Sitting down for an hour-long chat about Bridge of Spies a few months ago, Martin Scorsese noted that he’s already watched the film twice. In the subsequent hour, a lot of ground is covered: sharing memories of growing up during the Cold War, the role of the Coen brothers in the screenwriting process, the movie’s allegorical applicability regarding Guantanamo Bay. There is, of course, mutual admiration: Scorsese’s for this film, Spielberg’s for Raging Bull.
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 6, 2016Tony Zhou’s latest begins with a few stern words from Samuel L. Jackson about his intense dislike for having to repeat his performance over and over for multiple angles of coverage. Given that The Hateful Eight is nothing if not an exercise in ensemble staging, it’s timely that that’s the intro for Zhou’s examination of how this technique works in Bong Joon-ho’s masterful Memories of Murder. Much to chew on here, as ever.
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 5, 2016Every year David Ehrlich does a bang-up job editing his personal top 25 into a finely-assembled supercut. This year is no different, regardless of how you feel about his commendably-wide-ranging picks. As he notes: this may contain Phoenix spoilers.
by Filmmaker Staff on Dec 7, 2015Following on the previously announced Midnight slate, Sundance has announced the 65 titles comprising its competition and NEXT slates. More films to be announced soon, but the 65 to sort through here are more than enough to investigate in the meantime. Some quickly noted highlights: Actress documentarian Robert Greene graduates to Sundance with his fourth feature Kate Plays Christine, and two films from recent 25 New Faces, Anna Rose Holmer and Bernardo Britto. U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION As You Are / U.S.A. (Director: Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Screenwriters: Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Madison Harrison) — As You Are is the telling and retelling of a relationship between three teenagers as it traces the […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Dec 2, 2015Last night’s Gotham Independent Film Awards were highlighted by a series of tributes to luminaries of the film world. We’ve posted both the intros and acceptance speeches. Let’s start with Robert De Niro’s tribute to Helen Mirren: And the wonderful Helen Mirren, taking De Niro’s lusty testimonial in stride: Next up we have Dan Rather, who quotes Archibald MacLeish (!) while paying tribute to Robert Redford… But not until this part of the ceremony, which includes Redford’s speech, a probing look back at his career. Julianne Moore understandably gushed when introducing Todd Haynes: And Haynes followed up with a speech […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Dec 1, 2015Here are the winners from last night’s Gotham Independent Film Awards; later in the day, we’ll share a full array of clips from the ceremony. For now, the winners from last night’s ceremony; Spotlight took the lead with three awards, followed closely by Tangerine with two. Best Feature Spotlight Best Actress Bel Powley as Minnie Goetze The Diary of a Teenage Girl Breakthrough Series – Longform Mr. Robot Best Actor Paul Dano as Brian Wilson Love & Mercy Best Documentary The Look of Silence Director: Joshua Oppenheimer Audience Award Tangerine The First Gotham Appreciation Award Ellen Cotter of Angelika Film Center Theaters Special […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Dec 1, 2015Watch the Gothams live. Right Here. The 2015 Gotham Awards are streaming live, right here on Filmmaker Magazine. Engage on Twitter with #GothamAwards
by Filmmaker Staff on Nov 30, 2015The annual Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You Screening Series, co-presented by The Museum of Modern Art, Filmmaker Magazine, and IFP kicks off December 11th at MoMA. The series, now in its tenth year, singles out outstanding films from the film festival circuit that are currently not available in theaters and deserve a wider audience. Each film will screen twice at MoMA from December 11-14. Most screenings will be followed by Q & A’s with the directors and additional talent. The selected films are Bloomin Mud Shuffle, directed by Frank V. Ross; Bob and the Trees, directed by Diego Ongaro; H., directed by Daniel […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Nov 25, 2015The first slate of films to be announced for the 2016 edition of the Sundance Film Festival is from the midnight slate. It’s nine films strong, most notably a new Rob Zombie horror film about (as they so often are) “evil clowns.” Also, a new Kevin Smith film. The forthcoming Sundance will be from January 21 to 31. 31 / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Rob Zombie) — Five friends are kidnapped on the day before Halloween and are held hostage in a terrifying place named Murder World. While trapped, they must play a violent game called 31, in which the […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Nov 23, 2015Michael Shannon has been in each Jeff Nichols feature so far, and with Midnight Special the director/star duo of Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter and Mud graduate to (seemingly) big-time studio money. (The actual number, per this interesting article, is a relatively modest $18 million.) It’s a sci-fi chase movie — the trailer gives off the general vibe. The film drops March 18.
by Filmmaker Staff on Nov 20, 2015