May 12, 2008 at 2:04 pm · Filed under Words
Things have been busy here at Crow Central and I haven’t had much time to really sit with the Seattle Times’ SIFF Guide and plot my viewing for the three week festival, but here’s what’s piqued my interest so far. Links (hopefully) go right to the SIFF site you can get plot synopsis, times and ticket info.
Battle In Seattle is the big Opening Night Gala Screening on Thursday May 22nd with Charlize Theron in attendance to introduce the film. I know we’re all probably supposed to take the film and this chapter in our city’s history seriously, but the trailer made me bust out giggling. “Some came for a conference…others came for a cause…a few came for a confrontation,” especially during the shots of anarchists (who, if you remember the media constantly reminding us, were all apparently from Eugene, Oregon) breaking windows and spray painting buildings. Yes, I know property damage isn’t funny. But Andre Benjamin in a turtle costume is. This will be great to watch with a big enthusiastic crowd, and the party afterward should be awesome.
My Effortless Brilliance–I’ve been curious about this one from Seattle filmmaker Lynn Shelton (writer/director of We Go Way Back and a short called Moral Centralia on the new Seattle Women In Film DVD from Typecast Films and the 911 Media Arts Center) since I read Sean Nelson’s article in The Stranger about his experience screening the film at SxSW. The description says it all: “Two ex-buddies and and enigmatic third wheel navigate their way through an awkward weekend chopping wood, matching wits and ultimately embarking on a late-night, booze soaked cougar hunt“. Sold!
Choke– Written and directed by Clark Cregg (the man from SHEILD in Iron Man to some, FBI agent Michael Casper/Quo Vadimus owner Calvin Trager to Aaron Sorkin enthusiasts), starring Sam Rockwell as a sex addict who lives off the money he makes pretending to choke on food at fancy restaurants and his compulsive-masturbator best friend. It’s an adaptation of the novel by Chuck “Fight Club” Palahniuk.
Accelerating America–The world premiere of a documentary that sounds uplifting in a Stand and Deliver kind of way. Director Timothy Hotchner will be at both screenings.
32A–Ah, to be 14 again and only have to worry about giggling with your friends, having mammoth crushes on cute boys and getting your first bra. Just one of what looks like many coming of age tales at this year’s festival.
Encounters at the End of The World–Can the world handle another documentary about Antarctica? When it’s made by Werner Herzog, the answer is a resounding YES.
Great Speeches from A Dying World–Speaking of Mr. Herzog, Linas Phillips, who made Walking to Werner, has ten of Seattle’s homeless people recite a famous speech from history that they can relate to, uncovering their stories along the way.
Idiots And Angels–A new, strange feature from animator Bill Plympton.
Letting Go Of God–The wonderful Julia Sweeney will be in attendance at both screenings of her new documentary about her conversion to atheism. If you’ve seen God Said Ha!, you know how Sweeney has a knack for drawing the viewer in and weaving together an engaging story. If you haven’t, come rent it today.
Others of note include Yellow, an homage to Giallo by local filmmaker Semih Tareen, Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go, Mongol (one of the elusive movies nominated for Best Foreign Film), Nocturna (”a magical blend of Monsters Inc. and Hayao Miyazaki”), Catherine Breillat’s The Last Mistress, Triangle, Patti Smith:Dream of Life, Song of Sparrows and Sparrow, Takashi Miike’s Sukiyaki Western Django (part of the Midnight Adrenaline series), and When Did You Last See Your Father?, which, along with And Then She Found Me and Mamma Mia!, promises to round out the summer of Colin Firth.
If you haven’t picked up a Times SIFF Guide yet, we’ve got plenty in the store. And if you’re feeling nostalgic about past SIFF films, we’ve got a whole section of them up for rent right now. Remember when Pump Up The Volume won the Golden Space Needle? Ah, good times…
So, what do you want to see at SIFF?
- madamecrow
May 12, 2008 at 11:18 am · Filed under Words
This morning I was flipping through the fine trade publication Home Media Magazine Digital Edition and came upon a small article at the bottom of one of the back pages that caused me to spit precious caffeine all over my monitor. Spaced, the wonderful Brit TV show starring Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes (then Stevenson) and Nick Frost and directed by Edgar Wright, is FINALLY COMING OUT ON DVD HERE IN THE STATES! I guess they must have cleared up all those pesky rights issues because come July 22nd, those of you didn’t buy region free players just to own the UK import will be able to experience the series’ clever wit and charm.
