The Beacon explores the 2008 Boston Independent Film Festival
Early Reviews
Harry Vaughn, Nick McCarthy
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Arts and Entertainment
American Teen never ends up tackling any of the big, profound questions surrounding the adolescent experience and it certainly doesn't shy away from questionable forms of sensationalism to get its point across. However, Burnstein, by the end of the film, has the ability to document change within her subjects' lives, a challenge that many documentaries, and many films for that matter, fail to authentically illustrate. - HV
CRAWFORD
Sometimes the best documentarians are the ones that shut up and listen. This is certainly the case with David Modigliani's Crawford-a terse documentary that focuses on the small Texas town where George W. Bush bought a ranch in 1999, when the population topped off at 705. While Modigliani's laissez-faire approach to filmmaking initially yields tedious results, his casual direction ultimately works in Crawford's favor. Modigliani allows the film to evolve from a close-up portrait of a neighborhood into an acute microcosm of the current left-right debate in America.
After thirty minutes and the entrance of new, blue neighbors-and an appearance by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan-citizens of Crawford that were content with the quotidian and lauding Bush start to question their politics. Crawford transforms from a bleeding red town to a divided community that more resembles purple.
Most significantly, the residents become aware of Bush's motives to move to Crawford, as the media consistently depicts them as a Podunk area that has some silos and footballs.
In the final scene, a Crawford native concludes "I'm one of those who wish he never showed up," implying that he's not alone. The society of Crawford is not aloof to the transformation of their previously close-knit community. - NM
THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS
After giving a natural performance in the abysmally precious Juno, Ellen Page is back to her shrill antics ala Hard Candy in The Tracey Fragments. As twitchy as her Tracey is, it does suit the frustrating film-which is an erratic, if occasionally mesmerizing, smattering of edits.
CRAWFORD
Sometimes the best documentarians are the ones that shut up and listen. This is certainly the case with David Modigliani's Crawford-a terse documentary that focuses on the small Texas town where George W. Bush bought a ranch in 1999, when the population topped off at 705. While Modigliani's laissez-faire approach to filmmaking initially yields tedious results, his casual direction ultimately works in Crawford's favor. Modigliani allows the film to evolve from a close-up portrait of a neighborhood into an acute microcosm of the current left-right debate in America.
After thirty minutes and the entrance of new, blue neighbors-and an appearance by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan-citizens of Crawford that were content with the quotidian and lauding Bush start to question their politics. Crawford transforms from a bleeding red town to a divided community that more resembles purple.
Most significantly, the residents become aware of Bush's motives to move to Crawford, as the media consistently depicts them as a Podunk area that has some silos and footballs.
In the final scene, a Crawford native concludes "I'm one of those who wish he never showed up," implying that he's not alone. The society of Crawford is not aloof to the transformation of their previously close-knit community. - NM
THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS
After giving a natural performance in the abysmally precious Juno, Ellen Page is back to her shrill antics ala Hard Candy in The Tracey Fragments. As twitchy as her Tracey is, it does suit the frustrating film-which is an erratic, if occasionally mesmerizing, smattering of edits.
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Kate White
posted 5/28/08 @ 11:44 AM EST
I'm wondering (as an Emerson Alum myself) why the Beacon would run a stroy reviewing "American Teen" and fail to mention that the Executive Producer, Patrick Morris of 57th & Irving Productions is an Emerson alum!
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