Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Exhibitionist: Journey to the Cinema for an Astonishing 3-D Experiencehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/06/the-exhibitionist-journey-to-the-cinema-for-an-astonishing-3-d/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/06/the-exhibitionist-journey-to-the-cinema-for-an-astonishing-3-d/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/06/the-exhibitionist-journey-to-the-cinema-for-an-astonishing-3-d/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



I don't know the last time I felt like a kid at the movies, but while watching Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D this past week, I honestly reverted to my 8-year-old self. That isn't to say the movie is necessarily as good as the movies that astonished me as a kid -- because of the subject matter, I'd think about comparing it to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies, both of which came out when I was around that age, and neither to which this film holds up in terms of originality or storytelling craft. But as far as holding onto my sense of wonder, Journey is up there.

Of course, it's necessary to point out that Journey would be nothing without the digital 3-D factor. It's actually the first live-action narrative feature to be shot and released in the new format (the non-fiction concert films, U2 3D and Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour were technically the first live-action 3-D features), and while it's far from perfect, it is a terrific pioneer. I shall continue favoring the look of animated 3-D films, especially those directed as well as Monster House, and I anticipate that James Cameron's Avatar will blow away all live-action 3-D films released prior to its arrival. For now, though, I'm telling you, with the utmost cinemaphilic urgency: you need to see this ASAP.

Continue reading The Exhibitionist: Journey to the Cinema for an Astonishing 3-D Experience

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]]>3-Davatarbeowulfbrendan fraserBrendanFrasercaptain eoCaptainEocinema industryCinemaIndustrydigital 3-Ddigital projectionDigital3-dDigitalProjectioneric brevigEricBrevigexhibitionisthannah montanahannah montanamiley cyrus best of both worlds concert tourHannahMontanaHannahMontanamileyCyrusBestOfBothWorldsConcertTourindiana jones and the temple of doomIndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoomjourney 3-djourney to the center of the earthjourney to the centery of the earth 3-dJourney3-dJourneyToTheCenterOfTheEarthJourneyToTheCenteryOfTheEarth3-djurassic parkJurassicParkmonster houseMonsterHousereal DRealDthe exhibiitionistthe gooniesthe robetheater industrytheater ownersTheaterIndustryTheaterOwnersTheExhibiitionistTheGooniesTheRobetotal recallTotalRecallu2 3dU23dChristopher CampbellSun, 06 Jul 2008 09:02:00 EST400 Screens, 400 Blows - July Fourth Movieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/04/400-screens-400-blows-july-fourth-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/04/400-screens-400-blows-july-fourth-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/04/400-screens-400-blows-july-fourth-movies/#commentsFiled under: ,



It's pretty easy to pick out Christmas movies and Halloween movies, and it's not too hard to find a New Year's movie, or even Arbor Day or Memorial Day movies. But how do you select a Fourth of July movie? Steven Spielberg's Jaws (1975) takes place during the Fourth of July, when the sheriff (the late, great Roy Scheider) tries to close the beach to protect the people from the killer shark and the greedy mayor wants to keep the beaches open to make lots of money. And who can forget Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear (1991), with its image of a cackling, cigar-smoking Robert De Niro looming over the helpless, passive family, while fireworks explode overhead? These movies may not be entirely appropriate, or they may be all-too-appropriate symbols of America in 2008, but either way, they're both terrific movies.

The road movie is a uniquely American genre; unlike other parts of the world, Americans have the freedom to drive across 3000 miles of open land without getting hassled. It also involves cars, for which Americans have a singular passion. There are dozens of great road movies (not surprisingly), but let's go with three of the most unique examples. Tim Burton's cult classic Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) brings the title hero on the road to find his stolen bicycle; the film also has the best hitch-hiking sequences since It Happened One Night. Monte Hellman's Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) is the ultimate existential car movie, and David Lynch's The Straight Story (1999) is the road movie transplanted to a power lawnmower (which is pretty American, too, when you think about it).

