Hey folks, Harry here with a look at CASA DE LOS BABYS, the latest film from John Sayles... Sounds like a damn good movie... just as we've come to expect from the man... Look forward to more thorough reviews on it soon! Here ya go...
Hi there Harry, et al...
Spent the weekend downtown at TIFF with an industry pass, so crammed in as many films as possible in a short time. CASA DE LOS BABYS by John Sayles was definitely the standout for me, a nearly perfect ensemble film with wonderful performances by all involved--especially Maggie Gyllenhaal, saucy Marcia Gay Harden, and Martha Higareda as Cecilia, as well as a wonderfully colourful supporting cast. Every character stands out as an entirely original idea, fleshing out the alternately funny and dramatic script and there are some standout visuals involving the South American street kids, which is part of the film's spectaular juxtaposition of rich American women and average South Americans. All this leads to a great theme of lottery in regard to an individual's future. I'll admit to never having seen a Sayles picture before, but this one really caught me by surprise, very well done from beginning to end.
Many other great films, especially CARANDIRU from Brazil, a stunning prison drama with just the right amount of lightheartedness, and THE COOLER in which a bleak and sad tale manages to be strangely uplifting. Definitely both 21 GRAMS and ELEPHANT are to be missed, unless endless depression and unnecessary carnage are what you're in to, respectively.
Very long time reader of this great site,
I'm Ramakien,
in the T-dot.
