This may apply to other major cities as well. Just as a heads up - Cell 211, which was one of my favorite films from this years IFF Boston, as well as a GOYA-award winner, is coming out for one week only on October 22nd.
The movie is about a prison guard who gets knocked unconscious on his first day on the job and wakes up in the middle of a prison riot, so he has to pretend to be another prisoner to survive. It's really, really well done and I highly recommend checking it out if you get the chance.
Showing posts with label IFF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IFF. Show all posts
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
IFF Ranking
*sigh* It's all over. It was fun while it lasted...
Actually, I learned something fascinating last night. The film that played, Micmacs, is a Sony Pictures Classics film and apparently they've never been able to get an SPC film before. I had no idea that festivals had to develop relationships with studios to get films for a fest, or that the movies you are seeing are likely coming from the same handful of studios. One would think that a studio would want as wide an exposure for an upcoming release to build word of mouth in our viral age, but I guess that there are so many fests, they don't bother until they know the reputation of one or have a relationship with the booking/program managers. Isn't that crazy? Anyways, hopefully this means some more Sony films next year! I love their stuff.
So, in order, which do I think you should take the time to go seek out?
Winter's Bone Hands down - it's wildly brilliant. Sort of a neo-noir set in the Ozarks. Great performances. Limited release June 11.
Wisdom Teeth (short) Don Hertzfeldt. Go. Seek. Laugh. (his site says news of a wider release is coming soon. Here is a comic about it.)
Perrier's Bounty I know I'm biased. It's an Irish gangster flick with Cillian Murphy. I was always going to love it. But I thought it was fun and I'd recommend checking it out. May 14/21 release I think?
Cell 211 This was the other great discovery of the fest for me. A Goya-award winning prison thriller. Incredibly well done. If you liked Oz you should check this out.
Athena (short) So cute - so great. David Thewlis is awesome. I really don't want to describe it, because I don't want to give anything away. But you should definitely see it if you get the chance.
Monkeywrench (short) I really didn't think I'd like this one, given the plot, but the story is fantastic and the timing is perfect. It's about an environmental activist and a logger. (I can't find a site for it)
The Killer Inside Me I still don't get the whole Sundance uproar. And apparently the Tribeca crowd felt as we did. If you enjoyed American Psycho or Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, this is in a similar vein. Limited release June 18.
Micmacs Whimsical and very inventive. I found Amelie a bit cloying, but this one was just fun. Limited release May 28.
Junko's Shamisen (short) Sin City meets Kabuki (or is it Noh? It would be nice if I actually remembered something from my theater class in college.) Anyways, I really enjoyed this one. (Site here)
Sebastian's Voodoo (short) I wish it were longer, but I love the set up and the animation on this one. HEY LOOK YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE THING RIGHT HERE!
Marwencol This film is about a man who suffered a brutal beating and developed his own therapy by creating model world of WWII Belgium in his backyard. A totally fascinating portrait, and very well told. More info here.
Tiny Furniture A quarter life crisis film that's actually very observant and affecting, without wallowing in self-pity.
Varmints (short) A little bit hit-you-over-the-head with a "be good to the environment" message, but it's well animated and has some very beautiful sequences. (site)
Anne Perry: Interiors I ended up liking this more than I expected. She talked far more about her prison sentence and what led up to the murder than I thought she would. She never describes the actual murder or, disappointingly, what it is like to write murder mysteries as someone who knows first-hand what murder is like. I'd love to know why she picked that genre for her career. But it's a well-shot portrait of both the author and the family that surrounds her.
One Square Mile of Earth (short) Amusing. Very much like Creature Comforts, with a more mature vibe and stylish animation. (you can watch this in parts starting here)
October Country A really interesting look at a family in upstate New York. The subjects address their circumstances with surprising insight and honesty, even if they aren't always able to find a way to change them. Through their lives, the film touches on a number of facets of modern American life, but resists generalizing any grand conclusions.
Down Terrace As an experimental film (it was filmed in 8 days) it holds together fairly well. It's definitely a different spin on the crime genre; the criminals are mostly shlubs who don't really know what's going on half the time (possibly from using too much of their own product?). Worth checking out.
The Extra Man I posted a short review the day after this came out. It's okay. I think once a trailer comes out (I haven't seen one yet), you'll probably be able to judge whether it is your cup of tea. July release.
