DRAGONSLAYER

Every once in a while a documentary comes around that is so raw and honest; it seems almost like a work a fiction. DRAGONSLAYER is definitely one of those films. With unprecedented access to the films subject, Josh Sandoval, it paints a portrait of a kid who has lived his dreams and is now growing up. It is what I can only describe as fast paced New York style meets California cool, making it one of the most originally shot and composed films, documentary or narrative, I have ever seen.

Director Tristan Patterson was able to inject himself and his small crew so far into the life of Josh Sandoval that they were able to get footage of real life usually reserved only for fiction films. Somehow the team shot footage of Josh and his girlfriend during the early stages of their relationship, and continued capturing all of the ups and downs that lead to the solidification of their relationship. The fact that they were able to capture moments when the couple was drinking, smoking pot, laughing, fighting, and sipping soda at the movies would not be impressive if the film were a scripted narrative, but those are often the scenes that go overlooked in documentaries, either because the subjects weren't comfortable being filmed in those situations, or the director's just decided they were unimportant. In this film, however, Patterson made sure to show the small moments that make a person who they are, and it made the film so much better.

Something else that should not go unnoticed is the amazing cinematography throughout the film. I have been a skateboarding fan since childhood, and never have I ever seen it filmed with such brilliance. The focal adjustments and fluid motions, combined with vibrant colors and perfect editing made the film simultaneously poetic and raw. Shot on a 5D, there is no comparison in style, this film was the definition of unique and perfect in its imperfections.

In the Q&A with director Tristan Patterson, he described Josh's outlook on life as oddly optimistic, which is a perfect description of the overall feel of the film. There is just something about the way Josh never lets himself get down for the count that makes the audience smile, even when he seems to be the most self-destructive character ever put on film. It's not a feel good movie, but it isn't a depressing one either. It's a film about a boy who skates, a boy who meets a girl, and a boy who is beginning to grow up. It is raw, delightful, and beautiful. I would recommend this film to anyone, which is an idea to be spreading. DRAGONSLAYER won the award for best documentary at SXSW Film Festival, and has that seems to be have been making its way along the festival circuit. To follow their journey, you can fan them on facebook.

Limitless

When I first saw that Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro were starring in a movie together, I was beyond ecstatic. I remember seeing it on the television at my mother's house and saying "I don't care what it's about, I'm in". That film, my friends, became the highlight of my spring break. Sure I enjoyed spending time with my family and visiting all the things I'll miss when I move to Los Angeles after graduation, but that film surpassed any other experience I have had since seeing the one and only Fight Club.

This film actually reminded me a lot of Fight Club. I'm not sure if it was the sarcastic, witty voice over from a man with nothing to lose, or the attention to detail poured into the sound design. It could have also been the snappy editing, or the techno soundtrack often laid under scenes. It could have also been the nail biting moments that kept getting more and more intense until I found myself curled in a ball with my arms wrapped so tight around my torso that my muscles began to ache, a scream waiting for the moment I was so caught up in the intensity that I forgot to sensor myself for the benefit of the other audience members. A scream which, by the way, escaped briefly at the "all is lost" point in the film, despite my best efforts. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that the film gripped me to the point that I almost had to leave the theater because I was so wrapped up in the plot and unsure of how Cooper could escape the mess that had begun to constrict his life before he even knew it. I'm glad a stayed though.

Bradley Cooper, who I have been following since seeing him in Older Than America, delivered one of the best performances of his career. He just keeps getting better and better as time goes on. The best part of the entire film was when he had a faceoff with De Niro, who in my book and many others is one of the highest powers in the acting world, and Cooper held his own with remarkable grace. He didn't flinch as he stood there, smugly looking down at the two time Oscar winner in the final scene of the movie, exuding what could only be described as the essence of hard-earned cockiness. He was absolutely brilliant.

One thing I have not yet decided my opinion on is the severe underplaying of De Niro. On the one hand there wasn't as much of him as I would have liked in the film, but on the other it made the film that much more elegant. It's like a fine scotch, you don't drink it all in one sitting by yourself, you space it out and share with friends (I'm hoping this is how you refer to expensive scotch and how you enjoy it because I'm not too familiar with the terms and traditions of alcohol, but you get my point).

All in all, this is a film I would highly recommend seeing in a theater. It is brilliantly intense, and let's be honest, who doesn't enjoy Cooper and De Niro?