Film Fun
Caught a handful of films at the LA Film Festival this year. Bummed I missed Dear Lemon Lima, even after they added an EXTRA screening, but out of the ones I did get to see, these were three notables:
Stella
Director: Sylvie Verhyde
This film was absolutely enchanting. Best coming of age story made in a long time. I'm partial to the story of the misfit, but not the dopey, sissy Little Miss Sunshine kind of misfit. I like the misfit that most resembles the ones I grew up with and looked up to. Stella is the story of a girl who probably grew up to be the coolest person on the planet. Word on the street is that it is the story of Sylvie Verhyde, the film's director. Sylvie, I just want to tell you, this is the kind of movie that Sofia Coppola would give her right arm to make. I can't imagine a more perfect film. Thinking of it now, I'm filled with the same fire and wonder that I walked away with after the screening. That feeling didn't fade until I fell asleep that night. Truly, a fantastic film. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone here, but prepare yourself for the undertow. I didn't want to leave this movie for a minute, and as soon as it has US distribution, I'm taking everyone I know to go see it.
We Live in Public
Director: Ondi Timoner
This documentary is part of the movement I am starting to identify as the TOP-DOG Documentary. These documentaries have a distinctly Hollywood flavor, and like my fake genre's first commercial success, Dogtown and Z-Boys, these films say "Hey, in case you didn't know, our generation was the best one ever, and whatever you do now is because we did it first". I find myself in a tough spot with these films. I'm drawn to them, because they always have the potential to shed light on subcultures that I have at some point felt a part of, but as soon as I start to feel a part of things, I'm reminded that the filmmaker, and the subjects of the doc should be remembered as THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT EVER MATTERED. The viewer should stay behind the velvet rope and be happy to be in the presence of ORIGINAL GENIUS. Of course, for those in the know, these films always reveal that there are predecessors being ignored, and the hunger for celebrity and recognition ultimately does shed light on the sub-culture... just not always a good one. I was hooked on the story about Joshua Harris, and as his story unfolded, it became clear why even though I was spending hours online, on IRC, and sending emails in 1993, I never once heard of this guy or a single one of his projects. Thanks to film (and if Harris has his way, television) Joshua Harris will be back on someone's front page, and I have a feeling he's going to get a thrill from the fame in Hollywood that comes from having once done something people in NY got excited about, but can barely remember now. When this hits theaters, go check this out with your inter-nerd friends, see for yourself. There isn't much in the film that will shock you outside of the idea of one person spending so much money on something so fleeting, and having nothing to show for it but a festival hopping documentary.
Paper Heart
Director: Nick Jasenovec
I missed out on all the earlier buzz about this movie, which I'm actually pretty happy about. I even had Giant Robot 60 in my hands the day of the screening I attended, and HELD OFF of reading the interview with Charlyne Yi so I could walk in fresh. I knew it was going to be funny, I knew it would only deepen my passionate love for Michael Cera, and I knew that I was going to like it. Check out the interview with Charlyne in GR. It's a fun read, and it made me like the film even more. Charlyne Yi and Nick Jasenovic do a tremendously good job wrangling the hours of footage they had for this film, and they tell a fantastically fun, and original story. This is going to be in theaters soon, and this will be another one I will urge all my friends to see. This movie has the power to defrost at least a few of the outermost layers of the iciest hearts.
My general rule is to support the projects of anyone who supports Giant Robot, and Michael Cera and Martin Starr used to come in to GR back when GR60 cover artist Deth P. Sun used to work there. That was a good era. This issue of GR brings it around in a way that I love. It's a perfect way to commemorate 15 years of a company that strives to inspire, recognize and celebrate good things!
Stella
Director: Sylvie Verhyde
This film was absolutely enchanting. Best coming of age story made in a long time. I'm partial to the story of the misfit, but not the dopey, sissy Little Miss Sunshine kind of misfit. I like the misfit that most resembles the ones I grew up with and looked up to. Stella is the story of a girl who probably grew up to be the coolest person on the planet. Word on the street is that it is the story of Sylvie Verhyde, the film's director. Sylvie, I just want to tell you, this is the kind of movie that Sofia Coppola would give her right arm to make. I can't imagine a more perfect film. Thinking of it now, I'm filled with the same fire and wonder that I walked away with after the screening. That feeling didn't fade until I fell asleep that night. Truly, a fantastic film. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone here, but prepare yourself for the undertow. I didn't want to leave this movie for a minute, and as soon as it has US distribution, I'm taking everyone I know to go see it.
We Live in Public
Director: Ondi Timoner
This documentary is part of the movement I am starting to identify as the TOP-DOG Documentary. These documentaries have a distinctly Hollywood flavor, and like my fake genre's first commercial success, Dogtown and Z-Boys, these films say "Hey, in case you didn't know, our generation was the best one ever, and whatever you do now is because we did it first". I find myself in a tough spot with these films. I'm drawn to them, because they always have the potential to shed light on subcultures that I have at some point felt a part of, but as soon as I start to feel a part of things, I'm reminded that the filmmaker, and the subjects of the doc should be remembered as THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT EVER MATTERED. The viewer should stay behind the velvet rope and be happy to be in the presence of ORIGINAL GENIUS. Of course, for those in the know, these films always reveal that there are predecessors being ignored, and the hunger for celebrity and recognition ultimately does shed light on the sub-culture... just not always a good one. I was hooked on the story about Joshua Harris, and as his story unfolded, it became clear why even though I was spending hours online, on IRC, and sending emails in 1993, I never once heard of this guy or a single one of his projects. Thanks to film (and if Harris has his way, television) Joshua Harris will be back on someone's front page, and I have a feeling he's going to get a thrill from the fame in Hollywood that comes from having once done something people in NY got excited about, but can barely remember now. When this hits theaters, go check this out with your inter-nerd friends, see for yourself. There isn't much in the film that will shock you outside of the idea of one person spending so much money on something so fleeting, and having nothing to show for it but a festival hopping documentary.
Paper Heart
Director: Nick Jasenovec
I missed out on all the earlier buzz about this movie, which I'm actually pretty happy about. I even had Giant Robot 60 in my hands the day of the screening I attended, and HELD OFF of reading the interview with Charlyne Yi so I could walk in fresh. I knew it was going to be funny, I knew it would only deepen my passionate love for Michael Cera, and I knew that I was going to like it. Check out the interview with Charlyne in GR. It's a fun read, and it made me like the film even more. Charlyne Yi and Nick Jasenovic do a tremendously good job wrangling the hours of footage they had for this film, and they tell a fantastically fun, and original story. This is going to be in theaters soon, and this will be another one I will urge all my friends to see. This movie has the power to defrost at least a few of the outermost layers of the iciest hearts.
My general rule is to support the projects of anyone who supports Giant Robot, and Michael Cera and Martin Starr used to come in to GR back when GR60 cover artist Deth P. Sun used to work there. That was a good era. This issue of GR brings it around in a way that I love. It's a perfect way to commemorate 15 years of a company that strives to inspire, recognize and celebrate good things!
posted by gr at
12:45 PM
You should've seen Dear Lemon Lima at the Montalban! It was showing back in end of July
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