CinemaSpeak

by Warren Curry
2/8/11

If nothing else, Joe Swanberg deserves credit for his work rate. He’s made one feature film per year since 2005 and, for better or worse, is viewed as a pioneer of the mumblecore genre. “Uncle Kent,” his sixth feature, should increase his exposure a bit as it’s the director’s first effort to screen at the Sundance Film Festival. I still have yet to see his first two films, but Swanberg’s latest continues his trend of becoming less accessible with each new release.
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by Warren Curry
12/3/10

When one thinks about ’70s New York underground culture, music is typically the first thing that comes to mind. The music scene which developed around the legendary club CBGB gave the world such notable bands as The Talking Heads, Blondie, The Ramones, Television and many others. Concurrently, Manhattan’s Lower East Side was also home to a thriving independent film community, which received little attention at the time, and even among today’s cinema aficionados is only vaguely remembered. “Blank City” is first time filmmaker Celine Danhier’s successful attempt to shine the spotlight on two NYC film movements that helped pave the way for today’s comparatively polished indie film scene.
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by Warren Curry
8/1/10

If a filmmaker’s job is to tell a story via images, Mike Doto certainly excels at his profession. His 12-minute short, “The Legacy,” is visually striking, smoothly paced and rich in atmosphere. Though the film boasts high production value, it’s also engaging in its simplicity and charming in its purity.
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by Warren Curry
6/14/10

“Fugue” is a shining example of low-budget filmmaking done right. Director Barbara Stepansky doesn’t try to make a movie bigger than what her modest production values can support, and instead uses the ostensible limitations to her advantage. A horror/thriller that’s legitimately unsettling in spots (and delivers an unexpected bit of gore near its conclusion), Stepansky’s feature debut is compelling from the opening credits to literally its final frame.
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by Warren Curry
4/18/10

The story at the center of “Knock ‘Em Dead, Kid” is a familiar one. A decent kid, on the verge of moving on to bigger and better things, finds trouble constantly nipping at his heels. And whether or not he’ll be able to escape the impending doom provides the film’s dramatic question. Considering the movie is set in the world of volatile teenagers, possesses a crime element and is ultimately a morality tale, a comparison to Larry Clark’s work is logical. read more »