"Life isn't about toys... it's about mistakes." FilmBuff has released a trailer for a weird indie film titled The Arbalest, a quirky romantic drama starring Mike Brune. It's about an inventor of the world's greatest toy (called the Kalt Cube) who reflects through flashbacks on his obsession with a woman who hates him. The cast includes Tallie Medel, Matthew Stanton and Felice Heather Monteith. One review describes: "If David Lynch and Wes Anderson had a cinematic baby, it might look something like The Arbalest." It won the top prize at this year's SXSW Film Festival, and looks like it has some twisted but amusing aspects to it. There's all kinds of weird touches, including the production name: "A Fake Wood Wallpaper Film." Check it. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Adam Pinney's The Arbalest, direct from YouTube: From the minds behind "Too Many Cooks" comes The Arbalest: the tale of enigmatic,...
- 11/10/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
New Jersey authorities have launched an investigation into a pet store owner after more than sixty puppies were found kept in a van overnight on Monday, People confirms. Two Paramus police discovered the puppies early Monday morning at around 3 a.m. while on patrol, a press release by the Paramus Police Department states. Officers Daniel Derienzo and Matthew Lombardo were doing routine checks of local business parking lots when they heard crying and whining coming from a white van allegedly parked behind a local pet store. "[Officers] immediately smelled a strong scent of urine and feces emanating from the van," the press release states.
- 4/5/2016
- by Harriet Sokmensuer, @HGSokmensuer
- PEOPLE.com
New Jersey authorities have launched an investigation into a pet store owner after more than sixty puppies were found kept in a van overnight on Monday, People confirms. Two Paramus police discovered the puppies early Monday morning at around 3 a.m. while on patrol, a press release by the Paramus Police Department states. Officers Daniel Derienzo and Matthew Lombardo were doing routine checks of local business parking lots when they heard crying and whining coming from a white van allegedly parked behind a local pet store. "[Officers] immediately smelled a strong scent of urine and feces emanating from the van," the press release states.
- 4/5/2016
- by Harriet Sokmensuer, @HGSokmensuer
- PEOPLE.com
Title: The Arbalest Director: Adam Pinney Cast: Mike Brune, Tallie Medel, Felice Monteith, Matt Stanton and Marc Farley Trying to decipher the complicated and puzzling nature of people’s complex emotions can be a bewildering experience, especially when their intentions are seemingly drastically different from your own. That’s certainly the case with both the main character and the story in first-time feature film director Adam Pinney’s new drama, ‘The Abalest.’ The movie, which the filmmaker also wrote the script for, chronicles a mystifying anti-hero’s baffling motivations as he unsuccessfully pursues the woman he proclaims to love, who doesn’t reciprocate his romantic feelings, for nearly a decade. The drama, which received the [ Read More ]
The post SXSW Movie Review: The Arbalest appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post SXSW Movie Review: The Arbalest appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 3/21/2016
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
If it's one thing we know about "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" director Adam McKay, it's that he shoots a lot of footage. There were so many alternate takes from the first 'Anchorman' that he cobbled together an entire second movie from the footage, entitled "Wake Up, Ron Burgundy" that was included in special two-packs with the original movie, and has joked that he shot more film for "Step Brothers" than Francis Ford Coppola did for "Apocalypse Now." But according to a new interview with Empire, McKay is planning an entire alternate version of "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" with completely new jokes. Plus: a brand new poster for the movie! While explaining why he had to cut the joke in the film's trailer where the gang (including Will Ferrell, Steve Carell and Paul Rudd) mistakes Matthew Stanton's openly gay character for a vampire, McKay says that...
- 10/25/2013
- by Drew Taylor
- The Playlist
In this roundup from the Encore and Mumbrella Annual, we look back at the year in magazines.
——————————————————————————————————–
A decline in ad revenue for The Australian Financial Review Group leads to the closure of its technology publication Mis Magazine. Rumours surface the publisher will also close financial title CFO Magazine, which CEO Brett Clegg denies.
