Mana, Beyond Belief

This documentary by  directors/writers Peter Friedman and Roger Manley is a visual and musical journey that reminds me a bit of Baraka and Koyaanisqatsi. If you enjoyed these two films, you'll probably enjoy this one too. One important difference is that Mana has narration.

The views of this film will find themselves travelling all over the world from the Maori culture and farther on to many other places, witnessing places, objects and rituals of significance to people of many different cultures.

I borrowed this film and shared it with some friends of mine who were grateful to share this visual journey with me.

A quote from this film: "Every culture on earth carries its own mana."

Here are a few scenes from Mana, Beyond Belief:

The Village Barbershop, another great little American indie film

More and more I'm enjoying watching little American films that take place in other towns than what many of us are used to seeing on the screen. This film takes place in Reno, Nevada, a town that's not used as often as a film location like big, sparkly, showy Las Vegas.

Art is a seemingly grumpy guy who has a barber shop. But he's due for big changes since his business partner Enzo has died and there's a lot of rent due on his shop.

Gloria finds out she's pregnant by a boyfriend who dumps for another woman. She needs a job and this brings her to Art's barber shop when he advertises for a barber to work in his shop. Right from the start, there's disagreement between them when Art says a barber should be a man. But Gloria takes a stand and he hires her to help with the books. From then on, Gloria works to prove herself to Art.

It's an amusing and touching little film with a great cast of characters. Art, the barber is played by John Ratzenberger who first became know as the Cliff the mailman on Cheers. Shelly Cole who's known for having a recurring role on Gilmore Girls plays Gloria.

Art is an character who's much more than a grumpy guy. He has a soft side and a wicked sense of mischief as you'll see in the film. Cindy Pickett is the sexy older woman who's interested in Art. It's a sweet little indie film with humor, drama and touching moments that will warm your heart.

Here are a few scenes from The Village Barbershop:

Gloria learns she's pregnant.

One of the applicants for the barber job.

Art the barber takes a break and has a beer.

Art's landlord talks to Gloria.

A Little Extra Article: Smoking in Films

Art's neighbor Gladys, the smoker.

Finally, The Village Barbershop is another film that shows a smoking character in negative light.This has become a pet peeve of mine: So many films now promote smoking. By the way, it's called promoting when there are no negative consequences or the person is a character that indulges in the habit of smoking.  There's a website that rates films for smoking content.  If you check this website regularly, you might be shocked to see that sometimes a large number of current box-office releases promote smoking!
Research has shown that young people (the ones that the industry wants to get hooked) are more likely to take up the habit if they regularly see characters smoking in film and television shows.

Leaves of Grass: a great little American indie film

Here's my personal disclaimer: By recommending this film I'm not promoting or damning the use of marijuana. But I wanted to review it since the recent change to marijuana laws and because I enjoyed it.

I just think it's a great little indie film written by Tim Blake Nelson who hails from Oklahoma where he story also mostly takes place.  BTW, he also stars in it as Bolger. What a relief it is to watch a film that takes place somewhere beyond the usual places I see in so many American-made films!

Ed Norton really is quite brilliant as an actor and he's up for the challenge to play twin brothers who are like opposite sides of the coin. Billy is a successful Philosophy professor and author who left his Okie roots to find his way in the world beyond.  His twin Brady is a successful pot-grower. Though Brady is on the shady side of the law, he still has principles that he's willing to stick up for.

Billy is called back to Oklahoma for the death of his brother. Or is he? I don't want to say much more about the plot because it'll ruin the experience for anyone who wants to watch it.

I do want to share more freely about some of the great characters. Susan Sarandon is their hippie mother who used to be an English teacher. Richard Dreyfuss is great as Pug, the Jewish gangster. I really had to look at him twice to recognize him. He's mean but he's also somewhat of a philosopher himself. As a love-interest for Billy, Keri Russell is Janet who also writes poetry and is a champion noodler (watch the film to learn more about that!) Lucy DeVito has a great little role as a student who has the hots for her professor. By the way, she's the daughter of actors Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman.

Mystery, action, romance and the age-old theme of sibling rivalry are what make this a fun and thought-provoking film to watch.

Here are a few scenes from the film:

Brady shares his own philosophy.

Billy's student compromises his position.

Bolger defends Billy.

Brady's Pot Farm.

Billy gets to know Janet.

Bolger and Brady visit the synagogue.

The dentist goes gun-shopping.