The Great World of Sound (2007)

When Martin (Pat Healy), an eager twenty or thirty-something in search of a cool career, answers an ad to train as a music producer, he becomes scam-artist and victim. Naivete serves as a distant cousin to self-delusion when Clarence (Kene Holiday), a chatty co-worker, and Martin get sent out on the road to "song shark."

The Great World of Sound record label will assist you in obtaining your dreams by recording your record in a state-of-the-art studio, print cds, and distribute them all for a small fee. This is exactly what Martin and Clarence tell people they audition in various hotels throughout the country. At first the power of helping people obtain their goals is so alluring that it blinds Martin and Clarence from realizing that they're scam artists. They go through the routine with great vigor and hope.

The myriad of desperate subjects in the film is obviously depressing, but also rather telling. At the bottom of the pyramid is the musicians. They are a motley crew of young, old, delusional, and occasionally talented. But most interestingly, they are real people who responded to real ads placed in an actual newspaper in their hometown. Think of American Idol, but with a candid camera, and no money...or traumatic criticisms. The responses to promises of fame and fortune from two men who (at first) want to believe just as badly as you do in a dream, viewed from two different angles, is so engrossing to some while others have enough sense to listen to the small, but confident voice in their head. Pat Healy and Ken Holiday both play along flawlessly.

A curious mix of documentary and comedy, The Great World of Sound will have you questioning your own ability to remain logical under the influence of heartfelt promises by two hoodwinkers who've been duped themselves. It is a brilliant blend of fact and fiction; thus, creating a most complete study of the overwhelming desire to become an overnight superstar hoarded by so many yet acheived by so few. The raw element of the hidden cameras and non-actors emphasizes the vulnerability of its' subjects in a way story alone could not. The transition from fact to fiction isn't as seamless as it could be at times, but nor is it terrbibly disruptive. Definitely a must-see.

Directed by Craig Zobel.

Buah, Ha- (The Bubble) 2006

Noam (Ohan Knoller), a gay Israeli soldier on reserve duty at a checkpoint in Isreal, loses his ID just before being relieved from duty. Ashraf (Yousef 'Joe' Sweild), a gay Palestinian, finds it during one of his many crossings at the checkpoint and dutifully returns it to Noam's apartment in Tel Aviv.

Upon Ashraf's arrival to Noam's home (whom he shares with two roomates, a straight woman named Lulu (Daniela Virtzer) and a gay man named Yelli (Alon Friedman,) romance immediately begins. Ashraf's arrival to Noam's flat is not the first they've seen of each other. They first met at the checkpoint under a tense situation involving the miscarriage of a Palestinian child.

Then comes the morning after...The harsh reality of Politics comes into play. Ashraf doesn't have an Israeli Work Permit...Ashraf's name isn't Hebrew...Ashraf is ultimately "the enemy" - at least in the eyes of Yelli. After Noam partakes in some dilluted political debate with Yelli, it is decided that Ashraf can stay in the apartment. Yelli even gets him a job as a waiter at a restaurant he manages - though there he goes by the name "Shimi"- in an effort to hide his Arabic roots.

Of course, all of this "pops" over time. Eventually Ashraf's roots are found out by a magazine editor that Lulu briefly dated then hated. Ashraf flees home, to Nablus, for his safety as well as his sister's wedding. Out of love, Noam (with a plan devised by Lulu) goes to Nablus, but ultimately only makes things worse for Ashraf - turmoil of nearly every kind follows.

The film's storyline is interesting and naturally filled with conflict, but the dilluted politics, and the writers' ability to break the suspension of disbelief in several instances negates from the film being all that it can be. The dilluted politics are somewhat intentional. It emphasizes the bubble that these urban twentysomethings live in, but the credibility is just spread too thin leading to a contrived ending that is meant to shock, but ultimately disappoints...

Directed by Eytan Fox.

Exiled (2006)

Wo (Nick Cheung), a jovial man with a newborn baby and wife, has hardly settled in Macau - after years of being of the road - before some old skeletons find themselves patiently awaiting his arrival in a nearby courtyard. They are simultaneously hitmen, gang members of the same clan, childhood friends, and ruthless killers. A contradictory (almost unbelievably so) meshing of relations to Wo and his wife, Jin (Josie Ho).

"Exiled" has frenzied showdowns at every point; thus, satisfying the needs of the repeat action-film goer. But it also succeeds in those more interested in the softer, drama genre. Due to the complexiity of the relationships, this film is able to portray a truly difficult decision through men that are usually fleshed out solely through the use of sunglasses, trenchcoats, and guns. At first, it seems that Blaze (Anthony Won Chau Sang) and company are a result of this method of character development, but before the first act ends, we're well aware that there's more than meets the eye - though how much more is hard to say.

"Exiled" is a ultimately an action-packed test of what prevails above all others? Friendship? Money? Security? It answers the question superficially but, overall, it takes a decent stab at revealing the softer side to these Chinese gangsters - all while managing to have them, you know, keep it cool.