Raindance Flops - Raindance Film Festival 2012

'Vinyl' (Dir. Sara Sugarman)

There were some good moments, some laughs; but generally this movie fell flat on the small audience at Raindance.

'Vinyl' is the story of a punk band who reunite for a night after 20 years apart and accidentally record a great track. Their optimism soon turns sour when the record label refuses to listen to their track due to them not being the target 'demographic'.

So, the band hire a bunch of pleasant on the eye teenagers to stand in for them, to mime to their tracks, so they can swindle the radio stations and record label into making them pay attention and rekindle their careers.

A fun concept, in a film interspersed with good moments. But ultimately, the film disappoints-- the story taking turns that manage to be unrealistic yet also entirely predictable.

The best thing about the film is the performance of the underrated and always hilarious Perry Benson. I just have to look at him and I laugh. A fantastic talent who lights up every scene he's in.

'Vinyl' is watchable, could have been great - but in the end was average. 

'Frank' (Dir. Richard Heslop)

'Frank', unfortunately, is the dullest and most uninspired film I have seen in a long time. Speaking to a few people afterwards, it appears, I wasn't alone with this view. There were also more than a few walk-outs; with each one giving the next early leaver the impetus to get the hell out as quickly as possible.

I realise we all have different tastes, different things we enjoy about films-- but  'Frank' just felt insulting on the viewer. No relatable characters, no energy, and a narrow representation of OCD and schizophrenia.

Perhaps there are people who think this film was great. Indeed, something about it made Raindance select it; yet myself and many others remain clueless as to what it is.

I feel I should be more objective in my review, or perhaps explain what the movie is about, but I'm too baffled and, to be honest, bored by what I saw!

Just because a film is low-budget, or artistic, or about a mental illness--- that doesn't mean is has to be impossible to relate to. And I get it I get it, the guy had mental illnesses, and the film was trying to depict what it is like --- but why keep the character at such a distance from the audience? That's what pisses me off about a lot artsy indie films, they try to keep you at a distance, try to be meaningful. If you want to be meaningful, don't try, just be truthful. 'Frank' is a huge disappointment. 

Wild In The Streets (Dir. Peter Baxter)

This documentary was about an intriguing bunch of people who live in Derbyshire, who once a year stop everything they're doing to fight over a medium-sized ball, and don't stop until somebody wins or everyone is hospitalised.

Sadly, there wasn't enough juice for a whole documentary. The sport, 'Shrovetide', is much like a celebrity sex video, you're curious at first but soon extremely bored and are ready to move on. Watch the clip below-- you'll find it interesting, and confusing--- indeed they are a curious bunch. But I don't recommend the documentary.



Glorious Deserter (Dir. Gabriele Neudecker)

I was looking forward to this film, a lot. The subject is fascinating, and the Raindance programme notes had me sold. 

But how can I describe this film to you? Essentially, a bunch of Austrian guys walk around, and we hear their voice overs, talking about the war. Occasionally, one of the characters looks directly to the camera, and talks a bit more about the war.

Nothing happens. 

Really. Literally. Nothing. No story. 

The film just wanted to give us a history lesson. 

And it's such a shame because, potentially, this movie could have been great. Such a fascinating and important topic --- but awfully handled. 

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Do We All Need To Move To Austin, Texas?

In response to my grumble about people using their phones in the cinema, Joel Valle left this comment which made me want to pack my bags and start a new life in Texas!

"We are lucky here in Austin, Texas. There is a Theather chain known as the Alamo Drafthouse where they have taking watching movies to a whole new different level. The theather is decorated with posters of classic cult movies. They don't show commercials, only clips from movies or funny videos that have similar themes of the movie you are about to watch. Meanwhile a waitress takes your order of specialty food like Pizza or fries, wine, etc... But best of all, they strictly enforce a no calling or textphone rule. If you violate the rule you are escorted out of the theather without a refund. It's a film lovers paradise!"

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Who Do They Need To Text?

Is it really how we are now, as humans, that we can't watch a movie for 93 minutes without needing to text and tweet?