——————————————————————————————————–
The Standard Media Index reports magazines have seen an 8.2 per cent decline in advertising spend for 2011, the largest of all media.
——————————————————————————————————–
Sandra Hook, CEO of News Limited’s magazine arm NewsLifeMedia, departs. The news comes just months after she led the company rebrand.
——————————————————————————————————–
In February, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reports that Acp Magazine’s mens’ title FHM has reduced its circulation by 50 per cent compared to the same period in 2011. The fall is one of the biggest circulation drops in Australian magazine history. In March, the title closes. Acp also offloads two of its sporting titles,...
——————————————————————————————————–
A decline in ad revenue for The Australian Financial Review Group leads to the closure of its technology publication Mis Magazine. Rumours surface the publisher will also close financial title CFO Magazine, which CEO Brett Clegg denies.
——————————————————————————————————–
The Standard Media Index reports magazines have seen an 8.2 per cent decline in advertising spend for 2011, the largest of all media.
——————————————————————————————————–
Sandra Hook, CEO of News Limited’s magazine arm NewsLifeMedia, departs. The news comes just months after she led the company rebrand.
——————————————————————————————————–
In February, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reports that Acp Magazine’s mens’ title FHM has reduced its circulation by 50 per cent compared to the same period in 2011. The fall is one of the biggest circulation drops in Australian magazine history. In March, the title closes. Acp also offloads two of its sporting titles,...
- 12/23/2012
- by Luke
- Encore Magazine
Mumbrella will stage a question time session at this week’s Publishers Australia magazine conference.
Panellists include NewsLifeMedia boss Nicole Sheffield who will also present the opening keynote of the second day of the Magazine Week conference and Michelle Katz, media director of Fmcg giant Unilever.
Also on the panel are Publishers Australia chairman and Westwick-Farrow Media boss Geoff Hird and James Hier, chief strategy officer at media agency Mec Global.
The Friday morning session will be moderated by Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes.
Magazine Week kicks off at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney on Thursday with a keynote address from Matt Stanton who chairs Magazine Publishers of Australia and is CEO of Acp Magazines, which is about to rebadge as Bauer Media. It will then be followed by a discussion on the state of the industry featuring Pacific Magazines boss Nick Chan, Haymarket Media boss Jeremy Vaughan and great Southern Press CEO Zelda Tupicoff.
Panellists include NewsLifeMedia boss Nicole Sheffield who will also present the opening keynote of the second day of the Magazine Week conference and Michelle Katz, media director of Fmcg giant Unilever.
Also on the panel are Publishers Australia chairman and Westwick-Farrow Media boss Geoff Hird and James Hier, chief strategy officer at media agency Mec Global.
The Friday morning session will be moderated by Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes.
Magazine Week kicks off at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney on Thursday with a keynote address from Matt Stanton who chairs Magazine Publishers of Australia and is CEO of Acp Magazines, which is about to rebadge as Bauer Media. It will then be followed by a discussion on the state of the industry featuring Pacific Magazines boss Nick Chan, Haymarket Media boss Jeremy Vaughan and great Southern Press CEO Zelda Tupicoff.
- 11/12/2012
- by mumbrella
- Encore Magazine
Australia’s magazine industry is to be congratulated.
Over the last few years, the industry has been participating in a massive piece of global market research. And the results are in.
If you don’t invest in promoting your medium, the share goes backwards. Who’d have thought?
As Matt Stanton, the new chairman of Magazine Publishers Australia pointed out last night, the UK magazine market has an 8% share of media spend. In Australia, it’s 4%.
It turns out that in order to sell your product, you’ve got to market it.
While structural change may have played a role, the fact that magazines haven’t been selling themselves while the likes of Free TV, the Outdoor Media Association, and Commercial Radio Australia have been eating their lunch is a far bigger factor.
