"At first glimpse, Gael Garcia Bernal's boyish looks don't bring revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara to mind: no goatee, no military beret, no fatigues. That's a good thing, however, as the 26-year-old rising Mexican star redefines the leftist revolutionary for the big screen," Adam Raney speaks with the film's star, Gael Garcia Bernal and profiles the film in A.P.

"In a rare move, NBC will present a documentary about capital punishment, 'Deadline,' that played at the Sundance Film Festival on 'Dateline NBC.,'" Bernard Weinraub reports for the New York Times.

"Women activists in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu have demanded a ban on a film, 'New,' which they say contains obscene sex scenes. The film is doing big business since its release last week," BBC reports.

"Hundreds of people gathered in a rural parking lot near President Bush's Texas ranch on Wednesday to watch Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary, 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' although the filmmaker canceled plans to attend," David Morgan reports in Reuters.

"The DVD audience has the chance of choosing if they want to go straight to hell (with the original NC-17 version of the film) or if they are grown-ups and can decide for themselves. I am still against any kind of censorship. It’s a subject in my life that has been very important," director Bernardo Bertolucci speaks with Jennifer Barret of Newsweek about his film "The Dreamers," which is out on DVD and censorship in America.

"Now an animation veteran, with 17 years in the business, Masaaki Yuasa still looks young enough, acts deferential enough and dresses down enough to be mistaken for a rank-and-filer. Instead, he is a rising industry star hailed for his work on the 'Crayon Shinchan' franchise, the nearest Japanese animation has come to 'The Simpsons,' and his directorial debut, 'Mind Game,' which is to most Japanese feature animation what extreme skiing is to a schuss down a bunny slope," Mark Schilling interviews the director for The Japan Times.

"Zatoichi is, in fact, an iconic figure for several generations of Japanese filmgoers who regard him as Dirty Harry, Batman, Columbo and Robin Hood rolled into one," Hugh Hart profiles the film for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Is it Smithers? "A character from The Simpsons is to be revealed as gay, sparking a mystery among fans over who it will be," BBC reports.

"Don't look for any Manchurians in 'The Manchurian Candidate' remake. The only Manchurian is in the name of the villain — an evil multinational conglomerate. Don't look for Manchuria, either — the action stems from the first Gulf War. But you won't find any wacky Iraqis. The mad scientist/brainwasher is a white South African," Douglas J. Rowe reports in A.P.

"He's played a junkie in 'Trainspotting,' a gang leader in 'Small Faces' and now a skinhead. Kevin McKidd tells Skye Sherwin why he can't resist acting the brute," The Guardian speaks with the Scottish actor.

Moore, on his Web site, invited Bush to attend, saying he wanted a chance to thank him personally for starring in the film. "And let's face it, you've got some of the funniest lines in the film!" he wrote. A.P. reports.

"The success of 'Fahrenheit 9/11' is making Michael Moore's life a bit easier on his next film. With 'Fahrenheit 9/11' becoming the first documentary to cross the $100 million mark at the domestic box office, director Moore expects a smooth path on raising money to make 'Sicko,' his critique of health-maintenance organizations," A.P. reports.

"Sundance Institute announced details for the second Sundance Institute Documentary Composers Lab. Five documentary filmmakers and six film music composers have been selected to participate in this year’s Lab, which is a collaboration between the Institute’s Documentary Film Program and its Film Music Program.  Based on the success of the Feature Film Composers Lab, the Documentary Composers Lab is an intensive five-day lab, running August 1-5, that focuses on the importance of musical composition in non-fiction filmmaking.  This year’s Documentary Composers Lab Filmmaker Fellows are Ra’ed Andoni, Mark Becker, Mercedes Moncada, Hank Rogerson, and Jilann Spitzmiller.  The Composing Lab Fellows are Peter Fitazpatrick, Aiko Fuskushima, Joseph Julian Gonzales, Gary Louris, Frank Macchia, and Ras Mesinai.  Together, the Documentary filmmaker and composer Fellows will explore and identify scenes to score, and engage in critiques and discussions with Creative Advisors ranging from their work at the Lab to the role of music in independent documentary film. For more information on the Sundance Institute, visit theirsite.

