Sebastian Gutierrez's genre-mashing, what's-going-on-here? delight, ELIZABETH HARVEST

For TrustMovies, one of the things that distinguishes a Sebastian Gutierrez film is how downright enjoyable it always is. His movies, no matter the genre, are just plain fun to see and hear. Several of his films, as both writer and director, are ensemble comedies of connection (Women in Trouble, Girl Walks Into a Bar), though he also ventured into would-be arty neo-noir (Hotel Noir) and even the horror genre (Rise: Blood Hunter).

Gutierrez's latest to hit theaters is a bizarre mystery puzzle entitled ELIZABETH HARVEST, which is simultaneously a very nice addition to the mash-up genre of sci-fi/horror/thriller. Once again, as with all of this filmmaker's work (Gutierrez is shown below), it proves to be enormous fun.

From its opening scene, in which a polished and very wealthy older man (the spot-on Ciáran Hinds) brings his new young bride (the lovely Abbey Lee) to his rather spectacular modern mansion and, during her tour of the premises, explains that she now owns and should feel comfortable with everything and in every room of the house -- except one -- the viewer's "Bluebeard" antennae will immediately start to wiggle. As they should.

But, oh my goodness, don't even begin to imagine that you have figured things out. That is it, so far as my spilling any "plot" beans is concerned. I will simply suggest that you stick with this movie for a wonderfully wild, visually enticing and often shocking/funny ride in which things are exactly as -- and then nothing like -- you expect.

Even the mention of a few other movies to which this one owes some thanks might spoil things, so I shall keep my mouth closed and fingers halted and concentrate instead on the performances. Mr. Hinds (above, left, and below, right) is as good as we now always expect him to be: particularly classy and rather scary, too.

Ms Lee (above, left and further above, right), with her model-slim figure and beautiful face, at first seems a tad too inexpressive. But, as the film moves on, she grows and changes -- for reasons the viewer learns almost at the same time as does her character. This is hardly an easy "role," but the actress not only takes it and runs with it, in fact, she crosses the finish line in rather remarkable fashion.

Supporting  roles (except they are hardly that; more like secondary leads, really) of the mansion's butler and maid are played by Matthew Beard (above) and Carla Gugino (below). The latter, having played in almost all of the Gutierrez's films, seems like something of a muse to the writer/director. Both actors are excellent, in Mr Beard's case, turning on a dime until we can hardly keep up with this character or what he wants.

TrustMovies often complains about the manner in which certain filmmakers choose to use exposition. Well, here, Gutierrez piles it on so heavily -- visually and verbally, using dialog, diaries, flashback and more -- during the second half of the film that it may just take your breath away. Yet, he does it all with such good humor and wit that it actually adds to the enjoyment to be had.

As I say, what goes on here, as sometimes bloody and naughty as it gets, never ceases to be great and increasing fun. And just about the time that you imagine things can't possibly get any crazier.....

From IFC Films and running 105 minutes, the movie opens this Friday, August 10, in New York City (at the IFC Center) and Los Angeles (at the Arena Cinelounge Sunset). If you're not located on either coast, no worries: The film will simultaneously open via VOD.

TrustMovies bonus: Watch HOTEL NOIR -- Sebastian Gutierrez's latest (and still in limbo) charmer -- for free!

Made in 2012 but, after a brief pay-per-view window, still stuck in distribution limbo, HOTEL NOIR is the latest film to have been written and directed by one of TrustMovies' favorite filmmakers: Sebastian Gutierrez. No other movie-maker that I can think of has this guy's oddball sense of humor coupled to an enormous love of women (in so many ways). His product is as charming, enjoyable and off-the-wall as it gets, as demonstrated by his trio of "lovely lady" movies -- Women in Trouble, Elektra Luxx and Girl Walks Into a Bar.  This trilogy (I'd call it that, anyway) offers non-stop delight, with the additional "plus" of an anything-goes attitude that views sexuality as something that ought above all to be enjoyed as pleasurable and joyous -- hell, even humorous, too.

Gutierrez, pictured at right, may not be the first to make a movie that harks back to 1950s noir, but it is certainly one of the more lovingly recreated. It doesn't so much make fun of noir as it does pay it a grand homage -- while at the same time taking the kind of multiple stories and plot strands that this filmmaker so dearly loves and bouncing them into each other with pizzazz and finesse.

