New York University has revealed its 2024 picks for its Black List-inspired Purple List of the best production-ready screenplays from Tisch School of the Arts graduate film students and recent alumni.
The four screenplays, selected via a blind reading process by industry insiders, are Blue Comedy by Vincent Lee Accettola, Little Phnom Penh by Chheangkea, Rubber Hut by Hanna Gray Organschi and Satoshi by Sara Crow and David Rafailedes.
Blue Comedy follows a celebrity comedian who recently came out of the closet who returns to the Boston stand-up scene to mentor a straight comedian for whom he’s developed feelings. Little Phnom Penh explores a Cambodian woman’s personal desires and changing family roles over two decades in a story that spans across the U.S. and Cambodia after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Rubber Hut centers around a former ex-Pam Am stewardess who opens a drive-thru condom shop...
The four screenplays, selected via a blind reading process by industry insiders, are Blue Comedy by Vincent Lee Accettola, Little Phnom Penh by Chheangkea, Rubber Hut by Hanna Gray Organschi and Satoshi by Sara Crow and David Rafailedes.
Blue Comedy follows a celebrity comedian who recently came out of the closet who returns to the Boston stand-up scene to mentor a straight comedian for whom he’s developed feelings. Little Phnom Penh explores a Cambodian woman’s personal desires and changing family roles over two decades in a story that spans across the U.S. and Cambodia after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Rubber Hut centers around a former ex-Pam Am stewardess who opens a drive-thru condom shop...
- 4/17/2024
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York University has revealed its 2023 picks for its Black List-inspired Purple List of the best production-ready screenplays from Tisch School of the Arts graduate film students and recent alumni.
The four screenplays, selected via a blind reading process by industry leaders, are Burnout by Swetha Regunathan, Fate Moreland’s Widow by Joshua Foster, Haazer by Pepi Ginsberg and May You Outlive Us by Isabelle Mecattaf.
Burnout is a family drama set on an illegal cannibis farm. Fate Moreland’s Widow is based on a 2015 novel of the same name and explores a drama set in a Blue Ridge Mountain mill town. Haazer is a campus psychological thriller involving a student athlete and a fraternity. And May You Outlive Us follows four women as they recover from the 2020 Beirut explosion.
Prominent filmmakers whose work was included on past editions of the Purple List, now in its 12th year, include Chloé Zhao (Nomadland,...
The four screenplays, selected via a blind reading process by industry leaders, are Burnout by Swetha Regunathan, Fate Moreland’s Widow by Joshua Foster, Haazer by Pepi Ginsberg and May You Outlive Us by Isabelle Mecattaf.
Burnout is a family drama set on an illegal cannibis farm. Fate Moreland’s Widow is based on a 2015 novel of the same name and explores a drama set in a Blue Ridge Mountain mill town. Haazer is a campus psychological thriller involving a student athlete and a fraternity. And May You Outlive Us follows four women as they recover from the 2020 Beirut explosion.
Prominent filmmakers whose work was included on past editions of the Purple List, now in its 12th year, include Chloé Zhao (Nomadland,...
- 4/19/2023
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Bloom/Spiegel Film Exchange, an alliance between New York’s Ifp Marcie Bloom Fellowship in Film and the Jerusalem-based Sam Spiegel Film School and lab, has selected the nine filmmakers who will take part in its fourth edition.
The cross-cultural program will welcome Israeli filmmakers including Aalam-Warque Davidian, Margarita Belaklav, Tamar
Kay, Tal Miller, and Noa Shaham from the Sam Spiegel lab. They will be joined by Adrian Cardenas, Ben Gottlieb, Haley Anderson and Katrina Vogl from the New York-based Marcie Bloom Fellowship.
During a four-day seminar, the participants will meet with producers, directors, foreign sales agents, festival directors, programmers, poster designers, restorers and visit unique theaters and companies around the city. These meetings are meant to help them develop relationships with the film industry and encourage future collaborations.
“we started the Marcie Bloom Fellowship with the intention of bringing together a dynamic community of thoughtful, kind hearted and extremely curious filmmakers,...
