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CQ
Starring:
Jeremy
Davies, Angela Lindval, Gerard Depardieu, Billy Zane, Giancarlo Giannini, Dean
Stockwell, and Jason Schwartzman
Directed by: Roman Coppola
Rated:
R
Buy
It Bluntly
speaking? Roman Coppola's first written and directed feature under the American
Zoetrope (father Francis Ford's Company) umbrella is a fantastic journey!
Set in Paris 1969 we are taken on a trip
of discovery with aspiring filmmaker Paul (Jeremy Davies). He works as an editor
for an ultra-B Italian run film studio. The studio's filled with stereotypical
characters of the those highly volatile studio/artistic types. Paul is calm, almost
monotone, in this sea of high crested flare. When
the director on set of the studio's latest sexy spy sci-fi Dragonfly, Andrzej
(one of my faves- robust legend Gerard Depardieu), is fired by the fire tempered
producer (played by brilliant Giancarlo Giannini) because of his crazy vision
for an artsy nonzinger flat line ending, quiet Paul gets his chance to finally
direct! Paul's
ready steady and rearing to go! He's been "directing" his own homemade
"completely honest" self-portrait at home with his less than enthusiastic
gal pal Marlene ( Elodie Bouchez) as the co-star. Which of course is high cinema
verité and simply hysterical in its hypocrisy. Honest indeed.
Paul knows his project Dragonfly is not exactly a film that will be an
award winner but its his chance to design and form a film with a semi-budget a
real crew and cast that don't mind the camera being there. Dragonfly,
is a beautifully campy Barberella send up. It's a mock-Barbarella Spaghetti Sci-fi
based on sexret agent Dragonfly (super feline Angela Lindval). Dragonfly is the
codename for the agent who bills herself as, " expensive but gets the job
done! " Hahahha. You can almost hear the porn music queuing. So
D. is hired by "headquarters" to infiltrate the dark side of the moon
where the evil revolutionist sexy bad -boy known as Mr. E. (sexy bad-boy Billy
Zane) and his rogue band of revolutionaries are harboring a mysterious ray gun
of doom! Of course
Dragonfly and Mr. E. immediately lustfully copulate, it is a male fantasy film
after all, and she escapes back to her space pod with the diabolical the ray gun
for H.Q….
Meanwhile outside of the set Paul's life starts to meld
with Dragonfly's in more ways than one. He sees and experiences events that make
him question where reality begins and the script emerges. He's a cerebral kind
of guy and his noggin may be slipping into strawberry fields forever. Does
the whole thing sound nuts yet? It is. A delicious can of mixed toffee
coated nuts! What
makes this film so enjoyable is the delectable talented cast combined with
a unique story, a beautiful accurate set and a perfect soundtrack. This
Jeremy Davies, who plays Paul, is an edible biscuit of crunchy coated manyum!
In CQ Jer's sporting an adorable retro Beatle-like hair cut with the super
cool sixties boy-band black suit and tops the look off with a geeky seductive
perpetual pout. Jeremy has a Crispin Glover-lite edge. As with Crisp, Jeremy too
looks as if he's on the brink of insanity from society requiring him to conform
or be branded a wacko. Could be me. Davies is also one of our finest blooming
acting talents so it was nice to see him really hold this film solid and steady.
Bravo cutey.  Speaking
of cutey...Cutey squared Billy "zoom-zoom" Zane plays sexkitten Dragonfly's
(Angela Lindvall) nemesis Mr. E.
Mr.
E. is really just a big ol' softer fluffier version of commie pigsvine Fidel Castro…Though
Billy actually made green silk commie wear look sexy. HONEST! Zane is always a
treat on film, in more ways than one. He's also an underrated talent to be sure.
Heck his tiny scenes in that hideous faux pas Zoolander almost made the
damn thing watchable…almost. Super
model Angela Lindvall, who plays the mysterious sex-kitten-danger-loving agent
Dragonfly, will have all the women loving of our species panting like Tex Avery
wolves throughout. Angie's one hot chickbabe! I mean she's so girly she makes
Angelina Jolie like a hog tying manly man. There's
an appearance by Dean Stockwell that is so well done it is almost surreal. And
actor Jason Schwartzman steals every scene he shares as the spoiled director Felix.
Freakin' hysterical. Apparently
Roman Coppola called in some old family friends to assist on CQ. One of
his best moves was getting the brilliant Production Designer Dean Tavoularis who
has worked forever with Francis Ford. CQ is a time piece that needed desperately
to look and feel correct to work. Tavoularis delivered perfection down to the
knick knacks that hung out around the set...look closely. The soundtrack by Mellow
is already on order from Amazon! It's Austin Powers squared. I
just adored this film. Anyone thinking this "kid" Roman is riding his
father's curtails will be greatly mistaken. It seems he's taken his time, studied,
started in music video and now has created a curious quirky film that not only
works but has a bit of the family genius threaded through. CQ is positively
a rare wonderful witty groovy cool shindig! Snack Recommendation:
A nice Coppola wine with cheese
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