someone who isn’t proud to be with you is… sadly, so relatable by me and so many women) to challenge women (and men) to think about they believe when it comes to relationships and being equals. When Lindy worked for Dan Savage at The Stranger, and challenged his regular fat–bashing in his column, Dan was indignant because as a gay man… How dare Lindy ever insinuate that Dan is less than evolved on being totally empathetic/unaware of the underdog? But she did. And Dan was her boss, so she had a good reason to tow the line and accept his ignorance —- but she didn’t. That takes balls. Courage. Chutzpah. Lindy West took big risks and that’s what ‘sheroes’ do. She is the real deal.

 

Right now, there’s a big ‘Lindy West love fest’ happening everywhere. And she deserves it. She’s tapped into the truth vein and people will follow her into battle because she has proven herself to be a leader who gets it. Who gets us. What more could we ask? Earlier today, my friend Alison posted on Instagram that she planned to watch Shrill this weekend — and I saw lots of other posts from fellow-friend-feminists. Right on, sisters.

 

Along with her co-founder, Amelia Bonow, Lindy is a paving the way for strong women everywhere with her other mission: legal and safe abortions. Shout Your Abortion is a site they created to help people feel empowered about their decision to have an abortion.  Show me what democracy looks like… THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.

 

Just do it. Buy Hulu for a month. Binge watch Shrill. And while you’re at it, watch The Handmaid’s Tale and Inside Amy Schumer, too. You won’t be taking any shit from anybody.

This show is gonna inspire a lot of people to stand up for themselves.

And look! While I was writing this… Lindy liked my post on Instagram today!!! Wow! Thank you, Lindy!!!

 

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September 20, 2018

2018 Telluride Film Fest recap

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Telluride Film Fest #45 has come and gone. And this year, like an athlete trains for an Olympic event, I am just as committed… to sitting in the dark and eating popcorn and seeing films. Not just any films, the Telluride Film Festival thoughtfully curated films.  

I watched 18 films in 5 days. Meals and showers are overrated.

  1. Birds of Passage B
  2. Border B+
  3. Can You Ever Forgive Me?  A+
  4. Cold War  A+
  5. Dogman  A
  6. The Favourite  A+
  7. First Man  B
  8. Fistful of Dirt  B
  9. Free Solo  A
  10. The Front Runner  B
  11. Girl  A+
  12. The Old Man & the Gun  B
  13. The Other Side of the Wind  B
  14. Roma  A+
  15. Shoplifters  A
  16. Trial by Fire  A
  17. White Boy Rick  B
  18. The White Crow  A

 

Birds of Passage       B

This film has many of the familiar drug-world ideas we know (a crime family that keeps getting sucked in further and further, The Godfather), with a new twist: family ties that justify bloody drug war meets an indigenous Colombian culture, the Wayuu tribe. This film feels like it should be studied in a film theory class. It’s flawless in its authenticity. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cbzb4pXZT0

 

Border       B+

This film by director, Ali Abbasi is not what you think it is. Whatever you think it is, it’s not that. As a border patrol guard, Tina can sniff out the bad guys. Spoiler alert: the interspecies sex is unforgettable. If you like super weird stories, you’ll dig Border.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpwPp0DYyg0

 

Can You Ever Forgive Me?        A+

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I would watch this film again now. I loved it. Melissa McCarthy will surely be a contender for Best Actress for this role. She is great, as she always is, in this film about Lee Israel, a small-time crook who forges letters from famous writers. The pace and wit of this film (and depth of characters) is what The Old Man & the Gun missed. It’s funny and the details of everyday life are accurate and tell the story (her agent has 80% used-up toilet paper rolls in her bathroom cabinet – I mean… come on, this is a perfect detail of The Perfect Party Hostess). Marielle Heller directs and I hope she will be recognized for her vision to make this film feel real, gritty, but never cheesy. I’ll be seeing this one again when it shows in theaters.

Prediction: Academy Award Winner for Best Actress Melissa McCarthy + Best Film Nominee  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvJIaNsf_bY

Here’s a little clip from the Q&A with Richard E. Grant, Melissa McCarthy and Marielle Heller about directing professional theatrical cats.

 

 

Cold War        A+

 

Every film fest needs a great love story. Cold War is that. Sexy, romantic, black and white so the scenery and drama of the era feels authentic. This film is coming to the Milwaukee Film Festival — yay! So maybe I’ll get to see it again!

