Film Threat

INITIATIVE #435

Don R. Lewis — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:35:51 +0000

I like the way Costa works with what he has (good actors, a nice camera, good sense) and doesn’t go too crazy and over the top with what he’s showing...

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GOING BIONIC: DISTRIBUTING INDEPENDENT FILMS INTERNATIONALLY – READER Q & A EPISODE THREE!

Hammad Zaidi — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:05:07 +0000

Today I’ve wrangled three more bionic questions to answer. Like before, I chose these questions because their answers will benefit the greatest amount of independent filmmakers...

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CHRONICLE

Rick Kisonak — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:01:58 +0000

The idea that what we’re watching has been recorded by Andrew’s camera adds virtually nothing to the movie’s appeal. If anything, it gets in the way time and time again...

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WHERE SOCKS GO

Don R. Lewis — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:01:03 +0000

Short filmmaker Jesse Dillon has done the unimaginable and made laundromats even more creepy in his surreal horror/comedy short film “Where Socks Go”...

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THE NEW ADVENTURES OF MONKEY MAN – 19

Brian Lynch — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:43:26 +0000

The New Adventures of Monkey Man illustrates why nerds had a better Super Bowl Sunday than football fans did...

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RED HOOK SUMMER

Scott Knopf — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:40:01 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERES SELECTION! Once your brain adjusts to the over-the-top, stage-styled performances, there’s a strong chance Spike Lee’s latest effort, "Red Hook Summer," will come off as a poignant project with a lot to say...

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SHADOW DANCER

Scott Knopf — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:37:19 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERES SELECTION! Andrea Riseborough deserves to be one of 2012’s breakout stars. Her performance as Colette McVeigh is outstanding...

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RED LIGHTS

Whitney Borup — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:35:31 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERES SELECTION! This could have been a fun, "X-Files"-esque exploration of paranormal phenomena. Instead, it is an extremely earnest failure that is still fun to watch, but only because of the unintended laughs...

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EMASCULATION

Don R. Lewis — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:01:05 +0000

I like the way Trahan keeps his story and camera work simple while letting the actors carry the day...

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SHE’S BEHIND YOU

Don R. Lewis — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:01:03 +0000

My momma didn’t raise no fool and I’m fairly certain “She’s Behind You” is a cleverly made spoof or, “taking the piss out” as the folks in the film might say...

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MUSTACHE PARTY

Don R. Lewis — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:04 +0000

While certainly not unwatchable and featuring some nice camera work and lighting, “Mustache Party” felt like a class assignment or a film that one makes to show friends and family for a few laughs...

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RED-HANDED

Don R. Lewis — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:03:05 +0000

Cinematic tales of robberies gone wrong are certainly nothing new but writer/director/editor JohnMark Triplett takes a fairly common plot line and gives it a clever twist in the short film "Red-Handed"...

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JOHN DIES AT THE END

Michael Nordine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:16:59 +0000

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...

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TIM MARLOW AT THE COURTAULD (DVD)

Phil Hall — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:40:53 +0000

The handsome videography details the genius of the artists’ compositions and color mixtures...

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CHARLIE THISTLE

Doug Brunell — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:05:02 +0000

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...

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THE BOOTLEG FILES: COAL BLACK AND DE SEBBEN DWARFS

Phil Hall — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:01:53 +0000

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...

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EL CAFFINATO

Don R. Lewis — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:01:52 +0000

"El Caffinato" is a very cool short. It’s shot extremely well and the sheer amount of creativity that must have gone into this 12-minute mini-musical is impressive...

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ROOM 237

Don R. Lewis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:16:59 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL NEW FRONTIER SELECTION! But at the heart of every conspiracy theorist is a desperate hope that they are right and having seen “Room 237,” I can’t completely discount every person’s take on the film or at least not every part of their insight...

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A DANGEROUS METHOD

Rick Kisonak — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:55:48 +0000

You know your movie's set in Dullsville when multiple scenes featuring Fassbender spanking and whipping an appreciative Knightley do nothing to enliven the proceedings...

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ALBERT NOBBS

Rick Kisonak — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:05:05 +0000

There's a deeply tragic story of self denial at the heart of "Albert Nobbs" but, unfortunately, the film's script - adapted by Close, Gabriella Prekop and the Irish novelist John Banville - and its star's performance fail to bring it into focus...

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DIGITAL CELLULOID – ISSUE 84: THE ULTIMATE QUESTION

Chris Cirillo — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:36:35 +0000

This week, Digital Celluloid puts on our thinking caps as Arthur Dent suggests what the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is?

