Category Archives: Saturday Matinee

Saturday Matinee: Little Murders

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“Little Murders” (1971) is a dark comedy based on a play written by Jules Feiffer and was the first feature film directed by Alan Arkin. The plot centers on vivacious interior designer Patsy who falls in love with photographer Alfred after saving him from a beating, despite (or because of) his physical and emotional passivity. The film’s comedic elements stem from Patty’s attempts to break Alfred out of his shell and their opposite approaches in dealing with the insanity of the world around them. Little Murders is memorable for its over-the-top nihilistic conclusion and great performances by Elliot Gould, Marcia Rodd, Alan Arkin and Donald Sutherland (as a hippy priest officiating one of cinema’s funniest wedding scenes).

Saturday Matinee: Electric Dragon 80000 V

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“Electrict Dragon 80,000 V” (2001) Is a hyperkinetic experimental film directed by Sogo Ishii, whose noise-punk band Mach 1.67 provided the soundtrack. Tadanobu Asano stars as Dragon Morrison, a reptile whisperer with the ability to channel electricity who confronts Thunderbolt Buddha, a TV repairman/vigilante with similar electric powers. Deciding there’s only room in the city for one electric powered superhero, they have an epic showdown on the rooftops of Tokyo. As Augustine Joyce, the YouTuber who uploaded the film accurately noted: “One of the most rocknroll movies of all times. Surreal, Bizarre and Unique… Seems this is a Cult Film.”

Saturday Matinee: The Brother From Another Planet

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“The Brother From Another Planet” (1984) is a thinly veiled sci-fi race allegory from writer/director/editor/actor John Sayles. Joe Morton plays “the Brother” a mute alien slave who crash lands near Harlem while trying to evade his alien oppressors. The Brother looks similar to a human black man but has three toes and telekinetic abilities. The aliens in pursuit are similar in appearance to white government agents (one of whom is played by John Sayles). Though dated and low budget, the film is recommended for its great lead performance from Joe Morton and an intelligently humorous script.

Saturday Matinee: Medianeras (aka Sidewalls)

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“Medianeras” (2011) depicts the quirky and serendipitous road to romance between Martin, an agoraphobic web designer, and Mariana, an aspiring architect who live in neighboring apartment buildings in Buenos Aires. Medianeras is the first feature film from writer/director Gustavo Taretto who creates a nice balance of quirkiness and realism in a story that has as much to say about the alienation and chaos of urban life as the humanistic potential of communications technology.

To view with English subtitles, click the “cc” button on the bottom left corner of the video window. Then click the “settings” button next to it, click “Spanish (automatic captions)”, click “translate captions”, scroll to “English” and click “ok”.

Saturday Matinee: Lost in Thailand

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lost-in-Thailand“Lost in Thailand” (2012) is arguably not a “cult film” since it’s one of the highest grossing films in China, though it might be considered one in the U.S. where it’s relatively obscure. The film was written, produced, and directed by Xu Zheng, who also starred in the film as Xu Lang, the inventor of a miraculous new energy source. In order to get added funding to develop his innovation he needs to get a signature from his company’s largest shareholder who happens to be in Thailand. Xu’s quest is made more difficult than expected due to the antics of Wang, a comically annoying character he meets on the flight to Thailand, and Gao, a rival scientist secretly tailing them.

Saturday Matinee: if…

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sjff_01_img0231“if…” (1968) is one of the all-time classic student rebellion films directed by notorious anarchist Lindsay Anderson. In his first screen role, Malcolm McDowell stars as the oppressed non-conformist Mick Travis who with a few cohorts, stage an armed revolution in their school. According to the film’s Wikipedia entry, shortly before Lindsay Anderson’s death in 1994 he had completed the script for a yet unmade official sequel to “if…” (not to be confused with the other films in the Mick Travis trilogy, “O Lucky Man” and Britannia Hospital”) described as follows:

The sequel takes place during a Founders’ Day Celebration where many of the characters reunite. Mick Travis is now an Oscar-nominated movie star, eschewing England for Hollywood. Wallace is a military major who has lost his arm. Johnny is a clergyman. Rowntree is the Minister of War. In the script Rowntree is kidnapped by a group of anti-war students and saved by Mick and his gang, though not before Mick crucifies Rowntree with a large nail through his palm.

Saturday Matinee: Vital

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“Vital” (2004) is a film by Shinya Tsukamoto about a med school student who loses his memory after surviving a car crash which kills his girlfriend. Shortly after resuming studies he realizes a cadaver assigned to him to dissect is the body of his girlfriend. Against the advice of everyone around him, he becomes obsessed with his work in an effort to recover his memories and former sense of self. Like other films by Shinya Tsukamoto, Vital has much psychological conflict, Cronenbergian body horror and surreal imagery, but is more subdued and life-affirming than any other feature film he’s made to date. Vital also features a masterful performance from lead actor Tadanobu Asano.

Saturday Matinee: Tokyo Fist

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“Tokyo Fist” (1995) can be seen as director Shinya Tsukamoto’s surreal precursor to “Fight Club”, but it also features an unsettling mood and body horror reminiscent of the films of David Lynch and David Cronenberg respectively. Added to the mix is Tsukamoto’s unique brand of visceral and hyper-kinetic filmmaking, making Tokyo Fist an unforgettable experience for fans of global cult cinema (though it’s not for the squeamish).

(Click the “CC” button at the bottom right corner of video window while playing to activate English subtitles.)