2004 SKI MOVIE REVIEWS
2004 SKI MOVIE REVIEWS
Schooled - Meathead Films
www.meatheadfilms.com
Length: 40 minutes
Cost: $20
Medium: Digital video and Super 8mm
If you want to attend school with the Meatheads, you better dig the short bus. The Schooled crew says to "forget what you thought about the East Coast," but it's hard to do with the multitude of shots portraying shrub-peppered powder, tracked-out faces, high winds, low visibility, and bone-dry parking lots. The only lesson you're likely to learn from this vid is why to move out West. To its credit, Schooled does feature a handful of descent hucks, a first descent in the Chic Choc's of Quebec, and some impressive deciduous tree skiing by the likes of Joe Morabito, Alec Stall, Dave Bouchard, and more.
When it's all said and done, the Meatheads are filling the void and giving New England skiers something to be proud of (beyond Pedro Martinez's midget).
BEST LINES:
"The East forces you to work harder and look closer for what you want."
"My face is numb—there's some snot accumulation that's frozen. East Coast Represent!"
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Impact – Warren Miller
www.warrenmiller.com
Length: 1hr, 38 minutes
Cost: (available 9/05)
Medium: 16mm film
Nineteen miles of film were cut down to the .75 miles of film used in Impact, this year's Warren Miller film and the 80-year-old Godfather's 55th flick (although everyone knows Warren doesn't have a lot to do with Warren Miller Entertainment these days). As usual, the photography and camera work are stellar, commanding respect for everyone behind the lens. As for sick ski action, let's face it, it's Warren Miller. Just sit back and accept the cornball for what it is. Luckily, at 80 years old, Warren can still woo the ladies with his monotone whisper. Fembots such as Ingrid Backstrom, Wendy Fischer, Hannah Hardaway, Hilaree Nelson O'Neil, and Jenn Berg, rip (and shred) throughout, creating the only film that designates about half its footage to women. Other highlights include Jeremy Nobis tackling Cham's Col des Courtes, Dan Treadway and Micah Black exploring Cordova's Last Frontier, and cowboys Chris Anthony, Hugo Harrison, and Cody Townsend saddling up for a Montana-style approach. It's no secret that WME sells its content (The Denver Post recently reported that several resort have paid up to $50,000 a year for segments in Miller movies), but don't let this ruin your viewing experience. Turn pesky product placement into a fun game and play Where's the Nature Valley granola bar? It's a lot easier than finding Waldo.
BEST LINES:
"Going to Alaska for me is really intense. It doesn't even compare to anything in the lower 48. The mountains are so big it scares me. I don't care what anyone says, it's scary out there." –Micah Black
"I don't think it's human nature to be comfortable sitting on a 55-degree pitch with 3,000 feet below you, but that's the thrill, that's what keeps you coming back." –Jeremy Nobis
"Long arching turns on chalky snow—that's what skiing's all about." –Chris Anthony
"I actually just prefer to go straight." –Cody Townsend
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X
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X – Poor Boyz Productions
www.poorboyz.com
Length: 40 minutes
Cost: $28
Medium: 16mm film
Johnny Decesare became the jib movement's video Pied Piper eight years ago. From his first major release, State of Mind in 1997, Decesare has dedicated his career to showcasing the progressive ski movement. Through his formula, kids get exactly what they want: quick edits, shallow humor, and the highest concentration of the most progressive skiing found in any movie. X (stands for 10, not Xtreme) opens with a somewhat self-aggrandizing message about the history of Poor Boyz Productions, but coming from Mike Douglas' mouth it's validated as truth, rather than propaganda. But this is no documentary and Decesare quickly ditches the retrospective theme to get back to business. As always, his athlete line-up consists of the absolute best young talents in the industry. While the majority of the film is park and backcountry-hit-focused, Decesare continues to incorporate more lines and powder skiing every year, including Sage Cattabriga-Alosa ripping neck-deep Russian pow.
BEST LINES:
"To me I don't seem like that great of a painter, but it lets you focus on something besides skiing—it's a good release." –Anthony Boronowski
"If only I was a video game character; I'd never fall—never." –Peter Olenick
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