Yay! My favorite film of 2015 was the big winner at the recently concluded Film Independent Spirit Awards taking home the best feature, director (Tom McCarthy), screenplay, and editing. It was previously announced that the film was the winner of the prestigious Robert Altman Award (ensemble) as well.
Oh and kudos to the Film Independent Spirit Awards for bestowing their Best Supporting Actress Award to Mya Taylor for "Tangerine!" Taylor becomes the first transgender performer to receive major acting award! See her acceptance speech right here.
Let's see if this will continue with tonight's Oscars. See my full Oscar predictions right here.
Here's the complete list of winners of the Film Independent Spirit Awards:
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
"Anomalisa"
"Beasts of No Nation"
"Carol"
*** "Spotlight" (Winner)
"Tangerine"
Best Director
Cary Joji Fukunaga, "Beasts of No Nation"
Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson, "Anomalisa"
David Robert Mitchell,...
Oh and kudos to the Film Independent Spirit Awards for bestowing their Best Supporting Actress Award to Mya Taylor for "Tangerine!" Taylor becomes the first transgender performer to receive major acting award! See her acceptance speech right here.
Let's see if this will continue with tonight's Oscars. See my full Oscar predictions right here.
Here's the complete list of winners of the Film Independent Spirit Awards:
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
"Anomalisa"
"Beasts of No Nation"
"Carol"
*** "Spotlight" (Winner)
"Tangerine"
Best Director
Cary Joji Fukunaga, "Beasts of No Nation"
Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson, "Anomalisa"
David Robert Mitchell,...
- 2/28/2016
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.Scroll down for full list of nominations
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly...
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly...
- 11/24/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly impressed critics.
Magnolia Pictures earned...
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly impressed critics.
Magnolia Pictures earned...
- 11/24/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the La Film Festival and Film Independent at Lacma, announced nominations for the 2016 Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at W Hollywood, with actors John Boyega and Elizabeth Olsen presenting the nominations.
Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.
“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”
Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman...
Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.
“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”
Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman...
- 11/24/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Todd Haynes' "Carol" is shaping up to be the movie to beat this awards season. Based on Patricia Highsmith's The Price of Salt, the romantic drama stars Cate Blanchett as an older, married woman who is developing some strong feelings towards a seasonal shopgirl played by Rooney Mara. And the actresses may have to prepare their acceptance speeches! "Carol" leads the pack of nominees for the 31st Independent Spirit Awards!
I'm also very happy that "Tangerine" by Sean Baker received 4 nods for Best Feature, Director, Female Lead (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), and Supporting Female for Mya Taylor. shot mostly on iPhone, this small-budget wonder is truly what the Independent Spirit is all about!
Some of my few gripes are not a whole lot of love for the fantastic "Room" (just screenplay, female lead for Brie Larson, and editing -- what about the awesome child actor Jason Tremblay?), and that...
I'm also very happy that "Tangerine" by Sean Baker received 4 nods for Best Feature, Director, Female Lead (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), and Supporting Female for Mya Taylor. shot mostly on iPhone, this small-budget wonder is truly what the Independent Spirit is all about!
Some of my few gripes are not a whole lot of love for the fantastic "Room" (just screenplay, female lead for Brie Larson, and editing -- what about the awesome child actor Jason Tremblay?), and that...
- 11/24/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
In its 31st year, the Film Independent Spirt Awards showcase the best that modest (and, occasionally, lower budget) filmmaking has to offer annually. This year, it’s little surprise the the stellar Carol is leading the pack with six nominations, while Spotlight and Beasts of No Nation are close behind with five each. On the actual smaller scale of productions, the iPhone-shot drama Tangerine picked up a heft four nominations, a film that, alongside Anomalisa and the aforementioned titles, rounds out their Best Feature category.
Ahead of a ceremony on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 5Pm Est, check out the full list of nominations below, which also recognize It Follows, Bone Tomahawk, The End of the Tour, Room, The Mend, James White, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Heaven Knows What, and more.
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
“Anomalisa”
“Beasts of No Nation”
“Carol”
“Spotlight...
Ahead of a ceremony on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 5Pm Est, check out the full list of nominations below, which also recognize It Follows, Bone Tomahawk, The End of the Tour, Room, The Mend, James White, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Heaven Knows What, and more.
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
“Anomalisa”
“Beasts of No Nation”
“Carol”
“Spotlight...
- 11/24/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Summer may be over, but with this year marking the 35th anniversary of Friday the 13th, it's never too late to visit the lake. Ahead of the event's November 4th start date, the folks behind the Denver Film Festival have announced the first wave of programming, including a special November 13th 35mm screening of Sean S. Cunningham's monumental slasher film.
Press Release: October 9, 2015 (Denver, Colo.) - The Denver Film Festival (Dff), produced by Denver Film Society (Dfs), announced its first wave of programming. Recognized as the Rocky Mountain Region's premier film event, the festival will feature a focus on Polish Cinema, sidebars for CinemaQ, CineLatino, Late Night and Women+Film, as well as robust Shorts Packages and Music Spotlight programming.
"In keeping with our long and rich tradition of presenting the best in Eastern European cinema, we at the Denver Film Festival are proud to announce that this year's...
Press Release: October 9, 2015 (Denver, Colo.) - The Denver Film Festival (Dff), produced by Denver Film Society (Dfs), announced its first wave of programming. Recognized as the Rocky Mountain Region's premier film event, the festival will feature a focus on Polish Cinema, sidebars for CinemaQ, CineLatino, Late Night and Women+Film, as well as robust Shorts Packages and Music Spotlight programming.
"In keeping with our long and rich tradition of presenting the best in Eastern European cinema, we at the Denver Film Festival are proud to announce that this year's...
- 10/14/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Read More: Meet the 2015 SXSW Filmmakers #1: Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti Navigate a Terminal Illness in 'A Woman Like Me' After being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2011, Brooklyn-based filmmaker Alex Sichel decided to confront and process her terminal illness through film. In order to get over the initial struggle of making a movie about cancer, a topic not fit for "the hot babe movie," as she puts it, Sichel has created a fictional, more optimistic alter-ego named Anna. The resulting film, "A Woman Like Me," is a narrative-documentary hybrid that gives the director an outlet to explore her own experience and take an active role in combatting her illness. The trailer promises a delightful blend of the imaginative and intimate, offering several candid moments with Sichel and imaginative encounters with her alter-ego Anna, played by Lili Taylor. To help "A Woman Like Me" reach a wider.
- 9/9/2015
- by Tarek Shoukri
- Indiewire
The SXSW Film Festival has never been seen as a marketplace for new movies on par with Sundance or Cannes, but the Austin gathering nevertheless provides the first glimpse of many new titles without distribution. While the latest edition came to a close over the weekend, a number of its memorable ingredients remain unsold. Whether that's simply because buyers have already passed on them or simply haven't had a chance to consider their options, these movies continue to be fresh, conversation-worthy options that deserve audiences far beyond one city in Texas. Here are 10 highlights that deserve a future in theaters and VOD. Read More: SXSW 2015: A List of Criticwire Grades for Every Feature "A Woman Like Me"Alex Sichel died before the completion of this personal and idiosyncratic portrait of her experiences with cancer, but her voice is evident in every scene of the heartfelt project. Completed by Elizabeth Giamatti...
- 3/23/2015
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Read More: SXSW: Complete List of Winners at the 2015 Film Awards In advance of this year's SXSW Film Festival, Indiewire sent out a questionnaire to the filmmakers taking their work to Austin. Below you'll find some of the inspirations for the competing films, both narrative and documentary. Here are the filmmakers' responses: Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti ("A Woman Like Me"): We were inspired by a wide range of movies: "All That Jazz," Agnes Varda's "The Beaches of Agnes," "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm," "Day For Night," "The Wizard of Oz," "Blue Vinyl," "Reds," Abbas Kiarostami's "Close-Up…." Alison Bagnall ("Funny Bunny"): I don't know if certain films inspire me anymore, though Jerry Schatzberg's "Scarecrow" is always an inspiration. Certain directors inspire me. The usual European suspects; Polanski, Pasolini, Fassbinder-but now it's...
