CineSkinny - 24 Febuary 2011

THE OFFICIAL DAILY GUIDE THURSDAY 24 FEBRUARY

WHAT’S INSIDE? 2 » PICKS OF THE DAY

Highlights of day seven at

GFF 2011 2 » INTERVIEW:

DAVE GIBBONS

The comic book veteran

is attending GFF as part

of the Superheroes in

Glasgow strand

3 » REVIEWS

New Low 

Griff the Invisible 

Balibo 

CINE

THE HORROR...

THE HORROR The Glasgow Film Festival has gremlins in its midst as legendary prog-rockers GOBLIN come to town. Words: JAMES KLODA Goblin are playing on Friday night.

Who?, some may ask.

Goblin. The greatest soundtrack artists in the world. Forget about Max Steiner, Bernard Herrmann, Hack Zimmer. This Italian group of musicians actually made the term ‘prog-rock’ cool with their dynamic scores for a slew of classic horror movies.

Originally called Cherry Five (crap name) and producing records influenced by Yes and Gentle Giant (crap bands), they seized a golden ticket in 1975 when Dario Argento asked them to collaborate on the music for his new film Profondo Rosso (Deep Red) with composer Giorgio Gaslini.

Once Gaslini left due to ‘creative differences’ with the director, the stage was set for the renamed Goblin to run riot. A fusion of synthetic looseness and unrelenting tempo, the soundtrack perfectly complimented Argento’s wild, baroque flourishes strafing his energetic genre script.

They would go on to provide the music for Suspiria (1977), Dario’s kaleidoscopic fantasy of witchcraft in a dance academy: malevolent lullabies,

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rhythmic assault, howling whispers; all in such pounding, repetitive time signature as to induce seizure. As Argento arrested visually, Goblin slaughtered aurally. They would do the same in their proto-techno for the director’s Tenebrae, with its delicious, vocodered refrain of ‘paura’ (fear). To infinity and beyond: Dawn Of The Dead’s electro-dirge, Phenomena’s metallic aria; ribald musicianship bedecked with crystal plumage. It is the balance of mercurial electronica and tight, pulsating cadence that really defines Goblin.

Goblin last performed in the UK in Birmingham at the 2009 Supersonic Festival – the gig was loud, immense and I was there. (With my dad. Who was wearing Bermuda shorts. And a green fright wig. He’s not even a fan, but boogied enthusiastically.)

But only two of the key players were there – Massimo Morante, guitar; Fabio Pignatelli, bass. The appearance in Glasgow marks the reunion with keyboardist Claudio Simonetti.

All together now: “Pau-oo-oo-ra, pau-oo-oo-ra, pau-oo-oo-ra.”

Never has fear been so exciting.

4 » WHAT’S NEW ONLINE

Goblin, GFF Who’s Who,

Festival Diary, Mark Millar

and Glasgow fashion

bloggers 4 » COMPETITION Win two tickets to see Oranges and Sunshine, the debut by Jim (son of Ken) Loach, by answering a simple question courtesy of the lovely people at Quotables

CINE

Produced by The Skinny magazine in association with the Glasgow Film Festival Editors

Designer Digital

Jamie Dunn Becky Bartlett Mark Tolson David McGinty

GFF BOX OFFICE Order tickets from the box office at www.glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk or call 0141 332 6535 or visit Glasgow Film Theatre 12 Rose Street, Glasgow, G3 6RB info@glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk

TODAY’S

PICKS AMRUTA PATIL INTERVIEW WITH PAUL GRAVETT

12.00 @ CCA India’s first female graphic novelist discusses the current comic book scene in the country, as well as exhibiting her specially commissioned graphic short story for Tramway.

GLOBAL MANGA, THE WORLDWIDE IMPACT OF JAPANESE COMICS

13.00 @ CCA A book signing and event with Paul Gravett, author of Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics, Japanese illustrator Chie Kutsuwada and Scottish writer Sean Michael Wilson. Includes an exploration of manga and its global popularity.

TREACLE JR

20.45 @ GFT A heart-warming tale of unconventional friendship, this low-budget independent film will be introduced by actor Aidan Gillen and director Jamie Thraves, who will also both be attending a Q&A session afterwards.

BATTLE ROYALE 3D

21.00 @ CINEWORLD A re-release of the Japanese contemporary cult classic in which a class of students are forced to kill each other.

Being shown with an extra dimension to celebrate the film’s theatrical release in America in 3D.

