Open Roof Festival featuring The Darcys and the film 'Beauty Day'; Thursday June 30, 2011

I have to give it to the last day of June, it was quite possibly the most lovely evening of my summer yet. It's just one of those evenings you can't really plan, but rather they just sort of happen on their own. This will certainly go down as one of those amazing evenings.

My best pal and I made a very last minute decision to go to the Open Roof Festival, something I put off last year because I discovered it wasn't actually held on a roof. Rather, it's in the back lot of the Amsterdam Brewery on Bathurst just south of Front. Their name isn't entirely off, there is no roof at this venue.

It was made an especially perfect evening because of the weather - a lovely 21 degrees Celsius, perfect for the summer dress. Nicole and I, dressed to the nines took on Toronto.

There was something real surreal about watching a film in the middle of the city buzz.

The Darcys went on around half past eight, the whole idea of these Open Roof sessions is to show the movie right at dusk, so bands kind of leisurely go one with enough time to churn out a few tunes without impeding on the film's spot. This audience was definitely there for the film over the band. It`s kind of not a good atmosphere for a concert as there are seats and terrible terrain to stand on. I feel like it's terrible concert etiquette to sit and watch a band, unless that`s the sort of show. People sat and spoke throughout the gig - not a gig I`d like to play myself.

The sound was mediocre to lousy, although loud enough to carry decently, but i'd credit that to the band`s crisp sound rather than the venues good speakers.  The Darcys did not let me down. I was taking Nicole to see the Darcys for the first time since we had first laid ears on them at the Supermarket in 2008. We both thought they were nothing special. It's really incredible to hear what three years'll do. Times are a changing and things are looking up for this band.

Trouble is they have yet to release an album. How can a band really explode without any material to support what they`re pushing? I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Darcys absolutely need to put an album out, or at very least another EP.

I really love what Zeus has done, they've sort of lagged between releasing their legendary album Say Us and a follow-up, but they have released a couple of EPs to satisfy my needs.

I am happy to report that the fourth song in was a new tune I'd never heard before and it sounded fantastic. This band has definitely not lost steam, they're clearly just being picky with things. I just hope they don't grow bored of their songs before they actually have a chance to really do well.

Now, moving on to the incredible documentary Beauty Day.

Do you use the term "beauty"? I use it time to time when I describe something really great. After seeing this film, it'll definitely work its way more into my daily language.

Meet Ralph Zavadil - a totally off-beat, weird looking guy, the original Jackass. Of St. Catharines, ON, Zavadil probably had a tremendously hard time fitting anywhere, because he has a hell of a lot less shame than anyone else. Zavadil made absurd recordings of stunts he did involving himself. Take the most absurd thing you can possibly think of and Zavadil would probably do it. His program The Cap'n Video Show aired from 1990-1995, with what seemed to have a solid following.


I think this documentary was such a hit with the audience is because Zavadil is human. Humanity really bleeds through in the descriptions and interviews of his life. One can really relate to this man in many surprising ways.

The music throughout this film was selected and mostly made by Justin Small and Ohad Benchetrit, both of the Toronto-based band Do Make Say Think. The song "Major Lift" was used throughout the film, kind of a theme-song for Zavadil almost.



It's always really lovely to see what Do Make Say Think will stick their fingers in.

Further thought:

Do Make Say Think, auteurs?
Documentaries to consider: Jay Reatard doc Waiting For Something and Beauty Day
George Harrison (unrelated)

Jenny Lewis in 'The Hangover Part II'

There's nothing like starting a movie with a good song. Few people probably noticed but the intro song to The Hangover Part II was Jenny Lewis' very laid back tune "Bad Man's World."

Instantly making me a fan of the film. It's one of those disposable films, one time use only.

'Beginners' on my mind

'The Sixites' by Jenny Diski

I'm reading a book called The Sixties by Jenny Diski. The book is one of many from the series "BIG IDEAS//small books." I read this paragraph from the book and completely fell in love with Diski's immense detail and appreciation for film.

