Cinema is Dope

::: Drafthouse Ritz Tour @ Fantastic Fest 2007 (View Pictures)
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The Drafthouse Ritz is coming along very nicely. The unofficial word on it opening is (hopefully) by Halloween this year. Special care and attention has gone into crafting both its theaters in all facets. Two VIP balconies exist for the large theater and layered sound proofing exists throughout both theaters to avoid any dance music interruptions during screenings.

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::: Fantastic Feud at Fantastic Fest 2007 (View Pictures)
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The Fantastic Feud at Fantastic Fest 2007 was a highlight of this years fest. Trivia, comedy and fun flowed in massive quantities.

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::: Nikkatsu Action Retrospective at Fantastic Fest 2007 (View Pictures)
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The Nikkatsu Action Retrospective at Fantastic Fest 2007 was a huge success with many calling it one of their favorite parts of the festival. “A Colt is my Passport” was one of the highest rated films overall for the entire festival alone (which is rare for any retrospective film to do). Mark Schilling’s insight and knowledge were eaten up by eager Austin and out of town audiences that soaked in the chance to see such rare beautiful Japanese cinema on the big screen. Mr. Schilling also signed copies of his latest book from Fab Press called “No Borders, No Limits.”

For anyone that saw the “Warped Ones,” Mark Schilling mentioned the main character does the bunched up lip scowl as an act of defiance and that fans of it should also check out “Kuroi taiyo” aka “Black Sun.”

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::: Nacho Vigalondo (Timecrimes) at Fantastic Fest 2007 (View Pictures)
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Congratulations to Nacho Vigalondo (view blog) for his film “Timecrimes” winning best picture at Fantastic Fest this year.

“Timecrimes” aka “Los Cronocrimenes” was my second favorite film of Fantastic Fest 2007 (only behind P.T. Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood“). “Timecrimes” is a soaring debut and really puts Mr. Vigalondo on the map as a fresh new voice in cinema to keep a close eye on in the years ahead. Time travel through the course of this films hits on the theme if man can truly escape his fate and if some things are just inevitable regardless how hard we try to avoid them. Mr. Vigalondo does a hell of a lot with very little. Everything about the film feels rich and absorbing. I can’t wait to see it again in Sitges at the Melia! If you like films that deal with fate, time travel or are as rich as “Usual Suspects” or “Memento” then make sure you see this film when it comes out!

Of the Fantastic Fest 2007 karaoke singers Nacho was rated number one aka the very damn best! Followed by Juan Antonio Bayona and then Zack Carlson.

Pictures in the gallery do include Nacho karaoke-ing down the house with an electric rendition of “Tainted Love.”

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::: BBQ Day at Fantastic Fest 2007 (View Pictures)
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Smitty’s Market is Tim League’s barbecue restaurant of choice in the Austin, Texas area.

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Mercedes (Maribel Verdú) and Carmen (Ariadna Gil) in “Pan’s Labyrinth.”

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::: 39th Sitges Film Festival - The Ultimate Experience

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::: Last Two Days of Fantastic Fest 2007 (View Pictures)
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Fantastic Fest 2007 is now over. Here is a mix of pictures from the last two days. More this weekend.

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Sergi López as Capitán Vidal in “Pan’s Labyrinth.”

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Nice portrait style image of Pam Grier as Lee Daniels in “Black Mama, White Mama.”

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Doug Jones is the faun Pan in “Pan’s Labyrinth.”

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Susan Harper (Hayley Mills) and Martin Durnley (Hywel Bennett) share a moment of tender insanity in “Twisted Nerve.”

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Dancing ABBA Queen!

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::: Richard Kelly @ Fantastic Fest 2007 (View Two Pictures)
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It’s only two pictures but I thought the fans of Richard Kelly would want to see these two pictures. I have about two more I took of him that I’ll try and post tomorrow. I’ll get my interview up here early next week before I head off to the Sitges Film Fetival.

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Ofelia in “Pan’s Labyrinth.” Even the lighting behind here seems to hint at the recurring theme of Pan’s face throughout the film.

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::: 39th Sitges Film Festival - The Ultimate Experience

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A moment of defiance perhaps in “Persepolis.”

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