Staring Back at Chris Marker
Andy Beta11.04.07
"Time present and time past/Are both perhaps present in time future," wrote T.S. Eliot. No filmmaker has absorbed this vertiginous lesson better than cult documentarist Chris Marker. Apropos of the long-awaited DVD release of two Marker classics, and a new book of his photographs, Andy Beta explores intertextual connections that reach across decades.
Save The Receipt: Rethinking Wes Anderson
Zach Baron10.17.07
Wes Anderson’s latest movie, The Darjeeling Limited, has provoked a number of critics to express their exhaustion with his hermetically sealed realm of white bourgeois male privilege. Zach Baron wonders whether these critics aren’t missing the point.
Dusan Makavejev’s Sweet Movie comes to Criterion DVD
Mike Powell10.11.07
Schweeet! (you saw that joke coming, but…) It is sweet that Dušan Makavejev’s 1974 cult classic has infiltrated the somewhat taught sieve of great films that is the Criterion Collection of DVDs. It’s a sexually unabashed film that no doubt the Swedish national socialists (Swedish national socialists?) who recently smashed an Andres Serrano exhibit would love to get their nasty hands on (but that’s another story). Mike Powell reviews.
We’ve Lost Control (of the Ian Curtis Legend)
Mark Asch10.10.07
Anton Corbijn’s new black-and-white biopic of Ian Curtis, which opens today, has the approval of the singer’s widow, whose memoir it is based on, and the backing of numerous film critics, many of whom can still remember their first intoxicating spin of Unknown Pleasures. But Mark Asch wonders whether something doesn’t get lost when we demystify our rock icons.
The 2007 New York Film Festival: A Preview
Benjamin Strong09.27.07
By nature, the New York Film Festival is always slanted towards American filmmakers, despite its first-class international selections. But as Benjamin Strong explains, the 45th annual edition includes uncommonly strong autumnal entries from Hollywood elders Brian De Palma and Sidney Lumet. Fanzine gives you a full report on the festival.
Oscar Agonistes: The 2007 Academy Awards Take 2
Benjamin Strong02.26.07
Scorsese scored one finally, but give some props to the departed, the deceased (not the film) that is, like Robert Altman, Ben Strong says about this year’s politically tame Oscar ceremony. Also be sure to check out Kevin Killian’s Oscar coverage.
Oscar Goes Green: The 2007 Academy Awards
Kevin Killian02.26.07
With no real horse races this year at the Academy Awards, Killian finds quite a bit to be grumpy about. Also be sure to check out Benjamin Strong’s Oscar coverage.
That Odd-looking Object of Desire
Jon Frosch11.04.06
Jon Frosch totally has a thing for Charlotte Gainsbourg, who stars in Michel Gondry’s newest film, The Science of Sleep, which may win the award for cutest movie of the year. There’s something about her that you can’t put your finger on… Jon Frosch happily takes the case.
Video Killed the Film Director
Benjamin Strong10.08.06
David Lynch’s Inland Empire is his most enigmatic movie yet. And it’s our first masterpiece of the DV era. It will be screening tonight, Monday October 8th at the New York Film Festival.
Alida Valli, Farewell Valli
Kevin Killian09.29.06
If nothing else, Fanzine has no shortage of writers with encyclopedic knowledge of the movie industry over the last century. Kevin Killian returns to Fanzine with a piece on Alida Valli, via Glenn Ford. Trademark Killian writing here—fast paced and entertaining with an incredible detail. My favorite line: "It’s like she ordered two hams, and here they are."
