Review: Until further notice, Lee Daniels' Precious is 2009's best movie

All the hype about Precious (let’s drop the rest of its clunky title) makes one wonder how any film could live up to it. After being anointed as a Sundance, Cannes and Toronto film festival event, embraced by critics and adopted by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, this tiny movie with a heart as big as its young hero can’t be that good. Can it?

Yes, it is.

A more unlikely scenario to build a new classic around is hard to imagine. Clareese Precious Jones, played by sneakily impressive newcomer Gabourney Sidibe, is a morbidly obese, illiterate inner city teenager, pregnant for the second time by her father, with an enabling, nearly demonic mother (Mo’Nique, start rehearsing an acceptance speech).

Precious is so withdrawn from normalcy that she practically blends into her bleak ghetto surroundings. Whatever potential she possesses is customarily dashed by cruel comments and actions, the most devastating from her mother, accusing Precious of stealing her man rather than admitting it was rape.

A social worker (Mariah Carey) can’t get through to her, an alternative school teacher (Paula Patton) barely does, and when life pushes her a step forward, fate shoves her two steps back. It isn’t a pretty picture, except for the fantasies Precious retreats toward at her lowest moments.

She daydreams of being a singer or dancer on BET, and dating a light-skinned African-American with nice teeth while flashbulbs pop on red carpets. If you’ve ever wondered exactly what a director does, watch how Lee Daniels, in only his second film, blends such wishful happiness into harsh horrors, enabling viewers to share what Precious is thinking.

One brilliant example: When the father shoves Precious into bed for sex, she can’t resist or else risk death. Staring at the ceiling to take her mind off what’s happening, Precious focuses on a tiny crack in the plaster. We see her point of view as the crack widens and the camera pulls closer, exposing one of her fantasies, like peeking into someone else’s existence. At that moment, I was convinced of this film’s modest greatness.

There’s also an abundance of earthy humor in Precious’ predicaments, often from her alt-school classmates talking smack, delusions of something better just around the corner, or an affront so offensive that shocked laughter keeps viewers from crying. Sometimes it’s a musical choice on the soundtrack or when – in a fiercely original moment – Daniels transforms his film into an urban version of a landmark Italian film. You have to see it to believe it.

Daniels isn’t throwing a pity party here; more like a welfare-class cotillion for a lost then possibly found soul. The movie is open-ended, without the crowning moment Precious deserves. Yet at the fadeout we’re more hopeful it can happen than everything we’ve seen would lead us to believe. That’s spectacular storytelling.

Precious is a rarity in movies today, a small but tragically universal slice of life that appears to be one thing before blossoming into something else, something extraordinary. It is a movie cloaked in depravity and hopelessness yet encourages the best aspects of human nature, especially the power of education despite resentment from those who don’t have it. Precious demolishes the supposition that a film by and about a certain culture can’t have deep meaning for others.

And unless December holds a superior surprise, Precious is the best movie of 2009.

Actor, Plant High grad Morgan Simpson brings back Clear Lake, WI to Tampa Pitcher Show

One of the better offerings at this year's Gasparilla International Film Festival was Clear Lake, WI, a psychological thriller starring Michael Madsen, written and produced by is co-star, Morgan Simpson, a Plant High School graduate now living in L.A.

Simpson will return to town Nov. 17, for a showing of Clear Lake, WI at Tampa Pitcher Show, 14416 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. He'll be joined at the screening by executive producer (and fellow Plant alumnus) Charlie Poe. Show time is 7:15 p.m., and tickets are $7.

The movie was picked up for distribution overseas only by Arsenal Pictures. Amazon.com doesn't list a DVD version available or coming soon.

Madsen, best known as sociopath Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs, plays a clergyman, which seems like miscasting until you realize his doing his Mr. Blonde thing again, albeit on a mission from God. I gave Clear Lake, WI a brief but positive review before its Gasparilla festival premiere:

"The Reverend, as he's known, went a little funny in the head 15 years ago, believing a toxic spill that caused several deaths was God's vengeance against sinners, especially horny teenagers. A few straight arrows agreed with him, setting off a Manson-style massacre of classmates. Needless to say, everyone cleared out of town after that.

Taking a cue from Stephen King's It, a group of survivors return to deserted Clear Lake to confront their dark memories, speaking exposition into a video camera a bit too much. Bodies start piling up, and it's obvious that the Reverend's work isn't done.

Clear Lake, WI is a solid flick, and Madsen is worth watching anytime (although his role is limited to flashbacks and a killer kiss-off)."

