Cutie and The Boxer Hits Tribeca Film Festival

Cutie and the boxer showed at the Tribeca film festival is an endearing love story between Ushio and Noriko Shinohara who have been married for 40yrs struggling through the trials and tribulations of Ushio's life in the Art World. Ushio who had more success at the beginning of his carrier has struggled through his later years financially in distress he hasn't given up and is totally dedicated to his art work. He is known for paintings where he puts painting pads on boxing gloves and punches the canvas in a boxing workout. Which creates and interesting painting. He also makes sculptures of motorcycles.

Noriko his wife a aspiring artist who came to NYdropped everything to assist the hard drinking Artist Ushio. 

 

Noriko now older, and her son grown,  starts to make her own art work and is able to have her own identity out of the shadow of her husband. 

 

Her art work in the film consists of painting with cartoon characters telling the story of a young naive girl getting off the plane from japan then marrying her husband who she calls Bullie in the cartoon. Noriko is the character Cutie in the cartoon. She trashes her hard drinking husband who dumps all responsibilities on Cutie. She also makes fun of her former self pandering to all her drunken husbands needs.

The two Artist are hopelessly in love despite the constant arguing and insults they throw at each other they are completely enmeshed. When Ushio goes to Japan to sell some work she boast how great it is to be alone and paint but the minute the bell rings she darts down the stairs of there dilapidated loft and opens the door to help Ushio bring his suit case up the stairs and is obviously glad to see him.

Ushio is a man totally devoted to his art. He doesn't seem to worry much about anything leaving most things other than art to Noriko but when there is a need for money he seems to come up with it.

 

The film is an interesting look at an artist's life and the life of a spouse of the artist. It is also a look at a marriage that works despite a lot of tough conditions. Cutie and the boxer is a hopefull look at marriage and art despite all that is aganst it. She and her husband Ushio live in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, where they have been since 1986.

Mistaken For Strangers Opening Film at Tribeca Film Festival.

Matt (L) and Tom (R)

 

The Tribeca Film Festival opened on Wednesday night with Mistaken for strangers a film directed by the brother of the front man for the Brooklyn based band The National Matt Berninger. The film explores the relationship between  Matt the front man for the band The National and his brother Tom who describes himself as not a rock star. 

 

 

Matt trying to reconnect gets his brother Tom a job with the band as a roadie but Tom is incompetent often forgetting tasks and breaking a cardinal rule in the rock business missing a bus call and is fired but Tom redeems himself as he stays on with his camera making in the end a great film about the tour and the dynamics of two brothers one a rock star 9yrs older than his brother who is struggling to find his identity in the shadow of his brothers fame in the rock business.

 

 

The film goes from being a reality show at times but transcends into a real look into the dynamics of these two brothers one successful and the other floundering living at home with his parents and turning 30. 

 

 

Matt the front man shows a lot of patience with his brother as Tom finally completes the film. There  is a touching scene showing Matt encouraging his brother not to shut down after a mishap at the first showing of the film where the projector breaks down.  

 

 

The film is never pretentious and surprisingly bold in the manner in which the director and his brother expose their inadequacies and strengths.  Matt said in the film notes he invited his brother on tour because he left college when his brother was 9years old, and we hadn’t spent much more than holidays and family gatherings together since than. Now my brother was 30, and he was back living with our parents. I thought he was in a bit of a rut. I brought him on tour and he brought his camera along I knew what he wanted to do is make movies.

Matt and Tom trying to work it out

There is a twist at the beginning of the film as Tom seems to be living the stereotype of the rock star often drunk and out of control as his brother the rock star is very serious never out of control a bit melancholy married and his wife describes being the front man of a rock and roll band as just a job. This frustrates Tom as he complains that he is disappointed that the band doesn’t party enough.  Tom parties enough for the whole band.  There are a few strange shots with Tom by himself and his camera  where he is drunk and struggles through his inadequacies. These scenes are hard to watch but work. 

 

Matt at some point in the film finally opens up about how painful it was to play bars that were mostly empty at the beginning of his carrier the constant pressure of creating music and the less obvious issues of being in the music business and being a rock star. The director often interviewes Bryan Devendorf a band member.

Tom and his came

Bryan who  really gives an objective view of Matt and Tom’s relationship and his brother as a person. 

