ifc Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Netflix and IFC Team Up for Streaming Indies
Filed under: Deals », IFC », Tech Stuff », Distribution », Movie Marketing »
Netflix knows where it's at when it comes to the rental biz; more and more, folks want to stay at home and watch movies instantly. We don't even want to wait for those happy little red envelopes any more. Nope, if it's not on our Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or computer, we get all squirrelly. (Okay, maybe that last part is just me.) And IFC is also on the cutting edge of home entertainment in its steadily growing on-demand offerings, including their IFC Festival Direct program, where you can watch a selection of movies that have played during recent festivals, and the In Theaters + On Demand program, which offers at-home viewers the chance to see indie flicks the same day they premiere in what's usually limited release.Now Netflix and IFC have sealed the deal for a partnership that gives Netflix access to 53 IFC releases to be streamed online to whichever platform you like, starting today.
I would guess that if this experiment takes off, we'll be seeing more IFC goodies on Netflix, but for now, you can see docs like The Thing Blue Line and Gates of Heaven; international films from Catherine Breillat, Christophe Honoré, and Alfonso Cuaron; and Joe Swanberg; and plenty of other flicks like The Brother from Another Planet, Nights and Weekends, and more. Check back later for the full list and more details on the launch of this new project.
Have you watched any of the IFC On Demand offerings, especially if they're for releases not otherwise available in your area? Do you think this is another death knoll for the indie video store, or a really, really good idea to help spread the word about otherwise underseen independent films in a struggling market? Or both?
Exclusive Trailer for 'Last Stop 174'
Filed under: Drama », Foreign Language », IFC », Trailers and Clips »
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Cinematical has just received this exclusive trailer for Last Stop 174, a Brazilian drama written by City of God's Oscar-winning scribe Bráulio Mantovani and directed by the highly respected Brazilian director Bruno Barreto. Based on the true story of a bus high-jacking, Last Stop 174 takes place in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, where poverty and crime reign supreme. IFC is releasing it on-demand via its IFC Festival Direct program on September 2nd, which showcases films from festivals around the world. Not sure where to find your IFC on-demand? Here's a quick guide:
BRIGHT HOUSE: Movies On Demand > IFC In Theaters
CABLEVISION: Movies On Demand > IFC In Theaters > IFC Festival Direct
COMCAST: Channel 1 > Movies & Events > IFC Festival Direct
COX: Channel 1 > Movies On Demand > IFC In Theaters
TIME WARNER: Movies On Demand > IFC In TheatersTake a look at the trailer after the jump.
I Think We Liked 'In the Loop'
Filed under: Comedy », Sundance », IFC », Trailers and Clips »
Embedded above is the trailer for Armando Iannucci's political spin farce, In the Loop, which James and others had been talking up since Sundance. I suppose that's a fitting response, for them to talk about a movie that's all about talk, as the trailer capably demonstrates (well, a commenter or two on Funny or Die still demand to know what the movie's really about). I myself was initially skeptical of anything dealing with labyrinthine political dealings, but I've been assured that that isn't really the point of it all -- and I've gotta say, the phrase "difficult-difficult-lemon-difficult" still tickles me so.
IFC will release this in select theaters and (thankfully, for us non-NY/LAers) on-demand come July 24th. That's enough time for me to catch up on original series "The Thick of It," though I've been told that familiarity with it wouldn't be necessary. At least, that's what I think they said...
IFC's Next Batch of On-Demand Horrors: Canadian Radio & Zombie Nazis
Filed under: Action », Comedy », Drama », Foreign Language », Horror », Independent », IFC », Festival Reports », Distribution », Home Entertainment »
If you're anything like me, then you like fiddling around with the buttons on your cable remote. It used to be that you KNEW of all the options your remote could provide, but nowadays I have cable channels and VOD options I never knew existed. So a little while ago I clicked on a button that said IFC Festival Direct, which delivered unto me a pair of options: IFC Showcase and IFC Midnight. Yeah, try and guess where I started.I saw a few familiar titles: Left Bank and Sauna, both of which I saw (and liked) at Fantastic Fest '08, as well as well-reviewed genre fare like The Chaser, Zift, and a Brit import called Hush that I may watch this very afternoon. Also on the docket for IFC Midnight: the indie thriller Dark Mirror, a gory South Korean offering called Cadaver, and a Dutch psycho story called Fear Me Not. Oh, and two I can definitely vouch for: the strange Canadian horror known as Pontypool and a Norwegian nazi-zombie fest called Dead Snow.
