{"id":364,"date":"2006-10-29T09:44:00","date_gmt":"2006-10-29T17:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moviesharkdeblore.com\/site\/?p=364"},"modified":"2014-10-08T10:15:12","modified_gmt":"2014-10-08T17:15:12","slug":"2006-afi-must-see-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/festivals\/2006-afi-must-see-picks\/","title":{"rendered":"2006 AFI Must See Picks"},"content":{"rendered":"

The American Film Institute has long been one of the most important leaders not only in film education, but in celebrating and preserving film, television and now digital media.\u00a0 From its annual Life Achievement Awards to film preservation to training new generations of filmmakers at its renowned Conservatory, AFI is indeed an institute to be treasured and supported.\u00a0 But perhaps its crown jewel is the AFI FEST.<\/p>\n

Celebrating its 20th year, AFI Fest returns to the Arclight Theater in the heart of Hollywood from November 112, showcasing film works from around the globe in exhibition and competition, with screenings open to the public.\u00a0 This year finds 147 films from 45 countries with everything from International Feature and Documentary Competitions to Latin Cinema to American Directions, African Voices and Dark Horizons.\u00a0 Eclectic, entertaining and often educational, I have already had a chance to screen about 60 of this year\u2019s exhibitors and let me tell you, they are phenomenal.\u00a0 Last year the FEST gave us films like WALK THE LINE and THE LIBERTINE.\u00a0 So, what does 2006 hold?\u00a0\u00a0 Let\u2019s take a look at some of my faves as the MUST SEE FESTIVAL FILMS for AFI FEST 2006.<\/p>\n

\"Bobby_Main\"Opening the Festival on November 1 is BOBBY.\u00a0 Written and directed by Emilio Estevez, BOBBY just picked up its first of what I believe will be many awards to come, this one at the Hollywood Film Festival.\u00a0\u00a0 Concentrating on the day leading up to and night of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, this is an ambitious endeavor that revolves around 22 individuals present at the hotel on the final day and in the final hours of Senator Kennedy\u2019s life.\u00a0 As we all know, 1968 was a dramatic and traumatic year of social and political upheaval in our country.\u00a0 From the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. to that of Robert Kennedy, the times were volatile and heartbreaking.<\/p>\n

\"Bobby_2\"Interspersing actual newsreel images from the period, Estevez intricately weaves a tapestry of storied lives all drawn together at the Ambassador Hotel on that fateful night in June 1968.\u00a0\u00a0 Using the technique of expertly crafted and edited narrative vignettes, Estevez creates characters from all walks of life\u00a0 someone for everyone to relate to\u00a0 and something that really demonstrates the vast appeal of Kennedy.\u00a0 Setting the political stage is short lived before the film moves full swing into the fictional stories.\u00a0\u00a0 From doormen to drunken lounge singers to socialites, starlets and dishwashers, almost every walk of life and ethnicity is represented.<\/p>\n

The cast reads like a Who\u2019s Who of Hollywood boasting A, B and C list stars.\u00a0 Sir Anthony Hopkins as retired doorman John Casey is stellar as is Demi Moore as the drunken lounge singer Virgnia<\/p>\n

Fallon who is appearing at the Ambassador that fateful night.\u00a0 Abusive to her husband, interestingly enough played by former reallife flame, Emilio Estevez, Moore gives a fascinating performance.\u00a0 Not to be overlooked are Sharon Stone, Harry Belafonte, Freddy Rodriguez, Christian Slater, Helen Hunt and Martin Sheen.\u00a0 And as a draw for the younger generation, exemplary performances rise from Lindsay Lohan, Joshua Jackson and Elijah Wood.\u00a0 But the crowning performance comes from William H. Macy as hotel manager Paul Ebbers.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Look for Oscar to come knocking at Macy\u2019s door, among others in this film, come February.<\/p>\n

I was awed by the thought and meticulous detail Estevez put into not only the script and its di<\/p>\n

alogue, but the filming itself.\u00a0 Shot on location at the Ambassador Hotel during its razing, the film embodies history.\u00a0 Impressive to a fault is the work of production designer Patti Podesta who brought the Ambassador back to its original grandeur for filming. And cinematographer Michael Barrett should also grab an Oscar nod for his work.\u00a0 Using a Steadicam for the majority of filming, Barrett and Estevez are able to seamlessly blend current footage with archival, giving a documentary feel to the project.<\/p>\n

\"Bobby_1\"<\/p>\n

BOBBY is without a doubt a MUST SEE FILM at AFI FEST 2006.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Making its World Premiere as part of the American Directions Category is BIG DREAMS LITTLE TOKYO.\u00a0 Reviewed by me in full last week, BIG DREAMS LITTLE TOKYO is absolutely charming.<\/p>\n

\"Big_Dreams_Little_Tokyo_1\"<\/p>\n

\"Big_Dreams_Little_Tokyo_2\"This is the story of Boyd and Jerome and their \u201cbig dreams.\u201d\u00a0 Boyd is an American enamored with the Japanese – their way of life, their language, their customs, their dreams.\u00a0 Aspiring to be a successful Japanese businessman his biggest obstacle is himself.\u00a0 Viewed as an outsider to his target Japanese audience, he has more than a little trouble in pursuing his dreams.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And meet his roommate Jerome.\u00a0 Japanese-American, Jerome believes himself to be too American to be Japanese and too Japanese to be American.\u00a0\u00a0 A fish out of water, Jerome dreams of being a Sumo wrestler.\u00a0\u00a0 Sadly, he too, faces obstacles.\u00a0 A tad on the small side, he needs to pack on the pounds before even coming close to Sumo status, but he also has to consider other medical issues like high blood pressure that put him in the ER every time he gains some weight.<\/p>\n

An odd couple to say the least, Boyd and Jerome are not only the definition of \u201cculture clash\u201d but shining examples of heart and soul.\u00a0 Using the gimmick of teaching English to Japanese as well as hawking the best English instructional manual in the business, Boyd\u2019s sticktuitiveness is commendable and infectious – okay, and it\u2019s not a bad system for picking up a pretty little nurse named Mai, either!\u00a0 Meanwhile, continually clad in his mawashi (aka Sumo diaper), Jerome keeps on pushing like the Little Engine that Could, not only to pursue his Sumo dream, but to find a sense of self and \u201clike kind\u201d, some kindred spirits.\u00a0\u00a0 At the very heart, what Boyd and Jerome both long for is to just fit in, \u201cbe somebody\u201d and fulfill their dreams.<\/p>\n

\"Big_Dreams_Little_Tokyo_4\"Written and directed by newcomer David Boyle, Boyle (who also stars as Boyd) draws on his own experiences as a Mormon missionary in Sydney, Australia.\u00a0 With a believable sincerity, Boyle pulls on the heart strings taping into not just culture clash, but the commonality we all share – dreams and the journey to discovery who we are and where we each belong in the grand scheme of things.\u00a0\u00a0 Meshing nicely with Boyd\u2019s Boyle is newcomer Jayson Watabe.\u00a0 Suiting up as Jerome, he does so with an apparent joy.\u00a0 His inexperience, however, does show, but given the nature of the film and the foibles of self-exploration, big dreams and the modern world, it works to his<\/p>\n

advantage for the most part.\u00a0 And Rachel Morihiro lends a sweetness to Nurse Mai, the object of Boyle\u2019s affection.<\/p>\n

Boyle is a natural storyteller and given his life experiences, has many stories to tell.\u00a0 Here, the script\u2019s strength comes from this experiences which he melds together by interweaving characters and cultures.\u00a0\u00a0 Knowing that this film is character and story driven, as a director Boyle keeps his eye on the ball and keeps his direction clean and simple; nothing technically impressive or out of the ordinary to detract.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And while this story could be told against a backdrop of any two or three cultures with a similar result, Boyle\u2019s experience with the dichotomous \u201cEast meets West\u201d is enchanting.<\/p>\n

A large part of the humor and charm of this film comes from character interaction and response to situations and particularly, Boyd\u2019s business efforts.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A picture truly is worth a thousand words and here, the pictures are priceless.\u00a0 It is with these laced vignettes and personal experiences that Boyle connects with each of us.<\/p>\n