The cross-cultural program will welcome Israeli filmmakers including Aalam-Warque Davidian, Margarita Belaklav, Tamar
Kay, Tal Miller, and Noa Shaham from the Sam Spiegel lab. They will be joined by Adrian Cardenas, Ben Gottlieb, Haley Anderson and Katrina Vogl from the New York-based Marcie Bloom Fellowship.
During a four-day seminar, the participants will meet with producers, directors, foreign sales agents, festival directors, programmers, poster designers, restorers and visit unique theaters and companies around the city. These meetings are meant to help them develop relationships with the film industry and encourage future collaborations.
“we started the Marcie Bloom Fellowship with the intention of bringing together a dynamic community of thoughtful, kind hearted and extremely curious filmmakers,...
- 3/13/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Obb Pictures partnered with the NYU Production Lab to discover and develop projects from the next generation of television writers in the NYU community. The program launched in April 2018 and the first batch of winners was announced this week, with five already having development deals.
The aim of the Obb Pictures x NYU Production Lab Episodic Development Studio was to bring fresh voices representing a wide array of perspectives from emerging talent at NYU to the fast-growing production company.
Obb founder and CEO Michael Ratner (pictured above) is an NYU alum, as is production executive Miranda Sherman, who headed up the initiative.
Also Read: Miranda Sherman Joins Michael D. Ratner's Obb Pictures as Production Executive
“With Miranda’s experience shepherding emerging talent, she was the clear choice to take the reins for the program, presenting emerging writers with opportunities to create a community of peers, supporting a cohort of diverse voices,...
The aim of the Obb Pictures x NYU Production Lab Episodic Development Studio was to bring fresh voices representing a wide array of perspectives from emerging talent at NYU to the fast-growing production company.
Obb founder and CEO Michael Ratner (pictured above) is an NYU alum, as is production executive Miranda Sherman, who headed up the initiative.
Also Read: Miranda Sherman Joins Michael D. Ratner's Obb Pictures as Production Executive
“With Miranda’s experience shepherding emerging talent, she was the clear choice to take the reins for the program, presenting emerging writers with opportunities to create a community of peers, supporting a cohort of diverse voices,...
- 6/21/2019
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
Nyu's Cinema Research Institute, which sponsors research projects for people studying the intersection of art and commerce in film, has announced its 2013 fellows. Michael Gottwald and Josh Penn, who have produced "Beasts of the Southern Wild" and the Ross Brothers' "Tchoupitoulas," are doing research and blogging about doing grassroots-inspired audience outreach for films. (See, for instance, Gottwald's blog post about online vs. offline organizing.) Filmmaker Micah Schaffer ("Death of Two Sons") will be producing a resource for filmmakers to find co-production partners and cross-border financing for independent film. Ryan Silbert (producer of "Holy Rollers," Oscar-winning short "God of Love") will be focusing on transmedia storytelling, working on the intersection of film, video games and technology. The Cinema Research Institute was launched by John Tintori, the Chair of the Graduate Film Program at Nyu as a way of fulfilling the university's motto, "a private...
- 4/1/2013
- by Bryce J. Renninger
- Indiewire
Ever since word got out that Renaissance Man James Franco received a D during his time at Nyu, it's been a regular game of telephone around the school yard as to how that actually happened.
Reportedly, the story goes like this: JFranc missed 12 out of 14 of his "Directing the Actor II" class, which resulted in his professor, Joseph Angel Santana, giving Franco a less-than-stellar grade in the class.
Santana was recently let go from his teaching position and told the New York Post that he was suing the institution as he believed that it was a direct consequence of him not obeying the "Franco-friendly" policy of the school.
But now Nyu is fighting back. Chairman of the graduate film department at Tisch School of the Arts, John Tintori, emailed graduate students to address the lawsuit directly, which first appeared on Just Jared.
"A number of you have recently come to...
Reportedly, the story goes like this: JFranc missed 12 out of 14 of his "Directing the Actor II" class, which resulted in his professor, Joseph Angel Santana, giving Franco a less-than-stellar grade in the class.
