#5: Waking Up Dead

Waking Up Dead: A 4-years-in-the-making documentary on Phil Varone, a former drummer for rock bands Saigon Kick and Skid Row, argues that idea that life inside the music world can destroy the families, careers and the very lives of rock musicians.

What a fuckin' piece of shit. I really love music documentaries, especially about tortured artists, but this was a fucking huge waste of time. 2 hours of this shithead bitching about how much his life sucks and how he wasn't given a fair shake as he snorts drugs, fucks groupies and tours the world as his wife stays home with their 2 kids. Fuck you Phil Varone.

#4: Wristcutters

Wristcutters: A film set in a strange afterlife way station that has been reserved for people who have committed suicide.

Fucking awesome film. I waited over a year for this to find a distributor and saw it the day it opened in Minneapolis. Watched it again the other day and it still struck me as a great piece of work. Shannon Sossamon and Patrick Fugit were perfect in their roles but, as usual, Tom Waits stole the show. Four fucking stars kids.

#3: The Fall

The Fall: In a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman (Pace) begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm (Untaru), a fantastical story about 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality starts to blur as the tale advances.

Like everyone else in the world I thought The Cell was visually amazing but left much to be desired plotwise. Tarsem more than makes up for it in this, his follow up. Not only does the film look incredible but the story, of a young girl who befriends a paralyzed stunt man in a hospital, keeps you locked in for the entire time. Catinca Untaru gives one of my favorite performances of the year as the little girl, Alexandria.

#2: Waiting

Waiting: Young employees at Shenaniganz restaurant collectively stave off boredom and adulthood with their antics.

I'm a sucker for stupid comedies but this was even too much for me. It's like an unfunny Kevin Smith movie set in a restaurant. Booooring.

#1: Fright Show

Fright Show: A compilation of horror and sci-fi stories.

I bought this for fifty cents at a garage sale. It's almost awesome in how terrible it is. I recommend at least checking out the last segment. Unfortunately there are no youtube clips available so you'll just have to take my word for it.