Excuse me, but allow me to introduce to you a new spy here at AICN that was introduced at QTIII as 'the pirate' and in a recent Tom Joad and Annette Kellerman report was also referred to 'the pirate'. Well.... now... The Pirate is revealed to be none other than that scurvy fella Peter Blood. An English doctor who was slapped down into the galley of a ship headed for a sad world. So it was... that Peter Blood came to America, via Houston to Austin.... Now... here's his report...
Peter Blood searches for buried treasure at SXSW: Part I
(including a review of The Sky is Falling)
As the newest member in the AICN fold, first I gotta say a big thanks to Harry and his crew for being so welcoming. I had e-mailed back and forth with Harry a couple times mainly when I was moving to Austin last fall and looking for decent priced housing (or at least the Austin equivalent thereof.) I finally met up with him last month at QTIII where we chatted movie posters and the like, and I met some of the AICN gang. While there I told him I would be attending SXSW and offered my services to help cover the event. To me, the best thing about true movie geeks is that as long as you love movies and can talk about them, you're in (even if you're a pirate, like myself.) Anyway, here's the story so far…
Friday began at noon with a barely announced interactive session at the Alamo Cinema and Drafthouse hosted by the Independent Film Channel with director Morgan J Freeman and some of the cast of the opening night film Desert Blue. I got there about five minutes early to discover that other than Alamo and IFC people (and a SXSW volunteer or two), the place was empty. Eventually, a few other SXSW attendees (including some of the AICN crew) showed up, then Morgan showed up, and finally Isidra Vega and Ethan (Suplee showed up. We were told that neither of the advertised cast members, Casey Affleck and Christina Ricci, would be able to make it. Christina's in London working on Tim Burton's Legend of Sleepy Hollow and supposedly they wouldn't let her fly back for both SXSW and to be a presenter at the Academy Awards Sunday. She went with the Oscars. (Geez, what priorities.) Allison Bailes of the IFC hosted the panel, and most of the discussion involved the differences between shooting this film and his first, Hurricane Streets. Highlights included Morgan referring to his film as "The beer commercial movie" because it's about friends being forced to hang out together for a while and a description of the blizzard-like shooting conditions. We were also informed that tonight would be the first ever screening of the version of the film (with the final soundtrack) that you're going to see in theaters this summer. On the more surreal side, several people in the "on-line audience" kept saying (er…typing) things like "remember me, I worked with you on Miss Daisy last year". It was sad and funny at the same time.
Then it was off to registration where I picked up my badge, bag of goodies and overpriced t-shirt. There I met up with Tom Joad, Quint, Annette Kellerman Father Geek, Johnny Wad, and Harry, who was apparently given a pass that wouldn't even get him into the panels he was speaking on. This too, was sad and funny at the same time. I then took my leave, promising to see everyone later tonight at the Desert Blue gala.
I won't go into a full-blown review of this film, since I pretty much agree with the one already posted. I will add, however, that Christina Ricci continues to amaze me with her characters' depth; that Kate Hudson is babe-o-licious to the nth degree; and that Casey Affleck always seems to get the funniest lines no matter what movie he's in. The soundtrack kicks major but too, especially Cat Power, who I hope gets a lot of attention from this. (The soundtrack's due out in late May, btw.) I'd also like to say I'm glad they had to shoot in such arctic conditions (It snowed in the middle of the desert shoot), because it really added that extra… something… especially in waist-up shots of Kate Hudon in that tie-dye t-shirt. During the post-screening Q & A with cast and crew, Sara Gilbert appeared to be staring at me.
After the screening I said hello to Michael Burns, who executive produced the film as well as being one of the founders of the online game Hollywood Stock Exchange, that I've enjoyed for a couple of years now. With him was director Jamie Babbit, whose upcoming film But I'm a Cheerleader is one that I've been looking forward to. (Hell, I'd look forward to a tampon commercial if Michele Williams was going to be in it.) The premise alone is enough to hook you; from the IMDb… Plot Outline: A naive teenager is sent to rehab camp when her straitlaced parents and friends suspect her of being a lesbian. Does that sound cool or what!?! Also, it's got Opal from "Pee Wee's Playhouse" in it! Jamie said they were thinking of changing the title, but I begged Michael not to. There a long line of movies with "Cheerleader" in the title that absolutely rock; Satan's Cheerleaders, The Swinging Cheerlearders, ThePositively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom, Revenge of the Cheerleaders… need I go on. I wanna see this flick!
I left the schmoozing with the Desert Blue cast to the veteran AICNers, whilst I made my way over to the Dobie for The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human, (a faux nature documentary with David Hyde Pierce as the narrator and Mackenzie Astin and Carmen Electra as his subjects.) Unfortunately it was full before I arrived. (I promise I WILL see this at the next showing on Wednesday.) I meandered for a while, eventually setting sail for the official opening night party. The venue was an old church with a large tent outside in the middle of a residential neighborhood in south Austin. The only thing that made the hell that was parking endurable was that once under athe tent, a friendly gent by the name of Jim Beam (at least that's what it said on his shirt) kept giving me glasses of tasty beverage. I spoke to many SXSW attendees that evening, but I don't think I got to know any of them as well as I did Jim.
