Showcasing the Best in Independent and World Cinema
Thursday, October 5–15, 2017Acclaimed Festival Films From Around the World And New Offerings from Bay Area Filmmakers Highlight First Slate of Films Announced at 40th Mill Valley Film Festival
The Mill Valley Film Festival (Mvff), presented by the California Film Institute, has announced the first set of films to premiere at the 40th edition of the Festival, returning to Marin County October 5–15, 2017. The Festival will present the Bay Area premiere of many acclaimed films from the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival.
Additionally, Mvff will launch many acclaimed Bay Area filmmakers’ latest films as part of the Festival’s effort to showcase the many established and emerging filmmakers in the Bay Area.
Early Confirmed films from the 2017 Cannes Film Festival at MVFF40:
Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or Winner and Swedish Oscar Submission The Square...
Thursday, October 5–15, 2017Acclaimed Festival Films From Around the World And New Offerings from Bay Area Filmmakers Highlight First Slate of Films Announced at 40th Mill Valley Film Festival
The Mill Valley Film Festival (Mvff), presented by the California Film Institute, has announced the first set of films to premiere at the 40th edition of the Festival, returning to Marin County October 5–15, 2017. The Festival will present the Bay Area premiere of many acclaimed films from the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival.
Additionally, Mvff will launch many acclaimed Bay Area filmmakers’ latest films as part of the Festival’s effort to showcase the many established and emerging filmmakers in the Bay Area.
Early Confirmed films from the 2017 Cannes Film Festival at MVFF40:
Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or Winner and Swedish Oscar Submission The Square...
- 9/5/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Keep up with the glitzy awards world with our weekly Awards Roundup column.
– Director Juan Antonio Bayona’s “A Monster Calls” will enter Spain’s annual Goya Awards on February 4, 2017 with more nominations than any other film. The fantasy-drama is nominated in 12 of the 28 categories, beating out Alberto Rodriguez’s “Smoke and Mirrors” and Raul Arevalo’s “The Fury of a Patient Man,” each of which received 11 nominations. Both films will compete with “A Monster Calls” in the best film category, as will Pedro Almodovar’s “Julieta.”
Read More: Awards Roundup: Megan Ellison to Receive PGA Visionary Award, Guillermo del Toro Honored and More
“A Monster Calls” is “a visually spectacular drama based on the award-winning children’s fantasy novel. 12-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall) attempts to deal with his mother’s (Felicity Jones) illness and the bullying of his classmates by escaping into a fantastical world of monsters and fairy tales that explore courage,...
– Director Juan Antonio Bayona’s “A Monster Calls” will enter Spain’s annual Goya Awards on February 4, 2017 with more nominations than any other film. The fantasy-drama is nominated in 12 of the 28 categories, beating out Alberto Rodriguez’s “Smoke and Mirrors” and Raul Arevalo’s “The Fury of a Patient Man,” each of which received 11 nominations. Both films will compete with “A Monster Calls” in the best film category, as will Pedro Almodovar’s “Julieta.”
Read More: Awards Roundup: Megan Ellison to Receive PGA Visionary Award, Guillermo del Toro Honored and More
“A Monster Calls” is “a visually spectacular drama based on the award-winning children’s fantasy novel. 12-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall) attempts to deal with his mother’s (Felicity Jones) illness and the bullying of his classmates by escaping into a fantastical world of monsters and fairy tales that explore courage,...
- 12/16/2016
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
Every year since 2009, the San Francisco Film Society (Sffs) selects multiple film projects to receive the biannual Sffs/Krf Filmmaking Grant that helps fund some of the best up-and-coming narrative features that support the Bay Area filmmaking industry.
The grant is presented in tangent with the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, and is the largest granting body for independent narrative feature films in the U.S. The winners of the grant will be announced in November, with one or more of the fifteen projects eligible to receive upwards of $250,000 for assistance in post-production, screenwriting, or packing.
The fall 2016 finalists are as follows:
Read More: San Francisco Film Society Announces Winners of 2016 Documentary Film Fund
“Buoyancy” – Rodd Rathjen, writer/director:
Chakra, a Cambodian teenager, leaves his family to seek a better life in Thailand, but is soon sold onto a Thai fishing trawler and enslaved at sea indefinitely, working 22 hours a day with little food.
The grant is presented in tangent with the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, and is the largest granting body for independent narrative feature films in the U.S. The winners of the grant will be announced in November, with one or more of the fifteen projects eligible to receive upwards of $250,000 for assistance in post-production, screenwriting, or packing.
The fall 2016 finalists are as follows:
Read More: San Francisco Film Society Announces Winners of 2016 Documentary Film Fund
“Buoyancy” – Rodd Rathjen, writer/director:
Chakra, a Cambodian teenager, leaves his family to seek a better life in Thailand, but is soon sold onto a Thai fishing trawler and enslaved at sea indefinitely, working 22 hours a day with little food.
- 10/25/2016
- by Mark Burger
- Indiewire
Sundance Institute and Skywalker Sound unveiled today the independent directors and composers selected for Sundance Institute Music and Sound Design Lab – Documentary. Set for September 15-23 at Skywalker Ranch in California’s Marin County, it’s the second of two music and sound design labs for 2014. Sundance Institute will host 15 residential labs this year, collectively representing 20 weeks of residency support and mentorship. Below are the artists and projects selected for the music and sound design docu lab:
Related:
Sundance Institute Creates 2014 Episodic Story Lab For TV & Online Writers
Sundance Institute Selects 12 Projects For Screenwriters Lab
Filmmakers
Marc Silver (director) / 3 1/2 Minutes: 3 1⁄2 Minutes dissects the shooting death of 17-year-old Jordan Davis, the aftermath of this tragedy and contradictions within the American criminal justice system.
Mike Day (director) / The Island and the Whales: The pilot whale hunters of the Nordic Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but...
Related:
Sundance Institute Creates 2014 Episodic Story Lab For TV & Online Writers
Sundance Institute Selects 12 Projects For Screenwriters Lab
Filmmakers
Marc Silver (director) / 3 1/2 Minutes: 3 1⁄2 Minutes dissects the shooting death of 17-year-old Jordan Davis, the aftermath of this tragedy and contradictions within the American criminal justice system.
Mike Day (director) / The Island and the Whales: The pilot whale hunters of the Nordic Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but...
- 8/21/2014
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
Take a look at the end credits of any given Sundance preemed title, and you’ll more than likely find the name of Michelle Satter in the “special thanks” portion. Just how all encompassing is the Sundance Institute support in helping spread filmmaker’s wings? With a whopping fifteen yearly labs, it goes without saying, that there are many folks that got a leg up thanks to Satter and co.