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SXSW FILM ANNOUNCES FEATURE FILM LINEUP FOR THE 2012 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL

Mark Bell — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:04 +0000

"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...

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THE INTERVIEW BIZARRE: 6 QUESTIONS FOR 7 FILMMAKERS

Jeremy Knox — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:23:14 +0000

"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...

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BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!*

Scott Knopf — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:26:49 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! Gertten spends his second banana film defending his first banana film without offering enough factual information to really defend either...

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UNDER AFRICAN SKIES

Scott Knopf — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:21:18 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL DOC PREMIERES SELECTION! For fans of Paul Simon’s music, and fans of “Graceland” specifically, there is a lot to enjoy here...

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FILM THREAT PODCAST – EPISODE 59 – ABRE LOS OJOS

Mark Bell — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:20:26 +0000

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...

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GOING BIONIC – DISTRIBUTING INDEPENDENT FILMS INTERNATIONALLY – CHANGE OF TITLE…

Hammad Zaidi — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:19:33 +0000

You should never be offended when a distributor wants to change your film’s title. Hell, you may actually want to rejoice when that happens, because it means he or she thinks your film will do well...

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THE NEW ADVENTURES OF MONKEY MAN – 18

Brian Lynch — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:01:27 +0000

George Lucas responds to criticism as only George Lucas can in the latest New Adventures of Monkey Man...

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2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS

Mark Bell — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:30:41 +0000

"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...

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FOR ELLEN

Scott Knopf — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:32:56 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! In fact, there were many opportunities for this film to take expected, clichéd turns but Kim’s taste level is strong enough to avoid them each and every time...

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COMPLIANCE

Don R. Lewis — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:30:59 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL NEXT SELECTION! It will upset you and intrigue you and make you want to talk about it and learn more. To me, that’s a great piece of filmmaking and a powerful piece of art...

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FILLY BROWN

Scott Knopf — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:25:51 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! This will be the performance that puts Gina Rodriguez onto people’s radars. It’s hard to believe that she wasn’t an emcee before starting this project...

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HELLO I MUST BE GOING

Whitney Borup — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:20:33 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! While "Hello I Must Be Going" might not offer any life changing moral lessons, it is a glimpse into family life and relationships that any film lover can appreciate...

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BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

Michael Nordine — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:01:01 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! Unspoken sadness courses throughout the film, but humor punctuates it: not only from the many oddities on display but also Hushpuppy's sassy ruminations...

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2012 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES JURY AND AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS

Mark Bell — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:47:06 +0000

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.

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SLEEPWALK WITH ME

Don R. Lewis — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:26:03 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL NEXT SELECTION! "Sleepwalk With Me" very much reminded me of a take on “High Fidelity” with comedians instead of music snobs...

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THE THEATRE BIZARRE

Jeremy Knox — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:01:09 +0000

IN LIMITED RELEASED! The filmmakers of each segment didn’t just toss gore and entrails around in some lame attempt to shock. They thought about their work long and hard, and then they raped our brain...

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COME BACK, AFRICA

Phil Hall — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:35:26 +0000

Barely seen since its initial theatrical release, Lionel Rogosin’s 1959 drama is significant for offering one of the first ground-level views of South African life under the apartheid system...

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THE BOOTLEG FILES: MOVE

Phil Hall — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:01:09 +0000

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 mistakenly unearths a deservedly forgotten obscurity...

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RED TAILS

Elias Savada — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:01:28 +0000

… for the curmudgeons amongst us, it walks too close a line that separates war's harsh realities with Lucas's odd Saturday afternoon serial approach to the subject…

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MY BROTHER THE DEVIL

Scott Knopf — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:52:09 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DRAMATIC FEATURE SELECTION! Sally El Hosaini has produced a tremendous debut feature. All of her actors, from the leads to supporting players deliver noteworthy performances...

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BONES BRIGADE: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Scott Knopf — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:21:55 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL DOC PREMIERES FEATURES SELECTION! This is the coolest documentary I’ve ever seen. That’s the sentence that kept running through my head as I watched "Bones Brigade"...

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FILMS GONE WILD: 2012 SUNDANCE #3; MITT ROMNEY’S WORST NIGHTMARE

John Wildman — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:02:51 +0000

I didn’t even get out of the Dallas House until the afternoon, so let’s just get right to the first review...

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DIGITAL CELLULOID – ISSUE 83: IT’S A FILM ABOUT WHAT?

