Hey folks Harry here, with that corporate teat sucking bastard Massawyrm. Remember how he once promised us all to be the champion of INDIES... Remember him finding little jewels like F8? Oooooh, where did that beautiful man go? He went Hollywood. Just the other day he was here in my house, and he would remove his sunglasses... IN MY HOUSE! Not only that, but I swear... he'd tossed his robes for a fine Italian Suit! His pierced hands and feet had gold and diamond studs through them. And his cross was electroplated with silver and cubic zirconians! I wept, for he had truly turned in his cigarettes for Havana Cigars. But lo.... what is this? A report from Massawyrm reporting on INDIES??? Shock gasp choke chortle.... Maybe, maybe somewhere in his sellout hide is the bleeding heart for the skimping and saving Indies... Just maybe...
Hola all. Everyone's favorite chain smoking, Dr. Pepper swilling, indie schilling man on a stick here with some indies making the festival circuit as we speak. I've received several e-mails over the past few weeks asking me what happened to the Indie Indie column. Well, folks, it's alive and well. Unfortunately, due to an enormous workload and a pile of movies that just didn't make my sheet rise, I really haven't had anything on the indie front to share with you. And despite the fact that I just got back from L.A. (of which I promise you will hear about all my wild adventures) I must assure you that I have not GONE HOLLYWOOD. I'm still an indie man. In fact, I spent time on a movie set in L.A...it was funded by Lions Gate. Indie to the core baby! Now what do you say I introduce you to some bad assed little flicks you can see at your local film festivals and sink your collective teeth into.
Alrighty folks, I know its customary (even Christ-like) to save the best for last, but tonight, I just can't. I gotta talk about this bad mama of a little film I just wrapped my brain around a few days back. It's a film that epitomizes what I believe indie HD films should be. Just perfect in everyway an indie film should be.
COME TOGETHER
The film is called "Come Together" and it was produced and co-stars one of Quint and my favorite actresses, Miss Laura Harris. This film delivers in all sorts of ways. Visually its fantastic, the editing a flawless piecing of both linear storytelling and stream of consciousness exposition, utilizing what looks to be HD cameras for the storyline and DV cameras for the fragments of memories the main character keeps watching on television. The acting is just plain amazing, each character deep and painfully real. The story, while seemingly simple, lends itself well to the character development and really brings out the best in these actors. I just can't say enough good things about it.
Essentially it boils down to the story of Ewan (Tygh Runyan) whose long time girlfriend (Laura Harris) has left him and run off back home. When next he talks to her, she's engaged and inviting him to her wedding. While visiting to attend the wedding he has to deal with his unresolved feelings for his ex while dealing with the come ons from a high school student (Eryn Collins) who has fallen in love with him.
"Come Together" has vibes of American Beauty while retaining its own individual flavor, skirting the shores of deep obsession while flirting with a creepy sensuality. This film is deeply satisfying and a thumb to the nose at anyone who still thinks that HD isn't a viable medium with which to make a film. When you get the opportunity to see this DO NOT MISS IT. It's one hell of a little indie and comes highly recommended by the Wyrm.
THE LAST HOPE
Next up on my list of must see films is a great documentary titled "The Last Hope" Chronicling the 6 week wait in line to see The Phantom Menace in front of Mann's Chinese Theatre. Now I've heard some great tales about how much fun waiting in line for that wretched piece of trash was (oops, did I say that out loud) but those tales are nothing compared to the sheer greed, infighting and conspiracy surrounding the wait on Hollywood BLVD. Man, some guys really had some huevos in that line to pull what they did, and they get their just desserts in this one.
You see, whether you waited in line, whether you avoided the film altogether or if you fell somewhere in-between, this movie has something for you. Geeks to laugh at. Geeks to emphasize with. Greedy capitalists dirtbags. Jesus Freaks. And of course sad sorry people who had nothing better to do with their lives but wait in line for a movie (granted THE EVENT MOVIE TO END ALL EVENT MOVIES at the time, but a movie none the less). No matter your perspective, The Last Hope delivers with intrigue, humor and the kind of documentary storytelling that avoids putting itself in the story and instead merely stands back, keenly watches and relates. This is another film you should not miss.
AMERICA SO BEAUTIFUL
Next up is "America So Beautiful". If ever there was a timely movie that struck a chord so well with current events and sentiments and not only illustrated it's point, but found that illustration to be one of the most important and pertinent messages of the day, this is it. Set in the 1970's, America So Beautiful tells the story of several Iranians, trying to make their fortunes and lives here in America during the Iran Hostage Crisis.
Writer/Director Babak Shokrian makes all the right steps in this film, making it engrossing and thought provoking, but never preachy. This film carries a definite message, but doesn't try at all to cram it down your throat. The ideas are offered up, fully developed and told from all the proper perspectives to keep it from being a film solely about prejudice. You see, this is the type of film Spike Lee tried so hard to make early in his career, but didn't manage to get the hang of until recently. That a first time director nailed the formula so perfectly is something to applaud.
