Tribeca Film review: Richard Gere gives and gives as ‘Franny’

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — 1 Comment ↓

Franny – tickets still available!

As someone who loves to give, I am aware there are boundaries of that giving that can make people feel uncomfortable. Although his heart is in the right place, Franny gladly crosses those boundaries. While there are several moments that hit an emotional nerve, it wasn’t enough to make up for the uneven story.

Richard Gere stars as Franny, a wealthy philanthropist who has become addicted to morphine after a tragic accident involving his best friends. He’s been very reclusive until their daughter, Olivia (Dakota Fanning) comes back into his life. Franny showers her and her new husband with everything they could ever want.

The movie has many themes and is unable to execute any of them fully. It shifts from being about family, to a story of addiction to what it means to give too much. Franny is clearly troubled from his past yet we’re only given a glimpse into any of it.

A missed opportunity was to really show how someone with so much wealth and resources can have their addiction overlooked. There were hints, but it inevitably failed. While Richard Gere delivers a powerful performance, it loses something by the lack of solid supporting cast storylines. It was ultimately predictable and flat.

3 docs you simply must see at the Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — 1 Comment ↓

The Birth of Saké – RUSH tickets available

Feeling stressed? Can’t get your mind to relax? Take a trip to Japan and follow a group of men who dedicate half of their year to making saké. The group of men eat, sleep, laugh and cry together all while preserving the centuries-old tradition.

The passion of the brewmaster Yamamoto and his young apprentice, Yasuyuki is where the heart of the story lies. They each care so much about not only the tradition, but the people they work with on a day-to-day basis.

The gorgeous imagery is enhanced by slowmotion and a calming score. Whether you’re a lover of saké or not, you’ll appreciate the amount of work that goes into its creation.

Orion is his iconic eagle suit. Photo credit Sun Records

Orion: The Man Who Would Be King – hurry, tickets still available!

Everyone has heard of Elvis, but only a fraction have heard of Orion aka Jimmy Ellis. When Jimmy Ellis sang, he sounded like the legendary Elvis. His talent was brought to new heights when Elvis died and people didn’t want to let go. Never an impersonator, Jimmy did capitalize on this coincidence and attempt stardom on his own.

Jimmy himself tells us his tale through audio interviews. Told with a candid and revealing, yet loving hand, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King is ultimately a story about fame sought, found and lost.

Whether you liked Elvis’ music or not, you’ll be captivated by a man who lived large and went after his dreams.

CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap – tickets are going fast!

When I was choosing classes for my first year of high school, I chose to take Technical Drafting. It seemed interesting to me. It never occurred to me that I’d be the only girl in the class. I was bullied every day. I was called unspeakable names behind the teacher’s back. I heard tales of how there were girls who had taken the class and dropped out. I’m sure I must have considered dropping the class, but I have no recollection of it.

I wasn’t the best in the class, but I was always willing to learn and tried my very best. My teacher, Mr Huff, was the kindest, most encouraging man and brought me to every tournament and entered me in every competition eligible. I rarely placed, but I got to see that there were girls in classes like mine at other schools. I was not alone.

Just before seeing this film I had made the decision to learn to code. In the few info sessions at bootcamps for code that I’ve attended, I can see that the gap is still there, but it’s much more encouraging than just twenty years ago.

Instead of focusing on one aspect of the gender gap in coding, this film really shows that everyone has something to give. The field of information technology is only getting bigger and we need all hands on deck. The more diverse the people building the future technologies are, the better the world is for it.

Tribeca Film Festival interview: ‘THE ADDERALL DIARIES’ director Pamela Romanowsky talks fated moments in making the film.

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Liz Whittemore — 2 Comments ↓

Stephen Elliott (James Franco) and Neil Elliott (Ed Harris)Anna Kooris

Director Pamela Romanowsky‘s debut feature is not a meek choice. Tackling the page to screen adaptation of Stephen Elliott‘s memoir THE ADDERALL DIARIES seems like something that was written in the stars. Speaking of stars, the film is lead by an outstanding performance by James Franco as a pill popping, destructive behavior addicted, emotionally ravaged man. Under the guise of writer’s block, Stephen lets himself become distracted by a murder case that seems to resonate with his memories of the past; memories that have made him a famous author so far. When his father’s ghost returns to haunt him, life spirals into an seemingly endless line of poor life choices. One person’s truth may not be what it seems.

On the heels of TRUE STORY, Franco plays Elliott with a ferocity that is totally organic. Hitting highs and lows so sharp, I can safely say I am impressed. Ed Harris portrays his strong willed father. A constant trigger throughout the film, this role was made for Harris, literally. Amber Heard is beautiful and honest as a NYT journalist fighting childhood demons of her own. Christian Slater is charming as ever and a master of emotional disguise as the subject Stephen longs to understand. Cleverly edited and stunningly shot, THE ADDERALL DIARIES is a sensory and emotional overload of a film. You will find something that connects with you, I guarantee it.

I was fortunate enough to sit down with Pamela Romanowsky and talk about the journey that became this project.

Liz: Just saw the movie and I really liked it. How did you happen upon Stephen’s novel?

Pamela: Well, there are two parts to this story. I first happened upon it because I live near a really great independent bookstore called “Word” in Greenpoint. I saw it in the window and that is often how I buy books, ” What does Word have?” So I just read it as a casual reader and loved it, thought about it a lot, it really stayed with me. It’s the kind of story that takes a lot of processing. Then separately from that, James Franco and I went to grad school together and are good friends and we hadn’t worked together yet. Then I had the opportunity to make the short with him for The Color of Time. We had a great creative connection and a great time working together. James approached me with The Adderall Diaries. I actually just found out yesterday that it was the first book he optioned.

L: He is such a fan of page to screen, all of which so far have been really successful. It’s such a bold move because it can go so wrong.

P: He picks Difficult books.

L: He really does.

P: It was a really great moment of synchronicity. He wanted to help me make my first feature and with a book we both loved.

L: I think his performance was one of his best and so clearly has a lot to do with your relationship. You had such a great cast full of talent. Ed Harris, what a juicy role for him. I also really enjoyed the juxtaposition of memories talk to me about the editing choices.

P: I developed the visual style with my DP who was also a collaborator from grad school. I met a lot of my people there. Bruce also shot my piece for The Color of Time so we had already talked about how to approach memories cinematically. We used steady cam alot because it felt organic. This is a character who is always in motion, and practically it allowed us to shoot quickly, to be intuitive, to find shots within the scene as we went. And the use of slow motion… you know memory is such a hard thing to describe to someone else but to me, the things that you tend to recall over and over are these small moments and details so it almost like you’re seeing it in slow motion.

L: it is incredibly effective. It is so aesthetically beautiful.

Did you guys have a lot of rehearsal time? Everything feels really organic. Yet there are some truly physically demand scenes.

P: I think as is often in indie film, but I had the advantage of knowing a lot of these actors and Ed, I met at the Sundance Directors Lab.

L: Had he been cast already or did he just come in and read for you?

P: No, he was my advisor at the lab. Coincidentally he was also the person I wrote this role for! His photo was on my writing board the whole time but I never actually thought I was going to get a chance to meet him. So when we were at Sundance, low and behold Ed Harris walks in and I was like ” Oh my God, Ed Harris is here!” It just happened that he was there, it just happened that he was my advisor, and it just happened to be the week I was shooting my father/son scene. So when he was leaving I had to tell him, “You know, thank you so much for helping me and so I wrote this role for you and I don’t know if you’d ever think about doing it but I am gonna keep asking you forever.” And truthfully I didn’t have a back-up plan, I didn’t see anyone else playing this role. It took me 9 months to talk him into it. So I had a lot of time to talk it over with him. It was the same with all the other actors. Rehearsal is really important so right before we would shoot each scene I would kick everyone out and we would run the scene through.

L: As soon as I walked out of the theater I said, “I have to buy this book now. I am completely intrigued. I have to read it.” It has so many relevant issues that even if you’ve never experienced them personally, you would gravitate towards this story. We all have our own way to interpret what our memories are. And I think the older you get and the longer you live with your interpretation, that becomes your truth. It was beautiful to see that on screen. Thank you so much for talking with me.

P: Thank You! Enjoy the rest of your fest!

L: You too! I look forward to talking to you for whatever comes next.

THE ADDERALL DIARIES ticket and showtime information can be found here in the Tribeca Film Festival Guide 2015.

TFF 2015 NARRATIVE FEATURE

Release Year: 2015

Runtime: 87 minutes

Directed By: Pamela Romanowsky

Country: USA

Elliott (James Franco), a once-successful novelist inflicted with writer’s block and an Adderall addiction strives to escape his problems by delving into the world of a high-profile murder case. Amber Heard, Ed Harris, and Cynthia Nixon co-star in this adaptation of Elliott’s best-selling memoir. | Read More

Tribeca Red Carpet Photos: Shia LaBeouf looking angry & Director Alma Ha’rel at ‘LoveTrue’

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Alma Har'el, Love True - Photo Credit: Natalie Samuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Alma Har’el, Love True – Photo Credit: Natalie Shmuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Alma Har'el & Rafael Marmor, Love True - Photo Credit: Natalie Samuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Alma Har’el & Rafael Marmor, Love True – Photo Credit: Natalie Shmuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Shia LaBeouf, Love True - Photo Credit: Natalie Samuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Shia LaBeouf, Love True – Photo Credit: Natalie Shmuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Tribeca Red Carpet Photos: James Franco, Cynthia Nixon, Christian Slater, Amber Heard & Ed Harris in ‘The Adderall Diaries’

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Amber Heard - The Adderall Diaries - Photo Credit: Natalie Samuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Amber Heard – The Adderall Diaries – Photo Credit: Natalie Shmuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Only RUSH tickets are available for The Adderall Diaries – as you can see it’s a star-studded cast! Look for Liz’s review and interview soon!

