REVIEW - MEDITERRANEA (JONAS CARPIGNANO)

There and back again in an enlightening discovery of futility and despair. Jonas Carpignano's Mediterranea queries whether the better life that the refugees and migrants of the third world seek actually exists or not. Its dispassionate, indistinct advocation of assimilation arises from a feeling of cultural erosion, as American and European culture bleeds into the rest of the world, yet expects so much in return for the rest of the world bleeding back. Carpignano's empathy is palpable throughout - the vivid blues and yellows of hope, the rich, muddy browns of poverty, the intimate hand-held photography, the vibrant musical cues. It's a language of presence, yet the film tells a story of absence - great geographical and cultural distances, language barriers, and the void of purpose and fulfillment for these foreign bodies. The juxtaposition of language and content here is awkward, since in this case there's little to no assimilation; they remain separate, communicating mutually exclusive messages. This leaves Mediterranea with a void of purpose itself, resulting in a simple string of events, occurring as they do because they do, striving to achieve some humanitarian condolence from the viewer, rather than additional artistic admiration. It's a worthy story, handsomely presented, and holds some worth of its own in being one of so few stories on this topic. But would that Mediterranea knew its potential worth. As it is, the feeling that this film best communicates is that same futility felt by its characters. Strong and solid filmmaking, but little more.

CAROL LEADS THE 2015 SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS!

Look out for this to be a recurring theme this awards season: Todd Haynes' Carol leads the nominations for the Film Independent Spirit Awards for 2015. Traditionally an early announcer of nominees, the group actually waits until the eve of the Academy Awards to hand out its main prizes. Last year, they mirrored Oscar with their choice of Best Feature, which has also been more common in recent years than in those gone by. But if Film Independent's choices of winners aren't especially inspiring come February, they'll at least likely be deserved. And we can enjoy a rich feast of surprises and smart decisions today: true independent spirit celebrated in the likes of Tangerine and Songs My Brothers Taught Me, the latter of which also represents for female-directed films like The Diary of a Teenage Girl. International fare shows up with films like Mediterranea, and innovations in filmmaking (Anomalisa) and production (Beasts of No Nation) are given prominent Best Feature slots. The ceremony will take place on the 27th of February 2016.

Best Feature

Anomalisa

Beasts of No Nation

Carol

Spotlight

Tangerine

Best Director

Sean Baker (Tangerine)

Cary Fukunaga (Beasts of No Nation)

Todd Haynes (Carol)

Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman (Anomalisa)

Tom McCarthy (Spotlight)

David Robert Mitchell (It Follows)

Best Female Lead

Cate Blanchett (Carol)

Brie Larson (Room)

Rooney Mara (Carol)

Bel Powley (The Diary of a Teenage Girl)

Kitana Kiki Rodriguez (Tangerine)

Best Male Lead

Christopher Abbott (James White)

Abraham Attah (Beasts of No Nation)

Ben Mendelsohn (Mississippi Grind)

Jason Segel (The End of the Tour)

Koudous Seihon (Mediterranea)

Best Supporting Female

Robin Barlett (H.)

Marin Ireland (Glass Chin)

Jennifer Jason Leigh (Anomalisa)

Cynthia Nixon (James White)

Mya Taylor (Tangerine)

Best Supporting Male

Kevin Corrigan (Results)

Paul Dano (Love & Mercy)

Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation)

Richard Jenkins (Bone Tomahawk)

Michael Shannon (99 Homes)

Best Screenplay

Charlie Kaufman (Anomalisa)

Donald Margulies (The End of the Tour)

Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer (Spotlight)

Phyllis Nagy (Carol)

S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk)

Best Cinematography

Cary Fukunaga (Beasts of No Nation)

Michael Gioulakis (It Follows)

Edward Lachman (Carol)

Reed Morano (Meadowland)

Joshua James Richards (Songs My Brothers Taught Me)

Best Film Editing

Ronald Bronstein and Ben Safdie (Heaven Knows What)

Tom McArdle (Spotlight)

Nathan Nugent (Room)

Julio C. Perez (It Follows)

Kristan Sprague (Manos Sucias)

Best Documentary

(T)ERROR

Best of Enemies

Heart of a Dog

The Look of Silence

Meru

The Russian Woodpecker

Best International Film

Embrace of the Serpent

Girlhood

Mustang

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

Son of Saul

Best First Feature

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

James White

Manos Sucias

Mediterranea

Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Best First Screenplay

Jesse Andrews (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl)

Jonas Carpignano (Mediterranea)

Emma Donoghue (Room)

Marielle Heller (The Diary of a Teenage Girl)

Russell Harbaugh, Myna Joseph and John Magary (The Mend)

John Cassavetes Award

Advantageous

Christmas, Again

Heaven Knows What

Krisha

Out of My Mind

Robert Altman Award

Spotlight