Short Takes From the Philly Film Fest

Dysfunctional families, young love, urban issues and supernatural killers mark the first set of films in this year's Philadelphia Film Festival.

The Burning Plain

The star studded film The Burning Plain opens with the intriguing a shot of a trailer literally burning to the ground in the middle of a desert. The image is lingered on for a few minutes, long enough for it to burn into the viewers mind.

The film movie then quickly flashes to the current time in which a very distraught woman named Sylvia (Charlize Theron) is seen staring out a window. Sylvia, who is a manager at a busy high-end restaurant in town, takes smoke breaks to cut herself. She also has anonymous sex with various men to bury a painful past. Her story is cut with another that took place over thirty years prior. In this story Gina (Kim Basinger), has a torrid affair with a married man.As the affair intensifies, her daughter Mariana becomes aware of her mother's adultery; and this story is intertwines with the present day story, culminating in a shocking revelation.

"The Burning Plain" is an astonishingly performed drama. With seasoned actresses like Basinger and Theron, quality is almost guaranteed; and both turn in dynamite performances. Theron nails the tone of an empty, selfish shell of a woman that can't face her tumultuous past. Basinger is nothing less than heartbreaking as a cancer survivor that turns to an affair out of love and longing rather than out of irresponsibility. Writer/Director Guillermo Arriaga re-visits familiar territory he dwelled upon in both "21 Grams" and "Babel." Both those films juggled multiple story lines with great craft. Here, he delivers a script filled with sad, multi-layered characters that each are longing for some kind of closure to their pain. For a top-notch display of acting and dark drama, "The Burning Plain" fits the bill.

Thursday April 2nd 7pm Prince Music Theater

Lymelife

If "American Beauty" were to have taken place in the 1970s, it might just look a lot like Lymelife. The new film has been receiving critical accolades and rave reviews since the debut at the Toronto Film Festival. Among other things, the film focuses on first love, dysfunctional marriage and family in a sharp twisted way.

The film follows high school student Jimmy Bartlett (Kieran Culkin) as he deals with the complications of teenage angst while dealing with his eccentric family. He secretly pines after a friend of his Adrianna (Emma Roberts), a friend of the family who is interested in more popular, attractive boys. It's also turns out her tacky, over-the-top mother (Cynthia Nixon) is having an affair with Jimmy's real estate tycoon father (Alec Baldwin), whom she works for. All the while, her father's (Timothy Hutton) strange lyme disease affliction remains at the center of the film, as he spirals out of control and becomes more disconnected from the family as each moment passes.

"Lymelife" is successful because it's a cleverly written, slice of life satire that maintains a perfect balance of the comic and unsettling observations. There are plenty of moments that illicit laughter, and plenty more that could make anyone wince or cringe. All of the acting is top notch of course, but special mention goes to Kieran Culkin and Jill Hennessey, who plays his mother in the film. Culkin's understated performance is so natural that it appears as if he's actually going through these dilemmas. "Lymelife" ends on a bit of a sour note, but for the most part, this commentary on Long Island life in 70s hits the intended mark.

Monday, April 6th 7:15 Prince Music Theater

Mommy is at the Hairdressers (Maman est chez le coiffeur)

Bearing perhaps one of the most interesting movie titles in the festival, this independent French gem is essentially a coming-of-age story with a twist. Filled with bright cinematography and buoyant performances, Mommy is at the Hairdressers is touching entertainment.

The movie begins with the picture of what appears to be the perfect suburban family. Then one day, Simone catches her husband on the phone with another man, and impulsively spins into a fit of rage. Absolutely furious, she picks up her things, transfers her job, and runs off to Paris, completely abandoning her husband and three children. The child most damaged is Elise, who fears for some reason she has driven her mother away from the family and caused this tragedy. Meanwhile, their father Gauvin must learn to wade through the highs and lows of parenting alone, as he re-connects with his children and faces the truth about his failed marriage and himself.

What sounds dark about this film is never really presented in an overly heavy way, which is one of the strongest aspects about it. Every time something dramatic happens, comic relief is never far away. Director Lea Pool has infused the surroundings with lively side characters, and a positive sense of discovery and hope. "Mommy is at the Hairdressers" reassures that although we all experience rough times, it's ultimately concentrating on the positives in life that carry us through.

Friday March 27th 7 PM Ritz Five
Saturday March 28th 2:30 PM Ritz Five

Mississippi Damned

Dark, uncompromising, and unflinching, Mississippi Damned is pure power all around. Perhaps one of richest offerings in the entire festival, it also may be the hardest to watch, but that doesn't mean this isn't a trip worth taking.

Based on true events, "Mississippi Damned" follows a slew of characters, as each of their lives is tested through a barrage of tragedies. The film takes place in low-income neighborhood in Mississippi, and the families are all dealing with intense issues such as domestic violence, poverty, sexual awakening, rape, and adultery. Sometimes the issues between these families are literally intertwined; at other times the characters have their own crosses to bear. For instance, Kari and Anna share a lesbian relationship, that is until Anna marries a man, leavking Kari to pine after her, even years later. There is also domestic violence, deadbeat husbands and drug-addicted parents in the volatile narrative mix.

"Mississippi Damned" is a sprawling, tragic experience. There aren't enough paragraphs here to run though the incredible attention writer/director Tina Mabry has given this project. Every character has an arc, a story, and a path to redemption. What's even more satisfying is that some of these individuals find that redemption in more practical of ways. Some of them survive, and move on to greater things; while others find the peace within themselves to survive the horrors around them. In other words, far from every character here has a traditional happy ending. The drama is lacerating, and the performances are all excellent, though in a vast ensemble effort such as this one, no one stands out above the rest. "Mississippi Damned" is a hard film, but it's an important one, and anyone who braves the storm will take something valuable with them after the credits roll.

Wed Apr 1st 9:15 PM Ritz East

Plague Town

Move over "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", there's a new dog in town. Rejoice all horror lovers and schlocky gore addicts, Plague Town is truly just what the doctor ordered and one of the best among the horror offerings at festival this year.

The framework of "Plague Town" is oh so familiar. There's an All-American family on vacation in a foreign land. (Connecticut posing as Ireland) There's a moment where they are separated from their tour bus. Eventually, they become stranded. Soon nighttime if falling, and it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to deduce that the surrounding woods are inhabited with "bad people." That's essentially when the real fun starts.

The satisfying portion of "Plague Town" arrives after the initial half-hour set up. As each family member are stalked and brutalized by mysterious backwoods children, the movie ratchets up some decent suspense. There are a handful of gross out scenes that satisfyingly push the limit without going into overkill. Perhaps most notable of all is the birth of a new monster, Rosemary. Resembling a homely looking corpse in most aspects, this backwoods demon possesses a chilling look and two glass eyes.

The tech credits are surprisingly decent; including topnotch sound design that contributes to the surmounting dread. As aforementioned, the design of the creatures is inspired and overly chilling, again indicating more polish than was available for a $400,000 budget. Director David Gregory shows a confident assured hand in the genre, and manages to take the film places where the "rules" are bent and manipulated. Anyone looking for a good scare should check out "Plague Town."

Monday March 30th 9:30 PM Ritz East