Film Friday: An Interesting Thought

Now here is an interesting thought, readers. Grindhouse, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’ homage to classic trashy double bills comes out this week, and, if you want to see it, you have to see it in a multiplex, because not one of the independent cinemas here (or we imagine anywhere else) are showing it.

Now, we understand how distribution works (kinda) and know it’s just easier (and more profitable) to ensure that it goes to the big corporate cinemas, but it’s hard not to think that Tarantino et al haven’t really been all that true to their material when they haven’t asked someone that works for them to give it to the indies straight off (although, having said that, maybe they did). As it is, frankly, we can’t really imagine watching Grindhouse somewhere that isn’t as cool as the Bloor, so we’re just going to ignore it for weeks until it hits the second run circuit.

And then probably still be disappointed.

Eye’s Jason Anderson is almost completely let down by the compilation, calling it “one-tenth as much fun as Crank” and Now’s John Harkness just goes on and on (and on!) about the lack of nudity. So now would be a good time to remind you about our Aqua Teen contest, as we can at least be thankful that Grindhouse even got released here, eh?

This week is rather busy with films, so it’s no surprise that they jammed two together, really. There’s Who Loves The Sun, which we mentioned in our previous competition, and Newfoundland set “comedy” Young Triffie which looks unremittingly awful and, apparently, is. “I know it’s barely April, but if I see a worse picture than Young Triffie this calendar year, well, that’ll be a hell of a thing,” says the Metro’s Norm Wilner, awarding it zero stars!

There’s also the Iranian film Offside (“An uncommonly good sports movie” according to Jason Anderson) First Snow, starring Guy Pearce, The Hoax (highly rated by John Harkness, who doesn’t complain about the film’s lack of nudity once, so it must be chock-a-block with it!).

If you’re in a festival mood, there’s the currently running Images Film Festival at the Royal, and the ReelWorld Film Festival starts this coming Wednesday with A Winter Tale, at 7 p.m. at the Scotiabank Theatre.

Oh, and showing at our most celebrated indies rather than Grindhouse? A Sundance prize winner about Sudanese refugees, God Grew Tired of Us at the Bloor and Denis Dercourt's The Page Turner at the Royal. Probably a fair enough trade, no?