[Local Trailers] RETURN TO NUKE EM' HIGH: VOL 1

Last summer Lloyd Kaufman and Troma took over the NAC (Niagara Art Center) and the surrounding neighborhood (even reportedly housing cast and crew over night in a mortuary - yep - Troma, of course!). As usual this one (like the Buffalo shot Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead) contains a mix of gross (but enduring) gags crossed with social commentary, including high and low brow jokes (my favorite was from their classic Tromeo & Juliet - "how would you like it if I use your guts to Jackson Pollock the street?")

This one looks like a blast - with a lot of local locations filling in for the fictional nuclear wasteland of Tromaville, NJ - the film garnered a few positive reviews from the critics who get it at Cannes.

** LOCAL TRAILERS will be a regular series - filmmakers may submit their trailers to us at BuffaloMovieBlog@gmail.com. 

We are also seeking suggestions for films to cover in our new series which compliment our current IN THEATRE REVIEWS and LOCAL REVIEWS. Launching later this week look for BUFFALO CLASSICS, as well as whats new and on video on demand with HOT VOD. Stay connected with us on Twitter (@BuffaloMovieBlog) or Facebook.

[In Theaters: REVIEW] STORIES WE TELL (8/10)

Sarah Polley’s Stories We Tell is an incredibly intimate look at the notion there are three sides to every story: yours, mine and the truth – here Polley explores the way collective memory formulates a story – and how parts of a story unfold through multiple narrators often finding out information second and third hand. Stories We Tell is just that – a study in the power of the subjective. As Elvis Mitchell stated when he interviewed Polley on his KCRW radio show – this completes a trilogy of films (her first two the very strong and powerful Away From Her, and the second – the fascinating mess Take This Waltz). All three prominently feature women figuring out something about themselves: Take This Waltz the story of a women finding out quite literally she needs to find out who she is before she can be happy with anyone else.

Stories We Tell is about the influence of others on our lives: Polley’s mother, Diane Elizabeth was an actress who frequently traveled between Montréal and their home in Toronto. Diane tragically passed away from cancer following Sarah’s 11th birthday – leaving Michael Polley to raise their three children.  We later learn (with 99% certainty) Sarah’s biological father is producer Harry Gulkin, a shy man whom Diane fell in love with and had a life with in Montréal.

While Polley and Gulkin get to know each other the story is leaked to the press before Polley breaks the news to her “dad”, Michael. At the center of the story is a touching letter Michael has written to Sarah as these events unfold.

Incorporating 16MM recreations to spice up the professionally shot “talking heads” interviews with Polley’s family, new family and friends of her mother, Stories We Tell is an amazing, brave feat of filmmaking. Stories We Tell is a warm, inviting, brave and heartbreaking all at once: we all know families with similar stories.

Screening: Dipson Amherst Theatre

[LOCAL REVIEW] - NIGHT TWO of the BUFFALO 48 HOUR FILM PROJECT

Last night Buffalo’s 48 Hour Film Project continued the mixed results of working under the block, again in block “B” some entertainment but no standout masterpieces – each flawed in their own way (again filmmakers are encouraged to reach out to us with their links via email, so that we can re-watch and write-up a formally review)

Forever (by The Lone Rangers) was an uninspired tale of unrequited love – a man and a sports car he becomes fixated on over at Elmwood Ave. The production values and sound are very spotting with the bulk of it looking almost like it was shot on a mobile phone.

Tatanka Rises in Buffalo Falls (by Tatanka) was a very strong standout with really well crafted performances, a catch hook and a lot of atmosphere. Tatnka drew the super hero genre but this one with smart, craft special effects is a well-acted character drama that’s pretty polished given the 48-Hour Time Fame.

Hope (Hot Iron Production) quite good performances and a little uneven camera work and sound mixing hold this one back. Working in the “buddy movie” genre they may have something here with a little more time in post.

The Meeting (Fuzzy Logic Inc) – a “dark comedy” that doesn’t really land many laughs about an “AA” meeting – told as a silent film for some reason it’s just doesn’t work.

Incanto (I.N.I.T.A.L Pictures) – drawing the horror genre I.N.I.T.A.L chose to go for a supernatural film, the only problem is it’s a horror movie with zero scares.

Little Things – (by Rivers Ink’d) – a well crafted small character study set in the “vacation/holiday” genre about a young man who returns to patch things up with his ex (and his sister). The brother/sister dynamic is pretty good although the story takes a few detours it should – with a little tighter story this one could be a delightful, atmospheric outing.

