The South By Southwest Film Festival is best known for their amazing documentary selection as well as their quirky midnighters and emerging visions section. Today, we’ll do a documentary roundup and tomorrow we’ll do an “unexplainable films you just have to check out” roundup. I am a huge fan of documentaries because they’re real and sometimes have stories so unbelievable that they could only be genuine. Seeing true emotion and resolution is something that narratives just can’t compare with because when the credits roll, they’re done but when the documentary ends, the story is really beginning.
Seeking Asian Female (World Premiere)
Filmmaker Debbie Lum set out to make a documentary on yellow fever, or white guys who are attracted to Asian women. Instead, she stumbled on this fascinating story of 60 year-old Steven Bolstad and his quest to find a wife that won’t leave him. He’s been divorced twice and after seeing his son marry a Chinese girl, he thought he had to get one too because they never leave their spouses. Seeking Asian Female follows as he uses an online dating site to find a match and bring her back to the states to marry him. Debbie never thought this would actually happen, but then she met 30 year-old Jianhua (Sandy), and that all changed.
The documentary is a great example of the influence and blurry lines of documenting real-time events. Would this marriage have ever happened, succeeded, or failed the way it did if the cameras weren’t around? Would this documentary be as good as i was if the marriage never took place? They go hand it hand and no one will ever know. What we do know is that from the hundreds of hours of footage that Debbie recorded, she cut together a beautiful story of unconventional love between a hilariously (slightly racist – “She looks so Chinese!”) naive guy living in a dream reality and a powerful smart Chinese woman trying to change her reality.
Trash Dance (World Premiere)
Trash Dance is a quintessential documentary containing the typical formula you would expect. It’s a movie tracing the steps up to an unusual event gathering interviews from the subjects and taking you deeper into their lives. I thought it was great and touching while not trying to push any sort of meaning or hidden agenda on it’s audience – just display a work of art. Allison Orr is an Austin dance choreographer who likes to collaborate with people you wouldn’t think of when you thought of dance. This time, she wants to create a piece with trash collectors. The movie begins with her proposal to the reluctant group which is full of men and ends with a fascinating project that brings everyone one step closer to realizing that this might be what people do but if you give them the opportunity, they show you who they are. The documentary is really funny, takes you on the different aspects of trash collection from recycling to the dead animal route and give you glimpses of what the dance can become. Once you see the crane solo, you see the heart of the film and realize how artistic and skillful this workers actually are.
GLOBAL HOME (World Premiere)
I love films that let their audiences travel to new destinations and that was pretty much the premise of GLOBAL HOME – a documentary about couchsurfing. Beginning in Mali and taking us around to world to San Francisco, Japan, the West Bank, and Turkey, Eva Stotz visits interesting people she finds online. It shows us the differences in culture and how it relates to her own idea of being a nomad. For instance, in Mali, there are plenty of nomads and it’s very normal – even encouraged – to have visitors while in Japan, it’s not usual to have any visitors. Eva spent 5 weeks in each country and told her hosts to live their everyday lives as she recorded. Sadly, nothing really happens and the documentary drags along with plenty of B-roll and interesting experiences that were only talked about but not shown. It’s as if you know there’s something there but the cameras just weren’t able to catch it at the right time or the right place. But, if you enjoy traveling, you get to see the distinct differences in many mundane tasks you may not think twice about like laundry, festivities, cultural dress, and dancing.
La Camioneta – The Journey of One American School Bus (World Premiere)
This is a movie about a bus. Really, it follows the journey of an American school bus down to Guatemala where it transforms into a beautiful Camioneta. The scope of this documentary is amazing as it literally follows one bus and all the people that interact with it. Director Mark Kendall was extremely lucky to have everyone along the journey to continue on with the movie because the bus changed hands a couple times. It began at an auction in America where this 8-10 year-old bus in great condition was sold just as it went out of service. It was driven down by a Guatemalan who drives between his home country and America every 15 days! When it gets its way to the man who purchased the bus, it is fixed up and sold to a man who is going to turn it into his life business. Then, it is painted and artistically transformed into the Camioneta, or public bus, that it will continue it’s life as. The documentary highlights the key people behind all these transactions and exposes the dangers and life-changing decisions that each has to go through. To us, it’s just a bus…to them, it’s their well being.
This post is part of our SXSW Film Festival coverage The SXSW® Film Conference and Festival features a dynamic convergence of talent, smart audiences and industry leaders in a uniquely creative environment. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, the event offers invaluable networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of independent film. The internationally acclaimed Film Festival program celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, featuring provocative documentaries, comedies, genre standouts and more.Visit South by Southwest’s Official Website
Safety Not Guaranteed was my favorite narrative from the 2012 South By Southwest Film Festival and it’s not only because I have a small-ish big crush on Aubrey Plaza. Fueled by a great script, this is a quintessential example of a cute contained indie romcom that can easily be marketed to a larger mainstream audience. It has all the elements of a touching film with substance that’s both entertaining and intriguing. Based on the real classified ad about time travel, Safety Not Guaranteed takes the reality of the situation and exploits the fantasy in this day dream turned motion picture. What if the guy behind the ad was for real?
“WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED. I have only done this once before.” Do you remember that posting from a while back? It’s a real classified ad and it spread across the interent like wildfire. Writer Derek Connolly decided to take it one step further and wrote a script about a magazine reporter and two interns who track down the guy who wrote the ad and figure out if he’s a nutcase. Jake M. Johnson stars as Jeff Schwensen, the magazine reporter who really couldn’t care about the story but is really interested in reconnecting with an old flame played by Jenica Bergere. The wonderfully emo Aubrey Plaza and tight-ass Indian Karan Soni are the two interns who tag along.
Jake M. Johnson, Aubrey Plaza, and Karan Soni in Safety Not Guaranteed
Before they even discover Mark Duplass as Kenneth Calloway, the man behind the classified ad, the laughs roll in. This script has an insane amount of one liners and well crated dialogue. “Everything cool is gone.” To the actors credit, it was revealed during the Q&A after the screening that a few of the scenes in the movie were improved on the spot but that all of the character design, relationships, and actions were already plotted out perfectly in the script. It’s great to see when casting meshes with the written characters so perfectly. I don’t know who would have been better to play any of the characters – they were all perfect, especially Mark Duplass who walked the line of insanity and mystery. You can never tell if he really could time travel or if he just forgot to take his medications.
Aubrey Plaza with Mark Duplass in Safety Not Guaranteed
From the description, you can automatically think that this is a sci-fi movie but in actuality, it has a lot of heart and is a pretty atypical romantic comedy. There are a couple budding love stories throughout the movie and you watch each character transform and push each other to new levels. Most noticeably is our emo star who begins to actually smile when she realizes that the story is more than just work and our Indian intern is pushed beyond his boundaries while just trying to get another talking point on his resume. There are a lot of cute scenes which romcom fans are going to gush over and enough curious out of the ordinary scenes to keep a non romcom fan interested. Throughout both, there’s a ton of comedy that will make anybody laugh…Safety Not Guaranteed is truly a great time. (get it? time? lame, I know)
I <3 Aubrey Plaza
I had a lot of fun during this film and can’t wait for it to get some kind of theatrical release. It’s most likely going to be a well kept secret and favorite of those who actually get to experience it so look for it whenever it comes to your city. “Well there’s no sense in nonsense.” There’s a lot of quirky dialogue and story lines so don’t expect your everyday run of the mill film. There are a few surprises and you might be surprised at how much you enjoy this film. If you’re a fan of any of the actors, you’re going to really enjoy them in this because it looked like they all had fun while making it. There are actually two endings to the movie so I’m definitely going to be watching it again but I won’t tell you if Kenneth is for real or just real insane…you’re going to have to watch and decide for yourself! This is not a joke.
This post is part of our SXSW Film Festival coverage The SXSW® Film Conference and Festival features a dynamic convergence of talent, smart audiences and industry leaders in a uniquely creative environment. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, the event offers invaluable networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of independent film. The internationally acclaimed Film Festival program celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, featuring provocative documentaries, comedies, genre standouts and more.Visit South by Southwest’s Official Website
One of the greatest things about film festivals is stumbling into the films you love when you otherwise may have never even heard about them. I had heard about this documentary which held its World Premiere at South By Southwest but I was sceptic as many people are to the famed Deepak Chopra. While running late to one movie called Gimme The Loot (which eventually won the Narrative Feature Competition and got picked up by Sundance Selects), I decided to sit in for this doc made by Chopra’s son Gotham Chopra. I thought it would be more hoopla perpetuating the Deepak machine but I was dead wrong because it seems that one of Deepak’s biggest skeptics is…his own son.
Filmmaker Gotham Chopra with his father Deepak Chopra
Decoding Deepak is less about figuring out what’s behind Deepak (because I don’t think anyone can solve that puzzle) and more about the father and son relationship between a popularized icon and his family that was forced into the spotlight. You quickly grasp that this film is a great tool for Gotham to spend time with his father who has a ridiculous schedule running around the world and making other people happy. The main problem with running around the world and making other people happy is that you consequently neglect your own loved ones and leave them with jealousy and curiosity. That’s the curiosity behind this movie. You can tell that the movie takes shape as it’s filming – there’s no real storyline, goal, or hidden agenda – just a subject that’s worth filming. And to me, that’s what makes the best documentaries.
