1. "The Hero"

For my 16th film of the 43rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival, I decided to see something with some Oscar potential. "The Hero" is about an ailing movie star, played brilliantly by Sam Elliot, who is trying to come to terms with his past, mortality, and legacy. Without a doubt in my mind, this is the role Sam Elliot was born to play and one for which he deserves proper recognition. 

One of the major themes throughout this movie focuses on aging in Hollywood. Now, of course, the aging of women in Hollywood is well documented and there are plenty of roles left for aging men to pursue. For now, I will leave that topic in more capable hands than my own. Instead, I would like to focus on this film.

To read the full review, click HERE. 

2. "Crown Heights" 

For my 18th film of the 43rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival, I wanted to see a film that would get me spitting mad at the system. "Crown Heights" follows the life of Colin Warner who is wrongfully convicted of murder and spends 20+ years in prison for a crime he did not commit. If he possesses any luck at all, his best friend, Carl King, tirelessly devotes his life working to prove his innocence. Needless to say, this film did a fantastic job of getting me mad. It made me feel the same way "The Hurricane" starring Denzel Washington did back in 1999. 

The focus of this film, Colin Warner, is not without his faults. He steals in an attempt make it in New York City. Still, he doesn't find himself succumbing to the violence that plagued NYC through most of the 70's and 80's. Then one day, out of the blue, violence visits his doorstep. A homicide occurs in his neighborhood of Crown Heights. In the panic, Colin is wrongfully seen as the shooter and later arrested. These moments will continue to be the focus of the film. 

To read the full review, click HERE. 

3. "Prom King, 2010"

For my 12th film of the 43rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival, I saw a film that hit a little close to home. "Prom King, 2010" is the directorial debut from Seattle University's own Christopher Schaap. The film focuses on Charlie, a young gay man living in New York City. Charlie is like many of us. Popular culture, movies, and the ideals of others have influenced his idea of romance. As the film moves forward, he is forced to come to terms with the fickle world of dating in college, the sometimes non-committal world of being gay, and his classic ideas of romance. When all of these elements are combined together, you get one of my favorite films of the 2017 festival. 

Throughout the film, we find Charlie returning home to a supportive mother and a father who doesn't say much. He also encounters friends who are just as supportive but find themselves in a place of wonder that comes to dominate most people's twenties. These moments are a measuring stick for him. It is a way for him to measure himself against the world to see his own progress. Sometimes he walks away disappointed. Sometimes he walks away with a sense of pride. This introspection is real and important as we all make our way through the world and as we navigate the minefield that is the modern world of dating.

To read the full review, click HERE. 

4. "The Hippopotamus"

 For my 17th film of the 43rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival, I decided it was time to see something British. "The Hippopotamus" is a brilliantly written movie about disgraced poet Ted Wallace played by Roger Allam. Ted, who hasn't had a book of poetry published in years, is called to his friend's country manor. Once there, he is asked to use his magic for discernment to investigate a strange series of unexplained miracles. 

As a poet and sword yielding rhetoric, Ted Wallace is unmatched. The dialogue Stephen Fry created here is fast, smart, and focused on wit. At times, this film can feel like it was constructed by "The West Wing's" Aaron Sorkin. With all his prowess, he may have missed his true calling as an investigator. 

To read the full review, click

5. "The Journey" 

For my 21st and final film of the 43rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival, I decided to end with a history lesson on a subject for which I know very little; the violence that consumed Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. 

In one corner, we have Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley, In the other corner, we have Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness. "The Journey" serves as a fictional account of two men who are sworn enemies but find themselves taking a short journey together in an unlikely car ride to the airport. 

For the full review, click HERE. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan