Dimitri Kirsanoff's 1926 classic Ménilmontant, which is either a short feature or a very long short, is one of the great things. If you haven't already seen it, you have just been handed an urgent mission.Related to the impressionist school of Epstein, Dulac, amd Delluc, but not actually part of that gang or, seemingly, associated with any school, movement or company, Kirsanoff, an Estonian emigré, fashioned a silent film without intertitles that plays like an unholy mash-up of Chaplin and David Lynch.But little of Kirsanoff's other work is seen or discussed. A few lovely shorts are available on YouTube, but what became of him when he was absorbed into the film industry and had to become a professional?Le crâneur (The Hotshot) is the answer. It's a fifties crime movie inhabiting a world familiar to cinephiles from the movies of Jean-Pierre Melville, only the gangsters don't wear white...
- 2/16/2017
- MUBI
We’ve got questions, and you’ve (maybe) got answers! With another week of TV gone by, we’re lobbing queries left and right about shows including Scorpion, Pretty Little Liars, Nashville and How to Get Away With Murder!
1 | On Hawaii Five-0, is Ingo Rademacher not quite Ingo Rademacher without his Aussie accent?
2 | How hard did you laugh when Grimm unveiled its Renard campaign poster… and it was a carbon copy of Obama’s “Hope” ad?
RelatedAsk Ausiello: Spoilers on Flash, Bones, Gilmore Girls, Legends, NCIS, Five-0, Outlander, Pll, S.H.I.E.L.D. and More
3 | Are you impatient...
1 | On Hawaii Five-0, is Ingo Rademacher not quite Ingo Rademacher without his Aussie accent?
2 | How hard did you laugh when Grimm unveiled its Renard campaign poster… and it was a carbon copy of Obama’s “Hope” ad?
RelatedAsk Ausiello: Spoilers on Flash, Bones, Gilmore Girls, Legends, NCIS, Five-0, Outlander, Pll, S.H.I.E.L.D. and More
3 | Are you impatient...
- 3/18/2016
- TVLine.com
A Day in the Country
Written and directed by Jean Renoir
France, 1936
Jean Renoir’s A Day in the Country comes at a curious point in the director’s career. In 1936, he had several exceptional silent films to his credit, as well as such classics of early French sound cinema as La Chienne (1931), Boudu Saved from Drowning (1932), and The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1936), among others. But he had still not yet achieved his singular place on world cinema’s pre-war stage. That he would do just a year later, with La Grande Illusion (1937). As noted on the new Criterion Blu-ray, A Day in the Country was “conceived as a short feature…[and] nearly finished production in 1936 when Renoir was called away for The Lower Depths. Shooting was abandoned then, but the film was completed with the existing footage by Renoir’s team and released in its current form in 1946, after the...
Written and directed by Jean Renoir
France, 1936
Jean Renoir’s A Day in the Country comes at a curious point in the director’s career. In 1936, he had several exceptional silent films to his credit, as well as such classics of early French sound cinema as La Chienne (1931), Boudu Saved from Drowning (1932), and The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1936), among others. But he had still not yet achieved his singular place on world cinema’s pre-war stage. That he would do just a year later, with La Grande Illusion (1937). As noted on the new Criterion Blu-ray, A Day in the Country was “conceived as a short feature…[and] nearly finished production in 1936 when Renoir was called away for The Lower Depths. Shooting was abandoned then, but the film was completed with the existing footage by Renoir’s team and released in its current form in 1946, after the...
- 2/17/2015
- by Jeremy Carr
- SoundOnSight
Simone Simon in 'La Bête Humaine' 1938: Jean Renoir's film noir (photo: Jean Gabin and Simone Simon in 'La Bête Humaine') (See previous post: "'Cat People' 1942 Actress Simone Simon Remembered.") In the late 1930s, with her Hollywood career stalled while facing competition at 20th Century-Fox from another French import, Annabella (later Tyrone Power's wife), Simone Simon returned to France. Once there, she reestablished herself as an actress to be reckoned with in Jean Renoir's La Bête Humaine. An updated version of Émile Zola's 1890 novel, La Bête Humaine is enveloped in a dark, brooding atmosphere not uncommon in pre-World War II French films. Known for their "poetic realism," examples from that era include Renoir's own The Lower Depths (1936), Julien Duvivier's La Belle Équipe (1936) and Pépé le Moko (1937), and particularly Marcel Carné's Port of Shadows (1938) and Daybreak (1939).[11] This thematic and...
- 2/6/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
In a controversial move, DC decided to forego publishing its regular line of books and put out 52 one-shot stories featuring some of its best villains. The one-shots range from extremely popular (Joker, Lex Luthor, Brainiac) to the newer and more obscure (Relic, Shadow Thief). They feature some veteran creators and some who have barely drawn a comic. Each “Villains Month” book will get a decimal point after a regular DC Comic. For example, Joker will feature in Batman 23.1, Riddler will feature in Batman 23.2 etc. The first issue of the new DC event Forever Evil will come out the same month as the villain one-shots. It is a direct follow up to “Trinity War” and will be written by Geoff Johns and drawn by David Finch. There are quite a few “Villains Month” books, but the following comics either have great creative teams, continue a compelling storylines, or are simply intriguing.
- 8/31/2013
- by Logan Dalton
- SoundOnSight
Anna Magnani in (what looks like) Luchino Visconti's Bellissima At the end of Giuseppe Tornatore's Best Foreign Language Film Oscar winner Cinema Paradiso, small-town projectionist Philippe Noiret has died and the Nuovo Cinema Paradiso has become a pile of rubble. The bratty Italian boy Salvatore Cascio has grown into the classy Frenchman Jacques Perrin (like Noiret, dubbed in Italian), a filmmaker who sits to watch a mysterious reel of film the deceased projectionist had left him. It turns out the reel contains clips from films censored by the prudish local parish priest, whose family values found kisses, embraces, and bare breasts and legs a danger to society. Now, who's doing all that kissing, embracing, and breast/leg-displaying in that film reel? (Please scroll down for the Cinema Paradiso clip.) Here are the ones I recognize: Silvana Mangano and Vittorio Gassman in Giuseppe De Santis' Bitter Rice (1949); Mangano...
- 2/14/2012
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Some of the finest directors have produced masterful triptychs. But do we really need a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean?
It currently seems the only three that interests Hollywood relates to dimensionality. The reverence once extended to the film trilogy is fast diminishing, and although third instalments are due for Transformers, Ong-Bak, Paranormal Activity, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Men in Black, Madagascar, Batman and Iron Man, only the first two have been announced as series finales.
Indeed, with Scre4m, Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides and Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World soon to be followed by fourth entries in the Austin Powers, Mission: Impossible, Underworld and Bourne franchises, the trilogy could soon go the way of the 2D movie, as the synergy-obsessed suits controlling the multi-media conglomerates now owning the major studios adhere to the maxim that familiarity breeds both content and profit.
It currently seems the only three that interests Hollywood relates to dimensionality. The reverence once extended to the film trilogy is fast diminishing, and although third instalments are due for Transformers, Ong-Bak, Paranormal Activity, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Men in Black, Madagascar, Batman and Iron Man, only the first two have been announced as series finales.
Indeed, with Scre4m, Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides and Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World soon to be followed by fourth entries in the Austin Powers, Mission: Impossible, Underworld and Bourne franchises, the trilogy could soon go the way of the 2D movie, as the synergy-obsessed suits controlling the multi-media conglomerates now owning the major studios adhere to the maxim that familiarity breeds both content and profit.
- 4/25/2011
- by David Parkinson
- The Guardian - Film News
Olivier Assayas' Carlos (the 5 1/2 long verison) and Xavier Beauvois' Cannes winner Of Gods and Men would appear to be the frontrunners in this year's 8 nominated films for the Louis-Delluc prize. The annual Best French Film award that commenced operations back in 1937, when Jean Renoir's Les Bas-fonds claimed the inaugural prize will announce the winners for Best Film and Best First Film on December 17th. Best Feature Noms: Carlos - Olivier Assayas The Ghost Writer - Roman Polanski Mysteries of Lisbon - Raoul Ruiz Of Gods and Men - Xavier Beauvois On Tour - Mathieu Amalric The Princess of Montpensier - Bertrand Tavernier White Material - Claire Denis Young Girls in Black - Jean-Paul Civeyrac Delluc prize for first-time director: A Violent Poison - Katell Quillevere An Ordinary Execution - Marc Dugain Belle Epine - Rebecca Zlotowski Domaine - Patric Chiha Gainsbourg - Joann Sfar La Vie au Ranch...
- 11/24/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Neils Arden Oplev criticises casting of American actor in lead role of Lisbeth Salander in American version of Swedish film
The director of the original Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has questioned the need for the upcoming American remake, reigniting a long-running war of words over Hollywood raiding foreign language films to repackage them for a global audience.
With an English-language version in the works, to be directed by The Social Network's David Fincher, film-maker Niels Arden Oplev expressed anger at plans to cast an American actor in the lead role of Lisbeth Salander, drawing unflattering comparisons with the Hollywood adaptation of the French film La Femme Nikita, which was poorly received when remade as The Assassin, starring Bridget Fonda in the 1990s.
