Category Archives: New York City

One Night Only ‘Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse’ Ultimate Fan Experience in Select Cities

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Paramount Pictures, AMC Theatres and Dillon Francis are offering moviegoers in the U.S. a one-night-only Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse Ultimate Fan Experience with an advance screening of the film as well as exclusive music and a special visual show from Dillon Francis for the regular price of admission. The visual experience blends the bold graphics of creative powerhouse Pizzaslime and Dillon Francis, short form video content from Dillon Francis’ zombie alter ego “Dead Dillon,” scenes from the film and original music from Dillon Francis.

The event will take place in select AMC Theatres locations across the U.S. on Wednesday, October 28th at 7:00 p.m. Ticket holders will also receive a commemorative t-shirt.

In New York City, ticket holders attending the Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse Ultimate Fan Experience at the AMC Loews 19th St. East 6 theater will receive admittance to an exclusive, off-site after party event featuring a performance by Dead Dillon following the screening.

Tickets are available for purchase now at participating theater box offices and online at

www.ScoutsAndZombiesMovie.com/ultimatefanexperience

DJ/Producer/Artist Dillon Francis, who makes a cameo in the film, released his debut album “Money Sucks, Friends Rule” last year. Featuring standout track “Get Low,” the album was named one of Rolling Stone’s Top Electronic Albums of 2014. His latest release “This Mixtape is Fire,” which sees Dillon Francis return to his Moombahton roots, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic chart, fueled by collaborations with Calvin Harris, Skrillex, Chromeo and more. Having played shows and festivals in the UK, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, France, Australia and more, Dillon Francis is continuing to make a name for himself as one of the most influential players in electronic music.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse follows three scouts and lifelong friends who join forces with one badass cocktail waitress to become the world’s most unlikely team of heroes. When their peaceful town is ravaged by a zombie invasion, they’ll fight for the badge of a lifetime and put their scouting skills to the test to save mankind from the undead. Starring Tye Sheridan, David Koechner, Cloris Leachman¸ Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Joey Morgan, Sarah Dumont and Patrick Schwarzenegger.

Produced by Todd Garner and Andy Fickman. Story by Carrie Evans & Emi Mochizuki and Lona Williams, with a screenplay by Carrie Evans & Emi Mochizuki and Christopher Landon. Directed by Christopher Landon.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse opens in theaters on October 30th, 2015.

New York Film Festival Review: ‘STEVE JOBS’ The idol and the narcissist.

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SteveJobs-NYFF53-fullSteve Jobs posterSteve Jobs: Humanity may recognize his face quicker than any religious leader, sports icon, historical figure… even Kardashian. The world knows this man. But, do they really?  Danny Boyle‘s new film, based upon the biography by Walter Isaacson, focuses on three specific moments in the life of Jobs; the launches of the Macintosh, Next, and the iMac. You may think you know the man that inspired the internet in your pocket, but truly you have no idea.stevejobs0004

The unmistakable dialogue from Aaron Sorkin breathes life into this film. Steve Jobs takes off running right out of the gate without a moment’s rest in it’s 122 minute run time. Each of the three sequences appearing in “real time” as they play out on screen. Sorkin admitted in the press conference following the screening that he has a bit of an obsession with time itself. The pacing is unreal. You have no idea how far you are into the movie at any given time as his dialogue is lush but never verbose. The entire cast nails each beat precisely.

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If you haven’t read Isaacson’s book, you may not have a clear picture of Jobs. While he was adored by those in the public and those closest to him, the man was no saint. Self obsessed, “my way or the highway attitude” and in total denial, each move in his career was 1000% calculated. Oftentimes, to the detriment of those personal relationships. This is another brilliant aspect that the film brings in its editing. Each of the three launches is inter-cut with a pivotal moment from the past in which a character had a confrontation with Steve. While the adoration remains, let it be known that everyone in his path at some point reached their emotional limit and let him know it. I would be remiss to ignore the look and feel of each era, including wardrobe, music, and sporadic text visuals that serve to quietly highlight it’s excellence. Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet Steve Jobs

This cast is beyond perfection. Michael Fassbender, who admits he looks nothing like Jobs, did his actor’s due diligence studying YouTube clips of Steve. The rhythm and timbre of his voice and his physicality. Kate Winslet plays Joanna Hoffman, Job’s head of marketing and perhaps closest female friend ever, with a delicious ease. The leftover Polish accent of Hoffman is perfectly captured on Winslet’s lips. Seth Rogen is the ever forgotten genius Steve Wozniak. Rogen’s performance should not be overlooked in this year’s awards nominations. His quiet power does not go unnoticed and the scenes between he and Fassbender are spellbinding. Jeff Daniels, who perhaps has the most experience with Sorkin’s writing with his work on The Newsroom, gives us a knockout performance as Apple CEO John Sculley. Butting heads with Jobs but revealing a while boat load of truth in the process, Daniels also deserves accolades for this role. The cast is rounded out by exceptional portrayals of Crisann Brennan, Jobs’ thrown to the wind ex and mother of his first child, by Katherine Waterston. The emotional torture this woman endured is evident in each scene. Finally, Michael Stuhlbarg is Andy Hertzfeld, Mac software system designer, who often argued with Steve about his closed source software (the reason Mac is incompatible with anything other than Mac, which was probably his most calculated decision ever). Stuhlbarg, like the majority of the cast, spent time with his real life counterpart, getting to know the true ins and outs of who they were to  Steve and who they were as individual innovators. Seth Rogen Steve JobsSTEVE JOBS is both a pretty picture and a not so pretty picture of a man the world still worships. It will take you by surprise in every way possible. A triumph from start to finish, look for, at the very least, massive nominations for all involved come award season. STEVE JOBS comes to theaters in limited release Friday, October 3rd, followed by it’s nationwide release Friday, October 23rd. Stay tuned to Reel News Daily for the latest updates.

  • Directed By Danny Boyle
  • 2015
  • USA
  • DCP

Anyone going to this provocative and wildly entertaining film expecting a straight biopic of Steve Jobs is in for a shock. Working from Walter Isaacson’s biography, writer Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, Charlie Wilson’s War) and director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) joined forces to create this dynamically character-driven portrait of the brilliant man at the epicenter of the digital revolution, weaving the multiple threads of their protagonist’s life into three daringly extended backstage scenes, as he prepares to launch the first Macintosh, the NeXT work station and the iMac. We get a dazzlingly executed cross-hatched portrait of a complex and contradictory man, set against the changing fortunes and circumstances of the home-computer industry and the ascendancy of branding, of products, and of oneself. The stellar cast includes Michael Fassbender in the title role, Kate Winslet as Joanna Hoffman, Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak, Jeff Daniels as John Sculley, Katherine Waterston as Chrisann Brennan and Michael Stuhlbarg as Andy Hertzfeld. A Universal Pictures release.

New York Film Festival Review: ‘MICROBE & GASOLINE’ is a charming coming of age road movie.

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NYFF 53 bannerMICROBE ET GASOIL-4So many of us did not fit in while we were in school. Maybe we wore clothes that were different, has religious parents, or just had quirky personalities that wouldn’t be appreciated until college. Director Michel Gondry tackles the coming of age genre with his new film MICROBE & GASOLINE. With credits like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep, Gondry has no problem tackling the whimsy many of us enjoy while sitting in  a dark theater to escape our everyday lives. Still brimming with that very same sense of lightness, Microbe & Gasoline takes on the subject of two young boys trying to navigate insecurities and innocence… all while alone on the road in a car they build themselves.

Available to rent and buy onTuesday, September 4th with behind-the-scenes extras on We Are Colony

MICROBE ET GASOIL-7Newcomer Ange Dargent, is a true delight on screen. His natural presence is so relatable. He plays young introvert and artist, Daniel. Nicknamed ‘Microbe’ by classmates, even though he continually points out he is not the shortest boy in the class, he is constantly picked on at school. While at home, mother Marie-Thérèse (played effortlessly by the beautiful Audrey Tautou) dotes so heavily it drives him deeper into himself. Enter new kid, Théo, rambunctious, confident and perfect foil for Daniel, he is unafraid of standing up to bullies even if he not the most popular. Young actor, in only his sophomore picture, Théophile Baquet, plays Gasoline with the perfect balance of snark and charm. Buzzing onto the scene with a souped up electric bicycle and smelling of, yep, you guessed it, gasoline, he adopts our Microbe as his new project. The two discover that with a whole lot of ingenuity they can build their own car to escape struggles at home for the summer. But why stop at a car? Why not add a house on top for camouflage and living purposes. MICROBE ET GASOIL-12

Tackling subjects like confidence, sex, loss, and just plain growing up, MICROBE & GASOLINE has enough heart to compete with Gondry’s previous adult incarnations with the same issues. The dialogue is snappy, sweet, and funny. While the plot itself is not necessarily a new idea, I still believe it to be a true success. Below you can find the trailer. While for now we only have it  available in French (sans subtitles), you still get the general idea of how wonderful this film truly us. And, not to worry, there are English subtitles during the film itself.

  • Directed By Michel Gondry
  • 2015
  • France
  • French with English subtitles
  • DCP
  • 103 minutes

The new handmade-SFX comedy from Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Be Kind Rewind) is set in an autobiographical key. Teenage misfits Microbe (Ange Dargent) and Gasoline (Théophile Baquet), one nicknamed for his size and the other for his love of all things mechanical and fuel-powered, become fast friends. Unloved in school and misunderstood at home—Microbe is overprotected, Gasoline is by turns ignored and abused—they decide to build a house on wheels (complete with a collapsible flower window box) and sputter, push, and coast their way to the camp where Gasoline went as a child, with a stop along the way to visit Microbe’s crush (Diane Besnier). Gondry’s visual imagination is prodigious, and so is his cultivation of spontaneously generated fun and off-angled lyricism, his absolute irreverence, and his emotional frankness. This is one of his freshest and loveliest films. With Audrey Tatou as Microbe’s mom.

Showtimes

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

12:00 PM

Buy Tickets

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5

9:00 PM

Standby Only

VENUE

Francesca Beale Theater Alice Tully Hall

New York Film Festival 53 Review: ‘MIA MADRE’

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NYFF 53 bannerMIA MADRE_1304Impending death of a loved one is something we’ll all face in our lifetime. Everyone deals with it on their own very personal way. In Nanni Moretti‘s new feature MIA MADRE, Margherita knows her mother is on the verge of death, but is in the kind of denial that turns her world into a tailspin. Trying to separate her professional life and her home life is not working. Relationships with her volatile American actor, her loving brother, young daughter, and her film, are all in jeopardy as she flails through feigning normalcy.MIA MADRE_1252Margherita Buy is beyond brilliant as our lead. Never a false moment or a skipped beat. her presence is perfection and the story is relatable on every level. John Turturro’s outstanding performance as over the top American actor Barry Higgins is equally captivating. His boisterous sense of importance is the perfect foil to Margherita’s slow emotional unraveling. The film’s impact is pretty massive. It will stick with you long after you leave the theater. It’s a true study in human behavior.MIA MADRE_1228jpgIn the press conference immediately following the screening, Nanni Moretti and John Turturro sat down to chat about the experience. Moretti crafted this script when his own mother became ill while he as editing one of his films and later passed away. He explained that Margherita Buy was his first choice to play the leading lady, and that he felt that it would be more interesting to play the story out through a female character. As he was writing and shooting, his catharsis also occurred in his portrayal of the character Giovanni, Margherita’s brother. “Giovanni is the character I wanted to be (in real life), but I’m not.” This quiet, grounded performance speaks volumes and is another gorgeous emotional counterbalance to Margherita.

There was a whole lot of improv on the set. I asked John if it was complicated to switch between fluent Italian and English in the same monologue stream or if that was precisely how Nanni had written the dialogue. John revealed that Nanni asked him to memorize all the lines in Italian, go back and learn them again in English, then once he had a true sense of who ,Barry Huggins was, he had the freedom to play within the languages. He admitted it was incredibly complicated. Let me assure you, it is deliciously effective.

MIA MADRE is a beautiful film. One that we, at Reel News Daily, highly recommend.

  • Directed By Nanni Moretti
  • 2015
  • Italy/France
  • Italian and English with English subtitles
  • DCP
  • 106 minutes

Margherita (Margherita Buy) is a middle-aged filmmaker who has to contend with an international co-production starring a mercurial American actor (John Turturro) and with the realization that her beloved mother (Giulia Lazzarini) is mortally ill. Underrated as an actor, director Nanni Moretti offers a fascinating portrayal as Margherita’s brother, a quietly abrasive, intelligent man with a wonderfully tamped-down generosity and warmth. The construction of the film is as simple as it is beautiful: the chaos of the movie within the movie merges with the fear of disorder and feelings of pain and loss brought about by impending death. Mia Madre is a sharp and continually surprising work about the fragility of existence that is by turns moving, hilarious, and subtly disquieting. An Alchemy release.

Showtimes

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

9:15 PM

Standby Only

VENUE

Francesca Beale Theater Alice Tully Hall

It’s DOCTOR WHO DAY!! Series 9 Premieres Tonight!

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doctor-who-logodw-901-10In just under 30 minutes, Series 9 of Doctor Who will begin on BBCAmerica. Last time we saw the Doctor and Clara, Missy was running amuk, Cybermen were causing a ruckus and the fate of the universe was in jeopardy. But this, my friends, is why we love the show. Steven Moffat is teaming up with “Blink” director, Hettie MacDonald. Tonight’s episode is titled, “The Magician’s Apprentice“. Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman are back in action. Here is the run down… as far as I can reveal to you.

Where is the Doctor?” When the skies of Earth are frozen by a mysterious alien force, Clara needs her friend. But where is the Doctor, and what is he hiding from? As past deeds come back to haunt him, old enemies will come face-to-face, and for the Doctor and Clara survival seems impossible

Clara Series 9I was fortunate enough to attend the premiere screening here in NYC Thursday night. The Mistress herself, Michelle Gomez, was in attendance along with hundreds of lucky Whovians. TARDIS outside the theater, cosplayers as far as the eye could see, Michelle sat down for a pre-screening Q&A to reveal some of her favorite things about playing  The Mistress. The biggest surprise to the audience came when she revealed that not only would we be privy to the first episode, but the second as well! As you can imagine, the  house went nuts; cheering and shouting surrounded by the glow of sonic screwdrivers. It was brilliant. Here are a few pics I shared from the event.

Guess where I am? #HappyWhovain #series9 #DoctorWho #TheMistressIsHere A photo posted by Elizabeth Whittemore Ferry (@indiebizliz) on

We’re certainly excited and you should be, too!  That’s all I can say for now…. Spoilers.

DOCTOR WHO airs tonight at 9pm/8C on BBCAmerica.

Broad Green Pictures Announces 99 Homes: 99 Good Deeds Initiative in 20 Cities Nationwide

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Broad Green Pictures announces the launch of 99 Homes: 99 Good Deeds, a charitable initiative to encourage individuals to perform one good deed to help a member of their community and to underscore the positive impact that even the smallest amounts of assistance can have. The launch comes just ahead of the release of the studio’s upcoming film 99 Homes debuting in theatres on Sept. 25, expanding nationwide Oct. 9. In collaboration with local organizations in 20 cities throughout the United States, Broad Green Pictures will perform 99 good deeds.

