Important flick

Its not every day writers/directors pour their souls into telling a good story considering how fast Hollywood churns out films these days. Ever since I met Stuart Townsend 7 years ago, he’s been researching, writing, and passionately creating a super complex narrative of what really went down those 5 days in 1999 in Seattle. For those that don’t know, The World Trade Organization (WTO) was scheduled to meet and thousands of American citizens showed up to protest. How did they organize? Online. It was considered the first real internet revolution in the USA.

Stuart lived off a steady diet off Adbusters and GNN while gobbling up book after book on globalization, free trade, farm subsidies, protesting organizations, and global warming, among others. The results? A smart script. Complicated characters. From the Seattle police going to work that day, to innocent bystanders stuck on the streets, to the difficult job of Seattle’s mayor (ex Vietnam vet no less) having to call in the National Guard and greenlight forceful control over peaceful protesters. The tales intertwine in Crash-like manner culminating into an emotional (and real life) positive ending. “People-power” in action.

The movie got bought by ThinkFilms at this years Toronto Film Fest, so keep an eye open for it in theaters. We hope to see Stuart directing many more stories in the future.
J

The website is another world unto itself and goes deeper and deeper into the real issues everyone came out into the streets that day. To get schooled on the causes, go to:

BATTLE IN SEATTLE OFFICIAL SITE

Cool documentary.

Jonathan Paskowitz is an old friend who’s been talking about making this movie on his father for sooooo many years now. Im super happy he finally bottled up his family for others to see and to stand the test of time. I’ve met several of the Paskowitz clan (8 sons and 1 daughter) who were all raised in a 24-foot camper on beaches all over the world. All home-schooled, and intelligent at their own crafts. They were sort of a gypsy surfing experiment raised by the Doctor Dorian Paskowitz, who at 86 yrs old, still surfs every day. Quite a powerful story.

Also, as you would guess, their current family business happens to be the longest running surf camp in the USA. Now there’s loads of Paskowitz grandchildren in the mix who can probably teach your kid, too. A genuine tribe still growing.
J

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT PASKOWITZ SURF CAMP — HISTORY, SCHEDULES, FEES, LOCATIONS.

More of our 2 cents from the Toronto Film Fest.

Below are 3 flicks that Marni (from our Magazine division) cherry-picked from Toronto Film fest. These are her thoughts.

Marni’s “3 dark quiet films”

(1) MISTER LONELY, Dir. Harmony Korine (Kids, Gummo)

A bizarre and beautiful story. Diego Luna plays a lonely american Michael Jackson impersonator living in Paris who encounters a Marilyn Monroe lookalike, Samantha Morton. She then whisks him away from Paris to her commune in the Highlands, where its members consist of famous characters like Charlie Chaplin, Queen Elizabeth, James Dean, Shirley Temple, among others. Michael feels like he’s finally found a home a people with whom he can relate, when a tragedy occurs and he realizes that this life isn’t as jolly is it appears. He returns to Paris and begins his new life as himself. I must say, the sheer absurdity was entertaining throughout.

(2) NOTHING IS PRIVATE, Dir. Alan Ball (Writer for “American Beauty”, Creator “Six Feet Under”)

This is set in the early 90’s and stars the impressively creepy Aaron Eckhart who plays an army reservist who embarks on a dangerous flirtation (which eventually leads to blatant molestation) with his 14-year-old new neighbor played by newbie Summer Bishil. This up-and-comer is one to watch – gorgeous and believable. Her father, for all you ‘Six Feet’ fans, is played by ‘Olivier’ (the creepy art school teacher) whose performance as the misogynist father is so over the top it’s lovable – he added a much needed comic relief to this film, just when you thought it was too disturbing to handle. Toni Collette, as always, gives a flawless performance as the concerned neighbor who tries to protect this young girl from her neighbor and her father. Bottom line: mildly depressing? Sure. But I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen.
(3) THE GIRL IN THE PARK, Dir. David Auburn (writer for “Proof”)

Starring Sigourney Weaver, Kate Bosworth and Alessandro Nivola. The director David Auburn skillfully explained before the film began that this film explores the complexities of grief- not immediate grief, but rather the long term effect grief has its survivors of a child’s abduction. You first witness Sigourney Weaver’s character losing her 3 year old daughter in a New York City Park. The film then cuts to 16 plus years later, and you see that she’s now living alone, clearly divorced from her husband (and former life). Kate Bosworth plays a streetwise misfit who takes advantage of Sigourney’s character’s generosity and loneliness and winds up crashing long term at her apartment. During this time, they form a friendship that straddles reality, as Sigourney is clearly using Kate’s character to fill the void of the daughter she lost. This film is pretty morose but has outstanding performances by Sigourney and Kate, and especially by Alessandro Nivola, who plays the accomplished son that Sigourney’s character never really gave a shit about.
-Marni

Greg’s opinion.

This post is written by our edit wiz booker, Greg, who just got back from the madness of movies shown last week in Toronto.

My Favorite Toronto Film Trend: The Movie Musical.

Though its been proclaimed before, it seems to be back with creative interpretations.

1-IM NOT THERE- Todd Haynes filters Bob Dylan through many representations of who the living icon really is- even Oscar Winner Cate Blanchett has her own take…

2-ACROSS THE UNIVERSE- As much as I love MOULIN ROUGE, I LOVED this epic telling of 60s Vietnam politics set against a Beatles soundtrack led by Evan Rachel Wood & Jim Sturgess.3-CONTROL- Acclaimed photographer Anton Corbijn tells the story of Ian Curtis (enigmatic newcomer Sam Riley and his long suffering wife played by Samantha Morton)4-JUNO- Ellen Page matches GHOST WORLD angst with music all done by Kimaya Dawson of The Moldy Peaches. There are references abound to Hole, Patti Smith, Sonic Youth.5-INTO THE WILD- True story based on the adventures of a college graduate’s journey to escape his privilege life for the adventure of Alaska would not have the same impact with the songs of Eddie Vedder who wrote and peformed the orginal songs.On top of that, the film MARGOT AT THE WEDDING (directed by “The Squid and the Whale” director Noah Baumbauch) had a great musical moment with a rendition of Blondie’s “Sunday Girl”. Jennifer Jason Leigh & Nicole Kidman also shout-out to R.E.M. in the movie.Respect to music all around.
-Greg