my thanksgiving staycation – finale, roll credits

Videodrome – Where Have You Been All My Life?
I’m a little ashamed to admit that I’ve lived in this city for the better part of 13 years, and my first visit to Videodrome was just last week. I’ve driven by the place hundreds of times and always wondered what might lie on the other side of the door. But that big, blue bald-headed figure with the VHS-tape eyes that’s painted on the building always creeped me out a bit. Kinda reminded me of those pale bald guys from the movie Dark City who walked around issuing the ominous command ‘sleeeeep‘. Of course the fact that I know and like the movie Dark City should’ve been motivation enough for me to go in… but hey, what can I say? Real-life creepy is more daunting than the celluloid kind.

In a nutshell, Videodrome is Disneyland for indie movie lovers. They’ve got just about every hard to find or obscure movie on their shelves, along with several newer, more mainstream ones. As soon as I glimpsed their selection, I immediately began mentally chastising myself, “You mean, I’ve been scavenging the two rows of indie / foreign films at the big video store, when I could have had an entire freakin’ store to choose from? Gah!” Blockbuster is officially dead to me. After all the holiday celebrating I was content to spend the rest of my vacation putting my new Videodrome membership to use. Here’s what I saw:

Son of Rambow
Two pre-teen outcasts at an English prep school become unlikely friends and embark on a hilarious and often-dangerous adventure to shoot their own action film inspired by Sly Stallone’s First Blood. One boy, Lee Carter, is a street-smart prankster being raised by his tyrannical teenage brother. The other, Danny, is a quiet, shy kid whose Quaker-esque religion frowns on pretty much every activity that young boys are known for. When their overactive imaginations and need for acceptance cause Lee and Danny to pair up as a filmmaking duo, hilarity ensues. Son of Rambow is adorable, funny, imaginative, and heart-warming. Kids will dig the story, parents and grown-ups will love the 80s soundtrack.

The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
The original movie adapation of Oscar Wilde’s classic novel in which a young man trades his soul for eternal youth and then falls into an unescapable life of depravity. Even though Dorian’s physical form bears no mark of the dark life he leads, a portrait of him reveals every horrific detail of his tormented soul. Hurd Hatfield does a solid job playing the role of the title character, but I was even more impressed by a young Angela Lansbury’s captivating, doe-like portrayal of Sybil Vane, an actress who wins the heart of Dorian Gray. George Sanders absolutely steals the show as Lord Henry Wotton – a one-man embodiment of the cynical hedonism of the post-Victorian aristocracy – who plays a large role in Dorian’s demise. The dialogue in this movie is absolutely ridiculous! Snappy, witty one-liners abound, and the use of color in an otherwhise black-and-white film is memorable. Recommended for any fan of classic literature or film.

Music Is the Weapon

As a biography of Nigerian musical revolutionary, Fela Kuti, this film falls short. Instead of detailed strokes of the artist’s life, what is presented is more like an impressionist painting with Fela’s music as a backdrop, and Fela himself providing color commentary throughout the film. Several shots of the Nigerian social and political scene of the late 60s and early 70s are interspersed with shots of Fela performing on stage at ‘The Shrine’ (his former nightclub in the Kalakuta district), shots of Fela lounging in his (bikini) underwear, shots of Fela’s many wives in what appears to be the never-ending application of elaborate, traditional stage makeup, and shots of everyone smoking fat spliffs. There’s also some coverage of the harrassment, repeated jailings, and physical abuse Fela and his tribe repeatedly suffered at the hands of the Nigerian authorities. Fela fans will be happy to view, but may be left wanting for more.

The Business of Being Born
After watching this documentary, all my romantic illusions about natural childbirth have been completely dispelled. But so have any notions of the alleged superiority of a hospital-birth. Filmmaker Abby Epstein and former talk-show host Ricki Lake expose viewers to intimate, first-hand accounts of several women who have made the decision to deliver naturally. Lake was compelled to make the film after having delivered two children – one in a hospital setting, and one in a natural home birth – and being shocked at the lack of factual information available to women about natural childbirth. The beauty, joy, and excruciating pain of several natural deliveries are shown, along with a history of midwifery, the evolution of birthing practices, and the continuing challenge of getting accurate information to pregnant moms. A must-see for anyone who has children, plans to have them, or knows someone who will.

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All
I’ll admit that my expectations were sort of high for this one, since I always enjoy Colbert’s daily satirical news show, the Colbert Report. I was expecting A Colbert Christmas to be a laugh out loud show, but was surprised that it was really more like a tongue-in-cheek take on a Burl Ives Christmas. A slew of guests – including Willie Nelson, John Legend (gag), and John Stewart (swoon) – drop in on Colbert to perform corny, holiday-themed musical numbers. Catch a re-run on Comedy Central or borrow someone else’s copy, but don’t break you neck getting it from the video store.

 

 

 

Videodrome
617 N Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 885-1117

cheers,

k

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