Tacoma Film Festival - Philip's Top 11 Films for 2009

With the Tacoma Film Festival set to start this week, we’re here to present you with Philip Cowan’s list of the eleven movies that you absolutely should not miss. Philips is the Executive Director of the Grand and has provide us with his personal recommendations for a couple years now. Of course there are many other films as well. Get outside and support local cinema, The Grand, and this film festival. Support the good things in our community.

As Executive Director at the Grand Cinema, one of the most common questions I’m asked every fall is “which films do you recommend in the film festival?” With more films and better quality than ever this year, that question is becoming tougher to answer. Difficult as it may be, I’m up to the task.

The list here is in order by the dates films play. If you think it is tough deciding on which films to recommend, it would be tougher to rank them in a specific ‘must see’ order. So it is safe to say that everyone should attempt to see as many of these as possible.

One added aspect of a festival is the chance to often talk to the filmmakers. I’m happy to say that most of the films I mention here will have the filmmaker in attendance. There are MANY more great films in the festival, but for me, this would be my TOP 11 (because ten is always two few for the festival) FILMS FOR 2009.
Enjoy,

Philip Cowan

TOP 11 FILMS FOR 2009 – in order by date played

Lovers in a Dangerous Time – This is a movie about a relationship that is so incredibly obvious to the viewer, but not always as apparent to the characters involved. By the end you really feel for the characters because they really pull you in to the story. This is a true indy film that we are happy to present for our Opening Night Gala. The filmmakers will be in attendance and there will be great food to go along with the film. What is there not to like? Thursday, October 1, 6:30 p.m. (food), 8:00 p.m. (film) at Annie Wright (and minus the food and filmmakers, the film plays again October 6, 4:45 p.m. at the Grand).

North Face – This is one I originally saw at SIFF earlier this year and is a perfect movie for anyone who loves movies the Grand typically plays. It is 1936 in Germany and there is a race to be the first to rock climb the near vertical Eiger North Face. This is a well made drama based on a real event that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Friday, October 2, 6:00 p.m. at the Blue Mouse Theater

Winning Isn’t Everything AND Signs of the Time – This is a great pairing of two very well made documentaries. One is on the NCAA championship women’s soccer program at the University of North Carolina. The other explores the origins of baseball hand signals and is narrated by Richard Dreyfuss. You don’t have to be a sports fan to enjoy either film because both move well past the sport that anchors the films. Friday, October 2, 6:30 p.m. at the Grand AND Signs of the Time only (paired with a different film) Monday, Oct 5, 2:15, also at the Grand

Freeing Silvia Baraldini – This documentary follows the life of a political activist who was arrested by the FBI and sentenced to 43 years in prison. Where is the line between crime and political activism? As an added note, the filmmaker was once associated with the Grand and will be in attendance to talk about the subject. Friday, October 2, 5:45 p.m. at First United Methodist Church AND Saturday, October 3, 8:45 p.m. at the Grand

Sweet Crude – This noteworthy documentary is playing around the world, from the Seattle International Film Festival earlier this year, to Vancouver, Canada and Strasbourg, France. There is good reason too. It is the story of Nigeria’s impoverished Niger Delta under which a billion dollars of crude flows. Some might remember the news stories that developed last year when the filmmakers were detained in Nigeria for a week while shooting the film. With the filmmaker in attendance, the film and discussion should be fascinating for everyone. Saturday, October 3, 12:45 p.m. at Tacoma Art Museum

Spooner – This feature film combines charm, romance and quirky humor into a nice film. Herman (Matthew Lillard) is turning 30 and is finally moving out of his parent’s home. When the girl of his dreams enters his aimless life, he tries to win her over before she leaves on a planned trip out of the country. The director and screenwriter will be in attendance. Saturday, October 3, 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Cinema

White on Rice – This is a quirky multi-cultural film from a director who previously played a film in the Tacoma Film Festival. It tells the tale of Japanese man now living in the states as he seeks a girlfriend…but with one specific woman in mind. The film has some very funny moments in it and is very well made. It is also starting to appear in theaters already so watch it here first! Sunday, October 4, 6:30 p.m. at the Grand (it also plays with a great local short film The Day My Parents Became Cool)

Comedy Shorts – This grouping tends to sell out annually and for good reason: comedy shorts are a ton of fun. There are too many to list individually but this year’s group has ten films ranging from 3 to 17 minutes in length. It is a fast paced screening and has many films that have won awards at other festivals. This plays twice because of its popularity. Sunday, October 4, 6:30 p.m. at SOTA AND Wednesday, October 7, 6:30 at the Grand.

Drama Shorts – The topics on these vary but there is some great filmmaking to be found here. These seven short films originate everywhere from Germany to the Pacific Northwest. Two of the most notable in the group are Short Term 12 which won prizes at both Sundance and SIFF and the German film Land Gewinnen which gives you a peek inside what it might be like for an immigrant child trying to go to school. It really moves you. Monday, October 5, 6:45 p.m. at the Grand AND Friday, October 2, 6:30 at SOTA

Four of a Kind – From Australia and with the filmmaker and lead actress in attendance! Four different women with four intertwining stories. Add in a bit of mystery and you have a movie to remember. Tuesday, October 6, 7:00 p.m. at the Grand

The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle – The pedigree of this film kind of speaks for itself. It debuted at Sundance and has since played at festivals such as SXSW, Seattle, San Francisco and Calgary. To describe this comedy would be truly difficult, so I’ll give you one sentence fragment from their website: “cookies cause spectacular visions, wild mood swings, and quasi-pregnancies in the male janitors.” This one is a lot of fun and the filmmaker will be here for Q&A. CLOSING NIGHT FILM, Thursday, October 8, 6:00 p.m. at the Grand Cinema

Tickets for all films are available now at the Grand or online at www.tacomafilmfestival.com. Tickets will also be available at each venue on the day of the screening.