The Underdog Awards
Best Documentary Feature/Best Foreign Language Film
Welcome to the
Second Annual Underdog Awards!
The first awards we
will begin with are for the feature film category.
Every year the
Academy Awards tons of great Documentaries and Foreign films, so why should the
Underdog Awards stay behind?
I'd like to first
give a special mention to the documentary Life Itself based on the life and
times of renowned critic Roger Ebert. I was sadly unable to watch this gem,
which was lauded around the world but didn't secure an Oscar nomination.
Of the foreign
language, you already know the rules.
Anyways now onto the
bigger things...
Underdog Award for Best Documentary Feature
Of the five Oscar
nominees at this years Academy Awards, I have only seen one documentary
(Finding Vivian Maier).
But of the five
nominated here, all are a terrific mix of structures and stories that revolve
around vastly different concepts. So enjoy, but before that
Honorable Mentions:
Citizen Koch and To Be Takei
SuperMensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
One of the finest
things that director Mike Myers (Austin Powers) does with SuperMensch is that
his documentary isn't focused on a wider scope of a subject or dealing with
questionable facts on a profound issue.
It makes it easier
to swallow the film and enjoy it for what it simply is; a celebration of a
career of a man behind the big careers.
Shep Gordon is a
talent manager who has stood behind some successful artist such as the likes of
Alice Cooper and Pink Floyd. It's a sweet and saccharine (Despite all the
mentions of Shep's wild lifestyle) portrait of this charismatic and smart man,
and a retrospective of the careers he was behind.
Taking a trip down
memory lane, Myers definitely admires Shep and it shines out in his work. He details every aspect of his life, never
shying away or making Shep feel regretful for his past wild life, yet also highlighting
the man's true heart as he becomes spiritual in a way he can and adopts four
young children of his own.
It's in the best
words a wondrous love letter worth watching. The breezy atmosphere of it all,
making for an easy watch.
Ivory Tower
Taking on a
documentation structure, Ivory Tower focuses itself on a major issue that is
threatening to explode and already has in some cases in the USA; Education,
specifically higher education.
As the tag line puts
it, is college worth the cost. Andrew Rossi probes deep and wide into the
issue, sifting through multiple forms of higher education whether it be the
traditional or non-traditional. He tries to craft a well in tune argument for
both sides, if not a particularly well balanced one. His stance against being
much stronger and questionable to personal experience, opinion and bias.
But that is what
makes this through documentary a debatable point. Rossi provides cold hard
facts that reiterate the huge rising cost of higher education in America, and
really gets down and dirty to the little problems (e.g. the increasing salaries
of the Board, issues with government aid etc) that affect the people involved
within the sphere of the education system.
He however is unable
to give perfect solutions, but the problems persist and that's where he
clinches you.
His look at
alternate education possibilities such as a farmhouse system employed somewhere
in the US and also rising costs and student revolutions of such make for a
documentary that never pauses and always relents.
Ivory Tower is
somewhat flawed, but majestically eye opening.
Jodorowsky's Dune
(I spoke at length
about this one; here)
Dune is probably the
greatest film that has never been made. It is by and large very influential to
the genre of sci-fi and more than anybody could ever comprehend. This is all
thanks to the visionary brilliance of Alejandro Jodorowsky, who took the Frank
Herbert novel and dreamed a dream.
Indeed, Jodorowsky's
passion just grows out of the screen, enveloping the audience in the
understanding of a man and a project that has and still could have changed the
landscape of blockbuster cinema, even though he himself was making something
artistic and profound.
The documentary
through interviews with the men involved in the project and those outside of it
(but experts on the story) delves deep into the works of Alejandro and then the
film that was never made. I mean imagine this; Alejandro Jodorowsky had men like
H.R. Giger (who designed the whole look of Alien), music from Pink Floyd
(During their Dark Side of the Moon heydays) and talented performers such as
Orson Welles, Salvador Dali and Mick Jagger behind him.
Dune was indeed a
wet dream for any sci-fi or movie buff. One that got unfairly struck down and
the most fascinating thing behind it is Alejandro himself. Director Frank
Pavich never shies away from showing the rough edges of this eccentric film
maker and the demands he puts on his people and the efforts and cuts he takes
to get the right people for the job.
Yet you never feel
alienated because Jodorowsky even during the heartbreaking moments speaks with
such intensity and love for his work, that no matter what it feels like a
success.
