By Jacob Mertens. “It was to be the fate of this patient little girl to see much more than, at first, she understood, but also, even at first, to understand much more than any little girl, however patient, had perhaps ever understood before. Only a drummer-boy in a ballad or […]
The Wolverine (2013)
July 23, 2013
By Cleaver Patterson. Comic-book characters must be a Hollywood dream. A film featuring one, if a hit, is a potential goldmine—with the possibility of limitless prequels, sequels, spinoffs and merchandising opportunities, it is a virtual license to print money. Even if a film is not a success, all the studio […]
I Remember Me: an interview with Carl Reiner
July 23, 2013
By Amy R Handler. Behind every outstanding man, there’s an even more brilliant woman, and the legendary comedian, writer, director and actor, Carl Reiner agrees wholeheartedly. Of his late wife, and dearest friend, Estelle Lebost Reiner, Carl Reiner proudly admits that Estelle taught him everything he knows. I had the […]
Suschitzky and Slocombe: Two Centenarians
July 22, 2013
David A. Ellis spoke to two legendary lens men. WOLFGANG SUSCHITZKY was born in Vienna on August 29, 1912. He came to England in 1935 and established himself as a photographer. Later he went into documentary work. His first feature film was No Resting Place (1951) directed by Paul Rotha. […]
Only God Forgives
July 22, 2013
By Christopher Sharrett. When I learned that Nicholas Winding Refn’s new film would be set in Bangkok and include martial arts, drugs, and extreme violence, I was disheartened. It seemed that Refn was reaching for a larger audience, with material for which I have no interest at all. I make […]
Business as Usual: James Wan’s The Conjuring
July 20, 2013
By Wheeler Winston Dixon. The Conjuring is a remarkably traditional film in both style and content; once again exorcism and possession are ramped up for the usual thrill ride, complete with objects flying around the house, children in peril, a possessed mother, ghosts from the past tormenting the living, with […]
AFI Docs 2013 Festival Report
July 19, 2013
By Michael Miller. Sporting a new name and new venues, AFI Docs presented by Audi (formerly Silverdocs) unspooled from June 19 – 23 in Washington DC and Silver Spring, Maryland. Dedicated fans of non-fiction film had much to enjoy in this the 11th edition of the festival. The work of […]
Roman Holiday (1953)
July 18, 2013
By Cleaver Patterson. Some films are almost as famous for their advertising posters or specific scenes, as they are for the production as a whole. Director William Wyler’s Roman Holiday–the romantic comedy which created cinematic magic by pairing the elfin Audrey Hepburn (in her only Oscar winning role) and debonair […]
Side Effects (2013)
July 17, 2013
By Victoria Tickle. It is a great joy and a rare find to come across a film that lets you believe that you have out-smarted it and know what is going on, whilst all the time waiting for the right moment to reveal its truths to you. Steven Soderbergh’s Side […]
“Seeing Things Through Things” (Dziga Vertov): ArtFilm 2013
July 16, 2013
By Robert Buckeye. Film festivals tend to be generic and are, as Tolstoy said about happy families, alike, even if each, in its disappointments, is different in its own way. ArtFilm in Trencin and Trencianske Teplice, Slovakia, follows the festivals at Cannes and Berlin and precedes the one immediately after […]