One could say that Gran Torino explores racism, but really racism is almost a red herring in the film’s exploration of alienation, sacrifice, caring, gratitude, and giving. Some praise the film, and some have derided …more »»
Film Talks: Most Recent
September 28, 2009 by Randy Heffner Before viewing
Surrogates is an interesting mix of science fiction, action, and crime genres with a bit of the romantic as well. I’d like to say that it explores our struggle to be authentic humans, but …more »»
September 20, 2009 by Randy Heffner Before viewing // After viewing
Both the music and the story are excellent, and the way they are intertwined notably raises the impact and resonance of the film’s exploration of relationships and reconciliation. The story is thinly told, yet it feels that nothing important is left out. …more »»
September 11, 2009 by Randy Heffner Before viewing
The Doorpost Film Project runs an annual short film competition. It runs in two rounds. The top ten entrants from the first round receive a small budget to produce a film for the final round. The Doorpost’s 2009 final films include some excellent and impactful work. The films explored …more »»
September 8, 2009 by Randy Heffner Before viewing
If for you, rock and blues electric guitar music is in itself a Beautiful thing, It Might Get Loud is a great place to get lost in reverie with it. And, if you’re a big fan of Jimmy Page, The Edge, or Jack White, …more »»
September 7, 2009 by Randy Heffner Before viewing
Cold Souls is great as a light yet insightful exploration of the nature of the soul and its relationship to us as humans. Paul Giamatti is rehearsing for the lead in Chekhov’s play Uncle Vanya. The problem is, …more »»
July 16, 2009 by Randy Heffner Before viewing // After viewing
In the context of a life and death scenario, Wit intensely explores issues of life before death by juxtaposing the emotional sterility of the typical health care process, the purpose of academic rigor, simple human caring, the power of art, and the value and dignity of a human. …more »»
July 7, 2009 by Randy Heffner Before viewing // After viewing // Backstory
Made by Indians about Indians (we can say “Indians” rather than “Native Americans” because they themselves say it that way in the film), Smoke Signals creatively mixes humor from multiple angles (about Indians, about reservations, about how others see Indians, about the history of Indian relations with the USA, etc.) with …more »»
July 7, 2009 by Randy Heffner Before viewing // After viewing
The legends, mystery, and characters in The Secret of Roan Inish beautifully embody our innate longing for home and how we deal with that longing. The Irish waterscape and the life within it becomes a character, being both lovely and treacherous, passive and with its own active agenda. …more »»
June 17, 2009 by Randy Heffner Before viewing // After viewing
Lars and the Real Girl asks big “what if” questions about how we, the “normal”, might love those with mental illness. It would be easy for the film to take the premise over the top into staged gags and crude jokes, but it doesn’t. …more »»
June 1, 2009 by Randy Heffner Before viewing // After viewing
The Big Kahuna insightfully explores the nature of true concern for another individual in the context of friend-to-friend banter, interactions with coworkers, personal crisis, and Christian evangelism. …more »»
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