Day two started with another panel with the cast and crew of Desert Blue. For those counting, that makes three now. The only additional info I really received from this one was that the tiered release will start on June 4th in 6 cities (including Austin), then add more sites throughout June and July, finally covering most of the US and Canada by September. We also saw footage of the blizzard during the shoot and some great behind the scenes stuff. Again, I kept looking up to find Sara Gilbert staring at me.
Next up was food, at the Austin favorite Ironworks BBQ. Good grub from Ironworks and good company from Harry, Tom Joad and the lovely Annette Kellerman. Upon leaving, we were accosted by some of the Desert Blue contingent, causing Annette to make comments about Brendan Sexton while sighing the rest of the day.
Then came the SAG panel hosted by SAG president Richard Masur (who film geeks fondly remember as the dog guy in Carpenter's The Thing.) With him were Mary Stuart Masterson and Billy Bob Thornton. Billy Bob's just started shooting the studio film All the Pretty Horses around Texas and was more than happy to give the audience some stories (as well as his feelings) about the differences between independent and studio films. (This topic came up at most of the panels interestingly enough.) His basic belief is that independent films have "one vision" where, as Mary Stuart Masterson put it, "Hollywood films are hair-by-committee" where even the actress' hair color and style are debated by execs on a daily basis. A minor sampling of BBT quotes from the session includes… "Nobody ever said Hey Picasso, you might wanna straighten those eyes out. They didn't take it around to Wallmart and asked people what they thought of it." "Man did that NASA sign look good behind your head." (on the kind of feedback he gets on Blockbuster films.) "Guys, the desert's already lit." (on why he didn't need such a big crew for Horses.)
I followed this by sampling a pint of Celis (one of the conference sponsors) and promptly loosing track of my new AICN friends. Undeterred, I merely made my way to the screening room where The Sky is Falling would soon be playing.
--- Review ---
The Sky is Falling, the directorial debut of Florrie Laurence, stars DeDee Pfeiffer (who was Rachel on "Cybill" and is currently on "For Your Love" on the WB ) as Emily Hall, a 28 year old writer who's still dating the same guy she did in high school, and lives alone with her dog. Teri Garr plays Madame Mona, her mother, a new age psychic who has a regular zoo in her house with cats, birds and a big iguana. The story opens as Emily sends out her first novel, a story of the last day in the life of an 80 year old woman. She gets rejection after rejection, beginning a downward spiral that continues with a breakup with her boyfriend, an invitation to her High School reunion, and the sudden appearance of her long lost father whom she thought was dead (in a great low-key performance by Howard Hesseman.) Throughout all this, Emily fantasizes of various ways to commit suicide, with usually comic results. (The death by Chocolate was especially amusing.)
Her grandmother's unexpected trip to the hospital inadvertently results in Emily joining a hospital outreach program that brings pets to terminal patients. Here, and in other aspects of her life Emily meets and deals with a plethora of eccentric characters that both help and hinder her. Standouts include Chris Elliot in a cameo as a Christmas tree salesman and Howard Hesseman as her father, Yogi Cook, a photographer with a checkered past.
This is essentially a comedy about life spiraling out of control and how people deal with that. It's a chick flick, but one that only the most boarish of men can't identify with. The main reason the film works so well is that it deftly walks a couple of mighty fine lines. It succeeds in showing the humor in Emily's situation without ever making fun her and it allows the audience to feel some of Emily's pain without ever playing straight to their emotions. With this subject matter, a film can easily become melodramatic, preachy or downright treacle, but Sky is Falling steps around those pitfalls and presents it's audience with a highly entertaining story. The only change I would make is to tighten up the third act a little, to keep the pace constant. It's a very high quality film, with solid performances, a good soundtrack, extremely competent special effects and titles (something unexpected, by me, at least) and as of right now, no distribution. I sincerely hope we'll be hearing of a deal by the end of the festival; I really can't imagine everyone letting this one get away. It's a great small film that deserves to be seen.
---End Review---
Having little time, I grabbed a salad for dinner and was joined in the theater by Annette Kellerman and Tom Joad for $pent, a comedy/drama about addiction and denial. I won't go into a full review, since they already did one, but I will give a few of my notes. First, let me say that I enjoyed the film and would recommend it to people when it comes out. Second, I think it could probably be edited a bit; as the story is now, there's too much humor in the first act for the amount of drama in the third. The gummi bear thing is hilarious, but may have a little too much build-up before the payoff. Jason London is absolutely perfect in his performance as a character that's rather hard to root for, but likable none-the-less. Charlie Spradling is almost too good as an alcoholic, though. It was so convincing it made me uneasy. It's still a solid flick, though.
Afterwards, Tom, Annette & I joined some of the cast and crew at the Dog & Duck, managed to finish off all the O.J. they had, and eventually found ourselves at the Ritz on 6th Street. Most everything in the middle is a little foggy, but the one thing that stands out in my mind is the great pitch for a short Annette and I heard from Jason London as a possible vehicle for our own Harry Knowles. I hope Jason finishes this script and gets it made. It's bound to be a hit at film fests worldwide. Coverage on Sunday and Monday coming tomorrow including reviews of Perfect Specimen & Standing on Fishes.
