MOVIES

A Big Thumbs Up For Roger Ebert at the San Francisco International Film Festival

Published by Harmon on May 3rd, 2010 in MOVIES

 


As filmmaker Terry Zwigoff stated on stage at the historicCastro Theater:

“There’s a murderers’ row of directors here tonight!”

The Ghost Worlddirector was referring to the cavalcade of cinematic talent on hand to pay tribute to renown movie critic,Roger Ebert, who received the Mel Novikoff Award at the 53rd San Francisco International Film Festival. Jason Reitman (Juno), Errol Morris (The Fog of War), and Philip Kaufman (Henry and June) all sang their praises for Ebert-whose love of all things movies has made him the icon of film criticism for three decades.

For me, it was a personal thrill being I’ve always loved Roger Ebert’s no-nonsense review approach. The “thumbs up” has become embedded in our culture thanks to the man who started his career at the Chicago Sun-Times and later went on to such movie review TV shows as Sneak Previews and At The Movies. I once had the pleasure of sitting in front of Roger Ebert during a screening at the Cannes Film Festival. I enjoyed occasionally looking back at Ebert knowing he was in the midst of a big thumbs up moment as he appeared to take in the film like a wide-eyed kid in cinematic heaven.

All the directors present expressed their gratitude to Ebert for championing their early films that might have been shuffled aside by the public-small films that were made for the right reasons. Zwigoff remarked that Ebert’s praise of his documentary Crumb not only launched the film into theaters but the glowing review he penned felt greater than winning the Oscar.

‘You don’t know if your film is good when you make,” Errol Morris stated to the crowd. “To me, it was Roger Ebert. I owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.”

Jason Reitman showcased Ebert’s sharp wit. Reitman read his favorite scathing Ebert review that summarized the man’s outlook and love for cinema:

“I hated this movie. Hated hated hated hated hated this movie. Hated it. Hated every simpering stupid vacant audience-insulting moment of it. Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it.”

Philip Kaufman shared stories of his friendship with the kid with the golden thumb, He remarked that Ebert fit into the old school Chicago tradition of,
“tough, give ‘em hell, no bullshit, tell it like it is.”

Battling jaw cancer over the last several years, Ebert proved that his sharp sense of humor was still firmly intact. Speaking with a computerized voice via a laptop, Ebert greeting the capacity San Francisco crowd with, “My little man is standing in his chair and applauding.” (A nod to the SF Chronicle’s iconic movie rating system.)

Speaking out against such Hollywood smoke-and-mirrors as 3D movies, franchises, sequels, superhero, and special effect films used as gimmicks to sell box office tickets, Ebert sang his praises for the evening’s film, Juila, which starred Tilda Swinton.

‘Let’s turn our euyes to the movie screen and make Francois Truffaut happy, and enjoy one hell of a great film.”

The SF International Film Festival runs until May 6th.

 

In honor of Roger Ebert, here’s some of his greatest moments alongside cohorts Gene Siskel and Richard Roeper.

 
 

Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Micmacs, and the San Francisco International Film Festival

Published by Harmon on April 26th, 2010 in MOVIES

Hot dilly damn. Thursday night kicked off the opening of the 53rd San Francisco International Film Festival. And with it came Micmacs; the latest offering from innovative and imaginative French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Yes, he’s that guy who brought us such cinematic joys asAmelie, City of Lost Children, andDelicatessen.

“It’s Micmacs. It’s not Big Macs,” Jeunet told the packed crowed at the historic Castro Theater. “It’s about shenanigans. I just learned that word,shenanigans.”

Micmacs is a satire of the world arms trade. With that classic, recognizable Jeunet style, the film blends dark comedy with serious subject matter (“I thought about The Great Dictator. “), that smattered us in an aesthetic world of Rube Goldberg set pieces and a cacophony of surreal visuals and sound. After a video store clerk gets a stray bullet lodged in his head, he joins forces with a group of junkyard misfits that include a contortionist, a human cannonball, and other loveable oddballs. The band of eccentrics wage war on a pair of competing weapons manufacturers. Dany Boon portrays the lead role with the finesse of a silent film clown. (“The guy gets a bullet in the brain-it gives him an excuse to have imagination.”) Film lovers will note such Jeunet influences as Terry Gilliam and Tim Burton, alongside Tex Avery, Mission Impossible, Charlie Chaplin, and Buster Keaton.

“It’s Once Upon a Time in the West at the end, ” Jeunet assured the crowd. “I wanted to put everything I had into the film.”

A huge star in France, Jeunet enjoys the anonymity he receives in San Francisco:

“I was at a bookstore and I heard the music of Amelie. The woman there said, ‘It’s a French film.’ I said, ‘I know.’ She said, ‘Of course you know it-you’re French.’”

Before the screening I got a chance to chat with Jeunet as he made his way through the gauntlet on the red carpet. With child-like demeanor, he struck playful, animated poses as press cameras clicked. It was a thrill to look into the crazy, imaginative eyes of Jeunet, whose vision has brought the world such treasures as the squeaking bed scene in Delicatessen.

“You have to forgive me because I’m tired,” Jeunet stated outside the Castro Theater.

