Sorry ahead of time for the lateness on this week's edition. This Weekend's Film Festival drips of pulpy cool, bloody gore and a heap load of fun. With HOT FUZZ and 300 both arriving on DVD this week, the exuberant and over-the-top fun of cinema needs to be showcased. I've collected five flicks that have directors in common, genres in common and creators in common. But what all these films have in common is a love for genre filmmaking and its excesses. It's not a marathon of style over substance, but a parade of how style can enhance substance. These are dark entertainments that have tongues pressed firmly in their cheeks around many hairpin turns. Others know exactly what something needs to be to become iconically cool. It's two fisted gun totin' action this week. You might just have to install seat belts on your sofa.
We kick open the doors on this week's lineup with HOT FUZZ, from the stars and makers of SHAUN OF THE DEAD. It is a consistently funny and consistently smart satire of big overblown Hollywood actions flicks. As I described in my original review, this film, even more so than SHAUN OF THE DEAD, becomes one of those films in the end, however it doesn't lose its satirical edge. Setting plays a huge part in ripping the roof off the genre's conventions and shining light on the absurdity of it all. Simon Pegg plays a by-the-book police officer who is sent to the sticks when he makes all the other cops in London look bad. In the country, he's teamed with an underachieving loafer, played wonderfully by Nick Frost. The rest of the cast, including Paddy Considine and Timothy Dalton, have fun portraying characters just a tad over-the-top to bring out the humor in cliché crime characters. Though it’s a bit long, it's never tiring and part of the length is so that the filmmakers have a chance to poke fun at every standard cop movie ending imaginable.
So I thought a fitting film to start Saturday's lineup would be SHAUN OF THE DEAD — director Edgar Wright, co-writer/star Simon Pegg and co-star Nick Frost's spoof of zombie movies. It doesn't take long to figure out that the folks behind this hilarious send-up are big fans of the zombie genre. They skewer conventions with a perfect understanding of the standards and contrivances. Pegg and Frost are compelling lovable losers who must rise to the occasion when London is overrun by the walking dead. Bill Nighy also makes an unforgettable cameo as Pegg's stepfather. Though I gave the film three-stars in my original review, the solid amount of rewatchability makes this gory giggle-fest a surefire candidate for an "Upon Further Review" revision. Some of the gags are inspired; I'll never forget the part where they toss records at the zombies. You don't have to be a zombie-phile to love this film, but a proclivity for gore might help. Deviant laughs await those who walk like a zombie to the beat of Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
Closing out the Saturday of blood is a humorous take on both the crime and horror genre from the twisted minds of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Yep folks, it's everyone's favorite kidnap crime story turned vampire slaughterhouse — FROM DUSK TILL DAWN. Not as straight a satire of crime and horror conventions as Wright's films, this bloody cult hit is still loaded with hilarious moments and its fair share of gory touches. Tarantino brings his signature cool as hell dialogue to his two-in-one production, which surprises because it works. The vampire twist is just a way to bring enemies together and provides for ample amounts of stylized violence. The filmmakers set up their characters well and build the right degree of tension, until all hell breaks lose. Clooney, Tarantino and Keitel give memorable performances and as I pointed out in my original review, who can ever forget the sensual and seductive stripper played by the gorgeous Salma Hayek.
For Sunday in this ultra-cool lineup, we start out by focusing on crime again in the form of Robert Rodriguez and graphic novel legend Frank Miller's SIN CITY. Before 300 hit the screens, SIN CITY set the bar for stylized graphic novel adaptations. Literally the images from Miller's books are transported to the screen in stark black & white fashion with the right dash of color. The look of the film highlights its pulp crime novel and noir inspirations, making the material larger than life and as cool as a polar bear's toenails. The film overflows with stars including Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Josh Hartnett, Mickey Rourke, Benicio Del Toro, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba, Rutger Hauer and Elijah Wood. Weaving three separate stories into one film, the production feels like one whole, taking place in the same corrupt world where men are men and women are dangerous. If you dare, find out more in my original review.
This Weekend's Film Festival is bookended by the films that inspired this week's lineup. We started with HOT FUZZ and close with Zack Snyder's adaptation of Frank Miller's 300. Like SIN CITY, this Spartan adventure takes the grand look and feel of Miller's graphic novel and transforms it into an eye-popping movie experience. Though it is based on a true historical event, this story isn't about facts; it's about myth and legend. It gets to the core of what the story means to the people who have passed it down to generation after generation. Honor and standing up for what you believe in at any cost is what the theme is about; it's what's inspiring as well. This is a rousing adventure that brings style to the adrenaline-pumping story. As discussed thoroughly in my original review, those who complain that this an exercise in style over substance are missing the inspiration of the tale. It's a harsh fable that brings to light that the "good guy" doesn't always win the in end, but as long as he fought for what was right and died with honor than his story can motivate others to carry on in his wake and truly change their world.
So it's time to get ye to a rental store (or your computer to update your queue or check out Zap2It.com or set the TiVo). Hope you enjoy and if you haven't had your fill of dark tales for the weekend then you have to check out the That's Demented player at the newly launched AWN Media Center.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
