The Apocalypse and the Coen Brothers are Near...

I would like to see the Coen brothers shoot a post-apocalypse movie. Does anybody do a better job of making movies about loners in a desolate country than them? Even when the movie is 'big' with lots of characters, the landscapes in a Coen movie are sparse and the people are simple. Unfortunately, it looks like John Hillcoat has beaten them to the punch to what is probably the best post-apocalyptic novel ever written: Cormac McCarthy's The Road.

It seems like the Coens would have noticed this book, too. After all, they did shoot McCarthy's No Country for Old Men--a book and movie that reeked of desolation and the lone hero. The Road follows a father and son as they make their way across the devastated wastelands of what used to be America. Along the way, they meet wholesome characters like raiders, theives, invalids, lunatics, and cannibals--great fare for a movie. But did Hillcoat tackle this movie with the same reverence that the Coen brothers gave McCarthy?

I read the novel, and like most people, was immediately blown away by it. This prompted an immediate second reading and a Google search of the book that let me to learn that the movie was in pre-production (yes, this was some time ago). When I read that Hillcoat was directing the film, I had mixed feelings. Would he Hollywood up the movie with all kinds of special effects or would he keep the book simple--like the book--and concentrate on the characters and story? Hillcoat did shoot a great, bleak movie called The Proposition. Maybe he'll treat this story right.

Now the trailer for The Road is out (you can watch it below) and we're seeing glimpses of how the apocalypse happened (a subject that was completely avoided in the book). Groan... But then the footage that showls the man and boy travelling pretty much looks like the book spelled it out. Will the movie be true to the book? Who knows? There will be people who will complain that it didn't (no matter how the film turned out) and there will be people (mostly those who never read the book) that will complain about the lack of information/backstory. All that's important is one thing: That The Road is a good movie. On October 16 we will all find out when the film hits the theatres.

Going back to the Coen brothers for a moment, the Austin Film Festival is showing a special screening of their first movie, Blood Simple as part of the Made in Texas Film Series. This showing is sponsored by the Texas Film Commission and The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. You can catch it on Wednesday, June 10 (7:30pm) at the Texas Spirit Theater. Get more info at the Austin Film Festival website or get your tix at the door.

And just in case you're wondering, here are my favorite post-apocalyptic movies at this point:

5. The Road Warrior. Mel Gibson before he fell off the bus and at the height of his coolness. Watch grubby characters fight over fuel and food.

4. 28 Days Later. Besides turning in an entirely too-believable reason for the end of it all, the movie turned the whole Zombie premise on it's head. No more slow-walking dead!

3. The Omega Man. The first of two Charleton Heston movies on this list. This movie is surprisingly bleak and depressing considering the year it was released.

2. 12 Monkeys. Terry Gilliam and Brad Pitt. 'Nuff said.

1. Planet of the Apes. Could a more unique and satisfying end-of-the-world be conceived? Watch two hours of Heston killing those 'damn dirty apes.'

Posted by: Rich Newman
Contact Rich at info@austinfilmguerilla.com

Does the World Need Another Tarantino Movie?

There was a time when I would have listed Quentin Tarantino as one of my favorite writer/directors. And why not? Pulp Fiction knocked everybody on their heels when it was released and it spawned a host of clone movies--a lot of which were also great--that basically instigated a new American film movement. He had a fresh style, a unique language and original approach to presenting his story. This was also evident in the things Tarantino wrote, but didn't direct: Natural Born Killers and True Romance are great examples.

Then came Jackie Brown, Kill Bill, and Death Proof. Each film a little less...impressive...than the last. And what was a brief (and actually not bad) cameo for Tarantino in Pulp Fiction turned into full blown roles. Bad roles. Or at least bad acted (could anybody stand watching him in Robert Rodriquez's Planet Terror?).

Now we have Inglourious Basterds. A film about covert operatives gruesomely killing Nazis in occupied France during WWII. Will it be clever? Will it be another attempt at a 'grindhouse' film? Will it show even a glimpse of the glory of Tarantino's early years?

