When it comes to Dana, the main character in “La Mala Noche,” there are things you can tell just by looking at her: Dana’s wardrobe suggests that she is a prostitute, while her behavior — interpreted by actress Nöelle Schönwald — reveals her experience, from the way she talks to her more hesitant clients to the manner in which Dana banishes tension to arrange her features into a simulation of inviting intimacy before another anonymous hotel room door opens. And yet, in Gabriela Calvache’s brittle, bleak feature debut, that veneer of self-controlled professionalism masks deepening desperation.
Dana is in debt to her despicable ex-lover Nelson (Jaime Tamariz), now a local kingpin with a sideline in trafficking children into sex slavery. Dana’s beloved but estranged young daughter needs expensive medications and Dana herself has a burgeoning drug addiction, depicted, with the same forensic remove as the sex scenes, in a queasy toe-injecting sequence.
Dana is in debt to her despicable ex-lover Nelson (Jaime Tamariz), now a local kingpin with a sideline in trafficking children into sex slavery. Dana’s beloved but estranged young daughter needs expensive medications and Dana herself has a burgeoning drug addiction, depicted, with the same forensic remove as the sex scenes, in a queasy toe-injecting sequence.
- 3/28/2019
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
Brace yourselves. This list of the Top 100 Greatest Gay Movies is probably going to generate some howls of protest thanks to a rather major upset in the rankings. Frankly, one that surprised the hell out of us here at AfterElton.
But before we get to that, an introduction. A few weeks ago we asked AfterElton readers to submit up to ten of their favorite films by write-in vote. We conducted a similar poll several years ago, but a lot has happened culturally since then, and a number of worthy movies of gay interest have been released. We wanted to see how your list of favorites had changed.
We also wanted to expand our list to 100 from the top 50 we had done previously. We figured there were finally enough quality gay films to justify the expansion. And we wanted to break out gay documentaries onto their own list (You'll find the...
But before we get to that, an introduction. A few weeks ago we asked AfterElton readers to submit up to ten of their favorite films by write-in vote. We conducted a similar poll several years ago, but a lot has happened culturally since then, and a number of worthy movies of gay interest have been released. We wanted to see how your list of favorites had changed.
We also wanted to expand our list to 100 from the top 50 we had done previously. We figured there were finally enough quality gay films to justify the expansion. And we wanted to break out gay documentaries onto their own list (You'll find the...
- 9/11/2012
- by AfterElton.com Staff
- The Backlot
Chicago – In our latest western edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Blackthorn” starring Sam Shepard as the legendary Butch Cassidy!
“Blackthorn,” which was a selection at the Tribecca Film Festival, also stars Eduardo Noriega, Stephen Rea, Magaly Solier, Dominique McElligott, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Padraic Delaney, Daniel Aguirre, Luis Bredow, Fernando Gamarra, Maria Luque and Cristian Mercado from director Mateo Gil and writer Miguel Barros. The film opens on Oct. 14, 2011 in Chicago.
To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Blackthorn” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just answer our question below. That’s it! This advance screening is on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago. Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and win can be found beneath the graphic below.
The movie poster for “Blackthorn” starring Sam Shepard as Butch Cassidy.
Image credit:...
“Blackthorn,” which was a selection at the Tribecca Film Festival, also stars Eduardo Noriega, Stephen Rea, Magaly Solier, Dominique McElligott, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Padraic Delaney, Daniel Aguirre, Luis Bredow, Fernando Gamarra, Maria Luque and Cristian Mercado from director Mateo Gil and writer Miguel Barros. The film opens on Oct. 14, 2011 in Chicago.
To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Blackthorn” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just answer our question below. That’s it! This advance screening is on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago. Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and win can be found beneath the graphic below.
The movie poster for “Blackthorn” starring Sam Shepard as Butch Cassidy.
Image credit:...
- 10/4/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Blackthorn Trailer. Mateo Gil‘s Blackthorn (2011) movie trailer stars Sam Shepard, Eduardo Noriega, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Stephen Rea, and Magaly Solier. Blackthorn‘s plot synopsis: “In Bolivia, Butch Cassidy (now calling himself James Blackthorne) pines for one last sight of home, an adventure that aligns him with a young robber and makes the duo a target for gangs and lawmen alike.”
