Accent Movies 2

Post-SXSW followup

2009-03-27T10:43:00.008-05:00

Meet Alex Karpovsky (Trust Us... This Is All Made Up, The Hole Story, Woodpecker, Beeswax). Sure, the boy can write, act, and direct. He even plays a mean game of air-hockey and smells good. But here's what you don't know: Alex Karpovsky has accepted a heavy burden. He alone must fight to save Earth and its inhabitants from utter annihilation. Will he succeed?

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But when he fails... it's all up to me!

And I failed, too. Or we ran out of quarters. I can't remember. Anyways... sorry, Earth!

Closing Night of SXSW

2009-03-22T21:14:00.010-05:00

The festivities are over. It was a great time, and thanks to all of you who shared it with me. Now let's all go sleep it off! One more piece of an authentic SX moment to emphasize my point: a short film called Me, Last Night After The Continental Club (directed, shot, and edited by Mark Rance; exclusive rights held by Watchmaker Films, Ltd).

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Trust Us... This Is All Made Up

2009-03-22T20:28:00.005-05:00

The very talented up-and-coming actor/director, Alex Karpovsky, screened his new feature documentary Trust Us... This Is All Made Up at this year's SXSW. It was the last film I saw during the festival, and was happy to have ended on such a high note.

Trust Us... This Is All Made Up documents and explores the improvisational genius of legendary Second City veterans, David Pasquesi and T.J. Jagodowski.

The first 10 or 15 minutes of the film introduces us to the two performers, tracing the development of their individual careers in comedy and improv, then emphasizing their professional collaboration and special friendship cultivated throughout the years. Karpovsky artfully frames these early sequences through a split-panel screen that follows each performer independently as they discuss their partnership and views on the demands and joys of improvisational comedy. We observe them as they wander through the streets, people-watch from a park bench, bantering and gleaning inspiration from each other and mundane, daily occurrences. Karpovsky's approach is particularly effective in demonstrating the differences in their personalities while highlighting the unique, empathetic bond between the two that informs such brilliant spontaneous performances.

The remainder of Trust Us is a simple but well-shot screening of one of Pasquesi and Jagodowski's live New York improv shows. After introductions, they stare intensely into each other's eyes, finding that eerie psychic link which sparks the initial interactions as, along with the audience, they discover their characters and situational humor. The momentum builds as they hilariously create a scenario of the absurd, but true-to-life tensions of office politiking, often seamlessly switching between five or six characters. Their method is elegant and entirely elusive to me.

Karpovsky had seen (and filmed? I can't remember) five such performances by Pasquesi and Jagodowski, and obviously found this one to be the most powerful for the film. I understand that to preserve the integrity of an improv experience, the narrative flow would be difficult to interrupt. Nonetheless, I would have preferred to see a broader sampling of their work, and perhaps further interviews with the two at the end.

However, Trust Us... This Is All Made Up is extremely enjoyable and creatively filmed. I must confess, that I, myself, took improv classes at Improv Olympics in Chicago... and flopped humiliatingly, giving me an immense appreciation for what it takes to succeed as an improv artist. I urge anyone curious about the genre to please check out this film. I also heartily encourage everyone to follow the past and future projects of Alex Karpovsky, an impressively intelligent and insightful filmmaker.
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Interview with Alex Karpovsky

2009-03-22T20:05:00.004-05:00

A long, tall drink as well as a helluva filmmaker!
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Interview with Tobe Hooper

2009-03-22T20:03:00.002-05:00

I apologize for the poor sound quality and light/noise issues. We went to the Barton Springs Saloon after the screening and, of course, it was St. Paddy's day. Cheers and bottoms up!

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Tobe Hooper part 2

2009-03-22T19:45:00.004-05:00

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Tobe Hooper interview part 1

2009-03-18T20:08:00.004-05:00

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Eggshells

2009-03-18T18:01:00.003-05:00

Eggshells was the first feature film of acclaimed director, Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist). Eggshells has been diligently and lovingly resurrected and restored (by Mark Rance of Watchmaker Films) as part of an ongoing project by SXSW film festival head, Louis Black, to rescue important films from the threat of obscurity.

