About.com World / Independent Film

Review: Broken Embraces

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:14:09 +0000

A new Pedro Almodovar film starring the talented and gorgeous Penelope Cruz is bound to be a treat, and Broken Embraces is just that. Cruz stars as Lina, as the woman caught between the desires of a filmmaker and a powerful financier.

A closing night selection at the New York Film Festival, Broken Embraces is currently playing in theaters. Read Marcy's review.

Review: Broken Embraces originally appeared on About.com World / Independent Film on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 14:14:09.

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Review: Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:06:32 +0000

Nicolas Cage plays a bug-eyed cop with a drug problem and a broken moral compass in Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, a fascinatingly complex film ripe with intoxicating cross-currents of cynicism, tragedy, and absurdity. With Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, and Fairuza Balk.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans opens tomorrow in New York and Los Angeles, with more cities to follow. Read J�rgen's review.

Review: Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans originally appeared on About.com World / Independent Film on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 11:06:32.

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Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:02:21 +0000

What a fantastic idea it was for Wes Anderson to adapt Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox. Anderson and his co-conspirator Noah Baumbach holed away in Dahl's cottage in England to write the screenplay, fleshing out the classic children's story into an animated feature length-film. While the result may certainly please kids (though in some instances there is cause for genuine alarm), it's cinema-candy for grown-ups. I left the screening room thinking, I want to see this movie again.

The fantastic cast of voices includes George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Wes Anderson regulars Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman.

Fantastic Mr. Fox opens today in New York and Los Angeles, before going wide on November 25. Read Marcy's review.

Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox originally appeared on About.com World / Independent Film on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 14:02:21.

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Review: A French Gigolo

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:52:09 +0000

The title might make you think you're in for something raunchy, but Josiane Balasko's bittersweet film is anything but. The always wonderful Nathalie Baye stars as Judith, an independent woman who is pragmatic about the difference between love and sex and willing to pay to fulfill her desire. Eric Caravaca co-stars as Marco, a hard working professional caught between the needs of young wife and his favorite client.

A French Gigolo was a box office hit in its native France and debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. In the U.S., the film will make a modest debut as part of the IFC Festival Direct program. It's available for download beginning today.

Review: A French Gigolo originally appeared on About.com World / Independent Film on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 15:52:09.

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Review: The Wedding Song

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:50:38 +0000

Set during World War II in Tunis, Karin Albou's The Wedding Song is the story of a friendship between adolescent girls tested by drastic circumstances. The second film by the director of the award-winning Little Jerusalem, starring Olympe Borval and Lizzie Brochere, opens today in New York.

Read Marcy's review.

Review: The Wedding Song originally appeared on About.com World / Independent Film on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 11:50:38.

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Review: Trucker

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:00:10 +0000

Roger Ebert started the Oscar campaign for Michelle Monaghan, championing her in the indie drama Trucker. "Her performance clearly deserves an Oscar nomination," he wrote. You can't be much more direct than that. Marcy is not so sure. Read her review.

Trucker, the first film by writer-director James Mottern, premiered at Sundance and is currently in theaters.

Review: Trucker originally appeared on About.com World / Independent Film on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 09:00:10.

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Norwegian Film Alert: Troubled Water Screens in New York

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:14:34 +0000

I was lucky enough to see Eric Poppe's Troubled Water last year at the Hamptons Film Festival. The film won both the Golden Starfish for Best Narrative Feature and the Audience Award -- and then it disappeared.

Troubled Water tells the parallel stories of a man who is released from prison eight years after killing a child, and the child's mother. A riveting drama about guilt and redemption, the film at times takes the shape of a thriller. Trine Dyrholm is particularly wonderful and never once slips into stereotype in the role of the grieving mother.

Unfortunately, I can't announce a glorious theatrical release for Troubled Water. The good news: if you live in New York and are free this Wednesday, you can catch a one-time screening at Scandanavian House. Film Movement will release Troubled Water on DVD next February. (via James van Maanen.)

Read Marcy's review of Troubled Water.

Norwegian Film Alert: Troubled Water Screens in New York originally appeared on About.com World / Independent Film on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 09:14:34.

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New DVD Releases: American Violet, Adoration, Makavejev

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:08 +0000

Tim Disney's indie drama American Violet, the true story of a single black mother accused of trafficking drugs, Adoration, the latest from Atom Egoyan, and a box set featuring three films by Yugoslavian filmmaker Dusan Makavejev make up this week's round of DVD recommendations.

New DVD Releases: American Violet, Adoration, Makavejev originally appeared on About.com World / Independent Film on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 13:30:08.

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Review: Pedro Almodovar's Broken Embraces

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:03:25 +0000

Pedro Almodovar's�Broken Embraces will close out the 2009 edition of the�New York Film Festival tonight. Penelope Cruz reteams with the incomparable Almodovar as the woman caught between the desires of a filmmaker and a powerful financier.

The film will open in wide release on November 20.�Marcy reviews.

Review: Pedro Almodovar's Broken Embraces originally appeared on About.com World / Independent Film on Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 15:03:25.

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Review: Alain Resnais' Wild Grass Opens the New York Film Festival

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:33:53 +0000

Wild Grass, the 48th film by 87-year-old director Alain Resnais, opened the New York Film Festival last Friday. Marcy went into the theater with false hopes, expecting� a cinematic reunion between stars Matthieu Amalric and Emmanuelle Devos -- both of whom are relegated to supporting roles.

The good news is you needn't nurse these expectations and can appreciate Wild Grass for the fine, odd, and� unpredictable film that it is. Sabine Az�ma and Andr� Dussollier star in this unlikely romance. Read Marcy's review.

Review: Alain Resnais' Wild Grass Opens the New York Film Festival originally appeared on About.com World / Independent Film on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 18:33:53.

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