videorama-759-859391
I love low budget films that pay off and are very entertaining, especially Indie ones. Take Clerks as one example. Director Rifkin, is a very interesting movie maker. Just go back The Dark Backward- original genius, or Look, which had some very disturbing and realistic themes, like this one. At the end, of this 90 minute viewing, you feel like you've been slapped around the face a few times. Speaking of slapping: Vinnie Jones's performance here as a brutal and uncompromising pimp, who lures really young girls off the bus, with dreams of stardom, then turns them out on the street, is electric, playing one of the most scariest pimps I've seen, and I've seen a few. Another great pimp playing performance was that of Brian Tarantina in the little but potent straight to video drama, Runaway Dreams. Jones also plays the charm of the pimp, wonderfuly. ANATGE takes place in a run down, but kind of legendary old hotel, that caters for a lot of tricks, a few old people, ex cons, and we see at first sight, how pimps, pros work it, but too as people, we get underneath the characters, and see them as real people. Ann Marguson (Panic Room) is great as the worn hooker who really puts so much into her character, her and Jones really shine in this, while American Pie's Lyonne, really shows us, she can really act, and act up a storm she does. To say there's bad acting in this film, truly warrants 50 floggings. Newbie, Nicole Jacobs (what happened to her) with her fresh hot fifteen old looks, and fresh off the bus, completes the talent chain of great acting, for she really shines as Lorrianne, pimp Rodan's (Jones) newest profitable discovery, and he's a really smooth operator, where the little lass, busts her cherry the same night. Also exuding hotness, sexiness, Lyonne must be praised as the slightly older teen hooker, Amber, blowing us way with her presence. The performances are so believable, where a lot happens in one night, the plot involving two ex cons, one recently released, where they get involved in a real pickle, in an accidental manslaughter, and try to cover it up, which kind of backfires for one of them. The film has been shot in that grainy, brown swarthy color ala: 187 film, and it really works, especially for the atmosphere, where the nights are really hot and a lot indeed, happens over the night, in this low key movie, another gem that must be sought out. It's painfully evident, there was a lot of struggle to make this movie, whether production, or financial, but I'm glad the struggle was overcome. The movie though has more straight to video appeal. Not everyone will like this movie, but again, Rifkin, shows you don't need much moolah, to pull off something engaging or visually viable, and this movie really has moments that affect, with some real moments of unease, thanks to Jones. The outcome of the Lorianne character, coming to accept her life here as a popped virgin pro, is one of those affecting and sadly realistic moments.
los-chupacabras
This film leaves a mark. Don't watch it to be entertained though; what this film sets out to do is show you something unrelentingly grotesque. There is no gloss here, and no hope.Hollywood has a problem. Frequently we see "powerful movies" about the world's poorest and most down-and-out people. The problem is that in real life, the lives of the poorest and most-down-and out people are often banal and undramatic. The Hollywood answer is to inject redemption into the script in order to mask the stink of reality. The results is the Space Mountain of movies, a tamed-down roller coaster experience that deliberately pulls the punches to retain a family--or at least, a hopeful--atmosphere. There's nothing wrong with this approach as long as we remember that what we're seeing is a projection. The problem becomes when we start to believe our own myths.Night at the Golden Eagle is a film that shatters some of those myths. These are the lives of people most of us would rather forget, people with no hope, no future, and only shattered dreams to keep them company. It's rightfully disturbing stuff. Anyone looking to be entertained should stay far away, because Night is a film that is guaranteed to leave you feeling dirty.For all that, it never feels exploitive. Night draws you close to the stench of decay but never cheapens it. There are no false redemptions, no heroes charging in to save the day, not even an "everyman" to ease us into the proceedings, nor are any of the developments glamorized as they might be in a film by Tarantino and his ilk.This film is not perfect. It is so dank that it is almost overwhelming, and not quite close enough to a documentary to shake the need for plot. However, the sets and costumes are incredible. The acting ranges from fantastic to mediocre but never sinks to the level of a WB horror movie.Another reviewer mentioned "racist" content in this film and I am slightly inclined to agree, in that movies of this kind so frequently demonstrate the fall of a young white woman as synonymous with her sleeping with a black or Latino man. This is an example of a theme that might not be as jarring were not a prominent feature in at least 4 films released between 1999 and 2002. I first noticed it in Requiem for a Dream and Traffic and am disappointed to see it featured here as well.My rating: 8/10, but not for everyone.
Poe-17
The danger of real life is that if you invent something, there is someone waiting in the sidelines for the opportunity of the invention. Adam Rifkin was waiting for movies to be invented so he could unleash "Night at the Golden Eagle". Naw, that's wrong. The whole idea of movies probably kicked him in gear and this film was born afterward.None of that matters, of course, but it is so interesting to wonder where the "spark of art" comes from.This film is art. It's not an art film though I'm certain it will be shown in such theaters. This is a raw film, wipe away the gloss and sheen, there isn't much, bring on the stench of being a trapped loser, hopelessness in multiple layers, high enthusiasm for a future that does not exist but so much pumping blood and hope we try to rally.What kind of film is this? It is grim.That's the best word I know.Grim.Grim done so well you can smell the seemy rooms, you want everyone to take a shower, the bed sheets have stains of people that aren't in the cast, a pretty girl smiles to reveal a mouth full of braces and a future of hopes that aren't going to happen.Tears run down cheeks and leak into lips so you taste the salt.There is an incredible nasty scene filmed as reflection on a pupil.Where did that idea come from? Who is that insane?Kudos to Mr. Rifkin for building life's underbelly with jarring reality but the genius of this film is in Francesco "Checco" Verese's cinematographry. Almost sepia monochromatic, every scene, every still that could be pulled from the movie is like a "Life" magazine shot. Filmography students could study any shot, any, for shadow and foreground and depth.If you invent movies, someone is going to come along and grab us all by the short hairs and do this.I don't want to watch but I can't look away.Genius that won't reach everyone.Rent, watch, take a shower.