In the UK, magazine publishers work together to promote their medium. In Australia, they’ve been hopeless.
Over the last few years, the industry has been participating in a massive piece of global market research. And the results are in.
If you don’t invest in promoting your medium, the share goes backwards. Who’d have thought?
As Matt Stanton, the new chairman of Magazine Publishers Australia pointed out last night, the UK magazine market has an 8% share of media spend. In Australia, it’s 4%.
It turns out that in order to sell your product, you’ve got to market it.
While structural change may have played a role, the fact that magazines haven’t been selling themselves while the likes of Free TV, the Outdoor Media Association, and Commercial Radio Australia have been eating their lunch is a far bigger factor.
In the UK, magazine publishers work together to promote their medium. In Australia, they’ve been hopeless.
- 10/31/2012
- by mumbrella
- Encore Magazine
Media agencies are allocating magazines just half the share of advertising spending that the medium receives in the UK, the new chairman of Magazine Publishers Australia has complained.
Acknowledging the tough economic market, Matt Stanton – who also runs Bauer Media – told a media event to relaunch the Mpa: “I don’t understand why the UK is on 8% while we are only on 4%. Agency spend has declined at double the rate of consumer spending. It does not make logical sense to us. It’s a mystery to us and something we need to look at.”
Recent years have seen organised marketing of the medium almost non existent. For a while Acp, now rebadged as Bauer after changing ownership, withdrew from the Mpa and the organisation went into hibernation. In November last year, former Mpa chairman Nick Chan, who runs Pacific Magazines, told a Magazine Week Mumbrella Question Time session: “We’ve...
Acknowledging the tough economic market, Matt Stanton – who also runs Bauer Media – told a media event to relaunch the Mpa: “I don’t understand why the UK is on 8% while we are only on 4%. Agency spend has declined at double the rate of consumer spending. It does not make logical sense to us. It’s a mystery to us and something we need to look at.”
Recent years have seen organised marketing of the medium almost non existent. For a while Acp, now rebadged as Bauer after changing ownership, withdrew from the Mpa and the organisation went into hibernation. In November last year, former Mpa chairman Nick Chan, who runs Pacific Magazines, told a Magazine Week Mumbrella Question Time session: “We’ve...
- 10/30/2012
- by mumbrella
- Encore Magazine
Stanton
Australia’s major magazine publishers look set to try again to work together to promote the medium after a couple of years of near inactivity.
Magazine Publishers Australia has announced former Freeview head Robin Parkes as executive director. It follows a long period without the Mpa having staff following the departure of Helen Kingsmill about two years ago.
Meanwhile Pacific Magazines boss Nick Chan has handed the chairmanship of the Mpa to Acp boss Matt Stanton. Last year Chan acknowledged: “We’ve done a shit job of actually branding our medium.”
The Mpa executive is made up of the CEOs of the three largest magazine publishers: Chan, Stanton and Nicole Sheffield of NewsLifeMedia. Stanton told Mumbrella: “Hiring Robin is our biggest investment. This is a statement of intent from us. There are misquotes and misunderstandings about how strong magazines are – we need to get the message of how engaging the are for consumers.
Australia’s major magazine publishers look set to try again to work together to promote the medium after a couple of years of near inactivity.
Magazine Publishers Australia has announced former Freeview head Robin Parkes as executive director. It follows a long period without the Mpa having staff following the departure of Helen Kingsmill about two years ago.
Meanwhile Pacific Magazines boss Nick Chan has handed the chairmanship of the Mpa to Acp boss Matt Stanton. Last year Chan acknowledged: “We’ve done a shit job of actually branding our medium.”
The Mpa executive is made up of the CEOs of the three largest magazine publishers: Chan, Stanton and Nicole Sheffield of NewsLifeMedia. Stanton told Mumbrella: “Hiring Robin is our biggest investment. This is a statement of intent from us. There are misquotes and misunderstandings about how strong magazines are – we need to get the message of how engaging the are for consumers.