Santana was recently let go from his teaching position and told the New York Post that he was suing the institution as he believed that it was a direct consequence of him not obeying the "Franco-friendly" policy of the school.
But now Nyu is fighting back. Chairman of the graduate film department at Tisch School of the Arts, John Tintori, emailed graduate students to address the lawsuit directly, which first appeared on Just Jared.
"A number of you have recently come to...
- 12/23/2011
- by Jessie Heyman
- Huffington Post
A teacher on the actor's film course has filed a lawsuit claiming he was dismissed for giving Franco a D for poor attendance
A professor who was fired by New York University has filed a lawsuit claiming he was dismissed for giving celebrity student James Franco a D grade for poor attendance.
Dr José Angel Santana, who taught as an assistant arts professor on the actor's graduate film course, says that Franco – who supplements his acting career with stints as a novelist, installation artist, film director, soap star and part-time lecturer at Nyu – attended just two of his 14 lectures on a course called Directing the Actor II. Santana alleges that the university has given the star preferential treatment because of his celebrity status. "The school has bent over backwards to create a Franco-friendly environment, that's for sure," he told the New York Post. "The university has done everything in its...
A professor who was fired by New York University has filed a lawsuit claiming he was dismissed for giving celebrity student James Franco a D grade for poor attendance.
Dr José Angel Santana, who taught as an assistant arts professor on the actor's graduate film course, says that Franco – who supplements his acting career with stints as a novelist, installation artist, film director, soap star and part-time lecturer at Nyu – attended just two of his 14 lectures on a course called Directing the Actor II. Santana alleges that the university has given the star preferential treatment because of his celebrity status. "The school has bent over backwards to create a Franco-friendly environment, that's for sure," he told the New York Post. "The university has done everything in its...
- 12/20/2011
- by Henry Barnes
- The Guardian - Film News
James Franco’s multi-pronged academic pursuits have been well-documented over the past few years, and one of the common refrains has been awe and disbelief that the actor could manage to squeeze in all the necessary course work while also taking time to shoot movies like 127 Hours and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Well, according to one former Nyu professor, Franco’s secret was not coming to class much at all.
Jose Angel Santana is reportedly suing the university for wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment, alleging that when he gave Franco a “D” in Directing the Actor II for missing 12 out of 14 classes,...
Well, according to one former Nyu professor, Franco’s secret was not coming to class much at all.
Jose Angel Santana is reportedly suing the university for wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment, alleging that when he gave Franco a “D” in Directing the Actor II for missing 12 out of 14 classes,...
- 12/20/2011
- by Adam B. Vary
- EW - Inside Movies
In case you were wondering how James Franco managed to attend all the classes necessary to get masters’ degrees from Nyu, Columbia and Warren Wilson College, in addition to enrolling on Yale for a PhD program, the answer is: he…um…he almost didn’t. Now it’s emerged that Franco’s lack of attendance has allegedly resulted in the termination of an Nyu professor, at least according to said instructor José Angel Santana. In a new lawsuit he filed against the school, Professor Santana claims that he was unjustly canned for giving a Franco a D in his “Directing The Actor” course. Um, we don’t see what the problem is quit yet? D is for Diploma, James! Embrace it!
We have to assume this is the same D Franco complained about to the press back in September 2010. “I did the work, I did well in everything else,” Franco...
We have to assume this is the same D Franco complained about to the press back in September 2010. “I did the work, I did well in everything else,” Franco...
- 12/19/2011
- by Halle Kiefer
- TheFabLife - Movies
There's high drama in higher ed, as one of James Franco's Nyu professors is suing the university saying they canned him for giving the "127 Hours" star a "D."
Jose Angel Santana, Franco's professor in his "Directing the Actor II" class, gave the thespian the low grade for skipping 12 of his 14 classes. Santana was later fired by the university. Franco was at Nyu pursing his master's in fine arts.
"The school has bent over backwards to create a Franco-friendly environment, that's for sure," Santana tells the New York Post. "The university has done everything in its power to curry favor with James Franco."
