Like the punk-rock cousin of Kelly Reichardt’s Old Joy, Joel Potrykus’ Vulcanizadora also concerns a voyage in the woods that pinpoints the exact moment an old friendship abruptly dies. The film also represents a maturing-of-sorts for the Michigan-based provocateur, revisiting characters first introduced in his 2014 film Buzzard and a few themes explored in his lesser-known 2016 feature The Alchemist Cookbook. Like many artists shifting from early to mid-career, Potrykus explores themes of having a family––or, in this case, abandoning it––while still retaining the edge present in his nascent works. It suggests a conundrum of sorts, but while other indie filmmakers start small and work towards scaling-up, this filmmaker refreshingly hasn’t..
Vulcanizadora revisits the story of Marty Jackitansky (Joshua Burger) and Derek Skiba (Potrykus) as two guys that take to the woods outside Grand Rapids for a somber weekend of hanging out. Derek, recently divorced, works a desk...
Vulcanizadora revisits the story of Marty Jackitansky (Joshua Burger) and Derek Skiba (Potrykus) as two guys that take to the woods outside Grand Rapids for a somber weekend of hanging out. Derek, recently divorced, works a desk...
- 6/13/2024
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
Two men are making their way through the forest, engaging in idle talk and generally behaving like overgrown teenagers. The guys will be recognized by viewers familiar with Joel Potrykus’s 2014 film Buzzard – as these are the same Derek (played by Potrykus himself) and Marty (his constant collaborator Joshua Burge) from the story about a rebellion against society in the form of petty scams. Ten years have passed, not only in real life, but also in Potrykus’ onscreen universe, and time and life have not been kind to his characters. Derek, as we find out, was married and had a son but is now divorced and estranged from his family, while Marty is in more trouble with the law than he’s ever been before....
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 6/11/2024
- Screen Anarchy
A filmmaker synonymous with American indie film but hasn’t been picked by Sundance in his first four features in Ape (2012), Buzzard (2014), The Alchemist Cookbook (2016) and Relaxer (2018), perhaps the narrative will change with his fifth feature which moved into production this past summer in Michigan. Joel Potrykus‘ Vulcanizadora sees his muse Joshua Burge for what is naturally a dark comedy.
Gist: This is described as a mind bending ride of comedy, suspense and utter devastation.
Production Co./Producers: Ashley Potrykus, Dan Berger, Dweck Productions’ Hannah Dweck, Factory 25’s Matt Grady.
Prediction: Next.
Sales: Factory 25.…...
Gist: This is described as a mind bending ride of comedy, suspense and utter devastation.
Production Co./Producers: Ashley Potrykus, Dan Berger, Dweck Productions’ Hannah Dweck, Factory 25’s Matt Grady.
Prediction: Next.
Sales: Factory 25.…...
- 11/17/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Nightstream, which launched in 2020 as a virtual film festival looking to provide options for filmmakers and viewers during the pandemic, is returning as a transactional VOD platform focused on genre films.
The relaunch is being steered by the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, in association with the Boston Underground Film Festival and the Overlook Film Festival.
The first Nightstream exclusive title is Summoners, from Terence Krey and Christine Nyland, the duo behind 2020’s An Unquiet Grave. Summoners, whose cast features long-established indie film figure Larry Fessenden, world premiered at last year’s Brooklyn horror fest. Per its official logline, the film centers on “a former witch who is plunged back into a world of witchcraft far more dangerous than ever before, after her childhood friend seeks her help in performing a dark spell.”
As of today’s Halloween launch, the platform will feature more than 30 titles, from indie distributors like Oscilloscope,...
The relaunch is being steered by the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, in association with the Boston Underground Film Festival and the Overlook Film Festival.
The first Nightstream exclusive title is Summoners, from Terence Krey and Christine Nyland, the duo behind 2020’s An Unquiet Grave. Summoners, whose cast features long-established indie film figure Larry Fessenden, world premiered at last year’s Brooklyn horror fest. Per its official logline, the film centers on “a former witch who is plunged back into a world of witchcraft far more dangerous than ever before, after her childhood friend seeks her help in performing a dark spell.”
As of today’s Halloween launch, the platform will feature more than 30 titles, from indie distributors like Oscilloscope,...
- 10/31/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Dweck Productions has joined Joel Potrykus’ upcoming dark comedy feature “Vulcanizadora” which will star Joshua Burge.
“Vulcanizadora” will be written and directed by Potrykus, marking his fifth feature and fourth collaboration with Burge following “Ape,” “Buzzard” and “Relaxer.” Plot details for the feature have been kept under wraps with production commencing this summer in Michigan. Dweck joins the project as both producer and financier.
“‘Vulcanizadora’ is a mind bending ride of comedy, suspense and utter devastation, and we are thrilled to be producing the bold and daring fifth feature of the great Joel Potrykus,” said Dweck founder Hannah Dweck. “This is the exact type of boundary pushing, genre bending film we love to help bring to the screen. We can’t wait to watch this with an audience.”
Matt Grady, founder of independent film production and distribution company Factory 25, will produce “Vulcanizadora” alongside Ashley Potrykus and Dan Berger.
“I...
“Vulcanizadora” will be written and directed by Potrykus, marking his fifth feature and fourth collaboration with Burge following “Ape,” “Buzzard” and “Relaxer.” Plot details for the feature have been kept under wraps with production commencing this summer in Michigan. Dweck joins the project as both producer and financier.
“‘Vulcanizadora’ is a mind bending ride of comedy, suspense and utter devastation, and we are thrilled to be producing the bold and daring fifth feature of the great Joel Potrykus,” said Dweck founder Hannah Dweck. “This is the exact type of boundary pushing, genre bending film we love to help bring to the screen. We can’t wait to watch this with an audience.”
Matt Grady, founder of independent film production and distribution company Factory 25, will produce “Vulcanizadora” alongside Ashley Potrykus and Dan Berger.
“I...
- 5/22/2023
- by McKinley Franklin
- Variety Film + TV
After a major bidding war, Zach Cregger’s Barbarian follow-up Weapons landed at New Line and now we have a few major updates. With a shoot set to kick off this July, Production Weekly reports Rooney Mara will star in the project and they’ve revealed a logline: “A multi and inter-related story horror epic centered around witchcraft and missing children.” The film was previously described as being tonally in the vein of Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1999 epic Magnolia, so expect many more cast members to join the ensemble.
After Netflix announced August Wilson’s Broadway play The Piano Lesson is getting the big-screen treatment a few years back, we’ve now gleaned more about the players involved. Production Weekly reports that Malcolm Washington, Denzel Washington’s son, will direct the adaptation, while John David Washington and Samuel L. Jackson will reprise their roles. Here’s the official synopsis:
At...
After Netflix announced August Wilson’s Broadway play The Piano Lesson is getting the big-screen treatment a few years back, we’ve now gleaned more about the players involved. Production Weekly reports that Malcolm Washington, Denzel Washington’s son, will direct the adaptation, while John David Washington and Samuel L. Jackson will reprise their roles. Here’s the official synopsis:
At...
- 3/9/2023
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Sometimes it’s like they read your mind—or just notice upcoming releases as you do. Whatever the case, I’m thrilled that the release of Terence Davies’ Benediction played (I assume!) some part in a full retro on the Criterion Channel this June, sad as I know that package will make me and anybody else who comes within ten feet of it. It’s among a handful of career retrospectives: they’ve also set a 12-film Judy Garland series populated by Berkeley and Minnelli, ten from Ulrike Ottinger, and four by Billy Wilder. But maybe their most adventurous idea in some time is a huge microbudget collection ranging from Ulmer’s Detour to Joel Potrykus’ Buzzard, fellow success stories—Nolan, Linklater, Jarmusch, Jia Zhangke—spread about.
Criterion Editions continue with Bertrand Tavernier’s Round Midnight, Double Indemnity, and Seconds, while Chameleon Street, Karen Dalton: In My Own Time,...
Criterion Editions continue with Bertrand Tavernier’s Round Midnight, Double Indemnity, and Seconds, while Chameleon Street, Karen Dalton: In My Own Time,...
- 5/19/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
RelaxerThere is no clear, direct film comparison to provide for Joel Potrykus’s Relaxer. It can feel like a blender of one director’s proclivities and tastes. That speaks well for Potrykus’s imagination, one who alchemizes and is inspired by polar opposite film sensibilities, as there are times Relaxer looks and goes in directions uncharted by current American independent cinema. In its play-like staging, gross-out humor, and signifiers of the end of the century that tease an alternative reality, Relaxer is a gnarly, minimalist tour de force, Sartre’s No Exit for the Y2K period slacker. Slackerdom is hardly the new exploration in American indies. Richard Linklater built his career on such character types. His slackers, however, carried an air of pretension to occupy themselves, like reading the classics or deep-diving into conspiracy theories. Even with Linklater’s Rohmerian style of centering philosophical conversations, his works had an...
