Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The Art of Travel
It appears this is last film that I'm writing about. Oddly enough it was the first film I saw.
The Art of Travel has one of the my favorite scenes of the Festival. It's the shocking wedding scene at the beginning. Maybe shocking is a horrible word. Let's go with surprising. Either way, the surprise is hilarious. I do love me some good comedy.
But this movie then turns into a little bit of everything as we follow Conner Layne through South America. It's got some drama, adventure, comedy, romance, etc. Christopher Masterson (Malcolm in the Middle) plays Conner and is very good. I love it when the main character in the film is somebody I'm rooting for.
Director, Tom Whelan got this film right. Well that's good because he can't get my name right, he keeps calling me James. I'll find a way to get past that because his style and the feel of this picture made me really enjoy it. Although I may call him Steve just to even the score a little. In fact, anyone that runs into Tom at the Festival, call him Steve for me and tell him that it's from James.
Go check out this film. It's a beautiful picture with a good story and good cast. That's reason enough for me. Count me in!
The Art of Travel has one of the my favorite scenes of the Festival. It's the shocking wedding scene at the beginning. Maybe shocking is a horrible word. Let's go with surprising. Either way, the surprise is hilarious. I do love me some good comedy.
But this movie then turns into a little bit of everything as we follow Conner Layne through South America. It's got some drama, adventure, comedy, romance, etc. Christopher Masterson (Malcolm in the Middle) plays Conner and is very good. I love it when the main character in the film is somebody I'm rooting for.
Director, Tom Whelan got this film right. Well that's good because he can't get my name right, he keeps calling me James. I'll find a way to get past that because his style and the feel of this picture made me really enjoy it. Although I may call him Steve just to even the score a little. In fact, anyone that runs into Tom at the Festival, call him Steve for me and tell him that it's from James.
Go check out this film. It's a beautiful picture with a good story and good cast. That's reason enough for me. Count me in!
Take
You may notice the multiple posts this morning. Well you see the Festival starts tomorrow and I still had to talk about a few more films. I was going to give you a whole speech about how I'm not a procrastinator, but I don't feel up to it now, I'll do it later. (I hope you enjoyed that bit. That's the best I've got at 6:30 in the am). So last minute homework is my style.
ANYWAY. Take is a incredibly strong drama starring Minnie Driver. Yes, that Minnie Driver. She is great in this film. It also has a great concept that works incredibly with the film being set in one day in the present and one day in the past. The film also features Jeremy Renner who is also very good.
Fun fact; the movie has David Denman. Roy from The Office. I'm a little obsessed with The Office. It's kind of an issue how many times I've seen each episode. So for me it's really cool to see David Denman in this film.
Charles Oliver has done an incredible job of telling his story on screen. This film is the kind of drama that makes you go "Whoa. Did that movie just happen?". Yea, it just happened, so go tell someone else to see it now. This movie is that good, so just tell your friends ahead of time to come see this movie.
You'll thank me later. After all it's the polite thing to do.
ANYWAY. Take is a incredibly strong drama starring Minnie Driver. Yes, that Minnie Driver. She is great in this film. It also has a great concept that works incredibly with the film being set in one day in the present and one day in the past. The film also features Jeremy Renner who is also very good.
Fun fact; the movie has David Denman. Roy from The Office. I'm a little obsessed with The Office. It's kind of an issue how many times I've seen each episode. So for me it's really cool to see David Denman in this film.
Charles Oliver has done an incredible job of telling his story on screen. This film is the kind of drama that makes you go "Whoa. Did that movie just happen?". Yea, it just happened, so go tell someone else to see it now. This movie is that good, so just tell your friends ahead of time to come see this movie.
You'll thank me later. After all it's the polite thing to do.
Hell on Wheels
This is the third documentary in our Feature Film Competition. Now looking back we've got a crazy variety of dccumentary and none of them are really your typical doc. I'm not sure what a typical documentary is, but I'm pretty sure none of ours are.
Hell on Wheels is all about women's roller derby. Seriously. How many more reasons do you need to go see this movie?
I'll give you a couple of more, just to make sure. Bob Ray's picture gives you an inside look at the world of roller derby. You get to see who these Texas women are that knock each other down and put on one hell of a show for the fans. These film also puts on a hell of a show.
The film played at South by Southwest in Austin last year which another pretty good reason to check it out.
It'll be playing Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the Festival. So do you really have an excuse to miss it? I'm gonna need to see a doctor's note.
Hell on Wheels is all about women's roller derby. Seriously. How many more reasons do you need to go see this movie?
I'll give you a couple of more, just to make sure. Bob Ray's picture gives you an inside look at the world of roller derby. You get to see who these Texas women are that knock each other down and put on one hell of a show for the fans. These film also puts on a hell of a show.
The film played at South by Southwest in Austin last year which another pretty good reason to check it out.