- 9/12/2012
- by Cathie McGinn
- Encore Magazine
The decline of men’s magazine Zoo Weekly has gathered pace, the latest set of Audit Bureau of Circulations data suggests.
The Acp Magazines title fared worst of all of the audit weekly titles, with a decline in the first three months of the year of 29.1% to 65,632,
The fall reflects the poor state of the men’s magazines sector. Acp closed FHM in March, a month after it posted a 50% sales drop. News Limited axed Alpha magazine last year and Acp closed Ralph.
Acp boss Matt Stanton has warned that other closures will follow.
Faring just as badly as Zoo Weekly were Acp’s soft porn titles People – down 30,7% to 40,199 – and Picture, down 29% to 37,663.
Acp’s TV Week – organiser of The Logies – also took a hit, down 10.5% to 167,540.
Just two weekly titles saw circulation growth. Acp’s Ok! was up 2.7% to 99,877 and Pacific Magazines’ Who was up 0.5% to 132,289.
Stanton said...
The Acp Magazines title fared worst of all of the audit weekly titles, with a decline in the first three months of the year of 29.1% to 65,632,
The fall reflects the poor state of the men’s magazines sector. Acp closed FHM in March, a month after it posted a 50% sales drop. News Limited axed Alpha magazine last year and Acp closed Ralph.
Acp boss Matt Stanton has warned that other closures will follow.
Faring just as badly as Zoo Weekly were Acp’s soft porn titles People – down 30,7% to 40,199 – and Picture, down 29% to 37,663.
Acp’s TV Week – organiser of The Logies – also took a hit, down 10.5% to 167,540.
Just two weekly titles saw circulation growth. Acp’s Ok! was up 2.7% to 99,877 and Pacific Magazines’ Who was up 0.5% to 132,289.
Stanton said...
- 5/10/2012
- by mumbrella
- Encore Magazine
Acp movie magazine Empire has revamped its website.
EmpireOnline.com.au now has new features and an overhauled content management system which was previously “hopelessly outdated”, according to editor Daniel Murphy.
The relaunch is to be celebrated with a screening of Peter Berg-directed blockbuster Battleship at Hoyts Broadway in Sydney.
Murphy said: “We are delighted to finally have a digital headquarters that works so well in tandem with our print edition. While attracting an impressive active membership community of 15,000 users, our previous content management system was hopelessly outdated. Access to our 10,000 strong reviews reference library is now infinitely easier, our trailer hub is now hosted on the site itself, and the entirety looks beautiful and is a pleasure to navigate.”
He added: “The magazine remains the cornerstone of the brand, providing timely in-depth features, extended Q&As, 80-plus reviews and our beloved posters. The website specialises in the kind...
EmpireOnline.com.au now has new features and an overhauled content management system which was previously “hopelessly outdated”, according to editor Daniel Murphy.
The relaunch is to be celebrated with a screening of Peter Berg-directed blockbuster Battleship at Hoyts Broadway in Sydney.
Murphy said: “We are delighted to finally have a digital headquarters that works so well in tandem with our print edition. While attracting an impressive active membership community of 15,000 users, our previous content management system was hopelessly outdated. Access to our 10,000 strong reviews reference library is now infinitely easier, our trailer hub is now hosted on the site itself, and the entirety looks beautiful and is a pleasure to navigate.”
He added: “The magazine remains the cornerstone of the brand, providing timely in-depth features, extended Q&As, 80-plus reviews and our beloved posters. The website specialises in the kind...
- 4/4/2012
- by Robin Hicks
- Encore Magazine
Featuring Bondi Hipsters Dom and Adrian (and their creators Christiaan Van Vuuren and Nick Boshier), plus Mumbrella’s Tim Burrowes, Robin Hicks, Cathie McGinn, and Colin Delaney (55:37).
