Two movies -one Canadian & one Mexican- try to be a breath of fresh air from the hollywood junk we are used to in theatres. Both are coming out on dvd this Tuesday and both are worth seeking out. If you are tired of the consumer junk polluting the cinemas, this post is for you.
Anvil ! : The Story Of Anvil (4/5) is the kind of documentary I love recommending to people that still think it's a worthless format or -even worse- a boring one. Anvil is neither one of these commodities, in fact it's better than anything coming out on dvd this week. The fact the self titled Metal band has been around for close to 3 decades and have inspired the likes of Lars Ulrich and Slash is astonishing- what's even more astonishing is how unknown this band really is. The struggle and courage to carry on and live the dream is a somewhat repetitive theme in the film- which is a kind of real life based Spinal Tap, without the atrociousness & implausibility of course. The Canadian based band is seen going on a worldwide tour where they end up performing -in some instances- to just about 5 people in the crowd. To say this movie has the Rock And Roll spirit is an understatement, Singer Lips and Drummer Robb are not just looking for fame- they are driven by the music and want to spread the word around. It's a shame not many people will catch this heartbreaking and hilarious gem- due to the fact it is so small and so rebellious in its filmmaking. Seek it out and spread the word.
Anvil ! : The Story Of Anvil (4/5) is the kind of documentary I love recommending to people that still think it's a worthless format or -even worse- a boring one. Anvil is neither one of these commodities, in fact it's better than anything coming out on dvd this week. The fact the self titled Metal band has been around for close to 3 decades and have inspired the likes of Lars Ulrich and Slash is astonishing- what's even more astonishing is how unknown this band really is. The struggle and courage to carry on and live the dream is a somewhat repetitive theme in the film- which is a kind of real life based Spinal Tap, without the atrociousness & implausibility of course. The Canadian based band is seen going on a worldwide tour where they end up performing -in some instances- to just about 5 people in the crowd. To say this movie has the Rock And Roll spirit is an understatement, Singer Lips and Drummer Robb are not just looking for fame- they are driven by the music and want to spread the word around. It's a shame not many people will catch this heartbreaking and hilarious gem- due to the fact it is so small and so rebellious in its filmmaking. Seek it out and spread the word.
Also out is Sin Nombre (3.5/5), a devastating road movie from Mexico that tells the story of a Teenage gang member that wants out &--in the process- meets a young Mexican girl who wants out of the country w/her father & uncle. On a train they try to reach the border illegally & meet unfortunate circumstances in the process. The movie packs so much in so little time that there really is no room to breathe, in fact there is a reminescent feel to it following such films as Maria Full Of Grace & the more recent Sugar. No worry, Bravely directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga- it's a bold statement on the poverty and gangland that always seems to be around in Mexico. If the ending seems pat and predicatble the rest of the film is fascinating wildride into the Mexican outland- go for it.
Remember when DC Studios told us Steven Soderbergh was coming in for "the final weeks of principal photography" on "The Batman Part II"? Yeah, now it's months.