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The Fits Review

10/17/2016

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By Christopher K House


The Fits was a hard movie to comrehend. I'll admit I knew nothing about the film other thanit had dance in it. Not a lot to go off of I know but, I gave it a shot. Toni is a girl who with her brother train daily at the local community center's boxing gym. Every day she trains and trains. Shadow boxing and jumping rope she seems bored with her daily routine. One day she spots the dance troupe and it piques her interest.

Toni decides to try for the dance team. All is pretty straight forward in the film until it throws a curve ball at you. One of the girls gets sick. Very sick. Taken away by amubulance kind of sick. Rumors begin to circle why she became ill. Then the film threw another curveball when another girl got sick. Not quite the same symptoms but still sick. Toni (Royalty Hightower) and her small group of friends gossip and talk about why girls are getting sick. The boys arent getting sick, it's only happening to the 'older girls'. Uh oh.... Can you put 2 and 2 together here? 

The film doesn't come right out and say it is a metaphor for that first 'period' in a girl's life but it's pretty obvious that is what "The Fits" are. They call the illness "The Fits" if you were wondering where the title came from. It actually does make sense in this context. 

This was a surprise for me, I really enjoyed my time watching this. The performances by this ensemble of young actors and actresses was phenomenal. The film did stray away into metaphorical land a few too many times for my taste but, not enough to lose me. Now, I won't spoil exactly who gets "The Fits" because the suspense builds towards the end. Not a perfect film but a very enjoyable one. 


Rating B-









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Life, Animated review

10/17/2016

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By Christopher k. House

Life Animated was the opening night film at the 2016 Milwaukee Film Fest. The film, an inspiring documentary about an autistic boy who learned how to communicate through Disney animated films played before a packed house. Based on the book by Ron Suskind about his son Owen, Academy Award winning director Roger Ross Williams chronicled Owen's life with well crafted storytelling.

When Owen Suskind was a young boy, he was diagnosed with Autism. One day, he stopped communicating with words to his family. when Owen started repeating words quoted form a Disney film, his father then realized his affinity to the animated films. Roger Ross Williams who won an Academy Award for his short documentary "Music By Prudence" crafts another Academy Award worthy film with Life Animated. Flat out, I loved this film.
 

Owen is one of the most likable people chronicled in a documentary I've seen in a long time. There is an innocence about him, an aura he emits that makes you like him and care about him. 

The amazing fact is that that Owen has memorized every single Disney animated film he has seen. Able to recite and quote word for word is a remarkable task for anyone. That alone would make a great documentary. Owen even turned his passion for Disney into a special Disney club for other's who share the same passion. Owen leads the club of friends with wit and humor. It is one of the highlights of the film watching these interactions. 

With home video footage, Williams is able to tell Owen's story and how he has progressed. From the beginning to current day, his journey is detailed. Owen pulls on our heart strings when he is away from his beloved girlfriend and we cheer for him when he is on a job interview. The documentary does more than just explain how he learned how to talk through Disney films. It really is the story of Owen and Owen's story is a great one.

Rating A

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    About Chris

    A film fan from an early age, Chris is a true cinephile. Starting with his first big screen experience, Star Wars to the current indie films, it's obvious he is obsessed with film. Chris has been writing about film and television since the early days of the internet. Chris is also a member of OFTA, the Online Film and Television Critic's Association.
    Follow on Twitter @TheFilmBully
    ​​

    About Steve

    A lover of all movies. Steve will watch anything from classic silent films to modern horror films.  Obsessed with the Oscars and Film festivals. Steve prides himself on watching every movie on the AFI 100 Greatest Movies and every Oscar winner. 
    Follow on Twitter @MovieRPH

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