When I decided to return to this blog and make a serious effort to regularly and consistently post primarily reviews and commentary about film, television and theater, I also told myself I would approach this endeavor with a new writing process. Too often during the original Out of Focus days, quantity and speed took precedenceContinue reading “The 48th New York Film Festival arrives in magnificently Social fashion”
Category Archives: Festivals
Jury Duty Which I Actually Enjoyed
Tonight might be the opening of the Seventh Annual Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival in New York, but it’s a first for me. My friend Payal Sethi (who worked last year at Tribeca with me) is the festival’s programmer, and a few weeks ago, she asked if I’d like to be on one ofContinue reading “Jury Duty Which I Actually Enjoyed”
TORONTO IN FOCUS: DAY 7 – A DAY LATE, REPORTING FORM NEW YORK
The last 48 hours are a bit of a blur. A full day of movies on Wednesday that ended in total exhaustion, followed by the intent of one final screening Thursday morning that just didn’t happen because I was too damn tired. I wish I had actually planned to stay at least one or evenContinue reading “TORONTO IN FOCUS: DAY 7 – A DAY LATE, REPORTING FORM NEW YORK”
TORONTO IN FOCUS: DAY 6 – EXHAUSTION MOST DEFINITELY SETTING IN
I have most definitely not “done” the Toronto Film Festival as well as I could, or should, have. I definitely should have prepared more in advance, because then I wouldn’t have spent so much time simply trying to figure out what I would and wouldn’t be able to make. I’ve managed to see a hellContinue reading “TORONTO IN FOCUS: DAY 6 – EXHAUSTION MOST DEFINITELY SETTING IN”
TORONTO IN FOCUS: DAY 5 – A DAY CAN’T BE MUCH MORE FULL
I went to six films today, but I only sat through five. One was simply too unbearable, and combine that with the sweltering heat of that particular screening room, there was no way I could stick it out for more than 30 minutes, even though I had no other particular place to go. All-in-all, though,Continue reading “TORONTO IN FOCUS: DAY 5 – A DAY CAN’T BE MUCH MORE FULL”
TORONTO IN FOCUS: DAYS 1-4, WOW AM I WEARY
Something unexpected has taken-up all the time I meant to write while here in Toronto: simply figuring out what the hell I’m going to get to see while here. With the New York Film Festival press screenings starting next week, I’m staying away from all of those big titles, trying to use my time onContinue reading “TORONTO IN FOCUS: DAYS 1-4, WOW AM I WEARY”
MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANY: WEEKEND NOTES BIG ON THEATRE
I’m having motivational issues, so instead of motivating myself, I think I’ll try to motivate anyone who happens by here wondering, “Hmm, what’s good in New York that I may not know about this weekend.” I’m sure I’m the only person with a blog doing that, so it should come in quite handy. Closing thisContinue reading “MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANY: WEEKEND NOTES BIG ON THEATRE”
CMJ: IT’S NOT JUST MUSIC, YOU KNOW
As throngs of musicians check-in at Lincoln Center and downtown music fans start planning the best way to hit five venues a night through Saturday and survive on only a few hours sleep, it’s important for this space to make note of that other, smaller, but no less fun part of the CMJ Music Marathon,Continue reading “CMJ: IT’S NOT JUST MUSIC, YOU KNOW”
NY FILM FESTIVAL: THE HOST — MUCH MORE THAN JUST A MONSTER MOVIE
(This post began as a continuation of the previous one, hence the oh-so-eloquent flow, or rather, the reference to something not included in this same entry.) It shouldn’t actually come as much of a surprise that the best film so far critiquing the current state of the world and particularly our country’s involvement in theContinue reading “NY FILM FESTIVAL: THE HOST — MUCH MORE THAN JUST A MONSTER MOVIE”
NY FILM FESTIVAL: PAN’S LABYRINTH — MAGICAL REALISM MIXED WITH RATIONAL FANTASY FOR A MAGNIFICENT CONCOCTION AND ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR
(This post began as a continuation of the previous one, hence the oh-so-eloquent flow, or rather, the reference to something not included in this same entry.) Even as difficult as it is for me to say that I liked or disliked Inland Empire, it is quite simple for me to shout hosannas expressing my immenseContinue reading “NY FILM FESTIVAL: PAN’S LABYRINTH — MAGICAL REALISM MIXED WITH RATIONAL FANTASY FOR A MAGNIFICENT CONCOCTION AND ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR”
Out of Focus 