In Phoenix, Broad Green Pictures has partnered with non-profit charity Phoenix Rescue Mission. To prepare for the holiday season, the Mission is in desperate need of food, water, blankets, clothing, shoes, sleeping bags and monetary donations. To help with this effort, the studio will donate 99 (admit two) passes for the advance screening on October 5th to be given to the first 99 people to donate. Broad Green Pictures will also host a canned food drive at the screening where people who bring at least one canned food item will be entered to win a 99 Homes prize pack including promo items from the film, a medium popcorn to enjoy during the screening and two VIP tickets to a future screening of one of their upcoming films.

Additional national partner organizations include:

 

99 Homes is written and directed by Ramin Bahrani (Chop Shop, Man Push Cart) and stars Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spiderman, The Social Network) as Dennis Nash, a single father trying to take care of his mother, played by Laura Dern (Wild, The Fault in Our Stars) and young son after being evicted from their home.  Nash becomes so desperate to provide for his family that he goes to work for Rick Carver played by Michael Shannon (Man of Steel, “Boardwalk Empire“) – the very man who evicted him from his home in the first place. 99 Homes is produced by Ashok Amritraj, Kevin Turen, Justin Nappi and Bahrani.

For more information on the 99 Homes: 99 Good Deeds initiative and a full list of and how to get involved, please visit 99HomesGoodDeeds.com.

Warner Bros Television to Invade New York Comic Con

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Warner Bros. Television takes a massive bite out of the Big Apple during New York Comic Con (NYCC) October 8–11 with six series that include Gotham (Mondays 8/7c on FOX), Supergirl (Mondays 8/7c on CBS), Blindspot (Mondays 10/9c on NBC), Person of Interest (Midseason on CBS), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (Midseason on The CW) and Containment (Midseason on The CW); plus, a brand-new series, Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production (Mondays 8/7c on Boomerang), from Warner Bros. Animation.

Confirmed to attend New York Comic Con 2015 for panel sessions with fans include:

  • Gotham’s Ben McKenzie, Robin Lord Taylor, Cory Michael Smith, James Frain, Jessica Lucas and executive producer John Stephens
  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’s Brandon Routh, Arthur Darvill, Caity Lotz, Ciara Renée, executive producer Phil Klemmer and director Glen Winter
  • Blindspot’s Sullivan Stapleton, Jaimie Alexander, Rob Brown, Audrey Esparza, Ashley Johnson, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and executive producer Martin Gero
  • Supergirl’s stars and executive producer Ali Adler
  • Person of Interest’s Michael Emerson, Kevin Chapman, Amy Acker and Sarah Shahi
  • Containment’s David Gyasi, Chris Wood, Claudia Black, Hanna Mangan Lawrence and executive producer Julie Plec
  • Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production’s Jeff Bergman, Bob Bergen and producer Gary Hartle

For the third year at NYCC, Warner Bros. Television will host preview night screenings at the Main Stage on Thursday, October 8.  Fans will not only view the complete pilot episodes of the hotly anticipated series Supergirl (series premiere Monday, October 26, 8:30/7:30c on CBS),Containment (series premiere Midseason on The CW) and Lucifer (series premiere Midseason on FOX), but also a sneak peek of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (series premiere Midseason on The CW).

Confirmed WBTV panelists will participate in autograph signings taking place the same day as the panel in the NYCC Autographing Area. NYCC signings are first come, first serve and times are as follows:

WARNER BROS. TELEVISION AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

  • 3:00–3:30 p.m.            Containment

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11

  • 11:00–11:30 a.m.        DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
  • 11:45–12:15 p.m.        Supergirl
  • 12:30–1:00 p.m.          Blindspot
  • 1:15–1:45 p.m.            Person of Interest
  • 1:45–2:30 p.m.            Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production
  • 2:00–2:45 p.m.            Gotham

WARNER BROS. TELEVISION SCREENINGS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8

7:00–9:30 p.m. (Main Stage) WBTV Pilot Screenings: For the third year in a row, Warner Bros. Television offers an advance viewing of pilot episodes; this year, check out three of the most highly anticipated series of the 2015–16 television season — Supergirl, Containment andLucifer — as well as a sneak peek of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.

  • Supergirl: In the vast DC Comics Universe of super heroes, the rich mythology of Superman and the planet Krypton is perhaps the most famous and instantly recognizable. Enter Supergirl! Born on the doomed planet Krypton, the preteen Kara escaped at the same time as the infant Kal-El, but didn’t arrive on Earth until many years later after being lost in the Phantom Zone. Now age 24, living in National City and working as an assistant for Catco Worldwide Media mogul Cat Grant, Kara has spent so many years trying to fit in that she forgot to ever stand out. All that changes when she decides to embrace her superhuman abilities and become the hero she was always destined to be. With the help of Daily Planet photographer James Olsen, her foster sister Alex, and the research of the super-secret, off-the-grid Department of Extra-Normal Operations (DEO) and its head, Hank Henshaw, who are tasked with keeping the Earth safe from aliens, Kara takes to the skies to protect her world.
  • Containment: When a mysterious and deadly epidemic breaks out in Atlanta, a vast urban quarantine is quickly enforced, forcing those stuck on the inside to fight for their lives while local and federal officials desperately search for a cure in Containment. Torn apart from their loved ones, the survivors trapped within the cordon are fighting against not only fatal infection, but also isolation, fear and the disintegration of society around them. But as they begin to gain each other’s trust, hope remains, and on either side of the cordon unlikely heroes will rise.
  • Lucifer: The story of the original fallen angel. Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar has resigned his throne and retired to the City of Angels, where he owns an upscale piano bar called Lux. When a beautiful pop star is murdered, he feels something awaken deep within him for the first time in roughly 10 billion years. Is he actually capable of feelings for a human being? The very thought disturbs him. The murder attracts the attention of LAPD homicide detective Chloe Dancer, who finds herself both repulsed and fascinated by Lucifer. At the same time, God’s emissary, the angel Amenadiel, has been sent to Los Angeles to convince Lucifer to return to Hell. But with the City of Angels at his feet and a newfound purpose, Lucifer’s having too much fun to go back now.
  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: When heroes alone are not enough … the world needs legends. Having seen the future, one he will desperately try to prevent from happening, time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter is tasked with assembling a disparate group of both heroes and villains to confront an unstoppable threat —one in which not only is the planet at stake, but all of time itself. From the creators of The Flash and Arrow comes this super hero team-up unlike anything that’s ever been seen on television before.

WARNER BROS. TELEVISION SESSIONS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

  • 5:15–6:15 p.m. (Room 1A06)  Containment (Midseason on The CW): When a mysterious and deadly epidemic breaks out in Atlanta, a vast urban quarantine is quickly enforced, forcing those stuck on the inside to fight for their lives while local and federal officials desperately search for a cure. Containment makes its New York Comic-Con debut with a special screening of the entire pilot episode, followed by a Q&A with series stars David Gyasi (Interstellar), Chris Wood (The Vampire Diaries), Claudia Black (The Originals), Hanna Mangan Lawrence (Spartacus:Vengeance) and executive producerJulie Plec (The Vampire Diaries, The Originals).  Based on the original Belgian series created by Carl Joos for Eyeworks, Containment is produced by My So-Called Company in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Plec, David Nutter (The Flash, Arrow), Matt Corman (Covert Affairs) and Chris Ord (Covert Affairs). Become a fan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CWContainment and follow the show on Twitter at @cwcontainment.

CONTAINMENT

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11

12:15-1:15 p.m. (Room 1A10) Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production Special Video Presentation and Q&A: Get ready for an afternoon of hilarity and hijinks as the looniest animation studio in the world, Warner Bros. Animation, showcases the hilarious, heroic and mischievous Bugs Bunny that everyone loves in Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production. Join producer Gary Hartle (The Mask) and members of the voice cast, Jeff Bergman and Bob Bergen (The Looney Tunes Show), for a look at this new animated series featuring Bugs in all-new shorts that find the iconic carrot-loving rabbit matching wits against — and getting the best of — classic characters like Yosemite Sam and Wile E. Coyote. Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production premieres Monday, October 5th at 8/7c on Boomerang.

