Butt-Numb-A-Thon 13 (AKA BNAT13WOLF) Recap

Butt-Numb-A-Thon 13 (this year dubbed BNAT13WOLF) took place last weekend, and it was a pure joy to attend.  BNAT is so fantastic that I don’t believe any of my descriptions do it justice, but for the unfamiliar, it is a movie marathon where a group of 200+ very lucky film-lovers willingly confine themselves to a theater for 24 hours or more and watch both vintage and soon-to-be-released movies non-stop (with the occasional bathroom break, thank goodness).  Cool clips and trailers play before each film (usually related to the movie in some way), and often enough, you are also treated to unreleased trailers, or even unfinished segments of upcoming films (getting a glimpse of behind-the-scenes movie magic).  The movies might include an intro video from people involved in the film’s production, or the people themselves might show up to introduce it and do Q&A after.  BNAT often includes rare films that you might otherwise never get to see (like last year’s Orson Welles film Chimes at Midnight, and this year’s Just Imagine), and things are presented in ways you aren’t likely to experience them elsewhere (silent films with live musical scores, for instance).  And you never know what will play until just before it starts, giving it a prolonged Christmas morning feel (or insert your own consumer-driven holiday that made you giddy with anticipation when you were a kid).

The event is programmed by Harry Knowles (of aintitcool.com) around his birthday, it’s thrown at the incomparable Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, TX (South Lamar location the past few years), and the ticket proceeds go to fund the Free Alamo Kid’s Club screenings throughout the year.  There is always a themed application process where you answer quirky film-related questions, send a photo related to the theme (Teen Wolf this time), and, the past couple of years, optionally upload a music video (this year it was singing the Enjoli theme song – just do a “BNAT 13″ YouTube search if you are curious).  After submitting, you cross your fingers or hold your breath for a week or so.  I count myself incredibly fortunate to have been allowed admittance, and look forward to spilling the beans on all that we were exposed to this year.  So without further ado, here was this year’s lineup:

Hugo (2011) – Though it is unusual to see a movie that is currently in theaters at the festival, a film so very much about filmmaking and the magic of films was a perfect fit.  In Hugo, the titular character is a precocious orphan living in a Paris train station in the 1930s, where he must steal food to survive and constantly dodge the station inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen) to avoid being shipped off to an orphanage.  He’s caught thieving by the proprietor of a toyshop (Ben Kingsley), and Hugo begins unraveling a mystery involving the man with a little help from the toyshop owner’s young ward (Chloe Moretz).

I have to admit that on first viewing (pre-BNAT), I really liked Hugo overall, but didn’t find the first half-hour all that magical.  I got sucked in when the mystery was revealed and thought it was fantastic thereafter.  At the time, I thought that the sets and other visuals were beautiful, the main character was likable, and the cast was stellar (including the aforementioned actors plus Christopher Lee, Richard Griffiths, Emily Mortimer, and Jude Law), but I was somewhat fidgety during the setup when we were watching Hugo spy on the other inhabitants of the station, some of them quirky and comical exaggerations of human beings (but who thankfully all develop as the film unfolds).  That viewing was in 2D.

At BNAT we saw it in 3D, and I was mesmerized from the get go.  We were surrounded by snow, given vertigo by staircases and ladders, and made to feel menaced by creepy statues.  Rather than viewing from a distance, I felt like I was right there with Hugo.  This is the first movie I have seen that I thought was substantially improved by 3D (I didn’t even think that of Avatar, even though I found its use of 3D pretty cool).  Instead of just throwing things at the audience to make us marvel at this newish visual technology, Scorsese used it to give everything more depth and draw us into Hugo’s world.  3D aside, I also noticed lots of little touches I missed the first time, like one scene where no one was watching a film, but there were projector sounds and light effects occurring.  So a second viewing is definitely recommended to pick up on all the nuances.  I was also able to confirm that I had actually seen Scorsese in a cameo (just wasn’t sure if I was right the first go round).

