L'Iceberg, Civic Duty

L'Iceberg ***
Directed by Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, and Bruno Romy
84 Minutes
This Film Is Not Rated-Nudity

"L'Iceberg" is an extremely delightful minimalist French comedy centering around Fiona. Fiona is a fast food restaurant manager who has a husband and two children-a son and a daughter. One night, Fiona gets locked into the giant freezer, and when she is thawed out the next day she finds that she wants to go back. She leaves her husband and goes off to find an iceberg, meeting the deaf and mute sea captain Rene, who is more than happy to have her with him. At the same time her husband goes off to find her and bring her home.

"L'Iceberg" is well directed-often centering the camera in the center around the characters singularly colored worlds, the directing trio manages to show such much when there is no much on screen. The entire film is very minimal with not much dialogue or music. This is the closest thing to a silent film that we will get. And Fiona Gordon gives a terrific performance as the quiet and innocent Fiona. Fiona is tall as a tree and thin as a rail, and Gordon manages to give her so much spirit in the smallest things. For example when she is angry she pours herself a drink, clasps the side of the cup, and heaves it to her mouth, and then only takes a tiny sip. As her husband, Dominique Abel also gives in a great comedy performance, and it can all be sad with his characters extended yawn in one of the first scenes. This is quick and breezy comedy that has talent coming from all directions. And it's a lot of fun too.

Civic Duty ***
Directed by Jeff Renfroe
98 Minutes
Rated R for language and some threatening situations.

There are so many things that could have gone wrong with "Civic Duty" and it's intense and original screenplay manages to avoid all of those. "Civic Duty" follows Terry Allen, an accountant that has just been laid off. Living with his wife Marla in post 9/11 America, Terry has let the concept of terrorism live his life. He cannot escape the notions of it, and he spends his nights watching CVV (I suppose to save money the directors did not want to get the rights to CNN) and spends his days looking up terrorists online. His fears are strong when he becomes suspicious of his Middle Eastern neighbor who he finds digging in the trash at night and finding chemicals in his kitchen. Terry calls the FBI who seem to be of no help, so he decides to put the matter into his own hands.

Peter Krause, from TV's "Six Feet Under," is a fine fine actor and even though he does not work a lot it is clear that he works in a film that he feels is important. Because there is clearly a political message in "Civic Duty" and it is an important one to bring out. I cannot discuss that view because that would give away the ending. Suffice to say that while you are guessing if the neighbor is a terrorist it could be one of two messages. Either the message is to pay attention to surroundings for the good of the country, or it is to be careful of the over abundant messages of being the "eyes and ears of America" because it will transform you. The messages follow into many of the same values as presented in "Six Feet Under" just for a hint. The screenplay for "Civic Duty" is cleaver, and events in the third act were very unexpected. It's engrossing and intense to watch, and at the same time it gives a message without getting too preachy. This is a fine film, and I hope that Krause will do a little more acting gigs.