\"Come_Early_Morning_Poster\"Fast becoming a festival favorite is one of my long time favorites, Ashley Judd.\u00a0 With two films in the Fest, both are must sees. \u00a0First up is COME EARLY MORNING.\u00a0 Debuting at the Fest and opening in limited release on November 10, 2006, this is the story of a young Southern woman named Lucy.\u00a0 Fraught with fear of relationships, a contractor by day, she is committed to drunken onenight stands at night, often waking up not knowing where she is or who she is with.\u00a0\u00a0 Written and directed by Joey Lauren Adams, in her directorial debut, Adams draws from her own experiences growing up in the South.\u00a0 And while the film touches on Southern sensibilities, it has something that will connect with everyone from or familiar with rural and small town America. The film as a whole not only reminded me of my own visits down South to Omaha, Georgia with my beloved devoutly religiously aunt and her pink doublewide trailer, but it also connected with little towns like Browns Mills, New Jersey.<\/p>\n

Believable to a fault. The dialogue is right on point with the time, the era and the Southern lifestyle. Yet, the story is one that everyone can relate to in some fashion.<\/p>\n

The cast is outstanding.\u00a0 Ashley Judd is the epitome of emotion and no one plays a strongwilled woman with an innocent vulnerability better than she. She does the slutty aspect of the character well, too, although I thought that emotion and portrayal was a bit too similar to that of her character in \u201cTwisted.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Diane Ladd steps in as Lucy\u2019s grandmother and is, of course, wonderful with her down home sarcastic wit while veteran Pat Corley takes the reins as Lucy\u2019s grandfather.\u00a0\u00a0 Not to be outdone, Adams even wrangled Stacy Keach to come on board as Lucy\u2019s boss, Owen.\u00a0 Rock solid, Keach\u2019s turn as Owen bodes well as a calming influence and beacon of light to Judd’s Lucy. It was also a joy to see Scott Wilson as Lowell Fowler.\u00a0\u00a0 Probably best known of late as casino owner Sam Braun on \u201cCSI\u201d, his turn her as Lucy\u2019s father Lowell is a side of Wilson not that familiar to us.\u00a0\u00a0 And why haven’t we heard more from Jeffrey Donovan?\u00a0 As love interest Cal, he is the exemplification of every Southern mother’s dream of a genteel polite young man\u00a0 that is until the tables turn and personality reversals and growth take shape.<\/p>\n

Although a bit tedious at points, I can understand Adam\u2019s choices in her direction and pacing.\u00a0 While it bodes well with the theme of the film, some may get a bit antsy with some of the more drawn out sequences.\u00a0\u00a0 A beautiful character study acted superbly, COME EARLY MORNING is an uplifting winner.<\/p>\n

\"Come_early_Morning_1\"<\/p>\n

Another American Directions contender is FULL GROWN MEN.\u00a0\u00a0 Directed by David Munro and written by Munro and Xandra Castleton, this is the story of Alby, a 38 year old who seems to have contracted that \u201cdisease\u201d running rampant among the 3040 something men of America today\u00a0\u00a0 going beyond nostalgia, and even beyond the Peter Pan phenomena, this is a never grow up situation that entails physically growing up, marrying, getting a job (for some), having kids, the house, the two cars, but doing so as merely going through the motions without the emotional conceptualization of what growing up or life itself entail; and often with disastrous consequences.\u00a0 Lucky for us, Munro captures it all but with a zany fun perspective.<\/p>\n

Enjoyable, funny, believable, and although it has serious (and very true) undertones, is hopeful, upbeat and “connectable” to everyone.\u00a0\u00a0 Taking his collection of pristine action figures with him, Alby runs away from home and goes back to his mother who suffers from Alzheimer\u2019s. Determined to stay a child forever, he leaves his wife and young son (aka playmate) seeking sanctuary at his childhood home.<\/p>\n

Completely morphing into his childlike self, Alby seeks comfort in his \u201cbest friend in the whole world\u201d\u00a0 Elias.\u00a0 One little thing\u00a0 Elias is now a teacher, grown up, accepting responsibility, embracing responsibility.\u00a0\u00a0 Life, and Elias, have moved on.\u00a0 But, Alby sparks something in Elias that has him yearn for a little bit of the boy he once was and it\u2019s not long before the two are on the road to Diggityland\u00a0 Elias to get a Teacher of the Year Award and Alby, well, just to goof off and hide.\u00a0 Needless to say, their adventures along the way prove to be some valuable lie lessons for them both.<\/p>\n

