One man wanted to go to the movies…

FilmfestDC kicked off this week, this year featuring films from Italy and Romania, among others. For your viewing enjoyment I have aggregated trailers from some of tonight’s films; after each clip I’ll provide a review (based on the trailer), and give thumbs up or down. Youtube k-hole, commence.

The White Stripes tour across Canada, filmmaker Emmett Malloy employs a saturated retro aesthetic as a backdrop for interviews and cuts of the duo implying they’re “of the people” rockstars. Must love Canada and the White Stripes.

[sideways thumb]    Wow, that’s a lot of boobies! Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, rose to power as a sort of king of all media in Italy from the late 70s to 90s. Videocracy sets Berlusconi’s rise to political power in Italy by featuring historical (boobies) footage from his work in the entertainment industry, and by tracking a rising TV exec who thinks he’s the modern day Robin Hood (rob from the masses to make himself rich).

[One thumb up. Who doesn’t love a little star fucking]

   Hmm, no subtitles in the trailer… this is awkward… It looks like an awesome spy thriller set in the early 80s. Intrigue. Russia. A family. A letter. A border crossing. Reel to reel audio. A library. A single red balloon. What?! The Green Goblin, I mean Willem Dafoe is the American President!? A Wolf! Danger!

Actual Synopsis: “Farewell is a trip inside Russia’s private past for the story of how an unassuming French engineer (Pierre Froment) helped bring on perestroika and end the Cold War. Set and filmed largely in Moscow during the tense days of the Reagan administration, Farewell follows disaffected KGB officer Sergei Gregoriev (Emir Kusturica), who decides he can make a better world for his son by destroying the corrupt Soviet system. In an environment where there is a “babushka behind every curtain” and people “lie in lies,” the viewer is never entirely sure who is playing who, and for what reason. And even though the events are long past, when Gregoriev turns over plans for Air Force One, the Space Shuttle, and much more, the goosebumps appear.”

Ok, I was right.

[Two thumbs up. Who doesn’t like a cold-war thriller]

And two bonus reviews, from Hollywood with love

Kick-Ass! Looks like a Kill-Bill meets the Incredibles romp! Is it in 3D?

[Two thumbs up. It’s been a while since I’ve had an adrenaline fueled good time at the theater.]

As I once said after viewing Borat, “Hollywood can stop making movies, this is the best movie. ever.” In that spirit, Hot Tub Time Machine looks awesome, a perfect cheesy comedy; an amazing, near snakes-on-a-plane brilliant title. A ski resort in the 80s. And that guy from The Office!

[Two thumbs up. I want to go to there.]