The revolt sweeping across the Middle East these last couple of years will figure highly at the Cannes Festival, and it’s no coincidence. “The Sermon at Tobrouk,” a documentary by French philosopher Bernard-Henri “B.H.L.” Lévy (pictured below in Libya in September 2011) shot over the final eight months which led to the downfall of Kaddafi will be shown as a special screening. Levy ... more >
FESTIVALS
CANNES FESTIVAL – Jeremy Irons in Special Screenings doc
The "inconvenient truth" of refuse
A recent addition was made to the Sélection Officielle: “Trashed,” a documentary feature by Candida Brady scored by Vangelis, which will be shown as a special screening. Brady is a British filmmaker and journalist whose previous efforts include documenting a breakthrough AIDS treatment over a ten-year period. The participation of Jeremy Irons in “Trashed” help raise the film’s cachet ... more >
“Death of a superhero” – REVIEW
Supersized growing pains
There’s a great movie lurking somewhere within the nagging clichés of “Death of a Superhero.” Adapted by Anthony McCarten from his 2008 novel, the film should be applauded for its strikingly morbid animation sequences, a winning lead performance from young up-and-comer Thomas Brodie-Sangster and an effectively solemn turn from the normally hilarious Irish comedienne Sharon Horgan. But ... more >
“Future Weather” – REVIEW
Jenny Deller’s creative vision could make her the next Nora Ephron, Penny Marshall or Kathryn Bigelow.
The old adage “save the best for last” certainly applied to this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, as the last screening I attended was the thought-provoking, emotional journey called “Future Weather.” I had met its writer, director and producer Jenny Deller at the Tribeca Press Reception beforehand, during which she gave me the film’s background. “Future” lives up to ... more >
“NANCY, PLEASE” a grad student’s worst nightmare
Angry ex-roommate equals a whole host of problems
“Nancy, Please” as a character study that reliably builds up tension incorporates some very strong performances. In fact, acting performances make this new feature film by newcomer Andrew Semans. Paul (Will Rogers) plays a believable (and believably) unraveling academic who's left his dissertation’s source text at his previous apartment and cannot seem to get it back. His motivations for ... more >
Australian aboriginal movie, other new titles added to Cannes roster
It's crowded here
We are fifteen days away from the 65th edition of the Cannes festival—hooray! This year, sixty films will be included in the official sections—six additional features were just added, as follows: A French production, “Renoir” by Gilles Bourdos, which will close the festival, “Djeca” by Aida Begic, and “Gimme the Loot” a first-feature by Leonun Adam, have been added to the ... more >
“Rubberneck” – IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU
One of our favorites at Tribeca this year
Disclosure: “Rubberneck” was a film I was assigned to review, not one I chose. And yet I can’t thank my editor enough, as it’s the most compelling drawn-out thriller I’ve seen in a while. It also serves as illustration for why the Tribeca Film Festival was created in the first place: to provide a venue for the small-budget indies which may otherwise not get much mileage. The hardest part ... more >