Nailed It (Reciprocity) – a musical that gets off on the wrong ‘note’ (see what I did there) with an obnoxious opening that kind of does very little. The film reminds me of that recent Taylor Swift coke commercial, the performances are okay but it’s a tad choppy. A director’s cut has been promised.

Love After Death (Idle Entertainment) – from last year’s winners, Idle comes a zombie-apocalypse romantic comedy. It has fun moments but it’s virtually a remake of Warm Bodies.

Shades of Assumption (Hate This Team) – hate this is for damn sure: I’m instantly turned off when you’re told to “hate this” – like that song “hi hater” it’s a blank check to do something awful, cause “we told ya so, hater”. Shades of Assumption is technically well made but its story is a thin play on racial tropes (they all look a like) with no other commentary. Tupac was dealing with this in the 90’s – “thug life, that’s my statement” – Shades of Assumption feels dated by a decade or two.


The official ‘Best of’ screening and awards take place on July 17th at the Helium Night Club – from the 48 Hour’s site:

Best Of Screening

Date	Wednesday, July 17
Time	7pm
Place	Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi St, Buffalo, NY 14203
Tickets	$10 (purchase them here)
Notes	Our Best of Screening & Awards show will be held this year at Helium Comedy Club on Wednesday July 17th at 7pm. Join us before the screening to mingle and talk with other filmmakers in the restaurant section of the Helium Night Club. Tickets will be available to purchase online directly through Helium's website or you can purchase at the door. Tickets will be $10. If you haven't been to Helium Comedy Club yet you should check it out. While watching the films food & drink service will be available to our attendees at your seat.

[LOCAL REVIEW] ANOTHER 48 HOURS - NIGHT ONE of the Buffalo 48 Hour Film Project

Last night marked day one of Buffalo’s 48 Hour Film project underscoring just how difficult making a film in 48 Hours can be. City producer Garrett Vorreuter welcomed an enthusiastic crowd stating it was this year’s best line up ("best" a little subjective – see my post on last year’s jurycertified best of). Tonight’s screening (at 7PM) contains the other half and we’ll have our review up tomorrow.

As for last night, section “A” – again making a movie in 48 Hours is no easy feat and each group was met with mixed successes – no masterpieces amongst them I’m sad to say. (for this reason we encourage filmmakers to get in contact with us once their films are completed for a full coverage right here)

Captive (by Project Sandbox/SunSpin Films) suffers first from story – it is what it is: a women is “captured” walking with her kid and thrown in a basement – apart from some decent shots achieving her POV it is what it is and we’ve seen it a billion times before. This is the microwave burrito version of filmmaking.

For Your Consideration (by Framed Meat) plays like one of those movies the stoner kid makes in less than 48 hours because he had to for class. Violating the first principal of filmmaking “show don’t tell” – it’s a dark comedy that’s light on the laughs (and concept too).

Life is a Beach (by Canisius College Video Institute) is a painfully simple premise, not sure really what it was saying: a guy lounges clearly not at the beach waiting for a record deal. Again – time is not a friend here. Technically its pretty well shot (but poorly sound mixed).

Slick Rudd: The Origin Story (by A Major Films) is the second 48 Hour effort by 16-year old Yale Freed and it scored the biggest laughs of the evening. Setting up a tween mistaken identity film, Freed pushes back to reveal his own anxieties about competing in the 48 Hour Film Project, and his own identity crisis. This is like the white, male teen version of Cheryl Dunne’s classic The Watermelon Women, in the suburbs.

Bodies (by Avenue Now) is gangster flick that commits a big sin – it’s pretty well shot except for the most important moment in the flick! Restrained, the use of sound is quite impressive.

Artificial Embers (by Permanent Inc) is pretty well acted and lensed (and one of the three of the evening shot in widescreen cinemascope)  - drawing the “romance” category it’s a little cold and maybe not as romantic as you’d expect, the story is really a science fiction film (I think, although that’s not terribly explicit).

Jolene (by ND Studios) suffers from uneven performances – a southern country music drama (in the thriller/suspense genre) it’s on the nose with professional cinematography, its ambition (and the fact that several actors can’t really pull off a strong southern accent) is a distraction.

Franklin Street (by Point and Shoot) marks the return of Tracey B. Wilson (seen in our previous post in Perfect Pitch) – working in the “drama” genre this is a story with the potential to be powerful, the performances are fine but not as polished as they should be. Mostly well done from a technical aspect, the story is about as well polished as you can get in 48 Hours.