Why are you going to the cinema? What are you in there for? Is it not for the experience of indulging in something entertaining, or educational or at least, something to take you away from your life for an hour or two?

Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe the whole point of going to the cinema is to text people and read Facebook news feeds, but I don't think it is. So what's the deal?

The dude next to me today at the screening of 'The Lottery of Birth', got a text message about twenty minutes into the film. It beeped loudly, of course. He took out the phone and then began texting.

Then the other person text him back.

So the guy and his distant friend continued texting again and again. Tap tap tap click click and again and again. I was lenient at first, after all, it could be an emergency. "Help!!! My house is on fire so I'm texting you!!!!!!!!", but again, I doubt it.

Tap tap click tap beeep vrrrrmmm tap tap, I couldn't take it anymore. I asked him to stop. And to be honest, the guy was nice about it. He seemed genuinely apologetic yet also completely unaware that the bright sparkly lights from his phone and the tap tap tapping could be distracting.

The phone continued to vibrate. And a few times he coughed and 'accidentally' pressed the button on his phone, enabling him to have a sneaky peak at his messages.

I understand his problem. The incoming text promises much excitement. Also, he might be newly in love and texting the girl of his dreams. Perhaps they fell in love due to a mutual love for pressing thumbs against smartphone screens.

But is this what we're becoming now? Is there any moment in daily life when we put the phones down and experience something? I'm surprised he didn't take a picture of me and tag it on Facebook, "me and anti-phone dude".

I can see how the guy who wants no distractions in the cinema annoys people as much as the distractioner himself, but I'm at a film festival! This film has three screenings in London then we may never see it in the UK again. Surely it's worth watching, worth giving yourself over to what's on screen for a couple of hours?

I see these people ignoring important moments, missing out on subtitles, half-laughing at funny bits to keep up with the audience who are laughing---- it's crazy, why not watch the movie! Of course, the knock on effect is that I miss the movie too, because I'm so caught up it what the phone-people are doing.

I've done it myself, I guess that's why I'm so sensitive to it. We all text and tweet as if it's a temporary hobby, we check texts while under the illusion that we-just-have-to-check-the-next-one-because-it's-super-interesting.

Text messages are never super interesting. They're never anything. They're just a distraction from being in the moment, from having an experience.

But this is our lives. People need to realise it's all a conspiracy, another way it which we've been numbed and dumbed. We're subservient to small black portable devices. Why are people so comfortable with becoming so insane?

You're missing movies. Missing conversations with the people in front of you. Missing the whole world while you tap tap tap vrrrrrmmmm beep. And worse than all that, you're driving me crazy!

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THE LOTTERY OF BIRTH Review - Documentary - Raindance Film Festival 2012

My brain hurts. It hurts because of how much this movie made me think. And it hurt even more when I began trying to figure out how I would review it. 

You have to be paying attention when you watch 'The Lottery of Birth'. There's no dumbing down, no spoon feeding you. It's a film that relentlessly sets out to challenge your perceptions and view of the world. It's a documentary that takes what you think you know and shows you how you know very little. It could so easily have been pretentious, or preachy, or boring-- yet somehow, it manages to tread that line perfectly. It doesn't make you feel dumb, it makes you feel enlightened - which is exactly what you want from a documentary.

So what is it about? Don't expect me to explain; my brain still hurts too much! Let's all watch the trailer to get a feel for it: 

Depending on where you're born, you have certain privileges, certain obstacles, certain opportunities. Your outlook, your inner state, your beliefs; they're shaped by the environment you're in. And we all conform to roles almost as quickly as we're born. And school drills into us a certain way of thinking, a way of viewing other nations, a way of perceiving history. One of the most startling moments in the film is when it lists fifty nations that the USA has tried to overthrow since World War 2-- and many of them were democracies. One of the big points the film makes is that, we all feel like we're on the side of the angels. We like to believe that our nation is the one in the right, the one with great values. 'The Lottery of Birth' takes a look at how our brains are wired to think in a certain way, based on the way we've been socialised. 