Fittingly and not surprisingly, the month of September is when the festival portion (programming) gets into high gear, and it’s also when the 2014 Sundance Institute Music & Sound Design Labs (Sundance Institute and Skywalker Sound) help out with the docu branch. Now in its second year, lucky folks Marc Silver, Mike Day, Anna Sandilands and Ewan McNicol, Bill Ross and Turner Ross (see pic of duo above) are being paired with some audibly cool folk.
Here is the press release...
Fittingly and not surprisingly, the month of September is when the festival portion (programming) gets into high gear, and it’s also when the 2014 Sundance Institute Music & Sound Design Labs (Sundance Institute and Skywalker Sound) help out with the docu branch. Now in its second year, lucky folks Marc Silver, Mike Day, Anna Sandilands and Ewan McNicol, Bill Ross and Turner Ross (see pic of duo above) are being paired with some audibly cool folk.
Here is the press release...
- 8/20/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
2012 appears to be the year for younger, i.e. under 10 years old, underground fests to blow it wide open and go for broke. This time it’s the 4th annual Oakland Underground Film Festival that is expanding its horizons into a blowout four-day, much more densely packed affair, running on Sept. 27-30 at several different locations.
Expanding on the types of films they screen, this year Oakuff is jammed pack with a wide variety of documentaries, thrillers, a bevy of short films and a special tribute to blaxploitation films hosted by BadAzz MoFo’s David Walker.
The fest opens on the 27th with skateboarding filmmaker Stacy Peralta’s latest, Bones Brigade: An Autobiography, which documents his own involvement with California board culture along with peers like Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen. Following that will be Ya’Ke Smith’s complex drama about the effects of child molestation.
Other documentaries in...
Expanding on the types of films they screen, this year Oakuff is jammed pack with a wide variety of documentaries, thrillers, a bevy of short films and a special tribute to blaxploitation films hosted by BadAzz MoFo’s David Walker.
The fest opens on the 27th with skateboarding filmmaker Stacy Peralta’s latest, Bones Brigade: An Autobiography, which documents his own involvement with California board culture along with peers like Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen. Following that will be Ya’Ke Smith’s complex drama about the effects of child molestation.
Other documentaries in...
- 9/25/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
After a woeful two-year hiatus — and actually it had been assumed as a death — the San Francisco Underground Short Film Festival is back from the dead with a vengeance! Once again headed up by the Bay Area’s midnight movie grande dame Peaches Christ, this year’s Sfusff begins at the unholy early hour of 7:30 p.m., so that means tons more fun and outrageousness for the fest this time.
Taking place at the Victoria Theater on April 15, there will be 21 short films, including the centerpiece of the fest: The World Premiere of director xuxE’s Devious, Inc., a musical adventure set in the world of kinky fetish competitions. The film is also not a short film. It’s a feature-length movie that will close the fest at 10:30 p.m. and will be preceded by one of Peaches Christ’s astounding live performances.
In fact, the entire night...
Taking place at the Victoria Theater on April 15, there will be 21 short films, including the centerpiece of the fest: The World Premiere of director xuxE’s Devious, Inc., a musical adventure set in the world of kinky fetish competitions. The film is also not a short film. It’s a feature-length movie that will close the fest at 10:30 p.m. and will be preceded by one of Peaches Christ’s astounding live performances.
In fact, the entire night...
- 3/25/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
With all the "Black Swan" hoopla, am I the only one who thinks that the film, while well-made, is not deserving of all these hyper-crazed adulations? Portman was good, but I prefer Annette Bening's understated performance in "The Kids Are All Right." Or heck, Jennifer Lawrence's "Winter's Bone" performance could easily outdance Portman's delusional ballerina portrayal any day.
And "Winter's Bone," celebrating its true independent spirit, was virtually snubbed at last night's Independent Spirit Awards. Sure, the excellent supporting cast was honored with Dale Dickey winning Best Supporting Female and John Hawkes for Best Supporting Male, but the engaging and deeply haunting Debra Granik movie (with the most nominations totaling to seven nods) lost out to...you guessed it, Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan." (Check out my "Winter's Bone" movie review right here)
And yes, I do admire Aronofsky, I thought "The Wrestler" was one of his personal...
And "Winter's Bone," celebrating its true independent spirit, was virtually snubbed at last night's Independent Spirit Awards. Sure, the excellent supporting cast was honored with Dale Dickey winning Best Supporting Female and John Hawkes for Best Supporting Male, but the engaging and deeply haunting Debra Granik movie (with the most nominations totaling to seven nods) lost out to...you guessed it, Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan." (Check out my "Winter's Bone" movie review right here)
And yes, I do admire Aronofsky, I thought "The Wrestler" was one of his personal...
- 2/27/2011
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Tune in to IFC tonight at 10:00 p.m. Et/Pt to catch all the action at the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards, with actor and comedian Joel McHale hosting.
Highlights include: Joel getting caught in a 127 Hours situation with only Dale Dickey, “Banksy” and John Waters to help him out; See how this year’s best feature nominees stack up against porn and the big studios; Catch the Spirit Awards’ version of a dead people montage; and more! The show was produced by Film Independent in association with Dick Clark productions, Inc.
The Spirit Awards was the first event to exclusively honor independent film, and over the past 26 years, has become the premier awards show for the independent film community, celebrating films made by filmmakers who embody independence and originality.
The following is a complete list of the winners:
Winners List
Best Feature: 'Black Swan'
Best Director: Darren Aronofsky,...
Highlights include: Joel getting caught in a 127 Hours situation with only Dale Dickey, “Banksy” and John Waters to help him out; See how this year’s best feature nominees stack up against porn and the big studios; Catch the Spirit Awards’ version of a dead people montage; and more! The show was produced by Film Independent in association with Dick Clark productions, Inc.
The Spirit Awards was the first event to exclusively honor independent film, and over the past 26 years, has become the premier awards show for the independent film community, celebrating films made by filmmakers who embody independence and originality.
The following is a complete list of the winners:
Winners List
Best Feature: 'Black Swan'
Best Director: Darren Aronofsky,...
- 2/27/2011
- by brians
- GeekTyrant
The 2011 Independent Spirit Awards were handed out a few hours ago and Black Swan won in all four categories it was nominated in including Best Picture, Best Director (Darren Aronofsky), Best Actress (Natalie Portman) and Best Cinematography (Matthew Libatique). Winter's Bone earned the most nominations at seven and dominated the supporting categories with wins for both Dale Dickey and John Hawkes, of the two only Hawkes earned an Oscar nomination, but he'll be facing off against both Christian Bale and Geoffrey Rush tomorrow night so I'm not counting on two awards in two days, though his performance in that film is one to remember.
Elsewhere, James Franco won Best Actor for 127 Hours, though he wasn't facing the stiffest of competition when it comes to most talked about performances of the year as he is the only one of the five nominees to also be nominated for an Oscar. Exit Through the Gift Shop...