The most startling thing about this movie is how articulate it is. I guess that shouldn’t come as a surprise based on the countless books of Deepak Chopra and his well-educated family. However, it’s just something that is so uncommon in films these days. Many audience members will have to sit through the film with a dictionary at hand to keep up with some of what is being said. To me, that’s a good thing but also makes you wonder who the target audience is. Thankfully, as Gotham pointed out during the Q&A after the film, this isn’t for the yoga-going meditation-loving crowd that they could have easily gotten a 100% approval rating from, this is for a wide range of people and opinions especially the younger social generation. That is why they decided to premiere the movie at the South By Southwest Film Festival which is more of a skeptical, non-religious, forward-thinking, technology-savvy crowd.
Deepak Chopra becoming an ordained Buddhist in Thailand
Technology-savvy Deepak is as he’s never spotted without texting on his Blackberry. Never spotted without his designer glasses or flashy red shoes. Even when he’s going through the ceremonies of becoming an ordained Buddhist, he can’t help himself from his everyday addictions. (Deepak calls it skillful editing) The movie goes into that as well as a Buddhist staying in five-star hotels, selling books and whatnots, and speaking through TV shows and the internet rather than temples. Love him or hate him, Deepak has an answer for everything and you can never really catch him in a contradiction so to me, he walks his talk – no matter if you believe it or not. The funniest parts of the movie are when Deepak tries to direct the film as his own and tells Gotham, “You’re not God…you’re just the director.”
From Thailand to New York to Tokyo, Arizona, and India, Decoding Deepak takes you on a tour of Deepak’s life and his interactions with people around him. You see him as he receives prestigious awards, promotes his wares, handle business, deals with critics, and spends time with his family and friends. What makes him tick? The movie tries to get into that but Deepak’s mind runs a mile a minute and the second you think you understand him, he spins around and starts doing something else. You can tell that he truly believes what he preaches and practices it in his own way which he believes is true. The most touching part of the doc is when Deepak takes his son back to India to literally see his family’s history in the form of written letters from their ancestors. In return, Gotham wrote a letter to his son to see one day and also realizes that the same way his father put him on camera, he is also doing that to his own son. So again, this doc touches on a lot more than just a “spiritual guru who grows restless without his followers.”
This post is part of our SXSW Film Festival coverage The SXSW® Film Conference and Festival features a dynamic convergence of talent, smart audiences and industry leaders in a uniquely creative environment. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, the event offers invaluable networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of independent film. The internationally acclaimed Film Festival program celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, featuring provocative documentaries, comedies, genre standouts and more.Visit South by Southwest’s Official Website
The opening night film of the 2012 South By Southwest Film Festival was the World Premiere of Drew Goddard (writer of Cloverfield) and Joss Whedon’s (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog) long-awaited The Cabin in the Woods. If you’ve been following this movie, you know that it was supposed to come out over two years ago and be converted into 3D. Unluckily (or luckily), none of that happened as the studio of the film, MGM went bankrupt. Lionsgate swooped in, bought the film, and they’re releasing it on Friday the 13th next month. Spo0o0o0o0ky.
The Cabin in the Woods is a lot a fun as it’s completely serious while making fun of it’s own genre. Horror fans and scaredy-cats alike are going to love how these fan favorite writers penned a story that takes all the horror elements and exploits them in this entertaining comedy slash what just happened movie. Ever wonder why certain characters make dumb decisions or do certain things in played out situations? Like say, splitting up instead of staying together or taking a walk in the woods? The Cabin in the Woods explains all of that for our viewing pleasure. They create a group of stereotypical players: a jock (Chris Hemsworth), a slut (Anna Hutchison), a brain (Jesse Williams), a stoner (Fran Kranz), and a shy girl (Kristen Connolly) and throw them together in a Cabin in the Woods.
Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, and Kristen Connolly in The Cabin in the Woods
The movie is hilarious. I loved the beginning and the direction they were taking the movie. It’s got a loud 80s feel to the opening as you meet the characters while they pack up to go on the trip. Once you meet Fran Kranz as Marty Mikalski with his coffee cup bong, you know this movie is going to be ridiculously funny. You’ll miss some of the jokes because people will be laughing too loud! But wait, you hear imminent music and something strange is going on and Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford are in this movie for some reason…you can quickly gather that this isn’t your typical horror film. Something grander is afoot and it just adds so much more awesomeness to the story.
During the Q&A after the movie, someone asked how we’re supposed to keep quiet but tell people how awesome this movie is (no one wants to spoil the surprises). Joss answered that using the word awesome is good and not to shy away from saying “timeless classic.” Drew Goddard said that this movie came from a place of love and they both thought to themselves, “alright fuck it, if we could do anything we wanted to do in a horror film, what would we do?” And that’s basically it…The Cabin in the Woods is the movie you would make if you were 10 years old and could do anything and everything you wanted that encompassed Horror.
"You know damn right which war!"
