Tribute: George Romero

Posted on July 17, 2017 at 12:04 am

We mourn the loss of writer/director George Romero, a towering figure in the history of American film. The influence of his “Night of the Living Dead” is immeasurable. Not only did he invent an entirely new genre of zombie films, but it was a major breakthrough for independent films, and, as “Rosemary’s Baby” would do later, it was an original re-imagining of the horror genre by virtue of its setting, in this case not a spooky castle or a haunted mansion but the American countryside. Equally important, the film, released in 1968, one of the most tumultuous years in American history, was utterly revolutionary in having a black man as its hero. The political overtones in his films continued in, for example, “Dawn of the Dead,” again using the setting, this time a shopping mall, to make some sharp points about mindless consumerism.

May his memory be a blessing.

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A Wrinkle in Time: Teaser Trailer from Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay

Posted on July 16, 2017 at 11:52 pm

I could not be more excited about seeing one of my all-time favorite books brought to screen by one of my all-time favorite directors. Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time is a magnificent story of a brave girl named Meg who has to save her scientist father (Chris Pine). He disappeared while testing a theory about traveling through space. The book was rejected at first by publishers because it did not fit into any one category — it has adventure and science fiction and romance and questions of faith and philosophy. Meg, like Jo March and Mary Lennox, is smart, strong, and brave — and, crucially, succeeds because of her faults, not in spite of them. I interviewed L’Engle’s granddaughter on the 50th anniversary of the book.

And now Ava DuVernay (“Selma”) is directing the movie version. This early glimpse of the film, which will be out next spring, looks thrilling. The trio of otherworldly creatures wonderfully named Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Who, are played by Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling.

I hope she signs up to do the whole series.

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Trailers, Previews, and Clips

Net Neutrality Day of Action

Posted on July 12, 2017 at 5:26 pm

Keep the Internet neutral! Because the internet was developed by the government and universities, it has become the greatest resource ever created, giving a high school journalist the same opportunity to obtain and publish an interview the Secretary of Defense as the New York Times. Do not let this administration turn it over to a few big corporations to decide what we do and do not need to see. Join with the tech sites who are fighting for equal access. Let the FCC know.

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Commentary

Trailer: Final Portrait with Geoffrey Rush and Armie Hammer

Posted on July 10, 2017 at 9:12 pm

Geoffrey Rush stars as Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti, with Armie Hammer as James Lord, written and directed by Stanley Tucci. Here is the real-life portrait of Lord.

Indiewire: Best Comedies since 2000

Posted on July 7, 2017 at 8:00 am

Indiewire has put together a list of the best movie comedies of the 21st century — so far.

Of course, lists are just the way to start a conversation/argument, not definitive, and it’s debatable whether some of these even count as comedies, but it’s a good reminder as you look over the possibilities on streaming services.

The obligatory complaint about one left out:

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Comedy For Your Netflix Queue Lists