FUNKY GIBBONS

Before his special appearance at GFF, acclaimed comic book artist and writer DAVE GIBBONS meets The CineSkinny to discuss his extensive career, the Watchmen adaptation, and MARK MILLAR. Words: THOM ATKINSON C o m i c s a n d m ov i e s g o to g e t h e r l i ke h o r s e a n d c a r r i a g e i n a m o d e r n d ay m a r r i a g e of c o nve n i e n c e , b u t l i ke a ny p a i r i n we d l o c k t h e n u pt i a l s d o n’t a l w ay s r u n s o s m o ot h l y. W h e n i t c a m e to a d a pt i n g Watc h m e n fo r t h e b i g s c r e e n , c o - c r e ato r Alan Moore was so enraged w i t h t h e d e b a c l e s t h at we r e m a d e of h i s p r e v i o u s wo r k s ( F r o m H e l l , V F o r Ve n d e t t a ) t h at h e r e m ove d h i s n a m e entirely from the project.

L u c k i l y fo r Wa r n e r B r ot h e r s t h e y h a d a n a c e i n t h e h o l e: t h e f a r m o r e w i l l i n g i l l u s t r ato r a n d c o - c r e ato r D ave G i b b o n s .

T h e a r t i s t , h owe ve r, b e a r s n o i l l w i l l tow a r d s h i s c o l l a b o r a to r : “A l t h o u g h Watc h m e n w a s a j o i n t p r o d u c t of A l a n a n d m y s e l f, we a r e t wo d i f fe r e n t , independent people and I c o m p l e te l y u n d e r s to o d A l a n’s r e a s o n s fo r n ot w a n t i n g to b e i nvo l ve d ,” m u s e s t h e i l l u s t r a to r. “E ve r yo n e wo r k i n g o n t h e m ov i e w a s wo r k i n g at a r e a l l y h i g h l e ve l of c o m m i t m e n t a n d e n t h u s i a s m a n d I h a d a ve r y n i c e t i m e fo r a c o u p l e of ye a r s b e i n g f l ow n a r o u n d t h e wo r l d m e e t i n g a l ot of i n te r e s t i n g p e o p l e .”

c o m e to e x p e c t f r o m m e , b u t t h e r e w i l l b e a c o m p r e h e n s i ve s l i d e s h ow of m y wo r k to a c c o m p a ny i t .”

T h o u g h h e m ay b e m o s t e m b e d d e d i n t h e p u b l i c’s c o n s c i o u s n e s s f r o m h i s wo r k o n Watc h m e n , w h at e l s e c a n we e x p e c t f r o m D ave G i b b o n s i n C o nve r s at i o n? “I w a s o r i g i n a l l y g o i n g to d o t h e ‘s to r y s o f a r ’, b u t I ’m ove r f a m i l i a r with my career details and I s u s p e c t p e o p l e w h o k n ow of m e a l s o a r e , s o I ’m g o i n g to g o of f o n a b i t of a t a n g e n t a n d s h ow a fe w t h i n g s t h at p e o p l e h ave n’t s e e n b e fo r e .

A s e c t i o n of i t i s s p e c i f i c a l l y g o i n g to b e a b o u t t h e Watc h m e n a d a pt at i o n a n d a b o u t f i l m s i n g e n e r a l . H o p e f u l l y i t ’s n ot q u i te w h at p e o p l e h ave

P at r o n s of t h e e ve n t w i l l b e s e t t l i n g i n fo r a s h owc a s e b y a n i n d u s t r y l e g e n d: f r o m h i s h u m b l e b e g i n n i n g s wo r k i n g on 20 0 0AD he has gone on to b r i n g h i s ow n i n te r p r e t a t i o n s of D a n D a r e , S u p e r m a n , G r e e n L a nte r n , T h e H u l k a n d C a pt a i n A m e r i c a , a s we l l a s b r i n g i n g to l i fe n e w c h a r a c te r s s u c h a s M a r t h a Wa s h i n g to n i n G i ve M e L i b e r t y . N e x t o n t h e h o r i z o n i s h i s to p s e c r e t p r o j e c t w i t h G F F c u r a to r M a r k M i l l a r, b r i n g i n g t wo of t h e biggest names in the business to g e t h e r. G i b b o n s r e m a i n s tight lipped about his upcom i n g ve n t u r e b u t s p e a k s h i g h l y

a b o u t h i s fe l l ow a l u m n i: “I h ave t h e g r e ate s t a d m i r a t i o n fo r M a r k ’s t a l e n t s f r o m h i s r u n o n T h e U l t i m ate s a n d t h e M i l l a r wo r l d b o o k s [a p u b l i s h i n g l i n e t h a t i n c l u d e s Wa nte d a n d K i c k- A s s ]. I t ’s a g r e a t j o y to wo r k w i t h h i m .” T h e fe e l i n g s e e m s m u t u a l . N ot o n l y d i d M i l l a r a s k G i b b o n s to a t te n d t h i s ye a r ’s e ve n t , b u t t h e a d m i r at i o n h a s a l i t t l e h i s to r y : “I k n ow h e’s s a i d h e w r ote m e a l e t te r b a c k w h e n h e w a s s e v e n te e n a n d I w a s c o n s i d e r a b l y o l d e r, a p p a r e n t l y. I h ave n o r e c o l l e c t i o n of t h a t! [A l t h o u g h I ’m to l d ] I d i d s e n d h i m a g r a c i o u s n ote a n d a s ke tc h a s we l l ,” s ay s G i b b o n s . “I ’m r e a l l y l o o k i n g fo r w a r d to g e t t i n g s t u c k i n to wo r k i n g w i t h h i m , i t ’s j u s t a s we l l I t r e a te d h i m n i c e l y b a c k t h e n!”

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REVIEWS NEW LOW

Director: Adam Bowers Starring: Adam Bowers, Jayme Ratzer & Valerie Jones



W e n d e l l ( A d a m B o w e r s) , a neurotic, indecisive t went ysomething, struggles to c h o o s e b e t w e e n t h e g i r l h e ’d prefer to be in love with and the girl he is actually in love with. He hopes to redeem his flagrant inadequacies by dating altruistic sweethear t J o a n n a ( Va l e r i e J o n e s) ; t h e only problem is that perhaps h e ’s b e t t e r s u i t e d t o b u r p i n g f r e e g a n V i c k y ( J a y m e R a t z e r ).

Despite some genuinely funny moments, the humour in this low-budget indie romance o f t e n f e e l s f o r c e d , l i ke a s e -

r i e s o f i l l - c o n c e i v e d s ke t c h e s h a s t i l y l i n ke d t o g e t h e r. B y w r i t i n g , d i r e c t i n g a n d s t a rr i n g i n N e w L o w , 2 5 - y e a r- o l d A d a m B o w e r s (w h o b e a r s a resemblance to a young Will Arnett, aka Gob from Arrested Development) has spread himself thinner than t h e h a i r o n W e n d e l l ’s h e a d .

There is a curiosity about the characters that could have been developed, but the clichéd dose of quirkiness and sarcasm ultimately render the f i l m m o r e l o w t h a n n e w. [ M a t t S t a n g e r]

GRIFF THE INVISIBLE Director: Leon Ford Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Maeve Dermody & Patrick Brammall



From an unfinished synopsis, it feels natural to compare Griff the Invisible to fellow self- st yled superhero K i c k- A s s ( p l u s t h e r e ’s a l s o a s l i t h e r o f Wa n t e d , a n o t h e r Mark Millar comic, juxtaposing a monotonous office job with the secret thrill of life as a n a c t i o n h e r o). B y d a y, G r i f f ( Tr u e B l o o d ’s R y a n Kw a n t e n) l i v e s a l o n e l y, m u n d a n e l i f e ; b y n i g h t , h e ’s a d a r i n g Batman -modelled vigilante, complete with a red phone that is a direct line to the c o m m i s s i o n e r a n d a J o ke r- l i ke nemesis. The latter scenes mimic the flat-panel colouring of comic ar t, echoing Dick Tr a c y ’s p r o d u c t i o n d e s i g n o n a budget, as Grif f stomps out crime and catches the eye of fellow misfit Melody (Maeve D e r m o d y). Ye t , w i t h o u t s p o i l ing any thing, similarities to M i l l a r ’s c r e a t i o n s a r e u l t i m a t e l y s l i g h t . U n f o r t u n a t e l y, the film only finds a stable t o n e i n t h e l a s t h a l f h o u r, closer to quirk y sad - sack i n d i e s l i ke G a r d e n S t a t e t h a n t h e D a r k K n i g h t ’s n i g h t - w a t c h .

But in that final third, it finds a poignancy that no amount of street justice can ef fect.

[C h r i s B u c k l e]

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BALIBO

Director: Robert Connolly Starring: Anthony La Paglia, Oscar Isaac & Damon Gameau



From the outset, Balibo i m p r e s s e s b ot h t h e t r u t h a n d t h e s e r i o u s n e s s of t h e e ve n t s fe a t u r e d . T h r e e t i m e l i n e s a r e e s t a b l i s h e d: p r e s e n t d ay E a s t T i m o r, w h e r e a w o m a n r e c o u n t s e ve n t s t h a t h a p p e n e d during the Indonesian invasion i n 19 7 5 ; j u s t p r i o r to t h e i n v a s i o n i t s e l f, i n w h i c h f i ve A u s t r a l i a n j o u r n a l i s t s a r e c o ve r i n g the news; and three weeks

