New Films

Here are some films that will be hitting our shores really soon that could be worth a look in...click on the titles to view the trailers.

Thumbsucker - directed by graphic artist wunderkind Mike Mills. Don't let the fact that Canoe Reeves is featured scare you off - if the film is anythimg like his art, it's sure to be a quirky visual feast.

King Kong - After revisiting the Lord Of The Rings trilogy recently, I realised what a mammoth effort and vision that director Peter Jackson achieves with his film making. The trailer to this classic tale of the giant ape looks as epicly impressive as The Ring trilogy. Definitely one for fans of fantasy, adventure and Mr.Jackson. As a matter of interest, the analysis of the racial metaphors contained within this story can be read here in an essay by David R. Rosen taken from the Jump Cut site which reviews contemporary media.

Palindromes - The new film from Todd Salondz hits our screens today. It is another challenging look at the human frailties/quirks and the conditions we all share, but are often too blinkered to face. 8 different actors playing the role of one 13 year old girl is interesting film making to say the least. With his previous indie hits "Welcome To The Dollhouse" (my fave), "Hapiness" and "Storytelling" Salondz divided audiences and critics alike with many walkouts as well as scathing reviews questioning the morality and confronting nature of these films. Palindromes will no doubt be more of the delicious same from TS.

Pretty Persuasion - I seem to be on a role with the (lazy film reviewing tem alert!) "quirky" suburban character driven films, but hey, they get me every time. Along the lines of "Election", this film is centered in a high school and follows the trials and tribulations of a minxy girl played by Even Rachel Wood (great indie-cult-princess-in-the-making name, fer shur) who comes up with a ploy to ensnare one of her teachers with claims of hanky panky (I promise never to use that term ever again). The film touches on racism and class structures, but as i haven't seen this, or any of the films I am mentioning, that's all i can tell you apart from the fact that it could be fun.

The Chumscrubber - Another indie flick set in suburban hell/bliss (whichever way you see it). If this trailer doesn't do the job of conveying the tone, click here for a review I found online which claims this film to hold a candle to Donnie Darko, American Beauty and Election. Directorial debut from Arie Posin.

Me and You and Everyone We Know - OK, this is the last pre/post/pubescent indie flick review i am gonna post today. This film won several awards at some festival somewhere, and it again focuses on a young man's grappling with his being and the need to have a meaningful existence along with the emotions of his overprotective parents' longing for him to stay all theirs blah blah blah. Looks good, but.

Footnote - Vertigo takes no responsibility for any of the films being: Crap OR The first date you take a new partner to, thus bringing into your life the potential in 5 years time for a messy break up and the loss of some of your favourite books and records.

However, if you happen to see any of these films and you love them, tell evrybody you heard about them here first and if that partner turns out to be a keeper and you go on to have kids or adopt, you can pay your tribute by naming your first-born after me (male or female. Will even accept pets).