Still from the movie Monsters at the L.A. Festival

Wow, today is shaping up to be an exciting day for us Angelinos. Not only do we have the NBA Finals’ game 7 with the L.A. Lakers Vs. Boston’s Celtics at the Staples Center, but we have a few other things going on as well. Mexico will play France at the 2010 World Cup in a few minutes, which I have to admit, I’ve been  pumped about this game since last week. I’m hoping Mexico comes out with enough points to advance to the next round.

There is nothing like looking at the multicolored-sea of yellow, purple and green in Downtown L.A. as the swarms of fans for both sporting events come out to support their teams.

There is also the ‘HardFest‘ L.A. tonight in Downtown (Chinatown) today. I’m going to have to miss this one event, but it would have been nice to see M.I.A and Die Antwoord.

M.I.A. – Born Free

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Die Antwoord – Zef Side

To top it all off, the L.A. Film Festival starts today as well. There are a few movies that I’ve looked over and can’t wait to watch. They involve history and dystopian stories. Two of my favorite genres. But the ones that I wanted to mention here are paranormal related.

“The Last Exorcism”

The Last Exorcism
Ford Amphitheatre Screenings
(USA, 2010, 90 mins)
World premiere
Directed By: Daniel Stamm
Executive Producer: Ron Halpern
Producers: Marc Abraham, Thomas A. Bliss, Eric Newman, Eli Roth
Screenwriters: Huck Botko & Andrew Gurland
Cinematographer: Zoltan Honti
Editor: Shilpa Khanna
Cast: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum, Caleb Landry Jones
Trailer
There’s no such thing as demonic possession, and Reverend Marcus Cotton should know. Over the years, he’s performed countless sham “exorcisms,” using sleight-of-hand magic tricks, smoke bombs, and iPods to convince frightened believers that he could beat the devil. Now, seeking absolution for years of deceit, Cotton has invited a documentary film crew to follow him on his last case—a young farm girl plagued by bloody nightmares—and reveal the truth behind the lies. What they discover, however, proves far more dangerous and terrifying than they ever could have imagined.

Patience is not usually a quality one looks for in a horror movie, but in this white-knuckle nightmare, directed by Daniel Stamm from a script by Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland, patience is key. By taking the time to not only establish his characters, but also to tease us with elements that may—or may not—explain the unsettling events occurring at the remote farm, Stamm slowly layers on the chills and expertly builds the anticipation for the horrors sure to come.

Doug Jones
Due to studio security measures, NO cell phones will be allowed in the Ford Amphitheatre for this screening. Please leave your cell phone in your car or at home.

In attendance: Daniel Stamm, Eli Roth.

Monsters

Full source: L.A. Film Fest

Monsters

Summer Showcase

(United Kingdom, 2009, 97 mins, HDCAM 23.98)

Directed By: Gareth Edwards

Producers: Allan Niblo, James Richardson
Screenwriter: Gareth Edwards
Cinematographer: Gareth Edwards
Editor: Colin Goudie
Cast: Scoot McNairy, Whitney Able

Six years ago, a NASA probe carrying alien spores crashed somewhere in Central America. Today, a huge swath of land between Mexico and the U.S. has become a creature-infested no-man’s land. In Gareth Edwards’ stunning directorial debut, a photojournalist in southern Mexico is charged with getting his boss’ daughter to the safety of the U.S. The only problem is the two of them are on the wrong side of the “Infected Zone,” and the only way home is a journey, fraught with danger, through the heart of the contaminated region.

Monsters is not the movie you think it is. Yes, there are monsters in it—large luminous squidlike creatures, beautifully crafted by Edwards himself—and yes, they do, at times, destroy things, but there are other wonders to discover as well. The largely improvised performances feel grounded and real—a rarity in any movie—while the storytelling is a small miracle. With intelligence and integrity, Edwards puts audacious spins on familiar boy-meets-girl-meets-alien tropes, revealing that a great film is, simply, a great film, no matter what the genre.

Doug Jones

Expected to attend: Gareth Edwards.

Exciting day indeed.

I would also like to mention that it’s my brother’s birthday, so we’ll be celebrating this as well today.

Keep checking for my review on the movies as the premier date approaches.

Oh yea….send out the positive energy for Mexico’s team! 🙂