Eggshells is a psychedelic romp through Austin in the 60's. A group of young friends share their views on politics, art, sex, and life while sharing a large house near the University of Texas... a house that is haunted. If you are familiar with Mr. Hooper's work, you will be surprised at the tenderness of the resident ghost as he drifts through whimsical mystery and a surreality shared with the occupants of the house.

One of the more interesting things about the film for me was to see what Austin was like back then: how much has changed and how much remains of the city's structure and character.

Eggshells is extremely enjoyable and was a lot of fun to see with its immensely lovable creators. I hope it will screen again next year (as the restoration is ongoing), but make sure to keep an eye-out for its DVD debut.
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St. Nick

2009-03-18T17:22:00.003-05:00

Directed by Texas filmmaker, David Lowry, St. Nick is a haunting and powerful exploration of childhood innocence and adventure.

An 11 year-old brother and his 9 year-old sister have run away from home, and must find ways to survive and amuse themselves. The film centers on the time they spend sharing an abandoned house, creating a makeshift home through scavenging furniture and linens (even a bicycle), and boobytrapping the front door to alert them to intruders. They steal the food they need, and there is an absurdly lovely and hilarious scene where the young girl assembles a multi-layered peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich which ridiculously teeters and oozes as she attempts to negotiate its consumption. The two siblings drift through their days exploring the neighborhood, until they are once again driven out into the harsh elements when discovered by the home's belligerent owner (played by Barlow Jacobs).

St. Nick is reminiscent of the 1973 Spanish film, The Spirit of the Beehive, in its absolute commitment to telling the story from a child's perspective on the world. Both the young actors offer wonderfully moving and honest performances; a testament to both their talent and Lowry's direction. With very little dialogue, and scene after scene of breathtaking cinematography, St. Nick often touches on qualities of a modern fairy-tale as the two travel a hard road with transcendent innocence.

The film never answers why the children ran away from their suburban home, and the director was adamant in his intention to preserve the story's integrity through focusing on the how instead of the why.

In the Q & A session following the screening, David Lowry came off as a very reflective and emotionally driven director. When asked why he named the film "St. Nick", he replied that "It just felt right". He only later discovered the rather serendipitous nature of his title selection, after learning that St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children.

St. Nick is austere, beautiful, and a fantastic piece of filmmaking. Please go see it, if you have the chance.
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45365

2009-03-18T16:47:00.008-05:00

45365 received the SXSW Grand Jury Award in the Documentary Feature section, and I can't imagine a film more deserving this year (I actually would have liked to see it win best documentary). The film is deeply engaging, warm, extremely funny at moments, and obviously made with a great deal of love and appreciation for the place itself.

With no on-screen interviews, 45365 traces the daily life and interactions within Sidney, Ohio, the hometown of its filmmakers, Bill and Turner Ross. After 9 months of shooting and 500 hours of footage, the filmmakers have crafted a wonderful tribute to home in middle America. The cinematography is nothing short of beautiful, often stunning, showcasing the simplicity and honesty of Sidney and its characters, while capturing their quiet moments of grace and humor. The sound work is creatively layered, creating an elegant unfolding of the film's narrative.

During the Q & A session after the screening, both Bill and Turner Ross were exceedingly down to earth, funny and charming... and I must admit to having formed a mild crush on them both.

While this was the final screening of the film at SXSW, I would encourage everyone to check out 45365 whenever the opportunity arises, and I eagerly await any future projects by these two talented filmmakers.

By the by, I missed an interview with the Ross brothers (lacking my digital device) and unfortunately they left just after the screening. However, they have agreed to a phone interview, which I will dutifully report for those who are interested.

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Interview with Joe Dante

2009-03-18T12:43:00.004-05:00

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Trailers From Hell with Joe Dante

2009-03-18T12:22:00.004-05:00

Joe Dante (Gremlins, The Howling, The 'Burbs) asked contemporary filmmakers to pick their favorite classic-era movie previews and then discuss the reasons for their selection.

