« January 2008 | Main | March 2008 »

February 2008 Archive

February 1, 2008

The News: All-Positive Friday!

Inside: Musto catches up on new docs; indies coming soon to a hipster pit near you

February 4, 2008

The News: Monday News Haikus!

Inside: Football gets a look from cinephiles; critics in trouble (again)

Tribeca Comes Home

Uptown locations out, ticket prices dropped as downsizing festival regroups

February 5, 2008

The News: SXSW, Rendez-Vous Make it Official

Also: NYT reports Ganis slaying nominees; who will take Woodlawn's latest?

Bruges Brothers

Farrell, McDonagh and Schamus flaunt bloody In Bruges at NYC premiere

By S.T. VanAirsdale

February 6, 2008

The News: Distribution Beastie

Also: MoMI rebuilding deep into 2009; VF kills Oscar party, my dreams

February 7, 2008

In Bruges

McDonagh's gangster goofballs bring verve to a film that doesn't quite deserve it

By Vadim Rizov

Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show

Vaughn's funny valentine to heartland values is a laugh- every-other-minute affair

By Vadim Rizov

The Band's Visit

Newcomer Kolirin presents an unstriking Israeli-Egyptian story with a strikingly tender eye

By Michelle Orange

The News: Drugs and Spin Mix in Ledger Report

Also: Sapphic Scarlett teased in Page Six; Gallo out as Asia steps in

Who Is the Monster Here?

Romero puts "gory" back in "allegory" during Times Square Diary preview

A Rare Source of Contempt

Seduced and Abandoned: Une Vie dazzled viewers -- including Godard -- with ultimate in color and movement

Retro-Activity: Burnett Celebrated in NYC

Anthology revives Sheep, Wedding, rare shorts and more for one-week program

Tell Me About Sidney

Musto, Carr, Swanberg, Longworth and others on the subject of Film Forum's latest epic retrospective

February 8, 2008

The News: All-Positive Friday!

Inside: What makes a breakthrough in 2008? And what the fuck is the Hawaii Chair?

Critic All-Call: MoMI's Film Writing Institute Wants You

Second annual event set for April; apps due by Feb. 18

February 11, 2008

The (Late) News: Roy Scheider, 1932-2008

Also: Blood boys meet Milkshake man (sort of); Kehr takes off with Forman

If It's the Last Thing Jack Mathews Does...

Outgoing NYDN critic strives for one last burst of hate mail with bloggy faves

February 12, 2008

Dead Man

Diary director George A. Romero trains his shaky camera on new-media zombies

By Ben Gold

Julian Schnabel, Peacemaker

Diving Bell follow-up, religious harmony coming to Israel in '09

The News: What's "Connecticut"?

Also: Coens and Rudin do Chabon; are rep houses faltering (still)?

The Smart and Dumb of It

Philly critic comes to NYC to discuss cinema's treatment of blondes

February 13, 2008

The News: NYC's Indie Patriarch?

Also: Reading (and overreading) Michael Clayton; RIP Tony Silver

Ezra

Child soldier story's indicting purpose gets lost in a host of muddled sensibilities

By Eric Kohn

Love, Japanimation Style

Japan Society celebrates early days of animation with four-day series

Gates Open; Yonder Closed?

Catching up with Maysles and Co. as new doc (and family rift) prepare for big debuts

By S.T. VanAirsdale

February 14, 2008

How to Score Your Life

Director Brooks and stars Reynolds, Fisher and Breslin on Definitely, Maybe's do-it-yourself soundtrack

By S.T. VanAirsdale

The News: Valentine's Day Edition

Inside: Romancing Film Comment Selects; celebrating true love with Kathleen Turner

Professor's Class Soon in Session

New Kraus doc previews at YouTube; work will never be the same

Definitely, Maybe

Brooks loves the '90s in his nicely structured, sweet-toothed romantic comedy

By Michelle Orange

'Burger Joint

Brazilian director on Oscars and coming of age in The Year My Parents Went on Vacation

Jumper

The motion's the thing in Liman's frantic version of sci-fi hopscotch

By Eric Kohn

Forman Face-Off Comes to MoMA

Seduced and Abandoned: Did a peer's challenge set the director up for American triumph?

