Frankenweenie 3D

There's little need to run through the plot Frankenweenie.  It is what you expect it to be, a feature-length rewrite of one of Tim Burton's early shorts.  That's not why the film is awesome.  It's awesome because of the attention to detail in creating a vast 3D, claymation world, and framing that world in the confines and freedoms of black and white film.  It's awesome because of Tim Burton's macabre sense of humor and how readily it can be conveyed through puppets.  Forget your kids (seriously, don't bring them under 8 years old or so); this film packs plenty of emotional punch for adults.

Frankenweenie 3D
2012, 87 minutes, directed by Tim Burton

In the spirit of the film, the Alamo sponsored a Monster Ball for patrons and their (under 20 pounds) dogs in costume.  And as part of the multi-cast world premiere, one of the theaters allowed pets - but fortunately not my theater.

Her Master's Voice

Nina Conti was ten years into her stand-up ventriloquism career when she decided to give it up. Before she had a chance to tell her mentor and former lover Ken Campbell - the man who introduced her to her career - he died, unexpectedly leaving her his entire collection of books, tapes, and puppets. She deduced to make one last trip, to a ventriloquist convention in Kentucky, and to donate one of Ken's puppets to Venthaven, a museum and resting place for puppets of dead masters.

That's the plot, at least, but it isn't the story. What really matters is that Nina is at a crossroads, scared and unsure, yet she shares her deepest most inner thought through her puppet Monkey and through those of Ken she voices. A lot of the film is her having conversations with herself - and it works. It really works well.

Her Master's Voice
2012, 59 minutes, directed by Nina Conti

The Beaver

I admit, there's absolutely no way I'd consider seeing this film in the theater on my own.  I likely wouldn't even recall its release.  And yet, I do try to expand my horizons at film festivals.  I've seen some interesting documentaries this way.  I've tolerated some decent comedies.  But I'd never before seen The Beaver.

Overall, despite my best expectations, this film was really good.  I don't know how much of that was the script, Jodie Foster's directing, or Mel Gibson's performance, but I came away both attached to and satisfied by the story.  Well done.

The Beaver
2011, 90 minutes, directed by Jodie Foster

The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway

While I was a little old for Elmo, I'm just the right age to have appreciated the Pee-Wee Herman Show on television.  It's for this reason that I ran out of the Elmo screening before the Q&A, to get a good seat in the small but functional State Theatre for this world premiere of the HBO special The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway.

This is everything I remember - all the puppets, characters, plots, story line and feel - and it just all works so well.  I'm happy he's back.  I'm not sure if today's children will "get it" if forced to watch the special by their parents, but if he does bring back the live show (he's thinking about Las Vegas) it's worth the trip for the whole family.

The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway
2011, 90 minutes, directed by Marty Callner

All photos copyright 2011 by Digs of Moviedigs.

Performing the Pee-Wee Herman Dance