This is a love story that starts in Texas then transfers to New York and follows struggling actor William (Mark Webber) as he falls in and out of love with aspiring singer Sarah (Catalina Sandino Moreno). Like Before Sunset, which Hawke co-wrote with Julie Delpy, whose latest film, Two Days in Paris, closes the Festival, this is very much a talky. At almost two hours long it tries to put too much into a story that doesn’t have a lot to tell, which made it fell more like three hours. This is a real pity because the quality of the acting from both the two leads and their supporting actors is superb, as is the dialogue, which captures a very natural way of talking and even injects some moments of humour, although for the most part it fluctuates between joy and angst, but not nearly as well as Delpy’s fine, which has even more humour.
For fans of slow-paced romantic dramas this is an excellent example but for those wanting something a little more upbeat then Two Days in Paris would be a better choice, or Sparkle if you want something British.
The Hottest State is showing at Cameo 1 on Thursday 16 August at 21:30 and 17:10 on Friday 17
For a change of pace the next film I caught was Teeth. Having read the blurb on this film I knew what the conceit was and to a certain extent it did ruin the unfolding of the story, but being in the know also added some extra humour to the scenes. What starts out as a gentle teen comedy about Dawn (Jess Weixler), who is doing everything she can to assert the purity of relationships without sex, soon shifts into black comedy areas. As a variety of young men, including her goth step-brother, rise to the challenge of impressing their manhood upon Dawn they soon discover that there is something more than just chastity that makes her different. Her bite is definitely worse than her bark. Directed by Michell Lichtenstein (son of Roy) it is a film of surprises, and while it is not technically brilliant and the acting isn’t always convincing its originality and humour make up for it. Ginger Snaps is a cult favourite and Teeth is actually better so if it can draw an audience it deserves to get similar recognition.
Teeth is showing on Thursday 16 August at midnight at Cameo 1 and again on Sunday 19 at 21:45 at Filmhouse 1.
Sparkle is a British romantic comedy drama with a great cast and a convoluted story worthy of Bollywood. Sparkle is the stage act of wannabe club singer and single-mum Jill Sparks (Lesley Manville). Her son Sam, a charismatic Shaun Evans, wants to leave Liverpool and move to London and a chance meeting with Vince (Bob Hoskins) gives the opportunity when a flat becomes vacant in his house, but his Mum wants to go with him. Vince also helps Sam get a job as a waiter, and the ever the opportunist Sam meets Sheila (Stockard Channing) who runs her own PR company and before long Sam has a job and is sleeping with the boss (not necessarily in that order). It starts to get complicated when Sam meets young, vivacious Kate (Amanda Ryan) at one of Sheila’s parties. Meanwhile Vince has developed a crush on Jill. Before long all their paths intersect and collide making for what could have easily developed into a farce, but the superb performances from Channing, Hoskins and Evans give it depth that elevate it beyond being just another British rom-com and it will even wring out the odd tear.
Sparkle is showing on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 at 20:00 at Cineworld, Fountain Park.