- 4/17/2019
- MUBI
"You do not leave this couch until the challenge is completed!" Oscilloscope Labs has debuted the trailer for a demented, wacky indie film titled Relaxer, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival last year. Relaxer is the latest work from American filmmaker Joel Potrykus, who has been making some super funky little films including Ape, Buzzard, and The Alchemist Cookbook. This one is just as funky as all of those: With the impending Y2K apocalypse fast approaching, Abbie is faced with the ultimate challenge - the unbeatable level 256 on Pac-Man - and he can't get off the couch until he conquers it. A survival story in a living room. Starring Joshua Burge, David Dastmalchian, Andre Hyland, Madi Bachman, & Amari Cheatom. This looks totally gross and ridiculous, but apparently "an unforgettable experience" according to one critic. Here's the first official trailer (+ crazy poster) for Joel Potrykus' Relaxer, direct from YouTube...
- 3/7/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Great cinema is sometimes grand themes, dramatic camerawork, and sophisticated montage; or, it’s a guy playing “Pac Man” for 90 minutes. Joel Potrykus’ “Relaxer,” the latest wacky gambit from the Michigan-based provocateur, finds the “Buzzard” director reteaming with his perennial star Joshua Burge, again taking a cartoonish lowbrow approach to acerbic social critique. Set on the eve of Y2K, “Relaxer” exclusively takes place in the confines of a living room, where Burge’s character endures prolonged attempts to reach an impossible high score on the the aforementioned video game, while enduring hardships that include milk vomit, fecal matter, overheated cartridges, and rat poison. It’s a grotesque downward spiral, both hilarious and mesmerizing, but above all elevated by its insights into the depraved final gasp of the analog age.
Media scholar Neil Postman diagnosed the ills of entertainment media in his aptly titled 1985 tome “Amusing Ourselves to Death;” that...
Media scholar Neil Postman diagnosed the ills of entertainment media in his aptly titled 1985 tome “Amusing Ourselves to Death;” that...
- 3/10/2018
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Sibling sadism turns absurdist in Joel Potrykus' Relaxer, in which a passive man-child endures baffling deprivation for no reason other than that his big brother dared him to. The follow-up to the Michigan filmmaker's The Alchemist Cookbook and Buzzard, both of which featured outcasts with trouble in mind, the claustrophobic, one-set film clearly invites metaphorical readings — but its allegories will play best to viewers who can stomach the idea of spending eternity on a couch playing Nintendo.
That's pretty much what Joshua Burge's Abbie does here, while his tiny world crumbles around him. We meet the shirtless dweeb in the...
That's pretty much what Joshua Burge's Abbie does here, while his tiny world crumbles around him. We meet the shirtless dweeb in the...
- 3/10/2018
- by John DeFore
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The annual multi-pronged South By Southwest Conferences and Festivals — SXSW, of course — is hitting Austin, Texas later this week for days and days of fresh film offerings (plus music, interactive, and a litany of exciting panels and conversations). With it comes the promise of a brand new festival-going season, along with a slew of films to get excited about finally checking out (and, because it’s Austin, lots of tasty barbecue).
From SXSW regulars like Mark Duplass and Joel Potrykus to rising stars like Carole Brandt and Suzi Yoonessi to marquee names like Wes Anderson and John Krasinski, this year’s SXSW Film Festival is offering up a robust new slate. We’ve picked out a dozen worthy new features to add to your SXSW schedule.
Check out 12 new films from this year’s SXSW that you’re going to want to see Asap.
“A Quiet Place”
The last thing...
From SXSW regulars like Mark Duplass and Joel Potrykus to rising stars like Carole Brandt and Suzi Yoonessi to marquee names like Wes Anderson and John Krasinski, this year’s SXSW Film Festival is offering up a robust new slate. We’ve picked out a dozen worthy new features to add to your SXSW schedule.
Check out 12 new films from this year’s SXSW that you’re going to want to see Asap.
“A Quiet Place”
The last thing...
- 3/7/2018
- by Kate Erbland, Eric Kohn, Jenna Marotta, Jude Dry, David Ehrlich and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
The 2018 SXSW Film and TV lineups have landed, and Austin’s programming of new films and TV shows looks like nothing else out there. As the film section enters its 25th anniversary and the festival’s top programmer Janet Pierson enters her 10th, SXSW remains a distinctive presence on the festival circuit, one that speaks to an ever-changing media landscape and the variability of filmmaking outside of Hollywood. Here are some of the standouts from the announcement.
See More:sxsw Film and TV 2018 Lineup: Jordan Peele, Female Directors, and More Lead Latest Announcement
Daryl Hannah Made an Experimental Western With Willie Nelson
As calls for supporting women filmmakers continue to dominate the industry, SXSW’s program provides a compelling response. Its 10-movie narrative competition is dominated by eight women directors, varying wildly in age and experience. These include first-time director Hannah Marks, who co-directed the drama “Shotgun” with Joey Power. Marks...
See More:sxsw Film and TV 2018 Lineup: Jordan Peele, Female Directors, and More Lead Latest Announcement
Daryl Hannah Made an Experimental Western With Willie Nelson
As calls for supporting women filmmakers continue to dominate the industry, SXSW’s program provides a compelling response. Its 10-movie narrative competition is dominated by eight women directors, varying wildly in age and experience. These include first-time director Hannah Marks, who co-directed the drama “Shotgun” with Joey Power. Marks...
- 1/31/2018
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
“It’s a job.” –Arthur Martinez I had two features as a cinematographer under my belt by late June of 2015, both close and comfortable collaborations with a single director: Joel Potrykus (Buzzard, The Alchemist Cookbook). It seems fitting that he made the phone call I received only a week and a half before Actor Martinez began principal photography. Joel eagerly informed me that two directors, Nathan Silver (Stinking Heaven, Uncertain Terms) and Mike Ott (Lake Los Angeles, Littlerock), had contacted him asking about my nearly immediate availability. I didn’t know them personally, but I certainly had been aware of their […]...
- 3/28/2017
- by Adam J. Minnick
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Editor’s note: with Joel Potrykus’ new film The Alchemist Cookbook now available for purchase, we’re unlocking writer/director Alex Ross Perry’s appreciation of his work from our Summer 2015 issue. Joel Potrykus’s Buzzard is either an extremely difficult or very simple movie to embrace. On the one hand, it contains enough juvenile/dumb/low humor to elicit honest guffaws alongside of-the-moment ’90s nostalgia to appeal to those of us raised on horror VHS tapes and Nintendo. Insults are clever and land with precision. The characterization of idiot manchild culture is somehow at once both obvious and insightful. More challenging to embrace, notice or even appreciate are the […]...
- 10/13/2016
- by Alex Ross Perry
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
A couple of years back, writer/director Joel Potrykus earned some buzz for the edgy comedy “Buzzard,” and now he’s returned with another distinctive picture in “The Alchemist Cookbook.” Screening at SXSW, BAMcinemaFest, Fantasia, and more, the film has been earning some chatter on the festival circuit. If you’re even halfway curious, Oscilloscope Laboratories has made the movie available on BitTorrent for pay-what-you-wish.
Continue reading Exclusive: Rock Out With The Smoking Popes In Clip From ‘The Alchemist Cookbook’ at The Playlist.
Continue reading Exclusive: Rock Out With The Smoking Popes In Clip From ‘The Alchemist Cookbook’ at The Playlist.
- 10/12/2016
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Joel Potrykus’ third feature, The Alchemist Cookbook, further cements the writer-director’s status as one of the most interesting and unusual new voices in American independent film. A darkly funny chamber piece set at a secluded trailer home somewhere in Michigan, it centers on an alienated young man (Ty Hickson of Gimme The Loot) as he attempts to summon a demon. Like Potrykus’ earlier films, Ape and the superb Buzzard, it’s a portrait of a loser increasingly consumed by his fantasies of getting back at the world.
But what The A.V. Club wanted to talk to Potrykus about was food: the junk food, messy dinners, and cheap sodas that seem to be such an important part of his characters’ lives. He’s devoted extended scenes to a plate of spaghetti, a game played with Bugles, and a man daring himself to eat cat food. The A.V. Club...
But what The A.V. Club wanted to talk to Potrykus about was food: the junk food, messy dinners, and cheap sodas that seem to be such an important part of his characters’ lives. He’s devoted extended scenes to a plate of spaghetti, a game played with Bugles, and a man daring himself to eat cat food. The A.V. Club...
- 10/12/2016
- by Ignatiy Vishnevetsky
- avclub.com
The “pay what you want” pricing strategy has been a boon for many artists trying to circumvent traditional distribution models and release strategies. Radiohead brought major awareness to the concept when it released its 2007 album “In Rainbows,” and now indie filmmakers like Joel Potrykus are utilizing the method to control the release of their work, like his latest film “The Alchemist Cookbook.” The film follows young outcast Sean (Ty Hickson) who has isolated himself in the woods with his cast Kaspar to pursue his alchemic pursuits. Though his experiments start out innocent enough, they soon turn to black magic in order to crack the secrets of nature, and naturally things go awry, awakening something far more sinister and dangerous. Watch an exclusive clip from the film below.
Read More: ‘The Alchemist Cookbook’ New Trailer: Daring Film Heads to BitTorrent as Pay-What-You-Wish Deal
As to why Potrykus decided to release the...
Read More: ‘The Alchemist Cookbook’ New Trailer: Daring Film Heads to BitTorrent as Pay-What-You-Wish Deal
As to why Potrykus decided to release the...
