Production still from Michael Tully’s “Septien”

Recap of Day 4 at SXSW 2011.

• JOHN’S GONE
• SCENES FROM THE SUBURBS
• SEPTIEN
• THE OTHER F WORD

Production still from “Fightville”

Recap of Day 5 and wrap-up of SXSW 2011.

• FIGHTVILLE
• HOW TO DIE IN OREGON
• HESHER

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Recap of Day 3 at SXSW 2011.

• WEEKEND
• CONAN O’BRIEN CAN’T STOP
• THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD
• 13 ASSASSINS
• PAUL
• THE FUTURE

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by Susan Szakonyi

It’s not often that I find an actress who portrays a character that I never get sick of. Sometimes on television shows you like the characters but grow tired of them after a few seasons—but not with Kristen Bell. Bell consistently played a solid role on “Veronica Mars,” and symbolizes why I love TV better than the movies.

When asked why I think television is better than movies, I want to yell out, “Because I don’t feel the need to pay fifteen dollars to sit in a movie theater with people who can’t turn off their crackberries!” But that would not be a reasonable answer. Sure, movie prices are at an all-time high, and the movies are compensating by becoming longer. But the real reason for me is that movies are no longer fresh. Romantic comedies have the same equations. Action movies only have more car chases and explosions than last year’s blockbusters. The disappointment months later, when the movie comes out on DVD–and I can barely get through a two hour movie about a girl worrying whether or not she’ll find a man, which of course will lead her to happiness (and people wonder why others assume that if you’re not with a man, your life probably sucks).

I find solace in my Netflix queue, which is loaded with television series of many genres. I have been exposed to quite a few television series. My favorites include Skins (the British one), It’s Always Sunny, Sports Night, Californication and Dexter. The main problem with movies in comparison to television shows is that character development in movies often feels rushed and forced. With a television show, you begin to like or dislike the characters because you feel like you know them. We watch television shows because we care enough about the characters to want to know what happens to them.

My personal favorite television shows are Ally McBeal and Veronica Mars. Both just happen to include female characters who are witty and judge others. What I can find in Veronica Mars is an over-arching plot about a murdered friend and a new mystery each week. I watch the entire Veronica Mars series each year because the jokes continue to be funny. As Veronica, Kristen Bell projects self-deprecation, wit, and a personal vendetta.

Yet Kristen Bell is now trying her hand at film and failing miserably. She cannot find a character in a film that even compares to her television persona. Instead, Bell plays silly girls who worry about finding love. In my opinion, she’s not getting offered the roles she deserves.

Due to my love for Kristen Bell I have seen her romantic comedies. There’s always a small part of me that wants to believe that she really wouldn’t make such terrible films. Yet “When in Rome” and “You Again” are as my friend says, “off-the- xerox” romantic comedies. The jokes are not funny and the stories are far flung. What audience in their right mind wants to believe in a girl who wishes on a fountain to find true love? I guess my fault in life was not wishing on fountains sooner. Yet even having Will Arnett in the movie does not save it. Bell has been choosing films where her character is shallow and still believes that being pretty means you will succeed in love, and life. It’s a far cry from her Veronica Mars character, who didn’t change for men to like her. Veronica knew who she was and refused to change herself so others would like her. Instead she had few friends and worked her way to being respected by her peers and authority figures. Veronica Mars would spit on Bell’s current characters. Bell’s career is a perfect example of how movies fail when it comes to television stars.

I know that television stars want to be movie stars–but Kristen Bell, please start choosing films more wisely. No one thought Burlesque would be good, so why would you! And just because Veronica Mars is a classic show does not mean that Veronica Mars (the movie) will be good. Stop using your looks to choose roles and find a character that does not make me embarrassed to be a female. Go back to the witty and down-to-earth characters that prove that leading ladies can be more than pretty.

Susan Szakonyi is an freelance writer based in San Diego.

* If you haven’t watched The Wire in its entirety then your Netflix membership has been wasted.

I’m going to go along with my counterparts here and also do my Top 10 List based off of films I saw in 2010, not necessarily films that came out in 2010 (although I think the majority of my picks do qualify as 2010 releases). However, unlike John and Susan’s lists I did not think this was the year that movies died ;). I did see quite a few films this year, and there were some good ones, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was a pretty lackluster year for film. Luckily, the few that were good were really good. Ok, here we go:

10. SONS OF CUBA

I saw “Sons of Cuba” at the Palm Springs Film Festival and was really surprised it didn’t get better distribution. When I saw the film they were having problems with the projector and there were these large green lines that ran vertically across the screen, but this little film was so absorbing that within minutes no one in the the theater even remembered they were there. Five years ago this film would’ve been a hit, unfortunately documentaries aren’t as popular as they used to be since the general public has ended its fleeting love affair with Michael Moore.

This is one of those documentaries where the filmmakers turn their cameras on all the right people and capture all the right moments. Very heartwarming and uplifting–you want to stand up and cheer by the final scene.