Santana adds other professors in the department attempted to get in good with Franco by giving him good grades. Santana cites the time Franco hired one of his instructors, Jay Anania, to write and direct "William Vincent." The film starred Franco and was admitted to the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
Jose Angel Santana, Franco's professor in his "Directing the Actor II" class, gave the thespian the low grade for skipping 12 of his 14 classes. Santana was later fired by the university. Franco was at Nyu pursing his master's in fine arts.
"The school has bent over backwards to create a Franco-friendly environment, that's for sure," Santana tells the New York Post. "The university has done everything in its power to curry favor with James Franco."
Santana adds other professors in the department attempted to get in good with Franco by giving him good grades. Santana cites the time Franco hired one of his instructors, Jay Anania, to write and direct "William Vincent." The film starred Franco and was admitted to the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
- 12/19/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
A former professor at Nyu has filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming he was fired for giving Hollywood's most notable academic a 'D' in his class.
The New York Post reports Jose Angel Santana has filed a lawsuit against New York University in an effort to get his job back. Santana says he gave James Franco a bad grade because he missed 12 out of 14 'Directing the Actor II' classes, while the actor was pursuing his master's in fine arts.
"The school has bent over backwards to create a Franco-friendly environment, that's for sure," he told the paper. "The university has done everything in its power to curry favor with James Franco."
The former prof's lawsuit claims Franco missed just as many classes in other courses, but other professors still gave him good grades -- alleging it was all part of conspiracy.
After graduation, Franco went on to teach a...
The New York Post reports Jose Angel Santana has filed a lawsuit against New York University in an effort to get his job back. Santana says he gave James Franco a bad grade because he missed 12 out of 14 'Directing the Actor II' classes, while the actor was pursuing his master's in fine arts.
"The school has bent over backwards to create a Franco-friendly environment, that's for sure," he told the paper. "The university has done everything in its power to curry favor with James Franco."
The former prof's lawsuit claims Franco missed just as many classes in other courses, but other professors still gave him good grades -- alleging it was all part of conspiracy.
After graduation, Franco went on to teach a...
- 12/19/2011
- by Stephanie Marcus
- Huffington Post
Ever wish you could get one of your teachers fired? Well, if you're a famous actor named James Franco, you can. At least that's what one Nyu professor claims.
Jose Angel Santana gave the Golden Globe-winner a "D" in his "Directing the Actor II" class after Franco missed 12 of his 14 sessions while pursuing his masters in fine arts. (Ok, even we have to admit that's kind of a lot of absences.)
So did Franco retake the class? Uh. No.
Santana asserts that Franco publicly ridiculed him — claiming the prof had a problem with having a celebrity in class — and then had him fired.
"The school has bent over backwards to create a Franco-friendly environment, that's for sure," Santana told The New York Post. "The university has done everything in its power to curry favor with James Franco."
Specifically, Santana claims that in exchange for the good grades, Franco hired one of his other professors,...
Jose Angel Santana gave the Golden Globe-winner a "D" in his "Directing the Actor II" class after Franco missed 12 of his 14 sessions while pursuing his masters in fine arts. (Ok, even we have to admit that's kind of a lot of absences.)
So did Franco retake the class? Uh. No.
Santana asserts that Franco publicly ridiculed him — claiming the prof had a problem with having a celebrity in class — and then had him fired.
"The school has bent over backwards to create a Franco-friendly environment, that's for sure," Santana told The New York Post. "The university has done everything in its power to curry favor with James Franco."
Specifically, Santana claims that in exchange for the good grades, Franco hired one of his other professors,...
- 12/19/2011
- by Elizabeth Durand
- NextMovie
After dialing in a lackluster Oscar hosting performance, James Franco declares that Twitter is over and has deleted his account, as he heads for Nyu. Franco had starred in a recurring role as a psycho killer artist on daytime serial General Hospital. Now he will teach acting class at New York University.s Tisch School of the Arts next fall semester. Franco.s class will focus on the adaptation of poetry into short films, with the class size limited to 10-12 third year graduate students. The New York Post reported that John Tintori, Chair of Tisch.s graduate program, thinks Franco will do an exceptional job. Franco.s students will have to complete a short film by the end of the...