I haven’t seen a really good western since 3:10 to Yuma, True Grit, and Dead Wood so I will give this a watch when it comes out. Since I have not seen Cowboys & Aliens and its a hybrid, I am not counting that film. Besides, I hope this film is more like The Proposition, Unforgiven, and Once Upon a Time in the Western.
Blackthorn‘s cast also includes Padraic Delaney, Fernando Gamarra, Dominique McElligott, and Cristian Mercado.
Watch the Blackthorn movie trailer below and leave your thoughts on it in the comments section.
I haven’t seen a really good western since 3:10 to Yuma, True Grit, and Dead Wood so I will give this a watch when it comes out. Since I have not seen Cowboys & Aliens and its a hybrid, I am not counting that film. Besides, I hope this film is more like The Proposition, Unforgiven, and Once Upon a Time in the Western.
Blackthorn‘s cast also includes Padraic Delaney, Fernando Gamarra, Dominique McElligott, and Cristian Mercado.
Watch the Blackthorn movie trailer below and leave your thoughts on it in the comments section.
- 8/24/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
Chicago – “Undertow” is a title that has been used so often by so many different filmmakers that it now threatens to submerge a picture’s individuality. Fortunately, first-time writer/director Juan Fuentes-León’s Peruvian drama (originally titled “Contracorriente”) has already proven to be a film utterly incapable of drifting into obscurity.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Since its debut in 2009, the film has garnered numerous accolades at festivals, including the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance, as well as the Audience Award at last year’s Chicago Latino Film Festival. Though it was ultimately snubbed by the Oscars, Fuentes-León’s small-scale gem has garnered an international array of admirers for its bold yet tender exploration of subject matter still deemed controversial in many parts of the world.
Read Matt Fagerholm’s full review of “Undertow” in our reviews section.
The strength of this picture lies in its subtlety. Mauricio Vidal’s camera often remains stationary,...
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Since its debut in 2009, the film has garnered numerous accolades at festivals, including the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance, as well as the Audience Award at last year’s Chicago Latino Film Festival. Though it was ultimately snubbed by the Oscars, Fuentes-León’s small-scale gem has garnered an international array of admirers for its bold yet tender exploration of subject matter still deemed controversial in many parts of the world.
Read Matt Fagerholm’s full review of “Undertow” in our reviews section.
The strength of this picture lies in its subtlety. Mauricio Vidal’s camera often remains stationary,...
- 4/1/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
year in review
Kurt here from Your Movie Buddy, getting honest about choking up. I live to cry at the movies, but it's so, so rare. It's like genuine belly laughs: they're great, but they just don't happen that much, especially for frequent, discerning filmgoers. My strongest recent memory of getting all sniffly would probably be during the candlelight vigil scene at the end of Milk. Such a powerful sight. I don't discriminate, though: I'm not afraid to admit I fell victim to the climax of the DeNiro weeper Everybody's Fine. Tearducts play by their own rules. Here's what gave mine a workout this year:
Spoilers Aplenty...
9. “Because it's important to you,” Date NightIt's no must-see, but Date Night scores major heartstring points as a valentine to long-term commitment. In the end, Steve Carrell and Tina Fey (let's call them “Stina”) have a lovely breakfast scene in which Steve throws in this affecting,...
Kurt here from Your Movie Buddy, getting honest about choking up. I live to cry at the movies, but it's so, so rare. It's like genuine belly laughs: they're great, but they just don't happen that much, especially for frequent, discerning filmgoers. My strongest recent memory of getting all sniffly would probably be during the candlelight vigil scene at the end of Milk. Such a powerful sight. I don't discriminate, though: I'm not afraid to admit I fell victim to the climax of the DeNiro weeper Everybody's Fine. Tearducts play by their own rules. Here's what gave mine a workout this year:
Spoilers Aplenty...
9. “Because it's important to you,” Date NightIt's no must-see, but Date Night scores major heartstring points as a valentine to long-term commitment. In the end, Steve Carrell and Tina Fey (let's call them “Stina”) have a lovely breakfast scene in which Steve throws in this affecting,...
