Thompson on Hollywood

'I Declare War,' 'Vanishing Waves,' and 'Here Comes the Devil' Win at 2012 Fantastic Fest

Festivals

Kristina Bouzyte's "Vanishing Waves" cleaned up at Fantastic Fest, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, while Jurga Jutaite won the Best Actress award for her performance in the Lithuanian director's film. Robert Wilson and Jason Lapeyre's "I Declare War" won the Audience Award at the Fest and "Here Comes the Devil" was awarded Best Picture in the Horror Feature Category.

By Maggie Lange
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September 25, 2012 8:40 AM
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As You Wish: 25th Anniversary 'Princess Bride' Reunion at New York Film Festival

Festivals

"The Princess Bride" cast and crew will reunite to celebrate the film's 25th anniversary at a sidebar event at the New York Film Festival presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Cast members Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Mandy Patinkin as well as director Rob Reiner will join up at a screening of a brand new 35mm print at Alice Tully Hall on October 2.

By Maggie Lange
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September 24, 2012 1:52 PM
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Fantastic Fest Review: With ‘Frankenweenie,' Tim Burton Revives Pet Project, Returns to Form

Reviews

"Frankenweenie" is probably Tim Burton’s best film in almost a decade, but that’s not much of a compliment. With his last five films, the filmmaker responsible for some of the most fun, mischievous and magical cinema of the past 25 years has settled into a disappointing routine of utterly safe “weirdness.”

By Todd Gilchrist
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September 20, 2012 10:18 PM
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IFC Films Lands Baumbach's Black-and-White Gerwig Vehicle 'Frances Ha'

News

IFC Films is acquiring all North and Latin American rights to Noah Baumbach’s "Frances Ha," which the filmmaker co-wrote with his star and muse, Mumblecore darling Greta Gerwig. She has received glowing reviews for the film, which debuted at Telluride followed by Toronto and now, New York. Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver and Michael Zegen co-star.

By Anne Thompson
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September 20, 2012 4:25 PM
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AFI FEST Lands Spielberg's 'Lincoln' as Closing Night Film

Festivals

One of the fall Oscar contenders that is still sight unseen--and was not booked into any major film festivals--is Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln." Well, the DreamWorks/Fox/Participant movie starring Daniel Day Lewis as the 16th president has finally landed a festival berth at the height of awards season fervor in L.A.: The AFI Fest will show the film as its fest gala closer on November 8. The movie, adapted by Tony Kushner from Doris Kearns Goodwin's bestseller "Team of Rivals," co-stars Sally Field...

By Anne Thompson
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September 20, 2012 1:33 PM
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Sally Potter Talks 'Ginger and Rosa,' Elle Fanning's Face, Narcissistic Parents, Women Directors UPDATED

Interviews

Brit director Sally Potter hit the film world with a major splash at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival with "Orlando," starring the incomparable Tilda Swinton. Since then, Potter's films have been impeccably crafted gems with limited appeal, from "The Tango Lesson," starring Potter herself, to "Yes," which she wrote in iambic pentameter. With "Ginger and Rosa," written after her mother's death in 2010, Potter consciously tried to craft her most emotionally accessible film to date.

By Anne Thompson
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September 19, 2012 4:29 PM
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My French Film Festival

Festivals

Francophiles rejoice! Unifrance is so pleased with the success of its French Film Festival from the comfort of anywhere that it will mount a third edition of the completely online myfrenchfilmfestival.com from January 17 to February 17, 2013.

By Sophia Savage
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September 19, 2012 3:46 PM
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Toronto Wrap: Winners, Oscar Contenders and Also-Rans

Festivals

I started out Toronto 2012 with my first Jason Reitman screenplay read-through--his first in Toronto--Alan Ball's Oscar-winning "American Beauty." I'd missed his series of live reads at LACMA, from "The Breakfast Club" to "The Apartment." In a way "American Beauty" was apt preparation for the festival's crowning glory, David O. Russell's ultimate audience award winner, "Silver Linings Playbook." They are in the same vein--a flinty-edged picture of who we are now, laced with dark comedy and self-recognition, with romance and hope still a possibility. That's why "American Beauty" won best picture.

By Anne Thompson
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September 18, 2012 4:29 PM
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Oscar Watch: Why Affleck's 'Argo' Hits the Zeitgeist, Early Reviews

Interviews

Ben Affleck has another hit due to arrive in theaters October 12. But "Argo," his third feature as director, will be even more commercially successful than 2007's "Gone Baby Gone" and 2012's "The Town," which earned Jeremy Renner a supporting actor nomination. That's because while Affleck understood that the film is timely--unrest in the Middle East has not dissipated since the true 1980 events depicted here--he could not have known that a mob assault on a U.S. consulate would make news headlines just as his film made its Toronto debut.

By Anne Thompson
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September 17, 2012 3:56 PM
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Fest Buyer Sony Pictures Classics Heads to the Middle East (VIDEO)

News

Sony Pictures Classics has always leaned heavily on foreign acquisitions in advance of the awards season. Michael Barker and Tom Bernard are often betting on the likely submissions for the best foreign film entry, and can be counted upon to wind up with more than one in the final five. At the same time they can't handle too many movies at once, so they must pick well.