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Reviews
Cowboys & Angels (2003)
Tripe, terrible tripe.
Despite it's good intentions this movie is completely pat. It's writing is absolutely obvious, and the "surprises" are utterly tragic attempts for moral or social or cultural redemption or something, or nothing.
It's just a piece of . . .
The writing at times devolves into such cliché that it is almost unbelievable that the actors could say such lines with straight faces. The actors, by the way, are the best part of it all, poor things. My heart goes out to them for having to suffer through the dialogue. They should be given awards for making this "After School Special Movie of the Week" seem life-like. Sadly in the end it just doesn't work, it's dead on arrival. Avoid this one at all costs.
Tarnation (2003)
Beautiful, heartfelt documentary
Exploitation? Cheap, trivial film student treatise? It's all of that and more. While it might have initially cost $300, the end result is definitely anything but. However, the essence of Apple's iMovie spills from the screen, enhanced with other visual effects and a great soundtrack.
It's definitely painful (some may say boring) for some to watch, but if you grew up gay in the 80's and/or have had to deal with mental illness it will definitely strike a chord for you. And if you care about the future of avant garde cinema reaching the masses then it's heartening to know that this film is seeing distribution at all. But, if you're suspect of anything that might smack of self-indulgence (Can you say "Bunuel", "Fellini", "Antonioni", et. al.?), then yes, stay away.
Caouette has made a wonderful, and some would say cathartic film. Sharing it with the world has launched him onto another career path and I think that's just great. At the screening at Film Forum, he was rather demure and surprised at his success. I think he just wanted to pull together a lifetime of emotions and tell the world his story once and for all. (He left out the story about his brother and son though, but that might be for part 2 or the DVD).
I can't wait to see his next film starring some actress from the 70's cut together from three separate films. David Lynch's producer is guiding the production I believe.