- 12/31/2010
- by Kurtis O
- FilmExperience
"Gay movies all suck!"
As a critic who regularly reviews movies of gay interest, I hear this a lot. And while it's undoubtedly true that there are gay movies that do suck, I'm not sure they suck at any higher rates than other genres. Do micro-budgeted gay indie movies tend to suck more? Not any more than all micro-budgeted indie movies, I'd argue. Most of us just don't watch that many micro-budgeted movies.
And even if some gay movies do suck, there are indisputably plenty of others that don't. In fact, when I sat down to make this annual list, I was surprised by how quickly I came up with a number of truly outstanding films. And what do you know? They all veered between "micro-budget" and "low-budget," with a smattering of "high-enough-budget-to-at-least-pay-a-caterer" (and there's also one studio movie).
All in all, it wasn't a bad year for gay film...
As a critic who regularly reviews movies of gay interest, I hear this a lot. And while it's undoubtedly true that there are gay movies that do suck, I'm not sure they suck at any higher rates than other genres. Do micro-budgeted gay indie movies tend to suck more? Not any more than all micro-budgeted indie movies, I'd argue. Most of us just don't watch that many micro-budgeted movies.
And even if some gay movies do suck, there are indisputably plenty of others that don't. In fact, when I sat down to make this annual list, I was surprised by how quickly I came up with a number of truly outstanding films. And what do you know? They all veered between "micro-budget" and "low-budget," with a smattering of "high-enough-budget-to-at-least-pay-a-caterer" (and there's also one studio movie).
All in all, it wasn't a bad year for gay film...
- 12/22/2010
- by Brent Hartinger
- The Backlot
I meet first-time feature director, Us based Javier Fuentes-León in a tasty Puerto Rican restaurant called Sazon. We're there to chat up his Peruvian/Colombian movie "Undertow" (also known as Contracorriente), a romantic gay drama which is also a portrait of a rural community and also a ghost story. But the 'where from?', 'what kind?' and 'why this?' of it are surface details. Javier Fuentes-León is not into all these labels, anyway.
Javier Fuentes-León (photo src)
"For me when I moved here people were immediately like 'So what are you? Are you Spanish Peruvian? Are you Indian Peruvian?" The filmmaker says, recalling his first days in Los Angeles for film school.
"No, I'm Javier." I offer, following his train of thought. "No, I'm Javier." he confirms.
His amiable but definite resistance to labels is, as it so happens, a huge strength for the film about a married...
Javier Fuentes-León (photo src)
"For me when I moved here people were immediately like 'So what are you? Are you Spanish Peruvian? Are you Indian Peruvian?" The filmmaker says, recalling his first days in Los Angeles for film school.
"No, I'm Javier." I offer, following his train of thought. "No, I'm Javier." he confirms.
His amiable but definite resistance to labels is, as it so happens, a huge strength for the film about a married...
- 12/3/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Manolo Cardona, Cristian Mercado, Contracorriente / Undertow Javier Fuentes-León's Contracorriente / Undertow, winner of the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance 2010 and Peru's submission to the 2011 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, opens Friday, Nov. 26, at New York's Cinema Village and Los Angeles' Laemmle's Sunset 5 (actually in West Hollywood). Undertow's synopsis, via distributor The Film Collaborative, reads as follows: In this unique ghost story set on the Peruvian seaside, a married fisherman struggles to reconcile his devotion to his male lover within his town's rigid traditions. Miguel (Cristian Mercado), a handsome young fisherman, and his beautiful bride, Mariela (Tatiana Astengo), are about to welcome their first child. But Miguel harbors a secret; he's in love with Santiago (Manolo Cardona), a painter, who is ostracized by the town because he's gay. After a tragic accident occurs, Miguel must choose between sentencing Santiago to eternal torment or doing right by him [...]...
