It is often said that the secret to becoming a successful entrepreneur is finding a need and filling it. When Santa Monica-based BondIt Media Capital launched in 2013, it zeroed in on the deposits productions must leave with SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE and other guilds to ensure that their members get paid in a timely fashion.
The company co-founders — CEO Matthew Helderman and COO Luke Taylor — knew from their experience working in the production trenches that these deposits, which sometimes take up to six months to be returned, can create a significant cash flow problem for low-budget projects during principal photography.
So they decided to offer a deal: producers would pay the unions, then BondIt would reimburse their cash outlay, minus a fee (typically 12%-15%), and collect the deposits when they were returned.
It wasn’t exciting, it wasn’t big-time, but it was a foot in the door.
“No other financiers...
The company co-founders — CEO Matthew Helderman and COO Luke Taylor — knew from their experience working in the production trenches that these deposits, which sometimes take up to six months to be returned, can create a significant cash flow problem for low-budget projects during principal photography.
So they decided to offer a deal: producers would pay the unions, then BondIt would reimburse their cash outlay, minus a fee (typically 12%-15%), and collect the deposits when they were returned.
It wasn’t exciting, it wasn’t big-time, but it was a foot in the door.
“No other financiers...
- 5/10/2023
- by Todd Longwell
- Variety Film + TV
In “Showing Up,” Michelle Williams stars as Lizzy, a Portland-based sculptor for whom little seems to go right in the week leading up to a big solo show. Kelly Reichardt’s latest film takes us to modern-day Portland for a playful comedy about the realities of visual artists.
As Lizzy, Williams is frazzled and grumpy, stern and flustered. She meets compliments with a downcast gaze, doubtful, perhaps, that she’s worthy of them. She lives alone with a very good bad cat, working on figurines of young women, while her colleagues drink and hang out during their off-hours.
As a day job, she works at an arts college she once attended as an assistant to her mother, who she must ask for days off to work on her art, while her father (the great Judd Hirsch) entertains guests he barely knows. Her brother Sean lives a sheltered life on his own,...
As Lizzy, Williams is frazzled and grumpy, stern and flustered. She meets compliments with a downcast gaze, doubtful, perhaps, that she’s worthy of them. She lives alone with a very good bad cat, working on figurines of young women, while her colleagues drink and hang out during their off-hours.
As a day job, she works at an arts college she once attended as an assistant to her mother, who she must ask for days off to work on her art, while her father (the great Judd Hirsch) entertains guests he barely knows. Her brother Sean lives a sheltered life on his own,...
- 5/27/2022
- by Fran Hoepfner
- The Wrap
"Keep moving forward." "It's the only direction we have." Vertical has revealed a fun trailer for Wyrm, an awkward indie comedy from filmmaker Christopher Winterbauer. This was his feature debut, adapting his own short film (that we posted back in 2019), and it initially premiered in 2019 at Fantastic Fest. It's never been released until now, and in the meantime Winterbauer made a movie for HBO called Moonshot. In an alternative 1990s that feels equal parts Yorgos Lanthimos and Todd Solondz (but gentler), an awkward teen must complete a school requirement in which students wear electronic collars that detach only upon their first kiss. Scary! Will he pass his Level One or end held back and embarrassed? They definitely sounds like a cousin to Lanthimos' The Lobster. It stars Theo Taplitz as Wyrm, Lulu Wilson, Sosie Bacon, Natasha Rothwell, Paula Pell, Azure Brandi; with Tommy Dewey, Dan Bakkedahl, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage,...
- 5/13/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
After discussing the year’s breakthrough directors, it’s time to traverse to the other side of the camera. Whether it’s their very first performances or a talent who’s been seen in a variety of features, yet, for whatever reason, hadn’t been allowed to command the screen, this year’s breakthrough actors are an eclectic group. Ranging from Hollywood offerings to minuscule independent dramas, check out our rundown.
Michael Barbieri and Theo Taplitz (Little Men)
Taking the concept of “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and conveying it through the economic realities of gentrification, Ira Sachs‘ Little Men is an affecting look at what happens when a friendship can fracture due to external pressures. Playing the two friends at the center, Michael Barbieri and Theo Taplitz honestly communicate the experience of an innocent relationship as they both explore what they want out of their teenage life. Barbieri, in particular,...
Michael Barbieri and Theo Taplitz (Little Men)
Taking the concept of “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and conveying it through the economic realities of gentrification, Ira Sachs‘ Little Men is an affecting look at what happens when a friendship can fracture due to external pressures. Playing the two friends at the center, Michael Barbieri and Theo Taplitz honestly communicate the experience of an innocent relationship as they both explore what they want out of their teenage life. Barbieri, in particular,...
- 12/22/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for their “Little Men” screenplay yesterday, and it wasn’t their first time: The pair earned the same nod in 2014 for “Love Is Strange” and in 2012 for “Keep the Lights On.” Magnolia Pictures has shared the shooting script for “Little Men” exclusively with Indiewire, and you can read it in its entirety below.
Read More: 2017 Independent Spirit Award Nominations: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘American Honey’ and ‘Jackie’ Lead the Way
The film stars Greg Kinnear, Paulina García (who also received an Indie Spirit nod) and Jennifer Ehle alongside Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri as two 13-year-olds who form a unique bond after moving into the same New York apartment building. As with “Love Is Strange,” it first premiered at Sundance and has earned favorable reviews.
Read More: ‘Little Men’: President Obama Wants To Watch Ira Sachs’ Passion Project Over Vacation
The script...
Read More: 2017 Independent Spirit Award Nominations: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘American Honey’ and ‘Jackie’ Lead the Way
The film stars Greg Kinnear, Paulina García (who also received an Indie Spirit nod) and Jennifer Ehle alongside Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri as two 13-year-olds who form a unique bond after moving into the same New York apartment building. As with “Love Is Strange,” it first premiered at Sundance and has earned favorable reviews.
Read More: ‘Little Men’: President Obama Wants To Watch Ira Sachs’ Passion Project Over Vacation
The script...
- 11/23/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Each year one of our awards traditions is to help fellow Bfca members choose more wisely when it comes to the "Young Performer" category by sharing an eligibility list. The lazy nominations each year prove that help is needed. Here's the thing: it can be difficult to even think of who is eligible when you're filling out a ballot because you don't get a list of choices and it's not a category people campaign for or one that the internet talks about. So we solve that problem right here. Our other belief, which is why we do this, is that if you actually pay attention there are enough worthy performances each year to divvy this category up into male and female as the other acting categories are divvied up. But, yes, you have to be paying attention beyond 5 or 6 movies and leading roles to notice the truly special work.
Ballots...
Ballots...
- 11/17/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
An intense friendship is beautifully captured in this intimate gem about Brooklyn gentrification
Ira Sachs, best known for his intimate, humane New York stories, has a fascination with tales of transition, both in the city setting and in the relationships that unfold there. In his last film, Love Is Strange, the spiralling costs of the Manhattan housing market force a gay couple out of their shared home. Now in Little Men, the forces of gentrification are at play again, this time in a rising Brooklyn neighbourhood and this time mirrored in the friendship of a pair of adolescent boys.
Sensitive, artistic introvert Jake Jardine (Theo Taplitz) and garrulous aspiring actor Tony Calvelli (Michael Barbieri) are themselves at a point of transition: poised on the brink of adulthood, they still – just – retain the gangly uncertainty of children role-playing as grownups. Even the score, a recurring motif of climbing notes, echoes the sense of moving forward,...
Ira Sachs, best known for his intimate, humane New York stories, has a fascination with tales of transition, both in the city setting and in the relationships that unfold there. In his last film, Love Is Strange, the spiralling costs of the Manhattan housing market force a gay couple out of their shared home. Now in Little Men, the forces of gentrification are at play again, this time in a rising Brooklyn neighbourhood and this time mirrored in the friendship of a pair of adolescent boys.
Sensitive, artistic introvert Jake Jardine (Theo Taplitz) and garrulous aspiring actor Tony Calvelli (Michael Barbieri) are themselves at a point of transition: poised on the brink of adulthood, they still – just – retain the gangly uncertainty of children role-playing as grownups. Even the score, a recurring motif of climbing notes, echoes the sense of moving forward,...
- 9/25/2016
- by Wendy Ide
- The Guardian - Film News
★★★★☆ The final film in a trilogy focusing on New York City, Ira Sachs' latest feature Little Men, starring Jennifer Ehle and Greg Kinnear, follows the rites of passage of two thirteen-year-old boys, Jake (Theo Taplitz) and Tony (Michael Barbieri). Jake is a sensitive loner whose artistic talents are derided by his school teacher and initially ignored by his parents. By contrast, Tony, an aspiring actor, is confident, well-liked, and effortlessly connects with both adults and kids his own age. They meet after Jake's grandfather dies.
- 9/22/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Chicago – Deep down, because of our profound connection to what makes us human, we attempt to interpret the doing of the right thing. But in a society of property, somebody lives on it and somebody is run off it. This theme, combined with an adolescent friendship, emerge in “Little Men.”
Rating: 4.5/5.0
This film is the seventh directed by Ira Sachs, who has such a delicate touch with his human stories. The way he brings these characters to life – with co-writer Mauricio Zacharias – is different than any contemporary director. He has a realization on how human beings tick, what thrills and disappoints them, and he is able to guide them through that arc in often symbolic stories. “Little Men” seems like a simple tale of impending gentrification in Brooklyn, but it really becomes a struggle between father and son, each going through profound life transitions. The films of Ira Sachs generate...
Rating: 4.5/5.0
This film is the seventh directed by Ira Sachs, who has such a delicate touch with his human stories. The way he brings these characters to life – with co-writer Mauricio Zacharias – is different than any contemporary director. He has a realization on how human beings tick, what thrills and disappoints them, and he is able to guide them through that arc in often symbolic stories. “Little Men” seems like a simple tale of impending gentrification in Brooklyn, but it really becomes a struggle between father and son, each going through profound life transitions. The films of Ira Sachs generate...
- 9/6/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – When meeting an interview subject for the third time, and remembering him as the first professional interview I ever did, results in a comfortable familiarity. Director Ira Sachs is the subject, and his latest film is “Little Men.” Taking on adolescent friendship, adult passive-aggressiveness and gentrification all in one film, it also spotlights the expansiveness of this talented filmmaker.
“Little Men” features Greg Kinnear in one of his best performances, as a guilty and conflicted property inheritor named Brian who now lives in Brooklyn, in the midst of the hottest real estate markets in America. His late father owned the property, which included a dressmaker’s shop run by Leonor (Paulina García), who cared for her landlord more than his heirs. Meanwhile, Brian’s son Jake (Theo Taplitz), has found a friend and fellow traveler in Tony (Michael Barbieri), who happens to be Leonor’s son. Property, negotiations and...
“Little Men” features Greg Kinnear in one of his best performances, as a guilty and conflicted property inheritor named Brian who now lives in Brooklyn, in the midst of the hottest real estate markets in America. His late father owned the property, which included a dressmaker’s shop run by Leonor (Paulina García), who cared for her landlord more than his heirs. Meanwhile, Brian’s son Jake (Theo Taplitz), has found a friend and fellow traveler in Tony (Michael Barbieri), who happens to be Leonor’s son. Property, negotiations and...
