Film Festival @ MindSay 
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Last night I saw a film that utterly and brutally got to me: The Messenger (2009/I). It was so well done.
Basically, it is about a Sergeant and a Captain assigned to personally deliver the news of fallen soldiers to their families. In the film, they said that during Vietnam, families were notified of their sons' death through a telegram. In this day and age, why not an email or a telephone call? Every "delivery" was a stunning revelation of human behavior.
Steve Buscemi plays the father of one of the soldiers who has died. His reaction is unexpected and intolerable. This may be a spoiler, but, I'll say it anyway: he does not go away. He comes back later in the film and wow.
In the preview, it seems like this may be a romance between Ben Foster and Samantha Morton. It should have been developed that way possibly, or not promoted as a romance, and maybe more of a bromance between Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster. One of my friends thought that this was completely deceitful. However, if Hollywood is able to overlook that this film is semi-related to the Iraqi War, then maybe, just maybe it could be a contender for Best Picture. Maybe some of the actors will be nominated. It IS a longshot. However, the quality completely exceeds any misconceptions I had about the movie.
On a personal duty, my brother did two tours in Iraq, and volunteered for a third. Everytime my mother called during those two years (approximately), I would be jumpy. And she called a lot! I can just imagine getting the news and being as destroyed and incredulous as some of the people in the movie. At least two of the women in the movie screamed their guts out upon finding that their sons or husbands had been killed.
It's highly recommended. However, if you don't like emotional dramas, this is not for you. I can say that I haven't loved any other of the Iraqi war movies. I liked Lions for Lambs, but it did not do well at the box office, and Tom Cruise gets on my nerves. The Kingdom wasn't that great, with the exception of a few performances. Grace is Gone was a tad boring, kind of alright, but definitely not to die for.
However, this film isn't about the Iraqi War, per se. It's just about humans. The movie has the perfect imbalance of humor and drama. From the beginning, it's a tearjerker. When it finally lets up, and I mean finally, there is a scene or two of intense humor. I have to say the ending might be a letdown, however, I have already explained that Ben Foster and Samantha Morton's relationship is not the focus.
See it or don't. If the Academy ends up nominating it, take their word and not mine.
The preview alluded to a twist that made me curious to see the film. The film was made by the subject's best friend. I can't even imagine dealing with this subject matter. He worked on it for 6 years and now one year after its completion, he is promoting it at film festivals, sort of having to relive his friend's death over and over. \
Anyway, I encourage everyone who is able to see this film. You can click the link above to watch the trailer on IMDB. Also, I haven't checked it out yet, but if you have a problem playing the trailer, I hear it's available on Youtube. If you also search for the filmmaker, Kurt Kuenne, some of his other stuff is on Youtube as well.
Here is where the film is playing (per the website, www.dearZachary.com):
October 31, 2008: New York City, the Cinema Village
November 7, 2008: Los Angeles, Laemmle's Sunset 5 and Chicago, Gene Siskel Film Center
November 15-17 & 22-24, 2008: Portland, OR, Hollywood Theatre
November 21, 2008: Nashville, TN, The Belcourt Theatre
November 28, 2008: Santa Fe, NM, Center for Contemporary Arts
December 5, 2008: San Jose, CA, Camera 3 Cinemas
Screening next at:
Orlando Film Festival - 11/7 and 11/8
St. Louis International Film Festival - 11/15
Denver Film Festival - 11/15 and 11/16
International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam -- 11/20-30
The opening two paragraphs were written last evening as I watched the first half of the Penn State vs. Michigan football game in which Penn State played very poorly. I mention this only to establish the predominant sentiment in my mind during that time. The following content is unedited and may offend some readers, or residents of the 26th state in the union…
I hate the state of Michigan. If in the unlikely chance this nightmarish cesspit should fall into Lake Huron and the godforsaken eponymous body of water which it also borders, I would take solace in the fact everyone of the malignant sons a bitches that attends their state institution of higher education will no longer be able to support a team which has made every autumn of the last 15 years of my life a living and breathing hell. Imagine having your heart ripped violently from your chest at about mid-October/November every year by a man who worships the quintessence of everything you have grown to despise. This is how I feel every time Penn State plays Michigan. I’ve been told many times in my 23 years that life isn’t fair, but for the love balls it stands to reason that in all of life’s glorious injustice it must sometimes randomly land in your favor. I will speak no more on this subject as I am becoming concerned with that rapidly escalating blood pressure of mine. May the gods hear my pleas and do something about that mitten resembling feculent mound of shit.
One more thing about college football and then I swear I’ll move onto something else. May I make suggestion to whomever it is that hires these announcers; make an immediate stop to the recruitment of the most daft, dimwitted clowns you can pluck from the local institution for the impeded and hindered. These announcers’ knowledge of the game would be shockingly incoherent for a four year old let alone a grown man, and the constant mind numbing dribble which seeps from their mouths is enough to make even those of us with the strongest of constitutions question our sanity. I become very cynical when watching college football.
In other news! I went to two concerts this week, the first being a quite awesome Animal Collective show. I had been looking forward to seeing them perform for quite some time and I would not be let down. The venue, Arena, was quite a nice little place, and a place which I believe I’ll be visiting quite often during my stay. They played some of my favorite songs and even had a remix of an older tune, which I found absolutely amazing. I took some pictures for all to see, and I hope you enjoy.