- 11/19/2010
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Reviewed for Arizona Reporter
By Harvey Karten
Grade: B+
Directed By: Javier Fuentes-León
Written By: Javier Fuentes-León
Cast: Tatiana Astengo, Manolo Cardona, Cristian Mercado
Screened at: Critics. DVD, NYC, 11/13/10
Opens: November 26, 2010
If your reading consists of more than the latest fan mail on your BlackBerry you.ll remember that in the Greek legend and tragic play "Antigone," the title character was condemned to death because she insisted on burying her dead brother against the dictates of her uncle, the king, and enemy of the departed. The soul of the unburied dead, according to legend, cannot ascend to heaven where it can rest in peace. In modern Peruvian mythology, sometimes called religion, the soul of a dead person cannot rest in heaven unless the local padre and presumably a representative group from the community give its blessing. The problem in this case is that the departed is both gay and a non-believer,...
By Harvey Karten
Grade: B+
Directed By: Javier Fuentes-León
Written By: Javier Fuentes-León
Cast: Tatiana Astengo, Manolo Cardona, Cristian Mercado
Screened at: Critics. DVD, NYC, 11/13/10
Opens: November 26, 2010
If your reading consists of more than the latest fan mail on your BlackBerry you.ll remember that in the Greek legend and tragic play "Antigone," the title character was condemned to death because she insisted on burying her dead brother against the dictates of her uncle, the king, and enemy of the departed. The soul of the unburied dead, according to legend, cannot ascend to heaven where it can rest in peace. In modern Peruvian mythology, sometimes called religion, the soul of a dead person cannot rest in heaven unless the local padre and presumably a representative group from the community give its blessing. The problem in this case is that the departed is both gay and a non-believer,...
- 11/14/2010
- Arizona Reporter
Five days after the 33 Chilean miners emerged from their 700-deep hole, having survived a record 69 days underground after the collapse of their copper-gold shaft, Hollywood started filming the first movie based on the disaster. Good thing they took their time!
The 33 Of San Jose will star 32 Chileans and one Bolivian, including Che Part 2 and Undertow's Cristian Mercado, and its marketing team is selling the Chilean mining disaster as "the feel-good story of the decade" with a "guaranteed happy ending." Wonder if those miners will see any of the box office revenue from their feel-good story. (Which, incidentally, probably didn't feel that good on Day 68.)...
The 33 Of San Jose will star 32 Chileans and one Bolivian, including Che Part 2 and Undertow's Cristian Mercado, and its marketing team is selling the Chilean mining disaster as "the feel-good story of the decade" with a "guaranteed happy ending." Wonder if those miners will see any of the box office revenue from their feel-good story. (Which, incidentally, probably didn't feel that good on Day 68.)...
- 11/8/2010
- by Anna Breslaw
- Filmology
Cristian Mercado, Manolo Cardona in Javier Fuentes-León's Undertow The 23rd edition of image+nation, Montreal's lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender film festival, will kick off with a screening of Javier Fuentes-León's Peruvian drama Contracorriente / Undertow at the Cinéma Impérial on Thursday, Oct. 28. The World Cinema (Dramatic) Audience Award winner at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and Peru’s 2011 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar submission, Undertow features a love triangle with supernatural undertones: a married fisherman is in love with another guy. The film is described in the festival's press release as "Ghost meets Brokeback Mountain." Image+nation comes to a close on Nov. 7 with a screening of Medhi Ben Attia’s Le fil / The String, a Franco-Belgian comedy-drama starring Antonin Stahly-Vishwanadan (the son), veteran Claudia Cardinale (the mother), in addition to a dose of social commentary.
- 10/28/2010
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Manolo Cardona, Cristian Mercado in Javier Fuentes-León's Undertow / Contracorriente (top); Gael Garcia Bernal, Luis Tosar in Iciar Bollain's Even the Rain (middle); Sibel Kekilli in Feo Aladag's When We Leave (bottom) Oscar 2011: Best Foreign Language Film Predictions: Biutiful, The First Beautiful Thing, Carancho Here are a few other possibilities for the 2011 Oscar's Best Foreign Language Film list of semi-finalists: Iciar Bollain's También la Lluvia / Even the Rain (Spain), about two filmmakers (Gael Garcia Bernal and Luis Tosar) exploiting Bolivian extras. The film also offers an analogy to Christopher Columbus' exploitation of American natives. Oliver Schmitz's mother-daughter drama Life, Above All (South Africa). South Africa has done well in the past decade, with a nomination for Yesterday (2004) and a victory for Tsotsi (2005). Javier Fuentes-León's Sundance Film Festival Audience Award winner Undertow / Contracorriente (Peru), which deals with ghosts, forbidden gay love, and social conformism.
