CLOSING NIGHT: 'EULOGY'
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Filmtastic
Actress Maggie Cheung lends
star power to this year’s
film festival
The organizers of the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival finally got their star.
After a lengthy appeal process and with schedules finally jibing, actress Maggie Cheung will make a public appearance Thursday at the Hawaii Theatre to introduce her latest film, "Clean," to open the fest.
ACTION!Venues: Dole Cannery cineplex; Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts; Hawaii Theatre; Marine Sciences building, University of Hawaii-ManoaDates: Thursday through Oct. 31 Tickets: $8; $7 seniors and children; $6 festival ohana members. Available at Dole Cannery box office, by fax at 528-1410, or online at hiff.org Info: 528-4433 or online at hiff.org On TV: PBS Hawaii previews the film festival at 7:30 p.m. today on KHET/PBS.
GOLDEN MAILESEach day this week, we will run short reviews of the features and documentaries vying for Golden Maile awards:
Feature films Coming up: "South of the Clouds," China; "Taste of Tea," Japan; "Take Out," Taiwan/United States; "Low Life," South Korea
Documentaries Coming up: "The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam," Canada; "In the Realms of the Unreal," United States; "Mr. Patterns," Australia; "Still, the Children are Here," United States
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Cheung will also introduce one of her earlier films screening Oct. 25, "Comrades: Almost a Love Story," at the festival's Dole Cannery cineplex homebase, a film that first played at the 1997 festival.
The festival's executive director, Chuck Boller, and his staff are elated that they finally got a bit of star power for this year's festival. Right now, they're keeping their fingers crossed that some of the cast members of closing night film "Eulogy" -- actors like Hank Azaria and Kelly Preston -- will also be attending their film's screening at the downtown venue.
"Lord of the Rings" actor David Wenham will be here, joining Cheung on the Golden Maile film jury, along with senior author and critic Emanuel Levy. Wenham's acting will also be featured in the Australian Centerpiece festival entry "Gettin' Square." On top of that, he will be giving an acting seminar at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts' Doris Duke Theatre.
The Eastman Kodak seminar at the academy's theater Oct. 28 will be with lensman Allen Daviau, whose most recent film was "Van Helsing," and he will also receive this year's Kodak Vision Award for Cinematography. Daviau worked on the 1987 film "Empire of the Sun" with Steven Spielberg, and the film will be screened Oct. 27 at Dole Cannery.
Boller says that musician Jack Johnson will be on a surf cinema panel, along with legendary producer Bruce Brown, whose 1966 classic "The Endless Summer" screens Oct. 27 at the Dole Cannery cineplex. Johnson and director Chris Malloy will also host the world premiere of their latest film from their Moonshine Conspiracy production company, "Sprout," Saturday at the cineplex. (Stacy Peralta's popular "Riding Giants" will rescreen during the festival as well on Oct. 30.)
"We hope to cover, during the panel, how surfing films have gone from travelogues to extreme sports documentaries," Boller said.
Film coordinator Anderson Le (his Top 10 festival picks start on Page D1) is also thrilled that, through a relationship developed with the Shanghai Film Festival, two special Chinese films will be shown at this year's inaugural "Focus: Shanghai on Screen" section: the 1936 drama "Crossroads," from a print on loan from the Beijing Film Archive; and the nine-hour documentary "West of the Tracks," which will be screened from 10:30 a.m. Sunday in the University of Hawaii-Manoa Marine Sciences Building. For those who can't bear to sit that long, it will also be screened in four parts, 7 p.m. Oct. 26 through 29 at the Marine Sciences building.
All told, 178 films from 25 countries (31 of them with local origins), will be shown throughout the festival.
And, for the first time, online ticket purchasing is available through the festival Web site at hiff.org. Tickets can also be purchased in advance at the LVHIFF ticket window at the Dole Cannery box office. (Festival organizers recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to each screening, though certain popular films may be sold out in advance.)
Free festival guides are available at all Blockbuster Video and Starbucks islandwide.
HERE ARE SOME highlights from the festival, according to category (except where noted, all films will be shown at the Dole Cannery cineplex):
SIGNATURE GALAS
"Cuba Libre" (8 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday) -- First-time director Juan Gerard tells his story of growing up in Holguin, Cuba, during the last year of Batista's regime in 1958. Upon his father's immigration to America, the boy is protected by his grandparents, who broker deals with Batista's and Castro's factions to afford the family safety. Harvey Keitel, Iben Hjejle ("High Fidelity") and Gael Garcia Bernal ("The Motorcycle Diaries") star."Steamboy" (8 p.m. Sunday and 7:45 Oct. 29) -- Ten years and $20 million in the making, this is the eagerly awaited animated feature from director Katsuhiro Otomo, 16 years after his original and groundbreaking "Akira." Set against the backdrop of 19th century London's World Exposition, a promising young inventor receives the "steam ball," the heart of a mysterious and ominous "steam castle," and the key to a powerful force.