He told the Word & Film website: "Even in Hollywood there seems to be a kind of anger about the remake; like, 'Why...
The director of the original Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has questioned the need for the upcoming American remake, reigniting a long-running war of words over Hollywood raiding foreign language films to repackage them for a global audience.
With an English-language version in the works, to be directed by The Social Network's David Fincher, film-maker Niels Arden Oplev expressed anger at plans to cast an American actor in the lead role of Lisbeth Salander, drawing unflattering comparisons with the Hollywood adaptation of the French film La Femme Nikita, which was poorly received when remade as The Assassin, starring Bridget Fonda in the 1990s.
He told the Word & Film website: "Even in Hollywood there seems to be a kind of anger about the remake; like, 'Why...
- 11/10/2010
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
As if the recent November titles weren’t enough, we now have some other films to add to our upcoming Criterion Collection wishlists.
The Criterion Collection will once again be curating the upcoming All Tomorrow’s Parties Film Screenings, in Monticello New York, this September. The event overall, will be curated by Criterion alum, Jim Jarmusch (Down by Law, Night on Earth, Stranger Than Paradise, Mystery Train). Earlier today, Atp & Criterion announced their line-up of films, and hidden among the list of epic titles that we already knew were going to be released, or are already available, were a few little verifications of rumors going around.
The line-up looks to be pretty amazing, and if I could afford the flight, I would surely head out for that weekend. Several of the new Bbs box set will be screening, as well as some other films that we’ve discussed on the...
The Criterion Collection will once again be curating the upcoming All Tomorrow’s Parties Film Screenings, in Monticello New York, this September. The event overall, will be curated by Criterion alum, Jim Jarmusch (Down by Law, Night on Earth, Stranger Than Paradise, Mystery Train). Earlier today, Atp & Criterion announced their line-up of films, and hidden among the list of epic titles that we already knew were going to be released, or are already available, were a few little verifications of rumors going around.
The line-up looks to be pretty amazing, and if I could afford the flight, I would surely head out for that weekend. Several of the new Bbs box set will be screening, as well as some other films that we’ve discussed on the...
- 8/21/2010
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
Warner Brothers is set to “release the kraken” this Friday, April 2… so, Wamg is set to release the Movie Geeks, wielding their swords of cinematic heroism to establish the most epic Top Ten list of Mythological Masterpieces… ever! This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is devoted to the great Greek mythological stories of heroes, gods and monsters.
10. Hercules (1997)
You know why this movie is on this list? It’s not because it was Disney’s last, great, hand-drawn, animated film of the ’90s. It wasn’t. The film’s not great, but you have to hand it to whatever genius decided the perfect voice for Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, would be James Woods. Best. Voice casting. Ever. Rip Torn voicing Zeus? Another stroke of genius. This was also probably the first time many kids born in the early ’90s became privy to the voice of Charlton Heston, who does the narration.
10. Hercules (1997)
You know why this movie is on this list? It’s not because it was Disney’s last, great, hand-drawn, animated film of the ’90s. It wasn’t. The film’s not great, but you have to hand it to whatever genius decided the perfect voice for Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, would be James Woods. Best. Voice casting. Ever. Rip Torn voicing Zeus? Another stroke of genius. This was also probably the first time many kids born in the early ’90s became privy to the voice of Charlton Heston, who does the narration.
- 3/30/2010
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
It’s been a video game-y week Around the Blogosphere. Sam Raimi being attached to a “Warcraft” adaptation was the talk of last week of course -- the non-Comic-Con talk, that is -- but there’s also been news about “Castlevania” and “Asteroids” movies. Today brought word of a “Dead Space” adaptation, which publisher Electronic Arts will soon auction off to the highest bidding studio. As you might expect, the news inspired some opinion-rattling across the thinking person’s Internet.
There’s also some chatter about the value of DVD/Blu-ray releases that include Digital Copy, ruminations on a similar pair of “crazy kid” movies, some David Cronenberg commentary/speculation and light spoilerage on the "Smurfs" movie front, thanks to some casting call announcements. Plus-- I read today on Cinematical that the excellent(ly twisted) Bobcat Goldthwait-directed movie "World's Greatest Dad" is now available to watch On Demand. Order...
There’s also some chatter about the value of DVD/Blu-ray releases that include Digital Copy, ruminations on a similar pair of “crazy kid” movies, some David Cronenberg commentary/speculation and light spoilerage on the "Smurfs" movie front, thanks to some casting call announcements. Plus-- I read today on Cinematical that the excellent(ly twisted) Bobcat Goldthwait-directed movie "World's Greatest Dad" is now available to watch On Demand. Order...
- 7/27/2009
- by Adam Rosenberg
- MTV Movies Blog
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