Prediction: Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvPkDdFeTk8

 

Dogman        A

I love this movie. I love the lovable goofball;  the main character, Marcello (played by Marcello Fonte, an amateur actor who is beautifully directed by Matteo Garrone (directed Gomorrah, Telluride Film Fest 2008). Marcello is a dog-groomer who turns to drug-dealing to make ends meet. This story turns super brutal due to a super stupid thug. I watched the bloody parts with my eyes and ears closed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpm547O4J0w

 

The Favourite        A+

the favourite pic

Ok, so here it is: The Favourite was my favorite. With stellar performances from Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and — my prediction for Best Supporting Actress winner: Olivia Colman who is utterly pitiful and totally watchable as Queen Anne. It’s a romp. It’s delightful. It’s silly. It’s savage. It’s everything you want from a 18th century period film where the characters are not well-behaved ladies who simply wear pretty hats and pretty corsets. These are the women you want fighting a war for you because they play dirty.

Prediction: Winner of the Academy Award for Best Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYb-wkehT1g

 

First Man        B

 

Intergalactic planetary porn. It’s not porn in the sense that you see Ryan Gosling get down with The Queen, Claire Foy (who plays Neil Armstrong’s wife). It’s porn because space is photographed as dangerous and sexy and rocky and hot. This is a space movie for people who really, really like space exploration. This is a really good simulator for space flight.

Prediction: Academy Award Nominee for Best Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4GtJB5WAlQ

 

Fistful of Dirt        B

 

Splash meets Alien, meets Finding Neverland. Ok, there are some serious clues in that synopsis. This movie gets a lot right. Visually, the place looks bleak (this was the first major feature film shot after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico) and the little boy, Yei gives a great performance.

No trailer available

 

Free Solo        A

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Afraid of heights? Well, this movie is going to terrify you. The setup: a brave man, Alex Honnold, is the first and only guy to successfully “free solo” El Capitan, the 3,000+ foot rock wall in Yosemite. Free solo means exactly what you think it means. No ropes. Free climbing. Alex Honnold is totally bananas. And the amazing camera angles allow you to be bananas, too. Spoiler alert: Alex lives. But it doesn’t matter because you’ll be on the edge of your seat.

Prediction: Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urRVZ4SW7WU

 

The Front Runner        B

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I wanted to love this, because I love Jason Reitman (Juno, Up In the Air, Thank You For Smoking, Young Adult) but this isn’t his typical movie. The Front Runner refers to Gary Hart (played by Hugh Jackman) running for president in 1988 (and the sex-scandal that unraveled his campaign). In the era of the Trumpster Fire we have now, this story is cute, quaint, the way things used to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAOYDcnVx6E

 

Girl        A+

 

See this film. It’s really special. The reason I cried (yup, me) was because the story is universal. A parent (loving and supportive dad) and kid (“I know how to do it myself” teenage daughter) try to navigate being different in a world that doesn’t support different. It’s heartbreaking and truthful – which are my drugs of choice. Lukas Dhont won Cannes Camera d’or for best first feature. Whoa. If this is his first film — imagine what he will do next!?

Prediction: Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdzu26tnUTc

 

The Old Man & the Gun         B

 

This movie is a love letter to Robert Redford, and it’s Robert Redford’s love letter to movies. Sissy Spacek plays Redford’s girlfriend in this charming little bank robber with a heart-of-gold love story. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s charming and fun. And like any Robert Redford bank robber story, you never cheer for the cops. Casey Affleck, who plays the bad guy law enforcement, understands that he is witnessing something special.

Prediction: Academy Award Nomination for Best Actor Robert Redford

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7rlUe-Thvk

 

The Other Side of the Wind        B

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I wanted to love this film because my friend, Dan Hanley LOVED this film. This film took 48 years to complete which is an amazing feat, no matter what the outcome is. To follow this film, you gotta be a real film buff. Dan watches F for Fake a few times a year and loves Orson Welles. To me, this film had no narrative throughline that I could track. It’s a series of bright colors, a recurring naked lady and party montages with the amazingly charismatic John Huston and a young Peter Bogdanovich. I didn’t get it but it sure was fun watching Dan love this film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMWHBUTHmf0

 

Roma       A+

 

Roma is great. It will be distributed by Netflix, which is a bit of a shame because this film deserves to be seen on a big screen. The film is so rich in black and white (a subtle nod to the black and white-ness of the film narratives) textures and story. The question I kept asking myself is — this is a future-award winning film, maybe the best film of the year… So, are Netflix films eligible for Oscars? Yes, if the film is released at a Los Angeles County movie theater, it can show at one theater and be eligible for Academy Awards. Roma should be a strong contender. Alfonso Cuarón (who came to Telluride with Y Tu Mamá También in 2001 – my first year in Telluride!) has a wonderful gift for subtle storytelling. Often missing in cinema. Confident, personal storytelling.

