Results tagged “elvismitchell”

The Times' Elvis Mitchell writes "."

Thanks Ben, lia, and our own Mindy. Ben also highly recommends Pak's spoof, Asian Pride Porn, where Pulitzer-winning playwright David Henry Hwang shills porn (watch at Atom Films).

It's Gothamist's second favorite Times Arts & Leisure feature of the year (after the Fall Preview, which, even though "Fall" is less of an event in film and TV, just seems to be an exciting way to ring in the best season), when all the critics give their favorites and hateds of the year. The film critics list their best, with Elvis Mitchell calling Pirates of the Caribbean his top movie (Merry Christmas, Jerry Bruckheimer), A.O. Scott naming Master and Commander his, and Stephen Holden picking Angels in America (technically a film made for cable, but considering its ten month shoot, $60 million price tag, and ultimate 6 hour running time, it's certainly an event, so why quibble?). Then the critics have a discussion about the worst things in movies this past year (roles for women, children's movies); Scott reveals that when critics tell their children some movies are bad, the consequences are dire: [Also Scott on the year in general and Dave Kehr on the Year of the Documetary.]

Many wonder what is the use of following these critics' awards, since they are only directionally useful in wondering who will win the Oscars, an imperfect process also. Gothamist ventures to say that when things move us, we want to talk about it, think about it, tell others about it. Movies are a reflection of who we are and become calling cards of ideas and dreams to other places, whether it's to a rural farm town in Nebraska or an emerging metropolis like Shanghai. Sure, there's an amount of unspeakable crap, but it's also nice to see that some exceptional work is being recognized.

, a new model compeititon, with Heidi Klum judging. Bravo thinks it will be a great companion piece to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy; yes, because there's nothing that gay men like more than pretty vacant models to escort around. And Variety reports Miramax head Harvey Weinstein saying Runday "help find and identify the same untapped talent in the fashion world that 'Project Greenlight' has found in film." Untapped talent? The NY Times' Elvis Mitchell reviewed both Project Greenlight films: Stolen Summer was "Well-meaning but inert" and "The drab comic melodrama The Battle of Shaker Heights may lead to a new axiom: success has many fathers, but failure has Project Greenlight." Note to aspiring models: This is your chance to choose.

Getting ready to close out our NY Film Festival viewing with 21 Grams tonight. Elvis Mitchell says it may "well be the crowning work of this year."

Gothamist's pick for any kind of moviegoing this weekend is by far, Lost in Translation, the best movie we've seen in a very long time. We were struck by it when we first saw it, and may have to see it again soon as it opens today. It has a brilliant performance from Bill Murray, who is being talked up for an Oscar nod at the very least (let's hope, unlike when he was last mentioned in the same breath as Oscar during Rushmore, the Academy actually nominates him).

There is really no movie out there right now that Gothamist can recommend more highly than simply renting or buying Shanghai Knights. Hysterically funny, it features some beautiful stunt set pieces by Jackie Chan and nonstop charm and sexiness from Owen Wilson. Salon's Charles Taylor and the Time's Elvis Mitchell loved it. And really, the two thumbs up from Ebert & Roeper means something! Roger Ebert's review.

Gothamist's favorite New York Times film critic reviews Pirates of the Caribbean. Here's what Elvis Mitchell managed to put in the review:

If trying to get advance tickets for T3 or Legally Blonde just becomes boring, go see The Whale Rider. The lyrical movie with a more powerful female empowerment theme than Charle's Angels is about a young girl, Pai, whose mostly absent father, mourning the death of her mother and twin brother, has left her grandfather, a Maori tribal chief, to search for the next male chief. Pai wonders why she can't be in line, as she is descended from a line of chiefs. It may seem like a sentimental story, but it's gorgeously and intimately told. Roger Ebert says "The genius of the movie is the way is sidesteps all of the obvious cliches of the underlying story and makes itself fresh, observant, tough and genuinely moving." Elvis Mitchell suggests "Bear with ''Whale Rider'': once the picture kicks into gear, it has the inspiring resonance of found art."

All the talk about Charlie's Angels Full Throttle being about female empowerment is a joke, because it's just about a bunch of girls being silly and their T&A. Of course Gothamist knew that, but the evidence is too overwhelming not to comment on. For starters, a painful-to-read interview by Sean Smith of Newsweek, with the Angels, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu. Here's a sample:

Opening at the Film Forum today are three short films, Remembrance of Things To Come, a film made completely of still images about photographer Denise Bellon ; Collette, about the writer; and Du Cote De La Cote, a look at the French Riviera by Agnes Varda. These short films seem to be a perfect end to a day at the office, some thoughtful and dreamy musings on life and life in France, coupled with some panini and prosecco at 'ino.