To be honest, prior
to this documentary I had no idea of who Jodorowsky was, but he won me over and
introduced me to a world of wacky, surreal cult classics like El Topo and Holy
Mountain. A tip of the hat to this wonderful
eccentric man.
The Internet's Own Boy: The True Story of Aaron Swartz
It's the greatest
and kindest men that leave the world early, cause we don't deserve them. The
tragic true story of Aaron Swartz is dictated in this wonderfully assembled
(Despite the terrible sound design) biographical.
Aaron Swartz a
computer programmer and Internet activist, fought for one thing; the right to
free access. Free access to information, information that is meant to be public
property. Through a series of interviews with family, friends and loved one and
even stock footage of Aaron we get to learn about a genius, who decided to
fight for the right cause and for the well of others.
It might not sound
important, but the information withheld by the government took a big struggle
from Aaron to fight for. His activism resonated and made waves in his sphere of
influence. His fight eventually succumbing the man to depression and an eventual
loss of his life (through suicide) at the hands of those who betrayed him (MIT)
and those who attacked him (FBI and the government).
His works including
those such as the Open Library allowing users free access to information from
the Library of Congress to PACER giving free access to public court documents
that were expensive, pertaining to their needs.
His life, his work
and his death giving us a detailed and emotionally stirring account on a man
who definitely didn't deserve such a short life.
The Final Member
It's fitting that we
end with The Final Member. The story of the historic Icelandic Phallological
Museum that houses the largest collection of male penis from every species
available. Created and manned by a somewhat
quirky but chirpy and enthusiastic man; Sigurour Hjartarson.
The feature follows
Hjartarson's near impossible quest to find the last piece to his magnificent
collection; a human penis. It details the story of Hjartarson and brings out
his making of the place, revolving itself around the museum and then finally
going back and forth between this man and the four contenders for a piece of
history by donating their organ.
The four men range
from an oddball American whose Penis has a personality of its own known as Elmo
to a local old man who was a former playboy at his time and more. Their
clashing ideologies and as well as the struggle to really find that
healthy penis worth displaying in this grandiose museum.
Hjartarson's quest
to be honest seems weird but the documentary never questions it or ridicules
him, instead crafting a portrait of a soulful man who has left his mark in this
world with his utter brilliant and madcap idea.
Thus the film
becoming a great celebration of one of the finest and most unique historical
landmarks; the Icelandic Phallological Museum.
And the Winner is...
Jodorowsky's Dune!
Underdog Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Foreign films always
get better and better than their American counterparts. To be fair this year's
Oscar winning Polish film Ida, could have trumped any of the top three Oscar
nominees (Birdman, Boyhood and Whiplash).
World Cinema is not
only the pearl but the whole oyster itself, shining bright. So it's a challenge
when all the countries around the world send a movie to compete for the coveted
Oscar, to select the five that will be fighting for it.
This year I did one
thing, find five films that didn't try and compete for the Oscar this year but
are majestic underrated masterpieces. Three of the films here never went as
their countries representatives for the Academy and the other two were just to hard
to ignore despite this.
Making for top class
five contenders, and here they are (but first honorable mentions)...
Honorable Mentions:
We are The Beast! (Sweden), The Grandmaster (China), Ernest and Celestine
(France)
Special Mention:
Haider (India)...couldn't put this one, due to the chance of personal bias
clouding my judgment
The Raid 2: Berandal
(Indonesia, Language: Indonesian)
Take a innovative
Welsh filmmaker, some brilliantly choreographed Indonesian martial arts known
as Pencak Silat, one hell of a plot influenced by Internal Affairs and The
Departed and a game martial artist cum actor...and what do you get?
Raid 2!
The sequel to the
bombastic 2011 action film Raid: Redemption. Raid: Berandal moves a few years
away from the tower block based original and director Gareth Evans bursts the
floodgates open.
With some of the
most breathtaking action sequences to one sublime chase and an array of
terrifically crafted characters such as Hammer Girl and Prakoso. Raid: Berandal
is probably the most exciting action film you'll see.
Despite it's lengthy
run time and moments of heavy psychological weight, the film moves at a
breakneck speed never once losing hold of its thin but powerful narrative. The
films center of course revolves around these amazing set pieces, from a prison
yard brawl to a car chase within which a fight is happening inside one car!
Raid: Berandal is a
symbol of how great action is in the East and how uniquely it can still be
depicted; giving us possibly the best action franchise of all time, and that
too in just two films.
