If you liked Freaks and Geeks this is a must-see. Judd Apatow once again created a hysterical and touching series with characters that really become more like friends. The half hour format makes these a bit lighter than Freaks and Geeks - and when this show was canceled they weren't quite as able to still wrap things up as with the earlier show. But this certainly filled the void in my TV-viewing life left by the departure of Freaks and Geeks. Many of the members of the cast from that show appear here - some as regulars, others in hysterical guest performances. This is definitely one of those watch it in a single weekend marathon kind of shows.
Reviews
6 Reviews
Vacancy
(2005)
Outstanding example of subtle film-making
23 February 2006
If you're looking to see the work of an extremely talented up and coming director who puts a real personal stamp on his films, look no further than Steve Hosford and his short film Vacancy. The world of short films is dominated by one-note jokes, imperfect plots, and gimmicky stylistic choices that come and go in a matter of minutes. Hosford's film is a little longer than most, but then again, it's a better than most. It is also, unlike many shorts, a clear example of a full-fledged director at work. Here is a guy who, judging from this short, could clearly make a great feature film tomorrow (and wouldn't need millions to do it).
Vacancy is the story of a young boy and the summer he spends at a motel in the middle of nowhere with his parents. His dad is a sort of migrant nuclear plant worker who works long hours at the plant. This leaves the boy alone at the motel. He spends each day stuck at the motel, as if trapped on a very small island, and struggles to find new things to appreciate, experience, or even look out. Eventually he meets a girl and, in very subtle fashion, the climax of the film is the carefully told story of their relationship.
I'm tempted to say that Vacancy is in the tradition of David Gordon Green, Jim McKay, or Jim Jarmusch (and that might help you begin to understand the general area he's working in) but that doesn't do Hosford justice. He's not an imitator. He's clearly got his own take on the world. It's characterized by patience and focus. He has eyes and ears for the small moments in life that are huge. He gets the minor things that make us happier than anything and he knows that apparently simple things can break our hearts. In Vacancy, Hosford explores all of this by guiding his lead actor, a young boy, to a surprisingly real and nuanced performance. Actual acting from child performers is a rare thing - and this kid does some real stuff. But I guess that shouldn't be a surprise given the rest of the film: Hosford shows great control of some of the most elusive parts of film-making: tone, vibe, feeling... whatever you want to call it, he's doing it very distinctly in this film.
And to top it off, Hosford shows great prowess with the other aspects of film-making as well. The fact that he's working with digital video and that he has a very observational approach to the film might get you thinking that this is one of those films to go see for the performances, for the moments captured, but not for anything else. Yet time and time again, Hosford shows that he's rigorously thought out his shot choices - far from succumbing to the temptation of video to just record and shoot in a loose verite fashion, Hosford displays a classical, skilled, and rigorous use of shot selection. Hosford and his DP have made the camera a driving force in this film alongside the director's lyric patience, his subtle writing, skilled editing, and his overall feel for film-making.
This film will hopefully play at more festivals. If so - go see it. I think it's possible for people to say "that wasn't my kind of film" but I don't think you can say "that wasn't a well made film." Vacancy is clear proof of a talented director and deserves to be seen.
Vacancy is the story of a young boy and the summer he spends at a motel in the middle of nowhere with his parents. His dad is a sort of migrant nuclear plant worker who works long hours at the plant. This leaves the boy alone at the motel. He spends each day stuck at the motel, as if trapped on a very small island, and struggles to find new things to appreciate, experience, or even look out. Eventually he meets a girl and, in very subtle fashion, the climax of the film is the carefully told story of their relationship.
I'm tempted to say that Vacancy is in the tradition of David Gordon Green, Jim McKay, or Jim Jarmusch (and that might help you begin to understand the general area he's working in) but that doesn't do Hosford justice. He's not an imitator. He's clearly got his own take on the world. It's characterized by patience and focus. He has eyes and ears for the small moments in life that are huge. He gets the minor things that make us happier than anything and he knows that apparently simple things can break our hearts. In Vacancy, Hosford explores all of this by guiding his lead actor, a young boy, to a surprisingly real and nuanced performance. Actual acting from child performers is a rare thing - and this kid does some real stuff. But I guess that shouldn't be a surprise given the rest of the film: Hosford shows great control of some of the most elusive parts of film-making: tone, vibe, feeling... whatever you want to call it, he's doing it very distinctly in this film.
And to top it off, Hosford shows great prowess with the other aspects of film-making as well. The fact that he's working with digital video and that he has a very observational approach to the film might get you thinking that this is one of those films to go see for the performances, for the moments captured, but not for anything else. Yet time and time again, Hosford shows that he's rigorously thought out his shot choices - far from succumbing to the temptation of video to just record and shoot in a loose verite fashion, Hosford displays a classical, skilled, and rigorous use of shot selection. Hosford and his DP have made the camera a driving force in this film alongside the director's lyric patience, his subtle writing, skilled editing, and his overall feel for film-making.
This film will hopefully play at more festivals. If so - go see it. I think it's possible for people to say "that wasn't my kind of film" but I don't think you can say "that wasn't a well made film." Vacancy is clear proof of a talented director and deserves to be seen.
Outside
(2004)
"utterly captivating" - Filmthreat.com
21 October 2005
Filmthreat.com review by Doug Brunell (8/28/05):
"Imagine if George Orwell wrote a lesson for lesbians about individuality and finding one's self. That's what first popped into my mind as I watched Jenn Kao's utterly captivating "Outside." Then I thought I may be reading too much into the short film because that's the kind of guy I am ... but I don't think so. I think this film is all about how many people with feelings for the same sex keep themselves closeted because they are scared for one reason or another. They do what they are told, they look for means of escape, and when they finally accept and embrace who they are, they want people to share their joy -- only that may not turn out exactly as planned. Until they reach that level of self-awareness, though, they keep themselves isolated from their true selves, and society is more than willing to help them do it.
