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Fantasia 2016 - Top 5 [List]

  • Aug 9, 2016
  • 8 min read

My favorite entries from this year's Fantasia Film Festival.

After three weeks of hot weather, lineups, and ridiculous amounts of junk food, I'm back from Fantasia 2016 and ready to dish on what I experienced. Now, seeing as I'm not made of money, I didn't get to see all the movies. However, I still managed to peep quite a few.

Here are the five that stole the show for me.

5. In a Valley of Violence (2016)

Ti West's IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE has nothing to do with Korean cinema, but damn did this remind me of it.

Allow me to explain. Ethan Hawke and John Travolta headline this love-letter to spaghetti westerns, which starts off like most films in the genre: a drifter rides into the wrong town and, after an encounter with the local miscreants turns tragic, begins to systematically eradicate his enemies for the sake of revenge.

However, something weird happens roughly 20 minutes in: after lots of grim dialogue and violence, it gets funny. Borderline stupid funny. Over-the-top characters such as Karen Gillan's Ellen, or Taissa Farmiga's Mary Anne, are introduced and act in ways that seem out of tone with the rest of the film. It's quite jarring but, as it turns out, is a clever way of slowly easing us into what the film will truly become: a dark comedy revenge western. A blending of genres that shouldn't work on paper, but do, just like in countless lauded Korean films.

  • In a Valley of Violence
  • In a Valley of Violence
  • In a Valley of Violence

Once the bullets start flying and things get even more "serious", viewers are subtlety-yet-constantly blindsided with comedic moments. A great example is one of my favorite scenes: one moment a man has to make a horrible choice between shooting his friends or being shot, the next we're witness to a hilariously gobsmacked John Travolta getting lectured on how his rotund partner's name is Leonard, not "Tubby", and how his physique is due to big bones, not his penchant for fatty foods.

Scenes like these result in a feature that is consistently inconsistent in tone, and a viewing experience that is perplexing, to say the least. I'll be honest; by the time the credits rolled, I wasn't sure if I had enjoyed the movie. The opening of the film promised a serious throwback to western films of yesteryear, but a sudden shift in tone took the promise back and left me confused.

It's this confusion that makes IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE a must-see.

I couldn't stop thinking about and quoting the film afterwards. It challenged my preconceived notions of what could be done with westerns, and it was excitingly refreshing because of this. Additionally, the performances were excellent (even James Ransone's horrendous overacting, which matches the film's quirkiness), the writing was sharp, and most importantly, I had fun with it.

This film will certainly be divisive once more folks see it, but for those of us that love having our expectations defied, I can't recommend it enough.

4. Yoga Hosers (2016)

Kevin Smith. Love him or hate him, he is, without a doubt, one of Hollywood's most unorthodox and refreshing filmmakers. He's also a genuinely nice guy who loves what he does almost as much as he loves his family. It therefore came as no surprise that he made a bizarre and unique film like YOGA HOSERS to showcase the the blossoming acting abilities of both his daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, and her best friend, Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of superstar Johnny Depp).

Kevin presented the film to us in person (in an absurdly-long-yet-highly-entertaining 45 minute intro), regaling us with hilarious tales of how this film came to be, and it was evident that this was a passion project for him. It wasn't made for studios, and it wasn't even made with his fans in mind. It was made to spend more time with his kid (while introducing her to the world, I suppose), doing something they both loved.

Needless to say, the fervor with which he explained things made it clear that we were about to witness something that came from his heart, excusing any issues we would normally have with a movie that features tiny Nazi sausage-men trying to take over the world (starting with Winnipeg, eh).

  • Yoga Hosers
  • Yoga Hosers
  • Yoga Hosers

By the time the movie was over, everyone was cheering and recovering from the belly aches they'd self-induced. In other words, YOGA HOSERS was pure, unadulterated fun. Completely unhinged, but fun! If SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD and CLERKS had a love-child, YOGA HOSERS would be the result. It's cartoony, it's absurd, and it's hilarious. Yes, it's even hilariously bad near the end, but intentionally so. Smith's trademark humor shines through in the writing, one joke landing after another to create a pure comedic goldmine that reminds us why he's stood the test of time in an unforgiving industry.

Now, while both Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp debuted their acting chops in Smith's previous Canadian adventure, TUSK (2014), this was their first time in lead roles and they nailed it. They aren't going to win Oscars, but they were incredibly convincing as bored, somewhat bratty teenage girls. They were even more convincing as comediennes. Sure, it helps to have a script written by a man known for delivering the goods, but these girls have got the knack for spewing out the funny. They've got timing, they've got gusto. I was impressed, and I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for these two in the future.

3. I Am Not a Serial Killer (2016)

I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER was my number three simply because it shocked and enthralled me in all sorts of innovative ways, and because the performances, cinematography, and overall atmosphere were a cut above.

I had no idea what this film was about going into it. I hadn't even heard of the book series it's based on! Suffice to say, I was floored by how amazing it was. Great ideas and pure, unbridled tension permeate the entire feature.

I don't want to explain what the movie is about so you can experience it near-blind, just like I did. Although I suppose a little info can't hurt. Basically, a loner, sociopathic high school student who loves reading about serial killers starts looking into some local murders and discovers more than he bargained for.

Max Records is great as John Cleaver, the aforementioned student. You really believe that he lacks empathy or any real emotions, and the way he interacts with the rest of the cast is extremely convincing. Speaking of the rest of the cast, Christopher Lloyd is superb as Mr. Crowly, John Cleaver's elderly neighbor. He delightfully balances being whimsical and stoic, and really delivers a performance that reminds us why he's considered a treasure by many.