- 10/10/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
(Charles Poekel caught up with Joel Potrykus at Bam Cinemafest regarding his latest film The Alchemist Cookbook. The result is the following chat which is one of the best interviews you’ll read all year! Potrykus’ film is available Now in a pay-what-you-want format.) I caught up with Joel Potrykus (Buzzard, Ape) after his newest film, The Alchemist Cookbook, played […]...
- 10/7/2016
- by Charles Poekel
- Hammer to Nail
“American Fringe: A New Look at American Independent Cinema” will officially launch this November as part of the Festival d’Automne. This new film series, which will take place from November 25 to November 27, will screen eight recent American independent feature films that collectively and individually capture the irreverence and innovation that have always been at the heart of that movement.
Produced by The Arts Arena, a Parisian nonprofit initiative in the visual arts, performing arts, film and issues of culture and society, the organization has just announced the lineup.
Read More: Parisian Arts Initiative Launching ‘American Fringe’ Film Series in 2016
Organized and selected by Richard Peña, Director Emeritus of the New York Film Festival, and Alessia Palanti, the duo know that recently there has been an enormous growth in the number of indie films and documentaries created. With “American Fringe” they hope to celebrate a slew of works that still...
Produced by The Arts Arena, a Parisian nonprofit initiative in the visual arts, performing arts, film and issues of culture and society, the organization has just announced the lineup.
Read More: Parisian Arts Initiative Launching ‘American Fringe’ Film Series in 2016
Organized and selected by Richard Peña, Director Emeritus of the New York Film Festival, and Alessia Palanti, the duo know that recently there has been an enormous growth in the number of indie films and documentaries created. With “American Fringe” they hope to celebrate a slew of works that still...
- 9/27/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
Buzzard, Joel Potrykus’ idiosyncratic and darkly funny portrait of an increasingly paranoid and psychotic Midwestern slacker, established the director as a talent to watch. And in keeping with the underground ethos on display in all of Potrykus’ films, his follow-up, The Alchemist Cookbook, is being released as a “pay what you want” download through BitTorrent Now.
This isn’t unusual for a micro-budget indie, but the kicker here is that The Alchemist Cookbook isn’t self-distributed. In fact, the whole thing is being handled by Oscilloscope, the respected indie distributor co-founded by late Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys fame. While same-day releases to VOD or digital platforms like iTunes have become popular among the indie and arthouse distributors, the choice of delivery and pricing model represents a step in a different direction.
Potrykus has written about the plan in a post for Bundle.Media that addresses his own feelings about...
This isn’t unusual for a micro-budget indie, but the kicker here is that The Alchemist Cookbook isn’t self-distributed. In fact, the whole thing is being handled by Oscilloscope, the respected indie distributor co-founded by late Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys fame. While same-day releases to VOD or digital platforms like iTunes have become popular among the indie and arthouse distributors, the choice of delivery and pricing model represents a step in a different direction.
Potrykus has written about the plan in a post for Bundle.Media that addresses his own feelings about...
- 9/23/2016
- by Ignatiy Vishnevetsky
- avclub.com
Along with the debut of a brand new trailer (above) for Joel Potrykus’ The Alchemist Cookbook, distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories has announced that the film will be released via BitTorrent Now for pay-what-you-wish on October 7th. The Alchemist Cookbook is a portrait of a Sean, a young hermit in the woods who sets out to solve an old mystery, and loses his mind along the way. Starring Ty Hickson and Amari Cheatom, the film premiered at SXSW and screened at various other festivals including BAMcinemaFest and Fantasia. Potrykus, who previously directed Ape and Buzzard, recently penned an Op-Ed about why he’s a fan […]...
- 9/20/2016
- by Paula Bernstein
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
If you’ve ever been desperate enough to retreat into the Michigan wilderness and employ alchemy as a means of attaining wealth, you’re in luck! Joel Potrykus’ (“Buzzard,” “Ape”) latest feature, “The Alchemist Cookbook,” does just that and then some.
The good news: All that fresh air and solidarity can really give you time to think on things. The bad news: You might accidentally summon Satan. Watch the film’s newest trailer below.
Read More: The Indiewire Springboard: Joel Potrykus Makes Weird Little Movies In Michigan. Now He’s Fielding Offers From Hollywood. What’s Next?
In the new trailer, Ty Hickson (“Gimme the Loot”) stars as Sean, a hermit who ventures out into the forest in an attempt to materialize money via alchemy, but winds up discovering some something much more terrifying. Juxtaposing dark comedy with bizarre horror, Sean’s descent into madness is as absurdly eccentric as it is grim.
The good news: All that fresh air and solidarity can really give you time to think on things. The bad news: You might accidentally summon Satan. Watch the film’s newest trailer below.
Read More: The Indiewire Springboard: Joel Potrykus Makes Weird Little Movies In Michigan. Now He’s Fielding Offers From Hollywood. What’s Next?
In the new trailer, Ty Hickson (“Gimme the Loot”) stars as Sean, a hermit who ventures out into the forest in an attempt to materialize money via alchemy, but winds up discovering some something much more terrifying. Juxtaposing dark comedy with bizarre horror, Sean’s descent into madness is as absurdly eccentric as it is grim.
- 9/18/2016
- by Mark Burger
- Indiewire
Following up one of the most impressive American independent films of the decade thus far, Buzzard, director Joel Potrykus is back with The Alchemist Cookbook, which premiered at SXSW earlier this year and will be released by Oscilloscope this fall. Following a hermit who attempts to crack the code for an ancient mystery but winds up paying a price for his ambition and mania, the first full trailer has now arrived.
As we said in our review, “I bet another viewing would reveal missed details, but the threat of being wrong and finding myself enduring the slow, quiet madness again scares me. I want to hear the growl of whatever lies in waiting at the beginning to match it with noises at the end. I want to contrast Sean’s attitude before Cortez’s initial visit with the aftermath of his second. And I want to pay attention to the...
As we said in our review, “I bet another viewing would reveal missed details, but the threat of being wrong and finding myself enduring the slow, quiet madness again scares me. I want to hear the growl of whatever lies in waiting at the beginning to match it with noises at the end. I want to contrast Sean’s attitude before Cortez’s initial visit with the aftermath of his second. And I want to pay attention to the...
- 9/16/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
"Just walking around in my mansion, in the woods, in my robe..." Oscilloscope Labs has released the full trailer for indie film The Alchemist Cookbook, from director Joel Potrykus who last made the cult hit Buzzard. This film is about a young outcast named Sean, played by Ty Hickson, who is holed up in a trailer in the woods with "The Alchemist Cookbook" and his cat trying to devise twisted schemes for vanquishing his enemies. After going too far with a recipe, he "awakens something far more sinister and dangerous". There's some funky footage in this trailer, but the best part is the quote from Variety about "if you only see two American indie features co-starring Satan this year..." You have to appreciate a unique trailer like this. Here's the full trailer (+ poster) for Joel Potrykus' The Alchemist Cookbook, in high def from Apple: You can still watch the...
- 9/16/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
"Feeling down?" Oscilloscope Labs has debuted the first quick teaser trailer for an indie film called The Alchemist Cookbook, from unique filmmaker Joel Potrykus, who last made the cult indie hit Buzzard starring Joshua Burge. This film is about a young outcast named Sean, played by Ty Hickson, who is holed up in a trailer in the woods with "The Alchemist Cookbook" and his cat. After going too far with one of the recipes, he "awakens something far more sinister and dangerous". The poster gives you a little hint at what that might be since this teaser doesn't offer much to work with. If you're curious about this one, have a look. Here's the first teaser trailer for Joel Potrykus' The Alchemist Cookbook, found on YouTube (via Tfs): Young outcast Sean has isolated himself in a trailer in the woods, setting out on alchemic pursuits, with his cat Kaspar as his sole companion.
- 8/12/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The first strange, intriguing teaser has been unleashed for the SXSW premiere The Alchemist Cookbook. The third feature from Joel Potrykus, who last delivered the brilliant Buzzard, the film concerns a hermit attempting to crack the code for an ancient mystery, but winds up paying a price for his ambition and mania. The teaser opens with a distorted, zoomed-in image of Donald Trump announcing his run for presidency, followed by the hermit sharpening a blade. Whether or not this visual connection relates to the final product is unclear, but it is an eerie and relevant concoction that makes for a memorable teaser.
We said in our review: “I bet another viewing would reveal missed details, but the threat of being wrong and finding myself enduring the slow, quiet madness again scares me. I want to hear the growl of whatever lies in waiting at the beginning to match it with noises at the end.
We said in our review: “I bet another viewing would reveal missed details, but the threat of being wrong and finding myself enduring the slow, quiet madness again scares me. I want to hear the growl of whatever lies in waiting at the beginning to match it with noises at the end.
- 8/12/2016
- by Mike Mazzanti
- The Film Stage
Donald Cried opens in medias res on Peter (Jesse Wakeman), in a cab ride through a snowy suburb, realizing that he lost his wallet, and from there gives successive details of him present due to the death of his grandmother and this, our setting, being his childhood home in small-town Rhode Island — a good omen for this comedy being in the milieu of the Farrelly brothers.
A Wall Street type, he calls a Manhattan connection who, unfortunately, is unwilling to wire him the $100 necessary to get through the day, forcing him to turn to high school friend Donald (Kris Avedisian, also the film’s director) for help after by chance encountering him in the driveway. The first instance of this film’s ample physical comedy comes when Donald, in his bathrobe, climbs over a mound of snow to embrace Peter; you see he’s been waiting twenty years for this moment.
