With the 20th Toronto Jewish Film Festival now behind us, it’s time to look back at all the films screened and determine which were the good, the bad, or the ugly.
The Good
Oss 117: Lost in Rio
The most complimentary thing you can say about Michel Hazanavicius is something everyone acknowledged after his Oscar-winning 21st century silent film, The Artist – Hazanavicius knows his cinema. Oss 117: Lost in Rio boasts endearing performances and successfully taps into the nostalgia for 1960’s cinema. This is the spoof that the Austin Powers trilogy wished it could be. Just don’t expect this spy film to be revelatory.
The Day I Saw Your Heart
Although wildly imperfect, The Day I Saw Your Heart magically conciliates its flaws with French charm. From any other country, this film might not have worked, but because it’s French, it does. It’s clearly unfair, but,...
The Good
Oss 117: Lost in Rio
The most complimentary thing you can say about Michel Hazanavicius is something everyone acknowledged after his Oscar-winning 21st century silent film, The Artist – Hazanavicius knows his cinema. Oss 117: Lost in Rio boasts endearing performances and successfully taps into the nostalgia for 1960’s cinema. This is the spoof that the Austin Powers trilogy wished it could be. Just don’t expect this spy film to be revelatory.
The Day I Saw Your Heart
Although wildly imperfect, The Day I Saw Your Heart magically conciliates its flaws with French charm. From any other country, this film might not have worked, but because it’s French, it does. It’s clearly unfair, but,...
- 5/14/2012
- by Justin Li
- SoundOnSight
Polish Bar
Directed by Ben Berkowitz
Written by Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave
USA, 2010
For those who aren’t in the know, there is an amazing phenomenon in the music community known as Matisyahu. With an eclectic style ranging from hip-hop, rock, and reggae fusion, Matisyahu is known as “the most intriguing reggae artist in the world” and was named the Top Reggae Artist by Billboard in 2006.
It just so happens that he’s a Hassidic Jew.
Matisyahu (real name Matthew Paul Miller) is a positive example of an individual embracing two seemingly conflicting cultures to, by synthesizing his diverse influences, create wondrous pieces of music.
Ben Berkowitz’ drama film, Polish Bar, tries to modernize this example by telling the story of a young Jewish DJ, but the result is a narrative with a drastically conflicting identity, let alone its characters’.
Vincent Piazza (from Boardwalk Empire) is Reuben, an aspiring...
Directed by Ben Berkowitz
Written by Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave
USA, 2010
For those who aren’t in the know, there is an amazing phenomenon in the music community known as Matisyahu. With an eclectic style ranging from hip-hop, rock, and reggae fusion, Matisyahu is known as “the most intriguing reggae artist in the world” and was named the Top Reggae Artist by Billboard in 2006.
It just so happens that he’s a Hassidic Jew.
Matisyahu (real name Matthew Paul Miller) is a positive example of an individual embracing two seemingly conflicting cultures to, by synthesizing his diverse influences, create wondrous pieces of music.
Ben Berkowitz’ drama film, Polish Bar, tries to modernize this example by telling the story of a young Jewish DJ, but the result is a narrative with a drastically conflicting identity, let alone its characters’.
Vincent Piazza (from Boardwalk Empire) is Reuben, an aspiring...
- 5/12/2012
- by Justin Li
- SoundOnSight
Last Sunday afternoon I attended Reel Women: Power Players, a panel discussion hosted by the Chicago International Film Festival (which wrapped just a few days ago). The panel featured some of the brightest and most talented filmmakers in the world, who also happen to be women. In attendance were Effie T. Brown and Shebeta Carter, along with a diverse panel of directors and producers. Despite what the title of the panel suggests, this event wasn’t necessarily filled with “rah rah, we are woman here us roar!” sentiment. In fact, it was pretty much your basic, yet titillating filmmaker’s panel. While the moderator did ask some woman related questions, most of what the panel had to say was applicable to industry professionals across the board.
Nevertheless, attending this event prompted me to think about the state of women in film today. I’ll share some thoughts on that below,...
Nevertheless, attending this event prompted me to think about the state of women in film today. I’ll share some thoughts on that below,...
- 10/24/2010
- by Obsidienne
- ShadowAndAct
The 46th Chicago International Film Festival is coming, and The Scorecard Review will be there will exclusive interviews, movie reviews and red carpet events beginning October 7, 2010.
Here’s the first 20 films announced for the festival. Below is the news release.