- 9/2/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
New York City has been the home base and preferred story setting for many talented film makers, from Woody Allen to Noah Baumbach to Spike Lee. Each has given audiences a unique look at this very familiar metropolis. With this new release, another writer/director joins that roster: Ira Sachs. His last film, the charming, heart-breaking family drama Love Is Strange took us all around the area, and included a major source of conflict and anxiety for those residents, in general, real estate. Characters mulled over many real life concerns of the NYC populace, rent control, leases, tenant rights, landlords. Sach’s new film also delves into this, but it’s also a family drama, this time about two very different families. Real estate connects them initially, but a friendship further joins them. Don’t be misled by the literary title. This is not another adaptation of Louisa May Alcott...
- 9/2/2016
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Director Ira Sachs follows up 2014’s heartbreaking Love Is Strange with Little Men, the story of two tweens whose friendship gets fractured because of a conflict between their parents. When Jake (Theo Taplitz) move into his deceased grandfather’s place in Brooklyn with his folks (Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle), he becomes fast pals with Tony (Michael Barbieri, fantastic in a breakout role), a gregarious wannabe actor whose mother (Paulina García) runs a dress shop downstairs. But the kids are forced to reckon with the adults’ animosity when Jake’s family tries to raise the rent on the store.
Little Men opens in Chicago theaters September 2, but The A.V. Club is giving residents the opportunity to see it early on August 31. For your chance to win a pair of passes to the advance screening, simply enter your information here. Remember: Advance screenings are often intentionally overbooked ...
Little Men opens in Chicago theaters September 2, but The A.V. Club is giving residents the opportunity to see it early on August 31. For your chance to win a pair of passes to the advance screening, simply enter your information here. Remember: Advance screenings are often intentionally overbooked ...
- 8/24/2016
- by Esther Zuckerman
- avclub.com
Ira Sachs, the filmmaker known for the acclaimed Love is Strange, once again explores relationships and their complications in his new feature, Little Men. Ira Sachs Video On ‘Little Men’ Set in Brooklyn, New York, Little Men follows the new friendship that grows between teen boys Jake (Theo Taplitz) and Tony (Michael Barbieri) as their […]
The post Filmmaker Ira Sachs on His New Film ‘Little Men’ [Exclusive Video] appeared first on uInterview.
The post Filmmaker Ira Sachs on His New Film ‘Little Men’ [Exclusive Video] appeared first on uInterview.
- 8/15/2016
- by Chelsea Regan
- Uinterview
by Jose Solis
Audiences fell in love with Paulina García as the romantic heroine in Gloria, the Chilean sensation that won her the Best Actress award at the 2013 Berlin Film Festival and other honors along the way (including a nomination here). In that film she gave a delightful performance as a woman ready to find purpose in a life that others thought had lost all meaning. Where in Gloria she exuded a sincere need of approval and warmth, Leonor, her character in Ira Sachs’ Little Men is just the opposite. She’s a woman in full control of her emotions and moods, she seems a little bit too calculating to Brian (Greg Kinnear) who has just inherited a house from his late father Max, from whom Leonor rented a commercial space, and finds himself in the position of having to raise her rent. She’s also intimidating to her son...
Audiences fell in love with Paulina García as the romantic heroine in Gloria, the Chilean sensation that won her the Best Actress award at the 2013 Berlin Film Festival and other honors along the way (including a nomination here). In that film she gave a delightful performance as a woman ready to find purpose in a life that others thought had lost all meaning. Where in Gloria she exuded a sincere need of approval and warmth, Leonor, her character in Ira Sachs’ Little Men is just the opposite. She’s a woman in full control of her emotions and moods, she seems a little bit too calculating to Brian (Greg Kinnear) who has just inherited a house from his late father Max, from whom Leonor rented a commercial space, and finds himself in the position of having to raise her rent. She’s also intimidating to her son...
- 8/12/2016
- by Jose
- FilmExperience
At one point in Ira Sachs’ Little Men, the young Jake (Theo Taplitz) explains to his parents (played by Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle) how they can avoid evicting their tenant, Leonor (Paulina García), from the store she’d been renting from his late grandfather for years. Jake’s simple economic plan makes the heart ache because of how perfect it is: it calls for empathy, equality, and, without being completely naive, proposes something that could be achievable within the right political system. But his plan is even more heartbreaking because he knows it’s his last chance to salvage his friendship with Tony (Michael Barbieri), Leonor’s adolescent son, who’s become his closest, dearest friend. As the adults stand in disbelief of Jake’s plea, is he addressing their inner child or are they merely getting a preview of the troublesome teenage years ahead? Sachs makes us wonder...
- 8/8/2016
- by Jose Solís
- The Film Stage
“Little Men” is the highly underrated Ira Sachs’ finest movie to date and one of the year’s best movies. It was greeted with rave reviews this past January at the Sundance Film Festival, and the reception was well-deserved. Theo Taplitz as Jake Jardine and Michael Barbieri as Tony Calvelli are the titular best friends whose bond […]
The post Ira Sachs Talks ‘Little Men,’ The Influence Of Yasujiro Ozu, And More appeared first on The Playlist.
The post Ira Sachs Talks ‘Little Men,’ The Influence Of Yasujiro Ozu, And More appeared first on The Playlist.
- 8/5/2016
- by Jordan Ruimy
- The Playlist
Every week, a bevy of new releases (independent or otherwise), open in theaters. That’s why we created the Weekly Film Guide, filled with basic plot, personnel and cinema information for all of this week’s fresh offerings.
For August, we’ve also put together a list for the entire month. We’ve included this week’s list below, complete with information on screening locations for films in limited release.
See More: Here Are All the Upcoming Movies in Theaters for August 2016
Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, August 5. All synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.
Wide
Bazodee
Director: Todd Kessler
Cast: Chris Smith, Kabir Bedi, Kriss Dosanjh, Machel Montano, Natalie Perera, Staz Nair
Synopsis: Anita Ponchouri (Natalie Perera), the dutiful Indian daughter of a deep-in-debt businessman (Kabir Bedi) is about to marry a wealthy Londoner (Staz Nair) when a chance encounter with local singer,...
For August, we’ve also put together a list for the entire month. We’ve included this week’s list below, complete with information on screening locations for films in limited release.
See More: Here Are All the Upcoming Movies in Theaters for August 2016
Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, August 5. All synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.
Wide
Bazodee
Director: Todd Kessler
Cast: Chris Smith, Kabir Bedi, Kriss Dosanjh, Machel Montano, Natalie Perera, Staz Nair
Synopsis: Anita Ponchouri (Natalie Perera), the dutiful Indian daughter of a deep-in-debt businessman (Kabir Bedi) is about to marry a wealthy Londoner (Staz Nair) when a chance encounter with local singer,...
- 8/4/2016
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
A hallmark of theater fans getting older is an increased willingness to sympathize with Benny, the landlord in the musical Rent whose bohemian non-tenants resent him for trying to charge them money. In a way, Ira Sachs’ Little Men attempts to update and lend nuance to this conflict for the vastly more gentrified New York City of 2016, where hardly anyone can afford bohemia and even struggling artists need a steady paycheck. Brian Jardine (Greg Kinnear) is a New York actor, but his psychotherapist wife, Kathy (Jennifer Ehle), carries the family financially, while 13-year-old son Jake (Theo Taplitz) aspires to attend Laguardia High School as a budding artist.
When Brian’s father dies, the Manhattan-based family inherits his Brooklyn apartment, along with the storefront downstairs occupied by dressmaker Leonor (Paulina García). Her son Tony (Michael Barbieri) befriends the quieter, more sensitive Jake more or less on sight. It’s a...
When Brian’s father dies, the Manhattan-based family inherits his Brooklyn apartment, along with the storefront downstairs occupied by dressmaker Leonor (Paulina García). Her son Tony (Michael Barbieri) befriends the quieter, more sensitive Jake more or less on sight. It’s a...
- 8/4/2016
- by Jesse Hassenger
- avclub.com
It takes 12 minutes and 23 seconds to run from Jake’s apartment to Tony’s, but there’s an entire world in the space between their two Brooklyn homes. Thirteen-year-old Jake (a sensitive and severely empathetic Theo Taplitz) is a white fourth or fifth generation American kid whose grandfather — the longtime owner of a small apartment building — has just passed away. Tony (Michael Barbieri, a pint-sized Robert De Niro) is the son of a Chilean immigrant, and his mother — a sharp seamstress played by “Gloria” star Paulina García — has rented the retail space on the ground floor of that same apartment building for as long as anyone can remember.
For years, the two families of these new friends have lived in harmony, but the times they are a-changin.’ And when Jake’s father (Greg Kinnear), a struggling actor, inherits the real estate and insists that his tenants actually begin paying their full rent,...
For years, the two families of these new friends have lived in harmony, but the times they are a-changin.’ And when Jake’s father (Greg Kinnear), a struggling actor, inherits the real estate and insists that his tenants actually begin paying their full rent,...
- 8/3/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Ira Sach’s “Little Men” follows Jake Jardine (Theo Taplitz), a 13-year-old who lives with his parents (Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle) in Manhattan. When Jake’s grandfather dies, the family moves into his Brooklyn apartment where they find dressmaker Leonor (Paulina Garcia) who owns a shop in the building with her son Tony (Michael Barbieri). Jake and Tony become quick friends but when Jake’s parents try to raise the rent on Leonor, tensions run high and the kids are brought into uncomfortable adult conflicts faster than they anticipated.
Read More: Ira Sachs: How a Daring Independent Filmmaker Went Family-Friendly With ‘Little Men’
The film has garnered widespread positive reviews for its humanistic approach, powerful performances, and emotionally resonant writing, but one of “Little Men’s” most striking elements is its score. Composed by Dickon Hinchliffe, a founding member of the English band the Tindersticks, the score’s...
Read More: Ira Sachs: How a Daring Independent Filmmaker Went Family-Friendly With ‘Little Men’
The film has garnered widespread positive reviews for its humanistic approach, powerful performances, and emotionally resonant writing, but one of “Little Men’s” most striking elements is its score. Composed by Dickon Hinchliffe, a founding member of the English band the Tindersticks, the score’s...
- 8/3/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Ira Sachs was shooting a chase scene. This should come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the delicate, understated dramas that have become Sachs’ trademark ever since his first feature, a tale of closeted gay youth called “The Delta,” 20 years ago. Sachs’ Sundance-winning “Forty Shades of Blue” tracked intimate familial complications of a music producer past his prime, while his last two features, “Keep the Lights On” and “Love Is Strange,” delivered measured looks at queer urban identity against the backdrop of modern gentrification. Only 2007’s “Married Life” included the hints of a thriller, but it was something of a red herring in the context of a plot about well-to-do couples scheming against each other. But this chase scene was a different story — evidence that Sachs wanted to try something different.
Read More: Ira Sachs’ Touching New Dramedy ‘Little Men’ Stares You Down in Exclusive Poster
It was August...
Read More: Ira Sachs’ Touching New Dramedy ‘Little Men’ Stares You Down in Exclusive Poster
It was August...
- 8/2/2016
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Writer-director Ira Sachs uniquely knows New York City and continues to explore its neighborhoods in his latest indie gem, Little Men. After previous looks at city life in Keep the Lights On and Love Is Strange, Sachs sets his sights on the coming-of-age tale of two 13-year-old boys whose budding friendship is undermined by the business conflict between their parents. Isn’t that always the way with grown-ups — messing everything up? Jake (Theo Taplitz) meets Tony…...
