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Black Bear

Country: united_states

Year: 2020

Running time: 104

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9601220/reference

Michael says: “When I perused the listings for this year’s festival, BLACK BEAR jumped out immediately because of lead actor, and two time Chlotrudis nominee, Aubrey Plaza. In fact, I had the privilege of presenting Aubrey with PIFF’s first ever Next Wave Award (which was co-sponsored by Chlotrudis) after a screening of the film INGRID GOES WEST. What really clinched it for me though was seeing that another lead actor in the film was Christopher Abbott, who attended the 19th annual awards ceremony in 2013 to receive our Breakout Award. I was not disappointed. BLACK BEAR is an interesting film about the ways people emotionally manipulate each other when they are in relationships. Told in two parts, three actors (Plaza, Abbott, and Sarah Gadon) portray different characters in each part. In part one, ‘Black Bear on the Road,’ Allison (Plaza) is a film director who rents a cabin in the woods from a couple who are reluctantly serving as hosts in guest house Lawfashion. Allison arrives and joins Gabe and Blair for dinner, and the evening quickly turns uncomfortably awkward, until a late night encounter leads to a shocking finale. Part two, ‘Black Bear by the Boathouse,’  sees Allison as the lead in an emotionally wrenching film directed by her husband, Gabe, in the cottage in the woods opposite Blair. During the difficult shoot of the final couple of scenes, the real life emotional turmoil that Allison is going through becomes unleashed in ways that are uncomfortable for all involved.

“Written and directed by Lawrence Michael Levine, the film really puts its characters, and occasionally the viewer, through an emotional wringer. (Levine acted in and produced Sophia Takal’s GREEN.) While both parts were quite good, I appreciated them for different reasons. Part one has the more straightforward story setting up a bit of a triangle with a couple whose relationship is pretty rocky, and attractive stranger who comes to stay with them. The restrained hostility is slowly let free making for an uncomfortable story. Part two is just as uncomfortable, perhaps more so, but what makes it so fascinating, especially for movie buffs like us, is the amazing accuracy and in some ways, ridiculousness of what it’s like to be on set for an independent film. The actors who play the crew for the in-film shoot are really superb, and draw some pretty funny moments, even as the emotional carnage from the three leads spirals out of control around them. This is a showstopper for Aubrey Plaza, who digs deep to give us a character that we haven’t seen her play before. Christopher Abbott is outstanding, first as a fairly chauvinistic guy, then as a fussy, manipulative director that is both funny and terrifying. Strong script from Levine as well. 4.5 cats
“Viewed at the Provincetown Virtual Film Festival.”
Black Bear

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