Over the Edge Radio Show on the movies

The radio show Over the Edge which has been running for almost 4 decades is done by members of the group Negativland does 3 or 5 hour audio collages on various subjects.  Some shows are free form collections and others have themes or subjects (UFOs, The History of Radio, Lenny Bruce, The Shadow radio show, holidays)

One of the things they did was a series of shows on the movies. They are interesting audio explorations of cinema- that wander all over the place in unexpected way.  

I recommend the sh.ows- but if you listen be ready to work with them and go in knowing that some moments are better than others. If you can do that you will find the show will force you to think about things in a whole new way

There are the five shows called 24 Frames a Second on films.

PART 1
PART 2 (includes Clive Barker and George Romero talking horror)
PART 3 (The Wizard of Oz)
PART 4
PART 5

And this is another show on movies:

SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

A show of BLADERUNNER remixed

And they did two shows referencing David Lynch:

LOST IN THE DUNES
FIRE WALK WITH ME

There are other shows referencing films - but I'll leave you to hunt them down.

(A BONUS show- this is a CHRISTMAS EVE show running 7 hours. It's a wild fantasia on the holidays that uses the audio of a Barbie Christmas Video Tape as the spine of the show It's a magically weird trip)

Brief thoughts on THE LAST JOURNEY (2024)

THE LAST JOURNEY made me a sobbing mess. The story of filmmaker Filip Hammar making one “last” trip with his dad made me smile and made me very sad because it made me miss my dad. It’s been a couple of years since my dad past but this film reminded me of the last few years with my dad as we cruised around together.

The film follows the pair as they revisit the places Filip‘s dad went when he was younger. They travel and kibbutz and enjoy each other’s company.

What an absolute delight this film is. It’s a loving portrait about enjoying the people they love as they get older.

I honestly can’t say more than that because I will begin to cry again and then get lost thinking about my dad…which is a rave because good films connect us to the people we love, and this film connected me back to my dad.

Recommended

Moonwater (2024) Dances With Films NYC

An alcoholic man is at the end of his rope. He discovers his fathers old still in the woods and uses it to connect to his brother and his family. 

This is an okay low key drama about a man trying to find himself. It's well acted and the sequences between the brothers have a lot of truth in them.

The problem with the film is that it's very low key and very slow. There really is no reason for this film to run two hours. There are too many quiet reflective moments for its own good. They result in a film that is a little too slack and as a result we don't really connect.

While not bad I'm not certain its going to stick with you.

THE PIANO LESSON (2024)

August Wilson's classic play has Boy Willie driving 1800 miles nominally to see his sister and sell some watermelons. What he really wants to sell the family piano and use the money to buy "the family" farmland, but his sister Berniece won't part with it because the piano is decorated with likenesses of all of their family.

This is a very good adaption of the play which recently played Broadway with the same cast. It's a film that allows the cast, which includes Danielle Deadwyler, John David Washington and Samuel L Jackson, to really shine.

At this point I should state that as much as the play is considered a classic, it's not one of my favorite August Wilson plays. My problem is that I think Boy Willie is one of the weaker characters in Wilson's work. He's not as well drawn as the other schemers who see a way to easy money and a better life that inhabit all of Wilson's other films, to me exists simply to drive the story (the other Wilson schemers seem more grounded).  John David Washington makes a good try at making the character work, but it doesn't quite happen.

Still the rest of the cast makes the film work better than I thought it would.

Worth a look.

Itch (2024) Dances With FIlms New York

When a new disease starts turning people into crazed killers, a single father and his young daughter end up hiding out in the store where he works.

While I could argue that the last thing we need is another “zombie” film, after all there are too many these days, however when a good one come along I’m happy to watch it. ITCH is one of the good ones.

While ITCH is not going to rewrite or revitalize it is going to entertain you. The film is  low key look at what would happen if something like this would really happen- namely it wouldn’t instantly be yelling and screaming but low key confusion and uncertainty. It’s also a film that is about the characters not the violence. This is one of the rare horror films that takes time to genuinely build characters and relationships. By the time the nastiness starts we are deeply invested in everyone.

ITCH is a small gem. It’s one of the  better recent horror films because it genuinely wants to tell a story not just throw blood and body parts at us. I had a great time.