- 8/2/2016
- Deadline
Well, here we are in the closing weeks of summer movie season. It’s the last gasp for big-budget blockbusters before the coming fall festival season, but there are plenty of indie alternatives for whatever your tastes may be. Below, you’ll see every planned theatrical release for the month of August, separated out into films with wide runs and limited ones. (Synopses are provided by festivals and distributors.)
Each week, we’ll give you an update with screening locations for these various titles. In the meantime, be sure to check our calendar page, where we’ll update releases for the rest of the year. Happy watching!
Week of August 5 Wide
Suicide Squad
Director: David Ayer
Cast: Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, Jai Courtney, Will Smith, Viola Davis, Jared Leto, Joel Kinnaman, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood
Synopsis: A secret government agency led by Amanda Waller recruits imprisoned...
Each week, we’ll give you an update with screening locations for these various titles. In the meantime, be sure to check our calendar page, where we’ll update releases for the rest of the year. Happy watching!
Week of August 5 Wide
Suicide Squad
Director: David Ayer
Cast: Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, Jai Courtney, Will Smith, Viola Davis, Jared Leto, Joel Kinnaman, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood
Synopsis: A secret government agency led by Amanda Waller recruits imprisoned...
- 8/1/2016
- by Kate Halliwell, Kyle Kizu and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
The hardest part about growing up – as a child – is having no control. Our lives are dictated by unpreventable outlying forces (mainly parents), and we often must seek different forms of comfort when life shifts unexpectedly (for the billionth time). That’s the touching theme of Ira Sachs’ Little Men, a pint-sized story about grown-up issues. Sachs sympathizes with the unfortunate losers of skyrocketing rents and borough gentrification, yet the film’s biggest shockwaves are felt by his two underage first-time feature stars – both of whom do a wonderful job just rolling with life’s punches.
Theo Taplitz stars as Jake Jardine, a Manhattan transplant trying to establish a new beginning in Brooklyn. Michael Barbieri plays his unexpected best friend and tour guide, Tony Calvelli. The two boys immediately hit it off, but there’s one problem – Jake’s dad (Brian, played by Greg Kinnear) is in the process of...
Theo Taplitz stars as Jake Jardine, a Manhattan transplant trying to establish a new beginning in Brooklyn. Michael Barbieri plays his unexpected best friend and tour guide, Tony Calvelli. The two boys immediately hit it off, but there’s one problem – Jake’s dad (Brian, played by Greg Kinnear) is in the process of...
- 8/1/2016
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
Little Men Magnolia Pictures Reviewed by: Harvey Karten, Shockya Grade: A- Director: Ira Sachs Written by: Ira Sachs, Mauricio Zacharias Cast: Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, Paulina Garcia, Michael Barbieri, Theo Taplitz, Alfred Molina Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 7/28/16 Opens: August 5, 2016 While many critics will find Ira Sachs’ “Little Men” to run like a sequel to the director’s “Love is Strange,” I see a connection to Arthur Miller’s “The Death of a Salesman.” Willy Loman, the salesman of Miller’s play, received a guarantee from the now departed owner of his business that he could keep his job for life. However, both his father and the employer died, the [ Read More ]
The post Little Men Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Little Men Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 8/1/2016
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
When Greg Kinnear is not making goofy, self-deprecating guest appearances on “BoJack Horseman,” he’s also starring in indie dramas about New York City, young friendships, and family turmoil, like Ira Sach’s new film “Little Men.”
Read More: Growing Up at Sundance, Being Rejected from Film School and More Highlights from Ira Sachs’ Masterclass
The movie follows 13-year-old Jake Jardine (Theo Taplitz), an aspiring artist living in Manhattan with his struggling actor father Brian (Kinnear) and psychotherapist mother Kathy (Jennifer Ehle). When Jake’s grandfather dies, the family moves back into his Brooklyn home where Jake quickly befriends Tony (Michael Barbieri), the son of Chilean dressmaker and single mother Leonor (Paulina Garcia) who owns a shop in the building. Though the kids become close friends, the adults are at each other’s throats when Brian and Kathy ask Leonor to sign a steeper lease on the store, an untenable...
Read More: Growing Up at Sundance, Being Rejected from Film School and More Highlights from Ira Sachs’ Masterclass
The movie follows 13-year-old Jake Jardine (Theo Taplitz), an aspiring artist living in Manhattan with his struggling actor father Brian (Kinnear) and psychotherapist mother Kathy (Jennifer Ehle). When Jake’s grandfather dies, the family moves back into his Brooklyn home where Jake quickly befriends Tony (Michael Barbieri), the son of Chilean dressmaker and single mother Leonor (Paulina Garcia) who owns a shop in the building. Though the kids become close friends, the adults are at each other’s throats when Brian and Kathy ask Leonor to sign a steeper lease on the store, an untenable...
- 7/27/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
From the start, writer, director and star Jim Cummings had always thought of his short “Thunder Road” as something he’d toss up on Vimeo and share with the world. There’s been some unexpected twists and turns for the filmmaker to get to that point.
As Cummings tells it, the film very unexpectedly got into Sundance, where it then won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film. Of course, this brought some heat to the short and Cummings, which meant attention was also paid to a major question from the film: If he’d secured the rights to Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road,” which plays during a pivotal scene. After paying $7,000 for the rights to the song so it could travel the festival circuit, Cummings was faced with a $40,000 to 50,000 licensing fee to put his short online. This prompted Cummings to take his case to Springsteen in the...
As Cummings tells it, the film very unexpectedly got into Sundance, where it then won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film. Of course, this brought some heat to the short and Cummings, which meant attention was also paid to a major question from the film: If he’d secured the rights to Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road,” which plays during a pivotal scene. After paying $7,000 for the rights to the song so it could travel the festival circuit, Cummings was faced with a $40,000 to 50,000 licensing fee to put his short online. This prompted Cummings to take his case to Springsteen in the...
- 7/19/2016
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
New York City’s own Museum of Modern Art has announced their plans for, per their press release, “a complete, mid-career retrospective of the films of Ira Sachs, a filmmaker who, in the course of seven features and five short films, has established himself as one of the singular voices in American cinema.”
Read More: Sundance Springboard: Meet the ‘Little Men’ at the Heart of Ira Sachs’ Acclaimed Drama
The retro will take place from July 22 to August 3 under the title “Thank You for Being Honest: The Films of Ira Sachs” and will include the full scope of Sachs’ works, from his experimental shorts to insightful social comedies (including his newest film, “Little Men”) to piercing autobiographical dramas. The program includes titles like “The Delta,” “Married Life,” “Keep the Lights On” and “Love is Strange.”
The series will open with his Sundance premiere “Forty Shades of Blue,” which won the Sundance 2005 U.
Read More: Sundance Springboard: Meet the ‘Little Men’ at the Heart of Ira Sachs’ Acclaimed Drama
The retro will take place from July 22 to August 3 under the title “Thank You for Being Honest: The Films of Ira Sachs” and will include the full scope of Sachs’ works, from his experimental shorts to insightful social comedies (including his newest film, “Little Men”) to piercing autobiographical dramas. The program includes titles like “The Delta,” “Married Life,” “Keep the Lights On” and “Love is Strange.”
The series will open with his Sundance premiere “Forty Shades of Blue,” which won the Sundance 2005 U.
- 6/24/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Amy Nicholson’s award-winning short “Pickle” has no business being as funny as it is. The award-winning 15-minute short is an energetic and amusing overview of what sounds like an entirely traumatizing experience, as it chronicles 25 years of Tom and Debbie Nicholson’s unbelievably bad luck with a bevy of rescue animals, from the eponymous Pickle the fish to an entire flock of ill-fated fowl.
The film’s official synopsis strikes the appropriate balance between off-kilter humor and almost overwhelming heartache: “Let us reflect on the brief existence of Pickle the fish. Although he could not swim, he was lovingly cared for by a couple that kept him propped up in a sponge. Along with an obese chicken, a cat with a heart condition, and a paraplegic possum, his life is a celebration of man’s eternal capacity to care for all creatures. He will be dearly missed.”
Read More: Attention,...
The film’s official synopsis strikes the appropriate balance between off-kilter humor and almost overwhelming heartache: “Let us reflect on the brief existence of Pickle the fish. Although he could not swim, he was lovingly cared for by a couple that kept him propped up in a sponge. Along with an obese chicken, a cat with a heart condition, and a paraplegic possum, his life is a celebration of man’s eternal capacity to care for all creatures. He will be dearly missed.”
Read More: Attention,...
- 6/22/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
★★★★★ Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri are future stars. The titular protagonists of Ira Sachs' Little Men give extraordinarily mature performances that belie their tender age. They feature in a perceptive, affecting family drama that channels the director's characteristically graceful, understated and emotionally enrapturing style through a subtly crafted story of class and gentrification in contemporary Brooklyn. As in Love Is Strange - in which a gay couple were forced to vacate their residence - the threat of an eviction is paramount here.
- 6/22/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Last fall, following the mass shooting in which 10 people were killed at Oregon’s Umpqua Community College, Field of Vision co-founders Aj Schnack and Laura Poitras had a conversation about how they could make an artistic and cinematic film about the tragedy.
“I had this idea of not just talking about Oregon, but the fact that it seemed in the way that we responded to these events that they were constantly echoes of each other and that we were having these conversations on social media that were cyclical,” Schnack told IndieWire in a recent interview.
Read More: How Field Of Vision’s Quick Production Turnaround Is Changing The Way Documentaries Are Made And Seen
In the hope of capturing the cyclical nature of these events, Schnack sent 18 local cinematographers to visit 25 different sites of mass shootings to capture what life was like at those sites now. What he quickly realized...
“I had this idea of not just talking about Oregon, but the fact that it seemed in the way that we responded to these events that they were constantly echoes of each other and that we were having these conversations on social media that were cyclical,” Schnack told IndieWire in a recent interview.
Read More: How Field Of Vision’s Quick Production Turnaround Is Changing The Way Documentaries Are Made And Seen
In the hope of capturing the cyclical nature of these events, Schnack sent 18 local cinematographers to visit 25 different sites of mass shootings to capture what life was like at those sites now. What he quickly realized...
- 6/17/2016
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
What were you doing when you were 13? The answer is likely not “writing, directing, editing, and starring in a series of acclaimed short films.”
Theo Taplitz, star of Ira Sachs’ upcoming dramedy “Little Men,” has been making waves on the children’s film festival circuit with his latest short films, in which he writes fantastical ideas and conveys them through imaginative practical effects. Watch his two most recent shorts below.
Read More: The Kids Are All Right: The Basics Still Inspire Aspiring Filmmakers
In “True Places Never Are,” a grieving boy, played by Taplitz, stumbles across a magical portal in his late grandfather’s copy of “Treasure Island.” He crawls through it and embarks on a series of fantastic adventures: traveling by paper hat, outrunning dragons and discovering buried treasure. The use of the “Secret Life of Walter Mitty” soundtrack is no mistake: Taplitz wants to take us on an emotional, reality-bending journey.
“True Places Never Are” played at the BAMkids Film Festival, RedCat International Children’s Film Festival, and Children’s Film Festival Seattle this year. At all three fests, Taplitz’s was the only student film included.
The stop-motion objects, including a paper hat, a whale and a dragon, are made with pages from Robert Louis Stephenson’s book, and Taplitz blends live photography with those practical effects. Yet the film is ultimately rooted in Taplitz’s memory of his grandfather, conveyed entirely through visual storytelling.