- 10/15/2010
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water / and he spent a long time watching from a lonely wooden tower / and when he knew for certain only drowning men would see him / he said, "All men shall be sailors then until the sea shall free them..."--Leonard Cohen, "Suzanne"
Javier Fuentes-León's Contracorriente (Undertow, 2009) screened in Frameline34's spotlight on South American queer cinema and won that festival's Outstanding First Feature Award, having already scored the World Cinema Audience Award (Drama) at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Among its multiple awards and distinctions, Undertow has resonated with audiences in San Sebastian, Cartagena, Miami, Montreal, Nashville, Chicago, Utrecht, Madrid, Provincetown, Slovakia, Galway, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Vancouver, bespeaking its universal message of love, loss and courageous tolerance. It has since been announced as Peru's Official Submission to the 83rd Academy Awards® for Best Foreign Language Film.
As synopsized at...
Javier Fuentes-León's Contracorriente (Undertow, 2009) screened in Frameline34's spotlight on South American queer cinema and won that festival's Outstanding First Feature Award, having already scored the World Cinema Audience Award (Drama) at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Among its multiple awards and distinctions, Undertow has resonated with audiences in San Sebastian, Cartagena, Miami, Montreal, Nashville, Chicago, Utrecht, Madrid, Provincetown, Slovakia, Galway, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Vancouver, bespeaking its universal message of love, loss and courageous tolerance. It has since been announced as Peru's Official Submission to the 83rd Academy Awards® for Best Foreign Language Film.
As synopsized at...
- 9/26/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Undertow is a love story set in a traditional Peruvian fishing village. Miguel (Cristian Mercado), a fisherman is married to Mariela (Tatiana Astengo), who is pregnant with his son. Santiago (Manolo Cardona) is a painter living in a small house on the edge of the ocean, and he’s Miguel’s lover. Miguel tries to keep their relationship a secret, and Santiago is respectful – up to a point.
When Santiago suddenly shows up inside Miguel’s house – seemingly unnoticed by Mariela – Miguel discovers that Santiago is in fact dead. The body is crushed between a few rocks somewhere out in the sea, and Santiago cannot be at rest. Miguel is the only one who can see or hear the painter – and only he can touch his dead lover, as well.
Complications ensue – as they must – when nude paintings of Miguel are discovered in Santiago’s house. Now Miguel must deal...
When Santiago suddenly shows up inside Miguel’s house – seemingly unnoticed by Mariela – Miguel discovers that Santiago is in fact dead. The body is crushed between a few rocks somewhere out in the sea, and Santiago cannot be at rest. Miguel is the only one who can see or hear the painter – and only he can touch his dead lover, as well.
Complications ensue – as they must – when nude paintings of Miguel are discovered in Santiago’s house. Now Miguel must deal...
- 9/17/2010
- by Anthony Vieira
- The Film Stage
Director: Javier Fuentes-León Writer: Javier Fuentes-León Starring: Tatiana Astengo, Manolo Cardona, Cristian Mercado Miguel (Cristian Mercado) is a fisherman whose life with his very pregnant wife, Mariela (Tatiana Astengo), seems pretty darn perfect; but there are emotional undertows tugging Miguel down into trouble. The name of that trouble is Santiago (Manolo Cardona), a traveling artist and outsider to this tranquil Peruvian seaside village. Santiago is comfortable with his sexuality and would prefer to be ostracized by society rather than hide from it. Miguel is quite closeted and is tied by local traditions (as we first witness during the burial ceremony for his cousin) and morals. Nonetheless, Miguel and Santiago share a series of clandestine rendezvous, getting busy on breathtaking beaches in between lovers’ quarrels over Miguel's insistence that their relationship remain a deep dark secret. Santiago dies unexpectedly and his spirit is trapped on Earth until his body can be...
