One of the most talked about movies at Method Fest in Calabasas, CA this week is the new film Harrison Montgomery, starring and executive produced by Academy Award winner Martin Landau, making it’s world premiere at the festival today.
Continue reading “MethodFest: Martin Landau stars in “Harrison Montgomery”” »
QUIET CITY
NOT RATED
STARS: ERIN FISHER, CRIS LANKENAU, JOE SWANBERG, SARAH HELLMAN, TUCKER STONE, MICHAEL TULLY, KARRIE CROUSE
DIRECTOR: AARON KATZ
Without a doubt, Quiet City is one of most unique films i’ve ever seen. Part of the "structured improvisation" style of filmmaking (usually referred to as "mumblecore", a term we’ve learned that most filmmakers of this genre don’t really like), the movie uses non-actors, and focuses on a limited perspective. And I have to say, having seen it as part of the Chlotrudis/Brattle Theater EyeOpener series recently, it’s a movie that isn’t really about anything more than a look into a couple of days in the lives of the people involved. But this quirky little look is absolutely riveting.
Continue reading “Spotlight On…Quiet City” »
INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL OF BOSTON ANNOUNCES
2008 PROGRAM LINE-UP
Festival meets demands of growing audience and expands program to 96 films;
“TRANSSIBERIAN” directed by Brad Anderson to open sixth annual festival;
BOSTON (March 26, 2008)—The Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston) today announced the films that will be featured at the 2008 Independent Film Festival of Boston. The sixth annual festival will be held April 23-April 29, 2008. This year, to meet the demands of its growing audience, IFFBoston has expanded its slate to include 96 films. The festival, complete with over 150 film screenings, filmmaker Q&A sessions, panel discussions, visiting filmmakers, parties and events will showcase the works of filmmakers who seek to create films that are life changing, thought provoking and expose aspects of life in new and revealing manners.
Continue reading “2008 Boston Independent Film Festival Schedule” »
It’s almost April and that can only mean one thing in the world of independent film…it’s time for another jam-packed exciting edition of the Tribeca Film Festival in the city that never sleeps. This year’s TFF runs from April 23 – May 4. As in past years, I’ll be covering the red carpets, the screenings, the Q&As, the panel discussions, the press conferences, and just about anything else I can fit into my schedule. And, as usual, you can expect photos, interviews, and reviews of my Top Picks during and after the festival.
The World Premiere of Explicit Ills took place this month at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival. Earlier, I posted my review. After seeing 20 films, I chose Explicit Ills as one of my 3 Top Picks of this year’s festival. My interview with lead actors Frankie Shaw and Lou Taylor Pucci can be found several posts back.
Explicit Ills is simply a masterpiece. I sat with stunned silence as the film ended, both in wonderment at what director Mark Webber has been able to achieve as well as in deep thought about what my own role has been in the betterment of society. Explicit Ills will definitely make you think. Whether or not it will lead you to act on your thoughts is up to you.
To recap: the World Premiere of The Forbidden Kingdom will take place in Beijing on April 16. The film is being released in the US jointly by Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company on April 18. Maple Pictures releases in Canada the same day. The film expands worldwide on April 24. Rob Minkoff directed from a John Fusco script. Casey Silver produces.
The Forbidden Kingdom also "previews" at the AFI Dallas Film Festival on April 4 and the Philadelphia Film Festival on April 11 and 13. I’ll be at the April 11 screening — watch for my report.
We’ve been posting stills, posters, trailers, and links to sites over the last several months. Now we have some more very high resolution pictures from the good folks at Lionsgate.
I have partnered with Yahoo Groups to launch an IFS Newsletter service.
Weekly updates are planned for Saturdays, and with each week’s newsletter, you will get info on the latest Festivals, the latest Spotlight movies and more.
To sign up to receive the E-mail updates, click the "Join our mailing list" button under "IFS 411" on the right sidebar.
I’ve been grappling with a bit of a dilemma. It shouldn’t be news to most people who pay attention to the latest film industry chatter, especially to anyone following the career of Anton Yelchin, that the Internet has been awash in stories about his being cast as Kyle Reese in the forthcoming Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins with Christian Bale as John Connor.
