Lesbian Vampire Killers

Do you like Shaun of the Dead, but wish for more variety in your British gore-comedies? You're in luck! Lesbian Vampire Killers offers the same Thin Serious Guy and his Fat Goofy Friend (in this case, Gavin and Stacey stars Mathew Horne and James Corden), as they encounter a centuries-old cult of lady vampires who want nothing more than world domination. Ok, maybe the do want something more...

Lesbian Vampire Killers
2009, 84 minutes, directed by Phil Claydon

Afterschool

I was rather impressed with the interesting imagery chosen to tell this story. From long camera takes to not filming the actors to curious use of focus, their choices made my cringe less at the uncomfortable coming-of-age story. The film leads you through quite a build up towards a controversial end.

Afterschool
2008, 120 minutes, directed by Antonio Campos

Drag Me to Hell

100% predictable

200% cheesy

3000% awesome

Drag Me to Hell
2009, 96 minutes (as a work in progress), directed by Sam Raimi

Four Boxes

This internet-age mystery thriller starts off in a predictable fashion, with cliche characters Serious Guy, Goofy Guy, and Mututal Love Interest. It goes for predictable gags, shocks, and twists, and winds to what seems near a predictable conclusion.

Then, it just gets weird. I readily admit that I haven't seen something like it before. But, I'm not so sure that's a bad thing. I recommend that you see it for yourself, but be prepared to be disappointed.

Four Boxes
2009, 75 minutes, directed by Wyatt McDill

Garbage Dreams

This documentary tells the tale of three youth, growing up as Zaballeen, a lower-class society of garbage collectors and recyclers in modern Cairo. They survive by selling recycled raw materials sorted from the refuse, and achieve a recycling rate as high as 80% for their efforts. As antagonists, foreign waste disposal companies have recently moved in to "modernize" garbage collection. With a 20% recycling rate but legal right to all trash on Cairo's streets, the two sides face off, the Zaballeen, now lawbreakers, fighting to survive. It's not healthy or glamorous work, but it's their life.

The documentary hypes the environment angle, but there's basis for it. When the local Recycling school gives two of the boys, Nabil and Adham, a chance to travel to Wales to see their modern recycling efforts, they are suprised by the waste in the automated systems.

Each of the youth adopt in their own ways to their changing world, and the documentary follows them for more than two years to see the story to a rightful end. While each of the three choose different paths, Adham steadfast passion for recycling instills in him a sense of restlessness, a lack of place in the new world. He, of the three, clearly wants to travel, find a purpose, and so it was quite pleasant to find that the film producers flew him to Austin for the world premiere of his film. The standing ovation he received was well deserved.

Garbage Dreams
2009, 82 minutes, directed by Mai Iskander

Artois the Goat

This locally-grown, kitchy comedy tells a compelling tale of need. The raw, base emotion that fuels the desire to create resonates in me strongly, and this film acts as inspiration for that desire. It's a very uplifting story.

Artois the Goat
2009, 96 minutes, directed by Cliff & Kyle Bogart

Pontypool

When our very words have been infected, what can one radio man say to save the world?

I'm amazed at the vivid imagery produced by this film, despite the lack of many special effects and, indeed, any images at all of the horrors described. It's a slower apocalypse horror film with little on-screen violence, but see it with a strong recommendation.

Pontypool
2008, 95 minutes, directed by Bruce McDonald

I'm drawn to think about how Cloverleaf, a film I didn't particularly dislike, had to use so much imagery to create the same kind of story that Pontypool did with so little.