Continue reading 400 Screens, 400 Blows - July Fourth Movies

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]]>cinematicalfeaturedfilmfourth of julyFourthOfJulyjuly 4thJuly4thmovieJeffrey M. AndersonFri, 04 Jul 2008 11:02:00 ESTIndie Spotlight: New Releases for July 4http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/04/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-july-4/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/04/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-july-4/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/04/indie-spotlight-new-releases-for-july-4/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You say you've got an indie jones? A desire to see something that's not playing on every single screen in America? Then you've come to the right place. "Indie Spotlight" is a new column that will appear each Friday at Cinematical, listing the films that are opening in limited release that weekend. We'll tell you what they are, where they're playing, and what the critics are saying about them, to give you something to see beyond the multiplexes.

This Fourth of July is a fine time to declare your love of independents, as these films are opening in art houses across the land: Diminished Capacity, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, Holding Trevor, Kabluey, Tell No One, The Wackness, and We Are Together.

Diminished Capacity
What it is: Matthew Broderick plays a man suffering from memory problems who returns to his hometown to hang out with his uncle (Alan Alda), who has Alzheimer's. He connects with an old girlfriend (Virginia Madsen), too; not sure on whether she can remember things or not. Oh, and it's a comedy.
What they're saying: Cinematical's Christopher Campbell gave it a so-so review; boss man Erik Davis liked it better, but he's in the minority.
Where it's playing: New York City (Landmark Sunshine Cinema; Clearview's 62nd & Broadway), Chicago (Landmark Century Centre Cinema), and Los Angeles (Laemmle's Music Hall 3, Beverly Hills).
Official site: IFC Films.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
What it is: Sadly, Gonzo is not the long-awaited biopic of the misunderstood Muppet. It is instead a documentary about the legendary writer/journalist/hallucinogen-enthusiast whose work you might know from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The doc, by Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room), premiered at Sundance.
What they're saying: Cinematical's James Rocchi reviewed it favorably and interviewed Gibney. Our Nick Schager liked it, too.

Continue reading Indie Spotlight: New Releases for July 4

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]]>Eric D. SniderFri, 04 Jul 2008 09:02:00 ESTThe Exhibitionist: The Comfort of 'Strangers'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/29/the-exhibitionist-the-comfort-of-strangers/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/29/the-exhibitionist-the-comfort-of-strangers/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/29/the-exhibitionist-the-comfort-of-strangers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



This week, I don't want to talk about anything new. I don't want to discuss the good news about studios and European exhibitors finally agreeing on a virtual print fee. I don't want to comment on Nielsen's research showing the strong consumer appetite for 3-D films (I'll be talking enough about 3-D next week in anticipation of Journey to the Center of the Earth). I don't want to even get people's hopes up about Microsoft's supposed "manners device" that silences cell phones instead of blocking them (signal blocking was recently found to be illegal in the U.S.). I really don't want to comment on Mark Gill's "The Sky is Falling" speech from the L.A. Film Festival loosely concerning the state of art house cinema (the speech is more related to film making and financing, plus I already played Chicken Little last week).

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]]>exhibitionistfeaturedliv tylerLivTylermoviegoingpoltergeistthe exhibitionistthe strangersTheExhibitionistTheStrangersChristopher CampbellSun, 29 Jun 2008 09:03:00 ESTThe (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: June 27-July 3http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/27/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-27-july-3/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/27/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-27-july-3/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/27/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-27-july-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

A bit of math tells me that after this weekend, 2008 will be halfway over. But here at The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, we prefer to think that 2008 has only halfway begun. There are still six months left to participate in the many cool film-related events that happen every week outside the nation's multiplexes! If you know of something coming up -- special screenings, retrospectives, mini-festivals, etc. -- send me a link! My e-mail is Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

This week, even if WALL-E is what you've always Wanted, try to make room in your life for these...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES
  • Gunnin' for That #1 Spot is a doc about the nation's top high school basketball players competing in a tournament -- and the film was directed by Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, so you know it's hip. Cinematical's Scott Weinberg gave it a rave review at Tribeca. It opens today in places where basketball is big, just in time for the NBA draft: New York, L.A., Phoenix, Portland, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.
  • Finding Amanda stars Matthew Broderick as a TV producer who goes to Las Vegas to convince his niece (Brittany Snow) to enter rehab. Our Erik Davis tried to find something nice to say about it at Tribeca but was unsuccessful. Opens today in NYC, L.A., Chicago, Boston, Philly, D.C., San Francisco, and Palm Desert, Calif.

After the jump, more indie theatrical releases, plus the city-by-city list of special events....

