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FORGOTTEN SEQUELS

29/1/2019

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Here at FakeShemp we're no strangers to sequels and prequels. In fact we tend to love them (remakes, on the other hand....). It's no secret that I have a messed-up adoration for Caddyshack 2, and Jarret loves Weekend At Bernies 2. We even have an entire podcast dedicated to movie franchises. And so you can consider this to be a safe space, free from judgement. And rather than asking "What the fuck were they thinking?" we approach more of a "There's another one? Hell yes!" attitude. We know what's bad, make no mistake, but we tend to embrace that shit. 

Let's look at some sequels, prequels and spin-offs that you might not know exist. It would be easy for us to list some of those obvious titles like Return To Oz or Queen of the Damned, which are certainly obscure, but they're also on the cult spectrum. Here's a bunch of films that came from out of nowhere and left little to no impact. 


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BUTCH & SUNDANCE: THE EARLY DAYS (1979)
This unexpected prequel came along 10-years after Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid took the world by storm and gave us Hollywood's greatest bromance between Paul Newman and Robert Redford. And while a young Tom Berenger and William Katt never recaptured the spirit of their predecessors, they gave it a damn good shot. The film was directed by Richard Lester and did little to impress. In retrospect it's not as awful as it sounds and it's definitely worth a curious gander. 