Recommended.

HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN (2024)

The fourth Hellboy film is the best of the franchise and one of the best films of 2024.

Based on one of the actual comic story lines, set in 1959 the film follows Hellboy and his assistant Bobbie Jo Song as they  transport a spider with supernatural powers to a safe place. When the spider gets loose and the battle to contain it on the train end up tossing the BPRD agents and the spider into the wilderness.  As they try to find their lost cargo the pair end up in the middle of a situation involving witches and the demonic Crooked Man, a being who will grant your wishes for your soul.

The trick to enjoying this film is forgetting the other films. Sure it’s the same character, however the decades earlier than in the other films. He is teenager- he was brought to this world at the end of WW2- hence not as beefy looking. It’s a film done in the style of a folk horror film of the 1960’s or 70’s, or perhaps a drive-in horror film. It’s a small scale film that has the same character but not the huge budget and set pieces. This is a genuine scary horror film and not a big budget action fantasy.

I loved this film. I loved that it made me scared. I love that the film had me wondering who would live and who would die- it’s clear from the opening moments that no one other than Hellboy is safe. I love that the horror is real world.  Out side of the spider things are closer to real.

This is as good as horror films get.

I know that the reaction to the film is mixed and I don’t understand why. Is it because it’s not Ron Pearlman and the big budget film? Is it because it’s a genuine horror film and not an action adventure film? I suspect it’s because the lovers of the comic book character haven’t actually rea Mike Mignola’s comic book…because this is the freaking comic book.

Not to put too fine a point on it this is a masterpiece and one of 2024’s very best films.

LOLA DUST (2024) Dances With Films New York

Actress is shocked to discover that the footage from a short she made under great secrecy is being used to smear a government minister. Worse it has now put her at the center of a political firestorm and she’s discovered her identity has been stolen.

Neat little thriller in the modern age of cyber crime and artificial intelligence.  This is a film about the potential dangers lurking out there as well as the danger that there is a very good chance that our lives are in danger of being taken over by other people. In many ways it’s a cautionary tale.

Deeper meaning aside the film is a solid little thriller. Filled with great characters, Jade Pattenden is great at the center, this is film that is going to grab you and pull you along.

Definitely one you’ll want to see.

Collaborator (2024) Dances With Films New York

In the disputed Kashmir valley between India and Pakistan a young man is forced by Indian authorities to walk through the valley to collect the identity cards of the dead.  Wanting to be free of the task he tries to flee to Pakistan however  they think he is still in the employ of India. Upon returning to India they think he is working for Pakistan. Is there anyway that he can get out of the middle?

Based on the autobiographical novel from writer Mirza Waheed, this is a film is a moving look at how people get trapped between battling countries. It’s tense story that shows how officials don’t care about the truth only how things can be turned to their advantage.

I really liked this film a great deal. While not on my original Dances With Films dance card I jumped at the chance to see it.

While the film can be a little too talky at times, the cast and the tension of the situations presented make this more than worth your time.

Recommended

Two Dances With Films New York Shorts:CANCHAS and THE CODER

CANCHAS
A doctor remains isolated during covid to keep her family safe. She also has to deal with the pressures of the job which are constantly breaking her heart.

Solid short film about the nightmare that was covid. It’s a film that reminds us of what happened a not so long ago. To be honest there are enough threads and moments here that should the filmmakers decide to expand this it should make a solid feature

Recommended.

THE CODER
A coder working on a crypto currency offering is breaking apart mentally as the company she is working for is coming undone because of computer issues and other reasons.

This is an okay  short. More a portrait of a woman under stress than anything else, the film is trying to say a lot about work, management and life while at the same time be a kind of thriller. The problem is that this is a film where we know what the film is trying to do better than the film is showing us.  Pieces of the film work and others don’t quite. I think the problem here is the 17 minute run time is too short and can’t contain what should have been a feature.

Worth a look but I’m hoping for that feature.

Our Happy Place (2024) Dances With Films New York

A woman wakes up in a field, uncertain of how she got there…again and again and again. As she begins to piece together how she got there she realizes that something terrible is afoot.