I also mentioned in that blog review that Clear Lake, IA is a decent calling card for Simpson as he furthers his film career. It probably helped him get his next project underway in August, a drama set in Memphis' blues music culture titled Bailey, directed by Mario Van Peebles and co-starring Michael Clarke Duncan. Simpson co-wrote the screenplay, produces and plays the title role.

Poe again serves as executive producer, and snagged a bit part as a musician named Boom Boom.

Tampa's Education Channel presents its 16th annual Independents' Film Festival, starting Nov. 5

How about dinner and a movie? The Education Channel (Bright House Ch. 614; Verizon FIOS Ch. 32) offers both for the modest price of $15 per person at its 16th annual Independents' Film Festival. You get food, drink, coffee, dessert and schmooze time with some of Tampa Bay's most ambitious filmmakers, and screenings of their latest works.

All events are held at the Education Channel's headquarters, 703 N. Willow Ave. in Tampa. Seating is limited, with tickets available only online at the festival's Web site.

Here's the schedule of events, as described by the festival:

November 5th – Gangsters and Groove: documentaries with a Florida focus. Back by popular demand, the award winning Ghosts of Ybor: Charlie Wall explores one of Ybor City’s most famous crime residents and Florida’s first crime boss. Screens with The Tempo of Tampa Bay, exploring Tampa’s rich tradition of jazz and blues.

November 6th – Emerging Directors: sponsored by the University of Tampa. Amazing short films and animations created by college and graduate students. Filmmakers on hand.

November 7th – Junior Showcase: films by students in grades K-12, most from high school students, including Blake High senior Garrett Brown, already a local filmmaking legend. Followed by a Young Producers Panel discussion with current college students. Find out how to make it in film in higher ed.

November 11th – Going to Xtremes: Award winning documentary FRAG, true story of professional video gaming and the young cyber-athletes who dream of stardom in gaming tournaments.

November 12th – Art of Film: An evening of beautiful, inspiring films revealing the artistic vision of the filmmaker, and celebrating IFF special guests Dorothy Fadiman and Todd Thompson, plus a selection of films from the festival.

November 13th – Florida Short Film Showcase: Wonderful films by some of Florida’s best filmmakers. Come early and stay late to meet the creative forces in the local film scene.

November 14th – Educational Seminars at 10 AM & 12 PM: Producing with Passion: Making Films That Change the World presented by Dorothy Fadiman, and Telling Stories with Heart presented by Todd Thompson.

November 14th – Best of the Fest: A selection of award winning films, followed by an awards ceremony and wrap party for all attending.

Kayne West slays his inner demon in Spike Jonze's shocking short film "We Were Once a Fairytale" (Possibly NSFW)

Director Spike Jonze knows Where the Wild Things Are but those monsters are tame compared to what's eating Kanye West in their short film We Were Once a Fairytale. Not that the mini-movie is a work of art but it's an extraordinarily candid fantasy suggesting West is dealing with heavy stuff after hijacking Taylor Swift's big moment at the VMAs, becoming the most despised celebrity in the world (until the next jerk comes along).

You can read a lot into West's video confessional: He's shown in a nightclub acting like a fool, under the influence of something(s), drawing attention to his song being spun by a d.j., hitting on women without a shred of dignity or suaveness and staggering into an alleyway. A woman joins him and they begin having sex until he passes out, waking up alone on a sofa. West staggers back to the club and into a restroom where he vomits then collapses on the floor.

That's when things get weird. West finds a hunting knife on the floor, stands up, looks in the mirror and does a hari-kiri slash across his abdomen, literally spilling his guts. Out of the gash emerges a cat-like creature -- perhaps representing West's pent-up dysfunction. What happens next seems like a message that West is facing up to his inner demon, determined to make it die.

One warning: We Were Once a Fairytale contains profanity, substance abuse, brief simulated sex and cartoonish viscera. It also feels like West -- with the help of Jonze, who directed a couple of his music videos -- is exorcising a lot of pain. We don't have to feel sorry for him but this video quasi-confessional evidences a troubled soul deserving a chance at redemption.

Chris Rock has Good Hair

Got an e-mail informing that Chris Rock's documentary Good Hair is dropping into a Tampa bay theater or two on Oct. 23. I'm hoping he offers tips on how to grow some.

Opening night at the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Celebrating 20 straight years of queer cinema, the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival opened Thursday evening with a chic reception, red carpet entrance to Tampa Theatre and the first of nearly 100 movies to be shown from now through Oct. 18.

