Ohms AV Blog

Ebertfest Summary Part 2 May 25, 2011

I know, I know, this is ridiculously late.  Here’s Part 2 of my Ebertfest Summary!

Louder Than a Bomb

I saw my first poetry slam in college.  Feeling the energy and emotion from the poets as they told their stories had a great impact on me.  I was always a person who responded to people expressing themselves through any art form, but there was something different about this.  The last film at Ebertfest this year was the festival’s third documentary, Louder Than a Bomb.  It follows a select group of high school students as they compete in the Chicago poetry slam competition of the same name.  I’m a sucker for films about kids finding their voices through creativity.  You should definitely see this film with a crowd…and cheer after Adam Gotlieb’s poem about poets.

Tiny Furniture

What makes some quirky indie films set in New York induce eye rolls and others emotionally satisfying?  I think it’s very difficult to find authenticity in films that relish in how “unique” the characters are and how “snappy” they like to talk to each other, but Lena Dunham was able to do it in Tiny Furniture.  I really have nothing in common with these characters, but I believed them as real people, even in the ridiculous situations.  I still can’t believe that this film cost $25, 000 to make!

Leaves of Grass

Who would have believed that the most fascinating and intelligent guest at Ebertfest this year would be Delmar from Oh Brother Where Art Thou?  Tim Blake Nelson’s film, Leaves of Grass, is an amazing exercise in tone.  It’s equally comfortable in comedy, drama, philosophy, and violence, sometimes in the same scene.  Edward Norton gives a great “double” performance and I feel this is the type of film the Coen Bros. made many years ago.

Me and Orson Welles

I often cringe when films (or anything for that matter) are described as “charming.”  So, let’s say that Me and Orson Welles was the most “crowd pleasing,” film I saw at Ebertfest this year.  Actually, I think that description is probably worse.  Don’t worry, I’ll resist the urge to call it delightful, no matter how true it is.    If I’m being honest, this was the one film I was most indifferent to when I saw the list of films being shown, despite the fact that I was truly excited to see the director, Richard Linklater speak.  I think my prejudice was due to the star of the film, Zac Efron. (What can I say,  I’m not a tween, but a judgmental old man.)  I was very wrong to be indifferent, because this is a great film, with, what feels like, a very authentic glimpse into the world of theater.  I would say this could be a great double bill with another one of my favorite films about Welles, Cradle Will Rock.

Ok, so I was hoping to just finish up this summary, but I’m out of steam.  Hopefully I will have Part 3, the final part of this exercise in summary, posted soon!

Cory