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CARLITO'S WAY: RISE TO POWER (2005)
Direct-to-video titles are easy targets, but when Carlito's Way: Rise to Power arrived on DVD it generated a reasonable response and performed well as a rental. It is, of course, a prequel to Brian DePalma's 1993 film Carlito's Way starring Al Pacino and Sean Penn. There's no doubt that this prequel was a blatant cash-grab, however it was based on the author Edwin Torres' follow up novel After Hours and was backed up with a decent cast featuring Mario Van Peebles, Burt Young, Sean [insert ridiculous monikers here] Combs and Luis Guzman, who also appeared in the original. It was also directed by Michael Bregman who produced the first film, and when it comes to DTV titles there's a lot worse.
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THE CELL 2 (2009)
The Cell hit cinemas in 2000 and caught everyone off guard. It starred Jeniffer Lopez, Vince Vaughn and Vincent D'Onofrio and wowed audiences with its surrealistic horrors and incredible production design. Playing like Silence of the Lambs meets A Nightmare on Elm Street, it served as a perfectly good stand alone film, and yet in 2009 some dickhead thought that a second-rate sequel was in order. The result was a terrible follow up with none of the visceral wonder of the original, and a cheap production design that looked more like a budget pilot to an unwanted 24 spin-off. There is no need to pursue this one, trust me. 
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DELTA FORCE 3 (1991)
After the death of a stuntman on Delta Force 2 Chuck Norris chose not to reprise his role, making way for his son Mike Norris to lead the charge. I have to admit that this is a MASSIVE guilty pleasure for me and it's a movie I revisit more often than I should. The casting call reads like a D-grate precursor to The Expendables, with relatives of A-list stars enjoying their moment of glory. Joining Mike Norris is Nick Cassavetes (son of John), Eric Douglas (son of Kirk) and Matthew Penn (son of Arthur). Action B-movie legend Sam Firstenberg directs and it's well worth the $2 you might pay for it at Cash Converters. Furthermore, the series continued with 5 instalment of Operation Delta Force. 
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THE EVENING STAR (1996)
Even upon its theatrical release few people realised that The Evening Star was a direct sequel to the Oscar winning Terms of Endearment, and it wasn't until Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson's names appear on screen that the penny dropped. It's not the masterpiece that James L Brooks's original was, however it is an unassuming and often poignant drama nevertheless. Other stars include Juliette Lewis, Bill Paxton and Miranda Richardson, as well as an Oscar nominated performance from Marion Ross of Happy Days fame (she's really excellent in this). Based on the original novel's sequel, The Evening Star earns its right to exist and has aged rather well. 
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THE FIRST 9 1/2 WEEKS (1998)
Believe it or not this is the THIRD instalment in the series, with most people unaware that a second even existed. Part 2 was released as Love In Paris in the States (Another 9 1/2 Weeks internationally) and performed well enough on home video to warrant another chapter. As the title suggests this one is a prequel starring Aussie heart throb (at the time) Paul Mecurio in his late ditch-effort at Hollywood fame. The movie is a turkey and put a nail in the coffin of the franchise. It also featured Malcolm McDowell, who at this point had already been floundering in DTV hell for some time. 
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FLIRTING (1991)
This one feels out of place in this list because Flirting was a brilliant success at the time. It was met with rave reviews and won a slew of AFI awards. It is a direct sequel to the seminal The Year My Voice Broke, and was supposedly a middle piece to director John Duigan's "Danny Embling trilogy" (a third film is yet to be made). Outrageously Flirting is unavailable on any format in Australia, which makes it one hell of a rarity. Amazing performances from Noah Taylor, Thandie Newton and Nicole Kidman make it one of the great Australian films that seems to have been forgotten. Track it down from overseas and make sure you add it to your collection!
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THE GREAT ESCAPE II: THE UNTOLD STORY (1988)
Now this one excites me. A sequel to The Great Escape is the last thing anyone expected, especially after 25 years had passed, but along it came, and with a very dashing Christopher Reeve leading the charge. This one is more of a sidequel, as opposed to a sequel, with the events taking place concurrently with the original film. In an attempt for realism the film uses the characters original names (the original movie fictionalised them) and its story splits off from the events following that great escape. It's a curious film, made for television and split across two 90-minute chapters. It's better than expected and hard to find a legitimate copy, but well worth the time if the opportunity arises. Here's a link to a cheeky DVD copy. 
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HARD CORE LOGO 2 (2010)
Do you remember Hard Core Logo? It's a cult mockumentary from Canada, which took the world by storm in 1996. It documented a notorious punk band as they embarked on a self-destructive tour along the west coast. It was a shocking, yet earnest look at a subculture that presented like a trashy This is Spinal Tap. 14-years later director Bruce McDonald made a sequel, which took an entirely new direction and documented his own life following the success of that film. As well as being a fictitious bio-pic, it also explored the influence of the original movie. This sequel is a strange beast that is at first underwhelming but - perhaps - more resonating upon second glance. It goes without saying that HCL2 is strictly for fans of the original only. Note that prior to making this sequel McDonald  had directed a companion film to Hard Core Logo called Trigger, starring Molly Parker and Sarah Polley. THAT is a cool movie indeed!
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HENRY 2: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1996)
Fans of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer have every right to be angry about a recasted sequel to such an important and influential slice of cinema. And yet, as appraisal on the poster suggests, this was a total underdog that delivered the goods. Let's face it, it was never going to surpass John McNaughton's masterpiece, but genre director Chuck Parello gave it his all and made a nasty little picture that stands on its own. Parello rose up under the wings of Martin Scorsese and has forged his career making mostly serial killer films (In the Light of the Moon - aka Ed Gein, The Hillside Strangler). He casts a dark and foreboding tone across Henry 2 and continues the story from where the original left off. If your curiosity is peaked then it's worth the time. I interviewed Chuck Parello a few years ago and he gives some further insight into the film, including McNaughton's approval of it.
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THE HIDDEN 2 (1993)
Jack Sholder directed Kyle McLachlan in the original sci-fi horror film, which was essentially an alien manhunt movie. Of course its story was more complex than that, but suffice to say it was the type of film audiences expected to spawn a franchise. That franchise, however, never got further than part 2, a second-rate sequel that collected dust in video store's along side other poxy sequels like Alligator 2, Scanners 3 and Trancers 3. I've seen it once so that you don't ever have to think about it again.
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THE HITCHER II (2003)
Everyone loved The Hitcher right? And everyone loves Rutger Hauer's menacing performance as the psychopathic hitchhiker, right? Well rather letting that cultish classic stand proudly on its own, some turkeys decided to pump out a sequel some 17 years later. Thomas C Howell reprised his role and experienced a severe case of John McClane syndrome ("how can the same thing happen to the same guy twice?"). Low and behold he finds himself stalked by ANOTHER psycho hitchhiker, this time played with effect by a deliciously twisted Jake Busey. This one ought to be poxy, but it's more of a guilty pleasure. I had a lot of fun with this one... although I'm sure I stand along. 
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K-911 (1999)
The original K-9 was released the same year as Turner And Hooch, and paved the way for a bunch of dog-themed buddy cop movies. Unlike most of them K-9 and Turner and Hooch were good. While certainly a comedy K-9 played it a lot straighter with a more sinister plot line. And as good as it was, no one asked for a sequel, least of all a low-rent DTV exploit featuring a podgy James Belushi. It was a mildly enjoyable and entirely unnecessary sequel, which was followed up 4-years later with a third instalment called K-9: P.I. Cringe. All 3 movies were released in a triple DVD pack, which means that you get the original flick with the bonus curiosity of an extra two. 
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I'LL ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (2006)
The original I Know What You Did Last Summer was a runaway hit back in 1996, which cashed in on the success of Scream. Both were written by Kevin Williamson who was Hollywood's golden boy at the time, and as any decent slasher does, it spawned an immediate sequel. That sequel was mostly ridiculed and reduced the series to bargain bin status, leaving little hope (or desire) for another. And then out of the blue, BAM, a third instalment featuring absolutely NONE of the original cast! Apparently this chapter languished in development hell for so long that the series star Jennifer Love Hewitt opted out, leaving no connection to the original lineage. The result was an awful wannabe slasher movie that remains as confusing as Urban Legend 3 and 4 (yes).
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LAWRENCE AFTER ARABIA (1992)
Wait, what? Yep, here's another sequel that arrived decades after the release of the original. Much like The Great Escape 2, Lawrence After Arabia (aka A Dangerous Man) tells the story of T.E. Lawrence following the First Word War. It's a reasonably decent film that is well acted, but fails to resonate. But where it's influence lies is in the fact that the original Lawrence of Arabia is one of Stephen Spielberg's favourite films and it was Ralph Fienne's performance in this sequel which caught Spielberg's attention, leading to his casting in Schindler's List. A worthy venture for Fiennes to say the least. 
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MAJOR LEAGUE: BACK TO THE MINORS (1998)
No Charlie Sheen,  no Tom Berenger and no Wesley Snipes. But Major League 3 does give you more Corbin Bernsen and Dennis Haysbert (lol). And heck, we get the addition of Scott Bakula for good measure. Of course a third instalment without the star power was never going to fare well, although I did watch this one with my kids a few years ago and it delivered the laughs. I guess it all comes down to having the right frame of mind and being amongst its target audience. Major League 3 plays to the Sandlot audience and is far removed from its R-rated predecessors. 
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THE LAST DAYS OF PATTON (1986)
George C Scott reprised his role as George S Patton for this made-for-television film, which came at a time when DTV sequels to major films (particularly military films) were all the rage. Others at the time were the Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission, High Noon 2 and Popeye Doyle. The film did little to expand on the original film and played more like a Hallmark movie than a genuine war film. It performed reasonably well in the ratings but did not garner much respect with the audience and there's been zero demand for a re-release. 
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PIMPIN' PEE WEE (2009)
Directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith (BMX Bandits, Frog Dreaming, Man from Hong Kong) Pimpin' Pee Wee is the 4th instalment in the Porky's franchise, and was made purely for the purpose of retaining the rights to the property. Never intended for wide release, the movie takes cues from the American Pie series and shifts the original characters into a contemporary setting. Of course none of it matters because it wasn't really made to be seen. If you're lucky you might find it on YouTube, or perhaps a DVD rip somewhere online. the strange thing is that considering its purpose, Pimpin' Pee Wee is a lot funnier than you might expect and had nothing to lose when going for laughs. I spoke with Brian Trenchard Smith about the film, and you can listen to our conversation here. 
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ROAD HOUSE 2 (2006)
No kidding! Road House 2 is one of those mind-bogglers that has you asking 'why'? The original film starring Patrick Swayze has earned itself a strong cult following over the years and remains one of the great action gems from the 80s, and yet Road House 2 isn't a direct sequel but rather one of those tacky cash-in releases. It doesn't continue the story, or expand on it... nope, it's basically an el-cheapo rehash that is as fucking awful as you would expect. 
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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ROSEMARY'S BABY? (1976)
The title poses a good question. What DID happen to that baby? It's a shame that the makers didn't offer a decent answer, and what they gave us was a sub-par TV movie that was broken into "3 books", with each following seperate characters. It's all a bit stupid but Rosemary is now played by Patty Duke and her son, Adrian, is a hell-child who grows into a young man with evil intentions. We're in Omen-territory with this one, although Rosemary 2 has the benefit of coming before The Omen's subsequent sequels. This is hardly a film worth recommending, although hard-core horror fans will absolutely want it in their collection nevertheless.
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SPLASH TOO (1988)
Okay, guilty as charged. I confess, I am a sucker for Splash Too. It's part of my obsession with part-two sequels and my particular fixation on them being spelled as "Too" (The Jerk Too, Teen Wolf Too, etc.). Of course it is a pretty average movie, no question about it, but with Disney whacking their label on it, the movie plays to a younger audience and has that "Magical world of Disney" feel about it. Tom Hanks was replaced by Todd Waring, Daryl Hannah by Amy Yasbeck and John Candy by Donovan Scott. Hilariously the only returning player was Dody Goodman who also reprised her role in Grease 2, suggesting tough times for her. Splash Too is another difficult title to come by, but I suspect that it might find its way to Disney's upcoming streaming service. 
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THE STING II (1983)
Yet another sequel to the Paul Newman/Robert Redford bromance. The Sting II was released theatrically and even earned itself an Oscar nomination for best score, and yet - as you can expect - it failed to resonate and quickly found its way to obscurity. Original writer David S Ward returned following his Oscar win for the first film's screenplay, but none of the original cast returned to join him. Their characters were downgraded to less profitable names like Jackie Gleeson, Mac Davis, Terri Garr and Oliver Reed... a relatively good cast regardless. And even less fucks were given to continuity with various characters being given contradictory traits and personalities to their persecutors. The Sting II is oddity that is worth adding to your collection. A fun film with a pretty damn sweet poster. 
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TOOLBOX MURDERS 2 (2013)
Toolbox Murders 2 gets a mention because of its strange development and production history. A sequel to Tobe Hooper's mildly successful 2004 remake, this gnarly film found itself blocked from release when a dispute between director Dean Jones and his producer got in the way. So rather than throwing in the towel, Jones flipped the proverbial bird and secretly shot new footage to recalibrate the plot and remove it from the Toolbox cannon. The film was originally released as a stand-alone title called Coffin Baby and proved to be a clever manoeuvre. The official sequel resumed and Toolbox Murders 2 was eventually released to DVD as originally intended. It's not a great film by any means but it's depraved and suitably disgusting! 
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THE TWO JAKES (1990)
Many people may know the title, or recognise the poster, but how many know that The Two Jakes is actually a direct sequel to Roman Polanski's seminal film noir, Chinatown? Yet another unnecessary sequel that is much better than it ought to be. It was a box office flop at the time and despite Jack Nicholson's return, it failed to recapture the essence of Chinatown. Nicholson directed the film and it did have it's champions, with respected film critic Roger Ebert singing its praise at the time. A third instalment was slated to round off the trilogy but the commercial failure of The Two Jacks stopped those plans in their tracks. 

