Reviews
3-D (Like it Used to Be) in ‘53
Critic Kurt Brokaw reflects on life as a theater staffer in 3-D's heyday, and on some of the '50s best 3-D films, recently showcased at the Film Forum in New York.
August 30th, 2010 | Kurt Brokaw
The omnipresence of today's 3-D has roots in grand theaters outfitted with twin projectors that brought the scary "Gill-Man" to life from the Black Lagoon and threatened to pour wax all over your sweetheart and install him or her in a Wax Museum. Kurt Brokaw witnessed 3-D's golden era firsthand and recently saw the best from 1953-54 again, wearing his customized 3D frames. How does he think today's 3-D experiences stack up?
In 1953 and ‘54, this critic was popping the popcorn, changing the marquee, and patrolling the aisles of the Ritz Theater in Indianapolis, making sure couples kept both feet on the floor at all times. Being on staff at a neighborhood movie house as a high school student was the perfect introduction to the film business—particularly to 3-D.
On the Fast Track of Derby History
Roller derby expert Steven LaFond (aka “Pelvis Costello”) recommends five documentaries that chart the rise of the modern roller derby revival.
June 17th, 2010 | Steven LaFond
According to Steven LaFond, err...Pelvis Costello, roller derby is back. With a vengeance. Get to know the real story behind its reemergence with five must-see documentaries, from the classic Blood on the Flat Track to the most recent Hugs and Bruises.
Tribeca 2010 Critic's Choice: "Cairo Time"
Kurt Brokaw hand selects and reviews films from Tribeca 2010.
June 8th, 2010 | Kurt Brokaw
Cairo Time
(Ruba Nadda. 2009. Canada/Ireland/Egypt. 89 min.)
Tribeca 2010 Critic's Choice: "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll"
Kurt Brokaw hand selects and reviews films from Tribeca 2010.
May 21st, 2010 | Kurt Brokaw
Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll
(Mat Whitecross. 2009. UK. 115 min.)
Tribeca 2010 Critic's Choice: "Visionaries"
Kurt Brokaw hand selects and reviews films from Tribeca 2010.
May 18th, 2010 | Kurt Brokaw
Visionaries
(Chuck Workman. 2010. USA. 90 min.)
Tribeca 2010 Critic's Choice: "The White Meadows"
Kurt Brokaw hand selects and reviews films from Tribeca 2010.
May 11th, 2010 | Kurt Brokaw
The White Meadows
(Mohammad Rasoulof. 2009. Iran. 93 min.)
Defending Tribeca in an Era of Megabrands
In addition to serving up his top choices from Tribeca 2010, reviewer Kurt Brokaw celebrates the festival's sprawling, something-for-everyone approach.
May 11th, 2010 | Kurt Brokaw
Kurt Brokaw stamps his critic's seal on select films from Tribeca 2010 and explains why the festival deserves a nod for nine years of expansive programming in a post-9/11 neighborhood... and world.
Those French scamps who walked off with this year’s Best Short Oscar (LogoRama) didn’t sneak in a Tribeca Film Festival logo among their 2,500 global power players.
Tribeca 2010 Critic's Choice: "The Killer Inside Me"
Kurt Brokaw hand selects and reviews films from Tribeca 2010.
May 11th, 2010 | Kurt Brokaw
The Killer Inside Me
(Michael Winterbottom. 2010. USA. 109 min.)
Best of the Shorts: Tribeca 2010
From real-life "Missed Connections" to an elementary boy in love with his teacher, Michele Meek selects her favorites from Tribeca's 2010 line-up of short films.
April 27th, 2010 | Michele Meek
Who says short films don't get enough attention? Michele Meek watched nearly 40 at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival in order to pluck the best and brightest narrative and documentary shorts for your future (or immediate) viewing pleasure. Included are clips and trailers.
At the movies, I want to laugh out loud, clutch my armrest in terror, weep uncontrollably, and be amazed. I’ll admit my standards are high and past Tribeca Film Festivals have been serious enablers of my lofty expectations. So I suppose it was inevitable that one year I would be a tad disappointed by their selection of short films.
This was that year.
Taking the Temp of SXSW 2010
Steven Abrams wonders if SXSW 2010 premiered Oscar's best picture, as it did in 2009.
March 27th, 2010 | Steven Abrams
This year's SXSW did not disappoint The Independent's Steven Abrams. Just in case you couldn't make it to Austin this year, he gives the low-down on which films grabbed coveted audience buzz, and which took home awards.
The fact that Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker made its US premiere one year ago at SXSW upped the intrigue this year, prompting me to wonder if one of 2010's 134 features or 126 shorts would achieve that rarefied status.
We've had great success with The Independent's Guide to Film Distributors, which features the acquisition details of nearly 200 distribution companies. But times are changing FAST so we're hard at work on a 2nd edition due out later this year. Our current edition is available at 
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