Comments on: StLIFF 2009: Amreeka http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2009/11/16/stliff-2009-day-four/ Appreciation and Criticism of Cinema Through Heartland Eyes Tue, 22 May 2012 05:06:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Andrew http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2009/11/16/stliff-2009-day-four/comment-page-1/#comment-23297 Andrew Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:44:53 +0000 http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2009/11/16/stliff-day-four-2/#comment-23297 Thanks for checking in during my Festival coverage, Sam! Your observations and warm persona are always appreciated here. :) Amreeka just never came together for me. I found it cloying and predictable. I guess we'll just have to chalk our difference up to Your Mileage May Vary. As it happens, White Castle is a bit of a local institution here in St. Louis. Luis Mandoki's relatively forgettable Susan Sarandon vehicle, "White Palace" was filmed and set here. Thanks for checking in during my Festival coverage, Sam! Your observations and warm persona are always appreciated here. :)

Amreeka just never came together for me. I found it cloying and predictable. I guess we’ll just have to chalk our difference up to Your Mileage May Vary.

As it happens, White Castle is a bit of a local institution here in St. Louis. Luis Mandoki’s relatively forgettable Susan Sarandon vehicle, “White Palace” was filmed and set here.

]]> By: Sam Juliano http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2009/11/16/stliff-2009-day-four/comment-page-1/#comment-23295 Sam Juliano Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:19:00 +0000 http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2009/11/16/stliff-day-four-2/#comment-23295 As far as CRUDE, I completely agree with you. Prior to this I thought Berlinger's first film, BROTHERS KEEPER, about an illiterate upstate New York hillbilly acused of murdering his brother (in what was obviously a mercy killing), and the director's work in interviewing all the paticipants was exhausting (and fascinating). You are certainly correct in asserting this is the director's first real 'socially conscious' work, and the results are moving, as Berlinger stresses the urgency of injustice on a world stage. As far as CRUDE, I completely agree with you. Prior to this I thought Berlinger’s first film, BROTHERS KEEPER, about an illiterate upstate New York hillbilly acused of murdering his brother (in what was obviously a mercy killing), and the director’s work in interviewing all the paticipants was exhausting (and fascinating). You are certainly correct in asserting this is the director’s first real ’socially conscious’ work, and the results are moving, as Berlinger stresses the urgency of injustice on a world stage.

]]> By: Sam Juliano http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2009/11/16/stliff-2009-day-four/comment-page-1/#comment-23294 Sam Juliano Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:10:19 +0000 http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2009/11/16/stliff-day-four-2/#comment-23294 Well Andrew, I did see this film a few week sago in a local arthouse theatre and awarded it 4 of 5 stars. I didn't find it tired or trite but rather a perceptive look at the struggling immigrant experience. We have a Whie Castle nearby for many years, so I delighted in all the culinary humor associated with that infamous establishment, and the ongoing deception was amusing. The whol ething is so unpretentious and sweet-natures, and these are characters who are fun to be with. I do agree with what you say there about Abbas though. LOL! Well Andrew, I did see this film a few week sago in a local arthouse theatre and awarded it 4 of 5 stars. I didn’t find it tired or trite but rather a perceptive look at the struggling immigrant experience. We have a Whie Castle nearby for many years, so I delighted in all the culinary humor associated with that infamous establishment, and the ongoing deception was amusing. The whol ething is so unpretentious and sweet-natures, and these are characters who are fun to be with. I do agree with what you say there about Abbas though. LOL!

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