Read more here.

Prediction: Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Film and maybe Best Picture nominee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp_i7cnOgbQ

 

Shoplifters        A

Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year, this film asks the question: “What is a family”? These characters are flawed but their motivations are understandable. I’m guessing this film is a ringer for a Best Foreign Film nominee.

Prediction: Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zJ3_JZnH_Q

 

Trial by Fire        A

 

This film may get classified simply as a capital punishment film, but that’s not completely fair because this story has a lot of depth. One of my Telluride Film Fest 2018 magic moments was going to the Q&A for this film and seeing the real life angel, Elizabeth Gilbert (not that Elizabeth Gilbert) who I wanted to talk with but felt too much like a stalker.

No trailer yet

 

White Boy Rick        B

 

This film is fun because you get to go rollerskating in Detroit in 1982. This film isn’t fun because it doesn’t show you much you haven’t seen before in a drug dealer with a heart of gold. Ricky Wershe Jr. is a small-time dealer who rises up through the ranks, and then snitches on his mob boss and the feds don’t protect him, so he goes to jail. Seems fair enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qns48PtK2io

 

The White Crow         A

This is a beautiful film is directed by Ralph Fiennes about ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev attempting to defect to the US from Russia. It’s a rollercoaster with some real twists and turns.

No trailer yet

 

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I think for the first time in 9 or 10 years, Telluride Film Festival didn’t premiere the Best Film of the Year… I think top prize will go to BlacKkKlansman for 2018. I think this is Spike Lee’s year. He deserves recognition for this film (and for his body of work).

 

 

 

Counting down the days until Telluride Film Festival 2019… 347 days, 346 days, 345…

 

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September 13, 2016

2016 Telluride Film Fest recap

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As I’ve done in other years, I’d like to share my thoughts about this year’s program at the Telluride Film Festival. 2016 marks my 15th year at the festival. The festival has changed a lot over my tenure and while I could gripe a lot about all the changes I don’t like, the quality of the films is still great. And Telluride *never* disappoints. Labor Day weekend, Telluride and many of my favorite people welcome me with open arms. Cinema Paradiso at 9,000 feet!

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The list of 17 films I saw at this year’s Telluride Film Festival:

Arrival

Bleed for This

Bright Lights

California Typewriter

Chasing Trane

The Graduation

The Ivory Game

Jerry Lewis: Man Behind the Clown

La La Land

Lost in Paris

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

Neruda

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer

Sully

Toni Erdmann

Una

_____________________________________

 

Let’s start with my super favorites. Run (RUN!) to the nearest theater when these films are released:

 

Moonlight     A+

Moonlight is a great film from a soon-to-be well-known director, Barry Jenkins. Side note: I love Barry Jenkins. Not like fan love. Like love-love. Barry and I met about 13 years ago at the Telluride Film Fest and we’ve both returned every year since. We’ve both done grunt work that a film fest requires and like me, Barry loves films and deeply cares about the community of the Telluride Film Festival. Unlike me, he created a film that may be nominated for a few Oscars in 2016. Wow! The film focuses on Chiron through his challenges as a mostly silent young boy being raised by his struggling addicted mother. The story is beautifully told and I’m excited for it to find it’s audience. I believe a film like this has the power to connect people who also feel isolated because their story hasn’t been told. I’m super excited for Moonlight’s Oscar buzz and success. Well done, Barry Jenkins!

 

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2006: Barry Jenkins and I (wearing my hair)

 

 

Manchester by the Sea  A+

Loved this film. Kenneth Lonergan’s first feature, You Can Count on Me is one of my all time favorites. Lonergan may well be the best screenwriter of his generation. He has the most incredible insights about emotionally damaged people. His observations and the performances he beckons are right on the money. Casey Affleck plays Lee Chandler, a man who lives in silent isolation when his brother dies suddenly and he is named as guardian. This film is funny, smart, sad. All my favorites.

 

Toni Erdmann  A+

Loved loved loved this movie. There’s not too many movies that are this emotionally charged and still fun to watch! I laughed until I cried. Then I cried. Then I laughed some more. Toni Erdmann has everything. A complicated father-daughter relationship story that is very well told.  Woman director (YES!), Maren Ade hits this one out of the park. Can’t wait to see all 162 minutes again.