Set in South Florida, a more ideal location, Munro could not have selected.\u00a0 Long having an image as being a playground for retirees and springer breakers alike, this is the perfect playground for Alby.\u00a0\u00a0 Visually, the film is more than effective.\u00a0 With retirees giving Alby some sage advice that isn’t done in a preachy manner, maturity rears its ugly head with a sweet kindness.\u00a0 You can\u2019t help but laugh at these old geezers riding around on bikes in their shorts and socks with sandals, goofy hats on their heads, etc., which just goes to further perpetuate the theme of the film and if Alby (and the audience) looks hard enough, gives some insight into what the future will be like if he doesn’t get with the program and act 38 instead of 8. This is one of the few films I have seen the past month or so (and based on what’s releasing in the next 60 days) that actually doesn’t leave you depressed or suffering from the doldrums when the credits finish.<\/p>\n

Matt McGrath stars as Alby.\u00a0 I first took notice of him in \u201cThe Notorious Bettie Page\u201d but I must say, I am more than impressed with him here as Alby.\u00a0 Complimenting McGrath\u2019s juvenality is Judah Friedlander who is joyous as Elias.\u00a0 His interpretation of the character really aids in setting forth the juxtaposition and dichotomy of the lives and mentalities between the two.\u00a0\u00a0 And pay special attention for two casting coups – Alan Cumming and Deborah Harry are absolute flashes of brilliance for casting ….Alan Cumming equating the little toy solider action figures come to life and Deborah Harry as the Little Mermaid or Barbie as a female connective of playing with dolls. And the nostalgic value of Deborah Harry\u00a0 great!<\/p>\n

The icing on the cake is comic animation at the end that is absolutely adorable and so befitting the film. Nice touch by Munro.<\/p>\n

I was dying to see this film and am so glad I did. It proved to be even more than I hoped. Witty, wise and wacky!!<\/p>\n

\"Who_Loves_The_Sun_Poster\"Festivals and Lukas Haas seem to go hand in hand.\u00a0 From Gus Van Sant\u2019s \u201cLast Days\u201d to Derek Sieg\u2019s \u201cSwedish Auto\u201d,\u00a0 Lukas is a familiar and welcome face on the festival circuit.\u00a0 Charming, polite, talented, diverse,\u00a0 I know going in that a film with Lukas Haas will be a winner.\u00a0 And WHO LOVES THE SUN is no different.<\/p>\n

Lukas Haas plays Will Morrison.\u00a0 A loner, Will returns to his childhood home after a mysterious absence of over years.\u00a0\u00a0 After walking in on best friend David and his wife Maggie, will disappeared.\u00a0 Just as strange as his disappearance, however, is his reappearance when out of the blue he appears, intent on \u201csurprising\u201d his Daniel.\u00a0\u00a0 Seems in the past few years, Daniel has made quite a name for himself.\u00a0 With a best selling novel and steady income writing for a New York magazine, David is the toast of the town.\u00a0 Will, however, is still a loner with a lost sadness about him.<\/p>\n

The acting is first rate.\u00a0 Full bodied, realistic and sincerely wicked at times, be it Haas or Adam Scott as Will\u2019s foil Daniel Bloom or Wendy Crewson as Daniel\u2019s wife Mary, they all shine.\u00a0 Haas is impeccable and with his own patented brand of inner brooding, keeps the audience – and the characters – on their toes, guessing who and what he is all about.\u00a0 And as he always seems to do, he effortlessly grows and transforms the character right before your eyes.\u00a0\u00a0 Lukas is always compelling and interesting to watch.\u00a0 Crewson, perhaps best known from her days as Tim Allen\u2019s wife in \u201cThe Santa Claus\u201d is magnificent.\u00a0\u00a0 But it is Molly Parker as Will\u2019s ex that steals the show.<\/p>\n

Written and directed by Matt Bissonnette, there is a dry irony and subtlety wielded rapier wit to the story that permeates the characters.\u00a0 Well known to the indie crowd, cinematographer Arthur E. Cooper gives the film a lushness that befits the rustic woodsy setting and gives the film a visually pleasing fluidity that ebbs and flows with the story.<\/p>\n

Sweet and touching with a razor wit, you can\u2019t help but love WHO LOVES THE SUN.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Bug_Poster\"And what would a film festival be without some horror.\u00a0 I know my life wouldn\u2019t be complete with it and this year, AF<\/em><\/strong>I corners the market with some outstandingly horrific – and hysterical – entries!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

