New This Week a.k.a. filmgurl's Xmas Wish List

Okay, so my brilliant plan of working from home to give more time to my other pursuits (i.e. blogging) hasn't really worked out the way that I had planned. There are a variety of factors that have lead to this problem: not having consistent net access on the laptop, my lack of a proper routine, and my lack of time to surf aimlessly to find things to blog about.

So, how do I fix this?

Well, while I'm working on this whole routine thing, I've decided to start a few little weekly features to help me organize my blog entries. I'm hoping this will allow me to build up a reserve of post subjects that I just plug into a certain day so that I can update things more regularly. So, instead of 4 entries on one day and no entries for a couple of weeks, I'll have a fairly consistent 5 posts a week.

And I'm adding pictures.

Since new DVDs are always released on Tuesday, Tuesday's feature will deal with new releases I think are interesting or personally will be buying, as well as information on new distributors, labels & web retailers.

This week's pick:

I've been waiting for this one for almost a year. Featured in D.o.S. #5, producer Val Lewton's horror pics for RKO still stand up as spooky, well constructed films that chill viewers & make their meager budgets really work for them. Influential, beautifully shot & excellently paced, if you have any interest in genre film at all you should definitely check these out.

VIFF Picks

Yes, that time of year is nearly upon us: the Vancouver International Film Festival (Sept 29 - Oct 14), also known as "15 Days of 'Meh".

After a cursory look at this year's program guide, here are filmgurl's choices for what seems the least boring. I've also been doing some pre-reviews for Terminal City, so check out next week's issue for the first batch. I don't know how many of these I'll get to (if any), but I'll post reviews of the ones I do.


Takeshis [2005, Japan] -- Beat Takeshi is back, with a bizarrely self-referencial look at fame, identity and the nature of duality. Apparently one of his best to date.

Tale of Cinema [2005, South Korea] -- Romantic comedy of sorts starring Kim Sang-Gyeon from "Memories of Murder."

Beowulf & Grendel [2005, Canada] -- Local director Sturla Gunnarsson's ("Such a Long Journey") take on the classic Old English epic. Starring Gerard Butler & my fave Stellan Skarsgard as King Hrothgar.

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey [2005, Canada] -- Canadian doco that covers the both the political and musical histories
of that finest of musical genres.

Souvenir of Canada [2005, Canada] -- Film companion to the Douglas Coupland book.

The Dark Hours [2005, Canada] -- Low-budget psychological thriller that looks refreshingly gritty and deeply scary.

Linda, Linda, Linda [2005, Japan] -- High-school set movie about an all-girl punk band getting ready for a big competition.

Princess Raccoon [2005, Japan] -- Legendary auteur Seijun Suzuki takes on the period musical. A must see if ever there was one.

Blood Rain [2005, South Korea] -- Period detective thriller. Likely better than "Sword in the Moon."

Duelist [2005, South Korea] -- The other Korean period detective thriller. At least one of them will be better than "Sword in the Moon."

The Bridesmaid [2005, France] -- Claude Chabrol takes on Ruth Rendell. Sure to be stylish and twisty.

Dear Wendy [2005, Denmark] -- Thomas Vinterberg (the other name on the Dogme 95 manifesto) takes on America's obsession with guns. Starring my choice for the next Christian Bale: Jamie Bell as a pacifist gun-nut.

Meeko Manages to Get Off Her Butt

And Film Threat was kind enough to post my efforts.

Movies I Watched Instead of Writing: Part 8

Okay, so I haven't really left the house much the past month. But I did get to do some catching up:

Downfall [2004]: Beautiful, heartbreaking and terrifying in its humanism. Extremely controversial upon its release in Germany, this should be required viewing.

The Aristocrats [2005]: Billed as a documentary about a joke, its actually more of a free form exploration on the art and power of comedy and the ability of humour to draw people together, with the eponymous joke as the centre. No, the joke itself isn't really that funny, but watching mere excerpts of Bob Saget's 40 min version prove his is a virtuoso of filth.

The 40 Year Old Virgin [2005]: I love, love, love this movie. Sadly Beej says I'm not allowed to have Judd Apatow's love babies. Funny, profane and amazingly sweet and sincere, this is probably the perfect date movie.

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory [2005]: Okay, so it sticks closer to the book, which is cool, and the first 40 minutes was near rapturous delight for me. However, by the time John August managed to shoehorn his daddy issues into the thing, I had started to tune out. Good visuals, some amusing black humour, but those Oompa Loompa songs made me want to hurt people. Particularly Danny Elfman.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure [1985]: No, I've never actually seen this all the way through. I know that makes my childhood deficient or something, but oh well. (For the record, I've never seen "The Goonies" either). I think it's my new official chicken soup & blankie movie for when I'm home sick and need a pick me up.

This is Spinal Tap [1984]: If it's any consolation I have seen the 2 hours of deleted scenes quite a few times. What can I say that hasn't already been said?

