Dave is…
A rediscovered movie star.
Well I was going to talk about this party hosted by a professor but quite honestly I’ve already lost enough time to it. So instead I thought I’d share something way better.
Back in the spring of 2003 the world witnessed the premiere of Call Sergio one of the greatest and most beloved short films of all time. The maiden work of a trio of creative geniuses that spawned two influential bloggers and one noted New Jersey playwright, it ushered in the era of post modern scriptless movie making and captured the minds and imaginations of a generation of film makers to follow.
“The greatest movie ever” – noted film critic and overworked firm lawyer, Lou (note: reviewed before the making of Rambo 4)
“Uh…interesting” – Dave’s dad, hopeless cinema troglodyte.
“Almost brilliant as its upcoming sequel, Star 69 Sergio” – writer/direct Jeff Hughes.
Now for the first time, this glorious epic is available online, completely unrestored, in its original glory. So as I prepare for finals and posts come a little more irregularly, you will still have something to keep you from getting your work done. I recommend watching it 3-4 times to really soak up its subtleties.
I deny saying “Call Sergio” was interesting, even in a lukewarm, troglodytish way. In fact, I deny ever watching it before. I deny watching it now, too, for that matter, at least all the way through. I quit at 4:05, with you in the corner eating your toast sandwich.
Noah gets a break, because his cinematography equipment was obviously not up to the challenge of translating either Jeff’s script or your acting talent. Which is probably just as well.
So please revise my previous alleged review. Hereafter, quote me as saying this: “Dave, who plays the lead in ‘Call Sergio’, shows potential to become the next Nicolas Cage.”
Of course, the last time I reviewed Nic Cage (in “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”) I suggested he was out-acted, in emotion and range of expression, by all four of the faces on Mt. Rushmore. You certainly have that much potential.
After a short dynamic sequence that shows massive energy projects intruding into such remote regions, the film shifts to the heart of modern American civilization. The quiet majesty of nature presented with an epic sense of time in the first segment contrasts starkly with the following images that come from urban environments. In the depiction of urban life there seems never to be a moment of rest. Life in modern civilization is seen as driven, always changing, and, to draw a metaphysical observation, never at one with itself…. Oh, wait, I stole that, it’s about Koyaanisqatsi, which I’m sure all you cultured folks with a tolerance of painfully tinny organ music have seen. I’m sure I loved Call Sergio ’cause it was ‘cool’ — was that your homage to Get Smart?
Dad I made you sit down and watch it shortly after my return from abroad. You were reluctant then but at least you made it past the admittedly slow opening minutes to the more surreal and entertaining final 2/3rds.
I will totally cop to the Nicholas Cage comparison, specially in the opening 5mins as I was wildly hungover, not at all sold on this movie idea in general and Jeff’s incomprehensible plot “rewrites” every few minutes but once the key symbol of the Hat was introduced and Jeff decided it wasnt going to be a morose film about love, loss, lager and toast and instead was going to be a tale of god, revenge and modern day pirates I came around. (Specially in Day 2 of filming where, no longer hungover, and now completely buying into the concept I am visibly more engaged.)
Still, despite the slow start it remains a phenomenal film and like cult classics such as The Big Lebowski it gets stronger and stronger on repeated viewings.
Repeated viewings? I love you like a son — luckily, since you ARE my son — but I don’t have enough time left in my allotted years for repeated viewings of “Call Sergio.” I seem to have successfully expunged the first viewing from my memory, and I’d like to keep it that way.