Film
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Big Bear Lake International Film Festival (BBLIFF),
Southern California Event Honors Cinematographer Jack Cardiff
By: - Sep 20th, 2012Big Bear Lake International Film Festival (BBLIFF) in Southern California, which MovieMaker magazine has called “one of the Top 25 Festivals worth the entry fee†keeps getting bigger, better, and more prestigious within movie-savvy circles. It’s been a personal favorite of mine for a couple of reasons. First, it’s one of a few festivals that recognizes and honors the creative effort and input of the Cinematographer.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber Film Love Never Dies
Sequel To Phantom of the Opera
By: - Aug 17th, 2012Andrew Lloyd Webber has struggled with a sequel to his mega hit Phantom of the Opera. It has arrived in movie theatres in limited release as Love Never Dies. In the sequel, the creative team has the Phantom escaping the burning the Paris Opera House and has him resurfacing ten years later in Coney Island, New York where he begins anew his obsession of possessing the beautiful Christine Daae. The story has added new characters for its American setting, as well.
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Bourne Legacy Reboots Ludlum Series
Three and Out or Four is a Bore
By: - Aug 15th, 2012It has been a decade since Matt Damon launched the Bourne franchise. That's a lifetime for an action hero. When Damon opted not to return to the role without director Paul Greengrass that left Universal Studios in a quandary. The Bourne series had been a cash cow. The studio spent $130 million in a relaunch with a parallel story and new lead in Jeremy Renner with Bourne writer Tony Gilroy elevated to director. It opened with a $40 million weekend laving $90 million to make its nut. Based on mixed reviews and tepid word of mouth that may not happen.
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Chris Marker Avant-Garde Film Director at 91
Director of La Jetée & Sans Soleil
By: - Jul 31st, 2012Chris Marker defies categorization, a writer, a critic, a photographer, a filmmaker, a multi-media artist; he is the ultimate creative hybrid mind that just died at age 91. Most known for La jetée, (The Pier); Le fond de l’air est rouge, (A Grin Without a Cat), and Sans Soleil, (Without the Sun) he is considered as one of the greatest, most respected, elusive, seminal filmmaker of our time. An unmitigated independent artist, he adopted a pseudonym as well as an alter ego represented by his cat Guillaume-en-Egypte. His extensive oeuvre is a testimonial to the history, to the exploration of the individual and collective memory and the passage of time.
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Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry at BIFF
For China Ai Weiwei or the Highway
By: - Jun 04th, 2012This past week the Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei was absent from the Serpentine Gallery in London for a new work created in collaboration with the architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. Previously he worked with them on the renowned "Birdsnest" design for the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics. Since release on bail following months of interrogation in June, 2011 the artist has been forbidden to communicate with the media or leave the country.
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BIFF in Pittsfield
A Rainy Saturday at the Movies
By: - Jun 03rd, 2012After the opening night of Ethel on Thursday we continue coverage, Friday through Saturday, of the seventh annual Berkshire International Film Festival. Yet again there was a stunning mix of features and unique documentary films.
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Ethel Opens 7th Annual Biff in Great Barrington
Kathleen Introduces Sister Rory’s HBO Documentary
By: - Jun 01st, 2012A matriarch of the Kennedy dynasty, Ethel, the widow of Robert and mother of eleven, is a sporty, fun loving but guarded private individual. When HBO decided to commission a documentary they asked her daughter Rory. Everyone was shocked when Ethel consented to be interviewed by her youngest daughter. What Ethel declines to discuss is warmly fleshed out for her nine surviving children. It provided a stunning launch to the 7th annual Berkshire International Film Festival
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Berkshire International Film Festival
Complete Schedule May 31 to June 3
By: - May 30th, 2012The 7th Annual season of The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) will celebrate this year with the latest in independent feature, documentary, short and family films. The festival runs from May 31 – June 3, 2012 in Great Barrington and June 1 – June 3rd in Pittsfield, MA and will be showcasing over 70 films in independent filmmaking.
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2012 Norton Prize Winner William Kentridge
Animations at Harvard Film Archives
By: - Apr 30th, 2012The Harvard Film Archives at the Carpenter Center presented nine of William Kentridge animated films – five from 9 Drawings for Projection, and four stand alone animations. Kentridge like the German neo-expressionists Anselm Kiefer and Jörg Immendorff, is capable of giving life to all that has never been admitted in art, embodying all the torment and the labor the creator draws upon to make a work of art. With significant compassion, humor, and willed innocence, Kentridge examines the external and internal forces that shape us as human beings.
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Berkshire International Film Festival 7th Season
Schedule of Events May 31 to June 3
By: - Apr 25th, 2012The 7th Annual season of The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) will celebrate this year with the latest in independent feature, documentary, short and family films. The festival runs from May 31 – June 3, 2012 in Great Barrington and June 1 – June 3rd in Pittsfield, MA and will be showcasing over 70 films in independent filmmaking.
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Diane Keaton, Christopher Plummer and Zac Efron in Dog Movies
Hollywood Finds Dogs Irresistible
By: - Apr 24th, 2012Apparently film producers perk up their ears when they hear the word 'dog' in a pitch, but dogs in films do not guarantee a good film. In one week I saw three dogs: My Dog Tulip, Darling Companion and The Lucky One. Or is that movies about dogs?
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Cosima Spender's Documentary Without Gorky
More Like Getting Over Gorky
By: - Apr 22nd, 2012“Without Gorky†a documentary about the family of Arshile Gorky made by his granddaughter Cosima Spender was shown this past Thursday at The Wasserman cinematheque at Brandeis to a large crowd mostly of Boston Armenians. Cosima was present and did a Q&A after the film.
