Monthly Archives: September 2019

Nashville Film Festival

NEW – 50th Nashville Festival Films Announced!

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

The Nashville Film Festival, celebrating its 50th Anniversary October 3-12, 2019, unveiled Screen Shot 2019-09-25 at 8.42.21 AMthe selections for its Special Presentations category. This year’s special presentations take viewers into the World War II-era perspective of a young German boy who is forced to reconsider the nationalism in which he was raised, a searing behind-the-scenes look at the dissolution of a marriage, and a darkly comedic dive into the life of a struggling comedian and his unlikely friendship with his eccentric dermatologist.

Selections include the dark and clever Hitler comedy Jojo Rabbit, fresh off of its run at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Marriage Story, a raw and honest dive into love and relationships that was a favorite in Toronto as well as the Venice Film Festival. Also featured is the powerful narrative Clemency, winner of the 2019 Sundance Grand Jury Prize, starring Alfre Woodard, a prison warden overseeing death row executions, as she struggles with the justification and morality of the job at hand.

The Special Presentations category will also include Bacurau; By the Grace of God; Foster Boy; A Hidden Life; The Kill Team; and Standing Up, Falling Down. Selections for the Narrative Features program include Alice, The Best of Dorien B., The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, Burning Cane, Dirty God, Eternal Winter, Retrospekt, Saint Frances, Watch List, and This World Won’t Break.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS PROGRAM

BACURAU, directed by Juliano Dornelles & Kleber Mendonça Filho. Bacurau, a small village in the Brazilian sertão, mourns the loss of its matriarch, Carmelita. Days later, its inhabitants notice that their village has literally vanished from most maps and a UFO-shaped drone starts flying overhead. In a genre-bending twist, a band of armed mercenaries arrive in town picking off the inhabitants one by one. A fierce confrontation takes place when the townspeople turn the tables on the villainous outsiders, banding together by any means necessary to protect and maintain their remote community.

BY THE GRACE OF GOD, directed by François Ozon. Based on real events, Francois Ozon’s By the Grace of God is a gripping and urgent story of the survivors who band together to expose and dismantle the French Catholic Church’s code of silence surrounding pastoral abuse.

CLEMENCY, directed by Chinonye Chukwu. Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard). As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill.

FOSTER BOY, directed by Youssef Delara. Foster Boy is the truth-based legal drama about a high-powered litigator who takes on the case of disadvantaged African-American young man, starring Matthew Modine and newcomer Shane Paul McGhie. Overcoming their differences and mutual distrust, Modine’s Michael Trainer and McGhie’s Jamal Randolph uncover the abuses of the for-profit foster care system – a real-world reality that inspired the film. Co-Presented in association with the International Black Film Festival.

A HIDDEN LIFE, directed by Terrence Malick. Based on real events, A Hidden Life is the story of an unsung hero, Franz Jägerstätter, who refused to fight for the Nazis in World War II. When the Austrian peasant farmer is faced with the threat of execution for treason, it is his unwavering faith and his love for his wife Fani and children that keeps his spirit alive.

HONEY BOY, directed by Alma Har’el (Bombay Beach, LoveTrue). From a screenplay by Shia LaBeouf based on his own experiences brings to life a young actor’s stormy childhood and early adult years as he struggles to reconcile with his father and deal with his mental health. Fictionalizing his ascent to stardom, and subsequent crash-landing into rehab and recovery, Har’el casts Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place) and Lucas Hedges (Boy Erased, Manchester by the Sea) as Otis Lort, navigating different stages in a frenetic career.

JOJO RABBIT, directed by Taika Waititi. Writer director Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnorok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople), brings his signature style of humor and pathos to his latest film, Jojo Rabbit, a World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy (Roman Griffin Davis as JoJo) whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi), Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.

THE KILL TEAM, directed by Dan Krauss. When Andrew Briggman (Nat Wolff), a young soldier in the US invasion of Afghanistan, witnesses other recruits killing innocent civilians under the direction of a sadistic leader, Sergeant Deeks (Alexander Skarsgård), he considers reporting them to higher-ups — but the heavily-armed, increasingly violent platoon becomes suspicious that someone in their ranks has turned on them, and Andrew begins to fear that he’ll be the next target.

MARRIAGE STORY, directed by Noah Baumbach. An incisive and compassionate look at a marriage breaking up and a family staying together.

THE SONG OF NAMES, directed by François Girard. Martin Simmonds (Tim Roth) has been haunted throughout his life by the mysterious disappearance of his “brother” and extraordinary best friend, a Polish Jewish virtuoso violinist, Dovidl Rapaport, who vanished shortly before the 1951 London debut concert that would have launched his brilliant career. Thirty-five years later, Martin discovers that Dovidl (Clive Owen) may still be alive, and sets out on an obsessive intercontinental search to find him and learn why he left. Co-presented with the Nashville Jewish Film Festival.

STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN, directed by Matt Ratner. A struggling stand-up comedian at a crossroads in his life returns to his hometown and finds an unlikely kindred spirit in his pot-smoking dermatologist.

THE TROUBLE WITH YOU, directed by Pierre Salvadori. In a town on the French Riviera, detective Yvonne (Adèle Haenel) is the widow of police chief Santi, a local hero idolized by their young son. When she realizes her husband was not the model of virtue she believed him to be and that an innocent man, Antoine, has spent eight years in prison as Santi’s scapegoat, her world is thrown into turmoil. Yvonne wants to do everything she can to help the young man get back to his life and his wife (Audrey Tautou). Everything, that is, except, exposing the truth. But Antoine is having trouble adjusting to life after prison and soon blows a fuse, leading to a spectacular sequence of events.

The Nashville Film Festival previously announced official program selections for its Narrative Features Competition Program for the 50th edition of the festival. Selections include Alice, The Best of Dorien B., The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, Burning Cane, Dirty God, Eternal Winter, Retrospekt, Saint Frances, Watch List and This World Won’t Break. Other films include: Ernie & Joe, Bedlam, Rewind, Dark Suns, Seahorse, Gay Chorus: Deep South, Changing the Game, Baracoa, 17 Blocks, Red Dog, What We Left Unfinished, Stuffed, Homemade, The Hot August, I Pastafari: A Flying Spaghetti Monster Story and Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story in the Documentary Competition category.  International Falls, the world premiere of the civil rights era coming-of-age story Tuscaloosa, Speed of Life, Babysplitters, Barbie’s Kenny, Working Man, Inside The Rain, and Hudson as films selected for the U.S. Independents category.  Music documentaries include the world premiere of Chuck Berry by filmmaker Jon Brewer; Born Into the Gig by filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbroner; Cool Daddio: The Second Youth of R. Stevie Moore from filmmakers Imogen Putler and Monika Baran; and The Sheriff of Mars from filmmakers Jason Ressler and Matthew Woolf for the music documentary.  Additional programming announcements for Nashville Film Festival’s 50th Anniversary will continue through the end of September.

Passes and Tickets for the 2019 Nashville Film Festival:

VIP Festival badges are now on sale beginning at $295 at www.nashfilm.org.  VIP Badges provide priority access to films, panels and exclusive parties. Single ticket sales for most films and panels are on sale now and available at www.nashfilm.org.

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ABOUT NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL: The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is a globally-recognized non-profit organization and cultural event presenting the best in world cinema, American independent films and documentaries by veteran masters, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers. With Academy Award® qualifying status, the Nashville Film Festival celebrates innovation, music and the many voices of the human spirit through the art of film. Originally founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival is one of the first film festivals in the United States and will celebrate its 50th Anniversary October 3-12, 2019.  For more information, visit nashfilm.org.

Screen Shot 2019-09-24 at 11.52.10 PM(Source: NashFilm blog)

Telluride, Telluride Film Festival

A Hidden Life (Malick, 2019):USA

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

Filmmaker Terrence Malick’s obsession with the Book of Job has another reincarnation with his latest film, A Hidden Life, from Fox Searchlight Pictures. Exquisitely shot utilizing primarily natural lighting by Cinematographer Jorg Widmer the film is aesthetically pleasing and bursting with spiritual energy. Solid acting performances with a splash of authenticity from a relatively exclusive German-Austrian casting by Anja Dihrberg that includes August Diehl in the lead role and Valerie Pachner portrayoing his loving wife as well as Bruno Ganz, Matthias Shoenaerts and Michael Nyqvist, in supporting roles, contribute immensely to film’s thematic intent. A Hidden Life is based on the a conscientious objecting, Austrian peasant farmer, Franz Jagerstatter, who refused to take an oath of allegiance to Adolph Hitler and sacrifices everything, including his own life, rather than fight with the Nazis in WWII.

Malick sets his masterpiece in authentic Austrian and German World War II locations including the very family farmhouse of the Jagerstatters which, over the years, has become a sort of pilgrimage site. While the film is set in and around World War II, several themes emerge that are not only relevant today – they seem to be evoking men and women who have a moral compass and intestinal fortitude to stand up to what is, quite simply, inherently wrong.

A Hidden Life premiered this year at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Palm d’Or, the festival’s highest award. Terrence Malick, directed and wrote the film, was awarded the François Chalais Prize. The François Chalais Prize is awarded at two main events, the Cannes Film Festival (since 1955) and the Young Reporters Awards (since 1999). The award was created in honor of French journalist and film historian, Francois Chalais. At Cannes, the prize traditionally rewards a film dedicated to the affirmation of life and journalism, It also highlights the very presence of journalists at Cannes.

And, it would be easy to look at today’s news and see a young Greta Thunberg and imagine Malick’s vision. As evocative as Thunberg’s recent performance at the United Nations Climate Action Summit was, Franz Jagerstatter’s stance was deliberately contemplative, sourcing a love and understanding of an earthly wife.Interestingly, several members of the cast and crew drew upon a set of love letters between Jagerstatter and his wife to find the correct impetus in creating characters, designing costumes and the selection of shooting locations. With production design by Sebastian Krawinkel and costuming from Lisy Christl, the work could easily pass for a period piece.