Continue reading The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: June 27-July 3

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]]>Eric D. SniderFri, 27 Jun 2008 08:02:00 EST400 Screens, 400 Blows - Mavericks, Auteurs & Geniuseshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/26/400-screens-400-blows-mavericks-auteurs-and-geniuses/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/26/400-screens-400-blows-mavericks-auteurs-and-geniuses/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/26/400-screens-400-blows-mavericks-auteurs-and-geniuses/#commentsFiled under: ,



In describing today's best directors, three terms are generally used (and overused): Maverick, Genius and Auteur. A "maverick" is now used to describe virtually anyone who makes a movie without using Hollywood money. An "auteur" is used to describe anyone who writes as well as directs. And "genius" is used to describe anyone who makes a halfway decent film. I'm taking these words back. In reality, a "maverick" should be a button-pusher. It's a filmmaker who is so radical and daring that even high-minded, forward-thinking critics sneer at their work, people like Vincent Gallo or Catherine Breillat. These people are so dangerous that they have trouble making and distributing films. Harmony Korine, director of Mister Lonely (5 screens) is very much a maverick. Korine has pushed many buttons and many envelopes over the years and though I love his work, he's someone I wouldn't want to invite to my house. (He scares me.)

Werner Herzog, director of Encounters at the End of the World (1 screen), is also a maverick (and, incidentally, a buddy of Korine's). His physically dangerous films have probably had insurance companies slamming the door in his face, and his co-workers have included people who might not be fit for polite society. (At the very least, most of them would turn heads.) Some of his actors have reportedly threatened to kill him. It cracks me up that, because Herzog's documentary Grizzly Man was such a hit, Herzog was allowed to make his new film for the Discovery Channel. I'd really love to have been in on that board meeting. Did they really know who they were dealing with? At the same time, Herzog is also an auteur: all of his films have the same roaming curiosity, fearlessly exploring man's tenuous connection to nature, from Aguirre navigating the Amazon looking for El Dorado, to Timothy Treadwell seeking to befriend the bears.

Continue reading 400 Screens, 400 Blows - Mavericks, Auteurs & Geniuses

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]]>cinematicalcontemptdario argentoDarioArgentoencounters at the end of the worldEncountersAtTheEndOfTheWorlderrol morrisErrolMorrisfeaturedfilmflight of the red balloonFlightOfTheRedBalloonharmony korineHarmonyKorinehou hsiao hsienHouHsiaoHsienjacques rivetteJacquesRivettejean-luc godardJean-lucGodardmister lonelyMisterLonelymother of tearsMotherOfTearsmoviemy blueberry nightsMyBlueberryNightsstandard operating procedureStandardOperatingProcedurethe duchess of langeaisTheDuchessOfLangeaiswerner herzogWernerHerzogwong kar waiWongKarWaiJeffrey M. AndersonThu, 26 Jun 2008 20:35:00 ESTThe Exhibitionist: Window Shutting, Sky Fallinghttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/22/the-exhibitionist-window-shutting-sky-falling/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/22/the-exhibitionist-window-shutting-sky-falling/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/22/the-exhibitionist-window-shutting-sky-falling/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



As usual, I'm not going to pretend to understand the technologies behind modern home entertainment. And so, before I begin, I'd like to prematurely thank any commenters who choose to weigh in on things such as "selectable output control," "the analog hole" or any other terms I might misuse or incorrectly explain. The only thing I comprehend about those electronic doohickeys in my living room is that they each somehow connect to my antiquated analog television and through the magic of, well, I don't know, I'm able to watch the occasional classic movie and mindless cake design program.

Those familiar with this column should know that I'm not here to necessarily explain how threats to movie theaters work. I'm just here to yell, "the sky is falling!" from within the lobby of the local cinema and hope that you Henny Pennys and Goosey Looseys are listening to my rants and ramblings and at least try to go to the movies more often (and hopefully buy at least one thing at the concession stand). This time, however, I feel even less knowledgeable about the latest threat, and I feel even more fearful that this is the beginning of the end. The cinemapocalypse, if you will.

