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Merde, les flics! >> From France to Friday at the Hip Hop Film Fest by SCOTT C
Friday, August 20 Controversial and inflammatory French film Ma 6T Va Cracker opens the festival with a quaint but disjointed look at life in the projects of France. The movie is filled with that crazy backwards French slang, lots of gunplay, fistfights, car bombings and, of course, a whole lot of hip hop. Not my favourite movie, but I bet it was no problem getting a print of this. Also on the bill is the smokers' delight Friday. Starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, this flick follows the crazy day of failed weed dealer Smokey, who gets himself and his friend Craig into serious trouble. This completely hilarious film is sure to sell out, featuring cameos from Tiny Lister, DJ Pooh, John Witherspoon and some midget whose name escapes me at the moment. My pick for the festival.
Saturday August 21 French classic La Haine ignites the screen with some real drama between friends and enemies in this black-and-white hit. If you've never seen this movie, check it out. Wonderfully shot, capturing all the bleakness of the projects once again, this film is big on tension and release, and should have you gripping the seats. Again, a great soundtrack plays a big part in the feel of the movie. The Players Club stars Ice Cube and Mack 10 to start and centers around the hilarious goings-on inside a club for "gentlemen." This one's got too many cameos to even mention and more booty than you can shake a stick at. Players, hustlers and high rollers unite--and make your way down to the Imperial. All you OGs who missed Dolemite can make it up at the screening of this ode to players gone by.
Sunday August 22 Although Modulations is most arguably not a hip hop movie, the rich musical history that is unveiled is enough to interest even the hardest of heads. All paths of electronica inevitably cross and this documentary does a good job of chronicling the sordid history of modern music. Finally, Menace II Society, basically a portrait of some hard-knocks comin' up in Cali, will probably be one of the more popular movies at the fest. Most cats have seen this movie 9,000 times on video and have all the lines memorized; kinda like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but not. Crackheads beware, cause Ole Dawg is in the house.
Screenings at 7pm and 9pm at the Imperial, $6 or $10 for the double bill. Info: 848-0300 |
Straight out of one festival and right into another seems to be the way the summer has been going, so why not keep up the momentum? August 20, 21 and 22 are the slated dates for the Hip Hop Film Festival at the Imperial. No festival following Fantasia could possibly compete, but there are some flicks in the lineup that are no doubt gonna pull a full house.