I could go on and on for days. The list of forgotten sequels is endless and my enthusiasm for the shittiest of shitty is concerning. And so here's some other examples without my commentary. Please continue the conversation in the comments section or on Facebook. What are some obscurities that you know?? 
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MONSTER FEST VII: THE HOMECOMING

25/11/2018

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We've come to the end of another Monster Fest and I have just about reached burn-out. I'm an old man now (well, 39) and there wasn't a snowflake's chance in Hell I was ever going to keep up with those who endured the all-night marathon or the closing night after-party.... at least not without pharmaceutical assistance. My plan was to stick around for the closing night celebrations but as you are about to read, that never happened.

With about 5-hours sleep I woke up with a headache this morning... nothing that a coffee can't fix. By the time I was showered and ready to leave my amazing sweetheart had a strong long-black prepared in a traveller mug. I kissed her goodbye and hit the road. The coffee was fucking shithouse! It wasn't her fault, our espresso machine needs descaling. So my mind was made up to grab another one when I got into the city. I arrived in Carlton with an hour to spare and then spent that entire hour driving around looking for a car park. City parking sucks-ass and I ended up several blocks away (and my mind flashed forward to the return walk late at night, and the mugging/murder/ass rape that might ensue).  So by the time I arrived at the cinema there was no time for coffee... the first session was ready to go.

I watched a beautifully restored 4K remaster of EVIL DEAD 2, which in hindsight I could have missed 5-minutes of to get that coffee (my brain was already hurting and "thinking" was not on my agenda). The film was glorious. I have seen it more times than I can count - heck, our name Fake Shemp derives from Evil Dead - but seeing it on the big screen with a full audience was quite the experience. How fun it was to laugh along with other people... although one thing that shits me to the core are those dickheads who laugh louder than everyone else at random moments which aren't very funny. If you're one of those people - get fucked!

The EVIL DEAD 2 session ran over time, which meant that I had to go straight into my next session, which was starting immediately (no time for that coffee, dammit). The next movie was MONSTER SQUAD!!! Monster-Fucking-Squad!!! A bonafide classic. One of the best. A slice of my childhood... the type of shit I live for! Naturally it was a glorious screening, which was also a stunning 4K presentation. I didn't think I could love the movie any more than I already do, but this was my first time seeing it in a cinema with an audience and my God, how much fun it was! If you've never seen MONSTER SQUAD - DO!

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​So it was time for that coffee... whoops, not it wasn't. Dick Dale's Trasharama A Go-Go was starting and I had to jump straight back into the cinema (dammit). Dick was his usual loveable drunk self and he introduced his festival-within-the-festival as only he can. With a few words from some of the filmmakers it was go-time and the sell-out audience was treated to the festival's trashiest offerings. It was a curious line-up of shorts, which for the most part, were not as "trashy" as Dick's mini-fest normally offers. When I attend Trasharama I expect cheap and nasty DIY depravity with an emphasis on shock value. There were a few shocking moments, but for the most part this year's line-up fell more into the "high quality" bracket, which ordinarily we would want in a short film program... but this is no regular short film program... it was TRASHarama! Nevertheless, the audience lapped it up and who am I to question a full-house?

Dick Dale has been working on a feature-length film for the last few years, which he declares to be the world's first "Splatter Punk Nasty". He treated the audience to an exclusive trailer to promote his upcoming crowd-funding campaign in Feb/March. By all accounts it looks to be shaping up as a truly trashy extravaganza. WE LOVE DICK and encourage you to click the image below and like the Ribspreader Facebook page.


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​Coffee Coffee Coffee Coffee... nup. By this time I was already sporting a migraine from my lack of sleep, and the entire day coffeeless was egging it on. We're told to avoid caffeine when we have migraines but when you're regular cure for a headache is coffee, that's what you crave. 


The final screening of the night was touted as one of Monster Fest's highlights this year, the shocking true story; LORDS OF CHAOS! This was a big event with Monster having to host the film in two cinemas at the same time. I was in line waiting for the door to open and was thrilled to have met one of FakeShemp's most loyal followers, Bianca Russell. We had been swapping messages throughout the festival and were both looking forward to a catch up. And so with only a few minutes to spare we swapped stories about both being under the weather (as well as general movie geek banter). I had been wanting to meet her for a while to thank her for the support over the last few years, and it was a pleasure to finally meet her. She will no doubt be reading this blog, and so Bianca... get better soon!!!

LOARD OF CHAOS was mental. It was a film unlike any other. Based on a true story that defies belief, it was a tale about two Norwegian black metal bands who took their pledge to darkness to the extreme when they resorted to arson and murder to promote their music. It was a graphic, confronting and surprisingly funny trip to hell and back, and you can read my full review at the link below.  ​​
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Next up was the grand finale... the Monster Fest closing night awards and after party. As I mentioned earlier, my plan was to head in to share the celebrations with everyone. I had even planned to do a spot of roving-microphone for our podcast. I regret to say that I made a beeline down the stairs instead to the cafe below and ordered a strong long-black coffee. It was a delicious coffee, which immediately took the edge off my migraine. I drank it as I walked back to my car, at which I arrived without the excitement of a mugging, murder or ass-rape. 

And that brings us to the end of FakeShemp's Monster Fest coverage... well, almost. I will be adding more reviews over the next couple of days, and I will be re-posting more photos from other people. It has been 4 days of mass-movie-consumption and sleep deprivation! And I wouldn't have it any other way. A massive THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS to the Monster crew for another insane year of gnarly goodness. 


