A dark comedy with plenty of moments to chuckle at, Everybody Hates Johan follows the life of a man, Johan Grande, born in the small town of Titran Norway. This small town had the misfortune of being close to the frontlines of World War II, but lucky for Titran the Grandes had a knack for blowing up bridges… but they also had a knack for rubbing every other townsperson the wrong way.
SIFF 2022: So Damn Easy Going
Some things that we learn from Christoffer Sandler’s sweet-hearted coming-of-age story: there’s apparently no Swedish word for the concept of “easy going” and there are people in Sweden who fall through the social safety net and can’t get their prescriptions filled at the pharmacy. So much for the Scandinavian image of social democracy utopia.
With The Northman, Robert Eggers maintains his commitment to keeping folktales wild
Hark! Abandon expectations of logic and expedience all who pass through theater gates this weekend for the Northman. Indeed, Robert Eggers is back with another sprawling folktale drawn from days of yore, delving deeper into the past’s shadowy legends than ever before. With the help of Icelandic poet Sjón, the director who explored the dark forces and menacing sheep of an early America in the VVitch and the madness that befell men who crossed the wrong seagull while tending the Lighthouse, Eggers has returned with a tale of Viking vengeance. Even moreso than usual, ‘tis a realm where the veil between reality and the supernatural remains especially porous. I, for one, will never be mad about a wildly creative artist getting a bunch of money to realize their weird vision, and that’s exactly what Eggers does over more than two gnarly sprawling hours in a deep dive into gray Nordic psychedelia.
In the Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Nicolas Cage the actor embraces Nicolas Cage the meme
In the Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Nicolas Cage doesn’t merely “break the fourth wall,” but mows it down like it’s a row of faceless henchmen in an action movie. Yes, this movie is about what would happen if Nicolas Cage played Nicolas Cage in a quasi-autobiographical movie that turns into an action movie.
SIFF 2022: Recommendations through Closing Weekend
Even though we’re at the halfway point of the 2022 Seattle International Film Festival, there’s still plenty of time to soak up an array of movies leading into the final weekend. Films continue to play all around town as well as online through the SIFF channel. Below, we scrutinized the remaining program and came up with a few movies each that we either recommend or can’t wait to see for ourselves.
SIFF 2022: Ahed’s Knee
“Y.”, the Israeli filmmaker at the center of Nadav Lapid’s semi-autobiographical tale of overboiling frustrations has a lot on his mind. He’s in the the early stages of conceiving a new film about a Palestinian activist that takes inspiration in reaction to an incendiary tweet. His mother, who’s also happens to be his frequent collaborator and screenwriter who also happens to be his mother is gravely ill; and paid appearance in a tiny remote village to show his previous work for the Ministry of Culture has taken him away from both of these more pressing concerns.
SIFF Interview: Seattle filmmaker Megan Griffiths talks about her new film I’ll Show You Mine
One of the most buzzed-about movies at the Seattle International Film Festival this year is unquestionably the world premiere of I’ll Show You Mine, the newest film from one of Seattle’s very best filmmakers, Megan Griffiths.
SIFF 2022: Opening Weekend Picks
It’s here! SIFF returns to in-person (and online) format this year beginning on Thursday night with a screening of Navalny at the Paramount followed by a gala in the street (like audiences and juries, the vital and thrilling documentary wowed us at Sundance; it’s a home run for a SIFF opener). By now, we’re all used to outdoor dining; so the springlike weather with its cool temperatures and ever-present threat of showers shouldn’t pose too much of an imposition. This is a city that knows well the virtues of layering so a little weather shouldn’t dampen the mood of a crowd eager to celebrate the return of its signature film festival.
Below, we each highlight a few films to look forward to in the opening days of the festival as it kicks into full gear on Friday.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a fun time, and that’s enough
When I went into the theater to see the Sonic the Hedgehog sequel, I’m sure my expectations weren’t charitable or generous but the movie did something that won me over in the first few minutes.
Michael Bay’s Ambulance is an intense thrill ride that will leave you on the edge of your seat (and all of other action movie clichés)
There’s no rest until the credits appear on screen. Michael Bay’s greatest skill as a filmmaker is the ability to make it look really cool when shit blows up and he very much delivers here. The movie is full of non-stop action and propelled by adrenaline (there’s your pull-quote).