New Cinema Wallpaper of the Day
Wednesday, October 8, 2008

At NIFFF, Merde played the strongest of the three segments in Tokyo! with audiences. At the recent Fantastic Fest 2008, Merde played the weakest of the three… go figure. Most people seemed to have a problem with it being a farce… which ironically enough is what Merde completely is! Regardless it was good to see audiences warm up to Interior Design and Shaking Tokyo! I like every part of this film and overall rate it as one of my favorites of 2008.

Related Coverage:
::: Previous Movie Wallpaper (Cinema is Dope)

Image Source:
Official Japanese poster artwork that was used in the original Japanese release of the film.

Related Links:
::: Fantastic Fest
::: Sitges Film Festival
::: IMDb Profile

 

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New Cinema Wallpaper of the Day
Friday, September 12, 2008

Tokyo! finally hits Austin next Friday at Fantastic Fest 2008 (3:45 PM; Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar). I highly recommend anyone attending the film festival to check it out. You can read my write up on this anthology film on the Fantastic Fest listing for it (read here).

Related Coverage:
::: Previous Movie Wallpaper (Cinema is Dope)

Image Source:
Official French poster artwork that was used in the original French release of the film.

Related Links:
::: Fantastic Fest
::: Sitges Film Festival
::: IMDb Profile

Being a programmer at Fantastic Fest has its perks and getting to write up films for its official program is certainly one of them! While I didn’t get to write about all the films I loved (we divide everything up very democratically), I did get a chance to write about several. Below are 3 such write ups with another one on the way once the official lineup is announced on September 4th. While writing everything for the official program this year, I certainly felt like I had the masters of the film festival program film write ups in Mitch Davis (Fantasia) and Colin Geddes (TIFF Midnight Madness) hovering over me making Obi-Wan like suggestions, “Blaaaake do not write like Gaspar Noe reviewing a Sigur Ros album.” Colin and Mitch are masters of the known universes at powerfully and succinctly discussing a film in a festival program guide.

I would say of these write ups that Tokyo! was by far the most challenging as it was like writing 4 reviews in one. When I originally saw this film at NIFFF, I had no idea Tim League had also seen it and upon finding this out we launched into some shouts in unison of, “MERDE! MERDE! MERDE!” It should be interesting if that phrase catches on as a buzz/catchphrase at this years festival. This is certainly one of the best films this year and I couldn’t be happier that we are showing it.

The Substitute is a real fun sci-fi film from Denmark that just when you think it might be a bit too kid friendly it oozes out the blood and seriously twisted moments in rapid session.

How to Get Rid of the Others is a film I originally saw at BIFFF last year and it seemed like the kind of dark political satire that would go over well in Austin. The film feels much more topical now than it did a year ago. Its director Anders Ronnow Klarlund is most known for the rich puppet compelling fantasy drama, Strings.

Tokyo! (2008)
::: Fantastic Fest Official Program Write up
::: Movie Wallpaper (Cinema is Dope)

The Substitute (2007)
::: Fantastic Fest Official Program Write up

How to Get Rid of the Others (2007)
::: Fantastic Fest Official Program Write up

If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, Who ya gonna call?

Caption:
Jack Black stars as “Jerry” and Mos Def stars as “Mike” in New Line Cinema’s upcoming release of Michel Gondry’s BE KIND REWIND.

Photo By:
Abbot Genser

Image Source:
Official issued still that was used in its original USA release.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

Gael Garcia Bernal sporting cat ears rides off inside his fairy tale life where Stephanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is his sun. The endless inventiveness Gondry displays throughout this film leaves it more rewarding with each passing viewing than as a film you would typically watch only once.

Amazon.com Link:
Buy the The Science of Sleep DVD

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original international release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile