VIFF Review: The Face of an Angel

A few years ago, a young British woman was murdered in Sienna, Italy. The case gained worldwide attention as the girls’ American roommate, and friend was accused, tried, and convicted of the crime and then later acquitted on appeal.

_The Face of an Angel_ is a fictionalization of this case. Sort of. Rather than going for the true crime, based on a true story type film, director Michael Winterbottom and writer Paul Viragh instead opt to tell the story of a washed-up film director in Sienna trying to find a story among the city, the massive media presence, and local characters during the appeal trial.

Yes, we’re basically talking about a director making a film about a director trying to make a film about a real-life story. And also using _Dante’s Inferno_ as a frame for the story. Yeah. It’s a bit weird. Not what I’d call bad, but definitely weird.

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Review: Rush

Rush

_note: I’m finally back from vacation so regular posting will resume._

Movies about people driving fast cars can be pretty hit or miss. It’s a good thing then that _Rush_ is a movie about the people who drive fast cars instead. The film follows the 1976 season of Formula One racing and the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, the former a hard drinking fast living playboy with a natural talent for driving and the latter a cool headed, clean living son of a businessman who relies on technical genius and precision. In short these men are polar opposites, an unstoppable force and an immovable object, and while both at the top of their game it makes complete sense that they would end up butting heads.

And it’s pretty fun to watch as a result.

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