On one hand, Quentin was smart enough to bring in Brad Pitt--an actor known for making a movie instantly cool. Pull Pitt from Snatch, Kalifornia or 12 Monkeys and you probably have a stinker. On the other hand, Quentin cast Eli Roth in the movie--another director known for less-than-stellar acting appearances. And then you have Mike Myers. Maybe reprising his role of Dr. Evil? What interesting/corny accent will Myers bring to Basterds?

Then there's the story/plot. First off, the title of this movie is, in itself, a remake/repeat. Italian director Enzo Castellari's movie Quel Maledetto Treno Blindato was titled Inglorious Bastards for the United States release of the film--and was also about American soldiers in Nazi occupied Europe.

Second off, the movie is clearly attempting to be--at least in part--a comedy. This is evident looking at some of the actors that were (at least at some point) associated with the movie: Eddie Murphy, Simon Pegg and Adam Sandler. Comedy is not Tarantino's strong point. Good comedy in a Tarantino movie is when he hits upon a bit of obscure nostalgia and reminds us of a good role or movie from the 70's.

And then there's the subject of the movie: Killing Nazis. Sure, they're bad guys and we can all agree that Nazis did a lot of horrible things. But they were also people. So maybe the movie is a 'flip the script' type of story, where the good guys (the Allies) become the bad guys because of their methodology (cruelly beating up Germans with baseball bats) and the bad guys become the victims. Blah, blah, blah...

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Inglourious Basterds will bring Quentin Tarantino rushing back to his previous lofty role in modern American cinema and will be a story for the ages. But then would such a movie be revealed to the world on American Idol?!

I think not.

Posted by: Rich Newman
Contact Rich at info@austinfilmguerilla.com

Local Spotlight: Extra Butter Pictures

As always, Austin Film Guerilla aims to place information that is relevant into the hands of guerilla/independent filmmakers in Austin, Texas. With that in mind, I am going to start featuring local companies that foster and work in the Austin film scene. The first company I want to talk about is Extra Butter Pictures.

Extra Butter Pictures is an Austin-based production and distribution company that not only uses local talent and crew, but shoots/distributes movies made in Austin, Texas. Their upcoming release Campus Radio was co-produced with Canadian filmmaker Aaron James Sorensen and Peace County Films. Here's the official info:

Campus Radio is an indie-rock film chronicling the life of Xavier P. Thortenberry; popular campus radio DJ, devoted band manager, used record store employee, and star running-back of the local unicycle-football team. Played by Canadian actor Tom Belding, Xavier's life is upended when his star band Meathouse finds itself needing a new lead singer-then upended again when, against his better judgment he allows a girl named Tommy to audition. Played by Austinite Lauren Walsh, Tommy goes from being the band's saving grace to being their destroying angel-as Xavier is taken for the ride.

Shot in Austin and San Marcos in the last months of 2008, Campus Radio is currently in post-production preparing for fall release. It's eclectic soundtrack will be a who's-who of current underground indie-rock musicians from Austin and around the world.

In addition to Campus Radio, EBP producer Laura Singleterry has also co-produced a short film along with River Pirate Productions and producer Nathan Grubbs of New Orleans called Privateer. With aspirations of becoming a feature film, Privateer will be screening at the Short Film Corner at the 2009 Cannes film festival.

With offices in Austin and Vancouver, Canada, Extra Butter Pictures is currently producing four features films in Texas and acts as a local Service Producer for production companies wanting to take advantage of the incentives involved with shooting in and around Austin. If you are wanting to use Extra Butter Pictures' services, or are just interested in getting more information about EBP's distribution channels, contact Laura Singleterry (laura@extrabutterpictures.com) for more info.

Stay tuned to Austin Film Guerilla for more spotlight companies/services in the future and good luck with your guerilla film project!

Posted by: Rich Newman
Contact Rich at info@austinfilmguerilla.com