Because I have a thing for movies, I am a little in love with Mike D'Angelo who writes film reviews for Time Out New York, because I tend to be a little in love with anyone who writes about them (Stephanie Zacharek, Andrew Sarris, Elvis Mitchell and A.O. Scott of the Times, etc.). He has a terrifically lo-fi site, The Man Who Viewed Too Much, that lists all the movies he's seen. The movie list is another reason why I love Mike D'Angelo, since I want to create a list of all the movies I've seen in a theater since August 1996 (when I started keeping track).

Elvis Mitchell reviews Better Luck Tomorrow. He also reviews the other film I want to see the weekend: Anger Management.

It seems like sacrilege, but apparently Neil Jordan's remake of Bob Le Flambeur, The Good Thief is actually good. Elvis Mitchell says, "The movie feels more like a breezy, jazz-inflected version of the original: it's a triumph of flourish, all weathered, movie-star-size gestures." Nick Nolte stars, as well as Ralph Fiennes, but I'm actually interested in director Emir Kusturica's performance.

Elvis Mitchell gives the film a great review and mentions Anthony Wong who plays the police supervisor. Wong had great presence and has his own rock band according to IMDB. The look of the film is also much-talked about, as it's got this bluish tinge, that makes the film seem more mature than most other Hong Kong movies. Mitchell likens it to Michael Mann's Heat, another twisty cop movie.

Tonight, I'm seeing Raising Victor Vargas, the opening night selection of the New Directors/New Films Festival. I'm excited for a couple reasons: It's from a director my age, Peter Sollett (in fact, my friends graduated from NYU Tisch with him; I'm obviously growing up because I'm not so jealous as I am impressed); it's a great introduction to new films; and it's at Lincoln Center, so close to home.

News comes that Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah will perform at the Oscars, but not Renee Zellweger. Apparently she declined, and, Ms. Zellweger, we thank you for that. She even admitted not wanting to sing - in a Guardian article, she said, "I was not going to sing for anybody besides my dogs when I'm in the shower, and then Rob Marshall comes along and that was it." Damn you, Rob Marshall! I like Renee a lot, but the "can't sing" thing is bugging me out. CZ-J and QL will be performing the only original song from Chicago, "I Move On," which the original Chicago musical creators, Fred Ebb and John Kander, wrote specifically for the film. Elvis Mitchell described Zellweger: "[her] float-like-a-butterfly voice doesn't triumph over her my-left-foot dance skills"

Gothamist enjoyed Elvis Mitchell's piece about Christopher Guest in yesterday's Times because if there's one that we all need more of, it's generous-hearted satire. Guest was one of the masterminds behind This is Spinal Tap (besides playing Nigel Tufnel), and he wrote and directed Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show.

The other Times Talk panel I went to was "Films that Deserve a Second Look" - films that New York Times film critics Stephen Holden, Elvis Mitchell, and A.O. Scott felt audiences missed the first time around. Many of the films they mentioned were victim to just being dumped by their distributors because they were not easily marketable as a teen comedy or date movie. Another problem is that films live and die in one weekend, whether a would-be blockbuster or arthouse film...word of mouth buzz no longer works as well as it used to and the fascination with box office grosses is not helping any. While most films were recent, there were some older films, and by master directors, proving not everyone gets a fair shake based on name alone. There were a few funny questions - one person asked what actors did not deserve to be on screen. A.O. Scott said, "You want us killed, don't you?" before Stephen Holden remarked about the difference between being a good actor and a movie star (some people have that charisma and may not be a good actor, but are movie stars; some of the finest actors don't have that charisma and thus are not stars). Sartorial gossip: Stephen Holden looked like everyone's kind of cranky uncle, in a polo shirt, sport jacket, khakis, and New Balance sneakers; A.O. Scott looked the rumpled academic, white shirt, sport jacket, wrinkled khakis with the cuffs rolled up and brown shoes; Elvis Mitchell looked like a mod rocker in a Prada suit and black boots. Here are the movies they picked - all I wish is that more people, outside of major cities, would be able to hear about these films and watch them.

As a fan of the New York Times film reviews, I am very aware of all of the nuances of the reviews. One of the best things is the blurb that's written after the rating at the very end of the review, to call out any violence or nudity or language. The Times reviewers A.O. Scott and Elvis Mitchell are very funny. Check out these:

Johnny Cash 'Hurt' Video
...It is the most beautiful and riveting video I've seen in a long time, because of how the images and music work together and how Johnny Cash, icon, haunts the video...

, which starred Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, and Frances McDormand. In David Gale, Kate Winslet is the journalist who tries to save him before "it's too late." Ahem.

on Broadway, with Brian Stokes Mitchell as Don Quixote.

Go see Spirited Away this weekend, the animated film by Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki (he made Princess Mononoke) that Disney did not know how to distribute. Definitely one of the best things I've seen recently, it's whimsical, fantastic, sad, romantic, scary. It's on the Top 10 films of the year lists of many critics, including Roger Ebert,; three New York Timesies: A.O. Scott, Elvis Mitchell, and Dave Kehr (number one on his list); Time's Richard Corliss; and even the usually iffy Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly.