(A dog barks) blog » Roxy Screening 21st Feb

Dark Orchard

Laura — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:16:10 +0000

Director Grant Orchard returns to the Roxy Bar and Screen with his acclaimed short, “Welcome to Glaringly”, and an new addition to his “Love Sport” series. The look of Orchard’s work is easy to identify as it often looks like an early video game, but the two shorts at tonight’s screening show the range of permutations Orchard can pursue.”Welcome to Glaringly” recalls how we first met Mario and Luigi back in the mid-eighties; the portend torso, stubby legs and dot nose. But Orchard demonstrates how communicable those blocky bodies really are. The characters in the volatile little town of Glaringly easily express a range of emotions, as a festering problem takes root in the community. Meanwhile, the film teases out the town’s subtle beauty with colourful sparrows or lively streetscapes against the black void of a computer generated world.The latest addition to “Love Sport” is a blip on High Diving. The human figure is entirely obviated, replaced with a coloured dot that performs the sport in question with a distinct lack of grace. Orchard shows off his own dark brand of humour as the human dots tend to injure themselves often, the only hint of such being a swelling pool of red underneath them.

Bashful Zombies, Offensive Colours

Laura — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:51:43 +0000

“Radio Ladio” – Metronomy

Director: Daniel BreretonEditor: Matt Dollings“Radio Ladio” thrives on two simple, yet successful elements: garish colour combinations and dorky boys. Things start slowly as the film layers the boys’ zombie-like complexion with bright clothing and backdrops. A sassy brunette is introduced who struts around the musicians as they attempt robot-like passes at her. For a relatively short video, “Radio Ladio” makes a smooth transition from quirky to creepy to charming with its straightforward style and awkward humour.

An inevitable duo: Gondry and Banhart

Laura — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:38:02 +0000

A Ribbon” – Devendra BanhartDirector: Michel Gondry/Lauri FaggioniBanhart’s disconcerting songs about young boys or Gondry’s paltry plotlines might not be your bag, but together they complement each other perfectly. A ribbon weaves through the music video, flowing with Banhart’s voice and bringing to life the sewn together flora and fauna of Faggioni, a recent collaborator/supplier of fuzzy creatures on The Science of Sleep. Faggioni and Gondry paint a delicate world, paying close attention to details and reveling in their ability to create reality out of a sewing basket.

Music Video Galore - Part One

Laura — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:35:19 +0000

For those afraid of what ghastly music videos might be up on MTV these days, (A dog barks) can happily assure you that the medium is alive and well in other places. Take a peek at our own alternative pickings in the first of three reviews…“High Tide” - BoomclickWriter/Director: Ben RollasonProducer: Emma DobinsonProduction Designer: Elaine FranciscoDirector of Photography: Stein StieEditor: James RosenBoomclick’s “High Tide” is the inverse of The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony.” Remember, with the guy striding along, oblivious to everything, and shouldering people left and right. Yup, we’ve all wanted to do that at some point in our lives. In “High Tide”, the viewer is put in the perspective of a person walking down a normal street, the exception being that here everyone knows and likes you. The feeling is probably akin to walking into your wedding reception, but friendlier. While “Bittersweet Symphony” captures the angst-ridden desire to lash out at anyone and everyone, “High Tide” unabashedly displays the fundamental need for acceptance.

Tristan loves Belmondo, Belmondo loves Bogey…

Laura — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:14:15 +0000

“Je t’aime John Wayne” (2000)Director: Toby MacDonaldProducer: Luke MorrisWriter: Luke PonteNo film screening would be complete without a poke at the French New Wave, which “Je t’aime John Wayne” does with a goofy, yet adoring nod to the incredibly influential genre. Tristan, a young man in 1990’s London (played by Kris Marshall who, by the way, seems to be following a trajectory of wannabe characters) tries desperately to emulate Belmondo from “À Bout de Souffle”. He fails to realize the irony; that the original Belmondo is actually copying ol’ Bogey. Instead, he just incorporates his hero’s admiration for Humph into his swagger, hanging a “Treasure of Sierra Madre” above his bed. It all goes to epitomize that fateful scene from Godard’s landmark flick where Belmondo considers a Humphrey Bogart poster and imitates the star’s famous, tough-guy tick – rubbing his thumb dryly across his mouth. While Belmondo follows Bogey’s path to the extreme - ultimately getting himself killed in the street - Tristan only achieves the ridiculous.The film criticizes New Wave’s often annoying tendency of inundating its audience with insider-only, self-referential quotes. “Oh, it’s Jules and Jim” in New Wave filmmaker Jacque Demy’s “Les Demoiselles de Rochefort” and other such wink-wink, nudge-nudge nonsense. If you’re in on the joke, “Je t’aime John Wayne” is an indulgent ride on the New Wave with all its seemingly effortless, supercool appendages. Particularly wonderful is Belmondo’s (AKA. Tristan) posturing on a street corner, spouting French come-ons to passing Londoners. I hope to God this wasn’t staged…

Pieces of JoJo

Laura — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:44:48 +0000

“JoJo In The Stars”Director: Marc CrasteProducer: Sue GoffeProduced by: Studio AKABAFTA winner in 2004 for Best Short Animation.

Mind the cigarette break at half time, as a bittersweet piece of animation will start off the second half of (A dog barks) screening at Roxy Bar and Screen.

“JoJo In The Stars” is an odd pastiche of a film that revolves around a flying trapeze artist and her nameless, devoted beau. JoJo belongs to Madame Pica and her long-running freak-show housed in a seemingly endless tower, where the townspeople venture to catch a voyeuristic glimpse. Inspired by the crackling white light and vignetting of silent era films, the film’s nostalgic style is juxtaposed with a wash of sounds. Echoing footsteps, heavy doors slamming, cyclonic winds, tortured screams - all of which is drowned out by the lovers’ dirge of a single, melancholic trumpet.

After watching “JoJo in the Stars”, I tried to trace the deja-vu feeling of the film through books, films and videogames. There are common elements, such as the story of two innocent, yet oppressed lovers. But these details are intermingled with others from more unlikely sources, such as Madame Pica’s prison modeled on Rapunzel’s tower.

Below is an impromptu list of what I was reminded of. There must be a graphic novel relation, but it alludes me now. If you can’t add to the list, challenge some of the odder choices. You’ll be sure to receive either an astute or hare-brained explanation, depending on your choice.

Films: Broken Blossoms, A Nightmare Before Christmas, Sunrise, Le Samourai, Der Blaue Engel, The Saddest Music in the World, Port of Shadows, The Godfather Soundtrack

Books: Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, Rapunzel

Videogames: Grim Fandango