Review: The Messenger

Review: The Messenger

Oren Moverman’s domestic war drama is, put simply, one of the most powerful experiences to be had at the movies this year.

By Robert Levin on November 13, 2009 | Comments

Review: Black Dynamite

Review: Black Dynamite

Black Dynamite, the smoothest, baddest mother to ever hit the screen (as per the trailers) is also one of the funniest, at least in recent memory.

By Robert Levin on October 18, 2009 | Comments

Review: No Impact Man

Review: No Impact Man

The documentary tells the eye-opening story of a New York family living a year of zero environmental impact. That means no movies, no electricity, no disposable goods etc.

By Robert Levin on September 13, 2009 | Comments

Review: Amreeka

Review: Amreeka

‘Amreeka,’ a hit at this year’s Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals, tells a warmhearted, recognizable story about a family of Palestinian immigrants that smartly resists the urge to preach or turn political.

By Robert Levin on September 7, 2009 | Comments

Confirmed: Sundance Grand Jury Winner ‘Push’ Acquired by Lionsgate, Oprah

Confirmed: Sundance Grand Jury Winner ‘Push’ Acquired by Lionsgate, Oprah

A week ago we reported that Lionsgate was in the process of acquiring Lee Daniels’ Sundance Grand Jury and Audience Award winning film Push: Based on a novel by Sapphire. Today Variety has confirmed what we already told you…

By Neil Miller on February 2, 2009 | Comments

Samuel Goldwyn Nabs ‘Cold Souls,’ Plans Late Summer Release

Samuel Goldwyn Nabs ‘Cold Souls,’ Plans Late Summer Release

Continuing on with the lukewarm Sundance buyers market, Samuel Goldwyn has picked up the U.S. rights to director Sophie Barthes’ sci-fi drama Cold Souls, which stars Paul Giamatti as himself.

By Neil Miller on January 31, 2009 | Comments

Join In: /FilmCast’s Sundance Recap Show: Tonight 7p EST!

Join In: /FilmCast’s Sundance Recap Show: Tonight 7p EST!

A little later this evening yours truly will be appearing on the /FilmCast’s Special Sundance Recap Show, where I will be joining some of my good friends from around the web to discuss some of the highlights — both inside and out of the theaters — from this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

By Neil Miller on January 30, 2009 | Comments

The 13 Best Films of Sundance 2009

The 13 Best Films of Sundance 2009

Before I made my trip to Park City, Utah for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival I gave you a list of the 13 films I was most interested in seeing. And now that I’ve come and gone, surviving another year in the hustle and bustle of America’s great festival, it is my duty to bookend my coverage with a list of the best films of this year’s fest.

By Neil Miller on January 30, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Spotlight: Humpday’s Lynn Shelton

Sundance Spotlight: Humpday’s Lynn Shelton

Sundance may be over and all of my reviews may be posted, but there is still a ton of cool stuff that I’d like to share with all of you. Chief among those things are some video profiles of some of Sundance’s emerging talents. Among those talents is Humpday director Lynn Shelton…

By Neil Miller on January 29, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Spotlight: Treevenge

Sundance Spotlight: Treevenge

Of all the movies that play every year at the Sundance Film Festival, it is the shorts that really don’t get enough love. Thankfully, the ‘dance programmers put some of the better shorts in front of certain movies. This brilliant little short, Treevenge, played to the raucous crowds that lined up to see midnight screenings of the Nazi Zombie flick Dead Snow.

By Neil Miller on January 29, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Review: Push: Based on a novel by Sapphire

Sundance Review: Push: Based on a novel by Sapphire

My last film screened at this year’s Sundance film festival, Push: Based on a novel by Sapphire, was certainly one of the best. A tragic and touching story crafted beautifully and bravely by director Lee Daniels, Push is more than deserving of that acclaim that it garnered throughout this year’s festival run.

By Neil Miller on January 28, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Reviews: The Yes Men Fix the World, No Impact Man, We Live in Public

Sundance Reviews: The Yes Men Fix the World, No Impact Man, We Live in Public

One of the biggest secrets about the Sundance Film Festival is the quality of its documentaries — and though Robert Redford and crew try hard to highlight the exquisite non-fiction section of their yearly independent library, the doc categories are often overshadowed by the bigger, more accessible mainstream releases. But if you think about it, Sundance is the place for docs.

By Neil Miller on January 28, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Review: Dead Snow

Sundance Review: Dead Snow

Of all the films that I went to see at Sundance this year, I’ve got the sneaking suspicion that the majority of you are most interested in hearing my thoughts about Tommy Wirkola’s Dead Snow. Call me crazy, but the idea of Nazi Zombies attacking unsuspecting young people in the snowy mountains of Norway just has a certain charm.

By Neil Miller on January 28, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Review: An Education

Sundance Review: An Education

Perhaps this year’s most buzzed about Sundance movie, director Lone Scherfig’s period drama accomplished more than few things during its Sundance ‘09 run. First and foremost, it was one of the most well-executed period films of the festival, bringing to life 1960s Britain in a very authentic way. It also introduced us to a brilliant new talent named Carey Mulligan.

By Neil Miller on January 28, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Reviews: The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle, Peter and Vandy, The Clone Returns Home

Sundance Reviews: The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle, Peter and Vandy, The Clone Returns Home

Strange, sweet and a little sci-fi. That is how this next selection of Sundance 2009 selections role. As we continue to roll through the end of my coverage of Sundance’s 2009 frame, we take a look at a wildly experimental and odd little film, a sweet romantic comedy telling us a familiar story in an unfamiliar way and a Japanese sci-fi movie that finds some deeper meaning.

By Neil Miller on January 28, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Reviews: Shrink, The Missing Person, Bronson

Sundance Reviews: Shrink, The Missing Person, Bronson

In this edition of ‘Neil’s Lazy Sundance Capsule Reviews,’ we take a look at a Hollywood insider comedy, a neo-noir detective story and a wild ride through the mind of Britain’s most famous (and dangerous) prisoners of all-time…

By Neil Miller on January 27, 2009 | Comments

Sundance 2009 Awards: ‘Push,’ ‘Cove’ Take U.S. Audience Awards

Sundance 2009 Awards: ‘Push,’ ‘Cove’ Take U.S. Audience Awards

As the 2009 Sundance Film Festival comes to a close, it is time as always for the Juries and Audiences to recognize the best of this year’s festival…

By Neil Miller on January 24, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Review: Arlen Faber

Sundance Review: Arlen Faber

A straightforward romantic comedy about bringing a know-it-all author to his knee’s, director John Hindman’s first film is surprisingly charming and incredibly well-written. As if we should have expected any less…

By Neil Miller on January 24, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Review: ‘The Informers’ Tries and Fails Hard

Sundance Review: ‘The Informers’ Tries and Fails Hard

Every year the Sundance film festival delivers at least one film that I absolutely loathe. Last year it was Downloading Nancy. This year it is The Informers, a self-indulgent, lifeless glamrock drugfest from the mind of Bret Easton Ellis.

By Neil Miller on January 24, 2009 | Comments

Sundance Review: Adam

Sundance Review: Adam

If there is one studio that knows how to pick indie winners, it is Fox Searchlight. And they appear to once again be off to a good start by snatching up Max Mayer’s charming and quirky romantic comedy Adam.

By Neil Miller on January 22, 2009 | Comments