Sweet Sixteen

[walkman]

New Ken Loach film...it's absolutely brilliant.  Anyone else seen it yet?

[kurosawa-b/w]

Not yet, but I plan to. I love Ken Loach films. As for tonight, I am heading out to see Spellbound...

[paige]

i saw Sweet Sixteen last night! utterly brilliant but also so so sad. i felt so bereft when i was leaving the theater. but i still loved it. i saw spellbound a couple weeks ago or so... HILARIOUS!! i loved/hated that little kid who couldn't spell "bannes" -- and when he asked "is this microphone edible?" it was a hoot. you know, i was in the spelling bees when i was that young... ha

[kurosawa-b/w]

I highly, highly recommend Spellbound. Compelling stories, so well constructed. You are on the edge of your seat until the end. And yes, Harry was hilarious. That microphone moment! The "bee happy" mother was pretty funny, as well.

[walkman]

Originally posted by paige:
  i saw Sweet Sixteen last night! utterly brilliant but also so so sad. i felt so bereft when i was leaving the theater.

Very true.  It sort of takes a piece out of you...
 
 By the way, speaking of Spellbound, have either of you read Bee Season by Myla Goldberg?  Really excellent novel about a troubled family with a daughter who competes in spelling bees.

[mankie]

Another very good but a bit depressing movie out on video right now is called, "all for nothing"

[paige]

Originally posted by kurosawa-b/w:
  I highly, highly recommend Spellbound. Compelling stories, so well constructed. You are on the edge of your seat until the end. And yes, Harry was hilarious. That microphone moment! The "bee happy" mother was pretty funny, as well.

i loved her. all i was thinking throughout the movie was "christopher guest. christopher guest." now i can see where he got his inspiration! the mother with the jack russel terrier licking her feet? the teacher holding the crotch of that oversized bear? hilarious.
 
 
 thanks for the book recommendation, walk. i'll check it out.

[kurosawa-b/w]

If you were moved by Sweet Sixteen, you may want to watch Ratcatcher (1999) directed by Lynne Ramsey -who also directed Movern Callar (one of my favorite recent films). She, too, often directs people who have no acting experience, and Ratcatcher is set in Glasgow.