Out in That Deep Blue Sea (short) A middle aged real estate agent deals with life. Nothing special, but it held my attention.
Cracks An artistic teacher/mentor at a girl's boarding school in 1930s England deals with the arrival of a Spanish student. I wanted more from this one. And by that, I mean I wish it were edited down better - it would have had more impact. The middle stretches on for too long once you already know where the story is going. However, I did really enjoy Eva Green's performance and the setting.
Really, don't ever waste your time (I guess I should be thankful they are all short):
One Last Cigarette (short)
Voice on the line (short)
Invisible Loneliness (short)
4/30 update: The IndieWire wrap up on the fest
Actually, I learned something fascinating last night. The film that played, Micmacs, is a Sony Pictures Classics film and apparently they've never been able to get an SPC film before. I had no idea that festivals had to develop relationships with studios to get films for a fest, or that the movies you are seeing are likely coming from the same handful of studios. One would think that a studio would want as wide an exposure for an upcoming release to build word of mouth in our viral age, but I guess that there are so many fests, they don't bother until they know the reputation of one or have a relationship with the booking/program managers. Isn't that crazy? Anyways, hopefully this means some more Sony films next year! I love their stuff.
So, in order, which do I think you should take the time to go seek out?
Winter's Bone Hands down - it's wildly brilliant. Sort of a neo-noir set in the Ozarks. Great performances. Limited release June 11.
Wisdom Teeth (short) Don Hertzfeldt. Go. Seek. Laugh. (his site says news of a wider release is coming soon. Here is a comic about it.)
Perrier's Bounty I know I'm biased. It's an Irish gangster flick with Cillian Murphy. I was always going to love it. But I thought it was fun and I'd recommend checking it out. May 14/21 release I think?
Cell 211 This was the other great discovery of the fest for me. A Goya-award winning prison thriller. Incredibly well done. If you liked Oz you should check this out.
Athena (short) So cute - so great. David Thewlis is awesome. I really don't want to describe it, because I don't want to give anything away. But you should definitely see it if you get the chance.
Monkeywrench (short) I really didn't think I'd like this one, given the plot, but the story is fantastic and the timing is perfect. It's about an environmental activist and a logger. (I can't find a site for it)
The Killer Inside Me I still don't get the whole Sundance uproar. And apparently the Tribeca crowd felt as we did. If you enjoyed American Psycho or Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, this is in a similar vein. Limited release June 18.
Micmacs Whimsical and very inventive. I found Amelie a bit cloying, but this one was just fun. Limited release May 28.
Junko's Shamisen (short) Sin City meets Kabuki (or is it Noh? It would be nice if I actually remembered something from my theater class in college.) Anyways, I really enjoyed this one. (Site here)
Sebastian's Voodoo (short) I wish it were longer, but I love the set up and the animation on this one. HEY LOOK YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE THING RIGHT HERE!
Marwencol This film is about a man who suffered a brutal beating and developed his own therapy by creating model world of WWII Belgium in his backyard. A totally fascinating portrait, and very well told. More info here.
Tiny Furniture A quarter life crisis film that's actually very observant and affecting, without wallowing in self-pity.
Varmints (short) A little bit hit-you-over-the-head with a "be good to the environment" message, but it's well animated and has some very beautiful sequences. (site)
Anne Perry: Interiors I ended up liking this more than I expected. She talked far more about her prison sentence and what led up to the murder than I thought she would. She never describes the actual murder or, disappointingly, what it is like to write murder mysteries as someone who knows first-hand what murder is like. I'd love to know why she picked that genre for her career. But it's a well-shot portrait of both the author and the family that surrounds her.
One Square Mile of Earth (short) Amusing. Very much like Creature Comforts, with a more mature vibe and stylish animation. (you can watch this in parts starting here)
October Country A really interesting look at a family in upstate New York. The subjects address their circumstances with surprising insight and honesty, even if they aren't always able to find a way to change them. Through their lives, the film touches on a number of facets of modern American life, but resists generalizing any grand conclusions.
Down Terrace As an experimental film (it was filmed in 8 days) it holds together fairly well. It's definitely a different spin on the crime genre; the criminals are mostly shlubs who don't really know what's going on half the time (possibly from using too much of their own product?). Worth checking out.
