Father Geek back with Optimus Prime's 3rd report on the SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. He covers 6 of the films this time including a look back in time to Peter Weir's often overlooked opus FEARLESS. He was nominated for a Silver Bear for this in Berlin back when it was released even though the public stayed away. It's a great little Jeff Bridges flick that Father Geek loved when it 1st came out several years ago. It has a hell of alot going for it in addition to the most painfully poetic plane crash I've ever seen reconstructed on film. Two of my favorite character actors Benicio del Toro and Rosie Perez are in this along with the lovely Isabella Rossellini. Rosie's air crash survivor Carla is masterful and earned her the best supporting actress nod from both the Chicago and LA Critics Associations as well as nominations for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe. Check it out...

Groove

This film is almost a sister piece for the movie Go. If Go had been dedicated to the rave segment of the film, it probably would have been very close to this. It's very slickly directed by a young film-maker, with some very attractive and talented young leads. In a film filled with music and drug references it never cheapens itself with over used camera tricks, only once does the film go into slow motion, but it is very appropriate.

Groove takes place in one night. Opening with the promoters finding an abandoned warehouse to host the rave in. The gathering of the ravers, through email, pagers, and cell phones. The chapters of the film is then broken into the different DJ's, with a story arc for each. The main characters are Colin a veteran raver, his raver girlfriend Harmony, his brother David who's to busy with work and doesn't want to go, and Layla an old-timer who David keeps bumping into. We also get to meet a rookie DJ, an educated drug dealer "A successful drug user is well informed.", the promoters, and a few other veterans of the scene. It's filled with a great soundtrack, and a lot of dancing shots. However, we really get to know a good cross-section of the ravers, and there is quite a bit of character development for the leads, in a short amount of time. The film is probably going to show in a few hundred theaters, I would recommend it even if your not interested in the setting.

Peppermint

It won last years best picture at the Greek Film Festival, and I believe it's the first Greek film I've ever seen. It's a coming of age story, following the life of Stephanos living in a post World War II setting. He's a very mischievous boy growing up with a loving mother, a father who always seems to have more important things to do, and his sickly great aunt. Also always hanging around is Marina, his cousin, best friend, and first love. He's a very bright kid, who does badly in school because it bores him. His main interest is in planes, and at a young age can build great flying models.

This is a very strong directorial debut from Costas Kapakas. It reminded me much of My Life as a Dog, in the way it treats the wonder of childhood, and the discoveries it comes with.

East of A

1985; three friends sign a 10 year lease for an apartment in New York City. Peter Parker, a neurotic guy who doesn't really have a job, but volunteers a lot of time with a children's church group. Reggie, she's a struggling singer, with a bit of nymphomania. She's having sex with the very large Japanese landlord to help pay the rent. Chart, he's from a rich family, who deals drugs to make money, but seems to be doing more than he sells.

The film never leaves the apartment, and we see their lives develop over the 10 years. They have all kinds of problems with each other, both men lust after Reggie, Chart's drug addiction is affecting them all, and Peter is constantly battling depression. Friends come in and out of the apartment, they all have problems. David Allen Grier plays a gay priest with aids. This isn't a story about their problems though. It's a story about an alternative family, and although they often hate one another, they will always love and be there each other.

The film was written by the three leads, who are all good friends in real life. The director is also a friend, and with the help of their film-maker friends, they said they made the film for almost free. Many of their friends happen to be TV stars, cameo in the film. Grier, Adam Arkin, Camryn Manheim, Mary McCormack, and Thomas Gibson all make appearances. It's really a labor of love by the principals, and I doubt it will make it much further than the festival circuit.

Chuck & Buck

A very strange little film. Written by and starring Mike White as Buck. American Pie co-director Chris Weitz is Chuck. The film opens with Buck's mother dying, his friend Chuck shows up for the funeral. Chuck lives in L.A. with his fiancee, and invites Buck to see him if he's ever out that way. Buck takes this as an invitation to move there. Buck is quite an unstable character. He's been taking care of his dying mother for years, and his only real friend ever, is Chuck. They haven't seen each other since they were 11. Buck becomes quite a stalker, he just constantly needs to be around Chuck.

Chuck pushes Buck away. To release some of his feelings, Buck writes and produces a play, "Hank & Frank". He casts an actor that looks remarkably like Chuck, he's a horrible actor and a misogynist. This actor Sam, is played by Chris' brother Paul Weitz. They form a dysfunctional friendship. The film comes to an inconceivable climax, which seems to fix everyone's problems. But in real life it would only cause more.

Shot on DV by director Miguel Arteta (Star Maps). He said it was for intimacy purposes, but I think it was more budget conscience. As this is not a conventional film, that would easily pick up financiers. Mike White is great as the childlike Buck, but because of the unbelievable ending it just didn't really work for me. The film is getting a limited release, so see it for yourself.

Peter Weir Tribute

This was a lot of fun. They started with a selection of clips from his filmography. Then had an hour Q&A with Peter. He talked about his starting in a Monty Python type group in Australia. Writing and directing small films bankrolled by the Australian Government, such as Picnic at Hanging Rock and The Plumber. That growing into his collaboration with Hollywood, leading to The Year of Living Dangerously, Witness, and lately The Truman Show. He talked about how he tells the story with the camera, that close-ups and the eyes are more important than dialogue. He says he makes films to tell a story, that it's not about him. That he wants his next film to be untraceable as a Peter Weir film. He called film-making an addiction, worse than heroin or cocaine. I could just tell that he loves his job, that he has absolutely no ego about it.

Afterwards they showed Fearless, a real bomb at the box office when it was released seven years ago. An incredible film about life and death. With a great performance from Jeff Bridges. It was a real treat to see it on the big screen. If you haven't seen it before, I highly recommend you go out and rent it.

Optimus Prime signing off.

Optimus Prime Films