SIFF hot take May 28, 2019 at 05:49PM

Shut Up and Play the Piano

a doc about Chilly Gonzales, a Canadian musician who found his voice in Germany. I knew next-to-nothing about this guy and his music and found it to be diverting and entertaining; I'm looking forward to checking out his music. I suspect it would have been a supreme joy if I was already a fan. if you love the piano and shameless entertainers, I recommend it.

SIFF hot take May 28, 2019 at 09:11PM

Cities of Last Things

this was the bittersweet and brutal Asian film I've been missing. in the near future we see a man at the end of his life, consumed by past wrongs. then we start skipping back in time to see how we got here. not every question is answered but I got my cops/underworld fix and a nice touch of sf. includes graphic deaths, sex, and violence against women. I enjoyed it immensely and recommend it if the premise appeals.

SIFF hot take May 29, 2019 at 11:42AM

Raise Hell: the Life & Times of Molly Ivins

Molly Ivins is my hero so I have nothing objective to say. No idea how it would play to folks from outside the US or who don't have memories of the relevant political players (she wrote a couple books about George W. Bush). I knew I would love it, I did.

SIFF hot take May 29, 2019 at 01:58PM

Greener Grass

is terribad. do not watch. a few moments would have made mediocre sketch comedy, but that was an eternity of it. blech.

SIFF hot take May 29, 2019 at 03:41PM

Midnight Ambulance

doc about the Ochoa family who run a private ambulance in Mexico City. the corruption is disgusting. the film has a strange amount of air in it, would have been better as a short.