Arena: the venue
the Geologist
Avey Tare
Panda Bear
the Lot of 'em
Avey Tare and Panda Bear
Whole Group Again
Panda Bear
I also went to see a singer/songwriter named Mica P Hinson the following night. This young Texan played a mix of alternative country and rock n’ roll which was decent enough, but he really won me over when introducing his banjo player, “This is Nick; he plays the banjo. I love the banjo; something about it just makes me want to dance. I’ve always thought if you didn’t like the sound of a banjo, you must be a heartless f*ck.” I like the cut of this guy’s jib, I thought.
Back to school news, I always knew teachers were kind of funny in the head. I should know them well after all; I’ve lived with one of them my whole life. (love you mom.) On my first day of school there was this weird man in the teachers’ room, talking to himself. I didn’t think much of it at the time, in fact I thought it par for the course that there should be at least one bat crazy science or math teacher; perhaps one with many cats. Much to my chagrin, however, I began to notice more and more of my new colleagues mumbling at length to whom could only be themselves. I am beginning to realize that all these teachers have been made insane, and the more I speak with them, the more it becomes clear to me that the majority of them have lost control of their own minds. It is sad really. One of the teachers I find very amusing, however. I was sat in the teachers’ lounge reading a book and this teacher comes up to me and says, “Reading Stephen King? What school isn’t scary enough for you?” I like her.
Finally, it must be mentioned that the Viennale, or the Viennese International Film Festival, started yesterday. The first film I saw was entitled Bastards of the Party. This film dealt with the rise of the two most notorious gangs in the United States, the Crips and the Bloods. It was a documentary from a Blood gang member, who although was still part of gang life, was trying to change the horrible violence between the two groups from the inside. It was a fascinating documentary, and it was entertaining to see how these gangs had spawned from such organizations as the Black Panthers and the Us Organization. They are not direct offshoots of these groups, but are the “bastard offspring” of them, thus the title of the film. It is always intriguing to watch history retrace itself, and I wonder how things would have turned out differently, if circumstances were slightly altered.
I saw a second film last evening as well about the plight of farmers in the U.K. It was a decent enough film, I suppose. It had won the British Academy Award for its excellence, but I didn’t see any sign of it. (Bob will get a chuckle out of that sentence)
In much bigger and better news, tonight I will be seeing a film about entitled Evenings Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin. You can read a description of the film at the Viennale website here http://www.viennale.at/en/programm/ Vic Chesnutt, a prominent singer/songwriter who has done the music for the film and with such acts as Thee Silver Mt. Zion, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Widespread Panic, and Fugazi, will play a concert with members of Thee Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra after the film. Guess who gets to go backstage before the show to video tape him playing a short two song set? It’s me. I get to go backstage. I’ll let y’all know how it goes. Till then.
P.S. Continue checking out theyshootmusic.at as I've been told I make an appearance in the Sea Bear video. I'm famous!
I can't belive I haven't posted in awhile. Well, yes I can.
Last week was the French film festival in L.A. Last year the only film I wanted to see was sold out, so luckily this year I was there almost everyday, watching enough French films to keep me satiated for awhile (that can be a tough accomplishment).
Then yesterday was Tuesday, so that means watching Rita Hayworth movies until I'm so tired I have to stick a VHS tape to record the rest (my cable box hasn't come yet. They said 3 days and it's been 3 weeks - I obviously need to call them).
And also on Tuesday, I picked up my DVDs of my short film "The Psychoanalyst." Got a bunch made, so yesterday I was working on picking out film fests to submit to. I have about 20 in the next few months. And this morning I mailed out copies to Orlando, Bay Area, and (drum roll) Hollywood itself. Wow, two miles away, maybe I just should have driven there.
More ideas, more stuff to work on. I'm torn on making another movie. It's so expensive. It's such a pain. Maybe not September 2007 like I planned, more like March 2008. Then I wanted to make a feature after that, homemade of course - only if things fall into place. It all takes time, so I am going to concentrate on writing for the rest of the year and film fests instead of filming more. A whole lot less stressful. Yay!
Sofia: Yes!
Rancette: I'd like to talk about your new film Marie-Antoinette.
S: It's not really my film. I mean, I'm just the director.
R: Are you not taking responsibility for its failing then?
S: I'm actually just really humble and I think a movie is a collective effort. I mean, it's a tragedy that people aren't responding to this. I mean, it's a great film.
R: It's "apolitical". Explain why you chose to not get into the gritty details.
S: Well, I really wanted to have fun with this movie. I didn't want to have to do research, because after I'm stuck at the library for so long, I tend to lose interest in a project. I wanted this film to be fresh and exciting.
R: Apparently, it's too "fresh".
S: Well, whatever. The reviewers are just jealous, because their father isn't Francis Ford Coppola, so they'll never be able to make it in the film industry.
R: True, but hasn't being Francis' daughter had some set backs?
S: Not really. I have had it pretty easy.
R: Don't you think you're being unfairly attacked for your movie? That they're just trying to undermine you, because you've reached where you are through no hard work of your own?
S: True they're jealous of me for being Francis' daughter. Untrue that I haven't worked hard. I mean, it's a bitch working with Kirsten now that she's famous. But I mean she has star power, and I want my movie to sell tickets! That'll make it easier to fund my next movie. But I mean, I totally understand Marie-Antoinette. That's why I made this film.
R: What do you understand?
S: Oh, I dunno, just that she was a rich girl like me and came to a place of power... and I mean, I feel like Marie-Antoinette sometimes. They're dissing my movie and all I want to do is free France. Oh no wait, that was Joan of Arc. What was that famous line of Marie-Antoinette's again? Something about eating cake. Oh, well you know what I mean. It was so fun working on this feature. Maybe I'll do another French film sometime. No matter what anyone says, they love me. People will see my film. Even if it's crap. That's what I love about Hollywood and being a Coppola!
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