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Seattle Film Fest #3: GROOVE, FEARLESS, CHUCK & BUCK, PEPPERMINT, and EAST OF A
Father Geek back with Optimus Prime's 3rd report on the SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. He covers 6 of the films this time including a look back in time to Peter Weir's often overlooked opus FEARLESS. He was nominated for a Silver Bear for this in Berlin back when it was released even though the public stayed away. It's a great little Jeff Bridges flick that Father Geek loved when it 1st came out several years ago. It has a hell of alot going for it in addition to the most painfully poetic plane crash I've ever seen reconstructed on film.
Two of my favorite character actors Benicio del Toro and Rosie Perez are in this along with the lovely Isabella Rossellini. Rosie's air crash survivor Carla is masterful and earned her the best supporting actress nod from both the Chicago and LA Critics Associations as well as nominations for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe. Check it out...
Groove
This film is almost a sister piece for the movie Go. If Go had been
dedicated to the rave segment of the film, it probably would have been
very close to this. It's very slickly directed by a young film-maker,
with some very attractive and talented young leads. In a film filled with
music and drug references it never cheapens itself with over used camera
tricks, only once does the film go into slow motion, but it is very
appropriate.
Groove takes place in one night. Opening with the promoters finding
an abandoned warehouse to host the rave in. The gathering of the ravers,
through email, pagers, and cell phones. The chapters of the film is then
broken into the different DJ's, with a story arc for each. The main
characters are Colin a veteran raver, his raver girlfriend Harmony, his
brother David who's to busy with work and doesn't want to go, and Layla an
old-timer who David keeps bumping into. We also get to meet a rookie DJ,
an educated drug dealer "A successful drug user is well informed.", the
promoters, and a few other veterans of the scene. It's filled with a
great soundtrack, and a lot of dancing shots. However, we really get to
know a good cross-section of the ravers, and there is quite a bit of
character development for the leads, in a short amount of time. The film
is probably going to show in a few hundred theaters, I would recommend it
even if your not interested in the setting.
Peppermint
It won last years best picture at the Greek Film Festival, and I believe
it's the first Greek film I've ever seen. It's a coming of age story,
following the life of Stephanos living in a post World War II setting.
He's a very mischievous boy growing up with a loving mother, a father who
always seems to have more important things to do, and his sickly great
aunt. Also always hanging around is Marina, his cousin, best friend, and
first love. He's a very bright kid, who does badly in school because it
bores him. His main interest is in planes, and at a young age can build
great flying models.
This is a very strong directorial debut from Costas Kapakas. It reminded
me much of My Life as a Dog, in the way it treats the wonder of childhood,
and the discoveries it comes with.
East of A
1985; three friends sign a 10 year lease for an apartment in New York
City. Peter Parker, a neurotic guy who doesn't really have a job, but
volunteers a lot of time with a children's church group. Reggie, she's a
struggling singer, with a bit of nymphomania. She's having sex with the
very large Japanese landlord to help pay the rent. Chart, he's from a
rich family, who deals drugs to make money, but seems to be doing more
than he sells.
The film never leaves the apartment, and we see their lives develop over
the 10 years. They have all kinds of problems with each other, both men
lust after Reggie, Chart's drug addiction is affecting them all, and Peter
is constantly battling depression. Friends come in and out of the
apartment, they all have problems. David Allen Grier plays a gay priest
with aids. This isn't a story about their problems though. It's a story
about an alternative family, and although they often hate one another,
they will always love and be there each other.
The film was written by the three leads, who are all good friends in real
life. The director is also a friend, and with the help of their
film-maker friends, they said they made the film for almost free. Many of
their friends happen to be TV stars, cameo in the film. Grier, Adam
Arkin, Camryn Manheim, Mary McCormack, and Thomas Gibson all make
appearances. It's really a labor of love by the principals, and I doubt
it will make it much further than the festival circuit.
Chuck & Buck
A very strange little film. Written by and starring Mike White as Buck.
American Pie co-director Chris Weitz is Chuck. The film opens with Buck's
mother dying, his friend Chuck shows up for the funeral. Chuck lives in
L.A. with his fiancee, and invites Buck to see him if he's ever out
that way. Buck takes this as an invitation to move there. Buck is quite
an unstable character. He's been taking care of his dying mother for
years, and his only real friend ever, is Chuck. They haven't seen each
other since they were 11. Buck becomes quite a stalker, he just
constantly needs to be around Chuck.
Chuck pushes Buck away. To release some of his feelings, Buck writes
and produces a play, "Hank & Frank". He casts an actor that looks
remarkably like Chuck, he's a horrible actor and a misogynist. This
actor Sam, is played by Chris' brother Paul Weitz. They form a
dysfunctional friendship. The film comes to an inconceivable climax,
which seems to fix everyone's problems. But in real life it would
only cause more.
Shot on DV by director Miguel Arteta (Star Maps). He said it was for
intimacy purposes, but I think it was more budget conscience. As this is
not a conventional film, that would easily pick up financiers. Mike White
is great as the childlike Buck, but because of the unbelievable ending it
just didn't really work for me. The film is getting a limited release, so
see it for yourself.