WABBIT

1:30 p.m. (Empire Stage) Warner Bros. Television Takeover: Join stars and producers from five Warner Bros. Television series — Gotham, Supergirl, Blindspot, Person of Interest andDC’s Legends of Tomorrow — for exclusive footage, a pilot screening and a Q&A on the Empire Stage.

  • Gotham: Special Video Presentation and Q&A —The hit series returns to New York Comic-Con for its second year as Jim Gordon continues his quest to clean up Gotham City, but the stakes are higher than ever in season two as we witness the Rise of the Villains.  Join series stars Ben McKenzie (Southland), Robin Lord Taylor (The Walking Dead), Cory Michael Smith (Olive Kitteridge), James Frain (True Blood) and Jessica Lucas (Cloverfield) with executive producer John Stephens (Gossip Girl) for a special Q&A. From Warner Bros. Television, Gotham airs Mondays at 8/7c on FOX.  Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GOTHAMonFox, and follow the show on Twitter at @Gotham.

GOTHAM

  • Supergirl Pilot Screening and Q&A – Born on the planet Krypton, Kara Zor-El escaped its destruction years ago. Since arriving on Earth, she’s been hiding the powers she shares with her famous cousin. But now at age 24, she decides to embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be. Attendees will see a screening of the complete pilot, followed by a Q&A with series stars and executive producer Ali Adler (Chuck). From Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Supergirl will premiere Monday, October 26th on CBS at a special time of 8:30 p.m., before moving to its regularly scheduled time of Mondays at 8/7c. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SupergirlCBS and follow the show on Twitter at @SupergirlCBS.

SUPERGIRL

  • Blindspot: Special Video Presentation and Q&A — Sullivan     Stapleton (300: Rise of an Empire) and Jaimie Alexander (Thor films) star in Blindspot, a one-hour action thriller from Berlanti Productions (The Flash, Arrow, Pan) and writer/executive producer Martin Gero (Stargate: Atlantis). Stapleton stars as hardened FBI agent Kurt Weller, who is drawn into a complex conspiracy when a naked amnesiac, Jane Doe (Alexander), is found in Times Square covered in a series of cryptic tattoos … including his name on her back. As Weller and his teammates at the FBI begin to investigate the veritable treasure map that is Jane Doe’s tattoos, they are drawn into a high-stakes underworld that twists and turns through a labyrinth of secrets and revelations — and the information they uncover might ultimately change the world. Join series stars Sullivan Stapleton, Jaimie Alexander, Rob Brown (Treme), Audrey Esparza (Public Morals), Ashley Johnson(The Killing), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without a Trace) and executive producer Martin Gero for a revealing Q&A. From Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions, Blindspot airs Mondays at 10/9c on NBC. Become a fan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NBCBlindspot and follow the show on Twitter at @NBCBlindspot.

BLINDSPOT

  • Person of Interest: Special Video Presentation and Q&A — Person of Interestreturns to New York for the fifth year!  Join the discussion with stars Michael Emerson,Kevin Chapman, Amy Acker and Sarah Shahi as the science “fiction” of Person of Interest stays one step ahead of real-world events.  John Reese (Jim Caviezel) and Harold Finch (Michael Emerson) have saved countless lives thanks to the omniscience of their supercomputer and their crack team of brave misfits — NYPD detective Lionel Fusco (Kevin Chapman), the unpredictable cyber-hacker Root (Amy Acker), and missing-in-action operative Sameen Shaw (Sarah Shahi) — but a new threat puts their mission in jeopardy and their lives in even more danger.  Samaritan, the rival AI, has initiated its lethal “correction.”  Finch’s Machine is essentially dead.  Shaw is still missing.  And the team is once again hiding in plain sight.  But with Samaritan’s invisible grip tightening everywhere, will Finch be able to rebuild and resurrect The Machine?  And if he does, will it be the same Machine when it comes back online? From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Person of Interest returns Midseason for its fifth season on CBS. Become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PersonofInterestCBS and follow the show on Twitter at @PersonInterest.

PERSON OF INTEREST

  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Special Video Presentation and Q&A – When heroes alone are not enough … the world needs legends. Having seen the future, one he will desperately try to prevent from happening, time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter is tasked with assembling a disparate group of both heroes and villains to confront the immortal threat of Vandal Savage. Attendees will be treated to a sneak peek at upcoming footage from the show, followed and Q&A with series stars Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who), Caity Lotz (Arrow), Ciara Renée and executive producers Phil Klemmer (The Tomorrow People) and Glen Winter (Arrow). From Berlanti Productions Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow will premiere Midseason on The CW. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CWLegendsOfTomorrow and follow the show on Twitter at @TheCW_Legends.

LEGENDS

  • PLEASE NOTE: Series stars and creative teams scheduled to attend are subject to change.

Review: Nichols and Walker’s ‘Welcome to Leith’ Is an Incredibly Stunning and Rattling Film Capturing the Scariness of White Supremacists in All Their Ignorant and Gross Glory

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welcome to leith - posterThe reason I like documentaries so much is that you can’t shy away from what is depicted on the screen, you can’t suspend your disbelief because it is happening or has really happened. Some docs are whimsical and can delight you with the beauties of life. Others, the exact opposite. Welcome to Leith happens to fall in the latter crowd, although don’t let that take away from how good this film is.

welcome to leith - filmmakers

Directors Michael Beach Nichols and Christopher Walker are unbelievably able to situate themselves right in the middle of a shitstorm…in the middle of Nowhere, North Dakota (really, Leith). When Craig Cobb comes to town, he goes about unnoticed, busy snapping up pieces of property in the small town. To what end you might ask? Well, Cobb just so happens to be one of the foremost white supremacists in the country and he is doing his best to buy enough property to settle his racists buddies in town so that they can take over Leith politically by using their votes to oust the City Council and sitting Mayor Ryan Schock. And why would they do that, you ask again? So that they can set up what I later learned is called a PLE, or Pioneer Little Europe, or really just a town that is all white and non-Jew, non-Christian where they are free to propagate their ridiculous and, frankly, dangerous views.

welcome to leith swatteam

Nichols and Walker do such a wonderful of balancing the perspective of the concerned local townsfolk who don’t want anything to do with Cobb and his fellow bigots being in Leith with the viewpoint of Cobb and his cronies, sickening as it is. The directors are able to capture the growing concern for the citizens of Leith for their own safety as Cobb himself falls into more and more of an uncontrolled, hate-filled spiral. The interplay between the rights of the citizens of Leith and the rights of the racists to exist in town is fascinating to watch play out amid all of the legal wranglings by both sides to allow their ways of life to continue.

welcome to leith - armedpatrol

What the directors do best here is really letting Cobb and the other white supremacists featured hang themselves with their own words and actions. It is hard not to squirm each time Cobb and his cohort comes on screen spouting their hateful rhetoric. And perhaps the best thing is, they willingly contributed to this. The directors were able to use footage shot by the racists and weave it into the film, so in essence they co-directed portions of the film. The score that composers Brendan Canty and Tim Hecker created added a nice layer to the film. This film is quite scary (if you ask me) and the score really helps reiterate that, allowing the directors to not have to show tons more heavy handed interviews with Cobb and his little posse. I will say that the final shot of Cobb in this film is one of the most satisfying of any documentary I’ve ever seen and incredibly indicative of the how most Americans feel about racists and their fucked up agendas.