Chris Cirillo — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:58:18 +0000

This week, Digital Celluloid Looks at the effect a film of such monumental randomness has on our mascot Archmag. This is his reaction to "Rubber"…

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BLACK ROCK

Scott Knopf — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:21:53 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL MIDNIGHT SELECTION! "Black Rock" is an intense thriller that does a lot of things right...

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ME @THE ZOO

Don R. Lewis — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:25:28 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! I liked “Me @the Zoo” (incidentally, the film title derives from the title of the first ever YouTube video) best when the filmmakers cast their eye on Internet celebrity culture and how completely insane it can become...

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TEDDY BEAR

Don R. Lewis — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:23:03 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! I honestly had no clue what might happen next in “Teddy Bear” but constantly found myself hoping for the best...

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SOMETHING FROM NOTHING: THE ART OF RAP

Scott Knopf — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:21:50 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL DOC PREMIERES SELECTION! "Something from Nothing" is a must-see for real hip-hop heads...

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GOING BIONIC – DISTRIBUTING INDEPENDENT FILMS INTERNATIONALLY: READER Q&A EPISODE TWO

Hammad Zaidi — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:16:00 +0000

Today we’re going to answer more reader questions. Like last week, I’m focusing on questions that will be helpful to independent filmmakers...

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YOUR SISTER’S SISTER

Whitney Borup — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:55:35 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHT SELECTION! It’s unusual to see sisters portrayed as loving and supportive, and it’s even more unusual to see that relationship at the center of a film...

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ED WOOD’S LOST FILM “FINAL CURTAIN”

Mark Bell — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:24:26 +0000

2012 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SPECIAL SCREENING SELECTION! But why am I even bothering to critique an Ed Wood film? The man is notorious for awful, and you don't watch his films for the same reasons you watch others...

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VALLEY OF SAINTS

Mark Bell — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:19:44 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! It is a tale of enduring friendship, cautionary statement on the importance of the ecosystem and environment, a love story and a patriotic ode...

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INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE

Mark Bell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:28:27 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION FEATURE SELECTION! "Indie Game: The Movie" is more than just a film about video games, it's an examination of the artistic spirit and the latest evolution of independent artist...

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WELCOME TO PINE HILL

Mark Bell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:25:28 +0000

2012 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL NARRATIVE FEATURE SELECTION! This isn't the type of film where lots of things happen; this is simply a portrait of a man whose time has run out...

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MOSQUITA Y MARI

Mark Bell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:20:19 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL NEXT SELECTION! Is there drama? Sure, of course, but this isn't the type of indie film where everyone dies at the end or where we're left with a cautionary tale of tragic consequences...

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ELENA

Michael Nordine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:09:27 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHT SELECTION! Both Elena and "Elena" are oddly wired, and any attempt to understand either must be done on their own terms...

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THE NEW ADVENTURES OF MONKEY MAN – 17

Brian Lynch — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:01:39 +0000

Monkey Man returns for his first comic strip of 2012, tackling the upcoming theatrical release of the 3D "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace"...

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THE INVISIBLE WAR

Mark Bell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:18:54 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! Basically, the message from the military to potential rape victims is: if you get raped, it's your own fault...

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MEANING OF ROBOTS

Mark Bell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:58:48 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SHORT FILM SELECTION! Matt Lenski's short portrait of self-proclaimed hoarder, filmmaker and custom robot-maker Mike Sullivan is as disturbing as it is memorable...

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THE COMEDY

Don R. Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:11:11 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! “The Comedy,” or its apparent alternate title “Tim and Eric’s Mumblecore Harmony Korine Movie," is by far one of the most wildly inappropriate and pitch black comedies I’ve ever seen in my life..

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DETROPIA

Don R. Lewis — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:05:46 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL U.S. DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! “Detropia” is a fascinating look at where our country is headed, not where it might be headed...

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PAYBACK

Don R. Lewis — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:03:00 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! These are all intriguing stories (some more than others) but the lack of a through-line left me feeling a little free-falling at times...

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THE PACT

Don R. Lewis — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:00:10 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL MIDNIGHT SELECTION! “The Pact” is a bad, bad movie filled with cheap thrills and more plot holes than I’ve seen in a film since... I can’t remember when...

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FILMS GONE WILD: 2012 SUNDANCE #2; I POOP ON YOUR CAR HOOD!

John Wildman — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:10:48 +0000

I felt a little bad that my first report had a ridiculously long build up before I got to my first reviews, so we’re gonna kick this one off immediately...