Continue reading The Exhibitionist: Window Shutting, Sky Falling

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]]>exhibitionistfccfeaturedmpaanational association of theatre ownersNationalAssociationOfTheatreOwnersnatorelease windowsReleaseWindowsthe exhibitionistthe matrixthe terminatorTheExhibitionistTheMatrixTheTerminatorvideo on demandVideoOnDemandVODChristopher CampbellSun, 22 Jun 2008 09:02:00 ESTThe (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: June 20-26http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/20/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-20-26/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/20/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-20-26/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/20/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-20-26/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Steve Carell and Mike Myers are going head-to-head at the multiplexes this weekend, but over here at The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar we're more interested in the art houses and independent theaters. If you know of something coming up that ought to be on the calendar -- special screenings, retrospectives, mini-festivals, etc. -- let me know! We're always looking to add new stuff to the list. My e-mail address (or "addy," as the kids say) is Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

So let the other suckers fight over whose big-budget comedy is less funny! Focus your attention on these...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES
  • Brick Lane, which opens today in New York after playing at a dozen or so film festivals, including Telluride and Toronto, is a British drama about a Bangladeshi woman who moves to London in the 1980s for an arranged marriage. Hilarity ensues?
  • Expired is a comedy/drama about a mousy meter maid (Samantha Morton) who has a relationship with a gruff, abusive coworker (Jason Patric). It opens today in New York.

After the jump, our city-by-city round-up of special events and screenings....

Continue reading The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: June 20-26

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]]>Eric D. SniderFri, 20 Jun 2008 08:02:00 EST400 Screens, 400 Blows - Wave of New Waveshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/19/400-screens-400-blows-wave-of-new-waves/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/19/400-screens-400-blows-wave-of-new-waves/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/19/400-screens-400-blows-wave-of-new-waves/#commentsFiled under: ,

Four of the most exciting movie stars in the world are currently appearing in two of the least interesting new movies, taking a back seat to less interesting stars. Jackie Chan and Jet Li are master martial artists, Chan with a comedian's touch and Li with an appealing stoic quality. They team up for the first time in The Forbidden Kingdom (105 screens), a movie about a white kid and his attempt to beat up some bullies. Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh team up for the second time in The Children of Huang Shi (43 screens), about a British journalist (not played by Chow) and an Australian nurse (not played by Yeoh) saving some orphans.

Chow had a suave, cool quality that could have turned him into the next James Bond or Cary Grant, and Yeoh is a beautiful martial artist who could have become a groundbreaking feminist action star. It's a sad state of affairs, but I guess these films are the final proof of the cold, dead corpse of the Hong Kong New Wave.

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]]>chow yun fatChowYunFatcinematicalencounters at the end of the worldEncountersAtTheEndOfTheWorldfilmflight of the red balloonFlightOfTheRedBalloonhong kongHongKongjackie chanJackieChanjet liJetLimichelle yeohMichelleYeohmoviemy blueberry nightsMyBlueberryNightsshine a lightShineALightthe duchess of langeaisTheDuchessOfLangeaiswerner herzogWernerHerzogJeffrey M. AndersonThu, 19 Jun 2008 18:01:00 ESTThe Exhibitionist: Sold Outhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/15/the-exhibitionist-sold-out/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/15/the-exhibitionist-sold-out/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/15/the-exhibitionist-sold-out/#commentsFiled under: , ,



When was the last time you tried to see a movie, but couldn't, because it was sold out? I mean really sold out. Sure, you may have recently sat in a packed auditorium and watched a movie that was "sold out." And you may have recently been turned away from a specific showtime for some new movie because that one showing was "sold out." These things come with the season, when everyone's rushing to see the latest summer blockbuster as soon as it's released to theaters. But I bet it's been a long, long time since you were shut out completely from seeing a movie on opening weekend.

I experienced two sellouts this week (details forthcoming), and the frustration made me recall an experience from 21 years ago, when Beverly Hills Cop II came out. The reason I remember this specific movie's release is because I was keeping a summer journal at the time. I was only ten, so I didn't write much on each day, but through the opening weekend for BHC2, I repeated the same phrase three times: "Tried to see Beverly Hills Cop II, but it was sold out." Then, through the movie's second weekend, I again repeated the same phrase on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Finally, in its third weekend, I was able to write, "Saw Beverly Hills Cop II. It was good."

