Comics for Sinners Reviews Purgatory Comics #1

This was certainly a great surprise! Comics For Sinners, a web site dedicated to comic book news and reviews, has a feature where once a month they spotlight an indie comic book from Indyplanet. As you may remember, our comic Purgatory Comics #1 is available FREE on Indyplanet (Seriously! It's free! You can literally go download it right now).

Well the good folk at Comics For Sinners discovered our humble comic book and gave it a really great review! You can read Comics For Sinners review of Purgatory Comics #1 right here. Here's a snippet:

"If you enjoy comics but don’t take them too seriously this is an enjoyable read and free, digitally, on Indyplanet."

Give them some love and be sure to read the review, as well as their other reviews and updates. And if you haven't yet, be sure to download your FREE copy of Purgatory Comics #1!

Sonic Cinema Gives "Halina" an A+

Another review for Halina has hit the interwebs - this one from the good folks at Sonic Cinema. And I'm ecstatic to report that they graded Halina with an A+ score!

"Suarez’s film doesn’t feel like a sci-fi film by the end, but in the ways it challenges our thinking of what the genre can offer, it works as well as the best ones do."

Read the review in its entirety right here but I should warn you, this review has some mild spoilers. Nothing earth-shattering, but it dives deeper into the plot than the other reviews and may reveal details you don't want to know if you're going in pure!

I recently added a "Press" section to the official Halina web site that collects all the reviews so far and hopefully will grow in the near future.

IndyRed.com Gives "Halina" a 4-Star Review!

Another Halina review went live today, this one courtesy of IndyRed.com. In this write-up, the author delves into the philosophy of one of the themes in Halina: should we care about a machine?

"Writer / Director Ralph Suarez has put together an interesting piece to think about. It just so happens that questions aside... it's actually also a really good short film to watch."

I like that the author showed so much interest in the many questions the world of Halina raises; questions that may be near impossible to answer. Be sure to read the entire review right here, and check out IndyRed's other articles and their comprehensive indie film database. 

This was an awesome way to start my morning. 

Forest City Short Film Review: "Halina" is Must See Short of 2015!

 

Well this is an awesome start! A film writing blog with a specialty in short films posted a review of Halina today, and said some very very nice things. Forest City Short Film Review, run by freelance writer Nicholas La Salla, declared Halina to be the "Must See Short of 2015":

"'Halina' is Forest City Short Film Review's first MUST SEE SHORT of 2015, and frankly it's also one of the finest short films I have ever seen."

Read the review in its entirety right here (it's pretty spoiler-free). What I really appreciate about this write-up is that the writer looked at the film's credits, and then paid each key player their earned respect. From DP Mike to Steve the composer to the Influencers band . . . he took the time to appreciate the many puzzle pieces that created this final image. That's something more film sites could benefit from.

There's my review for the review! We're off to a good start here, folks!

Random Updates.

Click to enlarge

Hello there superfans, I bring you just a few little updates on this rainy Monday in New York.

I won't get into it now but I'm working closely with GoDigital on making this film perfect for their distribution plan. I only bring it up to state that the GoDigital team is an absolute pleasure to work with, and I can't say enough nice things about them.

And one more thing: I'm writing this to you on a PowerMac G5 with no Intel Processor and therefore an outdated operating system and loooooow RAM. This computer has been great to me over the years: she saw me through many many projects. And she actually still runs fine. But I've had a thirst for power that only an upgrade could quench. I guess this is a long winded way of me saying: I ordered a new computer.

Ain't It Cool News Review, Response

It’s hard to be 31 and defend something you wrote at 26. And it’s awkward rebutting a review instead of just absorbing the blows of criticism. But this review frustrated me, and it also happens to be on a high-traffic movie site.

In their comics section today, Ain’t It Cool News contributor Kristian Horn reviewed Purgatory Comics. I’d submitted it to him weeks earlier. I was warned it would be an honest review and that’s completely cool; we’ve been bashed before. Early in the review, Kristian basically calls Purgatory Comics a Clerks ripoff, which again, is fine. It’s been done before. But then Kristian stays on that point for the rest of the essay; comparing me to Kevin Smith and calling the film “Clerks Light.” And he doesn’t attempt to truly review the film because he can’t see passed this by his own admission.

Kristian gave me 90 minutes of his life and he did write nice words about me having potential, so I’m not going to knock on the guy. Plus I appreciate recognition from AICN. But I do want to present my side of this whole “Clerks Light” thing.

Look, I get it. I love Clerks and I’m very public about that. So I see why the film world believes Kevin Smith owns the monopoly on the “young adult dialogue comedy in retail” subgenre. But to me, that’s just what it is: a subgenre.

