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At the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, April 26th, I was treated to two genres of horror movie: a collaborative found footage film and a satiric gore-fest. The former, V/H/S/2, was the sequel to a moderately well received movie of the same archetype, and the latter, Fresh Meat, was a sociopolitical commentary hailing from New Zealand. Here’s a glimpse at both, along with some insight from Erin, who…
Many films about cancer focus on the first stages of the disease and processing the difficult journey ahead, but few have tackled perhaps the more unknown segment: what do you do when you’ve beaten cancer? First-time director Matt Creed tries to answer this question with his film Lily, which finished its run at Tribeca Friday night. Loosely based on the life of Amy Grantham, who also co-wrote the screenplay…
“I don’t know if we’re living in the age of the critic. It’s more the age of criticism,” film critic A.O. Scott argued at the Future of Film Live Series: The Death of Film at the Tribeca Film Festival. Everyone seems to think they’re a critic on social media. As soon as a movie is released everyone is posting about it as if their opinion is the most relevant in the industry. Although misinformed critics…
“Directing is having your hands on everything,” says Clint Eastwood, tipping back casually in his chair. Darren Aronofsky nods in agreement, and every aspiring filmmaker in the immense auditorium furiously takes notes. For two hours, Eastwood, an indisputable cinematic legend, captivated his audience of 1,000 people with tales of his unique approach to directing, composing music for, and taking…
“The truth is more important than being original,” says Northwest screenwriter Rasmus Heisterberg. This search for honest reality becomes the driving force behind Northwest, directed by Michael Noer, which premiered Thursday, April 25th at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film follows the story of Casper, a young man entrenched in the world of organized crime trying to support his mother, brother and…
This Thursday, the HFI interns will be jumping into the buzzing world of Tribeca as it wraps up. Below is a laundry list of the films and talks we’ll be checking out. Broken Circle Breakdown Flemish director Felix van Groeningen weaves together and ultimately fuses the highs and lows of one tragic romance in a timeless tale of star-crossed lovers. Winner of the Audience Award at 2013’s Berlin…
Although released in 1973, The Exorcist is still one of the most chilling horror films of the century. The Exorcist’s emphasis on blasphemy towards God and the theme of loss of faith is inherently disturbing. In the film, Satan takes the form of Regan, a young innocent girl. When Satan possesses Regan’s body her face begins to mesh with the demonic being and she acquires inhumane qualities that scare…
A classic hit falls short. John Travolta certainly made a name for himself with his role as Tony Manero, a conflicted young man from Brooklyn, New York, struggling through a coming of age point in his life in the 1977 film, Saturday Night Fever. With a hit soundtrack assisting the somewhat hopeless escape and phase of existence of these characters, Brooklyn serves as the perfect backdrop. Director,…
Classic black and white films have since been colorized due to the innovative digital technology of this time period. Masterpieces such as Casablanca, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Night of the Living Dead have all been remade to incorporate flesh tones and vibrant colors to appeal to a wider audience. Colorization presents a vital ethical dilemma to filmmakers and audiences alike. The directors of these…
Forget the flashy special effects. Brush off the elaborate costumes. Disregard the dramatic acting. What really makes a movie shine is the story it portrays. Really, the success of any creative work of art hinges on its ability to generate and convey a compelling story. Without a good plot, your project is doomed from the beginning. One particularly helpful presentation on storytelling comes from…