Hey folks, Harry here with a pair of films being reviewed by Monki, and one involves choking one's monkey... Guess which one Monki preferred? That's right... Read all about it...
So I caught me some more South by Southwest tonight and I actually found my first movie that I'm not horribly happy about. I managed to catch two movies tonight, Revolution OS and Trouble with Lou. Two wildly different flicks, one traditional, one more of a experimental-type fun.
Revolution OS is a film about Linux, and how it was brought about, and why exactly it is important. This was a really interesting premise and a good idea. Give a history to this interesting topic of now and flesh it out for us normal people (and monkeys).
Sounds easy, but a film about computers and operating systems will usually come out bland because there is only so much you can show. There are a few interesting reviews with people like Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux.
This film isn't bad, but its just kind of boring. I was even planning on being a computer science major up until I started college, so I have a pretty full knowledge in this field already, and even I was a bit bored.
We track the Free Software Foundation from its creation in response to Bill Gates' closed-source policy all the way to late 2000 and V.A. Linux being IPO'd. Through the interviews we learn the philosophy behind sharing the code of a program with other users. We see reactions of some of the interviewees responding to the question if they were communist supporters (due to the fact they believe in sharing all code with everyone). Some funny momments scattered throughout, but a lot of dead space towards the middle of the film.
If you really want to see a good documentary on the computer industry, albeit a little dated now, check out Triumph of the Nerds: Accidental Empires from PBS. (http://www.pbs.org/nerds/) This documentary is an excellent look at how various computer companies evolved and how their interactions affected the progress of the computer age. A really well done documentary and a lot of fun.
So, I recommend Revolution OS to major Linux fans or people who just want to learn more about the operating system in general. Also check out the cameo by CmdrTaco from Slashdot Org fame.
From there, instead of going back to my tree and napping (which I could really use after 8 hours of sleep in three days) I swung my way over to the Drafthouse and caught the flick The Trouble With Lou. The movie, although still being tweaked out and worked on, (the timecode ran throughout the movie) was a really fun jaunt.
The movie plays as a late 50's style Sex Ed type film, you know the ones. You don't want to be a Mr. Bungle. The film played really well with the old feel to it, shot in black and white in lower quality and some really sweet cars give it that extra touch of coolness.
We follow Lou through his every day life, he goes to school, he has good parents, but Lou has a problem. Oh no, Lou doesn't drink. Nope, he doesn't smoke. Lou masturbates...a LOT. It has taken over his life. We watch him shy away from women and quickly run to his room at the sight of women in swimsuits covered in water.
Lou's parents begin to worry and his father (played by the same actor that plays Lou) convinces him to try to win the heart of a lovely lady. Lou fails at first, but overhears that she likes baseballs players so, naturally of course he tries out for the team. But, due to years of lubrication his hands slide off the bat and send it flying repeatedly. His Scottish baseball coach sees his talent for "tossing wood" and convinces him to join him and begin caber tossing against the local battlegods. (Caber tossing is basically hurling a large wooden shaft for distance) You see, Lou has a natural talent for tossing wood, and has excellent arm strength after years of...ahem...training.
Lou wins over his crush's heart and slowly loses his habit and begins to become a "normal" guy. But, as always with bad habits, they are hard to completely kill. Lou goes into a lapse and heads downhill from there and only finds redemption towards the end of the movie.
Lou went over very well with the audience I saw it with. Very responsive, and there was even a little Q & A at the end of it with the two directors. Turns out one of them works for Pixar, along with Lou (who is actually named Lou). The movie is still being finished and they commented on how they were adding more naration to solidify the feeling of a Sex-ed type film and to keep it more consistent. Also the second half still needed a little working as it was kind of slow at times.
This movie is loaded down with innuendos and milks them for what they are worth. Regarding placing Lou's caber in his locker, "Its almost in" "boy thats a tight fit" "just squeeze it a little" etc, etc, etc...
Look for the cameo by Paul Rubens....sorta... because afterall, what masturbation comedy is complete without Pee Wee?
Now I must get more than two hours of sleep before I see Bartleby tomorrow! This monkey is hittin' the hammock Gilligan-style. -Monki