- 4/5/2011
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
Star of 127 Hours to add to myriad commitments with lecturing gig at college where he will graduate with an Mfa in May
127 Hours star James Franco is to go from Diy amputator to educator when he teaches a class in film directing at New York University.
The Oscar nominee will lead a third-year graduate class on adapting poetry into short films at the university's Tisch School of the Arts, the New York Post reports. Franco himself is expected to graduate from the school, where he has been studying for an Mfa in film production, in May.
The appointment adds to the multi-tasking 32-year-old's plethora of reported interests. As well as his acting work, he has hosted the Oscars ceremony, made a film about River Phoenix, put together an exhibition of his art, published a collection of short stories and appeared in daytime TV soap opera General Hospital. One of the...
127 Hours star James Franco is to go from Diy amputator to educator when he teaches a class in film directing at New York University.
The Oscar nominee will lead a third-year graduate class on adapting poetry into short films at the university's Tisch School of the Arts, the New York Post reports. Franco himself is expected to graduate from the school, where he has been studying for an Mfa in film production, in May.
The appointment adds to the multi-tasking 32-year-old's plethora of reported interests. As well as his acting work, he has hosted the Oscars ceremony, made a film about River Phoenix, put together an exhibition of his art, published a collection of short stories and appeared in daytime TV soap opera General Hospital. One of the...
- 3/30/2011
- by Ian J Griffiths
- The Guardian - Film News
It appears that the student has become the teacher. Full-time academic and part-time Hollywood star James Franco, who seems to possess more degrees than a thermometer, is taking on a new role: Film professor. Franco will be teaching a fall semester course on adapting poetry into short films — a subject with which he has personal experience – to third-year graduate film students at Nyu’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Ten to twelve lucky prospective filmmakers will call the 127 Hours star “Mr. Franco” — “James,” if he’s cool, or “Teach,” if he’s even cooler. That’s a small class size...
Ten to twelve lucky prospective filmmakers will call the 127 Hours star “Mr. Franco” — “James,” if he’s cool, or “Teach,” if he’s even cooler. That’s a small class size...
- 3/29/2011
- by Keith Staskiewicz
- EW - Inside Movies
Actor. Visionary. Friend to gay gigolos the world over. Amidst all of his other gigs, James Franco teaching at Nyu will be just one more feather in his insane, feather-covered cap. The 127 Hours actor signed on to teach a graduate film studies class this fall, which most likely means Anne Hathaway will teach it while Franco stands three feet away, giggling unhelpfully. “James has an amazing mind and limitless energy,” explained John Tintori, chair of the graduate film program. “Our students will be fortunate to learn from him. We anticipate the students in his class will feel especially privileged to have him as a teacher.” Privileged by all the free time they have after Prof. Franco falls asleep face-down on the text book, but privileged none the less.
Franco will instructing his class out of the Karbar Institute of Film & Television, where “He will be teaching a section of a...
Franco will instructing his class out of the Karbar Institute of Film & Television, where “He will be teaching a section of a...
- 3/29/2011
- by Halle Kiefer
- TheFabLife - Movies
As a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, it makes me proud to know that Oscar nominee and freaky Renaissance man James Franco will be teaching there next year. And by proud I mean horrified.
Yes, folks, Mr. Franco will be teaching a grad class on "adapting poetry into short films" to the third year film students.
This is what the chair of Tisch's grad film program John Tintori had to say about Franco's class:
“He’s here to teach because he really knows something about directing that he can share with our students. He’s incredibly prolific, and that comes from a real work ethic - and that’s another thing to impart to our students.”
read more...
Yes, folks, Mr. Franco will be teaching a grad class on "adapting poetry into short films" to the third year film students.
This is what the chair of Tisch's grad film program John Tintori had to say about Franco's class:
“He’s here to teach because he really knows something about directing that he can share with our students. He’s incredibly prolific, and that comes from a real work ethic - and that’s another thing to impart to our students.”
read more...