I’m not going to say this is a timeless classic because at the end of the 2nd act, the movie kind of lost me. Yes, it’s funny, yes, it has a few scary jolts, but after the initial introduction and exposure of the grander scheme, The Cabin in the Woods lost its charm. It’s going to be an amazing rental and a good time in theaters but it’s not a must see in my opinion. Having said that, I will be definitely watch it again because it’s so much fun. You can tell that the cast and crew had a great time making this project and I’m happy it’s finally seeing the light of day…even if it means the end of days. “Let’s get this party started!”
This post is part of our SXSW Film Festival coverage The SXSW® Film Conference and Festival features a dynamic convergence of talent, smart audiences and industry leaders in a uniquely creative environment. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, the event offers invaluable networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of independent film. The internationally acclaimed Film Festival program celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, featuring provocative documentaries, comedies, genre standouts and more.Visit South by Southwest’s Official Website
21 Jump Street held its World Premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival and the audience absolutely loved it. I knew that this movie would play well for the SXSW crowd but I believe it’s going to do very well in theaters all across the world because it’s genuinely funny and such a great time. It does have some flaws, but 21 Jump Street could very well be the first must see movie of 2012. You’re in for quite a trip. Be surprised, I was…it’s a lot better than you think.
The movie begins when our stars Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are still in high school. One’s a popular jock while the other is an Eminem-wannabee…with braces. Guess which is which. Jump forward a few years and they both see each other at the Police Academy training to be cops. Jenko (Channing Tatum) is still a physical rock…in brawns and brainpower and Schmidt (Jonah Hill) is still lacking in the strength department but is really smart so they team up and become best friends. “Let’s just finger each other’s mouths.” Eventually they are transferred to become undercover cops at a high school to take down a new synthesised drug. Does the plot sound familiar? The movie makes fun of itself for “recycling things from the 80s” just as the movie is doing itself! (This film is based on the old TV series of the same name). There’s plenty of tongue and cheek humor in 21 Jump Street and that’s where it gets most of its charm.
Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as teenagers in high school
Along with the tongue and cheek humor is some of the most offensive comedy I’ve seen in a blockbuster movie – and it was great! It might push a few buttons but it’s really really funny. The script is top notch and the execution from everybody involved is superb. There’s also plenty of social commentary on the current state of kids in America. The roles of our undercover cops get humorously switched but the roles of all the kids at school have been turned on their heads too. In this post-Glee school, no longer are jocks the instant popular kids in high school and now you have goths, environmentalists, cool nerds, and things Jenko can’t even understand! The movie is rated R but high school kids are going to crazy when they see this – the movie is going to benefit really well from positive word of mouth.
Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill getting some H.F.S. from Dave Franco
This is an action comedy but the action didn’t do it for me. They worked with what they had (being in a high school) and it resulted in some very lame fight scenes. The scenes are still funny but just not as entertaining. There are a few moments in the 2nd act that dragged along…especially if you’re not into this kind of comedy. You may become restless and just want the whole thing to end because the movie becomes very repetitive spinning off the same kind of routines and jokes. However, if you stick around for the ending, you will be rewarded! 21 Jump Street has one of the best endings of a comedy.
Ice Cube IS Captain Dickson
Along with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are Dave Franco and Brie Larson as Schmidt’s high school friends, Rob Riggle, Ellie Kemper, Chris Parnell, and Jake M. Johnson as the teachers and principal of the school, and Ice Cube as Captain Dickson. I don’t usually like Ice Cube in films but he killed his role as the stereotypical black angry captain – he was probably my favorite character in the whole film. Dave Franco kept reminding me of his older brother, James Franco, with his facial expressions but he held his own and will hopefully differentiate himself. Truly, the sums of all parts are excellent in this movie because each actor played their part so well. There’s no doubt in my mind that you have to see this film and there’s no doubt in my mind that you will enjoy it. “Ap Chemistry, Bitch!”
This post is part of our SXSW Film Festival coverage The SXSW® Film Conference and Festival features a dynamic convergence of talent, smart audiences and industry leaders in a uniquely creative environment. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, the event offers invaluable networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of independent film. The internationally acclaimed Film Festival program celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, featuring provocative documentaries, comedies, genre standouts and more.Visit South by Southwest’s Official Website
What an interesting concept – take five DJs and have them create a song with prominent artists of a different genre. In association with the Grammys, the documentary Re:Generation was born. Following DJ Premier, Skrillex, Pretty Lights, Mark Ronson, and The Crystal Method, the movie takes these masters of their own craft and throws them into a tumultuous mixed up scenario causing them obvious stress and discomfort. What resulted is five amazing tracks that each take a different approach to the mission and an accompanying movie that illustrates the process of music-making beautifully.