Bad Boys II [2003]: Three words: A. Ma. Zing. The chase scene with the morgue truck has to be seen to be believed. I have never seen so much style and effort in support of so little substance. A throw back to the "golden age" of adult action movies (the 1980's). Michael Bay is by far my favourite fauxteur.

Ong-bak [2003]: Silly story (I couldn't recall the plot if I tried), but Tony Jaa is amazing to watch. The patriotic Thai overtones were cool too.

The Last Boy Scout [1991]: Viewed as a complement to "Bad Boys II." Unlike Michael Bay, Tony Scott is able to wrench meaning out of blue filters and an overuse of smoke machines. It's so pretty you don't care that there's nothing there. And I'm starting to appreciate the misogynist genius of Shane Black.

Animal House [1978]: I'd actually watched this with my mom back when I was a kid, probably when I was too young to really appreciate it. When I found out Beej had never seen it (or "The Blues Brothers"), I knew something had to be done. Much funnier and sharper than I remembered. I'd started to think it was overrated, but seeing it again proves how great it actually is.

Q: The Winged Serpent [1982]: Larry Cohen is another candidate for father of my love babies. I have yet to be disappointed by any of his movies and will sing his praises until I am horse. Way better than a movie about a flying monster eating people in New York has a right to be. Also, Michael Moriarty gives a performance for the ages. From the "I just went off my meds" school of brilliance. I need to buy this movie.

Sky High [2005]: Cute, funny, pleasant. A good super-hero movie and a kid's movie that I could conceivably show to my (entirely) hypothetical offspring. A host of good cameos and Kurt Russell is surprisingly game.

The Specials [2000]: Wasn't expecting much when Beej brought it home, it being a typically cheap, late '90's comedy. Boy was I wrong. This is what "Mystery Men" could have been, but SO wasn't. Written by and staring Craig Mazin, the man behind "Tromeo & Juliet" and "Terror Firmer." Lots of "hey, it's that guy from that show" and way, way funnier than I expected. Beej and I should have our "Fuckkills" t-shirts done in time for next year's Comic-Con. A geek movie with a capital "G."

Oily Maniac [1976]: Shaw Brothers "horror" movie about a guy who turns himself into a greasy oil monster and goes on murderous rampages. Incredibly sleazy (read: lots of Asian boobies) and unintentionally brilliant (hello rubber monster suit!), it manages to live up to expectations.

Meeko Rips "The Man" a New One

Film review available on the Terminal City site for the next week. (Third one down).

Catching Up

Okay, so working from home hasn't provided as much free time as I'd expected. Or rather, I REALLY need to work on better using what little free time I have. That, and I need to do something about this chronic back pain.

But, in the meantime, I did manage to finish another D.o.S. column and Film Threat was kind enough to post it here.

More to come.

I promise.

Linky-Dink

Courtesy of Theron:
Twitch Film Good collection of news, rumours and trailers for foreign cult & festival pictures. Lots of Korean news & tidbits on new European and Asian films of interest. Will be surfing them lots in the future for sure.

New Den of Sin Up

Read Enter the Den of Sin #30 here.

When Life & Art Can't Stop Imitating Each Other

Found this very interesting article written by the director of one of my favourite films of 2003, "Zero Day." The film deals with a fictional Columbine style shooting (or rather the lead up to it), and in addtion to being an extremely thought provoking and moving piece of indie filmmaking, it also succeeds very well in making its budget for it.

It just came out on DVD and I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you want to find out more about the film and the people involved, there are a couple of very good interviews on Film Threat posted here and here.

Well, the horseshoe is still up there...

So I had my first interview on Wednesday. In Delta. It did not go well. I was 20 minutes late (thank you Translink) & all I could think about was how much my feet hurt from being ripped to shreds by my new "grown up" shoes (but they're really cute!) The guy kept asking me the same questions over and over again & I felt like I was supposed to know what he was getting at, but didn't. Let's just say I think they were looking for something a little different. It's okay, I didn't really want that kind of an office job (I don't think) and Annacis Island is hell for bus riders. There aren't even sidewalks! After waiting an hour for the bus back home, I got on the first bus that arrived, which took me to Richmond. When I finally got home at 8pm (I did decide to stop and have dinner @ the Number Nine Restaurant), I was about ready to break things (did I mention the phones at the Sky Train didn't work), but decided to check my email first.

See, back in late May sometime, I had contacted our friend Bess about maybe writing ADR scripts for Anime like I know she did. She kindly set up an interview for me with a manager at the studio she worked for and I submitted a test script and was told that they were interested, but there wouldn't be any work for the next 2 months. Two months later, I decide to check in, and was told that there wouldn't be any jobs for at least another month or two (but, you never know). Around this same time, post wedding blues set in big time, I freaked, quit my job, started to regret that decision. Got very discouraged and depressed. And just when I was feeling my lowest, who do I get an email from?

So, I have a series to work on. Thirteen episodes, so failing all else I'm at least employed for the next 3 months. And I can do it from home. In my pajamas.

Not that I'm not aware it can get stressful and crappy (it's very finicky work), but I'm so happy right now I could burst.

And I have another interview (part time at a bridal shop) this afternoon.

Go me.