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This is an endlessly enthralling, enraging and interesting film that really encapsulates the complexity of interpreting the First Amendment. Walker and Nichols have woven together a really important film that gives relatively equal balance to both arguments, something that I can’t imagine was an easy thing to do. The film is chock full of poignant moments (none as good as the reveal of Cobb‘s DNA profile) that show the extremes that both sides will go to protect their rights. While the subject matter is hard to digest in parts (because of the nature of it, not the lack of quality in how it is shown), the filmmakers do a dynamic job in getting the points of both parties across and that is why this film is so successful. I would firmly put this documentary beside K. Ryan Jones‘ Fall from Grace about the Westboro Baptist Church as a film that is able to take a subject that is really vomit-inducing about some really disgusting people and allow said disgusting people to do all the dirty work themselves. And as gross as I think Cobb and his lot are, it makes for fascinating cinema to watch them try to work the system and ultimately fail.

This film make its US theatrical debut tonight at the IFC Center in New York City. Directors Michael Beach Nichols and Christopher Walker will be present at the 7:45 screening tonight and tomorrow. The film is being distributed by First Run Features.

Get there, people!

Here’s the trailer:

Review: ‘THE MEND’ shoves a mirror up to adulthood.

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The Mend posterWhat happens when two self destructing brothers come face to face in a small NYC apartment? Chaos and truth are forced into the light in John Magary‘s first full length feature, THE MEND. Josh Lucas and Stephen Plunkett play mind games with one another and themselves in this existential mid-life crisis. The Mend still Stephen and JoshAlan and girlfriend Farrah are on their way out of town but not before throwing an intimate get together as a send off for their travels. Freeloading brother (and oftentimes asshole of a human) Mat shows up after his girlfriend Andrea kicks him out. The two are clearly estranged for reasons that come to light in subtle and brilliant ways as the story progresses. Alan and Farrah leave the next morning and Mat takes it upon himself to squat in the apartment, eventually inviting Andrea and her son Ronnie to join them. The small space leads to confessions on all parts when Alan returns sans Farrah. Three adults and one child in a one bedroom in the city is a sure fire recipe for some serious self analysis and confrontation. Booze, drugs, rage, pity, blame all come into play as these people face the cynicism of adulthood and circumstance. The Men Josh LucasLucas nails this role. His brash, disgusting habits and frankly haggard outwardly appearance make this role extra juicy. He is both unapologetic and somehow down to earth all at once. Plunkett tries to play cool and steady but he is not so secretly a mess. The blatant similarities between the two brothers becomes a beautiful revelation. Lucy Owen as Andrea is an emotional volcano and I loved everything about her vulnerability. Ronnie is played by the spectacular Cory Nichols. Another refreshing performance following up from Tribeca’s KING JACK. What a natural. Magary‘s script and ability to make the familiar seem new is so intriguing. Small seemingly mundane scenes are anything but. The Mend has this throwback feeling to it. Something about the mix of music and watered down hipster mentality makes it quite the work of art. You can catch The Mend today in NYC and next Friday in L.A., with a national release throughout the fall.

Synopsis:

For anyone who’s ever loathed and loved a sibling in equal measure, The Mend is the wonderfully strange and acidic debut comedy from writer / director John Magary. Shot through with the wicked humor and anarchy of Bruce Robinson’s Withnail & I and Mike Leigh’s Naked , The Mend follows a mismatched yin-yang pair of NYC brothers, loose cannon Mat (Josh Lucas in a career-best performance) and put-upon Alan (Stephen Plunkett) as they stagger dimly towards some understanding of love, women, masculinity and what it truly means to be a brother.

Featuring a gorgeous, minimalist score by Michi Wiancko & Judd Greenstein and beautiful, fluid cinematography by Chris Teague (Obvious Child), the film unfolds as three stylistically distinct but interwoven acts, each with its own mesmerizing rhythm. With superb supporting performances by Mickey Sumner (Frances Ha) and Lucy Owen as the brothers’ sharp-tongued girlfriends.

Review: ‘LEARNING TO DRIVE’ rides right into your heart.

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Learning to Drive-poster2Two very different people cross paths in a cab, changing both their lives forever. This is the basic outline for the charming new film LEARNING TO DRIVE. But, this movie is so much more than basic. Sir Ben Kingsley and Patricia Clarkson come together to explore love and life as they enter new stages and become each other’s teacher.

LTD_09-07-13_139_R_CROP Patricia Clarkson stars as Wendy in Broad Green Pictures upcoming release, LEARNING TO DRIVE. Credit: Linda Kallerus/Broad Green Pictures

Patricia Clarkson stars as Wendy in Broad Green Pictures upcoming release, LEARNING TO DRIVE.
Credit: Linda Kallerus/Broad Green Pictures

Clarkson plays successful writer, Wendy, whose marriage suddenly falls apart. In order to take control of her new found single life, she navigates selling her home, dating, and relinquishing her comfort behind the wheel. Kingsley becomes Wendy’s instructor after witnessing the intimate crumbling of her marriage in the back of his cab. As he returns some forgotten property to her home, the two become pupil and instructor during the day and dear friends as the film progresses. Kingsley’s Darwan battles some personal struggles of his own as a long time single man finally accepting an arranged marriage. He must learn to communicate with his new bride while letting go of control himself.

LTD_09-05-13_793_R_CROP (l to r) Sarita Choudhury stars as Jasleen and Ben Kingsley as Darwan in Broad Green Pictures upcoming release, LEARNING TO DRIVE. Credit: Linda Kallerus/Broad Green Pictures

(l to r) Sarita Choudhury stars as Jasleen and Ben Kingsley as Darwan in Broad Green Pictures upcoming release, LEARNING TO DRIVE.
Credit: Linda Kallerus/Broad Green Pictures

Ben Kingsley is brilliant as ever. Never missing a beat in a character that is so beautifully genuine. He is a treasure to watch. Patricia Clarkson is engrossing as always.Lovely and vulnerable, her journey through the film is relatable on all levels. Her accessibility as an actress is palpable. With solid performances from Jake Webber as Wendy’s ex and Grace Gummer as their daughter, this changing family dynamic is one we’ve all come across. Much applause to Sarita Choudhury as Darwan’s new wife Jasleen. This reminds me of how I felt when I moved to India in 2008. A little lost, confused, relying heavily on television to entertain me, and afraid to venture too far outside at first. She is a gem n everything she appears in. LEARNING TO DRIVE will certainly have an audience in the over 30 category. Director Isabel Coixet and screenwriter Sarah Kernochan make a truly cohesive team. I hope we see more from them as a pair in the future.

LEARNING TO DRIVE comes to theaters today

http://learningtodrivemovie.com

Running Time: 90 minutes      Rating: R

Review: ‘GUIDANCE’ is an underachiever’s playbook.

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Guidance_posterFormer child star, alcoholic, narcissistic David is in desperate need of a job. Using the internet, his acting skills, and his ability to overachieve only when taking the path f least resistance, he gets hired as a high school counselor. Hilarity ensues in the form of lies, awkward social encounters, and a seemingly misguided sense of self redemption. Guidance_DavidBikingWriter/Director/Star Pat Mills‘ nonchalance and willingness to look like a total whack job makes each scene a joy to watch. He has an Adam Pally quality about his timbre and tone and comic timing, which is a huge compliment. Rule breaking and advice a playboy playmate might give are the driving fores behind the comedy. His connections with the kids are genuine and as a former high school substitute teacher and current actor/writer, this film resonates pretty personally (minus the scamming and alcoholism). Guidance_2Knowing that Mills has another film in the pipeline makes me excited. He clearly understands funny, situational comedy and structure. Sharp wit, keen observational skills, and the brilliant use of self motivational voice overs make Guidance a must see. GUIDANCE opens theatrically in NYC on August 21 (Village East) and LA on August 28 (Sundance Sunset Cinema) with a national release to follow.

Review: “10,000 Saints” will rock you gently.

