The Starz Denver International Film Festival - Front Lines Report

The 2007 Denver Film Fest is well underway, and I've already seen too many films to count. Well, unless I count them. It that case I've seen 5. A few of them stand out, and look like they are poised to make major splashes in the film industry:

Skills Like This: This film follows the exploits of a disgruntled writer, who realizes that the thing he's actually meant to do is be a criminal. It begins with a great bank robbing scene, and goes from there. One of the great things about this film is that it was filmed entirely in Denver, and a few landmarks are easy to pick out. Half the cast and crew are also from Denver. The film has been compared to Napoleon Dynamite, and is currently in the hands of the same sales agency, which means it could see major release next year. The film itself is witty, clever, and entertaining, but don't be fooled - it's no Napoleon Dynamite. Napoleon Dynamite rejected much of what could be called mainstream comedy, and gave a unique, character driven film. Skills Like This has great character development, and is not necessarily mainstream, but it does fall into many conventional movie traps. None the less, it is worth seeing and supporting.

The Tracy Fragments: This film comes from our friendly neighbors to the north. Canadian film has a lot more going for it than just the Toronto Film Festival, and The Tracy Fragments is an exquisite, groundbreaking film. Forget what you thought you knew about film and narrative, because this completely reconfigures traditional conceptions of narrative. The screen is broken into fragments, each of which with it's own image. Sometimes the images are different angles of the same scenes, sometimes it's the same scene at different times, sometimes it is a completely different scene or image. This fragmentation reflects cutting edge cultural and art theory, and in the end, it reflects the fragmented nature of our own minds. If you are a lover of modern art, this film will absolutely blow you away. And if you hate arthouse cinema, the sheer technical skill involved will astound you. This film has collected as much buzz as other festival season favorite The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. This one will surely be shown in art theaters like the Mayan in Denver, and will be on DVD sometime next year.

Hell on Wheels: This film will most likely not reach wide distribution, but if you get a chance, it's a great documentary. Chronicling the life of the Austin, TX Roller Derby resurgence, this doc ends up examining more than just a unique sport - it covers the bonds of friendship and the love of a hobby, and how money can take control of everything. As Roller Derby continues to grow in this country, this will be one to catch if you can.

Stay tuned for more updates on killer films as I see them.