First, we have BUG.\u00a0\u00a0 Written by Tracy Letts based on her acclaimed Broadway play, BUG marks William Friedkin\u2019s return to horror.\u00a0 Yes, this is THE Friedkin as in \u201cThe Exorcist.\u201d\u00a0 Ashley Judd stars in this emotionally infested portrayal of Agnes, a down and out barmaid who calls a squalor of a motel room home.\u00a0 A victim of domestic violence, her beloved ex now safely behind bars,\u00a0 Agnes masks her pain and her past with alcohol and drugs, hiding in her own little roach motel.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Enter Peter.\u00a0 A drifter.\u00a0 Seems nice.\u00a0 Seems sweet.\u00a0 He gets under Agnes\u2019 skin and she begins to open up and start to care about Peter, life and herself.\u00a0 But that bit of joy is short lived because it\u2019s not long before that swell of a guy, ex-husband Jerry, rears his ugly head.\u00a0 Released on parole, Jerry reappears, vowing undying love and that he is a \u201cchanged man.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But Jerry isn\u2019t all that claims change.\u00a0 Peter goes through his own metamorphosis after seeing a bug in Agnes\u2019 motel room – quite conveniently after one of their romantic interludes.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Needless to say, Ashley Judd is impeccable as Agnes.\u00a0\u00a0 Broken, tormented and emotionally scarred, but with an innate core of inner strength,\u00a0 as I said before, no one does this type of character better than Judd.\u00a0 And while Michael Shannon is admirable as he reprises his stage role as the sweet but bizarre Peter, it is Harry Connick, Jr. that soars with his minimal screen time as\u00a0 Jerry.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Letts does a fine job of adapting her play for the screen.\u00a0 With multitextural characters, including the motel room itself, the story is so dementedly compelling so as to command repeated screenings.\u00a0 This is definitely a film I will buy on DVD to watch over and over and over\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>again. \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lurking like a spider dangling from its web in the corner of the room, Friedkin envelops you and creates an almost claustrophobic fear.\u00a0 Low budget but with high production values, much of the credit for this achievement goes to cinematographer Michael Grady.\u00a0 I was notably impressed with Grady\u2019s work in last year\u2019s \u201cWonderland\u201d and he once again more than lives up to the challenge presented with Letts\u2019 screenplay and Friedkin\u2019s interpretation.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite an unevenness to the story and the fact that it lends more to a psychological drama than horror, there is an overall darkness to BUG that shouldn\u2019t be missed.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Moving into a more comedic horror situation, a competitor in the Dark Horizons Category is ALIEN AUTOPSY.\u00a0 Based on the true story of a pair of Brits who make a film depicting their \u201cautopsy\u201d of an alien in Roswell, New Mexico, this is a not-to-be-missed horror mockumentary.\u00a0 For those of you that may recall the news item and the original hoax as it aired on the Fox TV Network in 1995, be warned\u00a0 – the truth may be out there but, here, you\u00a0\"Bug_1\"<\/em><\/strong>can\u2019t believe what you see – at least not with ALIEN AUTOPSY.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ray Santilli and Gary Shoefield are at the top of the charts on British television.\u00a0 Enter documentary director Morgan Banner.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Established as a leader in documentary in the US, Banner and his crew visit Santilli and Shoefield for a secret interview on their \u201cexperience.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Based on their \u201ctrue story\u201d Ray and Gary head to the States for purposes of hooking up with a man named Harvey who claims to have a non-copyrighted piece of film footage – an autopsy on an alien at Roswell in July 1947.\u00a0 Allegedly Harvey was in the military and participated in this most secret-of-secret alien autopsy.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Seeing the monetary potential in such a rare piece of history , the boys manage to come up with the $30,000 price tag (compliments of a Hungarian loanshark) for the autopsy film but you know that old saying, caveat emptor – let the buyer beware.\u00a0 Without batting an eye or looking at piece of celluloid, the boys hand over the cash to Harvey and rush back to England with their gold mine.\u00a0 Sadly, when they finally decide to look at the footage, it comes up blank.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Not wanting to find themselves in cement shoes or wind up like Jimmy Hoffa, Ray and Gary have a brainstorm – let\u2019s make our own film of an alien autopsy!\u00a0\u00a0 Let\u2019s face it folks – all the synapses aren\u2019t firing with these two.\u00a0\u00a0 With the help of a kebab salesman named Melik and his girlfriend Jasmine, the group puts together a film acceptable and believable enough to loanshark Laszlo who in turn sells the film to international tv.\u00a0 Needless to say, the laughs take hold when the autopsy hits the open market.