February 24, 2008
The Call of Cthulhu
Screenings: March 4, 4:45pm (Cam12); March 8, 12:30pm (Cam12)
The HP Lovecraft Historical Society brings us an unusual adaptation of one of the author's most popular stories, "The Call of Cthulhu." This tale of widespread cult activity, ancient god-aliens from beyond the stars, and horror rising from the depths of the ocean is brought to life in the form of a silent film. While modern technology brings a smoothness and a grayscale palette to the film that will ring false to any fan of silent films, the makeup, costuming, set design, and even depth of focus give the piece the feel of a film from the silent era. Although it has a very short runtime, it stays true to the story, with its nested flashbacks, peculiar events, and disjointed narrative style. This is a must-see for those interested in experimental film, Lovecraft, or silent movies.
Official Site: www.cthulhulives.org/cocmovie
March 04, 2005
Able Edwards
"Able Edwards" is a highly unusual film. An odd blend of "Citizen Kane," "The Truman Show," and the issues surrounding cloning and corporate property, it simulatenously entertains and makes you think.
Set in the future, after a biological contaminent has rendered Earth uninhabitable and exiled humanity to an orbiting network of civipods, "Able Edwards" follows the lawsuit by Rosemary Edwards, widow of Able Marion Edwards Beta, against the immense Edwards Corporation. Edwards Beta was a clone of the original Able Edwards, a Walt-Disney-style figure whose works were the origin of the company that bears his name. The testimony of various people for the lawsuit provides the storyline, which traces the development of the clone and his career as the head of the Edwards Corporation.
Filmed entirely in front of a blue screen and using a great deal of makeup and digital effects, "Able Edwards" is on the cutting edge of cinema. Although at times the physical/digital blend is imperfect, it doesn't get in the way of the storytelling in the slightest. This is a fascinating film, both in terms of storytelling and filmmaking.
Screens 3/3, 9:15 pm (San Jose Rep) and 3/5, 11:15 am (San Jose Rep).
Able Edwards
"Able Edwards" is a highly unusual film. An odd blend of "Citizen Kane," "The Truman Show," and the issues surrounding cloning and corporate property, it simulatenously entertains and makes you think.
Set in the future, after a biological contaminent has rendered Earth uninhabitable and exiled humanity to an orbiting network of civipods, "Able Edwards" follows the lawsuit by Rosemary Edwards, widow of Able Marion Edwards Beta, against the immense Edwards Corporation. Edwards Beta was a clone of the original Able Edwards, a Walt-Disney-style figure whose works were the origin of the company that bears his name. The testimony of various people for the lawsuit provides the storyline, which traces the development of the clone and his career as the head of the Edwards Corporation.
Filmed entirely in front of a blue screen and using a great deal of makeup and digital effects, "Able Edwards" is on the cutting edge of cinema. Although at times the physical/digital blend is imperfect, it doesn't get in the way of the storytelling in the slightest. This is a fascinating film, both in terms of storytelling and filmmaking.
Screens 3/3, 9:15 pm (San Jose Rep) and 3/5, 11:15 am (San Jose Rep).
March 01, 2004
Spectres
Directed by: Phil Leirness, Starring Marina Sirtis, Tucker Smallwood, Dean Haglund, Lauren Birkell, Alexis Cruz, Chris Hardwick, Loanne Bishop, Linda Park.
Screenings: 3/6/04 7:30 pm at Camera 3 and 3/7/04 4:30 pm at SJSU University Theater
“Spectres” is being described as a science-fiction ghost story in press material, and with this cast it’s easy to see why. Sirtis, Smallwood, and Park have all filled major roles in Star Trek series, Haglund was a beloved cast member of “The X-Files” and its spinoff “The Lone Gunmen,” and Bishop, Cruz, and Hardwick have all appeared in major sci-fi films or TV shows.
Thankfully, this story of a suicidally depressed teenager (Birkell) and her workaholic mom (Sirtis) is not a film centered around a gimmicky cast. There are no garish references to the actors’ other roles. There is only the tension of this haunted family and the two men, a therapist (Haglund) and a psychic (Smallwood) who try to help them.
The characters are all complex, and director Leirness lets the film flirt with stereotypes without falling into their traps. This is an unusual ghost story and an excellent bet for anyone interested in tales of the supernatural.
Spectres
Directed by: Phil Leirness, Starring Marina Sirtis, Tucker Smallwood, Dean Haglund, Lauren Birkell, Alexis Cruz, Chris Hardwick, Loanne Bishop, Linda Park.
Screenings: 3/6/04 7:30 pm at Camera 3 and 3/7/04 4:30 pm at SJSU University Theater
“Spectres” is being described as a science-fiction ghost story in press material, and with this cast it’s easy to see why. Sirtis, Smallwood, and Park have all filled major roles in Star Trek series, Haglund was a beloved cast member of “The X-Files” and its spinoff “The Lone Gunmen,” and Bishop, Cruz, and Hardwick have all appeared in major sci-fi films or TV shows.
Thankfully, this story of a suicidally depressed teenager (Birkell) and her workaholic mom (Sirtis) is not a film centered around a gimmicky cast. There are no garish references to the actors’ other roles. There is only the tension of this haunted family and the two men, a therapist (Haglund) and a psychic (Smallwood) who try to help them.
The characters are all complex, and director Leirness lets the film flirt with stereotypes without falling into their traps. This is an unusual ghost story and an excellent bet for anyone interested in tales of the supernatural.