Peter Weir Tribute
This was a lot of fun. They started with a selection of clips from his
filmography. Then had an hour Q&A with Peter. He talked about his
starting in a Monty Python type group in Australia. Writing and directing
small films bankrolled by the Australian Government, such as Picnic at
Hanging Rock and The Plumber. That growing into his collaboration with
Hollywood, leading to The Year of Living Dangerously, Witness, and lately
The Truman Show. He talked about how he tells the story with the camera,
that close-ups and the eyes are more important than dialogue. He says he
makes films to tell a story, that it's not about him. That he wants his
next film to be untraceable as a Peter Weir film. He called film-making
an addiction, worse than heroin or cocaine. I could just tell that he
loves his job, that he has absolutely no ego about it.
Afterwards they showed Fearless, a real bomb at the box office when it was
released seven years ago. An incredible film about life and death. With
a great performance from Jeff Bridges. It was a real treat to see it on
the big screen. If you haven't seen it before, I highly recommend you go
out and rent it.
Optimus Prime signing off.
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Well, I'm sure there'll be lotsa followups going on about how "Fearless" deservedly bombed at the B.O. (ever notice how WB is singularly great at shipwrecking films, some of which deserve to be abandoned, a la "Police Academy: Mission to Moscow," some of which do not, a la "Fearless" and I guess parts of "Empire Records," and some of which should've been filed in the "what were they thinking/apparently Miramax said no" file, see also "Surviving Picasso" and "The Big Tease").
Where was I? Oh yeah: "Fearless." Man, I love this movie. So much so that I'm amazed at how much people slame Rafael Zaleinski as a screewnwriter, I think "Fearless" is such a powerful and solidly constructed film with memorable moments of both character, courtesy of said script as well as Bridges' inconceivably overlooked performance, and stirring visuals courtesy of Weir. I really, really love this film. It's on my short list of films to pull out (that don't have crap blowin' up in 'em, that is) whenever I just wanna watch a handful of scenes and remind myself what good dramas are about ("Kicking and Screaming"'s admittedly maudlin final scene also falls under this category, so sue me if you must, lol). The "hold onto your baby" scene with the opening strains of "Where the Streets Have No Name" still gives me the goosebumps to this day. It was great in the trailer, too; I'm a big fan of trailer songs/beats that actually manage to show up in the final film...but yet again, I digress.
Even Rosie Perez couldn't sink this film for me (note: I do not hate Rosie Perez, but if I were casting movies such as "Fearless," Rosie Perez would not have come to mind for this project: ever).
The beginning is one of the most haunting openings of a film I can remember -- ghostly, mystical, harrowing, nerve-wracking. I dare the upcoming "Bounce" to try and riff off the somewhat similar concept and one-up it; then again, this has Jeff Bridges, that has Gwen'n Ben. Side note, part 19: I am a huge fan of this concept anyhow, I actually hope "Bounce" does it some justice, though I know it could never match "Fearless"'s poetry.
Also: the finale. Probably a lotta people haven't seen this film. And I'm going on about it like it's the 2nd coming of "Star Wars," but I really feel strongly about it being totally underrated and little-seen, and worthy of a look (those movies that end up on the $1.00 rental rack aren't always crummy, well, except for "Reckless Kelly"). The choice of the classical music used to end the film, while a bit chest-beating and heart-tugging in theory, really did its job on me. I listen to that piece at least once a week, it's terrific (don't know the name of it, but it's like 15 minutes long, superb).
OK, well...uh, that was about an hour ramble, there. Bottom line: "Fearless." Check it out. Or if you've seen it and like it, kudos to you my fine film loving friend, you've got damn good taste. Adios. -
Camonbleah?
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bridges (in a role originally slated for mel gibson) gives one of the most riveting, emotionally clear performances i've ever seen, weir's direction is sublime, the use of gorecki's 5th (that's the classical music mills somerset was on about) is inspired and magical, the final five minutes of the film are as good as movies get. the only things stopping it reaching utter perfection: rosie perez (even though she's not as unbearable as usual) and tom hulce (giving a cheesy, obvious performance). in short: rent it, watch it, then rewind it and watch it again. in a perfect world, weir and bridges would be given carte blanche to make any damn movie they wanted to.
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Big T here. Just wanted to tell you all kev smith said he saw this film and wasnt that great except for this line "Chuck and Buck's suck and fuck" hope you had a nice laugh Big T out.
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... who produced Flesh and Bone. Steve something. Both films came out at the same time and I remember being blown away by both films. If anyone remembers this man's name( he passed away shortly after production finished on both films) , I'd appreciate it. Also produced Fabulous Baker Boys (starring Jeff Bridges written/directed by Steve Kloves, writer/director of Flesh and Bone). Also pop-up ads must go.
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Agree with other comments here, an wonderful, underrated film. Not one of the best ever, but a quality piece of filmmaking.
But what surprises me is that no one has mentioned the way that Weir used sound to put distance between Bridges and the rest of reality in the film. There is a scene at a mall where he and Perez see a small child, but the way the scene is mic'd its as if they were ghosts.
The music at the end is Gorecki's (prounced more like Gretzky than Gore-et-sky) 3rd symphony. The entire work is about an hour long, and all movements are lento, which is to say, slow. Buy the CD, read the liner notes. Its an even more emotional piece than you think.
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This movie rocked, saw it a few weeks ago at a special screening! Bring all your friends and get ready to have a good time, It was one of the most entertaining movies I have seen all year! Trust me!
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