Read More: Sundance Springboard: Meet the ‘Little Men’ at the Heart of Ira Sachs’ Acclaimed Drama
In “Crap You!” Taplitz’s brother Nicholas stars as Box Boy (identifiable through a box helmet he wears in several of his brother’s films), who purchases a stuffed raven at a yard sale that will not seem to leave him alone. As it starts following him, he chops it up, lights it on fire, plunges it down the toilet and the raven ultimately ends up in the worst place you could think of. Again, Taplitz employs imaginative practical effects.
“Crap You” played Atlanta Film Festival (where Taplitz was the only youth film in his category) and the National Film Festival for Talented Youth in Seattle this year.
You can find the rest of Taplitz’s shorts at his Vimeo page. Watch out for this guy.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related stories12 Must-See Films at BAMCinemaFest 2016'The Witch' Director Robert Eggers: Watch His Intense 2014 Short Film 'Brothers' For FreeHow To Shoot a Short in One-Hour and Become a Better Filmmaker While Doing It...
Theo Taplitz, star of Ira Sachs’ upcoming dramedy “Little Men,” has been making waves on the children’s film festival circuit with his latest short films, in which he writes fantastical ideas and conveys them through imaginative practical effects. Watch his two most recent shorts below.
Read More: The Kids Are All Right: The Basics Still Inspire Aspiring Filmmakers
In “True Places Never Are,” a grieving boy, played by Taplitz, stumbles across a magical portal in his late grandfather’s copy of “Treasure Island.” He crawls through it and embarks on a series of fantastic adventures: traveling by paper hat, outrunning dragons and discovering buried treasure. The use of the “Secret Life of Walter Mitty” soundtrack is no mistake: Taplitz wants to take us on an emotional, reality-bending journey.
“True Places Never Are” played at the BAMkids Film Festival, RedCat International Children’s Film Festival, and Children’s Film Festival Seattle this year. At all three fests, Taplitz’s was the only student film included.
The stop-motion objects, including a paper hat, a whale and a dragon, are made with pages from Robert Louis Stephenson’s book, and Taplitz blends live photography with those practical effects. Yet the film is ultimately rooted in Taplitz’s memory of his grandfather, conveyed entirely through visual storytelling.
Read More: Sundance Springboard: Meet the ‘Little Men’ at the Heart of Ira Sachs’ Acclaimed Drama
In “Crap You!” Taplitz’s brother Nicholas stars as Box Boy (identifiable through a box helmet he wears in several of his brother’s films), who purchases a stuffed raven at a yard sale that will not seem to leave him alone. As it starts following him, he chops it up, lights it on fire, plunges it down the toilet and the raven ultimately ends up in the worst place you could think of. Again, Taplitz employs imaginative practical effects.
“Crap You” played Atlanta Film Festival (where Taplitz was the only youth film in his category) and the National Film Festival for Talented Youth in Seattle this year.
You can find the rest of Taplitz’s shorts at his Vimeo page. Watch out for this guy.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related stories12 Must-See Films at BAMCinemaFest 2016'The Witch' Director Robert Eggers: Watch His Intense 2014 Short Film 'Brothers' For FreeHow To Shoot a Short in One-Hour and Become a Better Filmmaker While Doing It...
- 6/14/2016
- by Russell Goldman
- Indiewire
This month, Brooklyn plays home to the annual BAMCinemaFest, featuring both some tried and true festival favorites (imagine if Sundance just happened to take place in New York City in the summer) and some brand-new standouts. Here’s the best of what’s on offer, as curated and culled by the IndieWire film team.
“Little Men” New York City-centric filmmaker Ira Sachs has long used his keen observational eye to track the worlds of the city’s adult denizens with features like “Love is Strange” and “Keep the Lights On,” but he’s going for a younger set of stars (and troubles) in his moving new feature, “Little Men.” The new film debuted at Sundance earlier this year, where it pulled plenty of heartstrings (including mine) with its gentle, deeply human story of two seemingly different young teens (Theo Taplitz as the worldly Jake, Michael Barbieri as the more rough and tumble Tony) who quickly bond when one of them moves into the other’s Brooklyn neighborhood. Jake and Tony become fast friends, but their relationship is threatened by drama brewing between their parents, as Jake’s parents own the small store that Tony’s mom operates below the family’s apartment.When Jake’s parents (Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle) are bothered by looming money troubles, they turn to Tony’s mom (Paulina García) and ask her to pay a higher rent, a seemingly reasonable query that has heart-breaking consequences for both families and both boys. It’s a small story that hits hard, thanks to wonderful performances and the kind of emotion that’s hard to fake. – Kate Erbland “Kate Plays Christine”
It’s usually easy enough to find common themes cropping up at various film festivals, but few people could have anticipated that this year’s Sundance would play home to two stories about Christine Chubbuck, a tragic tale that had been previously unknown by most of the population (the other Chubbuck story to crop up at Sundance was Antonio Campos’ closely observed narrative “Christine,” a winner in its own right). In 1974, Chubbuck — a television reporter for a local Sarasota, Florida TV station — killed herself live on air after a series of disappointing events and a lifetime of mental unhappiness. Robert Greene’s “Kate Plays Christine” takes an ambitious angle on Chubbuck’s story, mixing fact and fiction to present a story of an actress (Kate Lyn Sheil) grappling with her preparations to play Chubbuck in a narrative feature that doesn’t exist. Sheil is tasked with playing a mostly real version of herself, a heightened version of herself as the story winds on and even Chubbuck in a series of re-enactments. The concept is complex, but it pays off, and “Kate Plays Christine” is easily one of the year’s most ambitious and fascinating documentaries. – Ke
“Suited”
This eye-opening documentary focuses on Brooklyn-based tailoring company Bindle & Keep, which designs clothes for transgender and gender fluid clients. Produced by Lena Dunham and her “Girls” producer Jenni Konner, the HBO Documentary looks at fashion through the eyes of several people across the gender identity spectrum, including a transitioning teen in need of a suit for his Bar Mitzvah and a transgender man buying a tuxedo for his wedding. The film has a deep personal connection to Dunham, whose gender nonconforming sister Grace has been a vocal activist within the transgender community. “Suited” is the first solo-directing effort from Jason Benjamin, who previously co-directed the 2002 documentary “Carnival Roots,” about Trinidad & Tobago’s annual music festival. – Graham Winfrey
“Wiener-Dog”
Todd Solondz’s first directorial effort since 2011’s “Dark Horse” is literally about an animal this time. “Wiener-Dog” follows a dachshund that goes from one strange owner to the next, serving as a central character in four stories that bring out the pointlessness of human existence. The offbeat comedy’s stellar cast includes Greta Gerwig, Danny DeVito, Julie Delpy and “Girls’” Zosia Mamet. Amazon nabbed all domestic media rights to the film at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, while IFC Films is handling the theatrical release. Financed by Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures and produced by Christine Vachon’s Killer Films, the film marked Solondz’s first movie to play at Sundance since 1995’s “Welcome to the Dollhouse.” – Gw
“Last Night at the Alamo”
Eagle Pennell has become lost to film history, despite making two of the most important films of the modern indie era. His 1978 film “The Whole Shootin’ Match” inspired Robert Redford to start Sundance and his 1984 classic “Last Night at the Alamo” has been championed by Tarantino and Linklater, who along with IFC Films and SXSW founder Louis Black is responsible for the restoration that will be playing at Bam. “Alamo,” which tells the story of a cowboy’s last ditch effort to save a local watering hole, is credited for having given birth to the Austin film scene and for laying the groundwork for the rebirth of the American indie that came later in the decade. Pennell’s career was cut short by alcoholism, but “Alamo” stands tribute to his incredible talent, pioneering spirit and the influence he’s had on so many great filmmakers. – Chris O’Falt
Read More: Indie Legend Who Inspired Sundance, ‘Reservoir Dogs’ And More Will Have Classic Films Restored
“Author: The J.T. LeRoy Story”
J.T. Leroy was an literary and pop culture sensation, until it was revealed that the HIV-positive, ex-male-prostitute teenage author was actually the creation of a 40 year old mother by the name Laura Albert. Jeff Feuerzeig’s documentary, starring Albert and featuring her recorded phone calls from the hoax, is the best yarn of 2016. You will not believe the twist-and-turns of the behind the scenes story of how Albert pulled off the hoax and cultivated close relationships (with her sister-in-law posing at Jt) with celebrities like filmmaker Gus Van Sant and Smashing Pumpkins’ Bill Corgan, both of whom play key supporting roles in this stranger-than-fiction film. Trust us, “Author” will be one of the most entertaining films you see this summer. – Co
“Dark Night”
Loosely based on the 2012 shooting in Aurora, Colorado during a multiplex screening of “The Dark Knight,” Tim Sutton’s elegantly designed “Dark Night” contains a fascinating, enigmatic agenda. In its opening moments, Maica Armata’s mournful score plays out as we watch a traumatized face lit up by the red-blue glow of a nearby police car. Mirroring the media image of tragedy divorced from the lives affected by it, the ensuing movie fills in those details. Like Gus Van Sant’s “Elephant,” Sutton’s ambitious project dissects the moments surrounding the infamous event with a perceptive eye that avoids passing judgement. While some viewers may find this disaffected approach infuriating — the divisive Sundance reaction suggested as much — there’s no doubting the topicality of Sutton’s technique, which delves into the malaise of daily lives that surrounds every horrific event of this type with a keen eye. It may not change the gun control debate, but it adds a gorgeous and provocative footnote to the conversation. – Eric Kohn
“A Stray”
Musa Syeed’s tender look at a Somali refugee community in Minneapolis puts a human face on the immigration crisis through the exploits of Adan (Barkhad Abdirahman), a young man adrift in his solitary world. Kicked out by his mother and unwelcome at the local mosque where he tries to crash, Adan meets his only source of companionship in a stray dog he finds wandering the streets. Alternating between social outings and job prospects, Adan’s struggles never strain credibility, even when an FBI agent tries to wrestle control of his situation to turn him into a spy. Shot with near-documentary realism, Syed’s insightful portrait of his forlorn character’s life recalls the earlier films of Ramin Bahrani (“Man Push Cart,” “Chop Shop”), which also capture an oft-ignored side of modern America. With immigration stories all too frequently coopted for political fuel, “A Stray” provides a refreshingly intimate alternative, which should appeal to audiences curious about the bigger picture — or those who can relate to it. – Ek
“Goat”
After making a blistering impression at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Andrew Neel’s fraternity psychodrama “Goat” comes to Bam with great acclaim and sky high anticipation. Starring breakout Ben Schnetzer and Nick Jonas, the film centers around a 19-year-old college student who pledges the same fraternity as his older brother, only to realize the world of hazing and endless parties is darker than he could ever imagine. In lesser hands, “Goat” would be a one-note takedown of hedonistic bro culture, but Neel’s slick direction brings you to the core of animalistic behavior and forces you to weigh the clashing egos of masculinity. By cutting underneath the layers of machismo, Neel creates a drama of insecurities buried beneath the war between predator and prey. It’s an intense and intelligent study of a world the movies have always been obsessed with. – Zack Sharf
Read More: Sundance: How Robert Greene and Kate Lyn Sheil Made the Festival’s Most Fascinating Documentary
“The Childhood of a Leader”
Brady Corbet has been one of the most reliable supporting actors in films like “Funny Games,” “Force Majeure,” “Clouds of Sils Maria” and more, and he even broke through as a lead in the great indie “Simon Killer,” but it turns out Corbet’s real skills are behind the camera. In his directorial debut, “The Childhood of a Leader,” the actor creates an unnerving period psychodrama that evokes shades of “The Omen” by way of Hitchcock. Set in Europe after Wwi, the movie follows a young boy as he develops a terrifying ego after witnessing the creation of the Treaty of Versailles. Cast members Robert Pattinson and Berenice Bejo deliver reliably strong turns, but it’s Corbet’s impressive control that makes the film a tightly-wound skin-crawler. His ambition is alive in every frame and detail, resulting in a commanding debut that announces him as a major filmmaker to watch. – Zs
“The Love Witch”
Meet your new obsession: A spellbinding homage to old pulp paperbacks and the Technicolor melodramas of the 1960s, Anna Biller’s “The Love Witch” is a throwback that’s told with the kind of perverse conviction and studied expertise that would make Quentin Tarantino blush. Shot in velvety 35mm, the film follows a beautiful, sociopathic, love-starved young witch named Elaine (Samantha Robinson, absolutely unforgettable in a demented breakthrough performance) as she blows into a coastal Californian town in desperate search of a replacement for her dead husband. Sex, death, Satanic rituals, God-level costume design, and cinema’s greatest tampon joke ensue, as Biller spins an arch but hyper-sincere story about the true price of patriarchy. – David Ehrlich
“Morris From America”
Coming-of-age movies are a dime a dozen (and the going rate is even cheaper at Sundance), but Chad Hartigan’s absurdly charming follow-up to “This Is Martin Bonner” puts a fresh spin on a tired genre. Played by lovable newcomer Markees Christmas, Morris is a 13-year-old New Yorker who’s forced to move to the suburbs of Germany when his widower dad (a note-perfect Craig Robinson) accepts a job as the coach of a Heidelberg soccer team. It’s tough being a teen, but Morris — as the only black kid in a foreign town that still has one foot stuck in the old world — has it way harder than most. But there’s a whole lot of joy here, as Hartigan’s sweet and sensitive fish out of water story leverages a handful of killer performances into a great little movie about becoming your own man. – De
BAMCinemaFest 2016 runs from June 15 – 26.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Festivals newsletter here.
