| ALAN CHO
JUMP (Canada, 2006, dir. by Peter Riddihough) – People who should know better parachute off skyscrapers with the art of basejumping. An intriguing premise for a documentary, the real draw is the footage taken from cameras strapped onto these basejumpers during their descents.
MUTUAL APPRECIATION (U.S.A., 2006, dir. Andrew Bujalski) – Bujalski has the knack of drawing the joy from the stuttered moments in slacker life without appearing too precious or forced. Wrapped in the lo-fi charm and the wit of early Woody Allen his last film (Funny Ha Ha) possessed, this film follows musician Alan’s (Justin Rice) attempts to start a rock career in New York.
JESUS CAMP (U.S.A., 2005, dirs. Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing) – Fundamentalists are motherfucking scary. An obvious assertion people are all too willing to support, this documentary finds itself in the eye of the Christian Fundamentalist storm as it follows the exploits of the "Kids on Fire" summer camp.
JASON LEWIS
JIMMYWORK (Canada, 2004, dir. Simon Sauve) – Fiftysomething underachiever Jimmy Webber has a plan, and nothing – not lack of talent, not the law – is going to get in his way. If you missed this film at the underground film fest in 2005, be sure to check out this darkly comic doc that erases the line between fact and fiction.
AMERICAN HARDCORE (U.S., 2006, dir. Paul Ranchman) – I’m a sucker for music docs but after the brilliant Punk! Attitude, can American Hardcore keep pace? Based on Steven Blush’s book, this look back at Henry Rollins, Minor Threat and Bad Brains probably will.
BREAKFAST AT ROCK CENTRAL (Canada, 2006, dir. Lock Fulton) – On the outskirts of Victoria Park a group of musicians turned a rundown house into a sonic haven with the help of some well-attended Stampede breakfasts. Now that the house is gone, there is no better time for a nostalgic look back at this crucial chapter in Calgary’s rock history.
HALF NELSON (U.S., 2006, dir. Ryan Fleck) – Ryan Gosling isn’t the strongest actor, but his turn as a junkie teacher who befriends a student who knows his secret is getting rave reviews. Sign me up.
JOHNNY GUITAR (U.S. 1954, dir. Nicholas Ray) – Do not miss the chance to catch this brilliant revisionist western on the big screen. A favourite of Martin Scorsese, Johnny Guitar uses fantastic performances by Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden to re-write the gender roles of the old west.
TIMOTHY HECK
VOLVER (Spain, 2006, dir. Pedro Almodvar)
THE MOUSTACHE (France, 2005, dir. Emmanuel Carrere)
LINDA LINDA LINDA (Japan, 2005, dir. Nobuhiro Yamashita)
WORKINGMAN’S DEATH (Austria, Germany, 2005, dir. Michael Glawogger)
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS (Iraq, U.S.A., James Longley)
LUNACY (Czech Republic, Slovakia, 2006, dir. Jan Svankmajer)
SHAUN ENGLISH
ABOMINABLE (United States, 2005, dir. Ryan Schifrin) – A wheelchair-bound man suffering from agoraphobia, a group of young college girls and Big Foot. You tell me, what’s not to love?
FINDING RUDOLF STEINER (Canada, 2006, dir. David Antonelli) – A "visually compelling journey of contradiction" that prods us into considering if the spiritual ideals of Steiner can co-exist in a society built on materialism and technology.
GARAGE (Canada, 2006, dir. Edmond Chan) – An existential horror about two people trapped in an underground parking garage. Described as "Session 9 meets The Lost Highway," I have the highest of hopes for this potential gem.
CANDY (Australia, 2006, directed by Neil Armfield) – Of love and heroin. The buzz surrounding Heath Ledger’s latest film could see it become the next Requiem for a Dream. |
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