In my opinion, the project was doomed to fail from the beginning because music should be such a personal expression brought out by the true emotions of the artists. By making a track just to make a track, it looses a lot of its emphasis and soul. The movie touched on this quite well showing how the DJ, artists, and musicians interacted and complained about the situation they were put in. But then you come to learn that the DJ is in fact both and artist and musician and in the end, the whole experience is a personal foundation for each of these tracks. I know I just talked in a circle but once you see the film, you’ll understand what I mean and appreciate the songs so much more.
The movie began with introductions of the five DJs and a little bit of their background. The audience cheered for each of their favorites once they hit the screen which made the movie-watching experience even more fun in a crowded theater. DJ Premier was tasked to make a song with classical music so he quickly went digging for vinyls from the late greats such as Beethoven and Mozart. Skrillex was tasked with a rock song which he grew up listening to. The Doors didn’t really know who he was but their kids wanted Skrillex’s autograph. Skrillex replied that he’s a fan but probably his dad would want their autograph. Pretty Lights seemed to have the toughest match with Country music…he was visibly stressing out the entire time except with LeAnn Rimes came to save the day. Mark Ronson went down to New Orleans to make a Jazz track with the amazing musicians Zigaboo Modeliste, members of The Dap Kings, Trombone Shorty as well as the eclectic Erykah Badu and Mos Def who apparently changed his name to Yasiin Bey. Finally, The Crystal Method was tasked to make an R&B joint with Martha Reeves.
Everybody loves Skrilliepoo
The beauty of this documentary is how it exposes the talents, methods, and processes of the various music makers. There isn’t one right answer…there isn’t one way to make music. They all had their different approach and the results were astonishing. Some of them butt heads and others gelled together like they were family. When Skrillex first met members of The Doors and they heard what he had made…they just stared at him and said, “Uh huh.” The most obvious apprehension was between Dr. Ralph Stanley and Pretty Lights and Martha Reeves with The Crystal Method. The artists were stuck in their way and while the DJs tried to understand where they were coming from, the artists wouldn’t budge and see where the DJs were trying to go. I think that’s the main takeaway from this film and Pretty Lights put it perfectly…they aren’t trying to redo these genres but breathe new life into them because obviously electronic dance music is what the kids love and they are the next generation.
The Crystal Method rocking La Jolla, CA with the premiere of their R&B track with Martha Reeves
Even though the DJs proved to the audience that they aren’t just pushing buttons on a machine and are actual musicians too, the true highlight and magic is when artists such as Erykah Badu and LeAnn Rimes took the mic and displayed their natural talent – it was brilliant! If you come from any background of music, this is an excellent movie to watch and jam to. It screens one more time on February 23rd so don’t miss it! You can download and listen to all the tracks that were made as well as remixes right here for free! You can also watch clips from the film on Hyundai’s YouTube channel but my friend wants you to know that the trailer doesn’t do the movie justice so just go check it out – you won’t be disappointed.
Mark Ronson with the amazing drummer Zigaboo Modeliste
This post is part of our NoisePop coverage The Noise Pop Festival is San Francisco’s favorite indie music, arts and film festival. Now in its 20th year, Noise Pop has brought early exposure to many emerging artists in the Bay Area and beyond, many of whom have gone on to widespread acclaim.Visit NoisePop 2012′s Official Website
Still Life (Stillleben )
We all do thinks that we aren’t proud of. We all have our demons. But what if those things we kept locked away in the tool shed come out of the dark and are too damaging to handle? That’s the scenario that a father is put in when his son, Bernhard, discovers a letter written to a whore to act as his sister – his father’s own daughter, Lydia. After confronting his father at an AA meeting while battling other demons, the father just leaves. This doesn’t just expose one problem but unravels the family from within. Watching how each character deals with the situation is curiously engaging as no one can figure out what to say or do but they’re actions show exactly what they think.
seductive still to get you enticed to see the film...it works
The acting of the father from Fritz Hörtenhuber is strong. His eyes can’t hide the misery that he’s caused and the void in his mind in finding the solution to this problem. Daniela Golpashin plays Lydia, the insestual love interest that had no idea she was literally the love of her father’s life. More interestingly, though, was the relationship between her and her brother who somehow always knew what was going on. If you want to see human emotions take a different course than you’re used to…check this one out. Still Life plays again tomorrow at 9:30pm at the Roxie.
Beside My Brother (Neben meinem Bruder)
It’s hard to find an original idea in films today. Thankfully, indie films take the risk and surprise us. The synopsis of Beside My Brother was so original to me that I couldn’t wait to see it. Two identical twin brothers are raised as the same person by their troubled father. They switch off going to school, they answer to the same name, and they even sleep in the same bed. The film depicts an interesting scenario that the boys just never grow out of. How do you think they will interact with the world after they leave their father’s home? Even though they are identical, their personalities are somewhat polar and their most significant similarity, art, is what brings them together and breaks them apart.
