Do you know what Quentin Tarantino said in an interview about Reservoir Dogs? He was talking about who he dedicated the script to; he said that my dad was the greatest character actor of all time. That’s the first time I ever really thought my dad was a character actor. I didn’t really know what a character actor was before.
The film festival universe is contracting even faster than print media. Compared to previous years, the 75th edition of the Berlinale seemed a shadow of itself. Off the record, publicists told me that requests for interviews were down about half. Netflix and Apple used to be strong presences, but this year, they were barely visible. A transit strike put many screenings out of reach.
Conclave has been nominated for 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, and Best Costume Design. One of the most celebrated films of 2024, it grossed over 100 million at the worldwide box office, rare for a drama to perform so well in current years. Directed by Academy Award Winner Edward Berger (All Quiet On The Western Front) and based on the 2016 book by Robert Harris.
Sean Baker has quietly built an impressive resume of truly independent films that speak to the 99% in a way that most modern films don’t. In a spot just released by Neon with quotes from Baker, Willem Dafoe, and Mikey Madison speaks volumes about what makes him unique. A writer, director, editor, and producer who stuck with his passion for film despite all the hurdles that life throws at you when making art with few resources. This has been a career of sheer perseverance.
The Sundance Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and important festivals of the year. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States. The festival itself has had its drama as to where it will take place after next year’s fest, its contract with Utah will expire and there are rumblings that it will relocate elsewhere. Since its debut 46 years ago, it has become synonymous with Hollywood legend Robert Redford, the state of Utah, and the ever-changing landscape of independent film. Redford is not getting younger, indie films will keep changing but the state of Utah should do everything in its power to retain this cultural landmark.
David Lynch (1946-2025) was one of the most indelible filmmakers of the past 50 years, and his filmmaking style was so unique that any film that came close to his method was dubbed Lynchian. He was certainly an important filmmaker to me in my formative years. As an avid film watcher in my youth, my life was changed when I saw a VHS copy of Blue Velvet when I was 13. No one ever made films like him and no one ever will again. His creativity and absolute command of all of the tenets of art bled out in every frame of his works.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot. What makes our workshops unique? The inter generational connection that happens during the workshop is special. It stands out to me because you have people who grew up with film, who saw projectors in their classroom or who maybe worked as editors using celluloid film, and then they bring their kids in or they meet someone in the workshop who’s discovering it for the first time.
Godzilla is one of the most iconic monsters in movie history with 33 Japanese films and four American films. Since his debut in 1954, he has been a top box office draw in Japan and worldwide. The King Of The Monsters has endured decades of change in the world, from his serious beginnings in Gojira to the absolutely wacky fun films of the 60s and 70s that represent the Shōwa era (named after the Japanese Emperor). He would not return until 1984 in the aptly titled The Return of Godzilla beginning the Heisei era.
AFI Fest wrapped its 38th edition this Sunday as the last of the major festivals in the fall preceding awards voting. AFI is an amazing institution in the heart of Hollywood, the festival echoed its mission statement as a leading institution that supports filmmakers, promotes film culture, and preserves film heritage. The AFI Fest showcased many of the best festival films to Los Angeles audiences. It debuted several films with Red Carpet Premieres, hosted documentaries, and shorts, and had some interesting Q&As with filmmakers.
We have Johnny Marr and Pharrell to thank.
The two musical juggernauts convinced Hans Zimmer to hit the road, to leave the dark room, play live, and connect with audiences. For the last few years, composer Hans Zimmer has done just that, thanks to Marr and Pharrell’s advice. On stage, Zimmer and his 40+ band are a cinematic force of nuance and bombast.
