Fantastic Fest Daily Dispatch #4: Barbecues and Imaginariums

I was privileged this year to go on one of the special outings for filmmakers and press, the Smitty's barbecue run. It's a drive out to Lockhart that will enlighten non-Texans about the religions of the barbecue, and how good juicy meat can be without drowning it in sauce. Tim is very passionate about barbecue and after tasting a sampling of Smitty's meats, I understand.  We ate near the fires, so some of us were talking about it being an alternate spa treatment; pores cleared by the sweat of the smoke fires, and lips moisturized by the grease from the meat.  All around carnivorgiastic.

I only made it to three screenings today, but there's that whole quality/quantity thing.  The first was the world premiere of Down Terrace. The three filmmakers in town for it, director/co-writer Ben Wheatley, star/co-writer Robin Hill, and producer Andrew Starke. I keep running into the guys (we have a mini British invasion again this year). They were needlessly nervous about the first ever theater screening of it; they themselves had never seen it on the big screen.  I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but it was funny, caustic, and dark. 

Down Terrace played with the short, Next Floor, which was a mind-fuck of a short, and I mean that in the best possible way. I'm too tired to try to explain it, though. But it's gorgeous and disturbing and wonderful.

Next up, Secret Screening #3, and it was what everyone was hoping #2 was going to be, Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, only again, no guests. I admit, I started dozing off towards the end, but it wasn't because it wasn't a quality movie, I was just exhausted.  My eyes watered up a bit when the end credits started up with "made by Heath Ledger and his friends."  It's very Gilliam, and I mean that in the best possible way. The casting was brilliant, and even with the multiple "Tony" transformations, I think Lily Cole is going to find herself very busy after this comes out.  I think I'd have to see this a couple more times to figure out how much I like it.  But when I'm not so tired.

Last, and unfortunately least was District 13: Ultimatum. I had an even harder time staying awake in this one. I loved District 13, but this was just a rehash with some newer stunts. Still, no wirework as far as I know, like the original, and David Belle is beautiful to look at as he parkours his way through danger.

And now... sleep. 

Fantastic Fest runs through Thursday, October 1 at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar and the Paramount. Follow @fantasticfest and @slackerwood on Twitter for updates.