Elsewhere, James Franco won Best Actor for 127 Hours, though he wasn't facing the stiffest of competition when it comes to most talked about performances of the year as he is the only one of the five nominees to also be nominated for an Oscar. Exit Through the Gift Shop...
- 2/27/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
As a way of celebrating this year's nominees for the Spirit Awards in the weeks leading up to the ceremony, we reached out to as many as we could in an effort to better understand what went into their films, what they've gotten out of the experience, and where they've found their inspiration, both in regards to their work and other works of art that might've inspired them from the past year. Their answers will be published on a daily basis throughout February.
Frazer Bradshaw has held nearly position on a film crew imaginable, from his beginnings as an editor to a cinematographer who continues to work on other people's films such as "Babies" and the recent Sundance entry "These Amazing Shadows." So after creating a collection of shorts over the past decade, it was high time for the filmmaker to put it all together for "Everything Strange and New,...
Frazer Bradshaw has held nearly position on a film crew imaginable, from his beginnings as an editor to a cinematographer who continues to work on other people's films such as "Babies" and the recent Sundance entry "These Amazing Shadows." So after creating a collection of shorts over the past decade, it was high time for the filmmaker to put it all together for "Everything Strange and New,...
- 2/25/2011
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Frazer Bradshaw was first drawn to filmmaking through experimental cinema. His first feature, "Everything Strange and New" is currently nominated for a Spirit Award in the Best First Feature Category. The film follows a man as he struggles to understand himself and his adulthood. indieWIRE caught up with Bradshaw over an e-mail interview last week and this is what he had to say. Being engaged by the challenges in the ...
- 2/24/2011
- indieWIRE - People
Frazer Bradshaw was first drawn to filmmaking through experimental cinema. His first feature, "Everything Strange and New" is currently nominated for a Spirit Award in the Best First Feature Category. The film follows a man as he struggles to understand himself and his adulthood. indieWIRE caught up with Bradshaw over an e-mail interview last week and this is what he had to say. Being engaged by the challenges in the ...
- 2/24/2011
- Indiewire
Reviewed by Jeremy Mathews
(from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival)
Directed by: Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton
Featuring: Jay Carr, Peter Coyote, Julie Dash, Caleb Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel, Robert A. Harris, Amy Heckerling, Jennifer Horne, Steve James, Barbara Kopple, Mick Lasalle, John Lasseter, Leonard Maltin, Christopher Nolan, Rob Reiner, Debbie Reynolds, Tim Roth, James Schamus, Paul Schrader, John Singleton, George Takei, Wayne Wang and John Waters
The only requirement for a film to be put on the National Film Registry of the United States is that it be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” The great thing about these requirements, according to one board member interviewed in the documentary “These Amazing Shadows,” is that they make it possible for anything to qualify. The registry is an eclectic bunch of films selected to be preserved in the Library of Congress and includes everything from obvious classics like “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane” and “The Godfather...
(from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival)
Directed by: Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton
Featuring: Jay Carr, Peter Coyote, Julie Dash, Caleb Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel, Robert A. Harris, Amy Heckerling, Jennifer Horne, Steve James, Barbara Kopple, Mick Lasalle, John Lasseter, Leonard Maltin, Christopher Nolan, Rob Reiner, Debbie Reynolds, Tim Roth, James Schamus, Paul Schrader, John Singleton, George Takei, Wayne Wang and John Waters
The only requirement for a film to be put on the National Film Registry of the United States is that it be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” The great thing about these requirements, according to one board member interviewed in the documentary “These Amazing Shadows,” is that they make it possible for anything to qualify. The registry is an eclectic bunch of films selected to be preserved in the Library of Congress and includes everything from obvious classics like “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane” and “The Godfather...
- 1/29/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Reviewed by Jeremy Mathews
(from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival)
Directed by: Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton
Featuring: Jay Carr, Peter Coyote, Julie Dash, Caleb Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel, Robert A. Harris, Amy Heckerling, Jennifer Horne, Steve James, Barbara Kopple, Mick Lasalle, John Lasseter, Leonard Maltin, Christopher Nolan, Rob Reiner, Debbie Reynolds, Tim Roth, James Schamus, Paul Schrader, John Singleton, George Takei, Wayne Wang and John Waters
The only requirement for a film to be put on the National Film Registry of the United States is that it be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” The great thing about these requirements, according to one board member interviewed in the documentary “These Amazing Shadows,” is that they make it possible for anything to qualify. The registry is an eclectic bunch of films selected to be preserved in the Library of Congress and includes everything from obvious classics like “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane” and “The Godfather...
(from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival)
Directed by: Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton
Featuring: Jay Carr, Peter Coyote, Julie Dash, Caleb Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel, Robert A. Harris, Amy Heckerling, Jennifer Horne, Steve James, Barbara Kopple, Mick Lasalle, John Lasseter, Leonard Maltin, Christopher Nolan, Rob Reiner, Debbie Reynolds, Tim Roth, James Schamus, Paul Schrader, John Singleton, George Takei, Wayne Wang and John Waters
The only requirement for a film to be put on the National Film Registry of the United States is that it be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” The great thing about these requirements, according to one board member interviewed in the documentary “These Amazing Shadows,” is that they make it possible for anything to qualify. The registry is an eclectic bunch of films selected to be preserved in the Library of Congress and includes everything from obvious classics like “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane” and “The Godfather...
- 1/29/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
"Dogtooth" (2009)
Directed by Giorgos Lanthimos
Released by Kino
"Enter the Void" (2010)
Directed by Gaspar Noé
Released by Mpi Home Video
Somehow it's fitting that two of last year's most dangerous films will be hitting DVD shelves the same week, both being favorites of the IFC.com staff. "Dogtooth," Lanthimos' much-debated Un Certain Regard winner from Cannes, concerns the lives of three culturally isolated children -- two daughters and a son, who range from mid-teens to early 20s -- fenced in by their parents' country home, who receive a reeducation when their lone connection to the outside world, a female security guard for their parents' business, introduces them to the joys of sex and Sylvester Stallone films. Meanwhile, "Irreversible" provocateur Noé's latest is a wildly ambitious 155-minute extravaganza set inside the mind of a drug dealer told from the first-person perspective. Nathaniel Brown and "Boardwalk Empire" star Paz de la Huerta...