I nodded my head and assured that all was forgiven. I then leaned forward and asked the astute: “Where does your crazy imagination come up with the ideas for your films?”

Jean-Pierre Jeunet leaned forward. He replied: “It’s 10% inspiration, and 90%, how do you say (search for word and looks at translator), perspiration.”

Oh no. I’ve made one of the most imaginative people on the planet quote a bumper sticker saying. I should have just asked him, “Who are you wearing?” Must try harder.

“When you were 18, you worked for the telephone company. Did any of your ideas come from that experience?”

“At 18 I was at a telephone company and now I’m here!” he beamed. “Imagination was what saved my life. An important moment for me was when a friend of my parents got a Super 8 camera. I remember the sound of the camera. (Simulates sound of a Super 8 camera.) So I worked really hard to get that camera.”

“How would you describe your filmmaking process?”

“I am a sailor in the middle of the sea–alone. It is cold. I don’t sleep. Sailors fight. But I love it,” he said. “When you go into a toy box, it’s best to build the most beautiful toy you can.”

How does Jeunet feel his films are received in the U.S. compared to his homeland?

“They laugh much less in France. They love to hate what they loved before. (Pause.) ‘I want to stay in San Francisco. ”

The San Francisco International Film Festival runs until May 6th.

Texploitation Night in Belfast - January 29th

Published by flojo on January 28th, 2010 in MOVIES

TEXPLOITATION FILM NIGHT “SHOCKWAVES” - JANUARY 29

 

Join your Texan hosts Scott and Stacey and honorary Texan Peter as we present what might possibly be the greatest Underwater Nazi Zombie Movie of all time, Shockwaves!!! The best part? It’s free and BYOZJ (Bring Your Own Zombie Juice!!).

 

There will be a raffle for fabulous Safehouse Prizes as well as “Freedom Corn”, American candy (Twizzlers and Milk Duds) and other surprises served up by the Irish Texans.

 

There might even be some sketches and guest appearances! This will also mark the debut of Safehouse’s brand new black curtains, movie screen and, yes – just like a real art gallery and movie theatre – A LIGHT DIMMER! (Technically this is called a “rheostat” but we didn’t want to bore you. You can read all about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentiometer)

 

This is only the first in a series of Texploitation nights and it promises to be a great time.

 

We’ve got a Facebook group, too, like all the hip kids!!

 

www.facebook.com/#/group.php?v=info&gid=359993110220

 

Everyone is also invited to the after show party at The Duke of York! (Provided we’re not all too blocked at that point.)

 

www.safehousearts.org.uk/texploitation

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010 (The Future!)
DOORS: 7:30pm

FILM STARTS: 8:30pm SHARP

FREE! (Donation requested)

 

Spoiler Alert: Closing Line of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes Makes You Feel Soiled

Published by Harmon on December 26th, 2009 in MOVIES

Okay, so Freedom Haters did some holiday indulging and went and saw Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes.

Basically, it’s like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels–but with Sherlock Holmes and a hell of a lot more CGI effects. Still, you got the same snappy dialogue and fight scenes reverting to slow motion.

Freedom Haters doesn't mind seeing the big holiday blockbuster movie extravaganzas. (Who doesn’t like some dumb, mindless fun?) But what made me feel soiled was the closing line of Sherlock Holmes where Robert Downey Jr. utters, “Looks like this case is re-opened!”


That’s right, this movie was just one big set up for the Sherlock Holmes sequel (franchise). I ended up shrugging my shoulders and leaving the cinema with a “you duped me again Hollywood,” look on my face.

The only way this could’ve been less subtle is if Robert Downey Jr. delivered the line directly to the camera and then winked ala Sarah Palin-style.

 

20 Year Old Movies We've Never Seen Before Reviews - The Lonely Guy

Published by admin on November 5th, 2009 in 80s, MOVIES

Yes, Freedom Haters!

We're back with another 20 year old movie we've NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

And this one is a real doozie.

It's called The Lonely Guy and it's got Steve Martin in it.  One of our favorit comedians here at Freedom Haters. 

Right when he was still pretty damn hip and with it, movie wise before he got all crappy (I'm looking at YOU, Pink Panther!!).

And it was written by Neil Simon.

What could go wrong? 

Well, more or less, everything.

READ MORE >>

Freedom Haters First Time 20 Year Old Movie Reviews - Soul Man!!

Published by flojo on October 5th, 2009 in 80s, MOVIES

Yes, Freedom Haters is back with another review of a twenty year old move that I, El Flojo, somehow managed to escape seeing.

I've seen the works of Goddard, Altman, Wenders, Altman, Kubrick and Herzog, yet for some reason I've never seen the 1986 color switching comedy Soul Man.

You see, C. Thomas Howell just got into Harvard Law School, but his dad decided not to pay for it. Thus, C. Thomas is left with no other choice than become a black man.

Let the hilarity ensue!

 Like our other entries in the 20 Year Old Movie review series, this won't be as much of a review as an encapsulation of the zeitgeist of the movie looking back more than 20 years later.

What did I take away from Soul Man?