- 9/7/2010
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Knight And Day (12A)
(James Mangold, 2010, Us) Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard. 109 mins
Tropic Thunder proved that Cruise could laugh at himself, but despite a hint of self-parodying craziness here, we're not necessarily laughing with him this time. Never one to pass up an alpha-male role, Cruise plays an indestructible rogue superspy in this Grazia-friendly action comedy, co-opting civilian Diaz into a series of tense situations, most of which we never see them getting out of; he simply drugs her and she wakes up somewhere else when it's all over, in a different set of clothes. Who says romance is dead? He's supposed to be Bourne with a smile but he's more like the Milk Tray man as an international date rapist.
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (15)
(Jan Kounen, 2009, Fra) Anna Mouglalis, Mads Mikkelsen, Yelena Morozova. 119 mins
Almost a sequel to Audrey Tautou's Coco Before Chanel, this sketches out...
(James Mangold, 2010, Us) Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard. 109 mins
Tropic Thunder proved that Cruise could laugh at himself, but despite a hint of self-parodying craziness here, we're not necessarily laughing with him this time. Never one to pass up an alpha-male role, Cruise plays an indestructible rogue superspy in this Grazia-friendly action comedy, co-opting civilian Diaz into a series of tense situations, most of which we never see them getting out of; he simply drugs her and she wakes up somewhere else when it's all over, in a different set of clothes. Who says romance is dead? He's supposed to be Bourne with a smile but he's more like the Milk Tray man as an international date rapist.
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (15)
(Jan Kounen, 2009, Fra) Anna Mouglalis, Mads Mikkelsen, Yelena Morozova. 119 mins
Almost a sequel to Audrey Tautou's Coco Before Chanel, this sketches out...
- 8/6/2010
- by The guide
- The Guardian - Film News
Manolo Cardona (left) and Cristian Mercado in Undertow
Every few years, a “small” movie in an unusual setting comes along that is such a charming crowd-pleaser that it sweeps through the whole world like a breath of fresh air. Movies like The Full Monty, Muriel’s Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Billy Elliot became classics precisely because they were “different” – heartfelt stories about people in complicated circumstances, set in places we hadn’t ever seen before.
And, of course, Hollywood learns nothing from the success of these movies, continuing to churn out soulless, over-produced tripe usually starring an unnaturally skinny Jennifer Aniston.
But I digress.
This year’s charming crowd-pleaser is gay, and if there’s any justice at all in the world, this delightful film will repeat the crossover success of previous gay crowd-pleasers like Priscilla and Beautiful Thing and find a life far,...
Every few years, a “small” movie in an unusual setting comes along that is such a charming crowd-pleaser that it sweeps through the whole world like a breath of fresh air. Movies like The Full Monty, Muriel’s Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Billy Elliot became classics precisely because they were “different” – heartfelt stories about people in complicated circumstances, set in places we hadn’t ever seen before.
And, of course, Hollywood learns nothing from the success of these movies, continuing to churn out soulless, over-produced tripe usually starring an unnaturally skinny Jennifer Aniston.
But I digress.
This year’s charming crowd-pleaser is gay, and if there’s any justice at all in the world, this delightful film will repeat the crossover success of previous gay crowd-pleasers like Priscilla and Beautiful Thing and find a life far,...
- 6/14/2010
- by Brent Hartinger
- The Backlot
Sundance World Narrative Competition film “Contracorriente” (Undertow) by Peruvian director Javier Fuentes-Leon has been picked up by Wolfe Releasing. Wolfe acquired the film, starring Manolo Cardona (“Beverly Hills Chihuahua”), Cristian Mercado (“Che”) and Tatiana Astengo (“Fiesta Patria”), for a “low six figure” sum. Wolfe’s Maria Lynn made an offer to Shoreline’s Sam Eigen following the film’s first public screening at The Egyptian Theatre earlier this week in Park City, Ut, according …...