This Austrian project worked on by film students is an excellent piece keeping you on your toes throughout the movie. You can’t stop thinking how Thomas will handle different situations like relationships, work, and one getting sick or wanting to do something the other doesn’t. Both the young Thomasas and old Thomasas are played by a single actor so it’s always fun to see how they shot the scenes where both of them are involved. The story arc is a bit abrupt in the end but there are a couple twists that make it worth it. Beside My Brother plays Sunday, February 19th (5:00pm) and Tuesday, February 21st (7:15pm) at the Roxie.
The FP
Set in a world where people wear whatever they find in their closet and battles are settled on a Dance Dance Revolution imitation called Beat-Beat Revelation, The FP is one of the weirdest movies I’ve seen thus far this year. I can’t say that I enjoyed it but know that a lot of others have. I had a pretty overbearing problem with the language of this film as they took hipsters and had them saying broken ghetto slang. It was obviously trying to be funny but it came off brash. In any case, the fundamental story is a hyperbole of all those train yourself to become better and avenge your brother’s death type movies. In that respect, the movie is hilarious as it takes its main character JTRO (Jason Trost) and trains him to beat his brother BTRO’s killer L Dubba E (Lee Valmassy).
It's like Zoolander in a videogame made by douchebags
KCDC (Art Hsu) is the obnoxious hype man while BLT (Nick Principe) is the sen say and Stacy (Caker Folley) is the girl next door love interest. They flip everything about the genre on its head and deliver an unconventional triumph story set in the boonies. It’s loud and it’s proud as the movie is freight train of off the wall acting, terrible dance movies, and a storyline that doesn’t go anywhere you don’t expect it to. You’re either going to love it or hate it but if you’re interested, this only screens once at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival on Friday, February 17th at 7:15pm and is followed by its own Dance Dance Revolution Throwdown! Party at 518 Valencia.
This post is part of our IndieFest coverage For the 14th year in a row, SF IndieFest presents an awesome abundance of awesomeness with a mightily monstrous mix of maverick movies and mayhem.Visit SF INDIEFEST’s Official Website
Bored of the same ol same ol mainstream movies? Well you’re in luck, the San Francisco Independent Film Festival (IndieFest) is back for the 14th year! Starting tomorrow, February 9th and running two weeks until February 23rd, the IndieFest boasts over 70 indie films and events at the Roxie Theater and surrounding venues. This isn’t your normal film festival with a ridiculous amount of dance parties, roller disco, live shows, Anti-Valentine’s Day sing-a-long, and so much more.
4:44 Last Day On Earth
Let’s start off with some notable films at the festival. Though being set in San Francisco, the film festival opens and closes with some tributes to New York. The opening night film is Abel Ferarra‘s 4:44 Last Day On Earth – a look into a couple’s last few hours starring Willem Dafoe and Shanyn Leigh. To close out the festival is a kickstarter project called Girl Walk // All Day – a tribute not only to sunny New York but to mashup artist Girl Talk. You can see this movie in its entirety online but you can’t experience it like you would at IndieFest…we’ll talk about that more in the Special Events section.
Bullhead
IndieFest has plenty of award-winning films too. Belgium’s Bullhead (“Rundskop”) is nominated for an Oscar under the Foreign Language category. It’s a literal and metaphorical story of raising animals and injecting them with hormones…it grabs you by the balls. Snowtown won the Cannes Jury Prize and takes you into a world of violence, addiction, and abuse. Finisterrae – a surreal movie about two ghosts wandering around Catalunya trying to find a body – won the Tiger Award at the 2011 Rotterdam International Film Festival.
The Color Wheel
The top two films on Indiewire’s list of best undistributed films will both be playing at this year’s IndieFest. The Color Wheel is a black and white road trip between two siblings who can’t stand each other and Green is about two women who mistreat each other due to jealousy and paranoia highlighting the female psyche. It also won the SXSW audience award.
If you didn’t notice, Valentine’s Day falls between the 9th and 23rd (it’s the 14th if you didn’t know) so the IndieFest is hosting a Valentine’s Day (or anti-Valentine’s Day program) with the films I Like You and Girlfriend, an international Love shorts program called The Languages of Love and the annual 80s Power Ballad Sing-A-Long this year donned Love Bites.
with a screening of Skater 26. If that’s not enough, there’s a Dance Dance Revolution party to coincide with The FP – a crazy film where fights are settled on the dance floor … of “Beat-Beat Revelation.”
Another event not to miss is the FREE screening and panel discussion of Default – a film that’s definitely in the now discussing the aftermath of the mortgage bubble burst and rise of the Occupy movement.
Girl Walk // All Day
As mentioned earlier, the film festival will close with Girl Walk // All Day. This film is an upbeat dance party all in itself and if you’ve ever listened to Girl Talk, you know what I mean. Separating itself from other film festivals, IndieFest is combining the screening with…you guessed it…a dance party at Public Works! So why sit and watch people dancing on film when you can dance along while watching the show. I can’t imagine watching this movie any other way and it’s sure to be another memorable close of a fantastic festival.
