Liz’s Review: ‘Beside Still Waters’ is charming reminder that we’re not alone.

beside still waters posterAt some point or another in time, we’ve all failed to be there for friends. All gotten so wrapped up in our own lives that the ones who most count on us somehow fade into the background. In Chris Lowell’s directorial debut, we find just this scenario.  Best Still Waters is a story about love, friendship and the ties that bind us together.

Daniel has just lost his mother and father. As he spirals deeper into depression, his childhood friends show up for a weekend away at his parents’ lake house. Each carrying their own baggage, they must come to terms with the lies they tell each other and themselves once reunited. Very much inspired by the 80’s classic The Big Chill and reminiscent of this year’s Tribeca Film Fest favorite,  About Alex, Beside Still Waters deals with “what if”s and “what might have been”s. Reality swiftly punching each character in the gut or to be more specific, slapping them in the face.

beside still waters Read More →

Jeremy’s Review: Tom O’Brien’s ‘Manhattan Romance’ Is Fun But Hits Familiar Notes

ManhattanRomanceStillIt’s no surprise that Tom O’Brien‘s Manhattan Romance feels like a Woody Allen film. Most of Allen‘s most successful romantic comedies take place in Manhattan and have a tremendous amount of dialogue so in this sense, Manhattan Romance emulates Allen. The circumstances befalling his protagonist, Danny (played by O’Brien himself), and the absence of the signature Allen comedic touches distinguish the film from those of Allen. But they tread in the same water. That isn’t to say that Manhattan Romance is in the same league as films like Annie Hall or Manhattan, but could it be a distant relative? Read More →

The Full Cast and Plot of Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Hateful Eight’ Officially Revealed

bannerthehoatefulThe Weinstein Company today revealed the full official cast for Academy Award-winning writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming post-Civil War western, The Hateful Eight
The Hateful Eight are: Read More →

Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert Live Preview Event for ‘Rosewater’ November 13th

Fathom Events and Open Road Films to Give Audiences Sneak Peek at Jon Stewart’s Directorial Debut in ‘Rosewater’ Followed by Live Q&A on the Eve Before Its National Release Read More →

Heartland Film Festival 2014 Jeremy’s Review: Paolo Zucca’s ‘The Referee (L’arbitro)’ Is Quirky and Exceedingly Funny with a Touch of Jean-Pierre Jeunet

referee poster

I’m a big soccer fan and have always been. I played from the time I was four until I graduated high school and even considered playing in college. Despite its popularity in the world, I’ve seen very few decent films about the sport. Of course there’s Victory and Bend It Like Beckham was quite charming. The German film Das Wunder von Bern is lights out amazing and there are several documentaries including Once in a Lifetime that hit the right notes. However, none really capture the game in the same way as Paolo Zucca‘s The Referee (L’arbitro). While other soccer films, including some of those mentioned above, have captured the spirit of the game on a number of different levels, I’ve not seen one that has captured it on a more personal, local level than The Referee. Chock full of quirkiness, it is unlike any film I’ve seen in the last 10 or so years outside of the films of Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Read More →

Other Israel Film Festival In Theaters & Streaming November 6-13

other israel film festival logoFestival to run November 6 to 13; Select films to stream making Festival available to audiences  nationwide

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South Asian International Film Festival: Line-up, Premieres, Dates for 2014 Edition – Presented by HBO

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The South Asian International Film Festival, presented by HBO, celebrates its eleventh amazing year by delivering even more of the very best in South Asia’s most original, daring, and exciting cinema! Running from November 18th through the 23rd, SAIFF 2014 features new thrilling premieres, acclaimed international guests, and the hotly-anticipated Festival Awards Gala – overseen by its new Executive Director, Joya Dass. A television personality, Dass has worked for Bloomberg, CNN, ABC, CBS, and can currently be seen anchoring business news for NY1. Read More →

Heartland Film Festival 2014 Jeremy’s Review: Ragnar Bragason’s ‘Metalhead’ Is Pure Icelandic Wonder With a Sparkling Performance by Lead Thorbjorg Helga Thorgilsdottir

meatalhead posterFew countries produce as consistently high quality of film as Iceland. In my estimation, that is. The quantity of films that it produces is low, well at least those that somehow cross the pond and make it onto American screens, usually at film festivals such as Heartland. There are four Icelandic films that I’ve seen in this manner – Nói Albínói, The Seagull’s Laughter, Of Horses and farm animals that areatrained and live at this Horse Retirement Farms. All are unique in their own way, most of them are depressing (an aspect of Scandinavian film that I tend to enjoy) but still manage a way to get a laugh or two in just in case, and all have a laser-pointed direction on what makes their characters tick and tock and they do it so well. Ragnar Bragason‘s Metalhead is no exception.
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DOC NYC: November 13-20 – ‘Citizen FOUR’ – ‘Banksy Does New York’ – ‘Do I Sound Gay?’ – ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ – Newly Restored ‘Hoop Dreams’

DOCNYC-Poster-FINALTickets:
Tickets for all screenings are on sale now. Advance tickets for all DOC NYC films and events are available online at docnyc.net or in-person at the IFC Center box office, 323 Sixth Ave. (at West 3rd St.). Day-of tickets are available at the respective screening venues.
Ticket prices: Opening night screening of Do I Sound Gay? – $30. Closing Night screening of The Yes Men Are Revolting – $25. Regular screenings – $17 adults, $15 seniors/children, $14 IFC Center members. Doc-A-Thon Panels and Masterclasses – $12 adults, $10 seniors, $9 IFC Center members and students. Read More →

