'Alien on Stage' Fantasia Review: Amateurs Remake a Sci-Fi Classic
Directors Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer found a needle in a haystack when they stumbled into a low-budget production of Ridley Scott's Alien at a local theatre in Dorset. The small coastal town in the southwest of England featured handmade costumes to sub-par performances. And yet, there was something so incredibly charming about this production and the genuineness of the people involved that the directors knew this was something that should be seen by the world (and not just the handful of people who made up the theatre troop's small audience).
The result is Alien on Stage. A heartwarming story about an eclectic cast of bus drivers and aspiring thespians from a small English town, they are given the opportunity of a lifetime: to perform their humble stage play adaptation of Alien to a 400-seat, sold-out crowd at the Leicester Square Theatre in London for one night only. For context, Dorset is 2 1/2 hours south of London, and their audience count was roughy around 20 people per show.
Watching this ensemble of amateur actors is like watching a Christopher Guest film come to life. There is a consistent flow of cringe-worthy and charismatic moments throughout that make for quietly hilarious and lighthearted entertainment. Led by army veteran turned theatre director Dave Mitchell (with heavy Michael Scott-like qualities), he is tasked to bring Alien to theatrical life.
His kooky cast consists of his wife who plays Ridley, his son who agrees to stage-manage, and a handful of middle-aged bus drivers who got bit by the acting bug later in life. Their combined efforts to make Alien the highest quality production despite monetary restrictions and lack of "formal" acting skills is a sweet reminder that passion outweighs everything else. To see them having fun and finding purpose in their work (despite the questionable feedback) brings a contagious positivity that outlasts the length of the film.
The film's physical execution also lends itself to the overall blatant awkwardness. Despite Alien on Stage looking like it was shot in the mid-90s with outdated technology and questionable fashion choices, the documentary is, in fact, a modern film. This is something I was told repeatedly but had a hard time believing until I confirmed it myself.
Alien on Stage is the definition of "charming." In front of and behind the camera, this is a testament to never giving up on your dreams because you never know when your lucky break will come. And who doesn't want to watch a film about lovable misfits shooting for the moon and landing among the stars? For one night, at least.
First Listen From Hulu's 'Nine Perfect Strangers'
If you're looking for a new show to binge-watch, we have your answer right here: Nine Perfect Strangers. Based on The New York Times bestselling book by Liane Moriarty, the series' initial (and obvious) draw is its stellar cast, which includes Nicole Kidman as a mind/body/soul guru and Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, and Samara Weaving as wellness-seeking city dwellers looking for a break from their hectic lives. Upon closer inspection, however, there is something more to love- a soundtrack composed by Golden Globe and two-time Oscar-nominee Marco Beltrami (Hurt Locker, Free Solo, Scream franchise), and Miles Hankins (Being Serena).
Nine Perfect Strangers takes place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation. Led by the resort's director, Masha (Kidman), she helps guide the nine stressed-out guests toward a better way of living. Masha may seem like a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies, but quickly we learn that not everything is as it seems.
The basis of the show is steeped in psychological instability, and the score reflects that uneasiness in its varying melodic and intensely dissonant tone. Cinemacy is thrilled to share an exclusive first listen of the track "Test Pilots."
Nine Perfect Strangers marks Beltrami's fourth musical collaboration with director Jonathan Levine (Long Shot, Warm Bodies, The Night Before), but repetition isn't something he is concerned about, noting, "I love him as a director because his projects always seem to examine the human condition from radically different angles and this inspires innovation in the score."
When talking about what to expect in the series' soundtrack – which releases on Lakeshore Records this Friday – Beltrami says the score "ranges from textural synthesis and at times cacophonous sound design, to overtly tuneful moments. This is reflected through the instrumentation which includes string quartet and piano with an electronic score.”
Hankins went on to say, “We wanted the score to underpin it all with a sense of uncertainty and experimented with layering different musical ideas, recording them to tape, and then altering the speed or pitch of certain elements to varying degrees. At times, the result gives some of the cues a meditative or otherworldly feeling.”
The Hulu Original series directed by Jonathan Levine premieres on August 18 with three episodes. Endeavor Content and Lakeshore Records are releasing the Nine Perfect Strangers—Original Series Soundtrack digitally on August 20.
'Days': A Portrait of Loneliness While Drifting Through a City
Tsai Ming-Liang's Days is like the equivalent of a deep inhale during a morning meditation. It is a slow awakening that, by the end of it, leaves you with an expanded sense of full body awareness and total compassion for yourself and those around you. Quietly arresting with beautifully piercing imagery, Days forgoes something that most of contemporary cinema cannot do without: words.
The story is quite simple, but its emotional impact hits in full force. A middle-aged man (Lee Kang-Sheng) suffers from body pain and finds himself living the life of a drifter in Japan. He meets another man, Non (Anong Houngheuangsy), and they both find consolation in each other for a short while before returning to their separate lives and parting ways.
