Once this gorgeous, heartfelt homage to movie musicals settles into the deep feelings of its two lead characters, it started to involve me more. I admit that movie musicals are not usually among my favorites. I like films with strong stories, and, frankly, musicals rarely emphasize the story. And the musicals with some of the […]
I’m not familiar with Jane Austen’s posthumously published novel, Lady Susan, retitled here as Love and Friendship, but the film is enjoyable enough for me to want to read it. Still, despite a powerhouse performance from Kate Beckinsale – as gorgeous as ever, especially in that purple gown – there is an “unfinished” quality to […]
British writer-director Christopher Smith knows his noir. He knows that when you watch his film, you will also be reminded of other movies when you see: a cop order the (anti)hero to open the trunk of his car: a hooker who is frantically packing to get out of Vegas before her pimp kills her, when there’s a […]
It is 1970 and Elvis is in deep funk. He sees the kids losing faith in America, defying the law, race- rioting in the streets. He just knows that drugs are the cause, and the country needs his help bad. He conceives of the idea of going undercover as a Federal Agent-at-Large, appointed by the president, […]
https://filmfestsalon.com/subscribe/ What will surely be one of the strongest contenders in the documentary category is “haveababy”, directed by Amanda Micheli. And, as it happens, it would never have been made if not for the very strong personal connection Amanda had with its subject, IVF, or in vitro fertilization. In our candid interview, she said that she […]
Perhaps the most memorable thing about this odd, frustrating film is that, after it got a rave review in the Times last year, nobody was able to see it. That’s because it was not released in any identified theatre – the Times critic saw it at a “multiplex” somewhere – and there were no […]
You might have seen Bruce Smolanoff many times, onscreen that is. He’s been a busy and respected actor for quite a while, appearing in Mortal Thoughts and Kiss Me, Guido, among others, and often too on that long-standing meal ticket for New York thespians, Law and Order. But he’s been directing too, and his second […]
From Jackie Christy: It’s hard not to appreciate the zany imagination behind THE LURE, a musical tale of teenage vampire mermaids set in 1980s Poland. The story takes place mostly in a seedy nightclub and features nightclub performers, strippers and generous helpings of nudity and gore. The performances are terrific and ground even the most […]
“Shelter” Discussion For the past two years, NY Filmcritics Series has been exhibiting films around the country before their theatrical release, and it seems to have hit on a winning formula: have the stars and filmmakers present for live interviews and Q and A with the audience. This week, I went to the screening of […]