- 1/29/2010
- Indiewire
Sundance released their slate for 2010. It includes:43 documentaries on the Middle East12 films about friends who 'discover' something33 movies about people you've never heard about1 comedyHopefully the lineup this year is strong but it doesn't look that way compared to last year. Last year we had Push (Precious), that Lil Wayne documentary that never went anywhere, Mystery Team which might make my top ten, Moon, Mike Tyson documentary, Cold Souls. Just so much last January that was excellent. I hope I don't go out therer and freeze my tail off just to see...I don't know, a documentary about a former Pakistani prime minister or something silly like that.Here's the lineup so far: Premieres To showcase the diversity to contemporary independent cinema, the Sundance Film Festival Premieres section offers the latest work from American and international directors as well as world premieres of highly anticipated films. Presented by Entertainment Weekly.
- 12/3/2009
- LRMonline.com
I feel a special bond with the Sundance Film Festival. Not because I’ve been there, but because the guy in charge of it this year, John Cooper, shares my name. Because we share this bond, I feel that I’m able to take license in referring to the man as Coop for the rest of this article.
For the annual event held in Park City, Utah from January 21-31, thousands of films are submitted and screened — this year, 3,724 films were viewed by the festival’s ten programmers. I wonder when they slept.
Coop has high hopes for the festival as a whole:
“We may even be going into a golden age for independent films, in that the technology will make it possible for the films to be made and for audiences to see them. The industry is going through a major evolutionary stage right now, there’s no doubt about that,...
For the annual event held in Park City, Utah from January 21-31, thousands of films are submitted and screened — this year, 3,724 films were viewed by the festival’s ten programmers. I wonder when they slept.
Coop has high hopes for the festival as a whole:
“We may even be going into a golden age for independent films, in that the technology will make it possible for the films to be made and for audiences to see them. The industry is going through a major evolutionary stage right now, there’s no doubt about that,...
- 12/3/2009
- by John Cooper
- ReelLoop.com
Sundance released their slate for 2010. It includes:43 documentaries on the Middle East12 films about friends who 'discover' something33 movies about people you've never heard about1 comedyHopefully the lineup this year is strong but it doesn't look that way compared to last year. Last year we had Push (Precious), that Lil Wayne documentary that never went anywhere, Mystery Team which might make my top ten, Moon, Mike Tyson documentary, Cold Souls. Just so much last January that was excellent. I hope I don't go out therer and freeze my tail off just to see...I don't know, a documentary about a former Pakistani prime minister or something silly like that.Here's the lineup so far: U.S. Documentary Competition This year’s 16 films were selected from 862 submissions. Each film is a world premiere. Bhutto(Directors: Jessica Hernandez and Johnny O'Hara; Screenwriter: Johnny O'Hara)—A riveting journey through the life and work of recently assassinated Benazir Bhutto,...
- 12/3/2009
- LRMonline.com
The Sundance Film Festival has unveiled the lineup of films playing in competition from January 21 through January 31, 2010. The early fest typically debuts some of the best films the year has to offer, like 2009’s Precious, (500) Days of Summer, and Moon.
I’m bummed I won’t be in Park City, Utah next month because the lineup looks great, and these are just the films playing in competition. Here’s a few that stood out to me:
The Allen Ginsberg trial film Howl starring James Franco, a documentary by Alex Gibney (a truly great filmmaker) on Jack Abramoff, Mark Ruffalo’s directorial debut Sympathy for Delicious, a doc about Joan Rivers, the directorial debut of “How I Met Your Mother” star Josh Radnor titled Happythankyoumoreplease (I wrote a glowing script review of it here), Hesher with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman, and Blue Valentine starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.
I...
I’m bummed I won’t be in Park City, Utah next month because the lineup looks great, and these are just the films playing in competition. Here’s a few that stood out to me:
The Allen Ginsberg trial film Howl starring James Franco, a documentary by Alex Gibney (a truly great filmmaker) on Jack Abramoff, Mark Ruffalo’s directorial debut Sympathy for Delicious, a doc about Joan Rivers, the directorial debut of “How I Met Your Mother” star Josh Radnor titled Happythankyoumoreplease (I wrote a glowing script review of it here), Hesher with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman, and Blue Valentine starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.
I...
- 12/3/2009
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
Sundance Film Festival 2010 is a little over a month away and that means we can now bring you a list of the competition films that will be playing. Here you go boys and girls… enjoy!
