Sad, Mad, Glad- Film Reviews

I have been watching an abundance of films. I thought I might knock off three reviews at a time under the categories of how they made me feel- sad, mad and glad.

Having children does not make you a parent. The selfishness of the protagonist Diane, in Trucker is sad. Diane abandoned her son Peter as a baby to pursue an unglamorous career as a trucker. Chasing a fleeting lifestyle she feels she missed out on by getting married young, Diana fights to keep her independence by going out, drinking and sleeping around. When Peter’s devoted father, who has provided a loving and stable home, is no longer able to care for him, Diane is forced to hit the road with Peter in tow. Peter’s desperate desire to not be in his mother’s life, while simultaneously wanting to be a priority to her, is sad to watch. The films cinematography is excellent. Writer/director James Mottern does a great job of delving into the beautiful and ugly of human generosity and selfishness, while minimizing dialogue and allow the peeled layers to speak for themselves.

Fuel is a documentary by Josh Tickell that examines US dependence on foreign oil. Are you sick of this yet? Well screw you if you are sick of hearing about it and I hope someone keys your Hummer.  I am mad because it is so frustrating how despite the obvious, so many American’s are choosing to turn a blind eye and think that this problem will go away on its own. I am mad at people who think this war is not about oil.  Mr. Tickell is a great proponent for biodiesel fuel and has made it his life mission to educate the public about the benefits of converting diesel engines into veggie oil  run engines. This movie is well produced and does a good job of exposing the issues that led us to be dependant on a natural resource which we have little access to, while offering alternatives to the problem. This film came out prior to the BP oil spill and although it would have been reflected upon in the film- I believe it is even more relevant now in light of the present crisis.

John Kasinski wrote the script, directed and played a major roll in Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, based on the short stories written by David Foster Wallace. I am glad he made this film, I am glad he is in this film and I am glad I watched it.  The film is about a PhD candidate, Sara Quinn, gathering research for her dissertation regarding human sexuality. Over the course of the film she interviews several men who give her candid glimpses into how they feel about sex and women. What is stimulating about this film is the use of Shakespearean theatrical techniques such as omnipotent asides and the seamless transitions between past and present.  The element that people are never who they seem is hinted by the nature of the story- Mr. Kasinski takes the viewer a few steps deeper creating assholes out of angels, dissecting fantasies and reflecting on men’s innermost aspects of functionality within sexuality.

Do you think he is cute?