My biggest surprise here in that the movie does not have quite the buoyancy and lightness of that earlier trilogy, the reason being, I suspect, that the themes and concerns of film noir -- mystery, murder, betrayal and love (generally unrequited when not out-and-out trashed) -- don't exactly lend themselves to things graceful and lighter-than-air.

Still, what Gutierrez has accomplished here is quite lovely to look at -- the black-and-white cinematography is aces -- with performances from some fine actors, many of whom have graced his earlier work, that pull you in and keep you amused and impressed throughout.

Chief among these is Gutierrez regular, Carla Gugino (above), as a cocktail lounge chanteuse with connections to quite a number of other characters in the film. One of these is the good-looking cop played by Rufus Sewell (above, right. and below, whom the filmmaker used earlier to fine effect in his "naughty mermaid" cable movie She-Creature).

Malin Akerman (below, center) plays a night club performer with ties to the mob and a yen for Mr. Sewell, while Kevin Connolly (in the rain-soaked auto three photos up) plays a nasty piece of work who evidently has attributes that make him very good in the sack.

Since its title would indicate than there's a hotel involved here, most of the film indeed takes place in one -- in which another of our favorites, Rosario Dawson, below, works as a maid who moonlights as, well... other things. 

Along the way she encounters another Gutierrez delight, Danny DeVito, below, who actually begins this movie with a shaggy dog narration that leads to.... No. I don't want to give one more thing away.

Completing the major cast members is another favorite, Robert Forster, below, playing the older, kindly and more seasoned cop who is partner to Sewell. Sex, mostly straight with a little gay tossed in, rears its lovely head, as do a robbery, several killings and a number of surprises along the way, a couple of the best of which are saved for the last.

For folk who are partial to noir, you can relax into this one, knowing that for all the fun to be had, the movie still plays it straight, never descending into camp. The actors are all on the same page regarding style, and much of the fun comes from their very genuine, straight-faced line readings provided by Gutierrez's smart and charming script.

The filmmaker tells me that Hotel Noir came about because YouTube, which commissioned Girl Walks Into a Bar, asked for a follow-up (not a sequel but a similar size/cast movie), so he responded with the idea of a black-and-white period film noir.  

Shot in just 15 days (by Gutierrez regular, Cale Finot), the result can now be viewed by TrustMovies' readers free-of-charge. Gutierrez has graciously agreed to keep the movie up on line for a month, but don't wait too long. I'd hate to have you all ready for a nice evening of noir, only to discover the movie is suddenly gone. To access the film, click here , and if that does not work for you, copy and paste the following link into your web browser: https://youtu.be/PIWxLniIi9c .  Oh -- and Mr. Gutierrez suggests that you view the movie in as high a definition as possible because, yes, it does look good! . 

DVDebut: Sebastian Gutierrez's latest catnip delight, GIRL WALKS INTO A BAR

Have you discovered what TrustMovies calls the peculiar universe of filmmaker Sebastian Gutierrez? It's a place where awful things threaten to happen -- after all, we're in the land of porn stars, unfaithful husbands or wives, dirty cops and contract killers -- but they never do. People connect sweetly, sadly, delectably, in the oddest ways, producing smiles, chuckles and sometimes outright belly laughs. Folk have called this writer/director's dialog deadpan, but it's much livelier than that; you strain so as not to miss a single word. No one else these days is doing anything like this, and I rather think that, were Noel Coward still alive, he'd appreciate Gutierrez's abilities -- if not his sometimes inelegant but very clever, humorous style.

Gutierrez's latest (the director is shown at right) --GIRL WALKS INTO A BAR-- which very well may be his best yet, is full of much of the above and seems even lighter on its feet (if this is possible) than his earlier work like Women in Trouble and Elektra Luxx. Each set of characters registers as specific, quirky and readily understandable, and what they all want pushes the plot, such as it is, speedily along. These characters connect -- sometime slightly, but always importantly -- and they are so much fun to be with (another hallmark of Gutierrez) that you really don't want to them to leave. Like all of his work, this film, quite short, lasts just 80 minutes.