I really fell for this in part because I felt something like that after seeing Pierrot le fou at the cinema all alone, just sheer excitement. Beyond that, to love a film enough to see it time afterwards in theatres is an absolutely dynamite feeling.


"Now I filled the gaps of the past at the National Film Theatre, goign to classic silents and Hollywood marvels of the Thirties and Forties. In addition, there was an entirely new cinema to me, from Europe and beyond, to discover. Godard, Fellini, Antonioni, Bergman, Kurosawa, Ozu, Ray, Truffaut, Malle, Pasolini, Polanski, Jiri Menzel. They mattered enough for me to take illicit afternoons off school in order to get to the first matinee showing of 8 1/2 or The Silence at the crucial Academy Cinema in Oxford Street, where I'd sit in the smoky auditorium with fifteen or so other film fanatics, and one or two flashers, overwhelmed by the potent sexual narratives and social critiques, Marxist, psychoanalytic, libertarian or simply different and, to me, astonishing. I absorbed the complexities of relationship, and spiritual or cultural emptiness, played out in tones of grey, with echoes of poets, writers and philosophers. Godard's intensely charming, hopeless and crazy about love film, Pierrot le fou, had me returning eight times during its run. I couldn't take my eyes off a single frame, or miss one step of Monica Vitti's slow, despairing walks through the blighted urban wasteland in Antonioni's Red Desert. I wept sometimes with exaltation, sometimes rage, at the visions coming at me form the Academy screen. And, let me say, all this lived quite easily with my despair at my unsatisfactory hair and concern for the precise shortness of my skirt."

Mike Mills 'Beginners' out June 17

I can't shake how lovely the film 'Beginners' is. I mailed my friend today saying this is the summer of Lovely. All things lovely.

So, I've gone on about the lovely film 'Beginners' Directed by Mike Mills (husband of Miranda July). The film stars the incredible Canadian Chirstopher Plummer, Ewan MacGregor and the very beautiful Mélanie Laurent. The film is about the revelries of life, some joyous some overbearing.

I fortuantely have the pleasure of watching this film at TIFF '10. I was surprised and warmed inside.



I'm most excited by the booming soundtrack that makes me feel equal parts classy and in love.

Soak it in -

"Stardust" – Hoagy Camichael





"Everything's Made For Love" – Gene Austin



"Bach Suite" – David Palmer, Roger Neill, Brian Reitzell

"1955" – David Palmer, Roger Neill, Brian Reitzell

"Sweet Jazz Music" – Jelly Roll Morton





"That Da Da Strain" – Mamie Smith
Note: not the version on the soundtrack, but still lovely.



"Mamanita" – Jelly Roll Morton
Note: couldn't find the original on YouTube, but this is pretty faithful.



"Moon Waltz" – David Palmer, Roger Neill, Brian Reitzell

"Veronica’s Blues" – David Palmer, Roger Neill, Brian Reitzell

"Breezin’ Along with the Breeze" – Josephine Baker



"Beginners Theme Suite" – David Palmer, Roger Neill, Brian Reitzell


"Buddy Bertrand’s Blues" – Jelly Roll Morton
Note: I think this is the same song...

TV on the Radio, Tunde Adebimpe touches Neil Young

Tunde Adebimpe did a really lovely cover of Neil Young's hit off of Harvest Moon called "Unknown Legend." It's just really lovely.

I've been all about the lovely lately.

Happiness in film

I know I railed American cinema, but I think my faith has been restored in two films I have seen in the last year. Tonight, I saw the film Midnight in Paris Directed by Woody Allen.

The other film is the very lovely Beginners.

Get your heart all warm and fuzzy with these trailers:

Kelly Reichardt's 'Meek's Cutoff'

Woody Allen `Midnight In Paris`

I`m pretty thrilled to see Woody Allen`s new film Midnight In Paris. Beyond the fact that it takes place in Paris, France, I`d just like to point out how creative Woody Allen really is. He has an almost French imaginitive feel when it comes to his writing and direction.



