Old Joy Sorrow is just worn out joy. Two friends reconnect on an overnight camping trip. One is married and his wife is about to have their child while the other, seemingly alone, moves aimlessly from one place or thing to another. This story is kind of like My Dinner with Andre as a road movie or a minimalist Brokeback Mountain (though the homosexuality is more of a suggested subtext rather than portrayed). Kelly Reichardt, the director, makes these minimal, quiet films that raise more questions than they answer and are generally open ended. Her film Wendy and Lucy is equally simple yet equally profound. The director’s dog, Lucy appears both in this film and is the “Lucy” in Wendy and Lucy.
The Trip A six-part BBC series with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon playing fictionalized versions of themselves as they tour six highend restaurants in the North of England. Expertly directed by Michael Winterbottom and beautifully filmed, the series is a classically British mix of comedy and pathos. Their improvised dialogue and competitive impersonations provide the humour while Coogan’s insecurities provide the pathos. Apparently the series has been recut and packaged as a feature film for international distribution. Highly recommended, in any format.
The Tracey Fragments Fragmented. Like the exact opposite if Atom Egoyan’s Chloe. I see what Bruce MacDonald was doing… kind of, but I just didn’t get it.
I Love You Philip Morris Jim Carey plays Steve Russell, a born liar/con man/grifter who falls in love with Philip Morris played by Ewan MacGregor when the two meet in prison. As soon as Steve is out he impersonates a lawyer to get Philip out. Then Steve conspires to go legit by faking his resume to become the CFO of an insurance company where he quickly finds a way to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from insurance pay-outs. It turns out, 165