Looking back at 2019 Filmmaker Interviews

by Murtada Elfadl

2019 gave me the chance to speak to a few filmmakers about their films, their process, what they think their art contributes to the world. These filmmakers came from all over the world, and the breadth of their experiences and the topics they tackled is astounding. As the year comes to an end and we look back at the moments that stood out, here are some of the most fascinating insights I heard.

Recently The Farewell was not allowed to compete in the main film categories at the Golden Globes, and accepted only as a “foreign” film when its story is quintessentially American. After all the United States is a country of immigrants. Some people’s insistance on calling The Farewell foreign when it's so American just indicates that they don't think anyone whose 1st language isn't English is American enough despite their contributions to this country. When I talked to Lulu Wang during the summer, I asked her if she thinks her film being not entirely in English might limit its appeal...

Click to read more ...

How do you solve a problem like "Cats"?

by Cláudio Alves

With Cats horrifying audiences around the world, including possibly you, let's all step into a hot-air balloon and travel to the heavenly lands of speculation. You see, a screen adaptation of the silliest mega-musical in Andrew Lloyd Weber's repertoire (give or take Love Never Dies or Starlight Express) was already a dicey proposition, but it needn't be so doomed. But add to that the deranged incompetence of Tom Hooper and digital fur technology,and we have something for the pantheon of all-time bad movies.

What could have been done to avoid catastrophe? Many psychologically scarred movie-goers may be asking this question from the depths of the madness that now consumes them: Could this have been any different? Could it have been better? Could it have been good, even? Maybe…

Click to read more ...

Over & Overs: "My Girl"

Over & Overs is a series where we talk about movies we've watched countless times.

by Camila Henriques

I don't recall the first time I watched My Girl, but I do remember where I've seen it the most. This Howard Zieff-directed coming of age drama was a fixture on TV as I was growing up, and, for the past 25+ years, it has been for sure one of these films that becomes something new with every rewatch.

Probably best known for being Macaulay Culkin's first on-screen kiss, My Girl tells the story of Vada (Anna Chlumsky, in her breakout role), a 11 year old girl experiencing change in various ways whilst being surrounded by death: her widowed father falls in love again, her grandmother is in that there-but-not-there situation, and, of course, she goes through her first love - and heartbreak...

Click to read more ...

"The Irishman" leads the nominations from the Online Film Critics Society

The OFCS was founded back in 1997 just as film criticism was exploding on the web but still disrespected by old media. Since their founding 22 years ago there is less reason for their existence (all critics are primarily "online film critics" these days) but we've always liked them because the taste level is consistent. Let's start with their nominees and move on to other winners from other associations, at home and abroad.

OFCS
(Online Film Critics Society)

Best Picture

• 1917 
• The Irishman 
• Jojo Rabbit 
• Knives Out 
• Marriage Story 
• Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood
• Parasite
• Portrait Of A Lady On Fire
• Uncut Gems 
• Us

Best Animated Feature...

Click to read more ...

Yes No Maybe So 'Downhill'

by Murtada Elfadl

They went and remade Ruben Östlund’s brilliant Force Majeure (2014) with Juia Louis Dreyfuss and Will Ferrell and called it Downhill. The story, as those of you who saw the original know, is about the repercussions on a marriage after the husband cowardly runs away from the sight of an avalanche, leaving his wife and children to face it alone. The original was a funny smart satire about manhood and patriarchal responsibilities in the modern age.

After premiering at next month's Sundance Film Festival, the movie will be released on February 14th. Let’s give the newly released trailer the YES NO MAYBE SO treatment.

Click to read more ...