"Dear Frankie" (7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Hawaii Theatre) -- Emily Mortimer plays the single mother who invents a seafaring father for her 9-year-old son to protect him from the truth. She goes as far as writing him letters from his make-believe dad. When she finds out his "father's" ship will be arriving in a few days, she hatches a desperate plan to find a stranger to play his father. Gerard Butler, who'll play the lead in the movie adaptation of the musical "Phantom of the Opera" this holiday season, plays Mortimer's accomplice.
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EXTREME ASIA
"The Calamari Wrestler" (10 p.m. Friday and Oct. 28) -- Koji Taguchi, whose signature wrestling move is "Torture Ring Strangler," has his championship belt snatched away by a new challenger -- a giant squid! -- that destroys Taguchi with the Northern Light Suplex move. But the squid soon has problems of his own, in the form of treacherous businessmen, unrequited love, and new menaces of the Octopus Wrestler and the Squilla Boxer."Cutie Honey" (1:30 p.m. Sunday and 5 p.m. Oct. 29) -- The live-action adaptation of the popular anime has the buxom babe-android crime fighter Cutie Honey taking on the evil, semi-cross-dressing Panther Claw gang, who kidnapped her eccentric scientist uncle. Eriko Sato is hot, hot, hot in the title role.
"Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S." (4:45 p.m. Sunday) -- It's more choice men-in-rubber-suits battle royales, as Godzilla returns to Japan, only to go toe-to-toe, so to speak, with Mothra and her two larvae poised to defend Tokyo. Will a repaired Mechagodzilla be ready in time to help fight his vaunted foe?
"A Tale of Two Sisters" (8:15 p.m. Oct. 29 and 10 p.m. Oct. 30) -- Advance word on this Korean horror flick is that it's one of the spookiest in recent memory. Two sisters return home after an unexplained absence. Their father has remarried since their mother's death, and relations between the new stepmother and sisters are tense. Meanwhile, mysterious events and frightening appearances begin to disrupt the household. Top-notch art direction and cinematography make Kim Ji-woon's film especially frightening.
"Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior" (10 p.m. Oct. 29 and 4:30 p.m. Oct. 31) -- This Thai action flick is already a hit in martial-arts-savvy Hong Kong and Japan, filled with old-school, in-your-face stunts. Newcomer director Phanom Yeerum slams the sport of Muay Thai into the forefront of action cinema, as Tony Jaa fights his way to recover a village's sacred idol.
"Temptress of a Thousand Faces" (4:15 p.m. Oct. 30) -- This campy 1968 psychedelic romp from the Shaw Brothers studio is a spy yarn about a supervillainess who switches identities with the pull of a mask, and the intrepid female reporter who takes her on. HIFF's Anderson Le says the opening credits alone are worth the price of admission.
EASTERN SHOWCASE
"Raghu Romeo" (4:30 p.m. Friday and 4:45 p.m. Oct. 28) -- Uncommon Indian film is about a bizarre love triangle between an obsessive soap opera fan, a bar dancer in love with him and the gangster who loves her. Reality collides with fantasy when the fan meets the actress, who's not at all like the soap opera character he has a crush on."Green Tea" (10:15 p.m. Friday and 4:45 p.m. Oct. 27) -- A driven young Beijing graduate student, on a blind date, meets Chen, a dissolute professional mending a broken heart. Vicki Zhao Wei plays a dual role as the reticent student and a sultry, compliant woman Chen later connects with. Cinematography by Christopher Doyle ("In the Mood for Love" and "Hero").
"The Adventure of Iron Pussy" (1:30 p.m. Saturday and 8:15 p.m. Oct. 26) -- "Over-the-top" doesn't do enough justice to describe this Thai musical featuring a transvestite secret agent, a dozen beautiful maids, super drugs and incestuous longings.
"Vibrator" (10:15 p.m. Saturday and 10 p.m. Oct. 27) -- Two damaged people -- one a lonely and alcoholic writer, the other a truck driver with a petty criminal past -- embark on a road trip through Japan and bond over time.
"Goddess of Mercy" (4:30 p.m. Sunday and 1:30 p.m. Oct. 30) -- This film by Ann Hui mixes action, romance and drama while painting a passionate picture of its heroine (Vicki Zhao Wei of "Green Tea"), a mother, policewoman and object of desire to three men different in temperament and character.
"Bar Girls" (4 p.m. Oct. 26 and 5 p.m. Oct. 28) -- Vietnam's highest-grossing movie in more than a decade, Le Hoang's film zeroes in on the brutal nightlife of Ho Chi Minh City as seen through the eyes of a young heroin-addicted prostitute who's HIV positive. "Bar Girls" has won praise for its realistic dialogue, fast-paced editing and humane portrayal of the city's denizens.
