Film Reviews, DVD Update: Entry 101

Okay kiddies, now that I'm playing the lonesome bachelor I've taken it upon myself to make the time to see the films that I couldn't have viewed while the girlfriend was in town. No, not porn you pinheads... Simply films (be they Indie or Studio off-shoots) that I wouldn't have normally been able to convince the girlfriend to otherwise join me in watching -- without kicking or screaming or favors that would slowly murder a small chunk of my soul in gut wrenching exchange (ie: girlie movies with names like FAILURE TO LAUNCH or THE LAKE HOUSE... but I might actually see THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA because Anne Hathaway is quite attractive... but that's another story for another time). So with this rare opportunity of available time held steady in the sights of somewhat meaningless disposal, I have chosen to meander through the fields of media consumption for the "Indie" road less traveled. There are other ways to spend the day. I could be reading my new "Story" book (that is supposed to help a poor screenwriter understand the delicate workings of a GOOD story -- As opposed to the relentless loads of Hollywood crap that has been developed and given the greenlight over the past few decades). I could have also been using this time to develop such said screenplay into characters, archplots, miniplots, negative/positive change, and all of the little elements that will, with all good hope, make my next little working something that people will care about. I decided that there still had to be some inspiration left out there in this world of film mediocrity and I surfed through the showtimes to find something to whet the cranium. Last night, I scheduled myself to make time to see the film BRICK.
I remember hearing rumblings around the film festival circuit when this film first came out. Of course, as I've been reading and learning all about the various processes that help to get a film distributed, I understand that any word coming out of Sundance (or any other major festival for that matter) should be taken with a shovel of salt. As Sundance is commonly viewed as the pinnacle of Independent Film success, it should also be understood that there is a fair amount of "shoveling" that spills into the streets, trade magazines, and hype squarely intended on getting people to get "hot" about any particular film. There are people that get paid by the hour to shovel the word.
The word was thrown around in various forms of clever genius... a film noir adventure that captures the audience... etc. etc. I'm kind of partial to the whole film noir movement, so that particular mound of wordplay caught my attention. There was one little mixture in this formula that made it stand out like a Freshman with a pair of speed-flung nunchaku... They took the classical film noir detective mystery and set it against the backdrop of a modern day high school. Hmmm... Well it could work. At least, it would be something different. I mean, it couldn't be any worse that LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN (which was the first film that made me seriously think of getting up out of my seat, walking to the ticket counter, and woefully asking for my money back. -- I've NEVER walked out of a film, mind you... but LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN and BOONDOCK SAINTS came damn close to breaking the chains of respective restraint).
Amazingly enough, it wasn't half bad. BRICK was shot well. The dialogue was pulled directly from an old film noir film, which is what made the whole "High School Setting" a little less than palatable. When a rebel high school student is "playing it cool" with Vice Principal Richard Roundtree, they exchange dialogue that only a Private Detective and a Police Captain would chew up and spit out across a shadowy office in the 1950's (daddy-o).
It's an interesting concept. Take a classic film noir in the vein of CHINATOWN or A TOUCH OF EVIL -- Then work up the script with clever dialogue and catchy neo-noir words. I'm sure the script was taken to a studio and someone said, "This will never work. People won't come out to see the movie. Film Noir is dead. 14 year old girls control the world. They have all of the money, they convince boys to pay for movies. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake have made a killing off of this age demographic. Make a movie that teenagers will watch."
There is a terrible white sheet of fear that washes over someone after hearing words like that. But it can be fixed. "Okay, lets take the ultimate cool of film noir and put it in a high school with drugs, kingpins, murder, deception, and a kid that plays detective so damn well that he can't be stopped. Shit, man, don't you remember how the 80's blew up with 21 JUMPSTREET?"
And that's the best description I can mash together... take a fist full of CHINATOWN, half a cup of 21 JUMPSTREET, add the kid from 3rd ROCK FROM THE SUN, the chick from LOST, mix, and serve.
Other than some situations taking place around a bunch of high school kids (thus making the scenario a little too hard to believe -- But then again what the hell did STAR WARS have going for it if not a level of detachment?)... I enjoyed the film. I really enjoyed the music. It is clever. It will probably catch on to be a cult classic and the video sales will go through the roof. Hell, I'll more than likely end up buying a copy. However, I still have to pick up KISS KISS, BANG BANG and THE MATADOR. They may not be great films... but I haven't seen them and Christine can't yell at me for purchasing them from 3000 miles away. If you get a chance or some free time away from the girlfriend (unless she's into Indie film)... see BRICK. I'll more than likely catch PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN this weekend too. I can't help it Johnny Depp is a talent that cannot be contained and Kiera Knightly makes my heart twist in a state of flux.

So, want some updates on the progress of the DIVINE MANIPULATION OF THE THREADS DVD? So would I. I understand that the people that glass mastered and pressed the disc are of the opinion that the problem is on "our" end. It's been said that the master we sent them is the root of the problem. I don't necessarily believe it... I'll have to wait until Monday to see for myself. That could be a major problem. So, keep waiting. I hope to have this ass chapping debacle behind us soon enough. It's helping me find religion. I know that there are several people that want to purchase a copy. I want to sell them to you. I just have to make sure that the thing we're selling isn't a waste. A "skip" in the movie is not acceptable. Film festivals won't accept it and neither should you... or I... Well, it's hurry up and wait from here. Until next time...
-B