Television Writer and Producer Norman Lear titled his autobiography “Even This I Get to Experience“. That fit my thoughts perfectly as I watched the new documentary Norman Lear : Just Another Version of You. I do not normally write about documentaries in this blog, but this film deserves special attention. I first saw the film… Continue Reading
Analyses
Last Cab to Darwin (2015) – Truly evocative journeys
Once again we in the U.S. find ourselves finally getting a chance to see a foreign film over a year after it played overseas. The journeys taken in The Last Cab to Darwin lead the audience on a beautiful, evocative experience. One journey is the physical road trip across almost two thousand miles from New South… Continue Reading
Disorder (2015) – A schizophrenic thriller
My initial reaction after watching Alice Wincour’s Disorder (2015) [Original title Maryland], now showing in the U.S., was that it was a great suspense thriller. That reaction did not withstand later thought and analysis. The acting by the two main characters was stellar, the soundscape (which includes the music) was exceptional, cinematography had its flashes,… Continue Reading
A Bigger Splash
It has been a long time since I have walked out of a movie feeling the way I did after seeing A Bigger Splash. I turned to my friend and said “I think I just saw an important move, but I can’t quite tell you why I feel that.” Noted critic Cristy Lemire described it… Continue Reading
The Man Who Knew Infinity
Although the story dragged slightly in the middle this was a very enjoyable film. The acting was excellent and welcoming. The camera work combined with some truly special lighting kept the viewer right in the middle of the action. No matter the location of the scene the viewer is right along with the character. One… Continue Reading
De Palma Interviews Coppola on The Conversation
Cinephelia and Beyond is hosting a great interview of Francis Ford Coppola by Brian De Palma regarding the making of THE CONVERSATION. Check it out at http://www.cinephiliabeyond.org/francis-ford-coppola-brian-de-palma-conversation-two-great-filmmakers/ Continue Reading
Victoria — A really different approach
The German thriller VICTORIA was made in a unique way. First, starting with only 12 pages of script, the filmmakers rehearsed and improvised into a full length movie. Recall that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button also started with a 12 page short story. Then the film was shot in only one long take. “The… Continue Reading
Elaine May on writing, acting, directing.
Following a screening of her work at the Jacob Burns Film Center, Elaine May when asked which of the aspects of filmmaking—writing, directing, acting—she prefers, answered “They’re really different parts of the brain. Writing is close to acting. In directing, you control. Acting, you can’t control how good you are, and you can’t control how… Continue Reading
China –Highest grossing cinema territory in the world.
It has been known for generations that U.S. studios got their highest gross sales overseas. Some say this is one of the causes in lack of diveristy in film. It is also no secret that during the rise of Naziism, U.S. studios catered to the German moviegoing audience, often getting the most sales in Germany. … Continue Reading
Cinema’s Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood – Anchors TCM Celebration
I have been communicating for years with Producer/Director Karen Thomas regarding her 2009 PBS documentary Cinema Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood. I had been urging her to get the fabulous story released into general circulation. I received an email today from Karen with exciting news First the film will anchor a celebration on Turner Classic Movies… Continue Reading