By Donna Bourgois. Ugh, the hangovers, the lines, the interacting, the music, and the McDonald’s House. Somehow, some way I survived another SouthBy and actually managed to come out of March ahead of schedule. I also managed to attend three screenings with special Q&A’s featuring directors, actors… and I lost all of the notes for said screenings. Whoops.
This past month was completely mental and I’m very excited to be moving on to a much slower paced month with a ton of awesome releases. I also could not be happier to be watching my 100th movie at the beginning of April! I will be doing a screening — everyone is welcome, so be sure to let me know if you’re in the area and looking for an excuse to watch some Gary Busey.
Cecil B. Demented
Directed by John Waters.
Running time: 87 min.
Screened via Netflix.
Picking up where I ended last month, I started March with another satirical “industry” film. A madman of a director somehow rounds up a bunch of delinquent kids, captures a starlet, and film’s a movie guerrilla style. Not the most well acted film, however it did seem like everyone had fun on set.
The always amazing Alamo Drafthouse, Austin Film Society, and the very nice Zellner brothers set up a wonderful advance screening of Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter. In typical Alamo fashion, it wasn’t your typical advance screening; they also staged a city-wide scavenger hunt. I read about the event about a week beforehand and honestly got caught up in life and forgot about it. As last minute as possible — two days before the event to be exact — I coerced some of my friends into joining my team, #wellfigureitoutlater. As you might naturally assume, we killed it.
It was the dream team of scavenger hunts, we’re deeply considering taking our team pro. Despite a late delivery on a clue we managed to beat the other three teams all over the city. I’d like to say people were crying in jealousy and balloons and champagne was flowing as we swung back through the theatre but that would be a gross fabrication. (However, I did manage to chug a Guinness when we had to stop at a bar for our third clue. Yes, I am a true American hero, thank you.)
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter
Directed by David Zellner.
Running time: 105 min.
Screened via Alamo Drafthouse.
Based on a true story and starring one of my favorite Japanese actresses, Rinko Kikuchi. Kikuchi delivers an amazing performance with very little dialogue. Zellner relies heavily on the empty spaces and bustling city to deliver most of the story and it’s in those areas where the film truly succeeds.
Whiplash
Directed by Damien Chazelle.
Running time: 107 min.
Screened via PSN Streaming.
As someone that grew up playing the cello in various ensembles, I feel this movie was incredibly true to that life. Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons really channel the frustration between student and teacher. The issues I had with the film are few; the sound editing needed sharpening and the romance seemed shoehorned into the plot as an afterthought to humanize our hero.
Mr. Nobody
Directed by Jaco Van Dormael.
Running time: 141 min.
Screened via Netflix.
This is exactly the type of movie that I could see a teenage version of myself just gobbling up, spouting off equally deep bullshit about parallel universes and alternate timelines. A completely idiotic name for a film that is very nice to look at and is interesting in the ways the story unfolds.
Super
Directed by James Gunn.
Running time: 96 min.
Screened via YouTube.
It’s always amazing to me when a movie can make you feel both embarrassed and uncomfortable when that’s clearly not the directors intention. I can’t even pinpoint what made me dislike this movie the most: The missed jokes, the characters, the plot, the acting? Woof. Super was a super miss. Bad pun very much intended.
All This Mayhem
Directed by Eddie Martin.
Running time: 104 min.
Screened via Netflix.
Skateboarding documentaries are very popular at my house. At the height of Tony Hawk’s reign, two Australian brothers emerged on the scene and revolutionized the sport. Chronicling the lives of the Pappas brothers, the story is compelling, and it’s as much a story about skateboarding as it is about youth with too much cash.
A Walk Among the Tombstones
Directed by Scott Frank.
Running time: 114 min.
Screened via YouTube.
Another ex-cop for hire/hitman/PI movie. Another movie with zero depth, and no reason to care. Frank really took the concept of mindless action movies to the next level by writing such a boring plot. Even the actual action sequences are boring, come on guys.
A Boy and His Dog
Directed by L.Q. Jones.
Running time: 91 min.
Screened via YouTube.
An age-old tale of a telepathic boy and his telepathic dog in a post-apocalyptic world. The first half is your typical “scavenge for food amid the fallout” flick. The second half is a sexy oasis film, where the young boy is valuable only for his seed (?). The plot is as uninhabitable and dull as the world in which it takes place.
Shônen (1969)
Running time: 97 min.
Screened via Hulu Plus.
A beautiful story of a young boy who realizes that he’s become a cog in his father’s schemes. Wonderfully shot and told from the perspective of the young boy. I found it very moving and mesmerizing to see how early the boy was thrust into adulthood once when he began to understand.
