Time to outline my favorite SIFF program: NW Connections! Anytime I see a bunch of local filmmakers, local locations, or really -- ANY KIND OF CONNECTION to my hometown I get a little excited, so give me a minute. Because I am hyperventilating over this first one: 

Lynn Shelton's new film (YAYYYYYYY!) Touchy Feely, stars Rosemarie DeWitt (DOUBLE YAYYYYYYY!!) as a massage therapist who suddenly gets the ooks about touching other people. Whoops. That sounds like a career killer. It also has Ellen Page (TRIPLE YAYYYYYY!!!). Anyway. It sounds awesome. OBVIOUSLY. It is LYNN SHELTON. My only real complaint is that I'll be out of town when it screens. *sob* {Screens 5/23, 7pm at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center, and again 5/25, 1:30pm at The Egyptian} 

And you know I am ALL OVER Dead Meat Walking - A Zombie Walk Documentary, because HELLO. Awesome. Close-ups of zombie makeup, hoards of crawling living dead coming at the camera, and interviews with Zombie enthusiasts, as well as Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon! I LOVE YOU), and special F/X maestro Tom Savini!!! YES. Side note: I hope someone tells us when the Zombie invasion of the Light Rail is, because I wanna be on it when it happens. (I have just given someone that idea for free. you're welcome). {Screens 5/24, 11:55pm at the Egyptian, and again on 5/25, 8:30pm at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center} 

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{#ReGeneration opens in Seattle on Friday, 5/4, and is screening at the SIFF Film Center through 5/10}

I gotta give the filmmakers credit for snagging everybody’s favorite 6-pack internet meme good-looking do-gooder, Ryan Gosling, to narrate #ReGeneration. That said, he doesn’t narrate a WHOLE lot of it. And his pretty face is not seen on screen.

What we do see on screen is a whole bunch of teenagers talking about how growing up in an age with constant media bombardment makes it so hard for them to pay attention to any real issues that they end up feeling helpless and like they can’t change the world (so why should they care?)—and a whole bunch of adults agreeing that today’s youth sucks at getting involved, and that their generations were so much better at organizing protests, etc. etc.

It’s basically a lot of interviews with people saying the same thing, “Today’s youth are distracted and seemingly disaffected—they are overwhelmed by all the problems in the world and don’t know how to help.” 

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{Indie Game: The Movie opens in Seattle on Friday, 4/27 and is screening at SIFF Cinema at the Film Center through 5/3}

Confession: I don’t play that many video games. But I want to. The problem is, most of them make me motion sick, so playing them involves more misery than fun. BUT! But but but. Indie games are rad because a lot of them are kind of retro-styled platform games that don’t involve the nauseating 360-POV, so uh. I could get into that.

And thus, Indie Game: The Movie—a really interesting, in-depth look at the folks who design independent video games—was super fun for me to watch.

Focusing on four indie game designers and developers (Edmund McMillen & Tommy Refenes, who created Super Meat Boy, Phil Fish, who created Fez, and Jonathan Blow, who created Braid), this documentary shows you the frustrations and celebrations of small crews operating on even smaller budgets, a glimpse into the world of game players who both idolize them and take glee in hurling insults at them, and their fight to produce a successful product that reflects their vision and their joy.

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I recently picked up the blu-Ray of Heathers, a film I quoted enough during my Senior year to end up in the Principal's office several times for a hand-slap re: using foul language and being disrespectful to teachers (the hallmark of my teenage career). Anyway. My point is, I was reminded after re-watching it for the 50th time that this movie is INCREDIBLY clever while at the same time extremely dark. AWESOME.

Veronica (Winona Ryder, who wears a freakin' monocle while writing in her diary!) is the fourth in a group of notoriously bitchy Heather-named friends ("It's like they're people I work with, and our job is being popular and shit."). She kind of hates them, but you know, that's the price you pay for ruling the school: terrible friends. A new student, mysterious and dark trenchcoated rebel J.D. (Christian Slater at his smirky, adorable best) peaks her romantic interest, and the two start making out, and then jokingly making plans to murder the popular kids - but uh, J.D.'s not really joking, and it's not long before Veronica joins him in systematically assassinating Westerberg High's all-stars (Yes, that HS is named after Paul W.).

Basically, it's like the best mash-up film ever: murder, comedy, romance, and teen angst -- with raunchy jokes and lots of swearing. You should go see it on Friday, March 23 at SIFF Cinema at the Film Center, so you'll know what I'm talking about when I say things like, "Well f*ck me gently with a chainsaw!", "Our love is god. Let's go get a slushie.", "Regular of BQ?" and "Did you have a brain tumor for breakfast?" 

{SIFF Cinema at the Film Center | March 23| 9:30pm | $10 | $5 Youth (22 & under) | $5 SIFF Members}

{ The FP screens daily at 9pm 3/16-3/21 at the SIFF Cinema Film Center}

I was supposed to being using this slot to talk about 21 Jump Street, a surprisingly fun endeavor I recommend checking out. But I went to SXSW at the same time I'd intended to be doing that writing. And let's just say things got a little complicated. So instead we're going to talk about the other film you should see this weekend. One you likely have never heard of, but perhaps an ideal double feature to get your 80's flashback on with. But don't worry - the straight dope on 21 Jump Street isn't that far off.