This ended up being a perfect pick for one of SXSW's midnight showings, especially in combination with Drafthouse queso and beer. The trailers were fun, the commentary was interesting, and Dante is particularly charming. If he ever decides to distribute this as a DVD, however, I hope there would be the option to mute the commentary and just watch the trailers straight through as well.

Hell of a good time!
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Alexander the Last

2009-03-15T17:30:00.009-05:00

Alexander the Last is the fifth film, in as many years, brought to us by mumblecore director, Joe Swanberg. The film centers around issues of commitment, particularly those experienced by creative artists, as its twenty-something characters struggle with fidelity in a seemingly perpetual state of adolescence.

Alexander the Last opens on two sisters sitting in a verdant, sunbathed park, gazing intensely into eachother's eyes as they exchange mock wedding vows. The sisters, Alex and Helen, share an extremely close bond, but of course, are playing at commitment, setting the stage for the ensuing drama. Helen (played by Amy Seimtz) is a single photographer with some on-off again relationships, and Alex (Jess Weixler) is an actress married to a musician. While her husband, Elliot, is on tour, Alex is cast in a new play next to beefcake romantic co-lead, Jamie, who conveniently is in need of a place to crash. Alex offers up her couch, escalating the flirtation and tension between she and Jamie; one which she unsuccessfully attempts to deflect (responsibility for) by throwing Jamie together with her sister. Elliot returns home to the entire muddled mess with his own questionable distraction in the form of a cute bandmate.

Alexander the Last started out strong, electric, and following a cohesive narrative arc. My favorite role was played by Jane Adams, as the play's stage director; all her appearances were hilarious. The film's center of gravity and most enjoyable scenes are provided by the relationship between the sisters rather than Alex's marriage. However, after Elliot reenters the scene and the focus becomes Alex's struggle back toward fidelity, the film's momentum peters out, the edits are too long, and the energy plateaus.

The premiere of Alexander the Last was packed saturday night at the Paramount. During the question and answer session following the film, Swanberg commented that "as creative artists, you can't always be fully committed to your personal relationships and your art at the same time". There is certainly a degree of fluctuating compromise necessary... that doesn't mean you have to offer up your couch.

Overall, I wouldn't advise going out of your way to see Alexander the Last during the festival. Unless of course, you are crazy for mumblecore.

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Daytime Drinking

2009-03-15T16:41:00.002-05:00

Daytime Drinking follows the broken heart of Hyuk-Jin as he finds himself stumbling through an accidental road trip in the Gongwan-do province of South Korea.

After being dumped by his girlfriend, an inebriated Hyuk-Jin (played by the exceedingly sympathetic, Song Sam-dong) is convinced by his friends to travel from Seoul to the distant region of Jeongseon, where they plan to meet him the following day. However, when he arrives at this remote and icy destination he discovers his friends are still back in Seoul, sleeping off their hangovers, making assurances of catching up to him "maybe the day after tomorrow". As Hyuk-Jin attempts to settle in for the wait, a series of escalating mishaps and misunderstandings befall our sad hero, and the always promised "day after tomorrow" never comes. Through his trials, he encounters a quirky array of characters with whom he drinks away the hours, at first to forget, but soon out of social obligation.

Daytime Drinking brilliantly balances the melancholia of a broken heart and the bleakness of the frozen landscape with a light and extremely humorous tone. Debut filmmaker, Non Young-Seok, (who wrote, directed, edited, and produced Daytime Drinking) crafted a fresh, energetic, and exceptional film on a shoe-string budget. This is the best film I have seen at SXSW so far, and expect it to be my favorite narrative feature of the festival. I highly recommend working it into your viewing schedule.

Daytime Drinking is not to be missed.