- 3/29/2011
- by John Kurzynowski
- Celebsology
Actor James Franco is taking his talents to the head of the class - and becoming a graduate film teacher.
The 127 hours star will teach a third year course on directing and adapting poetry into short films at his alma mater, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
The chair of the graduate film programme, John Tintori, believes that Franco has all the qualities needed to be a great professor.
He tells the New York Post, "He's here to teach because he really knows something about directing that he can share with our students. He's incredibly prolific, and that comes from a real work ethic - and that's another thing to impart to our students."
Only 12 students will be able to register for the intimate class.
The 127 hours star will teach a third year course on directing and adapting poetry into short films at his alma mater, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
The chair of the graduate film programme, John Tintori, believes that Franco has all the qualities needed to be a great professor.
He tells the New York Post, "He's here to teach because he really knows something about directing that he can share with our students. He's incredibly prolific, and that comes from a real work ethic - and that's another thing to impart to our students."
Only 12 students will be able to register for the intimate class.
- 3/29/2011
- WENN
James Franco has signed up to teach a class at New York University. The Oscar-nominated 127 Hours actor will lead a third-year graduate class on directing at the Tisch School of the Arts, reports the New York Post. Franco, who is currently an Mfa candidate at Nyu, will instruct students on adapting poetry into short films. "He's here to teach because he really knows something about directing that he can share with our students," John Tintori, chair of the Tisch graduate film program, said about Franco. Tintori added: "He's incredibly prolific, and that (more)...
- 3/29/2011
- by By Mike Moody
- Digital Spy
In the only college class that will include “naptime”, James Franco will be teaching a third-year course at Nyu. Franco will be teaching a course on adapting poetry into short films. Only twelve spots are allotted for the class, and for those twelve students, it could be the coolest college experience or the worst one yet. Student: Mr. Franco, why’d I get a C on this paper? Franco: I tried to use it to roll a giant joint and I failed. Student: That makes no— Franco: ....zzzzzz.... Nyu faculty member John Tintori told the NY Post: “He’s...
- 3/29/2011
- Hollyscoop.com
In the "Bleacher Bums" tradition, "Chicago Cab" is a scrappy and unsettling glimpse of a cross-section of Chicagoans.
Adapted from "Hellcab", a long-running play here, this indie film follows the scattered route of one Chicago cabbie on a 14-hour stretch during the Christmas holidays. It's alternately frightening, sad, funny and crazy -- like the cross-section of passengers that hop into the back seat of a cab. A popular player at the Chicago International Film Festival, "Chicago Cab" is the kind of quirky oddity that will travel far on the film-festival circuit.
This filmic odyssey transports us from the Gold Coast of North Michigan Avenue to the most ravaged sections of the South Side, as an independent cabbie (Paul Dillon) scrapes together the fares that make up his daily nonroutine. It's both a chilly and a chilling ride as the cabbie lugs the always unpredictable assortment of characters to their varied destinations.
To say the least, they're a wide assortment of types: a rape victim, a buppie lawyer, a druggie, a wacko, Bears fans, Christmas shoppers and a dipsy senior are among the personalities that crawl into his backseat.
Seemingly, it's true that people say or do anything in front of, or rather, in back of a cab driver -- as if he's not there. Nearly every type of human behavior and transaction (including sexual) is carried out in the vehicle's sticky back seat. Not surprisingly, this cabbie's slant on humanity is based on a wider range of types than, say, a Harvard sociologist's prismed perspective.
While screenwriter Will Kern has served up a varied and entertaining cast of back-seat characters, "Chicago Cab" is no mere novelty parade of oddballs and stereotypes. It's smartly oiled with some keen social insights and imbued with an emotional integrity that lifts this entertainment beyond a goon show.
In particular, we get to know the driver and we see how his job affects him. Overall, he is a kind if somewhat clumsy fellow who ultimately tends to take too much responsibility for his passengers' well-being. And we see that he is a lonely and solitary man, eking out his living in this last resort of a job in a strange city.
