Comments on: SXSW: The Whole Shootin' Match, indeed http://www.selfreliantfilm.com/?p=236 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:28:09 +0000 hourly 1 By: Daniel Kremer http://www.selfreliantfilm.com/?p=236&cpage=1#comment-17171 Daniel Kremer Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:33:57 +0000 http://www.selfreliantfilm.com/?p=236#comment-17171 Regarding the Castro doc, I recently felt the same way about a 3-hour 1987 doc by Allan Francovich called THE HOUSES ARE FULL OF SMOKE which examined America's involvement in Central America (sandanistas, contras, bureaucrats and the three-legged dancing girls...uh, scratch the latter from the list, I'm getting delirious). I found it lengthy, ponderous, not terribly cinematic or insightful, did not particularly propel me to ask questions. It seems to be epidemic among a lot of docs examining this topic. Self-congratulatory in their didacticism beyond reparation. I was intrigued to see this film by another one of Francovich's docs SAN FRANCISCO GOOD TIMES, which I enjoyed in a rather odd way. "Peace, love, dope!" As for THE WHOLE SHOOTIN' MATCH...I been waitin' for it to come on video for a long time now, darnation take it. I envy the opportunity you were given to see it in print form. Chris Cagle, for his newly launched screening series, screened TIRE DIE, an Argentinian documentary from 1960. I saw strong parallels with Monnikendam's MOTHER DAO THE TURTLELIKE and Littin's JACKAL OF NAHUELTORO...barring the obvious parallels to LAND WITHOUT BREAD. It seems Cagle and I have a similar interest in Preminger which we have yet to probe. Things are still rolling on the Film Fridays end too. We are screening some good stuff there as well. P.S. This does not really pertain, but I saw INLAND EMPIRE well over a month ago in New York. This film and ERASERHEAD are undoubtedly Lynch's best films. IE was a real experience. Also, I have located Frank Borzage's THE BIG FISHERMAN...finally...in its original 3-hour cut! Regarding the Castro doc, I recently felt the same way about a 3-hour 1987 doc by Allan Francovich called THE HOUSES ARE FULL OF SMOKE which examined America’s involvement in Central America (sandanistas, contras, bureaucrats and the three-legged dancing girls…uh, scratch the latter from the list, I’m getting delirious). I found it lengthy, ponderous, not terribly cinematic or insightful, did not particularly propel me to ask questions. It seems to be epidemic among a lot of docs examining this topic. Self-congratulatory in their didacticism beyond reparation. I was intrigued to see this film by another one of Francovich’s docs SAN FRANCISCO GOOD TIMES, which I enjoyed in a rather odd way. “Peace, love, dope!”

As for THE WHOLE SHOOTIN’ MATCH…I been waitin’ for it to come on video for a long time now, darnation take it. I envy the opportunity you were given to see it in print form.

Chris Cagle, for his newly launched screening series, screened TIRE DIE, an Argentinian documentary from 1960. I saw strong parallels with Monnikendam’s MOTHER DAO THE TURTLELIKE and Littin’s JACKAL OF NAHUELTORO…barring the obvious parallels to LAND WITHOUT BREAD. It seems Cagle and I have a similar interest in Preminger which we have yet to probe. Things are still rolling on the Film Fridays end too. We are screening some good stuff there as well.

P.S. This does not really pertain, but I saw INLAND EMPIRE well over a month ago in New York. This film and ERASERHEAD are undoubtedly Lynch’s best films. IE was a real experience. Also, I have located Frank Borzage’s THE BIG FISHERMAN…finally…in its original 3-hour cut!

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