Movie Jibber-Jabber, Vol. 3: Nicolas Winding Refn, Indiana IMAX, Vader, Summer of Schlock
News Item: “The Neon Demon” opens this weekend.
Director Nicolas Winding Refn's "The Neon Demon," his follow-up to 2013's divisive "Only God Forgives" and 2009's hit "Drive," opens in theaters this weekend. I like Refn; he's an oddity with a strong sense of fashion and fetish. He's also all over the Yap; check out an interview from 2013, coverage of his appearance at Indiana University in 2013, and my review of "Only God Forgives."
"The Neon Demon" is a horror film set in Los Angeles about an aspiring model (played by Elle Fanning) who finds herself immersed in a murderous world of beauty and blood. It was booed at the Cannes Film Festival. I can't wait. It will be showing at the Goodrich Hamilton 16 in Noblesville, the Carmike Metropolis 18 in Plainfield, the Regal Village Park Stadium 17 in Carmel, AMC Castleton Square 14, AMC ShowPlace 17, AMC Traders Point 12, the Georgetown 14, and the Landmark Glendale 12.
News Item: Indiana State Museum IMAX is now playing first-run movies
The Indiana State Museum IMAX is now running first-run films on release day. It's the best screen in town, with unparalleled picture and sound. It can polish a turd. Case in point, I saw "Warcraft" there on Tuesday and came out loving it even more the second time. Sometimes corny schlock is all you need. Go ahead and test that statement this weekend by catching a showing of "Independence Day: Resurgence" downtown. Tickets are $16 and available at http://www.imax.com/imax-indiana-state-museum-oo.
News Item: James Earl Jones is returning as Darth Vader
Entertainment Weekly has announced that "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" will feature Darth Vader in all his glory, voiced by James Earl Jones. There have been decades of "Star Wars" media featuring Vader voiced by other actors, and none has ever come close. Hopefully they use the character well.
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/23/darth-vader-rogue-one-star-wars
Essay: Summer of Schlock
I worked at Half Price Books for three years. Working there exposed me to a lot of new, strange media — not just while sorting through books, but while conversing with my coworkers. One coworker, Nate Cancilla (aka local DJ JinXS) introduced me to a world of schlock filmmaking. I spent several late evenings during summer 2013 watching crap on the projector he'd picked up at work. "Birdemic"? "Godzilla"? "Mystery Science Theater 3000"? "The Room"? "Troll 2"? "Lady Terminator"? I had no idea there were rare Italian versions of "Godzilla." He introduced me to Hong Kong action cinema, something I still continue to plumb the depths of on late Saturday nights.
Many of these films were borne out of low budgets, fevered egos and foreign cinematic machines. And, yeah, many are downright unwatchable. But somehow, watching this crap, working in that bookstore and experiencing the sheer amount of drivel out there in the world of film made me come to appreciate it. There films aren't "Casablanca" or "The Godfather"; they lack the precision of vision of underground films from the 1970s; their wider cultural value is minimal. Yet people watch them. People enjoy, quote and abide by them. It was a whole new cultural world.
While driving home from "Warcraft" this past Tuesday, the esteemed Yapper Sam Watermeier mentioned that I have a higher tolerance for "expensive dogshit" than he does. And he's right. While a movie like "Transformers: Age of Extinction" is inarguably terrible, I still find myself fascinated by it in all its terribleness. Looking at the whole of 2016's blockbuster season, it comes to mind that most of the major releases have been generally bad: "Batman v Superman," "X-Men: Apocalypse," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2," "Warcraft," "The Huntsman: Winter's War." Good God, what a year.
But while I've had unkind words to say about most of these, somehow I still found something to enjoy about all of them (except, well, "Batman v. Superman"). I've always felt like the summer of 2013 has something to do with it. I learned that there's a lot of crap in the world, but almost everything has a redeeming quality of some sort, something to teach you about film or life or culture.
From "Born Invincible," which is actually super awesome and not terrible at all. Go find it on YouTube.
This Week in Reviews:
A contributor penned an excellent review of "Independence Day: Resurgence"
Chris Lloyd lets you know if "The Shallows" is worth your summer buck.
Richard Propes reviewed "Finding Dory" over at The Independent Critic and you need to read it, now.
Indiana Events June 24-26
“Army of Darkness,” the horror-slapstick masterpiece starring Bruce Campbell, will be playing at dusk (doors open at 7 p.m.) on Friday at the Indiana Museum of Art. Unlike most of the remaining Summer Nights programming, “Army of Darkness” still has tickets available. Ridiculous! Get to it. Hail to the King.
If you've never attended a Summer Nights, word to the wise: Bring bug spray and blankets, camp chairs and, heck, a pillow if you're low enough to the bottom of the amphitheater. It's a fun time, but plan for comfort.
http://www.imamuseum.org/film/army-darkness
Midnight Madness: 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail Singalong'
Landmark Keystone Art Cinema
June 24 and 25 | Midnight
https://www.landmarktheatres.com/Midnights/Keystone_mid_2016_0603_0723_Web.pdf