Off beat thriller takes a bit to get going so you have to stay with it. In part because at first it puts us in uncharted territory and later because the ground starts to shift under our feet.  It’s a film that is hard to describe because where it starts is not where it ends. And the ride is part of the reason for going to the destination.

I don’t dare say more lest I get caught in a loop myself.

Worth a look for those who like the off beat in their thrillers.

Double Exposure (2024) Dances With Films NYC 2024

 

After a nasty fight with his wife over whether he loves his dead ex-lover, a man ends up in a car crash. In the aftermath the man finds that his ex has returned to life and that the past has intruded into the present.

You are going to either love this film or loath it. A wild one-of-a-kind film, it's the work of Howard Goldberg, a filmmaker who has only made 4 films in 50 years, some of which are considered cult films. I suspect that this film is going to be considered a cult film as well, though I suspect that it will be two cults one that clicks with the film and genuine loves it and those that find it's often histrionic and off kilter dialog and happenings on the order of the work of Tommy Wiseau. 

I'm really mixed on the film. While I like the idea of the film and found that eventually the film kind of clicked with me in the way you get attached to something that's one of a kind. However, there is the problem that the films dialog and plotting can be more than a bit loopy.

Give the film points for sticking to its guns, but at the same time it will probably leave you scratching your head.

Worth a look for the adventurous

Petro(2024) opens today

Gustavo Petro, a former M-19 member, decides to run for President of Columbia.

This is a good look at a man who has been struggling for decades in order to change his country. Trying  to unite the people instead of dividing them with hate and fear Petro is fighting the good fight and he seems to be winning. Following Petro on his journey to the Presidency, the film reveals his past as well as his plans for the future. It’s a film that tries to be fair by talking to all sides (though some people refuse to speak on camera). 

I was along for the long haul and ended up liking the film a great deal.

If the film has any flaw it’s that the film doesn’t have a great deal of suspense, the result of having a low key tone.. While I know a quick check of the internet will tell anyone how it comes out,  the problem is that the film plays a clip of Donald Trump early on talking about President Petro.  That would be okay if the film didn’t open with Petro putting on bulletproof vest, seemingly indicating that there is danger ahead. It’s not fatal, but it results in a film that isn’t quite as urgent as it could have been.

That said, this is a really good film and worth a look.

PIKE (2024) Dances With Films New York

Entertainment manager decides that he’s had enough of no talents in Hollywood and decides to kill them.

Pilot film for a new series is going to be noted as the final work of George Lazenby, the second man to play James Bond on the big screen. As a show itself I’m not certain what I think. It’s not that the show is bad, its more I’m not certain where it is going to go after this. There is a reason I generally refuse to review pilots or TV series based on a single episode and that is that it is very hard to know if a series will work  after 25 minutes. PIKE  has the cast down and the writing is sharp. What I don’t know is if this will work going long form.  It largely works as a short film but it’s left open to keep going.

Is it worth seeing? Yes, but you’ll want to see more. Will it work as a series? I don’t know.

Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story.(2024)

This is the look at the group Redd Kross and their legacy.

This is a good look at the band and their music. Fans of the band are going to love this film. There is some great music here and some great stories.

The problem for me was the film doesn't feel entirely serious. There is a sly smile on everyone's faces and I wasn't certain every one was serious. I completely understand everyone was having a good time being interviewed but there were times that some of the interviewees seem under duress or are talking about a group they don't know.  I know this is just how I feel but it made the film something I couldn't connect to.

That said the music rocks and fans are going to eat this up. Recommended for Redd Kross fans

BREAKUP SEASON (2024)

The plot of BREAKUP SEASON has a couple going home to his family for their first holiday together. A fight ensues the first night and before she can leave in the morning weather and circumstance intervene. 

This is a good and entertaining film. It's much better than it's low key release would indicate. The trouble is that despite the film getting a token theatrical release the film is awfully familiar. Sure there are a couple of unexpected twists, but at the same time we have been here before. (especially if you like Hallmark movies).

While I enjoyed the film and stayed to the end, there wasn't enough outstanding about the film to give me a great deal to say about it.

Worth a look.

NIGHTBITCH (2024)

 

New mother feels out of sorts being a stay at home mom.  Things get weird when she starts turning into a dog at night.