The Extra Man I posted a short review the day after this came out. It's okay. I think once a trailer comes out (I haven't seen one yet), you'll probably be able to judge whether it is your cup of tea. July release.
Out in That Deep Blue Sea (short) A middle aged real estate agent deals with life. Nothing special, but it held my attention.
Cracks An artistic teacher/mentor at a girl's boarding school in 1930s England deals with the arrival of a Spanish student. I wanted more from this one. And by that, I mean I wish it were edited down better - it would have had more impact. The middle stretches on for too long once you already know where the story is going. However, I did really enjoy Eva Green's performance and the setting.
Really, don't ever waste your time (I guess I should be thankful they are all short):
One Last Cigarette (short)
Voice on the line (short)
Invisible Loneliness (short)
4/30 update: The IndieWire wrap up on the fest
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
IFF Boston
Running tally. I like the way they do it on First Showing, so....
The Extra Man - liked it
Perrier's Bounty - loved it
Cracks - didn't like it
Winter's Bone - loved it (loved, loved, loved it)
Down Terrace - liked it
Shorts Package (narrative)
Cell 211 - loved it
Anne Perry: Interiors - liked it
The Killer Inside Me - loved it
Tiny Furniture - liked it
Shorts Package (animation)
Micmacs - liked it
A note on my imperfect ranking system; if you asked me what I thought of both The Extra Man and Cracks, I'd say, "Meh. It was okay. 3 stars." But since I went into The Extra Man with low expectations, and cracks with high ones, one ended up as liked and one as didn't like. Disappointment or being pleasantly surprised sort of skews things...
I think after tonight (Micmacs!) I'll rank the films in order. Because overkill is a good thing.
The Extra Man - liked it
Perrier's Bounty - loved it
Cracks - didn't like it
Winter's Bone - loved it (loved, loved, loved it)
Down Terrace - liked it
Shorts Package (narrative)
- Voice on the line - didn't like it
- One Last Cigarette - didn't like it
- Out in That Deep Blue Sea - liked it
- Monkeywrench - loved it
- Athena - loved it
Cell 211 - loved it
Anne Perry: Interiors - liked it
The Killer Inside Me - loved it
Tiny Furniture - liked it
Shorts Package (animation)
- Invisible Loneliness - hated it
- Junko's Shamisen - loved it
- One Square Mile of Earth - liked it
- Varmints - liked it
- Sebastian's Voodoo - loved it
- Wisdom Teeth - loved it. LOVED IT.
Micmacs - liked it
A note on my imperfect ranking system; if you asked me what I thought of both The Extra Man and Cracks, I'd say, "Meh. It was okay. 3 stars." But since I went into The Extra Man with low expectations, and cracks with high ones, one ended up as liked and one as didn't like. Disappointment or being pleasantly surprised sort of skews things...
I think after tonight (Micmacs!) I'll rank the films in order. Because overkill is a good thing.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The Extra Man
I wanted to post a few thoughts on last night's IFF Boston screening. First off, I can't remember the last time I went into a film knowing nothing about it. Which was a little bizarre, a bit of a nice change of pace, and possibly why I wasn't completely into it (more on that in a minute).
I think being in last night's audience was the best way to see the film. They were boisterous and appreciative. Had I seen the film on DVD, I might have reviewed it as "didn't like it", but being surrounded by so many people laughing has a way of improving something.
The film is about a young man (Paul Dano) who moves to New York and moves in with an eccentric older gentleman (Kevin Kline). They are both writers and the elder one survives by being an escort, or extra man, to the grand dames of the city. Pretty much every character in the movie is eccentric in some way, and how much you like the film will depend on how amusing you find them. There isn't really much of a plot. It's more of a series of vignettes plucked from the book. (Apparently, the book is somewhat autobiographical, which I discovered at the Q&A and which made the film more interesting in retrospect).
I think if I had gone into the film thinking that it was P.G. Wodehouse-esque (Wodehouse-light?) I might have enjoyed it more. There were certainly a number of times I was laughing, but I was never really enthralled. As a case in point, John C. Reilly pops up at one point with some intereting mannerisms. It was fun to see with a cinephile crowd because everyone was laughing at John C. Reilly playing off of his former, seriously artsy roles. But if you're thinking about the actor, then you aren't entirely engaged with the story. There's also some really terrible voice-over narration. It gets explained about half-way through the film, but it is pretty off-putting.
