I wrote some film reviews for the Cucalorus Film Festivals catalog but I missed the deadline so the reviews didn't make it in. I had not been feeling well when they were due and I messed up. But the Festival is awesome if you want to check it out. It's in Wilmington, NC,
Nov. 12th to 15th. We will be showing over 100 independent films.
It is an amazing weekend celebrating film, art and creativity. Come visit.

Here are my reviews. I think they came out pretty good. -m

Cucalorus Film Festival Reviews (2008)

Prometheus’ Garden
Director: Bruce Bickford

Bruce Bickford’s film, inspired by the Greek myth of Prometheus, is a surreal journey into a world where one thing blends into the other causing the viewer to be mesmerized and repelled at the same time. Bickford has inspired countless animators over the years. Though still living in somewhat obscurity he has been touted as the “master of claymation.” Prometheus’ Garden takes us on a journey of Prometheus, a titan who created the first mortals from clay while stealing fire from the gods. Bickford is indeed “The Master of Claymation” and this is a must-see for those interested in the work of a true artist. Not for the faint of heart.

Warning: EXTREME CLAYMATION!!!

Countdown
Director: Josiah Aiken-Drake

Countdown is a short animation film that puts an interesting spin on all types of countdowns. Counting down is not just for numbers anymore. This is Aiken-Drake’s first adventure in film animation with a non-narrative structure.

For the Love of God
Director: Joe Tucker

Graham (voice Steve Coogen) is an overgrown man-child who lives in a
Christian bookshop with his very pious Mother and an eavesdropping
Jackdaw (voice: Ian McKellen). As Graham retreats into a fantasy world he begins an unholy fascination with God. His Mom catches on and tries to put the kibosh on it.
“For the Love of God” is fascinating, funny, strange and yet amazing.
Check it out. It has one zinger of an ending.

Winner-Best Animated Short

Chicago, Rhode Island and Santa Barbara Film Festivals.

Official Selection:

Sundance Film Festival, Festival de Cannes and Telluride Film Festival

Open Your Eyes
Director: Susan Cohen

Sometimes life gives us more than we think we can handle. Then we learn that we really can handle anything that life throws our way. Julia, played by Traci Dinwiddie, is struggling after her diagnosis of breast cancer. Who is she now that she is not the same woman anymore? While attending a bridal shower she meets an interesting, outspoken woman, in of all places, the bathroom. She realizes life is not about what you lose. It’s about what you find. Open Your Eyes is a heartwarming film about all women and our struggle for identity and grace in the face of challenges and life changes.

Winner

American Film Institute

DWW Jean Picker Firstenburg Award for Excellence.

Wait
Director: Meg Lansaw

Wait is beautiful film written and directed by Wilmington’s own director Meg Lansaw.
It is the story of a reclusive writer, haunted by an idea that keeps playing over in her head. Each night she types the same story while envisioning the brutal attack of two sisters. The story is loosely based on an actual occurrence in director Lansaw’s life. At 19, Lansaw and her sister were attacked at gunpoint. She was locked in the trunk of a car and shot at twice while her sister made a narrow escape. Luckily, because of a thick wallet in her back pocket, Lansaw escaped without a scratch. But the incident lit a fire under her. She has not stopped since. This is her second film at Cucalorus. “80 Windows” was shown at Cucalorus 12 (2006). Wait is a treat to watch. The lighting is superb and the simple setting lends to an interesting and suspenseful mood.

Last week was so much fun here in Wilmington. It started out on Tuesday night 10-21-08. James Taylor played at the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater for the Barack Obama campaign. Right across the street from our house. It was awesome. I have never been a huge JT fan,
but right in our own backyard. You could hear him singing from our patio. Super cool.
He sounded so clear and exactly like he sounds on his records. We didn't get tickets but we tailgated in the park. Our friend Katie went down early and snagged us the perfect spot with a view of the stage. We tailgated with or neighbors Katie, Lisa, Ray and their kids. Lisa made a delicious salad and we all brought food and chilled. The weather was beautiful.
What a wonderful evening.

On Wednesday night I went to see "Mulligans Wake" with my Mom and Aunt.
Which is dinner theater. Basically it is an Irish dinner within a play. The members of the audience are part of a fictional funeral party. Rory Mulligan has died and everyone is at the pub for a meal and a good send off. It was great and extremely funny. I didn't know my mom was such a quick wit. When asked if she knew that she had $847.52 bill for whiskey and Guiness. She said she did, and that she enjoyed every minute of it. She got a good laugh for that.
Later when my Aunt Eileen was asked to tell a story about how the deceased Rory helped her during his life. My Mom squeeked out, "He carried her home when she was drunk"
That got a really big laugh. I almost fell off my chair thinking about the visual.
My aunt Eileen being carried home as a drunk-to funny. My Mom is quite silly.

Friday night we went to UNCW to see An Irish Homecoming. It was the Band Cherish the Ladies and a bunch of Traditional Irish musicians and Irish step dancers. It was amazing. I had no idea what to expect. It was great and well worth the 20 dollars for tickets. It was actually worth way more than that. We got a real bargain. Mom and aunt Eileen enjoyed it tremendously.

Saturday was the Fall version of the Wisteria fest. The weather was beautiful and only a bit of rain in the morning. There were 6 bands and lots of people camping over night. Jeff played with The Clams and he is also now sitting in with Low Victor Echo our singer songwriter friend Steve Sellers band.

Sunday night closed out the week with The Steve Miller Band playing at Legion Stadium. A few doors down from us. Now you could really hear that. It was loud. We could hear it in the house with the windows closed. Never been a fan but I had no idea how many hit songs he had. Jeff and I walked down there and grooved to the music.

What a great week. We hardly left home and experienced such diverse entertainment.
We are amazingly lucky to have found such an awesome place to live. Kudos to Wilmington.