It'll be playing Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the Festival. So do you really have an excuse to miss it? I'm gonna need to see a doctor's note.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Remarkable Power!
Remarkable Power! is a comedy with a very strong cast. It features Kevin Nealon, Tom Arnold. Christopher Titis, Kip Pardue and Dule Hill.
The film simply put is about a late night talk show host's plan to deal with his wife's infidelity, but this comedy is much more complex than that. There are tons of twists and turns and it's truly an ensemble cast. The film takes roughly 10 characters or so and ....
Well damn. I almost gave away a couple of key plot points. Good thing for the delete key or I would have been the Despised Festival Director. I can't quite figure out how to describe the fun about this film without giving away stuff.
While the film isn't the type of knee-slapping comedy, it's a more consistent comedy with funny business throughout and a great build to it. I can say there's a murder or two in it. I don't think that gives anything away. My favorite part of this film is a character named Moses in it that really cracked me up. He uses my favorite word of an Festival film, but I can't say what it is!!
Fun Festival fact. Evan Peters who is in the film won a Phx Film Fest Copper Wing Award back in 2004 for Breakthrough Performance in Clipping Adam.
So if you want to relax and have a good laugh check this one out. Who doesn't like to laugh? Well I suppose really angry people don't like to laugh. Well I'm not a fan of really angry people, so screw 'em.
The film simply put is about a late night talk show host's plan to deal with his wife's infidelity, but this comedy is much more complex than that. There are tons of twists and turns and it's truly an ensemble cast. The film takes roughly 10 characters or so and ....
Well damn. I almost gave away a couple of key plot points. Good thing for the delete key or I would have been the Despised Festival Director. I can't quite figure out how to describe the fun about this film without giving away stuff.
While the film isn't the type of knee-slapping comedy, it's a more consistent comedy with funny business throughout and a great build to it. I can say there's a murder or two in it. I don't think that gives anything away. My favorite part of this film is a character named Moses in it that really cracked me up. He uses my favorite word of an Festival film, but I can't say what it is!!
Fun Festival fact. Evan Peters who is in the film won a Phx Film Fest Copper Wing Award back in 2004 for Breakthrough Performance in Clipping Adam.
So if you want to relax and have a good laugh check this one out. Who doesn't like to laugh? Well I suppose really angry people don't like to laugh. Well I'm not a fan of really angry people, so screw 'em.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Dirty Country
Yes. This movie is raunchy.
Yes. It's a who's who of dirty music over the years.
Yes .The songs that are in it are filthy.
Yes. It's mostly about Dirty Country Legend Larry Pierce.
Yes. You must leave the kids at home for this one.
Yes. It shows Larry's impact on a rock band called Itis who cover his songs.
Yes. Some may get offended.
Yes. I think this film is hilarious.
Yes. My grandparents would pass out if they heard these songs.
Yes. This movie has some heartwarming moments.
Yes. I meant to type that last thing. It's true.
Yes. Go see this movie if you want to laugh your backside off. At least this blog is clean.
Yes. It's a who's who of dirty music over the years.
Yes .The songs that are in it are filthy.
Yes. It's mostly about Dirty Country Legend Larry Pierce.
Yes. You must leave the kids at home for this one.
Yes. It shows Larry's impact on a rock band called Itis who cover his songs.
Yes. Some may get offended.
Yes. I think this film is hilarious.
Yes. My grandparents would pass out if they heard these songs.
Yes. This movie has some heartwarming moments.
Yes. I meant to type that last thing. It's true.
Yes. Go see this movie if you want to laugh your backside off. At least this blog is clean.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
August Evening
This is a beautifully shot film with a really nice pace to it. The film was nominated for a couple of Independent Spirit Awards; one for Best Actor and one for Best Picture with a Budget Under 500k, which it won.
Chris Eska does a great job by many times just telling the story with the images or a character's expression. The film has a very nice leisurely pace with a some incredible performances in this story of an immigrant man and his daughter-in-law. The performances in the film have such a natural feel that they blend in perfectly with the filmmaker's style.
Did I mention the film is in Spanish with English subtitles. The cool part of that is that writer-director, Chris Eska doesn't speak Spanish and the actors translated to Spanish. Just a little fun fact for you.
Be sure to come check this beautiful film out, it's a great journey from beginning to end.
Chris Eska does a great job by many times just telling the story with the images or a character's expression. The film has a very nice leisurely pace with a some incredible performances in this story of an immigrant man and his daughter-in-law. The performances in the film have such a natural feel that they blend in perfectly with the filmmaker's style.
Did I mention the film is in Spanish with English subtitles. The cool part of that is that writer-director, Chris Eska doesn't speak Spanish and the actors translated to Spanish. Just a little fun fact for you.
