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October 2006 Archive
October 2, 2006
This Jost In From the NYT
Filmmaker's "independently poor" business model stronger than ever
NYFF: Of Woman, Queen and Queens
In the latest entry in his NY Film Festival video diary, filmmaker Jamie Stuart...
'An Important Cinema!': The Pioneer Brings the Mayhem In October
An annual surge of European cult classics, no-budget suspense, horror-porn and a seance with Kim Novak
Pray Tell: Graffiti Doc Infamy Screens Free Tonight at Anthology
It's a long story, but I just got off the phone with filmmaker Doug Pray.
October 3, 2006
Of Angels, Angst and Kushner
Oscar winner Frieda Lee Mock talks about turning her camera on the legendary playwright
By S.T. VanAirsdale
Art Fag City: Video Game Culture Thrives in New Documentary
A new column spotlights film and video from the New York art community
By Paddy Johnson
Shortbus
Director Mitchell uses sex as the entry point -- and what he finds is uniformly poignant, lonely and exhausted.
By Michelle Orange
Unwatchable? Gilliam Brings Tideland to NYC
"Nobody wanted to touch this thing," filmmaker tells Queens audience
This Weekend: Jesus Camp On the Move
I don't know what "scheduling conflict" means, but I'm sure it has something to do the F train running right behind the screen.
New York Magazine Saves You Trip to Lincoln Center
Five NYFF short films now available on the magazine's Web site
October 4, 2006
Wrestling With Angels
For all the merits of its subject, Kushner doc overstocked with hagiography
By Eric Kohn
Beatty Talks (and Talks) Reds at NYFF
"Diane Keaton is a plot. A very interesting plot."
By S.T. VanAirsdale
Reeler Podcast: John Cameron Mitchell
On the Shortbus with the director of the year's unsexiest sex film
Czech, Czech, One, Two: Svankmajer, Trojan En Route to Brooklyn
BAM has had its upcoming New Czech Cinema series announced for a little while...
October 5, 2006
The Departed
Style trumps substance in Scorsese's sordid all-star cop romp
By Eric Kohn
NYFF: Apted Tells New York What's Up
"I'll argue with them about things, and if they insist on not showing stuff, there's not much I can do."
The Return of Pedro
Perennial NYFF-er Almodovar brings Volver and (some lady named Penelope) to Lincoln Center
By S.T. VanAirsdale
Sources: Lim Gone As Voice Film Editor
J. Hoberman is safe (if not especially pleased) for the time being, and New Times will attempt to rebuild the Voice's film section around his name.
October 6, 2006
Little Children
Powerful Winslet can't save Field's soapy suburban drama
By Matt Singer
One Night Only at IFC Center: An Evening of Oppression, Torture and Death, With Your Host Gaspar Noe
Theater boss John Vanco is on the phone doubling his insurance coverage as we speak.
October 7, 2006
Coney Island FF Screens the Rare and the Restless
Sixth annual festival spotlights lost Strasberg/Gordon film Boardwalk
Three Hours of Sleep: Lynch Unveils Inland Empire In New York
The vulgar courts the sublime in director's epic Hollywood fever dream
By S.T. VanAirsdale
October 9, 2006
Manhattan Festival Madness
The Reeler's whirlwind Sunday tour of the Filipino, South Asian, Harlem and New York Film Festivals
Harvey In the News
I cannot believe it took more than a week to invoke Harvey Weinstein's name in these pages, but alas, the cosmos works well that way.
Thomson Wounded in Own Attack on NYT Reviewer
The moral of the story: When leaping to your defense, watch your head.
October 10, 2006
Art Fag City: The Mess of Mount Weather
The weekly column returns with a look at Cliff Evans' Web-crazy video collage
By Paddy Johnson
NYC Premiere: Infamous
"I think he would have employed someone to give him a Web presence," said star Toby Jones. "And then he would have sued him if it didn't represent him how he wanted to be represented."
October 11, 2006
Infamous
The other Capote film is but a funhouse mirror alteration of its predecessor's droll routine
By Eric Kohn
Noe Out: Filmmaker Revisits Feature Debut at IFC Center
"When you're angry, you just start spitting on anything that's not you."
By S.T. VanAirsdale
NYC Premiere: Driving Lessons
Laura Linney and Rupert Grint celebrate the coming-of-age story in Chelsea
Terry Gilliam Has Had Better Trips to New York
The begging was just the beginning. Then he checked his e-mail.