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Opening Weekend has launched and we're all in orbit

2009-03-15T10:46:00.007-05:00

The SXSW Film Festival is off to a busy start with a weekend full of stars, suds, and schmoozing. Friday's opening night party at Buffalo Billiards was a crowded, raucous affair... as I observed from just outside the door along with many other stragglers and hopefuls. I did arrive just in time to see Jon Favreau (fresh from the premiere of I Love You, Man at the Paramount) dart past into one of the waiting black SUVs stationed outside the club. As a faithful journalist, I attempted to pass myself off as a member of Mr. Paul Rudd's party and board another waiting SUV, but was discovered and briskly sent on my way (I don't even know if Paul Rudd was there, actually).

The scene at the showing of Know Your Mushrooms (reviewed below) was equally energetic and I was lucky enough to get the last seat in the theatre after amiably chatting with Ron Mann (the film's director) and Louis Black (the head of the festival), two charming and interesting dudes. I only wish I had my digital recorder at hand then, but will make every effort to catch up with them both later in the festival and capture some short interviews for you, gentle readers. I also welcome any other interview requests and will do my best to accommodate.

I heartily urge any non-vegetarians among our following to stop by Iron Works BBQ if you're headed to the Austin Convention Center; it's scrumptious and just around the corner. Any suggestions for hot spots that shouldn't be missed while knockin' around town?

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Opening Night

2009-03-14T20:01:00.009-05:00

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Know your mushrooms

2009-03-14T18:56:00.009-05:00

Know Your Mushrooms

Director Ron Mann promised to put the "fun" in fungus... and he certainly delivered. Know Your Mushrooms is a highly entertaining and energetic documentary about the wide world of fungi and the people who celebrate it.

The film opens in Colorado during the annual Telluride Mushroom Festival and its four days of fungi-related activities: wild-mushroom hunting, education, cooking, medicinal properties, etc.

This may sound dry, but I assure you the film is bursting with life (as anyone familiar with Mann's previous documentaries would hardly be surprised at). The characters we are introduced to all share a common passion for fungi, some teetering over into outright mushroom-worship: proposing theories of alien fungi seeding the evolution of man and interpretations of the new testament as "mushroom mythology" in which Jesus and his apostles were actually (you guessed it) mushrooms. However, the film is also extremely informative, featuring (among others) mushroom expert extraordinaire, Larry Evans, as he treks through the fungi-filled forests of Colorado, Alaska, and Bolivia.

Know Your Mushrooms is playful, well paced, and augmented with spectacular animation, and I highly recommend it.

(By the by, while introducing his film at the Ritz, Ron Mann revealed that he has long shared his interest in fungi with fellow filmmaker, Jim Jarmusch... who knew?)

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The Anticipation is killing me.

2009-02-23T11:51:00.013-06:00

Welcome all SXSW faithful fans, devoted film buffs, and those just SX-curious. This is where it all begins; the big cinematic enchilada. Soon we will be standing in lines, chatting it up, eating Drafthouse food and drinking beers at the Paramount, attending panels and parties (well, probably not badge-less me, but still).... all in anticipation and celebration of sampling the fantastic variety of unique independent films we are privy to during this week when Austin offers itself up as a cultural carnival.

Not being the most tech-savvy person, I will be learning to post blogs and twitter daily to keep you all updated throughout the week as to my film selections, reviews, and recommendations, as well as keeping you updated on any hotspots, bizarre events, or mundane gossip I stumble across.

I will eat, drink, breath, and well, watch my way through this cinematic marathon, and I hope you will join me.

That being said, these are my top 10 selections for the SXSW film festival:

Artois the Goat (narrative feature)

A man searches to discover the world's greatest goat cheese and win back the heart of his sweetie.

showings: Sun 15, 1:30 pm @ Alamo Ritz 1

Mon 16, 5:00 pm @ Alamo Lamar 3

Fri 20, 7:00 pm @ Alamo Ritz 1

Blood Trail (documentary feature)

Looks absolutely fascinating. Follows war-photographer, Robert King across 15 years and 3 wars, exploring the motivations driving his commitment to one of the world's most dangerous and demanding professions.

showings: Fri 13, 9:30 pm @ Austin Convention Center

Mon 16, 12:00 pm @ Alamo Ritz 2

Wed 18, 4:30 pm @ Austin Convention Center

Burma VJ (documentary feature)

