turkam

It's been a full six years since I last posted any comments on the IMDb. But, I thought this was a generally well-made films. It seems like people on the political right, both in Turkey and here in America, would arbitrarily hate this film for its very controversial content. If a person has actually viewed this film, and given it a low score, for whatever reason, that is fine. But, I've noticed that films like these are sometimes targets of campaigns against the film and that in some instances people just give the film a very low score because they hate what it stands for. I was actually very disturbed by this film, but it exposes many of the reasons for the underlying tensions between the west (not just America) and the Islamic world; some of which actually do not directly involve religion. One does not have to agree with the politics of a film to see it as a good work.

I have seen two other films by documentarian (well, he is not exactly in the Frederick Wiseman mode) Fenton Bailey_ "Monica in Black and White" and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye." All of his film that I've seen focus on sex and scandal, and "Inside Deep Throat" proves to be no exception. This film is a fairly solid period piece_ taking place in the 1970s, and there are very startling interview clips with those involved with the original adult film, including 'actor' Harry Reems, and from celebrities, like John Waters and Hugh Hefner, who comment on the film's cultural impact. The doc also shows how both feminists and right-wingers attacked "Deep Throat." Ultimately, it seems that the controversy and the actual banning of the film in the United States made it more of a commodity with the public. There is actual footage from the original adult film, and while I seriously doubt that it has any artistic merit at all (have not seen "Deep Throat"), the political debate it stirred still seems relevant today and the film illustrates this well. Bailey is no serious documentary filmmaker, like Barbara Kopple, at all- he's even used sock puppets in his films_ but this material is a perfect for this formula. "Inside Deep Throat" also shows America's psychological hangups about sexuality though it does not examine why we are collectively more uptight about sex than most Europeans. This film would also make a great companion piece to Caveh Zahedi's surreal, narrative doc "I'm a Sex Addict." I have personal reservations about adult films. A PBS documentary "American Porn" revealed how abusive the industry is towards its 'actresses,' in a very brutal, shocking manner. But, one also realizes that ultra-conservatives' efforts to use the issue to legislate morality has dire consequences which lead to political/creative censorship in more legitimate documentary forms. For this reason alone, Bailey's latest film is quite a thought-provoking one.

"Quinceanera" is a genuinely bad film. The first 15 minutes show promise, but it goes downhill quickly. The plot is convoluted and ridiculous at every level. The subplots are disoriented. And, everything that is going to happen in the film, except for the ultra-ridiculous ending, are telegraphed well in advance. I don't fault the young cast as much as the dreadful directing, and sloppy screenplay. There are many good indy films about Latino issues out there, including "Raising Victor Vargas" and "Real Women Have Curves." Both of those films are more believable. Lastly, if "Quinceanera" proves anything, it is simply this: "Sixteen Candles" and "My Own Private Idaho" don't mix.