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Are members from the documentary branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences being paid to short list some films over others? That's what it sounds like director James Toback was alluding to when he spoke to the New York Times recently about how his buzzed-about documentary, Tyson, was left off the Academy's short list along with several other notable documentaries from the past year. Toback told the Times that at some point during the selection process he experienced something he puts "fully in the category of extortion", adding that he did not go along with it.

Speaking on behalf of the documentary branch -- which Toback refers to as "some tiny, dirty covert weirdly protective group" -- chairman (and filmmaker) Rob Epstein said, "I have no idea. It certainly hasn't come before me." Among some of the critically acclaimed docs snubbed this year are Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story, the awesome Anvil! The Story of Anvil, and The September Issue. This year's documentary short list was narrowed down to 15 finalists from 89 possible contenders. So, yeah, obviously you're going to see some fantastic films miss the cut, and, subsequently, some pissed off filmmakers, but it's a pretty bold move for Toback to go and claim extortion, don't you think?

Deals. Sony Pictures Classics acquired The Last Station hot off its debut at the Telluride Film Festival and plans a quick turnaround, releasing it before the end of the year and pushing its stars Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, and James McAvoy for awards consideration, according to Thompson on Hollywood. Described as a "fictionalized chronicle of Tolstoy's last days" by our own Eugene Novikov, the film's main problem is that it 'madly equivocates' on whether Tolstoy, portrayed by Plummer is, essentially, "a crackpot."

Historical drama John Rabe will get a theatrical outing next spring courtesy of Strand Releasing, according to indieWIRE. Based on the diaries of a German businessman, the film tells about his role in saving the lives of 200,000 people during the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China in 1937. indieWIRE also reports that IFC Films picked up Bruno Dumont's religiously-inclined Hadewijch and Lorber Films will distribute Nobody's Perfect, a German documentary about a man's search for fellow Thalidomide 'children' willing to pose naked for a book of photographs.

Film Criticism. The New York Film Critics Circle celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and will get the spotlight on Saturday at the Hamptons Film Festival, with the ever-contrary Armond White of New York Press sitting down along several other members of the circle. The feisty James Toback, whose documentary Tyson is up for awards consideration this fall, will moderate.

Online / On Demand Viewing. A British journalist investigates the burgeoning phenomenon of public sex in Dogging: A Love Story (not to be confused with Michael Moore's romance), which is now playing on demand via IFC. And we've got the trailer to prove it, after the jump!

Also: Why so serious? The Coen Brothers and Michael Moore.

The Last House on the Left
A remake of Wes Craven's 1972 film, starring Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, Sara Paxton, and Garret Dillahunt, the film is a harrowing look into how a family reacts to the crimes played out on their daughter. In his review, William Goss said: "for those who willingly subject themselves to the harsher experiences that storytelling has to offer, this version is a capably, confidently, and chillingly effective opportunity to place ourselves in the worst possible shoes for a length of time." Rent it. Also on Blu-ray.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Hannah Montana: The Movie
Miley Cyrus' Disney icon finally made her way to the big screen. In his review, Nick Schager said: "and the nicest thing one can say about the film is that at least it's not The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: The Movie." I highly doubt anyone who wants the film will be reading this, so I'll just skip to: Skip it. Also on Blu-ray.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Julia
Tilda Swinton stars as a 40-year-old alcoholic who makes a last effort at full-on sobriety. In his review, Peter Martin said: "To say that Tilda Swinton gives a riveting performance as Julia is almost to damn her with faint praise. It's her character's story, of course, so we expect that she'll dominate the screen time, but even with all that exposure, there's never a hint of artifice or self-conscious primping to make herself look better as an actress." Buy it.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon
Also out: Wyvern, The Wedding Bros., Bridge to Nowhere, The Final Destination Collection

Cinematical has just received this exclusive poster for Tyson, a much buzzed-about documentary about former boxing champion Mike Tyson that's been making the festival rounds and is now ready to hit theaters on April 24. Directed by James Toback (The Pick-Up Artist, Bugsy), Tyson follows the life experiences of Mike Tyson through a mixture of original interviews, archival footage and photographs. As James tells us in his Cannes review of the film from last year, Tyson "is older, sadder, sober, off drugs and out of the fight game, trying to battle things you cannot simply strike with your fists." He later adds, "Tyson isn't just a look at the hitting and hitting back of boxing and a champion who defeated almost everyone who faced him; in its finest moments, it shows us a man determined to stop defeating himself." Meanwhile, I just wanna know why he covered half his face with that wacky tattoo?