Documentary Competition
“Blue Valentine” – Directed by Derek Cianfrance, written by Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne and Joey Curtis, a portrait of an American marriage that charts the evolution of a relationship over time. With Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman. “Douchebag” – Directed by Drake Doremus, written by Lindsay Stidham, Doremus, Jonathan Schwartz and Andrew Dickler, in which a man about to be married takes his younger brother on a wild goose chase to find the latter’s fifth-grade girlfriend. Features Dickler, Ben York Jones, Marguerite Moreau, Nicole Vicius, Amy Ferguson, Wendi McClendon-Covey. “The Dry Land” – Directed and written by Ryan Piers Williams, in which a returning U.S. soldier tries to reconcile his experiences overseas with his life in Texas.
Documentary Competition
“Blue Valentine” – Directed by Derek Cianfrance, written by Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne and Joey Curtis, a portrait of an American marriage that charts the evolution of a relationship over time. With Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman. “Douchebag” – Directed by Drake Doremus, written by Lindsay Stidham, Doremus, Jonathan Schwartz and Andrew Dickler, in which a man about to be married takes his younger brother on a wild goose chase to find the latter’s fifth-grade girlfriend. Features Dickler, Ben York Jones, Marguerite Moreau, Nicole Vicius, Amy Ferguson, Wendi McClendon-Covey. “The Dry Land” – Directed and written by Ryan Piers Williams, in which a returning U.S. soldier tries to reconcile his experiences overseas with his life in Texas.
- 12/3/2009
- by Scott
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Photo: Sundance Today the Sundance Institute announced the films that will be in competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in both the U.S. and International dramatic and documentary categories. The festival will run from January 21-31 in Park City, Utah. There are a few changes this year as there will be no opening-night picture and the festival will take select festival films to eight cities during as the fest plays out.
Last year notable films such as this year's major Oscar contenders Precious and An Education debuted at Sundance 2009 as did audience and critical favorite (500) Days of Summer.
As for this year's crop I have highlighted a few titles among the list below in red, but I have primarily done so considering the names attached to the pictures not necessarily based on any advanced buzz I've heard around any of the films. Names to look out for include Ryan Gosling,...
Last year notable films such as this year's major Oscar contenders Precious and An Education debuted at Sundance 2009 as did audience and critical favorite (500) Days of Summer.
As for this year's crop I have highlighted a few titles among the list below in red, but I have primarily done so considering the names attached to the pictures not necessarily based on any advanced buzz I've heard around any of the films. Names to look out for include Ryan Gosling,...
- 12/2/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
And the first announcement is upon us and includes quite a few movies we've already reported on.. What does that include?
The incredible looking Estonian drama The Temptation of St. Tony for which we got the exclusive trailer on a while ago. It's by Veiko Õunpuu who did the incredible Sügisball and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing this.
From Spencer Susser, the director of the incredible zombie short I love Sarah Jane comes Hesher, his first feature which stars Jgl!
David Michôd's Australian thriller Animal Kingdom which stars Guy Pearce.
From Taiki Waititi, director of Eagle vs Shark comes Boy which we previously reported on, but then it was known as The Volcano.
Full list after the break!
U.S. Documentary Competition
This year’s 16 films were selected from 862 submissions. Each film is a world premiere.
Bhutto (Directors: Jessica Hernandez and Johnny O'Hara; Screenwriter: Johnny O'Hara)—A riveting...
The incredible looking Estonian drama The Temptation of St. Tony for which we got the exclusive trailer on a while ago. It's by Veiko Õunpuu who did the incredible Sügisball and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing this.
From Spencer Susser, the director of the incredible zombie short I love Sarah Jane comes Hesher, his first feature which stars Jgl!
David Michôd's Australian thriller Animal Kingdom which stars Guy Pearce.
From Taiki Waititi, director of Eagle vs Shark comes Boy which we previously reported on, but then it was known as The Volcano.
Full list after the break!
U.S. Documentary Competition
This year’s 16 films were selected from 862 submissions. Each film is a world premiere.
Bhutto (Directors: Jessica Hernandez and Johnny O'Hara; Screenwriter: Johnny O'Hara)—A riveting...
- 12/2/2009
- QuietEarth.us
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