Person to Person
SIFF's capsule summary: "Over the course of a single day, a variety of eccentric New Yorkers experience everything from ordinary problems to existential dilemmas in this wry, urbane comedy with a sprawling cast that includes Michael Cera, Philip Baker Hall, and Abbi Jacobson (Broad City)." (US, 2017, 84 minutes)
SIFF link: Person to Person
This film features an ensemble cast going about their business for one day. The most interesting subplot are obnoxious reporter Phil (Michael Cera) and his first-day-of-work trainee Claire (Abbi Jacobson), who investigate a possibly-suspicious death, for which a broken watch appears to be the central piece of evidence, when the dead man's widow takes it to a watch repair shop. (Philip Baker Hall plays the cranky repair shop guy.)
Other subplots revolve around a rare jazz LP, a guy kicked out by his possibly-unfaithful girlfriend for putting nude pictures of her on the net, a teen couple and two other teens who might be a couple depending on how the girl resolves her uncertainty about whether she likes boys, girls, or both.
Based on the cast, I had fairly high hopes for this film, but it was pretty close to a complete waste of time. Although it was supposedly a comedy, I only laughed three times: first at a conversation about the esthetics of penises and vaginas, second at another good line from one of the same women, and third at the revenge inflicted on a guy who did a bad deed.
If the film had been cut down to a short consisting of just the penis and vagina discussion, it would have been good. As a whole, however, it was poor.
After the film, I got the impression that most of the audience disliked it, but a surprisingly large minority, mostly young, seemed to like it.
Since the same person, Dustin Guy Defa, wrote, directed, and edited the film, and the acting was perfectly competent, I blame the film on the writer-director.
I discovered one interesting thing about the film: it was shot on 16 mm film for a retro touch.
Languages: English.
Rating: I don't think this film has a US rating (yet), but I'd guess it would rate a "R", for harsh language (and maybe nudity that was so boring I've already forgotten it).
Screening: 2 pm, Pacific Place (room 4).
Audience: a typical SIFF press screening crowd, around 100, about 285 seats (estimated capacity).
Snacks: none.
Ads and announcements: no ads at press screenings; SIFF volunteers "R" and "J" provide announcements.
Notes to myself:
SIFF statistics: 34 films (all features), 34 slots, three parties. ("J": 18 films, two parties.)
SIFF link: Person to Person
This film features an ensemble cast going about their business for one day. The most interesting subplot are obnoxious reporter Phil (Michael Cera) and his first-day-of-work trainee Claire (Abbi Jacobson), who investigate a possibly-suspicious death, for which a broken watch appears to be the central piece of evidence, when the dead man's widow takes it to a watch repair shop. (Philip Baker Hall plays the cranky repair shop guy.)
Other subplots revolve around a rare jazz LP, a guy kicked out by his possibly-unfaithful girlfriend for putting nude pictures of her on the net, a teen couple and two other teens who might be a couple depending on how the girl resolves her uncertainty about whether she likes boys, girls, or both.
Based on the cast, I had fairly high hopes for this film, but it was pretty close to a complete waste of time. Although it was supposedly a comedy, I only laughed three times: first at a conversation about the esthetics of penises and vaginas, second at another good line from one of the same women, and third at the revenge inflicted on a guy who did a bad deed.
If the film had been cut down to a short consisting of just the penis and vagina discussion, it would have been good. As a whole, however, it was poor.
After the film, I got the impression that most of the audience disliked it, but a surprisingly large minority, mostly young, seemed to like it.
Since the same person, Dustin Guy Defa, wrote, directed, and edited the film, and the acting was perfectly competent, I blame the film on the writer-director.
I discovered one interesting thing about the film: it was shot on 16 mm film for a retro touch.
Languages: English.
Rating: I don't think this film has a US rating (yet), but I'd guess it would rate a "R", for harsh language (and maybe nudity that was so boring I've already forgotten it).
Screening: 2 pm, Pacific Place (room 4).
Audience: a typical SIFF press screening crowd, around 100, about 285 seats (estimated capacity).
Snacks: none.
Ads and announcements: no ads at press screenings; SIFF volunteers "R" and "J" provide announcements.
Notes to myself:
SIFF statistics: 34 films (all features), 34 slots, three parties. ("J": 18 films, two parties.)