Philadelphia Film Festival

As a Spotlight Circle member of the Philadelphia Film Society, the same group responsible for running the city’s annual film festival, I’ve had many opportunities to discuss the selection process with various board members. They literally search the globe for the most enticing and unforgettable films, in hopes of compiling the strongest collection of movies possible. Last year, the Philadelphia Film Festival selected a dark and disturbing feature out of the Netherlands called Borgman. Although I missed a chance to view the movie last October, Borgman‘s finally making its way to the art-house circuit in limited release.

Jan Bijvoet stars as the title character, Borgman, a vagrant chased from his crafty underground dwelling by a priest and a team of hunters. The homeless man wanders off to the lavish residence of a wealthy family asking to use their bathing facilities in order to freshen up. This leads to a severe altercation between a battered Borgman and the patriarch of the family. Feeling guilty for her husband’s actions, Marina (played by Hadewych Minis) secretly provides food for the vagrant and allows him to take shelter in their unused guest house.

Director Alex van Warmerdam creates a surreal examination of evil in an innocent suburban setting. By allowing this drifter into her home, Marina and her family begin to experience dark psychological nightmares that drive them to the brink of madness. Somewhat reminiscent of a recent foreign film out of Greece called, Dogtooth (which is far more over the top and bizarre than this newer title), Borgman delivers a captivating and haunting experience through a crawling 113 minute journey into the face of evil. Although it becomes virtually impossible to turn away or lose interest in Borgman, its greatest disappointment lies the fact that this slow-building film culminates in anti-climactic fashion. With this self-motivated and demonic figure tearing apart a seemingly perfect suburban family scene after scene, an unsatisfying resolve remains as the feature’s lasting impression.

Don’t be fooled, however, because Borgman has many redeeming qualities that make it a sure-fire successful indie art-house film. Wonderfully shot and edited, Alex van Warmerdam’s effort is fundamentally sound. And on top of being a well-made movie, Borgman benefits from a wide collection of prominently-acted roles. Both Jan Bijvoet and Hadewych Minis give worthwhile character-defining performances that add to the feature’s escalating tension. But all in all, no matter how sturdy a foundation, Borgman is unable to escape an undeniably flat finale.

Eerie, creepy, peculiar and off-beat, there’s no shortage of words to describe the latest Drafthouse Films release, Borgman. A niche audience of cinephiles will certainly rejoice over this fine-tuned example of modest filmmaking. Yet, based on story and poor pacing alone, the average movie-goer should probably look elsewhere.

GRADE: 2.5/5

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There’s plenty of reasons why I always argue that October is my favorite month of the year. First, there’s the weather. The beautiful sunny days followed by chilly nights, I spend the Summer months just craving Fall’s immaculate forecast. Next, October boasts my favorite holiday, Halloween. With all the horror movies and delicious candy floating around to keep us occupied, there’s plenty to love about the tenth month of the year. But none of these irrefutable arguments can compare to my biggest reason why October is the best. It’s the host month of the annual Philadelphia Film Festival. In its 22nd year, I decided to examine this year’s 5 most anticipated film festival screenings. For east coast dwellers like myself who haven’t had a chance to get to Sundance, Cannes or Toronto, the Philadelphia Film Festival, which runs from October 17th to 27th, is the best way to get an early look at many of the biggest Oscar-contenders. But before I begin the countdown, here’s a look at some intriguing films that didn’t make the cut.

Honorable Mention: Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner Blue is the Warmest Color, Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in Philomena, then there’s Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner who star in The Immigrant, Le Week-End featuring Jeff Goldblum, Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan and finally the thriller Grand Piano starring Elijah Wood and John Cusack.

#5. Labor Day

Director Jason Reitman has developed quite the fan base among voting members of the Academy with earlier works Juno and Up in the Air. While his previous release,Young Adult, failed to garner a nomination, the jury is still out on Reitman’s latest effort, Labor Day. Kate Winslet stars as a depressed single mother who won’t even venture outside of the house. But when she gathers up the courage to take a routine trip to the grocery store, she and her son end up helping out a fugitive on the run (Josh Brolin).

#4. August: Osage County

Whenever you mention Meryl Streep’s name, you have to assume that the Academy is listening. This year Streep stars as a recently widowed matriarch who takes center stage after a crisis brings her entire dysfunctional family back together. Co-starring Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch and many more, August: Osage County undeniably has dreams of awards season glory.

#3. All Is Lost

Opening Night of the Philadelphia Film Festival marks the triumphant and talked about return of Robert Redford in the survival tale All Is Lost. In the twilight of his career, Redford is in the early Best Actor conversation with his turn as a sailor who faces mortality after his boat collides into a shipping container floating aimlessly in the sea.

#2. Nebraska

Believe it, anything director Alexander Payne touches turn to gold. He’s a modern-day “King Midas”. Payne returns in 2013 with his black & white comedy-drama Nebraska. Bruce Dern gives a highly buzzed-about performance as a befuddled old man who journeys with his estranged son (Will Forte) to Nebraska in order to claim his million-dollar sweepstakes prize. And not only does the Philadelphia Film Festival always offer a first look at Oscar-caliber features, they provide excellent insight with Hollywood insiders. Alexander Payne and Will Forte will be doing a brief Question & Answer session following the Monday screening of their film.

#1. 12 Years a Slave

Despite being a late addition (not even mentioned in the festival’s program), the film to be most-excited about is Steve McQueen’s festival darling that’s swept every competition it’s been nominated for, 12 Years a Slave. The reviews have been astounding and the cast is star-studded. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Solomon Northup a free black man living in New York prior to the Civil War. However, Solomon is captured and transported to the south and sold into slavery where he suffers to stay alive and regain his freedom over the course of the next 12 years. Co-starring Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti and Paul Dano, 12 Years a Slave could be this year’s Best Picture Winner!

*** REMEMBER TO STAY TUNED FOR FREQUENT UPDATES FROM THIS YEAR’S PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVAL

Tag: Philadelphia Film Festival

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