James Franco - The Adderall Diaries - Photo Credit: Natalie Samuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

James Franco – The Adderall Diaries – Photo Credit: Natalie Shmuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Ed Harris - The Adderall Diaries - Photo Credit: Natalie Samuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Ed Harris – The Adderall Diaries – Photo Credit: Natalie Shmuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Cynthia Nixon - The Adderall Diaries - Photo Credit: Natalie Samuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Cynthia Nixon – The Adderall Diaries – Photo Credit: Natalie Shmuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Christian Slater - The Adderall Diaries - Photo Credit: Natalie Samuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Christian Slater – The Adderall Diaries – Photo Credit: Natalie Shmuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Timothée Chalamet - The Adderall Diaries - Photo Credit: Natalie Samuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Timothée Chalamet – The Adderall Diaries – Photo Credit: Natalie Shmuel, Luna Rouge Pictures

Can’t make it to the Tribeca Film Festival? These movies have distribution and will be available to watch soon!

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — 1 Comment ↓

Misery Loves Comedy – VOD now, In theaters April 24th

Directed by Kevin Pollak. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary.
Kevin Pollak directs this insightful documentary that examines the quasi-obsessive need for a comic to connect with an audience.
Conducting interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy including Jimmy Fallon, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, Judd Apatow, Larry David, and more, Pollak delves into the psyche to find out what led them to life in stand-up, and ruminates on whether you must be miserable to be a comedian. A Tribeca Film release.

Good Kill – In theaters May 1st

Directed and written by Andrew Niccol. (USA) – U.S. Premiere, Narrative.
Major Tommy Egan (Ethan Hawke) is fighting a war from the safety of a Nevada trailer, but commitment to the mission comes at a price. Gattaca director Andrew Niccol reunites with Ethan Hawke for this timely drama about the human costs of advanced war technology. Co- starring January Jones and Zoe Kravitz. An IFC Films Release.

Hyena – In theaters May 1st

Directed and written by Gerard Johnson. (UK) – U.S. Premiere, Narrative.
Michael Logan (Peter Ferdinando) may be a corrupt, coke-addled cop, but he’s a bad lieutenant with a conscience. After years of dodging the same laws he was assigned to uphold, Michael suddenly finds himself trying to change while safeguarding a young Albanian woman from the sex trade. Equal parts grit and neon, Hyena blurs the line between cop and criminal and exposes the illicit underworld inhabited by London’s most ruthless policemen. A Tribeca Film release.

Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck – HBO May 8th

Directed by Brett Morgen. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary.
Kurt Cobain, legendary lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of Nirvana, remains an icon 20 years after his death. This first-ever fully authorized documentary feature, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck is a raw and visceral journey through Cobain’s personal archive of art, music (both his most famous and some that’s never been heard), written word, and never-before-seen home movies with animation and revelatory interviews from his family and closest confidantes. An HBO Documentary Film in association with Universal Pictures presentation.

Maggie – In theaters May 8th

Directed by Henry Hobson, written by John Scott 3. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.
There’s a deadly zombie epidemic threatening humanity, but Wade (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a small-town farmer and family man, refuses to accept defeat even when his daughter Maggie (Abigail Breslin) becomes infected. As Maggie’s condition worsens and the authorities seek to eradicate those with the virus, Wade is pushed to the limits in an effort to protect her. Joely Richardson co-stars in this post-apocalyptic thriller. Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions release.

Thought Crimes – HBO May 11th

Directed by Erin Lee Carr. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
Convicted yet then acquitted of conspiring to kidnap, rape, kill, and eat several women, NYPD officer Gilberto Valle quickly rose to infamy as New York’s own “Cannibal Cop”. With exclusive access to Valle, Erin Lee Carr’s unflinching documentary asks a fundamental question that challenges our beliefs about the criminal justice system, and even the very nature of right and wrong: can you be guilty of a crime you only thought about committing? An HBO Documentary Film.

Far From Men (Loin des Hommes) – In theaters May 15th

Directed and written by David Oelhoffen. (France) – U.S. Premiere, Narrative.
During the height of the Algerian War, an unlikely bond forms between a reserved French teacher (Viggo Mortensen) and the elusive dissident (Reda Kateb) he must turn over to the authorities. Based on a short story by Albert Camus, David Oelhoffen’s classically conceived period Western is a tense and timely study of war’s political and personal sacrifices. In French with subtitles. A Tribeca Film release.

Silas Selleck (Michael Fassbender) and Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) in SLOW WEST, an A24 release.
Photography by Robbie Ryan

Slow West – In theaters May 15th

Directed by John Maclean. (UK, New Zealand) – New York Premiere, Narrative.
At the end of the nineteenth century, 16-year-old Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) journeys across the American frontier in search of the woman he loves. He is joined by Silas (Michael Fassbender), a mysterious traveler, and hotly pursued by an outlaw (Ben Mendelsohn) along the way. Sundance 2015 World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic. An A24/DIRECTV release.

Cillian Murphy as Ivan
Photo by Allen Fraser, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Aloft – In theaters May 22nd

Directed and written by Claudia Llosa. (Canada, France, Spain) – New York Premiere, Narrative. In parallel narratives, single-mother Nana (Jennifer Connelly) has a mysterious experience at the hands of a traveling healer, years later her troubled son Ivan (Cillian Murphy) sets out in search of his now absent mother. Academy Award®–nominee Claudia Llosa’s (The Milk of Sorrow) decade-spanning family drama is a dreamlike rumination on faith, forgiveness, and family, set against an otherworldly frozen landscape. A Sony Pictures Classics Release.

Jimmy’s Hall – In theaters May 30th

Directed by Ken Loach, written by Paul Laverty. (UK, Ireland, France) – North American Premiere, Narrative.
James Gralton returns from exile and reopens a public dancehall, bravely pushing back against the sharply drawn religious and political margins of his time. Ken Loach (Winner, Palme-d’or 2006, The Wind that Shakes the Barley) paints a romantic drama about a leftist leader, and a 1930s Ireland that celebrates free speech and thought in the face of oppressive dogma. A Sony Pictures Classics Release.

Hungry Hearts – In theaters June 5th

Directed by Saverio Costanzo. (Italy) – U.S. Premiere, Narrative.
After a chance meeting and a whirlwind romance in New York City, Jude (Adam Driver) and Mina (Alba Rohrwacher) become pregnant. Convinced their child will be harmed by the pollutions in the outside world, Mina becomes consumed by protecting her baby, forcing Jude to recognize a terrible truth about why his son’s life could be in danger. A Sundance Selects Release.

Angry Sky – ESPN 30 for 30 June 8th

Directed by Jeff Tremaine. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
In the 1960s, truck-driver Nick Piantanida discovered skydiving, and set out to break the world record for highest parachute jump by taking a helium balloon to the edge of space. Over the course of a year, his dream to launch the first civilian space program drove him to obsession. An ESPN Films release.

The Wolfpack – In theaters June 12th

The Wolfpack, directed by Crystal Moselle. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary. Everything the Angulo brothers know about the outside world they learned from obsessively watching movies. Shut away from bustling New York City by their overprotective father, they cope with their isolation by diligently re-enacting their favorite films. When one of the brothers escapes, the world as they know it will be transformed. A Magnolia Release.

The Overnight – In theaters June 19th

Directed and written by Patrick Brice. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative.
Alex and Emily have just moved to LA with their young son. Eager to make new friends, they accept an invitation to a party from the father of their son’s playground mate. After the kids fall asleep, the “playdate” takes a bizarre turn in this racy and hilarious romp. Featuring Judith Godrèche, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, and Adam Scott. A release by The Orchard.

Cartel Land – In theaters July 3rd

Directed by Matthew Heineman. (USA, Mexico) – New York Premiere, Documentary.
A portrait of two men, both leaders of small paramilitary groups that police different sides of the Mexican drug war. With unprecedented access, this film brings forward deep questions about the breakdown of order and entanglement of modern-day vigilante movements at a time when the government cannot provide basic security for its people. In Spanish and English with subtitles. A release by The Orchard.

Sleeping With Other People – In theaters August 21st

Directed and written by Leslye Headland. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative.
Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie star as two romantic failures whose years of serial infidelity and self-sabotage have led them to swear that their relationship will remain strictly platonic. But can love still bloom while you’re sleeping with other people? Writer/director Leslye Headland’s (Bachelorette) sexy romantic comedy co-stars Amanda Peet, Adam Scott, and Natasha
Lyonne. An IFC Films Release.

Down in the Valley – ESPN 30 for 30

Directed by Jason Hehir. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
How far would you go to save your hometown team? For many Sacramento residents, faced with the nearly certain relocation of their beloved Kings, no boardroom was too distant. One native son proved it. Follow former NBA superstar turned Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson as he battles owners and executives to keep the Kings at home, in this roaring testament to the passion and power of the small-market fan. An ESPN Films release.

Grandma – TBD

Directed and written by Paul Weitz. (USA) – New York Premiere, Narrative.
Reeling from a recent breakup and still mourning the loss of her longtime partner, once-famous poet Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin) is surprised to find her teenage granddaughter on her doorstep in need of $600 and a ride. The two embark on an all-day road trip that ends up rattling skeletons and digging up secrets all over town. Co-starring Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer, Laverne Cox, and Sam Elliott. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

Scottish Highlands Photo credit: Kino Lorber

Steak (R)evolution – TBD

Directed and written by Franck Ribière, co-written by Vérane Frédiani (France) – International Premiere, Documentary.
Grass fed, grain finished, intricately marbled, and dry aged — the concept of what makes the best steak varies greatly, and it continues to evolve as we move toward more sustainable farming practices. In this gourmet, across-the-world road trip, chefs, farmers, butchers, journalists and other experts weigh in on the various factors at play to help us understand the (r)evolution taking place right now and the challenges ahead. In English, French with subtitles. A Kino Lorber release.