Filmmakers and teams (actually anybody- - really) are invited to submit links to their works for full review, often many go back and polish their films a bit more and we’d love to see them. Get in contact with us at BuffaloMovieBlog@gmail.com or @BuffaloMovieBlog on Twitter.

[In Theatres: REVIEW] THE BLING RING (7/10)

Coming off of Somewhere, a deliciously abstract film that didn't quite emotionally resonate with me, Sophia Coppola's The Bling Ring is an apt summer time comic send up of a certain culture of reality TV stardom. Staring Emma Watson as Nicki, the ring leader - and featuring a supporting cast inluding Katie Chang, Claire Julien and the only guy in the group, Marc (Israel Broussard) they break into the homes of famous people, desiring the life style.

It's not entirely their fault - as Nicki's mom (played by Leslie Mann) teachest her girls to aspire to stardom as they place their fantasies on a board with photo cuts outs and glittery-glue. Perhaps this is an LA thing. The Bling Ring is an effective mash-up, critiquing celebrity culture from, essentially within. Coppola allegedly was granted permission to shoot inside the real home of Paris Hilton (which is one of those aspirational home made poster boards taken to an extreme: no one should have that many photos of them self hanging up).

The conceit is wild and what's awfully interesting about The Bling Ring is it provides us with a look behind the curtain if you will - so that's what Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom live like. And they don't lock their doors (Hilton has more than enough and barely notices anything is missing - - then again those jewels were likely all gifts anyways).

The Bling Ring is a light hearted study of youth culture - it's not quite as over the top as this spring's Spring Breakers (but then again was any movie you've seen this year?), I still imagine it might be a little polarizing. Don't get me wrong, this isn't perfect, but it sure is fun.

Screening: Regal Elmwood*, Regal Walden Galleria, Regal Quaker Crossing
*continuing on Friday at Regal Elmwood only :(     - - all the more reason to see it soon....

Another 48 Hours........

Sunday marked the end of Buffalo's 48 Hour Film Project - a big congratulations to the teams screening tomorrow and Thursday night at Dipson's Market Arcade....... from the Buffalo 48 HFP- -

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Buffalo 48HFP Events

Premiere Screenings

Date	June 26th & 27th
Time	7pm
Place	Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre, 639 Main Street, Buffalo NY 14203
Tickets	$10
Notes	Tickets for the screening will be $10 and can be purchased at the Market Arcade. Tickets will be good to view both screenings on June 26th & 27th. Teams will receive two comp tickets for the screenings at the Market Arcade.

Best Of Screening

Date	Wednesday, July 17
Time	7pm
Place	Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi St, Buffalo, NY 14203
Tickets	$10 (purchase them here)
Notes	Our Best of Screening & Awards show will be held this year at Helium Comedy Club on Wednesday July 17th at 7pm. Join us before the screening to mingle and talk with other filmmakers in the restaurant section of the Helium Night Club. Tickets will be available to purchase online directly through Helium's website or you can purchase at the door. Tickets will be $10. If you haven't been to Helium Comedy Club yet you should check it out. While watching the films food & drink service will be available to our attendees at your seat.

---

The screening features a few teams from last year - along with a few new comers (balanced equally amongst both days) - -

Group A

A Major Films, Yale Fried
Atheron, Kristen Yager
Avenue Now, Tyler Bauer
Canisius College Video Institute , Erik Taheri
Framed Meat, todd hietanen
NDstudios, Inc., Matthew Nardone
Permanent Inc., Crisanta Melendez
Point and Shoot, Dave Lesinski
Project Sandbox by SunSpin Media, Jerry Theresanathan

Group B

Fuzzy Logic Inc, Stephen Howe
Hate This Team, David Jackson
Hot Iron Production, Aleksandar Ivicic
I.N.I.T.I.A.L. Pictures, Anthony Vitello
Idle Entertainment, Matthew Lorentz
Reciprocity, Terry Fisher
Rivers Ink'd, Aaron Doolittle
Tatanka, George Gross
The Lone Rangers, Daniel Sheron

                     

LAST YEAR'S WINNERS  - - 

Several of last year's winners are online (many we're unable to imbed so you'll have to click on the links yourself) - - making a flick is no easy feat let alone in 48 hours.........

Perdition - Winner Best of Buffalo

Directed by Matt Lorentz

With: Christopher Marriott, Sara Manzella, Mariah Scritchfield, Kyle Scritchfield, Bobby Gott

A powerful, effective (and only 5-minute long) drama following a young war vet - it achieves alot with great efficiency...