This is an interesting look at motherhood and marriage through a magically realistic eye. It’s a film that I admired more than loved. That isn’t to say that it is bad, rather I like the film, but I don’t love it. The reason for that is I am neither a woman nor a parent so I cannot connect to some of what I am seeing on screen. Yes, I can see what they are getting at and I have a slight connection because of what friends said, but as one writer friend said “I don’t expect anyone who isn’t a parent, or especially a mother, to know how on target this film is.

That said- if you are a parent and especially a mom- go see NIGHTBITCH.

BLEEDING (2024) Dances With Films New York

I’m going to explain this badly because it’s the only way to explain it simply. In a world where vampires exist, their blood is used to make a drug called blood. It is highly addictive, and dangerous to produce. In the world a young man tries to help his blood addicted cousin get out of debt of a drug dealer by getting some blood. However the plans go sideways when they find a girl in an abandoned house.

One of a kind horror/social commentary film is an interesting ride with a unique feel. It doesn’t always feel like a horror film so the horror sneaks up on you and hits you over the head. I wasn’t certain early on if the film was going to work, but the film pulls it together to be something special. Ultimately it’s a more overt social commentary, in this case a look at addiction, wrapped in the robes of horror.

Worth a look.

STEPBACK DOORS CLOSING (2024) Dances NYC 2024

Two people meet in Washington DC and through circumstance are forced to spend 24 hours together. As the pair talks they eventually end up falling for each other.

If you liked the AFTER films then you are going to love this film. It's a nice little film that follows the the format laid out by the earlier films and hones it to near perfection.

If there is any flaw in this little gem it's that the film feels like a stage play that was opened up just to make it a movie. As much as I like this film I really wish it was play where the pair could have just sat and talked and we could have witnessed a grand moment.

Regardless of my quibbles this is a nice little film.

Separated (2024) is on MSNBC December 7

How the Trump plan to separate parents from their children of illegals is used as a means of preventing illegal immigration.

I'm coming late to this film and so I saw this after Donald Trump was re-elected. As a result, how this film plays is completely different than anyone who saw it pre-election. I know that seeing the events of this film play out I was made much sicker than I would have before.

Errol Morris charts the plans of the US government to separate the families of those coming into the US illegally in the hope that the separation will cause those coming into the country to hesitate. The problem is that once they are separated that there is a good chance that they will never get back together. We know that because of what has gone before.

Unless you are a truly monstrous person the odds are this film is going to turn your stomach. The level of absolute cruelty required to separate families is a very high. While some of the policies started under other administrations the villainous level to which the Trump administration used it is legendary. 

I don't know what to say but I was punched in the face by this film. It is a heartbreaking tale that looks to be expanded upon the people soon to be in the White House. 

Recommended

A sound shot for shot remake of Nosferatu A Symphony of Terror (2023)

With Robert Eggers remake coming out on Christmas the home video market is being flooded with reissues of the original FW Murnau classic with new music and tinting. Additionally, there have been a couple of other versions including one version that alters the original film via A.I. manipulation and this film which is essentially a shot for shot remake of the original film with actors speaking the lines.

I’m mixed on this film. The performances, including Doug Jones as Orlock, make this film actually worth trying. The actors are not phoning it in which makes it worth seeing. 

The problem with the film is that the use of green screen for compositing makes it look unreal. While the use of composited images allows for the film to exactly mirror the original, it also results in images that are flat. There is no depth to any of the backgrounds. I suspect that this is the result of shooting in a confined space with no distance between the background and the actors. It feels stage bound. The result is a film that feels like it’s the wrong sort of cheap… which it really isn’t.  

Let me restate that problems with the compositing aside this film is very good. I was shocked that so much of this film worked since a shot for shot remake of a silent film shouldn't work but it does.

Is this worth seeing?

If you can forgive its short comings, yes. Is it as good as the original?  No, but the way the film was done raises some interesting issues about recreating films this way, as well as the strength and power of the original. Watching the film I understand why, beyond Max Shreck that the film has survived 102 years.

(ADDENDUM - a review of the remake from Robert Eggers will run closer to that films release on Christmas Day.)