- 3/19/2015
- by David Ballard
- Indiewire
Winner of a Special Jury Award for Directing at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival, Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti’s A Woman Like Me is a frankly disarming and emotionally piercing hybrid doc as well as a necessary directorial collaboration. Filmmaker Alex Sichel’s 1997 debut feature, All Over Me, was an important entry in the decade’s New Queer Cinema, a scrappy teen lesbian drama that, in the L.A. Weekly, critic Manohla Dargis wrote “comes closer to unlocking the secret lives of girls than any other recent American movie.” In the years following that film, Sichel taught directing at Nyu, raised a […]...
- 3/18/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Winner of a Special Jury Award for Directing at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival, Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti’s A Woman Like Me is a frankly disarming and emotionally piercing hybrid doc as well as a necessary directorial collaboration. Filmmaker Alex Sichel’s 1997 debut feature, All Over Me, was an important entry in the decade’s New Queer Cinema, a scrappy teen lesbian drama that, in the L.A. Weekly, critic Manohla Dargis wrote “comes closer to unlocking the secret lives of girls than any other recent American movie.” In the years following that film, Sichel taught directing at Nyu, raised a […]...
- 3/18/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
The winners of this year’s jury and special awards were revealed tonight [March 17] at the ceremony hosted by Vanessa Bayer.
SXSW has announced the winners of this year’s Jury and Special Awards.
Trey Edward Shults’ Krisha, expanded from his award-winning short of the same name, was named the Grand Jury winner of the Narrative Feature Competition, with Special Jury Recognition for Visual Excellence going to Creative Control director Benjamin Dickinson.
Grand Jury winner of the Documentary Feature Competition went to Scott Christopherson & Brad Barber’s Peace Officer, with Special Jury Recognition for Directing going to A Woman Like Me directors Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti.
Twinsters directors Samantha Futerman and Ryan Miyamoto were awarded Special Jury Recognition for Editing.
Kyle Buchanan, Wesley Morris and Krista Smith made up the Narrative Feature Competition jury, while the Documentary Feature Competition jury consisted of Tabitha Jackson, Jason Spingarn-Koff and Alison Willmore.
Short Film Jury Awards went to the likes...
SXSW has announced the winners of this year’s Jury and Special Awards.
Trey Edward Shults’ Krisha, expanded from his award-winning short of the same name, was named the Grand Jury winner of the Narrative Feature Competition, with Special Jury Recognition for Visual Excellence going to Creative Control director Benjamin Dickinson.
Grand Jury winner of the Documentary Feature Competition went to Scott Christopherson & Brad Barber’s Peace Officer, with Special Jury Recognition for Directing going to A Woman Like Me directors Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti.
Twinsters directors Samantha Futerman and Ryan Miyamoto were awarded Special Jury Recognition for Editing.
Kyle Buchanan, Wesley Morris and Krista Smith made up the Narrative Feature Competition jury, while the Documentary Feature Competition jury consisted of Tabitha Jackson, Jason Spingarn-Koff and Alison Willmore.
Short Film Jury Awards went to the likes...
- 3/18/2015
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
Though SXSW will carry on screening films through Saturday, the awards were presented tonight. Trey Edward Shults's Krisha wins the Narrative Feature Grand Jury Award, while Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber's Peace Officer takes the Documentary Feature Grand Jury Award. Among the other winners: Benjamin Dickinson's Creative Control, editor Jeff Consiglio for Samantha Futerman and Ryan Miyamoto's Twinsters, Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti for A Woman Like Me, Yvonne Kerékgyártó's Free Entry and Bill Ross and Turner Ross for Western. » - David Hudson...
- 3/18/2015
- Keyframe
Though SXSW will carry on screening films through Saturday, the awards were presented tonight. Trey Edward Shults's Krisha wins the Narrative Feature Grand Jury Award, while Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber's Peace Officer takes the Documentary Feature Grand Jury Award. Among the other winners: Benjamin Dickinson's Creative Control, editor Jeff Consiglio for Samantha Futerman and Ryan Miyamoto's Twinsters, Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti for A Woman Like Me, Yvonne Kerékgyártó's Free Entry and Bill Ross and Turner Ross for Western. » - David Hudson...
- 3/18/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
Though SXSW will carry on screening films through Saturday, the awards were presented tonight. Trey Edward Shults's Krisha wins the Narrative Feature Grand Jury Award, while Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber's Peace Officer takes the Documentary Feature Grand Jury Award. Among the other winners: Benjamin Dickinson's Creative Control, editor Jeff Consiglio for Samantha Futerman and Ryan Miyamoto's Twinsters, Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti for A Woman Like Me, Yvonne Kerékgyártó's Free Entry and Bill Ross and Turner Ross for Western. » - David Hudson...
- 3/18/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
Though SXSW will carry on screening films through Saturday, the awards were presented tonight. Trey Edward Shults's Krisha wins the Narrative Feature Grand Jury Award, while Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber's Peace Officer takes the Documentary Feature Grand Jury Award. Among the other winners: Benjamin Dickinson's Creative Control, editor Jeff Consiglio for Samantha Futerman and Ryan Miyamoto's Twinsters, Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti for A Woman Like Me, Yvonne Kerékgyártó's Free Entry and Bill Ross and Turner Ross for Western. » - David Hudson...
- 3/18/2015
- Keyframe
Our overview of the previews of this year's SXSW includes links to the Austin Chronicle's profile of Jason Schwartzman, who stars in Bob Byington's 7 Chinese Brothers and Patrick Brice's The Overnight; Raoul Hernandez on Joe Nick Patoski's documentary Sir Doug and the Genuine Texas Cosmic Groove; Indiewire's interviews with Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti (A Woman Like Me) and Alison Bagnall (Funny Bunny); the Hollywood Reporter's chat with Amy Schumer about Trainwreck and her director and producer, Judd Apatow; the Guardian's talk with Julien Temple about The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson; and Sam Fragoso's conversation with Bill Ross and Turner Ross about Western. » - David Hudson...
- 3/13/2015
- Keyframe
Our overview of the previews of this year's SXSW includes links to the Austin Chronicle's profile of Jason Schwartzman, who stars in Bob Byington's 7 Chinese Brothers and Patrick Brice's The Overnight; Raoul Hernandez on Joe Nick Patoski's documentary Sir Doug and the Genuine Texas Cosmic Groove; Indiewire's interviews with Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti (A Woman Like Me) and Alison Bagnall (Funny Bunny); the Hollywood Reporter's chat with Amy Schumer about Trainwreck and her director and producer, Judd Apatow; the Guardian's talk with Julien Temple about The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson; and Sam Fragoso's conversation with Bill Ross and Turner Ross about Western. » - David Hudson...
- 3/13/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
Our overview of the previews of this year's SXSW includes links to the Austin Chronicle's profile of Jason Schwartzman, who stars in Bob Byington's 7 Chinese Brothers and Patrick Brice's The Overnight; Raoul Hernandez on Joe Nick Patoski's documentary Sir Doug and the Genuine Texas Cosmic Groove; Indiewire's interviews with Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti (A Woman Like Me) and Alison Bagnall (Funny Bunny); the Hollywood Reporter's chat with Amy Schumer about Trainwreck and her director and producer, Judd Apatow; the Guardian's talk with Julien Temple about The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson; and Sam Fragoso's conversation with Bill Ross and Turner Ross about Western. » - David Hudson...
- 3/13/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
Our overview of the previews of this year's SXSW includes links to the Austin Chronicle's profile of Jason Schwartzman, who stars in Bob Byington's 7 Chinese Brothers and Patrick Brice's The Overnight; Raoul Hernandez on Joe Nick Patoski's documentary Sir Doug and the Genuine Texas Cosmic Groove; Indiewire's interviews with Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti (A Woman Like Me) and Alison Bagnall (Funny Bunny); the Hollywood Reporter's chat with Amy Schumer about Trainwreck and her director and producer, Judd Apatow; the Guardian's talk with Julien Temple about The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson; and Sam Fragoso's conversation with Bill Ross and Turner Ross about Western. » - David Hudson...
- 3/13/2015
- Keyframe
Alex Sichel was both the co-director and subject of "A Woman Like Me," a devastatingly humane exploration of terminal illness. In it, Sichel creates a fictional character based on herself (played by Lili Taylor), and by doing so learns how to maintain her vibrancy and personality while contending with the illness. Sichel has since passed away, and her co-director, Elizabeth Giamatti, looks back on the enormously gratifying and challenging experience with pride. In the process of examining a difficult subject with humor and grace, she and Sichel created a film of unmatched emotional resonance and deeply personal reflection. What's your film about in 140 characters or less? By creating a fictional character based on herself, filmmaker Alex Sichel learns how to navigate a terminal disease with grace and humor. Now what's it Really about? "A Woman Like Me" is about life, death, art, faith, craft and learning to live joyfully with a ticking time bomb.
- 3/12/2015
- by David Canfield
- Indiewire
South by Southwest, the multi-faceted film, music and technology festival held annually in Austin, TX will feature such upcoming films as Paul Feig’s Spy, David Gordon Green’s Manglehorn, Alex Gibney’s documentary Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, and Ondi Timoner’s Russell Brand profile Brand: A Second Coming as headliners in this year’s film festival lineup.
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
- 2/3/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
On the heels of the 39th edition of the Toronto Int. Film Festival (Sept 4-14), Ifp’s Independent Film Week is where a plethora of fiction, non-fiction and new this year, web-based series from the likes of Desiree Akhavan and Calvin Reeder find future coin. Sectioned off as projects at the very beginning of financing to those that are nearing completion, there happens to be tons of Sundance alumni in the names below. Among those that caught our attention we have Medicine for Melancholy‘s Barry Jenkins’ sophomore feature, produced by Bad Milo!‘s Adele Romanski, Moonlight is about “two Miami boys navigate the temptations of the drug trade and their burgeoning sexuality in this triptych drama about black queer youth”. Concussion‘s Stacie Passon digs into the thriller genre with Strange Things Started Happening. Produced by vet Mary Jane Skalski (Mysterious Skin), this is about “a woman who has...
- 7/24/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Watch 2 clips from Phil Morrison's All is Bright. Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd star in the comedy from Anchor Bay Films which finds release on October 4th, 2013. Giamatti also produces alongside Michael Hogan, John Brooks Klingenbeck, Jim Tauber, Bruce Toll, Daniel Carey, Elizabeth Giamatti, Sidney Kimmel, Louise Lovegrove and John Penotti. Rene (Rudd) and Dennis (Giamatti) prove Christmas is the season for a good con. A low-level convict fresh out of prison, misanthropic Dennis is unable to find work because of his shady past. Furthermore, he discovers his longtime partner in crime, Rene, has begun a relationship with his ex-wife. Despite their growing animosity toward one another, the two decide to pull one last job together: selling Christmas trees in New York City.
- 10/8/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd star together for the first time in the off-beat, holiday, buddy comedy All Is Bright from director Phil Morrison (Junebug).
All Is Bright is the story of two French Canadians who travel to New York City during the holiday season with a get-rich-quick scheme of selling Christmas trees. Dennis (Paul Giamatti) is a no-nonsense, recently released ex-con trying to get his life – and his wife – back. Rene (Paul Rudd) is Dennis’s charming, shallow, former partner-in-crime who is now living with Dennis’s estranged wife. Feeling guilty and knowing Dennis needs a job, Rene reluctantly agrees to make Dennis a partner in the scheme. Though the two former friends struggle with each other and an eclectic array of tough New York customers, they discover much about themselves in the process.
All Is Bright world premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival and is written by playwright...
All Is Bright is the story of two French Canadians who travel to New York City during the holiday season with a get-rich-quick scheme of selling Christmas trees. Dennis (Paul Giamatti) is a no-nonsense, recently released ex-con trying to get his life – and his wife – back. Rene (Paul Rudd) is Dennis’s charming, shallow, former partner-in-crime who is now living with Dennis’s estranged wife. Feeling guilty and knowing Dennis needs a job, Rene reluctantly agrees to make Dennis a partner in the scheme. Though the two former friends struggle with each other and an eclectic array of tough New York customers, they discover much about themselves in the process.
