Volume 2, Issue 22 October 12 - October 25, 2000

A strange world will be landing in Colorado's backyard this Halloween. It has very little to do with the traditional costumes, partying, pranksters or devilishly inspired merrymaking. This year, a world of intense cinematic art will invade Telluride, and the landscape of film here may never be the same.

The Telluride International Experimental Cinema Exposition (TIE) will debut October 27 in a vibrant little mountain town that's getting to be known worldwide for its numerous movie events. Before the long name or the esoteric subject matter bothers you though, you should know just how important it is that Colorado is hosting this event. TIE is the only international expo of its kind, bringing together the biggest names in avantgarde filmmaking-- the people who take cinema to the next level and legitimize it as an art. The people who, bless their hearts, occasionally inspire Hollywood to create a decent movie.

Experimental cinema does not center around narrative like the traditional movie. It tends to focus more on the medium of film by playing with nonlinear editing, negative scratching and coloring, projection tools and lenses, live elements incorporated as soundtrack or companion pieces, and many other unexpected tools. Experimental cinema pushes film as an art form by making it indescribable in other ways. The level of experimentation is so exciting because film is an extremely young art form, relatively speaking. There is still so much to explore.

TIE, which has been nomadic in recent years with its most recent home being Seattle, will be a place where new films can be premiered and discussed, and old films projected to new audiences in need of education or inspiration. The festival is bringing together every living component of experimental film's past, present and future. It is, with all due respect to the other fine film festivals in Colorado, the most important cinematic happening in the state.

Some highlights of this year's expo include a series of sexually explicit films by women filmmakers curated by M. M. Serra, a legend in the experimental film community. Serra is the executive director of the filmmakers cooperative in New York and holds the record for the most showings at the New York Museum of Modern Art. The films in the series take pornography beyond its traditional role as a stimulant and into a surreal, cerebral ground. Also showing is the Finnish film Routemaster, by Ilppo Pohjola. Routemaster is an experiment in speed with a split screen-- one side showing everaccelerating car crashes while the other shows slow motion images.

--Chris J. Magyar

Passes for the weekend are $175, and accomodations are at greatly reduced prices for expo attendees. For more information, visit www.experimentalcinema.com or click on the TIE banner at www.gogomagazine.com

The Denver Film Society (DFS) is moving into their 23rd year bringing us the Denver International Film Festival with a boatload of great cinema. This year's festival features 180 films from 31 countries for ten nights with over 75 filmmakers and actors in attendance to see 11,160 minutes of film. Shit, that's a lot. The festival also features "A Salute to French Cinema" in what DFS festival director Ron Henderson calls, "an attempt to give a heavier taste so that filmgoers can dig in" to this country's great filmmaking tradition.

Four awards will be given out during the festival: The John Cassavetes Award for outstanding achievement in independent filmmaking, the Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best European film, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Encore People's Choice Award for both feature-length fiction film and feature-length documentary. The festival is "invitation only" so expect to see films for film buffs, not crap.

This year the DFS is teaming up with the International Film Series in Boulder for a four evening program of documentaries, classic features and adult films. This includes a salute to distributor Milestone Film & Video, which is known for releasing cinema masterpieces, foreign film, independent features and documentaries. The program will be at CU's Muenzinger Auditorium October 18-21. As Henderson says, "There is certainly a good number of film buffs in Boulder, but we weren't sure how many travel to Denver. We thought we'd try taking the festival to them."

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Just Looking: The directorial debut of Jason Alexander of "Seinfeld" fame, this film is a coming of age film set in '50's New York. Young Lenny sets a goal to see two other people "doing it" and then meets Hedy, a gorgeous older woman who could just be the key to his success. Comedy, 97 min. October 20, 7 pm.

The Acting Class: A film by Jill Hennessy and Elizabeth Holder, this mockumentary is hilarious. Classic cameos by Alec Baldwin, Jerry Orbach and Benjamin Bratt, as well as fantastic acting all around, fuel this look at the entertainment industry. If this first feature is any indication of what Hennessy, Holder and the rest of the crew are capable of, look forward to some skyrocketing careers. Comedy, 78 min. Tivoli E, October 16, 6:30 p m.