A Wall Street type, he calls a Manhattan connection who, unfortunately, is unwilling to wire him the $100 necessary to get through the day, forcing him to turn to high school friend Donald (Kris Avedisian, also the film’s director) for help after by chance encountering him in the driveway. The first instance of this film’s ample physical comedy comes when Donald, in his bathrobe, climbs over a mound of snow to embrace Peter; you see he’s been waiting twenty years for this moment.
- 8/5/2016
- by Ethan Vestby
- The Film Stage
The first programming has been revealed for the 20th annual Fantasia International Film Festival. Taking place from July 14th–August 2nd in Montreal, this year’s Fantasia will honor Guillermo del Toro with the Cheval Noir Award, and the newly revealed first wave of programming includes screenings of Lights Out, Abattoir, In a Valley of Violence, Under the Shadow, Trash Fire, Teenage Cocktail, and more:
Press Release: Montreal, May 26, 2016 – The Fantasia International Film Festival will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary in Montreal this summer, taking place from July 14-August 2, with its Frontiéres international co-production market and Industry Rendez-Vous weekend being held July 21-24. The full lineup of over 130 feature films will be announced July 5th. In the meantime, the festival is excited to announce a selected first wave of titles, along with several special happenings.
For Fantasia’s 2016 poster, the festival has once again turned to award-winning Quebec visual artist Donald Caron.
Press Release: Montreal, May 26, 2016 – The Fantasia International Film Festival will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary in Montreal this summer, taking place from July 14-August 2, with its Frontiéres international co-production market and Industry Rendez-Vous weekend being held July 21-24. The full lineup of over 130 feature films will be announced July 5th. In the meantime, the festival is excited to announce a selected first wave of titles, along with several special happenings.
For Fantasia’s 2016 poster, the festival has once again turned to award-winning Quebec visual artist Donald Caron.
- 5/26/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
12 Unique Visions We Are Excited to See at the 35th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
Numerous sections that range from those that focus on particular geographical regions, to one that highlights features crafted by homegrown talent, another formed by stories about people who have left their hometowns to find a better life elsewhere, and even one that honors Minnesota’s Scandinavian heritage, are some of the blocks that build the extensive and boldly curated program of the 35th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (Mspiff).
Discerning which films to watch from the couple hundred that will play in the Midwestern city during the next two weeks is a colossal task and one that is directed by taste and interests; however, there are plenty of options for adventurous audiences looking to watch a unique cinematic vision outside of their comfort zone.
The most audacious offers include a French animated featured focused on a war-torn African country, Joel Potrykus follow-up to “Buzzard,” a subversive Lgbt drama about skaters in Mexico City, the story of a Somali man in Minneapolis who finds friendship in a lonely dog, a dark Swedish comedy that resembles the humor of celebrated Nordic masters, or a Brazilian coming-of-ager centered on a girl obsessed with the recent murders of local women. Just from the premises is easy to predict that these will not be your typical experience at the movies, but that's not to say they won't be exponentially more entertaining and eye-opening.
Here is a list with 12 unconventional choices, including those mentioned above, playing at Mspiff that we can't wait to see.
Synopses courtesy of the festival.
The 35th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival takes place runs April 7-23. For the full program and tickets visit Here.
"Adama"
Dir. Simon Rouby
France
12 year-old Adama, voiced by French-Malian child actor Azize Abdoulaye Diabaté, lives in an idyllic village sheltered by cliffs. When his brother Samba defies their elders and flees to join the ‘Nassara’ (colonialist French army), Adama follows in an attempt to bring Samba home. Experimental animation combining laser-scanned sculptures of clay and sand with painterly animated scenes bring magical realism to Adama’s journey north from West Africa to Europe’s Western Front in 1914. A heroic odyssey mixes elements of mysticism and allegory with action, adventure, and a little known historical African narrative
Screens April 20 at 2:30 Pm and April 16 at 3:45
"The Alchemist Cookbook"
Dir. Joel Potrykus
U.S.
Sean is a young hermit, living in near total isolation and obsessed with a mysterious alchemic and somewhat manic pursuit that challenges the laws of nature. Off the grid and turning his back on civilization, his days play out inside an old trailer in the swamps, conducting experiments. When a demonic entity appears in the shadows, Sean’s self-induced seclusion is shattered by a true force of evil. Joel Potrykus delivers another meditation on the idiosyncratic side of the male psyche that feels like a dark and demented modern-day folk tale.
Screens April 14 at 9:50 Pm and April 21 at 10:00 Pm
"The Ardennes"
Dir. Robin Pront
Belgium
Robin Pront's feature-film debut opens with a powerful punch and continues with a slow burn downward spiral of brotherly betrayal and brutal retribution. After a robbery goes hopelessly wrong, Dave escapes the scene leaving his brother Kenny behind to take the rap. Flash forward four years and Dave has been able to turn his life around while time has stood still for Kenny, now out on parole, who was left simmering in jail. The palpable tension between Dave and Kenny builds to brutal and thrilling crescendo in the shadows of Belgium's Ardennes forest.
Screens April 10 at 9:40 Pm and April 22 at 9:45 Pm
"A Decent Man"
Dir. Micha Lewinsky
Switzerland
This provocative drama chronicles a family vacation that turns into every parent’s nightmare. Thomas, an amiable man in his mid-forties, resolves that his family will take their annual skiing holiday in the Swiss Alps even though neither his wife or daughter are interested. But things soon become more complicated when his manipulative boss pressures him to include his difficult daughter, Sarah. A convincing portrait of an insecure man whose failure to be a beloved father, brilliant journalist and understanding husband is sending him over the edge.
Screens April 8 at 4:45 Pm and April 19 at 9:40 Pm
"Dragonfly"
Dir. Maribeth Romslo and Cara Greene Epstein
U.S.
Told with heart, humor, and a little bit of magic, "Dragonfly" is a film about homecoming and healing for a Midwestern family divided by divorce and illness. When Anna’s mom is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, Anna returns home to help but not without some reluctance tied to her emotional family baggage. As she unpacks her past, Anna rediscovers a mysterious mailbox from her childhood and embarks on a search to solve its mystery. What she learns along the way may be the key to her own reconciliation.
Screens: April 10 at 7:10 Pm and April 16 at 4:40 Pm
"Endorphine"
Dir. André Turpin
Canada
What’s the connection between trauma, memory and the relativity of space and time? Endorphine sends you down a rabbit hole where time and existence are scrambled into a Lynchian fever dream. After 12-year-old Simone helplessly witnesses the murder of her mother, she is thrust into an endless loop that explores alternate realities and parallel lives, including what may or may not be adult versions of herself. Expertly crafted by André Turpin (cinematographer on Xavier Dolan’s Mommy and Tom at the Farm and Denis Villeneuve’s Incendies), "Endorphine" is a dark and visually arresting head trip.
Screens April 10 at 9:15 Pm and April 18 at 9:30 Pm
"The Garbage Helicopter"
Dir. Jonas Selberg Augustsén
Sweden
An old Roma woman is seized by a sudden urge to reclaim her antique clock, sending her three grandchildren on an odyssey across the lonesome, big-sky highways of northern Sweden (captured in beautifully bleak black-and-white). The action takes place in the deadpan absurdist territory pioneered by Jarmusch, Kaurismäki, and Andersson. Here, crosswords are completed (including the mysterious entry, "garbage helicopter"), a speed-trap camera is demolished, a Holocaust museum is visited, the world’s second-biggest chair is solemnly viewed, and a gang of art thieves is encountered.
Screens April 21 at 9:40 Pm and April 23 at 7:05 Pm
"Kill Me Please"
Dir. Anita Rocha da Silveira
Brazil/Argentina
Anita Rocha da Silveira’s stunning debut drops us directly into the psyche of a middle-class teenage girl, piqued by raging hormones and fueled with fearless curiosity. A string of grisly neighborhood murders of women captures the imagination of a clique of girls, but especially Bia who feels more and more connected to the dead women than her high school friends. The incident ignites something in Bia, causing her to embrace fantasy and openly explore her sexuality. Built on a unique atmosphere devoid of adults, Kill Me Please is a dark yet pop-infused coming-of-age story.
Screens April 9 at 3:15 Pm and April 14 at 9:45 Pm
"I Promise Anarchy"
Dir. Julio Hernández Cordón
Mexico
Miguel and Johnny are friends from opposite sides of the tracks, but that doesn’t inhibit their romance with one another that revolves around sex, drugs and skateboarding. To support their devil-may-care lifestyle, the boys sell their own blood—and occasionally the blood of their friends and whomever they can find—to an underground network run by the drug cartel. When one such arrangement goes wrong, Miguel and Johnny find themselves way over their head. Director Julio Hernandez Cordon’s stylishly blends a breezy romance of wayward youth with a gritty nior thriller on the streets of Mexico City.
Screens April 8 at 9:15 Pm and April 11 at 9:50 Pm
"Schneider vs. Bax"
Dir. Alex van Warmerdam
Netherlands/Belgium
This black comedy makes a point of turning the hitman genre on its head with unconventional setups that spiral into absurdism. Schneider wakes to his adoring wife and two young daughters planning his birthday party only to have it interrupted by a call from his boss with a job that must be done right away: an easy hit on an isolated novelist named Bax that he can finish by noon. Needless to say, things do not go as planned. Schneider vs. Bax is as much about the contrast and comparison of these two men and their families, as it is the nascent yet ineffective real-world cage match.