Although the lensing reflects a low-budget indie approach, credit co-directors Mary Cybulski and John Tintori for capturing the essentials of the many human dramas that unfold in this cinematic trek. Throughout, they delicately clue us to the cabbie's isolation, particularly with some deft, contrapuntal Christmas music.
Highest praise goes to Paul Dillon for his sharp portrayal of the cab driver whose well-intentioned actions mask his own inner loneliness. The fares are an overall hoot, particularly John Cusack as a shifty and sinister back-seater.
CHICAGO CAB
Greenlight Film & TV
A Child's Will production
Producers Paul Dillon, Jamie Gordon, Suzanne DeWalt
Directors Mary Cybulski, John Tintori
Screenwriter Will Kern,
based on his play "Hellcab"
Director of photography Hubert Taczanowski
Editors John Tintori, Mary Cybulski
Music Joe Henry, Page Hamilton
Color/stereo
Cast:
Cabbie Paul Dillon
Passengers Gillian Anderson,
John Cusack, Michael Ironside, Laurie Metcalf, Julianne Moore
Running time -- 93 minutes...
Adapted from "Hellcab", a long-running play here, this indie film follows the scattered route of one Chicago cabbie on a 14-hour stretch during the Christmas holidays. It's alternately frightening, sad, funny and crazy -- like the cross-section of passengers that hop into the back seat of a cab. A popular player at the Chicago International Film Festival, "Chicago Cab" is the kind of quirky oddity that will travel far on the film-festival circuit.
This filmic odyssey transports us from the Gold Coast of North Michigan Avenue to the most ravaged sections of the South Side, as an independent cabbie (Paul Dillon) scrapes together the fares that make up his daily nonroutine. It's both a chilly and a chilling ride as the cabbie lugs the always unpredictable assortment of characters to their varied destinations.
To say the least, they're a wide assortment of types: a rape victim, a buppie lawyer, a druggie, a wacko, Bears fans, Christmas shoppers and a dipsy senior are among the personalities that crawl into his backseat.
Seemingly, it's true that people say or do anything in front of, or rather, in back of a cab driver -- as if he's not there. Nearly every type of human behavior and transaction (including sexual) is carried out in the vehicle's sticky back seat. Not surprisingly, this cabbie's slant on humanity is based on a wider range of types than, say, a Harvard sociologist's prismed perspective.
While screenwriter Will Kern has served up a varied and entertaining cast of back-seat characters, "Chicago Cab" is no mere novelty parade of oddballs and stereotypes. It's smartly oiled with some keen social insights and imbued with an emotional integrity that lifts this entertainment beyond a goon show.
In particular, we get to know the driver and we see how his job affects him. Overall, he is a kind if somewhat clumsy fellow who ultimately tends to take too much responsibility for his passengers' well-being. And we see that he is a lonely and solitary man, eking out his living in this last resort of a job in a strange city.
Although the lensing reflects a low-budget indie approach, credit co-directors Mary Cybulski and John Tintori for capturing the essentials of the many human dramas that unfold in this cinematic trek. Throughout, they delicately clue us to the cabbie's isolation, particularly with some deft, contrapuntal Christmas music.
Highest praise goes to Paul Dillon for his sharp portrayal of the cab driver whose well-intentioned actions mask his own inner loneliness. The fares are an overall hoot, particularly John Cusack as a shifty and sinister back-seater.
CHICAGO CAB
Greenlight Film & TV
A Child's Will production
Producers Paul Dillon, Jamie Gordon, Suzanne DeWalt
Directors Mary Cybulski, John Tintori
Screenwriter Will Kern,
based on his play "Hellcab"
Director of photography Hubert Taczanowski
Editors John Tintori, Mary Cybulski
Music Joe Henry, Page Hamilton
Color/stereo
Cast:
Cabbie Paul Dillon
Passengers Gillian Anderson,
John Cusack, Michael Ironside, Laurie Metcalf, Julianne Moore
Running time -- 93 minutes...
- 10/20/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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