In the last few years, I`ve really taken to French New Wave cinema, real-life films with big imagination and happy excitement. There`s something really lovely about all the old Truffaut and Godard films that have no colour, but are so full of life. Which makes Pierrot le fou all the more exciting, because it had colour.

I just watched the François Ozon film Potiche, or The Trophy Wife. A relatively light film that stars French classic vedettes - Catherine Denueve and Gerard Despardieu. By it`s finish, I couldn`t help but think about how different French cinema is from North American. North American film is so predictable and simple minded. The French have fun, they accentuate the oddities and complexities of life in a way that North American film could never do.



My word on Woody was that he, a New York native, does push the envelope significantly. His films often harp on people`s flaws, he essentially magnifies human flaws. For that, I really love all that Allen does - people are imperfect and make poor choices. I may be so bold to argue that North American film portrays a false ``perfect`` image of people. Don`t get me wrong, Allen casts the prettiest of pretty people in his films, but they all have their flaws.

I`m really looking forward to seeing his new film `Midnight In Paris.` Beyond the all-star cast, I look forward to seeing a non-New York Woody Allen film. I swear, I can`t keep up with this man, he`s on a one a year cycle. Film factory.

Also, a cute thing to point out is that on the Woody Allen filmography page, there are three boxes that serve to filter out what his role in the films listed have been. Writer, Director and Actor, the majority he has done all three, Allen truly is an auteur.

It`s also sort of interesting to note, his most recent films he hasn`t acted in. I guess being in your seventies has it`s downfalls...

Hot Docs 2011

Only made it out to three documentaries this year.

The National Parks Project 
Blood in the Mobile 
Lymelight


All really great. I had a funny talk with my cousin, he said that he didn't want to watch a film that looked sad or depressing. I found this kind of funny because a lot of the documentaries I have seen in the past have been really depressing.

Tough truth and we don't want to see it.

Wish I got out to see more, but line-ups were absolutely foul.

You can check out The National Parks Project online and in the next month you can actually watch them. Seeing them live all in one mash was really hard to take in. Little bits would be best.

'The Good Heart'

Have you heard of this film? Probably not.

I saw it at TIFF a couple of years back and I loved it to pieces. I would love to see it again sometime, but it's one of those films that was lost in the abyss of non-acknowledgement.

I only know two people in the world that  have seen this film.

A bit of gossip - Paul Dano is dating Zoe Kazan.

Little Miss Sunshine

It's been a while since any one has mentioned the film Little Miss Sunshine. I first saw this film four or five years ago when it hit DVD. I remember laughing so hard and so very honestly.

Who could forget the brilliant soundtrack with songs by DeVotchka and Sufjan Stevens. And that dynamite cast.

Zoe Kazan

I am so in love with Zoe Kazan, yet another blue eyed and fair skinned woman with the name Zoe.  She keeps sprouting up in films that I have been seeing or wanting to see lately. She's the type of person that plays a supporting role or extremely minor role, but can really stand out.

She's the granddaughter of the brilliant Director Elias Kazan - I don't think it gets much better than that. She seems like a real down to earth person with bucket loads of talent. She picks pretty ballsy characters to play, without completely losing touch with the vitality of youth.

I found a really great interview of hers a few years back, she talks about her role in the Sam Mendes film Revolutionary Road and her boyfriend Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood)

“My parents’ only advice when I started dating was, ‘Never date an actor.’ So when I met Paul, I was like, ‘Oh fuck, I didn’t want to meet you!’”

This reminded Ms. Kazan of one of the few times that her grandfather acknowledged her planning to be an actress and gave her some advice. He was visiting her at Yale and met a boy she was dating—a grad student studying poetry.

“Oh, he’s a poet,” Mr. Kazan said to his granddaughter. “He’s not going to be able to support you if you plan to be an actor.”