Related storiesChristine Chubbuck: Video Exists of Reporter's On-Air Suicide That Inspired Two Sundance Films'Wiener-Dog' Trailer: Greta Gerwig Befriends a Dachshund in Todd Solondz's Dark Sundance Comedy'Little Men,' 'Wiener-Dog' and More Set for BAMcinemaFest 2016 -- Indiewire's Tuesday Rundown...
“Little Men” New York City-centric filmmaker Ira Sachs has long used his keen observational eye to track the worlds of the city’s adult denizens with features like “Love is Strange” and “Keep the Lights On,” but he’s going for a younger set of stars (and troubles) in his moving new feature, “Little Men.” The new film debuted at Sundance earlier this year, where it pulled plenty of heartstrings (including mine) with its gentle, deeply human story of two seemingly different young teens (Theo Taplitz as the worldly Jake, Michael Barbieri as the more rough and tumble Tony) who quickly bond when one of them moves into the other’s Brooklyn neighborhood. Jake and Tony become fast friends, but their relationship is threatened by drama brewing between their parents, as Jake’s parents own the small store that Tony’s mom operates below the family’s apartment.When Jake’s parents (Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle) are bothered by looming money troubles, they turn to Tony’s mom (Paulina García) and ask her to pay a higher rent, a seemingly reasonable query that has heart-breaking consequences for both families and both boys. It’s a small story that hits hard, thanks to wonderful performances and the kind of emotion that’s hard to fake. – Kate Erbland “Kate Plays Christine”
It’s usually easy enough to find common themes cropping up at various film festivals, but few people could have anticipated that this year’s Sundance would play home to two stories about Christine Chubbuck, a tragic tale that had been previously unknown by most of the population (the other Chubbuck story to crop up at Sundance was Antonio Campos’ closely observed narrative “Christine,” a winner in its own right). In 1974, Chubbuck — a television reporter for a local Sarasota, Florida TV station — killed herself live on air after a series of disappointing events and a lifetime of mental unhappiness. Robert Greene’s “Kate Plays Christine” takes an ambitious angle on Chubbuck’s story, mixing fact and fiction to present a story of an actress (Kate Lyn Sheil) grappling with her preparations to play Chubbuck in a narrative feature that doesn’t exist. Sheil is tasked with playing a mostly real version of herself, a heightened version of herself as the story winds on and even Chubbuck in a series of re-enactments. The concept is complex, but it pays off, and “Kate Plays Christine” is easily one of the year’s most ambitious and fascinating documentaries. – Ke
“Suited”
This eye-opening documentary focuses on Brooklyn-based tailoring company Bindle & Keep, which designs clothes for transgender and gender fluid clients. Produced by Lena Dunham and her “Girls” producer Jenni Konner, the HBO Documentary looks at fashion through the eyes of several people across the gender identity spectrum, including a transitioning teen in need of a suit for his Bar Mitzvah and a transgender man buying a tuxedo for his wedding. The film has a deep personal connection to Dunham, whose gender nonconforming sister Grace has been a vocal activist within the transgender community. “Suited” is the first solo-directing effort from Jason Benjamin, who previously co-directed the 2002 documentary “Carnival Roots,” about Trinidad & Tobago’s annual music festival. – Graham Winfrey
“Wiener-Dog”
Todd Solondz’s first directorial effort since 2011’s “Dark Horse” is literally about an animal this time. “Wiener-Dog” follows a dachshund that goes from one strange owner to the next, serving as a central character in four stories that bring out the pointlessness of human existence. The offbeat comedy’s stellar cast includes Greta Gerwig, Danny DeVito, Julie Delpy and “Girls’” Zosia Mamet. Amazon nabbed all domestic media rights to the film at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, while IFC Films is handling the theatrical release. Financed by Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures and produced by Christine Vachon’s Killer Films, the film marked Solondz’s first movie to play at Sundance since 1995’s “Welcome to the Dollhouse.” – Gw
“Last Night at the Alamo”
Eagle Pennell has become lost to film history, despite making two of the most important films of the modern indie era. His 1978 film “The Whole Shootin’ Match” inspired Robert Redford to start Sundance and his 1984 classic “Last Night at the Alamo” has been championed by Tarantino and Linklater, who along with IFC Films and SXSW founder Louis Black is responsible for the restoration that will be playing at Bam. “Alamo,” which tells the story of a cowboy’s last ditch effort to save a local watering hole, is credited for having given birth to the Austin film scene and for laying the groundwork for the rebirth of the American indie that came later in the decade. Pennell’s career was cut short by alcoholism, but “Alamo” stands tribute to his incredible talent, pioneering spirit and the influence he’s had on so many great filmmakers. – Chris O’Falt
Read More: Indie Legend Who Inspired Sundance, ‘Reservoir Dogs’ And More Will Have Classic Films Restored
“Author: The J.T. LeRoy Story”
J.T. Leroy was an literary and pop culture sensation, until it was revealed that the HIV-positive, ex-male-prostitute teenage author was actually the creation of a 40 year old mother by the name Laura Albert. Jeff Feuerzeig’s documentary, starring Albert and featuring her recorded phone calls from the hoax, is the best yarn of 2016. You will not believe the twist-and-turns of the behind the scenes story of how Albert pulled off the hoax and cultivated close relationships (with her sister-in-law posing at Jt) with celebrities like filmmaker Gus Van Sant and Smashing Pumpkins’ Bill Corgan, both of whom play key supporting roles in this stranger-than-fiction film. Trust us, “Author” will be one of the most entertaining films you see this summer. – Co
“Dark Night”
Loosely based on the 2012 shooting in Aurora, Colorado during a multiplex screening of “The Dark Knight,” Tim Sutton’s elegantly designed “Dark Night” contains a fascinating, enigmatic agenda. In its opening moments, Maica Armata’s mournful score plays out as we watch a traumatized face lit up by the red-blue glow of a nearby police car. Mirroring the media image of tragedy divorced from the lives affected by it, the ensuing movie fills in those details. Like Gus Van Sant’s “Elephant,” Sutton’s ambitious project dissects the moments surrounding the infamous event with a perceptive eye that avoids passing judgement. While some viewers may find this disaffected approach infuriating — the divisive Sundance reaction suggested as much — there’s no doubting the topicality of Sutton’s technique, which delves into the malaise of daily lives that surrounds every horrific event of this type with a keen eye. It may not change the gun control debate, but it adds a gorgeous and provocative footnote to the conversation. – Eric Kohn
“A Stray”
Musa Syeed’s tender look at a Somali refugee community in Minneapolis puts a human face on the immigration crisis through the exploits of Adan (Barkhad Abdirahman), a young man adrift in his solitary world. Kicked out by his mother and unwelcome at the local mosque where he tries to crash, Adan meets his only source of companionship in a stray dog he finds wandering the streets. Alternating between social outings and job prospects, Adan’s struggles never strain credibility, even when an FBI agent tries to wrestle control of his situation to turn him into a spy. Shot with near-documentary realism, Syed’s insightful portrait of his forlorn character’s life recalls the earlier films of Ramin Bahrani (“Man Push Cart,” “Chop Shop”), which also capture an oft-ignored side of modern America. With immigration stories all too frequently coopted for political fuel, “A Stray” provides a refreshingly intimate alternative, which should appeal to audiences curious about the bigger picture — or those who can relate to it. – Ek
“Goat”
After making a blistering impression at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Andrew Neel’s fraternity psychodrama “Goat” comes to Bam with great acclaim and sky high anticipation. Starring breakout Ben Schnetzer and Nick Jonas, the film centers around a 19-year-old college student who pledges the same fraternity as his older brother, only to realize the world of hazing and endless parties is darker than he could ever imagine. In lesser hands, “Goat” would be a one-note takedown of hedonistic bro culture, but Neel’s slick direction brings you to the core of animalistic behavior and forces you to weigh the clashing egos of masculinity. By cutting underneath the layers of machismo, Neel creates a drama of insecurities buried beneath the war between predator and prey. It’s an intense and intelligent study of a world the movies have always been obsessed with. – Zack Sharf
Read More: Sundance: How Robert Greene and Kate Lyn Sheil Made the Festival’s Most Fascinating Documentary
“The Childhood of a Leader”
Brady Corbet has been one of the most reliable supporting actors in films like “Funny Games,” “Force Majeure,” “Clouds of Sils Maria” and more, and he even broke through as a lead in the great indie “Simon Killer,” but it turns out Corbet’s real skills are behind the camera. In his directorial debut, “The Childhood of a Leader,” the actor creates an unnerving period psychodrama that evokes shades of “The Omen” by way of Hitchcock. Set in Europe after Wwi, the movie follows a young boy as he develops a terrifying ego after witnessing the creation of the Treaty of Versailles. Cast members Robert Pattinson and Berenice Bejo deliver reliably strong turns, but it’s Corbet’s impressive control that makes the film a tightly-wound skin-crawler. His ambition is alive in every frame and detail, resulting in a commanding debut that announces him as a major filmmaker to watch. – Zs
“The Love Witch”
Meet your new obsession: A spellbinding homage to old pulp paperbacks and the Technicolor melodramas of the 1960s, Anna Biller’s “The Love Witch” is a throwback that’s told with the kind of perverse conviction and studied expertise that would make Quentin Tarantino blush. Shot in velvety 35mm, the film follows a beautiful, sociopathic, love-starved young witch named Elaine (Samantha Robinson, absolutely unforgettable in a demented breakthrough performance) as she blows into a coastal Californian town in desperate search of a replacement for her dead husband. Sex, death, Satanic rituals, God-level costume design, and cinema’s greatest tampon joke ensue, as Biller spins an arch but hyper-sincere story about the true price of patriarchy. – David Ehrlich
“Morris From America”
Coming-of-age movies are a dime a dozen (and the going rate is even cheaper at Sundance), but Chad Hartigan’s absurdly charming follow-up to “This Is Martin Bonner” puts a fresh spin on a tired genre. Played by lovable newcomer Markees Christmas, Morris is a 13-year-old New Yorker who’s forced to move to the suburbs of Germany when his widower dad (a note-perfect Craig Robinson) accepts a job as the coach of a Heidelberg soccer team. It’s tough being a teen, but Morris — as the only black kid in a foreign town that still has one foot stuck in the old world — has it way harder than most. But there’s a whole lot of joy here, as Hartigan’s sweet and sensitive fish out of water story leverages a handful of killer performances into a great little movie about becoming your own man. – De
BAMCinemaFest 2016 runs from June 15 – 26.