When Tabloids Attack, Part 2,215: Bullock vs. InTouch
Jesus Christ, lady -- Capote would have asked the same thing
Breaking Events News: Richard Leacock and Death of a President En Route to NYC
A couple of good events updates just came over the transom at Reeler HQ:...
Who Wins (and How) When Lynch Self-Distributes Inland Empire?
Forget about "prestige" bookings -- unless Lynch himself is giving viewers their money back or personally issuing signed hold harmless releases prior to each screening.
October 12, 2006
Man of the Year
Old pros Levinson and Williams turn timely idea into thematic fire sale
By Michelle Orange
Barbosa's Salt Kiss Charms NYFF
The Columbia alum and Sundance '06 veteran returns with first film from native Brazil
Day at the Races: What Woody Could Learn From Clint
Eastwood, the quintessential white Republican, might be the most racially progressive Caucasian filmmaker in the land
By Lewis Beale
Gaspar Redux: Noe Unveils Porn to NYU Students
"Before being humans, we are animals," filmmaker confides to The Reeler
October 13, 2006
Deliver Us From Evil
Wrenching documentary looks at a notorious priest and sexual abuse in the Catholic Church
By MIchelle Orange
Evil City FF Gets Smart
Music doc a nifty blend of cult evolution, literary moment and klezmer-pop meanderings
October 14, 2006
When Sofia Met Marie
Coppola sabotages her vision outright, resulting in the most conventional kind of boring period trash
By S.T. VanAirsdale
October 16, 2006
'We Stuck With the Team': Filmmakers Remember Their First Times
Mitchell guides Mills, Morrison, Cassavetes and Theroux in Tokion Conference panel
'Labyrinth,' Maddin Close Down NYFF
Canadian filmmaker premieres Brand Upon the Brain!: "I'm not used to live events where anything and everything goes wrong all the time."
Lynch's Hair, Almodovar's Woe: Stuart Closes Out NYFF Diaries
As though my having fallen behind is not obvious enough, the better-late-than-never part of...
Variety Throws Four-Oh Bash For NYC Film Office
Oliver stars in Monday package; unions, cops, PA's earn support slots
October 17, 2006
The Sweet and the Sublime
10 days to perfect German with Sweet Land stunner Elizabeth Reaser
By S.T. VanAirsdale
Making Whoopee: The Art of CineKink
The celebration of alternative sexuality on film and video celebrates its fourth year
Reeler Screening Series Recap: Nelson Previews Jonestown at Makor
"Nobody is going to do that kind of thing today. We all might be better off if we did -- especially if it wasn't with Jim Jones."
Play Along in the Voice Film Editor Sweepstakes
Where else but Craigslist would you go to look for a prostitute?
October 18, 2006
Sleeping Dogs Lie
Goldthwait's unholy blend of gross-out comedy and romantic comedy makes new film peculiarly riveting
By Vadim Rizov
Running With Scissors
Magnetic Bening can't save twee Burroughs adaptation from itself
By Michelle Orange
Leacock's Greatest Hits Return to NYC
Packed IFC Center welcomes verite legend with pals Pennebaker, Maysles and Drew
Art Fag City: When the Theater is the Medium
A pair of installations in Queens complement cinema with design
By Paddy Johnson
'It's A Hard Film to Do': Pray Talks Big Rig
"I want the audience to go on the same ride I went on -- except that ride took 40 days. And the movie's 90 minutes."
October 19, 2006
Marie Antoinette
Coppola's queen has everything she could want -- except for an emotional arc
By Matt Singer
Building Blocks
51 Birch Street asks (and answers) the hardest question of all: Do you want to know your parents?
By S.T. VanAirsdale
Of Plympton, Poultry and the Pioneer
You, too, can take home a personal sketch and fond memories of mascot erections
Who are the "World's Stroppiest Actors"?
Great moments in thespian/journalist combat, with your host Ray Pride
October 20, 2006
The Prestige
Jackman, Johansson and Bale work their magic in Christopher Nolan's great thriller
By Michelle Orange
Flags of our Fathers
Eastwood crafts an austere, knowing film about the power of images and the work of the everyday soldier
By Matt Singer
A Time for Hope: What's Happening in the Hamptons?