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10K Saints poster 10,000 Saints follows three screwed up young people and their equally screwed up parents in the age of CBGB’s, yuppies and the tinderbox of gentrification that exploded into the Tompkins Square Park Riots in New York’s East Village in the 1980s. This film is essentially the story of how small life connections become the ties that bind a group of estranged friends and family. It’s quite extraordinary and a brilliant translation of Eleanor Henderson‘s New York Times best-selling novel. After the loss of his best friend Teddy, Jude is sent to live his absentee father, Les. Reconnecting with Les’ girlfriend’s daughter, Eliza and straight edge punk singer and brother of Teddy, Johnny, the three embark on a path that was thrust upon them. 10K Saints Asa EthanEthan Hawke, who I am convinced is a Timelord at this point, gives a flawless performance. His loose lipped, nonchalance is the perfect foil to quietly angsty and gentle Asa Butterfield as Jude. Les’ storyline of fatherly redemption is pretty poetic. Jude’s search for his soul is much more pensive but just as stunning with Butterfield’s innate ability to live the screenplay’s emotional highs and lows. Hailee Steinfeld‘s natural performance as wild child turned guilt ridden and lost pregnant teen is one that should be noted. Emile Hirsh‘s Johnny is a beautifully zen enigma. With a truly talented cast rounded out by Juilanne Nicholson, Avan Jogia, and Emily Mortimer, 10,000 Saints is one hell of an ensemble film. 10K Saints Emile HaileeThis coming of age tale is deals with guilt, unrequited love, self realization, parenting and death, all in delicate yet fully  meaningful ways. The music is most defintiely its own character, with a soundtrack featuring The Replacements, The Cure, REM, Social Distortion, The Stone Roses, and Johnny’s band Army of One. Directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini are gifted storytellers and you bet I will be going out and grabbing Henderson’s novel soon. 10,000 Saints will not disappoint your eyes, ears or heart. 10,000 Saints comes to theaters, iTunes and other VOD platforms Friday, August 14th

4 FREE Summer Talks you must check out this month at Film Society Lincoln Center! Lily Tomlin, Josh Lucas, Matthew Broderick & Alice Eve

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film-society-of-lincoln-centerFree tickets will be distributed at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center box office (144 West 65th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam) on a first-come, first-served basis starting one hour prior to the talks. Limit one ticket per person, subject to availability. For those unable to attend, video from the event will be available online at filmlinc.org. Check back on the website as well, for updates and additions for Free Fall Talks.

DESCRIPTIONS & SCHEDULE
Grandma_Press_1 TribecaLily Tomlin and Paul Weitz (Grandma)
For decades, Lily Tomlin has been a trailblazer in American comedy with a career that has spanned the big screen, television, Broadway, and comedy recordings. Her latest film project is Grandma, a comedy-drama written, produced, and directed by Paul Weitz.In Grandma, Tomlin plays Ellie, a lesbian poet coping with the recent death of her longtime life partner. After she discovers that her 18-year-old granddaughter is pregnant, the two embark on a road trip to overcome their troubles. Grandma is Tomlin’s first leading role in two decades, following the 1988 comedy Big Business (opposite Bette Midler), and it is her second collaboration with Weitz, who previously directed her in the 2013 film Admission. Writing in Variety, Scott Foundas called Grandma “an initially breezy family comedy about mothers, daughters and abortions that slowly sneaks up on you and packs a major wallop.” Grandma opens theatrically on August 21.Join Tomlin and Weitz at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center’s Amphitheater for a discussion about Grandma and their celebrated careers.
Monday, August 17, 6:30pm
Here’s what Melissa & Liz had to say when they saw it at Tribeca.

We’ve only gotten a tease of Tomlin over the past few years, but she’s back with a comedic performance that rivals any dramatic one. So wrong, yet so perfect, her delivery gives the dialogue an extra edge that almost makes you feel guilty as you laugh out loud. I can’t wait to see her and Jane Fonda in Grace and Frankie on Netflix. – Melissa

 

Tomlin is an indisputable legend. Her comic timing is like watching Mozart create a symphony. This film is an absolute gem that tackles so many relevant issues without one ounce of preachiness. I have always been a huge fan and I am crossing my fingers this garners her an Oscar nod. -Liz

Z for Zachariah 1Chiwetel Ejiofor and Craig Zobel (Z for Zachariah)
Following his Oscar-nominated performance in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor continues to tackle an exciting range of projects, including the miniseries Dancing on the Edge, which earned him an Emmy nomination for his performance as Louis Lester, and, most recently, Craig Zobel’s Z for Zachariah, a post-apocalyptic science-fiction film based on Robert C. O’Brien’s posthumously published novel. In Zobel’s follow-up to his riveting and disturbing Compliance, Z for Zachariah centers on a trio who come together following a mysterious global disaster that spares only a small lush valley. There, a young woman who believes she is the last human on Earth (Margot Robbie), meets John (Chiwetel), a dying scientist searching for survivors. Their relationship becomes tenuous when another survivor (Chris Pine) appears, and as the two men compete for her affections, their primal urges begin to reveal their true nature. Rich with themes of envy, hatred, and desire, Zobel’s latest film has been described as a twist on the Garden of Eden. Z for Zachariah opens theatrically August 28.Join Ejiofor and Zobel in the Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center as they discuss Z for Zachariah, as well as their careers and future projects.

Wednesday, August 19, 6:30pm

the mendJosh Lucas, John Magary, Stephen Plunkett, Lucy Owen, and Austin Pendleton (The Mend)
Actor Josh Lucas is familiar to audiences for his work in American Psycho (2000), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Hulk (2003), Poseidon (2006), among others. And now he stars in The Mend, a wonderfully strange and acidic debut comedy from writer-director John Magary.

The Mend is for anyone who’s ever loathed and loved a sibling in equal measure. It follows a yin-yang pair of brothers in New York City, loose-cannon Mat (Lucas) and put-upon Alan (Stephen Plunkett) as they stagger dimly toward some understanding of love, women, masculinity, and what it truly means to be blood-related. Featuring a gorgeous, minimalist score by Michi Wiancko and Judd Greenstein and beautiful, fluid cinematography by Chris Teague (Obvious Child), The Mend unfolds as three stylistically distinct but interwoven acts, each with its own mesmerizing rhythm. The film also stars Mickey Sumner (Frances Ha) and Lucy Owen as the brothers’ sharp-tongued girlfriends and Austin Pendleton as their uncle. John DeFore praised The Mend in The Hollywood Reporter, noting: “Josh Lucas offers one of his strongest performances to date … A convincing and refreshingly indirect examination of handed down emotional flaws,” and Scott Macaulay said in Filmmaker magazine: “The Mend is a deliciously bitter minuet, gloriously unstable in its scene construction, shifting points of view and tone.”

Lucas and Magary, as well as co-stars Plunkett, Owen, and Pendleton, will appear at the Amphitheater in the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center one day before the film’s theatrical release to answer questions about the movie and more.

Thursday, August 20, 6:30pm

Dirty-Weekend_Press_1 TribecaNeil LaBute, Matthew Broderick, and Alice Eve (Dirty Weekend)
Matthew Broderick has been a mainstay of the stage and screen since the early ’80s, appearing as the title character in John Hughes’s iconic comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in addition to memorable roles in Ladyhawke, The Torch Song Trilogy, and Glory. On Broadway, he has received Tony Awards for his performances in Brighton Beach Memoirs and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He also received a Tony nomination for The Producers. Now he returns to big-screen comedy with Dirty Weekend, directed by Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men) and co-starring Alice Eve (Star Trek Into Darkness).

During a layover in Albuquerque, colleagues Les (Matthew Broderick) and Natalie (Alice Eve) discover more about each other than they ever thought possible. Anxious and irritable, Les is drawn back into the city by past experiences he can’t forget (even if he doesn’t really remember the particulars of his previous drunken adventure). Natalie, refusing to leave his side, follows along as her own secrets are slowly revealed, leaving her feeling both vulnerable and unbound. Dirty Weekend opens theatrically on September 4.

