The fourth New York edition of Dances with Films hits Union Square starting Thursday and runs through the weekend. This is the East Coast version of one the great inde festivals in the world. The festival focuses on a wide variety of independent films from across the globe. I always find some of the best films of the year at the festival be it Los Angeles or New York.
This year I'm wading into the festival in dribs and drabs because life outside of film is eating my time. I've got a bunch of reviews set to go and I am working on getting to see a few more- possibly in person. I've liked everything I've seen so far so my advice is if you see something that interests you playing - buy a ticket and go.
Details on tickets and the slate can be found here.
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The New York Jewish Film Festival starts Wednesday.
As I have said, because of the festival not allowing full reviews (when last I checked back in December I was told many films could only be covered via capsule reviews) I have decided to spend my time covering some of the other festivals.
If you are interested, information on the slate and tickets can be found here.
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I am growing weary of shorts that exist for a reason other than to tell a story.
I am tired of proof-of-concept films that exist just to get a feature made. I’ve run into a bunch of these lately and it seems that some filmmakers are shifting from telling a solid part of the “feature” story as a short and are instead running through the whole plot in 15 or 20 minutes. I wouldn’t care if I am handed the film and being told that is the case, but I saw a few recently where the films were condensed versions. Some of them played so badly I declined to review them. (I asked if it was a proof of concept. I was told yes, and that they were trying to give an overview of the whole feature. I said that was fine, but I had to decline reviewing because it doesn’t work as a stand-alone film. I did ask them to send me the feature) I want a short that tells a story not is simply there to sell something maybe down the road—though again if you tell me it’s a proof of concept I will cut you slack and review the film.)
I am also tired of short films with stings in the tail. I recently saw a couple of shorts where the films told a beautiful story and perfectly set a mood only to have a sting in the tail of the film that threw the preceding 20 minutes out the window. Horror films became comedies and comedies became the wrong ugly and mean. It’s clear the filmmakers wanted to get noticed with a last minute twist- which is fine- but the twists of late didn’t belong and speak more of not knowing how to end a film not provide a satisfying conclusion.
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I have been spending the car rides home this week listening to WFAN's THE CARTON SHOW WITH CRAIG CARTON AND CHRIS MCMONIGLE. I don't know how much I will listen past this week.
First I need to say a couple things.
Let me begin by saying McMonigle is one of the best personalities on the station. He knows his stuff and he expresses his opinion perfectly. I delighted when I could drive around on weekends and listen to him while doing errands.
Next let me say that when Carton is doing a real interview or trying to be a real journalist or having a real discussion that isn't trying to be "entertaining" he is one of the best there is. When he is actually seriously discussing something he is great. I could listen to him do real reporting and talk all day. The problem is he doesn't do that much any more.
Because Carton is playing the personality and not a sports radio host the show does not work for me. Carton is too busy being a name dropping celebrity and personality to have real discussions. Its all a game for him and he's playing the part. His discussions tended to turn toward him. Everything folds back to him and how it relates to him. As a result Chris McMonigle was left to do the serious talk and keep things on track and family friendly. McMonigle seems to be doing the heavy lifting - which I expected but not to this degree.
It's like in the cartoons where the self centered and concieted rich guy waltzes through a room while his aid spins around him and makes eveything okay. Carton is the conceited guy and McMonigle is the guy keeping the show from going into the abyss.
I know why the Carton TV show on Fox Sports died.
It doesn't help that all the other people on the station have a real gravitas that Carton seems to have lost. I may despise Gio (on the Boomer and Gio morning show) but he has a stronger personality and when he isn't acting as an ass, he is a solid host (which is most of the time). Carton compared to him and everyone else on the station has no weight. Yea, he can be a buddy and a pal, but he seems more interested in being showy and rude. I don't want that on my sports radio, I want serious discussions , even about the lives of the hosts.
I can't listen to the show any more- especially when I can get better and meatier sports discussion on ESPN NY from Don Han and Rosenberg.
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