http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/ JUMP CUTS by James Israel en Copyright 2009 2009-11-04T20:00:33+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/the_onion_barack_obama_names_alan_moore_official_white_house_biographer/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/the_onion_barack_obama_names_alan_moore_official_white_house_biographer/ Oh wow. And I just completed Swamp Thing 21-64. Obama is right. Alan Moore is a genius. If ONLY this were true. At a press conference Monday, President Obama announced that he had appointed legendary comic book writer Alan Moore as the official biographer of his time in the White House. “As evidenced by his epic run on Swamp Thing #21–64, Moore’s deft hand with both sociopolitical commentary and metaphysical violence makes him an ideal choice to chronicle my time in office,” Obama said of the author of Watchmen and From Hell, whom he reportedly chose over others on a… Comix 2009-11-04T20:00:33+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/fxs_the_league_starring_duplass_brother_mark_gets_thumbs_up/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/fxs_the_league_starring_duplass_brother_mark_gets_thumbs_up/ Mark Duplass is having a good year. Along with a feature in production with Fox Searchlight, he also is co-starring in FX’s new comedy, “The League.” Variety calls it: “A crude but consistently funny half-hour that appears to be a bull’s-eye with the channel’s male-skewing audience. Like TBS’ “My Boys.” The topnotch ensemble includes Pete (Mark Duplass), who consistently wins the fantasy league crown while suffering through a quarrelsome marriage; Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi), whose wife Jenny (Katie Aselton) secretly helps develop his team’s draft strategies; the sexually frustrated Ruxin (Nick Kroll), whose wife (“My Name Is Earl’s” Nadine Velazquez) is… Vids 2009-10-28T21:35:36+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/the_best_fassbinder_shot_ever/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/the_best_fassbinder_shot_ever/ Love at first sight. From Fassbinder’s “Martha.” Vids 2009-10-28T17:03:29+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/fassbinder_on_love_and_power/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/fassbinder_on_love_and_power/ Vids 2009-10-27T21:27:43+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/rooftop_films_needs_70k_to_survive/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/rooftop_films_needs_70k_to_survive/ Times are tough in this economy, even for awesome, longstanding NYC film series Rooftop Films, who sent out this email earlier this afternoon: The Top 10 Ways You Can Help Rooftop Survive Dear Friend,— By now, you’ve probably heard: despite stellar programming, groundbreaking creative partnerships, and record attendance, the economic crisis has hit Rooftop Films hard. We need to raise $70,000 by October to ensure that we can survive into 2010. The full link (with ways you can help) is here. indieWIRE covered the fest earlier this year.. The New York Times rans an awesome piece a few summers ago.… 2009-08-25T21:58:42+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/gentlemen_broncos_poster_-_so_excited/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/gentlemen_broncos_poster_-_so_excited/ If you’ve been watching the viral campaign for “Gentlemen Broncos,” than you’ve been introduced to Dr. Ronald Chevalier, a sci fi writer who offers tips on the art of relaxating as he waxes poetic on his numerous trilogies about cyborgs with boobs. Film opens October 30. I am there… Trailer hits tomorrow. New Films 2009-08-12T20:41:59+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/amelia_poster_starring_hillary_swank/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/amelia_poster_starring_hillary_swank/ I like it… Clean design. Evokes a certain mystery and ambition. More on Mira Nair’s “Amelia” here. New Films 2009-08-12T20:24:30+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/exposing_the_ultimate_sin_in_all_gods_children/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/exposing_the_ultimate_sin_in_all_gods_children/ Luci Westphal and Scott Solary‘s documentary, “All God’s Children” is getting its NYC premiere tomorrow at Tribeca Cinemas. Coming off numerous screening around the country, filmgoers are due to a treat as the filmmaking duo and several of the film’s participants will be in attendance. From the press release: Through the eyes of three families, the documentary All God’s Children tells the personal story of the first boarding school for children of missionaries to be investigated for abuse at the hands of the parents’ missionary colleagues. The survivors and parents share their journey of seeking justice, redemption and healing.  