If you're looking for recent festival fare that's not horrific in nature, then you can sift through Joe Swanberg's Alexander the Last, the steamy erotica of L A'ventura, Sam Neill in Angel, or worthwhile options like Paper Covers Rock, Rain, or Three Blind Mice. Apparently this "VOD" thing is the wave of the future, and I find it very satisfying to know that the flick YOU just saw at the Florida Film Festival is also available from my own cable box for about six bucks. For a whole lot more on IFC's home-demand offerings, I suggest you click right here and flick around a bit. (They also offer some rather fine programming that's free with the IFC service, don't forget.)
EXCLUSIVE: Clip from 'In Search of a Midnight Kiss'
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Independent », Romance », IFC », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Trailers and Clips »
Cinematical has just received this exclusive clip from In Search of a Midnight Kiss, which opens in two NYC theaters today (IFC Center, Clearview Cinema) before expanding to other cities. Nothing but good buzz has been following this title around for well over a year now -- so much so that a slew of my friends have been itching for this flick to hit theaters. And I have very cool friends ... who like to do very cool things ... just so you know. The film, which is set on New Year's Eve, follows around two misanthropes who meet online with each in search of something a little more fulfilling out of life. It's currently running at 90% over on Rotten Tomatoes (excellent for a small indie like this), where folks are comparing it to films like Woody Allen's Manhattan, Swingers and Before Sunrise. Seems like a great date movie, so if you're in NYC tonight and looking for that first kiss ... well, I think we know what you should be doing ...
Video Fix: Saying Goodbye to 'Four Eyed Monsters'
Filed under: Independent », IFC », Fandom », DIY/Filmmaking », Trailers and Clips »
It's been a wild run for the duo (Arin Crumley and Susan Buice) behind Four Eyed Monsters. They first premiered their little gem of an indie back at Slamdance in 2005, and since then the flick has just taken on a life of its own. Arin and Susan have been everywhere with it -- multiple film festivals, premiering it on YouTube, in Second Life, self-distributing it to theaters around the country, answering questions in this forum, in that forum -- and in the process they've created 13 brilliant video podcasts (or diaries), which not only document their experience as filmmakers, but also as lovers.
I can't even begin to explain how much they've accomplished in the three years since finishing the film (feel free to visit their website, their YouTube page and check out this two-part interview with Arin on Cinematical), but I'm proud to call them friends and I'm happy IFC decided to put out their DVD (which apparently comes with all 13 video podcasts and a compilation CD). That said, Spout is hosting a final Q&A with Arin and Susan now that their DVD is out and in Borders stores -- and in typical Crumley/Buice fashion, the two artists are providing answers via video.
So in honor of this final Q&A, we present to you Episode 1 of their 13-episode video podcast/diary. Seriously folks, if you've never watched them and have no idea what I'm talking about, head on over to IFC and check out the episodes in order. Or, better yet, buy the DVD and make a weekend out of it. These two are f**king brilliant, and we here at Cinematical wish them all the luck in the world moving forward.
EXCLUSIVE: 'In Search of a Midnight Kiss' Poster Premiere!
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Independent », Romance », IFC », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Images », Posters »
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Cinematical is stoked to bring you this exclusive new poster for In Search of a Midnight Kiss (click image to enlarge), which I've heard is just absolutely awesome. Seriously, my best friend caught this flick back when it first premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007 and he hasn't stopped talking about it since. I swear, he's a nut -- completely and utterly in love with this film. And I think it's totally rad. Written and directed by the very cool and extremely talented Alex Holdridge, Midnight Kiss tells of Wilson, who, considering he'll be broke and alone on New Year's Eve, is convinced by his best friend to post a personal ad. Through that he meets Sara, who's hell bent on finding the right guy to be with at midnight.
