San Francisco...film noir festival a hit! Psycho ticket-holder scarey...

Today, I sauntered into the Castro Theatre to catch a double-bill at the 8th Annual Film Noir fest.

Festival Dates

January 22nd - January 31st

In a press release, the creator of the scintillating festival (which has gained in enormous popularity over the past couple of years) underscored the uniqueness of the annual event.

"It is the only festival of classic cinema in the world in which all the proceeds go towards the preservation of film."

"Our goal," stressed Eddie Muller, "is to not only save films but to maintain, for as long as we can, the communal experience of going to the movies as it was when these films were first screened."

By the way, Muller is known to the locals as the "Czar of Noir".

Also, the Noir offers up a double-bill, for an economical ten bucks.

"Fly-by-night" was a fun off-beat feature (Paramount) directed by legendary Robert Siodmark.

Essentially, it is a romantic comedy, with suspenseful undertones.

Not on DVD yet, folks!

Deported (also directed by Siodmark) is a slightly-disguised film bio of gangster Lucky Luciano.

A drama that entertains and captivates the audience.

Not on DVD yet, folks!

For the most part, the afternoon was a relaxing respite from it all, until some psycho slipped into the empty seat next to me.

On a couple of occasions when filmgoers seated in the chairs nearby laughed out loud at the sparkling witty dialogue - and sight gags - she'd turn and scold the captivated film buffs.

"That's not funny," she'd bark out in a nasty tone of voice.

At this juncture, I felt sorry for the poor thing; after all,she was  obviously not a very intelligent individual.

It was crystal clear to moi, as well, that all the high brow art whizzed right over her head.

She must be brain dead, eh?

Frankly, I thought she would have been better off taking a hike down to the hospital, to have a chat with a psychiatrist.

Indeed!

I half-expected her to snatch out a hatchet from her purse and start carving up the lot of us in her midst.

No kidding!

4 stars to the Castro Theatre, though!

It is not always possible to keep every wacko out, after all.

http://www.julianayrs.com

AFI Dallas...Rock Slyde spoof on Film Noir genre sparks interest! Patrick Warburton & Andy Dick in top comedic form...

Andy Dick and Patrick Warburton appear on screen in top comedic form in the Independent feature, Rock Slyde, which premiered at the AFI Dallas Film Festival this past week.

The idea for the off-beat film was inspired by the handsome director's mother, Chris Dowling noted on the red carpet, with a sly smile on his face.

"Can't you make a movie that doesn't have any violence or gratuitous sex in it," she pointedly asked the talented screenwriter one day.

The Clark Kent look-a-like rose to the occasion by penning a script that hits the funny bone more often than not.

Patrick Warburton (private dick Rock Slyde) adeptly plays the role to the hilt - with a droll unaffected approach, mind you - that ultimately takes a poke at the film noir genre it sprang from.

Andy Dick - who sports a beard in this part - is hilarious in a zany role that is decidedly off-beat.

Part of the reason the cult figure the TV personality plays on screen succeeds so admirably is due to inpeccable timing on the part of Dick and his innate ability to create a character that resonates with its own truth within a specific context.

Unfortunately, Rock Slyde - the movie - lags at times.

Although Dowling is a competent writer with original ideas, the script should have been tightened a smidgen, to ensure lazy minds didn't wander a tad.

In fact, when I exchanged notes with a couple of other industry-types, they admitted they - too - started to snooze a little about three-quarters of the way through Slyde beneath the floodlights.

In its current incarnation, the full-length feature tends to lurch and burp a bit; then, roll over and die a second or two, before unexpecedly picking up again as it races to a hilarious finale.

In many respects the entertaining piece of fluff is uneven - but fixable - in my estimation.

For a low-budget feature (shot on an old soundstage at Sunset Blvd & Gower Street in the heart of Hollywood) that wrapped in a six short creatively-stuffed weeks, I found the production values to be surprisingly rich.

Warburton and Dick also manage to rise above the material and make it an inviting popcorn movie film buffs on the edge of the mainstream may be able to warm up to.

Teens may guffaw a lot, too, quite possibly transforming the little-movie-that-could into an unexpected hit come the lazy days of summer.

Of course, such a scenario is only within reach, if distribution is forthcoming, and a visionary studio backs Rock Slyde with eye-catching promos geared toward the market, of course!

1 thumb & 1 half-knuckle up!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Dark Streets...Gabrielle Mann & Bijou Phillips star in intriguing film noir musical!

Ms. Phillips was radiant on the night I met her on the red carpet!

A few months ago, I attended the premiere of "Dark Streets" at a desert festival.

That festive evening, I managed to coral two of the lead stars before they sauntered into the screening - the Gabrielle Mann and Bijou Phillips - and was pleasantly surprised at how down-to-earth and level-headed both young actors were.

Ms. Phillips was excited about the new release for a couple of reasons.

"This is the role I have wanted to play since I was a little girl," she confided in in me.

"I used to walk the streets in the rain in New York when I was younger with my umbrella in hand and sing the blues out loud as I strolled along," she recalled wistfully.

But, it wasn't easy landing the part.

No sir, she had to fight for the opportunity to play one of two femme fatales playing opposite dashing Gabriel Mann.

While Bijou may not be starring in lead roles in big budget features just now, she's comfortable in her shoes none-the-less, she assured me.

"I've had a chance to do a wide range of work in the Independent film area."

Right off-the-bat, I was taken by Gabriel's well-groomed appearance.

When I asked - "who he was wearing" - one of his handlers winced a little.

Quick on the uptake, I noted that women got all the attention in that regard.

"I don't want the guys to feel left out, 'ya know?"


Mr. Mann chuckled.

"Marc Jacobs. He's my favorite designer."

In the past couple of years, Mr. Mann has been working non-stop - and at this point - his star is definitely on the rise.


"Dark Streets" was directed by Rachel Samuels.

The hot auteur's last turn at the helm was for a Gothic period drama titled - "Suicide Club" - starring Jonathyn Rice and Paul Morissey (shot in Ireland).

"Dark Streets" is best described as an atmospheric film noir musical fantasy.

Chaz Davenport (Gabriel Mann) is a dashing bachelor who owns what promises to become the hottest new nightclub in town.

Surrounded by the sumptuous blues music he adores, and with his pick of the gorgeous women who perform their sensual dance numbers onstage every night, Chaz is the envy of every man.

But, with the city thrown into darkness by frequent blackouts and a menacing loan shark closing in, Chaz is in danger of losing the club and far more.

At the same time, he finds himself embroiled in a love triangle with the club’s alluring star singer, Crystal (Bijou Phillips), and a new arrival at the club—the mysterious and seductive chanteuse Madelaine (Izabella Miko).

There's also been a big buzz over the killer soundtrack which features blues contemporary artists such as Natalie Cole, Aaron Neville, and Solomon Burke.

The film opens locally December 12th at Laemmle Sunset 5.

Catch the intriguing project, if only to witness the performances of two budding young superstars, sure to hit the big time in the very near future!

(Trailer below)