AFI FEST 2012: Day 2
The second day of the AFI FEST PRESENTED BY AUDI is an absolute treat for me. I’m still in that “new fest” phase where I’m hammering out my schedule for the rest of the week, seeing just how many screenings I can cram into a single day. I also have the adrenaline from Day 1 coursing through my system. No thought is given to the epic exhaustion I’ll be feeling in just a few short days, or the “fest delirium” that sets in after the third Midnight Screening in a row. It’s all unbridled excitement for new cinema, folks!
Here’s some of the highlights from Day 2 and where they rank on my Flickchart.
IT’S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY
(SHORTS PROGRAM 6)
It’s Such A Beautiful Day – USA – Director Don Hertzfeldt
In the concluding chapter of the EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY TRILOGY, Bill struggles to piece together his crumbling psyche. He goes through the motions over and over again and finds himself losing track of time. In it all, he must find the beauty of the universe and figure out what it means to live forever.
How It Entered My Flickchart
1. vs. The Bourne Legacy – Looks like Bourne is going to come up in these rankings often. It’s probably going to lose against all of these films. It certainly loses against It’s Such A Beautiful Day
2. vs. The Master – This was a surprisingly tough call. Given my animation bias, you would think I’d go for the animated film. What tips the scale in favor of The Master in this instance is that it’s a more complete piece whereas It’s Such A Beautiful Day relies on the audience having seen the first two parts.
3. vs. Eurotrip – This one wasn’t a tough choice. Raunchy teen comedy versus a thoughtful animated piece? Animation wins!
4. vs. Moonrise Kingdom – I quite liked Moonrise Kingdom and found it to be one of the more accessible Wes Anderson films. It wins in this matchup on that fact alone, but its charm, wit, and quirk certainly help!
5. vs. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back – I enjoyed Kevin Smith’s outing well enough, but it was ultimately empty nerd-references and hasn’t really aged all that well for me. Hertzfeldt wins.
6. vs. Celine and Julie Go Boating – And now we get to the tougher matchups. While Celine was really good, it felt overly long and kind of dragged for me in the middle. It’s Such A Beautiful Day wins on length and pacing.
7. vs. Regarding Henry – Harrison Ford might be a swell dude, and this film might be among my favorites of his, but it lacks the emotional connection that I had with It’s Such A Beautiful Day.
8. vs. Little Shop of Horrors – Little Shop is among my favorite Musical Comedies and that is what gives it the edge in this matchup.
9. vs. The Host – Pacing is the only thing that keeps The Host from winning this ranking.
10. vs. Spy Kids – Say what you will about this flick from Robert Rodriguez, but I quite liked it and think that the fun on display is difficult to beat. Sorry, Hertzfeldt.
It’s Such A Beautiful Day entered my Flickchart at #447 of 1405 movies. It also entered my 2012 AFI Film Fest chart at #3.
SHORTS PROGRAM 6 HONORABLE MENTIONS: Just Ancient Loops (#1191 of #1406); Narcocorrido (#988 of #1406).
HOLY MOTORS
HOLY MOTORS – France – DIRECTOR LEOS CARAX
This rather complex tapestry of a film follows Mr. Oscar as he embarks on nine appointments requiring him to fit into different character types, almost as if he were on a movie set. He’s guided around by his chauffeur Celine, and together they question what is real and what is simply performance.
How It Entered My Flickchart
1. vs. The Bourne Legacy – I shouldn’t be surprised that this matchup keeps happening, given that Legacy is roughly the middle of my chart. Holy Motors wins. Why? The only time I ever think about the Jeremy Renner led flick is when it comes up in the rankings. I haven’t stopped thinking about Motors or what it all means since the screening itself.
2. vs. Spartacus – Kubrick wins. NEXT MATCHUP!
3. vs. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein – I have a soft spot for this dynamic duo, and give them preference in this ranking. Not only that, but I also really like the old Universal Monsters.
4. vs. Trading Places – I dug Trading well enough, but I repeat my argument from the Bourne matchup. Just not as thought-provoking. Motors wins it.
5. vs. Miss Congeniality – I didn’t hate this one quite as much as everyone else. It may have been the whole Sandra Bullock trying to act like a slob part that won me over, or perhaps the insanely ridiculous plotting. Still, it doesn’t hold a candle to the performances on display in Motors.
6. vs. National Lampoon’s Vacation – If we go by which is the funnier film, Vacation wins. Let’s go with that.
7. vs. The Uninvited – My preference in this matchup is for horror. I like ghost stories, too, so this wins by an even wider margin.
8. vs. Welcome to the Dollhouse – I’ve only seen this Solondz film, but it was a doozy, and it wins this matchup due to that fact.
9. vs. Snowtown – This was a tough film to watch, but it was a really good film. A case could be made that Holy Motors is better on a technical level, but my vote is with Snowtown.
10. vs. Family Guy: Blue Harvest – Was very “eh” toward this “film.” Motors wins this without much contest.
Holy Motors entered my Flickchart at #569 of #1406 movies. It also entered my 2012 AFI Film Fest chart at #4.
That’s about it for Day 2. A lot to think about. I hope you guys get a chance to see these two films and share your input. Remember, there’s still more to come so hang in there for Day 3!