There is a funny scene where he shows one of his gory films to  Bryan  as he looks on in shock at the cheaply made bloody flick. The whole band at different points are almost accosted by Tom but he is relentless in his quest to make this film.

 

Tom goes home to Cincinnati to interview his parents and ask them questions about himself and his brother Matt as children. The parents reluctantly talk about there children and there differences. The suburban atmosphere of the Berninger home is a stark contrast to the rock world.

 

 

The National are a very successful Indie band. After their success of there fourth record The Boxer, The National sealed their artistic reputation in 2010 with the wildly acclaimed High Violet and spent the next two years delivering sellout performances around the world.They are one of the most successful of the indie rock scene and are based in Brooklyn. I can’t think of a band with this much success that  explores publicly  the dimensions of the relationship between a famous brother and one that is not explored in a film. 

 

 

Tom

There were band members who stayed out of the movie so the film focus became more and more about the stuff going on between these two brothers with the backdrop of the rock world.  The film is great and fun to watch. The younger brother finally begins to have his own identity despite his brothers fame.

Terrence Malick's New Film " To The Wonder "

To the wonder directed by Terrence Malick is not a conventional movie. Malick is telling the story through visuals virtually with out dialogue. His images as usual are beautifully composed but the actors move physically through there roles while words are just whispers and infrequent in this film. The character Marina played by Olga Kurylenko moves through the film like a dancer in a ballet company which can be confusing to the audience. She seems to reflect just emotion and reaction in a very primitive way.

It's hard to grasp on to the characters in this film because they never develop as characters in a conventional manner they just seem to display movement as emotion as in scenes where Ben Affleck's character Neil and Marina are arguing he just paces here and there, they fight but say little to each other. Marina often dances around with no meaningful reason. Neil’s relationship seem trivial he just plugs away at his job and comes home and does nothing but fix a fence of move furniture.

Javier Bardem plays father Quintana a priest struggling with his belief in God as he serves the poor and the addicts who inhabit the dilapidated houses and buildings on the poor side of the town. He also whispers rather than speaking. The priest whispers in his despair, Has God has turned his back, can he  get some real sign of God's existence. This is the most interesting part of the film. His relationship is spiritual and is isolated and he talks through his pain of constantly being in the face of poverty and addiction.

Neil Ben Affleck's character seems to go through relationships almost as a bystander in notes about the production it said the director gave them a lot of interesting material to read and worked with the actors in the seven week shoot but it doesn't get conveyed in the film because are just part of the canvas of the visual they never become real people.

It's hard to describe the relationship between the character Rachel McAdams plays Jane who seems to be an old flame of Neil’s. She has plans to wed Neil but that whole thing doesn’t work out. The character Jane is dressed in ridiculous farm girl attire that was picked out of some horse store catalog. 

Help , are you getting lost well that is how the film rolls on and on through one beautiful image after another exploring Neil’s relationship with two of the most beautiful women you will see on the screen. Marina is always dressed in the beautiful outfits and you wonder how Neil could afford to pay for those fancy cloths.

The film  is difficult to sit through. The images are beautiful and I won't knock what Malick was trying to do telling a story with mostly images and little dialogue. There are times where the constant rolling of images without dialogue wears on the viewer. Maybe the problem is it's is neither a silent film or a conventional film somewhere in between different concepts of film.

 

The film  worked when the priest was struggling with his spiritual relationship with God. Even though he whispered it was clear who he was and what he was facing day to day and his need to have a real sense of God that worked for him.

The other relationships in the film were trivial you get tired of the girl dancing around and Ben Affleck going from no emotion to brooding that was often boring.

I don't know if the part of the film that focuses on the priest is enough to recommend the film, it is powerful. I wonder how much time Mr. Malick spent editing the film.

I enjoyed it but I see quite a bit of film so anything unconventional is interesting to me. I have to warn you this is a long slow film with little dialogue. The cinematography is beautiful. The film is extraordinary on a visual level. I felt the movie was brilliant in intent but it didn't materialize correctly in the final cut of the film. 

It opens on April 12th.

Golovkin Macklin Middleweight Championship Set for June 29th at Foxwoods Resort Casino

 

Gallaghers Restaurant NYC a press conference was held announcing Gennady “GGG” Golovkin will squaring off against Mathew “ Mack The Knife” Maklin on Saturday june the 29^th at Foxwood Resort Casino.