l a te r, w h e n o l d e r j o u r n a l i s t R o g e r E a s t ( A n t h o n y L a P a g l i a) i n ve s t i g a te s t h e i r d i s a p p e a ra n c e . D i r e c to r R o b e r t C o n n o l l y d i s t i n g u i s h e s t h e l a t te r t w o p l ot s b y p r o v i d i n g t h e f i ve’s s to r y w i t h a w a s h e d out look, but it then becomes h a r d to r e c o n c i l e h o w l i t t l e t i m e s e p a r a te s t h e m , w h i l e t h e multiple time -lines are initially q u i te c o n f u s i n g . B a l i b o m a ke s

n o a t te m pt s to c o n c e a l i t s political agenda, and, filmed i n m o d e r n d ay, s t i l l - t r o u b l e d E a s t T i m o r, a p p e a r s l a r g e l y authentic. It is, on occasion, q u i te p o w e r f u l , t h o u g h o n e wonders how much creative l i c e n c e t h e s c r e e n w r i t e r s to o k in recounting the personal s to r y of t h e j o u r n a l i s t s a n d t h e i r f a te . [ B e c k y B a r t l e t t]

THURSDAY 24 FEBRUARY THE CINESKINNY 3

WHAT’S NEW ONLINE? GOBLIN AT GMFF The Scotsman’s Fiona Shepard talks to the Italian rock band ahead of their performance at The Arches on Friday (25th Feb). http://bit.ly/Goblinscots WHO’S WHO? Ever wondered who those people running around the festival with cameras and recording equipment are, and what they’re doing here? Check out the GFF blog introducing everyone. http://bit.ly/Whoswho

FEST DIARY 2 Sean Welsh, the Official GFF blogger, reviews what he’s seen so far and what he’s looking forward to in the coming days. Including reviews of Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, Little White Lies, and Protector. http://bit.ly/festdiary2 DONNER ‘OBSESSION’ GFF ambassador Mark Millar talks to Michael MacLennan about the current ‘golden age’ of comic book movies and his obsession with the Richard Donner cut of Superman II.

Here’s the GFF daily quotable:

http://bit.ly/Donnercut LES GARCONS DE GLASGOW Glaswegian fashion bloggers LesGarconsdeGlasgow.com have a few of photos of ‘interesting characters in Glasgow’s art scene’ inspired by the GFF, along with recommendations for Pyuupiru 2001 - 2008 and Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston. http://bit.ly/lesgarcons Search ‘SkinnyFilm’ to find us on Facebook and tweet us your thoughts @SkinnyFilm

QUIZ TIME

PIC OF THE DAY

GIVEAWAY:

“B y all me ans move at a glac ial pac e. You know how that thr ills me.”

— M ir anda Pr ie stl y, T he Dev il We ar s Prada ht tp: //qtbl.e s / hl L1ud V i s it Q uotabl e s to s e e many more G FF quote s as the fe sti val goe s on: ht tp: //qtbl.e s /glasgow f i lm

Photo: Stuart Crawford

Oranges and Sunshine Feb 25, 20:30 - Glasgow Film Theatre Jim Loach makes an immensely impressive, emotionally devastating feature debut with Oranges and Sunshine, starring Emily Watson and Hugo Weaving. To win tickets to see it at GFF, simply answer the question following our quotable clue: “A movie isn’t a political movement, a party or even an article.

It’s just a film. At best it can add its voice to public outrage.”

—?

What is the name of the film by Jim Loach’s dad Ken, also screening at GFF this year?

Email jamie@theskinny.co.uk by 10am on Friday 25 Feb to enter.

DID ❝ WHAT ❞ YOU THINK?

Harry Shearer discusses The Big Uneasy in the Glasgow Film Theatre.

We collected six of the best tweets from Twitter

@HOMERBROON Boing, crash, splat. Battle Royale 3D tomorrow @ cineworld , perfect lead in to @glasgowfilmfest ‘s Frightfest. Whoop

@PINUPNIGHTS just been to the GFT to see the creation records film.

Great fun. Alan mcgee’s hat was far too small for his head.

@GMURRA25 #tuesdaytweetfest can’t believe battle royal 3D is fully book on Thursday gutted need to choose another film #Glasgowfilmfestival

@GILCO80 Looking forward to hearing what the legend that is Ken Loach, has to say tonight at the screening of Route Irish @glasgowfilmfest

@KATEPRINGLE Wow Incendies is powerful.

Bring on that Oscar for Villeneuve. Heart-breaking and beautiful in near equal measure #glasgowfilmfestival

@LJHALSALL @mrmarkmillar @glasgowfilmfest please thank donner for all of us. N for u choosing it. Wish reeve could know! #gff #superman2

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NOW INCLUDING WHAT’S ON LISTINGS 4 THE CINESKINNY THURSDAY 24 FEBRUARY

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