« July 2007 | Main | September 2007 »

August 2007 Archive

August 1, 2007

ReelerTV: Down to a Science

New episode catches up with Rocket man Jeffrey Blitz, mourns lost masters and hears from NYM critic Logan Hill

My Ever-Changing Blog

A note from the editor about the shape-shfiting species that is Screening Gotham

The News: Today in Filmmaker Deaths, Jeremy Blake

Also: Blonsky back to Long Island; Podhoretz gnaws on Bergman's soul

NYC Doc Blast Hits Toronto

Running down a few of the '07 fest's selections with programmer Powers

Becoming Jane

Austen gets the Austen treatment in another impeccably mannered period charmer

By Michelle Orange

August 2, 2007

Now On Deck: Reeler Pinch Hitters

Your humble editor flees in terror, leaving the baby to far more responsible caretakers

Reeler Pinch Hitter: Evan Shapiro, IFC

"Admit it, we're all interested in sex. It's time to come out of the closet."

The Bourne Ultimatum

Bourne again, with the same terse explosions and stand-out chases that hit the spot

By Vadim Rizov

The Ten

Uneven, sketch-y comedy a State of grace for absurdist fans

By Michelle Orange

Jane Unbecoming

Will the real Jane Austen please step forward? Probably not

By Meg Reber

August 3, 2007

Reeler Pinch Hitter: Ray Privett, Pioneer Theater

"Clayton Patterson's work provides an essential background for today's NYC filmmakers as they campaign for the right to shoot freely in the streets."

Revisit-ing Hours

Dont Look Back gets a look back in Pennebaker's latest Dylan doc

L Magazine and The Reeler: It's Love!

In-the-know culture mag names us among 2007's Best of New York

August 6, 2007

Reeler Pinch Hitter: Reid Rosefelt, Publicist

"Independent film is so ripe for parody. ... I sat down with my guitar and in a few hours I came up with this."

Quiet City Never Sleeps

Director Katz previews latest for sold-out, hometown crowd at Rooftop Films

August 7, 2007

Reeler Pinch Hitter: David Hudson, GreenCine Daily

"Oddly, though, if we're to peg Antonioni and Bergman as modernists, there's something missing: the city."

Reeler Flashback: Descent Climbs to Surface

Director Lugacy on old friend Rosario Dawson's polarizing rape-revenge trip

By S.T. VanAirsdale

Descent

Rape-revenge fantasy's title also applies to the fate of its narrative

By Eric Kohn

Fallen Angels Get A Second Wind

BAM's new print of vintage Wong Kar-wai an apt reminder of his evolution in style

By Vadim Rizov

August 8, 2007

Reeler Pinch Hitter: Pamela Cohn, Producer

"Cassian Elwes stepped down from the podium and pitched Half Nelson. He took it on the chin from the audience."

Stardust

The stars aren't blind, but deafening and dumb in lackluster Gaiman adaptation

By Vadim Rizov

August 9, 2007

2 Days in Paris

Playful performances buoy Delpy's take on relationships and Paris' dreamy reputation

By Michelle Orange

Reeler Pinch Hitter: Jeffrey Blitz, Filmmaker

"From the first public screening at Sundance, I had been looking forward to never having to see Rocket Science again."

Rocket Science

Blitz's feature follow-up to Spellbound an almost complete delight

By Vadim Rizov

August 10, 2007

The News: All-Positive Friday!

Inside: Clint and Harvey to duel over violin cues; Shelly Foundation and Pen & Brush focus on women filmmakers

Reeler Pinch Hitter: Lewis Beale, Journalist

"It's not that there isn't a cinema culture out there anymore. It's just that what there is has been crushed in spirit and driven to the cultural edges."

Reeler Pinch Hitter: Bennett Marcus, Journalist

"The part of it that makes me uncomfortable is when they stalk people. And that's what it is; it's stalking."

August 13, 2007

Look Back in Haneke

MoMA announces complete retrospective of Austrian filmmaker set for October

A Man, A Plan, An Ape

King of Kong's Astoria premiere more fun than a barrel of you-know-whats

By Annaliese Griffin

Reeler Pinch Hitter: John Lichman, Journalist

"We weren't discussing films anymore. I waited 40 minutes for Die Hard's or even Bruce Willis' connection to this Bible story, but it didn't come."

Ready for Their Brooklyn Close-Up

826NYC and BAM team up to give some (very) young filmmakers their night in the sun

By Michelle Orange

August 14, 2007

Another Trip to Birch Street

Looking back as Block's shattering family documentary arrives on DVD

Today in Stunt Casting: The Notorious B.I.G. Movie

Fox invites amateur videos in casting push for hip-hop biopic

August 15, 2007

Dedication to Spare

NYC Premiere: Theroux on not being Lynch; Moore on not being Theroux

Reeler Pinch Hitter: Maria Pusateri, Filmmaker

"Viewers who are already familiar with the 9/11 health crisis news are compelled by Vito's character and touched by his story."