The Diplomat – HBO will air the film this fall in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the war in Bosnia and was one of Richard Holbrooke’s greatest foreign policy achievements.

Directed by David Holbrooke. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
With the insightful The Diplomat, David Holbrooke attempts the seemingly insurmountable: capturing the legacy of his larger-than-life father, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, revealing an inside view of US foreign policy from Vietnam to Afghanistan. Interviewing an impressive array of world leaders, David grapples with Holbrooke’s public versus private personas, creating a sensitive portrait of fatherhood, ambition, and the force required to affect change throughout the world. An HBO Documentary Film.

Jeremy’s Review/Interview: Mary Elizabeth Winstead Is Outstanding in Chris Messina’s Lovely Directorial Debut ‘Alex of Venice’ + interview with Mary herself(!)

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Jeremy Harmon — Leave a reply

Living in Middle America, I sometimes miss seeing films until way after their release. It’s part of my lot in life and I have learned to accept this. Films that appear at festivals sometime don’t get picked up for distribution and are lost in cinematic purgatory. Lucky for me, as well as all of you out there who weren’t lucky enough to make it to Tribeca last April, Chris Messina‘s directorial debut Alex of Venice was picked up and is now about to hit theaters and VOD this weekend. Featuring an absolutely stunning performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead along with a solid supporting cast including Don Johnson, Derek Luke, Katie Nehra and Messina as well, Alex of Venice should be on your radar.

Perhaps the best thing about this film is that the story is one we’ve seen a ton before – a young couple splits because one of them, in this case Alex (Winstead) is shirking her wifely, motherly and daughterly responsibilities because of her devotion to her job (in this case a lwayer for an environmental activism group). Why is this a good thing , you ask? Well, let me tell you…because what happens after the split occurs. The focal point is Alex (as you might guess from the title of the film) and her search for who she is, who she really is. She got pregnant and had a baby when she was 19 with her now husband George (Messina). But something is clearly missing, the fact that she was never able to have the life of a young adult since she was busy being a mother and wife.

When George, who was a stay-at-home dad, leaves, Alex has to step up with her son Dakota (Skyler Gaertner) as well as her aging father (Don Johnson) who might have a touch of Alzheimer’s. Couple all of this with the fact that she has a huge case she is working on for her job and she is in over her head. Lucky for her, her sister Lily (Katie Nehra, also one of the screenwriters of the film) happens to show up just when needed. Lily injects some adrenaline into a stagnant family giving it some life, some good and some bad. As Alex starts getting her feet under her without George around, she unexpectedly starts a fling with the man (Derek Luke) whom she is litigating against in the big case at work. So everything really teeters in the balance with Alex as she tries to figure out who she is now without deep-sixing everyone around her.

As I stated above, this crown jewel of this film is Mary Elizabeth Winstead‘s performance as Alex. Pitch perfect, she has really stepped up her game lately. This film comes on the heels of another stunning performance in Faults (see my review here), so we are getting her at what seems to be her best right now, so even keeled and relatable that it’s nearly impossible not to identify with the characters she inhabits. And as good as she is, the other actors in the film were spot-on as well, mainly Don Johnson, who really surprised me in his role as a former TV actor trying to get back in the game by being in a stage production of Chekov‘s The Cherry Orchard. The delicate way he illuminates his character’s struggles with memory loss is impressive. I never thought he had it in him. Likewise, Katie Nehra brings a much needed sense of comedy and carefree nature to a story that hits pretty hard in spots.

I think that one of the strengths of the script is that it doesn’t lollygag when it comes to getting right into the story. George leaves in nearly the opening scene of the film. As the title suggests, this is a film about Alex, so if we had to slog through messy sequences about the decline of the relationship, it would take away from her journey. I think the strongest scene in the film happens when George finally reappears at a time of especially high need for Alex and as their encounter extends into the next day, they both get closure as they officially breaks things off. While that doesn’t seem important at its base, it’s the tender way that it was handled both in the writing and the direction of the scene. It’s little things like these that can make these smaller movies so damn memorable and it seems obvious that all parties were clicking on the same cylinder here.

Alex of Venice is wonderful film and I think there’s something in it for everyone. So instead of trudging out to see films like Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 this weekend, take a chance and check this one out. It is quite delightful.

And speaking of delightful, I was incredibly fortunate to snag a few minutes with Ms. Winstead herself to talk about the film and a few other trifles. Here’s what I felt like I looked like when I was interviewing her:

And here’s what she had to say:

I really liked your chemistry with Katie Nehra as sisters. What was there, if any, as far as a rehearsal schedule? Was it an asset having her in the film with you since she was part of the writing team?

We didn’t have a lot of time together before shooting. I had one rehearsal with Chris and Don and we played some of the scenes. The dynamic [between Katie and I] came about organically. Chris created a great atmosphere on set. The whole experience was incredibly collaborative. The vibe on set was one where everyone had a voice. My ideas were very welcome because of this. I love working that way. I love having the ability to lend my voice.

The affair with Derek Luke’s character struck me as quite odd for Alex. Here she is, totally dedicated to her job enough that she (maybe) neglects her husband, father and son. Would she really take a risk like this, especially if it could cost her her job at a time when she is most vulnerable? It seemed quite impetuous to me. Or do you think that openness of her world without George there alleviated some sort of pressure that had built up in the years they were together after she got pregnant?

I think a lot of her decisions cause her to regress to the time when she was a single person. She was stunted. She got pregnant and never had the chance to become a real person, to grow emotionally. She makes brash decisions which make sense given the circumstances of what she’s gone through. She doesn’t really know who she is.

Did you have any trepidation about working with a first time director in Chris Messina? Obviously he’s an accomplished actor, and I think the film turned out great. Curious what your thoughts were going into production.

I had never met him before, but I was a fan of his as an actor and in that sense, he had a taste level in roles that was high. He comes from theater background and these were all pretty good signs. I was excited about working with an actor. One of the problems of working with directors [that aren’t actors] is that they don’t understand how to work with actors. There’s a different grammar and vocabulary. He and I like to work the same way – make every moment real and authentic so it was a good collaboration.

I was curious about the part where George comes to get Alex after she and Lily have had the fight about Dakota missing school for a week while she’s on ecstasy. At first, I thought what Alex was going through was imagined, part of the trip she was on. That clearly wasn’t the case as the scene played out. Was there ever any discussion about the scene maybe going that way?

That’s interesting. That scene took a lot of different shapes. It was improved in so many different ways. Chris was shouting out different things for me to do and to say. Several shots were made that weren’t used. At one point, Chris shouted at me to start singing something and that’s what I did. I think it turned out perfectly.

This is a perfect segway into another aside, but I really love your record, Got a Girl, that you did with Dan the Automator. You have an unreal voice. I was curious why we aren’t hearing you on the soundtracks to the films you make. I know Brie Larson sang on the Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World soundtrack. I think this is something that we need.

(laughs) Thank you! I would love to do that. We’ll see…

You seem to toe the line between small dramas like this one and more specific genre fare (Final Destination 3, the Die Hard movies, Scott Pilgrim, etc.). Do you feel like you have a home in one area or do you feel like you have to do the moneymakers so you can do the passion projects like Alex of Venice?

I just like to do films that teach me, excite me and I want to work with people that are interesting and that I walk away from each project better than I was before it. I need to inhabit characters that will challenge me. I would love to do more comedy. I’m drawn to characters that have a little bit of everything going on. Be funny one minute and tragic another.

So that’s that. I want to give a big shout out to Mary for taking time to talk to me as I was huddled in my basement during a tornado warning (no joke). I wish her nothing but the best of luck in her career, both acting and in music (please, please make more records – the world needs them).

Be sure to catch Alex of Venice in theaters this weekend. Here’s the list of theaters where it is playing. It will also be available through VOD as well.

Tribeca Film Festival review: ‘COME DOWN MOLLY’ is a drug induced introspection

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Liz Whittemore — 1 Comment ↓

COME DOWN MOLLY– Narrative, Drama, Comedy

While I have never done mushrooms, myself, I do know a few people who have. I’ve heard it all. “I was chased by giants bugs!”, “I felt one with nature.”, “It’s totally backed by science now.” While the plot of Come Down Molly does revolve around a new mom taking a much deserved break to munch on some serious vegetation, honestly, the film isn’t really about drugs at all. It is is completely about identity. Oftentimes, new moms aren’t given a voice of their own. Feeling pressured by society to be perfect and to adore every single minuscule moment of their child’s life, they are merely human beings. Every mother needs time to herself to maintain a sense of sanity and a sense of self. Molly takes the day to reconnect with her key group of male childhood friends. Just before venturing out into the vast wilderness of The Rocky Mountains, the group partakes in some recreational mushroom delicacies. Most of the movie is spent wandering the open fields and streams laughing and reminiscing.

The dialogue feels super natural most likely due to the casting choices of Writer/Director Gregory Kohn. Molly’s friends consist of Greg’s closest actor buddies. The seemingly improvised, hilariously witty repartee is key in convincing the audience to go along with a documentary style narrative. Eléonore Hendricks‘ performance is beautiful and down to earth. She has an easy likability about her. Surrounded by the gentleman in the cast, sparks fly. The setting itself, is glorious. The quiet moments are some of the most prolific. Regardless of life experience, this film gives a solid voice to everyone struggling to maintain a sense of who they are and where they thought they’d be by now. Come Down Molly is a cinematic dream.

Directed by: Gregory Kohn

In this expressionist odyssey exploring the lonely side of entering adulthood, struggling new mother Molly (Eléonore Hendricks) joins her old high school group of guy friends at a secluded mountain home. Amidst tears, laughter, and mushrooms, they connect with nature, one another, and themselves.