At Monster Fest VII: The Homecoming... this is Glenn, signing off! 
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MONSTER FEST VII: THE HOMECOMING

24/11/2018

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I live way out in the Yarra Valley, which means I have a fair way to travel to and from Monster Fest each day.  I will never complain about it because I love where I live, but there's no doubt that I am running out of steam already. By the time I get home each night and write reviews (plus blog entries) I am not hitting the pillow until 4AM. This morning my alarm went off an hour earlier because today is election day in Victoria. I had to hit the poll-booth before hitting the road and like the idiot I am, I had no loose change on me to buy a democracy sausage (fucking idiot)... 

One of the perks to living in the country is all of the amazing places to eat. I stopped off at a small general store and indulged in a post-Monster breakfast. A fat bacon & egg roll on a cold wet morning while overlooking a vineyard certainly helped boost my morale. And if chowing down this morning wasn't energising enough, the general store had an entire massive VIDEO RENTAL WALL on display with a huge collection of titles. Yeah, I'm kicking myself that I didn't get a photo of it, but I DID get a photo of my brekky... wanna see?  


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I arrived early (true to form) and found the only table left at the cafe below Cinema Nova. It was tucked right down the back as if awaiting my arrival. And so with a long-black coffee and my laptop on hand I sat for an hour and prepared for the day's mission. The first cab off the rank was one of the late comers to the Monster Fest line-up, HELL FEST, which would have to be the most fun I've had watching a horror movie in the longest time. This one really got me going and you can click the link below to read my review. 
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That unfortunate conflict of scheduling meant that I was unable to attend this year's trivia competition - John CarpenTrivia. Jarret was on hand to oversee the proceedings and by all accounts it was an awesome afternoon of nerdy hijinks. It kicked off at 12:30 and took place in the Nova bar with festival devotees chomping at the bit to show off their cultish licks. The J-man sent me a few photos from the afternoon and I think they speak for themselves. Sidenote: FakeShemp would have won (of course) if we were representin' hehe.   Side-Sidenote: I got another coffee from a nearby organic joint. Same coffee, different place... Imma Say it... Organic Coffee tastes like shit! 
Next up was one of my most anticipated screenings on the schedule, the 25th anniversary of BAD BOY BUBBY. Star of the film Nicholas Hope was in attendance and gave time to meet and greet people before the screening. I'm not one to usually ask celebrities for photos but I made an exception. This one was special because BAD BOY BUBBY is easily one of my favourite Australian films by one of my favourite fimmakers. 
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Nicholas was gracious and genuinely interested in who I was and what I did. We had a chat about Rolf de Heer and also the work I do, and then we had our photo taken. Excuse this shitty pic from my phone... there will be an official photo posted on Monster's social media soon. ​

And then... THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, which is the latest film from the notorious provocateur Lars Von Trier. I will have a full review posted for you in the coming days, but I will say that it was a totally mesmerising and dare I say awe-inspiring odyssey. It wasn't without its faults, however it made for a memorable screening and left a lot of food for thought before I get stuck into my review. 
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Review coming soon.
Likewise with Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich. With today's line up crossing over into the AM I have not got enough time to bring you a fully comprehensive diary entry complete with reviews. I will have plenty of them within the next 48 hours. I will say this, however... Puppet Master was a bloody belter!! 
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Review coming soon.

And finally, here's a review I DO have ready for you right now. I was not able to attend the world premier of Matthew Victor Pastor's new film MAGANDA: PINOY BOY VS MILK MAN. When the session sold out Monster asked if I would settle for a screener instead, in order to give a seat to someone else. The choice was mine and I was happy to give it up. And so I was lucky enough to see the film last week through a media screener, and wow... MVP has outdone himself. Click the banner below to read my full review. 
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And that just about sums up day number three at Monster Fest. It was a massive day, and as I write this at 2AM I am thinking about those poor bastards who have committed to Monster's all night marathon. They've got far more stamina than I do, that's for sure. 

Please stop by to check up on this diary entry in a few days when I will have published all of the reviews and added a few extra pieces of commentary. But for now it's time for bed because in a few hours time.... we go again!


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MONSTER FEST VII: THE HOMECOMING

24/11/2018

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I arrived to Monster Fest early as always, and knowing that the pop-up Monster Fest store would be open for business, I paid a visit and hung out for an hour. The Monster crew were there, as were Monster-disciples Simon Harcourt and Nathan Armstrong.  These guys have been big supporters of FakeShemp for years and I consider them mates. We chilled out on the Monster couches and talked about all of the sweet cover art from the 70s and 80s. 

I shouldn't be surprised that the Monster shop was inundated with actual customers. Regulars to the small shopping centre were intrigued by this new and unusual presence in their local strip. Some wandered in, realised that it was horror and walked right back out again. Some made stupid jokes about the quality of titles (neanderthals) while others were genuinely excited about this one-time only opportunity. Without word of a lie, the money was flowing and the Monster guys were turning over a tidy profit. It was a brilliant sight to see and there is no doubt that the Monster Shop was a stroke of genius. 
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6:30 rolled around and it was time to head upstairs to the cinema. The first film of the night on my line-up was the long awaited anthology NIGHTMARE CINEMA from horror icons Mick Garris, Joe Dante, David Slade, Ryûhei Kitamura and Alejandro Brugués. The film enjoyed a solid turnout with the cinema being close to full... 

Nightmare Cinema was preceded by a short film titled Devil Woman, which was introduced by its director Heidi Lee Douglas.
Douglas described her film as an "Eco Horror" true to her word, so it was. It told the story of a group of conservationists in the wilderness of Tasmania who are tormented by thugs from a logging company. When one of the women is bitten by a diseased Tasmanian Devil she turns ravenous and tries to devour everyone in camp. It was an effective and well made film which exploited the genre tropes nicely while serving as an important point of awareness to some important ecological issues. 

And then, of course, NIGHTMARE CINEMA... and you can read my full review at the link below. 
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I was left with 40 minutes to spare before the next film and so I left the herd and ventured out in search of food... to no avail. The local mega cafe beneath Cinema Nova was packed to the brim and so my quests spread out to the local service station and nearby cafes. The servo good looked lethal and the cafes were all at capacity, and so I returned to the cinema with an empty stomach (the drive home later would prove bountiful thanks to the wonders of drive-thru).

The next film on the schedule was CAM, a new co-production between Netflix and Blumhouse. Much to Monster's frustration, I'm sure, Netflix had moved the released date of CAM forward, which meant that it had landed on the streaming service ahead of the Monster Fest screening. I was aware of this but chose to avoid the film until tonight... and pleased that I did. You can read my full review of the film at the link below. 

The short film preceding CAM was called Be My Guest. This was a really cool 12-minute short from Canada, which told the story of a couple who have been earning money from a sophisticated mind-transferring device that allows them to have sex with strangers (same body, new mind). It was a fitting pair-up with CAM and another point of distinction for the savvy programming of this year's lineup.  
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By My Guest | 2017 | Dir. David Jermyn.
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And there we have it... another night of Monster Fest done and dusted. It's obviously impossible to be in two places at once and the films that I missed were FIRST LIGHT and the 4K restoration of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK.  Missing out on these is the sad reality of festival line-ups. There's simply too much content to avoid crossing over. Such is life and I will endeavour to catch up with First Light to review as soon as possible. But for now... some sleep before a huge all-day binge tomorrow! 
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MONSTER FEST VII: THE HOMECOMING

23/11/2018

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​Monster Fest VII kicked off with grandeur in Melbourne last night with the festival returning to where it all began, Cinema Nova. I had come from a media screening of Creed II and with 90-minutes to spare I tucked myself down the back of a cafe and punched out a review. With caffeine in my system I was ready for launch.  

