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: NY Film Festival
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”
NY FILM FESTIVAL: INLAND EMPIRE — THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON DAVID LYNCH
I still don’t believe I can write much about David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a nearly three-hour long smorgasbord of image and sound that to the linear-minded will prove completely incomprehensible. Any semblance of conventional storytelling or character development has been thrown not just out the window, but from the 90th story of a really tallContinue reading “NY FILM FESTIVAL: INLAND EMPIRE — THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON DAVID LYNCH”
PLAYING CATCH-UP WITH NYFF: THREE FILMS THAT EXEMPLIFY THE ART AND “MAKING” IN FILMMAKING
(This post began as one entry containing three reviews, but as each section became longer, I decided to split it up into separate posts. So let’s just call this the introduction, shall we?) As the New York Film Festival pulls into its final weekend, it becomes a good time for both anticipation and reflection. MoreContinue reading “PLAYING CATCH-UP WITH NYFF: THREE FILMS THAT EXEMPLIFY THE ART AND “MAKING” IN FILMMAKING”
THE WEEKEND AHEAD: MUST-SEE DEPARTED, LIFE EXPERIENCE WITH 49 UP AND MORE NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL
More detailed reviews will be coming later today and this weekend, but in the limited amount of time I have before another day of multiple press screenings, I couldn’t let this weekend arrive without taking note of the multitude of riches available to filmgoers this weekend. The major release today is the latest film fromContinue reading “THE WEEKEND AHEAD: MUST-SEE DEPARTED, LIFE EXPERIENCE WITH 49 UP AND MORE NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL”
NY FILM FESTIVAL: LITTLE CHILDREN — PROVING THAT AN UNSUCCESSFUL ADAPTATION CAN STILL BE A MILDLY SUCCESSFUL FILM
If you pick-up the St. Martin’s Griffin edition of Tom Perrotta’s novel “Little Children”, you’ll find that the very last page contains a “Reading Group Guide.” The very first suggested discussion topic reads as follows: Is Little Children an appropriate or deceptive title for this novel? Can you think of the different ways the phraseContinue reading “NY FILM FESTIVAL: LITTLE CHILDREN — PROVING THAT AN UNSUCCESSFUL ADAPTATION CAN STILL BE A MILDLY SUCCESSFUL FILM”
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)”