Lethal Weapon
Directed by Richard Donner.
Running time: 110 min.
Screened via DVD.
Anyone that hasn’t watched this series is an idiot, it’s so amazing. I watched this in preparation for the recording of the first episode of a podcast I co-host, The Gary Buseytown Massacre, and it was just as good as I remember. The music, the drugs, the Busey.
Citizenfour
Directed by Laura Poitras.
Running time: 104 min.
Screened via HBO GO.
When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I immediately knew I wanted to see it. However, I also thought, a bit soon, yeah? A bit soon, indeed. The story, if you read the news, doesn’t offer anything that you don’t already know. The best part is watching it all unfold in real time.
The Fault in Our Stars
Directed by Josh Boone.
Running time: 126 min.
Screened via HBO GO.
Sometimes you just need a good cry. The story is as predictable as any star-crossed cancer teen in love tale. While it’s not the most poetic, it is touching and I think the characters ability to overcome fear and depression is something we can all learn from. Move over A Walk To Remember, there’s a new tragedy in town.
Faults
Directed by Riley Stearns.
Running time: 89 min.
Screened via Alamo Drafthouse.
A refreshing take on cults in a market that’s on the verge of oversaturation. While it’s not breathtakingly beautiful, it is very well shot with excellent framing, and it throws around the occasional peculiar sequence. The acting is amazing and the plot very unique.
Angels Hard as They Come
Directed by Joe Viola.
Running time: 85 min.
Screened via YouTube.
The second of the two movies I watched for The Gary Buseytown Massacre. This movie is terrible. There is no cohesive plot and no character development. The best actor in this film is Gary Basey and even that’s not even remotely enough to make this movie watchable.
The Beales of Grey Gardens
Directed by Albert Maysles and David Maysles.
Running time: 90 min.
Screened via Hulu Plus.
Albert Maysles died so for a fitting tribute I watched Grey Gardens. And shortly after starting remembered that its gross. Who knew the fall from grace would be so high, or living in a dilapidated trash house would be so grand.
Rich Hill
Directed by Andrew Droz Palermo and Tracey Droz Tragos.
Running time: 91 min.
Screened via Netflix.
Revolving around three teens and their family struggles in Rich Hill, Missouri. The subject matter is mildly interesting at times, mainly peaking with Appachey, one of the subjects of the film. The editing helps hold interest long enough to get through this otherwise dull movie.
The ABCs of Death 2
Directed by Various.
Running time: 125 min.
Screened via Netflix.
Several directors are once again given a letter as their vehicle through which they can depict death. I enjoyed this much more than the first of the series; I found there were several more interesting and well shot vignettes. Much more creative stories compared to the first installment.
Summer of Blood
Directed by Onur Tukel.
Running time: 86 min.
Screened via Netflix.
For any of your that attended or listened to the episode of Onur Tukel on DLM I’m sure, like me, you thought this movie was going to be terrible based off his presence. This has been the biggest surprise so far out of what I’ve watched. I loved this movie. I thought it was hilarious, neurotic, and well edited; it reminded me a lot of The Comedy.
Parallels
Directed by Christopher Leone.
Running time: 83 mins.
Screened via Netflix.
So apparently this is a long pilot instead of a movie, so I’m not sure if this counts. I’m willing to scratch it from the list, if there are any objections. I was pleasantly surprised by this film, a perfect I drank too much, what is life, even? type of movie. Lots of mystery and interesting “other” earths. If the rumors are true and this ends up becoming a show, I’ll tune in.
Lola (1961)
Directed by Jacques Demy.
Running time: 90 min.
Screened via Hulu Plus.
Slice of life film revolving around a girl, Lola, and the many men that love her. It depicts the struggle between Lola and the men, each representing a time in her life when their relationship was vital. The relationships don’t revolve around Lola and the men, rather the men have their own set of issues occurring that affect their feelings for her.
The Vanishing
Directed by George Sluizer.
Running time: 107 min.
Screened via Hulu Plus.
Focusing on the kidnapper instead of the kidnapped, this is a movie primarily driven by dialogue while still maintaining the feel of a thriller. The acting is quite good and there are some really interesting shots around the midway point of the movie. I think I might be just curious enough to watch the American remake of the film, which had the same director.
Eyes Without a Face (1960)
Directed by Georges Franju.
Running time: 88 min.
Screened via Hulu Plus.