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Valerie Pachner and August Diehl in the film A HIDDEN LIFE. (Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures)

The film has a run time of  two hours and fifty-three minutes and is highly recommended. The scrumptious mise-en-scene never gets old and seems to re-create itself throughout the entire film.

In addition to making its world premiere at Cannes, A Hidden Life made its North American premiere at the recent 46th Telluride Film Festival and is slated to screen in the Special Presentations at the 50th Anniversary of the Nashville Film Festival, October 3rd through October 12th, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to IMDb.com, expect A Hidden Life in theatres on December 13th. Until then, I’ll see you at the movies!

 

 

 

Telluride, Telluride Film Festival

The Report (Burns, 2019):USA

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

Actor Adam Driver picks up right where he left off with his role in BlacKkKlansman as Flip Zimmerman with his portrayal of Senatorial staffer Daniel Jones in The Report, a dramatic, investigative, political thriller based on actual events. The actual events depicted in the film were conducted under the auspices of the United States Central Intelligence Agency’s operation of a post 9/11 Detention and Interrogation Program. Staffer Jones begins investigating the program and discovers subversion of law, destruction of evidentiary materials and encounters stonewalling from the nation’s highest intelligence agency in their attempts to conceal the interrogation program results.

The film has a feel of a thrilling and riveting docu-drama similar to All the President’s Men with the ominous dark undertone reminiscent of the Parallax View.  Notwithstanding, the buffoon-like portrayal of the  $80 million program directors, psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jensen, is quite disturbing and immediately brings to mind the New York City (NYC) Mayor’s Office and the NYC Police Department coerced confessions of the Central Park Five. Burns became inspired to make the film after reading a 2007 Vanity Fair article by Katherine Eban detailing how Mitchell and Jensen became the architects of the country’s enhanced interrogation movement under the George H. Bush Administration.

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Annette Bening portrays United States Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) in Scott Burns’ THE REPORT. (Photo Credit
Atsushi Nishijima)

But, it’s Adam Driver as Daniel Jones in a Frank Serpico-like performance that makes The Report work. Having John Hamm in the mix as Denis McDonough, President Obama’s National Security Council’s chief of Strategic Communication, adds a powerful element to the story’s setting. Annette Bening delivers an uncanny likeness and seems to channel United States Senator Diane Feinstein, (D-Calif.). Maura Tierney, Sarah Goldberg, Ted Levine and Matthew Rhys help round out a strong ensemble cast assembled by Avy Kaufman. Meanwhile, Production Designer Ethan Tobman, creates a realistic set conducive to the suspension of disbelief.

And, it’s Jones’ relentless pursuit of the truth that is most inspiring as Jones spends years uncovering and defending what is right. What results is a nearly 7000-page classified (still to this day) report and the longest investigation in the history of the United States Senate. What’s more mind-boggling is that few Americans are aware of it. Instead learning from what happened in the program’s, the nation’s deep state apparatus hid, stonewalled and redacted any criminal wrongdoing of the program’s sadistic directors and violated the American people’s trust which leaves the viewer to wonder and question if our democracy is broken beyond repair.

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Jon Hamm portrays Denis McDonough in Scott Burns’ THE REPORT. (Photo Credit
Atsushi Nishijima)

The film is slated to be released into theatres on November 15th, 2019, and will be screening during the 50th Anniversary of the Nashville Film Festival, Oct0ber 3rd through October 12, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee. The Report is an Amazon Studios Original film, written and directed by Scott Z. Burns with a run time of 118 minutes. The story seemed unfinished…….and it is. Simply because the American people were held in the dark due to national security until now. The Report shines a bright light – illuminating power and exposing the truth. A “must-see” film!

Nashville Film Festival

Nashville Film Festival Appoints Jason Padgitt as Executive Director

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) announced that its board of directors has appointed global marketing executive Jason Padgitt as its new Executive Director in a key advancement of its strategic growth plan.

Padgitt joins the Nashville Film Festival following more than 20 years of leadership in the music and entertainment industries with deep experience in high-profile branding, consumer marketing, digital marketing and communications. Most recently, he served as the Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications for Nashville-based Gibson Brands. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and as a leading marketing and PR executive with Los Angeles-based agency, Rogers & Cowan.

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Jason Padgitt  ((Photo credit: NashFilm Festival)

“I am extremely excited to lead the Nashville Film Festival into the next stage of development and growth,” said Jason Padgitt.

“This organization has an incredible heritage of discovering and elevating creative talent from all around the world. I look forward to accelerating that success by significantly increasing the organization’s visibility, cultural importance and global reach.”