She's also in Josh Radnor's new film which I'm excited to see this week, it's playing at the Carlton if you have the time to see it:

'Incendies' (again), Radiohead

OK, maybe a little much but I can't stop thinking about this fantastic film. I also cannot stop listening to "You and Whose Army?" by Radiohead. It's such a dozy song that comes off almost lazy sounding, without the pick up party way through the song.

I don't think I've seen such a powerful song intro to a film -


Opening Sequence from Incendies from Dirk Roth on Vimeo.


Please see this film!!!

"You and Whose Army?" Radiohead/Incendies

I really can't get over the use of Radiohead's "You and Whose Army?" in the film Incendies. It's absolutely haunting.

Best use of a song in a film that I've heard in ages.

YOU MUST SEE INCENDIES in theatres.

Additionally, you know what's real funny? I can't stop listening to Amnesiac when I just bought the new one.

'Incendies' Dennis Villeneuve

My wonderful evening of Radiohead. I purchased Radiohead's latest album on vinyl today, in addition to hearing their music set perfectly to the beautiful film Incendies.

z

If you haven't seen Incendies yet, there's still time. It has to be one of the most well-told stories I've seen all year. It reminded me a bunch of the Kristen Scott Thomas film Sarah's Key - they basically both trace back former events, flipping narratives from the past and present. Both films unfold their stories with great sophistication, keeping me on edge throughout.

I can't glow enough of the film's use of "You and Whose Army" by Radiohead. It was haunting but not painfully out of cultural context - it definitely got me more into the movie this way. I love minimal soundtracks, it really better focuses a movie whose prime interest isn't in storytelling with music. There's something really mood evoking about Radiohead, it just gives me the chills to listen to that song and think about the movie.

'A Guy Thing' Soundtrack and Jason Lee

Not really much to say about this everything-goes-wrong comedy but they very smartly used Ben Kweller and The Shins in the soundtrack. I'm on a bit of a Jason Lee kick with Almost Famous, A Guy Thing and Chasing Amy.

Selected tunes:

"Family Tree" and "That's How It Should Be (Sha Sha)" by Ben Kweller

"One By One All Day" by the Shins

Kevin Smith 'Chasing Amy'

I'm a little late on the View Askewniverse and the Kevin Smith franchise.

I like the Smith has created a continuous home for his recycled characters. There's something completely comfortable about continuity and furthering along a fabricated character's story. There's also something cheesy about it too, but I definitely don't get the cheese vibe from Chasing Amy.

I couldn't help but think about how much the record store Ben Affleck's character was browsing in looks like BMV Bloor's record store downstairs. Same set up I guess.

For a New York film, there weren't many shots of the city. Thank goodness for Hollywood!

Michel Gondry, Jon Brion, Charlie Kaufman 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an absolutely stunning film. I know I'm a little bit behind in acknowledging it but it is a magnificent film. As far as an Charlie Kaufman film goes, I have to say Eternal Sunshine left me with bundles more hope than Synecdoche, New York did. Both these films are very introspective, they look deep at what surface dramas are unable to touch on.

Throughout the film I felt so compelled by Kate Winslet and her acting abilities. I kept thinking back to her role as a German woman in the film The Reader. What a range!

I love these simple movie posters, they remind me of original book covers before the movie cover comes to destroy a book-turned-movie title.

So a few more words on the film - I really adored the soundtrack, not to my surprise in the slightest bit, Jon Brion was the brains behind it. Brion is the amazing producer of many albums I'm sure you have on your ipod - Elliott Smith's From a Basement on a Hill (the original 2001 version, unreleased), Spoon's Gagagdkljfdgagaa (ridiculous title) as well as albums by Keane and Aimee Mann. He's known for his Beatles like production results.

I really dig the atmosphere and environment he created with the tunes from the soundtrack. Especially, the The Korgis tune "Everybody's Got Something to Learn" he re-visioned with Beck.

The Who's 'Quadrophenia'

I'm going take this opportunity to show you how awesome the Who's film Quadrophenia is. When I saw this artwork on the single CD soundtrack six or seven years ago, I knew I fell in love: