Category Archives: Movies

La Chimera. Thank you, YouTube.

Movies, NewScreen Stuff, Strange Stuff

The reason I give props to YouTube? I was recording a trailer for the movie I had planned to show tonight, and the algorithm queued up the trailer for this. I had never heard of it, nor was I familiar with the work of director, Alice Rohrwacher. So… it turns out that I don’t know a lot about a lot of things… but the trailer grabbed me, and I set to “work” watching it. I was blown away, as were our guests tonight.

When I say set to work, I mean that I feel it’s my duty to know a film before I show it to a group of trusting people who make the effort to schlep to Alphabet City for NewScreen. I made an exception recently for Hundreds of Beavers, which I just KNEW would be fantastic, and wanted to be on the discovering side, along with my guests. Good call. What a crazy ride!

In case you’re interested, the film that got “bumped” tonight was All Your Faces (Je verrai toujours vos visages). That would have been a great screening as well…

Hundreds of Beavers was not the first unseen feature I’ve ever shown. Many many years ago, I found myself in a Blockbuster (remember them?) and managed to get my hands on their last copy of the recently released The Hurt Locker, which I showed unseen at MovieNight. As it turned out, my instincts were good ))

Housekeeping for Beginners. Moviemaking for experts.

Movies, NewScreen Stuff

Goran Stolevski branched out in a new direction with Housekeeping for Beginners. His previous movie, You Will Not Be Alone entranced me (and some of you, I hope, after being screened here for the third time, a few weeks ago) and I had been eagerly awaiting this new work from the Macedonian-born, now living in Australia, director.

This did not disappoint. We laughed, we cried, we laughed again. And then we applauded when the closing credits rolled. Another great NewScreen night!

The Night of the 12th. Where were you?

Movies

Based on an actual unsolved murder, this fascinating police procedural came up with so many likely suspects (homegirl fell in love easily, apparently) only to discover that none of them could actually have done it. The scenario was indeed bleak, but director Dominik Moll focused more on the workings of the police department, the detectives and the things that haunt them, and their personal problems. Somehow, there was plenty to laugh at.

Speaking of plenty to laugh at… my homemade short Miracle at MovieNight worked it’s magic on our guests once again tonight.

You Won’t Be Alone. Nor was I tonight.

Movies, NewScreen Stuff
Witches need loving too

I was craving something rich and delicious this week, and when this came to mind, it was impossible to shake off. It came to mind because Goran Stolevski’s new film, Housekeeping for Beginners, is just about to hit American theaters… I can’t wait to see what he does with that story. I the meantime I thought we should see this one again. Result!

Thanks to all my loyal peeps who came out on yet another rainy April night to enjoy this astonishingly beautiful work.

Also… our short was amazing too… Thank You For Not Answering, directed by Paul Trillo. Spooky.

Poor Things? Lucky us.

Movies, NewScreen Stuff
Bella wants life.

Yorgos Lanthimos goes from strength to strength, and his latest, Poor Things, a fantastical steam punk voyage, delighted eighty percent* of our lovely audience tonight. His second collaboration with Emma Stone is bearing delicious fruit, and looks to continue with his next. Kinds of Kindness will be released this June, and Willem Dafoe will also rejoin the cast.

I’m inclined to say, “Can’t wait!”, but of course, I’ll have to. Stay tuned!

*The other twenty percent included some sleepy-heads, and some who just didn’t like. That’s ok. Maybe it’s an acquired taste.

Totem. Wow.

Movies, NewScreen Stuff

On a recent WNYC call-in radio show, on the subject of what makes a good movie to watch on an airplane, on caller touted his practice of choosing a movie by a female director. “It’s most often you’ll get an interesting perspective.”

Well, we certainly got an interesting perspective tonight! Lila Aviles’ Totem, takes us on a sometimes quiet, sometimes chaotic coming of consciousness through the eyes of Sol, a seven year old, during a large family’s preparation for what we soon learn will be her father’s last birthday.

Incidentally, this season of NewScreen has featured more work by women directors than ever before. Nothing “airplane” about this curation, though!

Thanks to everyone who came out tonight. Lovely.

Fallen Leaves. x2.

Movies, NewScreen Stuff

Well… it seemed like a great idea to show this beautiful film two weeks in a row. The perfect romantic comedy drama was a sound choice for Valentines Day celebration and, after all, attendance hadn’t exactly been stellar the week before. It was even worse tonight, but you know what? Fallen Leaves is a wonderful movie, and everyone who saw it was blown away.

Happy ending ))

And, speaking of happy endings, our short this week was Renee Zhan’s Soft Animals. Quite sexy!