WESTERN SHOWCASE
"Sleeping Tigers: The Asahi Baseball Story" with opening short "Day of Independence" (1 p.m. Sunday) -- Two films about baseball and the role the game played with the relocated Japanese citizens of both Canada and the U.S. during World War II. "Sleeping Tigers" documents baseball in the spiritual survival of the former Vancouver-based team, as they formed new squads for an inter-camp league. "Day of Independence" is a poignant, low-key drama about a boy, supported by his physically crippled father, who pitches in his camp's championship game. (Edited by Kauai-born Aaron Yamamoto, who now lives and works out of Los Angeles.)"Walk on Water" (7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and 8 p.m. Oct. 30) -- Contemporary drama set between Tel Aviv and Berlin follows a Mossad agent who's tracking an aging Nazi war criminal. From acclaimed Israeli director Eytan Fox.
SURF CINEMA
"Ishmael" (9:45 p.m. Sunday) -- Documentary director Ben Keller asks and answers the question, "What compels a person to surf the Atlantic Ocean during New England's coldest winter in 20 years?"Shanghai on Screen
"Sentimental Remembrances of the Lute" (4:15 p.m. Oct. 31) -- An international premiere about two young men sent down to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution who fall in love with each other and adopt an abandoned baby girl, returning to their native village when she's old enough for college. Because of its subject matter, this digitally shot film was made without the government's official approval.
OPENING NIGHT: 'CLEAN'
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HIFF film coordinator
offers his top 10 picks
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1. "Clean" (8 p.m. Friday at the Hawaii Theatre) -- Our opening night film! It is great, about a rock star's widow trying to reclaim her life and reunite with her son. The film may straddle "Lifetime movie syndrome" but never crosses the fence because Maggie Cheung and Nick Nolte are amazing actors and make the material truly believable. Maggie will be attending to introduce the screening!
2. "Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story" (7:15 p.m. Oct. 26 and 28) -- A great parody that can be summed up as a "This is Spinal Tap" set in the dog-eat-dog world of competitive paintball. Starring members of the Upright Citizen Brigade, whom you may have seen on Comedy Central (including appearances on "The Daily Show"), this film is hilarious, witty and a must-see if you are a fan of improv comedy like SCTV. Highly recommended.
3. "Eulogy" (8 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Hawaii Theatre) -- Great American comedy about dysfunctional family members who reunite and soon bicker during the funeral of a loved one. A huge hit at the Sundance film festival, with some great performances by Ray Romano, Kelly Preston, Hank Azaria and Zooey Deschanel.
4. "Breaking News" (10 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29) -- Great Hong Kong cops-and-robbers action flick with one of the coolest openings in a film in a while (one continuous tracking shot up and down a street during a major shoot-out). From cult director Johnny To.
5. "Gettin' Square" (8 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Hawaii Theatre) -- A clever and biting dark comedy from Australia starring the chameleonic "Lord of the Rings" actor David Wenham as an ex-con with a mullet who attempts to stay on the straight and narrow, but is enticed by his cohorts about a planned bank heist that is too good to be true. This award-winning film was a huge hit in Australia and garnered Wenham an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor. Wenham will introduce this screening.
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6. "Takeout" (7:15 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Oct. 31) -- An experimental digital-video-shot film about an illegal immigrant living in New York City. Very raw and gritty, it captures NYC as an ominous place. It's very much a day-in-the-life film, and the camera work and the use of real establishments frame a very authentic mise-en-scene. One of the festival's Golden Maile nominated features.
7. "In the Realms of the Unreal" (1 p.m. Saturday and 4:15 p.m. Oct. 25) -- A compelling and creepy documentary on the late, reclusive artist Henry Darger. With the use of his paintings and passages from his 15,000-page novel, the doc paints a surreal glimpse into the strange and forbidden world he constructed. Darger could've been the next Tolkien. One of the festival's Golden Maile nominated documentaries.
8. "Double Dare" (9:45 p.m. Oct. 26 and 1:15 p.m. Oct. 30) -- A fun doc on the life of a Hollywood stuntwoman. It follows two pioneers as it spans their careers and obstacles they had to overcome along the way. From "Wonder Woman" to "Kill Bill," "Double Dare" is a hoot.
9. "Imaginary Heroes" (8 p.m. Sunday) -- From "X2: X-Men United" writer Dan Harris comes this Toronto Film Festival favorite about a family struck by terrible tragedy and how they cope in their own unique way. The film is funny and poignant, with stellar performances by Sigourney Weaver, Jeff Daniels and Emile Hirsch in a breakthrough role. This film has some award-worthy performances and the young writer-director (he's only 25) shows a great maturity with his subject matter. Don't miss it! A festival Centerpiece Gala event.
10. "Travellers & Magicians" (8:15 p.m. Oct. 27 and 1:45 p.m. Oct. 30) -- This may turn out to be the sleeper hit of the festival. It's about an American-educated government official assigned to a post in a remote village in Bhutan. He hates it and wants to escape. To the dismay of the villagers, he listens to rock 'n' roll and loves American pop culture. A funny and thought-provoking film about tradition and globalization. From the director of "The Cup."
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