When I arrived at Nova (still early) I decided to walk past the Monster Shop, which is a new feature at this year's event. The shop wasn't open for business yet, but the Monster crew were inside making some final arrangements. I popped my head in and hung out for a while. I cannot wait to share this cool little concept with you, and I will definitely post some photos throughout today's adventures. They have created a pop-up video store, complete with fully stocked shelves of VHS titles. The nerd in me geeked out as I browsed through their extensive collection of rarities and cult favourites. Sadly all of these VHS covers are for aesthetic purpose only and not for sale. But the good news is that there's an entire section chocked up with Monster releases on DVD and BD which are all available to purchase, including their latest release GLASS COFFIN.
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Vieworium. Alternative Streaming | Proud sponsors of FakeShemp.Net

​Making my way upstairs to Nova's foyer I hit up the Monster table and secured my media pass. All media and VIP guests at this year's event were greeted with a special bag, the contents of which included a pass to the festival,  GLASS COFFIN on DVD, a Cult of Monster sticker detail, and information about several of this year's major sponsors... they being Beserk, Roar Digital and Red Octopus.  

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​The foyer filled up quickly and within minutes the room was a buzz with enthusiastic genre fans of every decree. Punks, Rockerbillys, Rockerchicks, and every other kind of movie geek was there for the occasion and to keep spirits high, Monster had arranged for discounted craft beer from Moon Dog Brewery  (free to those with VIP passes). A media wall was put up and a roving photographer walked around snapping shots throughout the night, which I will no doubt ruin many of.  
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Before we knew it the cinema opened and we filed in like the cheeky horror fiends that we are. Monster Fest director (and owner of Monster Pictures) Grand Hardie took to the mic to welcome everyone to this year's festival. He introduced his loyal team, which  includes FakeShemp's own Jarret Gahan as well as Kim Taylor and Ben Hellwig. Grant's proudest moment was declaring this year's festival to be the most successful yet, with ticket sales reaching record highs. A round of applause erupted from the crowd as Grant successfully set the tone. As well as giving kudos to the sponsors he gave a brief rundown of things to come over the course of the next 3 days and took the time to speak with Queensland filmmaker Drew MacDonald whose short film There Be Monsters took the honour of being this year's first cab off the rank.
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There Be Monsters | 2018 | Dir. Drew MacDonald
MacDonald's film was an effective 14-minute monster movie, which told the story of a bullied girl trapped inside a school bus overnight. Stalked by a ghastly beast she must overcome her fear in order to defeat the monster. It was an unexpected film, which I found to be an engaging and allegorical exploit of topical themes. The crowd responded favourable and no sooner was it over, the main attraction took command of the screen.

The opening feature-length film for the festival was S Craig Zahler's highly anticipated DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE starring Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn. It was a provocative and curious  film, which provided ample conversation at the after-party in Nova's main bar. You can click the link below to read my full review of the film.
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Following the film everyone filed into the bar area where The Screaming Meanies produced incredible sounds, including their own twisted take on John Carpenter's Halloween theme. It's never a Monster Fest without The Screaming Meanies and with their strange and mesmerising music filling the room, the night came to an end in glorious style. Chins were wagging as everyone mingled. I caught up with old friends and was introduced to new people, some of whom have been long-time followers of our work here at FakeShemp. 

And so it was a successful Day 1 as Monster Fest, and this is where I get some sleep and prepare to do it all over again. Be sure to keep an eye out for more photos on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, and feel free to drop us a line. If you see me walking around over the coming days, pull me up and say G'day. I'll be busting out the mic at some point to get some content for the podcast, so if you want to get yourself on to our show.... just ask!
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MONSTER FEST VII: THE HOMECOMING

20/11/2018

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​Monster Pictures have become something of an institution in Melbourne, and following their year-long commitment to presenting subversive horror cinema at their Travelling Side Show they return to where it all began at Cinema Nova in Carlton.

Even with a tighter focus on local talent this year, Monster Fest VII: The Homecoming isn't turning its back on gnarly offerings from all around the world. There's a strong John Carpenter theme running throughout the schedule with exclusive restoration screenings of Escape From New York and The Fog, as well as a special event John CarpenTrivia night.

The highly anticipated third film from S Craig Zahler - Dragged Across Concrete - will open up the festival, and if his previous films Bone Tomahawk and Brawl in Cell Block 99 are any indication we're in for a sensory overload. The film stars two of Hollywood's notorious outcasts, Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn, who set the screen alight as two suspended cops diving head-first into the criminal world to take what they feel they're owed, and not without a blood soaked trail of bodies in their wake. And in keeping with the Carpenter theme this year,  Jennifer Carpenter, co-stars alongside Gibson and Vaughn.
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S Craig Zahler also co-wrote another anticipated film in this year's Monster Fest, the long-awaited Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich. Not to be mistaken as a direct sequel to Charles Band's legendary B-movie franchise, this new instalment serves as a recalibration, with all of the favourite killer puppets returning to the screen in a larger than life murder spree. The new film yanks the franchise away from the dusty video store shelves and hidden streaming service menus to present Puppet Master in all of its blood-soaked theatrical glory. And we do emphasise “Blood Soaked!”.
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​Lars Von Trier's shocker The House That Jack Built is also making its Victorian premiere, and what is a Von Trier film without controversy? With walk-outs at festival screenings in Europe his new film promises to repulse those poor sensitive souls, but guarantees to invigorate MonsterFest's most deviant of fans. At the time of writing this article the initial screening for The House That Jack Built has entirely sold out. Monster have announced a special encore screening but you better get in quick!
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Another major coup for Monster Fest VII is the Australian premiere of the new anthology film Nightmare Cinema, from Hollywood renegades of horror, Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers), Joe Dante (Gremlins), David Slade (30 Days of Night), Alejandro Brugues (Juan of the Dead) and Ryuhei Kitamura (Midnight Meat Train). Hailed as the best horror anthology since Creepshow, all chins will be wagging about this little beauty.
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And of course what's a film festival without a strong finale? Closing Monster Fest VII is the Australian premiere of the mysteriously allusive cult metal shocker Lords of Chaos from iconic music video director Jonas Akerlund (Ramstein, Metallica). Starring Rory Culkin the film is inspired by the true story of the Norwegian heavy metal scene of the early 90s, involving arson and murder. Very little has been revealed about the film itself with Akerland and co keeping the details close to their chest. Needless to say this screening is not to be missed.
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​Other highlights of this year's festival include the deliciously deplorable exploits of Dick Dale's Trasharama, several short-film programs and a heap of films including Hell Fest, Cam, Maganda Pinoy Vs Milk Man, an All Night Nightmare Marathon, Monster Squad (4K), Wolfman's Got Nards, Evil Dead 2 (4K) and Pimped!

