What I love about film festivals is the diversity of films that one is exposed to. For example, here in just a few short days I'll be attending the AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL which will begin with PLEASANTVILLE and continue from there. It'll feature big films and little films, features to shorts, dramatic to comedy to documentary. I love film festivals. So that's why I really wish I was up in Toronto covering the hell out of this fest, but hey... We got groovy spies like this guy to get it done, so here we go...
FADE IN:
INT. TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. NIGHT
The first flic I saw was Permanent Midnight, on Saturday night. The film offers another in a line of fantastic performances from Ben Stiller. Stiller plays drug addicted writer Jerry Stahl. Based on writer Jerry Stahl’s book of the same name, Stiller recounts the story of his time in Hollywood, writing for a children’s show called "Mr. Chompers" and all the drugs he did. The supporting cast is strong, including Liz Hurley (who does a surprisingly good job), Maria Bellow, Owen Wilson, and Janeane Garofalo. Stiller, Hurley, Bellow, and the film’s writer/director David Veloz all attended the screening I was at. The film isn’t a masterpiece, but it does have its share of moments that range from hillarious to very disturbing. Thi film opens on the 25th of September, and I would sugest that people go and check it out because it’s a great turn in a dramatic role for Stiller, and promising debut for Veloz.
FstFwd>> to Monday afternoon.
Ed Wood’s I Woke Up Early The Day I died.
A film with no dialogue, and a brilliant physical performance by Billy Zane. The film is glossy, fast paced and very entertaining. The film has numerous big names (well B to C list people, but cool ones)in what are basically cameos. The film has a few lulls but not many. The opening of the film is one of the funniest I’ve seen in a while (I don’t mean the credits, which are done well and have a KICKASS!!! song playing through them). The director was in attendance to the screening I was at. He seemed a bit full of himself, and his film but the Q&A didn’t last that long. He told a couple of funny stories though, including one about how Teppi Heddrin (sp?) got involved in the film. He also said that he didn’t think that the film had distribution yet, which I’m sure will soon be remedied.
Tuesday night. 12:15 a.m.
The Acid House.
Based on Irvine Welsh of Trainspotting fame’s short story collection of the same name. The film is broken up into three segments. One about a down on his luck slacker who meets God in a pub. Another about the neighbour from Hell. And the third about a strange mixture of lightning, birthing, and acid. Each of the segments has its own distinct feel as though it was directed by a different person, which is nice. The film is very emotional at points, and is also very visceral at points. The film is subtitled through most of it, due to the fact that the accents in this film are a shitload thicker than those in Trainspotting. The second segment was my favourite of the bunch, but most likely will be overshadowed by the third segment when it’s released because of its kenetic style, and camera work which people will confuse for complicated (Not that it’s not well done, it is. But on my way out I heard someone say the camera work was amazing in it, and there wasn’t realy anything that challenging in it to produce). Bottom line is that The Acid House won’t be for everyone but those who do like it, will really dig it.
Wed. noon.
6 String Samurai time!!!
This movie is unabashed fun. There’s no meaning behind it. It’s just a movie that you love to watch, and know that it must have been a blast to make. Best line goes to:
-If I were you, I’d run.
-If you were me, you’d be good lookin’.
Now that’s some sweet dialogue, unfortunately the dialogue is sparce, and all ADR which adds a bit of humour to it, but… Jeff Falcon is a cool action hero, who reminded me a lot of Christopher Lambert in Highlander. This movie is just fun, and I’m dying to see Muninga’s next film. This sort of filmmaking needs to make a comeback, and SSS is hopefully gonna start that resurgence. Go see it, just don’t expect anything deep. Buddy rocks!!!
Tomorrow I’m seeing Happiness, Clay Pigeons, and I’m Losing You. If this gets put up, I’ll write ya up something about them.
Later.
Oh, and by the way. I’ve got a Peter Jackson website that if you’ll let me I’d like to promote:
The Fourth World
http://www.pathcom.com/~abu/
And also, since I’ve got this space I’d like to encourage everyone to go and see Your Friends And Neighbours if you already haven’t.
Later. For real this time.
