MIFF 2015 - Day 1
It's not so familiar this year. Not like I just picked up where I left off. This time I started off in the Treasury Theatre, which always feels a bit weird, a throwback to an earlier time at MIFF. Then it was the Comedy Theatre. A place that wins for hard yet weirdly not totally uncomfortable seats. Though I have a few double features booked in there, and I'm dreading the second session. I might take a cushion. Anyhow, movies!
Do I Sound Gay?
Yes, no, maybe. As a documentary, it's on the Morgan Spurlock end of the spectrum, and hugely entertaining and not very deep as a result. There's plenty of criticisms that could be made about it, but it was a lot of fun and touches on a lot of interesting areas when it comes to how we learn to speak, the cultural assumptions that go behind that, as well as some of the more insidious ways "the gay lisp" is deployed in popular culture.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
I really loved this one. It puts me in mind of Thumbsucker for some reason. Greg and Earl make weird homages to arthouse films and generally avoid being part of the school social scene. Then Rachel is diagnosed with cancer and Greg's mum forces him to hang out with her. It's more how it's done than what happens that makes it so good. Lots of whimsy, cinephile jokes and good acting and camerawork. Though as I think of it, I am bothered by the fact this is yet another film about a girl who helps a guy grow emotionally. Is the morbid pixie dream girl a thing? I'm being a bit mean though, it's a really charming film full of weird and wonderful moments.
Do I Sound Gay?
Yes, no, maybe. As a documentary, it's on the Morgan Spurlock end of the spectrum, and hugely entertaining and not very deep as a result. There's plenty of criticisms that could be made about it, but it was a lot of fun and touches on a lot of interesting areas when it comes to how we learn to speak, the cultural assumptions that go behind that, as well as some of the more insidious ways "the gay lisp" is deployed in popular culture.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
I really loved this one. It puts me in mind of Thumbsucker for some reason. Greg and Earl make weird homages to arthouse films and generally avoid being part of the school social scene. Then Rachel is diagnosed with cancer and Greg's mum forces him to hang out with her. It's more how it's done than what happens that makes it so good. Lots of whimsy, cinephile jokes and good acting and camerawork. Though as I think of it, I am bothered by the fact this is yet another film about a girl who helps a guy grow emotionally. Is the morbid pixie dream girl a thing? I'm being a bit mean though, it's a really charming film full of weird and wonderful moments.
posted by Andrew Lee at 11:31 PM
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