Join Matthew Broderick, Alice Eve, and Neil LaBute for the final Summer Talk of the year at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center Amphitheater.
Tuesday, August 25, 6:30pm

ABOUT FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
Founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, the Film Society of Lincoln Center works to recognize established and emerging filmmakers, support important new work, and to enhance the awareness, accessibility, and understanding of the moving image. The Film Society produces the renowned New York Film Festival, a curated selection of the year’s most significant new film work, and presents or collaborates on other annual New York City festivals including Dance on Camera, Film Comment Selects, Human Rights Watch Film Festival, New Directors/New Films, New York African Film Festival, New York Asian Film Festival, New York Jewish Film Festival, Open Roads: New Italian Cinema and Rendez-Vous with French Cinema. In addition to publishing the award-winning Film Comment magazine, the Film Society recognizes an artist’s unique achievement in film with the prestigious Chaplin Award, whose 2015 recipient was Robert Redford. The Film Society’s state-of-the-art Walter Reade Theater and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, located at Lincoln Center, provide a home for year-round programs and the New York City film community.

The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from American Airlines, The New York Times, HBO, Stella Artois, The Kobal Collection, Variety, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

For more information, visit www.filmlinc.com and follow @filmlinc on Twitter.

Liz’s Review: ‘HOMME LESS’ is worth far more than 1000 words.

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hommelessposter

From his dapper appearance and his suave sensibilities, you’d never guess that Mark Reay is homeless in NYC. Using a YMCA locker room as his bathroom and personal storage system, Mark is able to blend seamlessly into the upper echelon of New York’s fashion and film business. As a former model, he hustles the streets of Manhattan as a photographer and smooth talker. Genuinely talented and extremely good looking, Mark’s adaptability to his circumstances is astounding and certainly commendable. He lives in secret on a friend’s rooftop, enduring the changing weather and fearing, each night, that he may be found out and forced to find somewhere else to survive the nights. He lives off his extraordinary photography skills, acting residuals, and his uncanny ability to cold approach beautiful women, for both personal and professional rewards.

Mark Reay BY GREG SCAFFIDI

Mark Reay BY GREG SCAFFIDI

HOMME LESS follows Mark’s ventures as he narrowly eludes the total collapse of the very existence he has built for himself. His emotional highs and lows drive the heart of this doc. As New Yorkers, we most definitely have a built up image of what it  means to look homeless. It’s the man in the subway station that wreaks of urine, is dirty, and oftentimes muttering to himself, or yelling incoherently on a street corner. Mark is the penultimate opposite of these images. Clean cut, eloquent, genuine, resourceful. You route for him at each turn as we tag along on his day to day routine, using every networking trick known to man. I would hang out with Mark in a heartbeat. He is optimistic, as much as any one man can be facing his current situation. I admire the hell out of him.

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Director, Thomas Wirthensohn, has been friends with Mark for 20 years, since their modeling days back in Europe. When the two reconnected over drinks, Thomas had no idea that Mark was homeless. The two decided to take a new journey together in making this fascinating documentary. Wirthensohn is very careful to stay at arm’s length, which must have been extra difficult already being so emotionally invested in his subject. One of the toughest things you hear from documentary filmmakers is the challenge they face in trying to stay objective. There are quite a few moments in the film that directly address this issue and I commend Wirthensohn for his efforts.

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HOMME LESS is a beautifully shot portrait of one man’s journey to not only survive, but thrive, in this big city. As someone who has lived here on and off since college, I can only imagine having to do what Mark does on the daily. Living paycheck to paycheck takes on a whole new meaning in this film. I highly recommend you catch this documentary this weekend. It will rattle around in your brain and, if you happen to live in NYC, make you wonder if you’ll run into Mark any day soon. It would be my pleasure to buy him dinner and a drink… and then book him for new headshots.

HOMME LESS Trailer from Thomas Wirthensohn on Vimeo.

Synopsis: HOMME LESS is about the underbelly of the American Dream, the hidden backyard of our society. Mark’s life stands as a metaphor for the struggle of the vanishing middle class in America. But it’s also a film about the relationship between New York City and one of its residents. New York is not simply a beautiful backdrop for this story. She’s the antagonist that dictates the direction Mark’s life is going in. The joy and pain, the love and hate, the success and denial New York is teasing him with, the hardship he is going through in order to stay in her grace and the inventiveness he comes up with to be with her are all unique.

HOMME LESS captures a raw and unfiltered moment in time, our time, and raises the question of how far are we from losing everything, even our homes? How often do we have to pretend that everything is fine in order to keep up the facade of being a well-off member of society? And how far do we go to take the financial pressure off our shoulders to live a more carefree life, a life we aspire to live?

What went wrong in Mark’s life? How is he able to keep up his facade of success and fool everyone?  What keeps him from going under? What motivates him to put up with this rather unthinkable situation?  What were and are his hopes and desires in life?

Mark stands lost and alone in the midst of eight million dreams, balanced between the glamorous surfaces of this vibrant and inspiring city and its far from glamorous hidden backyard. He is the HOMME LESS. 

Opening at the IFC Center on August 7th

Touching documentary I AM CHRIS FARLEY finally comes to theaters today.

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posterart.IAmChrisFarley

I AM CHRIS FARLEY. Courtesy of Virgil Films

From the directors of A Brony Tale, I Am Evel Knievel, and the upcoming Johnny Cash – American Rebel, I AM CHRIS FARLEY tells Chris Farley‘s story, from his early days in Madison, Wisconsin and at Marquette University, through his work at the legendary club Second City to his rapid rise to the top of the comedy world on “Saturday Night Live” and in hit films like Tommy Boy and Black Sheep.

I AM CHRIS FARLEY. Courtesy of Virgil Films

I AM CHRIS FARLEY. Courtesy of Virgil Films

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Free ‘Freaks and Geeks’ marathon & ‘I Found This Funny: The Comedy World of Judd Apatow’ at Film Society of Lincoln Center this July in New York

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“Though it was canceled by NBC in 2000 before the completion of its lone season, frequent Apatow collaborator Paul Feig’s series—executive-produced by Apatow and featuring many of the performers (Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jason Segel, Martin Starr) who would go on to comprise his stock company—has become one of the key texts of recent pop culture. The show’s rabid following has only increased in the years since its cancellation, and it now ranks among the most beloved television series of all time. Simply put, few works of art have captured the uncertainty, frustration, and absurdity of the American high-school experience with so much sophistication, honesty, and sweetness, wondrously embodied by its sibling protagonists, Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) and Sam Weir (John Francis Daley). The Film Society is pleased to present every episode of Freak and Geeks in our Amphitheater.”

The Freaks and Geeks marathon will be FREE to the public and tickets will be distributed at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center box office on a first-come, first-served basis starting one hour prior. Limit one ticket per person, subject to availability.

  • Saturday, July 11 starting at 3:00pm: Episodes 1 – 9
  • Sunday, July 12 starting at 3:00pm: Episodes 10 – 18
Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, Location: New York NY, Architect: Rockwell Group

Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, Location: New York NY, Architect: Rockwell Group

These are the other screenings with tickets on sale now as part of ‘I Found This Funny: The Comedy World of Judd Apatow.’

