Thoughts, Insights, and Donkey Punches.... what?

Here are the two most recent Louisville Exclusive Films that we have playing at Village 8. I'll go into some detail. I am also going to start to include links to the film synopsis and such because it makes this post even easier for me.

"Clancy" which is a local made film in Louisville, KY has been playing at Village 8 since March 6 thanks to the support of our locals. Here is the info on the film > http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160369/

"Donkey Punch" which opened on March 20 is not getting much support. It's last day is March 26. And no, it's not a porno which is what the title could and may suggest especially if you've seen Clerks II. In fact, the last porno played at Village 8 before it was bought by mainstream cinemas back in the day was like in 1978 I think - "Debbie Does Dallas." Useless information, ah thank you! But it's not a film that involves Donkey's actually punching something or getting punched or even Donkey's becoming UFC fighters; however I might want to see that now, someone call Uwe Boll. In fact here is the real info on Donkey Punch > http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988849/

I'm curious to hear what your thoughts are on either of these films. I did see Clancy from a special preview I got back in February. But I want to hear your sides on these titles.

--LouEx

2009 Oscar Thought... I know it was like a month ago

It's been 1 month and 3 days since the 2009 Oscars showed. While it may be old news I still have somewhat an opinion on it. While the producers and writers of the show kept quite about what's going to happen and making it a mystery of who will present I must say I was at first not caring who or how they were going to present. But then I watched it and I was changing my mind rather quickly. The production of the 81st Oscars was probably the best they've ever done. I enjoyed the way that there was 5 actors/actresses presenting the Best Actor categories which was very creative. And then I thought, are they going to do this with every category, we'll watching this til 3 a.m. (eastern time), but alas they didn't which was a good thing. My favorite presentation though was Steve Martin with Tina Fey giving out the Best Screenplay awards and I don't think I would have wanted it any other way.

As the host goes, Hugh Jackman was by far exceeding my expectations. I knew he could sing from previous stories on his background acting, but I didn't know he could SING! He gave this persona of courteousness and I felt like I've known him for a long time. I give the producers 4 thumbs up if I could for choosing Hugh Jackman. Now as a return host, not so sure because now the mystery is gone. Getting a comedian like most hosts are is a better bet each time because they know how to change an environment each time with their comedy. I wouldn't mind Hugh back, but wait at least 4-5 years to do so.

For a fun bit, I really loved James Franco & Seth Rogen in the short film by Judd Apatow and Jack Black pretty much stating the truth that Pixar wins just about every time and he was going to bet on them with his Dreamworks money...classic.

Now on to the winnings. I'm not going to rant about who should have been nominated because no matter what I can do the people/films nominated are the ones who are going to win out of their respective category. No surprises really this year and only 2 upsets. Slumdog Millionaire winning Sound Mixing over the Dark Knight, in which I was sure Dark Knight would sweep the sound categories because it should have. If you close your eyes and listen to the whole film of The Dark Knight compared with Slumdog, you will find that you will get a better emotional feel of the film The Dark Knight because of it's sound.

The other upset was Best Foreign Film, which was actually the biggest upset of the night. 'Departures' beating out the heavy favorites 'Waltz With Bashir' & 'The Class' was to me a little shocking considering Departures has not been hyped at all, as well as not getting hardly any screen time. Departures is slated for the U.S. in May.

So I missed 6 total categories this year which if memory serves me correctly this is the best I've ever done missing - Best Actor, Best Song, Best Sound Mixing, Best Short Documentary, Best Short Animated, and Best Foreign Film. I would have originally missed 5 if I hadn't changed my vote on Best Song from 'Jai Ho' to 'Down to Earth' at the last second. My previous best is missing 7 a couple of times. But it's always the Short Film categories that do me in because it's really hard to actually pick those winners when you have so little resources in watching them. There needs to be a Short Film channel on TV/Cable. And then of course there are always upsets in the Oscars so picking an almost 24 out of 24 is very rare. I'm sure some people have done it before, but I think this year, there probably wasn't a perfect score. However when I look at it I could have done even better if I had just listened to my gut feeling of Sean Penn winning & not changing Best Song. Besides, Sean Penn winning wasn't an upset since he and Mickey Rourke were at a dead heat for probability of winning. Oh well.

So that's it. My initial thoughts on the 81st Oscars. Overall, best Oscar show in a while. I hope they can 1 up it next year.

--LouEx

So.......NEWS!

It's obvious that I haven't posted much in a while. Well, it's been quite around these parts in the Louisville Exclusives world as well as the film world. Granted there are some exciting films coming up in mainstream, but it's been a no news world right now in film. I did hear that Kentucky passed a tax bill to help bring in more filmmaking in Kentucky. Now it's not official as it still has to be passed by more people, but it got out of it's first round winning I think 94-2 or 96-2 vote in for bringing and creating Kentucky as a state to where you can make films now and I will now scream and yell................................................ ok that's out of my system. This is very exciting because now I might be able to start developing more projects without having to move to Los Angeles or Georgia (even I love going there because I've got some good film buddies down there).

I still need to report on my thoughts of the past Oscars so - hint - it was good with not many upsets. But I will (I PROMISE) to write a separate piece on the Oscars. Also we still have our current Exclusive Film, "Clancy", which was made right here in Louisville by a local - Jefferson Moore who played Jesus for about 4-5 years at the Southeast Easter Padget (which might be the world's biggest stage Easter padget) as well as starring in a Papa Johns commercial (Dominos & Pizza Hut are better! Unless if you want local- Clifton's Pizza reins supreme!). "Clancy" though as sold out quite a few times for us which is great ranking right up there with "Tell No One" & "Broken English"

That's it! Got a Ryan Adams concert to attend

Later, 

--Lou Ex

Thoughts, Insights, and Inspirations

Opening up this past weekend and continuing till March 5th was "Happy-Go-Lucky." Our current Louisville Exclusive was nominated for 1 Oscar & 2 Golden Globes coming away with one win at the Globes in Sally Hawkins for 'Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical' category.


In what is called a 'Happy' film it might just live up to that expectation every time with Sally Hawkins character who can't stand to see a unhappy person. Boast with a carefree & cheerfulness life is her character and in what may seem from your first thought of awkwardness that this lady is crazy because she is just TOO happy. I know if I had someone that energetic around me I'd become reaped with madness asking where the Advil is. Not to say that a happy person is a bad person at all, but too happy can get annoying; just my opinion. I'm a relatively happy person, but do wish for more of a carefree life.


Any who, this film may have the tone of happiness, but with the opposite being sadness & tragic it is well represented. You can't have one without the other. It's like saying there is good, but there is also evil. The question remains is how does a person so happy mesh with a unhappy person? I guess you should find out by watching this film which is well written, directed, and acted.


Categories for Nominations/Awards:
Oscar- Best Original Screenplay
Golden Globe- Best Picture for Comedy/Musical
Golden Globe- Best Actress for Comedy/Musical - WINNER - Sally Hawkins


-LouEx


P.S.
Stay tuned for the thoughts on the recent 81st Oscars. I know it's almost been 2 weeks since it happened, but I was kind of sick last week and didn't feel like posting anything since my brain couldn't function 100% with all of the coughing and sore throat.