Lodger
looks at the AFF Shorts
Jackie Pepper- showing before "Lethal
Force"
A short film from Austin, by Bryant Jackson, "Jackie
Pepper" is a sort-of mockumentary where the titular
"music legend" is interviewed and proves himself to
be a foul-mouthed ass. Not particularly new or interesting
yet not unamusing either. The best part of the short
is the lack of end credits. Bryant humorously decides
instead to end the film as if it were a promotional
film for "JP," given contact information on a single
title card. That's the funniest thing in the film.
Earth Day - showing before "Living
in Missouri"
Stupid, hackneyed and unoriginal, "Earth Day" uses
Barbie dolls and action figures to spoof teenage slasher
films. I wont waste too much time on this. Here are
my messages to filmmakers Meredith Casey and Michyko
Byers, the duo responsible for this nauseating crap:
First: See Todd Haynes "Superstar" to realize that
all use of Barbie dolls in a film to represent irony
is now unofficially trademarked. Doing this only makes
you look like a lame (or worse yet, ignorant) copycat.
Second: there is way too much blood in this film.
It is not funny.
Third: Using action figures of real people, like Mr.
T. and Mark Hamill and John Travolta is repulsive when
you shower them in blood. Putrid.
Forth: You fucks made the bad guy a transvestite.
You are homophobes and cretins. Sickos. Fuck you. I
hope you die in a horrible car wreck.
Report Card Script: F Acting: F Cinematography\Lighting:
F Special Effects\Make Up: F Music: F Final Grade: F
The Cutting Room - before Way
Off Broadway
A group of characters "cut out" of screenplays and
teleplays find themselves in a mysterious limbo. Filmed
imaginatively, this short only suffers because it is
another one of those shorts that is about the "film
business." Luckily, this one has a unique idea and a
consummate script which elevates it far above the typical.
Frank's Book - before America
So Beautiful
Did you see "Bartleby"
at SXSW?
Yeah. It's the same sort of theme but nowhere near as
good. This short stars John C. Reilly (of "Boogie
Nights" fame) as a clerk who has trouble keeping
his desk and fantasizes about some book he keeps there
making him famous. It's typical, hackneyed and lame.
Dents Are Us - with Wrong Numbers
Funny and decidedly Austin, "Dents Are Us" may lose
some momentum as it plays out, but the first 5 or 6
minutes of this film is amusing and unique enough to
make it worthwhile. The friendship and business partnership
of two men deteriorates when they share office space.
The beginning segments are about the "dent removal"
business of the more dedicated friend. These are quite
funny.
Golden Gate - with After
the Flood
Visually stunning, "Golden Gate" concerns itself with
young, dark skinned, boys in some Third World country.
While beautiful to look at, the plot is rather drab.
If this film were set in America, with the same story,
no one would pay attention to this film. But because
of it's unique style and different culture, there is
enough to keep it interesting for most viewers.
Shorts Program #1
Cat Lady
A short that thinks it's funny to dress up dead cats
in little costumes and take pictures of them.
Killer Cello
Hilarious send up of horror movies with a cello that
helps its teenage girl owner handle her meddlesome father.
Deliciously fun!
The Rock Girl
Sweet and amusing tale of young girl who has rocks
for playmates. Delightful.
Shorts Program #3
Bike Ride
Animated, this short has wonderful quaint and simplistic
drawings which seem to detail the verbalized (improvised?)
tale of a man who rides a bike several miles to see
a girl he has a crush on.
The Accountant
Drawing from the Coen Brothers, this short, which
runs 38 minutes, never bores. Set in a modern rural
farm community, the titular bookkeeper helps farmers
figure out how to save money, sometimes by unscrupulous
means. But how far will one go to save his farm? This
film, funny, quirky perfect in every detail is sure
to be the crowd pleaser of the festival!
The Color White (O Branco)
Beautiful and lyrical tale about a young blind boy
who tries to break free of his mother's apron strings.
Sweet, poignant and perfect.
Shorts Program #4
Shower
My favorite short from this year's festival. Using
almost no dialogue and shooting on DV, the director,
Randall Good creates a world of kinetic ritual, where
repetition creates normalcy and one grows accustomed
to daily routine. When that routine is interrupted by
tragedy, one must come to terms with it. Good's film
deals with just such loss and the dealing of the grief
that comes with it. Hinting at Lynchian oddity in story
and chronology, Good also allows us to understand the
way in which the human mind works to accept such deep
loss. Poetic, passionate and bold, "Shower" is one of
the most human and daring short films to be seen at
this year's AFF.
This Film Reviewed
from the 2001 Austin Film festival!
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