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]]>2001 a space odyssey2001ASpaceOdysseybeverly hills cop IIBeverlyHillsCopIicontemptexhibitionistinterlockingmovie projectionMovieProjectionselloutssold outSoldOutthe exhibitionistTheExhibitionisttrouble the waterTroubleTheWaterChristopher CampbellSun, 15 Jun 2008 09:31:00 ESTThe (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: June 13-19http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/13/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-13-19/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/13/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-13-19/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/13/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-13-19/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The incredible who? M. Night what? This is The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly round-up of cool movie events taking place beyond the multiplexes. We cover things like festivals, retrospectives, and special screenings -- and if you know of something coming up that ought to be on the calendar, let me know! Just point your e-mail thingy at Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

Today: You can see Incredible Hulk, which is a biopic of the Jolly Green Giant; or you can see The Happening, which is based on the '70s sitcom What's Happening!!! -- or you can ignore those blatant mistruths and check out some of these...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES
  • Baghead is proof that the Mumblecore movement has arrived, because it's a spoof of it. Well, a spoof, and a thriller, and a straightforward Mumblecore, and -- well, just watch it. I reviewed it at Sundance earlier this year and liked it quite a bit. It opens today in Austin and will expand in the coming weeks.
  • My Winnipeg comes from Guy Maddin, Canada's weirdest filmmaker, and it's sure to be a treat. Created in the style of a documentary about the snowy title city, it was described by Cinematical's Monika Bartyzel as hilarious when it debuted at Toronto last year. It opens today in New York, next week in L.A., and so on until it conquers the world.

After the jump, more indie theatrical releases, and a rundown of events happening all over the country....


Continue reading The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: June 13-19

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]]>Eric D. SniderFri, 13 Jun 2008 08:02:00 EST400 Screens, 400 Blows - Cross-Culture Clubhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/12/400-screens-400-blows-cross-culture-club/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/12/400-screens-400-blows-cross-culture-club/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/12/400-screens-400-blows-cross-culture-club/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Over the course of my time in this job I have acquired a reputation as someone who reviews and appreciates lots of foreign films. Of course, at the same time I have occasionally been accused of not understanding these films at all, which is partially true. It's not technically possible for one person to fully absorb and comprehend every facet of every industrialized culture in the world. For one thing, subtitles never accurately translate what's being spoken, and then there are little cultural things, certain behaviors, for example, that may not translate either. Conversely, it's impossible for any one person -- filmmakers included -- to represent a culture. It gets even more complex than that, if you want to boil it down. For example, I could say that I identify with the characters in High Fidelity (2000), but if you consider that I've never been to Chicago, and consider further that the book was originally set in London, then it creates a cultural divide. That movie has levels that will forever be out of my grasp.

You do your best. You keep an open mind. Although, I admit I'm usually disappointed when I see too many Western filmmaking elements slavishly copied in Eastern films (Mongol, The Counterfeiters, etc.); it shows the overwhelming influence of Hollywood on other parts of the world. I'm sure more people in Portugal saw Transformers than saw Manoel de Oliveira or Pedro Costa's latest films.

Continue reading 400 Screens, 400 Blows - Cross-Culture Club

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]]>contemptfeaturedfritz langFritzLangharold and kumar escape from guantanamo bayHaroldAndKumarEscapeFromGuantanamoBayin brugesInBrugesmister lonelyMisterLonelymy blueberry nightsMyBlueberryNightsshutterthe bands visitthe children of huang shithe fallthe flight of the red balloonthe forbidden kingdomTheBandsVisitTheChildrenOfHuangShiTheFallTheFlightOfTheRedBalloonTheForbiddenKingdomJeffrey M. AndersonThu, 12 Jun 2008 19:02:00 ESTThe Write Stuff: Excellent Opportunity for Aspiring Writers!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/10/the-write-stuff-excellent-opportunity-for-aspiring-writers/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/10/the-write-stuff-excellent-opportunity-for-aspiring-writers/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/10/the-write-stuff-excellent-opportunity-for-aspiring-writers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Hey! It's your old friend Patrick Walsh! Remember me? I used to run a writing column here with the ingenious title "The Write Stuff?" (Check out all 25 previous posts here.) I answered your screenwriting questions, offered advice, and conducted interviews with film and television writers? I look like Brad Pitt, but with better abs? There you go. You remember. Anyhoo, when last we spoke I had been staffed on the FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and I'm still there. It's a dream job, and I intend to share my experiences on the show with you closer to the season premiere in September. But for now I want to tell you about a great way for you (yes, you!) to break in to the big time: NBC's Writers on the Verge program.

