Hey folks, here's a helping of a whole smorgasborg of various films... So take a gander and see what you want to put on your tray... I'll be seeing ya...

I wrote to share my thoughts on a few movies that I saw at the Seattle Film Festival.

Money Buys Happiness, this movie was getting hyped up by the local press, and it was made by a Seattle filmmaker. Those were the two reasons I was seeing it. This movies embodies all I hate in Independent Cinema. Why does every other low budget director feel they have to make a movie like this. The set up is the same as most. A couple having relationship trouble, someone commits suicide, coffee shops, endless talking about obscure subjects. Now don't get me wrong I like Independent Films, hopefully some other movies at this Festival turn my opinions around.

Next film I saw was Speedway Junkie. Only thing I really knew about this one was that it was produced by Gus Van Sant. Going into it I thought it was going to be the other kind of indy film, the Tarintino rip-off. Thankfully I was wrong. The first feature length film for the director, it's similar to two of Van Sant's earlier movies Drugstore Cowboy, and My Own Private Idaho. This is a story of a young run-away who has big dreams of becoming a race car driver. We meet him in Vegas where he manages to lose his few possessions very quickly. He meets others like himself, and gets dragged into their world of prostitution, drugs, and guns. In a surprise role Jonathan Taylor Thomas is actually good as one of the young hustlers. Darryl Hannah shows up as the hooker with the heart of gold. Was a decent little film, well put together, but it was nothing I hadn't seen before.

The Interview, I saw this cause it's Australian, and I think the Aussie's have been making some of the finest films in the past few years. Great country for up and coming filmmakers. The cops break down the door of Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith from The Matrix), and drag him away to the police station. I love these openings, where your instantly thrown into a situation where you need to find out the who's, what's and why's. Most of the movie takes place in a interrogation room, where we slowly find out why he's been brought in. Similar to the Usual Suspects, but without all the flashbacks. Your never really sure who's in control of the interview. Hugo is great as he goes from being scared to being scary. Shot noir style, in color but feels black & white.

Red Violin. One of the bigger films playing at the festival. I expect this one to go a long way. This is the kind of film that wins awards, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it up for a few Oscars next year. The biggest name in the film is Samuel L. Jackson, there are a few other recognizable faces. This is the story of a perfect violin. We are introduced to it at an auction, we then flash back to the story of how it got there. Built by an Italian master, played by a young French protege, an English virtuoso, and hidden during a revolution in China. The violin possesses whoever plays it, makes them better musicians, but ruins the rest of their lives. It is all perfectly intertwined. In my favorite scene the violin trades hands, while it stays stationary, the people and backgrounds change. Beautiful violin music throughout, and we are treated to four different languages.

Last Film I caught was Twin Falls Idaho. A weird, funny, and touching film all in one. They are conjoined twins looking for their mother, who abandoned them at birth. They are staying at a sleazy hotel, and call a prostitute to help them celebrate their birthday. And like in all movies, she is once again the hooker with a heart of gold, it doesn't take away from the movie. She gets to know them as people, not freaks, and we get to see what kind of life they live. They hold a nasty secret, that is hinted at throughout, and is finally brought to the forefront at the climax of the film. The twin brother actors manage very well to pull off looking and feeling like Siamese twins. The rest of the actors leave a little to be desired.

That's it. I would have seen a lot more, but being poor is a bitch. At least I get to see films, unlike some of the other festival's where you have to be "somebody" to get in. Optimus Prime signing off.