Be sure to come check this beautiful film out, it's a great journey from beginning to end.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Dakota Skye
There's always something special about watching a film shot in your hometown. The familiarity of it makes you feel at ease. There's also a sense of pride when it's a well done film like Dakota Skye. At the Phoenix Film Festival, we're always looking for good films shot in Phoenix and we've got one with Dakota Skye.
It's tricky to make a dramatic film about teenagers even when you have a crazy budget to throw at the film. Imagine trying to do it as an independent film. Well John Humber has done just that with Dakota Skye. There's something real about it, the actors don't feel fake or out of touch, every thing feels natural about it. That alone is reason enough to check out the film, but there's plenty of other stuff too. The director has done some really good things with the characters in the film and has a solid story to back it up.
Fun Fact of this film is that it turns out that most of the classroom stuff was shot in the same building as our luxurious Phoenix Film Foundation offices. Pretty cool. Well maybe only to me.
So check this really good drama out and if your from the area, you'll notice plenty of Phoenix-ish stuff. As a Phoenician I'm proud to have this film at the Fest. Well I don't exactly live in Phoenix, more the Phoenix Metro area, but I think you get my point.
Well my main point is; GO SEE DAKOTA SKYE.
It's tricky to make a dramatic film about teenagers even when you have a crazy budget to throw at the film. Imagine trying to do it as an independent film. Well John Humber has done just that with Dakota Skye. There's something real about it, the actors don't feel fake or out of touch, every thing feels natural about it. That alone is reason enough to check out the film, but there's plenty of other stuff too. The director has done some really good things with the characters in the film and has a solid story to back it up.
Fun Fact of this film is that it turns out that most of the classroom stuff was shot in the same building as our luxurious Phoenix Film Foundation offices. Pretty cool. Well maybe only to me.
So check this really good drama out and if your from the area, you'll notice plenty of Phoenix-ish stuff. As a Phoenician I'm proud to have this film at the Fest. Well I don't exactly live in Phoenix, more the Phoenix Metro area, but I think you get my point.
Well my main point is; GO SEE DAKOTA SKYE.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
What We Do is Secret
Whoa! What a cool film. It's one of those films I watch and I thought "Wow. We're going to show this at our Festival. I think that makes us cool."
Shane West tears it up in this film as Darby Crash lead singer of The Germs. Shane has a nice resume. Take a look at him on the IMDB.com and you'll be impressed. The film also features Rick Gonzalez, very good as Pat Smear. You might remember him as Spanish from "Old School".
I've gotten sidetracked again. The film is a bio-pic about the band The Germs who hit the LA Punk Scene hard in the late 70s and got kicked out of every club thanks to their out of control fans and maybe a little bit by Darby Crash. Okay maybe a lot because of Darby Crash.
I was really impressed by how the film was shot, documentary/narrative style. Also impressive is Shane West. If you have any interest in punk music definitely check this out, if you don't have interest in punk music, check it out anyway just to make sure you don't miss a really cool film. Then you'll be cool by association. Just like the Phoenix Film Festival.
Shane West tears it up in this film as Darby Crash lead singer of The Germs. Shane has a nice resume. Take a look at him on the IMDB.com and you'll be impressed. The film also features Rick Gonzalez, very good as Pat Smear. You might remember him as Spanish from "Old School".
I've gotten sidetracked again. The film is a bio-pic about the band The Germs who hit the LA Punk Scene hard in the late 70s and got kicked out of every club thanks to their out of control fans and maybe a little bit by Darby Crash. Okay maybe a lot because of Darby Crash.
I was really impressed by how the film was shot, documentary/narrative style. Also impressive is Shane West. If you have any interest in punk music definitely check this out, if you don't have interest in punk music, check it out anyway just to make sure you don't miss a really cool film. Then you'll be cool by association. Just like the Phoenix Film Festival.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
On Broadway
I'm sure many of you thought that this would be a biography about George Benson, but that film is called "Gimme the Night". No this film is a comic drama or a dramedy or whatever fancy label you want to attach to it.
I prefer just to call it a very good film about a guy from Boston whose uncle dies, so he decides to write a play about it and put it on in a bar. It stars Joey Mcintyre. Yep that Joey Mcintyre. He's great in this film as the main character. The film has so many great moments that we've all shared with our family, the good and the bad. It's a heartwarming film without being cheesy. It also has Eliza Dushku, Mike O'Malley, Wil Arnett and Amy Poehler. The producer Lance Greene (who is also in it) and director Dave McLaughlin will be coming out to the Fest to represent. So come by and shake their hands and congratulate them on this great flick.
As I promised previously I'm going to advise you to check this one out. It's got drama, comedy and good performances. What more do you need? Maybe George Benson would be a nice touch, but you can't have everything.