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DOPPELGÄNGER PAUL (OR A FILM ABOUT HOW MUCH I HATE MYSELF)

Mark Bell — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:27:44 +0000

2012 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL NARRATIVE FEATURE SELECTION! Tygh Runyan's Karl is all pent-up neuroses and borderline "American Psycho," but almost too wounded puppy dog to ever find as anything other than an annoying, harmless distraction...

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YOUNG & WILD

Mark Bell — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:20:00 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! "Young & Wild" impresses from the get-go by establishing itself as an indie film that is going to be as raw and real as that independence would imply...

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WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Whitney Borup — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:18:55 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHTS SELECTION! This hopeless, dirty, consumptive world is what makes the book so interesting, and what this adaptation capitalizes on...

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ROBOT & FRANK

Whitney Borup — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:10:29 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERES SELECTION! "Robot and Frank" is cute. Frank is cute, the robot is cute, and everything they do together is cute...

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ABOUT THE PINK SKY

Michael Nordine — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:01:59 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DRAMATIC FEATURES SELECTION! It simply wanders aimlessly for far longer than it needs to, neither arriving anywhere interesting nor taking any worthwhile detours along the way...

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I AM NOT A HIPSTER

Don R. Lewis — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:54:21 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL NEXT SELECTION! “I Am Not a Hipster” is the kind of film you want to see again and for as deep and personal as it feels, it’s also highly entertaining and quite funny as well...

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5 BROKEN CAMERAS

Don R. Lewis — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:51:01 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! This is an important documentary in that it’s an on-the-ground look at what is happening to some small villages but the storyline is as straight and unchanging as the situation in the Middle East...

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LIFE AND FREAKY TIMES OF UNCLE LUKE

Mark Bell — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:43:45 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SHORT FILMS COMPETITION SELECTION! "La jetée" may be a classic, thought-provoking cinematic experience, but I had way more fun watching "Life and Freaky Times of Uncle Luke"...

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FAITH, LOVE AND WHISKEY

Mark Bell — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:25:49 +0000

2012 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL NARRATIVE FEATURE SELECTION! There is a powerful sense of ambiguity (as opposed to a lazy sense of unfocused storytelling) that moves "Faith, Love and Whiskey" along...

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UNCONDITIONAL

Mark Bell — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:25:07 +0000

2012 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SPECIAL SCREENING SELECTION! "Unconditional" succeeds on the shoulders of Christian Cooke and Harry McEntire...

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THE D WORD: UNDERSTANDING DYSLEXIA

Mark Bell — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:21:14 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL DOC PREMIERES SELECTION! If I were dyslexic, particularly at a younger age when one is known to feel all alone in the universe, I'd appreciate this documentary so much more for both trying to educate the ignorant and keeping such a positive perspective...

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THE LAW IN THESE PARTS

Mark Bell — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:20:58 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WORLD DOCUMENTARY FEATURES SELECTION! The Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip has long been a complicated and divisive issue. I'm not going to pretend that I understand it entirely, and I'm definitely not going to pretend that I can speak authoritatively about it...

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WEST OF MEMPHIS

Mark Bell — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:18:53 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL DOC PREMIERES SELECTION! I can't pretend to be some impartial reviewer capable of objective thought about all of this. I've followed the West Memphis Three story, and felt strongly of their innocence, for a while...

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FILMS GONE WILD: 2012 SUNDANCE #1; GETTING INTO TOWN, AND GETTING THIS THING STARTED

John Wildman — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:18:07 +0000

So it is time to clear the cobwebs off “Films Gone Wild” and start charging this thing up again… Sundance is back!

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BOBBY YEAH

Jeremy Knox — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:36:56 +0000

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SHORT FILM SELECTION! Seriously, this is a must see. In fact, I’ll put it in simplest possible terms and come right out and say that no one can consider themselves true film buffs if they’ve never seen one of Robert Morgan’s films...

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REFLECTIONS IN THE FUNHOUSE MIRROR: A CONVERSATION WITH ROBERT MORGAN

Jeremy Knox — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:10:40 +0000

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...

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“THE LOCAVORE FILMMAKER” – 2012 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL OPENING POEM

Dan Mirvish — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:05:13 +0000

Every year, the Slamdance Film Festival opens with the performance of a poem written by co-founder Dan Mirvish. For those of you stuck at home, unable to watch Dan deliver the poem in person, here's the 2012 Slamdance Opening Poem for your reading pleasure...

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THE BOOTLEG FILES: THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE

Phil Hall — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:01:17 +0000

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 digs up a notorious pre-code drama...