Monster Fest stalwart and musical polymath THE SCREAMING MEANIES will also be on hand to open and close the festival with their unique brand of jazz-infused synth-wave murder-rock!  If you've never seen this freak perform then you're missing out on something special!
​AND THERE'S STILL SO MUCH MORE! 

You can listen to our exclusive Monster Fest podcast below for an in depth look in to this year's schedule. Be sure to download the MonsterFest App to keep up to date with all that's happening and keep up without antics as FakeShemp reports back to with with all of the grisly goodness.   ​​​​
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OR TRY OUR AUDIO-ONLY VERSION BELOW.
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FAKESHEMP'S COVERAGE OF MONSTER FEST IS SPONSORED BY VIEWLORIUM. ALTERNATIVE STREAMING.
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MONSTER FEST VII: THE HOMECOMING

15/11/2018

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​Monster Fest is right around the corner and we will be there to cover all bases. Let's get started with an exclusive podcast where the three of us (Glenn, Jarret & Shaun) break down the entire festival program and discuss all of the devilish delights within. 
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You can also find an audio-only version of this podcast on our Podcast page. And be sure to keep up with us on Facebook as we dive head-first into MonsterFest VII: The Homecoming... kicking off on November 22. 
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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

14/2/2018

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2017 FAKESHEMP.NET AWARDS

25/1/2018

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It's that time of year again when we celebrate independent Australian filmmaking by awarding our favourite local films with individual awards. Our criteria is simple... the films must be Australian (doi), they must be independent and they must have received a festival, theatrical or home-entertainment/streaming release in 2017. All other factors are at our discretion. 

Congratulations to THE LEGEND OF BEN HALL, THE VIPER'S HEX and HOUNDS OF LOVE. They will each receive a personalised, signed and framed award.

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There was no denying the impact that Matthew Holmes' THE LEGEND OF BEN HALL had on me in 2017. I had followed its production from the early days, when it was still a short film, right through to it's release at cinemas across rural Australia. My review speaks for itself.  

"It avoids cliché while taking advantage of the 'western' tropes, and successfully makes an Australian story universal."

I stand by those words. BEN HALL is a remarkable, sophisticated and courageous independent film from one of Australia's most exciting up and coming filmmakers. 
It goes without saying that I am proud to award THE LEGEND OF BEN HALL with Glenn's FakeShemp.Net Award for 'Best Australian Film' and I would encourage everyone to buy it (or stream it) and watch it as soon as possible. Support an important filmmaker and our incredible local industry.  - GLENN.

In the three years since Addison Heath & Jasmine Jakupi first guested on our podcast to promote their 2014 film, UNDER A KALEIDOSCOPE, their production company Black Forest Films has gone on to produce a further three features. Their latest, THE VIPER’S HEX, marks the feature directorial collaborative debut of Heath & Jakupi and is without a doubt their boldest film yet.

An Australian/Japanese co-production, THE VIPER’S HEX is a hard-edged drama that fuses familiar elements of the pair’s previous efforts with a newfound subtlety to craft a film that is as deeply moving as it is unflinchingly brutal.

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​Its world premiere at last November’s Monster Fest left me in awe, so impressed by its balance of technical aesthetic and profound storytelling, I found myself in an hour-long conversation with the filmmakers immediately afterward. THE VIPER’S HEX is an outstanding accomplishment for both the Black Forest Films team and independent Australian cinema, as such I have awarded it with Jarret’s FakeShemp.Net Award for ‘Best Australian Film’. - JARRET.

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HOUNDS OF LOVE is, in this humble reviewers opinion, the best independent Australian release of 2017. Perfectly paced, unsettling and rattling to the core, it's filled with a trio of razor-sharp performances from the leads and it’s a shame it didn't garner more attention.

Ben Young, showing a confidence beyond his experience in this realm, has the viewer exactly where he wants them at every step of the narrative; a vice-like grip, commanding your attention even when the horrors unfolding are too much to bear.
It’s not a film for everyone but those who experience it aren’t likely to forget it any time soon and that is the mark of a great film. I am proud to award it the Shaun's FakeShemp.Net Award for .Best Aussie Film'. - SHAUN.
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2017 TOP 10

28/12/2017

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As another year comes to an end we are left with another batch of personally selected Top 10 films, and once again Glenn, Jarret and Shaun have proven that their individual selection criteria combines to present an eclectic and varied collection of favourites. It's the point of difference in defining their favourite films that makes FAKESHEMP.NET an unpredictable and impassioned destination for all cinematic things. Of course, as always, it should be noted that a list of "favourite films" is fundamentally different to a list of "best films". This is a place where  favourites take precedence. 
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R-RATED DIRECTORS WHO MAKE KIDS MOVIES

2/4/2017

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DANNY BOYLE
MILLIONS
That English guy best known for making R-rated film that detail excessive drug use, psychosis and ultra-violence once plucked up the guts to shirk expectations and delivered what he personally considers to be his best film; MILLIONS.

Starring James Nesbit, the  modest and relatively unknown film tells the story of a 9-year old boy who finds a bag full of loot and struggles with the ethical dilemma of whether to hand in the cash, keep it, or put it to good use. The result is a charming and endearing family drama that proves to be as life-affirming as it is entertaining. A well crafted and carefully plotted film from an important voice in contemporary adult cinema. 
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ROBERT RODRIGUEZ
SKY KIDS 1-4 | SHARK BOY & LAVA GIRL | SHORTS
Rodriguez burst onto the scene in the early 90s with his micro-budget ultra-violent film EL MARIACHI and has been a renegade of DIY moviemaking with R-rated titles that give the censor board a genuine run for their money. 

And yet despite his flair for bone-crunching bloodshed (and his ongoing collaboration with Quentin Tarantino) Rodriguez makes time for family fare, with movies like the SKY KIDS quadrilogy, SHARK BOY & LAVA GIRL and the clever anthology flick SHORTS. He even had the balls to incorporate one of his most brutal characters, Machete, into his SPY KIDS universe. A character thaT otherwise slaughters folks in DESPERADO, MACHETE and MACHETE KILLS. 

And it doesn't look like Rodriguez is done yet with his upcoming live-action adaptation of JOHNNY QUEST due for release in 2018.

Cinema needs more people like Rodriguez, who aren't afraid to explore stories from wherever inspiration strikes, regardless of genre or demographic. 
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MARTIN SCORSESE
HUGO
Scorsese is arguably one of the most important voices in American cinema, and his contribution film is undeniable. With a long list of very R-rated films to his name it seemed that his focus was aimed squarely on serious and confronting stories. 