A Girl Walks Home
Alone At Night (America/Iran, Language: Persian)
Taking out the
political subtext hidden in the layers of the desolate Bad City in this vampire
flick. Ana Lily Amirpour makes this one hell of a genre bending mood piece,
bolstered by some terrific visuals and framing.
A black and white
feature with enough tones that will rivet the audience and make them believe
that they are indeed watching a future cult classic. The movie is the story of
a lonely woman, a vampire who stalks the residents of this city and falls in
love with one hard working young man. Yet the threadbare narrative never
relents, Amirpour moves from a psychologically haunting drama to full on scares
and some slow moving romance and quick strange thrills.
It's as entertaining
as it is artistic.
Her work shining
brightest when the lead character is hard to read and her next actions a
flowing consequence of the next. The narrative though never sticks or
overpowers any situation, instead making the focus this desolate town and the
people that basically haunt it like she does them.
Despite it's dreary
moods, the film will keep one on the edge of the seat for this reason alone.
Mommy (Canada,
Language: French)
What can one say
about the 25 year old, five movie old director Xavier Dolan, that hasn't been
said, shocked over or remarked at. The young prodigal genius, has made some of
the most terrific features of the past decade, lining up quite possibly the
best future prospects than anybody in the industry worldwide.
His works are a
wonder to behold. They are visually mesmerizing but what's equally brilliant is
that they are narrative tight, strong and emotionally powerful.
His latest is about
a widowed Mother and her hard to deal with son striking an unusual friendship
with the next door neighbor (a mother of one herself) and the clashes that come
with their lives. Each character leaves an impact thanks to the heartfelt quotient
of their singular arcs and how they develop from the emotional soul of the plot
between all three of them.
Andre Turpin shoots
the film like a magician, using wonderful tricks and a great ratio to keep the
viewer focused. The films performers are all sublime and worth a huge round of
applause. Special mention to Antoine Olivier Pilon, who pulls of the troubled
violent child with aplomb.
Dolan also has a
sharp ear for music, that rounds out a near perfect picture.
Two Days, One Night (Belgium, Language: French)
The latest Dardenne
Brothers film at its core is a simple but profoundly effective emotional story.
Its crux point revolves around one woman moving from door to door begging for
the safety of her job, from her co-workers.
It's easy to
understand and emotionally resonates, as we see this woman; Sandra, struggle
against all odds, fighting for something she should not have too. The
complexities of her character and those around her shine in the simple format
with which the brothers shuffle the film.
One of its finest
reflecting points being that heartbreaking but moving climax as Sandra is voted
out of her job. Sandra is then given another shot, her boss wants to remove
another worker and would be willing to take her in, Sandra must choose to let
go the job or get a man's position who ostensibly has been by her side. She
chooses to let it go.
Some people will
claim that the writers should have allowed her to save the job of someone we
knew voted against her, making it a heroic gesture. However Sandra saves the
job of a person who backed her, in a way returning the favor to all her
co-workers. It's not a heroic gesture, but a human one and that's how Cotillard
plays it.
Broken, fighting,
layered and heart wrenchingly complex. Yet through all of it, she is natural,
she is not a character but an actual fully realized human thanks to her
performance. Each scene of her begging and struggling, is performed with
masterful subtle shifts in tone, body language and emotion that one realizes
Marion Cottilard is just a cut above the rest.
And hinging on her
powerful shoulders is this power packed film.
Why Don't You Play
in Hell (Japan, Language: Japanese)
A macabre and manic
celebration of genre cinema, and it's multiple eccentricities. This fun filled outrageous near two hour
movie never pauses for a single breath, moving along a particularly weaved
narrative into a film chock full of cinematic details and hilarious moments
that will blow your mind.
All of this
climaxing towards one hell of a movie within a movie that is reality (what?!
Huh?!) cocktail, engaging the audience and keeping them on the edge of their
seat. Everything is just non-stop hilarity and brutality mixed with some wacky
characters and arcs.
Why Don't You Play
in Hell isn't some safe conventional film, it's creative and features dollops
of entertainment that the Academy just wouldn't understand. The craft that
director, writer and composer Sion Sono brings is so magical, you can't help
but fall in love.
The best way to
describe it; a genre bending entertainer meets one hell of a music video. It's
a god damn Japanese fiesta!
And the Winner is...
Mommy!
So that's it for this years big winners in these two categories. Let the awards show continue!
Up Next: Great music is all around us...what will be? The Best Soundtrack and Score for the Second Official Underdog Awards?
'Nuff Said
Aneesh Raikundalia
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