Screens April 10 at 9:35 Pm and April 14 at 9:40 Pm
"A Stray"
Dir. Musa Syeed
U.S.
In the microcosm of Minneapolis’ large Somali community, Adan has run out of options. Looking to turn his life around, he finds solace, friendship and a job as a janitor at the mosque. Finding an even better job driving a taxi, Adan unexpectedly finds a new friend in a stray dog. But the mosque sees the dog as impure, and Adan finds himself on the streets again. Director Musa Syeed brings the streets of Riverside and the struggles of young Somalis to the big screen in this vivid and moving drama.
Screens April 15 at 7:20 Pm and April 17 at 3: 50 Pm
"Wednesday, May 9"
Dir. Vahid Jalilvand
Iran
Leila works in a chicken packing factory to support her family, but still has no money left over to save for a much-needed operation for her disabled husband. Setareh secretly married against her family’s wishes, and when her tyrannical cousin finds out, an altercation lands her young husband in jail, requiring 30 million tomans in “blood money” for his release. The two tragic stories of these women are connected to a potential benefactor who could help them in Vahid Jalilvand’s incredible debut feature of carefully drawn characters and bold statements of humanism.
Screens April 8 at 4:50 Pm and April 19 at 4:30 Pm...
Discerning which films to watch from the couple hundred that will play in the Midwestern city during the next two weeks is a colossal task and one that is directed by taste and interests; however, there are plenty of options for adventurous audiences looking to watch a unique cinematic vision outside of their comfort zone.
The most audacious offers include a French animated featured focused on a war-torn African country, Joel Potrykus follow-up to “Buzzard,” a subversive Lgbt drama about skaters in Mexico City, the story of a Somali man in Minneapolis who finds friendship in a lonely dog, a dark Swedish comedy that resembles the humor of celebrated Nordic masters, or a Brazilian coming-of-ager centered on a girl obsessed with the recent murders of local women. Just from the premises is easy to predict that these will not be your typical experience at the movies, but that's not to say they won't be exponentially more entertaining and eye-opening.
Here is a list with 12 unconventional choices, including those mentioned above, playing at Mspiff that we can't wait to see.
Synopses courtesy of the festival.
The 35th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival takes place runs April 7-23. For the full program and tickets visit Here.
"Adama"
Dir. Simon Rouby
France
12 year-old Adama, voiced by French-Malian child actor Azize Abdoulaye Diabaté, lives in an idyllic village sheltered by cliffs. When his brother Samba defies their elders and flees to join the ‘Nassara’ (colonialist French army), Adama follows in an attempt to bring Samba home. Experimental animation combining laser-scanned sculptures of clay and sand with painterly animated scenes bring magical realism to Adama’s journey north from West Africa to Europe’s Western Front in 1914. A heroic odyssey mixes elements of mysticism and allegory with action, adventure, and a little known historical African narrative
Screens April 20 at 2:30 Pm and April 16 at 3:45
"The Alchemist Cookbook"
Dir. Joel Potrykus
U.S.
Sean is a young hermit, living in near total isolation and obsessed with a mysterious alchemic and somewhat manic pursuit that challenges the laws of nature. Off the grid and turning his back on civilization, his days play out inside an old trailer in the swamps, conducting experiments. When a demonic entity appears in the shadows, Sean’s self-induced seclusion is shattered by a true force of evil. Joel Potrykus delivers another meditation on the idiosyncratic side of the male psyche that feels like a dark and demented modern-day folk tale.
Screens April 14 at 9:50 Pm and April 21 at 10:00 Pm
"The Ardennes"
Dir. Robin Pront
Belgium
Robin Pront's feature-film debut opens with a powerful punch and continues with a slow burn downward spiral of brotherly betrayal and brutal retribution. After a robbery goes hopelessly wrong, Dave escapes the scene leaving his brother Kenny behind to take the rap. Flash forward four years and Dave has been able to turn his life around while time has stood still for Kenny, now out on parole, who was left simmering in jail. The palpable tension between Dave and Kenny builds to brutal and thrilling crescendo in the shadows of Belgium's Ardennes forest.
Screens April 10 at 9:40 Pm and April 22 at 9:45 Pm
"A Decent Man"
Dir. Micha Lewinsky
Switzerland
This provocative drama chronicles a family vacation that turns into every parent’s nightmare. Thomas, an amiable man in his mid-forties, resolves that his family will take their annual skiing holiday in the Swiss Alps even though neither his wife or daughter are interested. But things soon become more complicated when his manipulative boss pressures him to include his difficult daughter, Sarah. A convincing portrait of an insecure man whose failure to be a beloved father, brilliant journalist and understanding husband is sending him over the edge.
Screens April 8 at 4:45 Pm and April 19 at 9:40 Pm
"Dragonfly"
Dir. Maribeth Romslo and Cara Greene Epstein
U.S.
Told with heart, humor, and a little bit of magic, "Dragonfly" is a film about homecoming and healing for a Midwestern family divided by divorce and illness. When Anna’s mom is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, Anna returns home to help but not without some reluctance tied to her emotional family baggage. As she unpacks her past, Anna rediscovers a mysterious mailbox from her childhood and embarks on a search to solve its mystery. What she learns along the way may be the key to her own reconciliation.
Screens: April 10 at 7:10 Pm and April 16 at 4:40 Pm
"Endorphine"
Dir. André Turpin
Canada
What’s the connection between trauma, memory and the relativity of space and time? Endorphine sends you down a rabbit hole where time and existence are scrambled into a Lynchian fever dream. After 12-year-old Simone helplessly witnesses the murder of her mother, she is thrust into an endless loop that explores alternate realities and parallel lives, including what may or may not be adult versions of herself. Expertly crafted by André Turpin (cinematographer on Xavier Dolan’s Mommy and Tom at the Farm and Denis Villeneuve’s Incendies), "Endorphine" is a dark and visually arresting head trip.
Screens April 10 at 9:15 Pm and April 18 at 9:30 Pm
"The Garbage Helicopter"
Dir. Jonas Selberg Augustsén
Sweden
An old Roma woman is seized by a sudden urge to reclaim her antique clock, sending her three grandchildren on an odyssey across the lonesome, big-sky highways of northern Sweden (captured in beautifully bleak black-and-white). The action takes place in the deadpan absurdist territory pioneered by Jarmusch, Kaurismäki, and Andersson. Here, crosswords are completed (including the mysterious entry, "garbage helicopter"), a speed-trap camera is demolished, a Holocaust museum is visited, the world’s second-biggest chair is solemnly viewed, and a gang of art thieves is encountered.
Screens April 21 at 9:40 Pm and April 23 at 7:05 Pm
"Kill Me Please"
Dir. Anita Rocha da Silveira
Brazil/Argentina
Anita Rocha da Silveira’s stunning debut drops us directly into the psyche of a middle-class teenage girl, piqued by raging hormones and fueled with fearless curiosity. A string of grisly neighborhood murders of women captures the imagination of a clique of girls, but especially Bia who feels more and more connected to the dead women than her high school friends. The incident ignites something in Bia, causing her to embrace fantasy and openly explore her sexuality. Built on a unique atmosphere devoid of adults, Kill Me Please is a dark yet pop-infused coming-of-age story.
Screens April 9 at 3:15 Pm and April 14 at 9:45 Pm
"I Promise Anarchy"
Dir. Julio Hernández Cordón
Mexico
Miguel and Johnny are friends from opposite sides of the tracks, but that doesn’t inhibit their romance with one another that revolves around sex, drugs and skateboarding. To support their devil-may-care lifestyle, the boys sell their own blood—and occasionally the blood of their friends and whomever they can find—to an underground network run by the drug cartel. When one such arrangement goes wrong, Miguel and Johnny find themselves way over their head. Director Julio Hernandez Cordon’s stylishly blends a breezy romance of wayward youth with a gritty nior thriller on the streets of Mexico City.
Screens April 8 at 9:15 Pm and April 11 at 9:50 Pm
"Schneider vs. Bax"
Dir. Alex van Warmerdam
Netherlands/Belgium
This black comedy makes a point of turning the hitman genre on its head with unconventional setups that spiral into absurdism. Schneider wakes to his adoring wife and two young daughters planning his birthday party only to have it interrupted by a call from his boss with a job that must be done right away: an easy hit on an isolated novelist named Bax that he can finish by noon. Needless to say, things do not go as planned. Schneider vs. Bax is as much about the contrast and comparison of these two men and their families, as it is the nascent yet ineffective real-world cage match.
Screens April 10 at 9:35 Pm and April 14 at 9:40 Pm
"A Stray"
Dir. Musa Syeed
U.S.
In the microcosm of Minneapolis’ large Somali community, Adan has run out of options. Looking to turn his life around, he finds solace, friendship and a job as a janitor at the mosque. Finding an even better job driving a taxi, Adan unexpectedly finds a new friend in a stray dog. But the mosque sees the dog as impure, and Adan finds himself on the streets again. Director Musa Syeed brings the streets of Riverside and the struggles of young Somalis to the big screen in this vivid and moving drama.
