Thompson on Hollywood

Venice Fest Preview: Early Art

Here is some early art for several of the movies coming up at the Venice Film Fest. (I arrive there August 31 by train after spending two days in Rome; I leave September 8 for the Toronto Film Festival.) I'll write up early coverage of opener Darren Aronofsky's ballet drama Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel as a tough ballet master (modeled after Georges Balanchine), who I interviewed Monday. That film will likely show in Telluride as well as Toronto.

By Anne Thompson
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August 5, 2010 12:59 PM
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Trailer Watch: The Social Network

Here's the new trailer for David Fincher's upcoming The Social Network, which opens the New York Film Festival. The story depicts nerdy Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) triumphing over business rivals and the rigors of becoming a billionaire.

By Cameron Carlson
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July 16, 2010 5:43 AM
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Lincoln Center Film Society's Manus is Out, Kuo is In

The AFI Fest's ex-artistic director Rose Kuo was originally up for the job of executive director at the august Film Society at Lincoln Center, which mounts the New York Film Festival every year. But two years ago the board picked Mara Manus, who had toiled both in Hollywood at a major studio (Universal) and in New York's theater world (The Public Theater). Now Manus is stepping down, continuing in an advisory role, and Kuo is taking over.

By Anne Thompson
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July 9, 2010 12:56 PM
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Fincher's The Social Network to Open New York Film Festival

The 48th annual New York Film Festival will kick off September 24 with the world premiere of David Fincher's The Social Network, written by Aaron Sorkin and starring Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, the youngest billionaire in history. This is bad news for those of us who were hoping to catch the film at the Venice, Telluride or Toronto Festivals, because opening nights are usually exclusives.

By Anne Thompson
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July 8, 2010 5:59 AM
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NY Film Fest To Add McCarthy to Selection Committee

Todd McCarthy got some good news and bad news Monday. While he lost his job (after 31 years) as chief critic at venerable trade Variety, he will go to the Cannes International Film Festival as the newest member of the New York Film Festival selection committee. The official announcement is expected shortly came Friday. McCarthy talks to the NYT.

By Anne Thompson
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March 10, 2010 8:12 AM
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Scott Foundas Joins Film Society as Associate Programmer

As I suspected, LA Weekly and Village Voice Media film critic Scott Foundas has accepted the offer of associate film programmer at The Film Society of Lincoln Center.

By Anne Thompson
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November 11, 2009 10:31 AM
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Life During Wartime: Werc Werk Works Jumps Into Indie Fray

As Todd Solondz's Life During Wartime meets a mixed response at Venice, Telluride, Toronto and the NYFF (see IndieWIRE's critics poll), the two women who raised the funding for the $5-million movie are sitting on tenterhooks hoping to score a distribution deal that has not materialized.

By Anne Thompson
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October 1, 2009 6:54 AM
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2 or 3 Things I Learned at NYFF Opening Night

During my 20s in Manhattan, I looked forward to the New York Film Festival every September, when there was a nip in the air; it brought the start of the fall season. Here's what I learned at the 47th NYFF opening night:

By Anne Thompson
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September 26, 2009 8:10 AM
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NYFF Will Screen Wild Grass, Broken Embraces, Antichrist

Cannes critics' fave Wild Grass, directed by Alain Resnais, will open the 2009 New York Film Festival on September 25, 2009. The fest closer will be another Cannes title, Pedro Almodovar’s Broken Embraces, on October 11. Lee Daniels' Sundance hit Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire will be the fest's centerpiece.