Overall, I thought it was meh. Kevin Kline was good. It just would have been nice to feel like the movie went somewhere, rather than being a collection of short stories.
I will say, though, that Kevin Kline was terrific and very charming during the Q&A afterward. And it was a lot of fun to get to see him in person.
I think being in last night's audience was the best way to see the film. They were boisterous and appreciative. Had I seen the film on DVD, I might have reviewed it as "didn't like it", but being surrounded by so many people laughing has a way of improving something.
The film is about a young man (Paul Dano) who moves to New York and moves in with an eccentric older gentleman (Kevin Kline). They are both writers and the elder one survives by being an escort, or extra man, to the grand dames of the city. Pretty much every character in the movie is eccentric in some way, and how much you like the film will depend on how amusing you find them. There isn't really much of a plot. It's more of a series of vignettes plucked from the book. (Apparently, the book is somewhat autobiographical, which I discovered at the Q&A and which made the film more interesting in retrospect).
I think if I had gone into the film thinking that it was P.G. Wodehouse-esque (Wodehouse-light?) I might have enjoyed it more. There were certainly a number of times I was laughing, but I was never really enthralled. As a case in point, John C. Reilly pops up at one point with some intereting mannerisms. It was fun to see with a cinephile crowd because everyone was laughing at John C. Reilly playing off of his former, seriously artsy roles. But if you're thinking about the actor, then you aren't entirely engaged with the story. There's also some really terrible voice-over narration. It gets explained about half-way through the film, but it is pretty off-putting.
Overall, I thought it was meh. Kevin Kline was good. It just would have been nice to feel like the movie went somewhere, rather than being a collection of short stories.
I will say, though, that Kevin Kline was terrific and very charming during the Q&A afterward. And it was a lot of fun to get to see him in person.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Round em up move em out
I have no idea why, but this is stuck in my head.
Turns out Festival Genius has been picked up be another company, so it will continue for a while to come. Which is great - even though I stared at the calendar for waaay too long, the genius picked out an even better schedule than the one I came up with for myself.
Gen Y's Coming of Age film is....
Dude, Michael Sheen!
And there is a new m15m. Yay!
Turns out Festival Genius has been picked up be another company, so it will continue for a while to come. Which is great - even though I stared at the calendar for waaay too long, the genius picked out an even better schedule than the one I came up with for myself.
Gen Y's Coming of Age film is....
Dude, Michael Sheen!
And there is a new m15m. Yay!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
IFF Boston
The schedule is up!! And thank god festival genius is running! Looks like I'll make it to all of my must-sees, and a few others that look interesting and that I have some free time for. Can't make the Convention, which I feel like I just heard something about. But maybe I'm confusing it with Edward Norton's Obama doc?
Not making it to many docs in general, but what are you going to do when Erasing David is up against the Freebie, October County is opposite I am Love or Taqwacore is at the same time as Perrier's Bounty?
However, barring unforseen catastrophes, it looks like I'll be hitting up 17 films in 8 days. Hee. Ha ha. MWAHAHAHA.....
Also also: Did I not just say this?
Not making it to many docs in general, but what are you going to do when Erasing David is up against the Freebie, October County is opposite I am Love or Taqwacore is at the same time as Perrier's Bounty?
However, barring unforseen catastrophes, it looks like I'll be hitting up 17 films in 8 days. Hee. Ha ha. MWAHAHAHA.....
Also also: Did I not just say this?
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Odds and ends
Breaking Upwards is being released and getting good reviews. Seriously?? Ugh.
Saw Red, White and Blue at the Underground Film Fest. Really good, and really disturbing. I suppose it would be called a horror film, but it isn't supernatural in any way. It's flawed people in bad situations doing nasty things to each other. It's far more character-driven than most horror films and it's really well done. But I do have to point out that I don't remember the last time I saw violence so graphic and realistic on screen that I couldn't watch it. But it's still a really beautiful film. Odd juxtaposition, I know, but it's well worth checking out. Noah Taylor is fantastic. I've liked him in supporting roles for years and I need to check out some of his other work.
