“The Muppets,” “My Week with Marilyn,” “INNI,” and seven other new movies to consider this Thanksgiving weekend

By |

Thanksgiving is only a few days away and with Christmas just a month from now, some of the most anticipated films of 2011 are starting to emerge. Typically Thanksgiving releases are ideal for families to go see in theaters after gorging themselves all day while watching football, and after football is over, theaters will be packed. Sometimes the hardest part once at the theater is deciding what everyone can see. Another option could be that the families that the kids/teenagers see something and the adults will see something—that way both parties are happy with their choice. Continue Reading

“Genderf*kation: A Gender Emancipation” comes to church this weekend

By |

As part of Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is actually November 20, writer/director Chris Durant’s documentary film Genderf*kation: A Gender Emancipation will screen this Saturday, November 19 at All God’s Children church on Park Avenue in South Minneapolis. I had the chance to see Durant’s film last summer at its world premiere screening in mid-June, just a few weeks after the OUT Twin Cities Film Festival—Minnesota’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer festival—which Durant directs. I was also surprised to learn at that screening that Minnesota also has the second largest GLBTQ population in the United States. Continue Reading

Found Footage Festival: Truth is stranger than fiction

By |

The thoroughly entertaining Found Footage Festival is headed back to Minneapolis, once again to bring you some of the funniest head-scratching oddities that were recorded and produced for the VHS video. Founders Joe Pickett (The Onion) and Nick Prueher (Late Night with David Letterman) frequent thrift stores, garage sales, dumpsters, and even submissions from fans; and travel across the country to showcase the most absurd and zaniest footage while adding commentary to each video segment in their live show. However, this time around, they have teamed up with FOUND Magazine; the two will go toe-to-toe to determine whether found notes or found videos will reign supreme this Monday at the Heights Theatre. Continue Reading

MOVIES | MSP Latin Film Festival brings the best of Latino film to the Twin Cities

By |

Over the past few months there seems to be a different film festival starting or ending every week in the Twin Cities.  I’m not complaining and I’ve enjoyed covering every one of them and checking out new films that have played at various international and U.S. film festivals over the past year or two and having the opportunity to see many of these films that perhaps otherwise may go unseen.

Continue Reading

Drake Doremus and Anton Yelchin talk “Like Crazy”

By |

When writer/director Drake Doremus (Spooner and Douchebag) walked into the hotel banquet room for our interview, he was nothing but smiles—as he should be. Doremus has been receiving huge accolades since his third film, Like Crazy, won the grand jury prize for U.S. Dramatic Competition and a special jury prize for lead actress Felicity Jones at the Sundance Film Festival this past January. Already in the room waiting for Doremus, actor Anton Yelchin (Star Trek, Terminator Salvation) was doodling on a white paper canvas drawing a funny face and was adding comments to his artwork. He asked me if he should add anything to his drawing. I had nothing to add to Yelchin’s drawing. Continue Reading

From the silver screen to the Metrodome, stories of agony and ecstasy

By |

A common question I get is whether I get burnt out or fatigued from constantly watching films. The answer is no, but sometimes I’m not always in the mood to watch a film or commit two hours to watching one.  I have sat through a ton of films this year, and over the past decade I’ve probably ruined my back, knees, neck, and most importantly, my eyes, and will probably pay for this abuse—hopefully later than sooner. I’m always looking forward to seeing new films, especially if I have paid to see them in a theater or have rented a DVD or Blu-Ray. Continue Reading

Wisconsin’s Flyway Film Fest garners international attention

By |

The 2011 Flyway Film Festival in Pepin and Stockholm, Wisconsin will be taking place this weekend, October 20-23. I’ll be heading down not only as a film patron, but for the first time, I’ve been asked to be on a film jury: the Narrative Feature jury. I’ve twice been on regular government jury duty, but I’m guessing this will be more fun than sitting in a cramped room with a bunch of strangers deciding someone’s fate. Being on a film festival jury will still mean sitting in a (dark) room with a bunch of strangers but at least we’ll be enjoying ourselves watching some brave foreign and American Independent films, with many haven’t screened in Minnesota or Wisconsin. I’ll be on the jury with filmmaker Gary King (FFF 2010 selection What’s Up Lovely) and Pepin, Wisconsin resident and founder of the popular Harbor View café, Stuffy Stevens. Continue Reading

Sound Unseen 2011: Music and movies together in the Twin Cities for the 12th year

By |

We won’t have to fend off drunken zombies pacing around the West Bank as we had to last year over at the Southern Theater: the 12th annual Sound Unseen music/film/art festival starts Wednesday Oct 12 and runs through Sunday October 16. There will be film screenings at the Trylon Microcinema and the Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis, the first time Sound Unseen has been there since 2007. I took over programming duties for Sound Unseen in 2008, so I’m especially excited to be heading to the Ritz. Continue Reading

Toronto International Film Festival wrap-up: Gore, romance, and neo-mumblecore

By |

TORONTO, ONTARIO—At the halfway point of my Toronto International Film Festival experience, I changed gears and put my head down: my goal was to see as many films as possible over the next four days. I got shut out of three films that opening weekend and missed out on seeing others while I waited in “rush” lines for what turned out to be popular films at the festival. It was wonderful standing in line talking to everyone about what they had seen or what they were excited for, but what I really wanted was to capitalize on the chance to see more new work from undiscovered talents or potential Oscar frontrunners. Continue Reading

Twin Cities Film Fest 2011: 70 movies under one roof

By |

The second annual Twin Cities Film Fest opened this Tuesday, September 20th, and will feature over 70 films, wrapping up on Sunday, September 25. All the screenings at TCFF will take place at the Showplace ICON theater in St. Louis Park; it will be a major improvement to have all the screenings take place in one venue compared to driving back and forth from last year’s two venues (Mall of America and Block E).

Even TCFF director Jatin Setia likes the move from downtown to a few miles west to the splashy two-year-old theater: “I think people are going to like coming to Showplace for the festival this year,” he says. “There is free parking and you have some great restaurants and shops within walking distance of the theater. It will be nice to have the films all in one theater.” Continue Reading