  • I Am Not a Serial Killer
  • I Am Not a Serial Killer
  • I Am Not a Serial Killer

Mr. Lloyd was at the film to present, and answered quite a few questions regarding his turn in it. He also made it clear that he's still as sharp as ever by providing very à propos and witty answers. He recalled many parts of his career, told anecdotes, and let us know he'll be appearing in a stage production of King Lear in the near future. He's 77 and still rocking! Good for him!

2. Don't Breathe (2016)

Fede Alvarez knocks it out of the park with DON'T BREATHE. It's fresh, exciting, unpredictable, and, most importantly, fun from start to finish.

I haven't enjoyed a thriller this much in a long time, and the mostly-novel concept employed here is a breath (no pun intended) of fresh air in a market that is over-saturated with cookie-cutter remakes and rehashes.

The film is further bolstered by an excellent cast that delivers not only strong performances, but truly memorable ones. This is because dialogue is kept to a minimum and feelings are instead conveyed using facial and bodily expressions. The clear standout is Stephen Lang, who plays an army vet with a very specific disability.

  • Don't Breathe
  • Don't Breathe
  • Don't Breathe

Special mention must be made of the film's audio; the score is gripping, and the audio design creates a unique atmosphere that not only enhances the movie, but also successfully allows viewers to feel the same fear the characters do. Amazing work that deserves to be experienced in a loud theater.

This is definitely one of those movies you buy so you can lend it to people who haven't experienced it yet. It's that good. I won't put the full trailer below; this is one of the movies where the trailer ruins the surprises. So instead here's a brief clip:

1. Tower (2016)

My favorite film of the fest was a documentary called TOWER. It's a fascinating-yet-hard-hitting retelling of the infamous University of Texas shooting that took place in 1966.

It's rare for me to be shell-shocked by a movie, but this one did it. It's hard to explain why this one breached my defenses, but it's safe to say that the fact that it purposefully refuses to acknowledge/glorify the killer was a big reason.

This is absolutely about the victims and heroes whose lives were front and center that day. Nothing more, nothing less. Various actors portray real-life victims/heroes/bystanders, using their testimonials as scripts, and deliver gripping, emotionally-charged, and purely human performances that will make you question your own beliefs and morals.

At first, I was curious as to why the filmmakers chose to present the story using rotoscoping, but as the film reaches the 3/4 mark, the "dream-like" veil it produces is slowly pulled back, resulting in a gut-punch of a moment that truly drives home the fact that what you're watching isn't fiction. It's hard to explain, but it's a brilliant choice to have structured and paced the movie in such a way. You'll understand, and feel, when you watch it.

In the wake of the many atrocities plaguing our planet these days, nothing is more powerful than seeing a film about a time where such unthinkable acts were reserved for moments of war, where the population was innocent and completely unconcerned with their safety, taking it for granted (and with good reason).

In other words, this is a documentary about the moment North America woke up and realized that monsters walk among us.

It's powerful, and it's a must-see.

HONORABLE MENTION: Freaks (1932)

The Montréal CineClub Film Society (CFS) is a cool non-profit that hosts monthly screenings of classic and lost films on their original celluloid reels. Sadly, I have yet to attend one of their screenings (which are sometimes in thematic locations with live orchestras scoring the viewing!), but every year I get a taste of their passion thanks to their unique themed presentations at Fantasia. This year, Philippe Spurrell, founder of the CFS, hosted "ASTOUNDING! FREAKS, SHRIEKS & CIRQUANTIQUE", a panel that delved into the history of pre and post-war circus sideshows. We got a live "freakshow", a cool look at the life of a turn-of-the-century Québec strongman (who, turns out, was Spurrell's grandfather!), and a screening of a long lost French short film from 1952 entitled LA MORT EST PEUT-ÊTRE POUR CE SOIR (Your Death May Be Tonight). It was quite fascinating, as it focused on all sorts of daredevils who had cheated death by performing all sorts of insane stunts, all of which was captured on film. It also focused on some who failed miserably, such as the infamous Franz Reichelt, which resulted in uncontrollable laughter from the audience (hey, we were a bunch of folks who take pleasure in the odd ... couldn't expect us not to giggle a little).

  • "Astounding!"
  • "Astounding!"
  • "Astounding"

The centerpiece of the evening was Tod Browning's 1932 oddity FREAKS, the now-legendary film that tells the tale of a band of circus freaks and how the outside world perceives them. I had never seen the movie, only heard of it thanks to multiple references in modern offerings, so I was beyond excited to lay eyes on it.

Now, for those of you who aren't in the know, this flick actually stars real-life "freaks". That's right, actual poor souls who were cursed to walk the Earth malformed and shunned. Quite a few of them had never acted before, which is evident when watching the film, but I was amazed at how strong they were to perform in front of the camera the way they did. Takes balls! Anyway, in regards to the movie itself: I loved it. Yes, it's old, but it holds up remarkably well. I, along with the audience, was completely engrossed in what I was watching. The simple-yet-poignant story of friendship amongst outcasts was touching and eye-opening. It was also a great trip through time that allowed me to witness both 1930's circus life and film making techniques. FREAKS is definitely worthy of the praise and accolades it receives, and is a must-see for anyone who is curious about a film that clearly wouldn't, and couldn't, be made today.

 
 
 

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