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Related storiesChristine Chubbuck: Video Exists of Reporter's On-Air Suicide That Inspired Two Sundance Films'Wiener-Dog' Trailer: Greta Gerwig Befriends a Dachshund in Todd Solondz's Dark Sundance Comedy'Little Men,' 'Wiener-Dog' and More Set for BAMcinemaFest 2016 -- Indiewire's Tuesday Rundown...
- 6/13/2016
- by Kate Erbland, Eric Kohn, David Ehrlich, Zack Sharf, Chris O'Falt and Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
Little Men, director Ira Sachs’ latest film, premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was warmly received. The story of a friendship between two NYC middle schoolers whose parents become embroiled in a real estate conflict, Little Men takes a personal look at the damaging effects of gentrification. Starring newcomers Michael Barbieri and Theo Taplitz as the titular boys and Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle and Paulina Garcia as their parents, Little Men will hit select theaters on August 5, with a nationwide rollout to follow. The sensitive drama gets its first trailer (above) courtesy of distributor Magnolia Pictures.
- 5/16/2016
- by Paula Bernstein
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
"Our parents are involved in a business matter..." Magnolia Pictures has debuted the first official trailer for Ira Sachs' Little Men, a film about two boys growing up in New York City. I was a huge fan of Ira Sachs' previous film, Love is Strange, and while I didn't love this one as much as that film - I still suggest seeing it. Greg Kinnear stars as the father of one of the two boys, who are played by Michael Barbieri and Theo Taplitz; the full cast also features Jennifer Ehle, Alfred Molina, Talia Balsam and Paulina Garcia. This is a rather wonderful trailer that really does a great job of setting up the story and hopefully grabbing the attention of a few curious cinephiles. But then again, it's worth watching any of Ira Sachs' films. Enjoy. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Ira Sachs' Little Men,...
- 5/13/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
One film I was very disappointed to miss at this year’s Sundance Film Festival was Little Men, the new drama by Ira Sachs. The drama might not sound all that exciting on paper — it concerns two young friends, Jake (Theo Taplitz) and Tony (Michael Barbieri), whose families begin feuding over a rent dispute — but the […]
The post ‘Little Men’ Trailer: Ira Sachs Takes On Teenage Friendship and Gentrification appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Little Men’ Trailer: Ira Sachs Takes On Teenage Friendship and Gentrification appeared first on /Film.
- 5/13/2016
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
After delivering one of the finest dramas of its respective year with Love is Strange, writer-director Ira Sachs is back with Little Men. Premiering to much acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, it centers on the relationship of two boys and how it becomes complicated when their parents get into a business disagreement. Ahead of a release this August, Magnolia Pictures has now unveiled the first trailer and poster.
We said in our review “Little Men could have been so much more if its perspective leaned towards the opposite direction. Why a story dealing heavily with gentrification and unfair leasing practice devotes more time to the gentrifiers than the displaced is a mystery to me. It might be more “challenging” in terms of audience sympathy, but it’s not as though the movie does all that much to make them sympathetic. Greg Kinnear’s Brian may be...
We said in our review “Little Men could have been so much more if its perspective leaned towards the opposite direction. Why a story dealing heavily with gentrification and unfair leasing practice devotes more time to the gentrifiers than the displaced is a mystery to me. It might be more “challenging” in terms of audience sympathy, but it’s not as though the movie does all that much to make them sympathetic. Greg Kinnear’s Brian may be...
- 5/13/2016
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
While the marquee name attractions in “Little Men” are Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, and Alfred Molina, the real stars of the film are Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri. They’re the young teenagers who lead this unique drama from Ira Sachs who, following the heart-bursting pictures “Keep The Lights On” and “Love Is Strange,” offers another slice […]
The post Watch: First Trailer For Ira Sachs’ ‘Little Men’ With Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, Alfred Molina, And More appeared first on The Playlist.
The post Watch: First Trailer For Ira Sachs’ ‘Little Men’ With Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, Alfred Molina, And More appeared first on The Playlist.
- 5/13/2016
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Suncoast Credit Union Gasparilla International Film Festival (Giff) has announced the official program for its 10th year anniversary in Tampa, Florida. The 10th annual festival will be held March 30-April 3 at the Tampa Theater and Ybor City’s Carmike Cinemas. With 115 films, the festival will host international and regional premieres of narrative features, documentaries and short films around the world, special tributes, master classes, panel discussions and much more.
This year’s special tribute will celebrate the many accomplishments of Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony winner Rita Moreno. Giff will honor Moreno with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Also, her film, "Remember Me" will screen at the festival.
A jury of industry professionals and acclaimed filmmakers will be presenting awards to competition films in the following categories: Narrative Feature, Documentary, Spotlight and Shorts.
Highlights include:
Opening Night Film (Narrative)
"Eye in the Sky" (UK): Academy Award winner Helen Mirren stars alongside Aaron Paul, Alan Rickman and Iain Glen in this timely thriller about a terrorist-targeting drone mission that becomes a flashpoint when a civilian girl enters the kill zone. Directed by Gavin Hood.
Closing Night Film (Narrative)
"Everybody Wants Some" (USA): A group of college baseball players navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood. Starring Zoey Deutch, Tyler Hoechlin, Ryan Guzman, Blake Jenner. Directed by Richard Linklater
Narrative Features:
"Precious Cargo" (World Premiere) : After a botched heist, Eddie, a murderous crime boss, hunts down the seductive thief Karen who failed him. In order to win back Eddie’s trust, Karen recruits her ex-lover and premier thief Jack. Starring Bruce Willis, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Claire Forlani. Directed by Max Adams. "Embrace Of The Serpent" (Colombia. Florida Premiere): Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. The story of the relationship between Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman and last survivor of his people, and two scientists who work together over the course of 40 years to search the Amazon for a sacred healing plant. Starring: Jan Bijvoet, Antonio Bolivar. Directed by Ciro Guerra "Ma Ma" (Spain. Florida Premiere): A woman recently diagnosed with cancer forms an unexpected bond with a soccer scout (Luis Tosar) whose wife has been gravely injured in a car accident. Starring: Academy Award winner Penélope Cruz. Directed by Julio Medem "Love and Friendship" (France/Netherlands. Florida Premiere): In the 18th century, the seductive and manipulative Lady Susan uses devious tactics to win the heart of the eligible Reginald De Courcy. Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevigny. Directed by Whit Stillman. "The Daughter" (Australia. Florida Premiere): A young man returns to his dying hometown and discovers a dark family secret that could tear apart the lives of those he left behind, in this contemporary adaptation of Ibsen’s The Wild Duck. Starring: Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush, Ewen Leslie, Paul Schneider, Miranda Otto, Anna Torv, with Odessa Young and Sam Neill. Directed by Simon Stone. "The Debt" (USA. Florida Premiere): A hedge-fund honcho puts through the deal of a lifetime: the redemption of a billion-dollar debt owed by the Peruvian government to its citizens. The quick buck soon turns into a nightmare. Starring: Stephen Dorff, Alberto Ammann, Carlos Bardem, and David Strathairn. Directed by Barney Elliott"The Adderall Diaries" (USA. Florida Premiere): Based on the bestselling memoir by Stephen Elliott, The Adderall Diaries is the story of an author paralyzed by writer's block and an escalating drug dependency who is sucked down the rabbit hole of a high-profile murder case. Starring:James Franco, Ed Harris and Amber Heard. Written and directed by Pamela Romanowsky"One More Time" (USA. Florida Premiere): After one too many big city problems, Jude heads to the Hamptons home of her father, an over-the-hill crooner desperately charting his musical comeback. Starring: Amber Heard, Kelli Garner and Christopher Walken. Directed by Robert Edwards. "Little Men" (USA. Florida Premiere): Jake is a quiet, sensitive middle schooler when he meets the affably brash Tony at his grandfather's funeral. The budding friendship is put at risk, however, when a rent dispute between Jake's father, Brian and Tony's mother, Leonor, threatens to become contentious. Starring: Greg Kinnear, Theo Taplitz, Michael Barbieri and Alfred Molina. Directed by Ira Sachs "A Beautiful Now" (USA. Florida Premiere): As a beautiful dancer balances between reality and fantasy, she asks her friends to help her figure out the passions and relationships that have shaped her identity. Starring: Abigail Spencer, Cheyenne Jackson, Collette Wolfe. Directed by: Daniela Amavia "Puerto Ricans in Paris" (USA. Florida Premiere): Two Puerto Rican NYPD detectives head to Paris to track down a stolen handbag. Starring: Luiz Guzman, Rosie Perez, Rosario Dawson. Directed by Ian Edelman "The Black Coat’s Daughter" (USA. Florida Premiere): Beautiful and haunted Joan makes a pilgrimage across a frozen landscape toward a prestigious all girls prep school where Rose and Kat find themselves stranded after their parents mysteriously fail to retrieve them for winter break. Starring: Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka, James Remar, Lauren Holly. Directed by Osgood Perkins "The Truth About Lies" (USA. Florida Premiere): A desperate, unemployed man (Fran Kranz) who lives with his mother weaves an ever-growing web of lies to impress a beautiful woman. Starring: Fran Kranz, Odette Annable. Directed by Phil Allocco. Documentaries
"Hair I Go Again" (World Premiere): Facing a mid-life crossroads, two longtime friends risk everything as they set out to fulfill their dreams of achieving rock & roll stardom. Directed by: Steve McClure. "Hano! A Century in the Bleachers" (Florida Premiere): Meet Arnold Hano, 93, legendary sportswriter and social activist. Baseball fan, war veteran and storyteller emeritus: few have lived and chronicled the American experience as extensively. Directed by: Jon Leonoudakis. "Smart" (Florida Premiere): Groundbreaking feature-length documentary about a group of highly trained, adrenaline-fueled professionals who risk life and limb to rescue animals. They're Los Angeles' Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team! Directed by Justin Zimmerman "No Greater Love" (Florida Premiere): U.S. Army Chaplain Justin Roberts goes on missions with the legendary No Slack battalion in Afghanistan in 2010/2011 armed with only a camera. Directed by Justin Roberts.