If you’ve been holed up in a screening room watching only French New Wave and/or Spaghetti Westerns for the last eight years, Spaced is from the same comedy geniuses who made Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Spaced aired in the UK from 1999-2001 and centers around Tim and Daisy (Simon and Jessica) two slacker 20-somethings who pose as a couple to share and apartment, and their merry band of quirky friends, especially Tim’s best pal Mike (Nick), a devout military enthusiast. The show contains plenty of popular culture references, so much so that one of the extras on the UK DVD points them out to you on screen Pop Up Video-style. The domestic release promises commentary tracks from Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Bill Hader, Diablo Cody, Matt Stone and Patton Oswalt. But the show isn’t just reference upon reference (like some shows I can think of….Family Guy I’m looking at you…), Spaced has a strong and genuine heart that elevates it to the classic status of shows like Freaks and Geeks and The Office.
Enjoy some clips via YouTube here, here, and here.
- madamecrow
May 9, 2008 at 10:26 am · Filed under Words
You’ve probably seen the flyers on our counter the last few weeks, but now the time as come! The 2008 Diesel Film Racing Tour hits Seattle May 9th and 10th and challenges local filmmakers to complete original short films under this extreme time constraint. At the start of the 24 hours, filmmakers will be assigned a theme and from that point on they will have 24 hours to write, shoot, and edit a four minute or less film. The films will then screen at the Egyptian Theater May 14th! There’s still time to grab a camera and some friends and get going! Click HERE for the details.
- madamecrow
May 7, 2008 at 6:22 pm · Filed under Words
At least the good folks at Video Business magazine think so.
Many independent video stores are no longer even blips on studio radar, but there still are certain indies that, because of their loyal customer bases and local reputations as tastemakers, enjoy the influence of much larger retailers.
Seattle’s Scarecrow Video is among the influential stores that some DVD distributors and suppliers rely on for product advice and title promotion, particularly for animation and other arthouse fare.
You can read the entire article here.
Thank you, our loyal and tasteful patrons.
And you can show off your own good taste by voting in this years NWSource’s Peoples Pick. There isn’t exactly any specific category that Scarecrow can fit into this year, so I leave it in your capable hands as to which area you may want to write us in. Favorite Independent Hardware Store, anyone ?
- Rich
May 7, 2008 at 4:00 pm · Filed under Words
–Seattle’s Transgender Film Festival starts tomorrow (that’s Thursday, May 8th) and runs through Sunday, featuring a variety of features and shorts in every genre from around the world. The fest kicks off tomorrow at 6pm with a free event at Capitol Hill Library called “Re-Examined & Remade”, an examination of films and tv shows where transmale identities were present but not always discussed in the open. Most the of the films will be at the Northwest Film Forum throughout the weekend. You can read synopsis of the films and get times ticket information here.
–Does everyone remember Sunday is Mother’s Day? Good. After you’ve taken your mom out to breakfast, head to the Central Cinema for Gay City and Three Dollar Bill’s annual screening of Mommie Dearest. If by some chance you haven’t seen this camp classic, seeing it on the big screen with a bunch of enthusiastic people would be an excellent way to experience it for the first time. Doors open at 11am the film starts at noon. “I’m mad at the dirt!” movie tickets are $15 and include a bottomless cup of coffee; “This isn’t my first time at the rodeo!” movie tickets are $20 and include a continental breakfast and a mimosa, for a more FESTIVE morning!* Get the full dish here.
–The Bette Davis Turns 100! series ends this weekend at the Grand Illusion Cinema with Hush…Hush Sweet Charlotte starring Davis as a recluse who must rally to save her mansion from destruction and a horrible family secret from being unearthed (literally!), with gruesome insanity busting out all over. It plays Friday and Saturday at 11pm.
*from the menu at the Crocodile Cafe, where I always took my mom to eat on Mother’s Day. We both miss you, Croc.
- madamecrow
April 30, 2008 at 4:50 pm · Filed under Words
Yes, Tim and Eric will be in the store this Friday, May 2nd, at 1 pm to sign their new Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! season 1 DVD (on sale now). You may also know them as the creators of another Adult Swim show, Tom Goes To the Mayor, or for their tireless work promoting Shrek 3 (click here and scroll down to “Shrek promos”).
It should be a fun time for all, but do get here on time so they can leave to prepare for their two shows at Neumos (tickets are apparently still available for the late show).
- Bryan T
April 30, 2008 at 3:22 pm · Filed under Words
Have you ever noticed that the advertising for Judd Apatow productions almost always refer to the producer as a “Guy”? Superbad is “from the guys who brought you The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up.” Walk Hard is “from the guy who brought you Knocked Up and Superbad.” The Pineapple Express is “from the guys who brought you Superbad.” Only Knocked Up dignifies Apatow with the formality of being “the director of The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” Well hello Mr. Fancypants. Didn’t you know that audiences don’t relate to directors? They only relate to guys. You could be the guy who directed it, the dude who directed it, some joker who directed it, but “the director of” is just too removed from our way of life. Get off your high horse, Apatow.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which recently opened in theaters, is “from the guys who brought you The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up.” This one stars Jason Segel who follows the Seth Rogen path from supporting player to leading man and screenwriter. Segel had a memorable supporting role in Knocked Up and is known for his role on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. But like Rogen his original Apatow-connection comes from the short-lived, strongly-remembered 1999 series Freaks and Geeks. These are the guys who starred in Freaks and Geeks.