Directed by Giorgos Lanthimos
Released by Kino
"Enter the Void" (2010)
Directed by Gaspar Noé
Released by Mpi Home Video
Somehow it's fitting that two of last year's most dangerous films will be hitting DVD shelves the same week, both being favorites of the IFC.com staff. "Dogtooth," Lanthimos' much-debated Un Certain Regard winner from Cannes, concerns the lives of three culturally isolated children -- two daughters and a son, who range from mid-teens to early 20s -- fenced in by their parents' country home, who receive a reeducation when their lone connection to the outside world, a female security guard for their parents' business, introduces them to the joys of sex and Sylvester Stallone films. Meanwhile, "Irreversible" provocateur Noé's latest is a wildly ambitious 155-minute extravaganza set inside the mind of a drug dealer told from the first-person perspective. Nathaniel Brown and "Boardwalk Empire" star Paz de la Huerta...
- 1/24/2011
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
So last week was admittedly a slog of subversive family drama. Thankfully this week offered some truly intriguing indie efforts.
First I was introduced to the marvelous and miniature world of Marwencol, next subjected to the dreary worldview of Everything Stranger and New, then exposed to the heart-filled weight loss journey of Lbs., and finally watched a truly enchanting tale of young love unfold in Kisses.
———-
Marwencol ~ Directed by Jeff Malmberg
This carefully crafted doc unfolds the story of Mark Hogancamp, a drunk whose life changed dramatically after he was beaten within an inch of his life outside a local bar. His attackers “kicked every memory of [his] head,” leaving Hogancamp to relearn basic motor skills and grappling to rediscover himself. His method of self-made therapy: constructing a model town named Marwencol that he peoples with miniature doppelgangers of his loved ones. With these figures he enacts winding wishful narratives,...
First I was introduced to the marvelous and miniature world of Marwencol, next subjected to the dreary worldview of Everything Stranger and New, then exposed to the heart-filled weight loss journey of Lbs., and finally watched a truly enchanting tale of young love unfold in Kisses.
———-
Marwencol ~ Directed by Jeff Malmberg
This carefully crafted doc unfolds the story of Mark Hogancamp, a drunk whose life changed dramatically after he was beaten within an inch of his life outside a local bar. His attackers “kicked every memory of [his] head,” leaving Hogancamp to relearn basic motor skills and grappling to rediscover himself. His method of self-made therapy: constructing a model town named Marwencol that he peoples with miniature doppelgangers of his loved ones. With these figures he enacts winding wishful narratives,...
- 1/24/2011
- by Kristy Puchko
- The Film Stage
Best DirectorDarren Aronofsky'Black Swan'In many ways, Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan" is similar to his previous film, "The Wrestler." Both lead characters are dedicated artists struggling with inner demons. To express themselves, they have only their bodies. Their age, injuries, and mental stability threaten to undermine their art.However, in "Black Swan," Aronofsky masterfully adds another layer. He parallels the journey of Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) with the tale of "Swan Lake," the tragic ballet in which she performs. The astute viewer will notice his use of black and white in the set pieces of almost every scene, alluding to the contrast between the white and black swans. He adds elements of horror, drama, and paranoia, all of which exist in "Swan Lake." He directs the actors in such a way that you aren't ever sure what is fantasy and what is reality. All of these elements add...
- 1/19/2011
- backstage.com
Haven't seen a little indie called "Winter's Bone" yet? You might want to go ahead and add it to your Netflix queue... that is, if you're interested in seeing what will likely be a top contender for this year's Best Picture Oscar.
After taking home the prizes for best feature and best ensemble performance at last night's 20th Gotham Independent Film Awards, the film was thrown an even juicier awards-season bone this morning, when it received seven nods -- including best feature -- to dominate the Independent Spirit Awards nominations.
Debra Granik scored two nods for directing and co-writing (with Anne Rosellini) "Bone," while Jennifer Lawrence scored a best lead female nomination for her riveting, star-making turn as a woman searching for her father in backwoods Arkansas. Her "Winter's Bone" costars, John Hawkes and Dale Dickey, nabbed nominations for best supporting male and female, respectively. And Michael McDonough earned the film's seventh nod,...
After taking home the prizes for best feature and best ensemble performance at last night's 20th Gotham Independent Film Awards, the film was thrown an even juicier awards-season bone this morning, when it received seven nods -- including best feature -- to dominate the Independent Spirit Awards nominations.
Debra Granik scored two nods for directing and co-writing (with Anne Rosellini) "Bone," while Jennifer Lawrence scored a best lead female nomination for her riveting, star-making turn as a woman searching for her father in backwoods Arkansas. Her "Winter's Bone" costars, John Hawkes and Dale Dickey, nabbed nominations for best supporting male and female, respectively. And Michael McDonough earned the film's seventh nod,...
- 11/30/2010
- by Tom DiChiara
- MTV Movies Blog
This morning, Eva Mendes and Jeremy Renner presented the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations and last night's Gotham Awards big winner, Winter's Bone was this morning's leading nominee with a total of seven nominations including Best Feature, Best Director (Debra Granik), Best Screenplay (Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini), Best Female Lead (Jennifer Lawrence), Best Supporting Female (Dale Dickey), Best Supporting Male (John Hawkes) and Best Cinematography (Michael McDonough).
Coming in second on the nomination list was The Kids are All Right with five, followed by Black Swan, Greenberg and Rabbit Hole, all with four. The only nominee for Best Feature not to have at least four nominations was Danny Boyle's 127 Hours, which earned three noms.
A few things of note when quickly glancing through the list, Winter's Bone is not only making a hard push for a Best Picture nomination, which now appears to be a certainty just as...
Coming in second on the nomination list was The Kids are All Right with five, followed by Black Swan, Greenberg and Rabbit Hole, all with four. The only nominee for Best Feature not to have at least four nominations was Danny Boyle's 127 Hours, which earned three noms.
A few things of note when quickly glancing through the list, Winter's Bone is not only making a hard push for a Best Picture nomination, which now appears to be a certainty just as...
- 11/30/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Cool! "Winter's Bone" Dominates Independent Spirit Awards Nominations! See Complete List of Nominees
I'm so glad that "Winter's Bone" has been receiving all the accolades. I love this film when it was shown in limited release last summer. The backwoods drama won big at the Gothams Awards winning Best Feature and Best Ensemble, and now, it dominated the Independent Spirit Awards with seven nominations including Best Feature, Director for Debra Granik, Screenplay for Granik and Anne Rosellini, Female Lead for Jennifer Lawrence, Supporting Female for Dale Dickey, Supporting Male for John Hawkes, and Cinematography for Michael McDonough. ("Winter's Bone" Movie Review)
"Winter's Bone" will compete against "127 Hours," "Black Swan," "Greenberg" and "The Kids Are All Right" for best picture.
Related Links:
"127 Hours" interviews with James Franco, Danny Boyle, and Simon Beaufoy
"Greenberg" Movie Review and Interviews with Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, and Rhys Ifans
"The Kids Are All Right" Movie Review and Interviews with Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, and...
"Winter's Bone" will compete against "127 Hours," "Black Swan," "Greenberg" and "The Kids Are All Right" for best picture.
