Sad Sonics Documentary to Screen at SIFF Cinema

Posted Nov. 5 at 9:00 am by Mike Seely

Reid's film will want you make to punch these assbag conspirators in the face.

​I watched Sonicsgate for the first time this past Saturday morning, and it moved me to tears. This is unusual, because: (a) macho man that I am, I rarely cry during movies, (b) and when I do, the plot typically involves death or romance. Sonicsgate, meanwhile, is a documentary chronicling the rise, fall, and departure of the franchise formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics, which now calls Oklahoma City home and has Thunder on its jersey. But then I got to thinking: Sonicsgate is about death and romance, at least for those of us who became intoxicated with the NBA's ballet, and the team that danced for 41 years on Lower Queen Anne.

Continue reading "Sad Sonics Documentary to Screen at SIFF Cinema"

Topics: Film and Sports

Permalink | Comments (1)

So, Which Is It: Mercer Island City Hall or an "Office"-Based Porn Flick?

Posted Oct. 30 at 1:13 pm by Mike Seely

Is this the rear of a porn star or Mercer Island's deputy city manager?

​Recently, the Daily Weekly was leaked the script for a porn flick called The Orifice, which is based on the popular television show, The Office, and will star John Krackinski, Stiff Carrell, and Jenna Fister. In order to gauge how realistic this script is, we also spent a few weeks at Mercer Island City Hall, jotting down observations.

Following are select excerpts from one or the other. It's up to you to guess which—Mercer Island City Hall annotations or The Orificescript—is the source material.

Continue reading "So, Which Is It: Mercer Island City Hall or an "Office"-Based Porn Flick?"

Topics: Civics 101, Crime & Punishment, Film, and Politics

Permalink | Comments (2)

Burien Gets the Digital Documentary Treatment: A Preview

Posted Oct. 22 at 3:00 am by Vernal Coleman

What you just saw was the trailer for "Where We Live Now, Burien." And if after watching you're not excited to sit through thirty minute treatise on how Burien rose from unincorporated also-ran to McSuburb in only 16 years, than you must be an anti-planned community philistine with no cockles worth warming—at least that's the impression one gets after reading the press materials.

(h/t B-town Blog)

Continue reading "Burien Gets the Digital Documentary Treatment: A Preview"

Topics: Film and Southland Tales

Permalink | Comments (0)

Ballmer Jumps the Shark. Or Talks About the Shark

Posted Oct. 20 at 7:00 am by Brian Miller

​Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is a Woody Allen fan? Or a fan of sharks? We can't be sure after a long and generally flattering weekend New York Times feature on the coming launch of Windows 7. (Now only two days away! We can't contain our Win-citement!) The Ballmer quote that leaps out is this, as he tells the NYT:

"What's the old movie line from Annie Hall? Relationships are like sharks; they move forward, or they die. Well, technology companies either move forward, too, or they die. They become less relevant."

Annie Hall? From the same pervy '70s director whose middle-aged hero sleeps with a teenager in Manhattan? From the guy who went on to marry his (sort of) stepdaughter, who defends child rapist Roman Polanski? Where were the Microsoft PR people when they needed to clamp a hand over Ballmer's mouth? (Good way to lose a finger, actually.) Couldn't he have cited Benji instead? The company is trying, after the Heaven's Gate that was Vista, to makes its wares all warm and cuddly. And we're only talking about the biggest product launch in the history of the world's biggest software company. But sharks? That only feeds (sorry!) Microsoft's old, rapacious image.

Good thing these other Ballmer movie references didn't make it into the Times story...

Continue reading "Ballmer Jumps the Shark. Or Talks About the Shark"

Topics: Business, Film, and Technology

Permalink | Comments (1)

Breaking Review: The Stepfather

Posted Oct. 16 at 3:52 pm by Brian Miller

​Not screened in advance for critics, the remake of the 1987 The Stepfather opens today at the Meridian and other theaters. Here's a quick impression from our Nick Pinkerton:

Awkwardly chummy guys with weird glasses who disappear into darkened rooms with your laughing mother to listen to Donald Fagen solo albums—the stepfather was a ready-to-villainize archetype for the kids-of-divorce who saw the 1987 Terry O'Quinn thriller. That Stepfather was Donald Westlake's reworking of Hitchcock's wolf-in-the-suburbs Shadow of a Doubt, and now Westlake's screenplay has been rejiggered. The kickoff is good—the finale effectively literalizes the expression "broken home"—but director Nelson McCormick doesn't keep things "taut" in between. Rather than do scenes right the first time, he tends to deja vu them (this usually involves Amber Heard, wearing not-too-much). Menaced family and friends include a Gossip Girl guy and a bunch of actors who look faintly like other more-famous actors....

Continue reading "Breaking Review: The Stepfather"

Topics: Arts & Culture and Film

Permalink | Comments (0)

You Know Your Friend's a Hipster ...

Posted Oct. 16 at 2:46 pm by Chris Kornelis

​... when his only copy of Where the Wild Things Are is in French. (But thanks for letting me crash last night, guys!) The movie/Dave Eggers/Spike Jonze version is now in theaters.