All Is Bright world premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival and is written by playwright...
- 9/6/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
What it's about: A man is released from prison in Quebec and is not accepted in his own family. He goes to New York City to sell Christmas trees with the man who has usurped his family life. About the filmmaker: I grew up in North Carolina and moved to NY to go to college in 1985. I made the movie "Junebug," which came out in 2005. What else do you want audiences to know? It stars Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd, Sally Hawkins, and Amy Landecker. It was written by Melissa James Gibson. The producers were Luca Borghese Daniel Carey, Elizabeth Giamatti, Mike Hogan, Sidney Kimmel, Louise Lovegrove, John Penotti, and Jim Tauber. The Dp was Mott Hupfel. It was edited by Jeff Buchanan. The Production Designer was Mary Frederickson. Costumes were by Ciera Wells. The score is by Graham Reynolds. What do you have in the works? Nothing in the works.
- 4/17/2013
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
Almost Christmas
Director: Phil Morrison
Writer(s): Melissa James Gibson
Producer(s): Touchy Feely Films’ Daniel Carey and Elizabeth Giamatti, Ske’s Sidney Kimmel and GreeneStreet Films’ John Penotti
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Paul Rudd, Paul Giamatti, Sally Hawkins
Remember when Amy Adams was the new “it” girl back in 2005? It was because of Phil Morrison’s own splash onto the indie scene with the small town meets city dweller problems in the kitchen, but non-sink drama Junebug. It might be a cause for concern that Morrison hasn’t directed since, but when he wasn’t directing he was the executive producer on Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy & Meek’s Cutoff — very much meeting our indie film cravings. While Almost Christmas appears to be a brand of dirty scoundrels comedy that works only on paper, we’re hoping Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti offering French...
Director: Phil Morrison
Writer(s): Melissa James Gibson
Producer(s): Touchy Feely Films’ Daniel Carey and Elizabeth Giamatti, Ske’s Sidney Kimmel and GreeneStreet Films’ John Penotti
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Paul Rudd, Paul Giamatti, Sally Hawkins
Remember when Amy Adams was the new “it” girl back in 2005? It was because of Phil Morrison’s own splash onto the indie scene with the small town meets city dweller problems in the kitchen, but non-sink drama Junebug. It might be a cause for concern that Morrison hasn’t directed since, but when he wasn’t directing he was the executive producer on Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy & Meek’s Cutoff — very much meeting our indie film cravings. While Almost Christmas appears to be a brand of dirty scoundrels comedy that works only on paper, we’re hoping Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti offering French...
- 1/10/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Not totally inactive (he was an executive producer on Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy & Meek’s Cutoff), but it’s been a whopping eight years since Phil Morrison burst onto the indie scene with Junebug (Sundance 05′). With a trio that includes Park City regulars Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti (see set pic) team with Sally Hawkins, Lucky Dog, his sophomore comedy, not only matches the setting of the fest in terms of its wintery backdrop, but it’s a premium title that will likely fit well for the Eccles and have indie distributors in wheel and deal mode.
Gist: Written by first time scribe Melissa James Gibson, Guy and Rene (Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd) are a French Canadian odd couple on the loose in New York City. It’s the holidays and these ex-cons have a get rich quick plan to sell Christmas trees. For happy go lucky...
Gist: Written by first time scribe Melissa James Gibson, Guy and Rene (Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd) are a French Canadian odd couple on the loose in New York City. It’s the holidays and these ex-cons have a get rich quick plan to sell Christmas trees. For happy go lucky...
- 11/20/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Sally Hawkins, Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd are all teaming up to star in Phil Morrison's comedy drama "Lucky Dog" at Touch Feely Films, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, GreeneStreet Films and HanWay says The Hollywood Reporter.
Melissa James Gibsom's script has Giamatti and Rudd playing two French-Canadian con men with the former arriving home from a stint in prison to find the latter sleeping with his ex-wife.
The pair put differences aside to pull off a get-rich-quick scheme that involves selling Christmas trees on the streets of New York City.