Find out more about Come Down Molly at Tribeca Film Festival Guide 2015

Tribeca Film Festival review: ‘Among The Believers’ will test your faith.

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Liz Whittemore — 1 Comment ↓

Aziz testing a young student on his “studies”.

AMONG THE BELIEVERS– Documentary

9/11 turned the world on it’s head. What we think we know about religion has been bundled into talking points by one side of the coin. Captured by fear and ignorance we label quickly but never rush to understand. Among the Believers is a riveting documentary that takes the audience inside the infamous Red Mosques and into the mind of Abdul Aziz Ghazi, ISIS supporter, Taliban ally, and teacher of the jihadist movement to children all over Pakistan. Acting a s “dean” Aziz takes children from poor Pakistani families under the guise that he will house, clothe and educate their children for them. What’s really going on is the indoctrination of oftentimes infantile members of a society that doesn’t know any better. These children “study” the Quran from sunrise until 9pm everyday. Not until they are deemed worthy do they even understand the verses they are forced to memorize and chant incessantly. Religion does funny things to people and, no matter which religion, extremists are out there.

Young girls have few choices in Pakistan. If she is not educated, she is often married off.

This documentary is beautifully balanced with open minded Muslims living in the surrounding neighborhoods of the madrassah (Islamic seminaries) locations. Advocates like Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, speak out in public platforms, such as mass media outlets and lectures. The majority of Pakistan’s population is vehemently against the imposition of Sharia law throughout the country. The question continues to be; How do you fight religion?

As an audience member you will endure a visceral reaction to the ideas onscreen. You will feel a passionate push back in one way or another. Among The Believers is sometimes difficult to watch, but I understand that it is a rather important film.

www.amongthebelieversfilm.com

To Learn More About Screenings of Among The Believers, visit

Tribeca Film Festival Guide 2015

Directed By: Hemal Trivedi and Mohammed Ali Naqvi

An unsettling and eye opening exploration into the spread of the radical Islamic school Red Mosque, which trains legions of children to devote their lives to jihad, or holy war, from a very young age. With incredible access and chilling footage, Among the Believers is a timely and relevant look into the causes that have led to the growth of radical Islam in Pakistan and around the world.

Tribeca Film Festival reviews: ‘DEMOCRATS’ and ‘VIAJE’. Both are sweet and sour for drastically different reasons

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Liz Whittemore — 1 Comment ↓

Democrats- Documentary

In a place where the people are being silenced by the old regime, free speech is punished, in a country that has produced a landscape of mindless and terrified sheep, this absorbing documentary takes us behind the curtain of the political system in Zimbabwe. Politics is full of pretenders. They fully admit to glazing over the truth and using bullying tactics to coral followers like cattle. A broken system attempts to fix itself with the formation of a dual party constitutional committee. We are privy to embattled showdowns with one party busing on “locals” for support and the opposition party fighting for it’s people’s lives, literally. Can two men guide an entire country through peaceful transition?

This is a drastic portrait of how money and power control politics. Talking points, denial, broken promises are all things we understand in the United States, but in Zimbabwe, in the shadow of Mugabe, this is something altogether next level for these people. The lies and the violence are all on camera. Despite this, it is two steps forward and 20 steps back. Whichever side you happen to be, DEMOCRATS is a brave and brilliantly cut together piece of art. The filmmakers and all those involved must be saluted for standing for something in a place where nothing is the norm.

Directed and written by Camilla Nielsson
(Denmark)—North American Premiere

In the wake of Robert Mugabe’s highly criticized 2008 presidential win, a constitutional committee was created in an effort to transition Zimbabwe away from authoritarian leadership. With unprecedented access to the two political rivals overseeing the committee, this riveting, firsthand account of a country’s fraught first steps towards democracy plays at once like an intimate political thriller and unlikely buddy film. In English, Shona with subtitles.

Viaje- Narrative, Comedy

Lust at first sight is relatively common. Taking a chance on a stranger, these days, is pretty uncommon. Luciana and Pedro meet at a costume party and decide to leave together on a whim. Alcohol fueled inhibition leads to the prolonged weekend together camping. This film is about two people learning about each other, trusting each other, going with the flow. Relationships are complicated, but maybe, this one doesn’t have to be.

Viaje has some of the most genuine and funny dialogue I have heard in long time. When two people click, this is how they communicate. The chemistry between lead actors Kattia Gonzalez and Fernando Bolaños is palpable and delicious. They are passionate and natural and I could have watched them play off one another for ages. The film’s score is lively and fun. The camera work has a superb energy that keeps up with our vivacious leads. Shot is beautiful black and white and at a tight 70 minutes, Viaje is an honest picture of mature feelings and elegant understandings we face as we grow together and apart.

Directed By: Paz Fábrega

Country: Costa Rica

After meeting at a party, Luciana and Pedro spark up a spontaneous rendezvous when Luciana accompanies Pedro to a national forest on a work trip. Eschewing the fraudulent nature of traditional relationships, the pair explores the beauty in the nature that surrounds them as they indulge in the passions of their encounter and navigate the various meanings of commitment.

Find out more about these two films at Tribeca Film Festival Guide 2015

Michael’s Review: ‘Greatful Dead’- A Twisted Tale of Love and Obsession

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Michael Petrelli — Leave a reply

Philadelphia Independent Film Festival, in partnership with the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, will screen Greatful Dead on April 17th as the opening night film of the festival! As an added bonus, there will be a post-screening Q&A with director Eiji Uchida.

Click here for more info

Click here to buy tickets

Life is full of misery, loneliness and suffering, each of whom play a crucial part in the telling of Eiji Uchida’s black comedy Greatful Dead. Nami (Kumi Takiuchi) is a young girl who has been lost most of her life. This emotionally neglected child became estranged from her parents an early age when her mother ran off and her father fell deep into a nervous breakdown leaving young Nami to seemingly fend for herself. After her father dies and leaves her an inheritance, she begins to spend her time looking through a pair of binoculars into the lives of every day people she comes in contact with. Nami has a real interest in finding lonely people, whom she calls Solitarians, and she begins to keep a daily diary of their activities and movements.

One day, Nami spots an elderly gentleman named Mr Shiomi (Takashi Sasano) exiting a supermarket and decides to spy on him. The gentlemen offers much to observe, from his interest in porn to his heated relationship with his son, Nami has found her greatest subject, but all that changes when a young bible-reading volunteer enters Mr Shiomi’s life. Destined to make a difference, this volunteer begins to break into Mr Shiomi’s shell and help him reconnect with the outside world. This displeases Nami, who wants this nuisance to leave her perfect subject alone. As Nami begins to transform from voyeurism to full-fledged stalker, her desires turn blood thirsty and her actions have dire consequences that will impact not only her, but everyone around her, including Mr Shiomi.

Greatful Dead is a very dark story blending both comedy and horror together to make one unforgettable film. Every step further into Nami’s life begins to feel like you are sitting quietly watching a time bomb tick down to zero with no way of stopping it. Kumi Takiuchi is haunting as the disturbed young Nami. Her frightening transformation from observer to stalker is mesmerizing. Takashi Sasano is wonderful as Mr. Shiomi. His progression from an angry old man to one more willing to forgive provides a glimmer of hope in a film soaked in darkness. Eiji Uchida’has created a smart, disturbing film worthy of standing next to some of the great films of Japanese cinema. A film that never allows the audience any mercy while it slowly spirals down the rabbit hole. Greatful Dead is a must see.

Stars:

3 1/2 out of 5

Trailer:

Tribeca Film Festival 2015 Has Begun! Drive-In Movies & Free Events!

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Liz and Melissa are your eyes and ears of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. They’ve got a headstart – Liz has already seen 24 and Melissa has seen 15! They’ll be attending the festival, watching movies and interviewing actors and directors. Make sure to follow them to see what they’re up to!

Follow the ladies on:

twitter: @lizwhittemore @dialmformelissa @reelnewsdaily
instagram: @indiebizliz @dialmformelissa @reelnewsdaily
facebook: @reelnewsdaily

What are you seeing this year?

TRIBECA DRIVE-IN FILMS

Clue – 30th Anniversary
Lady and the Tramp – 60th Anniversary
A Faster Horse

FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS

TRIBECA FAMILY FESTIVAL STREET FAIR: April 25, 10am – 6pm Greenwich Street / North of Chambers
Free Screening of: Back to the Future: April 25, 6pm at BMCC
Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day 1: April 23, 10am – 6pm Greenwich Street / North Chambers

Quick facts:

3,147 Feature submissions
- World Premiere: 67
- International Premiere: 4
- North American Premiere: 13
- U.S. Premiere: 5
- New York Premiere: 11
- Restoration: 1
Total Number of Feature Directors: 124
- Feature-Length Female Directors: 32
- Feature-Length Male Directors: 93
- First-Time Directors: 41
- First-Time Female Directors: 14
- First-Time Male Directors: 27
- Returning Directors: 62

Tribeca Film Festival Theme: New York Stories – National Lampoon, James Franco, Christopher Walken & More!

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — 1 Comment ↓

Stephen Elliott (James Franco) and Neil Elliott (Ed Harris)Anna Kooris

The Adderall Diaries – Stay tuned for Liz’s Review & Interview!

Directed and written by Pamela Romanowsky. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.
Elliott (James Franco), a once-successful novelist inflicted with writer’s block and an Adderall addiction strives to escape his problems by delving into the world of a high-profile murder case. Amber Heard, Ed Harris, and Cynthia Nixon co-star in this adaptation of Elliott’s best-selling memoir.