Nosferatu: This classic adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula,directed by F. W. Murnau and filmed in 1922, continues to influence filmmakers. Abrilliant example of German Expressionism, the cinematic techniques showcased in this film must make Scorcese wish he was a better filmmaker. Drama, 84 min. Tivoli G, October 13, 9:30 pm.

Shadow of the Vampire: Director E. Elias Merhige casts Willem Dafoe as Max Schreck and John Malkovich as F. W. Murnau in this stylish film about the making of Nosferatu. Did Schreck take method acting to the extreme to prepare for his role as the vampire? Bloody good idea, whether it's true or not. Drama, 93 min. October 20, 9:30 p. m.

Requiem for a Dream: Pi director, Darren Aronofsky, gives a sophomore effort that by all reports leaves the viewer feeling like they may have accidentally dropped some acid and then had some methamphetimines. Starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans, this is a film you shouldn't miss but may wish you had. Drama, 102 min. Tivoli D, October 20, 9:30 pm.

Nowhere to Hide: This South Korean action film supposedly makes a John Woo film look like 101 Dalmations. Directed by Lee Myung-Sae, it's been called "the year's most visually exciting movie to date." Action, 112 min. Tivoli F, October 19, 9 p. m. and Tivoli F, October 20, 11: 30 p. m.

South: Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance Expedition: Simply one of the most remarkable films in existence. In 1919, Shackleton and his crew tried to cross Antarctica via the Pole. After their boat became trapped in ice, the men were stranded with no hope for escape -- that is until Shackleton and a few men traveled 850 miles in a life boat across some of the toughest seas on the planet. He then returned to rescue all of the men. And it's all on film. Documentary, 88 min. Tivoli F, October 16, 6: 30 pm and Boulder, October 21, 7 pm.

--Bryce Edmonds

[NR 1h 29m]
Starring: The Barenaked Ladies
Directed by: Jason Priestley

After having watched This Is Spinal Tap all over again (see below), I had a rather unique perspective on the beast known as "rockumentary" and where it came from. Barenaked in America is a pedestrian rockumentary about the Barenaked Ladies' tour of America in support of their breakout album, Stunt. The movie was made by Jason Priestly of "Beverly Hills: 90210" fame. Needless to say... If you like the band, you'll like the movie. There are several live performance numbers from Buffalo and enough on-camera hijinks to make Alan Funt sit up in his grave. The live pieces are ineptly filmed, and the talking heads are completely pointless. Conan O'Brien, Andy Richter, Jon Stewart and Jeff Goldblum are all given ample screentime even though their combined experience with the Barenaked Ladies equals five minutes and a shot of tequila. (I think we're supposed to go: look! Jason Priestly knows celebrities!) The fans, who are the most rabid and interesting group of people in Canada (not saying much) are given almost no screentime at all.

Even with the fresh humor and music of the title band, this movie is so stale I kept waiting for the band to tell us their amps go to eleven. Especially with the new album in stores (and a much better piece of work than Stunt), the tale of this tour feels old and boring. To quote a certain Canadian rock band, "It's all been done before."
D --Chris J. Magyar

DVD REPORT

THIS IS SPINAL TAP: SPECIAL EDITION

With some movies, you have to take yourself back in time to a place where the world had never seen certain things before. This is very necessary to appreciate the camera angles of Citizen Kane, the special effects of Star Wars, and magical explosion of color in The Wizard of Oz. Even though these very famous movies still have the power to impress and awe, it takes a special something to imagine that awe when it was fresh and new. Such is the story of This Is Spinal Tap, the world's first improvisational mockumentary.

Although Spinal Tap remains a gutbusting laugh riot of a movie, its power has been diminished somewhat by the endless stream of knockoffs (good and bad) that followed in its wake. The premise was simple: director Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) follows around an aging rock band called Spinal Tap during an illfated American tour. The band-- David St. Hubbins (Michael McKeon), Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer)-- is a British outfit that has weathered every fad from the Invasion, through Flower Power, and into hair metal.