That's what I got from this film that centers on Devi (played by the fantastic Courtney Ford), a woman who lives alone in some cell. She eats when she is told to and occasionally looks out a dirty window into the desert. Her contact with the outside world is through a radio, where she talks to other women as they "drop" (slang for taking some sort of drug) and begin to describe their visions of what they're "experiencing" in the outside world. Devi's main contact is Ari (Juliet), who constantly describes being on the beach at sunset. Things start to go wrong when intruders, including one outsider woman named M (Keaton Talmadge), encroach upon Devi's cell. Ari keeps reminding Devi not to look because it only encourages them, but the slightly boyish M has caught Devi's attention, and soon our heroine is feeding M through a hole in the wall. As the film reaches its subtle conclusion, longings are awakened and secrets revealed.
Again, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this film is just a fun little sci-fi tale, but I doubt it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say this should be shown to kids in high school. The kids who are struggling with their sexual identity are going to get it, while the others will most likely remain quite oblivious (thus saving teachers the calls from irrational parents). Even if I'm wrong, maybe someone will see the same thing I did, and it will save them a lot of grief in the future. And, heck, even if I am wrong, it's still a great film, and that's all that really matters." - reposting of review by Doug Brunell, Filmthreat.com (8/28/05)
"Imagine if George Orwell wrote a lesson for lesbians about individuality and finding one's self. That's what first popped into my mind as I watched Jenn Kao's utterly captivating "Outside." Then I thought I may be reading too much into the short film because that's the kind of guy I am ... but I don't think so. I think this film is all about how many people with feelings for the same sex keep themselves closeted because they are scared for one reason or another. They do what they are told, they look for means of escape, and when they finally accept and embrace who they are, they want people to share their joy -- only that may not turn out exactly as planned. Until they reach that level of self-awareness, though, they keep themselves isolated from their true selves, and society is more than willing to help them do it.
That's what I got from this film that centers on Devi (played by the fantastic Courtney Ford), a woman who lives alone in some cell. She eats when she is told to and occasionally looks out a dirty window into the desert. Her contact with the outside world is through a radio, where she talks to other women as they "drop" (slang for taking some sort of drug) and begin to describe their visions of what they're "experiencing" in the outside world. Devi's main contact is Ari (Juliet), who constantly describes being on the beach at sunset. Things start to go wrong when intruders, including one outsider woman named M (Keaton Talmadge), encroach upon Devi's cell. Ari keeps reminding Devi not to look because it only encourages them, but the slightly boyish M has caught Devi's attention, and soon our heroine is feeding M through a hole in the wall. As the film reaches its subtle conclusion, longings are awakened and secrets revealed.
Again, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this film is just a fun little sci-fi tale, but I doubt it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say this should be shown to kids in high school. The kids who are struggling with their sexual identity are going to get it, while the others will most likely remain quite oblivious (thus saving teachers the calls from irrational parents). Even if I'm wrong, maybe someone will see the same thing I did, and it will save them a lot of grief in the future. And, heck, even if I am wrong, it's still a great film, and that's all that really matters." - reposting of review by Doug Brunell, Filmthreat.com (8/28/05)
Turtles Can Fly
(2004)
Unique characters, Great insight
26 February 2005
Among the hundred reasons I could list for you to go see this film, the first is the main character Kak "Satellite." He is truly a unique character - the likes of which I've never seen before. It is pretty impressive for a filmmaker to create something new - an on screen person so real, so normal, yet so different than anything we've seen. From the opening moments of the movie you feel you are getting to know a real human being. Satellite and the refugee children whose trust and love he's earned are the stars of this film. I don't think I've ever seen child performers better than some of these kids - if you were blown away by the children in movies like "City of God," this is a another one to look at in terms of performances. Stylistically this film is in a different category - it's a beautifully realistic movie - it's narrative unfolds effortlessly. You never feel you are watching a carefully crafted plot. You feel you are observing events that are happening - and yet it all, in retrospect, is well planned and crafted. The filmmakers and actors deserve much credit for creating a movie with its own touching and realistic voice.
The Rundown
(2003)
Offbeat and hilarious comedy
20 February 2005
This movie features some of the funniest and original comedy I've seen in an action-comedy. Sean William Scott and Christopher Walken are both hysterical in their own way. And the Rock - man, the dude actually can act and has some great comic timing and delivery - I really had to eat my words on that one after predicting that he would be terrible. Honest to god, check this movie out, I was really pleasantly surprised by how well directed and funny it was. Peter Berg really shows that he can direct a film - he masters both the action and the comedy. And while I won't give it a 10 out of 10 - the plot meanders for a bit in the middle - this movie was definitely one of the best comedies to come out that year and I've been a little sad to see that it fell beneath the radar of most moviegoers. So if you're looking for one of those hidden gems that not many people have seen but that is actually a gem - not just some big movie that sucked but had big actors in it as most movies labeled "hidden gems" tend to be - this is the movie for you. I'm laughing right now thinking about one of the jokes!
All the Vermeers in New York
(1990)
!!!A truly unique and innovative film!!!
28 November 2001
If you are a fan of independent and innovative filmmaking, this movie is for you. It's visuals are tremendous in their composition, movement, colors, etc. It's sense of editing and story progression is involving and thought provoking. This is the kind of movie that makes you forget traditional narrative expectations of "what will happen next?" or questions like "what is going on?" and instead prompts you to just experience, perceive, and feel the film. A must-see for anyone interested in non-traditional filmmaking and for anyone interested in a beautiful movie.
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