 

Padgitt will lead the Nashville Film Festival in growing its brand equity, strengthening its global cultural impact and building engaging year-round programming and world-class experiences for the creative community, membership, audiences and supporting sponsors.

“The board views Jason’s hiring as a defining moment for the organization,” said Jim

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Jim Scherer, Nashville Film Festival board president. (Photo credit: NashFilm Festival)

Scherer, Nashville Film Festival board president. “It speaks highly of Jason that he was the board’s choice to lead the festival into the future, especially as we approach the festival’s 50th anniversary year in 2019. He is a talented executive with the heart and desire to see the Nashville Film Festival become a must-attend event for this region and attendees from around the world.”

ABOUT NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL
The Nashville Film Festival will celebrate its 50th annual event Oct. 3-12, 2019. The globally recognized festival presents the best in world cinema, American independent films and documentaries by veteran masters, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers. With Academy Award® qualifying status, the Nashville Film Festival is widely-recognized as one of the fastest-growing festivals in the U.S. and has screened several Oscar® winning films including “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,” “Curfew,” “Ida,” and “Bear Story.” Oscar nominated films previously featured at the festival include, “Last Men in Aleppo,” “Abacus: Too Small to Jail,” “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me,” “Dogtooth,” and “Ajami,” among many others. Celebrity honorees and participants have included Oprah Winfrey, Steven Tyler, Susan Sarandon, William H. Macy, Al Gore, Nicole Kidman, Danny Glover and many more.  Additional information on the festival can be found at nashvillefilmfestival.org.

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(Source: NashFilm Press Release)

Nashville Film Festival

Early Music-Based Docs at Nashville Are Making Sweet Vibrations

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL JUMP STARTS 50th ANNIVERSARY AND ANNOUNCES SELECT MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES INCLUDING “BLUEBIRD,” “CHUCK BERRY,” “BORN INTO THE GIG,” “COOL DADDIO,” AND “THE SHERIFF OF MARS”

The Nashville Film Festival, taking place October 3-12, 2019, announces early music documentary features for 2019, including the world premiere of “Chuck Berry” by filmmaker Jon Brewer; “Born Into the Gig” by filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbroner; “Cool Daddio: The Second Youth of R. Stevie Moore” from filmmakers Imogen Putler and Monika Baran; and “The Sheriff of Mars” from filmmakers Jason Ressler and Matthew Woolf.

 

The Nashville Film Festival is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, making it one of the longest running independent film festivals in the U.S. Under the new leadership of Executive Director, Jason Padgitt, the Nashville Film Festival will feature a diverse lineup of more than 250 films with an increased focus on music-based films, films from female directors and top American independent narrative feature films.

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Nashville Film Festival’s Executive Director, Jason Padgitt (Photo courtesy of NashFilm)

“The Nashville Film Festival is celebrating an incredible 50 year milestone by honoring the history of the festival while pointing the organization to a future of expanded opportunities for filmmakers worldwide and for the amazing arts community here in Tennessee,” said Nashville Film Festival’s Executive Director, Jason Padgitt. “There are so many great stories to share at this year’s festival and we’re very excited about all of the incredible films and events planned for this historic event.”

“We are thrilled to announce these music documentary titles for our 50th Festival. Each film truly complements Nashville’s wide variety of musical and artistic roots,” said Lauren Ponto, Programming Manager for the Nashville Film Festival. “We are looking forward to presenting these powerful music documentaries as just one part of our amazing full slate of films.”

 

Lauren Ponto, Programming Manager for the Nashville Film Festival
Lauren Ponto, Programming Manager for the Nashville Film Festival

“We are thrilled to announce these music documentary titles for our 50th Festival. Each film truly complements Nashville’s wide variety of musical and artistic roots,” said Lauren Ponto, Programming Manager for the Nashville Film Festival.

“We are looking forward to presenting these powerful music documentaries as just one part of our amazing full slate of films.”

 

 

Select Music Documentaries Include:

Chuck Berry: The Original King Of Rock 'N' Roll

Title: CHUCK BERRY

Dir.: Jon Brewer

Cast: Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, Themetta Berry, Joe Perry, Charles Berry, Stevie Van Zandt

Synopsis: In this highly anticipated feature- length documentary, the absolute instigator of Rock and Roll, CHUCK BERRY is truly revealed, with exclusive access. Despite his iconic status, and reverence for his talent by rock’s heroes John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards, Steve Van Zandt, Joe Perry, Alice Cooper) all featured, Chuck Berry was a family man. He was a prolific craftsman of word and chords; an undisputed and stunning combination of talent and charisma. Award-winning Film maker Jon Brewer (BB King The Life of Riley, Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark), lends new insight to the man known as the bedrock of Rock n Roll.

Premiere Status: World Premiere

BLUEBIRD

Title:     BLUEBIRD

Dir.:       Brian Loschiavo

Cast:      Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Maren Morris, Jason Isbell

Synopsis: It’s where megastars like Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and Taylor Swift got their break, and where emerging singer-songwriters continue to flock for a chance to perform original material. But The Bluebird Cafe, this unassuming venue nestled in a suburban Nashville strip-mall, faces an uncertain future. Featuring unforgettable performances by Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Maren Morris, Vince Gill, Jason Isbell and many more, we’ll explore the past and present of this accidental landmark that has altered the course of music history.