The hipsters think they’re on FBi Radio (1:00) What’s next for the characters? (8:35) Boshier on BeachedAz and TV networks picking up online shows (12:53) The strategy behind hipsters for online and TV (14:18) Trent from Punchy to get a mocoumentary (21:33) Van Vuuren on his win at The Battle of Big Thinking (24:12) Acp’s Matt Stanton and magazine closures (27:53) A perfunctory metro radio ratings review (35:58) Epilepsy, Triple J and love song dedications (39:22) Acma vs The people vs Kyle Sandilands (41:14) Regulating the internet (48:10) Did Grill’d get grilled on social media? (51:22)
You can also subscribe to The Mumbrellacast on iTunes and other podcatchers.
Direct link to Mumbrella’s iTunes store listing for the...
The hipsters think they’re on FBi Radio (1:00) What’s next for the characters? (8:35) Boshier on BeachedAz and TV networks picking up online shows (12:53) The strategy behind hipsters for online and TV (14:18) Trent from Punchy to get a mocoumentary (21:33) Van Vuuren on his win at The Battle of Big Thinking (24:12) Acp’s Matt Stanton and magazine closures (27:53) A perfunctory metro radio ratings review (35:58) Epilepsy, Triple J and love song dedications (39:22) Acma vs The people vs Kyle Sandilands (41:14) Regulating the internet (48:10) Did Grill’d get grilled on social media? (51:22)
You can also subscribe to The Mumbrellacast on iTunes and other podcatchers.
Direct link to Mumbrella’s iTunes store listing for the...
- 3/30/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
I doubt it was his intention, but there was only one topic of conversation on the press table after new Acp Magazines boss Matt Stanton faced the media for the first time: which magazines is he about to close?
It came after a refreshingly bullshit free assessment of the company’s position. There was a nod towards the fact that Acp had been slow to start implementing a digital strategy, and an acknowledgement that more magazines will go.
None of it came as a surprise to hear, but oddly it was much more confidence building than the company’s previous whistling-in-the-graveyard approach that all is well.
And of course it’s worth remembering that the point of the lunch was to remind the market of the strength of one if its key titles – the redoubtable Australian Women’s Weekly.
But we’ve perhaps got so caught up in the drama of magazine deaths,...
It came after a refreshingly bullshit free assessment of the company’s position. There was a nod towards the fact that Acp had been slow to start implementing a digital strategy, and an acknowledgement that more magazines will go.
None of it came as a surprise to hear, but oddly it was much more confidence building than the company’s previous whistling-in-the-graveyard approach that all is well.
And of course it’s worth remembering that the point of the lunch was to remind the market of the strength of one if its key titles – the redoubtable Australian Women’s Weekly.
But we’ve perhaps got so caught up in the drama of magazine deaths,...
- 3/27/2012
- by mumbrella
- Encore Magazine
Acp boss Matt Stanton
New Acp Magazines boss Matt Stanton has used his first public outing to signal that he will be closing more titles.
The comments from Stanton – at a Sydney media lunch to spruik flagship title Australian Women’s Weekly – came just a fortnight after Acp closed men’s title FHM.
Stanton told the audience: “The global economy and fluctuating consumer confidence will affect our business, and your businesses. We can’t stop that happening. What we can do, however, is making sure Acp brands remain relevant to Australian consumers and advertisers going forward.
“In summary, what does this mean? We will continue to create, curate and commercialise our content in an even more targeted and progressive way. We will continue to launch new magazines as we will do with Women’s Fitness and reinvent old magazines as we’re just doing now with PC User moving into Tech Life.
New Acp Magazines boss Matt Stanton has used his first public outing to signal that he will be closing more titles.
The comments from Stanton – at a Sydney media lunch to spruik flagship title Australian Women’s Weekly – came just a fortnight after Acp closed men’s title FHM.