I can’t reveal too much about the rest of the plot without giving spoilers, but it is a fictionalized interpretation of the life of a real person, and the movie becomes a loving ode to the art and history of filmmaking itself (making it a ideal fit for BNAT, which kind of has the same thing going on).  Hugo is worth seeing for the stunning visuals, the impressive cast, and the compelling and surprising final act, and for once, the 3D.

A Trip to the Moon (or Le Voyage dans la Lune) (1902) – Speaking of perfect picks, nothing could have been more appropriate to follow Hugo than Georges Méliès’s classic sci-fi film (regarded as the first sci-fi film, actually).  It depicts a trip to the moon by five astronomers, who are chased around by aliens until they fall back to earth.  The trick photography and fanciful, almost cartoon-like story add greatly to the enjoyment of watching this piece of film history.  I kick myself for missing the first minute due to an ill-timed bathroom break (I thought the Hugo credits would give me time), but thankfully did make it back to my seat before the rocket launch (the movie is only 14 minutes long, so even a minute is a tragic loss).  The viewing was further enhanced by a live organ performance by Graham Reynolds, and the fact that it was a beautiful print.  Try to find a copy if you have never seen it.

Just Imagine (1930) – Appropriately enough, after viewing the first known sci-fi film, we were treated to the first known sci-fi musical (and I believe the first sci-fi talkie).  This one belongs in the bad-but-entertainingly-so category.  Set in the far, far future of 1980, people drive small prop planes, communicate via video chat (they were only off by a couple of decades on that one), eat pills instead of food, have alphanumeric codes instead of names, are forced to endure some rather draconian marriage laws, and occasionally break into song and dance.  Our hero J-21 (John Garrick) is denied permission to marry his sweetheart, LN-18 (Maureen O’Sullivan, of Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan fame, but who also starred in lots of higher-brow classics).  J-21 has four months to distinguish himself to improve his chances on appeal, but he’s already at the top of his chosen profession (pilot). He and his friend and roommate RT-42 (Frank Albertson) take in a recently un-deceased man from 1930 (Ed Brendel) after the scientist who revives the man amusingly tells him he’s on his own.  The new guy has no number, so he dubs himself Single-0.  J-21 is approached about an opportunity to pilot the first manned trip to Mars (in a moment of incredible coincidence, since the guy who approaches him doesn’t even realize he’s a pilot).  And away our three heroes go.

The Martians wear lavish costumes, speak to them in mime, and also have the occasional musical interlude.  It’s all ridiculous but fun.  The only bad thing (well, aside from some less than perfect plot and dialogue choices) is that the song and dance numbers aren’t exactly terrific.  A lot of 30s musicals had simple, sometimes downright silly plots that acted as skeletons upon which to hang fabulous musical scores and dance performances (although many were also helped by witty dialogue delivered by charming personalities such as Fred Astaire, Edward Everett Horton, Judy Garland, or James Cagney).  In Just Imagine, the song/dance is there to be endured (at least in my opinion – maybe everyone else loved the drinking song), and the comedic silliness (which never quite reaches wittiness), cool set design, and 30s-centric view of the future provide the amusement.  So if you get a chance to see it, please do.  Just don’t go in expecting Top Hat.

As a very cool historical aside, Harry noted that some of the props were re-used in the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers serials that came a few years later.  Sadly, it’s also one of those films that isn’t available on DVD/VHS, so there is no way to watch it at the moment aside from the few short clips on Youtube, a lucky TV viewing, or at events like BNAT.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (limited US release 12/9/2011 – unknown wide release) – Based on a John le Carré novel, this is a quiet, slow-building, suspenseful spy thriller directed by Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) and starring a long list of incredible actors.  Gary Oldman is in the lead as an upper echelon British spy who was forced into retirement, but is pulled back in to uncover whether a Russian mole has infiltrated the institution at the highest levels.  Other equally impressive cast members include John Hurt, Colin Firth, Ciarán Hinds, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, and Tom Hardy.  There are many wonderful moments between their characters, mostly conveyed by subtle expressions, pithy bits of dialogue, and general acting wonderfulness.  If you don’t know some of these actors by name, you’ve probably seen them around, and their other work is well worth checking out (Toby Jones as Truman Capote in Infamous, Ciarán Hinds as Captain Wentworth in Persuasion, and Benedict Cumberbatch as the title character in the new British TV Sherlock series, to name a few; Mark Strong and Tom Hardy are also popping up in a myriad of roles these days).

