Never let it be said that we’re not responsive sorts around here. Gripe enough about something and we will generally try and respond. Fantasia has still not released the complete film list for their coming festival, but there is a fairly extensive list here that I’m guessing probably makes up at least two thirds of what will be playing. I’m not going, but if I were here’s what I’d be trying to see:
One Point 0
I know next to nothing about this other than that it’s being described as “Kafka-esque” sci-fi and that it stars Udo Kier and Lance Henrikson. I wouldn’t say that Kafka makes me a happy boy – does it anyone? – but I do like his writing an awful lot and Kier and Henrikson are both icons well deserving of their cult status.
The Card Player
I’m not actually that big a horror fan, but this is a new flick from Dario Argento and that’s reason enough.
A Journey Into Bliss
Check this out … “a Terry Gilliam-esque epic … incorporating lecherous talking animals, knowledgeable snowmen, exploding everythings, a giant snail shell used as a ship and a bunny whose powerful ejaculation allows characters to travel through time”. How can you say no?
The Toolbox Murders
See above comment on The Card Player, replace ‘horror’ with ‘slasher’ and ‘Dario Argento’ with ‘Tobe Hooper’. Who’s Hooper? Back in the 70’s he made a little flick about an unhappy man and his chainsaw that you may have heard of …
Immortel
We linked to the trailer for this ages ago and from what I’ve heard it’s pretty uneven but there’s an awful lot of eye candy in that trailer that I’d love to see on the big screen …
Blueberry
Another one that’s gotten mixed reviews but Marc Caro (that’d be Jean Pierre Jeunet’s old directing partner) worked on the character designs and it stars Vincent Cassel, Michael Madsen and Eddie Izzard.
Mortadelo and Filemon
A Spanish film based on a comic book … I saw the trailer for this AGES ago and fell madly in love with it but then never heard another word about the film. Looks like it may just out-Jeunet Jeunet. There’s a tv spot and trailer available here.
Nine Souls
I’ve probably raved about this film enough that you’ve all gotten sick of it. I love this movie.
Blessing Bell
The newest from Japanese director Sabu … I’ve seen a bunch of his stuff and though he’s never quite blown me away yet there’s always something quietly compelling about his work …
Doppelganger
The latest from brilliant director Kiyoshi Kurosawa … has more of a sense of humor than most of his work but still very dark and very edgy.
Ju-on
Yeah. We’ve been plugging this a bit, too. I’ve already seen it a bunch of times so a lot of the shock value is gone but this thing is so well constructed that it’s just a trip and definitely one best taken in a room full of people …
Ping Pong
Yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like – a Japanese film about competitive table tennis but despite what you’re thinking right now it does not suck. It’s a long, long way from sucking, actually. It’s really damn good. First time director Fumihiko Sori adapted this from a popular manga and both he and his talented young cast absolutely nail it … it’s a couple of years old and I’ve had it on DVD for a while but this is definitely a film that would be best appreciated on the big screen …
Gozu
Lynchian strangeness from Takashi Miike … utterly bizarre but superbly crafted and delivered with a nod and a wink that makes it a lot more fun than most of Miike’s catalog. Worth seeing just so you can check out everybody else’s reactions …
One Missed Call
Miike’s shot at doing a mainstream horror film … got mixed reviews but pretty much all of his stuff does …
Godzilla
The original, untampered with Japanese version. No Perry Mason here.
The Bodyguard
Thai action comedy that features Ong Bak’s Tony Jaa in a support role. Mmm. Ong Bak.
Last Life In the Universe
Not only one of the best Thai films I’ve ever seen but one of the best I’ve ever seen out of Asia, period. A quiet, meditative piece anchored by a fantastic script, stellar performances, and beautiful camera work. This establishes director Ratanarueng as a major talent to watch in world cinema …
The Tesseract
It’s a Pang film and though there last couple films have been textbook examples of style of substance (anybody want a cheap copy of Sung Horn or The Eye 2?) they’re still hugely talented film makers and I’m happy to take a look at anything they do … First Look Media has apparently sold the rights so their planned summer DVD release of this aint gonna happen after all.
Memories of Murder
The true story of the investigation into a Korean serial killer. Maddeningly frustrating, but for all the right reasons … won a stack of awards in Korea last year …
Save the Green Planet
Utterly bizarre genre mash up … hardly anybody’s seen it, which is a shame because this thing has ‘cult classic’ written all over it … The story of a severely deranged man who kidnaps the head of a major chemical corporation convinced that the business man is actually an alien prince about to bring about the end of the world. Insane? Oh yes. But he also might be right …
Wonderful Days
This film marks Korea’s emergence as a major player in the anime world … there are some technical hiccups here and there and the script could be a little stronger but some of the visuals are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
A Tale of Two Sisters
Atmospheric psychological horror, again from Korea. Very, very good but the less you know going in the better so I’m not sayin’ nuthin’.