John Penotti, Dan Carey and Elizabeth Giamatti will produce. Shooting kicks off next month in New York City.
Melissa James Gibsom's script has Giamatti and Rudd playing two French-Canadian con men with the former arriving home from a stint in prison to find the latter sleeping with his ex-wife.
The pair put differences aside to pull off a get-rich-quick scheme that involves selling Christmas trees on the streets of New York City.
John Penotti, Dan Carey and Elizabeth Giamatti will produce. Shooting kicks off next month in New York City.
- 2/10/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd and Sally Hawkins to star in Phil Morrison's Lucky Dog. Pic from the helmer of Junebug is set to start filming in March in New York City and is scripted by Melissa James Gibson, reports Variety. The story follows two French-Canadian con men who aren't getting along of late, and decide to put asside their differences, travel to the U.S. and sell Christmas trees in New York. Lucky Dog is being produced by Dan Carey and Elizabeth Giamatti via their Touchy Feely Films banner, with financing by Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Greenestreet Films and HanWay. One wonders if there'll be a dog involved in the script as well, with such a lackluster title...
- 2/9/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd and Sally Hawkins to star in Phil Morrison's Lucky Dog. Pic from the helmer of Junebug is set to start filming in March in New York City and is scripted by Melissa James Gibson, reports Variety. The story follows two French-Canadian con men who aren't getting along of late, and decide to put asside their differences, travel to the U.S. and sell Christmas trees in New York. Lucky Dog is being produced by Dan Carey and Elizabeth Giamatti via their Touchy Feely Films banner, with financing by Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Greenestreet Films and HanWay. One wonders if there'll be a dog involved in the script as well, with such a lackluster title...
- 2/9/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd and Sally Hawkins to star in Phil Morrison's Lucky Dog. Pic from the helmer of Junebug is set to start filming in March in New York City and is scripted by Melissa James Gibson, reports Variety. The story follows two French-Canadian con men who aren't getting along of late, and decide to put asside their differences, travel to the U.S. and sell Christmas trees in New York. Lucky Dog is being produced by Dan Carey and Elizabeth Giamatti via their Touchy Feely Films banner, with financing by Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Greenestreet Films and HanWay. One wonders if there'll be a dog involved in the script as well, with such a lackluster title...
- 2/9/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
- Since this interview back in January, moments after the world premiere of Cold Souls at Sundance, it's been living out of suitcases for Sophie Barthes. Her impressive directorial debut has been spotted on the festival circuit with trips to cities on both coasts and visits in Europe and Asia before finally making its way into theaters, this coming Friday, via Samuel Goldwyn. Eric Lavallee: I read your film as both a commentary, and a critique about society and our culture's obsessiveness for altering our existence . Do you believe like Jung, that people do have souls?.... Sophie Barthes: Yes I believe people have souls, but they don't take care of them. They let them shrink like an unused muscle. For me this is the metaphor with this film and though I'm not religious, you feel that some people are “soulful.” Maybe its a poetic, utopian way of thinking about it.
- 8/3/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
See a new click from Samuel Goldwyn Films' "Cold Souls," starring Paul Giamatti, Dina Korzun, Emily Watson, David Strathairn, Katheryn Winnick, Lauren Ambrose, Boris Kievsky, Oksana Lada and Natalia Zvereva. Sophie Barthes directs and writes the film produced by Elizabeth Giamatti, Daniel Carey, Andrij Parekh and Jeremy Kipp Walker. In response to shiny, bigger, better American consumerism comes Cold Souls, a surreal comedy in which souls can be extracted and traded as commodities. Balancing on a tightrope between deadpan humor and pathos, and reality and fantasy, the film presents Paul Giamatti as himself, agonizing over his interpretation of Uncle Vanya. Paralyzed by anxiety, he stumbles upon a solution via...
- 7/21/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- "Pretty Bird" flaps one comic wing and one dramatic wing, but this slight-framed bird never soars and ultimately crashes under the weight of its excessive thematic ballast. Intermittently amusing, this light comedy is a get-rich-quick story gone bust. Unlikely to navigate successfully as a theatrical, "Pretty Bird" should flap straight to video.