Truth is, we (meaning those of us who still think it's funny to quote Monty Python at parties) have all seen this movie dozens of times, and the rerelease to theaters offers very little reason to see it again. The DVD, however, brings in almost two hours of additional footage in outtakes, TV commercials, trailers, music videos and talk show appearances.

And the real treat-- the reason to watch the movie dozens of times all over again-- which is the audio commentary track by David, Nigel and Derek. The three record a whole new movie dialogue of washedup band members complaining bitterly about a very rough spot in their lives. Listen as they skewer Ian (their band manager) and Marty mercilessly for the "hatchet job" and make fun of Viv (their erstwhile keyboardist) with a dulled rapier wit that only the drugaddled boys of Tap could muster. Brilliant! A
--Chris J. Magyar

Almost Famous [R] Instead of going to summer camp, a young boy goes on tour with a rock band. Starring: Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Patrick Fugit, Frances McDormand. Directed by: Cameron Crowe.

Art of War [R] Spy has to fight to survive using special stunts ripped off from The Matrix. Starring: Wesley Snipes, Anne Archer. Directed by: Christian Duguay.

Autumn in New York [PG13 1h 44m] Another ancient flabby man gets a nice piece of ass. Starring: Richard Gere, Winona Ryder. Directed by: Joan Chen.

Big Momma's House [PG-13 1h 45m] Martin Lawrence is a bigger, blacker Mrs. Doubtfire. Starring: Martin Lawrence, Nia Long and Paul Giamatti. Directed by: Raja Gosnell. Bamboozled [R] Spike Lee tries to make blackface funny. Starring: Damon Wayans, Jada Pinkett Smith, Savion Glover, Tommy Davidson. Directed by: Spike Lee.

Beautiful [PG-13 1h 52m] A spoof on beauty pageants with the Pepsi tyke-- sounds like sure-fire Oscar. Starring: Minnie Driver. Directed by: Sally Field. Bedazzled [PG-13] Remake involving a sexy devil and dumb geek. Starring: Elizabeth Hurley, Brenden Fraser. Directed by: Harold Ramis. Bring It On [PG-13 1h 32m] Cheerleaders fight to the death in bikinis! Only without the death. Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union, Jesse Bradford. Directed by: Peyton Reed. Butterfly [R 1h 35m] It's one of those foreign movies that starts on the cusp of civil war with an old man and a young boy. Starring: Uxia Blanco, Manuel Lozano, Fernando Fernan Gomez. Directed by: Jose Luis Cuerda

The Cell [R 1h 47m] When you get into a serial killer's head, it's like What Dreams May Come, if that movie was made by Satan. Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Vince Vaughan. Directed by: Tarsem.

Chicken Run [PG 1h 25m] I'll never order my breaded grilled chicken sandwich again without thinking of little hunks of clay with British accents. Starring: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawahla and Miranda Richardson. Directed by: Nick Park and Peter Lord. Contender [R 2h 6m] A chick wants to be vice-president, but she's had too much sex. Starring: Joan Allen, Gary Oldman. Directed by: Rod Lurie.

Coyote Ugly [PG13 1h 26m] Strippers who don't take off their clothes. Starring: Piper Perabo, Maria Bello, Tyra Banks, John Goodman. Directed by: David McNally. Dancer in the Dark [R 2h 20m] Bjork goes blind and crazy all at once, but she still sings. Starring: Bjork, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Peter Stormare. Directed by: Lars von Trier. Digimon: The Movie [G 1h 30m] Do they even bother translating these into English anymore? Starring: Bad Drawings. Directed by: Bad Cartoonist.

Dinosaur [PG 1h 22m] The dialogue in this movie is about as good as a super-serious Saved By the Bell episode. Directed by: Eric Leighton and Ralph Zondag.

