American Violet

This film was shown at the 6th Annual New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival (Patois). It concerns the real life story of a young black woman falsely accused of trafficking drugs in a small town in Texas. The film explores the drama created when the district attorney pressures defendants to take a plea rather than face trial. Counties receive government money based on the number of convictions.

Alfre Woodard stars as the mother of the accused. I enjoyed the acting and the story. There are some other faces I also recognized in the film. Three of the four little girls in the film, all real life sisters, were present for the premiere. "American Violet" was filmed in the New Orleans area.

Wendy and Lucy

Michelle Williams takes on an unglamorous role of Wendy, who is traveling to Alaska with her dog Lucy. Things get complicated when Wendy's car won't start and she leaves her dog tied up outside a grocery store while she shoplifts. The film emphasizes how much more difficult it is to do the simplest things when funds are low and a person has no home phone or residence. I liked the fact that this drama wasn't dependent on music to tell its story. Lately I been intrigued with films that have no music.

Summerhood

John Cusack narrates this coming of age story set at a summer camp back in the 80s. He flashes back to the events of one summer with his cabin mates as he pursues his first crush. The boys, known by their nicknames, endure each others quirks and hangups. Sure there have been many films on the subject, but I really enjoyed this one.

An Unlikely Weapon: The Eddie Adams Story

Who is Eddie Adams? Well, the name didn't register with me either. He photographed thirteen wars and many celebrities over fifty years. During the movie I constantly said to myself,"Yes, I've seen that one." However two photos of his from the Vietnam War stand out for me: the shooting of a Vietcong guerilla in the head and a naked girl running after South Vietnamese planes mistakenly dropped napalm. There are interviews of him and those who were close to him. He's interesting to listen too, but ambivalent. Still I liked this documentary.

One Bad Cat: The Reverend Albert Wagner Story

Albert Wagner was instructed by God to take up painting. Such is the premise of this artist's journey into painting as he seeks redemption. In this documentary about his life, there are interviews with Wagner and the women he's known. Although a sad story about his troubled relationships, I still found enough to like Wagner and his art.

Burning the Future: Coal in America

Residents of West Virginia are at the heart of this documentary. The film examines the impact on the health and environment of the communities where coal is mined. It explores the limits of the regulations that control how corporations conduct mining. Anyway, this will be an issue in years to come given that 50% of electricity in the United States is dependent on coal. The makers of the film discuss coal as an inefficient coal energy source. I found this film thought provoking.

The Pussycat Preacher AND Virtual Freedom

Heather Veitch, a former stripper turned preacher, is the subject of this documentary. With the enthusiastic support of her husband, she pursues a ministry that embraces strippers, porn stars and prostitutes. Of course there is drama with the church she is initially connected to, but she eventually ends up with her own church. Although this may be an awkward story, I was moved by Veitch's story and her efforts.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson

The documentary follows the life and antics of Hunter S. Thompson. There are clips from the news and home movies. There are also many interviews with Thompson and those who knew him. Of interest to me was an interview with Ralph Steadman, who brought an expressive art to the term Gonzo journalism. Anyway, having been too young to follow some of Thompson's adventures in the 60s and 70s, I enjoyed finding out how he fit into the cultural landscape of the time. Luckily, I got a seat for this screening. It was sold out.

The Reflecting Pool

Although this film is fiction, it is based on facts gathered from individuals interviewed about the events of "9/11." The story follows two men who investigate some of the official story given to the public concerning "9/11." One character's daughter went missing that day. The other one is writing a story to for a magazine. As the two men keep digging, there is pressure on them to stop. Several of those involved in the film took questions after it was over. I found the film and the discussion thought provoking.

Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry

Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, considered by many to be the foremost tattoo artist of all time, resided in Honolulu most of his life. He brought together the best of East and West traditions in tattooing. This documentary tells his story through interviews of those knew him best and actual interviews of Sailor Jerry, himself. Admittedly I only viewed the rough cut that was shown at the New Orleans Film Festival. The director said he still needed to add interviews with Sailor Jerry's children. At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

Crazy: The Story of Hank Garland

This story is based on real life guitarist Hank Garland who played with the likes of Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, The Everly Brothers and Elvis. As he pursued his music career he found himself bucking heads with the business, social and racial temperament of the 50s. He also was torn between his love for music and love for his wife. I enjoyed the film in spite of its sad conclusion.

A Snowmobile for George

The purchase of a used snowmobile turns into an odyssey concerning the attack on environmental regulations by the Bush administration. This little documentary begins with concern over carbon emissions of the snowmobile that is purchased and soon crosses with other stories involving changes of environmental regulations and the consequences of those changes. The director took questions at the film screening I attended. Oh and of course that's George, as in George W. Bush.

In Search of a Midnight Kiss

"Misanthrope seeks misanthrope" is how the ad reads on Craig's List. Thus is the premise of this comedy about a young man who wants to find a date for New Year's Eve. His roommate pushes him to advertise. The rest of the film concerns meeting up with a woman who answers the ad. The beginning of the film has a jarring masturbation scene, but the rest of the movie follows the banter of the two on a date. Oh and there's an ex-boyfriend too. The film is in black and white which gives it a gritty feel. If the film seems reminiscent of "Before Sunrise," well the same producer worked on this film.

How to Be

Robert Pattinson stars as twentysomething Art, a musician, who is kicked out an apartment he shares with his girlfriend. Moving back home with his parents, he descends into a confused state. His parents simply do not have time for him. Eventually he reads a book entitled It's Not Your Fault which result in him hiring the author to come live with him and help him sort out his life. The dry British wit in this film and the plot made me think of "Harold and Maude." Art hangs out with two friends. There's a sweetness to the film in spite of all that is going on around Art.