During September 2007, as thousands of buddhist monks rally in peaceful protest in the streets of Rangoon, the events are captured by video journalists.

showings: Sun 15, 8:45 pm @ Alamo Lamar 2

Wed 18, 11:30 am @ Alamo Ritz 1

Drunken Angel: the Legend of Blaze Foley (documentary feature)

An eccentric country music legend is remembered for his inspiration and failures.

showing: Wed 18, 7:00 pm @ Austin Convention Center

Exterminators (narrative feature)

A group of women meet in court mandated rage therapy. A scheme forms, and all hell breaks loose in this dark comedy.

showings: Fri 13, 10:00 pm @ the Paramount

Sun 15, 12:00 pm @ Alamo Lamar 3

Thur 19, 10:00 pm @ Alamo Lamar 1

Garbage Dreams (documentary feature)

Three teenage boys growing up in the world's largest garbage village struggle to survive and find their own paths over the course of four years.

showings: Sun 15, 4:45 pm @ Austin Convention Center

Mon 16, 2:30 pm @ Alamo Lamar 3

Thur 19, 2:45 pm @ Alamo Lamar 3

Monsters from the Id (documentary feature)

An exploration into the ways 1950's science-fiction films inspired scientific and social advancements across the decades, and how the genre shapes our perceptions today.

showings: Fri 13, 9:45 pm @ Alamo Lamar 3

Wed 18, 11:30 am @ Austin Convention Center

Sat 21, 2:00 pm @ Alamo Lamar 2

Love on Delivery (documentary feature)

Mail-order brides from Thailand move to a small Danish villiage to live with their new husbands.

Ticket to Paradise (documentary feature)

The sequel to "Love on Delivery".

both showing: Mon 16, 8:00 pm @ the Hideout

Trimpin: the Sound of Invention (documentary feature)

Artist/inventor extraordinaire, Trimpin, plays with the boundaries of art, music, and engineering by creating massive, cacophonous installations.

showings: Sat 14, 7:15 pm @ Austin Convention Center

Mon 16, 2:00 pm @ Alamo Lamar 2

Fri 20, 9:00 pm @ the Paramount

Trust Us, This Is All Made Up (documentary feature)

Two "Second-City" improv veterans share a unique partnership and legendary performances.

showings: Fri 13, 9:15 pm @ Alamo Ritz 2

Tues 17, 6:30 pm @ Alamo Ritz 1

Fri 20, 8:00 pm @ Alamo Ritz 2

However, to get ya started, here are a couple suggestions for the big kick-off on Friday, March 13th:

New World Order follows a group of conspiracy theorists as they maneuver through the underground world of the anti-globalist movement. Normally, I would avoid sharing a confined space, like a car or movie theatre with such a group, but the directors have earned their chops.

World premiere. showing @ 7 pm, Alamo Ritz 1.

Know Your Mushrooms is a documentary about... you guessed it: Fungi! Directed by prominent documentarian, Ron Mann, who also brought us "Comic Book Confidential".

U.S. premiere. showing @ 9:30 pm, Alamo Ritz 1.

Lake Mungo is a kind of ghost-story/thriller/family drama shot like a documentary. It seems to have potential to go either way, but I'm hoping to find it eerie and creative.

N. American premiere. showing @ 11:30 pm, Alamo Ritz 2.

and last, but certainly not least...

Ong Bak 2 is certain to offer a fun, probably bizarre, action-packed romp of martial arts, magic, and the vengeance of an orphaned boy.

showing at 11:59 pm, Alamo Lamar 1.

All times are subject to change, as the great film shuffle of SXSW gets underway. So mark up your calendars, check off your favorites, and please offer me any suggestions of your own! I welcome any recommendations, coverage requests, celebrity gossip/sightings, or accounts of interesting panel discussions, parties, etc.

Oh, and save some room for fried pickles at the Drafthouse.

More to come

2009-02-06T15:42:00.001-06:00