The Online Film Critics Society has announced its list of the Top 100 Overlooked Films of the 1990s. The top ten follows, for the full list, visit the O.F.C.S. website.

The writers of the Online Film Critics Society recalls the half- and completely-forgotten treasures of the past decade cinematic canon with its list of the Top 100 Overlooked Films of the 1990s. Join us for a trip back into the not-so-distant past and see if you recall the titles celebrated here by the OFCS writers.

The Online Film Critics Society's Top 100 Overlooked Films of the 1990s:

1. Miller's Crossing
2. Safe
3. The Sweet Hereafter
4. Lone Star
5. Heavenly Creatures
6. Waiting for Guffman
7. The Hudsucker Proxy
8. Babe: Pig in the City
9. Dead Man
10. Fearless

"The title character in 'Maria Full of Grace' is part of the international drug trade, but she's neither a user nor a gangster. She's a 17- year-old country girl from a poor family, and the money she will receive for swallowing rubber pellets filled with cocaine and flying to New York -- $5, 000 -- is three times the average yearly income in Colombia," G. Allen Johnson speaks with director Josh Marston and actress Catalina Sandino Moreno for the San Francisco Chronicle.

"Rep. Bernie Sanders has a burgeoning second job: movie star. Vermont's lone congressman is one of many legislators, journalists and media watchdogs interviewed for 'Orwell Rolls in His Grave' by director Robert Pappas, and Robert Greenwald's latest film, 'Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism,'" A.P. profiles Sanders' film appearances.

"A string of new movies are to tackle the Rwandan genocide, the first major films to tell the story of killings of 800,000 people 10 years ago," Ian Youngs reports for BBC.

Fine Line has nabbed Alejandro Amenabar's "Out to Sea," according to Variety. A New York screening of the Spanish film last week stirred anger among some buyers who were excluded from seeing the movie by seller Sogepaq. Fine Line is expected to release the movie later this year.

In a conversation with journalists this morning, Lions Gate Films distribution exec Steve Rothenberg and filmmaker Michael Moore confirmed that "Fahrenheit 9/11" has passed the $100 million mark in grosses. The movie, which opened June 23rd, earned an estimated $5 million over the weekend in 1,855 theaters, giving it an estimated domestic total gross of $103.3 million.

"Reverse Shot" checks in with Richard Linklater in the wake of his latest
success, "Before Sunset." Featuring an exclusive interview, articles on each
of his film and four fresh perspectives on "Before Sunset" along with reviews
of new releases," Visit their site.

Lions Gate and the Fellowship Adventure Group released an interview with Michael Moore today, in which he comments on the film's success, the conventions and Linda Ronstadt. The compete transcript, as provided by Lions Gate, follows...

"A banned documentary on former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos has opened in Manila," BBC reports.

"With many of the world's largest corporations spending tens of millions of dollars to secure screen time for their brands, a regional, family-owned fast-food chain called White Castle has effortlessly won a starring role that most brand marketers can only envy. In fact, the role is so integral to the movie's story line that the burger chain's name is featured in the title, 'Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,' which New Line Cinema is releasing July 30, with sneak previews this weekend," Gail Schiller profiles the film and White Castle for the Hollywood Reporter.

"Woody Allen will open the 52nd San Sebastian Film Festival in September with the world premiere of his new film 'Melinda and Melinda,' festival organizers said Friday," the Associated Press reports.

"Singer Linda Ronstadt, banned from a Las Vegas casino for supporting the anti-George Bush film Fahrenheit 911, may be allowed back to the venue.
Robert Earl, one of the men buying the Aladdin casino where the incident happened, said he was 'very sorry' to hear Ronstadt had been banned," BBC reports.

