Latest Podcast
FILM THREAT PODCAST – EPISODE 59 – ABRE LOS OJOS
Don and Mark tell all after their adventures at the 2012 Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals! Well, not really “all”; as expected, the two get continuously sidetracked and, before you know it, an hour has passed…
Posted on January 31, 2012 in Podcasts by Mark Bell
Latest Features
THE BOOTLEG FILES: COAL BLACK AND DE SEBBEN DWARFS
Phil Hall’s The Bootleg Files explores the wild world of memorable films and TV productions that can be found in unauthorized presentations. This week, Phil considers one of the most notorious cartoons of all time…
Posted on February 3, 2012 in Bootleg Files, Features by Phil Hall
DIGITAL CELLULOID – ISSUE 84: THE ULTIMATE QUESTION
This week, Digital Celluloid puts on our thinking caps as Arthur Dent suggests what the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is?
Posted on February 1, 2012 in Digital Celluloid, Features by Chris Cirillo
Latest Film Festival Stories
SXSW FILM ANNOUNCES FEATURE FILM LINEUP FOR THE 2012 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL
“21 Jump Street” will get the centerpiece slot and Emmett Malloy’s music documentary “Big Easy Express” will close out the 2012 SXSW Film Festival, running March 9-17, 2012. All other feature film program selections have been announced as well, except Midnighters, to be announced February 8, 2012…
Posted on February 1, 2012 in Festivals by Mark Bell
2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS
“The House I Live In,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, “The Law in These Parts” and “Violeta Went to Heaven” took home the jury prizes at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, with even more awards announced…
Posted on January 29, 2012 in Festivals by Mark Bell
2012 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES JURY AND AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Another year of Slamdance is in the books, and the award winners from the 2012 film festival have been announced with “Getting Up,” “Bindlestiffs,” “No Ashes, No Phoenix,” “Welcome to Pine Hill” and “Heavy Girls” among the Sparky recipients.
Posted on January 27, 2012 in Festivals by Mark Bell
Latest Reviews
JOHN DIES AT THE END
2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL MIDNIGHT SELECTION! What it expects of the audience is disproportionate to what it offers, and so we’re left doing most of the work without getting much in return…
Posted on February 3, 2012 in Reviews by Michael Nordine
TIM MARLOW AT THE COURTAULD (DVD)
The handsome videography details the genius of the artists’ compositions and color mixtures…
Posted on February 3, 2012 in Reviews by Phil Hall
CHARLIE THISTLE
Shot in black and white (until the blue and a few other colors get approved), this short film is really just a fancy way of saying that one person can make a difference in the world as long as you are willing to break away from the norm…
Posted on February 3, 2012 in Reviews by Doug Brunell
Latest Interviews
THE INTERVIEW BIZARRE: 6 QUESTIONS FOR 7 FILMMAKERS
“THE THEATRE BIZARRE” IS CURRENTLY IN LIMITED RELEASE! As I was writing my questions for “The Theatre Bizarre” filmmakers, it occurred to me that I was very interested in what each of them thought about the Grand Guignol itself…
Posted on February 1, 2012 in Interviews by Jeremy Knox
REFLECTIONS IN THE FUNHOUSE MIRROR: A CONVERSATION WITH ROBERT MORGAN
2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SHORT FILMMAKER! I’ve made it no secret that I think Robert Morgan is one of the best independent filmmakers working today. This isn’t empty flattery either. His entire oeuvre, in my opinion, is never less than excellent, or at the very least I feel that you’ll never feel cheated watching one of his films…
Posted on January 20, 2012 in Interviews by Jeremy Knox
IN SEARCH OF THOMAS INCE: INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN TAVES
A new biography explores the career and personal life of pioneering film producer Thomas Ince…
Posted on January 19, 2012 in Interviews by Phil Hall
Latest News and Blogs
SEE JOE SWANBERG’S “MARRIAGE MATERIAL” FREE ONLINE FOR THE REST OF JANUARY 2012
For film fans who have heard of Swanberg and the so-called “Mumblecore” movement, but have yet to see a film lumped therein, “Marriage Material” is a nice starting point…
Posted on January 16, 2012 in News by Don R. Lewis
YOU’VE BEEN SOPA’D!
While I have nothing against a corporation, or person, getting their compensation for their copyright being infringed upon, I am against a “guilty until proven innocent” system that requires very little data to convict someone…
Posted on December 27, 2011 in Blogs by Mark Bell
THE GIRLS WITH THE DRAGON TATTOOS: A COMPARISON
This particular blog entry is going to focus on the comparisons and contrasts of Stieg Larrson’s original book, Niels Arden Oplev’s 2009 adaptation and David Fincher’s 2011 adaptation. This entry will therefore be very spoiler-laden…
Posted on December 22, 2011 in Blogs by Mark Bell
“BRIDESMAIDS” REVISITED: TOP 11 REASONS IT WAS STRANGELY DISAPPOINTING
To be clear, I found “Bridesmaids” to be genuinely entertaining and I’m happy it’s getting awards consideration this season. That said, I saw it in its third or fourth week of general release last summer and I couldn’t help but feel disappointed in a few ways – some objective, some not so much…
Posted on December 22, 2011 in Blogs by Dan Mirvish
FILM FESTIVAL NOTEBOOK WITH HEIDI VAN LIER: CHICAGO KICKSTARTER TOUR
Indie filmmaker Heidi Van Lier snaps pix on her festival and film journeys around the world. This week, Heidi shares photos from her recent visit to Chicago in support of the Kickstarter campaign for her new documentary, The Bullfighter, about her father, Chicago Bulls legend Norm Van Lier…
Posted on December 14, 2011 in Blogs, Film Festival Notebook With Heidi Van Lier by Heidi Van Lier
INTRODUCING CROWDFUNDING CLASSIFIEDS…
We hate saying, “no,” and we really don’t like ignoring filmmakers who could use some help, so we’ve been trying to come up with a way to put the power in the filmmakers’ hands regarding what crowdfunding campaigns we share…
Posted on November 23, 2011 in Blogs by Mark Bell