http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/ THE BACK ROW MANIFESTO by Tom Hall en Copyright 2010 2010-02-07T18:17:13+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/snl_fist_fight_in_the_parking_lot/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/snl_fist_fight_in_the_parking_lot/ Loved it. And can I just say, I worry this will be my son's wedding... A sketch for my generation: 2010-02-07T18:17:13+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundance_2010_nonfiction/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundance_2010_nonfiction/ The Sundance Film Festival has grown into one of the finest showcases of non-fiction filmmaking in the world, and this year’s program, which featured an array of films from high profile filmmakers at the top of their game, might have been the best the festival has ever had. It was a staggeringly good program; I walked out of almost every movie I saw feeling as though it was in contention as one of my personal favorites of the festival. Then, as the festival went on, I realized how unnecessary my own desire for a hierarchy actually was. Each of the… Festivals, Reviews 2010-02-05T12:43:05+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundance_2010_blue_valentine_and_other_narrative_features/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundance_2010_blue_valentine_and_other_narrative_features/ For me, for always and forever, The 2010 Sundance Film Festival will be remembered as the year of Blue Valentine. It is, without question, the best film that I have ever seen at Sundance, a sumptuous and painfully real movie that, beat by beat, moment by moment, takes real risks on behalf of deep feeling and true emotion, risks that constantly broke my heart and brought me into direct confrontation with myself. Derek Cianfrance, who directed the film by letting his actors cut loose in the best possible ways, is a major talent and his seemingly involuntary decision to not… Festivals 2010-02-02T13:28:11+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundace_2010_wrap_up/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundace_2010_wrap_up/ all of those plans to write during the festival? sucked away by professional obligations... I loved Sundance this year. There, I said it. As a programmer, I can only dream of the constant scrutiny and complaining leveled at the festival by the various factions that make up the filmmaking, press, industry and public audiences that swarm Park City, Utah every January. And yet, I am consistently impressed by the hard work that the Sundance staff accomplishes; no film program will perfectly cater to any individual’s tastes, but Sundance always bears fruit if you’re willing to take the time to look.… Festivals 2010-01-31T18:32:33+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundance_2010_time_management/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundance_2010_time_management/ Sorry for not posting. I have been seeing 6 films a day and in between meetings and a few small social obligations, I have been scrambling to find time for one meal a day and a few hours of sleep. Lots to talk about, but this schedule is impossible for writing, More when I can... Festivals 2010-01-25T07:43:09+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundance_2010_i_in_the_air_today/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sundance_2010_i_in_the_air_today/ Headed To Park City... more to come during the next ten days... Please visit often... Festivals 2010-01-20T15:21:23+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/from_mlk_to_lgbt/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/from_mlk_to_lgbt/ Today is the day to celebrate the civil rights and think about the state of social injustice. As such, it is, for me, a day to think once again about legal equality for the LGBT community. While most American news outlets will draw the obvious distinctions between Dr. King's "dream" and the ascendancy of Barack Obama as President of the United States, I can't help but think of the irony as, now one year into the President's first term, he continues to sit on his hands while our fellow citizens, neighbors, friends and family in the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and… Personal, Politics 2010-01-18T16:57:35+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_cinema_eye_honors/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_cinema_eye_honors/ On Friday night, I headed to the Times Center in, of all places, Times Square for the third annual Cinema Eye Honors, an evening celebrating the craft of non-fiction filmmaking. I have served on the Nominating Committee for the Cinema Eye Honors since its inception (a huge honor to be invited to participate) and these awards, along with my role as a nominator for the Gotham Awards, are among the two great professional pleasures of my year. I hadn't been to the Gotham Awards in over a decade until this year (it was lovely) and now, since the Cinema Eye… Awards 2010-01-18T15:13:03+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sarasota_film_festival_call_for_entries_deadline_today/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/sarasota_film_festival_call_for_entries_deadline_today/ Hello filmmakers... If you are interested in having your work considered for the 2010 Sarasota Film Festival (April 9-18, 2010), today is our regular deadline. We hope you'll consider allowing us to review your film. Our late deadline is January 30, 2010, but if you're interested in submitting now, we're eager to take a look. You can submit via our Withoutabox application here. Festivals 2010-01-15T16:53:12+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_best_films_of_2009/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_best_films_of_2009/ As we prepare for Sundance and continue to work on plans for the 2010 Sarasota Film Festival, I wanted to take a moment to point you toward the ballot I put in with indieWIRE for the Annual Critics Survey 2009. As I always say, this blog is about championing films I love, not about any pretense to formal criticism (you can rest easy, blog haters, I have no intentions of "rating" in your world...), but it is always an honor to be asked to particpate in the indieWIRE Poll. Here is my list of favorites, each item linked to my… Reviews 2010-01-15T15:30:51+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/eric_rohmer_1920-2010/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/eric_rohmer_1920-2010/ I love Eric Rohmer's films. Yes, even The Lady and The Duke and its aristocratic distrust of the common man. Rohmer always stood apart from the Nouvelle Vague for me, more of a problematic cousin to the emotional honesty of Truffaut or the intellectual cool of Godard than a part of their fraternity. His movies are, for me, one of the only exceptions to the old rule of "show don't tell", primarily because of the dissonance between what his characters say and what is really going on in their hearts. Rohmer's films are the literal definition of irony without ever… Film News, Personal 2010-01-12T02:29:59+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_best_films_of_the_decade_2000-2009_1/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_best_films_of_the_decade_2000-2009_1/ This post concludes The Back Row Manifesto's Incredibly Personal, Completely Subjective List of the Best Films of The Decade (2000-2009). The introduction to the list can be found here. I know. I've surprised no one. C'est la vie... Let me start this tale the way I always start this tale, because the formative experience is the one that provides a key to the final meaning: “Transformation is a powerful thing. The first time I ever saw a film by Arnaud Desplechin was one of the cinematic moments that changed my life. Close your eyes with me. Imagine that feeling of… Personal, Reviews 2010-01-04T22:39:16+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_best_films_of_the_decade_2000-2009_2_pixar_the_incredibles_ratatouille_/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_best_films_of_the_decade_2000-2009_2_pixar_the_incredibles_ratatouille_/ The Back Row Manifesto's Incredibly Personal, Completely Subjective List of the Best Films of The Decade (2000-2009) will be unveiled over the course of the month of December (and now on into January). Think of it as a sort of misguided advent calendar without the little chocolate surprises. Either way, thanks for reading and please check back every day over the next few days for the full list. The introduction to the list can be found here. Remember your first trip to the movies? I do. In November of 1973, right around my third birthday, my dad took me to… Personal, Reviews 2010-01-04T13:18:36+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_best_films_of_the_decade_2000-2009_3_the_death_of_mr._lazarescu_4_month/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_best_films_of_the_decade_2000-2009_3_the_death_of_mr._lazarescu_4_month/ The Back Row Manifesto's Incredibly Personal, Completely Subjective List of the Best Films of The Decade (2000-2009) will be unveiled over the course of the month of December (and now on into January). Think of it as a sort of misguided advent calendar without the little chocolate surprises. Either way, thanks for reading and please check back every day over the next few days for the full list. The introduction to the list can be found here. “Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they choose.” – Karl Marx On July 6 1971, home from… Personal, Reviews 2010-01-03T15:22:49+00:00 http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_best_films_of_the_decade_2000-2009_4_the_piano_teacher/ http://blogs.indiewire.com/twhalliii/archives/the_best_films_of_the_decade_2000-2009_4_the_piano_teacher/ The Back Row Manifesto's Incredibly Personal, Completely Subjective List of the Best Films of The Decade (2000-2009) will be unveiled over the course of the month of December (and now on into January). Think of it as a sort of misguided advent calendar without the little chocolate surprises. Either way, thanks for reading and please check back every day over the next few days for the full list. The introduction to the list can be found here. The final four... Fifteen years into his career as a director of television films, 1989 saw Michael Haneke announce himself to the world… Personal, Reviews 2010-01-02T19:21:50+00:00