You can purchase tickets to all the films now! One interesting side note of the festival is that you have no idea if the film is showing at The Roxie or the Little Roxie (right next door). The organizers did this on purpose to make sure as many people as possible got to see the films that they want to see. They are going to keep an eye on presales to determine which film will be shown in which theater right before each screening. What does that mean? It means to buy your tickets early to make sure you get to see the movies that you want to see!
This post is part of our IndieFest coverage For the 14th year in a row, SF IndieFest presents an awesome abundance of awesomeness with a mightily monstrous mix of maverick movies and mayhem.Visit SF INDIEFEST’s Official Website
“Martha, where have you been?” Martha Marcy May Marlene is stunning. I went in knowing very little about this film and was delighted to be shown an original work of art from writer/director Sean Durkin. I loved so much about it, that it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why the movie is so wonderful. Don’t be afraid of the multiple “M” title, even if you can’t remember the exact title…go see it. Just tell the guy at the box office that you want to see MMMM. As in, mmmm mmmm, that was good!
The most noteworthy part of this film is the amazing script and lead actress who brought it to life. Martha (Elizabeth Olsen – yes, Mary Kate and Ashley’s little sister) is a young girl who found her way into a small cult. Very early on in the film we see her run away and try to escape. The movie follows the next two weeks of her trying to assimilate back into the real world. She’s taken in by her sister (Sarah Paulson) and brother-in-law (Hugh Dancy) after a confused call from a pay phone. The only thing more gripping than Olsen’s performance and the story of MMMM is the directing. Durkin did a remarkable job building tension and an eerie feeling for the audience to empathize with.
The beautiful Martha (Elizabeth Olsen) with her sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson)
From slow, very slow, transitions to deep character closeups to eye-opening lush forests and scenery…this is a film lover’s dream. The settings are there, the cinematography is there, the directing, acting, story, score, everything is in place. The whole cast is wonderful. Even the small roles were paramount and acted out terrifically. Louisa Krause plays Zoe, Marcy May’s cult friend who is both her bestie and creepy enemy at the same time. Both are controlled by the mysterious cult leader Patrick (John Hawkes) who can lie with his eyes but still convey truth with his words. The script is so lifelike that you can only assume that Durkin himself went through some of these traumatic experiences, but he claims it’s all fiction.
The captivating word-abusing Patrick (John Hawkes)
“But if you’re going to live here, you’re going to need to be a part of this.” You can easily see how someone can be attracted by the cult lifestyle and then suffer through paranoia as they break free. They say the first 2 weeks are the hardest after you escape and the movie depicts that to a t. Everything feels so real that you sometimes think you’re watching a documentary or dramatization of actual events. However, if you’re not hooked by this concept, the movie will progress slowly for you as it contains a lot of build and understanding via flashbacks and comparisons.
Love? Control? Right? Wrong?
Martha Marcy May Marlene uses flashbacks so we can see the whole process of how someone is seduced into the cult and how recursive and controlling it can be. You see both the bright and dark sides of the wayward community through loving song and harsh anguish. I loved that the movie never judges. It leaves that to the audience to determine which life is right and whether some aspects of one are better than the other. On the other side, you see the abundant and wasteful life of Martha’s real sister and husband who play the “normal” couple.
Can you see it in her eyes?
I highly recommend watching this film if you want to see something different and original. If you want to see a proper film that draws you into the material rather than blasting it in your face. If you want to see what acting is supposed to be and how a director should shoot a film. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Durkin and Olsen as this should be a launching pad for both of their careers. It’s refreshing to know that quality films can and still are being made. The movie leaves you unknowing how to feel and it does this very well.
The Mill Valley Film Festival is a celebration of the best in independent and world cinema. MVFF brings together a community of filmmakers and film lovers to Mill Valley, San Rafael and beyond to experience amazing new films in the beautiful environment of San Francisco, California’s Bay Area. With its reputation as a filmmakers’ festival, this prestigious noncompetitive event showcases international features, documentaries, shorts and children’s films – something for every filmgoer. Visit the Mill Valley Film Festival’s Official Website
Unusual. Curious. Spectacle. I could be describing the German choreographer Philippina “Pina” Bausch or the German 3D documentary about her, Pina. Originally set to be a documentary about Pina involving her, the work turned into a memorial for her after her unexpected quick death during preparations for the film. What resulted is a beautiful documentary to commemorate this woman who had a huge impact on so many others lives. It’s a work of love…as dancing is supposed to be. The movie begins on a powerful number with a timidly-filled room but then turns into a deeper understanding of dance.
