Thursday, January 13, 2011

Review City

This film is by turns disturbing, disgusting, and overwrought. But don't let that scare you. It's not an enjoyable film because of the subject matter, but it's an important film that I'm glad I got to see.

The film tells a version of the life of Jessco White aka the Dancin' Outlaw. It follows his troubled youth up to his troubled life as a dancer, drug addict, alcoholic, and crazy as fuck WV hillbilly. Edward Hogg is mesmerizing as the grown up Jessco and Owen Campbell is outstanding as the young Jessco. Carrie Fisher shines as Jessco's love interest, it's actually the best performance by her in years.

I'm not going to deny the fact that there are some people in the south who are like the characters in this film because that wouldn't be true, there are and I not only know people like the ones in this film, I'm related to some and I've partied with others. But some people will see this film and they'll assume that all of us here in the south are like the folks depicted in this movie, which makes as much sense as saying that all people in New Jersey are like those in The Sopranos or all Africans wear grass skirts and have bones through their noses.

I recommend this film but I'm warning you, it's violent, repellent, not easy to watch.

Duck Season on the other hand is a fun frothy comedy that anyone who was ever an awkward teenager can take delight in.

This film depicts one Sunday in the lives of a couple of Spanish teens who want nothing more than to be left alone so they can eat pizza and play video games. However the girl next door and a persistent pizza delivery guy alter their plans considerably.

I highly recommend this sly comedy that touches on sex, divorce, baking, art, life and magical realism.

I'm not one for superhero graphic novels and I'm definitely not one for the DC variety of that genre, but I got CATWOMAN: When in Rome at my public library the other day and I am loving the hell out of it. I love the story, the writing, the characters, and the art. It's a rare win for DC for me, and I suspect it's due to the fact that the characters are anti heroes. Well done Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.

3 comments:

Darius Whiteplume said...

A friend of mine from Chicago thought the South was really like The Dukes of Hazard. Now, Greenbrier, TN has little to argue against his hypothesis, but he was glad to find paved roads down here. :-)

Anonymous said...

Is that guy from the same White family that was recently featured in an indie film that's all the rage? Those folks are in it for the long haul, as T.C. Boyle would say.

Dr. MVM said...

You are correct Kirby.