Heartland Film Festival 2014 Jeremy’s Review: ‘Off the Floor’ Is a Well-Constructed and Incredibly Engaging Documentary About Contemporary Pole Dancing

off the floor - posterWhen the film opens, we see Jessica Anderson-Gwin, founder of Jagged, a contemporary pole dance company that’s the first of its kind,  frustrated as she tries to find a venue that will allow her company to use its space for an upcoming performance. The frustration is palpable as so many of the people she talks to confuse what they do with stripping and refuse to host them. This is what Jessica is up against in Matt & Katie Celia‘s spectacular documentary Off the Floor. Read More →

Heartland Film Festival 2014 Jeremy’s Review/Interview: ‘Ben’s at Home’ Is an Incredibly Engaging and Delightful Comedy + Interview with Co-writer/Director Mars Horodyski & Co-writer/Star Dan Abramovici

BENS_AT_HOME_POSTER-731x1024Neil Sedaka famously sang in that once ubiquitous 60s song that breaking up is hard to do. When people are forced out of relationships, they can take it a number of ways, right? Some people move on without hesitation, others get terribly emotional and cry, while others attempt great romantic gestures meant to win back the heart of their love. And some, they just internalize the pain, retreat from friends and family, and do their best to avoid anything that can hurt them again in the same way. And that’s what happens in the wonderful comedy Ben’s at Home, co-written and directed by Mars Horodyski. Read More →

Indianapolis’ Heartland Film Festival Begins Today! October 16-25

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In it’s 23rd year, the Heartland Film Festival boasts many fantastic movies in their lineup. Stay tuned, Jeremy will be reviewing and interviewing! Read More →

Jeremy’s Review & Interview: ‘The Canal’ is an Especially Spooky and Visceral Haunt Perfect for Halloween & Star Rupert Evans Shares His Thoughts on Making the Film

the canalRare is it that I find the need to find a film to scare me. I usually only need to watch the evening news (Ebola anyone?) or watch any political coverage to get my scares in. However, every once in a while, a film comes along the piques my interest in this arena and Ivan Kavanagh‘s The Canal is one of those films. After seeing the trailer, I was hooked (something that is also quite a rarity). So I gave it a spin and these are my thoughts… Read More →

NYFF52 Melissa’s Review: ‘Inherent Vice’ – Will You Dig It?

309431id1h_InherentVice_Teaser_27x40_1Sheet_6C.inddThere’s usually one movie that’s more anticipated than all others during the New York Film Festival, and this year it’s Inherent Vice. I won’t tell you how long I waited in the press line, but I will tell you it was cold, rainy and worth every minute. I hadn’t seen the trailer, I only knew it was Paul Thomas Anderson and Joaquin Phoenix. After last year’s two-punch of The Immigrant and Her, I was even more on board for another Joaquin Phoenix film.  Read More →

NYFF52: ‘Inherent Vice’ gets an encore screening this Sunday!

INHERENT VICE nyff52

Inherent Vice, the centerpiece screening of the New York Film Festival is getting another screening this Sunday, so you have another chance to catch it!

Check out the press conference with 12 members of the cast including director Paul Thomas Anderson and Joaquin Phoenix! (although Mr Phoenix was sadly mute) Read More →

Press Conference: ‘Dracula Untold’ with Luke Evans & Sarah Gadon

dracula-untold-pressThis week, Universal Pictures takes another stab at reinvigorating their stable of classic monsters with Dracula Untold. The feature film debut of commercial director Gary Shore stars Luke Evans and Sarah Gadon; with a fun cameo by Charles Dance. We sat down with the film’s stars to talk blood suckers and creatures of the night. Read More →

NYFF52- Liz’s Review: ‘Merchants of Doubt’ is a Fact-Checking Fangirl’s Dream

nyff New York Film Festival 2014Merchants1Director Robby Kenner (Food, Inc.) brings us an eye opening documentary on the sleight of hand of the rich and on the right in terms of media manipulation. Often, we wonder why folks vote against their best interest and don’t even know it. Some of the “why” has to do with highly paid “con artists”; lobbyists and spin doctors hired by people like the Koch Brothers, big tobacco, and climate change deniers. Despite actual scientific evidence, much of America is somehow under the impression that human beings are not the cause of climate change. While baffling to half of the country, these people are being spoon-fed talking points that are created by some very talented characters. Read More →

New Poster: ‘Life Partners’ – A love story of best friends

Life Partners poster

Liz and I both loved Life Partners at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. A love story for best friends, it’s funny yet incredibly dramatic. Check out Liz’s interview with the director, Susanna Fogel and producer, Jordana Molick! Read More →

New Poster & Trailer: ‘Inherent Vice’ with the forever amazing Joaquin Phoenix

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Inherent Vice

Paul Thomas Anderson, 2014
USA | 148 minutes

World Premiere at the New York Film Festival

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Oscar News: ‘Still Alice’ Starring Julianne Moore to Release in December to Qualify

Still Alice

Sony Pictures Classics announced they will open STILL ALICE in New York and Los Angeles in December for a one-week year-end awards qualifying run, with a regular film release to follow on January 16. The film reunites Co-Directors and Co-Writers Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland (THE LAST OF ROBIN HOOD) with Sony Pictures Classics, who worked together on QUINCEANERA. Based on the novel by Lisa Genova, STILL ALICE, a BSM Studio Presentation, is produced by Lex Lutzus, James Brown and Pamela Koffler and executive produced by Marie Savare, Christine Vachon of Killer Films, Maria Shriver, Emilie Georges, Nicholas Shumaker, Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler. Read More →