Stanton told the audience: “The global economy and fluctuating consumer confidence will affect our business, and your businesses. We can’t stop that happening. What we can do, however, is making sure Acp brands remain relevant to Australian consumers and advertisers going forward.
“In summary, what does this mean? We will continue to create, curate and commercialise our content in an even more targeted and progressive way. We will continue to launch new magazines as we will do with Women’s Fitness and reinvent old magazines as we’re just doing now with PC User moving into Tech Life.
- 3/27/2012
- by mumbrella
- Encore Magazine
After weeks of speculation, FHM magazine is to close, Acp has announced.
Redundancies are likely as a result.
The May issue will be its last, and the website will also be shut on the day the title is taken off the shelves.
The news comes just a month after the title saw its circulation drop by a half in the last round of ABCs.
A statement from the publisher read:
Acp Magazines today announced it will produce the final print edition of Australian men’s monthly magazine, FHM.
The May cover-date issue will be the last print edition while the website fhm.com.au will close when that issue goes off-sale on May 13th.
Acp Magazines is endeavouring to redeploy employees, however some redundancies are expected.
“The decision to close a title is never an easy one and FHM is certainly no exception,” said Matt Stanton, CEO, Acp Magazines. “FHM is a terrific brand but,...
Redundancies are likely as a result.
The May issue will be its last, and the website will also be shut on the day the title is taken off the shelves.
The news comes just a month after the title saw its circulation drop by a half in the last round of ABCs.
A statement from the publisher read:
Acp Magazines today announced it will produce the final print edition of Australian men’s monthly magazine, FHM.
The May cover-date issue will be the last print edition while the website fhm.com.au will close when that issue goes off-sale on May 13th.
Acp Magazines is endeavouring to redeploy employees, however some redundancies are expected.
“The decision to close a title is never an easy one and FHM is certainly no exception,” said Matt Stanton, CEO, Acp Magazines. “FHM is a terrific brand but,...
- 3/15/2012
- by Robin Hicks
- Encore Magazine
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- The democratization of film thanks to new technology has meant that almost anyone with something to say has a shot at saying it. This has led to any number of films that are long on passion and somewhat lacking in execution. North Starr is just such a film.
The story of a young black man's search for identity, it is more vibrant and affecting than many movies with 10 times the budget. What it lacks in polish, it almost makes up for in heart and soul. The film could attract a modest crossover audience before finding a home on cable.
First-time producer-director-writer-actor Matthew Stanton clearly is working more from inspiration than experience. Blending the poetic with the prosaic and originality with the formulaic, he has put together an old-fashioned, socially conscious picture with a contemporary beat. Music of all kinds -- rap, blues, country, tribal drums -- is pulsating throughout the film.
North Starr operates on a literal and allegorical level. It opens in the Houston hood where Demetrius (Jerome Hawkins) is reluctantly pressed into doing some nefarious job with his pal Justice (David Haley). When Justice is killed in action, Demetrius starts out on his life journey, winding up as if blown by the wind in the tiny West Texas town of Trublin.
Befriended by Darring (Stanton), Demetrius soon encounters the remnants of the old South. The sheriff and his two racist sidekicks are so venal as to be almost cartoonish. As in most places like this, they are harboring an awful secret that somehow starts to show up in Demetrius' dreams. Haunted by his past and uncertain of his future, he is nurtured by Darring, his foul-mouthed friend Wayne (Wayne Campbell) and the hospitality of an elderly white couple at the North Starr ranch.
It's the feeling and sentiment that counts here more than logic, as changes in tone between the mystical and real world are occasionally jarring. The young cast, often awkward in front of the camera, doesn't help the cause. Yet the film has a great energy and means what it says. The poetry and songs Demetrius writes in his journal are used as a voice-over and a way to show his inner self. As a city kid lost in the Texas wilderness, it's hard not to root for him.
