Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2011 movie picks

Comments (0) By Ily Goyanes Thursday, Apr 21 2011

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Spork

Weekend

Location Info

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Regal South Beach Stadium 18

1120 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Category: Movie Theaters

Region: South Beach

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Coral Gables Art Cinema

260 Aragon Ave.
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Category: Movie Theaters

Region: Coral Gables/South Miami

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Shahada

To paraphrase David Spade, I liked this movie better the first time I saw it — when it was called Crash. Just like the 2006 Best Picture Oscar winner, Germany's Shahada explores separate lives in their own state of crisis that intersect in sometimes unexpected ways. The difference is that Crash confronted race relations, while Shahada tackles religion. The steady performances, however, are undermined by Burhan Qurbani's script and direction. Having previously produced only short films, Qurbani should have a good sense of pacing, but here his dialogue and especially the action struggle to keep the viewer involved. And although Qurbani has said he did not want this to be a movie about religion, there is mention of Islam or Allah at every turn, virtually negating any real character development. There is no sense of where the characters come from, what drives them, or who they love and care about. Unfortunately, with characters this unsympathetic, you just don't care to find out. 9:45 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at Regal Cinemas South Beach, and 5 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables.