Hey folks, Harry here... Rav is in Palm Beach, once again strolling the beaches with his blinding white, acne scarred buttocks flopping about in salt scented breeze... that leopard spotted "g" he wears is quite becoming, and all the retirees give a pinch & gigglesnort as he passes by. However, when he's not baking his hide, he's watching flicks at the PALM BEACH FILM FESTIVAL. Rav is such the jetsetter. Here ya go...
Hey Harry and all,
Well I'm back in the wonderful land of old people and sunshine (AKA Palm Beach, Florida), I've gotten off to a nice early start already by raiding a box of screeners sitting lonely in the press room corner. I really hadn't 'studied' this years schedule, so the film's I choose to watch last night were more or less totally random. Although in a sick Moatsian sort of manner, a double feature of a New Zealand children's film and a dark black and white drama dealing with love and pornography seemed highly appropriate.
After spending a month in New Zealand, I couldn't help but fall in love with the country, even though I was sleeping in Quint and Kraken's cramped concrete utility-room/prison cell. Although 'love' isn't exactly an accurate description of my happy Zealandy feelings, with films it is moreso in the realm of bizarro addiction. Last month at SXSW I got to discover an amazing new Canadian comedy/drama, but I only saw it because the last name of the director was 'Wellington.' So this time in order to quell my addiction I jumped at the chance to see an actual new NZ film here, even if it might have seemed to be a children's story manufactured only for the retina's of twelve year old New Zealand girls.
The film is about a twelve year old New Zealand girl who attempts to get Queen Elizabeth to stop by her small town on a tour of New Zealand. That's the main plot, but what really makes the film interesting is its subplot of Maori Racism set in the early 1950's, for ignorant foreign viewers like me it's more or less a cultural NZ history lesson. If only the film wasn't so sappy , it might stand a better chance at parental crossover.
The top criticism I have with this film is that at no moment does it make use of the scenery of New Zealand, no beautiful grassy hills, no endless breathtaking green fields, just small town buildings. This could have been shot in Kentucky and no one would have told the difference. Although overall the film is a success in that it achieves exactly what it sets out to do, which is slightly hold the attention of a few New Zealand children.
The next film I watched was also only a 'mild' success, but it had porn and nudity so perhaps to some other readers of the site it might be considered more successful than mild. This film was 'Fairytales and Pornography' a Canadian film from a new director named Chris Philpott. It follows a newly-dumped lawyer who takes on the case of a waitress who is on trial for having stole money from her ex-employer. It's Christmas and he invites her to stay with his family for the holidays, one thing leads to another and they are in love. Everything is fairytale perfect until a section of her past slowly begins to come out.
In direction, videography, and script the film is sort of unbelievably pretentious. For starters, is shot in black and white, then during porno sequences its in color. Why, I ask? The only reason I can figure is a failed attempt to shock with those moments or something. Whatever was intended, it really did not work out too well. The script takes the subject matter way too seriously, to the point that it is quite melodramatic. I keep thinking of Girl Next Door as I write this, as this film was just about the same plot line except instead of the teenage character in girl insert middle-age lawyer.
Now I hope I didn't scare you off from seeing this, as I really did wind up enjoying the film mostly because of it's lead actress Lindy Booth, IMDB has her as 'Nicole' in the new Dawn of the Dead. Honestly I don't remember her role too well in that one, but in this film she truly stood out. Hopefully she will be able to get more work out of this, as she carries this film and still seems to wind up with second billing to stupid overacting lawyer guy.
I was originally going to just send it in with that, but I really feel crappy sending in two mediocre reviews, so I'd like also to tell about an exceptional short film I watched last night, called 'Park Pleasures' directed by Richard Yagutilov. In five minutes Yagutilov has a film that is beautifully shot, funny, with interesting characters. His five minute short film has everything the two previous features lacked and deserves to be seen by some sort of audience. If you can check out his website at www.yougottalove.com to see where he will be screening it next or to contact him and beg for a copy.
Later,
Rav
If you want me, here I am, come and get me!
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