Anesthesia – Stay tuned for Melissa’s Review

Directed and written by Tim Blake Nelson. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.
On a snowy night in New York City, a Columbia professor is brutally mugged on the doorsteps of an apartment building. Director Tim Blake Nelson’s haunting meditation of city life traces the chain of events that precipitate the attack, examining the inextricable and unforeseen forces that bring a group of disparate individuals together. Featuring a star-studded ensemble including Sam Waterston, Kristen Stewart, Glenn Close, and Cory Stoll.

Applesauce – Stay tuned for Liz’s Review

Directed and written by Onur Tukel. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.
TFF alumnus Onur Tukel plays a husband who innocently reveals on talk radio the worst thing he’s ever done. Though his gaffe never makes it on air, it sets off a chain of hilariously uncontrollable events that draw his wife and another couple into an uneasy mixture of infidelities, confessions, and severed body parts.

DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: The Story of the National Lampoon – Stay tuned for Liz’s Review

Directed and written by Douglas Tirola, co-written by Mark Monroe. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary.
Using rare, never-before-seen archival footage and in-depth interviews with fans and founders, Douglas Tirola traces National Lampoon’s evolution from underground countercultural movement to mainstream household brand. Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead is a riotous and revealing chronicle of a trailblazing comedic institution and a celebration of creative expression at its radical, envelope- pushing finest.

Indian Point – Stay tuned for Liz’s Review

Directed and written by Ivy Meeropol. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant looms just 35 miles from Times Square. With over 50 million people living in close proximity to the aging facility, its continued operation has generated controversy for the surrounding community. In the brewing fight for clean energy and the catastrophic possibilities of complacency, director Ivy Meeropol weaves a startling portrait of our uncertain nuclear future.

Live From New York!

Directed by Bao Nguyen. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
A New York institution and comedy powerhouse, Saturday Night Live has been churning out hilarious sketches and launching top comedy talent for 40 years. In honor of the occasion, director Bao Nguyen looks back at the show’s history, influence, and most memorable moments.

Character: Asad Ali Photographer: Mobeen Ansari

Song of Lahore – Stay tuned for Melissa’s Review

Directed by Andy Schocken and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. (USA, Pakistan) – World Premiere, Documentary.
Until the late 1970s, the Pakistani city of Lahore was world-renowned for its music. Following the Islamization of Pakistan, many artists struggled to continue their life’s work. Song of Lahore turns the spotlight on a group of stalwart musicians that kept playing and ultimately attracted listeners from around the world. In English, Punjabi, and Urdu with subtitles.

Speedy

Directed by Ted Wilde. (USA) – Newly restored print from the Criterion Collection, Narrative. Silent comedy legend Harold Lloyd stars as a die-hard Yankees fan who can’t keep a job, but is determined to save the last horse-drawn trolley in New York. This lighthearted slapstick classic features visits to Coney Island and Yankee Stadium, an incredible cameo by Babe Ruth, and hair- raising cab rides through the city streets.

TransFatty Lives

Directed by Patrick O’Brien, co-written by Patrick O’Brien, Scott Crowningshield, Lasse Jarvi, Doug Pray. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
Director Patrick O’Brien is TransFatty, the onetime NYC deejay and Internet meme-making superstar. In 2005, O’Brien began to document his life after being diagnosed with ALS and given only two to five years to live. TransFatty Lives is a brazen and illustrative account of what it’s like to live when you find out you are going to die.

Bob Mankoff, Farley KatzPhotographer: Kirsten Johnson

Very Semi-Serious

Directed by Leah Wolchok. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
The New Yorker is the benchmark for the single-panel cartoon. This light-hearted and sometimes poignant look at the art and humor of the iconic drawings shows why they have inspired and even baffled us for decades. Very Semi-Serious is a window into the minds of cartooning legends and hopefuls, including editor Bob Mankoff, shedding light onto their how their humor evolves.

The Wannabe

Directed and written by Nick Sandow. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.
Gotti-obsessed and hopelessly in love, Thomas (Boardwalk Empire’s Vincent Piazza) and Rose (Academy Award®–winner Patricia Arquette) are looking to fit in to a neighborhood where mob- ties equal social currency. Amidst events surrounding the 1992 trial of John Gotti, Thomas and Rose attempt to make their mark. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese.

When I Live My Life Over Again – Stay tuned for Melissa’s Review

Directed and written by Robert Edwards. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.
Jude (Amber Heard) is a would-be singer-songwriter still struggling to make her mark. Cash- strapped and homeless, she begrudgingly returns to the Hamptons home of her father (Christopher Walken), an over-the-hill crooner desperately charting his musical comeback, in this spunky, soulful dramedy about the personal costs of artistic ambition and the bonds that carry us through.

The Wolfpack – Stay tuned for Melissa’s Review

Directed by Crystal Moselle. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary.
Everything the Angulo brothers know about the outside world they learned from obsessively watching movies. Shut away from bustling New York City by their overprotective father, they cope with their isolation by diligently re-enacting their favorite films. When one of the brothers escapes, the world as they know it will be transformed. A Magnolia Release.

Short Films

Aphasia

Directed by Luke LoCurcio, written by Robin Rose Singer. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative. Emily is your average 26-year old who texts her friends, chats on Facebook, orders online, and uses GPS to get where she’s going in Aphasia, until one day she suddenly comes face-to-face with the consequences of living a digital life.

The Artist Is Absent: A Short Film on Martin Margiela

Directed and written by Alison Chernick. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
The Artist Is Absent profiles the influential Margiela, who has been a major force in fashion for over 20 years, yet the man himself remains elusive, maintaining his anonymity in an age of celebrity.

Best Man Wins

Directed by Stéphane Dumonceau, written by Frederick Waterman, Stéphane Dumonceau. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.
When a celebrated New York chef discovers an affair between his super-model wife and his best man in Best Man Wins, he devises a plan to deal with each of them.

Better to Live

Directed by Linda G. Mills. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
Drama majors tackle anxiety, cutting, and suicide, in the unscripted and raw Better to Live, as they build a “reality” show for 5,000 college freshmen.

Blitz

Directed and written by Faraday Okoro, written by Faraday Okoro. (USA) – World Premiere, Narrative.
In Blitz a father and son agree to a “winner takes all” chess blitz in order to settle a bet.

Every Day

Directed by Gabe Spitzer. (USA) – New York Premiere, Documentary.
At 86, Joy Johnson was the oldest woman to run the 2013 New York City Marathon. This is the story of an inspiring athlete with an uncommon passion for her sport, and for life.

Last Call

Directed and written by Stefan Nadelman. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
In 1972 Sheldon Nadelman began working as a day-shift bartender at the Terminal bar in midtown Manhattan. Over the next decade he shot over 1500 black-and-white photographs of his customers, who ranged from the working class to the downtrodden. Twenty-five years after the bar closed for good, Sheldon recollects their stories.

Man Under

Directed by Paul Stone. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
Since 2010, over 250 people have been killed by New York City subway trains. Man Under is the personal journey of one MTA motorman’s struggle to get his life back on track after a desperate woman turns his train into her suicide weapon, shedding light on one of NYC’s darkest secrets.

We Live This

Directed and written by James Burns. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary.
We Live This is the story of four boys from the projects who have come together to pursue their dreams. Most new Yorkers who ride the MTA have opinions about them, but what lies beneath these young performers is more than what meets the eye.

TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL begins tomorrow! RND has a few (40) recommendations

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Liz Whittemore — Leave a reply

This year’s fest is bigger and better than ever! We’re very excited here at Reel News Daily to bring you the very best of what’s screening. Get ready for interviews, roundups, special events, and reviews coming your way. Here are the films we recommend… so far!

Follow the ladies on:

twitter: @lizwhittemore @dialmformelissa @reelnewsdaily
instagram: @indiebizliz @dialmformelissa @reelnewsdaily
facebook: @reelnewsdaily

Documentary Selections

INDIAN POINT

TFF 2015 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Release Year: 2015
Runtime: 94 minutes
Directed By: Ivy Meeropol
Country: USA

Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant looms just 35 miles from Times Square. With over 50 million people living in close proximity to the aging facility, its continued operation has generated controversy for the surrounding community. In the brewing fight for clean energy and the catastrophic possibilities of complacency, director Ivy Meeropol weaves a startling portrait of our uncertain nuclear future.

SCREENING TIMES

FRI	4/17	5:30 PM	SVA Theater 2 Beatrice
SUN	4/19	3:45 PM	Regal Cinemas Battery Park 11-1
WED	4/22	3:30 PM	Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 6
FRI	4/24	6:15 PM	Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea 4

Lionsgate Partners with Comic-Con International to Launches Subscription On Demand Service

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Michael Petrelli — Leave a reply

Lionsgate has partnered with Comic-Con International to launch a subscription video-on-demand service designed to bring the Comic-Con experience to fans all year long via an online experience. The service should launch later this year..

The new service will launch with a broad portfolio of content including original short-form content created exclusively for the channel’s subscribers, films and television series from Lionsgate and other studios designed to appeal to the diverse interests of Comic-Con’s fan base as well as exclusive archived footage from Comic-Con’s 45-year history. As part of the new channel, the two companies will also work closely to make the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival (CCI-IFF) a 365-day-a-year online event.

Last year 17 of the top 20 North American box office blockbusters had a presence at the Comic-Con Convention along with iconic television series such as The Walking Dead and American Horror Story. Comic-Con International has grown from 300 attendees in the basement of San Diego’s U.S. Grant Hotel in 1970 to well over 130,000 fans from around the world last year, marking its evolution into a staple of popular culture and the longest-running comics and popular arts convention in America. Badges for this year’s Comic-Con sold out in 60 minutes.