I challenged the monopoly because I thought I had a story worth telling that hadn’t been told in this exact way. Is the film community really so "day and night" that a different filmmaker can’t try this? With a completely different theme?

Because beyond dirty humor in retail, I fail to see the tonal comparisons that are so substantial, Kristian can’t see through them to write an honest review. Purgatory Comics has no banter about the minutia of pop culture. There’s no ragging on customers. Half of the film doesn’t even take place in the comic book store. The movie is half drama (and is always billed as a comedy/drama). The store owner is a divorced man in his early 30s who loves his shop – so much that he almost has a meltdown at the thought of losing it. The protagonist is a woman running from a successful business career and relationship. And the youngest guy is a simple-minded kid who was never taught responsibility, but has a huge heart. All three of them are changed by the end.

I just don't see this potent tone similarity Kristian can't get passed; and I'm the first to rip on my own work. And I'm not going to deny Smith was an inspiration in the early stages, but I worked very hard to go my own route from there.

The day I decided I wanted to shoot in a comic store, I was completely prepared for the Clerks comparisons. And I get it. And believe me, I’ve met many people who disliked my film and I get that too. But be constructive, Kristian. If the movie failed to hit a spark because of the script, acting, direction, whatever . . . criticize that. I can take it. Don’t write it off as “Clerks Light” because it reminds you of a movie made over 10 years earlier, and then leave it at that. Believe me, I know I’m not Kevin Smith without you pointing it out. I’m not trying to be.

Even when you’re a broke indie filmmaker, you can’t help but feel the pressure to be innovative and give the audience something that’s never been done; even in the slightest. On one hand, the pressure is healthy: I probably would have more success if I invented something completely new. On the other hand, it’s maddening - and I argue - unfair. And I would never tell an aspiring filmmaker to pass up on a personal, low budget story because it isn’t 100% groundbreaking.

So there’s my review of Kristian’s review. I guess we both have a lot of room for improvement.

One last point: Kristian unfairly states that the biggest thing I have to sell my movie is Bree Olson. Kristian: if you had even an inkling of how competitive the indie film world is, and how difficult it is to stand out, you’d understand grasping to name-recognition in marketing.

Kevin Smith Red State Tour @ Radio City Music Hall 3/5/11

Last night, Kevin Smith kicked off his Red State USA tour at Radio City Music Hall. He screened the film and followed with a Q&A session featuring most of the cast. I went with Jim and my lady, and it was exciting as it was my first Kevin Smith "event" since the Clerks 2 advanced screening at the IFC theater years ago (check out Clerks 2 disc 2; I'm interviewed on a bonus feature).

For those who don't know, Red State is set to make its theatrical debut this October, but until then, Kevin's taking it on the road starting in New York and ending in LA. The bookend screenings will most likely be the only two with the cast present for the Q&A. Red State officially premiered at Sundance along with Kevin Smith's "Jerry Maguire" moment. The reviews that followed were mixed, although it seemed that most critics had a hard time separating the art from the artist. I went into this screening mostly cold turkey, but I was aware that some slight pacing edits had been made so this wasn't exactly the same film screened at Sundance.

Jim and I outside of the theater. What's with the woman (?) on the right there?

So as expected, the event starts with Kevin Smith taking the stage. And you can't help but get in a good mood the moment he starts talking. He's often accused of being overly sensitive on the Internet, especially when he defends his work on social networks, but in person that man is just plain likable. I've seen him many times over the years and that hasn't changed.

From here he screened the film. I don't want to get into a full review because I think it's best to go in with little expectations and few plot details. But I will say I really, really enjoyed it. The acting across the board was stellar. The black comedy/satirical elements were a far cry from Smith's usual "dick and fart" jokes. And I feel like this needs major acknowledgment: David Klein's cinematography was great. The man has come along way since Clerks, and his shots, combined with Kevin's editing, creating moments of tension and anxiety that today's horror films and thrillers mostly lack.

The film wasn't perfect and it definitely won't attract every film lover. But about the worst thing I personally can say about it was Kevin made some editing choices I didn't favor (cutting to unnecessary title cards or flashbacks, I assume to bandage bad edits). Other than that, this might be my favorite of his films since Chasing Amy. It's the first one I find myself still thinking about the next morning. I can't help but compare it to a Coen Brothers movie (maybe because of the John Goodman presence?), and in all honesty, if this were one of their films and not Kevin's, I feel like critics across the board would've loved it. So there's my mini-review.

After the film, Kevin presented the cast for the Q&A session.

So from left to right: Kevin Smith, Jennifer Schwalbach (his wife), Melissa Leo (Academy Award winning actress for The Fighter), John Goodman (!), Betty Aberlin (Mr. Rogers!), Stephen Root (Office Space), Ralph Garman (Family Guy), Nicholas Braun (Sky High), Michael Angarano (also Sky High), and Kerry Bishé (Scrubs).

