10:50am:
Been busy-Atteneded some press screenings for New Directors New FIlms. A good but mixed bunch of films.
I really like THE RAID a great deal (so much so I got into a Fangoria preview screening to see it again). Its a fantastic action film thaat is a must see for action fans
Also good was How To Survive a Plague about ACT UP's efforts to try to make sure a cure for AIDS was worked on. Its a moving documentary, though it suffers from assuming we know some of the story.
The Rabbi's Cat is a beautiful animated film based on Joann Sfarr's graphic novel. The 3D works against it since it mutes the colors and adds almost nothing to the film or sense of space in the frame.
There were others but not worth the time to mention- then again Neighboring Sounds has gotten great press going into the festival- but having seen it I'm at a loss to know why. The film is about a neighbor hood in a Brazilian city that gets a private security firm to watch over it. We watch the people come and go and then it all ends with a WTF was that moment as things are referenced that we've never learned of---and are not even mentioned in the press notes.
I've been seeing a great deal at the NYICFF-
Of note is the Disney documentary CHimpanzee- which had signs up saying the screening wasn't for review. I have one set to go at Unseen Films but I'm not sure when I can actually post it. All I'll say is if you like the trailers or commercials you'll like it, but that I have issues with it, though I liked it.
Most of the other stuff I've seen at the Festival is up at Unseen Films.
I saw John Carter yesterday and loved it. I completely understand why its splitting audiences. The film is an old school respresentation of an old school novel. I think it hits it perfectly. I believed I was on Barsoom. For me the moment John Carter proved he was a hero was when he sends his lady love away and then stands all alone and takes on an advancing army. There is a wonderful moment in it that has Carter standing there killing all comers and we watch as th bodies pile up around him like in a Frazetta painting.
I've been watching Adam Curtis documentaries, bad Euro crime films and NCIS episodes.
Actually the problem is work is crazy making and Unseen FIlms has been eating my time. I've been writing up stuff, pushing things forward and getting things ready for the Tribeca Film Festival which will eat most of my free time once the press screenings start.
I don't like that I'm not writing here but live is getting in the way.
I can't blme this on Facebook since I'm not there, though I have been doodling with twitter for the film blog.
I am sorry to those of you I have made promises to about stuff, I'm just getting moved in odd directions.
I think thats it for right now. You guys and girls keep posting I am reading