August 7, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Favorite Films Screened at the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF)

Capsule Film Reviews

While SBIFF ended a few weeks ago, this is the first chance I’ve had to write about it. 200 films and shorts from around the world were premiered and obviously, I cannot review all of them.  However, I chose four that I particularly enjoyed and one that I absolutely detested.  These will be “capsule film reviews” chosen for their storyline, director, and cast.

MADU:  (United States, Nigeria, United Kingdom)

Opening night kicked off with the screening of MADU, an adventure that began when 12-year-old Nigerian teenager Anthony Madu made a video of himself dancing in the rain.  It went viral and eventually morphed into this new Disney Branded Television Documentary which tells the story of one young man’s dream to dance ballet.  This highly sensitive, quite lovingly shot film by Matt Ogens and Joel “Kachi” Benson is similar to the character in Billy Elliot, which starred Jamie Bell.  Like Elliot, Madu was born to dance, practicing every day on the streets of his hometown of Lagos.  In true fairy-tale fashion, he finds his dreams of dancing professionally are about to come true when he’s accepted into the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School in England.  We see his arduous, sometimes discouraging training culminating in a powerful  performance.  This is a feel-good, charming film about the power of perseverance in the face of unending obstacles to achieving one’s dream.  Running time: 100 minutes. Streaming on “Disney +

                     ***

EZRA (United States),
This delightful dramedy centers on the 9-year-old autistic son of Max Bernal, a stand-up comic brilliantly brought to life by Bobby Cannavale, whose performance is stellar.  Although he is divorced from his wife, well played by Rose Byrne, they co-parent their son, who is playful and presses boundaries of behavior, resulting in him being tossed out of a regular public school with recommendations that he be put into a “special school.”  On top of that, the doctor wants to put him on impulse-control pharmaceuticals, to which Dad is totally opposed, and what ensues is Dad taking his son (who actually kidnaps him) on an exciting road trip.  Backed  by a wonderful cast including Vera Farmiga, Whoopi Goldberg, Rainn Wilson, Tony Goldwyn, and a delightful Robert De Niro, who plays Max’s father, a former chef, now a doorman.  EZRA is a heartfelt story about the challenges of autism and a parent’s unrelenting desire to protect his child from being swept into a bin of misfits.  William A. Fitzgerald as Ezra gives an unforgettable, engaging performance.  Directed by Tony Goldwyn, the running time is 100 minutes and is scheduled for wide release in May 2024 via Bleeker Street. 

POINT OF CHANGE (United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and Indonesia)
This film is a compelling, gorgeously shot documentary directed by Rebecca Coley.  It is the intriguing story of two Australian surfers who travel the world in search of the “perfect wave.”  In their quest, they stumble across Nias, an obscure Indonesian island which boasts some of the biggest waves in the world.  The surfers quickly adjust to the local way of life on this peaceful, almost secret island, but before long, the word spreads, overburdening the island’s limited resources to accommodate the massive influx of surfers anxious to ride those enormous waves.  This once quiet, sleepy island is transformed into an unnatural tourism center, suffering the attendant negativity that comes with a once pristine location totally unprepared for the unexpected, burgeoning growth.  (Running time:  89 Minutes. No distribution information is available at this time.) 

WICKED LITTLE LETTERS (United Kingdom)

 This film is an outrageously hilarious story based on a real scandal that took place in 1920s England in Littlehampton, a charming seaside town.  Edith Swann, hysterically played by Olivia Colman,  is a duplicitous aging spinster living with her unpleasant father.  She is pious, prays day and night, and jumps through the mean-spirited hoops he puts before her.  The peaceful, pleasant existence of this storybook town is suddenly shattered by a series of notoriously profane letters that start appearing in the mailboxes of the unsuspecting, innocent townspeople.  The first person to be accused is Rose Gooding, a foul-mouthed, uncouth resident superbly played by Jessie Buckley.  What ensues is her trial and a madcap attempt to find the real guilty person led by Gladys Moss, a young, ambitious police officer immaculately played by Anjana Vasan.   The supporting cast of wonderful character actors, too many to list, add to the high-jinx activities speared on by Miss Moss.  Directed by Thea Sharrock, watch for this 102-minute, laugh-out-loud film distributed by Sony Pictures.