Beloved by critics, neglected by NBC and ignored by mass audiences, Freaks and Geeks is one of those shows that just never caught on until it came out on DVD. Its humor of awkwardness and sincere sweetness plays as well now as it did then. It captures an authentic teenage experience through little observations and insights that can only come from someone’s life and not from watching other TV shows. Best of all its collection of hilarious characters were played by fresh young faces that Apatow and his crew (including director Jake Kasdan, now the guy who brought you Walk Hard) taught to give honest, non-Hollywood performances and find their own comic voice.
Let’s go down the list of Freaks and Geeks alumni and see how many of them have gone on to success:
Linda Cardellini (Lindsay)
After cashing in by playing Velma in the Scooby Doo movies she got a role on ER, which she’s been on for 6 seasons now. She also had a part in Brokeback Mountain.
John Francis Daley (Sam)
After appearances on everything from Boston Public to Bones to The Geena Davis Show Daley is going the writer route. He sold his screenplay The $40,000 Man and Terry Zwigoff (Bad Santa) signed on to direct.
James Franco (Daniel)
If you just know Franco from his James-Dean-brooding in the Spider-man trilogy you can’t imagine how funny and charismatic he was on Freaks and Geeks. Thankfully Apatow and director/guy David Gordon Green gave him a lead-stoner role in this August’s highly anticipated action comedy The Pineapple Express.
Samm Levine (Neil)
Poor Neil is one of the few who hasn’t been able to cash in yet. He’s kept working though, with appearances on Veronica Mars, Entourage and playing “Spanky” in the movie Sydney White.
Martin Starr (Bill)
The biggest geek on Freaks and Geeks has gone on to become a supporting member of the Apatow troupe, showing up on Undeclared and in Knocked Up, Superbad and Walk Hard. He gets a lot of work but as the funniest character on Freaks and Geeks it’s disappointing that he hasn’t yet been given the spotlight the way Rogen and Segel have.
Sarah Hagan (Millie)
Lindsay’s nerdy childhood friend played a slayer in the last season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Busy Phillips (Kim)
Starred in the last few seasons of Dawson’s Creek and now on ER.
Seth Rogen (Ken)
After polishing his chops writing for Undeclared and Da Ali G Show Rogen saw his screenplays for Superbad, Drillbit Taylor and The Pineapple Express hit the big screen. He’s also developing The Green Hornet as a potential vehicle for himself. And in case creative fulfillment simply isn’t enough to keep him happy he also got paid to do voicework in pretty much every crappy computer animated movie that will be released in the next thirty-five years and stars in Kevin Smith’s next comedy.
Ben Foster (Eli)
You might not even remember him on the show, but the most meteoric Freak or Geek rise may be Foster. He went from playing the retarded kid in 2 episodes to featured roles in The Punisher, Hostage, Alpha Dog, X-Men 3, 3:10 To Yuma and 30 Days of Night.
Clearly the Freaks have made out better than the Geeks, with Franco taking on the high profile roles and both Rogen and Segel able to express themselves as actors and writers. Still, the collection of talent and success all the way across that cast is remarkable. They recognized the raw talent of all these young actors who were outside of the Hollywood child actor mold and mostly had little or no experience on camera. And in some cases they taught them to be not only actors but storytellers. Freaks and Geeks is a fountain of talent, an invaluable time capsule of the beginning of numerous careers, and an all-around great show.
But it’s not a coincidence. They knew what they were doing. That’s just the kind of Guys they are.
- Bryan T
April 16, 2008 at 2:00 pm · Filed under Words
It’s hard to believe that in this digitalized age there are still movies that aren’t available on any home video format, especially quality movies of cult status like the one our friends at Three Dollar Bill Cinema are presenting on Thursday, April 17th at the Northwest Film Forum as part of their I Love The Nightlife series. Some Of My Best Friends Are…is set in on Christmas Eve at a gay bar in Greenwich Village called The Blue Jay and stars such luminaries as Rue McClanahan (the best Golden Girl, in my opinion), Candy Darling, “Buck Rogers” Gil Gerard and Fannie Flagg.
It starts at 7pm, and the SLOG reports Mr. David Schmader will be introducing the film.
If you’re up for some socializing and/or getting a little boozy afterwards, there will be a post-party at the Madison Pub (1315 E. Madison St.) with drink specials for ticket holders.
The I Love The Nightlife series concludes on Thursday, April 24th with 1968’s The Detective starring Frank Sinatra as a cop who investigates the murder of a wealthy gay man. Watch the trailer here.
- madamecrow
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