Screens April 15 at 7:20 Pm and April 17 at 3: 50 Pm
"Wednesday, May 9"
Dir. Vahid Jalilvand
Iran
Leila works in a chicken packing factory to support her family, but still has no money left over to save for a much-needed operation for her disabled husband. Setareh secretly married against her family’s wishes, and when her tyrannical cousin finds out, an altercation lands her young husband in jail, requiring 30 million tomans in “blood money” for his release. The two tragic stories of these women are connected to a potential benefactor who could help them in Vahid Jalilvand’s incredible debut feature of carefully drawn characters and bold statements of humanism.
Screens April 8 at 4:50 Pm and April 19 at 4:30 Pm...
- 4/7/2016
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
If you've had the privilege to see a film lensed by D.P Adam J. Minnick, you'd have recognized an eye disciplined by the story it's telling rather than by personal inclinations or some sybaritic style that steals from the story. Buzzard, was shot super raw and cold on a 5D, The Alchemist Cookbook was shot formally composed with a warm palllete on an Alexa, and Actor Martinez (Us Premiering this April at Tribeca) was shot with Altman inspired slow zooms on a Red Epic Dragon. The aesthetic decisions and stories speak for his adaptability and understanding of the form. And, his latest release, The Alchemist Cookbook, which hit SXSW hard when it world premiered, has audiences, critics, and filmmakers predominately sitting on the 'loved it' side of its divisive disposition.
We were fortunate to talk with the cinematographer on how the hell the team pulled it off.
Could you...
We were fortunate to talk with the cinematographer on how the hell the team pulled it off.
Could you...
- 3/26/2016
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Aaron Hunt)
- Cinelinx
I was graced with the opportunity to talk shop on The Alchemist Cookbook, a SXSW gem that saturated all three of its screenings with starved festival foodies, with writer/director Joel Potrykus. Buzzfeed has genred it horror, but I'd be damned before I stuck the film a label. Joel and I talk a little about what happened behind the scenes on this divisive, unignorable beast, of a film. Take a look.
Joel lays it out for us:
So I was here two years ago with Buzzard, and it got a great reception... And the one place we knew this could exist at is, again, South By Southwest. Because it’s super uncommercial, and not at all for the mainstream and I’m super stoked to bring it here. I wanted to do something totally different from Buzzard. No white people, no cities... But, people tell me, it still has the...
Joel lays it out for us:
So I was here two years ago with Buzzard, and it got a great reception... And the one place we knew this could exist at is, again, South By Southwest. Because it’s super uncommercial, and not at all for the mainstream and I’m super stoked to bring it here. I wanted to do something totally different from Buzzard. No white people, no cities... But, people tell me, it still has the...
- 3/18/2016
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Aaron Hunt)
- Cinelinx
Having just premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, Bloody Disgusting has the above new shot from The Alchemist Cookbook. The film hails from writer/director Joel Potrykus, whose previous films include his Animal Trilogy — Buzzard (SXSW, 2014), Ape (winner of Best Emerging Director at the Locarno Film Festival, 2012), and Coyote (2010). In the film, “Young outcast Sean has isolated himself in a trailer […]...
- 3/14/2016
- by MrDisgusting
- bloody-disgusting.com
There will be late additions, but the bulk of this year’s SXSW feature film slate has been unveiled. From the festival, here’s the rundown section by section. Obvious highlights: world premieres of Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some and Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, Joel Potrykus’ follow-up to Buzzard, and a documentary about the making of Smokey and the Bandit from Jesse Moss (The Overnighters). Narrative Feature Competition Ten world premieres; ten unique ways to celebrate the art of storytelling. Selected from 1,443 narrative feature submissions in 2016. The Arbalest Director/Screenwriter: Adam Pinney The inventor of the world’s greatest toy reflects on his decade-long obsession with a woman […]...
- 2/2/2016
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
There will be late additions, but the bulk of this year’s SXSW feature film slate has been unveiled. From the festival, here’s the rundown section by section. Obvious highlights: world premieres of Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some and Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, Joel Potrykus’ follow-up to Buzzard, and a documentary about the making of Smokey and the Bandit from Jesse Moss (The Overnighters). Narrative Feature Competition Ten world premieres; ten unique ways to celebrate the art of storytelling. Selected from 1,443 narrative feature submissions in 2016. The Arbalest Director/Screenwriter: Adam Pinney The inventor of the world’s greatest toy reflects on his decade-long obsession with a woman […]...
- 2/2/2016
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
There are a multitude of reasons why any film may get unfairly overlooked. It could be a lack of marketing resources to give it a substantial push, or, due to a minuscule roll-out, not enough critics and audiences to be the champions it might require. It could simply be the timing of the picture itself; even in the world of studio filmmaking, some features take time to get their due. With an increasingly crowded marketplace, there are more reasons than ever that something might not find an audience and, as with last year, we’ve rounded up the releases that deserved more attention.
Note that all the below films made less than $1 million at the domestic box office at the time of posting (VOD figures are not accounted for, as they normally aren’t made public) and are, for the most part, left out of most year-end conversations. Sadly, most...
Note that all the below films made less than $1 million at the domestic box office at the time of posting (VOD figures are not accounted for, as they normally aren’t made public) and are, for the most part, left out of most year-end conversations. Sadly, most...
- 12/23/2015
- by TFS Staff
- The Film Stage
Exclusive: Straight Outta Compton producer Bill Straus’ newly relaunched sales outfit Bridge Independent and indie distributor-financier Ketchup Entertainment are teaming on a digital distribution pipeline for select titles from Bridge’s indie slate. The plan is to distribute 5-10 titles a year with a marketing push. As a former executive at New Line, Straus in 2012 founded New York-based Bgp Film, where he has repped recent pics including Darling, Buzzard, Through A Lens…...
- 11/25/2015
- Deadline
As 2015 winds down, like most cinephiles, we’re looking to get our hands on the titles that may have slipped under the radar or simply gone unseen. With the proliferation of streaming options, it’s thankfully easier than ever to play catch-up, and to assist with the process, we’re bringing you a rundown of the best titles of the year available to watch.
Curated from the Best Films of 2015 So Far list we published for the first half of the year, it also includes films we’ve enjoyed the past few months and some we’ve recently caught up on. This is far from a be-all, end-all year-end feature (that will come at the end of the year), but rather something that will hopefully be a helpful tool for readers to have a chance to seek out notable, perhaps underseen, titles from the year.
Note that we’re going by U.
Curated from the Best Films of 2015 So Far list we published for the first half of the year, it also includes films we’ve enjoyed the past few months and some we’ve recently caught up on. This is far from a be-all, end-all year-end feature (that will come at the end of the year), but rather something that will hopefully be a helpful tool for readers to have a chance to seek out notable, perhaps underseen, titles from the year.
Note that we’re going by U.
- 10/28/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
With the American Film Festival in Wrocław comes the Us in Progress co-production forum initiative. It also means that micro gems might trickle down from Europe in the unfinished form into Sundance and/or SXSW in early 2016. On the plate for October 22nd and 23rd, the six projects selected for the 2015 Us in Progress Wrocław include:
Actor Martinez by Mike Ott and Nathan Silver
Up until now, the project that teams Littlerock, Pearblossom Hwy and Lake Los Angeles helmer with Exit Elena, Soft in the head, Uncertain Terms and Stinking Heaven had no title. This
stars Bobby Black, Connor Long and Lindsay Burdge.
Alaska is a Drag by Shaz Bennett
Based on her 2012 short, if Rocky and Hedwig had a love child – that would best describe our hero Leo — an aspiring superstar – if he can just get out of Alaska. Everyone who works in a fish cannery – slicing fish for...
Actor Martinez by Mike Ott and Nathan Silver
Up until now, the project that teams Littlerock, Pearblossom Hwy and Lake Los Angeles helmer with Exit Elena, Soft in the head, Uncertain Terms and Stinking Heaven had no title. This
stars Bobby Black, Connor Long and Lindsay Burdge.
Alaska is a Drag by Shaz Bennett
Based on her 2012 short, if Rocky and Hedwig had a love child – that would best describe our hero Leo — an aspiring superstar – if he can just get out of Alaska. Everyone who works in a fish cannery – slicing fish for...
- 9/23/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Buzzard
Written and directed by Joel Potrykus
USA, 2014
Buzzard, the third film in director Joel Potrykus’ ‘Animal Trilogy’, attempts to be like a low-budget alternative to Fight Club; a rage against the inescapable power of soul-deadening corporations seen through the eyes of one of the system’s former minions. Unfortunately, though, it simply ends up being one of the least inspired entries in the widespread “childish adult” genre, with nothing really insightful to add to it.
Buzzard starts with a close-up of a Nintendo Power Glove on the hand of an unidentified owner (whose head is cut off by the top of the frame) as it is savagely being beaten into submission. Who is this man? And what’s his problem that he would beat up an old Nintendo controller? To answer the first question, that man is Marty Jackitansky (Joshua Burge), a lazy young man who works as a...
Written and directed by Joel Potrykus
USA, 2014
Buzzard, the third film in director Joel Potrykus’ ‘Animal Trilogy’, attempts to be like a low-budget alternative to Fight Club; a rage against the inescapable power of soul-deadening corporations seen through the eyes of one of the system’s former minions. Unfortunately, though, it simply ends up being one of the least inspired entries in the widespread “childish adult” genre, with nothing really insightful to add to it.
