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Posted: |
Feb 7, 2016 - 9:20 AM
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By: |
Thor
(Member)
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Too bad that Thor, FSM's resident pro-international-indie-film expert, hasn't "gifted" this thread with his sage suggestions.
Wow! For 3 years I avoided this thread, because I thought it was about the very topic alluded to in the headline! My bad (and thanks for alerting me in the other thread, Jim).
I'm not snobbish in my film taste, and I still embrace the mainstream Hollywood films that made me interested in this artform in the first place. That's why my viewing each year is very schizophrenic -- from the big blockbusters to the small indie films to 'world cinema' to weirdo art films etc. etc. I just love the ARTFORM that is film in all its forms and shapes, and I've been able to build my taste and exposure through years of studying it, teaching it and writing about it.
Each year, I post my 'lists' here on the board, but I guess I could repeat the links here as a way to extend my own recommendations and suggestions, pr. this topic.
So...to start from when this thread was created, here is my Top 20 of 2013:
http://montages.no/2014/01/thor-joachims-topp-20-2013/ (it's in Norwegian, but you should get the titles nonetheless)
Here is my list of 2014 (on MUBI), ranked (137 films in total):
https://mubi.com/lists/2014-films-ranked--3
Here is my list of 2015 (on MUBI), ranked (148 films in total):
https://mubi.com/lists/2015-films-ranked
...and then here is my 2016 list so far:
https://mubi.com/lists/2016-films-ranked
As you can see, it's a wild mix of titles, from the small to the big. These lists obviously do NOT account for all the other films I see each year, that are NOT from the year in question. For example, last year I also had a big walkthrough of Satyjajit Ray and Yasujiro Ozu (the films I hadn't seen before).
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I am SO sick of these things.
SO agreeing with you.
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Posted: |
Feb 8, 2016 - 3:59 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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I am SO sick of these things.
SO agreeing with you.
Though I rarely, if ever, go and see the latest epic tripe so many at the FSM board enthuse over, since my initial post was written three years ago, I will admit that some of the Marvel movies have actually been pretty good (particularly The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier). However, my diatribe still stands as to just how oversaturated--and not just the cinematography--the cinema has become with so many of these empty effects-driven spectacles.
Thankfully, as others have pointed out in this thread, there are options, and a real breath of fresh air. In fact, I was thinking of starting a "Best Non-Hollywood/Non-English language films of the past twenty years" thread, if there wasn't one already.
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Last week, Kung Fu Panda 3 brought in $21 million in its second week, while the star-studded Coen Brothers original(!) comedy Hail, Caesar! reaped only 11.4 million in its first.
A sad sign of the times how kiddie fare fares as opposed to films for adults (educated adults! i.e.).
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Posted: |
Feb 8, 2016 - 6:13 AM
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By: |
Thor
(Member)
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Thankfully, as others have pointed out in this thread, there are options, and a real breath of fresh air. In fact, I was thinking of starting a "Best Non-Hollywood/Non-English language films of the past twenty years" thread, if there wasn't one already.
To be fair, not all 'non-Hollywood/non-English' films are necessarily art films and alternatives to the Hollywood style of filmmaking. Hollywood has been so dominant in the last 90 years that each country has its own 'mainstream'/Hollywood industry, in a way. For example, just last year we produced the disaster movie BØLGEN (THE WAVE) here in Norway -- which is definitely inspired by the Emmerich-style epics of the last 20 years. Still, it's within a Norwegian setting, and the far more limited budget makes it less reliant on the effects and more on the atmosphere etc.
Therefore, I'm not sure how one would phrase such a thread. Perhaps 'best alternative films in the last 20 years' or something in that mode, but even that is a problematic term.
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Posted: |
Feb 8, 2016 - 6:24 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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Thankfully, as others have pointed out in this thread, there are options, and a real breath of fresh air. In fact, I was thinking of starting a "Best Non-Hollywood/Non-English language films of the past twenty years" thread, if there wasn't one already.
To be fair, not all 'non-Hollywood/non-English' films are necessarily art films and alternatives to the Hollywood style of filmmaking. Hollywood has been so dominant in the last 90 years that each country has its own 'mainstream'/Hollywood industry, in a way. For example, just last year we produced the disaster movie BØLGEN (THE WAVE) here in Norway -- which is definitely inspired by the Emmerich-style epics of the last 20 years. Still, it's within a Norwegian setting, and the far more limited budget makes it less reliant on the effects and more on the atmosphere etc.
