KIM VOYNAR
WHERE DO YOU WRITE FROM?
Usually from my living room couch, with my Jack Russell Terrier, Sophie, perched behind me watching over my shoulder, and the noise of four energetic children providing the soundtrack.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT MOVIES?
Corny but true: When I was a kid spending the night at my Grandma's we'd always watch "Siskel and Ebert." Then we'd snuggle in my Grandma's bed and I'd review whatever movie I'd seen recently (or a book, if I hadn't seen a movie lately) and try to sound like Roger Ebert. She was so proud when I grew up and finally started writing about movies for a living; I think she felt, in part, responsible for encouraging that ambition. And she was right.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE GENRE?
I love well-made movies of any genre, but I'm particularly partial to documentaries, independent films, and depressing Eastern European dramas. I love a good noir. However, I can also appreciate a (good) fantasy film, and I love when I find a movie for kids that doesn't assume children have the mental capacity of a head of cabbage.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES?
I love many of the classics: Fellini's La Dolce Vita, Breathless and Weekend by Godard, almost anything by Truffaut (though I especially like Stolen Kisses and The 400 Blows). I love to watch indie films on the fest circuit and discover something new and compelling. My true confession: I could watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Breakfast Club over and over, and never get tired of them. Oh god, and Imitation of Life, which always makes me cry. Thanks, Douglas Sirk.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE DIRECTORS?
Besides the above, Ingmar Bergman will always be one of my faves, and I think Charlie Chapman was just brilliant. More recent directors? Spielberg will forever be on my list of favorites, because ET is and always will be the movie that made me fall in love with movies. Michel Gondry is often weird, but in a good way, and I'll watch anything Scorsese makes, just because. Other directors I really like of late: Ramin Bahrani, Gela Babluani, Vadim Perelman, Todd Field, David Fincher, and Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden -- they've all taken chances, and work to make their films artistic and smart. I was also quite impressed with Jason Kohn, who made a masterfully beautiful doc with Manda Bala. Oh, and I have a serious crush on Guy Maddin -- his Brand Upon the Brain! is simply brilliant.
WHAT'S THE CRAZIEST COMMENT YOU'VE EVER GOTTEN?
I think that would have to be a tie between the death threat from the Keanu Reeves fan who was pissed off because I implied that his acting is sometimes a bit wooden, and the Turkish fan who wanted me to move to Turkey and marry him. Fortunately, I was neither killed by a rabid Keanu defender nor wed to the would-be Romeo. But I did, at least, appreciate my fan's enthusiasm.
WHAT ARE THE BEST PERKS OF THIS GIG?
By far, getting to travel to film festivals. I cover a lot of fests for Cinematical, and I love every one of them. Getting the schedule for a new fest is like Christmas morning to me. My favorite fest is Telluride -- it's so incredibly beautiful there, and I love that the focus of that festival is on the love of cinema as cinema. Though I'd have to say, hanging with almost the entire Cinematical posse at SXSW was very fun, too.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT WRITING FOR CINEMATICAL?
I love the interaction we have with our readers, and the intelligent discussions we get into with them on various topics. Having been with Cinematical almost since its inception, I'm very proud of how the site has grown and evolved, and I love hearing from directors, studio heads, actors and random fest attendees that they read our site regularly and love it. We have a great team, and I love being a part of it.
SDCC Panel: Robert Rodriguez's 'Red Sonja'
Review: The X-Files: I Want To Believe
Live from SDCC: Preview Night Gallery!
Live from SDCC: Time to Get Our Con On!
Discuss: Wednesday is the New Friday
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_thumbnail.jpg "Watchmen Storyboards")
