Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.

I’ve already said quite a bit about how much I enjoyed NORMAL ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR, and I’ve been waiting to get in reviews of the film during its time at Tribeca.

Ummm... this guy... didn’t seem to like it as much as I did. At all.

But this other film he mentions sounds intriguing, and I tried to get in on Saturday night while I was in NY. It just didn’t time out right. I really want to see this one soon.

Hello Harry,

I saw a couple of flicks at TFF today, one great movie and one shit-sandwich, I wanted to let you know about.

First, the bad. I love me some good teen drama or comedies or dramedies (Bully, Porkies, Igby Goes Down), but Normal Adolescent Behavior was piss-poor. It is the story Amber Tamblyn and this vamping chick with an absolutely giant rack (but with that cleavage too-wide-at-the-top thing) who are part of a six-some sex group in an effort to preclude themselves from having to deal with the vagaries of dating, the judgements of others, and normal highschool life. The characters, except for the main couple, were for the most part barely fleshed out and their motivations felt contrived and the acting was often not much better. This movie did not have much to say that felt real or relatable. The one-on-one relationships and discussions and conflicts these characters have with each other are not actual relationships that you see in waking life.

The symbolism was haltingly unsubtle (The main couple plays with a chemistry set and find that, hey, maybe they have chemistry. This is in a classroom, after school with no teacher present but with all the chemicals out for playtime, unsupervised. -- Nitpicky mayhaps -- but it all feels stupid like this. Don't get me started on the stupid boxes that the six-some use as expressions of their experiences and individuality.) And in a movie dealing with substantial sexual activity, it did not even have the courage to show real nudity. A total gyp. Hard to believe New Line bought it. At least, the soundtrack will be decent though.

On to the good stuff: The Poughkeepsie Tapes.

SPOILER:

OK, I must confess I saw this movie without knowing anything about it and, after the drink or two I had at the bar beforehand, I was not focusing on the opening credits - they may have given it away but I did not pick up on the fact that this was not real. There I was watching this movie and I thought it was real. I was practically shaking from it. If you want someone to have a vicious time at the movies tell them this is a documentary. Thankfully, I get straightened right the hell out as soon as the question and answer session kicked in.

END SPOILER

The P Tapes tells the story of clever and horrific serial killer who has taped his victims being stalked, tortured and killed. The police are led to the tapes by the killer who leads them to the house he has been using. The movie is comprised of selections of this footage left by the killer mixed in with interviews of FBI Profilers and forensic experts and family members.

The Dowdle Brothers have done a lot of good research and made a smart movie. It is shocking at times and succeeds in approaching this too-covered topic in a fresh and thrilling way. The less said the better. This is going to be a BIG movie.

Take it from me, Mindseye.