October 7 – 21, 2010
Chicago, August 25, 2010 – Cinema/Chicago is proud to announce the first 20 new films that will appear at this year’s Chicago International Film Festival. Among them are some of the most anticipated domestic and foreign films featuring well-respected talent and directors as well as the work of exceptional newcomers. From Slumdog Millionaire and Resevoir Dogs to Martin Scorsese and Werner Herzog, The Chicago International Film Festival has consistently brought the brightest and boldest new films and filmmakers to Chicago first. Audiences will be delighted to find that this year’s Festival will be no different. Below is just a taste of the more than 150 films that will be shown at...
Here’s the first 20 films announced for the festival. Below is the news release.
October 7 – 21, 2010
Chicago, August 25, 2010 – Cinema/Chicago is proud to announce the first 20 new films that will appear at this year’s Chicago International Film Festival. Among them are some of the most anticipated domestic and foreign films featuring well-respected talent and directors as well as the work of exceptional newcomers. From Slumdog Millionaire and Resevoir Dogs to Martin Scorsese and Werner Herzog, The Chicago International Film Festival has consistently brought the brightest and boldest new films and filmmakers to Chicago first. Audiences will be delighted to find that this year’s Festival will be no different. Below is just a taste of the more than 150 films that will be shown at...
- 9/10/2010
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
Chicago – Cinema/Chicago is proud to announce the first 20 new films scheduled to appear at the 2010 Chicago International Film Festival, October 7th – 21st. The Chicago festival continues to combine the films of established directors/talent with promising newcomers. Expect some foreign and domestic film surprises.
Screenings will take place at the AMC River East Theater in downtown Chicago during the October festival run. Festival passes are on sale now and individual tickets go on sale September 24th.
Gemma Arterton in ‘Tamara Drewe’
Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Classic
Here are the first 20 films slated for the Chicago International Film Festival in the announcement made on August 25th.
UK – ‘Tamara Drewe’
Director: Stephen Frears
When former ugly duckling Tamara Drewe sashays back into her hometown, life for her neighbors is thrown upside down. Now a devastating beauty, Tamara sets a contemporary comedy of manners into play using the oldest magic in the book: sex appeal.
Screenings will take place at the AMC River East Theater in downtown Chicago during the October festival run. Festival passes are on sale now and individual tickets go on sale September 24th.
Gemma Arterton in ‘Tamara Drewe’
Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Classic
Here are the first 20 films slated for the Chicago International Film Festival in the announcement made on August 25th.
UK – ‘Tamara Drewe’
Director: Stephen Frears
When former ugly duckling Tamara Drewe sashays back into her hometown, life for her neighbors is thrown upside down. Now a devastating beauty, Tamara sets a contemporary comedy of manners into play using the oldest magic in the book: sex appeal.
- 8/25/2010
- by PatrickMcD
- HollywoodChicago.com
Park City -- Cynthia Stafford and her Queen Nefertari Prods. are cozying up to the Butcher Bros.
The pulpy low-budget auteurs -- actual names: Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores -- have written and will direct the psychological horror feature "Black Sunset" for Queen Nefertari, which will package and finance. Altieri and Flores are about to let loose their latest horror exploitation effort, "The Violent Kind," at the Sundance Film Festival, which will premiere the film Monday as part of the genre-focused Park City at Midnight section.
"Sunset" will follow seven friends on a surf trip to Mexico that turns into something that these jaunts often tend to in horror films: a gory, betrayal-filled nightmare. In "Violent Kind," second-generation outlaw bikers retire to a secluded cabin to party only to end up on a drug-and-death bender.
Jeremy Platt and Andy Gould will produce "Black Sunset," which is scheduled to start production in the summer.
The pulpy low-budget auteurs -- actual names: Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores -- have written and will direct the psychological horror feature "Black Sunset" for Queen Nefertari, which will package and finance. Altieri and Flores are about to let loose their latest horror exploitation effort, "The Violent Kind," at the Sundance Film Festival, which will premiere the film Monday as part of the genre-focused Park City at Midnight section.
"Sunset" will follow seven friends on a surf trip to Mexico that turns into something that these jaunts often tend to in horror films: a gory, betrayal-filled nightmare. In "Violent Kind," second-generation outlaw bikers retire to a secluded cabin to party only to end up on a drug-and-death bender.
Jeremy Platt and Andy Gould will produce "Black Sunset," which is scheduled to start production in the summer.