Related Links:
"127 Hours" interviews with James Franco, Danny Boyle, and Simon Beaufoy
"Greenberg" Movie Review and Interviews with Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, and Rhys Ifans
"The Kids Are All Right" Movie Review and Interviews with Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, and...
- 11/30/2010
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Historically the Spirit Awards tend to honor a few of the major Oscar players each year but a win at the Spirits can sometimesLe be the last hurrah, a consolation prize as some would say, if the work is too "edgy" for lack of a less exhaustively employed word. Last year's big winner was Precious (refresh your memory?) It took home Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actress and Adapted Screenplay. There were only three crossover winners from Spirits to Oscars last year : Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart), Mo'Nique (Precious) and the screenplay for Precious. (The Hurt Locker was considered a 2008 film.)
So what fared well this year? Black Swan got four nods including Best Actress for "sweet girl" Natalie Portman. But it could peak at the right time. Full list after the jump with Winter's Bone (7) and The Kids Are All Right (5) leading the pack.
Eva Mendes and Jeremy Renner announced the nominees.
So what fared well this year? Black Swan got four nods including Best Actress for "sweet girl" Natalie Portman. But it could peak at the right time. Full list after the jump with Winter's Bone (7) and The Kids Are All Right (5) leading the pack.
Eva Mendes and Jeremy Renner announced the nominees.
- 11/30/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Chicago – Couples making plans to start a family may get a kick out of “Babies,” the lyrical new documentary from French filmmaker Thomas Balmès. Everyone else may find themselves bored stiff. The film is an intriguing experiment with varying degrees of success. It’s as tedious as it is compelling and as annoying as it is insightful.
Universal marketed the picture as the next “March of the Penguins,” with the key exception that it features humans. The film also doesn’t include narration by Morgan Freeman, which may be a plus, considering how hackneyed it would be to hear The Actor Frequently Known as God pontificating on the profundity of infant behavior. In fact, “Babies” contains no narration whatsoever. It simply observes four babies in different parts of the world during their first year of life. Balmès and his team of collaborators have constructed a portrait that plays like cinematic poetry at best,...
Universal marketed the picture as the next “March of the Penguins,” with the key exception that it features humans. The film also doesn’t include narration by Morgan Freeman, which may be a plus, considering how hackneyed it would be to hear The Actor Frequently Known as God pontificating on the profundity of infant behavior. In fact, “Babies” contains no narration whatsoever. It simply observes four babies in different parts of the world during their first year of life. Balmès and his team of collaborators have constructed a portrait that plays like cinematic poetry at best,...
- 10/5/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
What film debuting today is like the BBC's Planet Earth but with oodles more cuteness? One hint: It's not Iron Man 2. The awwwwww-inducing film would be Babies, a new documentary from Focus Features that follows four children around the world from their births to their first steps. For 18 months a team of French filmmakers headed by director Thomas Balmès traveled between the four little costars: Ponijao, who lives with eight siblings in a village in Namibia; Mari, an only child in cosmopolitan Tokyo; Bayar, who lives on a farm in nomadic Mongolia; and Hattie, the daughter of Bay Area parents Susie Wise and Frazer Bradshaw. Hattie, who is now 4, also had the most unique filming experience as she was mostly shot by her father, who also served as the film's cinematographer.
[youtube VVYszQrKo9g]
Wise and Bradshaw never dreamed the film would get such widespread distribution--the film opens across the country today--but...
[youtube VVYszQrKo9g]
Wise and Bradshaw never dreamed the film would get such widespread distribution--the film opens across the country today--but...
- 5/9/2010
- by Alissa Walker
- Fast Company
Those compiling their best of the year lists would do well to consult the roll-call of gong-winners handed out by an august band of international critics
Any perspicacious film festival-goer or festival-watcher will have noticed that one of the prizes awarded at most festivals, in addition to the Golden Palms, Golden Lions or Golden Leopards etc, is the Fipresci (Federation International de la Presse Cinematographic) – aka the international film critics' award. In principle, this should be the most prestigious and sought-after prize of all, because the juries are made up of professional film critics (usually five, each from a different country) who are paid to tell the public what is good or bad and why.
Unfortunately, the Fipresci prize does not carry with it any money but, in theory, it does help the film gain a distributor. However, on one occasion, I remember that a director, who had just won the Fipresci prize,...
Any perspicacious film festival-goer or festival-watcher will have noticed that one of the prizes awarded at most festivals, in addition to the Golden Palms, Golden Lions or Golden Leopards etc, is the Fipresci (Federation International de la Presse Cinematographic) – aka the international film critics' award. In principle, this should be the most prestigious and sought-after prize of all, because the juries are made up of professional film critics (usually five, each from a different country) who are paid to tell the public what is good or bad and why.
Unfortunately, the Fipresci prize does not carry with it any money but, in theory, it does help the film gain a distributor. However, on one occasion, I remember that a director, who had just won the Fipresci prize,...
- 12/24/2009
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
"The Hurt Locker" continues to invade film critics awards nationwide, as the San Francisco Film Critics Circle named the movie the Best Picture of the year, with director Kathryn Bigelow winning the trophy for helming.
Colin Firth received the Best Actor nod for his portrayal of a gay man trying to cope with the death of his partner in "A Single Man," while Meryl Streep's brilliant performance as Julia Childs in "Julie & Julia" garnered her the Best Actress trophy.
Christian McKay for "Me and Orson Welles" bested awards favorite Christoph Waltz in "Inglourious Basterds" for Best Supporting Actor, while Mo'Nique continued to dominate with her "Precious" performance, receiving the Best Supporting Actress.
The San Francisco Film Critics Circle paid homage to local screenwriter/producer Rose Kaufman, who recently died of cancer.
Here's the full list of winners for the 2009 San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards:
Picture: "The Hurt Locker"
Director: Kathryn Bigelow,...
Colin Firth received the Best Actor nod for his portrayal of a gay man trying to cope with the death of his partner in "A Single Man," while Meryl Streep's brilliant performance as Julia Childs in "Julie & Julia" garnered her the Best Actress trophy.
Christian McKay for "Me and Orson Welles" bested awards favorite Christoph Waltz in "Inglourious Basterds" for Best Supporting Actor, while Mo'Nique continued to dominate with her "Precious" performance, receiving the Best Supporting Actress.
The San Francisco Film Critics Circle paid homage to local screenwriter/producer Rose Kaufman, who recently died of cancer.
Here's the full list of winners for the 2009 San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards:
Picture: "The Hurt Locker"
Director: Kathryn Bigelow,...
- 12/16/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
As the end of the year approaches, more and more "best of" lists are starting to come out. The San Francisco Film Critics Awards have been announced and Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker". That film has been dominating lots of critics lists and it might end up being an Oscar contender.