Some people have looked here and been surprised that it hasn’t been mentioned. Well, for one, I haven’t joined the fray because he was still reported to be “in negotiations,” according to the article which broke the news in The Hollywood Reporter and, for reasons I won’t go into here, I prefer not to comment on actors being cast until the filmmakers or publicists officially announce it.
An American Crime was one of my 25 Top Picks of 2007. I was blown away by this breathtaking work when I attended the World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
Written and directed by Tommy O’Haver and based on a true story, this eagerly awaited film boasts an all-star cast featuring Ellen Page (Juno, Hard Candy), Catherine Keener (Into the Wild), and Michael Welch (Twilight, Joan of Arcadia).
I attended the World Premiere of The Wrecking Crew on Tuesday, March 11 at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival. In this monumental achievement, director Denny Tedesco chronicles the musical history laid down by his legendary late father Tommy, as well as a group of studio musicians who, literally, were responsible for the soundtrack of our lives.
The Wrecking Crew is so moving that it’s hard to contain my enthusiasm for this stunning documentary. To say that this film is long overdue would be an incredible understatement. It’s hard to imagine anyone alive today who hasn’t been affected by the people who are profiled in this documentary.
The World Premiere of 21, the official Opening Night Film of the 2008 SXSW Film Festival, took place on Friday, March 7 at Austin’s historic Paramount Theatre. 21 is pure Hollywood all the way — slick and polished, with a script that’s clever, funny, and worthy of math geeks everywhere as it chronicles the true story of a group of MIT students who learned how to beat the house at blackjack. The widescreen action is as nonstop as that on the Las Vegas casino floor which provides the setting for this thrilling caper.
Earlier, I posted my review. Here are some pictures I shot at the exciting Q&A which followed the screening, at which lead actor Jim Sturgess was joined by Ben Mezrich, author of the book Bringing Down The House on which the script is based, and Jeffrey Ma, one of the original math prodigies who was the inspiration for Sturgess’ character.
The World Premiere of Explicit Ills took place on Saturday, March 8 at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival. Earlier, I posted my review. After seeing 20 films, I chose Explicit Ills as one of my 3 Top Picks of this year’s festival.
Explicit Ills is simply a masterpiece. I sat with stunned silence as the film ended, both in wonderment at what director Mark Webber has been able to achieve as well as in deep thought about what my own role has been in the betterment of society. Explicit Ills will definitely make you think. Whether or not it will lead you to act on your thoughts is up to you.
Frankie Shaw and Lou Taylor Pucci play Michelle and Jacob, a young couple lost in the throes of romance and the haze of drugs. They do both to great excess. I had the great pleasure of sitting down with these two wonderful young actors to discuss Explicit Ills as well as the festival experience in general.
PARANOID PARK
RATED R
STARS: GABE NEVINS, TAYLOR MOMSON, JAKE MILLER, DANIEL LIU, LAUREN MCKINNEY
DIRECTOR: GUS VAN ZANT
Let me say up front that most of Van Zant’s films have left me intrigued, but also that I didn’t like a lot of them. There are those I did think were superior film work, like 2003′s Elephant. But I never cared for his "Hollywood" films, and his earlier works have often confused and confounded me.
That having been said, let me also say this: PARANOID PARK is Gus Van Zant’s BEST MOVIE. EVER.
Continue reading “Spotlight On…Paranoid Park” »
The World Premiere of Dance of the Dead took place on Sunday, March 9 at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival. Earlier, I posted my review and pictures from the Q&A following the screening, along with a video interview with lead actor Jared Kusnitz. After seeing 20 films, I chose Dance of the Dead as one of my 3 Top Picks of this year’s festival.
It’s a groundbreaking combination of high school mayhem and zombies — think John Hughes meets John Carpenter meets George Romero.
A big part of the film’s appeal stems from the relationship between Lindsey and Jimmy (Greyson Chadwick and Jared Kusnitz). I had the great pleasure of sitting down with these two wonderful young actors to discuss Dance of the Dead as well as the festival experience in general.
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