If this seems like a shameless advertisement, know that it's only because I myself am a graduate of the program and I absolutely loved it. I am NOT doing this because I am receiving money from anyone at NBC. (Though Lord knows if NBC would like to give me some money, I will gladly accept it. You hear me, Zucker? GLADLY.)

Now then. You've got questions. I've got answers.

Continue reading The Write Stuff: Excellent Opportunity for Aspiring Writers!

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]]>its always sunny in philadelphiaItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphiascreenplayscreenwritingscriptwrite stuffwriterWriteStuffwritingPatrick WalshTue, 10 Jun 2008 16:02:00 ESTThe (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: June 6-12http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/06/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-6-12/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/06/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-6-12/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/06/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-june-6-12/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Good news, indie fans! With The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, our weekly round-up of screenings and events taking place beyond the multiplex, it doesn't matter whether you mess with the Zohan. Forget those complicated rules regarding what you can and can't mess with, and come bask in the glow of festivals, retrospectives, and special showings. And if you know of something coming up that should be on this list, send me an e-mail at Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

Today, you can watch Adam Sandler do a funny voice and make funny faces (he's really stretching as an actor!) on 3,000 screens. Or, in just a few locations, you can check out these...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES
  • The Promotion. It's here it's here it's here! You guys, it's finally here! A bunch of us saw this at South By Southwest in March, and since then we've been raving about it pretty much every chance we get. And now it's finally in theaters! And everyone we raved about it to will see it with too-high expectations and be disappointed! So, um, forget everything we said and just see it. It's, you know, kinda funny or whatever. No big deal. Opens today in New York, L.A., and Chicago; expands next week.
  • Mongol is an Oscar-nominated biopic covering the early life of the world's most famous Mongol, a fellow by the name of Genghis Khan. (I believe the sequel will be called Mongol II: The Wrath of Khan.) Cinematical's me gave it a very positive review at the Portland International Film Festival a few months back. It opens today in New York and L.A.
After the jump, more indie theatrical releases, plus our city-by-city breakdown of special events.

Continue reading The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: June 6-12

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]]>Eric D. SniderFri, 06 Jun 2008 08:02:00 ESTJeffrey M. Anderson's 400 Screens, 400 Blows - Flashback to 1991http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/05/jeffrey-m-andersons-400-screens-400-blows-flashback-to-1991/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/05/jeffrey-m-andersons-400-screens-400-blows-flashback-to-1991/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/05/jeffrey-m-andersons-400-screens-400-blows-flashback-to-1991/#commentsFiled under: ,



June is here, and summer has more or less begun, even if we have to wait until June 21 for the official start date. I'm here in the Bay Area, under a blanket of fog, wearing a sweater (if you saw last year's wonderful Colma: The Musical, you'll get a visual) while everywhere else people are sunbathing and drinking frosty frappuccinos. No matter. I've spent many summers like this and I have my share of fond summer memories even if they happened in the freezing cold rather than the relaxing heat. I was just remembering back to my first summer here. I had a pretty laid-back, part-time job that allowed me to go to as many movies as I wanted. So this week I thought I would do a flashback to the summer of 1991. (Imagine a pre-Tarantino world!) Things started well with the 50th anniversary re-release of Citizen Kane, and although I'd seen it many times before (and since) I got to see it on the big screen for the first time.

Next up came the documentary Truth or Dare. I wasn't a particularly big Madonna fan, but there was one scene that made the movie an event. Warren Beatty (then dating Madonna) turns up in her dressing room and is nonplussed about the intruding cameras: "She doesn't want to live off-camera, much less talk. There's nothing to say off-camera. Why would you say something if it's off-camera? What point is there existing?" Little did we know that those words would come to define our country and culture in the 21st century.


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]]>cinematicalfilmflashback 1991Flashback1991john singletonJohnSingletonmoviepoint breakPointBreakterminator 2Terminator2truth or dareTruthOrDarewarren beattyWarrenBeattyJeffrey M. AndersonThu, 05 Jun 2008 19:02:00 ESTFrom Page to Screen: 'The Road'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/04/from-page-to-screen-the-road/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/04/from-page-to-screen-the-road/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/04/from-page-to-screen-the-road/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



One of my concerns when I started doing this column was that each forthcoming adaptation I covered would equate to a new movie losing the ability to surprise me. What more effective way to strip oneself of the thrill of cinematic discovery, I thought, than to pore over the source material before watching? Ultimately I decided that the prospect of literary discovery along with the chance to write the column more than compensated for that risk, but here's some evidence that maybe I shouldn't have worried at all: having read Cormac McCarthy's The Road, I'm more excited to see John Hillcoat's adaptation - coming this November -- than I ever would have been otherwise.

