At The Video Store: 'American Astronaut'

Part 'David Lynch', part 'Star Wars', part 'La Jette', part Fosse - 'American Astronaut' is fantastic work of art. Though heavily-indebted to 'Eraserhead's stark, black and white images and deadpan humor, this is a world completely unto itself; the work of a singularly unique vision. Cory McAbee is 'American Astronaut's Vincent Gallo, without a fraction of the vanity. He writes about 95% of the film's bare-bones rock score and musical interludes, directs, stars as the film's lead, and does as many odd jobs imaginable (as the credits suggest). Like Lynch's breakthrough, many of the film's scenes go on for an uncomfortably long time - but follow their own wonderful logic to the point where you don't want them to end. The actors are all so convincing as players in this wonderful world that you can't imagine them being actors. Rocco Sisto especially dazzles as Professor Hess, the film's villain who seems little more than dangerously lonely on his seemingly never-ending birthday.

There's so much here, but trust me; this is a movie to walk into blind - a world so alive with humor, music, wonderfully stark imagery, and childlike ruminations on space. Find me this soundtrack on vinyl and I'll love you hard.