Tinker Tailor is a period piece set in the 70s, which made the espionage activities all the more interesting to me (no fancy gadgetry, but lots of old-school spying: coded messages, rooting through papers and photos, witness interviews/interrogations, and, very occasionally, gunfire).  The film is a tad hard to follow in the beginning, and will probably demand second viewing to get a handle on everything that happened (we were even given a bit of a character cheat sheet after the showing), but the story all comes together in a satisfying way that packs a bit of an emotional punch.  This one probably isn’t for everyone (if you are looking for nonstop mindless action, you’d might as well skip to the last film we saw at BNAT, this movie’s polar opposite in a lot of ways), but it is a great piece of filmmaking, and I’m very happy to have seen it early and with this particular crowd.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (US release date 12/16/2011) – Directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as two of the most famous characters in the world (Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson), this sequel has the same frenetic style, violent martial arts action, and flash-forward slow-motion deduction scenes as its predecessor, so it’s not necessarily for the Arthur Conan Doyle story purists.  But in my opinion, this one is better than the original, with the same likable mains, a slightly more plausible plot, and a more formidable and vicious bad guy (Moriarty, played by Jared Harris).

It is a shame that they didn’t do a slower buildup of the Moriarty character, perhaps saving the full-on Holmes versus his arch nemesis battle for a third film.  Moriarty is only briefly introduced and never fully shown in the first film (Mark Strong from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was actually the main villain in that one), and in this one, he is the full-fledged immediate villain, not leaving a lot of room for development of this criminal mastermind.  We just know who he is and therefore take it for granted what he can do.  The same can be said of Holmes, who we know is a master of deduction and can tell who a man is and where he has been by looking at his lapels, but in this set of films is mainly relegated to detecting from which direction the next couple of punches will be thrown.

But this movie is entertaining from start to finish and holds a few more surprises than I expected from Ritchie’s in-your-face take on the franchise.  Downey, Law, and Harris are all fun to watch interact, and Stephen Fry also gives an amusing turn as Mycroft.  If you liked the first one, I think you’ll love this one.

The Beast with Five Fingers (1946) – This is a great horror movie with Peter Lorre playing somewhat creepy but not altogether scary astronomer Hilary Cummins (his studies seem to cross over into astrology a bit, like back in the ancient day when the two fields weren’t considered entirely separate).  The setting is an Italian estate where rich, eccentric, and creepy in his own right pianist Francis Ingram (Victor Francen) houses, funds, and provides books so that Hilary might continue his astronomical studies.  Ingram has his sights set on his nurse/companion Julie Holden (Andrea King), who is not appreciative of his advances and wishes to leave.  She is also coveted by likable con-man Conrad (Robert Alda), another friend and protégée of Ingram.  Ingram dies just after altering his will, and there is some contention over who will inherit.  Then mysterious murders begin, and the Police Commissario (J. Carrol Nash) joins the group to try to solve the mystery (and provide some comic relief).  This is a well-acted, well-produced horror movie with hints of comedy, and Lorre really brings the whole production up to the next level.  If you haven’t seen this, and especially if you are a Peter Lorre fan, check it out sometime.