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]]>charlize theronCharlizeTheroncormac mccarthyCormacMccarthyfeaturedfrom page to screenFromPageToScreenjoe penhallJoePenhalljohn hillcoatJohnHillcoatkodi smit-mcpheeKodiSmit-mcpheethe propositionthe roadThePropositionTheRoadviggo mortensenViggoMortensenEugene NovikovWed, 04 Jun 2008 21:02:00 ESTFan Rant: Adam Sandler, Republican Actorhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/03/fan-rant-adam-sandler-republican-actor/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/03/fan-rant-adam-sandler-republican-actor/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/03/fan-rant-adam-sandler-republican-actor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Adam Sandler's movies haver never represented the apex of cultural awareness, but they do tend to grapple, if somewhat brashly, with the finer points of human relations. In his latest raunchfest, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, the insolent comic creates "his stupidest character ever" (as an audience member muttered five minutes into last night's New York preview screening), but it's also his most symbolic one: Sporting a hyperbolic flair for disco music and using hummus as toothpaste, hardened Israeli soldier Zohan is a bloated creature of Semitic extremes.

Overall, however, the movie uses metaphors more than stereotypes. When Zohan and a furious Palestinian terrorist (John Turturro) use paddles to bat a live grenade back and forth, the result is a lowbrow editorial cartoon.

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]]>adam sandlerAdamSandlerbig daddyBigDaddybilly madisonBillyMadisonclickemmanuelle chriquiEmmanuelleChriquifrank capraFrankCapragiulianigiuliani donationGiulianiDonationhappy gilmoreHappyGilmorehomosexualhomosexualityhomosexualsi now pronounce you ...INowPronounceYou...israelisraelij. hobermanJ.Hobermanlongfellow deedsLongfellowDeedsmr deedsmr deeds goes to townMrDeedsMrDeedsGoesToTownnaked lunchNakedLunchnew york timesNewYorkTimespalestinepalestiniangrouppalestiniansreign over meReignOverMerepublicanrepublican partyRepublicanPartyrepublicansrudy giulianiRudyGiulianisemiticseptember 11September11spanglishterrorismterroriststhe village voicethe waterboyTheVillageVoiceTheWaterboyyitzchak rabinYitzchakRabinyitzhak rabinYitzhakRabinyou dont mess with ...you dont mess with t...you dont mess with the zohanyou dont mess with z...YouDontMessWith...YouDontMessWithT...YouDontMessWithTheZohanYouDontMessWithZ...zohanEric KohnTue, 03 Jun 2008 21:01:00 ESTThe Exhibitionist: Movie Theater Movieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/01/the-exhibitionist-movie-theater-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/01/the-exhibitionist-movie-theater-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/01/the-exhibitionist-movie-theater-movies/#commentsFiled under: ,



Each week, The Exhibitionist comments on the latest news, trends and innovations related to the theater industry, or it discusses long-continuing problems with and complaints against cinemas in general, or it simply relates a specific moviegoing experience of yours truly. But rarely does this column get into the subject of actual movies. Well, seeing as there's not much new in the industry this week, and seeing as I'm fortunately not being dragged to see Sex and the City and therefore have no experience to relate about being a sole male in an auditorium packed with women, I figure this is a perfect time to bring up actual movies. Not just any movies, though: I'm presently only interested in discussing movies about, set in or prominently featuring movie theaters.

The earliest movie that I'm familiar with that significantly involves a theater is Buster Keaton's Sherlock Jr. The silent comedian plays a projectionist who falls asleep on the job then has a dream in which he literally climbs through the movie screen and into a detective film. A similar idea of breaking the boundary between auditorium and screen is used in Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo and in John McTiernan's The Last Action Hero, both of which involve a movie character who manages to leave his respective film within the film. But nothing tops Keaton's screen-entering stunt, which utilizes special effects that still astonish more than 80 years later.