I now understand why Tsai is considered one of Taiwanese cinema's most celebrated "Second New Wave" directors. He lets the story unfold with steady precision and utmost trust in his cast and crew. This is "slow cinema," the entire film exists without any scripted dialogue, and any conversations overheard are intentionally not subtitled in English. In the best way possible, Days feels less like a film and more like an experience akin to those YouTube ASMR walking tours through various cities.
Every scene is comprised of a one-take shot, all mostly stagnant and steady in a single location but sometimes forward-moving through crowded city streets. Our protagonist drifts through these scenes with a somberness and reservation about him, if only we could crack his apathetic outer shell and get to the root of his suffering.
The feeling of isolation even when surrounded by people evokes a special kind of sadness. It's not so much the "un-belonging" that hurts, at least in that case you're being physically seen and then rejected. It's the invisibleness that is truly painful. To feel unworthy of even being acknowledged can feel like being thrown off of a ship with a boulder tied to your ankle. It can take you to a dark place, fast. But Days doesn't lean into the obvious tropes of depression, which could feel too forced in a film like this. Rather, emphasis is placed on the subtle satisfaction that comes from the protagonist's minimalist lifestyle and simple daily routines.
Days offers a nice change of pace to the typical movie-going experience and comes with the highest recommendation from me.
Distributed by Grasshopper Film. Now playing in select theaters.
John Carroll Kirby Releases Soundtrack to 'Cryptozoo'
The album 'My Garden' singlehandedly got me through quarantine last year. John Carroll Kirby is a pianist, producer, and composer from Los Angeles who creates beautifully meditative tracks, as well as being the go-to collaborator for Solange and Frank Ocean, among others. He can now add film composer to his resume with the release of the Cryptozoo soundtrack, out today via Stones Throw Records.
John Carroll Kirby teams up with writer/director Dash Shaw in the animated feature film Cryptozoo, a counter-culture-minded fantasy-adventure about the existence of imaginary creatures. Featuring the voices of Lake Bell, Zoe Kazan, Michael Cera and Louisa Krause, Cryptozoo also speaks to humans’ varying efforts of safeguarding and domesticating endangered species and understanding the “other” in the hopes of conceiving a utopian world.
In addition to the soundtrack release today – which can be streamed via Bandcamp, Apple, and Spotify – Kirby's also dropped the accompanying music video for the track “Mystic Brine," also created by Dash Shaw. In the video, Kirby is transported into the richly drawn, hallucinatory world of Cryptozoo, giving audiences a sneak peek of what to expect before the film hits theaters and streaming platforms next Friday, August 20.
Of his experience working on the film, Kirby says, “When I was composing the score to Cryptozoo, I imagined what it was like to be among the cryptids. Dash and the team brought that vision to life in this video where I get to make music for my magical new friends!”
The Sexually-Charged Dance Drama 'Ema' Will Hypnotize You
Set in the neon-soaked Chilean city of Valparaíso, Ema is a sexually-charged dance drama about regret, redemption, and reggaeton. It's a film that provokes and will make one question the expectations of the traditional family dynamic. Larraín doesn't shy away from exploring ugly behaviors and self-serving desires that are usually only thought about and rarely acted upon, yet Ema acts on them all.
Ema (Mariana Di Girolamo) is a dancer in an ensemble troupe lead by her partner and famed choreographer Gastón (Gael García Bernal). What we assume was once an intense and passionate relationship is now all but sizzling after a traumatic incident puts the couple at odds with each other and seeking a divorce. After multiple disturbing incidents with their adopted son Polo (Cristián Suárez), a troubled eight-year-old boy with seemingly sociopathic tendencies, Ema and Gastón resort to giving the boy back to foster care, a decision that is met with judgment from others. Their regret isn't immediate but rather culminates over time. Once realized, Ema sets out to get Polo back, willing to do whatever (and whoever) in the process.
I can best describe Ema as a mix between Gaspar Noé's Love meets Luca Guadagnino's Suspiria, but this film hits very specific psychological notes that make it wholly unique. Strong performances really draw the audience into the world of Ema- most notably the controlling yet sensitive nature of Gael García Bernal's Gastón opposite Ema's fearlessness and defiant personality traits portrayed by Mariana Di Girolamo. Larraín also reteams with recording artist and experimental composer Nicolas Jaar (Neruda) to create another pulsating and equally unsettling score. The ambient electronic nature of Jaar's work gives off an air of sensuality, self-indulgence, and uninhibitedness that lingers long after watching.
A true art-house production, Ema is a hypnotic watch that will get your blood pumping and mind reeling with amazement.
This review originally ran on May 5, 2020 for MUBI's screening premiere.
Distributed by Music Box Films. 'Ema' opens at the Landmark Theaters Nuart this Friday, August 13th.