Topics: Film

Permalink | Comments (0)

Anyone Wanna See "Black Cannonball Run"?

Posted Oct. 16 at 1:14 pm by Brian Miller

​With their SIFF prize-winning blaxploitation spoof Black Dynamite opening today at the Varsity, filmmakers Michael Jai White and Scott Sanders were eager to talk about the '70s origin of the genre during their Seattle visit on Wednesday. Both are young enough—VHS babies, if you will—that they saw the classics on home video or in second-run movie houses that continued to play the classics (Shaft, Coffy, Dolemite, etc.) well into the '80s. In co-writing the film (review), lead actor White recalls how they reflected back both on blaxploitation movies good and bad. Meaning those, like Shaft, that really seemed to reflect the black experience and a yearning for African-American heroes. And also the cheapies, the rip-offs that simply copied a Hollywood formula and slapped the word 'black' in front of the title.

Thus, White recalls, "They had white movies that worked, like The Godfather, they would just throw the word 'black' in front of it—they had The Black Godfather, Blacula, Blackenstein. And they said, 'Shampoo was a hit, let's have Black Shampoo!' They're not even thinking about how ridiculous it is—black shampoo!?!"

But the fun of blaxploitation, says Sanders, the film's director, is that mixture of the ridiculous and the heroic...

Continue reading "Anyone Wanna See "Black Cannonball Run"?"

Topics: Arts & Culture, Film, and SIFF 2009

Permalink | Comments (0)

Actual Roller Derby Girls on "Whip It"

Posted Oct. 16 at 11:01 am by Brian Miller

​Members of the Rat City Roller Girls league were naturally curious about Drew Barrymore's Whip It (review), which continues at the Metro and other theaters. Below, some choice quotes from the women of the RCRG league, who know firsthand the bruises, glory, and camaraderie of the sport, after seeing Whip It. (Note: They go by their nom de track, not their street names)

"Regarding authenticity, I thought it was really cute that after Babe Ruthless [Ellen Page] took a whip, she would bend her knees real low and stop skating to make it around the corner. It just made me think of being fresh meat and being yelled at perpetually to 'MOVE YOUR FEET' around the turn. Don't stop moving your feet, Babe Ruthless!" —Leeloo, Throttle Rockets

"I thought the actors the director picked were absolutely PERFECT for their characters/roles!" —Skate Trooper, Derby Liberation Front

"While it has a few misses on the track, the passion of a skater is well captured. The acting was superb and Barrymore made a smart move by stepping back and letting the talent shine."—Sister Piston, Sockit Wenches

And if that has you curious about the next RCRG competition, select local teams will actually next take the ring in Philadelphia, for the Women's Flat Track Derby Association's national tournament in Philadelphia Nov. 13-15. So good luck with that.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Film, and Sports

Permalink | Comments (1)

Again, the Brits Discover Seattle

Posted Oct. 15 at 6:00 am by Brian Miller

​Not this again. First it was Everett True and grunge. Now it's Lynn Shelton and mumblecore. The Guardian is falling all over her locally shot indie Humpday, a film we like but which isn't exactly landmark cinema. But, oh, it was made in Seattle! The land of grunge! From which Everett True once reported on Nirvana and company. So that must mean something, right?

The Guardian's Jason Solomons gushes that Humpday "with its risqué humour and realistic dialogue, typifies a new breed of low-budget American independent film about to refresh the mainstream with a breezy energy and honesty not seen for a generation." And later, after much industry blather, he continues, "I believe a new American indie sector has sprung up, almost unnoticed, away from the old hubs of LA and New York."

And where might that be, you ask...?

Continue reading "Again, the Brits Discover Seattle"

Topics: Arts & Culture and Film

Permalink | Comments (1)

SIFF-Favorite Filmmakers Return Tonight

Posted Oct. 14 at 12:54 pm by Brian Miller

​The Golden Space Needle Award at SIFF this year went to the Blaxploitation comedy Black Dynamite (review), which opens Friday at the Varsity. Tonight, however, you can see it early and meet the filmmakers at the Harvard Exit. Co-writer and star Michael Jai White will appear with co-writer/director Scott Sanders; and the two will conduct a Q&A with the audience. (Buy your tickets early.) I'll be speaking with them this afternoon, and hope to have the interview posted Friday.

Harvard Exit 807 E. Roy St., 781-5755, landmarktheatres.com. 7 p.m.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Film, and SIFF 2009

Permalink | Comments (0)

Breaking Review: Couples Retreat

Posted Oct. 9 at 12:07 pm by Brian Miller

​The new Vince Vaughn comedy Couples Retreat opens today at the Meridian and other theaters. Here's a short take from Nick Pinkerton:

Couples, retreat. In the latest from Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau (co-starring and co-writing), we learn that one compelling reason to make a life commitment is so you will always have someone to eat with at Applebee's. The movie's cumulative idea is that, forgetting the delusions of midlife panic, this is all there is, you're already living the best possible life—a message of sedentary wisdom betrayed when the actual film is as undeniably dreary as a plate of gummy Chicken Parmesan Tanglers. Vaughn, Favreau (flagrantly shirtless), Jason Bateman, and Faizon Love are four buddies, just "regular guys"—meaning, as always, puffy, dull-minded lunks, with Vaughn increasingly being Jim Belushi's heir-apparent.