Cuban Sidebar: Films focusing on Cuba
"Craving Cuba" (World Premiere): A Cuban-American woman seeks to understand her true identity. Directed by: Zuzy Martin Lynch "The Forbidden Shore" (World Premiere)- The amazing diversity of contemporary Cuban music is gorgeously explored in Ron Chapman’s third documentary feature. Chapman captures the full gamut of what’s happening now in Cuba, both the most exciting artists and the distinct musical scenes they move In. Directed by Ron Chapman. "Havana Motor Club" (Florida Premiere): Reforms have offered opportunity in Cuba but the children of the Revolution are unsure of the best route forward. For a half-dozen drag racers, this means last-minute changes to their beloved American muscle cars, as they prepare for the first sanctioned race in Cuba since 1960. Directed by Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt
Florida Focus : World premiere of independent films made in Florida
"Waiting on Mary" : A struggling actor, traumatized by a brutal divorce, assumes the personality of a colonial character he played at a failed amusement park as a way of retreating from his pain. Directed by: Corey Horton "Bear With Us" : A modern farce about a guy who attempts to propose to his girlfriend in the most romantic way possible, but his plan falls apart when a ravenous bear stumbles on their charming cabin in the woods. Directed by: William Stribling. "Dooder And the Lighthouse" : Dooder Parker is eighty-six and full of life. When the historic lighthouse in his hometown becomes doomed to fall into the Gulf, his recounting of local history evolves into a reflection on his love for his wife. Stories intertwine to paint a portrait of a vanishing way of life. Directed by: Clayton Long & Lisa Long In addition to feature length films, Giff will present over 70 short films. Short film blocks include:
“Lol”: Comedic short films · “Films on a Mission”: Short films focusing on a specific cause
· “Thrill Ride”: Thriller, action, and horror short films.
· “Love is In the Air”: Romantic short films
· “ Motion Tunes”: Short films related to music
· “Save the Drama”: Drama short films
· “Films 101”: College made short films
· “High School Film Showcase”: Giff’s high school filmmaking competition sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union
Additionally, Gasparilla will feature in-depth, informative Industry Panels, including, Meet The Press, Casting Directors, “The Performance” Actor’s panel, Special Effects, Do’s, Don’ts for a Film Festival Run and “The Pitch.” Additionally, Giff is proud to welcome Academy Award nominated animator Bill Plympton (1987’s Your Face).
For more information on all the films to be screened and industry events, please go to:
www.gasparillafilmfestival.com...
This year’s special tribute will celebrate the many accomplishments of Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony winner Rita Moreno. Giff will honor Moreno with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Also, her film, "Remember Me" will screen at the festival.
A jury of industry professionals and acclaimed filmmakers will be presenting awards to competition films in the following categories: Narrative Feature, Documentary, Spotlight and Shorts.
Highlights include:
Opening Night Film (Narrative)
"Eye in the Sky" (UK): Academy Award winner Helen Mirren stars alongside Aaron Paul, Alan Rickman and Iain Glen in this timely thriller about a terrorist-targeting drone mission that becomes a flashpoint when a civilian girl enters the kill zone. Directed by Gavin Hood.
Closing Night Film (Narrative)
"Everybody Wants Some" (USA): A group of college baseball players navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood. Starring Zoey Deutch, Tyler Hoechlin, Ryan Guzman, Blake Jenner. Directed by Richard Linklater
Narrative Features:
"Precious Cargo" (World Premiere) : After a botched heist, Eddie, a murderous crime boss, hunts down the seductive thief Karen who failed him. In order to win back Eddie’s trust, Karen recruits her ex-lover and premier thief Jack. Starring Bruce Willis, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Claire Forlani. Directed by Max Adams. "Embrace Of The Serpent" (Colombia. Florida Premiere): Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. The story of the relationship between Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman and last survivor of his people, and two scientists who work together over the course of 40 years to search the Amazon for a sacred healing plant. Starring: Jan Bijvoet, Antonio Bolivar. Directed by Ciro Guerra "Ma Ma" (Spain. Florida Premiere): A woman recently diagnosed with cancer forms an unexpected bond with a soccer scout (Luis Tosar) whose wife has been gravely injured in a car accident. Starring: Academy Award winner Penélope Cruz. Directed by Julio Medem "Love and Friendship" (France/Netherlands. Florida Premiere): In the 18th century, the seductive and manipulative Lady Susan uses devious tactics to win the heart of the eligible Reginald De Courcy. Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevigny. Directed by Whit Stillman. "The Daughter" (Australia. Florida Premiere): A young man returns to his dying hometown and discovers a dark family secret that could tear apart the lives of those he left behind, in this contemporary adaptation of Ibsen’s The Wild Duck. Starring: Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush, Ewen Leslie, Paul Schneider, Miranda Otto, Anna Torv, with Odessa Young and Sam Neill. Directed by Simon Stone. "The Debt" (USA. Florida Premiere): A hedge-fund honcho puts through the deal of a lifetime: the redemption of a billion-dollar debt owed by the Peruvian government to its citizens. The quick buck soon turns into a nightmare. Starring: Stephen Dorff, Alberto Ammann, Carlos Bardem, and David Strathairn. Directed by Barney Elliott"The Adderall Diaries" (USA. Florida Premiere): Based on the bestselling memoir by Stephen Elliott, The Adderall Diaries is the story of an author paralyzed by writer's block and an escalating drug dependency who is sucked down the rabbit hole of a high-profile murder case. Starring:James Franco, Ed Harris and Amber Heard. Written and directed by Pamela Romanowsky"One More Time" (USA. Florida Premiere): After one too many big city problems, Jude heads to the Hamptons home of her father, an over-the-hill crooner desperately charting his musical comeback. Starring: Amber Heard, Kelli Garner and Christopher Walken. Directed by Robert Edwards. "Little Men" (USA. Florida Premiere): Jake is a quiet, sensitive middle schooler when he meets the affably brash Tony at his grandfather's funeral. The budding friendship is put at risk, however, when a rent dispute between Jake's father, Brian and Tony's mother, Leonor, threatens to become contentious. Starring: Greg Kinnear, Theo Taplitz, Michael Barbieri and Alfred Molina. Directed by Ira Sachs "A Beautiful Now" (USA. Florida Premiere): As a beautiful dancer balances between reality and fantasy, she asks her friends to help her figure out the passions and relationships that have shaped her identity. Starring: Abigail Spencer, Cheyenne Jackson, Collette Wolfe. Directed by: Daniela Amavia "Puerto Ricans in Paris" (USA. Florida Premiere): Two Puerto Rican NYPD detectives head to Paris to track down a stolen handbag. Starring: Luiz Guzman, Rosie Perez, Rosario Dawson. Directed by Ian Edelman "The Black Coat’s Daughter" (USA. Florida Premiere): Beautiful and haunted Joan makes a pilgrimage across a frozen landscape toward a prestigious all girls prep school where Rose and Kat find themselves stranded after their parents mysteriously fail to retrieve them for winter break. Starring: Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka, James Remar, Lauren Holly. Directed by Osgood Perkins "The Truth About Lies" (USA. Florida Premiere): A desperate, unemployed man (Fran Kranz) who lives with his mother weaves an ever-growing web of lies to impress a beautiful woman. Starring: Fran Kranz, Odette Annable. Directed by Phil Allocco. Documentaries
"Hair I Go Again" (World Premiere): Facing a mid-life crossroads, two longtime friends risk everything as they set out to fulfill their dreams of achieving rock & roll stardom. Directed by: Steve McClure. "Hano! A Century in the Bleachers" (Florida Premiere): Meet Arnold Hano, 93, legendary sportswriter and social activist. Baseball fan, war veteran and storyteller emeritus: few have lived and chronicled the American experience as extensively. Directed by: Jon Leonoudakis. "Smart" (Florida Premiere): Groundbreaking feature-length documentary about a group of highly trained, adrenaline-fueled professionals who risk life and limb to rescue animals. They're Los Angeles' Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team! Directed by Justin Zimmerman "No Greater Love" (Florida Premiere): U.S. Army Chaplain Justin Roberts goes on missions with the legendary No Slack battalion in Afghanistan in 2010/2011 armed with only a camera. Directed by Justin Roberts.
Cuban Sidebar: Films focusing on Cuba
"Craving Cuba" (World Premiere): A Cuban-American woman seeks to understand her true identity. Directed by: Zuzy Martin Lynch "The Forbidden Shore" (World Premiere)- The amazing diversity of contemporary Cuban music is gorgeously explored in Ron Chapman’s third documentary feature. Chapman captures the full gamut of what’s happening now in Cuba, both the most exciting artists and the distinct musical scenes they move In. Directed by Ron Chapman. "Havana Motor Club" (Florida Premiere): Reforms have offered opportunity in Cuba but the children of the Revolution are unsure of the best route forward. For a half-dozen drag racers, this means last-minute changes to their beloved American muscle cars, as they prepare for the first sanctioned race in Cuba since 1960. Directed by Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt
Florida Focus : World premiere of independent films made in Florida
"Waiting on Mary" : A struggling actor, traumatized by a brutal divorce, assumes the personality of a colonial character he played at a failed amusement park as a way of retreating from his pain. Directed by: Corey Horton "Bear With Us" : A modern farce about a guy who attempts to propose to his girlfriend in the most romantic way possible, but his plan falls apart when a ravenous bear stumbles on their charming cabin in the woods. Directed by: William Stribling. "Dooder And the Lighthouse" : Dooder Parker is eighty-six and full of life. When the historic lighthouse in his hometown becomes doomed to fall into the Gulf, his recounting of local history evolves into a reflection on his love for his wife. Stories intertwine to paint a portrait of a vanishing way of life. Directed by: Clayton Long & Lisa Long In addition to feature length films, Giff will present over 70 short films. Short film blocks include:
“Lol”: Comedic short films · “Films on a Mission”: Short films focusing on a specific cause
· “Thrill Ride”: Thriller, action, and horror short films.
· “Love is In the Air”: Romantic short films
· “ Motion Tunes”: Short films related to music
· “Save the Drama”: Drama short films
· “Films 101”: College made short films
· “High School Film Showcase”: Giff’s high school filmmaking competition sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union
Additionally, Gasparilla will feature in-depth, informative Industry Panels, including, Meet The Press, Casting Directors, “The Performance” Actor’s panel, Special Effects, Do’s, Don’ts for a Film Festival Run and “The Pitch.” Additionally, Giff is proud to welcome Academy Award nominated animator Bill Plympton (1987’s Your Face).
For more information on all the films to be screened and industry events, please go to:
www.gasparillafilmfestival.com...
- 3/23/2016
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Read More: Mongrel Land International Rights to Ira Sachs' 'Little Men' Altitude Films has announced that they have purchased the UK rights to this year's Sundance hit "Little Men." The deal marks the second time that director Ira Sachs has teamed up with the UK distributor, as Altitude also released his "Love is Strange" two years ago. Altitude Film Entertainment's Ellie Gibbons and Mongrel International's Charlotte Mickie negotiated the acquisition. "Little Men" tells the story of sheepish Jake (Theo Taplitz) and brazen Tony (Michael Barbieri), two young boys who meet at Jake's grandfather’s funeral and strike up a quick friendship. The unlikely pals must then endure challenge of their parents' disputes with one another and deal with those ramifications. Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle and Paulina Garcia star in this film about familial contention. Of the announcement, Sachs said, "Following in the steps of 'Love is.