'Homeroom' Captures College Anxieties Amidst COVID
2020 was a challenging year for all of us but it was especially hard for high school seniors as the expectations of lavish graduation parties, prom dresses, and college-bound dreams were dashed in a matter of days. From director Peter Nicks and produced by Ryan Coogler, Homeroom follows the 2019-2020 class of Oakland High School seniors as they attempt to create systemic change and leave a lasting legacy in their hometown while adjusting to life in a pandemic.
Homeroom feels very much like A24's Boys State in the way it captures intimate and vulnerable moments from impressionable and impassioned teenagers. Sticking to his signature style of vérité filmmaking, Peter Nicks observes a handful of students as they prepare to submit college applications, sit through mundane history lectures, attend various club meetings, and rehearse for the school play.
The documentary begins in the fall of 2019–pre-pandemic–when the biggest topic of conversation is the ethics of policing in schools. Students want to defund the police, citing that implicit bias sparks unnecessary fear, especially in predominately black and brown schools like theirs. Their arguments are articulate and strong, appealing to city council members and school board members alike.
The film takes a turn with the introduction of COVID-19 in early March 2020, picking up a sense of urgency that differs from the more structured first Act. As Homeroom shows, the seniors of today are highly adaptable, goal-oriented, and inspired teenagers. They use their iPhones to create TikTok videos, as well as catch up on the latest from ex-President Trump's first impeachment trial. They're paying attention. They don't fear speaking up to authority figures; instead, they see teachers and faculty as their allies who share a common goal of unifying the school district in harmony.
From the everyday pressures of high school life to the unexpected introduction of COVID-19, Nicks lets the action and drama unfold onscreen without provocation, capturing a year's worth of trauma that is uncomfortable to relive. The murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, "murder hornets", and the racially-charged murder of Bay area teenager Nia Wilson are just some of the devastating events that this class has had to navigate through.
Homeroom proves that the youth have the power, and fostering safe environments for them to grow and learn will be key in creating tomorrow's leaders. On a personal yet somber note, the film is dedicated to Karina Nicks, Peter's 16-year-old daughter who died suddenly in September 2019. As the final installment to Nicks' three-part trilogy of character-driven social issue films, Homeroom is a gratifying and inspiring ending to this chapter on Oakland, CA.
This review originally ran on January 29, 2021 during the Sundance Film Festival.
Distributed by Hulu. 'Homeroom' premieres on Hulu on Thursday, August 12th.
Fantasia Fest 2021: 14 Films We're Looking Forward to Seeing
Today kicks off the beginning of Fantasia Fest 2021, the Montreal-based, multi-week showcase with the reputation for being "the most outstanding and largest genre film festival in North America." The Canadian festival has been on our radar for years and we're excited to bring you along as we (virtually) embark on our inaugural Fantasia journey.
Mad God
The Deep House
King Knight
Midnight
Pompo: The Cinéphile
Dreams on Fire
The Last Thing Mary Saw
Love, Life and Goldfish
Giving Birth to a Butterfly
Dr. Caligari
Prisoners of the Ghostland
Follow the Light
Strawberry Mansion
Ultrasound
'Whirlybird' Review: Capturing Serenity and Chaos Over the Clouds
In Matt Yoka’s debut feature documentary, Whirlybird, audiences are taken on a visual journey of the City of Angels in the 90s through the lens of journalist Bob Tur and his wife Marika Gerrard, the couple responsible for capturing the iconic ariel video footage of the OJ Simpson pursuit, the Rodney King riots, the Northridge earthquake, and so much more. Infamous for his risky (and often illegal) methods of “getting the shot,” Bob was a relentless reporter, in love with the excitement and thrill of the chase. However, the documentary digs deeper, beyond his success as a journalist, and into Bob’s volatile, explosive, and obsessive behavior that puts not only his relationships but his physical and mental health at risk.
In the world of journalism, Bob Tur is credited for revolutionizing breaking news by changing the way news was captured: via helicopter. Bob and Marika were never far from a crime scene, murder, fire or flood – hanging out of a helicopter, camera in hand and ready to film. However, Bob’s personal life was fraught with torment. Not only was he constantly fighting with his wife, his employees, and the authorities, he was also struggling to accept himself as a trans man, which the documentary only focuses on in the last fifteen or so minutes of the film. The story of Whirlybird is primarily about the revolution of the news industry, not the reinvention of Bob Tur, who now goes by Zoey. Unfortunately, more focus on his personal struggle would have made this film a lot stronger and more memorable.
Bob was the original TMZ. He was a pioneer, and his legacy will never be forgotten. However, through raw and vulnerable interviews, he admits to living a life full of regret. It’s as if he questions if this was all even worth it, a difficult sentiment to hear someone say aloud. The relentlessness of capturing the headline news will affect any man over time, much like it did Bob Tur. For Angelinos especially, Whirlybird – with original music by Ty Segall – is a fascinating retrospective of our city from above as we navigate the fine line between serenity and chaos from among the clouds.
The review originally ran on February 3, 2020 during the Sundance Film Festival
Distributed by Greenwich Entertainment. Playing in select theaters, including Laemmle Glendale, and VOD this Friday.