That's Princess Di and me with the red carpet's effervescent emcee Sterling Powell, doing his usual fabulous job making everyone feel like honest-to-goodness stars. Di is practicing her Madame Toussaud's pose, just in case. (Thanks to my buddy Bob Shackelford for the shot)

Twenty years is a long time to make anything happen these days, especially an event like the TIGLFF that began in much less tolerant times. It was a theme and a time often mentioned by a series of pre-movie speakers -- including Tampa mayor Pam Iorio, who got a standing ovation and loud encouragement to run for governor.

A few choice comments -- political, nostalgic and humorous -- from of the evening:

"Who would have thought there would come a time when things like Will & Grace is a part of history? You see it on late-night television now in reruns. It really speaks volumes to the courage that those people had 20 years ago, to start this event and bring it all this way... Tonight is not the end of the journey; it's just a pinpoint on the journey, one that will take us well into the next 20 years". -- Chuck Henson, TIGLFF executive director.

"We claimed a place at the table. We made clear that were are absolutely determined to be a part of the fabric of the community, and to participate vigorously in political, social and cultural life... It has now been two decades since we planted a rainbow flag in this majestic theater." -- Keith Roberts, co-founder of the festival, speaking about the festival's origins.

"Who was here 20 years ago? You'll remember the (Ku Klux) Klan outside on the mall in full regalia. We made fun of them because their belts did not match their shoes." --  Mark Puig, co-founder of the festival.

"So many people have dreams and high hopes for our community. I'll share one of those with you tonight:

"When we celebrate our 25th anniversary (of the festival) that whole entire row is going to be filled with elected leaders embracing this film festival. By our 35th anniversary, we'll have at least the first three rows filled with public officials embracing our community. By the time we reach our 50th anniversary, this whole entire theater will be filled with public officials, the gay community, the straight community embracing the diversity this community and this film festival brings...

"May we continue to grow into a more accepting community where each individual will be respected and honored for the person that he or she is, and not any other characteristics." -- Hillsborough County commissioner Kevin Beckner

And the evening's best joke:

"Drag is when gay men wear what lesbians won't." -- Steve Kmetko, entertainment reporter and host of the anniversary tribute.

Even before midnight, Paranormal Activity spooks Tampa moviegoers

After wowing midnight audiences last weekend in 33 cities nationwide -- selected by popular demand on a cagey studio Web site -- Oren Peli's $11,000 movie Paranormal Activity is poised to pounce into theaters Friday for conventional engagements.

AMC's Veterans 24 in Tampa and Regency 20 in Brandon are the only local theaters announced, so far.

But first, a few word of mouth screenings Wednesday, just in case Paramount's peekaboo release and viral marketing plan hasn't stirred up enough interest.

Wednesday's crowd at Veterans 24 in Tampa jumped, gasped and nervously laughed at all the right moments, noticeably unnerved by the bare bones production standards -- essentially one portable camera following a haunted couple through supernatural scares. Random reactions heard outside the theater were mixed after the show.

"That was the scariest, freakiest thing I've ever watched," said Joe Gagliano, 20, of Tampa. "I don't get scared but that was intense."

Gagliano's friend Doris Bratic, 19, of Tampa chimed in: "I've never been at a movie where he jumped. We had our hands over our eyes the whole time, or I was burying my head into his chest. It makes it worse because it looks real. We thought it was real until we walked out. Blair Witch Project was nothing compared to this. This was way worse."

Meade Gooding, 25, of Tampa disagreed: "It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be."

Gooding's friend Craig Petty, 22, of Tampa was slightly more impressed

"I liked the viral marketing and I missed it (at the midnight shows) last weekend," Petty said. "I wasn't disappointed but I didn't have any preconception of what it was going to be."

Aaron Dixon, 29, of Tampa took time to spell his impression of Paranormal Activity.

""That movie was wack," he said. "W.A.C.K. The trailers on TV messed it up. They showed the very end of it. They drew (the set-up) out a long, long time."

Peli's prolonged teases about something occult occurring to a young couple inside their home got on a few viewers' nerves, even an admirer like Gagliano.

"It's kind of a slow start," he said. "They could chop off a good 15 minutes."

Another viewer, Linda Haley, 66 of Odessa, couldn't stand the cinema verite nature of the film, similar to The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield -- until her someone suggested her discomfort might be a good sign.

"I thought it was horrible," Haley said. "You know what I didn't like? before I realized they were videoing like that, it was driving me crazy, just going back and forth, back and forth. I don't think I can go home and sleep tonight, I tell you."

So, maybe the movie was horrible in a good way because it did what it was supposed to do?

"I never thought of it that way," Haley said, laughing. "It was disorienting but it was disturbing."

As moviegoers headed toward the exit, another crowd lined up for a later showing of Paranormal Activity, scanning faces for hints of what they would see in a few minutes.

