Frank LaLoggia, USA, 1981, 99 min.

For a first-time film from a young writer/director/star, this was very impressive. The story is about two of God’s warriors, born into human bodies, who have to destroy Lucifer, also born into a human body.

From there the film turns into an moody, coming of age horror/drama filled with examinations of religion and faith with undertones of homosexuality. The film is all Laloggia’s, and his vision is at times amaturish and at times genius. But overall, despite it’s shortcomings, the film manages to be both involving and impressive.

This film wins the award “Best Dodge ball Throw” for Lucifer causing the gym coach to kill a boy with one well-placed shot.

Daniel Monzon, Spain, 2009, 113 min.

A new prison guard is being given a tour of the facilities. An accident happens, a riot occurs, and he makes a split-second decision to pretend he is a prisoner in order to stay alive.

So begins a series of choices that the main character is faced with, and which the audience eagerly awaits the outcome of. This film is fast, tense, turn of the screw storytelling. The characters and story are beleivable, but not predictable. That is a rarity, and elevates this film into something more than just your standard prison/action/drama.

This film wins the award “Best Story Set-up” for kicking off an ingenious plot that is filled with many opportunities.

Christopher Nolan, USA, 2010, 148 min.

This film is a spectacle. Momentous in its visuals, intriguing in its structure, surprisingly poignant in its characters. Its a big-budget film, slick solid and well-paced with a great original screenplay and high-caliber acting.

After flirting with greatness in his Batman films, Nolan has finally done it. He has made a Great film. I am not a Nolan-fanboy, blindly obsessed with anything he makes, but for 2 1/2 hours I knew what it was like to be one.

This film wins the award “Best Fight Scene” for Joseph Gordon-Levitt flying around a hotel in twisting aerial combat.

Giorgos Lanthimos, Greece, 2009, 94 min.

A father and mother have kept their children locked in their walled country home for years, teaching them absurd things and having them live with absurd rules.

It is strange, engaging, funny and shocking at times. Directed with a slow burn and acted with innocence. But is it weird of weird’s sake? It depends on what you get out of it. I think that it was a commentary on what could happen if you raise children based on a strict upbringing and arbitrary rules. Sound familiar?

This film wins the award “Best Dance Scene” for the eldest daughter’s soulful solo whirly-gig shimmy thing.

Victor Salva, USA, 1989, 81 min.

This is a standard low-budget horror film about a team of murderous clowns. It’s Victor Salva’s first feature film and shortly after it was made he was convicted for sexual relations with it’s young male star.

Salva obviously films the trio of young male brothers through a unique lens. We see them in underwear, naked and bathing etc. It’s a bit odd and creepy to say the least. The film also has a teenage Sam Rockwell in his first film role.  It’s a bad film that I can only recommend as a cultural oddity.

This film wins the award “Longest Shoe-laces” for Casey’s foot-long high-top laces that always seem to come untied when a clown is right behind him.