Buzzard starts with a close-up of a Nintendo Power Glove on the hand of an unidentified owner (whose head is cut off by the top of the frame) as it is savagely being beaten into submission. Who is this man? And what’s his problem that he would beat up an old Nintendo controller? To answer the first question, that man is Marty Jackitansky (Joshua Burge), a lazy young man who works as a...
- 3/24/2015
- by Antonio Guzman
- SoundOnSight
Generally we have come to learn that studio releases that hit theaters in the first few months of the year are usually not their best offers. They use the first trimester as dumping ground for projects that were never meant to become hits, but with which they hope to make a quick buck. Clichéd horror flicks, bad romantic comedies, and dismally mediocre animated features that could never compete with summer blockbusters. Yet, for all the terrible films slated by industry giants there is an equal abundance of great independent and international productions that manage to get a space in the crowded marketplace.
This year, the films that stood out among these numerous, smaller options have been mostly dark comedies, which push the boundaries in all sorts of unique directions for the audience repulsion and delight. Although the films below have already opened, it’s never too late to let you know about them in case they slipped through the cracks. Believe me, any of them will leave you thinking, “What did I just watch?” in the best possible way.
"Buzzard"
Opened March 6th
Directed by Joel Potrykus
Brace yourself for one of the strangest, most infuriating, hilarious, and boldest cinematic experiences of the year. Absolute slacker Marty Jackitansky (He will remind you the last name is not Polish!) survives by playing the system in any way possible. Cashing other people’s checks, returning stolen goods from his job for cash, or complaining to the big corporations in order to get coupons. His petty scheme soon catches up with him, but with every successful deceit he exposes the dangerous complacency we all accept. Marty’s other hobbies include manufacturing a glove that resembles Freddy Krueger’s claws and hanging out with his friend Derek (played by Potrykus himself) in the “party zone,” which is what the latter has baptize his basement. It’s as deranged as it sounds, and it’s great.
*Playing in select theaters now and also available on VOD
Read More: Interview with Filmmaker Joel Potrykus on "Buzzard"
"Maps to the Stars"
Opened February 27th
Directed by David Cronenberg
Hollywood is a fickle place and Cronenberg has a brilliantly maniacal way of portraying this world in his latest work. Recent Oscar-winner Julianne Moore stars as Havana Segrand, a washed up actress whose only wish is to play the same role her mother did in a remake of a movie from decades ago. Moore won the Best Actress Award at last year's Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work here. In the Canadian director’s collection of fame-hungry misfits there is also Benjie Weiss (Evan Bird) a prepubescent, spoiled actor who hasn’t even finished junior high but has already been to rehab more than once; Jerome (Robert Pattinson), a limousine driver who, of course, is also an aspiring actor and screenwriter; Dr. Stafford Weiss (John Cusack), a wellness guru and author with more internal issues than he can help heal; and Agatha Weiss (Mia Wasikowska), Havana’s disfigured new assistant who has come to Los Angeles with ulterior motives. The acid humor, unapologetic observations, and its absurdly self-absorbed characters make of “Maps to the Stars” a spot-on parody of the worst qualities of the film industry.
*Playing in theaters now across the U.S
"The Voices"
Opened February 6th
Directed by Marjane Satrapi
Playing Jerry, the most charming serial killer you’ll ever meet, Ryan Reynolds gives the best performance of his career in Marjane Satrapi’s wonderfully insane horror comedy. The timid factory worker has a history of mental health issues that are hidden under a façade of kindness. At home, Jerry talks to his pets: Mr. Whiskers, a devilishly cheeky cat, and Bosco, his good-natured dog. What’s particular about the ordeal is that they talk back and discuss with him his murderous intentions. Adding to his already outstanding work as the lovable, if unstable young man, Reynolds also voices both of animals as well. Anna Kendrick, Jacki Weaver, and Gemma Arterton are among the targets of Jerry’s madness in a disturbingly comedic fashion. Stay tuned after the film for one of the most ridiculous credit sequences ever.
*Available on VOD and still playing in a few theaters across the country
Read More: Interview: Marjane Satrapi on her murderous comedy "The Voices"
"What We Do in the Shadows"
Opened February 13th
Directed by Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi
Get ready to die of laughter with this masterful mockumentary that capitalizes on the general public’s obsession with reality shows and the allure of vampirism and its promise of eternal life. Four ancient bloodsuckers share a house in Wellington, New Zealand and decide to let a crew film their day-to-day routines as vampires living in the modern world. What ensues are a series of intelligently written occurrences that transform every known convention about these creatures of the night into hysterical gags. Everything from their hunting tactics, to their feuds with the local pack of werewolves, and even their endearing relationship with a human they do not wish to devour. “Flight of the Conchords” creator Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi co-wrote, co-directed, and star in the film as Vladislav and Viago respectively. This has to be the funniest film of the year hands down.
*Playing in theaters now across the U.S
"Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)
Opened February 20th
Directed by Damián Szifrón
In this Argentine deranged and inventive ode to madness we are confronted with the animal instincts that we so desperately try to hide - until we can’t. Betrayal, injustice, and even the need to avenge a loved one, drive Szifron’s characters into losing control. With pitch black comedy that is as universal as the situations it explores, his film is a hilarious and smart vehicle for sharp social commentary. Besides being a complete riot that packs in uproarious humor, the film demonstrates the director’s ability to create a cohesive film out of diverse vignettes united by the dark side of human nature. From start to finish “Wild Tales” is truly a savagely fun trip. The film premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film this yea.
*Playing in select theaters now across the U.S and expanding in upcoming weeks
Read More: Sydney Levine on "Wild Tales," Business and Pleasure
Read More: Interview: Damian Szifron on the Oscar-nominated "Wild Tales"...
This year, the films that stood out among these numerous, smaller options have been mostly dark comedies, which push the boundaries in all sorts of unique directions for the audience repulsion and delight. Although the films below have already opened, it’s never too late to let you know about them in case they slipped through the cracks. Believe me, any of them will leave you thinking, “What did I just watch?” in the best possible way.
"Buzzard"
Opened March 6th
Directed by Joel Potrykus
Brace yourself for one of the strangest, most infuriating, hilarious, and boldest cinematic experiences of the year. Absolute slacker Marty Jackitansky (He will remind you the last name is not Polish!) survives by playing the system in any way possible. Cashing other people’s checks, returning stolen goods from his job for cash, or complaining to the big corporations in order to get coupons. His petty scheme soon catches up with him, but with every successful deceit he exposes the dangerous complacency we all accept. Marty’s other hobbies include manufacturing a glove that resembles Freddy Krueger’s claws and hanging out with his friend Derek (played by Potrykus himself) in the “party zone,” which is what the latter has baptize his basement. It’s as deranged as it sounds, and it’s great.
*Playing in select theaters now and also available on VOD
Read More: Interview with Filmmaker Joel Potrykus on "Buzzard"
"Maps to the Stars"
Opened February 27th
Directed by David Cronenberg
Hollywood is a fickle place and Cronenberg has a brilliantly maniacal way of portraying this world in his latest work. Recent Oscar-winner Julianne Moore stars as Havana Segrand, a washed up actress whose only wish is to play the same role her mother did in a remake of a movie from decades ago. Moore won the Best Actress Award at last year's Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work here. In the Canadian director’s collection of fame-hungry misfits there is also Benjie Weiss (Evan Bird) a prepubescent, spoiled actor who hasn’t even finished junior high but has already been to rehab more than once; Jerome (Robert Pattinson), a limousine driver who, of course, is also an aspiring actor and screenwriter; Dr. Stafford Weiss (John Cusack), a wellness guru and author with more internal issues than he can help heal; and Agatha Weiss (Mia Wasikowska), Havana’s disfigured new assistant who has come to Los Angeles with ulterior motives. The acid humor, unapologetic observations, and its absurdly self-absorbed characters make of “Maps to the Stars” a spot-on parody of the worst qualities of the film industry.
*Playing in theaters now across the U.S
"The Voices"
Opened February 6th
Directed by Marjane Satrapi
Playing Jerry, the most charming serial killer you’ll ever meet, Ryan Reynolds gives the best performance of his career in Marjane Satrapi’s wonderfully insane horror comedy. The timid factory worker has a history of mental health issues that are hidden under a façade of kindness. At home, Jerry talks to his pets: Mr. Whiskers, a devilishly cheeky cat, and Bosco, his good-natured dog. What’s particular about the ordeal is that they talk back and discuss with him his murderous intentions. Adding to his already outstanding work as the lovable, if unstable young man, Reynolds also voices both of animals as well. Anna Kendrick, Jacki Weaver, and Gemma Arterton are among the targets of Jerry’s madness in a disturbingly comedic fashion. Stay tuned after the film for one of the most ridiculous credit sequences ever.
