Past seven days

An interesting highlight of the last seven days was seeing the Brothers Quay, who have been experimental filmmakers for many years.  Although at times they are not entirely forthcoming with their filmmaking methods, we got to hear firsthand about some of their work ethic and experiences in making short films and surreal animation.


The Brothers Quay short films
Chan is Missing
Family Tree
The Guild
The Sapphires
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Past seven days

A merging of film fests this week.  The short Asian American Showcase butts up with the Latino Film Festival.  This year though I only one one of the Showcase's films that inspired me, the documentary Documented, which details ex-Washington Post journalist Jose Antonio Vargas' revelation of being an undocumented citizen.  I wish we had a legitimate Chinese film fest here, curiously we do not.  Anyone want to start one with me?

Detained in the Desert
Documented
Locke
Melaza
The Misfortunates
The Railway Man
Solo
World's West End

Past seven days

Continuing with the Latino fest, ignoring my DVDs. :-( But more Latin movies! :-)

The Boy and the World
Captain America: Winter Soldier
Cesar Chavez
Dream Team 1935
Fading Gigolo
Ida
Longest Distance
Noah

Past seven days

Sliding from one fest to another, and looking forward to the summer in Chicago. Many free film events take place in the summer--movies in the park, movies at the Cultural Center, and many organizations offering up new and old films for screenings!

Autumn Blood
Cuban Fury
De-Lovely
Jodorowsky's Dune
Muppets Most Wanted
Spider

The Last Elvis

This film surprised me (positively) with its sympathetic character, although as the film went on, I kind of expected how it would end.

The movie is from Argentina and is about an Elvis impersonator Carlos, although he insists on being addressed as Elvis at all times, even by friends and family. His "career" of playing weddings and similar events is pretty dependent on how popular his alter ego of Elvis is with the public. He pretty much lives his life as Elvis, eating peanut butter and banana sandwiches, manicuring his sideburns, rewatching old concerts on videotape. But we see he is living paycheck to paycheck as the agency/union that sets up gigs for various impersonators owes him for several performances. Elvis' persona is realized for us by his mantra that "I invented rock and roll"--implying that the Beatles or whomever may come and go, but Elvis is forever.

Elvis is divorced with a young daughter he has named Lisa Marie. His dayjob is at a factory assembly line. His ex-wife, whom he addresses as Priscilla although that is not her name, is fed up with his absent and impractical parenting and intends to take full custody of Lisa. But she gets into an auto accident and their daughter has to spend a few days with Elvis. Lisa is not very enamored of her father but during the visit he manages to win her over in small ways. She even gifts him an Elvis bobble head doll. We see that although he is usually absent, he is also caring and loving with her.

We also see Elvis seems to be planning for a trip and some kind of final performance. He sells his belongings, quits his dayjob, visits his mother for the last time, leaves a nest egg for Lisa, and trashes the agency office when they refuse to pay him what he is owed. He then spiffs himself up and travels to Graceland, where he celebrates his 42nd birthday alone and makes his final, true-to-life performance as Elvis.