Month: April 2023

‘Sisu’: Run, don’t walk, to 1944 Finland and this fabulous and bloody midnight-madness flick

Jeff Mitchell

“Sisu” (2022) – “My advice to you, my violent friend, is to seek out gold and sit on it.” – The Dragon says to Grendel in author John Gardner’s “Grendel” (1971)  In director/writer Jalmari Helander’s fabulous, entertaining midnight-madness flick, “Sisu”, the year is 1944 and nearly the close of WWII.  He sets this story in Finland.  The Moscow Armistice is signed, and Finland must remove the German military presence from their land. For Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila), a Finn, he’s done with the war.  This 60-something, gray-bearded loner now roams…

‘Paint’ doesn’t inspire

Jeff Mitchell

“Paint” (2023) – “Let’s decide.  Maybe there’s a happy tree, an evergreen tree, and he lives right there.” – Bob Ross “That tree was probably too tall.  Brace yourself.  You are going to get some calls about that.” – Carl Nargle (Owen Wilson) Carl Nargle regularly paints nature scenes on a canvas for a local PBS Burlington, Vt. station.  With his tall, brown curly locks and calm, soothing demeanor, the similarities are obvious between this on-screen fictional character and the late Bob Ross in “Paint”, a comedy from writer/director Brit…

‘Judy Blume Forever’: Judy and this documentary have lasting impacts

Jeff Mitchell

“Judy Blume Forever” (2023) – “I could be fearless in my writing in a way that maybe I wasn’t always in my life.” – Judy Blume “Are You There God?  It’s Me, Margaret.” (1970) “Blubber” (1974) “Forever…” (1975) “Tiger Eyes” (1981) “Here’s to You, Rachel Robinson” (1993) These five book titles are just some of the novels – written by the world-famous children’s and young adult author Judy Blume – that directors Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok remember, explore, and celebrate in their festive documentary, “Judy Blume Forever”. Ms. Blume,…