There's an interview with the director here (scroll down).
iWire has an interesting article on the first quarter of indie releases. It's nothing like last year, but there's a strong crop of releases. 16 have already crossed 1 million, and I'm sure the next 3 will as well. I am glad to see that Imaginarium did a bit better than I thought it had and that the Oscar shorts program is going strong. Can't wait to see the Ghost Writer, A Prophet and the Runaways...
A Cannes wish list. I want to see Black Swan (Aronofsky), maybe Fair Game (I like Doug Liman, but Valerie Plame?), the Fighter (David O. Russell), Kaboom, Rabbit Hole (John Cameron Mitchell), the Rum Diary, the Tempest (ALREADY - Taymor), Three (Twyker), Tree of Life (Malick), the Way Back (Weir), and What's Wrong with Virginia (Dustin Lance Black).
iW also has an article on IFF Boston.
Right - I'm going to try to get a lot done today so that I can go out and catch one of those indies. :)
Saw Red, White and Blue at the Underground Film Fest. Really good, and really disturbing. I suppose it would be called a horror film, but it isn't supernatural in any way. It's flawed people in bad situations doing nasty things to each other. It's far more character-driven than most horror films and it's really well done. But I do have to point out that I don't remember the last time I saw violence so graphic and realistic on screen that I couldn't watch it. But it's still a really beautiful film. Odd juxtaposition, I know, but it's well worth checking out. Noah Taylor is fantastic. I've liked him in supporting roles for years and I need to check out some of his other work.
There's an interview with the director here (scroll down).
iWire has an interesting article on the first quarter of indie releases. It's nothing like last year, but there's a strong crop of releases. 16 have already crossed 1 million, and I'm sure the next 3 will as well. I am glad to see that Imaginarium did a bit better than I thought it had and that the Oscar shorts program is going strong. Can't wait to see the Ghost Writer, A Prophet and the Runaways...
A Cannes wish list. I want to see Black Swan (Aronofsky), maybe Fair Game (I like Doug Liman, but Valerie Plame?), the Fighter (David O. Russell), Kaboom, Rabbit Hole (John Cameron Mitchell), the Rum Diary, the Tempest (ALREADY - Taymor), Three (Twyker), Tree of Life (Malick), the Way Back (Weir), and What's Wrong with Virginia (Dustin Lance Black).
iW also has an article on IFF Boston.
Right - I'm going to try to get a lot done today so that I can go out and catch one of those indies. :)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
More IFF news
Yay! They added Saturday Night as the closing night film! They also added Cyrus, which I don't care much about, and John Hawkes (Deadwood, Lost - as Lennon) will be in attendance for Winter's Bone. Woot.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
IFF Boston
Woo hoo! The film list for the Boston Independent Film Fest is FINALLY up!!
To be honest, I'm not AS excited for this fest as I was for last year's. Maybe because there was less buzz coming out of Sundance? I was kinda hoping for any of the following; Animal Kingdom, Blue Valentine, happythankyoumoreplease, Betty Anne Waters, Centurion, Ondine, Four Lions, 12th and Delaware, Exit through the Gift Shop, Cold Weather, Cane Toads: The Conquest, Buried, Splice, Tucker & Dave vs. Evil... Granted, I'm pretty sure all of those will get released in Boston eventually (maybe not Cane Toads), so I probably should be taking the time to catch things that might not get distribution (like La Mission, From Inside, or The Escapist last year). Also, I know nothing about the Mountain Goats, but I just heard there is a documentary about their performance at Pomona put together by Rian Johnson called Life of the World to Come, which I would love to see at some point, but no luck here.
However, PERRIER'S BOUNTY!!!! YAAAY! I can't wait. I just... God, it looks fantastic: Check out the trailer here.
There are a couple that have been well reviewed, like 8: The Mormon Proposition and The Oath, which I just can't see myself going to. I'm generally less of a Docs person anyways. However, Marwencol (a man survives an assault by building an elaborate model world in his backyard) just got a lot of love at SXSW, as did War Don Don (about Sierra Leone), and Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (self-explanatory) got great reviews at Sundance. Some of the others I'll have to look up to find out more about them. Erasing David looks interesting - a guy tries to go off the grid and see if he can escape detection. Anne Perry: Interiors I'm definitely going to try to see since I find it fascinating that someone who was a teenage murderer grew up to write murder mysteries and I've ALWAYS wanted to know more. I've seen the trailer for October Country, and thought it was a feature, not a doc, so I'm intrigued there. Do It Again could be interesting - it's about trying to reunite the Kinks. I've heard of American: The Bill Hicks Story (meh), Dirty Pictures (nah), Lemmy (meh), Life 2.0 (meh), and Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam (maybe). Finally, there's a doc on exotic animals as pets called The Elephant in the Room, but I'm not really sure what it would have to say, other than: Bad. Idea.
