'Little Noises' (1991) - Jane Spencer.

Tatum O'Neal, Crispin Glover & Rik Mayall deliver impeccable performances in writer/director, Jane Spencer's adorably eccentric indie comedy 'Little Noises'. Arguably one of iconoclast, Crispin Glover's more appetizingly strange characterisations as introverted wordless writer, Joey, with sparky newcomer, Steven Schub gleefully running away with every scene as equally deluded, rabidly self promoting Thespian/Mime, Timmy Smith! A conspicuously lovely, unfairly neglected oddity, Jane Spencer's frequently fabulous symphony of sympathetic screwballs is a sheer delight from start to finish. Undeniably steeped in whimsy, there's a palpable humanity to these needful, recognizably human noises. Spencer's engaging text is a tittersome treat, and I especially enjoyed the darkly sardonic comedy's intermittently biting, Todd Solondz/Aki Kaurismäki tonalities. 

 

 

'Treasure of the Ninja' (1987) – William Lee.

Until quite recently I would have said that, Fred 'The Hammer' Williamson was arguably one of the more innately cool action heroes, but the sinewy pantheon of pugilistic perfection must also make room for dangerously slick, ninja-nuking Kung Fu fabulist mofo, William Lee!!! Rescued from undeserved obscurity by those stalwart restorers of superlative schlock at AGFA, Sensei Lee's extraordinary, wildly entertaining treasure trove of delirious D.I.Y martial arts mania is explosively represented by his exemplary 1980s NYC-set 'Treasure of the Ninja'. Shot on Super 8 and edited on video with appreciable skill and winning passion, the dynamic, William Lee's zealous recreation of Kung Fu cinema's myriad excesses illuminates every thrilling 8mm frame of gonzo street tough action! 

Generously packed to bursting point with kinetic martial Arts mayhem, the miraculously fleet-footed fight flick 'Treasure of the Ninja' is a righteous, consistently high-five inducing, non-stop Ninja-Fest. Discounting my earnest fanboy hyperbole, William Lee's likeable, charmingly lofi, blazingly busy B-Movie masterpiece remains a vastly entertaining homemade head knocker that any discerning Ninjoid would be a Kung Fool to miss! The enjoyably rough-shod, pyjama-clad, adrenaline-soaked chopsocky seranade 'Treasure of the Ninja' remains a singularly bracing experience, like shooting a full eyedropper of adrenochrome directly into your twitching eyeball! Forget the witless, and increasingly wickless, John Wick, welcome to your new favourite action master, Magneta Faze! 

 

 

 'Ramones we're outta here' (1997) – Kevin Kerslake.

Engaging, candid, heartfelt, exhilaratingly loud and intermittently melancholy documentary on hugely influential Rock N' Roll siblings 'The Ramones' is a damn fine tribute to the iconic band.

'It was fun, but it sucked at the same time!' - Joey Ramone.

 

 

 

 

'Savage' (2011) – Jordan Blum. 

As an avid Big Foot fetishist, I have long been aware that truly bodacious Big Foot fright flicks are no less elusive than 'in-focus' Foot-age of the famously camera shy, sour stinkin' cryptid king himself! But if y'all wanna sasquatch one killer cryptid creature feature make sure its 'Savage', as this is one blood-thirsty yeti y'all won't soon forgetti! - Weirdlingwolf.

 

 

 

'The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things' (2005) – Asia Argento.

While a multitude of films deal with violence in a glib, unsophisticated way, all too few filmmakers have the courage to so brutally expose the unbearably sordid realities of child abuse and the inexorable downward spiral into spiritual, moral and physical degradation. In no way an easy watch, Asia Argento's excruciatingly unfiltered drama 'The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things' draws you remorselessly into, Jeremiah's (Jimmy Bennet) torturous childhood, never once flinching from exploring the more profane aspects of his addict mother's toxic hedonism and arbitrary cruelty. 

Shorn of sentimentality, the devastating impact of, Asia's brutalist drama is a credit to the bravura performances of her fearless cast. Exposing depths hitherto unseen, the visceral, disturbingly realistic portrayal of an abusive degenerate mother by a hot-wired, Asia Argento frequently provides some profoundly unsettling sequences. Like any exemplary example of downer art, reality and fiction become inextricably conjoined to create a mesmerizingly vivid tableau. With raw sequences that linger unpleasantly in the mind long after the abrasive film has run its roughly hewn course, 'The Heart is A Deceitful Above All Things' makes 'Kids' look like a Condé Nast fluff piece!

'In a truly revelatory performance, the electrifying, Asia Argento dominates the screen in her deliriously downbeat drugged-out melodrama 'The Heart is A Deceitful Above All Things'. While relentlessly grim, and unflinchingly cruel, you couldn't prise my eyes away from the ugliness with a greasy spoon!!!' - Weirdlingwolf.

 

 

'Alien Nation' (1988) - Graham Baker.

Graham Baker's inventive 80s cop drama 'Alien Nation' strikingly remains an engaging admixture of 48 hrs and The Outer Limits. The memorable performances, Rockne S. O'Bannon's lively text and, Baker's zippy direction give this eminently watchable Sci-actioner a little more depth than one might expect.