This writer/director understands the old saw about the importance of leaving your audience wanting more. He does, and consequently so do we. As usual, too, he has cast his movie ideally, and the performers all rise to his sweet nonsense like hummingbirds to honey-water. His regular leading lady (and if I am not mistaken his significant other) Carla Gugino (below, left), along with Emmanelle Chriqui (below, right), are abetted by Sebastian newcomers like Zachary Quinto, Josh Hartnett (above, right), Rosario Dawson (above, left), Robert Forster (two photos below, at right, with Amber Valletta), Danny DeVito (at bottom) and Alexis Bledel -- with everyone rising to the occasion.

There are plenty more good people on view, too, but listing them all would take longer than watching this film. (Consult the movie's IMDB page if you want to note the entire cast.)

The film is connected via the connections of its bizarre characters, and as it tumbles merrily along its one-night-stand, it takes us into one interesting bar after another (nude ping-pong, anyone?) until dawn has almost broken and all is well.

Mr. Gutierrez's finale is as off-the-cuff charming and wonderful as any you could ask for. More please, Sebastian!

Girl Walks into a Bar is available now, for sale or rental, from the usual suspects.  If you're already a Gutierrez devotee, you're be lining up now. If you're a newcomer to filmmaker, it's perfectly OK -- maybe ever preferable -- to begin with this funny, feisty little film.

The photos above are from the film itself, 

with the exception of that of Gutierrez, 

which is by Frazer Harrison, courtesy of Getty Images.

DVDebut: Sebastian Gutierrez is back with ELEKTRA LUXX (or Women in Trouble,Two)

If you are one of those, like TrustMovies, who could not get enough of writer/director Sebastian Gutierrez's earlier comedy about porn stars, in-flight sex and lesbian love, Women in Trouble, you'll be happy to learn that it's sequel-of-sorts ELEKTRA LUXX is now available on DVD. Is it as good as the original? (Come on: Is The Godfather: Part Two better than The Godfather -- and if so, by how much? You get the point.) Gutierrez' original was fast, frisky fun that proved a non-stop delight right through to the sudden appearance during the end credits of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as Bert Rodriguez, the host of a homemade cable show dedicated to porn actresses.

Gordon-Levitt appears again in the new film, in a more major manner. That's he, just above, with Malin Akerman, as a young lady smiitten enough with Bert show him her portfolio. (An uncredited Julianne Moore also appears, but you'll have to see this movie to learn just who she plays.)

The filmmaker, shown at right, comes back again and again to this foolish but quite sincere young man -- and his show -- as Rodriguez tries to take in the sudden retirement of his favorite star, the titular Elektra (Carla Gugino, below, left), who, it turns out, is pregnant by a late rock idol (whom we met having that aforementioned in-flight sex during the original film). The object of said sex, a flight attendant played by Marley Shelton (below, in dark glasses), is also back.

Also seen again are the porn star/call girls played by Adrianne Palicki (below, left) and Emmanuelle Chriqui (below, right). Ms Palicki is as ditzy and delightful as ever, with Ms Chriqui as put-upon and beautiful. They make a pair-and-a-half of pulchritude and missed-connection sweetness.

Newcomers to the new film include the always terrific Timothy Olyphant (in bed, below, with Ms Gugino), Justin Kirk, Lucy Punch and Kathleen Quinlan (two photos down). The newcomers hold their own pefectly with the veterans, for everyone is in sync with Gutierrez's silly, loony-tune series of sexual (and otherwise) shenanigans.

I would guess that, compared to Women in Trouble, Elektra Luxx was shot more quickly and on a lower budget. It seems definitely more off-the-cuff in every way. But this does not stop the humor -- nor the sweet delight the performers take in their roles and their connections with each other -- from coming through just as strongly. If you disliked the original, you will feel no differently toward its sequel. And if you loved it, as did I, chances are, you'll be smiling right through to the end of this film, too.

Sure, Gutierrez's duo in no way reflects the real porn industry or what it does to its "work force." Instead, it's  women -- at work and play and love -- that the two films celebrate. There is a giddiness about what the filmmaker and his cast are up to that is quite catching. I could easily sit still for the third and fourth part to what I hope has now become an ongoing series.

Critics were quite down on this movie (2/3 con, 1/3 pro), so clearly, it appeals most to what we'd have to call "specific tastes." Because so much of the content has to do with what happened in Women in Trouble, I do suggest that, if you haven't yet seen it, you rent that earlier film before viewing this one. Elektra Luxx is available now for sale or rental -- from the usual sources.