R: ARCHIVE, S: MOVIES, D: 09/17/1998,
Blood, Guts, Bullets, & Octane A Phoenix pick The rare post-Tarantino men-with-guns indie that works on its own terms, this hyperactive B-movie has the title selling points in abundance but also a lot of wit and flair. And as the $7000 cheapie that Village Voice critic Amy Taubin chose to rescue from the ghetto of New York's Independent Feature Film Market a year ago, it proves most worthy of her advocacy. Call it a cross between Used Cars and El Mariachi, as a pair of oily auto salesmen (Joe Carnahan, Dan Leis) agree to keep a rival broker's 1963 Pontiac LeMans convertible -- God only knows where it's been -- on their lemon lot in trade for "fat cash." Needless to say, things get squirrelly in a hurry. In addition to playing the scummier salesman of the two, director-actor-editor Carnahan satirically mixes film speeds and stocks like a cut-rate Oliver Stone. And his rhythmic tough-guy dialogue is no less playfully visceral. "It's a hit-and-run world," says one character. "Savage, swallow-you-whole, spit-out-the-bones." Appropriate to this pulpy view of the world, Carnahan's go-for-broke visual style keeps Blood, Guts, Bullets & Octane running fast, cheap, and out of control from start to silly finish. Screens at the Copley Place Friday, September 18 at 7:45 and 9:45 p.m. and Saturday, September 19 at 12:15, 3:45, and 5:45 p.m. -- Rob Nelson Film Festival Feature Films |
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