"MC Entertainment Inc., the nation's second-largest theater exhibition company, said Thursday it will be sold in a deal worth $2 billion. Marquee Holdings Inc., a joint operation of private equity firm J.P. Morgan Partners and AMC's current majority owner, Apollo Management LP, plans to buy the company and take it private, paying stockholders $19.50 per share," David Twitty reports for A.P.

"Republicans initially dismissed 'Fahrenheit 9/11' as a cinematic screed that would play mostly to inveterate Bush bashers. Four weeks and $94 million later, the film is still pulling in moviegoers at 2,000 theaters around the country, making Republicans nervous as it settles into the American mainstream," Mike Glover reports for the Associated Press.

"There was a great deal of confusion, but the festival went ahead despite all the problems - which is a tribute to the organisers. If it is allowed time to develop it could become an enormous cultural event providing a much-needed outlet for Palestinians. It would be a tragedy if it didn't happen again next year. I for one would like to go back. I wasn't there nearly long enough.Nick Broomfield on the four days he spent as a judge at Ramallah's first international celebration of celluloid," in The Guardian.

"Move over Michael Moore. With the director's controversial 'Fahrenheit 9/11' cooling at box offices after $94 million in ticket sales in about four weeks, a new wave of documentaries is headed for audiences hungry for more than standard Hollywood popcorn," Bob Tourtellotte reports for Reuters.

Just to mix it up a bit, here's a music news relevant to the upcoming campaign season: "Winding up her summer tour across Europe, Bonnie Raitt (news) drew thunderous applause at the Stockholm Jazz Festival for dedicating a classic to President George Bush," the Associated Press reports.

Directed by Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron, and Rob Letterman, the computer-animated comedy "Shark Tale" will receive its North American premiere as a matinee gala presentation at the 29th Toronto International Film Festival®. This marks the first year that the Festival will host matinee gala presentations, which will screen at Roy Thomson Hall. Starring the voices of Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renee Zellweger, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black, and Martin Scorsese, "Shark Tale" tells the story of Oscar, a little fish with big dreams who gets caught in a great white lie. For more information, visit their site.

One view on the current state of American democracy: "Elton John has said stars are scared to speak out against war in Iraq because of 'bullying tactics' used by the US government to hinder free speech," BBC reports.

"An unsettling movie with spiritual overtones that's set in an 80's suburb, 'Darko' opened in November 2001 and promptly closed. Given the national mood, it didn't help that a major scene showed a part of an airplane falling into a house. Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays Donnie, wasn't yet famous, and the character, a troubled teenager haunted by visions of a man in a bunny suit, was hardly heroic," Robert Levine revisits the film for the New York Times.

Sometimes on a warm summer day, a fresh bit of celebrity gossip just hits the spot. A quick scan of the best dishy blogs this morning offers the last dirt on some indie-minded star couples...must-read Choire Sicha over at Gawker.com delivers details of a recent family meal between Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and the kids, while the anonymous L.A. blogger at Gawker's sister site Defamer.com weighs in on rumors of a split between Jake Gyllenhaal and Kirsten Dunst. Who knows if its all true, but it sure is fun...

"Singer Linda Ronstadt was thrown out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas on the weekend after dedicating a song to liberal film maker Michael Moore and his movie 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' a casino spokeswoman said on Monday," Reuters reports.

Two new films, Joshua Marston's "Maria Full of Grace" and Tod Williams' "The Door in the Floor" are atop the indieWIRE: BOT this week. "Maria" made $139,066 on 7 screens for an average just under $20,000, while "Door" earned $456,876 on 47 screens with an average of $9,721. Full details and background will be published in indieWIRE's Wednesday box office report.

indieWIRE has started a new content partnership with IFC, providing stories to the newly relaunched IFCTV.com. indieWIRE contributor Tony Phillips recently chatted with Tod Williams about his new film "The Door in the Floor," which Focus Features opened to strong reviews and box-office numbers last week. Williams talks to Phillips about the project, as well as his next film based on Hemingway's "To Have and Have Not." But Williams is trying not to rush into his future works, something he learned from hanging out with novelist John Irving, who wrote the novel that the "Door" is based on. "Hanging out with John Irving, who works for five or six years on each project, writing everyday, you learn to be patient," the director says.

