Author Archives: AaronOOF

NY FILM FESTIVAL: THE QUEEN — FREARS, MIRREN AND CO. TURN THE POTENTIALLY TEDIOUS INTO THE VIRTUALLY MAJESTIC

I’m actually not so sure why I’m so surprised to have walked out of The Queen singing its praises. Certainly Helen Mirren qualifies as someone who could mesmerize while reading the proverbial phone book; I’ve long been a fan of Stephen Frears; and looking back, the opening night selections for the New York Film FestivalContinue reading “NY FILM FESTIVAL: THE QUEEN — FREARS, MIRREN AND CO. TURN THE POTENTIALLY TEDIOUS INTO THE VIRTUALLY MAJESTIC”

AHEM … DIFFICULTIES ABOUND, BUT HERE WE ARE

We suffered some technical difficulties this weekend, of an actual technical nature and a personal one. No, I’m not even 100% sure what that means, but never mind. Usually 12 movies in four days don’t burn me out. Even while trying to stay up-to-date with a whole new television season and a DiVo with notContinue reading “AHEM … DIFFICULTIES ABOUND, BUT HERE WE ARE”

NO TIME TO SLEEP, WHO HAS TIME TO WRITE? (A MINI-NYFF PREVIEW)

Exhaustion has set-in, and I haven’t even started the actual job yet. The past week-and-a-half have been filled with New York Film Festival press screenings. Four on Monday, four on Tuesday and two today, plus another screening this evening. Thankfully, things start to ease up tomorrow, and I’m planning to start the waterfall/diarrhea (take yourContinue reading “NO TIME TO SLEEP, WHO HAS TIME TO WRITE? (A MINI-NYFF PREVIEW)”

I’LL BE BACK WHEN MY JAW SHUTS AND I STOP SEEING RED

Yesterday’s birthday was a nice, mellow one. And then it ended in disaster. Knowing full well that I likely wasn’t going to enjoy it, a friend and I went to see The Black Dahlia last night. Let’s put it this way … I don’t know where to start, so I’m not going to yet. I’llContinue reading “I’LL BE BACK WHEN MY JAW SHUTS AND I STOP SEEING RED”

BITS OF FOCUS: IT’S MY BIRTHDAY AND I’LL CRY IF I WANT TO

Ooops, I did it again. Three days without a post. My bad. I’m sorry. No excuses other than a) I still haven’t been to see The Black Dahlia (although I may do that today) and b) I’ve had a remarkably busy week, but only half-expectedly. Anyway, today is September 21. On Sept. 21 2004 andContinue reading “BITS OF FOCUS: IT’S MY BIRTHDAY AND I’LL CRY IF I WANT TO”

D-DAY: THERE’S TROUBLE THAT STARTS WITH T, WHICH RHYMES WITH D AND THAT STANDS FOR DAHLIA

This is not a review of The Black Dahlia. It can’t be. I haven’t seen it yet. But as my faithful reader or two know, I’ve been almost as obsessed with this movie to the same degree as Bucky Bleichert and Lee Blanchard become consumed with learning about the poor, late Betty Short. The reasonContinue reading “D-DAY: THERE’S TROUBLE THAT STARTS WITH T, WHICH RHYMES WITH D AND THAT STANDS FOR DAHLIA“

SUNDAY MORNING SHOOTOUT: WELL, AT LEAST THERE’S A NEW SET

Sunday mornings have always been the purview of news-oriented chat fests. Lots of pundits pontificating about the news and, even more often, politics of the day. “Pontificate” carries a negative connotation, but that’s not really my intent. I watch a few of these chat fests religiously. I don’t care how many cable news networks thereContinue reading “SUNDAY MORNING SHOOTOUT: WELL, AT LEAST THERE’S A NEW SET”

MORE THIS FILM: SIGN THE PETITION

In my enthusiasm yesterday writing about This Film Is Not Yet Rated, I completely forgot to mention the petition. It’s on the film’s website, and it’s a petition for the MPAA not to do away with its rating system or eevn remove itself from the process, but simply to make some fundamental and important chancesContinue reading “MORE THIS FILM: SIGN THE PETITION”

THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED: EXCEPT BY ME — I GIVE IT AN A++

There are plenty of reasons I expected to enjoy Kirby Dick‘s latest documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated: an “inside baseball” look at the film industry; an investigation of one of the industry’s most controversial and secretive organizations; a look at why the Motion Picture Association of America ratings always seem so inconsistent …Continue reading “THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED: EXCEPT BY ME — I GIVE IT AN A++”