Christina Ricci received a Half-Life Award.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

From right, Carl Colpaert, Patrícia Mota,
Joe Arquette and Maurizio Farhad.

I’m very happy Carl Colpaert’s “G.I. Jesus” got some recognition with the 2006 CineVegas Awards by taking home the festivals’ top honors. It’s a beautiful movie. As I said before, “It’s not the best made film screened at CineVegas this year, but it’s definitely the most important.” Because it won the Grand Jury prize it was shown again Saturday and I got to see it for the second time. It was even better the second go-round. It’s touching. Colpaert was on hand after the screening with actors Joe Arquette, Patrícia Mota and Maurizio Farhad. I was happy they were in attendance as I got to personally thank them for the movie. “G.I. Jesus” ended up screening four times this past week and I believe they were at every showing, willingly answering questions from the audience afterwards. These are true artists. They are doing what they love and they are sharing a message of peace with the world. They all put their heart and soul into this project and they don’t give a crap about the celebrity status B.S. Hollywood glamour games, which seems to be all people like Sylvester Stallone and Christina Ricci care about. They are exactly what Polly Staffle is all about. Look for their movie to be heavily considered next year when the 2007 Pollies are handed out.

Other Polished Apple considerations will be given to the Gina Philips film “Thanks to Gravity” and the Japanese horror-influenced “Danika.” I was saddened neither of these received awards. I thought for sure “Thanks for Gravity” would get the Audience Award. I called it “a cross between the Britney Spears vehicle ‘Crossroads,’ the Katie Holmes teen movie ‘First Daughter’ with the Showtime-made ‘Speak,’ the Latin flavored ‘Real Women Have Curves’ and the HBO-produced ‘Blue Car.’” I also said it’s “probably the best female coming of age film I’ve seen.” I still stand by that. Philips was another person at the festival many days. She was there opening night and I saw her probably three times after that. She too is a true artist. It was nice to see there are people like her in the film industry. Philips isn’t a household name, but she will be. I predict “Thanks to Gravity” will do fine when it is picked up and could very well be a sleeper/word of mouth hit a la “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” I also see bigger and better things in store for Philips in the future.

As for “Danika,” it was the first movie I saw at the festival. At the time I said the film “gets my vote as the best film at CineVegas. I know it is only day two, but how the hell do you top this film. It’s that good. My jaw has never dropped during a movie before. People say that all the time – ‘my jaw dropped.’ It’s never happened to me. This movie made my jaw drop.” I still stand by that. I love “G.I. Jesus,” but “Danika” is an emotional powerhouse that is executed extremely well. Sure the budget is probably 300 times that of Colpaert’s, but it’s not necessarily budget flaws that has me placing “G.I. Jesus” below it. Both movies moved me. Both were filled with social commentary. Both left me feeling angry and sad. But “Danika” had me on the edge of my seat. “Danika” evoked fear and made my jaw drop. This movie will be able to fend for itself, however, so like I said I’m happy “G.I. Jesus” took the jury award. “Danika” has a number of built in audiences and will surely open on top at the box office.

Of the other features honored at CineVegas – “Park,” “The Favor,” “The 4th Dimension” and “5 Up 2 Down” – I saw two and a half of them. “Park” I liked, but I’m not a big comedy guy. Sure, it’s funny and the acting is really good, but it was missing a bit of darkness. I wanted “Park” to have a sad ending and I wanted something meatier for the great ensemble cast. As I said when I first saw it, “(‘Park’) so badly wants to be a dark comedy, pushing boundaries and dealing with taboos. It’s not so much, but it aspires and that can be respected to a degree.” The cast almost saves the film from itself, but in the end I was left wanting more than I got. “The Favor” I didn’t care for at all. “The 4th Dimension” I cared for even less. I tried twice to watch it and never got all the way through it. “5 Up 2 Down” I missed, but heard good things of it. If the director Steven Kessler wants to send me a screener, I’ll review it.

Hopefully, some time soon I will get full length reviews up on “Thanks to Gravity” and “Danika.” In the mean time, here is the festivals’ final press release and I’ll leave you with the following “dangerous” photos…

Clifton Collins Jr. poses by his star. You know? That guy from those movies.

Christina Ricci signs one of two autographs. Despite rumors that Ricci turned down interview requests with PollyStaffle.com, I actually felt her name being associated with the site would cheapen her image.

Okay, so I am lying. You are lucky you got these photos. She jogged through the red carpert. We actually were told she would not do "the walk" and after most people scattered, she did a Marion Jones imitation.

Actress Aimee Garcia.

Actress Deborah Kara Unger.

Lies And Alibis directors Matt Checkowski, left, and Kurt Mattila.

Last but not least, Ashley Cafagna-Tesoro.

Why are these photos dangerous? I don’t know. Just thought I would get one last jab in at that stupid slogan. For anybody from the festival that happens to see this site. Next year - dump the slogan, invite Larry Clark, Todd Solondz and Vincent Gallo, get some genre films involved like last year and have Gina Phillips and Carl Colpaert back with or without films.

- CCF, June 17