July 07, 2022

WIFF’s Weekend Watch List — 07/08

THE CONNECTION (If you want a stylish thriller) Vincent Georgie: Luxury cars, double-crosses and a sexy French cop played by Jean Dujardin? This 1970’s…

THE CONNECTION

(If you want a stylish thriller)

Vincent Georgie: Luxury cars, double-crosses and a sexy French cop played by Jean Dujardin? This 1970’s set thriller is perfect for a fun Saturday night. Highly recommended. From WIFF 2015.

Synopsis: In 1970s France, dedicated cop Pierre Michel risks his life to crack a heroin ring masterminded by powerful mobster Gaëtan Zampa.

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ANOMALISA

(If you want to push the boundaries)

Vincent Georgie: What is tremendous about this film is how it tells an interesting, very original and perfectly adult story via stop-motion animation. After you see this story told in this way, you can’t really imagine it being told any other way. Wonderful voice work by Jennifer Jason Leigh, in particular. Directed by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson.

Synopsis: From the Oscar-winner who brought you ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND and BEING JOHN MALKOVICH comes a riveting new masterpiece. Michael Stone -husband, father and noted author -travels to Cincinnati to speak at a customer service conference. But once he’s separated from the routine of his daily life, a chance encounter helps him to realize just what, and whom, he’s been missing. Love, laughter and loneliness align in a “staggeringly inventive” (Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly) stop-motion work of art from directors Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson.

Watch on Amazon Prime

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ONE CHANCE

(If you love James Corben)

Vincent Georgie: Many of you will know that Corden is an accomplished song and dance man, not just a late night talk show host. In 2014, he wowed audiences in this true story of making your dreams come true by believing in your own talents. Corden makes the film really work. Full credit is to him.

Synopsis: Tenor Paul Potts (James Corden) becomes a singing sensation after appearing on the TV show “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2007.

Not available to watch on major online distributors.

DOUBLE FEATURE

TWO SIDES OF RYAN GOSLING

The first film stars Gosling (very much cast against-type), and benefits from an original, fresh and even strange screenplay by Nancy Oliver. The second film reteams Gosling with director Nicholas Winding Refn (DRIVE), for a violent, ludicrous, and, arguably, bat-shit fun film. Not for all tastes (and that’s kind of the point). Gosling is electric opposite a wildly cast Kristin Scott Thomas.

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL

Extremely shy Lars (Ryan Gosling) finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. His brother (Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer) worry about him, so when he announces that he has a girlfriend he met on the Internet, they are overjoyed. But Lars’ new lady is a life-size plastic woman. On the advice of a doctor (Patricia Clarkson), his family and the rest of the community go along with his delusion.

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ONLY GOD FORGIVES

In Thailand, a drug trafficker’s icy mother sends him on a mission to avenge his older brother, who was killed for beating an underage prostitute to death.