Humankind's dream to fly and the huckster's to hit the jackpot collide in "Pretty Bird". A smooth-talking marketer, Curtis (Billy Crudup), manipulates his old college chum, Kenny (David Hornsby), into throwing all his business equity into Curtis' dizzy dream of building a personalized flying machine -- picture those strap-on-the-arm contraptions from old sci-fi movies or early James Bond.
Basically, it sounds like the ventures that little boys plan in their tree houses, but that's part of the charm.
Even Curtis knows you can't make a killing through marketing alone, so he hires Rick Paul Giamatti), a recently fired rocket scientist, to create their flying contraption. The triumvirate are not magnificent men, to say the least, and their flying machine is not top of the heap. Not surprisingly, Curtis reveals himself as all hot air, and the enterprise plummets.
At is most airy moments, "Pretty Bird" alights with some funny interchanges between superficial market-man Curtis and gruff rocket-man Rick. In particular, Giamatti is hilarious as the sourpuss paranoid scientist. Indeed, credit writer-director Paul Schneider for some amusing moments that, unfortunately, do not overcome the script's grounded trajectory. Most cloyingly, the slight comedy puffs itself into an overinflated gasbag at its climax.
Technical contributions lift the story line, particularly Alex DiGerlando's frothy production design.
PRETTY BIRD
Sound Pictures
Credits:
Writer-director: Paul Schneider
Producers: Dan Carey, Elizabeth Giamatti, John Limotte
Executive producers: Doug Benheim, Paul Giamatti, D.J. Martin, James Shifren
Director of photography: Igor Martinovic
Production designer: Alex DiGerlando
Editor: Annette Davey
Cast:
Curtis Prentiss: Billy Crudup
Rick Honeycut: Paul Giamatti
Kenny: David Hornsby
Tonya Honeycutt: Elizabeth Marvel
Mandy Riddle: Kristen Wiig
Running time -- 97 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARK CITY -- "Pretty Bird" flaps one comic wing and one dramatic wing, but this slight-framed bird never soars and ultimately crashes under the weight of its excessive thematic ballast. Intermittently amusing, this light comedy is a get-rich-quick story gone bust. Unlikely to navigate successfully as a theatrical, "Pretty Bird" should flap straight to video.
Humankind's dream to fly and the huckster's to hit the jackpot collide in "Pretty Bird". A smooth-talking marketer, Curtis (Billy Crudup), manipulates his old college chum, Kenny (David Hornsby), into throwing all his business equity into Curtis' dizzy dream of building a personalized flying machine -- picture those strap-on-the-arm contraptions from old sci-fi movies or early James Bond.
Basically, it sounds like the ventures that little boys plan in their tree houses, but that's part of the charm.
Even Curtis knows you can't make a killing through marketing alone, so he hires Rick Paul Giamatti), a recently fired rocket scientist, to create their flying contraption. The triumvirate are not magnificent men, to say the least, and their flying machine is not top of the heap. Not surprisingly, Curtis reveals himself as all hot air, and the enterprise plummets.
At is most airy moments, "Pretty Bird" alights with some funny interchanges between superficial market-man Curtis and gruff rocket-man Rick. In particular, Giamatti is hilarious as the sourpuss paranoid scientist. Indeed, credit writer-director Paul Schneider for some amusing moments that, unfortunately, do not overcome the script's grounded trajectory. Most cloyingly, the slight comedy puffs itself into an overinflated gasbag at its climax.
Technical contributions lift the story line, particularly Alex DiGerlando's frothy production design.
PRETTY BIRD
Sound Pictures
Credits:
Writer-director: Paul Schneider
Producers: Dan Carey, Elizabeth Giamatti, John Limotte
Executive producers: Doug Benheim, Paul Giamatti, D.J. Martin, James Shifren
Director of photography: Igor Martinovic
Production designer: Alex DiGerlando
Editor: Annette Davey
Cast:
Curtis Prentiss: Billy Crudup
Rick Honeycut: Paul Giamatti
Kenny: David Hornsby
Tonya Honeycutt: Elizabeth Marvel
Mandy Riddle: Kristen Wiig
Running time -- 97 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/25/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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