Category Archives: Film Festival

Comedy, Film Festival, Short Film, Television

It’s Funny Because It’s True: SNL “qua” Sketch

Leave a comment
SNL.jpg

There are few SNL sketches that will top “Schweddy Balls,” based on my personal tastes and sensibilities. That sketch, perfectly written by Ana Gasteyer, is so multi-layered, so well performed, and just plain hilarious.

And then there was “Short Film” (watch here).

No, “Short Film,” which aired on last week’s Emily Blunt-hosted episode, does not top Gasteyer’s and Molly Shannon’s NPR-set sketch, but it comes pretty damn close—again, per my personal tastes and sensibilities (it’s likely not everyone’s cup of tea).

Continue reading It’s Funny Because It’s True: SNL “qua” Sketch →

Anatomy of a Short Film, Film Festival, News, Short Film

“In-Kind” Accepted into International Film Festival Manhattan 2016

Leave a comment

unnamed.jpg

I’m thrilled to announce the official selection of my short film, “In-Kind,” with International Film Festival Manhattan! The film will screen in New York City on October 20. For more information about its making, view the “Anatomy of a Short Film” section of this site.

Coming Soon, Drama, Film Festival, Independent Film, Narrative, Poster

“Christine,” Starring Rebecca Hall: The Film I Should Have Written

Leave a comment

christine_web.jpg

On the occasion of the poster release for new film Christine, allow me to tell you a brief story about why doing means so much more than just talking.

Some years ago, I happened upon my college’s Wikipedia page. As I scanned over the “Notable Alumni” section, one name stood out to me—one that I didn’t recognize: Christine Chubbuck. I clicked on her name and found myself reading this story of a troubled woman whose tragic actions shook the world of live television. I happened to think about her again just last year when a psychotic man gunned down a reporter and her cameraman during a live feed in Roanoke, Virginia.

Continue reading “Christine,” Starring Rebecca Hall: The Film I Should Have Written →

Comedy, Coming Soon, Documentary, Drama, Film Festival, Foreign Film, Independent Film, Narrative, New Release, Review

New York Film Festival Recap

Leave a comment

As the 53rd New York Film Festival wrapped with Closing Night selection Miles Ahead, a bio-drama on “social music” (don’t call it jazz) legend Miles Davis, starring and helmed by Don Cheadle in his directorial debut, it’s time to look back on some of the Festival’s best offerings.

BRIDGE OF SPIES

In Steven Spielberg’s Cold War-era drama, Tom Hanks plays a Brooklyn insurance lawyer who must broker a sensitive prisoner exchange with the USSR. Once again, Spielberg proves he’s at the top of his craft. Hanks turns in a solid performance, but it’s supporting player Mark Rylance who steals his scenes as a Soviet spy with his too-cool-it’s-unnerving performance.

In Theaters: October 16

Continue reading New York Film Festival Recap →

Coming Soon, Documentary, Drama, Film Festival, Foreign Film, Independent Film, Narrative, Preview

The Hamptons Goes Cinematic

Leave a comment

The 23rd edition of the Hamptons International Film Festival launched its five-day run last Thursday with Opening Night selection Truth, the true newsroom drama starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford. With a healthy selection of world premieres and Oscar hopefuls (including nine foreign language submissions), the festival is primed to bring some of the world’s best cinema to Long Island. Here’s a small sampling of what’s on the slate.

Continue reading The Hamptons Goes Cinematic →

Coming Soon, Drama, Film Festival, Narrative, New Release, Preview

Review: “Bridge of Spies”

Leave a comment
James Donovan (Tom Hanks) meets with his client Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance)

The Cold War sets the stage for Steven Spielberg’s 29th feature, Bridge of Spies, which had its world premiere Sunday night at the 53rd New York Film Festival. Based on a true story, Tom Hanks plays James Donovan, a Brooklyn insurance lawyer asked to defend Rudolf Abel (played eerily cool by Broadway veteran Mark Rylance), a Soviet spy in a trial that’s more for show than jurisprudence. Hesitantly taking on this role, the one-time criminal attorney Donovan is an Atticus Finch-like model for law as a guiding principle, despite the urgings from his colleagues—including the judge—to not put in full effort in his defense. Abel is a Soviet spy after all. His guilty verdict is a foregone conclusion, but it’s important that the US demonstrate a “fair” trial. Donovan will have none of it. He’s a good lawyer, and he will conduct himself as such, despite the threats set against him and his family.

Continue reading Review: “Bridge of Spies” →

Coming Soon, Drama, Film Festival, Independent Film, Narrative, New Release, Preview

Spotlight on New York’s Film Festivals

Leave a comment

It’s a good time to be a movie fan in New York. Two of the country’s preeminent film festivals—New York Film Festival and Hamptons International Film Festival—are upon us. The 53rd edition of the New York Film Festival (NYFF) kicks off tonight, September 25, and runs through October 11 at Manhattan’s Lincoln Center. The 23rd edition of Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) is next in line with a program running from October 8–12 in Long Island. (I’ve proudly served on the screening committee of HIFF for the past five years.) Given their fall festival dates, both have historically made good on delivering some of that year’s top Oscar contenders, and this year will likely be no different. Here are each festival’s Opening Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night films. Check out each festival’s website for its full slate of programming. (All film synopses below are courtesy of their respective festivals’ websites.)

Continue reading Spotlight on New York’s Film Festivals →

Drama, Film Festival, Filmmakers, Foreign Film, Independent Film, Narrative, Preview

Revisiting My Interview with Portuguese Filmmaker Miguel Gomes

Leave a comment

Nearly three years ago, I was offered the opportunity to interview Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes about his new film, Tabu. As a Portuguese film buff and sometimes filmmaker, myself, I leaped at the chance. Now, Gomes has been making waves with his new three-part film, Arabian Nights, ever since its world premiere this past May at the Cannes Film Festival. The 381-minute epic will bow to US audiences beginning September 30 at the New York Film Festival. But before that happens, I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on my interview with him from December 2012.

Continue reading Revisiting My Interview with Portuguese Filmmaker Miguel Gomes →

Actors, Coming Soon, Drama, Film Festival, Narrative, Preview

Images from Bryan Cranston’s “Trumbo” Released

Leave a comment

Ahead of its World Premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, new images from Trumbo have been released. Following a new course of direction, Jay Roach (Austin Powers and Meet the Parents films) directs this dramatic biopic of blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, starring Bryan Cranston in the title role. (Roach will also direct Cranston in another biopic, All the Way, in which the Breaking Bad star will reprise his Tony-winning role of US President Lyndon B. Johnson.)

Bryan Cranston (Dalton Trumbo) and Diane Lane (Cleo Trumbo) in TRUMBO
Helen Mirren (Hedda Hopper) and Bryan Cranston (Dalton Trumbo) in TRUMBO

Continue reading Images from Bryan Cranston’s “Trumbo” Released →

Classic Film, Film Festival, Film Noir, News

Summer of Darkness: Investigating Film Noir

Leave a comment

TCM Summer of Darkness

This summer, TCM is shedding light on some pretty dark films. The second “Summer of Darkness” (the first was in 1999) is a de facto film noir film festival, airing 24 hours of films noir every Friday this June and July. With over 100 films scheduled, the festival is hosted by Eddie Muller, producer and host of Noir City: The San Francisco Film Noir Festival and president of the Film Noir Foundation.

Continue reading Summer of Darkness: Investigating Film Noir →