While he did venture into G-rated territory with THE AGE OF INNOCENCE it would be drawing a long bow to consider that title as a 'family' film. And so when he was able to apply his passion for cinema history into a fully-fledged Kids Flick the result was HUGO, an astounding fantasy adventure for young & old, which captured a magic onscreen that few films do these days. 
This is an area of film that Scorcese is most welcome to venture into again, and I sincerely hope he does. ​
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DAVID LYNCH
A STRAIGHT STORY
David Lynch is possibly Hollywood's greatest auteur and, quite frankly, the least likely to make a family-friendly film... for Disney of all companies! 

That's exactly what happened when he delivered this stunning and poignant film from out of nowhere and reaffirmed himself as one of the film industry's most unique voices. To this day it's a relatively unknown film (even to many of his fans) and deserves to be sought after. 

Based on a true story of an old man who drives across America on a lawn-mower, the film features brilliant performances from Richard Farnsworth, Harry Dean Stanton and Sissy Spacek. See it if you haven't. 
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LUC BESSON
THE ARTHUR TRILOGY
Luc Besson is another one of those prolific filmmakers whose creative output is divisive and immense. As a director his films maintain a relatively consistent quality, whereas his long list of producer credits prove to be much more questionable and contentious. But what is steadfast about his work is the attention to heightened action and highly stylised violence. 
His work has seen him brush against the PG-rating with previous titles such as THE BIG BLUE and THE FIFTH ELEMENT proving to be suitable amongst teen audiences. But it was his random hit ARTHUR AND THE MINIMOYS and it's two direct-to-video sequels that showcased his versatility and natural ability to reach a wide demographic. ​
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SAM RAIMI
OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL
Sam Raimi's EVIL DEAD trilogy has earned himself place at the 'Masters of Horror' table, and yet despite his deliciously gnarly ventures into horror, his CV paints a much bigger picture, with a catalogue boasting dramas, westerns, thrillers and superhero movies... 
​But it was his bold and visceral journey to OZ that earns him a position in this article. Met with critical division, the film marks his first attempt to reach a young audience and explores the backstory to one of Hollywood's most beloved films. Personally speaking, as a devoted L Frank Baum fan, I place a lot of merit in his OZ THE GREAT ANT POWERFUL and would have loved to see him follow it up with another. But of course  more horror too!!

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FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA
JACK
Few people would defend Francis Ford Coppola's JACK and having made quintessential films like APOCALYPSE NOW and THE GODFATHER it was understandable that fans held him to account.  And yet why shouldn't he make a no-brainer? 

Starring Robin Williams the movie told the silly story of a boy who suffers from an exaggerated form of Werner Syndrome.
Of course this is an illness not to be taken lightly, yet Coppola and Co. set about making a light hearted family film that sought to bring joy to an otherwise horrible condition. Nevertheless the movie has its moments and shouldn't be taken seriously. Coppola earned himself a reprieve and his efforts in making a family film don't reflect poorly on his artistry.  ​
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D.J. CARUSO
STANDING UP
Featuring DJ Caruso in this list might be a little indulgent given that he has made several teen-oriented films, but it is his remarkable 2013 family film STANDING UP that inspired me to include him amongst the others. 

The film arrived from nowhere, directly to home entertainment in most places, and made no attempt to capitalise on his name or his previous credits. This, in my view, gives it more value and proves it to be one of those passion projects that few directors are afforded the opportunity to make.  
Dealing with the ongoing issue of bullying the film tackles the subject with honesty and chronicles a sincere and endearing coming-of-age story that will connect with many of its susceptible young viewers. It provides a valuable point of discussion for parents to have and also presents a genuinely fun adventure in the meantime. A very underrated film to say the least. 
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JOHN SAYLES
THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH
Before directing his first film John Sayles was a prolific writer of creature features in the late 70s and early 80s. He's the guy who gave us PIRANHA, ALLIGATOR and THE HOWLING. And with titles like those in mind it is perplexing that the films he chose to direct are much more serious and provocative. 

Having established himself as a serious director, helming some very dark and disturbing films, he went off script in 1994 and made one of the decade's most understated and heartwarming family films; THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH. 
The film explores the Celtic folklore of the selkie (a creature that is half seal and half human), and while the subject lends itself to ridicule and facetiousness, Sayles handled the material with the same dramatic urgency that he applies to everything else be makes. The result is a beautiful film suitable for all ages. 
Of course there are plenty more filmmakers who could be added to this list. Here's just some of the many directors who broke away from their adult audiences to make movies targeted exclusively to kids. 
TAKASHI MIIKE Ninja Kids
M NIGHT SHYAMALAN Wide Awake | Last Airbender
WOLFGANG PETERSEN: The Never Ending Story
SPIKE JONZE: Where the Wild Things Are
BRIAN TRENCHARD-SMITH: Frog Dreaming | BMX Bandits
JEFF BURR: Phantom Town | Johnny Mysto | Boy With X Ray Eyes
GEORGE MILLER: Happy Feet | Babe: Pig In The City
RONNY YU: Warriors of Virtue
RICHARD FRANKLIN: Cloak & Dagger

And here  lies the conversation... who are some more names you would add to this list?? And more importantly, who are some R-rated directors you would LOVE to see making kids flicks?? Quentin Tarantino perhaps? Or maybe David Cronenberg?? What about James Wan, Kimberly Peirce, David Fincher or Kathryn Bigelow?


Author: Glenn Cochrane.


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AN OSCAR, THEN WHAT?

9/3/2017

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The OSCAR! Hollywood's highest accolade. A pinnacle that all actors strive for... and the one thing that will guarantee a long and successful career.... OR WILL IT?

Geoffrey Rush, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sally Field, Russell Crowe, Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Julia Roberts, and Kate Winslett... just some of the names who have reaped from their industry's highest honour, and represent those who took out the prize and used it to their advantage. They selected their subsequent projects carefully and maintained integrity in their art, and they remain amongst Hollywood's most sought after players.
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​But what about the others? I'm talking about that group of Oscar winners who failed to capitalise on their laurels and consequently became B-grade actors. Lets take a look at some of those people who never quite recaptured their fame (or dignity).

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CUBA GOODING JR
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This one's a no-brainer, right? From his incredible debut lead-performance in Boyz N The Hood to an impressive supporting role in like A Few Good Men... he was on the right course to stardom when Jerry Maguire came along and earned him the top gong!! His win remains somewhat of a contentious issue, but nevertheless it was a rock-solid performance that hit the right chords. And for a little while he maintained some consistency with films like Instinct and Men of Honor. But what happened next? Boat Trip, Rat Race, Snow Dogs, Daddy Day Camp, etc!! Try as he may to recalibrate his career in recent years, it is unlikely he will ever reach that pinnacle again.