*Available on VOD and still playing in a few theaters across the country
Read More: Interview: Marjane Satrapi on her murderous comedy "The Voices"
"What We Do in the Shadows"
Opened February 13th
Directed by Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi
Get ready to die of laughter with this masterful mockumentary that capitalizes on the general public’s obsession with reality shows and the allure of vampirism and its promise of eternal life. Four ancient bloodsuckers share a house in Wellington, New Zealand and decide to let a crew film their day-to-day routines as vampires living in the modern world. What ensues are a series of intelligently written occurrences that transform every known convention about these creatures of the night into hysterical gags. Everything from their hunting tactics, to their feuds with the local pack of werewolves, and even their endearing relationship with a human they do not wish to devour. “Flight of the Conchords” creator Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi co-wrote, co-directed, and star in the film as Vladislav and Viago respectively. This has to be the funniest film of the year hands down.
*Playing in theaters now across the U.S
"Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)
Opened February 20th
Directed by Damián Szifrón
In this Argentine deranged and inventive ode to madness we are confronted with the animal instincts that we so desperately try to hide - until we can’t. Betrayal, injustice, and even the need to avenge a loved one, drive Szifron’s characters into losing control. With pitch black comedy that is as universal as the situations it explores, his film is a hilarious and smart vehicle for sharp social commentary. Besides being a complete riot that packs in uproarious humor, the film demonstrates the director’s ability to create a cohesive film out of diverse vignettes united by the dark side of human nature. From start to finish “Wild Tales” is truly a savagely fun trip. The film premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film this yea.
*Playing in select theaters now across the U.S and expanding in upcoming weeks
Read More: Sydney Levine on "Wild Tales," Business and Pleasure
Read More: Interview: Damian Szifron on the Oscar-nominated "Wild Tales"...
- 3/13/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Filmmaker Neill Blomkamp had his film win the opening weekend box office for the third time in his career, as Chappie finished in the top spot with $13.3 million. The victory, however, is bittersweet, as the total is a marked decrease from Blomkamp’s prior features, as Elysium opened with nearly $30 million on its first weekend, and District 9 took in over $37 million. Chappie star Dev Patel, however, made two appearances in the top three, as The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which sees him starring alongside the likes of Dame Judi Dench and Richard Gere, finished in third place with $8.6 million.
The other new entry in the top ten was Unfinished Business, as the Vince Vaughn-starring vehicle came in at tenth place with a total of $4.8 million. The total marks one of the lowest opening weekend grosses of Vaughn’s career, and marks a continuing downward trend in the performer’s box office success.
The other new entry in the top ten was Unfinished Business, as the Vince Vaughn-starring vehicle came in at tenth place with a total of $4.8 million. The total marks one of the lowest opening weekend grosses of Vaughn’s career, and marks a continuing downward trend in the performer’s box office success.
- 3/9/2015
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
A few years back, for the release of his new film, director David Lowery of Ain't Them Bodies Saints (great film) hosted a social media giveaway where they would send prizes to anyone who saw four indie films in one weekend. They sent out some truly one-of-a-kind prizes, including signed scripts and props from the films, but above all just wanted to remind people to support indie films. Well, another filmmaker by the name of Riley Stearns is launching a brand new "Indie Film Giveaway" for three new features that were just released: Lawrence Michael Levine's Wild Canaries, Joel Potrykus' Buzzard and Stearns' Faults. Similar to Lowery's fun giveaway, it's as simple as photographing your ticket stubs and emailing them in. Here's the official tweet below from writer/director @RileyStearns announcing details about their "Indie Film Giveaway" for these three films. They're even including VOD rentals, so if...
- 3/6/2015
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The day-to-day grind of office life is something most of us tolerate to make a living, but for Marty in Joel Potrykus' "Buzzard," it's an indignity that's beneath him. He's always got some kind of con going on, but his latest scheme is one that will find him in over his head. And today, we have an exclusive clip from the edgy film that won a Special Mention Award from the Junior Jury at the Locarno International Film Festival. Written, directed and starring Joel Potrykus along with Joshua Burge, Teri Ann Nelson, Alan Longstreet, Rico Bruce Wade and Katie Call, the story zeroes in on Marty who seizes an opportunity when it lands right in his lap. Entrusted with some undelivered checks, the young man soon sees the possibility to make some cash, and as you'll see in the sequence below, he's figured out a way to forge the required signatures.
- 3/5/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
"Buzzard," the third film in the unofficial trilogy from Joel Potrykus, will be released in select theaters and VOD/streaming services on Friday, March 6. But the film's story won't end there. The characters and storyline will live on in a video game. Potrykus has teamed up with video game art and development collective Babycastles to develop their first title, "Buzzard: The Video Game." Based on the characters, themes and story of the film, the game is a compilation of 8-bit minigames set in the dark reality of "Buzzard." The team has taken to Kickstarter with hopes of raising $30,000 to develop the game. But this isn't your average franchise tie-in. "First and foremost, 'Buzzard' is about two guys who are obsessed with video games," Potrykus told Indiewire. "They're basically living in their own video game. Marty essentially lives in this world that has almost no consequences. It's the same...
- 3/4/2015
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
Like Ape, writer-director Joel Potrykus' previous feature, Buzzard rails against conformity and Capitalism. The economy is the ever-present villain of both films -- no matter how much Marty or Ape's Trevor try to rebel against the system, they cannot defeat Capitalism. Frustrated with the constant struggle, they turn to violence and presumably self-destruction. The gritty cinematic worlds created by Potrykus are difficult for slackers to survive within, presumably because of their inherent laziness, ambivalence and naive expectations of the modern world. Neither of them are all that likable -- they are quintessential fuck-ups -- but it is difficult not to feel a tad bit sorry for Marty and Trevor as they burn, scavenge and claw for a right to exist; you might even go as far as saying that they are presented as martyrs for the non-conformists of the world.
- 3/4/2015
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
The 19th Human Rights Watch Film Festival is returning to the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton from the 18th to the 27th of March. You can find the whole program here, along with a statement from the Festival Director John Biaggi. For Film Comment, Jordan Osterer interviews Buzzard director Joel Potrykus:
"Film Comment: There’s a divide in the film between idle, detached moments and pretty graphic content. How do you negotiate the gap between these very quiet moments and the more extreme situations?
Potrykus: My whole theory of making films is that I want to lull audiences to sleep—I almost want to bore them—and then right before they fall asleep, kick them in the balls."
David Robert Mitchell's It Follows is Sight & Sound's film of the week; Kim Newman reviews. Not one, not two, but three successful Kickstarter campaigns to take note of:
1. Living Los Sures...
"Film Comment: There’s a divide in the film between idle, detached moments and pretty graphic content. How do you negotiate the gap between these very quiet moments and the more extreme situations?
Potrykus: My whole theory of making films is that I want to lull audiences to sleep—I almost want to bore them—and then right before they fall asleep, kick them in the balls."
David Robert Mitchell's It Follows is Sight & Sound's film of the week; Kim Newman reviews. Not one, not two, but three successful Kickstarter campaigns to take note of:
1. Living Los Sures...
- 3/4/2015
- by Notebook
- MUBI
The opening minutes of Joel Potrykus' "Buzzard" include a prolonged shot of hustling temp worker Marty (Joshua Burge) as he calmly attempts to con the bank that barely employs him out of a few hundred dollars. Burge's long features, tousled hair and maniacal eyes say it all: This is the face of pure anarchic rage against the system. Potrykus' wildly entertaining black comedy takes its cues from that alarming expression. A slapstick horror show about millennial frustrations with the job market, "Buzzard" is among the first great American satires of the 21st century, its scathing indictment of capitalism delivered as a prolonged, disorienting punchline. Watch: Get Ready for 'Buzzard,' the Craziest Looking Film of 2015 Potrykus has been building to a movie with this kind of focused intensity. "Buzzard" forms the third entry in a loosely-defined trilogy of animal-themed projects, all of which star the Buster Keaton-like...
- 3/3/2015
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
"Buzzard" (March 6)(Film Page) From the creators of "Ape," which won the Best First Feature Special Mention at Locarno in 2012 comes "Buzzard," a film about the disillusionment of the 99 percent. Marty Jackitansky (Joshua Burge), a bored temp at a mortgage office, is out to get what he feels he deserves. He'll swindle and scam corporations out of ten dollars just for the thrill. Soon, Marty hatches a scheme to steal petty refund checks from his mortgage company, thinking he'll somewhat fool banks into cashing them. He reveals his plan to his work friend, Derek (Joel Potrykus), who's seen Marty fail in the past. Marty's growing suspicions force him to hide out in Derek's basement for a week, terrified of the outside world. "Faults" (March 6)(Film Page) The first feature by Riley Stearns, "Faults" features Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Claire, a young woman immersed in a mysterious cult known as Faults.
- 3/2/2015
- by David Canfield
- Indiewire
BAMcinématek at the Bam Rose Cinemas will present a special advance screening of Joel Potrykus' Buzzard on March 4th, followed by a Q&A with the director and screenings of his previous two films, Coyote and Ape. Please visit Bam website for tickets.Joel Potrykus reconfirms his reputation as a 'real deal' in American indie scene with searingly funny and original Buzzard, the conclusion of his animal trilogy after Coyote and Ape, again, starring his muse, the incomparable Joshua Burge, as an angry social miscreant. Enter the world of Marty Jackitansky (Burge) - a $9.50/hr indefinite temp at a mortgage company in Grand Rapids, Mi. When he's not procrastinating at being an office drone, his life at home consists of TV dinners, corn chips, mountain dew, heavy...
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- 2/28/2015
- Screen Anarchy
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