I also found out afterward that it’s the first horror movie my mom ever saw, and one of the films that endeared Peter Lorre to her.  That explains a lot about my childhood movie viewing habits.  :)

The Adventures of Tintin (US release date 12/21/2011) – Tintin is a Steven Spielberg directed, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy produced, Edgar Wright and Steven Moffat and Joe Cornish co-written film based on a classic comic, and it is loads of fun (as it almost has to be with that list of contributors).  It is a nonstop chase adventure that sometimes reminded me of Raiders of the Lost Ark (perhaps because Spielberg directed, it’s about a globe-trotting hunt for a lost treasure, and the John Williams score sometimes recalls the Raiders music).  The main character Tintin (voiced by Jamie Bell) is a likable teen journalist/sleuth, his dog Snowy is utterly adorable (I want a non-cartoon version of him so badly now), and the movie never lets up on the action or comedy.  Daniel Craig voices a mean bad guy, Andy Serkis is fun as Tintin’s drunken bumbling partner, and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are amusing as Inspectors Thompson and Thomson.  The visuals and textures are also terrific.

I have to admit (with a large dose of shame) that, unfortunately for me, this was the first film during which I intermittently lost consciousness due to exhaustion, mostly during parts of the third act, which is a blur of fight scenes and explosions to me now.  It is no reflection on the film, but rather the time of night and the fact that I haven’t mastered the perfect BNAT caffeine schedule.  But that just means I have to enjoy it all over again when it comes out in a couple of days.  The vast majority of the film is a popcorny blast that I can’t wait to see it again.

Porco Rosso (1992) – This was the first anime ever to play at BNAT, and the announcement that we were about to see it was a major, “Squee!” moment for me.  I am a huge Hayao Miyazaki fan, and I’ve already decided that if I ever get a tattoo, it will be Totoro.  The fact that this was one of his films that I had not yet seen (I’ve been woefully remiss), and that it was a brand-new pristine 35mm print, made the prospect even more exciting.  And it did not disappoint.  The print was beautiful (the colors!), and the movie is as amusing and magical as any of Miyazaki’s other works.  Oh, and it’s about a pilot who at some point was cursed and turned into a pig-man.  But that doesn’t stop him from doing his job.  We never really learn why he was turned into a pig, and we don’t really care.  It’s just fantastical and adorable.  This one ranks high in degree of Miyazaki wonderfulness (up there with Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, in my opinion).  Watch this (and any other of his films) if you have the chance.

And Harry’s announcement that all of Miyazaki’s films are coming out in 35mm prints soon has made me very happy.  I’m game for a marathon.

Cabin in the Woods (US release date 4/13/2012) – I’m not allowed to give a detailed review of this one (or tweet its name at all), but I can say that this movie tied for best-received film at BNAT, in my estimation, and with good reason.  Directed by Drew Goddard and co-written by him and Joss Whedon, it’s a horror movie, a comedy, and something entirely different and new.  It is probably best enjoyed going in somewhat blind, so don’t read up on it or pay too much attention to trailers.  Just rush to the theater as soon as it comes out.  I really wish it were scheduled for a sooner release.  I’m dying to see it again and drag all my friends with me.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (US release date 2/17/2012) – I can’t give a fully detailed review of this one, either, but I can say that I enjoyed it much more than I did the previous Ghost Rider movie.  Helmed by Crank and Crank: High Voltage directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, it is one frenetic trippy ride.  We were shown some short clips of the directors in action, filming while on wires and rollerblades and such (I hope there is more of the same on the DVD release – it gave me a newfound respect for them), and Brian Taylor was in attendance to talk about the film and take questions.  The effects themselves are more interesting than before, Nicolas Cage is actually in the Ghost Rider costume this time, and he is set to eleven as both man and monster.  This one is purely popcorn fare.  It’s no Citizen Kane, but it lands relatively high in the ranks of demon fighting movies, and it’s a lot of fun.  Don’t think too much.  Just enjoy the ride.