GWENYTH PALTROW

Lets be honest. She's never been a great actress and her Oscar win for Shakespeare in Love was a crass display of tokenism. How the hell did she win over Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett and Emily Watson? And so it's no surprise that she's spent the rest of her career in the shadows with films like Duets, Bounce and Shallow Hall being highlights. To her credit she has surprised us with occasional appearances in films like The Royal Tenenbaums and Proof... not to mention her place in the Iron Man series, but another Oscar for Gwen?? Highly unlikely!
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MIRA SORVINO

Cute as a button but talk about an award being out of character. Her performance in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite may have been worthy of the win, but it was a fluke and she's never been an exceptional actress by any means (a good one, yes). We loved her in Beautiful Girls, Summer of Sam and Mimic, but with a string of movies like Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion, Smitty, Space Warriors and A Christmas To Remember, the odds of her reclaiming the ultimate glory are narrow to say the least. Her ongoing guest appearances on TV dramas isn't helping!
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ADRIEN BRODY

​Mira Sorvino's co-star in Summer Of Sam, Adrian Brody has proven himself to be a versatile actor whose accolades have been well deserved. There is no denying his talent and worthiness of Oscar glory. But following his win for The Pianist, he's put himself on a rocky downward trajectory with films like The Village, Giallo, High School and The Matador's Mistress. It would seem that he has undervalued his own brilliance by reserving his “good” performances for bit-parts and supporting roles in films like Midnight in Paris and The Grand Budapest Hotel. The good news is that there's hope for Brody yet, and another crack at the gold is likelier than it is not.  
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HELEN HUNT

80's film geeks know Helen Hunt from her roles in Project X and Trancers while others are more likely to know her from the television sit-com Mad About You. Whichever of those you associate her with there's no denying that her Oscar win for As Good As It Gets was something of an overreaction, especially when you consider that her competition included Dame Judi Dench and Helena Bonham Carter. Since her win in 1998 Hunt has has a fairly sparse career, with her subsequent projects being sporadic. The films include What Women Want, Then She Found Me and Dr T & The Women. Hmm.... hardly a high endorsement. Although I do concede that she earned a few extra stripes with her Oscar nominated turn in The Sessions, a much better performance than As Good As It Gets.
JEAN DUJARDIN

Sorry, who? Oooh right. That guy from The Artist. Ha. Well, what hell has he been doing since his Oscar win in 2012? There's been quite a few films, most of which you probably haven't heard of... although you will know The Wolf Of Wall Street, Monuments Men and The Connection. And then there's a bunch of French films and the upcoming Transformers 5. Hardly a prestigious stockpile of credits.  
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ROBERTO BENIGNI

Not much to say really. He made a decent film, created a memorable Oscar moment (with his sham acceptance speech) and then disappeared. It's for the best really. He hasn't done much since then aside from an awful Pinocchio adaptation, The Tiger In The Show and the Woody Allen film To Rome With Love. And that's about it. He's not missed. 


AUTHOR: GLENN COCHRANE
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OSCARETTE: THE FORGOTTEN OSCAR!

23/2/2017

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When we see a knock-out performance from a child we tend to latch on to them with a sense of awe and we look upon their careers with a morbid fascination, curious as to whether their lives will go off the rails or not. And when we think about child actors in Hollywood, names like Shirley Temple, Mickey Rooney and Roddy McDowall come to mind. Of course, some of today’s A-list players also graduated from that La-La Land kindergarten, such as Kurt Russell, Drew Barrymore, Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Gosling, amongst others.
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Believe it or not, once upon a time the Academy recognised child performers with a distinction of their own, and in 1934 the ‘Juvenile Award’ was established. Following Jackie Cooper’s youngest-ever Best Actor nomination for his role in Skippy way back in 1931, the Academy took it upon themselves to create a special award that identified exceptional talent from child actors. It was an attempt to create a level and just playing field – perhaps as not to humiliate any adults who came up against the precocious little sods.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE. 
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2017 AFCA AWARDS

7/1/2017

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​Following previous rounds of selections - as voted by members -  the Australian Film Critics Association has finalised its nominations for the annual AFCA AWARDS.

Last year's awards were populated by an impressive line up of local films, and dominated by MAD MAX FURY ROAD and THE DRESSMAKER.  This year's line up looks to be as equally tough whereby the selectors have their work cut out for them.

It's an honor to be part of the selection process and we are thrilled to share the nominations with you. The awards will be held in March at the Astor Theatre.

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THE NOMINATIONS ARE:
BEST FILM
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BEST ACTOR
JOHN BRUMPTON (PAWNO)
ANDREW GARFIELD (HACKSAW RIDGE)
ANTHONY LA PAGLIA (A MONTH OF SUNDAYS)
EWEN LESLIE (THE DAUGHTER)
AARON PEDERSON (GOLDSTONE)



​BEST ACTRESS

SUZANNE CLEMENT (EARLY WINTER)
MAGGIE NOURI (JOE CINQUE'S CONSOLATION)
TERESA PALMER (HACKSAW RIDGE)
BETHANY WHITMORE (GIRL ASLEEP)
ODESSA YOUNG (THE DAUGHTER)


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
HARRISON FELDMAN (GIRL ASLEEP)
VINCE VAUGHN (HACKSAW RIDGE)
DAVID GULPILIL (GOLDSTONE)
SAM NEILL (THE DAUGHTER)
HUGO WEAVING (HACKSAW RIDGE)
JOHN CLARKE (A MONTH OF SUNDAYS)


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
AMBER MCMAHON (GIRL ASLEEP)
JULIA BLAKE (A MONTH OF SUNDAYS)
MIRANDA OTTO (THE DAUGHTER)
JACKI WEAVER (GOLDSTONE)
KERRY FOX (DOWNRIVER)
​BEST DIRECTOR
MEL GIBSON (HACKSAW RIDGE)
ROSEMARY MYERS (GIRL ASLEEP)
IVAN SEN (GOLDSTONE)
SIMON STONE (THE DAUGHTER)
NICHOLAS VERSO (BOYS IN THE TREES)



BEST SCREENPLAY

PAUL IRELAND (PAWNO)
GRANT SCICLUNA (DOWNRIVER)
IVAN SEN (GOLDSTONE)
SIMON STONE (THE DAUGHTER)
MATTHEW WHITTET (GIRL ASLEEP)



​BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

SIMON DUGGAN (HACKSAW RIDGE)
IVAN SEN (GOLDSTONE)
BONNIE EILLIOTT (SPEAR)
RENAN OZTURK, HUGH MILLER, KEN SAULS (SHERPA)
GEOFFREY HALL (RED DOG: TRUE BLUE)


BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

ELLE
EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT
JULIETA
MUSTANG
SON OF SAUL


BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
(ENGLISH LANGUAGE)

ARRIVAL
HELL OR HIGH WATER
I, DANIEL BLAKE
LA LA LAND
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS


BEST DOCUMENTARY 
(LOCAL OR INTERNATIONAL)
CHASING ASYLUM
REMEMBERING THE MAN
SHERPA
THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK THE TOURING YEARS
WEINER


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2016 FAKESHEMP.NET AWARDS

2/1/2017

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Without further ado, we present the winners of our annual 2016 FAKESHEMP AWARDS!!! These are, of course, the films that each of us has selected as our favourite Australian films of the year (with a budget of $5M or less). They are Girl Asleep (The Glenn Award) ... Dead Hands Dig Deep (The Jarret Award)... and Mystery Road - Goldstone (The Shaun Award). CONGRATULATIONS to the three winning films. Well deserved and we encourage all of our readers to see them as soon as possible! 
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