Lone Star International Film Festival 2008

Jack Kerouac was called the voice of his generation – synonymous with the Beat movement - with his groundbreaking novel, On The Road, in 1957. By 1960 fame had devoured him leaving him wrung out and tortured by self-doubt, addiction and depression. One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur cinematically revisits the semi-autobiographical events of his follow-up novel, Big Sur, as he spirals down at Beat haunts from San Francisco to New York and struggles to resurface at Ferlinghetti’s cabin in Big Sur. Events are told through Kerouac’s prose, narrated by John Ventimiglia (of HBO’s The Sopranos), and first-hand accounts by Kerouac’s thinly veiled contemporaries who people the book such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Carolyn Cassady, Joyce Johnson and Michael McClure. The readings, interpretations and reflections of writers, poets, actors and musicians influenced by Kerouac include Sam Shepard, Tom Waits, Robert Hunter, Patti Smith, Aram Saroyan, Donal Logue and S.E. Hinton. With original music composed and performed by recording artist, Jay Farrar of Son Volt, and additional performance by Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie.

In 2077 Japan has lived under a digital cloud for ten years. Isolated from the rest of the world after opposing a United Nations treaty restricting advanced research in biotechnology; her borders were closed and a magnetic shield blocked all communication and satellite surveillance. 10 years later, after a daring raid, a “human” limb has been returned to S.W.O.R.D. headquarters. A stunning and disturbing discovery has been made. The flesh has been replaced by a form of bio-metal. After receiving an encrypted message from a Japanese stowaway on a freight ship S.W.O.R.D. female commander Vexille, teams up with an underground rebel force to infiltrate Japan. But as the digital cloud disappears and the new Tokyo is revealed for the first time in ten years they are about to make a startling discovery about life in Japan.  Japan has proven again that they are virtually untouchable when it comes to animation advancements and technology. Vexille is gorgeous and stunning. Incorporating the same animation style as its predecessor, Appleseed, vast improvements are made to movement, color and texture. Vexille is a truly awesome display of animation prowess. Japan retains its supremacy in the animation world. The soundtrack features artists from the electronic, techno and trance genres. Bands like Basement Jaxx, Boom Boom Satellites, Asian Dub Foundation, Dead Can Dance, Carl Craig, The Prodigy, DJ Shadow, M.I.A, and Mink contribute as Paul Oakenfold handles the music.