Other big winners included Meryl Streep for "Julie & Julia," Mo'Nique for "Precious" and Colin Firth for "A Single Man."
The complete list:
Best Picture
“The Hurt Locker”
Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”
Best Original Screenplay
Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”
Best Adapted Screenplay
Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”
Best Actor
Colin Firth, “A Single Man”
Best Actress
Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia”
Best Supporting Actor
Christian McKay, “Me and Orson Welles”
Best Supporting Actress
Mo’Nique, “Precious”
Best Animated Feature
“Coraline”
Best Foreign Language Film
“You, the Living” (Sweden)
Best Documentary
“Anvil! The Story of Anvil”
Best Cinematography
Roger Deakins,...
Other big winners included Meryl Streep for "Julie & Julia," Mo'Nique for "Precious" and Colin Firth for "A Single Man."
The complete list:
Best Picture
“The Hurt Locker”
Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”
Best Original Screenplay
Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”
Best Adapted Screenplay
Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”
Best Actor
Colin Firth, “A Single Man”
Best Actress
Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia”
Best Supporting Actor
Christian McKay, “Me and Orson Welles”
Best Supporting Actress
Mo’Nique, “Precious”
Best Animated Feature
“Coraline”
Best Foreign Language Film
“You, the Living” (Sweden)
Best Documentary
“Anvil! The Story of Anvil”
Best Cinematography
Roger Deakins,...
- 12/15/2009
- by Christina Warren
- AMC - Script to Screen
2009 San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards 2009 San Francisco Film Critics winners: Dec. 14, 2009 Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker Best Picture The Hurt Locker Best Foreign Language Film You, the Living (Sweden) Best Documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil Best Animated Feature Coraline Best Director Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker Best Actor Colin Firth, A Single Man Best Actress Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia Best Supporting Actor Christian McKay, Me and Orson Welles Best Supporting Actress Mo’Nique, Precious Best Original Screenplay Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds Best Adapted Screenplay Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, Fantastic Mr. Fox Best Cinematography Roger Deakins, A Serious Man Special Citation Sita Sings the Blues Marlon Riggs Award for courage & vision in the Bay Area film community Frazer Bradshaw, filmmaker, in recognition of his film Everything Strange and New Barry Jenkins, [...]...
- 12/15/2009
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
If this year's Gotham Awards winner is any indication, A Serious Man might be in serious trouble with its Oscar chances as Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker appears to be the "preferred" independent film of the year. - If this year's Gotham Awards winner is any indication, A Serious Man might be in serious trouble with its Oscar chances as Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker appears to be the "preferred" independent film of the year. The Coen Bros. film lost out in the Best Feature and Best Ensemble categories, but I'm really curious in seeing how this all plays out in the next couple of weeks with the New York based film critics' year end kudos. The biggest surprise of the the 19th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards was the Breakthrough Actor award going to Catalina Saavedra's performance in The Maid over Ben Foster...
- 12/13/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker (Best Feature, Ensemble, Breakthrough Actor) and Robert Siegel Big Fan (Best Feature, Breakthrough Director and Actor) managed to pick up three mentions each for the 19th Annual Gotham Independent Film Award nominations, but the big winner on November 30th might actually be The Coen Bros. A Serious Man who have noms in the Best Feature and Best Ensemble Perf. categories. - Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker (Best Feature, Ensemble, Breakthrough Actor) and Robert Siegel Big Fan (Best Feature, Breakthrough Director and Actor) managed to pick up three mentions each for the 19th Annual Gotham Independent Film Award nominations, but the big winner on November 30th might actually be The Coen Bros. A Serious Man who have noms in the Best Feature and Best Ensemble Perf. categories. Sebastian Silva's (who we just recently interviewed) picked up pair...
- 12/13/2009
- by Ioncinema.com Staff
- IONCINEMA.com
On Monday, October 19, the Independent Filmmaker Project has announced the nominees for the 19th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards, unraveling the dominance of "The Hurt Locker" and "Big Fan". Both feature films received the most nominations with three gongs each, and will battle it out in two categories, Best Feature and Breakthrough Actor.
In the Best Feature category, the two are up against Cherien Dabis' "Amreeka", Sebastian Silva's "The Maid" and the Coen brothers' "A Serious Man". As for the actor title, "Hurt Locker" enlisted Jeremy Renner and "Big Fan" put Patton Oswalt in competition with Ben Foster, Catalina Saavedra and Soulemane Sy Savane.
The third nod "Hurt Locker" collected is for Best Ensemble Performance, placing it to compete against "Adventureland" and "Cold Souls" among other movies. Meanwhile, "Big Fan" lands its third nomination for its director Robert Siegel. In the particular category, Siegel is listed against Cruz Angeles,...
In the Best Feature category, the two are up against Cherien Dabis' "Amreeka", Sebastian Silva's "The Maid" and the Coen brothers' "A Serious Man". As for the actor title, "Hurt Locker" enlisted Jeremy Renner and "Big Fan" put Patton Oswalt in competition with Ben Foster, Catalina Saavedra and Soulemane Sy Savane.
The third nod "Hurt Locker" collected is for Best Ensemble Performance, placing it to compete against "Adventureland" and "Cold Souls" among other movies. Meanwhile, "Big Fan" lands its third nomination for its director Robert Siegel. In the particular category, Siegel is listed against Cruz Angeles,...
- 10/20/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
"The Hurt Locker's" march to the Oscars has begun! The film, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, is nominated for best feature, breakthrough actor, and best ensemble performance at the 19th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards.
Robert Siegel's "Big Fan" also topped the Gotham nominations with best features, breakthrough actor, and breakthrough director noms.
"The Hurt Locker" is one of my favorite films this year (Click Watch My Top 10 Best Movies of Summer 2009!) so I'm rooting for this brilliant flick!
Bigelow, Natalie Portman, and Stanley Tucci, and producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will each be presented with a career tribute.
The ceremony will be held Nov. 30 at Cipriani Wall Street.
And the nominees for the 19th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards are:
Best Feature
"Amreeka"
Cherien Dabis, director; Christina Piovesan, Paul Barkin, producers (National Geographic Entertainment)
"Big Fan"
Robert Siegel, director; Jean Kouremetis, Elan Bogarin, producers (First Independent Pictures)
"The Hurt Locker"
Kathryn Bigelow,...
Robert Siegel's "Big Fan" also topped the Gotham nominations with best features, breakthrough actor, and breakthrough director noms.
"The Hurt Locker" is one of my favorite films this year (Click Watch My Top 10 Best Movies of Summer 2009!) so I'm rooting for this brilliant flick!
Bigelow, Natalie Portman, and Stanley Tucci, and producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will each be presented with a career tribute.
