Father Geek back with Massawyrm to take a look see at a couple of independant films that should be drifting into your local art-house cinema in the not-to-distant future. Make sure to send Massawyrm your films to look at, VHS screeners is all he needs to check them out and just maybe feature them in his weekly column...
Now on to that column for this week...
Hola all. Everybody's favorite Chain smoking, Dr. Pepper swilling, indie schilling madman (or as Bruce Campbell referred to me "Have ashtray, will travel"), here for your weekly dose of indie goodness. Alas, this week, I have no new unheard of masterpieces to share with you all. Of the tapes I watched this week, nothing amazing cried out to be discussed. Not even an all day, last minute cram session this afternoon yielded any brilliant new discoveries.
Which of course leads me to yet another plea with you directors, producers and what have you out there to send me your films. This week I received 4, count 'em, 4 films, and although I have not yet fully finished with the tapes I received in the first few weeks, I will no doubt be through them all by next weeks column. And then I will have NOTHING to talk about. Nothing for the film festivals to request. Nothing for the distributors to seek out. Nothing for the indie supporters to get excited about. People are reading folks. The films I've discussed have gotten attention, calls, contacts. Several of the films have already gotten themselves representation or are in the midst of getting it.
Are you showing at festivals? Let me see it. I've had one film submitted to me that showed at a festival after it was discussed. Word is the screening went very well. Distributors showed up, the buzz machine started. The film is on its way. Why, out of the whole festival did I only get one film that showed? Hmmm? Hello? (Taps mike) Is this thing on? Send me your films. Please.
And for those of you involved with the festivals themselves: contact me. I'm already working out the details with one festival to view all their contest films beforehand to help generate buzz on the films they'll be showing. I want to get those going to the festivals the information on those truly great films they might otherwise miss because the blurb in the packets weren't enough to catch their attention. I want to get those who hadn't really thought about the festival to get up and attend. I want your festival to succeed as much as you do because there just isn't enough forces at work supporting the independents.The festivals are often the first and last chance for indie films. As I so often like to say, as if its become my mantra, let's put butts in those seats.
Now, before I have to say "Send me those tapes" one more time, lets talk about what I did find this week. Two indie films, both already with distribution, really stuck with me. So this weeks selections are for you faithful readers who will get a chance to see these films soon enough.
The first film I'm going to talk about is a strange little western "South of Heaven, West of Hell". It was written, directed, scored by and stars Dwight Yoakam. And man is Yoakam one weird cat. This film is a slow, stylish western in the same vein as "Dead Man" but feels very much like David Lynch, without being too creepy. It moves casually from weird character to weird character and winds its way through a typical western storyline without feeling at all typical. It's just downright strange. Basic premise is a Sheriff tries to track down a band of outlaws that raised him when they slaughter the inhabitants of a small town he happens to be the law in.
What really drives this film is the great cast of indie and character actors who make their way through this surreal little, Lynchesque film. Vince Vaughn, Bridget Fonda, Bud Cort, Billy Bob Thornton, Peter Fonda, Paul Reubens (yes that Paul Reubens, and he's quite good), Michael Jeter and a whole slew of other recognizable faces all turn out great performances.
This film sports the most original, realistic gunfight I've ever seen on film, ignoring the conventions of the typical western shoot out, and going for something creepier, funnier and just a little left of center. It really caps off the film rather nicely.
"South of Heaven, West of Hell" is not for everyone. Just check IMDB and see for yourself (out of 44 votes its managed only 3 out of 10 stars, VASTLY underrated in my opinion). This is the type of film that Lynch and Jarmusch fans will enjoy digesting but the average shoot 'em up western fan is just going to gloss this over as too slow and not exciting enough. It hits video store shelves mid to late August. I recommend checking it out if its your kind of fare.
And secondly this week I'd like to discuss a film that is pretty much the diametric opposite of "South of Heaven, West of Hell". The most vile, offensive, vulgar disturbing film I've seen since Gummo (only this one was good (talkbackers be damned, I hated Gummo)). Something this tainted could only come from one place: Troma studios. Of course I'm talking about Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV.
Citizen Toxie is hands down the Ultimate Troma film. Far more over the top than anything they've previously released, this film makes the Farrley Brothers and Wayans Brothers run for the hills with their MPAA friendly gross out films. This ones got it all. Blood, gore, dismemberment, evisceration, piss, shit, semen and more breasts, bush and ass than you could possibly count. But beneath the layer of gross out exploitation lies a brilliant, parody ridden script that is geniusly offensive in ways we thought only South Park or a Zucker brothers/Abrahms film could be. Everything from Star Wars to Citizen Cane to Highlander gets cornholed in this one.
Wow. This film blew me and Quint out of the water. We couldn't believe Troma ever would have pushed the envelope this far. But they did, and it works. I doubt any of you will ever get to see this at a theatre unless it plays at a festival near you or at a cool local theatre (please God, let the Alamo Drafthouse get a print of this). There's no way this thing could ever in a million years get an R rating without serious cuts, which would of course seriously lessen the punch of this film. So you're gonna have to pick this one up on DVD or video once the release hits.
God bless Lloyd Kaufman. The man makes exploitation an Artform. I mean, you've gotta love a Director/Producer who distributes screeners with a message that pops up reading "For Bootlegging Purposes Only".
Citizen Toxie opens up with the most brilliant and classy superhero monologue ever, voiced by Stan "The Man" Lee himself and then just takes off from there. After a terrible explosion, Toxie gets blasted into another dimension, the exact opposite of the world he came from. In his stead, The Noxious Offender, his other world counterpart, begins to wreck havoc and destroy his good name in good old Tromaville. And oh yes, all hell breaks loose. This one you've got to see to believe folks. Troma fans, this one was made especially for you. Sex, carnage, and Sgt. Kabukiman, NYPD. What more can you ask for?
Well, that's about it for me this week folks, just one amendment of last weeks column. In my infinite wisdom (read idiocy) I omitted the contact info for "Oratorio of the Grotesque, op 7". For those interested, here it is:
- Tristan S. Cook
- 924 N. Duchesne
- St. Charles, MO 63301
- (636) 947-3062
Sorry Tristan.
Well folks, until next Monday, smoke 'em if ya got 'em. I know I will.
Massawyrm Out.