I prefer just to call it a very good film about a guy from Boston whose uncle dies, so he decides to write a play about it and put it on in a bar. It stars Joey Mcintyre. Yep that Joey Mcintyre. He's great in this film as the main character. The film has so many great moments that we've all shared with our family, the good and the bad. It's a heartwarming film without being cheesy. It also has Eliza Dushku, Mike O'Malley, Wil Arnett and Amy Poehler. The producer Lance Greene (who is also in it) and director Dave McLaughlin will be coming out to the Fest to represent. So come by and shake their hands and congratulate them on this great flick.
As I promised previously I'm going to advise you to check this one out. It's got drama, comedy and good performances. What more do you need? Maybe George Benson would be a nice touch, but you can't have everything.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Finding Kraftland
I'm not going to try to explain to you what the documentary, Finding Kraftland is about, you'll have to check the synopsis on the Phoenix Film Fest site. I'm also not going to write a review, I leave that to the pros like Colin Boyd over at BigPictureRadio.com.
I'll just tell you that I love Finding Kraftland. Why? I can't pinpoint it, but I love it. I don't know if it's the sentimentality of all the great stuff that Richard Kraft has collected, Richard's dynamic personality or the great relationship he has with his son, but this film pulled me right in from the beginning. Watching this film is like a rollercoaster, you have no idea what you're getting into, but it's a zany fun ride. And unlike a roller coaster, it won't make you throw up. It even has a music number smack dab in the middle. Like I said, ZANY.
My advice is to check this one out. Let's be honest, I'm going to tell you to check out all of the films.
I'll just tell you that I love Finding Kraftland. Why? I can't pinpoint it, but I love it. I don't know if it's the sentimentality of all the great stuff that Richard Kraft has collected, Richard's dynamic personality or the great relationship he has with his son, but this film pulled me right in from the beginning. Watching this film is like a rollercoaster, you have no idea what you're getting into, but it's a zany fun ride. And unlike a roller coaster, it won't make you throw up. It even has a music number smack dab in the middle. Like I said, ZANY.
My advice is to check this one out. Let's be honest, I'm going to tell you to check out all of the films.
What? Even more movies???
That's right. We've just announced a couple more Showcase Films for the Festival.
The first is our Saturday Night Event and it's "Forbidden Kingdom" from Lionsgate Films. It features the first pairing of Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Pretty cool stuff.
Next is the Sunday Night Event in the Cine Capri. The film is from Fox Searchlight and it's called "Young at Heart". This film tells the story of the Young at Heart Chorus and has blown away audiences at the LA Film Fest and Sundance. If you miss it Sunday, we'll be showing it again on Tuesday.
So there's a couple of new Showcase Films. Thos studio films are fancy and shiny but don't forget to check out the Competition Features. I'll tell you a little bit about each of them as we get closer.
The first is our Saturday Night Event and it's "Forbidden Kingdom" from Lionsgate Films. It features the first pairing of Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Pretty cool stuff.
Next is the Sunday Night Event in the Cine Capri. The film is from Fox Searchlight and it's called "Young at Heart". This film tells the story of the Young at Heart Chorus and has blown away audiences at the LA Film Fest and Sundance. If you miss it Sunday, we'll be showing it again on Tuesday.
So there's a couple of new Showcase Films. Thos studio films are fancy and shiny but don't forget to check out the Competition Features. I'll tell you a little bit about each of them as we get closer.
Friday, February 29, 2008
2008 Phoenix Film Festival is less than 5 weeks away
The countdown is on and we're less than 5 weeks away from the big event. As you can see from our site the majority of our films have been selected with a few surprises still to come.
Our Competition Features have a great combination of comedy, drama and documentaries. Our Program Director, Greg Hall has put together a great selection of Feature films this year.
Our shorts are also very strong with animated, live action, docs, student and Arizona made shorts to choose from. We've got a great slate courtesy of our Shorts Programmer Scott Rogers (who is coincidentally shorter than Greg Hall).
Our World Cinema selections are still being ironed out, but year after year our Programmer for this group, Slobodan Popovic puts on a good show.
Finally our Showcase Selections are still in progress. We have the majority of the films locked down, but don't worry there's more to come.
Keep an eye on our site for more great things and maybe I'll actually come up with something important to say here.
See you at the Festival!
Our Competition Features have a great combination of comedy, drama and documentaries. Our Program Director, Greg Hall has put together a great selection of Feature films this year.
Our shorts are also very strong with animated, live action, docs, student and Arizona made shorts to choose from. We've got a great slate courtesy of our Shorts Programmer Scott Rogers (who is coincidentally shorter than Greg Hall).
Our World Cinema selections are still being ironed out, but year after year our Programmer for this group, Slobodan Popovic puts on a good show.
Finally our Showcase Selections are still in progress. We have the majority of the films locked down, but don't worry there's more to come.
Keep an eye on our site for more great things and maybe I'll actually come up with something important to say here.
See you at the Festival!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
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