Fantastic Fest - Day 3

Sat, Sep 22

Girl Who Leapt Through Time, The (98 min.) - This fairly standard piece of anime carries a story that is touching and sweet. I would particularly recommend this story for fans of anime and anyone with an obsession of time travel, but I think the story is easy for most people to enjoy.

Devils-Helper: the Folk Art Films of Phil Chambliss - Phil Chambliss is an anachronistic filmmaker and his creations, when seen in the light of his resources, are beautiful and thoughtful. In the editing room the saying goes “you edit what you shot, not what you wish you shot”. In the same manner Phil Chambliss makes films about and for sub-rural America with little budget, low tech equipment and locals recruited as he can convince them to perform. He is a fresh reminder how easy it is to make a film without “the right backing”.

Southland Tales (120 min.) - This film is so full of information that it is difficult to honestly review it after only one screening. Normally a film like that would compel me to see it again but there are too many elements that I did not enjoy that are restraining my enthusiasm. At times the dialog is used for exposition where the viewer should need no explanation, while at other times details are left out making the viewer even more confused. The almost complete lack of establishing shots may be a conscious choice on the part of the filmmaker, but it makes the audience spend brain-power on “how/why/what” while the film continues its rapid-fire delivery. Three weeks later. After the film the studio gave us copies of the graphic novels that cover chapters one through three. The movie covers chapters four through six. Now that I have read the novels I can see the filmmakers were attempting to wrap up the story in the books. Unfortunately for anyone who hasn’t read the books, this film is hard to watch.

Sex and Death 101 (100 min.) - It is easy to love this made-for-distribution movie about a man finding himself through a mysterious list. The writer of Heathers returns to the same look and feel after a long span of lesser movies. This time he tells the story of an affianced man who receives an email listing all of the woman he has had sex with and all the women he will have sex with in the future. At times warped and funny and then touching and personal, it is almost flawless. There need be no Heathers 2 since this film was made.

Postal (90 min.) - It would be irresponsible to recommend that the viewer get stoned before seeing this film. It would be wrong to point out that this outrageous, funny film would be all-the-better if viewed with an altered state of mind. So, I will just say that this is the best video game movie ever made, and i hope Leslie Nielsen lets Uwe Boll direct his next film…and that even a middle-aged nude Dave Foley is as funny as a cross-dressing young Dave Foley. Postal is a fun ride of outrageous moments that will have you constantly saying “oh no, he didn’t”. There is good reason that South Park is giving these guys a discount on advertisements in the new season.

The best Q&A ever! This night will go down in history. This clip is only a taste of the 45 minute thrill ride that Zack and Uwe took us on after the film. Zack is the funniest manic I have ever had the pleasure to see perform.

Posted by etrigan at September 23, 2007 3:47 AM

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