By ROBERT LEVINE
Published: July 18, 2004

IN April 2002, the director Richard Kelly was walking through the East Village when he saw something he never thought he'd see again: a poster promoting his film "Donnie Darko." An unsettling movie with spiritual overtones that's set in an 80's suburb, "Darko" opened in November 2001 and promptly closed. Given the national mood, it didn't help that a major scene showed a part of an airplane falling into a house. Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays Donnie, wasn't yet famous, and the character, a troubled teenager haunted by visions of a man in a bunny suit, was hardly heroic. The movie's only big names — Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle and Drew Barrymore (who was also an executive producer) — were in minor roles. It took in only half a million dollars.

NY Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/18/movies/18LEVI.html

(PRESS RELEASE via AMPAS): Six new governors, five of them first-timers, have been elected by their branches to represent them on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In addition, eight incumbent members have been reelected. The terms of all 14 governors will commence August 1.

The American Museum of the Moving Image presents:

The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952-
2004 is an innovative online exhibition presenting more than 250
television commercials from every election year beginning in 1952,
when the first campaign ads aired, and including ads from this year's
campaign.

"The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like
breakfast cereal is the ultimate indignity to the democratic process."
-Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson, 1956

"Television is no gimmick, and nobody will ever be elected to major
office again without presenting themselves well on it."
-Television producer and Nixon campaign consultant Roger Ailes, 1968

Campaign ads streamed at: The Living Room Candidate - http://livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us/index.php

The Onion AV Club inteviews METALLICA: SOME KIND OF MONSTER co-directors' Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky.

"Closure or no closure, Ram Allah is preparing to host  its first international film festival in the Palestinian areas. At a pre-inauguration tour of the new $6.5m Ram Allah Cultural Palace, organisers on Sunday introduced journalists to the centre and an international cultural programme they are planning for the next 30 days," Al Jazeera reports.

"Films and other files larger than 100MB are becoming the most requested downloads on networks around the world," BBC reports.

" lawyer for Michael Moore asked a federal judge Wednesday to dismiss a libel lawsuit against the documentary filmmaker filed by the brother of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols," Jim Irwin reports in the Associated Press.

"The film's narrow focus on his public life during the impeachment hearings will disappoint those expecting a fleshed-out biography of the man who made his sexual orientation public in 1987 and subsequently survived his own sex scandal," Stephen Holden takes a look at the film in the New York Times.

The Atlantic Film Festival in Nova Scotia will open with a screening of Daniel MacIvor's "Wilby Wonderful" on September 17, 2004 in Halifax. Festival director Lia Rinaldo noted, "We have a long history of screening Daniel MacIvor’s films at the Festival -- when the programmers watched the film, we couldn’t think of a more perfect fit for that coveted gala spot." The fest will run through September 25th.

"In the most fiercely contested US election in decades, former Detroit News columnist Betty DeRamus takes a trip to the cinema in her home town to see how important films are in the race to the White House," Betty DeRamus reports for BBC.

"The Parents Television Council, the conservative watchdog group known for its fierce criticism of the broadcast networks, is expanding its purview to the film world, but this time it is taking a much more conciliatory approach. To further its mission of getting Hollywood to produce more family-friendly fare, the PTC has started issuing seals of approval for theatrical releases it sanctions," Gail Schiller writes for the Hollywood Reporter.

"Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 9/11' broke the British box office record for a documentary in its opening weekend by taking $2.4 million, the film's British distributor said Monday," A.P. reports.

"Effective today, AFMA is now the Independent Film & Television Alliance, it was announced by Michael Ryan, Chairman and Jean Prewitt, President and CEO. In addition, the organization unveiled the newly designed logo reflecting the name change." Effective August 2, 2004, the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s website address will be www.ifta-online.org. For more information, visit their current site.