All films written and directed by Joey Lakomy.

All the Dead Soda Shops (2121)

genre: period drama, comedy

description: A film about memory and nostalgia in post-Timeline Collapse Chicago.

reception: It got more attention for the behind-the-scenes story than for its own merits, but reviews were positive enough. After Joey got popular, his fans went back and watched it, and some liked it, but most agree it is not nearly as good as what came after. It’s one of those movies where, even though there might not be any effects using strings, the strings are visible, you know? You are made very aware that what you are watching is a low budget movie made by an inexperienced group of people. Still, one way or another, it propelled his career.

Joey's thoughts: He doesn't even like to think about it.

Monument (2125)

genre: argyle drama

description: The first argyle drama film ever made. Set in the late 20th century. The three storylines are as follows: A woman attempts to get a plaque installed on a public building to honor her deceased brother; a pianist struggles to master the work of Ligeti before the date of an unfathomably huge and difficult concert; an engaged couple in a tumultuous relationship plan their wedding while one of them suffers from a severe illness.

reception: It unexpectedly became one of the most popular independent films of the year. It literally invented a genre, and launched Joey into the spotlight when he was just 26. The film was highly praised for its writing, its visual style, and its emotional impact. Joey was deemed a master of dialog, and the film won Best Screenplay at the 13th Technic Awards. At that time, the Technic Awards were so new that they had not yet gained the prestige they would have years down the line, but it was still an honor. The main criticism leveled at this film is about the acting. Because it was made independently on a low budget, Joey had to take whatever actors he could get. But they gave it their all and it’s easy for viewers to ignore some stilted moments if they’re truly invested in the characters and story, which most people were.

Joey's thoughts: He agrees with the praise. He was amazed at what he and the cast and crew were able to achieve. He was incredibly proud, but also scared that he had peaked much too early in his career and would never possibly be able to follow this up. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case. These days, Monument is still a beloved film, widely considered a classic, but Joey has gone on to make many other beloved films which are also considered classics.

The Panelist (2128)

genre: argyle drama, absurdist comedy

description: Joey dares to ask, “what if Heat (1995) was about a security guard at an anime convention and an internationally infamous fan, both of whom are 40 years old and divorced?” There’s crime and homoeroticism. As an argyle drama, it also follows other plots relating to a few of the convention’s attendees and the amusing paths their lives took to lead them there.

reception: The film received acclaim for its story, acting and direction. Joey’s fans cite it as one of his best. It received some criticism for its historically inaccurate portrayal of anime fandoms in the 2000s. But that’s a subject not many people know about, so it doesn’t ruin the movie unless you’re a fandom historian or huge nerd.

Joey's thoughts: The numerous historical inaccuracies that were pointed out to him after the film’s release continue to haunt him. Since then Joey has worked with historians on all his historical films to ensure this doesn’t happen again. (Historians can be wrong sometimes, but if they mess up, at least it’s not on him.) Anyway, other than that, Joey loves this movie. He had a great time making it, and it shows in the final product. Part of him wishes he could do it over to make it more accurate so it would be truly perfect in his eyes, but he knows better than to actually attempt a remake.

A Weird Dream I Had One Sunday (2130)

genre: argyle drama

description: Joey’s first film with the Del Moth collective, who he’d continue working with for decades. This solidified the conventions of the new argyle drama genre, so things Joey had been playing with in his previous films were expanded on in this. The multi-linear narrative, past setting, and visual style particularly. I don’t know what this movie is about, sorry. It’s not that important.

reception: Positive, but not quite as enthusiastic as the preceding two films.

Joey's thoughts: Thumbs Up!

Equation (2133)

genre: drama

description: A straightforward drama about a relationship. Joey was having some drama in his own marriage when he made this.

reception: This was the true beginning of Joey’s flop era. It was, in simplest terms, a complete snoozefest.

Joey's thoughts: It’s a personal film for him, and he’s glad he made it, but he admits it’s not the most exciting.

With the Great (2135)

genre: absurdist comedy, chamber film

description: It’s about some poor saps being stuck in a house with the Great for a not-so-great weekend getaway. Who is the Great? Believe me, you don't wanna know.

reception: Not that bad but there was not much of a point to it. It was obviously produced in a short period of time, and it seems like no one was taking it too seriously, which could be a good thing or a bad thing.

Joey's thoughts: It's not one of his favorites, but he likes the character of the Great, although he thinks she was possibly miscast.

The Making of a Spaghetti Western God (2137)

genre: argyle drama, new revisionist western, comedy

description: A two-plotline argyle drama. One plot follows the journey of one man, Travis “Spaghetti” West, as he tries to become the world’s greatest spaghetti western filmmaker in a time when spaghetti westerns themselves are obsolete and despised. Includes many an homage to ancient spaghetti westerns and, strangely, Taxi Driver. The other plot concerns a former star of Western-themed adult films, who is fighting to become a serious actor.

reception: The film flopped. It’s widely considered Joey’s worst. Critics were not pleased with the whiplash-inducing shifts in tone, the clunky dialog (unusual for Joey), the gratuitous and self-indulgent homages to dozens of other films, and the convoluted plots. It's definitely the most divorced of all his movies, which makes sense considering how divorced he was when he made it.

Joey's thoughts: Although he acknowledges its execution is poor in some ways, Joey is puzzled that this is considered his worst film. He believes the reason most people don’t like it is because they are not familiar with the spaghetti western genre and thus do not understand the satire.

Beyond and Beyond (2141)

genre: psychological drama, romance

description: In a weird, surreal old labyrinthine office building floating in the sky, two office-worker guys fall in love. Starring Insight Imai and Mark Feathers.

reception: Mixed reviews upon release, but later on this film would gain a cult following and eventually be reevaluated.

Joey's thoughts: Joey put his heart and soul into this film, and he believes it to be one of his finest works. He is immensely proud of it and was upset by its reception at the time it was released. Seeing its critical reappraisal in recent years has vindicated him.

Virtuous Filth (2144)

genre: argyle drama, period drama

description: In 1977 New York City, a mysterious person calling themself Sea Form (played by &) establishes a new religious movement based on the sea as supreme deity. They own an office where they offer free spiritual guidance to "lost souls", who are easily persuaded by their uncanny charisma. Throughout the film, Sea Form and their adherents attempt to raise money to construct a 77-foot-tall sea glass cathedral in the middle of New York Harbor. The film explores the lives of several different adherents and what brings them to Sea Form.

reception: Instant classic!

Joey's thoughts: Instant classic!

Minimal (2150), Maximal (2152), Optimal (2153), Suboptimal (2155)

genre: slow cinema, fast cinema?, psychological drama, absurdist comedy, surrealism

description: A series of lengthy movies far more experimental than anything Joey directed previously. Minimal and Optimal are, for the most part, subdued, atmospheric, realistic films with little dialog and almost no narrative. In contrast, Maximal and Suboptimal have what could be considered plots, but place emphasis on crafting an overwhelming experience, featuring confusing, surreal set design and a huge amount of irreverent, irrelevant, often nonsensical dialog. All four star the same small cast of characters, though the continuity between the films is somewhat unclear. Insight Imai plays the lead.

reception: To say these films alienated much of Joey’s audience would be an understatement, but reviews from critics were largely positive. A few derided the films as self-indulgent.

Joey's thoughts: He absolutely loves this series.

At the Bottom of the Sea (2157)

genre: supernatural horror

description: A haunted boat? No, the boat is the ghost? No, the god of boats is the ghost boat?

reception: People were not sure what he was going for here.

Joey's thoughts: He had wanted to try horror for a long time, but it didn't turn out how he hoped. He thinks he could make a better horror movie someday.

The Worldbuilders (2160)

genre: black comedy

description: It’s about online roleplayers who get a bit too into the OCs they're playing, leading to shocking and violent outcomes.

reception: Divided. Some people thought it was funny, some thought the humor went too far or not far enough or was just annoying. Some roleplayers took offense.

Joey's thoughts: It makes him laugh. Joey himself was once an online roleplayer, roleplaying characters who would later appear in his films, so he didn't mean the movie in a mean-spirited way, despite it being a black comedy (a very tonally strange one).