Film is Truth 24 Times a Second

Click on the picture for a larger version. Click on “Read the rest of this entry” for the answers.

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Here are the quotes used in our Anniversary Game. Click on “Read the rest of this entry” to see the answers!

1. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

2. “Yes, I killed him. I killed him for money and a woman. And I didn’t get the money, and I didn’t get the woman.”

3. “I saw something nasty in the woodshed!”

4. “Would you give a guy a foot massage?”

5. “When you’re walking down the street and you see a little ghost, whatcha gonna do about Ghostbusters?”

6. “You don’t wanna get mixed up with a guy like me. I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”

7. “I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen.”

8. “They call me Mister Tibbs.”

9. “Do you like Phil Collins? I’ve been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn’t understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual.”

10. “You must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with — a herring!”

11. “What’s that man doing in my drawers?”

12. “You aren’t too smart, are you? I like that in a man.”

13. “Kid, the next time I say, ‘Let’s go someplace like Bolivia,’ let’s go someplace like Bolivia.”

14. “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!”

15. “Walter, he peed on my rug!”

16. “That’s what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age.”

17. “After careful consideration, I’ve decided not to endorse your park.”

18. “Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?”

19. “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”

20. “Let’s go get sushi and not pay!”

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I only heard of [REC], the new Spanish horror film, by word-of-mouth and watched it for the first time before it was available on DVD, online, in eight different segments. I got together with about eight different people and we all crowded around my laptop to watch it in the dark. Despite the small, pixilated screen and the large group, the film still made a significant impression on everyone in the room.

Not too long after my first viewing of it, the American remake QUARINTINE came to Film Is Truth. To be fair, I watched that also and was (as I expected to be) greatly disappointed. Though the story tagged many of the same points, it just couldn’t be taken seriously and the acting was enough to distort the characters into people who I couldn’t really sympathize with, no matter what “horrific” events they were put through. Even the makeup jobs didn’t hold next to the original.
So I waited, in high anticipation, for [REC] to finally be released on DVD, to get the chance to see it again and spread the word. Although I was worried that it would somehow not be as realistic or as frightening when seen on a TV screen rather than a laptop, I had no need to be. This film is one of the pinnacles of new, foreign horror. Like LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, it takes an old favorite and refurbishes it into something refreshingly original. And it just so happens to be one of the handful of horror films ever to scare me.
Angela Vidal is our main character, a reporter for a late night TV show, who is filming at a fire department to get a first hand view of what the volunteers do. While most of the night is routine and quiet (setting an appropriate pacing for the film, one that continually builds to the end) they are soon called out to an apartment building where a woman was reported to be screaming in her home. When they arrive, it is first very unclear what the situation is, but the panic of the other tenants sets you on edge before you even know what you’re afraid of. Seen through the eye of the camera, and while other films have used this same technique (BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, CLOVERFIELD), [REC] makes it believable and not at all dizzying. The camera becomes a character, as its presence is questioned by the police officers also responding to the call, and they are forced to turn it off by authorities, even as the equipment falters during high-paced moments.
After finding the woman who was screaming, an officer is wounded and the situation becomes much more urgent. Before anyone can get the injured medical attention, however, they reach the bottom floor to find that the building has been sealed and they are all locked inside. Again, while some films have used claustrophobic settings before, [REC] uses it without staring at the same scenery the entire time. The quarantine still gives the story and the characters room to move, and makes climbing the floors of the buildings and either trying to reach the remaining people upstairs or keep them there a magnificent plot device. Asked to wait downstairs, the tenants panic and the terror rises as the state of the injured turns horrific.
Now, I’m struggling not to reveal too much more, because this film is better seen with few ideas about what happens. I am certain the surprises will get to you, but while watching also make note of the incredible make up jobs, and the impressive acting because without the work of these actors the film would fall apart. Part of the actor’s presence is due to the directors, however. In watching The Making of [REC], I learned that the directors only told the actors pieces of what would be happening, so they’re fear was more tangible and their confusion was legitimate. The finale is amazing and by the time you get there, I promise you won’t be able to look away.
This is a must for any horror or thriller fan, and for those who are craving an original plot out of the flurry of summer movies. Come by and pick up [REC], if only so I can talk further about this fantastic movie without giving anything away!

We’ll be open again at noon on Sunday!

The first movie I ever rented at Film Is Truth was Teeth, written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein. It is easily one of my favorite films, period. That’s a lot to say, I know. But every time someone rents it or I get to recommend it to anybody, I remember all over how much I loved it. So I thought I’d share my thoughts with all of you on why.

The main character is a high school girl named Dawn, who grew up two blocks away from a nuclear plant, inhaling the spewed toxic smoke all her life. They show this plant at the transitions between many scenes during the film, hinting at its possible role in our main character’s unusual development. Dawn heads her local abstinence group, giving speeches on purity and saving your most precious gift in life for the day you get married. However, through circumstances not entirely under Dawn’s control, she has sex, which leads to the discovery of something terrible going on inside her. She researches anatomy and realizes she has “adapted;” she has been born with the mythical Vagina Dentata: teeth, deep in her vagina. They imprint this theme throughout the story, hinting on evolution and the idea of a species mutating in order to better protect it. It’s an aspect of the movie that I really thought brought more substance to what could have been a very superficial story.