This film is a wake up call. 

And the interview subjects are fascinating. The late Howard Zinn is mesmerizing; as are all the others. 

This is a documentary that, with a mere establishing shot of a London city office or a New York City street, makes you realise how brainwashed we are, how easily we allow ourselves to be obedient. I related to this documentary in a big way because it voiced a feeling I've had eating away inside of me for a long time, that I've never been able to formulate into words or coherent thoughts. It just shows you how powerful a documentary can be. It's like a switch has been turned on, the electricity is flowing -- now I can begin to look at the world in a way that I've been working my way towards without direction. 'The Lottery of Birth' is the beginning of a new way of approaching things. 

Yesterday, during a screening of 'Loveless Zoritsa' I was getting pissed off with the woman next to me who was constantly scribbling notes --- it bugged the hell out of me! But today, as I watched 'The Lottery of Birth', I wanted to be taking notes so badly! There was so much to take in, so much to learn, endless things to ponder. 

I'll need to watch this film another three times to take it all in. Problem is, when, and where? Documentaries never have a certain path. After Raindance, we don't know when we'll see it again. Luckily, the filmmakers are intent on it reaching a wide audience. They said during the Q+A that the important thing is that it gets seen, even if people can't afford cinema tickets or to purchase it on demand. How refreshing! Film distribution is changing -- and it's very likely that the producers who are open to giving their films away for free may end up being the winners. 

The important thing is that 'The Lottery of Birth' gets seen. I'm fully aware that despite my praise, this review doesn't give much detail about the content of the film. I go back to my initial words -- my brain hurts. This is a talking heads documentary that takes up more neurons in your brain than a hundred Hollywood flicks combined. Sound like hard work? It is. But it's worth it. 

I don't know when you'll get a chance to see it, but when you do, make sure you don't miss it. 

Additional Notes: The film is directed by Raoul Martinez and Joshua Van Praag, and it's the first of a four-part 'Creating Freedom' documentary project. Keep an eye on this series, because it may end up changing your life. 

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'LOVELESS ZORITSA' (Crna Zorica) - Raindance Film Festival 2012

LOVELESS ZORITSA (Original Title: Crna Zorica) is a unique, engaging and at times, hilarious film directed by Christina Hadjicharalambous and Radoslav Pavkovic, who were both at the Apollo Cinema in Picadilly Circus tonight for the international premiere of the film.

A Serbian film, co-produced with Poland, Cyprus and Greece (with much of the post-production being done in these countries), 'Loveless Zoritsa' is one of the more bizarre and unusual films you're likely to see this year.

Many men fall in love with the beautiful Zoritsa. The only problem is -- she's cursed. Any man who loves her-- at worst, dies instantly and at best, is severely paralysed. Why does all this happen? Because when Zoritsa was born, she was the first female in her family to be born without a moustache. And to be female and born into this family without a moustache, is a bad omen. 

Sound crazy? It is, yet somehow, it works. The film is shot beautifully --- and you can't help but be swept away into the bizarre Balkan world of crazy locals and inept policemen. It's a world that could so easily have been too far fetched and unbelievable, yet luckily it keeps you compelled.

My only gripe was that the ending crossed my mind much earlier in the film, leaving things a little anti-climatic for me. Hopefully that won't be true for most viewers, but then, even if it is, there is much to enjoy about the film.

The film runs at a comfortable 80 minutes, which is just about right for a film that isn't to be taken too seriously. A light and enjoyable insight into a side of Serbian culture most of us know nothing about (a few Serbian audience members understood the movie a little better than British viewers, not that it detracted from our enjoyment), it's definitely worth seeing for its uniqueness. There's also a strong and intriguing performance from Ljuma Penov, along with a whole host of memorable faces and performances from actors who, we were told, are very famous in Serbia. But it's definitely Penov who stands out the most in a role that is far more crazy, exciting and mysterious than what Hollywood actresses usually get to play. 

'Loveless Zoritsa' is still searching for international distribution. Judging by the audience reaction at tonight's sold out premiere, it should have no problem finding an audience.

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