Online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHNG157dI-0

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Hot Air - Winner Best Use of Character, Best Use of Prop, Best Use of Line, Best Writing

Directed by John Scherer

With Will Mutka, Tony Mangano, Emily Johnson Nikolas Sterivovski

The film is well shot - but I'm not sure what the buzz was about for this one, original at times the jokes don't quite resonate with me (although it features a few Buffalo neighborhoods and landmarks which is always nice to see on screen). 

Online at: https://vimeo.com/47347054 

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Perfect Pitch - Winner "RedBull Gives You Wings"Award, Best Editing, Best Acting, Best Directing

Directed by Tracey B. Wilson

With Wilson, Jacob Albarella, Richard Satterwhite

It takes some balls to make a musical in 48-Hours - - this one pulls it off! A bit silly but it's enjoyable (and not to be confused with the Anna Kendrick film Pitch Perfect)

Online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW2DraFw654

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As of Now - winner Best Cinematography

Directed by Aaron Doolittle

With Marlee Francis, Ryan Taber, Juston R. Graber.

Technically the slickest of bunch - with the award-winning cinematography as the star of the flick. It's held back by a few uneven performances and a script that doesn't quite add up. Oh if only there was more time......but that's the point......

Online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cXwh4NYt-4

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More information on this year's fest at: http://www.48hourfilm.com/en/buffalo/

OPENING THIS WEEK - 7/28/2013

OPENING THIS WEEK in town.....

@ The Art House

Stories We Tell - Dipson Amherst Theatre

A documentary in which Sarah Polley uncovers her birth father: essentially she concludes there's three sides to every story - yours, mine and the truth. Her first documentary, following Polley's tender Away from Her and the complex yet flawed Take This Waltz which was best described as an interesting failure.  

Copperhead - Dipson Eastern Hills

Ron Maxwell's follow up to Gettsburg and God & Generals (this time thankfully without an intermission - it's 2 hours instead of 3 hours!) - evoking Lincoln the official plot description calls it "a parable of the Civil War and perhaps for our own time" - um kay.

@ The Multiplex

The Heat - Regal Walden Galleria, Dipson Market Arcade, Dipson Flix, Regal Transit, Regal Niagara Falls

The buzz has been surprisingly strong for this comedy about police brutality directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) and staring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy - I'll reserve judgment until I see it.

White House Down -  Regal Walden Galleria, Dipson Market Arcade, Dipson Flix, Regal Transit, Regal Niagara Falls

You rarely get to accuse Summer Movie Season of being original - hey, wasn't After Earth kind of a remake of Oblivion. Allegedly Olympus Has Fallen was rushed out into the theaters to beat White House Down - all be it this time we get the Roland Emmerich touch.

[In Theaters: REVIEW] THE EAST (8/10)

Director/co-writer Zal Batmanglij’s last collaboration with actress/co-writer Brit Marling, the criminally under seen Sound of My Voice came and went in Buffalo last summer (underscoring the need for a good microcinema that could give a movie like that time to find an audience). The East, a much larger budget effort opens up the contained universe of Sound of My Voice, again exploring a sort of cult.

Marling (also seen in apt social/political thrillers like Arbitrage and The Company You Keep) stars as Sarah, a private intelligence analyst who receives a field assignment to penetrate “The East”, a group of eco terrorism. The trailer says it all: “it’s easy when it’s not your home, it’s easy when it’s not your family, but when it’s your fault, it shouldn’t be so easy”.

The function of a film like The East (and films like Zero Dark Thirty) I think is to provide some context for those that aren’t really paying attention. If you watch the News Hour on PBS this all seems like low hanging fruit ripped from the headlines. Batmanglij keeps his camera at eye level, employing mostly handheld work, it’s the kind of thriller folks in Buffalo can (and should) make: it’s got something to say with a powerful moral twist. Where does one go? Who’s right? And do the ends justify the means.

Ultimately, like the Occupy movement differences in ideology ultimately sink The East. What’s fascinating is the film is about this debate and that line. It takes a slightly preachy tone later on, taking freegamism to a whole new level of heretics. Its targets are all deserving up to the last jams. Never boring The East is full of satisfying twists and turns, its riveting powerful filmmaking.

The East features strong supporting performances from Ellen Page and Toby Kebbell as two young folks that had the means and resources to do anything, any they chose an underground freegan life of eco-terrorism. While the film has certain ideology that it in the later half pushes down our throats (restraint, in one scene in particular would have been useful) it remains a strong, thoughtful, provoking and entertaining film.

Screening: Dipson Amherst Theatre.