The film is arguably vulgar, with numerous sex scenes and gory effects. However, it’s expected since the film is Horror and it is a horrific concept. Besides, the sex scenes aren’t unnecessary; how else would you present a story about a woman’s viscous reproductive organs?

Some Horror films leave out the human element brought to the story by those undergoing the events around them, and lacks for doing so. Teeth never forgets its characters, who’ve been assigned to incredible actors/actresses who handle both the horror scenes and the simply ridiculous nature of the story with grace. The experiences Dawn, and those she copulates with, are terrible, and each character handles the moment expertly. Jess Weixler as Dawn grabs her role and gives it even more spark, whether she’s pulling an innocent, virginal expression of confusion or staring menacingly at an unknowing victim. Be sure to keep an eye out for her, as she is part of the line up in several new films (Peter and Vandy (premiered at Sundance), Welcome to Academia, As Good As Dead) that I know I will be taking a look at to see how she does.

The gore never fell short, yet the writing flowed between horror and comedy seamlessly. The outrageous nature of the film makes it clear that it is meant to be hilarious, and in that it succeeded. I watched this movie with all of my four roommates (who each have different taste in movies) and everyone liked it. Anyone who likes horror, or anyone who has a bit of a morbid sense of humor, should see Teeth.

I had the pleasure of calling our raffle winners yesterday. And what fun it was. We should do more raffles!

Monday afternoon Karl and I headed downstairs from our office with a cookie jar of 672 raffle tickets. We called upon regular customer Kenui, who happened to be in the store, to draw our grand prize winner.

Congrats to Bliss who won the 50 free rentals!

Also congrats to our runners-up. Jordan and Kristin won 5 free rentals. Jenny and Weston won T-shirts.

We will be closed all day this Friday for the Fourth of July. All rental periods will be extended an extra day, so stock up early.

That’s right, free tickets! As sponsors of Conservation Northwest’s Grizzly Awareness Week, we’ve got a free pair of tickets to the Groovin’ with Grizzlies fundraiser show this Friday at the Boundary Bay Beer Garden, featuring Wisconsin Slim, Lucky Brown and Yogoman’s Wild Rumpus. And we’ve decided to pass those tickets on to our blog reading public. Hey, that’s you!

What’s the catch? Well, it’s in the beer garden, so you have to be 21, but other than that, there is none! All you have to do is come in, mention this blog post, and ask nicely for your free pair of tickets. It’s a first come, first served deal, though, and we’ve only got one set of tix to go around, so the this is winner take all time!

Thanks for reading the blog and supporting your Friendly Neighborhood Video Store, and good luck!

Our friend and former co-worker Andrew has just had a significant piece of criticism - the cover feature, no less - published in Cineaste magazine, which you can read about here. Unfortunately the article is not available online, so make an effort to track down the actual publication, either at your local library or periodical vendor (such as The Newsstand, here in Bellingham — hello Stephen!).

Anyway, congrats on the article, Andrew, hopefully it’s the first of many.

I have been accused of sloth in the “watching new stuff” category, and so this week I made an extended effort to watch at least some of the new stuff coming into the store.

Michael Clayton - It was pretty good, but it wasn’t refreshingly great. Clooney does alright, but he is kind of always the same guy. I was rooting for him though. Overall, check it out if you liked The Constant Gardener or the Bourne Trilogy.

American Gangster - Not since Virtuosity have Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe been this good together (what, you forgot about that nugget of cinematic gold?). This felt like a condensed 5 seasons of The Wire meets Scarface (why don’t these gangsters get out when they should?), but it was overall easy enough to get through the 2.5 hour runtime. I appreciated what Scott chose what and what not to focus on as well. I cannot believe that Ruby Dee is up for a Best Supporting Actress here though, she was only in 3 scenes and had no more than 6 minutes of screen time.

Walker - Do not be fooled by either the content or line-up here - this is more of a comedy than anything else. Ed Harris and Alex Cox treat this strange and brutal story with an almost “South Parkian” touch (I was reminded too much of Cannibal! The Musical numerous times). If that appeals to you, check it out.

Margot at the Wedding - I am no Noah Baumbach aficionado, but I found this one more interesting than I thought it would be, with Zane Pais as Claude dominating the entire film. I was frustrated by the actions of the characters, but then I began to realize, this might just be how some people react to each other, how some families actually exist within themselves. Was I raised in a dysfunctional family? I guess I’ll never know now.

For The Bible Tells Me So - Homophobia fuels lot of hatred in this country. This film debunks a lot of the “proof” used to condemn that gays are going to burn forever in hell. I, like many, many people, have never looked into what exactly the Bible says regarding this matter (and was shocked what I found, not regarding homosexuality, but everything else).  In the film, a lot of the arguments are put to the test by qualified people, who readily take them down to their most basic and (most importantly) contextual meaning. The film is truly about understanding the power the Bible has on people in general, and how that power can be abused. Show your friends and family this great, great film; I highly recommend.