Premiere Status: Southeast US Premiere

COOL DADDIO: THE SECOND YOUTH OF R. STEVIE MOORE

Title:     COOL DADDIO: THE SECOND YOUTH OF R. STEVIE MOORE

Dir.:       Imogen Putler, Monika Baran

Cast:      R. Stevie Moore, Mac DeMarco, Ariel Pink, Theophilus London, Tim Burgess, David Shrigley

Synopsis: Cool Daddio: The Second Youth of R. Stevie Moore tells a story of the greatest ‘undiscovered’ musical genius of all time. He has recorded 400 albums in 40 years… in his bedroom. Unique and eccentric. Unrecognized outside of a small group of music insiders, until now…

Premiere Status: US Premiere

 

Title:     BORN INTO THE GIG

Dir.:       Kate Davis and David Heilbroner

Cast:      Chris Stills, Skip Marley, Kori Withers, Ben and Sally Taylor

Synopsis: BORN INTO THE GIG tracks the children of rock stars James Taylor, Carly Simon, Bill Withers, Stephen Stills and the Marleys as they become singer- songwriters in the shadow of their legendary parents.  The path for these young artists is tricky — filled with family tension, humor, and courage as they strive to create their own music.

Premiere Status: World Premiere

THE SHERIFF OF MARS

Title:     THE SHERIFF OF MARS

Dir.:       Jason Ressler, Matthew Woolf

Cast:      Daniel Antopolsky, Townes Van Zand, Bill Hedgepeth, Sylvia Antopolsky

Synopsis: In space, no one can hear you sing…. The story of a lost singer who did everything he could not to become successful and ended up being so anyway.

Premiere Status: World Premiere

 

ABOUT NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL

The Nashville Film Festival is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, making it one of the longest running independent film festivals in the U.S. Under the new leadership of Executive Director, Jason Padgitt, the Nashville Film Festival will feature a diverse lineup of more than 250 films with an increased focus on music-based films, films from female directors and top American independent narrative feature films.

The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is a globally-recognized non-profit organization and cultural event presenting the best in world cinema, American independent films and documentaries by veteran masters, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers. With Academy Award® qualifying status, the Nashville Film Festival celebrates innovation, music and the many voices of the human spirit through the art of film and partners with the Thompson Nashville to host guests from all over the world. Originally founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival is one of the first film festivals in the United States and will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in October, 2019.  For more information, visit nashfilm.org.

Screen Shot 2019-09-25 at 8.42.21 AM

(Source: NashFilm blog)

Telluride, Telluride Film Festival

Uncut Gems (Safdie, 2019):USA

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

I had the good fortune of being at the 46th Telluride Film Festival and working in the Werner Herzog Theatre with a reserved seat. I didn’t know what to expect on Saturday afternoon, the 31st of August, 2019. But before I knew it….

Bam! Hard-hitting, independent filmmakers, Safdie Brothers (Good Time), Josh and Benny, screened a frenetic film, Uncut Gems,  starring, in an Oscar-caliber performance, funny-man Adam Sandler. The film is executively produced by legendary filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, and was one of my favorite films at this year’s film festival.

In Uncut Gems, Sandler plays a hustling, manic, charismatic Jewish jeweler, Howard Ratner, in New York City’s Diamond District. National Basketball Association’s future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett of the famed Boston Celtics, lends a supporting role with a remarkably cool performance as Ratner gets himself roiled into an ever-deepening crisis.

Think of Mean Streets in the Big Apple’s hustle and bustle of insatiable appetites and self-destructive behavior. Cinematographer Darius Khondji captures memorable visuals of the New York City skyline. The film’s narrative, however, belongs to Sandler via the Safdie Brothers. I found myself rooting for Ratner and then shook my head as the film’s tragic hero/anti-hero continued to hustle against all odds.

The musical score by Daniel Lopatin rocks. That’s all I can say. It rocks! Benny Safdie and co-writer Ronald Bronstein edit the film so that it mimics the roller-coaster-ride narrative. The younger viewers were gaga during the film while the older generation seemed to be going bananas with the frenetic pacing. Nevertheless, the Safdie Brothers are perfecting their art. The production values are strong and the mise-en-scene provides an abundance of detail to the film’s character and to the film’s narrative.

In the Q & A following the film, Benny and Josh Safdie discussed their love of the fast-paced, New York City Diamond District vendors and confessed their infatuation with the Saul Bellow and Phillip Roth tragic-comic novels of the Jewish-American experience. And, interestingly, in the same vein as Joel and Ethan Cohen, the Safdies do all facets of filmmaking in collaboration. Admittedly, the Safdies knew from the start they had a winner with Sandler.

