Well damn, it has been quite some time since I decided to post about film. It was a pretty active decision, as I considered it many times throughout the last 2/3 year or so. The problem is, after being bombarded with some really great films at the HFA, I didn't really see anything worthwhile for sometime. I kept wanting to do some bullshit "top 10 of 2007" list like all sorts of "real" critics do, but I didn't really see 10 worthy films last year. Sure, I thought it was funny that Killer of Sheep was mentioned in a handful of top 10 lists and all, but I felt like most, if not all, of the other 9 were heaps of shit. Actually, around midyear (when I started this blog) I ditched film and replaced it with photography. Somehow it was easier to get into for a while. But now I think I'm back.  (It's amazing what getting linked from a blog people actually read will do to one.)

Let's get back to that last post. I'd just seen Paprika with the Cinetrix and decided to hoof it around the boston metro area (do they even use that?) in order for me to see the sights, taste the tastes, and hear the sounds, etc. etc.  We had decided to take in an early evening screening of Aaron Katz's (fucking possesives) film Quiet City. I had heard good things about his Dance Party, USA and wanted to see what all the hubbub was about.  Well, the film blew me away.  Seriously, if I had a top 10 list, it would make the cut.  Eight months is a long time, though, and I can't really review a film without having seen it at least in the previous week or so. However, the DVD was released a while back by soon-to-be-amazing Benten Films (rumored friends of the Cinetrix and also already labeled the Criterion Collection of independent film).  Perhaps I'll finally get around to picking it up and can shout a decent review.  For now, a secure spot in my "hot shit in '07" list will have to do.

I had to make the 15-hour drive home the next day and wanted to call it an early evening after spending the week getting sicker and drinking extravagant amounts of beer.  So we decided to call it a night.  Except Joe Swanberg's Hannah Takes the Stairs was up next.  Being a Bujalski fanboy, I forced myself to stick around.  It wasn't difficult to do.  After the brilliant Quiet City, Hannah was a letdown.  I'm not sure if I couldn't get used to Bujalski playing the "cool guy" or what, but the whole thing just seemed forced. Once again, 8 months passed, therefore I'm not going to review. A blurb will have to do. Even a bad one.

I did run into Mike Gibisser before the film and we sat together and hung out a bit. After the films, he, Katz, and a few other filmmakers dashed out into the merry eve with the previously mentioned Ray Carney in tow. Of course the Cinetrix and I tagged along to get a Q and A with a little truth serum involved. It seemed most shared my sentiments of Hannah Takes the Stairs.  I say most, because Carney spent much of the evening singing its praises.  I guess we didn't get it. Either way, it was a pleasant ending to an interesting week.  Well, the imbibing went on until 3AM.  So that was pleasant.  Nine AM and 1000 miles to go the next day wasn't.

My interest in film was piqued and peaked for a while, knowing I wouldn't be able to top that feeling anytime soon. Plus, Carney told me real digital filmmakers only shoot in 24p...