- 2/16/2016
- by Elle Leonsis
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Ira Sachs’ Generation Kplus selection has proved a strong draw at Efm as Charlotte Mickie and her team have closed further key sales.
Non-Stop has acquired rights for Scandinavia, Rialto for Australia, and Golem for Spain.
Magnolia Pictures recently acquired Us rights and Altitude UK rights for the coming-of-age drama that received its world premiere last month at Sundance.
Little Men stars Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, Paulina Garcia and newcomers Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri and tells of two youngsters whose budding friendship is put to the test when a rent dispute erupts between their parents.
Sachs produced with Lucas Joaquin, Faliro House’s Christos V Konstantakopoulos and Race Point Films’ Jim Landé and Laura Teodosio.
“Little Men has become a phenomenon in Berlin,” said Mongrel International president Mickie. “We’re so excited about the press, the audience response at the screenings and the wonderful support from our distributors. We’re in great...
Non-Stop has acquired rights for Scandinavia, Rialto for Australia, and Golem for Spain.
Magnolia Pictures recently acquired Us rights and Altitude UK rights for the coming-of-age drama that received its world premiere last month at Sundance.
Little Men stars Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, Paulina Garcia and newcomers Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri and tells of two youngsters whose budding friendship is put to the test when a rent dispute erupts between their parents.
Sachs produced with Lucas Joaquin, Faliro House’s Christos V Konstantakopoulos and Race Point Films’ Jim Landé and Laura Teodosio.
“Little Men has become a phenomenon in Berlin,” said Mongrel International president Mickie. “We’re so excited about the press, the audience response at the screenings and the wonderful support from our distributors. We’re in great...
- 2/14/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Love Is Strange director reunites with UK distributor.
Altitude Film Distribution has acquired the UK distribution rights to Sundance drama Little Men.
The deal was negotiated between Altitude Film Entertainment’s Ellie Gibbons and Mongrel International’s Charlotte Mickie.
The acquisition is the second between Sachs and Altitude, having previously released the highly acclaimed Love is Strange.
Little Men follows Jake (Theo Taplitz), a quiet, sensitive middle schooler with dreams of being an artist. He meets the affably brash Tony (Michael Barbieri) at his grandfather’s funeral, and the unlikely pair soon hit it off.
The budding friendship is put at risk, however, when a rent dispute between Jake’s parents, Brian and Kathy (Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle), and Tony’s mother, Leonor (Paulina Garcia), threatens to become contentious.
Sachs co-wrote the screenplay with Mauricio Zacharis (Love is Strange).
Producers are Lucas Joaquin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Sachs, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos ([link...
Altitude Film Distribution has acquired the UK distribution rights to Sundance drama Little Men.
The deal was negotiated between Altitude Film Entertainment’s Ellie Gibbons and Mongrel International’s Charlotte Mickie.
The acquisition is the second between Sachs and Altitude, having previously released the highly acclaimed Love is Strange.
Little Men follows Jake (Theo Taplitz), a quiet, sensitive middle schooler with dreams of being an artist. He meets the affably brash Tony (Michael Barbieri) at his grandfather’s funeral, and the unlikely pair soon hit it off.
The budding friendship is put at risk, however, when a rent dispute between Jake’s parents, Brian and Kathy (Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle), and Tony’s mother, Leonor (Paulina Garcia), threatens to become contentious.
Sachs co-wrote the screenplay with Mauricio Zacharis (Love is Strange).
Producers are Lucas Joaquin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Sachs, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos ([link...
- 2/14/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The distributor has picked up Us rights to Ira Sachs’ drama following its world premiere in Sundance and ahead of the international premiere in Berlin.
Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, Paulina Garcia, and newcomers Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri star in the coming-of-age story set in New York.
Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias wrote the screenplay and Lucas Joaquin produced with Ira Sachs, and Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, L.A. Teodosio, and Jim Landé.
Little Men marks the third collaboration between Sachs and co-writer Mauricio Zacharias, following Love Is Strange and Keep The Lights On.
Tom Dolby served as executive producer alongside Dom Genest, Matthew Helderman, Daniella Kahane, Lars Knudsen, David Kyle, Sophie Mas, Melissa Pinsly, Blythe Robertson, Lourenço Sant’Anna, Hugh Schulze, Luke Taylor, Rodrigo Teixeira, Jay Van Hoy, and Franklin Zitter.
Magnolia negotiated the deal with Wme Global and Bruns, Brennan & Berry on behalf of the filmmakers.
Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, Paulina Garcia, and newcomers Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri star in the coming-of-age story set in New York.
Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias wrote the screenplay and Lucas Joaquin produced with Ira Sachs, and Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, L.A. Teodosio, and Jim Landé.
Little Men marks the third collaboration between Sachs and co-writer Mauricio Zacharias, following Love Is Strange and Keep The Lights On.
Tom Dolby served as executive producer alongside Dom Genest, Matthew Helderman, Daniella Kahane, Lars Knudsen, David Kyle, Sophie Mas, Melissa Pinsly, Blythe Robertson, Lourenço Sant’Anna, Hugh Schulze, Luke Taylor, Rodrigo Teixeira, Jay Van Hoy, and Franklin Zitter.
Magnolia negotiated the deal with Wme Global and Bruns, Brennan & Berry on behalf of the filmmakers.
- 2/11/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The domestic rights to Greg Kinnear‘s drama “Little Men” were acquired by Magnolia Pictures, the distribution company announced Thursday. The Ira Sachs-directed film will be theatrically released this year and also stars Jennifer Ehle (“Zero Dark Thirty”) and Paulina Garcia (“Narcos”), as well as new young stars Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri. Sachs’ sixth feature was praised at the Sundance Film Festival and will make its international premiere this weekend at the Berlin International Film Festival. Also Read: Sundance Deals: Magnolia Pictures Acquires Worldwide Rights to Werner Herzog's 'Lo and Behold' The film follows the friendship formed...
- 2/11/2016
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Ira Sachs fans have been patiently waiting for the director's sixth feature, "Little Men," to be picked up for distribution after it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last month and earned near unanimous acclaim. It may have taken longer than usual, but Magnolia Pictures has finally stepped up and secured all U.S. distribution rights to the coming-of-age family drama. The movie makes it international premiere this weekend at the Berlin International Film Festival. Read More: Sundance Springboard: Meet the 'Little Men' at the Heart of Ira Sachs' Acclaimed Drama The official synopsis reads: "'Little Men' simultaneously follows the friendship formed between 13-year-olds Jake (Theo Taplitz) and Tony (Michael Barbieri), and an increasingly tense dispute between their parents - all set against a backdrop of the ever-changing socioeconomic situation in modern New York." The movie marks the third...
- 2/11/2016
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Like his last film, Love is Strange, Ira Sachs’ Little Men is a film about transition. It starts with the death of a grandfather, which leads 13-year-old Jake (Theo Taplitz) and his family (dad played by Greg Kinnear, mom by Jennifer Ehle) to move into his Brooklyn building – an upstairs apartment and a downstairs retail space, currently occupied by a failing clothing store. The grandfather had long kept rent low for Leonor (Paulina Garcia) so she might stay in business, but Jake’s parents have no such attachments. He, however, has become fast friends with Leonor’s son, Tony (Michael Barbieri), no small thing when he’s regarded as the weird kid at his own school.
Sachs co-screenwriter Mauricio Zacharias pull no punches with their premise, seeing it all the way through to its inevitable conclusion. But they do imbue so much of the film with warmth and honesty. This is not a film...
Sachs co-screenwriter Mauricio Zacharias pull no punches with their premise, seeing it all the way through to its inevitable conclusion. But they do imbue so much of the film with warmth and honesty. This is not a film...
- 2/5/2016
- by Scott Nye
- CriterionCast
If Martin Scorsese was the quintessential auteur of New York in the 1970s and ’80s – with its wise guys and street toughs – and Spike Lee that of New York in the late ’80s and ’90s – with its Balkanized enclaves and attitudes – then Ira Sachs is gradually becoming the quintessential auteur of today’s New York – the one of class inequality, and of relationships transformed by the changing city around them. As evidenced by Love is Strange, Keep the Lights On, and now Little Men, he depicts this world with a clarity and generosity that lends it a richness far beyond what’s immediately on the screen. In Little Men, two 13-year-olds are brought together by an odd bit of circumstance. Jake Jardine (Theo Taplitz) is the son of small-time actor Brian (Greg Kinnear) and psychiatrist Kathy (Jennifer Ehle). When Jake’s grandfather dies, his family comes into possession of the...
- 1/30/2016
- by Bilge Ebiri
- Vulture
Read More: The 2016 Indiewire Sundance Bible: All the Reviews, Interviews and News Posted During The Festival Indiewire's Springboard column profiles up-and-comers in the film industry worthy of your attention. New York filmmaking mainstay Ira Sachs turns his attention to the younger set in his latest Sundance premiere, "Little Men," which weaves together the stories of two very different families who are bonded by both business concerns and the blossoming friendship between their youngest members. The big, beating heart of the film is found in the newfound relationship between young Jake (Theo Taplitz) and Tony (Michael Barbieri), who become fast friends when Jake's family moves into the apartment above Tony's mother's clothing store. Incidentally, Jake's family owns both the apartment and the store, which causes major problems as the film winds on. Although they're different kinds of kids, the boys bond almost instantly, and as their parents attempt to muddle through.
- 1/28/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Little Men could have been so much more if its perspective leaned towards the opposite direction. Why a story dealing heavily with gentrification and unfair leasing practice devotes more time to the gentrifiers than the displaced is a mystery to me. It might be more “challenging” in terms of audience sympathy, but it’s not as though the movie does all that much to make them sympathetic. Greg Kinnear’s Brian may be kicking up the lease on the shop below his family’s new Brooklyn apartment, but, hey, he’s a struggling actor and is dealing with a crisis of masculinity over how his wife makes more money than him. So clearly it’s worthwhile to spend more time with him than with Leonor (Paulina Garcia), the longtime proprietor of the shop he’s about to evict, right?
Of course, the movie is not about either of them. It’s about their sons,...
Of course, the movie is not about either of them. It’s about their sons,...
- 1/27/2016
- by Daniel Schindel
- The Film Stage
Two years ago, veteran indie filmmaker Ira Sachs delivered his best movie to date, “Love Is Strange,” a muted New York drama that starts with a joyful gay wedding and then builds into a profound study of family obligations and generations in transition. Sachs’ latest, “Little Men,” is as modest as its title, and lacks the quiet majesty of its predecessor. But it covers a lot of the same ground, using NYC as the backdrop for a simple story, about a small personal crisis that represents something much larger. Read More: The 30 Most Anticipated Films Of The 2016 Sundance Film Festival While “Love Is Strange” is focused on the old, “Little Men” skews young. Theo Taplitz plays Jake Jardine, a sweet-natured, artistic junior-high student who moves from Manhattan to Brooklyn with his psychotherapist mother Kathy (Jennifer Ehle) and stage-actor father Brian (Greg Kinnear), after the latter’s dad dies and wills Brian his brownstone.
- 1/26/2016
- by Noel Murray
- The Playlist
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