However, being much more of a features, gal, here's the section that I'll probably be at (other than Perrier's Bounty. Yay again!):
Cracks - Eva Green, whom I love, as a new teacher at an all female boarding school. Looks kind of thriller-esque.
Down Terrace - My wish-this-were-Animal-Kingdom movie. I'm being unfair - this does look interesting in it's own right. Filmed in something like 8 days, a father gets out of jail and wants to figure out who snitched on him.
The Extra Man - came out of Sundance kind of blah, but I think this is going to be the opening film, since Kevin Kline is coming? Anyways, Kevin Kline & Paul Dano. I like them. I'll probably go see it.
The Freebie - got some good reviews coming out of Sundance.
I Am Love - SWINTON!
The Killer Inside Me - Ah, the most controversial film of the year so far. Supposed to be violence that is actually shocking and disturbing, rather than glamorized. So of course everyone's up in arms. Will I go watch Jessica Alba being beat to a pulp? Maybe. I watched Sin City...
Life During Wartime - Todd Solondz's latest, which would be more exciting if I had seen Happiness.
Machotaildrop - This looks so weird.
Winter's Bone - Won all the awards at Sundance.
Cell 211 - A Goya-winning thriller from Spain about a prison.
Looking for Eric - Ken Loach's new film. I love him as a director, but the subject matter doesn't look too appealing.
The Good, the Bad and the Weird - a Korean spaghetti western with mixed reviews.
Also? Don Hertzfeldt's latest, Wisdom Teeth. :) My spoon is TOO BIG!
I think I'm going to buy myself a pass. It's a gift for myself for my birthday, and then I won't be stressed about getting to large films in time for a great seat.
So - not much that I'm dying to see, but I think it'll be interesting. Maybe I'll end up at more docs this time. I do wonder which are the After Dark selections. Cell 211? Killer Inside Me?
Now I wonder if B-Side software is going to still be running to help plan scheduling? Has anyone bought Festival Genius from them?
Of the films I'd like to see that are not at the fest, the following have been picked up for distribution:
Animal Kingdom - Sony Pictures Classics - 6/3/10, but has been moved around a bit
Blue Valentine - TWC, 12/31/10
Betty Anne Waters - Fox Searchlight - ?
Centurion - Magnet - ?
12th and Delaware - HBO Jul/Aug
Exit through the Gift Shop - ? - 4/16/10
Buried - Lionsgate - 9/24/10
Ondine - Magnolia - 6/4/10
Splice - Dark Castle - 6/4/10
Nowhere Boy - TWC, 10/8/10
As far as I can tell, these have not been picked up yet: happythankyoumoreplease, Tucker & Dave vs. Evil, Cold Weather, Cane Toads: The Conquest and Four Lions.
Of the IFF Boston films, I believe the Good, the Bad and the Weird, Perrier's Bounty, Looking for Eric, Father of my Children, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, I am Love, Down Terrace, Winter's Bone, and the Killer Inside Me have all been picked up. Probably a few of the others, too, but I need to go do other stuff now. ;)
To be honest, I'm not AS excited for this fest as I was for last year's. Maybe because there was less buzz coming out of Sundance? I was kinda hoping for any of the following; Animal Kingdom, Blue Valentine, happythankyoumoreplease, Betty Anne Waters, Centurion, Ondine, Four Lions, 12th and Delaware, Exit through the Gift Shop, Cold Weather, Cane Toads: The Conquest, Buried, Splice, Tucker & Dave vs. Evil... Granted, I'm pretty sure all of those will get released in Boston eventually (maybe not Cane Toads), so I probably should be taking the time to catch things that might not get distribution (like La Mission, From Inside, or The Escapist last year). Also, I know nothing about the Mountain Goats, but I just heard there is a documentary about their performance at Pomona put together by Rian Johnson called Life of the World to Come, which I would love to see at some point, but no luck here.