I thought this was going to have the same ridiculous camp of most classic horror. I was wrong. This film was fantastic, I found the story very interesting and the dialogue natural for such a ridiculous premise. The best part is Edith Scob; she is absolutely amazing. The way she moves is doll-like and dreamy. I can’t wait to watch it again.
Still Alice
Directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland.
Running time: 101 minutes.
Screened via Alamo Drafthouse.
A lot of movies deal with struggle but so few do it in a such an accurate and emotionally charged way. For that I am terribly sorry we have lost one of the directors of this amazing film. Julianne Moore is phenomenal as Alice and, surprisingly, Kristen Stewart as Lydia brings the story full circle.
Knife in the Water
Directed by Roman Polanski.
Running time: 94 mins.
Screened via Hulu Plus.
Excellently framed and beautifully filmed, like watching moving piece of art. The shifting focus of the background and foreground really play an interesting parallel to the story, as is the film’s drifting attention from the men to the woman’s perspective.
Pickpocket (1959)
Directed by Robert Bresson.
Running time 75 min.
Screened via Hulu Plus.
The tragedy of the life of a pickpocket, if only the movie was interesting enough for me to care. Michel starts his life of crime and immediately lands in jail. Realizes the error of his ways but his parents die, so obviously he goes back to crime. There is very little dialogue and as a result I found the movie dull and the characters coma inducing.
Divergent
Directed by Neil Burger.
Running time 139 min.
Screened via HBO GO.
When will these trite teen movies end? My boyfriend, who happens to be a garbage human, gobbles up these hunger games of maze runner-gents. So I get to partake in the limitless joy of trash film. The emotions onscreen range from Ryan Gosling in Drive to Ryan Gosling in Only God Forgives. I would say, “pass.”
Young Ones
Directed by Jake Paltrow.
Running time 100 min.
Screened via Netflix.
I liked very little about this film. The plot is boring and predictable. The acting is overdone at times and too subdued at integral plot points. The dystopian, waterless world that is home is the most interesting part of the film. Sweeping shots of a barren landscape make the film beautiful but not enough to make it good.
Foxcatcher
Directed by Bennett Miller.
Running time 134 min.
Screened via PSN Streaming.
Probably the biggest miss of the Oscar films for me, I found Foxcatcher just plain boring. The acting is all that stands out and Mark Ruffalo steals the show. I would love to read this script, because I can’t tell if it was the story or Miller that failed. Despite the star-studded cast’s strong attempts they just couldn’t turn this around.
Spring
Directed by Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead.
Running time 109 min.
Screened via Alamo Drafthouse.
Reminiscent of Linklater’s Before trilogy in style, Spring is on the opposite end of the spectrum in tone. Part love/romance and part monster/horror, the latest installment of Drafthouse Films has a little something for everyone. I say, “come for the romance, stay for the monster.”
Event Horizon
Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson.
Running time 96 min.
Screened via Netflix.
Who’da thunk that we’d get Dr. Grant not only out of Montana but all the way up in space? Nothing short of a miracle. What was it with the 90s and hellacious spherical gateways to other dimensions? Here we have the great space horror Event Horizon. I like Sphere better, and I’m okay going on the record with that one.
Beyond (2014)
Directed by Joseph Baker & Tom Large.
Running time 89 min.
Screened via Netflix.
It’s all a metaphor for a boring, predictable story with a twist that’s so played out it would have only been interesting in the mid-nineties. the only redeemable feature of Beyond is the setting. Beautiful sweeping countryside, vast desolate ocean, and a foreboding forest are the only good parts of an otherwise flat film.
P2
Directed by Franck Khalfoun.
Running time 98 min.
Screened via Netflix.
I spent the majority of this film trying to figure out if I had already seen it. What does that mean? This movie is terrible. It’s such a common and boring premise that I can’t even differentiate P2 from the countless others that are exactly the same! Another point of interest, it took me three days to complete this movie. Barf.
Top Five
Directed by Chris Rock.
Running time 102 min.
Screened via PSN Streaming.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this movie. However, I really enjoyed the out of touch (and now sober) comedian trying to get back to his roots. The plot was a bit cliche, but good in all the right ways. A feel good comedy with an all too real story of publicity and substance abuse.
A Spell To Ward Off the Darkness
Directed by Ben Rivers and Ben Russell.
Running time 98 min.
Screened via Alamo Drafthouse.
Two experimental film powerhouses came together using Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, of Om, as their muse. The film unfolds in the style of a triptych, each part slowly unfurling into the next. The narrative leaves room for incredible sound design, focusing deeply on the sounds of nature and the emptiness of the space.
Check out Donna’s daily progress over on her Letterboxd.