Situation premieres, producer honored in typically wild 24 hours on Long Island
One Size Fits All at Eighth Annual NY Turkish Film Festival
Art meets commerce as Turkish cinema comes into its own
'The Weirdo Factor'
Tim Burton Film Festival joins NYC's oddest shorts for a day at Symphony Space
Fordham Fest Screens the Law
First-year event showcases intersection of justice, morality and cinema
October 23, 2006
A Bridge Too Far?
NYC-based filmmaker Steel brings suicide to the screen in The Bridge
By Karen Kramer
Spree to Good Home: IFC's Von Trier Pick-Up Third in a Week
Boss of it All follows weekend buy at Hamptons and hot action with Weinsteins
Snob Porn and Baby Piss: NYM Gets Classy with Michael Lucas
Frank Whaley didn't do that, did he?
Putting the 'Die' in 'Indie': IFP Issues Gotham Award Noms
When three Best Feature nods have a combined $144 million budget, it might be time to change the rules
By S.T. VanAirsdale
October 24, 2006
For Your Consideration Getting High-Priced Preview at Lincoln Center
Opening of the Film Society's new Payday Advance kiosk accompanies screening of new Guest mockumentary
Beat the Press
The Borat media frenzy begs the question: Will reporters ever quit rolling over for studios?
By Lewis Beale
THR: New York Film Industry Blowing Up
Report shows economic impact on state more than twice originally estimated
Capitol Add-On: ThinkFilm Bought by L.A. Duo
Sackman and Urman keep their jobs in good merger for both sides
October 25, 2006
Art Fag City: The Return of Comic Book Confidential
Filmmaker Mann discusses seminal comics doc in special screening in NYC
By Paddy Johnson
NYC Premiere: Shut Up and Sing
"We just kept the cameras rolling," Maines says of new Dixie Chicks documentary
Diamonds and Dirt: Page Six Reports on Amputeegate and Gallo's "Friend"
Is Hollywood big enough for two troubled humanitarian directors?
October 26, 2006
Death in Queens
"I knew this would upset some people," Death of a President director Range tells MMI crowd
Cowboys Up: New Doc Explores Decadent Miami Drug Trade
Tribeca hit Cocaine Cowboys returns to NYC with tales of excess, glamour and synthesizer fetishes
By Vadim Rizov
Soros/Sundance Docs Showcased at Film Forum
Tenth anniversary of documentary grants celebrated with 19 acclaimed films
More Gothams: NYC Execs Speak Out
IW's Kaufman puts ear to ground, hears bitching, hypocrisy and cash registers
Jackman, Winslet Careers Officially in the Crapper
Studio treats the A-list like shit -- but in a good way
Death of a President
Ambitious imagining of Bush's assassination could use a little sense of humor
By Eric Kohn
October 27, 2006
Catch a Fire
Noyce's well-crafted thriller contrasts the confidence of absolute power with the passion it takes to overthrow it
By Michelle Orange
Babel
The lessons of Babel are clear; the lessons of Babel infinitely, infuriatingly less so.
By Michelle Orange
Babel: Five Languages in Search of a Story
Globetrotting and orange juggling with Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu
By S.T. VanAirsdale
Reeler Link Dump: Glory in Passaic Edition
Wherein your humble editor mainlines the last of the coffee and tries to put a rowdy week to bed
October 29, 2006
West Slide Story: Winslet and Jackman Flushed Away at Premiere
A-listers share New York City's biggest john in exclusive Reeler video
October 30, 2006
Resistance and Rebirth
Jancso films lead the way in major Hungarian cinema retrospective at Lincoln Center
By Ray Privett
Nair's Namesake Opens IAAC Fest
Sixth annual event brings Indian cinema to US mainstream
News Flash: Harvey Weinstein Wins 'Argument'
He slammed the Oscar down on the table in front of Bob and screamed: "Who knows f****** more about scriptwriting, you or me?"
Dilettantes and Renaissance: Yari Picks Up Lost Alec Baldwin Project
Six years and at least three cuts later, the NYC-shot The Devil and Daniel Webster becomes an Alan Smithee film
October 31, 2006
Art Fag City: Not Quite Absolute Wilson
Conventional biography misses point in doc about legendary avant garde director Wilson
By Paddy Johnson
Inland Empire to Retake New York in December
Lynch's self-distribution adventure starts up Dec. 6 at IFC Center