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Sean Archer looks at FLOATING, ALICE et MARTIN and lastly HEAD ON
Hey folks, I hope you are enjoying these updates on the Indie scene from Sean Archer as much as I have. Here he has 3 more to put in the ol brain sack to ponder pondering. Here he is..
Welcome fellow Indie Fans. I caught three previews last Sunday, one great,
one good, one just awful. They’re scheduled for limited release this
weekend, so here you can see what I thought.
The morning show brought “Floating”, an off-beat little drama staring Norman
Reedus(who plays Van)and Will Lyman(who plays his father. Another
character/family study, “Floating” details the experiences of a family after
the father and head of the household loses his legs in a car crash. The
accident which almost ended his life also destroys his spirit, sending him
down the dark road of alcohol abuse and depression. Van, just sixteen, is
left to deal with his father’s anguish when his mother leaves, and they soon
declare bankruptcy.
Cut to four years later when Van when Van is still caring for his father
while he himself ambles from job to job, overwhelmed with guilt and despair.
Abandoned again, this time by his girlfriend, Julie(played by Sybil
Temchin)Van turns to a life of crime to ease the family’s financial despair.
Van soon hooks up with three friends(including Chad Lowe)and after another
tragedy, ends up in jail, and it’s the father’s turn to rescue his son.
“Floating” is a tough film to watch, and reminded me of “The Sweet
Hereafter” although it didn’t have the power of the former. Reedus gets top
billing, but I felt the standout performance was given by Lyman, a role that
should get him work in higher profile films in the near future. The film,
overall, left me a little hollow, but I’d still recommend it, with 3.5 of 5
stars.
The next film of the day was Alice et Martin, a French films staring the
always adorable Juliette Binoche. Directed by Andre Techine(who made the
more enjoyable Wild Reeds), a director who has always fascinated me. I was
hoping for more of Binoche, but ended up seeing a film about a young male
model played by newcomer Alexis Loret. Loret has a sort of James Dean-ish
intensity without the talent. The movie goes from scene to scene of him
entering the world of modeling, meeting women, and eventually falling in
love with Alice who gets pregnant(a fact which inexplicably drives him mad).
Overwrought melodrama at it’s best, hackneyed drivel at it’s worst, skip
this movie. 2 of 5(with one star coming solely from the presence of
Binoche).
Finally, I wrapped up the weekend with the best film yet, “Head On”, a Greek
film starring Alex Dimitriades as Ari, a young Greek man obsessed with sex
and drugs. This is the film Kubrick should have made instead of that
worthless tripe Eyes Wide Shut ended up being. It’s plot is so similar, as
it details one day in the life of 19 year old Ari confronting his sexuality
and Greek heritage. Adapted from the novel, Loaded, by Christos Tsiolkas,
the characters are vivid, realistic, dynamic, and fun to watch. I can’t
remember a film that dealt with homosexuality, drug use, and family secrets
so deftly. Dimitriades is a star in the making. So handsome and so full of
talent, he must be Greece’s answer to Brad Pitt as a star that can make the
ladies(and a few men) swoon and the critics applaud. Everything from the
cinematography to the dialogue is crisp and fresh. I wouldn’t be at all
surprised to hear “Head On” on the tips of everyone tongues come Oscar time.
5 or 5.
Overall, a fun day at the movies. Also, I’m trying to find more info on a
movie called “Body Piercer” and stars Macauley Culkin. If you know anything
about it, let me know. In the meantime, if you have seen any interesting
Indies, drop me a note at the new address.
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You stupid american fools. Head On is an AUSTRALIAN film, not a greek one, ya idiots!! it was shown here in australia at the beginning of 99 and is currently on video. Dimitriadas is of greek background but is a well known australian star. GO AUSTRALIA, we occasionally churn out some kick arse movies that blow US films out of the freikin water so, Anericans, keep your ears and eyes open for those movies were people have funny accents and not everyone is a 'model-turned-actor' wannabe. GO THE AUSSIES!!!