Shot on location in the dead of summer by cinematographer Peter Levermann, North Starr has an appropriate gritty look and makes good use of the scrubby plains and rolling hills of the countryside. Nonstop music by Carlos Jones and others is infectious and rousing but is mixed too loud. The film also could benefit from some judicious editing to its 122-minute running time. But in the end, it's the spirit that carries it home.
NORTH STARR
Fat Bessy Films in association with Cinelever
Credits:
Screenwriter-director: Matthew Stanton
Producers: Matt Stanton, Paula Windham, Peter Levermann
Director of photography: Peter Levermann
Production designers: Greg Ellery, Wayne Campbell
Music: Carlos Jones
Costume designer: Fat Bessy Films
Editor: Peter Levermann
Cast:
Demetrius
Jerome Hawkins
Darring Clements: Matthew Stanton
Wayne: Wayne Campbell
Sprit: Chris Sullivan
Justice: David Haley
Justin: Zach Johnson
May Summers: Lindsie Parker
Hud: Gary Glenn Crane
T.J.: Isaac Lamb
Running time -- 122 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARK CITY -- The democratization of film thanks to new technology has meant that almost anyone with something to say has a shot at saying it. This has led to any number of films that are long on passion and somewhat lacking in execution. North Starr is just such a film.
The story of a young black man's search for identity, it is more vibrant and affecting than many movies with 10 times the budget. What it lacks in polish, it almost makes up for in heart and soul. The film could attract a modest crossover audience before finding a home on cable.
First-time producer-director-writer-actor Matthew Stanton clearly is working more from inspiration than experience. Blending the poetic with the prosaic and originality with the formulaic, he has put together an old-fashioned, socially conscious picture with a contemporary beat. Music of all kinds -- rap, blues, country, tribal drums -- is pulsating throughout the film.
North Starr operates on a literal and allegorical level. It opens in the Houston hood where Demetrius (Jerome Hawkins) is reluctantly pressed into doing some nefarious job with his pal Justice (David Haley). When Justice is killed in action, Demetrius starts out on his life journey, winding up as if blown by the wind in the tiny West Texas town of Trublin.
Befriended by Darring (Stanton), Demetrius soon encounters the remnants of the old South. The sheriff and his two racist sidekicks are so venal as to be almost cartoonish. As in most places like this, they are harboring an awful secret that somehow starts to show up in Demetrius' dreams. Haunted by his past and uncertain of his future, he is nurtured by Darring, his foul-mouthed friend Wayne (Wayne Campbell) and the hospitality of an elderly white couple at the North Starr ranch.
It's the feeling and sentiment that counts here more than logic, as changes in tone between the mystical and real world are occasionally jarring. The young cast, often awkward in front of the camera, doesn't help the cause. Yet the film has a great energy and means what it says. The poetry and songs Demetrius writes in his journal are used as a voice-over and a way to show his inner self. As a city kid lost in the Texas wilderness, it's hard not to root for him.
Shot on location in the dead of summer by cinematographer Peter Levermann, North Starr has an appropriate gritty look and makes good use of the scrubby plains and rolling hills of the countryside. Nonstop music by Carlos Jones and others is infectious and rousing but is mixed too loud. The film also could benefit from some judicious editing to its 122-minute running time. But in the end, it's the spirit that carries it home.
NORTH STARR
Fat Bessy Films in association with Cinelever
Credits:
Screenwriter-director: Matthew Stanton
Producers: Matt Stanton, Paula Windham, Peter Levermann
Director of photography: Peter Levermann
Production designers: Greg Ellery, Wayne Campbell
Music: Carlos Jones
Costume designer: Fat Bessy Films
Editor: Peter Levermann
Cast:
Demetrius
Jerome Hawkins
Darring Clements: Matthew Stanton
Wayne: Wayne Campbell
Sprit: Chris Sullivan
Justice: David Haley
Justin: Zach Johnson
May Summers: Lindsie Parker
Hud: Gary Glenn Crane
T.J.: Isaac Lamb
Running time -- 122 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/24/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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