WAITRESS (Adrienne Shelly, 2007, USA) It’s refreshing to watch a film written and directed by a woman concerning serious domestic issues and responsibilities and one woman’s complex reactions to those stressors. This is not a romantic comedy (though the adds make it out as such) but a bittersweet drama that shows us the emotional turmoil our heroine endures as she continues to literally fuck up her life until she finally makes the one intelligent, informed decision that belongs to her. This is a very good directorial debut for Adrienne Shelly but sadly she was murdered before this film aired at Cannes. (B+)
BLACK SHEEP (Jonathan King, 2006, New Zealand) With tongue planted firmly in cheek, this New Zealand film takes us to a farm that is performing genetic experiments to make a new breed of sheep. As expected, the experiment goes haywire and the sheep mutate into killing machines. Once bitten, humans become a sorta half-breed monster with a thirst for blood! Tries a bit too hard to for SHAUN OF THE DEAD deadpan humor but I like the hippie-eco morality play. (C+)