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bill Pullman stars as documentary director Morgan Banner while Declan Donnelly and Ant McParlin take on Ray and Gary, respectively.\u00a0 Pullman is enjoyable enough but don;\u2019t look for anything too inspiring from Donnelly and McPartlin.\u00a0 Omid Djalili as Melik, however, is an absolute scream.\u00a0 The real Ray and Gary also turn up in cameos.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Alien_Autopsy_Poster\"Director Jonny Campbell brings his years of British television experience to the table and does a more than adequate job with the lensing of the film.\u00a0 Using a grainy technique, it bodes well for the mockumentary type project at hand.\u00a0 Although there are some glaring holes in the script and mockumentary style holds fast giving a comedic look at a pull-the-wool-over-the-eyes-of-the-world grifting of a perceived \u201chorror.\u201d\u00a0 Funny and entertaining although far from an X-File, you gotta see this ALIEN AUTOPSY.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The_Fountain_1\"Hugh Jackman and last year\u2019s Best Actress Oscar winner Rachel Weisz, come together in the poignant THE FOUNTAIN.\u00a0 Selected as AFI\u2019s Centerpiece Gala Selection, THE FOUNTAIN is written and directed by Darren Aronofsky.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Last helming \u201cRequiem for a Dream\u201d,\u00a0 Aronofsky now brings to life man\u2019s 1000 year old quest for th<\/em><\/strong>e elusive Fountain of Youth.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Traveling through the annals of time, Jackman and Weisz assume the roles of multiple characters set in different periods of history.\u00a0 We initially meet 16<\/em><\/strong>th<\/sup><\/em><\/strong> Century Tomas as he nears his goal of finding the Tree of Life.\u00a0 With his quest cut short by a fire branded sword, time fast forwards and we see Jackman now as Buddha dreaming of an angelic woman named Izzi.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Cut to present day and Jackman is Tom Verde, M.D.\u00a0\u00a0 Married to the beautiful Izzi, we quickly learn that she is dying of an inoperable brain tumor.\u00a0 Determined to save the love of his life, Tom uses experimental drugs formulated from a Souther American tree bark on a monkey in the hope of finding a cure for Izzi.\u00a0\u00a0 Bereft and berating is Lilian, Tom\u2019s team leader from his treks to South America, who has nothing hopeful or kind to say, even as the monkey starts to make an unusual recovery.\u00a0 Not only is the monkey\u2019s like tumor decreasing in size, his cells and organs appear to be regenerating, growing more youthful with every passing hour.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Facing her own mortality, Izzi has put her last days to good use.\u00a0 She has penned a novel called \u201cThe Fountain\u201d, leaving the final chapter for Tom to complete on her passing.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fueling the age old debate of life and death, the emotional and intellectual struggles set forth are heart-wrenching and thought provokingly intriguing.\u00a0 A tacit strength permeates the characters and Jackman and Weisz are mesmerizing.\u00a0 Could we be looking at a second Oscar nod for Weisz?\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t be surprised.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Visually stunning, the emotional narrative propels us into an introspective self-analysis that will have the audience talking long after the film\u2019s end.\u00a0 Although some may find the ping-pong time travels as distracting or even annoying, this is definitely my pick as the most beauteous and emotionally exquisite\u00a0 film of the Festival.\u00a0 THE FOUNTAIN speaks volumes.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Kurt_Cobain\"Turning our attention to documentaries, KURT COBAIN: ABOUT A SON is one of the top contenders in the International Documentary Competition.\u00a0 Within the past week, Cobain became the highest grossing entertainer in death and this documentary gives a little insight into Cobain\u2019s popularity and connection with the masses to thi<\/em><\/strong>s day.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Directed by AJ Schnack, the film is inspired by some 25 hours of interviews conducted by journalist Michael Azerrad with Cobain in 1993, one year before his untimely suicide.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Setting interviews to well placed visuals and well-paced music, Schnack tracks Cobain\u2019s life from a childhood with an abusive father through his success with Nirvana.\u00a0\u00a0 The audience is made to feel as if privy to the inner workings of Cobain – his thoughts, what made him tick, his emotional highs and lows.\u00a0 A manic depressive, Cobain was a loner throughout his youth and plagued with medical problems involving his back and stomach, which come through as being some of the strongest affects on his life – and death.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Clearly devoted to, enamored and in love with his wife, Courtney Love, director Schnack gets this sobering and humanizing point about Cobain across.\u00a0 Thanks to a combination of inspiring black and white photos by Charles Peterson with a color compliment by cinematographer Wyatt Toll, Cobain\u2019s legacy is kept in the forefront and with this film, given a voice to an entirely new audience. A rarity today, the film is shot in 35mm.