Sandler, known mainly for his comedic roles, also participated in the Q & A revealing he pushed both brothers hard on his character, Howard Ratner. The result is a highly sophisticated performance that will stand as one of, if not the very best, of Adam Sandler’s career. Hats off to casting team of Francine Maisler and Jennifer Venditti. Also, Mr. Sandler’s agent’s persistence in getting his client and the Safdie’s to meet, was noted and gratefully acknowledged by Sandler himself.

With a run time of two hours and fifteen minutes the film moves at an extraordinary pace. And when it ended, it left me wanting more. More Safdie Brothers and more Howard Ratner. The film is scheduled to be released by A24 into theatres on Christmas Day, December 25th. My recommendation is after you finish shopping, catch the matinee or after dinner see the evening show. Either way you won’t be disappointed. Very warmly recommended.

 

Nashville Film Festival

NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES DYNAMIC 2019 CREATORS CONFERENCE LINEUP

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

DIVERSE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PANELS OFFER UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR INSIGHTS, NETWORKING AND CAREER GROWTH – OCTOBER 4-5, 2019 AT THE NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL

The Nashville Film Festival, celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, is proud to be hosting the NashFilm Creators Conference October 4 – 5, 2019. The Creators Conference is an annual event where creative-minded people can connect with their peers, discover the latest industry trends, and expand their networks. The event offers attendees the opportunity to take a look at what is happening in their community as well as engage with film, television, and music industry veterans from all over the country.

The NashFilm Creators Conference combines professional development of a conference with the kinetic energy of a festival. Sessions include intimate conversations and diverse panels covering a range of topics within this ever-changing medium. With Nashville’s unique musical footprint, the conference will also take a deep dive into how music and film work hand-in-hand to tell compelling stories across multiple platforms.

Stay tuned for more!

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ABOUT

The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is a globally-recognized non-profit organization and cultural event presenting the best in the world cinema, American independent films and documentaries by veteran masters, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers. With Academy Award® qualifying status, the Nashville Film Festival celebrates innovation, music and the many voices of the human spirit through the art of film.

(Source: NashFilm blog)

Nashville Film Festival

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ANNOUNCED – NASHVILLE

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

The Nashville Film Festival, celebrating its 50th Anniversary October 3-12, 2019, has unveiled the selections for its Special Presentations category. This year’s special presentations take viewers into the World War II-era perspective of a young German boy who is forced to reconsider the nationalism in which he was raised, a searing behind-the-scenes look at the dissolution of a marriage, and a darkly comedic dive into the life of a struggling comedian and his unlikely friendship with his eccentric dermatologist.

Selections include the dark and clever Hitler comedy Jojo Rabbit, fresh off of its run at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Marriage Story, a raw and honest dive into love and relationships that was a favorite in Toronto as well as the Venice Film Festival. Also featured is the powerful narrative Clemency, winner of the 2019 Sundance Grand Jury Prize, starring Alfre Woodard, a prison warden overseeing death row executions, as she struggles with the justification and morality of the job at hand.

The Special Presentations category will also include Bacurau; By the Grace of God; Foster Boy; A Hidden Life; The Kill Team; and Standing Up, Falling Down. Selections for the Narrative Features program include Alice, The Best of Dorien B., The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, Burning Cane, Dirty God, Eternal Winter, Retrospekt, Saint Frances, Watch List, and This World Won’t Break.

 

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The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is a globally-recognized non-profit organization and cultural event presenting the best in the world cinema, American independent films and documentaries by veteran masters, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers.

 

 

 

 

Heartland Film Festival

The Heartland International Film Festival announces selections for 28th edition (October 10-20)

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

Marielle Heller’s A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD is
the Opening Night selection, Destin Daniel Cretton’s JUST MERCY
is the Closing Night choice, Noah Baumbach’s MARRIAGE STORY
takes the Centerpiece Screening slot, and Fernando Meirelles’
THE TWO POPES will be the Showcase Screening

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PRESS RELEASE

Indianapolis, IN (September 18, 2019) – The Heartland International Film Festival announced the official selections for its 28th edition, taking place October 10-20. Four top-tier titles expected to be major awards players this year have been secured for each of the gala slots for this year’s edition of the film festival, and a number of attention-getting films will join them as Heartland takes another major step toward being a leader on the regional circuit. Marielle Heller’s Tom Hanks-starrer A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD was chosen as the Opening Night Gala film, and Destin Daniel Cretton’s JUST MERCY will screen as the Closing Night Gala selection. Noah Baumbach’s MARRIAGE STORY is set to be the Centerpiece Screening, and Fernando Meirelles’ THE TWO POPES will be the Showcase Screening.