“We’re thrilled that the biggest pop culture event of the year will become a year-round digital channel for Comic-Con fans and audiences around the world,” said Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television & Digital Distribution Jim Packer. “The fan base for the kind of films and television series showcased at Comic-Con has grown exponentially, and a subscription video-on-demand service is the ideal platform to capture the magic and excitement of the Comic-Con experience year-round as well as the perfect vehicle for Comic-Con fans to discover new content.”

Reflecting the tremendous interest in the diverse roster of comics, films and television series showcased at Comic-Con International each year, the two companies plan to roll out the new service beginning with the U.S. later this year.

“From the beginning of our discussions, nearly two years ago, we have been extremely impressed with Lionsgate’s embracing and understanding of fan culture,” said Comic-Con’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations David Glanzer. “Working with our Lionsgate partners has been an exciting exercise in finding great ways to expand our horizons to deliver the unique magic of Comic-Con and the celebration of comics and popular art to our fans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and around the world.”

“As a next generation studio, Lionsgate has grown up with Comic-Con, and their fans are our audiences,” said Lionsgate President of Interactive Ventures & Games Peter Levin. “We’re excited by the opportunity to expand and enrich the world of Comic-Con for existing fans and extend it to a whole new global audience with a channel distinguished by its imaginative curation, depth and diversity of content and fierce loyalty to the Comic-Con brand.”

Originally showcasing comic books, film and fantasy literature, Comic-Con has grown to also encompass science fiction, horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectibles, video games, interactive multimedia, webcomics, fantasy novels and other aspects of pop culture. In addition to San Diego Comic-Con International, the new subscription video-on-demand service will also have exclusive access to the archives of sister convention WonderCon.

The new Comic-Con International channel is the third streaming service to be launched or announced by Lionsgate as the Company continues to build its suite of online platforms to deliver content directly to consumers. Lionsgate also recently launched the Lionsgate Entertainment World platform with the Alibaba Group in China and has announced the planned launch this summer of Tribeca Shortlist, a subscription video-on-demand service for film aficionados in partnership with Tribeca Enterprises.

Fans may visit http://comic-con.org/ondemand to become the first to learn details about the new service.

Free Screening of ‘Back to the Future’ and other Free Events of the Tribeca Film Festival

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — 1 Comment ↓

Back to the Future

From the Oscar®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis comes the original, groundbreaking adventure that sparked one of the most successful trilogies ever! Join us for a FREE screening and pre- show program celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film, and featuring special appearances and an exclusive sneak peek of the upcoming documentary Back In Time.

6:00 PM – SAT 4/25

BMCC TRIBECA PAC

The Tribeca Family Festival once again invites you to the ultimate street fair and family celebration, where a dazzling array of FREE activities, performances and experiences unfold downtown in Tribeca.

Step onto the Tribeca Studios Backlot and into a filmmaking experience, watch a live chef demonstration from a local restaurant on our Tribeca Food Feast Stage, fly a kite, play video games in the Games for Change Public Arcade, create life-size bubbles in the Bubble Garden, get creative in our Arts & Crafts pavilions, dance to live music and put a smile on your face. It’s time to take to the streets of the neighborhood, so join us for a special day of fun!

FREE – Saturday – April 25th

Prune Nourry: Immersion, 2012 (From the Holy River series), Print mounted on radiology negative viewer, Edition 2/3 + 2 AP, 18 5/8 x 29 1/2 inches

Monday, April 13 – Saturday, April 25

Tribeca Film Festival Artists Awards exhibition, sponsored by CHANEL Works from Daniel Arsham, Robert Bordo, Elizabeth Colomba, Stephen Hannock, Prune Nourry, Jean Pagliuso, Clifford Ross, and Piers Secunda.

Free and open to the public, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

A free exhibition of the work will be open to the public from April 13-25 between the hours of 9am- 5pm (closed on April 23), at the Tribeca Film Festival at Spring Studios, TFF’s new destination for festivalgoers, located at 50 Varick Street in Manhattan. The artwork will be on view throughout the Festival before being presented to the award-winning filmmakers on April 23.

Following is a complete list of the artwork that will be contributed:

Daniel Arsham: Ash Eroded Film Reel, 2014, Volcanic ash, shattered glass, hydrostone, unique, 14 x 14 inches
Robert Bordo: Caw (42), 2010, Tempera on paper, 11 1/4 x 15 3/4 inches
Elizabeth Colombo: Athena, 2015, Oil on canvas, gold leaf frame, 14 x 11 inches
Stephen Hannock: Rockets Over the Delta (Mass MoCA #218), 2015,Acrylic on panel, 8 1/8 x 6 3/4 inches
Prune Nourry: Immersion, 2012 (From the Holy River series), Print mounted on radiology negative viewer, Edition 2/3 + 2 AP, 18 5/8 x 29 1/2 inches
Jean Pagliuso: Black #19, 2009, Hand-applied silver gelatin on rice paper AP1, 23 ¾ x 19 ½ inches
Clifford Ross: Trees II, 2010, Archival Pigment Print on Wood Veneer, 22 ½ x 17 ½ inches
Piers Secunda: Taliban Relief Painting, 2013, Industrial floor paint, 48.2 x 49.6 x 1.6cm

The art exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information on the other programs at the Tribeca Film Festival at Spring Studios at 50 Varick Street and to purchase a Spring pass that provides full access to the space and events, visit www.tribecafilm.com.

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Thursday, April 16 – Sunday, April 19

Storyscapes presented in collaboration with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin – A juried section at the Festival showcasing groundbreaking exhibits in technology and interactive storytelling.

Free, reservation required; reservations accepted starting April 13 at tribecafilm.com, 12:00 – 11:00 p.m.

Get 2 Free Tickets for the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday April 24th – Courtesy of AT&T’s Film For All Friday

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — 1 Comment ↓

The trick is that you have to physically go into an AT&T store. Find a store in the NYC area here: https://tribecafilm.com/filmforall

FILM FOR ALL FRIDAY

AT&T is making screening tickets free on Friday, April 24.
From Monday April 6 to Thursday April 9 reserve your free tickets at participating company-owned AT&T stores in all five boroughs.

To reserve tickets at AT&T retail stores:
1. Visit an AT&T retail store (see list of participating stores below)
2. Select your film using the device provided
3. Enter your email
4. Click to reserve your tickets

Remaining Film For All tickets will be make available online beginning Friday, April 10 right here on tribecafilm.com

3 Ways to View ‘Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck’ – Tribeca Film Festival, Lincoln Center or HBO

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK is the first fully-authorized documentary made with the cooperation of Kurt Cobain’s family. It is a raw and visceral journey through Cobain’s life and provides no-holds-barred access to Kurt Cobain’s archives, home to his never-before-seen home movies, recordings, artwork, photography, journals, demos, personal archives, family archives and songbooks. The film features dozens of Nirvana songs and performances as well as previously unheard Cobain originals. Read More →

Tickets to the Tribeca Film Festival Now on Sale!

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Tickets are on sale now at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets for the general public!

Single tickets cost $18.00 for evening, and weekend screenings, and $10.00 for weekday matinee screenings.

Single tickets can be purchased can be purchased online at tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets, or by telephone at (646) 502-5296 or toll free at (866) 941-FEST (3378) or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Regal Cinemas Battery Park (102 North End Avenue) and Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea (260 W. 23rd Street). The 2015 Festival will offer ticket discounts on general screenings and Tribeca Talks: After the Movie and Directors Series panels for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only.

Old School Kung Fu Fest – Dedicated to the Ninja – in NYC April 16-19

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Old School Kung Fu Fest 2015 - Teaser Poster by Jerry Ma

Old School Teaser Poster designed by Jerry Ma (Epic Proportions)

The Old School Kung Fu Fest, a four-day celebration of the rarest, wildest, and most incredible martial arts and action cinema from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s is back at the Anthology Film Archives for its 5th edition, which is dedicated to the deadliest fighter of them all…the ninja!

Since the dawn of time, man’s natural predator has been the ninja. Hiding in your shower, crouching behind your laptop, clinging to your back — the ninja is everywhere. What killed the dinosaurs? Ninja. What battles great white shark? Ninja. Who is buying flowers for your mom? Probably ninja. But ninja is not vampire! Ninja can be filmed! This year’s Old School Kung Fu Fest examines this crazy natural phenomena of ninja with 14 movies that show you this sneaky fighter in the only place where he cannot shoot throwing stars into your eyes: on the movie screen!

There are serious black-and-white ninjas in the original ninja films Shinobi No Mono Parts 1 & 2 (1962 and 1963), super-noir ninjas in 1965’s Samurai Spy, party-colored crazy ninjas from the go-go 80s likeAmerican Ninja 1 & 2 and then be entered, revenged, and dominated by Cannon’s essential ninja trilogy: Enter the Ninja, Revenge of the Ninja, and Ninja III: The Domination. Watch brave Chinese people fight ninjas with their guts in Shaw Brothers movies like Five Element Ninjas! See ninjas fly on kites in Duel to the Death! You must see all the ninjas! Because to fight ninja, first you must understand ninja.

The Old School Kung Fu Fest 2015: Enter the Ninjas! is curated by Subway Cinema’s programming team, consisting of Samuel Jamier, Rufus de Rham, and Goran Topalovic.

We’re deeply grateful for the support of the Kenneth A. Cowin Foundation, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York, Mizu Shochu, and Mass Appeal.

Screening materials provided by the American Genre Film Archive, Animeigo, Celestial Pictures, Fortune Star, Kino Lorber, Park Circus, Shochiku, and Toei.

Raffle prizes provided by Blue Snake Books, IDW Publishing, and Well Go USA Entertainment.

Special thanks to Crystal Decker Orren, Jesse Falowitz , Dan Halstead,Devin Power-Bearden, and Keith Allison(Teleport City).

WARNING: do not be scared. Ninja are only in movie and cannot hurt you. They are not actually giant. Except in Duel to the Death.