  • The Last Detail – Friday, July 10, 4:30pm
  • The 40-Year-Old Virgin – Friday, July 10, 7:00pm
  • Superbad – Friday, July 10, 9:30pm
  • Being There – Saturday, July 11, 1:30pm
  • Knocked Up – Saturday, July 11, 4:00pm
  • Bridesmaids – Saturday, July 11, 6:45pm
  • Pineapple Express – Saturday, July 11, 9:15pm
  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall – Sunday, July 12, 1:15pm
  • Get Him to the Greek – Sunday, July 12, 3:25pm
  • Funny People – Sunday, July 12, 5:45pm
  • This Is 40 – Sunday, July 12, 8:30pm
  • An Evening with Judd Apatow and Lena Dunham – Monday, July 13, 8:00pm

See the funniest movie of the summer – ‘The Overnight’ at a sneak peek with Q&A at Lincoln Center this Wednesday

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Taylor Schilling (Emily) in a scene from THE OVERNIGHT. Photograph by John Guleserian

Taylor Schilling (Emily) in a scene from THE OVERNIGHT.
Photograph by John Guleserian

Q&A with director Patrick Brice, actors Adam Scott, Jason Schwartzman, Judith Godreche, and producer Naomi Scott

8pm – Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center, New York, NY – Buy tickets here

Seattle transplants Alex and Emily (Parks and Recreation’s Adam Scott and Orange Is the New Black’s Taylor Schilling) are settling into their new Los Angeles life with some difficulty (their young son makes friends more easily than they do). The two are overjoyed when outgoing fellow parent Kurt (Jason Schwartzman) invites them over for a dual playdate—one for the kids and one for the adults. Things take a turn for the bizarre when Kurt and his elegant French wife Charlotte (L’Auberge Espagnole’s Judith Godrèche) suggest putting the children to bed and continuing their couples date. The rare contemporary comedy that does not outstay its welcome, writer/director Patrick Brice’s second feature (after last year’s found-footage thriller Creep) capitalizes on Scott’s proven straight-man abilities and Schwartzman’s patented confidence, with art-house darling Godrèche more than holding her own amid seasoned comics. A The Orchard release.

Tribeca Film Festival interview: Kevin Pollak talks his new doc ‘Misery Love Comedy’ with expected hilarity.

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Misery Loves Comedy PosterSome of my fondest memories as a kid are family game nights, Sunday breakfasts, and dancing in the kitchen. All of these things we still do. We try to outplay each other. We make fun of the everyone’s ever changing diets. We choreograph the best and worst dance moves in the universe. Being the first of 4 children ignites a fire that never quite goes away. ‘Look At Me Syndrome” is something I live and die by. Young performers are like sponges. They listen to every word as a kid. They are bright and observant, perhaps not coming alive at that age, but letting it all seep into what shapes their humor. *And yes, I did just allude to how awesome I have always been. But enough about me.* Kevin Pollak has created one hell of a documentary to share with the planet, MISERY LOVES COMEDY. Rounding up over 60 comedians, both stand up or just plain funny people in the industry, including the likes of Amy Schumer, Tom Hanks, Judd Apatow, Kevin Smith, Christopher Guest, Lisa Kudrow, Bob Saget, Chris Hardwick, and  Kathleen Madigan, just to name a few. Pollak poses the question that performers know to be true; “Do you have to be miserable to be funny?” The answers comes in form of intimate sit down interviews with a cast only someone with Pollak’s clout could get to say yes so quickly. Filmed over the course of 4 weeks in L.A. and NYC, we are privy to family photos, childhood inspirations, and all the mess in between. Pollak even edited the film himself, sharing that experience was eye-opening and surprisingly enjoyable. This film is non-stop funny. I loved every moment of it. Jim Gaffigan sums up the need to entertain others perfectly, it’s a ‘Narcissists Fantasy’. Question it, accept it, then own it. I do. It’s the only way to live.

When Kevin Pollak offers to take a picture with you, you take a picture. Because Kevin Pollak.

When Kevin Pollak offers to take a picture with you, you take a picture. Because Kevin Pollak.

In honor of the masterful director himself, and the over 600 hours of interviews he had conducted, in true Kevin Pollak Chat Show style, I give you the audio from our roundtable with this comic genius. Welcome to a slice of MISERY LOVES COMEDY.

 

Misery Loves Comedy is available on iTunes !! *Ps- it’s #1 right now* Opens today in NYC (IFC Center) with a national release to follow.

Tribeca Film Festival review: ‘Autism in Love’ puts faces to preconceived notions.

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Autism In Love

Lindsey and Dave

Love is something we cannot explain. It is like magic. Isn’t is difficult enough to find love for two average people? What if you were not considered to be average? It can be torturous to express how we feel. What if you add autism into the mix? Autism is on a wide spectrum. Autistic adulthood is not a common topic of conversation. Director Matt Fuller brings us into the world of 4 extraordinary people; Lenny, Stephen, Lindsey and Dave in the new documentary Autism in Love. 

Autism in Love- Lenny

Lenny

Lenny is an unemployed young man, living with his immensely supportive mother. He has a fondness for video games and longing for a girlfriend. He is extremely aware of his autism and believes that it impedes him from finding love. Highly emotional, Lenny’s struggles have a visceral affect on even Fuller. In a moment of breaking the wall, even with the director out of sight, Lenny is visibly upset and tells Fuller not to cry. He says, “I would rather be a normal man than an autistic person with a million dollars.”

Geeta and Stephen

Geeta and Stephen

Stephen is a middle aged savant who knows every answer on Jeopardy before we’ve even finished reading the clue, makes hot dogs for his parents every Sunday, and has a distinct cadence reminiscent of Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. Married to a lovely woman named Geeta, he has a routine that he lives by that has only recently been disrupted by the fact that after 17 years with Geeta, she has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. While Stephen’s autism is much more obvious, you can see the adoration in his eyes even if he is unable to express it verbally.

Dave and Lindsey

Dave and Lindsey

Lindsey and Dave have been dating for years. Labeled “High-functioning”, the two are an endearing match. Both are ready to take the next step, with Lindsey being the more verbal on the subject and Dave taking a seemingly more intellectual route. You instantly fall in love with this couple and cheer them on from the get go. The juxtaposition of these four individuals is a beautifully crafted story. The added struggle of being on the spectrum is something not many of us consider when searching for a mate. I think that Autism in Love is an important doc that let’s us gaze into a world often fraught with misconception, without gawking.

 

Here is a clip from Autism in Love: 

Tribeca Film Festival interview: ‘CROCODILE GENNADIY’ is a modern-day superhero story.

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Crocdile Gennadiy poster Gennadiy Mokhnenko is a pastor in Mariupol, Ukraine. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, hundreds, if not thousands of children have become homeless and addicted to a deadly mixture of cold medicine and alcohol that they are injecting like herion. Gennadiy has taken it upon himself to rescue these children, small groups at a time and bring them to his rehabilitation center called Pilgrim Republic. An accomplished and eloquent orator, this strong headed and passionate pastor, sometimes forcibly removes children from sewers, or other filth ridden settings, to set them on the straight and narrow. His aim is to improve their alcohol recovery timeline, get these kids healthy and make them want to be functioning members of society. Confronting abusive parents and taking on the government, Gennadiy is a saint. He has 11 children, most of them adopted from the lot that he has saved over the years. He has a wit and charm that make him one of the most approachable men, and yet he has a tenacity that is also threatening when it needs to be.Crocodile Gennadiy image

This documentary from Steve Hooper is beautifully inter-cut with a Soviet animated TV show, Crocodile Gennadiy from which our pastor gets his nickname. The parrallels between Gennadiy and the cartoon are almost unbelievable. The methods this man uses are far from what would be acceptable for any church in the United States, and as far as I am concerned, we should be taking a page from his playbook when fighting for good. Croc Genn cartoon

I was able to sit down with Steve Hoover and producer Danny Yourd. Find out some of the crazy story behind the making of this film.

 

Crocodile Gennadiy Teaser from Crocodile Gennadiy Documentary on Vimeo.

You can still catch CROCODILE GENNADIY at this year’s festival:

8:00 PM – FRI 4/24  REGAL CINEMAS BATTERY PARK 11-3   –RUSH