Just guessing: 8 possibly enjoyable movies during Chicago’s onslaught of film festivals
We can assure you these films are not abominations to the art of filmmaking
Pontypool is a Canadian movie about zombies that spread their infection through speaking, eh?
If you’re a film buff, then hunker down: Chicago is about to beat you senseless with celluloid. Over the next couple of months, four film festivals are set to open: the renowned Chicago International Film Festival (Oct. 8 through Oct. 22), the slasher-renowned 24-hour Music Box Massacre (Oct. 10-11), for the little ones, the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (Oct. 22-Nov. 1), and for the socially conscious, the Reeling Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Nov. 5-Nov. 15). Now, despite our best efforts, The A.V. Club was unable to catch the 400+ films being shown (that planned “420 films in 72 hours” marathon to catch them all was fundamentally flawed), but we can make an educated guess as to which films to be excited about. (Seriously though, check out each festival’s respective site for more complete listings and showtimes.)
Chicago International Film Festival
Teaser: Originally presented as a UK television mini-series, this trilogy follows a series of murders in Yorkshire and the rampant corruption within the police that’s revealed during the subsequent investigation.
Why it’s worth seeing: Red Riding’s multiple interrogation scenes feel like a better, noir version of Law & Order, only casting the investigators as the villains. (There’s a twist even Richard Belzer and Ice-T haven’t thought to pull off.) Plus, James Marsh, the Academy Award-winning director of the amazing documentary Man On Wire, takes the helm for the second film.
Familiar faces: Sean Bean, better known as Boromir from The Fellowship Of The Ring, stars in the first and third films as a Yorkshire businessman. But unlike that other trilogy, Red Riding isn’t 11 hours long—it’s a more manageable five.
Teaser: A depressed, emotionally strained postman looks to his beloved Manchester United football (soccer) team for an escape from his stress. Next thing he knows, he’s hallucinating that former star player Eric Cantona is suddenly his best pal, there to dish out philosophical advice.
Why it’s worth seeing: Undying devotion to a sports team seems to be a common theme in recent cinema (see Patton Oswalt’s Big Fan)—and if any sport is chock-full of crazy fans, it’s soccer.
Familiar faces: We American rubes may be unfamiliar with Eric Cantona, but in England he’s referred to as “King Eric” and considered one of Manchester United’s greatest players. Think of this as a British Space Jam.
Teaser: An Egyptian caterer goes on a killing spree to please the goddess Ishtar (hence the seemingly random shots of the Sphinx in the trailer).
Why it’s worth seeing: Often considered the first “splatter film,” Blood Feast was a pioneer in its gratuitous shots of blood-soaked limbs. Don’t you owe it to yourself to see the ‘60s version of gratuity?
Familiar faces: Perhaps you’ve seen director Herschell Gordon Lewis’ other feel-good romps, like the “nudist musical” Goldilocks And The Three Bares, the exploitation flick She-Devils On Wheels, or the demented The Wizard Of Gore. Just try to request those with a straight face at your local video store if you haven’t.
Teaser: A Canadian shock jock and his staff hear reports of horrific, zombie-esque violence in Ontario, tied to a virus that spreads through speech.
Why it’s worth seeing: It’s nice to see a zombie flick deviate from the usual “I’m infected, somebody cook up some brains” formula. There appears to be a little cranial munching in Pontypool, but the “zombie speech virus” mystery makes for a more intriguing premise.
Familiar faces: Radio host Grant Mazzy is played by Stephen McHattie—not a household name, but he was the original Nite Owl in The Watchmen and on four episodes of Seinfeld as Dr. Reston, the psychiatrist who forgets to leave “Crazy” Joe Devola his prescription.
Children’s International Film Festival
Sunshine Barry And the Disco Worms
Teaser: A down-and-out earthworm is beaten by the realities of the cruel earthworm world in this animated Dutch film. One day, he finds an old disco record, and recognizes his true calling: dancing.
Why it’s worth seeing: We’ve all been waiting for a Danish or disco version of Antz—now we get both! But, wait, does this mean disco is just now reaching Denmark?
Familiar faces: Unless you’re familiar with Danish actors, you won’t recognize any voices. But you will recognize the grooves: Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland” is as timeless as Beethoven.
Teaser: A rag-tag group of wild animals must stave off the advances of an eccentric millionaire and his hired henchmen in this Spanish CGI film.
Why it’s worth seeing: Animated eco-dramas, where the endearing native creatures must fight some ruthless industrialist, are a tried-and-true genre for kids movies. Remember FernGully?
Familiar faces: Yes, that human in the trailer is Antonio Banderas, who produces the film. Banderas, of course, has considerable computer-animated work under his belt opposite Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers in the Shrek franchise.
Reeling Gay & Lesbian Festival
Teaser: A Jewish family copes with the shocking revelation that their son is dating a non-Jewish dude, forcing the father to desperately persuade a playgirl to seduce his son.
Why it’s worth seeing: The “coming out” comedy has been explored pretty extensively, but this is such a cheesy slant that it almost dares you to witness it.
Familiar faces: Carmen Electra, The Sopranos' Vincent Pastore, and Frasier’s Saul Rubinek all make appearances, but nobody steals a scene like a yarmulke-clad Bruce Vilanch, who plays uncle Max. Great to see him branching out into new roles other than “permanent fixture on Hollywood Squares.”
Teaser: A recently widowed British father moves to Cape Cod in 1973 to start a new life, but still struggles to preserve a secret that could devastate his daughters: He’s gay.
Why it’s worth seeing: The film appears to capture the early ‘70s bleakness that underscores the Vietnam/Watergate years. Plus, Tate Donavan’s faux British accent is spot-on.
Familiar faces: The Tony-nominated star of Rent, Adam Pascal, who looks a little like Killers frontman Brandon Flowers in the trailer, plays Donovan’s sideburns-donning gay lover (retroactive spoiler alert!).