MARRIAGE STORY, THE TWO POPES

Nine films will make their world premieres, including; Julie Sokolow’s BAREFOOT: THE MARK BAUMER STORY; Brian Presley’s THE GREAT ALASKAN RACE; Aaron McCann and Dominic Pearce’s KOKO: A RED DOG STORY; Nate James Bakke’s MAN CAMP; Jason Mac’s THE OLDMAN AND THE POND; Chateaubriand Bezerra, Michael Basha, Sarah Gross, Reeyaz Habib, Sade Clacken Joseph, Julia Kennedy, Maria De Sanctis, Christina Jun, and Sohil Vaidya’s
SAMIR; Stephen Edwards’ SYNDROME K; Ashton Gleckman’s WE SHALL NOT DIE NOW; and Skyler Lawson’s WHELM.

Among the 7 films making their U.S. premieres at the Heartland International Film Festival this year will be; Carlye Rubin and Katie Green’s 1275 DAYS; Dani Tenenbaum’s A NEW CHRISTMAS; Bill Crossland’s CATCHING UP; Vivienne Kernick and Kirsty Griffin’s HOUSE OF CHAMPIONS; Rebecca Panian’s LOVERS; Anjali Bhushan’s MY HOME INDIA; and Nora Fingscheidt’s SYSTEM CRASHER (Systemsprenger).

As it continues the robust growth the film festival has exhibited in the last couple of years, Heartland International Film Festival has nearly doubled the number of films to be screened this year in comparison to last year, showcasing more than 210 films (182 features, 28 shorts) representing 43 countries, and will hand out cash prizes totaling more than $60,000 at the conclusion of the film festival

“We could not be more excited about what’s in store for this year’s Heartland International Film Festival and welcome filmgoers to explore our bold cinematic space,” said Craig Prater, Heartland Film President. “From award contenders, premieres, stars, and sensational events, Heartland is proud to be able to represent this important art form on such an international scale here in Indiana.”

Heller’s A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD stars Tom Hanks as the iconic and beloved Mr. Rogers in the film based on the real life meeting and subsequent friendship that developed between Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. The film is already a certified crown-pleaser following its debut at the Toronto Film Festival and will open Heartland, screening at Newfields on Thursday, October 10.

Destin Daniel Cretton’s JUST MERCY will serve as the Closing Night Gala selection, screening at Newfields on Sunday, October 20 at Newfields. The film follows the history-making battle for justice undertaken by world-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson concerning the case of a condemned death row prisoner whom he fought to free. Starring Academy Award Winners Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson, in addition to Michael B. Jordan.

On Wednesday, October 16 a Newfields, Noah Baumbach’s MARRIAGE STORY has been selected as this year’s Centerpiece Screening. The film is an incisive and compassionate look at a marriage breaking up and a family staying together with an incredible star-driven cast including Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Ray Liotta.

The following evening, Thursday, October 17 (also at Newfields), Fernando Meirelles’ THE TWO POPES takes this year’s Showcase screening slot. The film features two powerhouse actors, Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, as the traditionalist Pope Benedict and the reformist future Pope Francis, who face an uncomfortable task of finding common ground to forge a new path for the Catholic Church.

Additional special events include the previously announced Pioneering Spirit: Life Achievement Award presentations to Michael Apted (prior to a screening of his film, 63 UP), and Cloris Leachman (via taped acceptance prior to a screening of her latest film, WHEN LAST WE SPOKE). Also previously announced, Brendan Fraser will come to Heartland for a special film retrospective including a 20th Anniversary screening of his blockbuster hit, THE MUMMY, which will include a Q&A with Deadline Hollywood’s Chief Film Critic Pete Hammond.

Adding to Heartland’s Anniversary screening series, will be two more special events: A 40th Anniversary presentation of Peter Yates’ classic Indiana-favorite film, BREAKING AWAY will take place at Newfields on Saturday, October 19 with the star of the film, Dennis Christopher in attendance. A 50th Anniversary presentation of John Schlesinger’s Academy Award Best Picture winner MIDNIGHT COWBOY will take pace at AMC Castleton Square on Tuesday, October 15. Photographer Michael Childers scheduled to attend and add some behind-the-scenes details with a moderated Q&A hosted by Longtime Palm Springs Desert Sun arts reporter Bruce Fessier.

THE GARDEN LEFT BEHIND, GREENER GRASS

This year’s Narrative Finalists, vying for Heartland’s $25,000 Grand Prize, include; Tom Quinn’s COLEWELL, featuring a startling dramatic turn by Karen Allen as a woman facing an unexpected retirement as her small town post office is slated for closure; Flavio Alves’ THE GARDEN LEFT BEHIND, winner of a number of awards, including Best of Fest at the Bentonville Film Festival, the film follows the relationship between a young trans woman and her grandmother, as they struggle to build a life for themselves as undocumented immigrants in New York City; Jocelyn DeBoer, and Dawn Luebbe’s twisted comedy GREENER GRASS
set in a surreal suburban neighborhood where every adult engages in more and more bizarre behavior in a competition for acceptance; Timothy Busfield’s GUEST ARTIST, which stars Jeff Daniels as a legendary but troubled playwright, who arrives at a small Michigan town at Christmastime to mount his latest play; and Bora Kim’s HOUSE OF HUMMINGBIRD, which focuses on a lonely 14-year-old, Eun-hee who feels a new teacher may really understand her.
FOR SAMA, JUMP SHOT

