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“Sorry, Thanks” encore screenings on Sundance Channel

SUNDANCE CHANNEL is having some encore screenings of “Sorry, Thanks” in March.  Click here for the schedule.

In her directorial debut, independent producer Dia Sokol — collaborator with Joe Swanberg (NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS) and Andrew Bujalski (MUTUAL APPRECIATION) — presents a funny yet refreshingly moral story about thirtysomething slackers. Max (Wiley Wiggins) and newly single Kira (Kenya Miles) impulsively hook up at a party. But their one-night-stand proves difficult to confine to the past, especially when Kira learns of Max’s girlfriend of three years (Ia Hernandez). “True and genuine… a sidelong charmer” — Los Angeles

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Morgan ‘Super Size Me’ Spurlock Speaks

Morgan Spurlock, the twisted genius behind the documentary “Super Size Me,” offered up this great interview to The Guardian newspaper in the UK.   I’ve enjoyed pretty much anything he puts out. His TV documentary series “100 Documentaries You Must See Before You Die” was great stuff.

His last feature film doc, “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold,” was interesting, too, but perhaps went over too many people’s heads.

My favorite quote:  ”I think the minute you start doubting, that doubt is contagious and everyone starts believing it won’t happen. You have to inspire faith in people, especially when they’re not getting paid. The one thing I never saw my father do in the midst of failure was quit. I don’t ever remember seeing him depressed. I was never allowed to quit anything – once you started, you carried it through to the end. Period.”

 

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The Best DVD of the Year: Jean-Luc Godard’s Histoire(s) du Cinema

A quarter-century after the French director began it, his grand film essay on movies is finally available on DVD.  Richard Corliss with Time Magazine wrote a great article on the film.  Godard’s maybe the only one who knows what it all means and is crazy brave enough to say it.

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Due Credit and the Art of Theatrical Trailers

I’ve come across two new fantastic websites.  The first one, ArtoftheTitle.com, reclaims the glory days of beautiful designed title sequences.  The websites features an amazing curation of the best opening title sequences from over 400 films, along with editorial notes on each sequence.

The second website, trailersfromhell.com, is even better.  It features modern day writers and directors given video introductions to preview trailers from cool feature films from yesteryear, as well as many forgotten by the sands of time.  I’m simply amazed that they put this all together–it’s fun.

 

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VHS Zombies

“I was not around during the main VHS boom, but I’ve never liked DVDs,” said Mr. Justin, who has a VHS tape tattooed on his arm. “When I was younger and I went to the record store, my parents would push me to get the CD, but I wanted the cassette. I’m an analog nerd.”

Analog nerds unite.  VHS zombies rule!  NY Times exposes the VHZ zombie horde.

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007 going for an Oscar?

Total Film has the full story.  Sam Mendes (American Beauty) is an inspired choice to direct the new Bond film, which has grown tired.  The producers here are making a wise decision. It’s time to change up the Bond franchise.  The older Sean Connery films were my favorites, let’s hope the reinvent the series.

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