 

 

It should be a brawl as both these fighters are straight up hard hitting punchers who never disappoint will fight  for the World Middleweight Championship and the winner would be looking for a shot at Sergio Martinez to unify the title. 

 

 

Macklin is 29-4 20 (KO'S) has fought the best in the division felix Sturm, Sergio Martinez and now Gennady Golovkin who is the hottest fighter in boxing making  a meteoric rise in the Middleweight division with a 26-0 record and a incredible 88% knockout ratio which is unheard of making it hard for Golovkin to find opponents.

 

 

Macklin said at the press conference “ I am not the kind of person to turn down world-title shots so when this fight was offered to me, it was a no-brainer.  My lifelong dream has been to become world champion and now I have another shot at capturing the middleweight world title”.

 

 

Golovkin said “I am very happy to be here back in NYC and back on HBO.  We know that this is a very difficult fight for us, and one of the biggest fights that can be made in boxing right now.  Matthew is going to be the toughest challenge I have ever had.  He is just as big, fast and strong as me and we are expecting a very tough fight on June 29^th. 

 

 

This will be an exciting fight where there will be a lot of action. Golovkin hasn't taken a step back in his carrier and Macklin keeps punching away always going for a knockout.. 

 

 

It will be a war and the winner will move on to probably meet Sergio Martinez. Sampson Lewkowicz  who is Sergio Martinez's adviser was at the press conference looking on with interest. Martinez will be fighting in two weeks in his home country of Argentina.

Golovkin is a hard hitter but still has to prove himself against world class opponents and Macklin needs a big win to get back into the thick of things in the middleweight division it's a good fight for both fighters and it's an important fight for both fighters so there will be some hard hitting action on June 29^th.

Tickets will go on sale Monday, April 15^th and are priced at $300, $200, $90 and $45.  Tickets may be purchased online at foxwoods.com, by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882, or in person at the Foxwoods' box office.

Julia Stiles and America Ferrear Star in It's a Disaster A film that Will Make You Laugh

 

The film It's A Disaster directed by Todd Berger takes a couples Brunch and throws a wrench into it when a dirty bomb and gas attack puts the three couples in a locked down house. These seemingly normal people become increasingly unhinged as they face a most likely death. Todd Berger is a native of New Orleans In an interview Mr. Berger said “he asked some friends about riding out the Katrina they said they panicked at times but there was a lot of magazine reading you can only stay panicked so long after a while you see if any one wants to play cards".

 

 

Jenny and Gordon Alexander a married couple hold couples Brunch where they invite another married couple the Kivels and two other couples that are not married. The brunch  seems to be on a regular basis. 

 

 

America Ferrear plays the lady in waiting six years to get married to Shane an unlikable man played by Jeff Grace. The last couple Tracy Scott played by Julia Stiles brings along one crazy prospect after another to these couple brunches this time David Cross best known for being in Arrested Development plays the character Glenn Randolph . The couples Brunch has become a bit of an albatross to all the couples involved.

 

 

The truth is this scenario of a dirty bomb or gas attack is a possibility in the post 911 world. All these characters locked up together bring out all the old grudges, betrayals and all there borderline personality disorders are pushed over the borderline.

 

I found the film  to be a wacky comedy that made me laugh. Since no one can leave the house the characters find different ways of driving each other nuts.

 

 

David Cross plays Glen Randolph Tracy Scott's internet date. David is best known for his role of Tobias Funke in Arrested Development plays the straight man in this film calm and intelligent. Despite the mismatch in looks as the movie goes on David seems to be a fit for the uptight Stiles character. In the end he unravels as well. 

 

 The Kivels are a married couple who think they are a hip, him playing the acoustic guitar and his wife played by Rachel Boston of course is a Vegan are swingers who have an open sexual Relationship and hit on just about anyone who has a pulse.

 

 

America Ferrera a teacher and scientist  explains the painful death they will die if the gas infiltrates the house. Her character is intelligent and regresses into getting high in the face of death she mixes up a batch of ecstasy out of all the prescription pills and over the counter drugs in the house. She is best known for her role in the TV series Ugly Betty. 

