Two uncoventionally-structured and short-for-feature-length documentaries, each taking a look at the changing face of the PNW.
Local Sightings 2021: Occupying the Megalopolis, Reflecting on Anti-biased Education
Morgen discusses two documentaries, Occupying the Megalopolis and Reflecting on Anti-biased Education, appearing at the Local Sightings festival currently being held by the NW Film Forum both virtually and in person.
Local Sightings 2021: Sing To Me Sylvie, Maxie
Two films – both romantic dramas set in Oregon over the course of one weekend – with two very different tones and outcomes.
Local Sightings 2021: Shorts, shorts, shorts Pt. 1
There’s an enormous number of short films included in this year’s Local Sightings Festival, lucky me! I’ve probably said this many times before, but I seriously love shorts. I’d argue it takes quite a bit more planning, creative storytelling and ingenuity to make a quality short than a feature-length; especially one that stays with the viewer long after the 5, 10, or 20 minutes it shows on the screen. Below are a few of my favorites so far; I haven’t taken a precise approach to my viewing (like grouping them by type or genre) so it’ll seem a little more slap dash, but it also means I won’t limit my favorites to one per grouping… just the best of the best to share with you.
Local Sightings 2021: A Black Rift Begins to Yawn
A cosmic horror film “inspired by H.P. Lovecraft” provides little-to-no narrative clarity, but goes heavy on dreamy visuals, time folding in on itself, identities questioned, and pink and blue lighting.
Local Sightings 2021: Thin Skin
The marquee event of this year’s festival delivers bone-dry deadpan humor wrapped in the pathos of fighting to achieve a dream under difficult circumstances.
Local Sightings 2021: Rehab Cabin
A pair of best friends decide to take their favorite child-star actress to a cabin in the woods to help her dry out. As you can imagine, the aging actress isn’t into it, and chaos ensues.
TIFF 2021: The Forgiven
Clearly, a big mood for mid-pandemic entertainment is the foibles of the insufferably privileged on holiday. Here, it will prove to be ghastly weekend for Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain in Morocco where a drive to a housewarming takes a tragic turn.
In Cry Macho, a grizzled Clint Eastwood goes on a meandering journey to abduct a child from Mexico
When the biggest point of praise is the acting and comedic timing of a rooster, your film might be in trouble.
TIFF 2021: The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Presented as part of TIFF’s tribute to Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye is a surprisingly loving portrait that tells her often outlandish story without making a complete joke of her sincere faith and boundless love.