Sci-Fi London 11

 

A weekend watching sci-fi related films was always going to be a high point for me and I was not disappointed. Thanks to the sci-fi London team and Louis Savy for being so accommodating. I spent most of it with Tom Jupiter whose love for Star Trek and sci-fi is inspiring and it was a great few days of films and japes.

Sound of My Voice was the highlight of the festival for me. A debut film from Director, Zal Batmanglij, presenting exactly the kind of  cleverly constructed sci-fi I love. Brit Marling co-wrote and stars in the film and is pitch perfect. You can read my review in Starburst Magazine.

Other debuts I watched that showed potential included The Last Push and Cycle also reviewed in Starburst Magazine.

I also caught a couple of documentaries, both about Star Trek... The Captains followed William Shatner round as he met with and interviewed the actors who have also taken on the role. Scott Bakula and William Shatner riding on horseback singing to Fiddler on the Roof was a highpoint. Shatner, of course, manages to make the documentary all about himself but in the most entertaining way possible. Arm wrestling with Chris Pine and singing with Avery Brooks makes for fascinating, fun viewing! 

Trek Nation follows Eugene Roddenberry around (son of Gene) but it just didn't reach the same level of entertainment as The Captains. It is informative, but for the initiated, may not shed any new light.

I suggest you read Tom Roberts' coverage over on Starburst Magazine here and here.

Films I would watch at SIFF 2012 if I had a spare £900

 Excision

Directorial debut from Richard Bates Jr. starring Traci Lords with a cameo from John Waters.

The Legend of Kasper Hauser 

Davide Manuli directs Vincent Gallo in two roles. Nuff Said. The trailer for this is just awesome... I couldn't resist watching.

 John Dies at the End
Based on an excellent comic horror story, directed by Don Coscarelli who just happens to have directed some of my favourite films (Phantasm) and featuring one of my favourite actors Paul Giamatti.

V/H/S
Joe Swanberg, Ti West, Adam Wingard David Bruckner and Radio Silence all take turns Directing in this horror.

Thale
Norwegian Folklore from Aleksander L. Nordaas, hopefully as good as Trollhunter.

The Last Man on Earth
Aliens take over earth in this Italian sci-fi film.

Extraterrestrial
Director Nacho Vigalondo (Timecrimes) takes sci-fi somewhere else in this funny film. I saw this at TIFF and recommend catching it.

Robot and Frank
A buddy comedy about an old man and a robot. Directorial debut from Jake Schreier boasting an interesting cast.

Easton's Article
Low budget sci-fi that will hopefully be big on the ideas. First time feature from Tim Connery.

Killer Joe
New film from Director William Friedkin. Exciting times.













Other films I would be inclined to catch are Your Sister's Sister Lynn Shelton's fourth feature (and it has Mark Duplass in),  Take this Waltz directed by Sarah Polley, Romancing in Thin Air from eclectic director Johnnie To, Fat Kid Rules the World, God Bless America, Roller Town, Grassroots and Long Night's Journey Into Hell

Seattle International Film Festival runs from 17th May - 10th June. For more information: http://www.siff.net/index.aspx

Trajectories and French Family

The Raid follows a powerful and well aimed trajectory. I couldn't take my eyes of the fast paced action and superbly choreographed fight scenes. One scene in particular stood out, involving a warrior reminiscent in stamina and power of horror legends, Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees. A force to be reckoned with in one of the finest fight scenes I've ever seen involving some fluorescent lighting. 

BOOM! Spectacular action - watch it on the big screen!

“Your family are like a reverse Godot”

An enjoyably absurd romantic comedy that has moments of brilliance along with a couple of great performances from Delpy and Rock. It also boasts an inspired cameo. Loved it!

You can read my review here.

Carrying on the Asian and French theme... 

I also reviewed the Chinese Superhero comedy, Inseparable, which stars Kevin Spacey over on Starburst.

And The Monk starring Vincent Cassel. The poster and trailers for this film were super spot on...

I was more than happy to be led into temptation.