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Cast and Crew Call for Berkshire Film Shoot
Producers Seek Local Talent April 30 through May
By: - Apr 20th, 2012Various crew members are needed to work on a two-week film shoot in Berkshire County. Production on this low-budget, psychological thriller is scheduled to begin on April 30; interviews to be held immediately. The producers are seeking to fill the following positions locally.
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ArtsEmerson Film Program May 4 to 26
Gotta Dance: The American Movie Musical 1929-1953
By: - Apr 02nd, 2012ArtsEmerson: The World On Stage closes its second season of adventurous, independent and repertory films with the final entry in Gotta Dance, an ambitious five-month survey of the American film musical; late-period Renoir and the second annual Festival Focus showcase. Films are screened at Emerson College’s Paramount Center (559 Washington St., Boston), in the Bright Family Screening Room.
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The Hunger Games: Futuristic Teen Gladiators
Leaves Audiences Starving for Sequels
By: - Mar 28th, 2012During the opening weekend of The Hunger Games there was a record setting feeding freny resulting in a box office of $155 million and another half of that abroad. The sci fi adventure film conflates the adolescent tribalism of Lord of the Flies with a spate of gladiator themes films that started back with the silent version of Ben Hur in 1925. So there is nothing new or different here other than the stunningly beautiful Jennifer Lawrence in another Oscar potential performance as the gritty survivor Katniss Everdeen.
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ICA: The International Experimental Cinema Exposition
Sunday, April 1 at 4 p.m.
By: - Mar 13th, 2012The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) presents The International Experimental Cinema Exposition (TIE), with an introduction by curator and TIE founder Christopher May, on Sunday, April 1 at 4 p.m. in the Barbara Lee Family Foundation Theater. Tickets for the screenings are $10 general admission or $8 for members, students, and seniors.
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Goethe-Institut Boston Film Series
Cutting Edge German Language Films At Coolidge
By: - Mar 12th, 2012Adding to the world class film banquet of greater Boston, the Goethe-Institut Boston and the Coolidge Corner Theatre have partnered to present provocative new films from Germany highlighting young directors who, with their first or second features, demonstrate that there is more to New German Cinema than just the Oscar-winning The Lives of Others. Monthly Sunday Matinees showcase a sampling of new and award-winning German films rarely shown outside Europe.
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Viggo Mortensen Receives Coolidge Award
Independent/Mainstream Film Star Honored for Acting
By: - Mar 06th, 2012For the past nine years, the Coolidge Corner Theatre has honored outstanding artists for contributions to the film industry. This year's recipient, Viggo Mortensen, is the consummate actor's actor who women are attracted to and men admire, playing killers to kings, hippies to Freud. Wonderful actor, wonderful man and a wonderful event.
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Oscars on Crystal
An Album of Memories
By: - Feb 27th, 2012The Oscars were back on track with the return of comic Billy Crystal as host for the ninth time. While providing some stability after the fiasco of recent years the evening proved to be mostly geriatric and enervating. That ennui reflected a mostly lackluster year of competent but forgettable films. Arguably the finest performance of the past year was the dog in The Artist. The best actor award went to the dog's master the stunningly silent hoofer Jean Dujardin.
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Harry Belafonte Film at Mass MoCA
Sing Your Song Screened March 1
By: - Feb 20th, 2012Sing Your Song screens as part of MASS MoCA's Cinema Lounge documentary series on Thursday, March 1, at 7:30 PM. Revealing how Belafonte gained so much prominence the film leads us through all stages of his life.
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BIFF and Beacon 10x 10 Feb 16-26
Free Smartphone Film Festival
By: - Feb 10th, 2012The Berkshire International Film Festival and the Beacon Cinema join together for the Berkshires’ first-ever Smartphone Film Festival – a new take on the film festival scene, as part of the 10x10 On North Festival taking place February 16-26 in downtown Pittsfield. Films were shot using the iPhone, iPad and various alternative cinematic "apps" to create a desired look or effect.
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Pina a BIFF Benefit at Beacon Cinema
Stunning 3D Film by Wim Wenders
By: - Feb 03rd, 2012Wim Wenders started filming Pina in 2009 just a short time after the sudden death of the innovative German choreographer Pina Bausch. Accordingly the film which was shot in 3D includes only a brief archival sequence of her performing. There is little or no information provided about her as an individual in this documentary. But the magnificent film provides almost two hours of total immersion in her unique work. It sets a new paradigm for the genre of films about dance.
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Barrington Stage Salutes That's Entertainment
Series of Classic Film Musicals Starts January 28
By: - Jan 05th, 2012That’s Entertainment! Barrington Stage Company salutes the American movie musical with a special film series on the big screen at the Mainstage (30 Union Street) beginning January 28. Free for kids under 13.
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Movie Mania
Major Films In Seasonal Abundance
By: - Dec 27th, 2011Starting around Thanksgiving, filmmakers and studios start showing there wares for consideration of major recognition and box office rewards. Some years there are just a few notable movies. For some reason, this 2011 holiday season there are many. Looking at some of the major cinema presentations, there is something for everyone and probably a lot more than was expected. These few holiday weeks collectively have been like a film festival of good movies.
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WBCN Documentary in the Works
Bill Lichtenstein an Award-winning Film Maker
By: - Dec 14th, 2011WBCN was the pioneering Boston radio station which brought rock to the FM dial in 1968, and reflected the social ferment of the times. It went off the air in 2009, but now an honored documentary film maker, Bill Lichtenstein, who once worked at BCN is doing a documentary about the station’s early days, and crowdsourcing content and funding for the project.
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