 

 

The film uses an ensemble of actors and that is not surprising since it was produced by Kevin Brennen who started in second city. He has rolled around in Hollywood in several areas this time producing.

I don't think I have seen the end of the world scenario played out in such a funny manner. I guess you would call it a black comedy but the characters are so strongly written that you forget about the seriousness of the situation and just scratch your head how crazy these people are in there own way.

 

 

It's A Disaster is a film I recommend if you need a laugh and who doesn't need a laugh these days.

The film opens the film opens in NY (and LA) at the Village East and Nitehawk Theaters, and in LA, with a national release to follow. It's been available on VOD since March 5

Toni Collette and PJ Hogan of Murials Wedding Team UP For A Very Funny Film Mental

Shaz a Hippie styled Mary Poppins

Mental is a film directed by PJ Hogan of Muriel’s Wedding fame joins again with Toni Collette to make a very funny film. Collette plays Shaz a mystical like character who comes into the Moochmoore household as a nanny to help when the the family of five girls and a unavailable father have to deal with the mother having a nervous breakdown. The film is an over the top comment on Australian conformist suburban culture.

Lilly Thomas plays coral who likes to self diagnose herself from psychology books

 

 

The film opens with the mother Shirley played by, Liev Schreiber,  dancing through the back yard hanging laundry singing a song from the sound of music which she escapes through a fantasy that her family is like the Von Trapp's of the sound of music. 

 

The four young girls run two the older sister to come stop the mother from singing in the back yard but she is locked in her room reading a psychology book trying to diagnose herself from symptoms described in the book. She screams out in frustration I can't help her I am crazy myself and the movie takes off from there.

 

 

  

Toni Collette

The father  played by Anthony Pagalia ls so obsessed in his own self centered ambitions in being head of the city council he picks up the character Shaz who is a hitchhiker and offers her a job to nanny the kids. She describes the whole thing as destiny. She is a washed out hippie version of Merry Poppins. PJ Hogan says he had a similar situation when he was a child and his mother had a nervous breakdown so I guess this is a semi autobiographical adventure for the director. This however is the surreal version. Hogan let's it all hang out and never slows the film down it goes full tilt over the top funny with some syrupy moral angles that are quite corny at times. Shaz has a dark side as well that makes her a very complexed for a comical role.

 

 

I forgive all the problems with this film because it made me laugh so hard at times. The older daughter is hysterical in her coming of age character role as Coral played by lily Sullivan who was casted two weeks before filming started. The young actress didn't think she was right for the part but she worked with director and created a memorable performance.

Toni was glad to team up with the director of Murial's Wedding the film that launched both there carriers. She was with the project from the get go and was glad to be aboard.

 

PJ Hogan said Shaz is a tough character to play; She could come off as very unsympathetic. She’s delicate, yet tough, mean, yet generous and mad as a cut snake - not an easy part to play. Some actors love to commit to the vulnerability of a role and are not so confident in portraying the less sympathetic aspects. Toni loves those things about a character. She loves the thorns as well as the roses.”

Moochmoore Girls

This is a very funny film get on the roller coaster and take the ride. It will be playing in theaters and available on video on demand. It open at the Village East .Cinema and Chelsea 9 in NYC March 29th.

Nets Steamplow Portland Trailblazers 111-93

Reggie Evans had 22pts and 26 Rebounds to lead the Nets to a road game win.

The New York Nets defeated the Portland trailblazers with a 111-93 victory at the Rose Garden in Portland Oregon . This was the 20^th road victory of the year the Nets which ties the franchise record of road game victories. Reggie Evans had a carrier high 22 pts and 26 rebounds as the playoff bound Nets have won 4 out of there first five games on this eight game road trip through the West Coast.

Brooke Lopez with slam dunk two of his 28 pt. game

Brooke Lopez scored 28 Points for the Nets as they steamrolled the Blazers starting the game with a 16-4 lead. Joe Johnson sat out the game with an injury. Five players for the Nets were in double digits. Brooklyn out rebounded Portland 54 to 40 and shot 48% from the field and went 5 for 20 from the 3 pt. Line.

Lamarcus Aldridge scored 24 pts for the Blazers.



PJ Carlesimo is now 25-15 as interim coach for the Nets. The Nets will  take on the Denver Nuggets next as the regular season winds down and the Nets head for the playoffs.