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Exterior Day (2021)
Reviewed by Beth Lee - Art Is Alive Magazine
While this short film begins in earnest, the tone quickly changes to a wink and a nod at Italian film director
Fredrico Fellini. Overdubbed in Italian, the film also harkens us back to the silent film era. This is a time
when the filmgoer had to read cue cards, and the actors' gestures and expressions were wildly
overexaggerated. The music, which feels like a throwback to a more innocent time, helps set the scene, and
adds a layer of whimsy.
Actor Blake, played by the film's writer and one of its co-directors, Garth Twa, is in on the joke, particularly
when the autograph-seeking fan approaches him. The fan, played by Dave Bergeson, is the film's other codirector. In an oversized suit and sunglasses, Blake does not realize he is about to be expelled from the
Hollywood machine. As the fan is happily meeting his favorite actor from Sunset Palms, Maggie, his agent,
drags Blake off. Maggie, played by short film veteran Natalie Dolishny, is polished and straightforward.
We sense immediately upon meeting Maggie that she does not have the time nor the patience to deal with
Blake's delicate ego, and she is a busy woman. While driving in the Hollywood Hills in Maggie's
convertible, Blake demands that Maggie negotiate to make him the biggest male star in Sunset Palms after
his fifteen seasons starring in it. His plan is quickly derailed by Maggie's news that not only will he be
killed off on the show, she is no longer representing him. Crushed and left on the side of the road by Maggie,
Blake takes his anger out on an ice cream cone offered to him by a little girl wearing a white veil.
Exterior Day has some moments of irony. It is 8 ½ minutes long - same as the title of one of Fellini's Oscarwinning films. It was filmed in black and white, but exterior day scenes are usually shot using natural
sunlight. The film is witty and clever, and the viewer can feel how much fun everyone had creating it. The
purpose is not clear until the end. By this, I mean someone can appear to be living "La Dolce Vita,", while
it may just be an illusion - particularly in LA.
Soy Cubana (2021)
Art transcends borders
Fantastic documentary full of warmth and love. Art transcends borders and governments to bring healing music to the good people of Los Angeles. The acapella quartet take you on a hypnotic journey with their music. Their exuberance never wanes as they struggle to find their way to the US to perform. And the welcome they receive in Los Angeles makes me proud to call LA my home. Bravo to all who made this film a reality. We need more of this positive message!
Green Book (2018)
Viggo Overdoes it
Is it me, or is Viggo REALLY over-acting in this film? I found his portrayal of Tony to be a one-note caricature of a numb nutted Itailian slob. Not only that, but the whole movie was like a bad TV movie. And that description no longer holds up because it's Television (specifically cable television) where all the truly great storytelling takes place now. The writing in this film was trite at best, and overly dramatic at worst. This is the second movie starring Viggo I couldn't stand. The other film was, The History Of Violence. Not sure I will pay to see another one of his films.
Pieces of Dolores (2007)
The fringes of society
I had the pleasure of seeing this short film at a private screening in Los Angeles. This is a movie crammed to the hilt with off-beat characters living on the fringes of Los Angeles society. Mr. Twa has written some stellar comedic dialog in his take on the modern-day detective film. The atmosphere is so thick with style I had the feeling I was watching an early Woody Allen film that somehow got sucked into David Lynch's world.
How many films keep you laughing every 30 seconds, or leaves you with your mouth agape? Not an easy task, but Twa pulls it off beautifully. I kept thinking to myself, "If only life were this interesting in reality..."