The movie exhibits four major pieces that Pina developed: Le sacre du printemps, Café Mueller, Kontakthof and Vollmond. Each is very distinct and can be interpreted in a bountiful amount of ways leaving the audience to to experience a performance unlike any other, even if they went to see the actual dances in Germany. Throughout the set pieces are interviews with the various dancers allowing them to pay tribute to their beloved teacher and friend. They recount past memories of Pina and paint you a picture of who she actually was and why they did so much for her/with her. Many of the dancers are international so they speak in their native tongue in accents with accompanying subtitles.
The dancers of Pina
Many of the dancers also have their own small dance routines that they perform out of the theater and in various outside settings around Wuppertal, Germany. Some of the backdrops are immersible and perfect backgrounds for the dances but some of the dances are just plain weird. It definitely takes an open mind to understand or even accept what is going on. The music is all scattered allowing different types of dances and emotions. From classical to rap to rock to whatever you can think of. It’s great because you are bound to listen to a song you enjoy and be exposed to new ones you’ve never heard of before.
Tanztheater Wuppertal performing Vollmond
The whole movie is connected through some sort of “seasonal trail” involving all of the dancers parading in a conga line. It’s a great piece to come back to and see the various people, sizes, shapes, ages, etc of the people involved. There’s an amazing piece (I think it was Kontakthof) where three sets of dancers (the troupe, an older version and younger version) do the same exact dance and director Wim Wenders edits it in a way that they are all together. You can see how dance spans multiple generations and mean so much to different people. I’ve also said 3D is great for animation and dancing and having 3D present in a documentary genre which isn’t at all about action was refreshing. It didn’t add too much to the experience but it was a creative way to experience this art form. I’m sure Pina would’ve loved this doc and you could tell all the dancers loved making it for her.
The Mill Valley Film Festival is a celebration of the best in independent and world cinema. MVFF brings together a community of filmmakers and film lovers to Mill Valley, San Rafael and beyond to experience amazing new films in the beautiful environment of San Francisco, California’s Bay Area. With its reputation as a filmmakers’ festival, this prestigious noncompetitive event showcases international features, documentaries, shorts and children’s films – something for every filmgoer. Visit the Mill Valley Film Festival’s Official Website
Seeking Asian Female (World Premiere)
Trash Dance (World Premiere)
GLOBAL HOME (World Premiere)
La Camioneta – The Journey of One American School Bus (World Premiere)
This post is part of our SXSW Film Festival coverage
Safety Not Guaranteed was my favorite narrative from the 2012 South By Southwest Film Festival and it’s not only because I have a small-ish big crush on Aubrey Plaza. Fueled by a great script, this is a quintessential example of a cute contained indie romcom that can easily be marketed to a larger mainstream audience. It has all the elements of a touching film with substance that’s both entertaining and intriguing. Based on the real classified ad about time travel, Safety Not Guaranteed takes the reality of the situation and exploits the fantasy in this day dream turned motion picture. What if the guy behind the ad was for real?
It’s still over a month away, but we will start to be posting advance screenings here: 
What an interesting concept – take five DJs and have them create a song with prominent artists of a different genre. In association with the Grammys, the documentary Re:Generation was born. Following DJ Premier, Skrillex, Pretty Lights, Mark Ronson, and The Crystal Method, the movie takes these masters of their own craft and throws them into a tumultuous mixed up scenario causing them obvious stress and discomfort. What resulted is five amazing tracks that each take a different approach to the mission and an accompanying movie that illustrates the process of music-making beautifully.
This post is part of our NoisePop coverage
Still Life (Stillleben )
Beside My Brother (Neben meinem Bruder)
This Austrian project worked on by film students is an excellent piece keeping you on your toes throughout the movie. You can’t stop thinking how Thomas will handle different situations like relationships, work, and one getting sick or wanting to do something the other doesn’t. Both the young Thomasas and old Thomasas are played by a single actor so it’s always fun to see how they shot the scenes where both of them are involved. The story arc is a bit abrupt in the end but there are a couple twists that make it worth it. 
The FP
This post is part of our IndieFest coverage
Martha Marcy May Marlene is getting a limited release so you can still catch advance screenings around the country: 
The Mill Valley Film Festival is a celebration of the best in independent and world cinema. MVFF brings together a community of filmmakers and film lovers to Mill Valley, San Rafael and beyond to experience amazing new films in the beautiful environment of San Francisco, California’s Bay Area. With its reputation as a filmmakers’ festival, this prestigious noncompetitive event showcases international features, documentaries, shorts and children’s films – something for every filmgoer.
Unusual. Curious. Spectacle. I could be describing the German choreographer Philippina “Pina” Bausch or the German 3D documentary about her, Pina. Originally set to be a documentary about Pina involving her, the work turned into a memorial for her after her unexpected quick death during preparations for the film. What resulted is a beautiful documentary to commemorate this woman who had a huge impact on so many others lives. It’s a work of love…as dancing is supposed to be. The movie begins on a powerful number with a timidly-filled room but then turns into a deeper understanding of dance.