Sundance London

 

Last week I attended the very first Sundance London Festival. It took place at the O2 in North Greenwich over a few extremely rainy, miserable days so I was happy to be inside the cinema with a cup of coffee.

The highlight of my festival going experience was watching Safety Not Guaranteed starring the wonderful Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) and Mark Duplass (mumblecore maestro). You can read my review here. 

My obsession with the 90s drew me to see Tricky and Martina Topley Bird performing Maxinquaye live at the Indigo2.  The sound at the venue was awesome, and the atmosphere at the front was excellent. Not sure why, but on entering the venue I kind of screamed that I was super excited for the gig to my friends. I made a young girl laugh quite a lot and we had a chat about how much I loved Tricky and Martina(and the shockingly expensive drinks). Turns out I was telling their daughter how much I loved her mum and dad... slightly embarrassing but flattering, no?

I saw a couple of strong documentaries in The Queen of Versailles - an absorbing (and funny) look at how a rich family dealt with the recession - and Chasing Ice that looked magnificent and raised the important issue of global warming and melting ice caps. I also saw Finding North which thoroughly depressed me, you can read my review here.

Josh Radnor presented an extremely engaging and amusing yarn about growing up in Liberal Arts

I was a little bit let down by Nobody Walks considering it had Lena Dunham's name attached to it as co-writer.  Paul Dano's return to the big screen in For Ellen allowed for some moments of brilliance including him dancing to Whitesnake in a scene I would like to watch over and over again. There were quite a few walkouts (at the press screening) for Terence Nance's An Oversimplification of her Beauty but it provided a heartfelt and creative look at the subject of love and relationships. 

I enjoyed it.

 

Alex Mack, Eerie Indiana and Ethan Hawke

In my quest to envelop myself in 90s nostalgia I recently watched the entire first series of The Secret World of Alex Mack starring Larisa Oleynik from 10 Things I Hate About You. Her attire of oversized checked shirts and jeans pretty much sums up my wardrobe as a kid. It didn't stand up to the test of time, but it had its moments, you can read my review over at Starburst Magazine .

Let's be honest, nothing was going to compare 90s kids show wise considering my love for

Eerie Indiana (more on this soon).

I also watched A Midnight Clear - a film I had never seen before - it's set in 1944 (released in 1992) as the Second World War was coming to an end and follows a squad of US soldiers who have been placed together due to their above average intelligence.

Ethan Hawke stars in an early role, and his performance is full of its usual intensity.

It also features a young cast of Kevin Dillon, Peter Berg, Ayre Gross, Frank Whaley and Gary Sinise - who all shine in their roles.

You can read my review over at Cinetalk



Terracotta Film Festival and Third Window

Himizu closes the Terracotta Film festival, which runs from 12-15th April at the Prince Charles Cinema in London, and I have reviewed over on Starburst Magazine. It is based on bestselling manga by Minoru Furuya and is Sion Sono's reaction to the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 2011. Himizu is released by Third Window from 1st June in the UK.

My Way opens the festival on 12th April and is epic goodness, the wonderful Charlotte Linton  has reviwed it here.

 Monsters Club is also showing at the festival; I saw it last year at TIFF and although it was not what I was expecting it still has some visually original and stunning moments. You can read my thoughts on Cinetalk.

Third Window are also set to release Kotoko this year in the UK and I can only recommend this film. It is absolutely insane, disorientating and mesmerising.

I recently reviewed Adrift in Tokyo (out on DVD now) for the fab Filmoria another one I would recommend.

Full Programme for the festival here.

Mirror Mirror

Tarsem Singh's Mirror Mirror is an enjoyable and beautiful spin on the Snow White fairytale. The still above is from an unexpected and truly inspired dance sequence from the end of the film. Hang around to watch this bit and see Armie Hammer's attempt at dancing. 

You can read my review over on Starburst.

Thanks to this scene I remembered one of my all time favourite things...the accomplished and joyful  tap dance sequence at the end of Zatoichi.