  • People are pretty stupid to think that C. Thomas Howell was black. And this was Harvard.
     
  • James Earl Jones really does have a scary voice.
     
  • Arye Gross was in just about every bad 80s movie out there. As a matter of fact, he is going to be in our NEXT First Time 20 Year Old Movie Review. (They had a sale at the tape store. You bet your ass I'm going to go back again.)
     
  • It was cool to see Leslie Nielsen in a "non-bad parody movie". Even if his part in Soul Man was pretty dumb. This movie was a couple years before the Naked Gun movies. The first few were pretty funny, but after that, it was all downhill for Mr. Nielsen. (I'm looking at you, 2001 A Space Travesty).
     
  • The Jan character from the US version of The Office plays the chick with jungle fever that keeps trying to seduce C. Thomas.
     
  • C. Thomas Howell and Rae Dawn Chong got married after being in this movie together. That made C. Thomas the son in law of Tommy Chong. Right on, man.
     
  • This movie pretty much killed any legitimacy that C. Thomas Howell's career had.
     
  • I still don't really understand the ending. At one point, C. Thomas thought everyone was on to his blackface schtick, then it turns out that Darth Vader/CNN Guy/James Earl Jones just wants him to be on the student law board. Then it turns out that they DID find out about his blackface bit and were putting him on trial....I'm still a little confused.
     
  • Wearing sneakers with a suit - a la Ayre in the courtroom scene - is like the 1980s version of getting a tattoo. It's a safe way of saying, "Hey man, I'm wacky/crazy".

Anyway, if you can't believe such a movie existed and was playing on the big scene at one point - it was. Below is the trailer and if you poke around the YouTubes, you can find the whole movie.

The Informant Makes Freedom Haters Happy

Published by Harmon on September 19th, 2009 in MOVIES

So seldom does Freedom Haters attend a movie on the opening day matinee.

 But such was the case with Steven Soderbergh's new flick, The Informant. There was something about Matt Damon packing on pounds to play Mark Whitacre--a Midwestern agricultural exec who cooperates with the FBI to help bring down lysine insider trading. But all isn't what it seems to be........

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Freedom Haters 20 Year Old Movie Reviews - Cocktail!!!

Published by flojo on September 5th, 2009 in 80s, MOVIES

Yes, Freedom Haters, back here with another review of a twenty year old movie that I've never seen.

This time up, it's Cocktail starring Tom Cruise.

I know what you're thinking - "El flojo, you've never seen Cocktail, the greatest 80s movie after Top Gun and The Breakfast Club?"

It's true. Somehow, I managed to avoid seeing this movie. And this isn't like my "Never Watch a Steven Soderberg Movie Campaign".

I knew about Cocktail. I'd seen the trailer. And some articles about the movie, but i'd never actually seen the cinematic feast that was Cocktail.

Boy, was I in for a treat.

So, without further ado, here are some things that I discovered watching the movie Cocktail.

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I Was Massacred by "Drive-In Massacre"

Published by zombie on September 4th, 2009 in video, cult, MOVIES, TV

Pre-dating the release of John Carpenter’s “Halloween” (which kicked-off a renewed interest in the slasher genre) by a few months, “Drive-In Massacre”, written by Buck Flowers and John Goff from a story by director Stu Segall (“C.B. Hustlers” and “Teeny Buns”), had me hoping for a kind of cinematic missing link between what horror films in the 70’s were compared to some of the more mindless ones in the 80’s.

Somehow, I’d missed seeing this thing over the years. I don’t know why. One look at the video cover art may offer a clue. “WARNING: The Red Stuff On Your Hot Dog May Not Be Ketchup!” Classy, but it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Undaunted, I popped some popcorn and crossed my fingers. Sometimes you can find a diamond in the rough wrapped in an ugly package. Other times you find the opposite. Other times you find the cinematic (and I use the term very loosely) pile of crap that is “Drive-In Massacre”.

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Have you seen "The Baby"?

Published by zombie on August 28th, 2009 in video, cult, MOVIES, TV

Hello again. Another old hard-to-find movie (at least this one is available on DVD) from a classic TV director. This time, it’s Ted Post, who, like Richard L. Bare (“Wicked, Wicked”) and Buzz Kulik (“Bad Ronald”) worked on Rod Serling’s “Twilight Zone” in the 1960’s, as well as episodes of “Gunsmoke”, “Rawhide” and “Combat!”. He was also the director of the mutant-laden second “Planet of the Apes” film, “Beneath the Planet of the Apes”.

“The Baby”, made in 1973, which I hadn’t seen until recently, therefore, held a lot of potential. I knew very little about the film except that its marketing promoted it as a horror film (“Pray you don’t learn the secret of ... The Baby”). Plus, the poster has a beautiful blonde woman wearing a teddy, while holding onto a teddy. How freaky is that?

Well, “The Baby” isn’t quite what I was expecting. I guess I pictured something like "It's Alive" (creepy, monster baby that eats people) or some twisted man-child living in a basement, as is hinted at in Edgar Wright's fake "Grindhouse" trailer for "Don't".

Here's what I got instead ...

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