Normalcy, by Bennett Windheim, is an overlong play about a childless white couple, who plan to adopt a black child. The eight member cast of varying acting abilities struggle with much talk and little drama.
MoMA is presenting a series of exciting French films Gaumont Thrillers: From Fantomas to a Gang Story August 15-September 4. Serie Noire, by Alain Corneau, 1979, is a crazy story about a married neurotic door-to-door salesman (Patrick Deware), who gets involved with a peculiar prostitute, and together they murder her aunt for her money hidden away in her house. The hero, who has noisy tantrums a lot, is irritating, and the prostitute is pretty, but dull.
36, quai des orfeveres (36th Precinct), by Olivier Marchal, 2004, is a typical cops and robbers story, with two outstanding actors, Daniel Auteuil and Gerard Depardieu, as rivals seeking promotion to Police Chief. The film has surprising twists and turns which holds the viewers' attention, as well as the superb acting of the leading actors. It is highly recommended.
Les Lyonnais (A Gang Story), by Olivier Marchal, 2011, is the last film I saw in this excellent series and is one of the best of many fine films. It is based on a true story about a gang in Lyons who committed many robberies in the 1970s. When they were betrayed by one of their own, violence and murders continued up to the present day. The acting is excellent, the story is engrossing, the photography wonderful, and for me, the series ended on a high note.
Radio Unnameable, by Paul Lovelace and Jessica Wolfson, USA, 2012, is a documentary about a talk show host Bob Fass, who was unsuccessful as an actor and turned to late night radio on WBAI-FM, where he had some success during the 1960s, giving listeners a chance to talk on the air, and he was able to interview a lot of musicians, who went on to fame and fortune. After 50 years, he is still on the air one night a week from midnight to 3:00 AM. If you a fan of Fass, you may find the documentary interesting, especially in his early years. However, there are too many talking heads, who have very little to say of any general interest. It is better to listen to radio, rather than see it. It will open September 19-October 2 at Film Forum.
Bel Borba Aqui, by Burt Sun and Andre Costantini, Brazil, 2012, is a documentary about an artist Bel Borda, who lives in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. He seems to have unlimited access to make artworks all over the city.. We watching him creating his art with mainly pieces of tiles, and also with metal, clay and wood, and a Christmas tree of Coca Cola Bottles. He is quite a character, and he seems to be an institution known as "the people's Picasso" in his native city. It will open October 3 at Film Forum.