The ceremony will be held Nov. 30 at Cipriani Wall Street.
And the nominees for the 19th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards are:
Best Feature
"Amreeka"
Cherien Dabis, director; Christina Piovesan, Paul Barkin, producers (National Geographic Entertainment)
"Big Fan"
Robert Siegel, director; Jean Kouremetis, Elan Bogarin, producers (First Independent Pictures)
"The Hurt Locker"
Kathryn Bigelow,...
- 10/20/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Kathryn Bigelow's hard-hitting war drama The Hurt Locker has emerged as an early Oscars favourite after picking up a string of nominations for the upcoming Gotham Independent Film Awards, one of the season's first big prizegivings.
The movie will be up against Amreeka, Big Fan, The Maid and A Serious Man in the Best Feature category, while star Jeremy Renner will fight for the Breakthrough Actor prize and he and his castmates are up for Best Ensemble Performance.
Meanwhile, director Bigelow will be among the filmmakers and stars honoured with tributes at the 19th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards, held in New York on 30 November. Natalie Portman, Stanley Tucci and producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will also be presented with career tributes.
Meanwhile, Chis Rock's Good Hair will compete with Food, Inc., My Neighbor My Killer, Paradise and Tyson for the Best Documentary prize and Cruz Angeles (Don’t Let Me Down), Frazer Bradshaw (Everything Strange and New), Noah Buschel (The Missing Person), Derick Martini (Lymelife) and Robert Siegel (Big Fan) will fight for the Breakthrough Director award.
Up against Renner in the Breakthrough Actor category are Ben Foster (The Messenger), comedian Patton Oswalt (Big Fan), Catalina Saavedra (The Maid) and Soulemane Sy Savane (Goodbye Solo).
Adventureland, Cold Souls, A Serious Man and Sugar will compete with The Hurt Locker for the Best Ensemble Performance honour.
The movie will be up against Amreeka, Big Fan, The Maid and A Serious Man in the Best Feature category, while star Jeremy Renner will fight for the Breakthrough Actor prize and he and his castmates are up for Best Ensemble Performance.
Meanwhile, director Bigelow will be among the filmmakers and stars honoured with tributes at the 19th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards, held in New York on 30 November. Natalie Portman, Stanley Tucci and producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will also be presented with career tributes.
Meanwhile, Chis Rock's Good Hair will compete with Food, Inc., My Neighbor My Killer, Paradise and Tyson for the Best Documentary prize and Cruz Angeles (Don’t Let Me Down), Frazer Bradshaw (Everything Strange and New), Noah Buschel (The Missing Person), Derick Martini (Lymelife) and Robert Siegel (Big Fan) will fight for the Breakthrough Director award.
Up against Renner in the Breakthrough Actor category are Ben Foster (The Messenger), comedian Patton Oswalt (Big Fan), Catalina Saavedra (The Maid) and Soulemane Sy Savane (Goodbye Solo).
Adventureland, Cold Souls, A Serious Man and Sugar will compete with The Hurt Locker for the Best Ensemble Performance honour.
- 10/19/2009
- WENN
The Gotham Awards are going particularly indie for their 2009 edition, nominating three festival favorites with limited distribution exposure for their best feature prize.
Cherien Dabis' immigrant tale "Amreeka,", Robert Siegel's rabid-fan pic ""Big Fan"" and Sebastian Silva's working-class drama "The Maid" all drew noms in the Gothams' top category, joining awards season frontrunners "The Hurt Locker" and "A Serious Man."
Kathryn Bigelow's "Locker" and "Fan" received the most noms overall, drawing three (both earned best feature and best actor noms, while Siegel landed a spot for breakthrough director and "Locker" scored a nom for best ensemble performance).
Best doc noms went to Robert Kenner's expose "Food, Inc.," Jeff Stilson's tonsorial exploration "Good Hair," Anne Aghion Rwandan-war pic "My Neighbor, My Killer," Michael Almereyda's experimentally minded "Paradise" and James Toback's boxing profile "Tyson."
Not appearing on the list in any category were Lee Daniels...
Cherien Dabis' immigrant tale "Amreeka,", Robert Siegel's rabid-fan pic ""Big Fan"" and Sebastian Silva's working-class drama "The Maid" all drew noms in the Gothams' top category, joining awards season frontrunners "The Hurt Locker" and "A Serious Man."
Kathryn Bigelow's "Locker" and "Fan" received the most noms overall, drawing three (both earned best feature and best actor noms, while Siegel landed a spot for breakthrough director and "Locker" scored a nom for best ensemble performance).
Best doc noms went to Robert Kenner's expose "Food, Inc.," Jeff Stilson's tonsorial exploration "Good Hair," Anne Aghion Rwandan-war pic "My Neighbor, My Killer," Michael Almereyda's experimentally minded "Paradise" and James Toback's boxing profile "Tyson."
Not appearing on the list in any category were Lee Daniels...
- 10/19/2009
- by By Steven Zeitchik
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
We have our first batch of conversation starter nominees as nominees were announced this morning for the 19th Annual Gotham Independent Film Award, with Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker and Robert Siegel's Big Fan each earning three nominations with The Hurt Locker also set to receive Gotham's tribute award. In addition to the competitive awards, director Kathryn Bigelow, actors Natalie Portman and Stanley Tucci, and producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, will each be presented with a career tribute.
While I wouldn't expect Big Fan to do much outside the indie realm, this is a great start for The Hurt Locker as the film, the ensemble and Jeremy Renner were both singled out. Could Renner still land a Best Actor nomination?
Check out the complete list directly below and to the right is a montage of the nominated Best Feature films supplied by the Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp...
While I wouldn't expect Big Fan to do much outside the indie realm, this is a great start for The Hurt Locker as the film, the ensemble and Jeremy Renner were both singled out. Could Renner still land a Best Actor nomination?
Check out the complete list directly below and to the right is a montage of the nominated Best Feature films supplied by the Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp...
- 10/19/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
[Editor's note: Esan premiered at Sundance]
Year: 2009
Release date: Unknown
Directors: Frazer Bradshaw
Writers: Frazer Bradshaw
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: cyberhal
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Now that I am finally unemployed like everybody else, this is the kind of movie I suppose I should like. Experimental, thoughtful and downbeat, this is a portrait of Wayne (Jerry McDaniel), an unhappy carpenter in the middle of the kind of existentialist crisis that French philosopher Jean Paul Satre would have had wet dreams about. But with this topic, I honestly found the movie way too slow and even the visual originality wasn’t enough to make up for the fact almost nothing happens in the story. I am naturally drawn to the idea that consumerism is meaningless, and more than that, I reckon that the Government, corporations and society try to make us sign up for houses, marriage and consumerism just so that we shut up and stop dreaming for better things.