The folks at SIFF Cinema have been doing a bang-up job filling their four screens with a rotation of really diverse stuff. The inclusion of the somewhat insane Drafthouse Films distributed The FP makes me proud of them, and proud to live in Seattle. I saw this film at SXSW last year in a screening memorable enough to briefly become an internet controversy. I liked it well enough then, but the film has been steadily growing on me since I saw it almost a year ago. So I'll be one of the folks hanging out in Seattle Center 9pm one day this week for another bite at the apple. You can watch the first ten minutes of the film below to whet the appetite. Just be aware it's not entirely safe for work.

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{Paul Goodman Changed My Life shows December 2-8 at Siff Cinema at the Film Center. Get tix online here.}

Poet-protester-psychologist Paul Goodman's sociological memoir-manifesto Growing Up Absurd was one of those items you'd find in an early American punk's apartment, as you would a black leather motorcycle jacket, maybe a stack of vintage Marvel comics, perhaps on top of orange crates filled with imported punk and remaindered 60s garage rock LPs, a hash pipe laying next to a butterfly knife bought at a pawn store, silly-dangerous stuff like that. It was a whip-smart book for rebellious boys, a seeding of early 60s counter-cultural impulses that was still being passed down the pike, as Catcher In The Rye or Pink Floyd's The Wall or looking like James Dean never quite fell out of fashion with the perennial non-comfortists. And yet, recently, it kind of disappeared in such digs as they come and go in micro-generations.

Paul Goodman Changed My Life is an excellent introduction into the robust and rousing writing of a supreme cultural critic who was publicly taking on the 50s mind control of Pentagon America as confidently as possible. His public speeches from this time period still sting with descriptions and accusations of shadow forces trying to entrap the U.S. in bloody, absolutely useless global conflict. His anti-authoritarianism came first, then a friend told him he was an anarchist and it just seemed to fit. That a staunch pacifist and anti-capitalist crusader could be so popular and persuasive in the pre-Vietnam war era, translating the images of restless energy of juvenile delinquents on movie screens into forceful calls for national protest, is astonishing and liberating today. And every few minutes in Jonathan Lee's film you'll get to hear him recite his hypnotic poetry about the love for his family, his eros-driven visions, and his life on the brink of chaos contemplated both fiercely and delicately as well.

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Fans of Glen Hansard, Once, the Frames, and the Swell Season rejoice: The Swell Season is so good that it hurts. Beautifully and thoughtfully shot in high quality black and white, this unbelievable snapshot of the ebb and flow of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's relationship during the rise of the Swell Season is an absolute do-not-miss.

It's a documentary about -- well, the technical description goes as follows:

In 2008, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová captivated audiences with Once, a fictional musical romance that became reality, and led to a jubilant Oscar® win for Best Original Song. As their fictional romance blurred with reality, the couple fell in love, recorded an album, and embarked on a world tour. The Swell Season is an intimate portrait of the couple during this time, following them on tour and chronicling their incredible musical performances.

But what started out as a fairly straight-forward music documentary, albeit one filmed with gorgeous black and white cinematography, became much more. Two years of exhilaration, performance, and psychological turmoil began to take a toll on the pair, and The Swell Season became a portrait of a romance that fractures in the face of life on the road and personal tragedy. Though Glen and Markéta's relationship unhinges, it is the music that ultimately prevails as their enduring connection.

What's staggering about this film, both from a fan perspective as well as one of a thin-skinned heart-on-her-sleeve human being one is the out and out tangibility of it all. Having a front-row seat to the emotional intimacy between Glen and Marketa is almost too much to bear, from the joys and the songwriting sessions to the uncomfortable silences and the falling aparts. At any given moment, we're caught up in the rush and the bliss, the childlike love, the bonding of band members, the familial elements that develop on the road -- and the next transported into Glen's mother's kitchen, witness to parent-son interactions that almost make you feel like you should excuse yourself from the room to let them talk.

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There's a ton of stuff hitting local theaters this weekend, but I wanted to call your attention to a smaller release that's worthy of your hard-earned dollars. Namely, Silent Souls at SIFF Cinema (note: this is the NEW SIFF Cinema, at the Film Center, not the one located in McCaw Hall).

This Russian story of love, loss, and friendship screened earlier this year during the Festival, but I missed it. If you did too, here's a second chance to watch a stunningly beautiful film with strong performances. In a nutshell: two best friends go on a journey to lovingly dispose one of their wive's remains -- apparently a common occurence in the town they're from. What follows is a striking, heartfelt film dotted with bright, and at times surreal, imagery. Overall it's a great (and thoughtful) way to spend 75 minutes of your time.

Silent Souls starts screening tonight, 10/14, and runs through 10/20. $10 general admisson | $5 for SIFF Members