Thanks to the guys over at Film Junk I came across the trailer for the new mumblecore science fiction film Mars that will be debuting at the 2010 SXSW Film Festival. Combining its eye catching visual presentation with its misanthropic tone hopefully will result in an interesting romantic comedy, though the trailer certainly reminds me at times of Dark Star.
But what I might be most interested in for the film, is the involvement of James Kochalka, who is one of the best American independent comic creators currently working. I wouldn’t be surprised if he helped with some of the background animation, but that he is acting in this film gives me hope that some of his outstanding writing talent might be used to help sharpen up the dialogue. Please let it be true.
How much do I like the short film Kiwi! from director/animator Dony Permedi? So much that I’ve decided to start up an entire feature based on highlighting other short films on the Internet. No idea how often I will post them, or just how I will find them, but after checking out this fantastic short I decided I needed to post it for as many people to see as possible and that it would be a great idea to feature other short films as well. Hope you enjoy!
Since their seems to be a lack of reviews of the various issues of Wholphin, though the internet sure seems to enjoy talking about them, and as I am a subscriber, I thought it would be a good idea to offer up my feelings on the discs. And since they are comprised of multiple short films, I figured I would simply offer up short synopsis and reviews of each film contained within the issues. This will hopefully prove helpful to those considering purchasing/watching them, as so little is explained on the packaging.
I’m going to start off with Issue 8 since it is both the latest issue and because the Internet seems abuzz about James Franco destroying a room during one of the films. Being that Wholphin is released quarterly I’ll hopefully have plenty of time to go back and review previous installments that I own. And while I don’t own every issue of Wholphin, I do own all but the inaugural issue, and it is out of print, making a review less then helpful for those wanting to purchase it. Even so, it is my hope that I can provide some additional insight to those of you who haven’t been exposed to this “magazine”, and hopefully help you decide which issues are worth your time and money.
This winner of “Best Short” at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, Short Term 12 focuses on a single day at a residential facility for at risk teens. While the length of the film might initially be viewed as a short coming, the film delicately creates believable characters and interactions in its relatively short time span, making it easy for audiences to quickly identify and empathize with them. It also helps that the story is surprisingly strong, being both direct and full of emotional surprises. While not the best film on the disc, it certainly is enjoyable with a high rewatch potential.
The first of two truly standout films on this disc, Kids + Money is a documentary on teenagers living in Los Angeles and their copious spending habits. The kids are all of differing economic backgrounds, but the one thing they have in common is an obsession with status and they use their money, and sometimes their parent’s, to acquire it. And while this concept is fascinating in and of itself, there are three key moments in the film that utterly encaptivating. One involves a girl with her own personal nanny discovering on camera that her best friend couldn’t afford to go to prom and had been lying about this to maintain her status. The second involves a sixteen year old child actor who has his own show on Nickelodeon and has been acting since he was a baby. In the last few years he has earned so much money that his mother quite her job and started managing his career. But when he states he’s been supporting his family financially for three years, his off-camera mother steps in and puts him in his place. While they try to give the appearance of a normal, healthy familial relationship, it is clear the relationship is far more complicated and tenuous then they want to admit. The last involves two pre-teen sisters who are growing up in a family that has more money than God. And while their mother seems relatively comfortable and open about trying to maintain balance and sensibility, the two girls present a see-saw dynamic unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The older of the two is relatively empathetic and caring, while the younger sister is an unholy Capitalist monster, basing everything on looks, makeup and clothes, and making sure everyone knows about it. And wait until you hear them talk, completing each others sentences in a way that the other never intended. As fascinating as the rest of the film is, these two clearly could have a feature made about them and your jaw would be on the floor for every minute of it.
The one film in this issue I truly didn’t like, so much so I didn’t finish the film. It’s smart, well written and has some fantastic dialogue, but it is also so pretentious I wanted to vomit. Though the degree of turgid self-aggrandizing this film reaches is almost impressive in its own right.
A truly odd film, as Bisignano relates to the world his past struggles with OCD when seemingly every interaction caused him to think he had become infected with AIDS. If that isn’t enough, there is a Greek styled chorus following along, only it is played by a tape recording of Bisignano’s mother, who just might be crazier then he was.
Based on the short story “Peter Shelley” by Patrick Marber, Love You More is the second standout film on this disc, as it chronicles a boy and a girl who just might fall in love because of a shared interest in the Buzzcocks. Simply a magnificently made film that easily navigates the awkward “Will we or won’t we?” tension of newly blossoming adolescent love.
Damn my HDTV. Once again a foreign film proves impossible to watch as the subtitles were cut off due to it being presented in letterboxed full frame. But what I did see was animation that was impressive to no end. Animated like it was being filmed by a non-professional cameraman, complete with sloppy zooms and awkward focusing, the animation clearly stands out as something special. Make no doubt about it; I’ll be checking this one out on my computer the first chance I get.
Great Man and Cinema
Directed by Jim Finn
4 min Documentary
Just a half step behind the two best films on this disc, this “documentary” is actually a semi-straight faced propaganda film about the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il, using archival stock footage of the man. All backed by the outstanding track “Fucking U.S.A.” by the Bay Area band Neung Phak, making it just as much a bizarre music video as a propaganda film.
The Room Before and After
Original Wholphin Short
Directed by Dave Eggers
Part 1: James Franco 40 min
Part 2: Creed Bratton 10 min
Part 3: Maria Bamford 10 min
Finally the one the entire Internet seems to be talking about, James Franco destroying a room. Oddly enough, Franco’s version was the one I found least compelling, as it essentially was him mumbling and breaking stuff for a half hour. Sure, running through a door Looney Tunes style is impressive in its own right, but the sheer length of the ordeal really ends up detracting from the impact of the film. And since Franco’s segment is clearly all about seeing how many things he can trash, it simply pales in comparison to the other two pieces. Creed Bratton’s clearly has the strongest narrative of the three, and in the course of the four minutes you watch him crumble from rage to despair before your eyes. It is easily the most disturbing of the three, yet oddly enough garners the most sympathy as well. But my favorite was Bamford’s, already a bonafide loose screw in her stage act, brings inspired lunacy to these proceedings as a woman with all sorts of relationship issues. And I dare you to not laugh when she pulls the scale out to weight herself. The only drawback to her scene is the post-performance interview in which she stays in her on-stage caricature of herself. I was far more interested in hearing about her goal and motivations for the scene then simply cracking a few jokes.
Overall I can happily recommend this disc as nearly every single film on it is worth watching multiple times, which is rare in compilations. And while this is not the best issue of Wholphin to date, it certainly ranks very high and is a worthy benchmark for newer releases to aim for.
Had a busy yesterday what with going to a press screening of Pray the Devil Back to Hell and working a full day at the theater on top of that, so I didn’t have time to get anything posted. Pretty dry week for releases anyways, as the last remaining Oscar contenders are being held over for another weekend in the hopes people will try and catch them before the awards on Sunday. The biggest beneficiary of this should be the release of the Oscar Nominated Animated and Live Action Short Films. They are being released on Friday and should have a nice one, possibly two, week run.
But the film that most interests me this weekend is the French animated film Azur and Asmar. Blending several different styles of animation it looks like a veritable feast for the eyes. Rumor has it that it is a pretty good children’s fairy tale to boot. Do your best to check it out this week as it might be around much longer then that.
DVD releases are possibly even thinner then the theatrical releases, which seems a bit odd. Its not like they are going up against the Oscars. But the film I am most excited for, and the one seemingly everyone else on the Internet has seen besides me is Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. Which is, well, I’ll let the trailer hook you on that one.
Acclaimed director Michel Ocelot’s (“Kirikou and the Sorceress”) newest film “Azur & Asmar” rolls into the Lagoon Cinema for a week-long run. White-skinned Azur and dark-skinned Asmar are raised as brothers by Asmar’s loving mother. But when they are separated by Azur’s father, the two embark on a journey to free the beautiful Djinn Fairy that will reunite them as rivals and friends. Featuring stunning animation and powerful storytelling, “Azur & Asmar” is a magical new tale in the vein of the Arabian Nights.
The Oscar-Nominated Shorts
Starts Feb. 20 Lagoon Cinema
Want to get a leg up on those Oscar bets? Check out the races for Best Animated Short and Best Live Action Short at the Lagoon Theater just days before the big night. The live action program includes nominees New Boy (Ireland), Auf Der Strecke (On the Line) (Germany/Switzerland), Spielzeugland (Toyland) (Germany), Grisen (The Pig) (Denmark), and Manon Sur Le Bitume (Manon on the Asphalt) (France). The animated program includes Lavatory – Lovestory (Russia), Oktapodi (France), Le Maison en Petits Cubes (Pieces of Love, Vol. 1) (Japan), This Way Up (UK) and Pixar’s Presto. The animated program also includes a showcase of highly acclaimed recent shorts, including Bill Plympton’s Hot Dog.
Uptown’s Midnight Madness continues with a little help from some heroes in a half-shell. Everyone’s favorite bunch of ninja-fighting reptiles struggle to save New York City from the evil Shredder and his Foot Clan. Along the way, they’ll befriend an intrepid reporter, a hockey mask-wearing vigilante and eat plenty of pizza. But the Turtles don’t have to be the only ones stuffing their faces. You can get a slice or two of your own, courtesy of Pizza Lucé. Farewell Continental will perform before the screening of the new 35mm print. Cowabunga!
Universal Noir: Criss Cross & The Killers
Monday, Feb. 23 at 7:15 p.m. Heights Theater
Take Up Productions’ new series Universal Noir continues with a Burt Lancaster double feature. First up at 7:15 p.m. is Robert Siodmak’s 1949 thriller Criss Cross, with Lancaster and Yvonne de Carlo. In an effort to reunite with his ex-wife, Steve Thompson returns to Los Angeles. But his wife now belongs to the L.A. underworld, and it’s up to Steve to rescue her. The night continues at 9:15 p.m. with a screening of Ernest Hemingway’s The Killers. Co-starring Ava Gardner, The Killers tells the story of an insurance investigator looking into the death of a gas station attendant. As he delves deeper into the man’s life, he finds a complex web that connects with a mysterious woman. Tickets are $8 for the double feature and can be purchased in advance at www.heightstheater.com.
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