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]]>bachelor partyBachelorPartycape fearCapeFearcinema paradisocinemaniaCinemaParadisocooley highCooleyHighdancer in the darkDancerInTheDarkdesperately seeking susanDesperatelySeekingSusandirty workDirtyWorkdonnie darkoDonnieDarkodragon innexhibiitionistfeaturedfight clubFightClubgoodbyegreasegremlinsmatineemessiah of evilMessiahOfEvilmovie theatersMovieTheatersnight of the cometNightOfTheCometreel paradiseReelParadisescary movieScaryMoviescream 2Scream2sherlock jr.SherlockJr.the blobthe exhibitionistthe last action herothe purple rose of cairoTheBlobTheExhibitionistTheLastActionHeroThePurpleRoseOfCairotrue romanceTrueRomancetwisterChristopher CampbellSun, 01 Jun 2008 09:02:00 ESTThe (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar: May 30-June 5http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/30/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-may-30-june-5/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/30/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-may-30-june-5/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/30/the-mostly-indie-film-calendar-may-30-june-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Welcome to The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly list of events for movie lovers who want to go beyond the mainstream and the multiplexes. If you know of something cool going on near you -- retrospectives, revivals, film fests, etc. -- send me the info at Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com and we'll include it in the calendar.

Today, on about 3,000 screens, you can see a quartet of libidinous, superficial women drink and shop their way through Manhattan. Or, on just a few screens, you can see these...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES
  • Savage Grace is a true, tawdry story about a socialite (Julianne Moore) and her weird relationship with her weird son. Cinematical's Kim Voynar reviewed it somewhat favorably at Sundance; Nick Schager is less flattering in his review. (For what it's worth, I'm more on Nick's side on this one. It's icky.) Opens today at the IFC Center and Clearview's 62nd & Broadway in NYC.
  • The Foot Fist Way, a low-budget R-rated comedy about a Tae Kwon Do teacher, premiered at Sundance way back in 2006, then might have slipped into oblivion had it not been noticed by Will Ferrell and his collaborator Adam McKay. They've championed the film into getting released, and by all accounts it's a pretty funny movie. Opens today in New York and L.A.; expands in the coming weeks.
(After the jump, more indie theatrical releases, and a city-by-city list of other events....)

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]]>Eric D. SniderFri, 30 May 2008 08:02:00 ESTJeffrey M. Anderson's 400 Screens, 400 Blows - Good Movies, Good Companyhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/29/jeffrey-m-andersons-400-screens-400-blows-good-movies-good/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/29/jeffrey-m-andersons-400-screens-400-blows-good-movies-good/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/29/jeffrey-m-andersons-400-screens-400-blows-good-movies-good/#commentsFiled under: ,



I had a friend once who claimed that there was no point in listening to a record or seeing a movie that was merely good, that to invest the money and time, it should be great. I later caught him listening to -- and enjoying almost to the point of tears -- a CD that would never be described by anyone as great. The point is that sometimes a good movie does wonders for the soul that a great movie could never hope to replicate. Take a look at Iron Man, still on nearly 4000 screens and still raking in the returns. It's well on its way to earning $300 million and shows no signs of stopping there. It's currently the #1 highest grossing film of the year, as well as one of the top rated films at Rotten Tomatoes, with a whopping 93%. I'm one of the movie's fans, but it seems to me that this response is based more on sheer gratitude than anything else. Everyone seems to be simultaneously chiming in: thanks for the good movie!

2008 has been a lousy year for great movies, but I have seen quite a few good ones. The documentary Young@Heart (212 screens), for example, has continued to live in my memory long after I saw it, and long after any of the award-winning Iraq documentaries I've had to sit through. I suspect that it's one of those rare, word-of-mouth docs like March of the Penguins or Grizzly Man that people actually tell their friends about. I don't want to give anything away, but before I saw the movie I didn't care much for the band Coldplay, and now I can't listen to "Fix You" without getting a lump in my throat. The key to this movie is that it looked terrible before I went in, and it turned out to be a huge and happy surprise.

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]]>cinematicalfilmflawlessiron manIronManjunomoviemy blueberry nightsMyBlueberryNightspricelessthe bands visitthe bank jobTheBandsVisitTheBankJobJeffrey M. AndersonThu, 29 May 2008 20:02:00 EST