I'm still fairly new to this blogging stuff, so the site is still somewhat under construction. Just wanted to point out a few new additions to the page:
#1 I've added the ability for readers to subscribe to a feed for the blog. If you find what's going on here interesting, go ahead and take advantage of that feature (found in the upper right hand corner of the page). It's the easiest way to get new posts as soon as they're published.
#2 There's a short list of links for other blogs that I enjoy reading, including local blogger Anne Richardson's great Tall True Tales: Oregon Film A to Z site. One of her more exciting recent posts? An announcement that the Oregon Film Commission will be hosting a pre-release screening of Kelly Reichardt's (Wendy & Lucy, Old Joy) Meek's Cutoff (starring Michelle Williams) at the Elsinore Theater in Salem, Oregon. Check out Anne's site for more info!
#3 I've added the ability to share via Facebook & Twitter, as well as the ability to perform a Google search through the posts. Now you can share and search to your heart's content, people!
Hope these changes make it easier to enjoy the blog. Keep an eye out for future posts...or subscribe to the feed and you won't even have to pay that close of attention!
I was feeling pretty run down when Monday morning crept around and, as a result, only caught the first of the two features programmed for that day's press screenings. The second one, Human Resources Manager from Israel, is scheduled for a dvd release in April via the Film Movement dvd label, so I'll likely get around to it sometime 'round then.
I've been looking forward to seeing Boyever since the festival schedule was announced. It's the second feature from New Zealand actor/director Taika Waititi, following the indie-cult success of Eagle vs Shark (2007). Here's the trailer for that earlier feature:
Eagle vs. Shark gathered more than a few comparisons to Napoleon Dynamite, which, if you watch the trailer above, seems fair. Except, while I didn't much care for Napoleon D, I really dug its New Zealand cousin quite a bit. Chalk it up to different strokes for different folks...or a love of NZ accents (maybe).
Waititi's new film is an ever slightly more mature product, inspired in part by his 2003 Oscar-nominated short film Two Cars, One Night:
Boy tells the story of a kid named, appropriately enough, Boy. After his mother died giving birth to his younger brother Rocky (yes, it's a pop reference--watch out, there are MANY), their father, Alamein, was thrown in prison for robbery. In their father's absence, the kids have been under the care of their grandmother. That is, until shortly after the start of the film, when Alamein is released from prison.
Thus far, Waititi's characters have all been misfits and dreamers and Boy is no exception. He's obsessed with Michael Jackson to an almost unhealthy degree, mentioning him no less than three times during the introduction. He's friends with a goat. And, to top it all off, Boy is pretty sure that his father is a war hero, rather than a convict.
Alamein's return proves him to be no less delusional than his son, smoking endless amounts of marijuana and drinking all day instead of taking proper care of his kids. Nevertheless, Boy quickly transfers his hero worship onto his father, even seeing him take on the signature moves of Michael Jackson to comic effect.
Perhaps because the narrative is filtered through the consciousness of a child, Boy comes off as less self-conscious and twee than Eagle vs. Shark felt at times. Although I enjoyed both films, I'm guessing that the second feature will likely pull in more viewers.
Boy plays at the Broadway Theater on Feb. 13th at 1:45pm, Feb. 17th at 6:45pm, Feb 18th at 6pm and Feb. 19th at 8:15pm.
Just in case anyone's curious about the second film that screened on Monday, here's the trailer:
Human Resources Manager plays at the Broadway Theater on Feb. 12th at 8pm, Feb. 13th at 2:45pm and Feb. 13th at 5:15pm.