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Sorry about the mix-up with Head On. I didn't know anything about the film going in, and all the credits seemed to be Greek names, so I assumed(wrongly)that it was also a Greek film. Congrats to Australia for production one heck of a great film! Sean
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that was nice of sean to apologize like that. i've been waiting to see macauley in another film, and "body piercer" sounds seemingly interesting..
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I figured it must've been from somewhere else, I mean... Greek boy discovers sex during teens? Sounds like an afterschool special.
Yeah Go Australia! And hooray to Aussie police for killing the Oz's film mascot Crocodile Poontang, I heard the real person they modeled the movie character after was gunned down for being a little too boisterous! Bravo! Cheers! If only they had actually killed Paul 'Subaru Outback' Hogan instead, the world would be a much better place, sport. -
'Head On' is not a Greek film!!!! It was made in Australia, by Australians, with Australian money! Alex Dimitradies is of Greek blood, but was BORN in Australia, and has much television/film success here. Sean Archer did you even watch the film? Did you not hear the accents in it? Sydney, where the film was made, is a very culturally diverse city, and can very easily tell the story of a Greek boy growing up and dealing with his sexuality. I am so sick of people not recognising Australian talent!! This film was released at the beginning of the year here, and I saw it a number of times (this film rules). Next time you review a film how about you sit and watch the end credits. Maybe that way you will know where the film was made.
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Selrenrut: I apologized already for writing that Head On was a Greek film. I did't have a chance to stay for the end credits, but with a cast of predomnently Greek names: Alex Dimitriades, Paul Capsis, Tony Nikolakopoulos, Elena Mandalis
and Ana Kokkinos, I assumed that it was a Greek film, just set in Australia. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Don't know what else you want me to say. I loved the film. Isn't that what really matters?
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sean, don't worry about it. everyone makes mistakes like that. these people are just waiting for something to bitch about, and they get all excited when the time comes.
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Thanks, PNC. I do feel bad about getting the country of origin wrong because it is such a fine film. A fine AUSTRALIAN film. :-)
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I missed the film when it played at the Australian Film Institute screenings but I thought it was filmed and set in Melbourne not Sydney
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I'm sorry to be so pretentious and territorial SelRenrut
but Head On was actually made in MELBOURNE !!
(Melb Trams, 3faces nightclub, Chasers nightclub etc)
Because of all your use of Capslock I thought I had to set you straight.
This brilliant drama is one of THE best Australian films EVA and even though it did only ok box office here in Aus (due to its R rating{NC-17}) I think it is still a very under-rated film.
Alex Dimitriadies was just awesome, I mean it would be sooo hard for a straight guy to simulate oral sex with other men, even if he is an actor.
Paul Capsis, who was his cousin in drag Toula, was also fantastic, and would give alot of hollywood actors a run for their money.
Also watch out in the future for the director Ana Kokkinos !
Hopefully you yanks will receive this amazing film well.
Harry get out there and see it !!
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Listen, people, if you're going to be such fucking insecure, try-hard Australians and get all riled up because Sean made an *honest* mistake, then give the fuck up! If you want to prove something, don't do it by yelling at someone about a little boo-boo. I know *some* Americans have an incredible ability to totally ignore the existence of other countries on this planet, but fuck! Sometimes you just gotta forgive'em! And btw, I also knew the city was set in Melbourne even though I'm from Sydney. How anyone could mistake trams for *monorails* or something is beyond me.
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It is my opinion that we should all be more like the lovely p.n.c. She is a happenin' lady. Sean Archer is a nice fella himself.
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thanx for the apology, man, that was really cool of u. im glad u liked the film and im sorry that in my post i got a bit too AUSSIE for my own good. u americans are all right but it is just so cool to see an australian movie on aicn. by the way, this page is dedicated to all the australian fans of aicn, i think we have pretty much taken over this talk back. it is great that u have so many fans in so many different places. congrats harry, i think u are a good person. baff
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