Last year I was lucky enough to see the amazing Tiny Furniture at the Traverse City Film Festival. This year when I was planning out my festival watch-list I came across a film called Rid of Me that looked like a quirky, little, indie film. I was hoping I would get lucky twice and get to see a really good movie before it came to the local art-house theatre. Well as much as I loved Tiny Furniture, which everyone should still see, James Westby’s Rid of Me blew it away. You can read my review of Rid of Me here. This truly independent film, no backing by any major studios, was obviously a labor of love. While it didn’t have the polish of other “indie” films, what Westby and his crew did with such a small budget is nothing short of brilliant. Not only did he direct this film but he also produced it, edited it, and was the cinematographer. After seeing this film and listening to the Q & A after the film, in which he talked about some of his past projects, I quickly searched Netflix to see if I could watch anything else he has done. Luckily for me, two of his previous films, Film Geek and The Auteur, where available to watch instantly. Film Geek was almost as good as Rid of Me, and The Auteur, while I didn’t love it, had its positives and displayed the qualities I enjoyed in Westby’s other two films. First all of these films have been shot on location in Portland, Oregon. It is obvious that this was not only for financial reasons, but because he knows this town and loves it. Second, Westby has the ability to get his actors to go deep into their characters and give the audience someone to root for, even if the main characters in each of the three films are very flawed. And third, I already touched on it, but Westby does everything. These films are his films, seem very personal to him, but aren’t above having a bit of wacky fun. All three films are worth checking out and Rid of Me needs to be on everyones must see list, however you can see it.
Below is a teaser for an upcoming film. I can’t wait to see it.
HOT IN THE ZIPPER teaser from James Westby on Vimeo.
