Check www.sbiff.org for film schedule and blurbs
"BFFs": 4*
a fun, laugh out loud movie. I thought the script was well done and the acting good. Pat Carroll (the actress known for her great laugh and The Danny Thomas Show among others), has a cameo role as the mother of Kat, who gives her daughter a couples weekend workshop as a birthday gift. Kat and her best friend Samantha decide they should go just for a vacation and pretend to be lovers. The movie was written by Tara Karsian and Andrea Grano, who who also co-star.
The movie takes place over one weekend somewhere in Southern California. The script was filled with funny lines, by not only the girls but the other couples attending the weekend. Well acted but certainly not an award winning film. I hope for them it gets picked up and gains wide release because it is very entertaining. Worth seeing.
"Village of Peace":3*
a documentary about a group of American Blacks, who called themselves Hebrews and moved to Israel in the 1970's. An interesting story, not such a great film. The original group, from Chicago decided to move to Israel because they wanted to go back to the Promised/Holy Land and to get away from the problems for blacks in America. The film shows how this group, while not "Jewish" have been integrated into the culture of Israel and have become citizens. What makes the group most fascinating is that they are vegan poligamists. Interesting combo, but unfortunately the film is slow, needed more editing and better camera work.
"Lutah": 4*
A documentary about Lutah Maria Riggs, a Santa Barbara architect, who worked with George Washington Smith on some of his Montecito mansions as well as the Lobero Theater. I enjoyed this film and thought it was well made. A few too many photographs without names or dates but otherwise it was fascinating to see and hear this story. The filmed was screened at the Lobero and that was a bonus. I highly recommend seeing it and it's playing again Wednesday.
"Make Hummus Not War" Rating 4*
The film maker, Trevor Graham from Australia, decided to film his hunt for the best hummus. During his journey through the Middle East through Israel, the West Bank, and Lebanon to taste hummus he came up with the idea that maybe hummus could be the way to peace. He interviews owners of hummus restaurants, politicians, and tourism ministers to try and find out "who created hummus".
He does a great job with his interviews and animation to share his journey. A very enjoyable movie and I recommend it. You will be hungry for hummus after, I promise. The film maker talked after the film and said he is not sick of hummus and found the best to be in Lebanon.
"Passage" 3*
This documentary, part of the Social Justice" section of the festival, is about how the creation and expansion of the Panama Canal has effected the country and it's people. I thought it was slow and needed editing. It was like watching someone's slide show from their travels. The footage and shots of people were excellent but I didn't really see that he got his message across about how or what the solutions are to help the people most effected by the changes. This was the 5th film of the day for me so I may have seen too many films on the first day, and having said that I didn't really care for this one so much.
The end of my first day was spent at the tribute to David O Russell.
Oh, Roger, please find someone else to interview. I so appreciate what you do for the festival, and what a fan you are of these filmmakers, but leave the interviewing to others.
David O Russell was funny and really trying to help Roger, but Roger wasn't having it. The interview was way toooo long and so awkward.
Cheers