- 1/22/2010
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Nice! She says she has several scripts with A-list names attached to them, ready to be produced. I could find info on 3 of those films, via IMDb Pro.
First, a film called Adrenaline, which is scheduled for a 2011 release. IMDb states that the film is a comedy about a “buttoned-up corporate guy who gets sucked into his crazy assistant’s scheme of seducing women by staging heroic acts, but bites off more than he can chew when he sets his sights on his beautiful but un-seducable co-worker.” Sounds interesting enough… although, no info is provided on who’s attached to star in it.
For the other 2 films, she’s listed strictly as executive producer, which could mean anything, but likely that she financed, or co-financed them. Each is listed as currently “in-production.” The first is titled My Place In The Horror – a thriller that stars Keith David,...
First, a film called Adrenaline, which is scheduled for a 2011 release. IMDb states that the film is a comedy about a “buttoned-up corporate guy who gets sucked into his crazy assistant’s scheme of seducing women by staging heroic acts, but bites off more than he can chew when he sets his sights on his beautiful but un-seducable co-worker.” Sounds interesting enough… although, no info is provided on who’s attached to star in it.
For the other 2 films, she’s listed strictly as executive producer, which could mean anything, but likely that she financed, or co-financed them. Each is listed as currently “in-production.” The first is titled My Place In The Horror – a thriller that stars Keith David,...
- 1/11/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
The first daughter has arrived. D.B. Woodside, who played President Wayne Palmer on 24, and his steady, Girlfriends star Golden Brooks, welcomed a baby girl on Sept. 1. Dakota Tao Brooks-Woodside checked in at 9 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 23 inches long, the couple's publicist confirmed. It's their first child. Woodside, 40, and Brooks, 38, first hooked up last year and announced the pregnancy in June. They will costar in the upcoming thriller My Place in the Horror. He is currently appearing in a three-episode arc on TNT's Hawthorne, while she just wrapped the indie flick Polish Bar.
- 10/8/2009
- E! Online
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Golden Brooks and D.B. Woodside are new parents after welcoming a daughter, their rep tells People exclusively. Dakota Tao Brooks-Woodside was born on Tuesday, September 1st, weighing in at 9 lbs., 2 oz and measuring 23 inches long.
“Everyone is insanely in love with her. We’re so happy,” Golden shares. “My mom and dad have moved in to be around her that much more! We’re already calling her our little jumping bean because she’s so active!”
The former Girlfriends star, 38, wrapped the indie film Polish Bar earlier this year, while D.B., 40 — best known for his role...
Golden Brooks and D.B. Woodside are new parents after welcoming a daughter, their rep tells People exclusively. Dakota Tao Brooks-Woodside was born on Tuesday, September 1st, weighing in at 9 lbs., 2 oz and measuring 23 inches long.
“Everyone is insanely in love with her. We’re so happy,” Golden shares. “My mom and dad have moved in to be around her that much more! We’re already calling her our little jumping bean because she’s so active!”
The former Girlfriends star, 38, wrapped the indie film Polish Bar earlier this year, while D.B., 40 — best known for his role...
- 10/7/2009
- by Sarah
- People - CelebrityBabies
Golden Brooks and D.B. Woodside have welcomed a daughter, their rep tells People exclusively. Dakota Tao Brooks-Woodside arrived on Sept. 1, weighing in at 9 lbs., 2 oz., and measuring 23 inches long. "Everyone is insanely in love with her. We're so happy," Golden shares with People. "My mom and dad have moved in to be around her that much more! We're already calling her our little jumping bean because she's so active!" Brooks, 38, wrapped the indie film Polish Bar earlier this year, while Woodside, 40, is currently appearing on HawthoRNe. The couple, who announced the pregnancy in June, began dating in 2008. • Reporting by Julie...
- 10/7/2009
- by Sarah Michaud
- PEOPLE.com
Golden Brooks and D.B. Woodside are expecting a child together, the actress's rep tells People exclusively. The former Girlfriends star, 38, is due in September. The actress recently wrapped the indie film Polish Bar, while Woodside, 39 - best known for his role as President Wayne Palmer on 24 - is currently appearing on HawthoRNe. Brooks and Woodside began dating in 2008.• Reporting by Julie JORDANfrom Huffington Post First Look: Johnny Depp's 'Alice in Wonderland' Perez Hilton: Will.i.am Attacked Me!
- 6/22/2009
- by Sarah Michaud
- PEOPLE.com
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