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IN SEARCH OF THOMAS INCE: INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN TAVES

Phil Hall — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:01:01 +0000

A new biography explores the career and personal life of pioneering film producer Thomas Ince...

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DIGITAL CELLULOID – ISSUE 82: IS THIS REALLY YOUR SEQUEL?

Chris Cirillo — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:55:09 +0000

This week, Digital Celluloid has found new footage of an expedition lost on an island filled with lost tapes and their characters and settings...

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PANDEMONIUM IN PARK CITY: FILM THREAT AT THE 2012 SUNDANCE AND SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVALS

Mark Bell — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:25:24 +0000

It's mid-January, so it must be time to dig the warm clothes out of the closet and make that mad dash back to Park City, UT for the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals...

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WAR HORSE

Don R. Lewis — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:01:52 +0000

Maybe the film is actually brilliant because it’s so self-sure and knows exactly what it’s trying to be and then executes that so well it doesn’t matter what one says because it’s successful on it’s own terms? I’m not sure...

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GOING BIONIC: DISTRIBUTING INDEPENDENT FILMS INTERNATIONALLY – READER Q&A EPISODE ONE

Hammad Zaidi — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:01:41 +0000

Soon after last week’s column was published, one of our readers emailed me a few questions that they would like to have answered. Thus, today we’re going to answer the wonderfully insightful questions.

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FILM THREAT’S 2012 PARK CITY PARTY GUIDE

Mark Bell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:27:04 +0000

The list is not complete; there is always more going on than I know about at this point, and the list is always a work-in-progress. I'll update when and where time allows, so check back as often as you'd like...

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SEE JOE SWANBERG’S “MARRIAGE MATERIAL” FREE ONLINE FOR THE REST OF JANUARY 2012

Don R. Lewis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:13:35 +0000

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...

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MY NAME IS A BY ANONYMOUS

Mark Bell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:39:38 +0000

"My Name is A by Anonymous" is a rough film to sit through, but I'd be concerned about my own psyche if I thought there was a way to experience the subject matter and not be disturbed...

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20TH CENTURY MAN

Mark Bell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:07:14 +0000

Filmmaker Dustin Lee has crafted something beautiful here. Even if you don't dig silent films or the nostalgia that they pack on their shoulders, it's okay because "20th Century Man" transcends most of the stereotypes and pitfalls...

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THE FIELDS

Mark Bell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:01:05 +0000

If it were just jump-scares and "Children of the Corn" homagery, it'd be easy to dismiss it as derivative and forgettable...

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2012 PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS

Mark Bell — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:24:43 +0000

The 2012 Palm Springs International Film Festival, running January 5-16, 2012, has announced the award winners from this year's event...

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PEACE COMMANDOS: TRANSFORMING THE CONGO

Phil Hall — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:59:46 +0000

Presenting the concept of peace in a country that has suffered some of the most extraordinary levels of wartime fatalities in modern times is no mean feat...

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CORMAN’S WORLD: EXPLOITS OF A HOLLYWOOD REBEL

Elias Savada — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:24:16 +0000

Saturated with faux dust and artificial film scratches, occasional image registration jumps and a picture often pulled out of focus, "Corman's World—Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel" is a campy look at the by-the-bootstraps career of producer-director Roger Corman...

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THE DEPRESSION OF DETECTIVE DOWNS 2: ON DEPRESSION’S EDGE

Mark Bell — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:04:45 +0000

In the end, I'd like to see more of Detective Downs, though perhaps in smaller chunks (a 5 minute web serial, perhaps)...

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CENTRE PLACE

Mark Bell — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:01:13 +0000

With lesser performances it would just be another by-the-numbers rom-com in a pile of indistinct rom-coms. As it is, it's a surprisingly polished little gem among the romantic rubble...

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THE BOOTLEG FILES: MOTOWN 25 – YESTERDAY, TODAY, FOREVER

Phil Hall — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:01:08 +0000

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 stops in the name of love...

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IRAQ N’ ROLL

Phil Hall — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:21:21 +0000

The al-Kuwaiti Brothers were so popular that they performed for Iraqi’s monarchy, and they were credited with creating the nation’s distinctive modern music sound...

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SXSW FILM ANNOUNCES “THE CABIN IN THE WOODS” AS THE 2012 OPENING NIGHT FILM AND SHARES OTHER FILM AND PANEL SELECTIONS

Mark Bell — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:00:20 +0000

The Joss Whedon-produced and co-written "The Cabin in the Woods" will open the 2012 SXSW Film Festival, running March 9-17th, 2012, in Austin, TX...

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