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But for me, the strongest showing in the International Documentary Category comes from BACK HOME, the true story of J.B. Rutagarama.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Escaping Rwanda years ago, J.B. now travels back to his native land in search of his family and the life he once knew.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Returning to his birthplace, J.B. meets up with old friends and learns of fates one should never have to face.\u00a0 Heart wrenching and dramatic, what we see\u00a0 is what is left of his past, and the hope and humanity the Rwandans now have, following the Rwandan genocide.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lensed through JB\u2019s eyes, the film is personalized\u00a0 with an eloquent simplicity.\u00a0 Juxtapositioning the beauty of Rwanda against the horror and terror of war, JB allows us to feel the loss, the terror and the horror that he and his surviving friends and family felt, and still feel.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Faced with adversity from start to finish in the making of this film, JB persevered despite the military seizing both his cameras and film, and having his relative tell their stories, a feat which was long delayed due to the trauma from which they still suffer and which long kept them from recounting the atrocities they witnessed and suffered.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There are no words to describe the emotion of this film.\u00a0 I can only guarantee there won\u2019t be a dry eye in the house when the curtain falls on BACK HOME.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The American Film Institute has long been one of the most important leaders not only in film education, but in celebrating and preserving film, television and now digital media.\u00a0 From its annual Life Achievement Awards to film preservation to training new generations of filmmakers at its renowned Conservatory, AFI is indeed an institute to be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":381,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53,4],"tags":[73],"class_list":["post-364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-afi-film-festival","category-festivals","tag-afi-2006"],"yoast_head":"\n2006 AFI Must See Picks - Behind The Lens Online<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Behind the Lens is your home for in-depth movie reviews, filmmaker & celebrity interviews, and more, all by industry professional and film critic debbie lynn elias...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/festivals\/2006-afi-must-see-picks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2006 AFI Must See Picks\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Behind the Lens is your home for in-depth movie reviews, filmmaker & celebrity interviews, and more, all by industry professional and film critic debbie lynn elias...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/festivals\/2006-afi-must-see-picks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Behind The Lens Online\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2006-10-29T17:44:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2014-10-08T17:15:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/10\/Kurt_Cobain.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"481\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"debbie lynn elias\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"debbie lynn elias\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"23 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/behindthelensonline.net\\\/site\\\/festivals\\\/2006-afi-must-see-picks\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/behindthelensonline.net\\\/site\\\/festivals\\\/2006-afi-must-see-picks\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"debbie lynn elias\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/behindthelensonline.net\\\/site\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/2d9b602095eb0ce3d363efb75ad0b5d4\"},\"headline\":\"2006 AFI Must See Picks\",\"datePublished\":\"2006-10-29T17:44:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2014-10-08T17:15:12+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/behindthelensonline.net\\\/site\\\/festivals\\\/2006-afi-must-see-picks\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4536,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/behindthelensonline.net\\\/site\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/behindthelensonline.net\\\/site\\\/festivals\\\/2006-afi-must-see-picks\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/behindthelensonline.net\\\/site\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2006\\\/10\\\/Kurt_Cobain.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"AFI 2006\"],\"articleSection\":[\"AFI Film Festival\",\"Festivals\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/behindthelensonline.net\\\/site\\\/festivals\\\/2006-afi-must-see-picks\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/behindthelensonline.net\\\/site\\\/festivals\\\/2006-afi-must-see-picks\\\/\",\"name\":\"2006 AFI Must See Picks - 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