Dr. T & the Women [R 2h 1m] Richard Gere plays a gynecologist É insert hamster joke here. Starring: Richard Gere, Helen Hunt, Liv Tyler. Directed by: Robert Altman.

Duets [R 1h 52m] Love won't bring us together, but karaoke will. Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Huey Lewis. Directed by: Bruce Paltrow.

The Exorcist-- The Version You've Never Seen [R] Don't be fooled by the long title-- it's just the original with eleven more minutes added on. Starring: Linda Blair. Directed by: William Friedkin.

Fantasia 2000 [G 1h 15m] Dancing flamingos, Noah's duck, flying whales, and other fun things to watch on acid. Starring: James Earl Jones, Quincy Jones and Angela Lansbury. Directed by: James Algar.

Get Carter [R 2h 27m] Remake of the classic British heist movie starringÉ wellÉ Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Rachael Leigh Cook, Alan Cumming. Directed by: Stephen Kay.

Girl on the Bridge [R 1h 30m] French love stories go over so much better when there are knives being thrown around. Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Vanessa Paradis. Directed by: Patrice Leconte.

Girlfight [R 1h 50m] Girls like to punch people, too. Starring: Michelle Rodriguez, Jaime Tirelli, Santiago Douglas, Paul Calderon. Directed by: Karyn Kusama.

Gladiator [R 2h 30m] Romans, Christians, lions, thumbs, little metal skirts. Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Richard Harris and Djimon Hounsou. Directed by: Ridley Scott.

Godzilla 2000 [PG 1h 37m] What the hell do you think it's about? Starring: Godzilla. Directed by: Takao Okarawa.

Gone in 60 Seconds [PG-13 1h 58m] Nick Cage and Angie Jolie steal cars as loudly and quickly as possible, thanks to Jerry "Armageddon" Bruckheimer. Starring: Nicholas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Robert Duvall. Directed by: Dominic Sena.

Highlander: Endgame [R] There can only be one my ass. Starring: Christopher Lambert, Adrian Paul. Directed by: Douglas Aarniokoski.

Hollow Man [R 1h 45m] An invisible man goes crazy just because he can. Starring: Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth Shue. Directed by: Paul Verhoeven

The Kid [PG 1h 44m] Bruce Willis has an inner child that's fat and annoying. Starring: Bruce Willis, Lily Tomlin and Spencer Breslin. Directed by: Jon Turteltaub.

Ladies Man [R] I repeat, there should be a law against big-screen adaptations of "Saturday Night Live" skits. Starring: Tim Meadows, Will Ferrell, Tiffani-Amber Theissen, Billy Dee Williams. Directed by: Reginald Hudlin.

Legend of Drunken Master [R 1h 42m] Yet another Jackie Chan import. Starring: Jackie Chan, Ti Lung. Directed by: Lau Ka Leung.

Lost Souls [R] Winona Ryder keeps seeing the devil everywhere like a big Tootsie Roll. Starring: Winona Ryder. Directed by: Janusz Kaminski.

Love and Sex [NR 1h 22m] A journalist confronts her own sex life É wait, journalists don't have sex lives. Starring: Famke Janssen, Jon Favreau, Cheri Oteri. Directed by: Valerie Breiman.

Meet the Parents [PG-13 1h 47m] Never marry a woman whose father is Robert DeNiro. Starring: Robert DeNiro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner. Directed by: Jay Roach.

Nurse Betty [R] Woman takes her soap opera obsession to a new level by landing a role. Starring: Renee Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock, Greg Kinnear. Directed by: Neil LaBute.

The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps [PG13 1h 45m] Contrary to all common sense and logic, it's only the poopoo that really shines. Starring: Eddie Murphy, Janet Jackson. Directed by: Peter Segal.

Opportunists [R 1h 29m] Father struggles with the dilemma: fix cars or crack safes? Starring: Christopher Walken, Donal Logue, Cyndi Lauper. Directed by: Myles Connell.

The Original Kings of Comedy [R 2h] Comedians give white people a long overdue tongue lashing. Starring: D. L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey. Directed by: Spike Lee.