THE FILMS!

AMERICAN NINJA

(1985, USA, 95min, 35mm)

Directed by Sam Firstenberg

Starring: Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, John Fujioka, Judie Aronson.

The greatest bar mitzvah movie ever made, American Ninja tells the tale of a young American boy who must embrace his people’s ancient traditions in order to become a man. Originally set to star Cannon Films’ martial arts megastar, Sho Kosugi, that plan bit the dust when Sho ditched the exploitation studio over creative differences. Next Cannon offered the part to Chuck Norris but he was busy, so the part of the white boy with amnesia who is actually a secret ninja went to model Michael Dudikoff. Shot in the Philippines by Cannon’s go-to director, Sam Firstenberg (Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, Revenge of the Ninja, Ninja III: The Domination), American Ninja delivers balls-out 80s action as it pits Dudikoff and his easygoing partner, stuntman-turned-actor Steve James, against the mysterious Black Star Ninja, his ninja training camp, and ninja lasers!

Showtimes: Sat, April 18 at 3:00pm.

AMERICAN NINJA 2: THE CONFRONTATION

(1987, USA, 90min, 35mm)

Directed by Sam Firstenberg

Starring: Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Jeff Weston, Gary Conway, Michelle Botes.

Probably the most ridiculous 80s action movie ever made, AN2:TCdelivers an easy, breezy does of sheer gnarlitude as Dudikoff and Steve James team up once again, their pecs a-flexin’, to investigate trouble on a tropical island where ninjas are kidnapping US Marines. “Ninjas? Drug pushers? My men being kidnapped and murdered? This is really beginning to get on my tits!” shouts the base commander. Dressed in jams and Hawaiian shirts because the costume department was on vacation, the Marines are being turned into genetically-engineered super-ninjas by drug dealers! Is Dudukoff’s cool coif big enough, and are James’ tiny red shorts short enough, to defeat the Clone Super Ninja Army???

Showtimes: Sun, April 19 at 9:30pm.

DUEL TO THE DEATH生死決

(1983, Hong Kong, 83min, DCP, in Cantonese with English subtitles)

Directed by Ching Siu-tung

Starring: Norman Chu Siu-Keung, Damian Lau Chung-Yan

The first movie from Hong Kong’s great action director, Ching Siu-tung (Swordsman II, A Chinese Ghost Story I – III, House of Flying Daggers) this is a fever dream of freaky images ripped straight from his childhood. Once every 10 years, Japanese and Chinese fighters duel (to the death) to figure out who will rule the martial world. But this time, they detect something rotten. This time they detect…ninjas! The story is as old school as they come, but It’s the execution that changes everything. Ching spent his early years locked up in his bedroom reading Martial Arts World Magazine and imagining cool monsters and psychedelic fighting techniques, and after choreographing the action on dozens of films for other directors, this is the first time he finally got to put those fantasies onscreen. The result is a surreal phantasmagoria of flashing blades, teleporting demons, giant ninjas, ninjas on kites, exploding heads, and killer puppets.

Presented with the Hong Kong the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York.

Showtimes: Thu, April 16 at 8:30pm and Sat, April 18 at 1:00pm.

ENTER THE NINJA

(1981, USA, 100min, 35mm)

Directed by Menahem Golan

Starring: Franco Nero, Susan George, Sho Kosugi, Christopher George.

This landmark Cannon Films production launched the ninja craze of the ‘80s and revitalized the martial arts film in America after it died in 1973 with Bruce Lee. When 20th Century Fox announced they were shooting a $20 million adaptation of best-selling novel, The Ninja, Cannon flipped out and bought their very own ninja script from martial artist Mike Stone and rushed this movie into production. Starring Frano Nero (the original Django) as a white ninja with a thick Maurizio Merli mustache, it’s shot in the Philippines where Nero helps an old buddy (and his old buddy’s hot girlfriend, Susan “Straw Dogs” George) take on evil real estate developer, Mr. Venarius (Christopher George). Only a ninja can defeat a ninja, so the bad guys hire Sho Kosugi, who got his start as an extra on this film before his martial arts abilities earned him the role of the evil ninja.

Showtimes: Thu, April 16 at 6:15pm.

FIVE ELEMENT NINJAS, aka CHINESE SUPER NINJAS五遁忍術

(1982, Hong Kong, 103 minutes, 35mm, in Mandarin with English subtitles)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Starring: Ricky Cheng Tien Chi, Lo Meng, Lung Tien-chiang

In the 80s, Shaw Brothers was losing audiences to TV, so it unleashed Chang Cheh (The One-Armed Swordsman, Five Deadly Venoms) to direct his most insane movie ever. A Chinese martial arts clan is fighting everyone and winning but then they fight ninjas. Ninjas who know Five Element Formation! So secret! So deadly! The only survivor learns that in order to beat ninja…he must become ninja! Ninja fights using Gold Powers, Wood Powers, Water Powers, Earth Powers, Fire Powers! Chinese martial artist fights using Hitting Ninjas in Face Power! Trees bleed. Crotches are stabbed. Guts are extracted. Every second of this movie is high-octane man-against-ninja action and it does not end until every inch of the screen is covered in dead ninja. Screening will be introduced by Dan Halsted, who will tell the story of how he unearthed a massive collection of extremely rare 35mm kung fu films in 2009, which included the print of Five Element Ninjas.

Presented with the Hong Kong the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York.

Showtimes: Sat, April 18 at 5:00pm.

A LIFE OF NINJA亡命忍者

(1983, Taiwan, 88 min, 35mm, in Mandarin with English subtitles)

Directed by Lee Tso-nam

Starring:Chen Kuan-tai, Elsa Yeung, Yasuaki Kurata, Peng Kong, World Wrestling Champion Wong Kin-mi

He creeps. He skulks. He stalks. He scurries. He strikes! Ninja – most deadly foe. Using ways most nefarious and killing arts mysterious ninja will kill and kill. And kill, and kill, and kill. Sometimes he kills wrapped in gold foil like a baked potato; sometimes he is a naked lady ninja to confuse foes before blowing them up! Life of ninja is easy, no?

No. Life of ninja is hard.

Ninja must learn dancing on ice cubes. Sometime ninja ladies must mud wrestle for no good reason. How do you make a ninja? Are no ninja babies. Must take normal person and beat. Beat until are ninja! A life of ninja is shown in beautiful motion picture A Life of Ninja. At heart of picture is family – they are Cheng family and have family business but no one is happy. Cheng is married to sister and is boss. Bad boss! One sister is boozer – drink lots of cognac. Ha ha! Other wants to be ninja, but can’t! So she wear the tight leather trousers and beat up men with wooden sword.

Then…ninja attack! Kill with icicle! Kill with poison! Police visit Chen Kuan-tai. He is ninja-pooper: he knows ninja, but poops their parties. Police ask for help, he been in many martial art movie (likeCrippled Avengers), he must help police. He says yes. Yes, I fight ninja. He fight the ninja?!? Ninja get furious. Use hypno-mind-control killers, flying snakes, tiny bombs, poison ink, swords and knives, even get World Wrestling Champion Wong Kin-mi to wear little red briefs and turn over cars. And stomp! And kill! Big fights!

Then Chen Kuan-tai fight the head ninja, Yasuaki Kurata, in secret ninja fort. They use flying knife, exploding statue, flying backward, invisibility, giant jumping, fighting Irish jig, secret ninja spazz dance, is very strange. There can be only one. Is exciting! You must see A Life of Ninja to believe A Life of Ninja!

Showtimes: Fri, April 17 at 10:15pm.

NINJA III: THE DOMINATION

(1984, USA, 92min, 35mm)

Directed by Sam Firstenberg

Starring: Sho Kosugi, Lucinda Dickey, Jordan Bennett, James Hong.

Lucinda Dickey had an insane 1984. In one year she starred in three landmark Cannon productions that might be the most 80s movies ever made: Breakin’, Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, and Ninja III: The Domination. Directed by Sam Firstenberg (Revenge of the Ninja,American Ninja), the movie stars Dickey as a telephone maintenance technician and part-time aerobics instructor who becomes possessed by the spirit of an evil ninja assassin. Forced to carry out her tormentor’s brutal revenge, she soon finds that one of her main targets is her policeman boyfriend! Only one man – Sho Kosugi (a ninja!) – can exorcise the evil which possesses Lucinda and prevent the lovers from destroying each other. Full of dry ice, floating samurai swords, hot 80s neon, and aerobics classes, this film is topped off with an appearance by James Hong (Lo Pan in Big Trouble in Little China) as an exorcist, and Evel Knievel’s son, Robbie Knievel, who shows up to pull off some motorcycle stunts.

Showtimes: Sat, April 18 at 9:30pm.

REVENGE OF THE NINJA

(1983, USA, 90min, Digital projection)

Directed by Sam Firstenberg

Starring: Sho Kosugi, Keith Vitali, Virgil Frye.

Cannon followed the box office success of Enter the Ninja with Revenge of the Ninja, the first American movie to give an Asian actor sole star billing (even Bruce Lee had to share billing with his co-stars in Enter the Dragon). Sho Kosugi (a ninja!) returns home from an afternoon stroll to find his family massacred by evil ninjas. With his mother and infant son in tow he flees Japan for Los Angeles, vowing to forsake the ninja life forever. With the help of his friend and business partner, Keith Vitali (a karate legend who fought onscreen in several 80s Hong Kong movies), he opens an art gallery, specializing in fancy Japanese dolls. What Sho doesn’t know is that his friend is actually an evil ninja who wears a silver demon mask and is smuggling heroin into the country inside the dolls! Sho is just trying to raise his ninja son (played by his real-life son, Kane Kosugi), but now he has to deal with a grindhouse full of dead bodies, fountains of blood, cheap 80s sex scenes, mafia stereotypes, and dueling ninjas!