I might've taken 200 pictures. These are just a few.

As with every Kevin Smith Q&A I've ever been too, most fan questions went to him. And for every 1 good question were probably 2 dumb ones. Still, Kev and the cast seemed to have a real good time and make the best of it.

The highlight for me might have been when John Goodman dropped a "Shut the fuck up, Donnie" for the Big Lebowski fans in the audience.

The young members of the cast.

I do miss the days of seeing Kevin at private screenings; usually for free. But I guess the fact that he's in Radio City speaks for how far he's come from the days of having an exclusive fan base. Plus, I got to see some of my old friends from the days of View Askew past. These are people that have known me now for almost a decade, and have seen me grow from a guy who did dumb Internet skits, to a guy who did dumb web comics, to a guy who made a dumb feature film. Yet they still stand by me, and we all still stand by Kevin. But with Red State, he really gave us a movie to be proud to stand behind.

Some Random Updates

"I can haz brains?"

Been a little bit since a nice update post, so here goes. Let's start with a film review! FilmBizzarro.com reviewed a DVD of Purgatory Comics. The reviewer wasn't really into it as it wasn't his cup of tea (he prefers his movies with lots of blood and guts and honestly, I can't blame 'em). But rather than rip it apart, he reaffirms he's just not the right audience which was cool, and if he took the time to write and plug it, I'll take the time to plug 'em. Be warned though, nsfw image of Bree Olson at the site. Read the review here.

DP Mike updated his demo reel over at his site. There's some glimpses of Purgatory Comics in there, so check it out. He has gained so many new capabilities since shooting my movie that I'm itching to work on a new project with him. In the meantime he's exploring some cool new Bluray authoring capabilities. I'll keep you posted on that. Also he made himself a top-notch editing suite so if you're in the tristate area and you're looking for a good editor, check out his site.

Angela's still at it with the youtubin' from London. Here's her latest vid:

And last: I've got two scripts in the works. Both have been in my head for nearly a year and they're both in different stages of development. A relationship movie is trickling onto paper very slowly, and a thriller is completely outlined and 30 pages of script are done. Even though the latter is further along, my passion for the former is much stronger. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Belated New Years! Resolutions coming soon...

Star Trek: The Return of the Theater-Going Experience?

I've seen the new Star Trek twice already: the first was an advanced preview screening with a limited audience (friend in radio hooked me up), and the second was opening weekend with a large crowd. After the end credits began rolling on the second screening, I saw a father and his son - must've been 3 0r 4 years old - walking out of the theater. The father asked what the boy thought, and the boy absolutely loved it; but he was in too much shock and awe over the visuals he'd just witnessed to really elaborate further.

This triggered a flashback for me: I was about that boy's age when I saw Return of the Jedi in the theater, and I remember feeling the exact same way. And scattered memories of watching Jedi on the big screen during its original run still stay with me to this day: Ewoks, Yoda's death, Lando blowing up the Death Star...to my young impressionable mind, it was absolute magic.

I like to think - and I hope - that the new Star Trek may become sort of what the original Star Wars trilogy was to this new generation. I think our culture desperately needs that right now. Sure, Pirates of the Caribbean and Iron Man and even Transformers were imaginative visual romps, but I feel Star Trek is something more (before I go into this, keep in mind I knew NOTHING about Star Trek before seeing it): the film is a near-perfect blend of action, comedy, drama and sci-fi. The pacing is wonderful, the cast is likable, and Michael Giacchino's score is epic. From a marketing perspective, I'm inspired how they were able to package a product for everyone from ages 3-103. From a screenwriting perspective, I'm blown away by how one movie is a sequel, prequel, and reboot all in one.

I don't really do movie reviews on here (maybe I should?), but the whole point of this entry's headline is about the experience of seeing this on the big screen. Yes, theater ticket prices go up while DVD prices go down. The gap between national screenings and home video release is getting smaller and smaller. And we can all agree Hollywood has been putting out a lot of crap lately. The big question has become: what will become of the theater going experience as time marches forward? The threat of losing it all together is depressing for a guy like me. Not only do I love movies, but I dream the big dream that one day I'll see my own flick projected up there.

But Star Trek revived my hope, if only for a couple of hours. Needless to say, I enjoyed my second viewing more: an audience of all ages experienced a full range of emotions together, and applauded in the end not out of courtesy, but because they had experienced a type of movie magic that reminds me why people like me got into film in the first place.

If I can ever capture a fraction of that audience response in a screening, I'll feel accomplished. While I work on that, you see Star Trek. It's not the perfect movie across the board, but it's the exact kind of movie I think we need right now.

Three and a half stars ***1/2