The Patriot [R 2h 47m] Mel Gibson is the only American with the balls to stand up to the wigwearing British. Starring: Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger. Directed by: Roland Emmerich.

Pay it Forward [PG-13 2h 4m] A whole slew of Oscar winners learn to love. Starring: Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment, Jay Mohr. Directed by: Mimi Leder.

The Perfect Storm [PG13 2h 12m] My first reaction to the movie was, "you dopes, just move and stop fishing before you die." Starring: George Clooney, John C. Reilly and Mark Wahlberg. Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen.

Pokemon the Movie 2000 [G 1h 49m] Well, duh. It's about, like, stuff with, like, those things. Starring: Kids who have indulgent parents. Directed by: Talentless Hack, Jr. /P>

Psycho Beach Party [NR 1h 35m] If the title doesn't explain the movie, nothing will. Starring: Thomas Gibson, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen. /P>

Remember the Titans [PG 1h 53m] A football team asks, "Can't we just all get along?" Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Kip Pardue. Directed by: Boaz Yakin.

The Replacements [PG13] A football strike means the NFL is taken over by Keanu Reeves and his evil band of strippers. Starring: Gene Hackman, Keanu Reeves. Directed by: Howard Deutch.

Road Trip [R 1h 31m] Tom Green takes his nasty habits on the road. Starring: Breckin Mayer, DJ Qualls, Seann William Scott and Tom Green. Directed by: Todd Phillips.

Rocky Horror Picture Show [R] Let's do the time warp again-- and again -- and again --

Saving Grace [R 1h 34m] Little old British ladies get high on pot. Starring: Brenda Blethyn, Craig Ferguson. Directed by: Nigel Cole.

Scary Movie [R 1h 28m] This movie is scary all right. Scary that someone spent more than $5 to make it. Starring: Jonathan Abrahams, Carmen Electra and Shannon Elizabeth. Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans.

Shaft [R 1h 38m] Just looking at the black leather Armani clothes was a dead giveaway that they weren't going to let Shaft go soft. Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Jeffery Wright and Christian Bale. Directed by: John Singleton. Smiling Fish and Goat on Fire [R 1h 30m] That's one hell of a title to live up to. Starring: Derick Martini, Christa Miller, Steven Martini. Directed by: Kevin Jordan.

Space Cowboys [PG13] Fogeys in space! Starring: Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, James Garner. Directed by: Clint Eastwood.

The Tao of Steve [R 1h 28m] A guy who did all for the nookie, and who tells you where you can take that cookie. Starring: Donal Logue, Greer Goodman. Directed by: Jenniphr Goodman.

Thomas and the Magic Railroad [G 1h 25m] Alec Baldwin and Peter Fonda embarrass themselves in this trippy tyke movie about the little engine that could talk. Starring: Alec Baldwin, John Bellis, Peter Fonda and Mara Wilson. Directed by: Britt Allcroft.

Titan A. E.[ PG 1h 35m] Space cartoon with no Space Ghost. Starring: Matt Damon, Bill Pullman, Hank Azaria and Drew Barrymore. Directed by: Don Bluth and Gary Goldman.

Urban Legends: Final Cut [R 1h 34m] Weren't teen slasher films declared dead again? Starring: Joey Lawrence. Directed by: John Ottman.

Urbania [R 1h 43m] A gay New Yorker becomes obsessed with urban legends. Starring: Dan Futterman. Directed by: Jon Shear.

The Watcher [R] Will cops and serial killers ever learn to get along? Starring: James Spader, Keanu Reeves, Marisa Tomei. Directed by: Joe Charbanic.

What Lies Beneath [PG-13 2h 6m] Your partner is guaranteed to jump into your lap at least four or five times. Starring: Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer. Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Woman On Top [R 1h 33m] That's right boys, she cooks, and that title means what you think it does. Starring: Penelope Cruz. Directed by: Fina Torres. .

X-Men [PG13 1h 36m] This is a film that was made with a sequel in mind, if not already written. Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Famke Janssen and Halle Berry. Directed by: Bryan Singer.