Continue reading "Breaking Review: Couples Retreat"

Topics: Arts & Culture and Film

Permalink | Comments (0)

Colton Harris-Moore's Life Is Worth More Than Yours

Posted Oct. 8 at 1:29 pm by Caleb Hannan

​Colton Harris-Moore, the "Barefoot Burglar" making life miserable for authorities in and around sleepy Camano Island, is now the subject of a possible bidding war.

Yesterday The Daily Weekly was contacted by an anonymous film producer who claimed to have the ear of potential investors. Today another producer, identifying himself only as "Tim from Hollywood," called in hopes that an anonymous e-mail account (barefootburgler@gmail.com - and yes, the misspelling was intentional) and the promise of sweet lucre will be enough to convince Harris-Moore to sell his story rights...

Continue reading "Colton Harris-Moore's Life Is Worth More Than Yours"

Topics: Crime & Punishment and Film

Permalink | Comments (2)

Two Shots at Dave Eggers

Posted Oct. 4 at 9:18 pm by Brian Miller

​You've got two opportunities this week to mingle with the author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: one free, and one that could run you up to 100 bucks. First, Eggers will appear at Elliott Bay in conjunction with his acclaimed new Hurricane Katrina book, Zeitoun (McSweeney's, $24), about a Syrian-American house painter who rescued people in his canoe after the storm. And, for his trouble, he was arrested and accused of being a member of Al Qaeda. Only in America, right? No advance tickets are required, but get in line early. Elliott Bay Book Co., 101 S. Main St., 624-6600, free, noon, Weds., Oct. 7.

Second, that evening at the Cinerama, Eggers will introduce and conduct a Q&A for the new adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. The screening is a benefit for the local branch of his 826 reading/educational nonprofit, 826 Seattle. Eggers wrote the screenplay for the film, which opens next Fri., Oct. 16; it's directed by Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich). The film has been subject to long, costly delays and victim to bad buzz, but they said the same about Titanic, didn't they? Tickets (brownpapertickets.com) are likely to sell out; the top-price ticket gets you into a cocktail reception with Mr. McSweeney's himself. Cinerama, 2100 4th Ave., $30-$100, 7 p.m., Weds., Oct. 7.

Topics: Arts & Culture and Film

Permalink | Comments (0)

Regardless of El Nino, There Will Be Ski Movies

Posted Oct. 1 at 4:37 pm by Brian Miller

​Will there be snow or won't there be snow? Is it an El Nino year or a La Nina year? Cliff Mass says the former, but no one knows what the snowfall will be. Regardless, ski and snowboard movies continue to get made. Tonight's first screening of the season is In Deep, with winter athletes including Crystal Mountain's Ingrid Backstrom navigating big Alaskan couloirs. (King Cat Theater, 2130 Sixth Ave., 448-2829, kingcattheater.com, $15, 8 p.m.)

On Friday night in Fremont, local film company Wild Card presents How the Northwest Was One, which imagines a lawless future to the sport, where "outlaws and renegades struggle to survive in the mountains." The Western-style snow flick includes local riders like Nick Ennen and Patrick McCarthy, with some footage shot up at Stevens Pass. The launch party will also include new gear and designs for winter. If we have a winter. With live music by The Senate Arcade. Beer garden for those 21 and over. (Evo Gear, 122 N.W. 36th St., 632-7598, evogear.com, $5, 7 p.m.)

And you can't have winter without movies from Warren Miller (no relation). The local skier, now retired to the San Juans, sold his company several years ago. But Dynasty will still bear his name. It plays Bellevue's Meydenbauer Center Nov. 14-15 and McCaw Hall Nov. 20-21. Tickets and details: warrenmiller.com.

Topics: Arts & Culture and Film

Permalink | Comments (0)

Podlodowski, Peter Jackson Join Team Mallahan

Posted Oct. 1 at 2:20 pm by Mike Seely

​As the entire city (or at least Ballard) awaits Saturday night's Weekly-sponsored mayoral debate between Average Joe Mallahan and Mike "The Bike" McGinn, Team Mallahan came out with some big personnel news today: the addition of former city councilmember/Microsoft exec/lesbian powerhouse Tina Podlodowski as Campaign Chair. "I know firsthand the skills we need in a mayor, and clearly those skills reside in only one candidate in this race—Joe," said Podlodowski, whose position is an unpaid one, in a statement issued by the campaign.

But Team Mallahan made another fairly high-profile addition to its staff recently: Peter Jackson, who served time as a speechwriter for both Governors Locke and Gregoire, as well as a stint in the war room alongside Christian Sinderman and yours truly on Maria Cantwell's 2000 campaign for U.S. Senate. (Not to be confused with the Lord of the Nerds director, this Peter Jackson is the son of the late U.S. Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson.) Charla Neuman, another Cantwell alum, says Jackson's official job title is "court jester." Knowing Jackson like I do, that's a role he'll fill very, very well.

Topics: Campaign 2009, City of Seattle, and Film

Permalink | Comments (1)