[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.

[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.

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!!