Review of film: “MAMMOTH” [ = REPORT # 04 re CIFF ]

Review of film:  “MAMMOTH”   [ =  REPORT # 04 re 45th CIFF = Chicago Int'l. Film Festival  ]

            --  Looms LARGE as to Quality work! 

                Rating:  9 of 10 stars. 

Scheduled to play at CIFF on 10-14-09 @ 6 PM, & 10-17-09 @ 8:45 PM.

This movie is a production from Sweden & Denmark, filmed in ENGLISH starring American MICHELLE WILLIAMS (as a surgeon named Ellen in New York) & Mexico’s GAEL GARCIA BERNAL (as her husband Leo, a video game type producer who goes to Thailand to get money for a big deal)...

...  It also has Filipino MARIFE NECESITO as their nanny Gloria who cares for their young daughter Jackie (SOPHIE NYWEIDE).  As an associate named Marilyn commented, it’s a sign of how “global” film-making has become!...

…  The CIFF (CHICAGO INT’L FILM FESTIVAL ) brochure describes the film as “Babel-esque”, & that’s actually an ACCURATE statement:  there’s a really fine “interweaving” of stories involving many people & across wide-ranging areas…

…  The “mammoth” refers to ivory from tusks of that prehistoric creature that’s used as an inlay in an expensive pen Gael is given. That element is interwoven into a story that also involves modern-day ELEPHANTS in Thailand, & the film also cleverly intertwines things like mangos (involving the nanny’s son Salvador back in the Philippines & also a “SEX-trade” person Gael meets in Thailand) & other such situations…

…  I have one big complaint about the film: the way they foolishly turn up song volumes to like TRIPLE normal, to the point that it over & over again really blasts & assaults the ears for no clear purpose…

…  But overall, I was very favorably IMPRESSED with the [very well-acted] movie--  the warmth & basic un-assuming decency of Gael towards his family & others, the problems that he & Michelle & others have to deal with in their work & personal lives, & the overall effective “mood” of this film directed by Lukas Moodysson…

…  This is one of the few really choice ones I’ve seen that ISN’T yet Sold Out at the Festival!  Get your tickets quickly!…

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