The King is Dead, Long Live the Kooks

"Frat Night" at the NewFilmmakers Summer Series kicks off with Elvis doc

By Chris Willard

Delirious

DiCillo's latest a tired primer on the perils of a fame-obsessed culture

By Vadim Rizov

Margot at the NYFF

Homegrown upstarts, old guard favorites and international heavy-hitters featured in drool-worthy program

August 16, 2007

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Irresistible characters and a classic trajectory ensure another surefire, nerd-doc hit

By R. Emmet Sweeney

Sir Ben Revels in The Wackness

Reeler hits the Brooklyn set of new Kingsley film

August 17, 2007

Turning the Other Chabrol

Claude Chabrol's MoMA retrospective offers broader look at the "French Hitchcock"

By Steve Erickson

The 11th Hour

If documentary is the new disaster film, Leo's baby is B-movie material

By Michelle Orange

The Invasion

It's up with pod people once again, but Downfall director's vision gets blurred

By R. Emmet Sweeney

August 20, 2007

Korea, Beyond the Blockbusters

Sixth annual NY Korean Film Fest looks closer at underrepresented national cinema

By Simon Abrams

Croatian Sensations On Way to NYC

First Croatian Film Festival picks 21 titles from Eastern European cinema hotbed

The News: 'Core Class in Session

Also: New Trapped chapters provide minutes of fun; NYM tests NYC film authenticity

August 21, 2007

Testing, Testing: Local Filmmaker in Search of Feedback

Work-in-progress screening lined up for "Black black comedy"

Tender is the Night

De Jesus steps up as Singleton, Reyes and Co. whisked away at Illegal Tender premiere

The News: The Passion of Harvey

Also: Emerging Pics snagged in CondéNet; new deal for "Mumblecore" filmmaker West

Two Weeks in Manhattan

A veteran critic turns rookie programmer for the 45th New York Film Festival

By Scott Foundas

MoMI Featuring Best Warhol Revival Ever

Jackie Curtis pledged for personal appearance 22 years after OD

August 22, 2007

Mumblecore Inc.

How one festival and a new film series cornered the market on a "movement"

By S.T. VanAirsdale

August 23, 2007

The News: IFC Parks With Land Rover

Also: Guardian's upper lip stiffer and stiffer; indie fests get NYT spotlight

Katrina, On Her Own Terms

Reeler Interview: Director Redmon on the technique and toll of powerful Kamp Katrina

Boy Meets Girl, Acts Badly, Gets Girl

Dedication latest film to explore enduring romantic appeal of cinematic jerks

By Annaliese Griffin

Resurrecting the Champ

Sexed-up adaptation a treatise on journalistic integrity that strays too far from its source

By Vadim Rizov

The Hottest State

First love and first heartbreak compete for psychic space in Hawke's bloody valentine

By Michelle Orange

The Nanny Diaries

Complacent tone and strangely tame direction make for boring Diaries entry

By Eric Kohn

Dedication

Theroux's debut a mid-90s redemption romance in the All the Sad Young Dudes mold

By Michelle Orange

August 24, 2007

Mark Webber's Hottest State

State star on Hawke, hard work and the route from street kid to leading man

By S.T. VanAirsdale

August 27, 2007

The News: NYFF Talks the Talk

Also: Toronto docs restock with a few more NYC titles; War good for absolutely nothing

A Little More 'Core

A closer look at the New Talkies flying below the radar in NYC

Fame Writer Flexes Muscle, Imagination

"It’s not going to be Bring It On versus American Idol," scribe tells NYM

August 28, 2007

"As Best as I Can Define It"

Reeler Interview: Oscar-winner Friedkin on dual revivals of NYC classics French Connection and Cruising

By S.T. VanAirsdale

Owen In Mind

Seitz recollects, Variety hypothesizes as actor's future in question

Doc Passes Hat for Toronto

Highly recommended A Jihad For Love evidently highly unfinished 11 days before premiere

August 29, 2007

ReelerTV: Swanberg on the Stairs

The show returns with fest news, pleas to Harvey and another visit with Longworth -- Watch Now

Swanberg on the Stairs

The show returns with fest news, pleas to Harvey and another visit with Longworth

The Monastery: Mr. Vig and the Nun

Slim and sparsely drawn as its subject, Monastery delivers a meditation on grace

By Michelle Orange

The News: Almost a Pullquote for Quiet City

Also: Screenwriter threatens Bad Lieutenant sequel; DVD-sniffing dogs like walking lottery tickets

August 30, 2007

The Wagging Finger of Death

Warmed-over outrage underscores latest survey of art-house woes

Exiled

The unstoppable Johnnie To's third 2007 release is also the most entertaining film of the year

By R. Emmet Sweeney

August 31, 2007

The News: All-Positive Friday!

Inside: Brolin survives Scooby; House Next Door reflects at its cornerstone

If We Don't Tell Our Stories

A NYC director and his colleagues become filmmaking mentors in Uganda

By Fellipe Gamarano Barbosa

The Nines

August's metaphor-happy allegory for the writer's plight blows everything but your mind

By Vadim Rizov