Year: 2009
Release date: Unknown
Directors: Frazer Bradshaw
Writers: Frazer Bradshaw
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: cyberhal
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Now that I am finally unemployed like everybody else, this is the kind of movie I suppose I should like. Experimental, thoughtful and downbeat, this is a portrait of Wayne (Jerry McDaniel), an unhappy carpenter in the middle of the kind of existentialist crisis that French philosopher Jean Paul Satre would have had wet dreams about. But with this topic, I honestly found the movie way too slow and even the visual originality wasn’t enough to make up for the fact almost nothing happens in the story. I am naturally drawn to the idea that consumerism is meaningless, and more than that, I reckon that the Government, corporations and society try to make us sign up for houses, marriage and consumerism just so that we shut up and stop dreaming for better things.
- 3/2/2009
- QuietEarth.us
We reported on the first stills not too long ago for this unstable family drama and the trailer has just dropped today. With almost no dialog, the musical accompaniment shares with us the feelings the film seems to be about.
Wayne is a carpenter, no longer young but uneasy with the emotional complexities of adulthood. Aimless hours spent with Leo, his newly-divorced drinking buddy, offer some relief to the heavy gravity at home, where his kids run roughshod over his increasingly unstable wife. Living between these worlds leaves Wayne feeling like a character in someone else's story. Ultimately, a violent spasm rouses him from this fevered American dream.
Trailer after the break.
Wayne is a carpenter, no longer young but uneasy with the emotional complexities of adulthood. Aimless hours spent with Leo, his newly-divorced drinking buddy, offer some relief to the heavy gravity at home, where his kids run roughshod over his increasingly unstable wife. Living between these worlds leaves Wayne feeling like a character in someone else's story. Ultimately, a violent spasm rouses him from this fevered American dream.
Trailer after the break.
- 1/16/2009
- QuietEarth.us
- [Ioncinema.com is proud to feature a select group of new and veteran voices as the ones that are showcased and nurtured at the 25th edition of the Sundance Film Festival. This is part of collection of emailer interviews conducted prior to the festival - I would like to thank the filmmakers for their time and the hardworking publicists for making this possible.] Frazer Bradshaw Eric Lavallee: Can you discuss the genesis of Everything Strange and New – how did the initial idea come about and how did this become a story you wanted to tell? Frazer Bradshaw: I was riding the subway one day and I had a cinematic epiphany watching the guy across from me sitting passively while the world flew by, outside. Loud, noisy symphonic music was playing in my head to accompany the scene. That was the beginning. That cinematic moment was about passivity in the face of turbulence, and from there, I had to figure out how to build a film around that scene and that theme. Ultimately, that scene got transferred to a bus, and the music got moved elsewhere, but that was the genesis. The way I write is very organic, I don't do treatments or outlines, I just start writing and trust my intuition
- 1/16/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
by indieWIRE (January 4, 2009) Editors Note: This is part of a series of interviews, conducted via email, profiling dramatic and documentary competition and American Spectrum directors who have films screening at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
Wayne has a job, a wife, two kids, and a house. He's living the American Dream. There's a fine line, however, between a dream and nightmare, and Wayne finds himself at odds with the life he has and preoccupied by the life he thinks he wants. He floats passively in a swirling sea inhabited by his emotionally unpredictable wife, his out-of-control young children, and his embattled friends, who have demons of their own. As things change for others, Wayne's life takes emotional turns, which are sometimes subtle and sometimes violent but never enough to shake him off the track he doesn't remember choosing.
Everything Strange and New
Director: Frazer Bradshaw
Screenwriter: Frazer Bradshaw
Executive Producers: Stephen Bannatyne,...
Wayne has a job, a wife, two kids, and a house. He's living the American Dream. There's a fine line, however, between a dream and nightmare, and Wayne finds himself at odds with the life he has and preoccupied by the life he thinks he wants. He floats passively in a swirling sea inhabited by his emotionally unpredictable wife, his out-of-control young children, and his embattled friends, who have demons of their own. As things change for others, Wayne's life takes emotional turns, which are sometimes subtle and sometimes violent but never enough to shake him off the track he doesn't remember choosing.
Everything Strange and New
Director: Frazer Bradshaw
Screenwriter: Frazer Bradshaw
Executive Producers: Stephen Bannatyne,...
- 1/5/2009
- by brian
- indieWIRE - People
Known as a Dp/cinematographer for years, Frazer is making his first foray into directing with Everything Strange and New which, lucky him, will be premiering at Sundance. The story seems to be somewhat of a family drama which is beautifully shot, and the first stills just became available via the official website.
Wayne is a carpenter, no longer young but uneasy with the emotional complexities of adulthood. Aimless hours spent with Leo, his newly-divorced drinking buddy, offer some relief to the heavy gravity at home, where his kids run roughshod over his increasingly unstable wife. Living between these worlds leaves Wayne feeling like a character in someone else's story. Ultimately, a violent spasm rouses him from this fevered American dream.
Stills after the break!
:::Gallery(Esan)
Official website...
Wayne is a carpenter, no longer young but uneasy with the emotional complexities of adulthood. Aimless hours spent with Leo, his newly-divorced drinking buddy, offer some relief to the heavy gravity at home, where his kids run roughshod over his increasingly unstable wife. Living between these worlds leaves Wayne feeling like a character in someone else's story. Ultimately, a violent spasm rouses him from this fevered American dream.
Stills after the break!
:::Gallery(Esan)
Official website...
- 12/18/2008
- QuietEarth.us
First off, the best news, as I predicted (in private) Duncan Jones' Moon will be premiering, yay! The comedy Adventureland starring the talented Bill Hader is playing. The sweet kid soldier film Johnny Mad Dog is playing in the spectrum section, and the Jesco White story White Lightnin' which we reported on earlier is in the Park City at Midnight section.
But where the hell is Stingray Sam?
Full list after the break.
Premieres
* "Adventureland," directed and written by Greg Mottola, stars Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds and Bill Hader in the story of a college grad who gets a job at an amusement park. A Miramax release.
* "Brooklyn’s Finest," directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Michael C. Martin, a drama about three Brooklyn cops who come together at the same deadly location. With Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Don Cheadle and Ellen Barkin.
* "Earth Days," directed by Robert Stone,...
But where the hell is Stingray Sam?
Full list after the break.
Premieres
* "Adventureland," directed and written by Greg Mottola, stars Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds and Bill Hader in the story of a college grad who gets a job at an amusement park. A Miramax release.
* "Brooklyn’s Finest," directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Michael C. Martin, a drama about three Brooklyn cops who come together at the same deadly location. With Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Don Cheadle and Ellen Barkin.
* "Earth Days," directed by Robert Stone,...
- 12/4/2008
- QuietEarth.us
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