My work as Sponsorship Manager for the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (October 15-24) is really ramping up. This week I got the chance to preview one of the Festival films, a rare treat, since I’ll most likely be too busy to catch any more than 30 minutes of any film during the Festival. If, unlike me, you have a spare evening to catch a flick or two, here are some films you should consider this week.
Opening this week –
The Social Network, directed by David Fincher, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake. For someone who works from home using a computer, I can tell you the lure of FaceBook is pretty damn strong, and therefore I’m pretty quick to post a clever comment on your “Mmmm coffee…” post or “like” the photo of your cat’s butt. Now, if you’d ask me if I’d like to watch a FaceBook movie, I would decline that offer, because I’ve already wasted 90% of my productive life and I can’t spare 90 minutes more. Wisely, the Social Network is much more about corporate backstabbing, in-fighting, conspicuous consumption and schadenfreude than the relationship status of that kid from your 10th grade home room (single again) or the frequency that the girl you met at a party once gets her bikini waxed (daily). This film would make a good companion to last week’s Wall Street 2, where the incentives for corporate recklessness from the 1980s continue to cause catastrophe today. Some are saying that the Social Network is a truly modern tale. I say the technology may be new, but stories about the tension of newly found success, fame and wealth are timeless.
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| Kodi Smit-Phee in “Let Me In”…somethin’ NASTY is going to happen in that pool, believe you me! |
Let Me In, directed by Matt Reeves, starring Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Moretz. Uh oh. Did you hear the can of worms just crack open? There has already been tons of groaning (myself included) when it was announced there would be an American remake of the beloved Swedish vampire flick, Let the Right One In (2008). On the flipside other reviewers, such as the Stranger’s fabulous Lindy West, say it’s time to un-bunch the panties and give Let Me In a fair try. The elements that made the original Swedish film such a hit were its melancholy atmosphere, morbidly sweet central relationship and a uniquely terrifying story. From the buzz surrounding Let Me In, the remake seems to deliver all of these elements and thankfully none of the main story elements have been watered-down to appeal to American sensibilities. (I think Hollywood is learning that the American market can handle thoughtful material, but maybe this is just my wishful thinking.) I still question the decision to transplant the story to New Mexico, where you have neither the 22 plus hours of winter darkness or the dehumanizing institutionalization of social housing you find in Sweden. On the other hand if you’re going to set a vampire movie in the United States the American Southwest is certainly both depressing and terrifying, and Forks was already taken.
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| Chloe Moretz was awesome in “Kick-Ass” and rumor has it, she’s award-worthy as a vamp in “Let Me In” |
(Editor’s Note: Both Let Met In and The Social Network are getting awesome reviews and “Social” is getting some very serious awards buzz. We’re anxious to check both of them out SOON and report back to you…)
Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival preview –
On Tuesday October 19th, the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival will present A Marine Story, directed by Ned Farr, starring Dreya Weber and Paris P. Pickard. Here are the top three reasons you should not miss this film. 1.) You like to watch films with damn sexy women doing damn sexy things like bar brawling, yard work, and hose showers. Dreya Weber’s Alexandra Everett is Katherine Bigelow and Linda Hamilton rolled into one. If she didn’t play a Lady Loving Lady, I’d suggest she date James Cameron. The intensity of her relationship with the younger Paris P. Pickard will play extremely well with lesbian and gay audiences. 2.) The film is unabashedly melodramatic, which works well to forge the emotional bond between characters and audience. At first I found the actors to play sloppy caricatures, but by the end I found the portrayals to be sweetly honest, despite some hammy dialogue. 3.) I needed reminding that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell stands as an impediment to all civil rights for lesbians and gays. If the largest US employer can openly discriminate against lesbians and gays, why shouldn’t any employer be able to? The film illustrates how DADT remains today as the biggest roadblock to gay marriage. It’s a thoughtful argument, which makes watching this film a valuable experience for all people engaged in the LGBT civil rights struggle. I highly encourage everyone to check it out – Afterwards, there will be a post-screening reception at Qdoba on Broadway, which will be a great forum to continue this conversation. I hope to see you there!
Film Events in Seattle
The 13th Annual Local Sightings Film Festival is at Northwest Film Forum starting October 1st. This Festival showcases premier Northwest Filmmakers’ narrative, documentary, experimental, feature-length and short films. It’s a cinematic celebration of the unique Northwest experience – its culture, climate, natural topography, and history. As the curators say, “If you prefer the home-grown to the over-blown, Local Sightings is for you!”
Collide-O-Scope: Halloween! Is October 4th 7-9 at Re-Bar. The guys from Collide-O-Scope will not fail to deliver the found-film goods for Halloween, everyone’s favorite holiday. Their exhaustive compendium of filmed and video footage is staggering as well as their expert editing. They also have complimentary popcorn and Red Vines. Join them again on the 18th for part II! (Note: these are the guys behind a lot of the video used in the Dina Martina shows.)
Central Cinema presents the much adored Princess Bride (1987) all week at 7 and 9:30 – quote-along highly encouraged. Tonight is the Heather’s Quote-Along presented by the Action Pack, and next Thursday is a reprise of the Ladies of the 80s sing-along. Every Thursday is also the Cartoon Happy Hour 5:30-7, which I hear is becoming very popular, especially with neighborhood locals.
– Ryan T. Hicks