First in line was Steve Chase, 23, of Clearwater, who knew exactly what he anticipated.

"The scariest movie ever," Chase said. "That's what everyone is saying."

Extras, extras! Read all about the Guzzo brothers needing help making a movie

Tampa filmmakers Pete and Paul Guzzo (the Ghosts of Ybor series) are working on a movie titled Caged Dreams, a drama set in the rough-and-tumble world of mixed martial arts. They're looking for a few hundred extras to fill seats as fight spectators.

There isn't any pay -- hey, this is indie filmmaking, you know -- but food and entertainment are promised during breaks in action.

Extras are needed on Oct. 17, all day or partial day, depending on what the Guzzos need. First ones to get there have the best chance of sitting in the front row for maximum screen exposure.

You'll go to Heights of Tampa, 1978 Ola Avenue in Tampa. You'll be asked to sign releases prior to driving on the set. No one under the age of 18 will be permitted on set.

The schedule says 10 a.m. but the Guzzos urge everyone to arrive early. Filming won't start right away, but if you want to get a seat and have the chance to be on camera you must check in early

Wardrobe: is simple; anything you will be too hot or uncomfortable wearing

Contact the Guzzo brothers at xfc.cageddreams@gmail.com for complete details.

(Photo: Daniel Wallace of the Times)

Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg: Before Oprah, Lucy and Martha, there was Gertrude Berg

A decade ago, Aviva Kempner wowed audiences with the superb documentary, The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, the Detroit Tigers slugger who was, in effect, the Jewish Jackie Robinson. Greenberg broke the theological barrier in pro baseball, becoming the first Jewish sports star.

Kempner is back with another eye-opening slice of overlooked history, the documentary Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg. The title comes from the opening line of the wildly popular 1940's radio and later TV show, The Goldbergs, written by and starring its creator, Gertrude Berg. The Goldbergs was television's first sitcom, created in 1949, years before anyone loved Lucy. Berg won the first best actress Emmy ever for her performance, blazing a path that countless women have followed.

Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg is slated to open Oct. 28 at Tampa Theatre, just after the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival wraps up. Check out the trailer above.

It's official: Paranormal Activity gets a normal run in Tampa Bay theaters starting Oct. 9

Maybe you can't make it to midnight movies anymore, and were left out of Paramount Pictures' cagey late-night weekend release of Paranormal Activity in 33 cities nationwide. Every midnight screening last Thursday, Friday and Saturday reportedly sold out, raking in $535,000 in 99 showings for a stellar $16,000 average.

That's good enough to push Paramount into opening Paranormal Activity wider this Friday, Oct. 9. The midnight shows will continue but now there will be matinee and evening shows to boot.

Paramount's strategy in leaking Oren Peli's $11,000 movie to the masses has been brilliant. At that price, the studio really had nothing to lose. The midnight shows, the online "demand it" ploy, the word-of-keyboard from critics like me, are way cheaper than flooding TV and print outlets with ads, or arranging publicity tours.

It kind of reminds me of a little movie called The Blair Witch Project, not only for the grassroots campaign but because Paranormal Activity is practically Blair Witch II that learned a little from the first movie's mistakes in turning off some viewers.

Allow me to explain.

Ten years ago, The Blair Witch Project made my annual top 10 list. I still hear from people wondering what I was smoking at the time. They hated the home video conceit, the near-absence of blood, the fact that we never saw a witch, and a brilliant ending too logically abrupt for their tastes.

All the things that made me love the movie.

But I saw The Blair Witch Project weeks before ads proclaimed it “scary as hell,” according to Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, no stranger to hyperbole which is why you see his name on ads so often.

That was an irresistible dare for moviegoer, turning a $25,000 movie into a $140 million hit. But “scary as hell” in movies typically involves blood and monsters, filmed and edited in familiar fashion. Anyone seeking that from The Blair Witch Project was bound to be disappointed, and were. And I haven't stopped hearing about it.

Watch the same misguided letdown materialize for Paranormal Activity, an even cheaper production — reportedly shot in a week for $11,000 — in the same shakycam vein. Rather than Maryland woods, the haunted place is an upscale San Diego townhouse (owned by Peli). There are two victims of things going bump in the night, not three.

Otherwise, Paranormal Activity isn’t very different until the final half hour when Peli gives audiences what The Blair Witch Project didn’t; a clear motive for the mayhem, a look at whatever causes this ruckus and nifty shocks leading to it. Nothing complicated; a little wind here, some baby powder there, noises off screen and a visceral finale. But it works, if you allow it.