9. REVANCHE

(trailer NSFW)

Subtle, but not at all boring. This film slowly draws you in and keeps you in with its beautiful cinematography. There’s enough time with every shot to really take in each frame and appreciate it. While the tone and photography are what I loved most about this film, it’s also a great spin on a familiar genre.

8. THE ROAD

Beautifully bleak. Bleak in its setting, but beautiful in its examination of a father-son-relationship. I really tried seeing this film in 2009, but finally ended up seeing it in early 2010. The acting in this film, all across the board, was just outstanding. I really like John Hillcoat’s direction and am excited to see what he does next. The fact that they don’t explain what caused the apocalypse in this film made it so much more real and relatable.

7. CHILDREN OF INVENTION

This is what independent film is all about: it’s a low-budget original story that is so well-told it seems effortless. I was really impressed with the all-around production of this film, Tze Chun did a great job and I can’t wait to see more from him. I also have to acknowledge the fantastic editing by Anna Boden. I think it really took this film to the next level.

6. COLLAPSE

Chris Smith, who directed my favorite documentary of all time, returns to making docs and introduces us to the brilliant mind of Michael Ruppert. I think this should be required viewing, after seeing this I contemplated joining the Amish community. I wouldn’t say it’s so much chilling as it is informative. Smith goes with an Errol Morris approach here (even down to the Phillip Glass-inspired soundtrack), but it works perfectly and was definitely the right choice.

5. AFTERSCHOOL

Antonio Campos has arrived. This film is daring, full realized, and absolutely horrifying. Probably one of the most disturbing film experiences I’ve had next to Fat Girl, Funny Games, and Irreversible. Yet I’m still recommending it. Why? Because I think it exposes us, while also warning us, of the next generation that we have created: a generation that is so desensitized at such a young age that the things they are capable of is unfathomable. Ezra Miller gives a brilliant performance and Campos makes sure every shot is inspired by the story. For instance, the final shot of the film is so haunting because you realize at that point that you are completely vulnerable and that the unexpected could happen at any moment, and that perfect last shot really epitomizes the film.

4. THE SOCIAL NETWORK

I was one of the first to say, “a Facebook movie? Really?”, but like many others I ended up eating those words. Once Fincher and Sorkin were attached and I found out more about the source material I was definitely less skeptical and suddenly this film became one of my most anticipated of the year. 2010 seemed like a year where most films didn’t live up to the hype, but I felt that “The Social Network” was one of the few that actually delivered. This is a definitive film of our generation and a story that is, as they say, stranger than fiction. Prime movie-making material. I also commend Fincher, who is usually really heavy on effects, for sort of taking a backseat and letting the great script by Aaron Sorkin tell the story.

3. HUNGER

I was first introduced to director Steve McQueen’s work (not the actor) at an art museum where I saw a video installation of his. So, going into “Hunger” I knew McQueen would probably take a more avant-garde approach. He did, but in a way that was totally fitting to the true story he was telling. This film just blew me away, from the powerful subject matter to the truly brilliant direction by McQueen to the physically demanding performance by Michael Fassbender and of course to the well known 20-minute-long, extremely impressive, single-shot take. Especially since it’s used in such a pivotal scene. I can not praise this film enough, just writing about it makes me want to watch it again.

2. SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS

This was my favorite film at SXSW 2010. Portland filmmaker Matt McCormick made an original and beautiful film and I really hope more people can see it. I saw some of McCormick’s short film work when I lived in Portland and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was always hoping he would do a feature, so I was very excited to see that he had his feature debut playing at SXSW. I had my fingers crossed while watching it, hoping his transition to features would be successful, and it absolutely was. With a cast of mostly musicians (The Shins James Mercer and Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein) McCormick subtly intertwines various stories that deal with human connection, loneliness, abandonment, death, and rebirth. I loved everything about this film, it’s currently still playing festivals but I hope it’s available soon.

1. EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP

Banksy’s big prank and middle finger to the contemporary art world is both hilarious and significant. What I appreciate most about this film is that it defies genres, it was refreshing to see someone like Banksy come into the film world and give us something we’ve never seen before, just like he did with his artwork.

The first half of the film is a pretty straight forward documentary educating us on the history of the street art scene. The latter half of the film is a sort of mockery of everything that is wrong with the art scene and how it’s all become so overly commercialized. Banksy seemed like he was on a mission and that he had a lot to say, he wanted to shake things up a bit, as he’s been known to do. With “Exit Through The Gift Shop” Banksy did just that, and in a completely unconventional way. I also think this was the best title for a movie this year, with “My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done” being a close second. If you haven’t seen this yet make sure you check it out while it’s still on Netflix Instant. Mr. Brainwash thanks you.

Honorable Mentions: True Grit, The Fighter, and Black Swan. Three films that I saw and really enjoyed, but that I don’t think had enough time to resonate with me to make my list. This year seemed to be a year of expectations. True Grit and Black Swan were about as good as I hoped them to be, with The Fighter being a tad better than expected. Some films like The Social Network exceeded high expectations, while others like Inception were a bit of a letdown.

Yet to see: Toy Story 3, Animal Kingdom, I Am Love, The King’s Speech, 127 Hours, Enter The Void.