Therefore, I'm not sure how one would phrase such a thread. Perhaps 'best alternative films in the last 20 years' or something in that mode, but even that is a problematic term.
Yeah, it's still early morning here (and a nippy 9C), so choosing the right words is a challenge.  Plus, as you say, just titling the films in question is difficult!
I've seen French and Italian film trailers that are advertised in the same manner as the typical American Rom Com and give off the same predictable vibe. However, in those films there are still bound to be differences, both cultural and in their cinematic approach that make them worthwhile in terms of providing me a respite from the usual Hollywood fare.
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Oh, I was hoping this would be about the Avengers teaming with RoboCop to fight the Cloverfield monster in a story that leads to the events of Pacific Rim. Oh well, see ya...
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Posted: |
Feb 19, 2016 - 6:49 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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Woody Allen's 2016 film goes to Amazon:
Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, Parker Posey, Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll and Ken Stott, will be released theatrically this summer
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2016-- (NASDAQ:AMZN) -- Woody Allen’s latest as yet untitled feature film has been acquired for all North American rights, including theatrical and streaming, by Amazon Studios. The film, shot last summer on location in New York and Los Angeles, is a romantic comedy staged in the 1930s and stars Jeannie Berlin, Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, Parker Posey, Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll, and Ken Stott.
Amazon will open the film this summer with a traditional, nationwide theatrical release. Following its theatrical run, it will become available exclusively to Prime members through Prime Video.
“Like all beginning relationships, there is much hope, mutual affection, and genuine goodwill -- the lawsuits come later,” said Allen.
“Woody Allen is a brilliant filmmaker,” said Roy Price, Head of Amazon Studios. “We’re so proud to be in business with him for both his next film and his first ever TV series.”
Allen is also writing and directing an untitled six-episode television series for Amazon starring himself, Elaine May, and Miley Cyrus. It is executive produced by Erika Aronson, produced by Helen Robin, and begins shooting next month.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle
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Posted: |
Feb 25, 2016 - 7:23 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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Woody Allen's Amazon Deal Details Emerge and Speculation
Amazon, following on from them signing Allen to make 2016 Amazon Series. The deal was a surprise, and new details have emerged, as well as some new speculation.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the story, revealing that Amazon paid $15 million for the new film. This is slightly less than the highest sale from this year’s Sundance Film Festival (Fox Searchlight paid $17.5m for Birth Of A Nation) – but Amazon’s deal is North America only, Fox Searchlight got their film worldwide. It is a big jump up from Amazon’s North American only deal for Manchester By Sea, which was $10m, also signed at Sundance.
Both Amazon and Netflix made a big splash at Sundance this year. The strategy for both companies is prestige. They are shooting for films that could win awards, and using that acclaim to drive subscriptions.
The big difference between the two companies is the theatrical release. Netflix would love to pull away from theatrical completely, and did so for their films Beasts Of No Nation (in some countries) and The Ridiculous 6. Amazon are willing to work with a (potentially expensive) partner for a theatrical release. Netflix actually bid more for Birth Of A Nation but lost out on the theatrical point. Making cinema prints and a theatrical advertising run will push Amazon’s deal with Allen to be close to $20m.
THR points out that Allen’s last film, Irrational Man, was released by Sony Pictures Classics who paid $5m for it. It’s turned out to be the last of six Allen films released by SPC in the last 7 years, with some big successes. A couple of outlets have asked, and despite a good history, SPC will not be the theatrical partner on the film.
Allen’s producer Letty Aronson told THR:
"We have always been exceptionally pleased working with Michael Barker and Tom Bernard at SPC. Amazon made us an offer we couldn’t refuse, and we have a responsibility to our investors. Woody wishes SPC could be the subdistributor for this film, but apparently they would not. It’s their policy to not do that. We certainly look forward to working with them again in the future.
Which means as of right now, the 2016 Film is still without a theatrical distributor. With only a few months out, it is getting tight for the film to be released in Allen’s usual July window. There will be some theatrical exclusive window, we could be looking at October/November before the film hits Amazon’s Prime service. It will come very close to the Amazon series."
Also of note, reports that the 2016 film ran over budget and that Allen put in his own money to complete the film.
Since we’ve started this website, there have been several things we could rely on. A summer release, a summer production, regular jazz gigs, and the repeat of yet another Allen year. 2016 is proving to be a very different year.
More details as we get them.
http://www.woodyallenpages.com/woody-allens-amazon-deal-details-emerge-and-speculation/
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