I swiped synopses from seattlefilm.org/festival, the SIFF site and imdb.com.

I absolutely loved:

Brothers -- (Denmark/2004) Directed by Susanne Bier. (Ulrich Thomsen) has everything under control: a successful military career, a beautiful wife (Connie Nielsen) and two daughters. His younger brother Jannik (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) is a drifter, living on the edge of the law. When Michael is sent to Afghanistan on a UN mission the balance between the two brothers changes forever. Michael is missing in action - presumed dead - and Sarah is comforted by Jannik, who against all odds shows himself capable of taking responsibility for both himself and the family. It soon becomes clear that their feelings have developed beyond mutual sympathy. When Michael comes home, traumatized by being held prisoner in the mountains of Afghanistan, nothing is the same...

I was completely engrossed in it right from the start. Incredibly intense. Remarkable performances from the three lead actors. I felt very connected to each of their characters, like I was right there in the room. I loved the dynamic between the two brothers and the way their roles completely reversed. Like I told janey, I was so glad this was the last film of the day so I could go home and let it all absorb. It's that kind of film. I found out that it'll be back here in late June. I'm glad I'd already purchased my ticket before I knew, otherwise I would've likely waited 'til then. A+




3-iron -- (South Korea/2004) Director: Kim Ki-duk An ineffably romantic, silent love affair develops between a young drifter and an abused model as they hide out in a series of empty houses. Then the girl's sadistic husband catches up with them. Maverick director Kim Ki-duk's lyrical violence takes an inspired turn.

Clever, quirky, hilarious, charming, sweet, beautiful...I could go on and on about everything I love about this film. It is such a little gem. This is my Last Life in the Universe of 2005. It's early in the festival but I can tell, lol.

I definitely drew some similarities between 3-iron and Last Life...the way a bad situation was a catalyst for profoundly bonding two unlikely characters. The way Tae-suk and Sun-hwa interacted reminded me of Noi and Kenji. As I watched it, I had that same feeling as I did with Last Life of being in a dream-like state. I was completely enveloped in it and never wanted it to end. At 1 hour, 35 min, it was far too short for my liking. Also, I've gotta say the guy who played Tae-suk really impressed me. According to IMDB, this is his first film and considering his character didn't speak, and he couldn't rely on words to convey his thoughts and emotions, I thought he was amazing.

Oh, and the bonus was a nice tour of beautiful Korean architecture, lol. A+


I really liked:


The Dying Gaul -- (USA/2005) Directed by Craig Lucas. It is 1995 and fledgling screenwriter Robert (Peter Sarsgaard) has been offered a million dollars for a script, called THE DYING GAUL, that recounts his anguish during his male lover’s dying days. But there’s a catch. Jeffrey (Campbell Scott), the slick and ruthless studio executive pursuing the deal, wants to change the lead character into a woman, despite the fact that the famous eponymous sculpture is a male nude. Turning on his cunning salesman charm, Jeffrey pulls Robert into the exclusive world of power cocktail parties at his Malibu estate, and introduces him to his attractive wife Elaine (Patricia Clarkson), a screenwriter whose career has been sidelined by her marriage and kids. Taking a more hands-on approach in his quest, Jeffrey seduces Robert into a sexual affair. Meanwhile Elaine, intrigued by Robert's original script, hatches an elaborate plan to seduce him anonymously in an Internet chat room, setting off a chain of events full of sexual innuendo and increasingly dangerous revelations for all three.

Peter Sarsgaard, Campbell Scott and Patricia Clarkson put in great performances. My main complaint is that the screenplay part of the plot pretty much fell by the wayside in favor of the relationships between Robert and Jeffrey and Robert and Elaine. B+



I liked:

Somersault -- (Australia/2004) Directed by Cate Shortland. When teenage Heidi’s sexploits make life at home too hot to handle, she skips town for the more alluring vistas of a ski resort. Tramping her way through several encounters, she finds her way to a room, a job and Joe, a rugged local. But as she starts to gain some balance Joe starts to lose his.

Yeah, it was pretty good, especially for a first feature, but considering it won 13 Australian Film Institute awards, I didn't think it was all that. There must have been pretty slim pickings last year is all I can say. It was like a better-executed version of Thirteen. B-




Yasmin (UK/2004) -- Portrait of a free-spirited Pakistani woman in northern England whose life falls apart amid post-9/11 ethnic tensions in her home and her workplace. Conflicted in her dual life as dutiful daughter and modern working girl, Yasmin finds out the hard way what it means to be Asian, Muslim and British.

The character of Yasmin was well-acted by Archie Punjabi and I liked that she was very strong and independent and didn't take a lot of shit from the men in her family. It was an enjoyable, interesting film and I was never bored with it, but I was left feeling like there wasn't anything particularly special about it. Maybe because I thought the last 1/3 of it played out a little too after-school specialish. Like I said about Maria Full of Grace, I may have been more impressed with it if I'd seen it as a made-for-tv movie. I think it's worth seeing, but I'd wait for the DVD. B



I was very lukewarm on:

2046 -- (Hong Kong/2004) Aspiring author Chow (Tony Leung Chiu-wai, effortlessly reprising his role from IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE) encounters four different women in 1960s Hong Kong. Meanwhile he writes a science fiction story set in the year 2046.

Okay, Wong Kar-Wai needs to step awaaaaaaay from the sci-fi. The only positive thing I have to say about that aspect of the film is that Faye Wong looked absolutely gorgeous. That's it. As for the rest of it, well, I always enjoy Tony Leung, but it annoyed me the way those women were always crying over his doggy, non-committing ass. It was boring in parts and I found myself yawning. It runs 2 hrs 10 min, but it felt longer than that. There were a few times toward the end where the scenes would fade and I'd think it was finally over, but...nooooo. There should've been WAY more Maggie Cheung. I kept thinking throughout how much I wished I could go home and watch In the Mood for Love. And I wished I'd chosen to go see Open Hearts (by the director of Brothers) at this time instead. C

I'll add on as I see more films.

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My diminutive DVD collection: http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.html?cat=1&id=kurlyswirl

I be Scrobblin': http://www.audioscrobbler.com/user/TasteeTreat/