However, PERRIER'S BOUNTY!!!! YAAAY! I can't wait. I just... God, it looks fantastic: Check out the trailer here.
There are a couple that have been well reviewed, like 8: The Mormon Proposition and The Oath, which I just can't see myself going to. I'm generally less of a Docs person anyways. However, Marwencol (a man survives an assault by building an elaborate model world in his backyard) just got a lot of love at SXSW, as did War Don Don (about Sierra Leone), and Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (self-explanatory) got great reviews at Sundance. Some of the others I'll have to look up to find out more about them. Erasing David looks interesting - a guy tries to go off the grid and see if he can escape detection. Anne Perry: Interiors I'm definitely going to try to see since I find it fascinating that someone who was a teenage murderer grew up to write murder mysteries and I've ALWAYS wanted to know more. I've seen the trailer for October Country, and thought it was a feature, not a doc, so I'm intrigued there. Do It Again could be interesting - it's about trying to reunite the Kinks. I've heard of American: The Bill Hicks Story (meh), Dirty Pictures (nah), Lemmy (meh), Life 2.0 (meh), and Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam (maybe). Finally, there's a doc on exotic animals as pets called The Elephant in the Room, but I'm not really sure what it would have to say, other than: Bad. Idea.
However, being much more of a features, gal, here's the section that I'll probably be at (other than Perrier's Bounty. Yay again!):
Cracks - Eva Green, whom I love, as a new teacher at an all female boarding school. Looks kind of thriller-esque.
Down Terrace - My wish-this-were-Animal-Kingdom movie. I'm being unfair - this does look interesting in it's own right. Filmed in something like 8 days, a father gets out of jail and wants to figure out who snitched on him.
The Extra Man - came out of Sundance kind of blah, but I think this is going to be the opening film, since Kevin Kline is coming? Anyways, Kevin Kline & Paul Dano. I like them. I'll probably go see it.
The Freebie - got some good reviews coming out of Sundance.
I Am Love - SWINTON!
The Killer Inside Me - Ah, the most controversial film of the year so far. Supposed to be violence that is actually shocking and disturbing, rather than glamorized. So of course everyone's up in arms. Will I go watch Jessica Alba being beat to a pulp? Maybe. I watched Sin City...
Life During Wartime - Todd Solondz's latest, which would be more exciting if I had seen Happiness.
Machotaildrop - This looks so weird.
Winter's Bone - Won all the awards at Sundance.
Cell 211 - A Goya-winning thriller from Spain about a prison.
Looking for Eric - Ken Loach's new film. I love him as a director, but the subject matter doesn't look too appealing.
The Good, the Bad and the Weird - a Korean spaghetti western with mixed reviews.
Also? Don Hertzfeldt's latest, Wisdom Teeth. :) My spoon is TOO BIG!
I think I'm going to buy myself a pass. It's a gift for myself for my birthday, and then I won't be stressed about getting to large films in time for a great seat.
So - not much that I'm dying to see, but I think it'll be interesting. Maybe I'll end up at more docs this time. I do wonder which are the After Dark selections. Cell 211? Killer Inside Me?
Now I wonder if B-Side software is going to still be running to help plan scheduling? Has anyone bought Festival Genius from them?
Of the films I'd like to see that are not at the fest, the following have been picked up for distribution:
Animal Kingdom - Sony Pictures Classics - 6/3/10, but has been moved around a bit
Blue Valentine - TWC, 12/31/10
Betty Anne Waters - Fox Searchlight - ?
Centurion - Magnet - ?
12th and Delaware - HBO Jul/Aug
Exit through the Gift Shop - ? - 4/16/10
Buried - Lionsgate - 9/24/10
Ondine - Magnolia - 6/4/10
Splice - Dark Castle - 6/4/10
Nowhere Boy - TWC, 10/8/10
As far as I can tell, these have not been picked up yet: happythankyoumoreplease, Tucker & Dave vs. Evil, Cold Weather, Cane Toads: The Conquest and Four Lions.
Of the IFF Boston films, I believe the Good, the Bad and the Weird, Perrier's Bounty, Looking for Eric, Father of my Children, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, I am Love, Down Terrace, Winter's Bone, and the Killer Inside Me have all been picked up. Probably a few of the others, too, but I need to go do other stuff now. ;)
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