O Lucky Man (1973)

O Lucky Man (1973)
Written by David Sherwin
Directed by Lindsay Anderson

It is time for you to be ashamed.

Time for you to go home to your mother and cry on the couch, not because Janey wouldn't let you kiss her goodnight. But because all this time you thought you knew movies and we're an idiot savant of all art.

However sadly... and unforgivably you did not know O Lucky Man (unofficial, official sequel to 1969's If...) existed. Hopefully I change that.

Malcolm Mcdowell heads the excellent cast as Mick Travis, a traveling coffee salesman, who encounters life in a roller coaster ride of success, chance meetings, horrible confrontations and cutting edge satire that is rarely seen anymore. Hell, I think the last time someone tried to out do it was 'Whoops Apocalypse' , oh, I'm sorry, you haven't heard of that one either. Well, as simple as the premise of O Lucky Man is, essentially its just a guy traveling, but its so much more. Think Forrest Gump without all that running, and instead of a soundtrack that tries to immerse you an era, how about a soundtrack that is the era, sung and performed by Animals keyboardist Alan Price.

The soundtrack alone is one for any british moniker, however this cult film is so gloriously underrated that when you do pick it and watch it, and scenes like the hideous goat boy shock the shit out of you, you can't believe you found something so wonderful.

Helen Mirren plays multiple characters and looks excellent, granted she still does to this day of the review. Its all Malcolm though, this movie along with If.., Clockwork Orange and even Caligula, show what kind of rarity he is to the film role. Its too bad Rob Zombie's Halloween's almost unspool that image.

O Lucky Man borders on three hours, is broken up by musical interludes, and is zany, original, often funny, arty and no less than Lindsay Anderson's masterpiece. Put side by side with his film If.. you got yourself a double feature you are quite frankly never going to forget. But even on its own, O Lucky Man remains to be the unseen classic of the seventies.

Its not worth seeking out, its mandatory!

Infestation (2009)

Infestation (2009)
written and directed by
Kyle Rankin


Remember back when Ben Affleck and Matt Damon had that kick ass show called Project Greenlight, and how after three seasons only one movie was worth a damn. That being John Gluger's Feast, seasons three winner.

However, season two saw winners from my home state, Maine, Kyle Rankin and Efram Potelle won for their submission into project greenlight and were granted a million dollar budget to make a movie. That movie ended up being Battle of Shaker Heights, since then either director has a lucrative if unknown career.

Infestation should change that. It didn't, but it marks Kyle Rankin's superb talent for effects, gags and writing.

One fine morning, Cooper wakes up goes to work and realizes every one is tangled up in webs at the corporate office. He finally shows work ethic and initiative to keep himself and band of misfit employees alive. However, it soon becomes a troop of four as the gang makes head way to the city where all the bugs seemed to be migrating from in effort to destroy the hive.

The premise, simple and one we've seen a thousand times before, think, Slugs, Swarm, Squirm, Bugs, Infested, and any other insect movie you've seen (Mosquito Man, no no, not to be confused with Mosquito Coast). However, this one is very funny, with plenty of sarcastic humor, funny one liners and creatures that sometimes shock. Its great when a bug movie gives promise and lives up to it, each human that gets bit by the bugs becomes catatonic and starts turning into an eight legged insect. Can you say awesome, not until you see the dog that gets bit, it is laugh out loud awesome.

Its part Night of the Living Dead, They Came From Within, Ticks and any misfit romance movie you've seen, mixed with a unique blend of humor, heart and great performances from lead actor Chris Marquette and Ray Wise who plays Coopers father.

I was lucky enough to see this at the Maine International Film Festival (MIFF) sponsored by the Railroad Square Cinema. This was a highlight for the festival that year and in attendance, Kyle Rankin, who after the movie was over had a very brief question and answer.

Suffice to say, I shook the man's hand.

Seek this movie out!

Last Night (1998)

Last Night (1998)
written and Directed by
Don Mckellar

you might as well drink, fuck and party, because in six hours the world is going to end. Last Night is an appropriately restained masterpiece (if you will) regarding the end of the world. No communication, no transportation; the city is essentially in riot, however for Don Mckellar's character its a way for him to do some soul searching while revisiting friends and finding out what they are doing.

The movie is very simple in setting, pacing and quite funny with brave honesty. One character is trying to screw any and everybody he can, including the main character.

What I want to focus on is who would like this movie. If you are a fan of the IFC channel, this should be visited, however its fans of Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch and Lindsay Anderson this is a must. Its a rare intimate look on how people will deal with denial, faith and death. And fairly well if you ask me.

Its as if Neil Simon wrote 2012, but instead of Roland Emmerich exploding things, it was directed by Woody Allen. It deals with the extravagance of human emotion and understanding. Top it off with some surprising funny moments and you've got yourself a date movie. If you date is that 100 pound shadow called worry, depression and anxiety. Just kidding.

However, its a hard movie to find, I suggest you seek it out.