On Memorial Day (this Monday) here in the States, we’ll start off with a review of the avant-garde indie Way Down in Chinatown, and follow that up with a “big” announcement. As we move into the meat of the week we’ll take a crack at whittling down that reader-suggested review queue with a look at Michael Almereyda‘s quirky dysfunctional family comedy Twister (1989), and also take a second look at Ed Wood‘s earnest 1953 pro-transvestism documentary Glen or Glenda? Meanwhile, flattered by the attention his Godzilla review drew, Alfred considers dumping his excursions into fringe cinema for the summer so he can focus on more of those disappointing mass-produced blockbusters people love so much. What will he skewer next? You’ll have to tune in Thursday to find out.

Our theme for our Weirdest Search Term of the Week contest itself comes from a search term: “this movie is weird” (which is itself a somewhat strange search, since it seems premised on the notion that Google knows what movie the searcher is watching at the time). This week’s runners-up: “a western where a man kicks steel balls at his enemies.” “What is the title of the movie about a man and his catsmust figure out what happened to the laser pointer”?  “Schizo film gay fetish planet.” All movies we’d like to see, but the official winner of our Weirdest Search Term of the Week is “movie mad man bites vagina addicted.”

Here’s how the ridiculously-long-and-ever-growing reader-suggested review queue currently stands: Twister (1989) (next week!); Glen or Glenda? (next week!); Celine and Julie Go Boating; Abnormal: The Sinema of Nick Zedd; Rubin & Ed; The Real McCoy; Themroc; Candy (1968); Continue reading WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE →

Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…

Trailers of new release movies are generally available on the official site links.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

The Dance of Reality: Alejandro Jodorowsky‘s first movie in 23 years is an autobiography, of as yet unknown hallucinatoriness. This eagerly anticipated (by us) movie opens this week in New York and Los Angeles, with flash screenings in large metropolises and college towns through the early summer. The Dance of Reality official site.

Frequencies [Formerly known as OXV: The Manual]: A romance between two youngsters in parallel dimensions, whose differing “frequencies” allow them to spend only one minute per year together. It’s makers describe it as a mix of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, (500) Days of Summer, and Primer. OXV: The Manual Facebook page.

SCREENINGS – (Cinefamily, Los Angeles, CA, May 23 & 24):

Fata Morgana (1971): Eccentric early Werner Herzog “documentary” composed of footage he shot in the Sahara desert, set to Leonard Cohen music and Lotte Eisner reciting an ancient creation myth. Herzog will be in attendance for tonight’s (5/23/2014) 9:50 PM showing. In related news, Fata Morgana will be included on the sixteen-disc Herzog Blu-ray collection that’s dropping in July. Werner Herzog’s Fata Morgana at Cinefamily.

IN DEVELOPMENT:

Detroit: A horror film from Lars von Trier. No details, except that the producers intend it to be “a real horror movie” set in Detroit. Check out the scanty information at Indiewire.

Midnight Movie: This Memphis Flyer profile of deep south underground filmmaker John Michael (Mike) McCarthy mentions that he’s filming a trailer for a new movie, with hopes for finding financial backing after it’s shot. The cool thing? The script features characters based on Frank-N-Furter, Jimmy Cliff’s reggae rebel from The Harder They Come, Eraserhead, and El Topo. Also (hopefully) in the works from McCarthy: a “more commercially viable” adaptation of his coming-of-age graphic novel Kid Anarchy.

Spring Breakers: The Second Coming: Uh, what? Word is out that there will be a follow-up to Harmony Korine‘s artsploitation original about hot college girls turned into drug-runner muscle. Out of the project: Korine and Selena Gomez (wouldn’t count on busy James Franco reprising his role as Alien, either). In: novelist/screenwriter Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting, The Acid House) and director Jonas Akerlund (Small Apartments). It sounds like a hoax, but so did the announcement of Donnie Darko 2 (and look how well that turned out!) If it turns out to be a prank, blame Hit Fix (because that’s where we read the rumor).

NEW ON DVD:

The Great Flood (2012): Experimental documentary on the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 (which killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands) from decayed-footage specialist Bill Morrison. The epic soundtrack is buy jazz-Americana fusion guitarist Bill Frisell. Buy The Great Flood.

Like Someone in Love (2012): Read our review. Typically moody and minimalist arthouse experiment from Abbas Kiarostami involving a Platonic relationship between a Tokyo prostitute and an elderly professor. Buy Like Someone in Love (Criterion Collection DVD).

“Serial Experiments Lain: The Complete Collection” (1998): A fourteen year old girl logs on to a hallucinogenic cyber-network known as “the Wired.” This mind-bending anime series comprises a thirteen-episode story arc. It’s not entirely clear what the difference is between this Funimation release and their 2012 DVD/Blu-ray release, except that they are advertising “textless” opening and closing songs. This series is in our reader-suggested review queue. Buy “Serial Experiments Lain: Complete Series” [Blu-ray/DVD Combo].

NEW ON BLU-RAY:

Like Someone in Love (2012): See description in DVD above. This is the Blu-ray/DVD combo package. Buy Like Someone in Love [Criterion Collection Blu-ray/DVD].

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979): Werner Herzog takes a crack at a talkie version of Murnau’s silent classic, with “best fiend” Klaus Kinski in the title role. The results didn’t match the original, but the experiment was nonetheless a success. The Blu-ray is unexpectedly released by Shout! Factory. Buy Nosferatu The Vampyre [Blu-ray].

“Serial Experiments Lain: The Complete Collection” (1998): See description in DVD above. Buy “Serial Experiments Lain: Complete Series” [Blu-ray/DVD Combo].

NEPOTISM CORNER:

Thunder-Sky (2012): Along with J. Ross Eaker, our own Alfred Eaker co-directed this documentary about Raymond Thunder-Sky, the outsider artist and local Cincinnati icon who used to dress up in a clown suit and go to construction sites where he would make brilliant sketches of the city. Turns out he was the son of a Mohawk chief, and mildly autistic. You can visit raymondthundersky.org for more information on the outsider artist. Buy Thunder-Sky.

What are you looking forward to? If you have any weird movie leads that I have overlooked, feel free to leave them in the COMMENTS section.

Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…

Trailers of new release movies are generally available on the official site links.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

Don Peyote (2014): Read our review. Star/co-director Dan Fogler will be touring California this week, making stops in six cities for Q&A’s after screening the film. The tour is sponsored by Weedmaps (they do know their target audience!) The movie should also be live on instant video by the time you read this. An official Don Peyote website.

IN DEVELOPMENT:

Glilgamesh (post-production, estimated release November 2014): An expedition accidentally releases Innana, the Sumerian goddess of lust. The U.S. government plans to use the divinity as a weapon of mass destruction, while Communists plot a coup, and immortal Gilgamesh decides whether to intervene. We mentioned this one a couple of weeks ago, but now there is a teaser trailer. Unofficial official Gilgamesh site (Boston Film Family Facebook page).

SCREENINGS – (Cinefamily, Los Angeles, CA, May 15-22):

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979): Werner Herzog takes a crack at a talkie version of Murnau’s silent classic, with “best fiend” Klaus Kinski in the title role. The results didn’t match the original, but the experiment was nonetheless a success. If you’re in L.A., hurry and buy your tickets right now, because Herzog himself will be in attendance tonight, Friday May 15, for the 8 PM PST showing. More on Nosferatu the Vampyre at Cinefamily.

FILM FESTIVALS – Cannes Film Festival (Cannes, France, May 14-25):

Cannes is an odd duck. Not known as a “weird-friendly” festival—movies like Crash and Antichrist have been famously hooted at by Cannes crowds who were having none of that—it aims to flatter the mainstream arthouse crowd with middle-of-the-road dramas. Cannes’ juries’ resemble those of the Academy Awards, but with higher premium placed on boringness. Still, there is always something worth looking at there, and while the slate is particularly light this year, we did see three candidates to keep an eye on.

• Goodbye to Language [Adieu au Langage] – The latest from  Jean-Luc Godard, now in his mid 80s, is shot in 3D and features nude women, dogs, philosophical discourses, and experimental visuals. Late Godard tends to be “difficult” (and usually not much fun), and we would expect nothing less here. Screening in competition.
• Lost River – Ryan Gossling describes his directorial debut as a “fantasy noir” and “modern day fairytale” set in a “macabre and dark fantasy underworld.” This could be promising. With Christina Hendricks, Saoirse Ronan, Eva Mendes, “Doctor Who”‘s Matt Smith, and Barbara Steele. Screening in Un Certain Regard.
• Maps to the Stars – As with any new David Cronenberg film, there is a lot of buzz and the hope of seeing something new and unexpected. This Hollywood satire features an interesting cast, including Mia Wasikowska, Julianne Moore, John Cusak, and of course new Cronenberg regulars Robert Pattinson and Sarah Gadon. Screening in competition.
  

Cannes official site.

NEW ON DVD:

Her (2013): Read our capsule review. Spike Jonze‘s melancholy account of a near-future romance between a human and an artificial intelligence dances on the edge of being weird, but it’s definitely worth the attention of thoughtful people. Buy Her.

NEW ON BLU-RAY:

Her (2013): See description in DVD above. This is the DVD/Blu-ray combo pack. Buy Her [Blu-ray/DVD].

Sin City (2005): Four tales of pulpy crime set in the noirish title city, adapted from the graphic novels of Frank Miller. The visually experimental cult film was shot in black and white with individual elements (blood, lipstick, a red dress) appearing in color—so the Blu-ray should be a beautiful sight. This presentation is, naturally, the uncut version of the film, which runs about two-and-a-half hours. Buy Sin City [Blu-ray].

What are you looking forward to? If you have any weird movie leads that I have overlooked, feel free to leave them in the COMMENTS section.

Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…

Trailers of new release movies are generally available on the official site links.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

The Double: Jesse Eisenberg stars as a timid man whose physical double arrives one day and begins to take over his life. This nearly exact match of Enemy continues 2014’s reputation as the Year of the Doppelganger. The Double official site.

SCREENINGS – (Echo Park Film Center, Los Angeles, CA, May 10):

Omadox: The plot of this microbudget feature has something to do with a helium corporation. Looks quite absurd. Omadox official Facebook page.

NEW ON DVD:

“Abbott & Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection”: Fourteen movies, plus one disc of supplemental material, for a 15-disc box set. Seems like a lot to pay just to get a copy of Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein, but we’re not judging. Buy “Abbott & Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection”.

Godzilla vs Hedorah [AKA Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster] (1971): Godzilla battles a pollution-monster literally made of smog in one of the strangest movies featuring Japan’s favorite fire-breathing dinosaur. Section 23 Films also snagged the rights to two other second tier Godzillas: Ebirah – Horror of the Deep [AKA Godzilla vs the Sea Monster] (1966) and Godzilla Vs. Gigan (1972), all in advance of this summer’s new American ‘Zilla reboot. Buy Godzilla Vs. Hedorah.

Mr. Jones (2013): A couple of artists retreat to (where else?) a cabin in the woods, where they discover that their neighbor, a reclusive fellow artist known as “Mr. Jones,” is one strange dude. A rare PG-13 horror that went (almost) straight to DVD from Anchor Bay. Buy Mr. Jones.

NEW ON BLU-RAY:

“4 Film Favorites: Comics Collection”: The four “favorites” are the fairly weird Watchmen, the slightly weird but very bad Jonah Hex, a 2010 action movie called The Losers with an unknown connection to comics, and David Cronenberg‘s A History of Violence (which was based on a graphic novel). This set of “comic” inspired movies yields one good superhero pic, one superhero flop, an action flick, and an arthouse film; an eclectic and slightly weird set. Buy “4 Film Favorites: Comics Collection” [Blu-ray].

The Birds (1963): Although it’s known today mostly as the inspiration for James Ngyuen’s Birdemic, this Alfred Hitchcock movie about a series of relentless and unmotivated attacks by our fine feathered friends is sort of strange, when you stop and think about it. Universal keeps re-releasing its Hitchcocks every couple of years in various configurations; this fairly deluxe set with tons of Birds extras and some generic Universal Studios propaganda films thrown in is the single disc version of a Blu formerly only available as part of the “Alfred Hitchock Masterpiece Collection” box set. Buy The Birds [Blu-ray].

Godzilla vs Hedorah [AKA Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster] (1971): See description in DVD above. Buy Godzilla Vs. Hedorah [Blu-ray].

Mr. Jones (2013): See description in DVD above. Buy Mr. Jones [Blu-ray].

Vertigo (1958): A detective suffering from the titular phobia uncovers even deeper psychological issues when he falls in love with a woman who dies before his eyes, then comes across her exact double… Like The Birds above, this is the single disc version of the “Masterpiece Collection” box set. Buy Vertigo [Blu-ray].

White Zombie (1932): Read our capsule review. Film archivist Cary Roan supervised the restoration and promises this will be the definitive version of the early Haitian zombie classic starring Bela Lugosi. Buy White Zombie: Cary Roan Special Signature Edition [Blu-ray].

What are you looking forward to? If you have any weird movie leads that I have overlooked, feel free to leave them in the COMMENTS section.

Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…

Trailers of new release movies are generally available on the official site links.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

Altered States of Plaine: Here’s a new disease for you: in Altered States of Plaine, a man suffers from a condition that causes him to periodically teleport to a random geographic location, nude. Extremely low-budget, it’s playing in one Greenwich Village theater this week. Altered States of Plaine official site.

Mr. Jones: A couple of artists retreat to (where else?) a cabin in the woods, where they discover that their neighbor, a reclusive fellow artist known as “Mr. Jones,” is one strange dude. Apparently the movie drifts between being a found footage film and a standard narrative; most reviews were poor, but Felix Vasquez Jr. called it “nonsensical in a pretty good way.” Presumably playing somewhere, it’s also available now on instant video, and will be on DVD/Blu-ray next week. Mr. Jones official site at Anchor Bay.

IN DEVELOPMENT:

CoExistence (201?): After over twenty years of directorial silence, Jackie Kong—yes, that Jackie Kong—is back with a new horror movie, a vampire version of “Romeo and Juliet.” “You’ve all heard of Shakespeare in Love?,” she asks, rhetorically, in her Kickstarter pitch. “Well, get ready for Shakespeare in Blood.” This movie will reunite Blade Runner co-stars Rutger Hauer (in a vampire hunter role?) and Daryl Hannah (as Romeo’s mum). Just to put Kong’s absence from feature filmmaking in perspective, she released her most recent movie, Blood Diner, in 1987. CoExistence‘s “attached” Juliet, actress Bella Thorne, would be born ten years later. CoExistence official site.

NEW ON DVD:

“Betty Boop: The Essential Collection, Vol. 3”: The third installment of Olive’s collection features Fleischer Brothers’ cartoons from 1932-1938, with some of the great jazz shorts guest starring Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong. You know we love our Boop here at 366. Buy “Betty Boop: The Essential Collection, Vol. 3”.

Escape from Tomorrow (2013): Read our review(s). Turns out that our fears about Disney’s lawyers never allowing Randy Moore’s anti-Mouse surrealist satire to be released proved unfounded—though maybe you’ll want to grab a copy while you can, anyway. Buy Escape From Tomorrow.

NEW ON BLU-RAY:

“Betty Boop: The Essential Collection, Vol. 3”: See description in DVD above. Buy “Betty Boop: The Essential Collection, Vol. 3 [Blu-ray].

“Gamera, Vol. 1”: Gamera, the giant, fanged, nuclear-powered flying turtle, was originally conceived of as Daiei studios answer to Tojo’s hit Godzilla. He was too bizarre to be taken seriously as a leading monster, however, and quickly turned into a campy kiddie-matinee idol. You can see his evolution in this four-movie set, which starts with his “serious” self titled movie and ends with Gamera vs. Viras [AKA Destroy All Planets], where the turtle teams up with boy scouts in short pants to fight a squid in a bumblebee spaceship. Buy “Gamera, Vol. 1” [Blu-ray].

“Gamera, Vol. 2”: The Gamera series gets even weirder as he fights a giant ginsu knife in Gamera vs. Guiron, retires in 1972’s Gamera vs. Zigra, then comes back for one last rock ’em sock ’em hurrah in 1980’s Gamera: Super Monster. Neither of Mill Creek’s Gamera sets contain any special features (with four movies stuffed onto one Blu-ray, there was no room). Buy “Gamera, Vol. 2” [Blu-ray].

NEPOTISM CORNER:

Visitors’ “Blueshift EP” (out 5/20/2014): Cameron Jorgensen does more than just watch weird videos and post them every Saturday. He also plays various rhythm instruments in various rock and roll bands. Here he is playing bass in the Salt Lake City band Visitors on their track “Ages.” If you like it (and who wouldn’t?), you can download this track at http://VisitorsOfficial.Bandcamp.com. You can also pre-order the EP at http://visitorstheband.bigcartel.com/.

While they certainly do rock, “Visitors” is a bit generic of a name. Actually, here are six bands named Visitors, none of whom are the group we’re interested in. I suggest we petition the guys to rename the band “Strange Visitors,” “Weird Visitors,” or—dare we hope?—“366 Weird Visitors.”

What are you looking forward to? If you have any weird movie leads that I have overlooked, feel free to leave them in the COMMENTS section.