This… New Films 2009-08-10T18:47:05+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/rip_john_hughes/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/rip_john_hughes/ RIP John Hughes, 1950-2009… Sad news... RIP. Where would the teenage comedy be without you? I found this fun tribute to his work… Enjoy.   John Hughes Filmography Curly Sue (1991) Uncle Buck (1989) She’s Having a Baby (1988) Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) Weird Science (1985) The Breakfast Club (1985) Sixteen Candles (1984) 2009-08-06T21:45:44+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/an_education_trailer_starring_this_years_breakout_actress_carey_mulligan/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/an_education_trailer_starring_this_years_breakout_actress_carey_mulligan/ “Much is remarkable about the sweet and wonderful coming-of-age period drama “An Education,” the latest from Danish director Lone Scherfig and the first unqualified breakout at this year’s Sundance Film Festival….. (Carey) Mulligan is a newcomer to most audiences and while she has strong stage and TV work as well as supporting roles in art-house movies, “An Education” is her first leading screen role. She’s fantastic, utterly believable as a schoolgirl who desperately wants to be seen as a sophisticated adult,” said film critic Steve Ramos for indieWIRE back in January. Peter Sarsgaard is also quite good in the film…… New Films 2009-07-15T21:54:35+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/the_ghost_of_johnny_cash_at_laff/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/the_ghost_of_johnny_cash_at_laff/ We’re in post LAFF mode, but here’s a gem I am just now getting to post: The ghost of Johnny Cash made an appearance for the world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival of Brent Meeske’s documentary “Branson,” which follows the strange world of strip-mall performers in Branson, Missouri where over 50 theaters host concerts, performances, and other family friendly acts to a million people a year. The highlight of the film is the dark struggle of Johnny Cash impersonator Jackson Cash, who fights chronic drug problems while trying to maintain his growing career evoking The Man in Black.… New Films 2009-06-30T19:45:18+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/the_box_trailer_by_donnie_darko_director_richard_kelly/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/the_box_trailer_by_donnie_darko_director_richard_kelly/ Creepiness abound in Richard Kelly’s first big studio effort, “The Box.” At the indieWIRE/Apple event last year where Kelly discussed his last film, “Southland Tales,” Kelly teased “The Box” as more of a seat filler and not as risky as his past projects. New Films 2009-06-29T17:44:41+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/studio_indies_in_october/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/studio_indies_in_october/ Looking at indieWIRE’s (quickly becoming indespensable) release calendar I found something very interesting going on in October. Warner Brothers is letting out three very indie-flavored films by daring filmmakers that got their feature film starts at Sundance and Toronto: Stephen Soderbergh’s “The Informant” Spike Jonze’s “Where The Wild Things Are” Richard Kelly’s “The Box” October also see the release of new films by: The Coen Brothers Martin Scorcese Michael Moore Mira Nair Muguel Arteta Is this typical for that month? Start saving for movie tickets now. New Films 2009-06-17T22:52:15+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/it_might_get_loud_trailer_featuring_the_edge_jimmy_page_and_jack_white/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/it_might_get_loud_trailer_featuring_the_edge_jimmy_page_and_jack_white/ Looking forward to the new doc by Davis Guggenheim. I was always a big Led Zeppelin fan and having these three guitarists performing together is sure to satisfy every guitar geek. New Films 2009-06-08T15:54:42+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/werner_herzogs_bad_lieutenant_trailer/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/jamesisrael/archives/werner_herzogs_bad_lieutenant_trailer/ What a strange project, Werner Herzog taking the story of Abel Ferrera’s “Bed Lieutenant,” adding Nicholas Cage as the lead, and setting it in New Orleans. And Herzog insists it is not a remake. Not sure what to make of this trailer… it doesn’t look much like any Herzog film I’ve ever seen. It is good to see Nicholas Cage doing something interesting, though. When S.T. VanAirsdale interviewed Herzog for Defamer last year and asked him about how Abel Ferrera was annoyed about this “remake,” Herzog replied he had no idea who Ferrera was. “Let him fight the windmills, like… New Films 2009-05-28T12:35:10+00:00