Harry here.... Anyone that has read my book and read my top ten fave flicks of all time can probably figure out why I love this film the way I do. I am distraught at the choice I have tonight. There is a part of me that yearns to go see CQ a second time here at SXSW tonight, but then I would miss the Paramount Theater screening of Scorsese's THE LAST WALTZ, and where in the hell am I ever going to have a chance to see and hear that movie on a huge screen again. I'm seeing THE LAST WALTZ, but folks... if you have never seen CQ, if you are living in Austin. You must go see this.
Oh wow, you guys! I haven't been this excited about a feature in a long time. I went into this screening of CQ alone, and I was dying for someone to talk with after its end. I must admit that I was a bit cynical at the onset. I thought-oh great, a film directed by Roman Coppola, with his cousin in a starring role, backed by daddy's production company. But I beg you to forget all that bullshit, because the bottom line is this- I am so jazzed that this film exists.
Deliciously set in '69-'70, the film follows feature editor Paul (Jeremy Davies) and his quest to finish his self-involved, biographical documentary, while simultaneously slaving on a mainstream-friendly futuristic sci-fi-fantasy. The duality of the "movie within a movie" theme, I feel, is so over used, yet Coppola manages to make CQ one of the most fresh and original movies I've seen in a long time.
Though the story and characters of the film are completely compelling, the style of the film is what is most enthralling. Late-sixties kitsch almost attacks you throughout, yet it is so well done you really feel as though this universe that Coppola has created really exists. And then there is the sci-fi-film Paul is working on- Codename Dragonfly- a fantastically vivid amalgamation of practically every late 60's thriller, spy, or T and A science fiction film you can think of. I can't imagine how fun and exciting it must have been for Roman Coppola to make not only a great modern period piece, but also to create this awesome homage to early sci-fi complete with furry space ship sets and cheesy (yet wonderful) special effects. We've seen this sort of theme before with films such as DESTINATION MARS, yet Coppola somehow manages to create the perfect vehicle to take full advantage of such a guilty pleasure. Simply! genius!
Performances by Davies and the ever-hilarious Jason Schwartzman (among many others) are perfect, however, the dual role Angela Lindvall undertakes as both the lead actress portraying Dragonfly and the character of Dragonfly herself, provides the crossover between the movie world and real world that makes the film completely cohesive.
I am truly impressed by this directorial debut and enthusiastically recommend it to anyone. Well, I'll be checking in again with round deux of docs here at SXSW.
Until then,
Annette