Click on the image below to check out the full version of the poster. Tyson hits theaters on April 24.



I'm gonna knock you out ... Mama said follow me on Twitter ...

After a somnolent week in which it appeared that IFC Films was the only US distributor making deals at Cannes, Sony Pictures Classics sprang into action and snapped up two pictures, with a third possibly on the way. According to Anne Thompson of Variety, Sony Classics has acquired North American rights to the latest film by French filmmaking brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Lorna's Silence, as well as Norwegian director Bent Hamer's comedy/drama O'Horten, and are also in talks to pick up James Toback's documentary Tyson.

Cinematical's James Rocchi felt "in tune" with Lorna's Silence, which he says has provoked polarized reactions in Cannes; he concluded: "It's a strong film from strong filmmakers." The titular character is an Albanian woman living in Belgium who has entered into a marriage of convenience that turns out to be a complicated, life and death affair.

James Toback's known for cult classics (Fingers, Black and White) and puzzling experiments (When Will I Be Loved); this year, he's at Cannes with his new documentary Tyson, focusing on the life and times of a curiously muted and repentant Mike Tyson -- which received a standing ovation when it opened the Un Certain Regard selection. James Toback spoke with Cinematical at Cannes about the genesis of the project, the challenges of dealing with Tyson as a subject instead of as a friend, and about the ongoing negotiations with his 8-year old son over a possible part in his next film.

This interview, like all of Cinematical's podcast offerings, is now available through iTunes; if you'd like, you can subscribe at this link. Also, you can listen directly here at Cinematical by clicking below:

"They'll make hypocrite judgments
After the fact
But the name of the game
Is be hit and hit back ... "

-- Warren Zevon, "Boom Boom Mancini"

Boxing is a brutal sport. Does that mean you have to be a brute to succeed in it? Mike Tyson was the youngest ever heavyweight champion in the world; when he stepped into the ring, it was as if he was in absolute control over everything that happened. And when he stepped out, it was as if he had no control over anything that happened. He had a marriage implode in public. He served three years in prison for rape. He became a nightmare-parody of himself, pathetic and terrifying, telling challengers he would eat their children. And now, as seen in James Toback's documentary Tyson, he is older, sadder, sober, off drugs and out of the fight game, trying to battle things you cannot simply strike with your fists.

If someone gave you the option of either jumping in a pool of acid or interviewing Mike Tyson for thirty hours, which one would you choose? Well, we know which route director James Toback took because he's currently prepping a new documentary based on the rise and fall of this legendary boxer. With completion set for this fall, Tyson will cover it all -- I mean, tell me you're not dying to find out how one man can go from being married to the ultra hot Robin Givens to biting the ear off Evander Holyfield. Who does sh*t like that? I guess we're about to find out.

At one time, Iron Mike was regarded as the greatest boxer in the world; the man was a machine, with guns the size of skyscrapers. However, the pressure to perform -- coupled with the money, the power and the glory -- transformed this lightening bolt into a monster. A monster, mind you, who sounded like a seven year-old. Toback, who's probably best known for helping the 1987 comedy The Pick-up Artist, has been fascinated with Tyson since meeting back in 1985; so much so that the director gave Tyson roles in two of his more recent films (Black and White, When Will I Be Loved). According to Toback, "[Tyson] was honest about all the things that have highlighted his life, from the bitter divorce, the ear-biting, prison, to his becoming a sex addict. He is self-aware, smart and a totally fractured personality, and he made himself completely vulnerable." Personally, I could care less about the man. In my opinion, once you start beating women (regardless of your state of mind or how many drugs you're on), I have no further interest in anything you might have to say. But that's me. No word yet on a release date; ICM is scheduled to sell all worldwide rights.