 

Arrival  A

Keeping with Telluride’s tradition of revealing Best Picture for the past 6 years (2010 – The Kings Speech, 2011 – The Artist, 2012 – Argo, 2013 – 12 Years a Slave, 2014 – Birdman, and last year, Spotlight), Arrival is my best guess for 2016 Oscar for Best Picture. It’s got everything. Mystery. The meaning of time (on earth and beyond).

 

Wakefield    A

Part Rear Window and part — I don’t know what — because this funny, creepy, emotionally-revealing film isn’t like any other film I’ve ever seen. Wakefield, adapted from a short story by E.L Doctorow, writer/director Robin Swicord masterfully tells the story of a jealous and selfish husband (Bryan Cranston) who has figured out a way to keep an eye on his world without actually living in his world. Bryan Cranston will likely be nominated for an Oscar for this wacko character.

 

Una   A

Tough subject matter. But this film is emotionally right on the money with it’s depiction of an angry young woman who is seeking understanding from her abuser. Rooney Mara plays a 20-something trying to come to terms with the sexual abuse she experienced as a 13 year old. Una is surprisingly watchable (actually, gripping). It’s by-no-means a feel-good movie, but it’s extremely well done.

 

California Typewriter    A

For the last several years, I’ve seen my last film at the Sheridan Opera House. A special little theater in Telluride and this film delivered. First, I loved the people in this documentary. Quirky. Funny. Real people. And “Dear Santa, I want a typewriter“. Think this doc did what it set out to do. Well done, Doug Nichol.

 

The Ivory Game    B

This documentary tells the story of the uphill battle of protecting elephants despite the rising prices and desire for ivory in China (where it’s still legal to sell ivory). With costly helicopter shots of Africa’s sweeping vistas, The Ivory Game is filmed more like an action film than a sleepy ‘talking-head’ documentary.

 

La La Land    B

I like singing and dancing. I like looking at Ryan Gosling. This fun and surprising opening scene will be talked about for a while. La La Land is a fun ride about falling in (and sadly) out of love. Don’t expect Gene Kelly or Ginger Rogers, because Ryan and Emma are not. But it’s a modern love story with a nod to vintage love stories.

 

Jerry Lewis: Man Behind the Clown    B

A look at the comedic genius of Jerry Lewis. A clown for the ages. Loved Gregory Monro’s depiction of Jerry Lewis and his life’s work.

 

Bright Lights   B

I loved the film, Postcards from the Edge. I feel like Bright Lights is the story behind the story. Part Grey Gardens, part Terms of Endearment, it’s funny and weird and love-filled. I’m a big fan of mother/daughter stories because I’m pretty crazy about my mom. Debbie and Carrie are true entertainers who bravely reveal themselves in this love story.

 

Lost in Paris   B

Wes Anderson goes to Paris! Kinda. I loved the silliness this “when everything goes wrong” journey. Bright colors and playfully stylized, Lost in Paris is fun to watch.

 

The Graduation B

This is an intense film (reminded me of The Past, another Telluride Film Fest film from 2014) where not much happens, but you feel like something worse is about to happen. The Graduation is about a father who’s overbearing parenting reminds us all to keep our eyes on our own papers.

 

Chasing Trane   B

John Coltrane was a master of his craft and this film shows us how much family, joy and music he packed into his short life. Coltrane died at 40, but this film exposes his struggles and triumphs.

 

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer   B

Whoa. Do not invite Norman for dinner. This guy is a wheeler dealer like no one you’ve ever seen before onscreen. He makes Glengarry Glen Ross look like a picnic. Coffee (and peanuts) are for closers. Always Be Closing, Norman. Yikes.

 

 

Neruda   B

Biopic of Chile’s acclaimed poet and leftist senator, Pablo Neruda. Cat and mouse chase between Neruda played by Luis Gnecco and the detective, Gael Garcia Bernal who has come to Telluride a few times over the years. Photo below of us 12 years ago.

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2004: Gael Garcia Bernal and me.

 

 

Sully    B

Ok, anyone who knows me knows that I’m not a popcorn-movie-film-goer. I’m a total film snob. But. Sully is pretty good. It helps A LOT that this is an extraordinary story. A pilot landed a plane with 155 people on board on the Hudson River! Wha!!? It’s amazing. There are some problems with the movie, but overall, this is a good film.

 

Bleed for This   C

Boxer movie. Not much new here. Miles Teller does a good job in this true story, but the film fell a bit flat for me.

 

And here are a few more of my favorite moments from this year’s Telluride Film Festival:

 

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