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Billy the Kid (Jennifer Venditti, 2007)

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:54 pm
by ogygia avenue
Website; Trailer.

Caught this a few days ago in Boston. It was not without some problems: Billy has Asperger's, which doesn't get mentioned in the film; it focuses way too much on his relationship with his girfriend, to the detriment of other things it could focus on, and there are a few scenes that appear staged. Billy himself is an engaging character, and the director's observations of him make for compelling viewing.

(I will say that after seeing this film, I wanted to send him Husker Du's entire discography. But that's just me.)

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 2:48 pm
by sidehacker
Looks like it's trying a bit too hard to fit into that David Gordon Green/Harmony Korine subgenre of modern independent cinema but of course that only means it looks really great.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:36 pm
by ogygia avenue
sidehacker wrote:Looks like it's trying a bit too hard to fit into that David Gordon Green/Harmony Korine subgenre of modern independent cinema but of course that only means it looks really great.
It lacks Korine's love of the grotesque and isn't quite as precious as David Gordon Green's work...I'd almost compare it more to Trent Harris's Beaver Trilogy.

Re: Billy the Kid (Vendetti, 2007)

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:51 pm
by rumz
ogygia avenue wrote:Billy has Asperger's, which doesn't get mentioned in the film
ogygia, how did you know about this? Did you attend the Q&A?

Re: Billy the Kid (Vendetti, 2007)

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 8:17 pm
by ogygia avenue
rumz wrote:ogygia, how did you know about this? Did you attend the Q&A?
It's mentioned in one of the profiles of director Jennifer Vendetti, and has been in several reviews from papers of note (such as the Boston Globe). Seeing the film with the knowledge that he has Asperger's definitely throws a lot of his behavior into a new light.