[In Theaters: REVIEW] Monsters University (7/10)

My anticipation grew for Monsters University as the trailers began: are computer generated family films devoid of new ideas. Sure “structure” must exist but after a certain point enough is enough. Turbo and Disney’s Planes look like the same damn movie – then there was the trailer for Lego: The Movie, followed by Smurfs II (Lego even copies the music in Smurfs II – who knew Pitbull, once known for his lyric “oh you the healthy type – well here come some egg whites” was suddenly family friendly! Then again he was in the boring ass family flick Epic).

So back to Monsters University: I was excited to see, of course the new Pixar flick and just as importantly the new short (which inevitably will be Oscar nominated). This one doesn’t disappoint – The Blue Umbrella is a beautiful 60’s style jazz piece making beauty out of what I assume is 70’s New York – these shorts are a former of R & D and this one uses photo realism, soft focus, and a hand-held look. It’s beautiful and elegant with a little grit: kind of a nod to The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Directed by photographer Saschka Unseld, I can’t wait to see what he does next.

But back to Monsters University: it’s as lovable of a Pixar flick as you might imagine – a departure of course from the heights of Up and Wall-E (two films I can’t believe resonated as deeply as they did), it’s furry, silly and only a little scary (not nearly as traumatizing as the end of Toy Story 3). In Dan Scanlon’s Monsters University we find ourselves meeting Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) during their formative years – originally rivals they evolve to become BFFs overcoming such buzz topics as “bullying” (I can believe how children are trained today – at our screening a few verbally called out instances of “bullying” - - if only the same parents would bring them to The Bling Ring).

Much of the action is good natured – but sadly formulaic. It’s as if every kids movie these days has to revolve around an epic battle for survival or a contest – thankfully the contest is enjoyable. After Mike and Sully are expelled from Monsters U’s Scaring Program by Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren) they’re forced to prove themselves via the Greek Life’s Scare Games. Joining a frat of lovable losers (Ousman Kapa or “OK”) they take on the establishment and work their way up the chain via team work – Mike is the brains and Sully is the brawn.

Monsters University is light, not nearly as life threatening or as bland as The Croods or Epic – thankfully Pixar continues to evolve even if they’re not making earth shattering epics that hit every emotional cord – leave that to The Blue Umbrella which on its own is worth at least half the price of admission. Monsters University continues the departure for Pixar: it doesn’t achieve the great farce of Ratatouille but its heck of a lot of fun.

7 out of 10.

Screening: Regal Elmwood, Dipson Market Arcade, Regal Walden Galleria, Regal Quaker Crossing, Dipson Flix, AMC Maple Ridge, Regal Transit, Palace Hamburg, Regal Niagara Falls

[Review: ON TV] BATTLEDOGS (5/10)

Alexander Yellen’s shot in Buffalo, made for the SyFy channel Battledogs is perhaps one of the better SyFy original movies – again underscoring one problem I have: why can’t Buffalo play itself? Taking place in New York City (and shot at the new, yet virtually unused Niagara Falls Airport – which fills in for JFK) the film inserts a few stock images in a landscape that is otherwise Buffalo. These include the harbor, downtown, and the Central Terminal (filling in for Wards Island).

The cast is first rate, while the plot is quite simple. Ariana Richards stars as a nature photographer who comes in contact with a killer wolf whom implants a tooth – she becomes patient zero. After freaking out at JFK (which in this world the Port Authority has transferred management to NFTA – one of the Buffalo touches that remain) she’s taken to quarantine at Wards Island (the central terminal). Craig Sheffer plays Major Brian Hoffman, a researcher looking for patient zero, while Dennis Haysbert plays Lt. General Christopher Monning who is interested in the wolves as instruments of war (hence the title Battledogs!)

Truth be told the movie is what it is, as a “Buffalo classic” it proves just how a production dollar goes here in Buffalo (even if it kind of, sort of, passes for New York City – if you squint). On a half million-dollar budget with a supporting cast that includes Bill Duke (as the president), Erie Hudson (as head of security at the NFTA run JFK), and Kate Vernon as another honest doctor – Battledogs is silly entertainment. This is why people watch the SyFy channel – it has a few decent bloody scenes and a lot of less than realistic looking CGI – but its fun to see your hometown – along with a few actors from town - on the big screen – even if the movie is pretty much exactly what it is.

WELCOME

Welcome to my first post!

The Buffa-Wood Blog aims to shine a spot light on new movies being showing and made around town - including news and reviews. You're invited to submit trailers, screening links for consideration, news articles and more to BuffaloMovieBlog@gmail.com!

Thanks - and stay tuned for more to come!!