The Documentary Film Finalists, also in competition for a $25,000 Grand Prize, include; Davy Rothbart’s 17 BLOCKS about a Washington, D.C. family, who began to film their daily lives in America’s most dangerous neighborhood — just 17 blocks behind the U.S. Capitol building; Jenifer McShane’s ERNIE & JOE, an intimate portrait of two Texas police officers who are helping change the way police respond to mental health calls; Waad Al-Khateab, and Edward Watts’s FOR SAMA, a video love letter from a young mother to her daughter, which tells the story of her life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo; Jacob Hamilton’s JUMP SHOT, which looks at the inspiring true story of Kenny Sailors, the developer of the modern day jump shot in basketball; and Irene Taylor Brodsky’s MOONLIGHT SONATA: DEAFNESS IN THREE MOVEMENTS, a deeply personal memoir about a deaf boy growing up, and his deaf grandfather growing old.

IN FABRIC, WAVES, PARASITE

Additional highlights among the jam-packed schedule dotted with award-winners, hot film festival titles, and the film festival’s first stab at horror include; Ben Berman’s THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY, which begins following the final tour of a dying magician – and becomes an unexpected and increasingly bizarre journey; Chinonye Chukwu’s CLEMENCY, A Grand Jury Prize winner at Sundance, which stars Alfre Woodard as a prison warden confronting the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill; Peter Strickland’s surreal and frightening haunted dress story, IN FABRIC, marks the Heartland’s first dedicated foray into programming horror and genre films; Nadav Lapid’s SYNONYMS a Golden Bear winner at the Berlin Film Festival, about a young Israeli man attempting to start fresh in Paris with the aid of his French-language dictionary; and two major buzz-worthy titles with; WAVES, Trey Edwards Shults’s latest, about two young couples navigating the emotional minefield of growing up and falling in love; and Bong Joon Ho’s PARASITE, about an unemployed family that takes peculiar interest in a wealthy and glamorous family for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident. The film was the winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Film festival passes and tickets are on-sale now. For more information, go to: http://heartlandfilmfestival.org.

Telluride, Telluride Film Festival

The Assistant (Green, 2019):USA

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

Viewed as part of the 46th Telluride Film Festival at the Werner Herzog Theatre.

Written and directed by Kitty Green (Casting JonBenet, The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul), The Assistant from Cinereach and Forensic Films, tells the story of Jane, a talented young production office assistant for a powerful corporate studio head. Actress Julia Garner (Ozark) portrays the young assistant freshly out of college and new to the industry. Other cast members included stars Matthew Macfadyen, Juliana Canfield, Kristine Froseth, Jon Orsini, Dagmara Domińczyk, Makenzie Leigh, Noah Robbins, and Purva Bedi.

The film follows a day in the life of an office assistant as Director Green allows the camera to capture the mundane tasks undertaken from preparing the coffee maker to ensuring the correct number of designer water bottles are readied for an upcoming visit. As the day progresses, an angry wife calls in and the assistant is passed the call. Despite suggestions from her co-workers to assuage the wife with a plausible meeting occupying the executives time, the assistant goes her own way offering no excuse fro the executives absence leading to a blistering rebuke from the executive over the telephone. This happens again later in the day and the executive takes an interest in the assistant telling her he will make her great.

A visit to the human resource office to explain the executive’s actions including flying a beautiful young waitress in from Idaho and putting the waitress up at a posh New York City hotel and handing her a production office assistant position for which the waitress has no clue in how to do. The human resource director stonewalls the assistant’s efforts and reminds her that she is new and needs to learn from the experience if she wants a career in the industry. A supermodel shows up to retrieve an ear ring lost inside a hotel room couch under the executive’s name. All this happens on the assistant’s father’s birthday who she eventually calls from a dingy coffee shop near the office. All in a day’s work.

Undoubtedly, Green was inspired by the media frenzy surrounding the Weinstein Company and the Harvey Weinstein meltdown as the studio executive’s past actions were brought into the public eye. Interestingly, Green tangentially allows the viewer to experience the uncomfortableness from an office assistant’s point of view who has aspirations of being a film producer. Shot in darker tones and at times in a chiaroscuro palette, Cinematographer Michael Latham captures the claustrophobic and stifling atmosphere of the work space. Fletcher Chancey handled the production design with John Arnos steering the art direction. In addition, Tamar-kali composed an original score for the film.

The Assistant, with a short run time of 85 minutes, is an underscored character study that speaks volumes of the degradation and abuse that occurred inside and outside the studio executive’s workplace. Green makes a statement providing the viewer with an introspective experience of the clammy and dank office atmospheric of a powerful studio executive driving a runaway locomotive. Warmly recommended.