MUCH ADO ABOUT DYING (Ireland)

I love films from Ireland and always rush to see anything coming out of one of my favorite countries in the world.  But Much Ado About Dying, directed by Uncle David’s nephew Simon Chambers, is almost unwatchable.  It is the unappetizing story of a former Shakespearean actor, now in his twilight years.  He lives in abject squalor down to feces and urine either on the floor of his disgusting, tiny apartment or stuffed into plastic bags, making Grey Gardens look like a palace.  Every nook and cranny is crammed with other forms of  garbage.  For some reason, Simon feels  responsibility and assumes a caretaker role visiting his aging, verbose, highly dramatic uncle who, throughout most of the film, is naked from the waist up, and I assure you, this is not a pretty picture.  As I watched the film, and my creeping nausea, I kept wondering why the director/nephew thought there would be any interest in watching an aging, highly dramatic gentleman living in unthinkable conditions that almost defies description, but alas, it is described through the lens of his camera. I’m not sure if this is streaming anywhere, but if you do come across it,  don’t eat before you watch this unwatchable film, or bring your own barf bag—release date: March 22 – Laemmle Santa Monica 

Until next time, Happy Viewing to you.

in News
<>Related Posts

Santa Monica’s ICARUS AI Launches Global Grant Initiative, Empowering 5,000 Lives Through Education

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

SANTA MONICA, CA – ICARUS AI https://icarus.education/ a local Artificial Intelligence and education technology company, headquartered right here in Santa...

Santa Monica’s Chez Jay Celebrates 66 Years with Retro Bash by the Beach

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Landmark Restaurant Celebrates With Classic Cars, Live Music, Celebrity Lore One of Los Angeles County’s most storied restaurants will mark...

Swiss Firm Partners with California Startup to Aid Wildfire Recovery With AI Robots

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

The robotic microfactories are designed to fabricate structural wall panels on-site with high precision, aiming to speed up the construction...

Film Review: Weapons

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

By Dolores Quintana You might be asking yourself what the film Weapons is about. Not to worry, writer and director...

Trial Date Set for Alleged ‘Ketamine Queen’ in Matthew Perry’s Death

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Woman Accused in Matthew Perry’s Overdose to Face Jury The woman accused of supplying the fatal dose of ketamine that...

Santa Monica to Enter Mediation Over Ebony Beach Club Land Seizure

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

The decision follows a year-long investigation into White’s efforts to open the Ebony Beach Club—a nonprofit intended to provide a...

(Video) Palisades Rec Center Completes Construction of First Responder-Themed Playground

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

The new playground–which replaces a near-40-year-old one–was made with funds largely generated by the FireAid Benefit Concert. Palisades Rec Center...

Santa Monica Animal Shelter Waives Adoption Fees to Ease Shelter Surge

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Overcrowded Shelter Needs Homes for Cats and Dogs Amid an unprecedented surge in intakes, the Santa Monica Animal Shelter has...

Elvis Meets Oedipus at the Getty Villa in Fall Premiere of Oedipus the King, Mama!

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Getty Villa Stages Rock-Fueled Oedipus Satire Under the Stars The Getty Villa Museum will bring the myth of Oedipus to...

Retail and Dining Could be Coming to RAND’s Santa Monica Headquarters

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

The changes aim to revitalize the underutilized property, which has seen reduced occupancy due to post-pandemic hybrid work trends The...

(Video) Festival of Chariots Transforms Venice Beach Into a Showcase of Indian Culture

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

First held in Los Angeles in 1976, the festival draws inspiration from the ancient Jagannath Puri festival in India Festival...

Side-by-Side Beachfront Homes in Santa Monica  Hit Market for $23M Each

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Designed with minimalist luxury, the residences showcase floor-to-ceiling glass walls and views of the Pacific Ocean Two modern beachfront homes,...

Lane Closures Set for Pacific Coast Highway This Week for Utility Work

August 3, 2025

August 3, 2025

The closure marks the third and final stage of constructing a new bridge at Corral Canyon Road, where Caltrans is...

Selling Sunset Star Close to Closing $30M Off-Market Deal for Kanye West’s Former Malibu Compound

August 3, 2025

August 3, 2025

Amanda Lynn Quietly Flips Kanye’s Abandoned Malibu Bunker Real estate agent Amanda Lynn, known for her on-screen presence in Selling...

Adult Great White Spotted Close to Shore in Santa Monica Waters

August 3, 2025

August 3, 2025

Shark Filmed Near Santa Monica Pier Just 50 Yards From Shore Rare footage of an adult great white shark swimming...