The Grey (US release date 1/27/2012) – When I mentioned a movie earlier that was a tie for best-received film at BNAT, this was the other contender.  Helmed by Joe Carnahan (of Smokin’ Aces and The A-Team fame), The Grey is a first-rate, unnerving, and very intense man versus nature horror/action/drama starring Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney and others.  Neeson is entirely convincing as a gruff, emotionally wounded hunter turned prey, and everyone else does an excellent job, as well.  Despite the gritty, cringe-inducing subject matter, this movie is far more introspective and mature than you would expect.  There are no stereotypical characters, it’s not your typical action flick, and you have no idea what’s going to happen next.  It is Carnahan’s best film to date, and is well worth seeing immediately on opening night (which, alas, isn’t until late January).  I don’t want to say more lest I spoil anything, and I think the trailer might show a little too much (as per usual), but I’ll bet that even if you know the entire plot, it’ll still affect you in a big way.  It’s all about atmosphere and character, and I will gladly watch it again.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (US release date 12/21/2011) – In the latest installment of the franchise, the team is blamed for an act of terror and disavowed by its own government.  Nonstop name-clearing, world-saving action ensues.  Directed by Brad Bird of Iron Giant and Pixar fame, the movie is a constant thrill ride, comparable in quality to the third one (maybe even better), and far superior to the first two.  Imagine The Incredibles type action with live people.

Tom Cruise is as good as ever in the lead role, Simon Pegg has lots more screen time (a definite plus), and Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton make great additions to the team.  The characters all play well off of each other.  I suppose my only complaint is that this bad guy isn’t quite as interesting as Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s character from the previous film, even though his aims are actually worse (not the actor’s fault since we’re more in chase mode than development mode with the villain of this picture).

But the action is so unrelenting that you don’t have time to mull over the characters or plot for long.  The scenes on the building in Dubai are downright vertiginous.  I felt like I was going to plummet over the edge, and a neighbor having a similar reaction grabbed me for balance.  We were whisked into an IMAX theater for this one, so I’m not entirely sure how that segment will look on a normal screen, but it felt like we were experiencing 3D even though we weren’t.  M:I – Ghost Protocol is worth a viewing for pure adrenaline-pumping entertainment value.  And I’d highly recommend that you see it on the big screen, IMAX if at all possible.

Aside from the films, there was also lots of other geeky coolness at Butt-Numb-A-Thon this year.  We were treated to a short video from the set of the upcoming Hobbit film in New Zealand, with Quint (Eric Vespe) of aintitcool.com talking with Peter Jackson, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, and various other cast and crew members.  Quint ostensibly wasn’t going to make it to BNAT this year, but Peter Jackson said he knew someone who might be able to help with that, and Ian McKellen appeared in full Gandalf gear and magically whisked Quint back to Austin (with a flash of real pyrotechnics in the theater).  Gandalf then whispered to us through the screen that he sent the never before seen 3D Hobbit trailer back with Quint.  I can’t give details, but wow!  The audience shouted to see it again, and we ended up watching it three times in a row.  The trailer in all its 3D glory is said to be accompanying The Adventures of Tintin, so that gives you more reason to run to see that film in theaters (although as of last night, you can also see it online).

Other fun moments included a nice crowd chuckle when the Less Than Zero trailer played before Sherlock, and Robert Downey Jr.’s character said, “Check me out.  I’m going to make a serious comeback.”  Truer words were never spoken.  And a running gag about playing Teen Wolf for long-time attendee Jeff Mahler was taken up a notch this year by both becoming the theme of the event and (rather than the usual starting Teen Wolf and burning it away to reveal a better film) having the film “cut up into a thousand pieces” per Tim League (founder of the Alamo Drafthouse), with clips so short as to be nearly subliminal interspersed throughout the trailer viewings, always evoking a laugh.  Oh, and there was a cool pre-party at Pinballz Arcade the night before (a really great venue full of old-school video games and pinball machines).

And thus ends my description of the goings on at this year’s BNAT.  I’m sure I’ve left lots out, but hopefully this gives you an inkling of what this unique event is all about.  A very sincere thanks (and belated Happy Birthday) to Harry, to everyone else who makes it all come together, and to the crowd for adding such energy to the movie-going experience.

P.S. to all: Apologies for the late posting.  I wrote a rough draft just after I made it home, then immediately succumbed to an illness that left me bed-ridden for a week.  Ah, the dangers of travel and sleep deprivation.  But I’d do it all over again.  :)