We talk up a lot here on Cinematical, but I have such good vibes about this one. Watch it. Support it. Then watch it again. Oh, and here's the trailer. In Search of a Midnight Kiss hits theaters in limited release on August 1.
Live from Cannes: A View to a Thrill from the IFC Balcony!
Filed under: Cannes », Festival Reports », Images »
Last night, I had the honor of being asked to co-host IFC.com's red carpet coverage for the Cannes premiere of the film Adoration, starring Scott Speedman and Rachel Blanchard. (We'll post a link to IFC's archived video coverage as soon as they have it, FYI.) This not only meant that I got to cover the film's opening with IFC's personable host Matt Singer, but I also got to take advantage of one of the best views that Cannes has to offer. If you want to check out the red carpet at Cannes like you've never seen it before, head down to the gallery below. And for our complete coverage of the 2008 Festival de Cannes, click on over to our festival hub.
Independent Spirit Awards -- Wrap Up
Filed under: Comedy », Awards », Interviews »
Before the rain pooed on my parade and the poo rained on my parade at the Independent Spirit Awards Saturday, I had a pretty great time. The highlight for me was being "on set" for a series of interviews between Martin Short's Jiminy Glick and various celebs. I was just tipped off by the good folks at Netflix that those conversations have hit youtube, and if you're a fan of the character, you may want to check them out. Here's Jiminy with Matt Dillon, with a never foxier Illeana Douglas, with the always youthful Dennis Hopper (an interview that opens with a depantsing), with Ed Begley, Jr, with Juno director Jason Reitman and his father Ivan, with Aaron Eckhart, with John Waters, and with Allison Janney. They could all stand to be edited down a bit, but there's a lot of good stuff in there. If I had to direct you to the funniest couple of discussions, I'd recommend the Illeana Douglas and the Ed Begley, Jr, which contains graphic mouth-to-mouth.I intended to run a live blog from the show, but the internet connection went out -- one of the dangers of doing a live show from a tent in the rain! I did get to see some cool people up close and personal. Philip Seymour Hoffman (a winner for Best Male Lead) charmed the little press room in a fun Q & A with Savages writer/director Tamara Jenkins (a winner for Best Screenplay) and it was a thrill to meet Scott Frank, a screenwriter I truly admire. He won Best First Feature for The Lookout, one of my favorite 2007 films. I always question what they deem "independent," but I do appreciate that the Indie Spirits have special honors -- like the John Cassavetes Award -- to honor the truly independent and low-budget films each year. Did anyone watch the broadcast? I know it's not the biggest awards show of the year (or even the weekend), but the show was really entertaining. Have favorite moments or disagreements with the winners?
Rain and Rainn at the Indie Spirit Awards
Filed under: Awards », Angelina Jolie », Brad Pitt »
Cinematical is live at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards! Our own Patrick Walsh will report back throughout the afternoon.
It is officially raining, and the big-time stars are rolling out. Javier Bardem is looking very dapper, I'm pretty sure I just saw indie favorite The Rock (?), and crowd just collectively spazzed out over Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. I was just interviewed (insulted) by Jiminy Glick on Good Morning America so watch for that, though I'm not sure how much of it they'll be able to use. The discussion culminated with him dumping a barrel of popcorn on himself. Some quality journalism there! Seriously, I can't quite convey how funny Martin Short has been here today. Favorite line -- "I have lost weight, I'm doing Atkins. Not the diet, his widow."
Raining has given way to pouring, and the red carpet is looking soggy and bare. It's ten minutes to showtime and I'm about to head under the big tent for the show. I'll do my best to update you on the winners as they happen, and if you get the Independent Film Channel you can join in the Rainn Wilson-hosted fun live. My thanks to Netflix for setting up this sweet little blogging suite for me, and as an active subscriber, I don't even have to feel like a shameless whore saying that. Sorry for the rambling nature of these posts, but it's been pretty hectic...
For more photos and coverage, head on over to Moviefone.
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