February 18, 2008

The News: Did Harvey Buy the Berlinale?

Also: Lim has a word with Rivette; Johanson has a word for Sex and the City

Of Courtships and Cannonballs

Vulture sneaks NYU alum's terrific short onto Web and into hearts

Pride, Glory at Stake in Pride and Glory Kerfuffle

Why worry if cop-thriller trailer leaves something to be desired?

February 19, 2008

The News: Lindsay Lohan, NSFW

Also: Parsing Oscars and indies with O'Hehir; advice for Ethan Hawke libelers

Amy Ryan Gets Involved

Queens' own Oscar delegate regales Moving Image crowd with tales from Gone Baby Gone

Make Oscar Plans with The Reeler

Joining forces with Spout for second annual awards-season send-off

February 20, 2008

Getting (Un)Even With Oscar

Art Fag City: New York showcase highlights disparity between animated shorts

Fake It 'Til They Make It

Counterfeiters director and star on ambiguity, Oscar and the trouble with Holocaust films

By S.T. VanAirsdale

The News: J-Long Island

Also: Tracey, Wire coming to NYC; Denby, Coens catch up three months late

The Boys From Brazil

Meirelles and Morelli take sides on City of Men and Tropa de Elite

February 21, 2008

A Mixed Signal

Directors Bruckner, Bush and Gentry on the ups, downs and challenges of three-way filmmaking

By S.T. VanAirsdale

New Directors/New Films Stays Close to Home

Frozen River opens fest Mar. 26; Kerrigan, Solondz, other alums welcomed back for encores

The News: Aunt Cindy on the Oscar Beat

Also: Kenny beats on the brat; my ass is a sex organ

The Duchess of Langeais

A private affair grows stifling in Rivette's creaky story of obsessive love

By Vadim Rizov

MoMA Turns Lens on Churchill

Documentary Fortnight sidebar showcases legend's pioneering camera and directing work

Be Kind Rewind

Gondry's sweet, raucous film-fest too shabby for its own good

By Michelle Orange

The Counterfeiters

True story of money-making and survival during the Holocaust a sharp-paced thriller

By Michelle Orange

February 22, 2008

The News: All-Positive Friday!

Inside: PTA meets, beats Carpetbagger; Ricci goes through phases for MYM

Choose Your Sucker: Kimmel or Finke?

Honest correction or "bullshit institutional schadenfreude"? You be the judge!

Clayton Wins NYT Oscar Season Once-Over

NY film greats assessed, reassessed, poked and prodded

From the Reeler Archives: Page, Gondry, Yelchin

Remembering our visits back in the day with some of the weekend's big names

Coming Soon to a Shrine / T-Shirt / Velvet Canvas Near You

Ledger portrait leaves burning questions including, "What the fuck?"

February 25, 2008

The News: Oscar Coma Edition

Inside: NY'ers Gibney, Wade take doc prizes; liveblogs confirm: Weakest. Oscarcast. Ever.

February 26, 2008

The News: NYUFF, RIP

Also: More festival alternatives; Pakistan drops the Y-bomb

NYC Hosts Dead Gamer Showdown

When there is no more room in Hell, the lawyers will walk the Earth

Bad Sports

Wrasslin' pictures, Ferrell's oeuvre fair game in sports cinema two-fer

February 27, 2008

Orphans and Bastards

Reeler Interview: Chicago 10 filmmaker Brett Morgen on craft, character and looking forward to Cobain

By S.T. VanAirsdale

The News: The Last Oscar News I Will Ever Write Before Noon Today

Inside: Friedman haunts the head; hire Musto to host in '09

February 28, 2008

Meet Me at Defamer

Where your loyal editor has a fling with an L.A. paramour

February 29, 2008

Your Mother's Road Movie

Stars Lange and Allen on the scenic route of their new Bonneville

Doc Fortnight Closes to Great Chagrin

Saga follows the incredible (and incredibly funny) life of Brother Theodore