This film is never insulting and as a white, European American male citizen of the United States, I found myself able to identify with the characters, despite the obvious differences between them and myself. And the parallels to everything going on in our country today; this guy nailed it. The fear, the patriotism, the blanket hostility. It was the same in that era as it is here now. There are scenes in this that will just hit you in the gut - they are so right on with what you've been thinking, feeling and watching on television for the past month.
But not only is it thought provoking and riveting as a film, but there are some visual sequences to it as well that are very memorable well done. This is another highly recommended Massawyrm pick. If this comes your way, make plans to see it, then schedule a coffee date afterwards to digest and discuss it. Very timely and very entertaining.
Oh, it's important to note that many of you will consider this a foreign film, as the characters keep slipping in and out of their native language. Personally, I found this an excellent touch, as it really gives us a look into a culture trying to retain it's identity here in the States while having to convert to the new American ways in order to get along with the rest of society. This aspect was handled with real class. Again, do not miss this movie if this is anywhere near your bag.
DING-A-LING-LESS
Okay, now, in the it-has-to-be-a-midnight-show category we have a beautifully conceived and shot film "Ding-a-ling-Less". Yes, you are reading that right. It's the story of a guy that, well, is all man minus one important part. His yahoo. This is one of those mixed bag films, brilliantly done in many ways, and then flawed in several others.
The concept, the story, and the cinematography are all great in this. And the dialog is at time hilarious. The only problem is that the minute you think the movie is going for some high ground humor, well, they instead say the word dick six or seven times. My only wish is that they'd replaced the word dick with penis for, oh say, 80% of the times it's used, simply because it becomes overly repetitive and somewhat childish. Yes, this is clearly a dick joke movie, but it's an intelligently crafted dick joke movie. This film touches on all sorts of issues dealing with masculinity, character and love, all the while loading up on guy in-jokes that are going to leave women scratching their heads and the guys rolling in the aisles.
Let me say this in no uncertain terms: This is a guy movie. I find it very hard to grasp the idea of many women seeing this film and getting a kick out of it like the men will. It really is funny and touching, but in a way that will have most women asking their boyfriends questions about their masculinity that they just don't want to answer (Questions like "Just what else can you do with a sock other than wear it?").
The thing about this film is that some of the shots and concepts are so well done, that you can't write this off as some dumb dick and fart joke film. But at the same time, it's not quite pure genius either. It's halfway between the two, making it on the whole watchable, discussable and overall a fun midnight film. If you're looking for more serious fare, avoid this one lest it leave you wanting, however if you want some good belly laughs, and all your parts work, check this one out and decide for yourself which end of the spectrum this one belongs on.
MISERABLE COMFORTERS
And finally tonight we have a documentary titled "Miserable Comforters" about a group of Christian fellowship film students on a "mission" to document them helping change someone's life in the name of Christ. It's an interesting film with a great message; a little heavy handed toward the end, but all in all a good, noteworthy documentary worth your time. Very digestible stuff here. Now, for those of you that need no more prompting and wish to see this film, go out and see it now. However, from here on out it's gonna be all spoilers, because I can't discuss this one without doing so.
Spoiler time...break it down.
Okay, everyone else gone now. Nobody here cares if I lay it down for them. Big spoiler word coming up...you sure. Okay. Mockumentary. There, I said it. That's really the big thing about this film. It is very much fake. Now I gathered it was a Mockumentary about 5 minutes in, but only because I have a regional advantage. You see the students making the film are from Texas and claim to go to Texas Christian Fellowship University. which I happen to know does not exist. And, I mean, come on. A school with the Acronym TCFU. No. Not in Texas.
What this film centers around is two separate ideals: first and foremost to serve as a minor treatise on modern Christianity and what it really means to follow Christ's teachings, and secondly to serve as an attack on the current trend in documentaries to be more about the crew's involvement in the story rather than the story itself. It accomplishes illustrating the filmmakers ideas on these topics and only falters at the end when it becomes just a tad bit heavy handed and contrived. It's reminiscent of "The St. Francisville Experiment" (the Blair Witch Rip Off) in that its very, very believable as a true documentary (is it or isn't it?) until the last 5 minutes when it becomes plainly obvious that its faked. Nothing really wrong with that, except that the best Mockumentaries (like Forgotten Silver) never tip their hat, they never really let you in on the joke.
What this film has to say, however, makes it more than worthwhile to see, as it really does make some great points about it's issues and overall is an entertaining view. It's a great think piece that works for Christians and non-Christians alike. There's really something for everyone religiously in this one.
Well folks, that about does it for me today. Remember, keep those indies coming. I need good material just as badly as you need to get yours out there.
Massawyrm
3408 Red River
Austin, TX. 78705
Until next time friends. Smoke 'em if ya got 'em. I know I will.
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