Showtimes: Fri, April 17 at 6:00pm.

SAMURAI SPY 異聞猿飛佐助

(1965, Japan, 100min, 35mm, in Japanese with live English subtitles)

Directed by Masahiro Shinoda

Starring: Koji Takahashi, Shintaro Ishihara, Eitaro Ozawa, Kei Sato, Mutsuhiro Toura, Tetsuro Tanba, Eiji Okada

Unconventional in its mise-en-scène, photography and score, unrelenting in its dark philosophical view of war and its consequences, unparalleled in its artistic ambition, Samurai Spy is an existentialist super-noir ninja masterpiece by Masahiro Shinoda (Pale Flower, Double Suicide), which towers over the shinobi genre, and possibly the entire jidai-geki category as a whole. As the days of the Warring States come to a close and the Tokugawa shogunate consolidates its power, wandering samurai (and secretly, a Koga ninja) Sasuke Sarutobi, war-weary, tries very hard to stay clear of the bloody business of the remaining factions. The sudden defection of a high-profile spy from the service of the shogun, puts an end to his aimless wanderings. Inevitably, Sasuke is sucked into a maze of conspiracies and shadow-play. The plot thickens when both the defector and the former wanderer find out they are tracked by a third man: a shadowy white-hooded master assassin (Tetsuro Tamba).

Showtimes: Fri, April 17 at 8:00pm.

SEVENTEEN NINJA

(1963, Japan, 98min, 35mm, in Japanese with live English subtitles)

Directed by Yasuto Hasegawa

Cast: Kotaro Satomi, Jushiro Konoe, Yuriko Mishima, Ryutaro Otomo.

Toei’s star-studded response to Daiei’s hugely successful 1960s franchise, Shinobi No Mono, this nocturnal, cynical game of chess between two master manipulators is an amazing and underseen ninja movie that we’re presenting with live subtitles since no English-subtitled version exists. As the ruling Shogun lies on his death futon, seventeen Iga clan ninja are trusted by theirmaster with an impossible mission: to infiltrate the impregnable fortress where his youngest son plans to take both Edo Castle and the supreme power by force. They have two options: to steal the scroll that will grant legitimacy to the usurper’s claim, or to assassinate him. Before they can even reach the stronghold, a vicious ninja hunter thwarts their every move. As the Iga ninja fall, the success of the mission falls in the hands of one young and inexperienced ninja.

Note: Seventeen Ninja is a super hardcore rarity that very, very few human beings have watched!

Showtimes: Sun, April 19 at 1:00pm.

SHINOBI NO MONO, aka A BAND OF ASSASSINS 忍びの者

(1962, Japan, 105min, Digital projection, in Japanese with English subtitles)

Directed by Satsuo Yamamoto

Starring: Raizo Ichikawa, Shiho Fujimura, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Yunosuke Ito.

A monster of a movie, worthy of all the superlatives it has earned,Shinobi no Mono was conceived by the fevered minds of far-left director Satsuo Yamamoto and nihilistic pulp novelist Tomoyoshi Murayama, and if you’re devious enough, it can be read as a socialist allegory. Incidentally, it’s quite possibly the ultimate real ninja film. Fate and the invisible hands of evil spymasters ensnare Goemon Ichikawa (superstar Raizo Ichikawa), a dashing but naive young man exceedingly skilled in the arcane ninja arts, in the tangles of a dark plot to assassinate warlord Nobunaga Oda, a cat-loving, power-hungry samurai. Soon, Goemon finds himself outlawed, betrayed and embroiled in labyrinthine political machinations. Produced with the help of the last living ninja master, Masaaki Hatsumi, Shinobi no Mono features authentic, realistic ninja action packs into a transcendental template. Eight sequels would ensue, and many, many imitations.

Showtimes: Sun, April 19 at 5:15pm.

SHINOBI NO MONO 2: VENGEANCE 続・忍びの者

(1963, Japan, 93min, Digital projection, in Japanese with English subtitles)

Directed by Satsuo Yamamoto

Starring: Raizo Ichikawa, Shiho Fujimura, Tomisaburo Wakayama.

Surpassing its predecessor in the same way The Godfather II is seen by some as superior to the first, the second installment of the Shinobi No Mono series outdoes its precursor at its own game: deeper, darker, and crueller in all aspects. The sole survivor of his Iga fortress village, Goemon Ishikawa aspires only to live the boring life of a family guy. Overlord Nobunaga Oda and fate have other plans for the retired ninja. Not one to leave out any details, the warlord goes a on nation-wide rampage to root out any ninja who might have survived. Bloody mass murder ensues. And soon, vengeance is the only thing that matters to Goemon. The desperate ninja finds unlikely allies in the Saiga clan and spymaster Hattori Hanzo. With nothing left to lose, he weaves a web of deceit and double-crosses to bring bring down Nobunaga.

Showtimes: Sun, April 19 at 7:30pm.

SUPER SPECIAL SECRET SCREENING! – An Old School Kung Fu Fest Tradition.

We can’t tell you the title of this Japanese 1970s cult classic that was first distributed by Roger Corman to the grindhouse theaters in the U.S., but trust us: you want to see it on the big screen, on 35mm, with an audience! Before the show, we’re going to be giving away tons of fun ninja-themed prizes, and make announcements about the lineup and guests for this year’s New York Asian Film Festival (June 26-July 11 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center and SVA Theater), so what more could you possible ask for!?

Showtimes: Sat, April 18 at 7:20pm.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

(1990, USA/Hong Kong, 93min, 35mm)

Directed by Steve Barron

Starring: Judith Hoag, Corey Feldman, Elias Koteas, Sam Rockwell

For years Michaelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael have lived deep in the sewers of New York, learning the art of ninjitsu from their mentor, Splinter… ok, we all know the story by now about our favorite pizza-eating humanoid turtles, but the best way to forget about Michael Bay’s lazy and tedious franchise reboot is to come appreciate the first, and still the best, version. Produced by Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest studios (home of Jackie Chan), with the Turtles lovingly brought to life by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, edited by Sally Menke (the editor of every single Quentin Tarantino movie before her untimely death in 2010), and with a theme song by MC Hammer, it’s lean, green, and on the big screen – a CGI-free dose of ninja turtle power!

Showtimes: Sun, April 19 at 3:15pm.

THE SCHEDULE!

Thursday, April 16

6:15pm – ENTER THE NINJA

8:30pm – DUEL TO THE DEATH

Friday, April 17

6:00pm – REVENGE OF THE NINJA

8:00pm – SAMURAI SPY

10:15pm – A LIFE OF NINJA

Saturday, April 18

1:00pm – DUEL TO THE DEATH

3:00pm – AMERICAN NINJA

5:00pm – FIVE ELEMENT NINJAS

7:20pm – Super Special Secret Screening!!!

9:30pm – NINJA III: THE DOMINATION

Sunday, April 19

1:00pm – SEVENTEEN NINJA

3:15pm – TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

5:15pm – SHINOBI NO MONO

7:30pm – SHINOBI NO MONO 2: VENGEANCE

9:30pm – AMERICAN NINJA 2: THE CONFRONTATION

VENUE AND ADMISSION!

Screenings and exhibitions will be held at Anthology Film Archives

(located at 32 Second Avenue, at the corner of 2 Avenue and 2 Street).

www.anthologyfilmarchives.org

$10 general admission, $8 students, seniors, and children (12 & under), $6 Anthology Film Archives members. Tickets are available at Anthology’s box office on the day of the show. The box office opens 30 minutes before the first show of the day.

ABOUT THE OLD SCHOOL KUNG FU FEST

Old School Kung Fu Fest (OSKFF) is an annual celebration of classic kung-fu films, bringing back to the big screen the rarest, wildest, and most incredible martial arts, action, and other genre cinema from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Rising from the ashes of Subway Cinema’s original Old School Kung Fu Fest screenings of early 2000’s, the new incarnation was relaunched in 2013 as a Spring festival at Anthology Film Archives. Twitter: @subwaycinema (#oldschool15).

ABOUT SUBWAY CINEMA

Subway Cinema is America’s leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the exhibition and appreciation of Asian popular film culture in all forms, building bridges between Asia and the West. With year-round festivals and programs, the organization aims to bring wide audience and critical attention to contemporary and classic Asian cinema in the U.S. In 2002, Subway Cinema launched its flagship event, the annual New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), which is North America’s leading festival of popular Asian cinema. Since 2010, NYAFF has been produced in collaboration with the Film Society of Lincoln Center. The 14 NYAFF will take place June 26 – July 11, 2015. Subway cinema’s other events and initiatives include Old School Kung Fu Fest (OSKFF), New York Korean Film Festival (NYKFF), Asian Film Preservation Fund (AFPF), and year-round special screenings and filmmaker tributes.

For more information, visit www.subwaycinema.com,www.facebook.com/NYAFF and follow @subwaycinema on Twitter.

ABOUT ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES

Founded in 1969, Anthology’s mission is to preserve, exhibit, and promote public and scholarly understanding of independent, classic, and avant-garde cinema. Anthology screens more than 1,000 film and video programs per year, publishes books and catalogs annually, and has preserved more than 900 films to date.

Directions:

Anthology is at 32 Second Ave. at 2nd St. Subway: F to 2nd Ave; 6 to Bleecker.

Web:http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org

Twitter:http://twitter.com/anthologyfilm

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/AnthologyFilm

For news and updates:

www.subwaycinema.com/oldschool15

www.facebook.com/NYAFF

twitter: @subwaycinema (#oldschool15)

P.S. Sho Kosugi is meditating in a mist-filled temple built deep within an active volcano until mankind needs him once again.

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SCREENING TIMES

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FILM FOR ALL FRIDAY

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