FANTASTIC FEST: Harry Reviews The Breathtaking Brilliance of STRINGS!!!

Hey folks, Harry here with my look at the first Annual Fantastic Fest. Due to a certain announcement in Variety this morning, I had a bevy of calls to return and emails to answer before getting ready to leave for FANTASTIC FEST.

Upon arrival – I noticed that registration went exceptionally well. That ZATHURA’s Giant Robot and Zorgon SpaceShip were all lit up and gorgeous. Stan Winston’s team really did work their magic on them. My father, a huge robo-fetishist with over about 400 robots in his personal collection… he just fell in love and ordered me to photograph him with the big guy. This sucker is gonna end up taking up residence in the Favreau household – and the Zorgon cruiser is going to hang from his kid’s ceiling. OH MAN!!!

We were running a tad behind, so we booked it on to Screen #2 for STRINGS – perhaps my favorite film I’ve seen this year. Originally I saw it on DVD and wrote it up for a DVD column of mine (Yes, I know – I’ll get it done this coming week, sorry) where I went totally mad in love for the film. A good many of you sought it out, but not nearly enough, and thus began my obsession with seeing a 35mm print.

Well… Today I finally got to see this amazing 35mm print. Anders Klarlund’s stunning and internationally award winning film is a true example of everything wrong with the American distribution system. Thank God that WELLSPRING at least put it out on DVD – but if there were ever a film crying desperately for release in Art Houses around the country, it’s this film. Everyone I’ve shown this film to has gone crazy for it. At the screening of FEAST at midnight tonight, I asked how many had seen STRINGS earlier that day – and a few raised their hands and I asked them if they would give the rest of the packed audience their highest recommendation that they see the film theatrically at 6:40pm this Saturday – and they unaminously agreed.

First off, the English version of this film is absolutely breathtaking. From Julian Glover’s awesome opening monologue – to Derek Jacobi’s evil ramblings as Nezo the corrupt homicidal maniac that wants to commit total genocide of a rival clan. To Catherine McCormack’s sensual Zita – or John Lennon… I mean James McAvoy’s lead Hal.

Then there’s the brilliant score by Jorgen Lauritsen, of whom, this was his first score. Jesus. It’s beautiful, haunting, majestic, tragic and elegant.

Then there’s just the breathless cinematography, production design, the physical sculpting of the puppets, the brilliant incorporation of the strings into the plot of the film and the mythology that these characters build with every frame.

This is one of the greatest fantasy films of all time. Seek out this DVD. Or if you can be there this Saturday – see the film. It’s just stunning. It’s a film of Shakespearean and Tolkein-esque aspirations – and at neither level does it drop the ball.

This film is why to throw a film festival. To give folks a chance to see something theatrically that no distributor had faith in to screen for critics and others. If this had been taken to be nominated for best Animated Feature film – I honestly don’t feel that even with the amazing competition from W&G and CORPSE BRIDE – that this could be denied. This is a tragedy and a triumph. Brilliant film.