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IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Rubberneck
April 23, 2012 Leave a Comment

IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Rubberneck

Rubberneck is an incredibly fascinating character-driven film about obsession and infatuation, directed by Alex Karpovsky, and written by Karpovsky and Garth Donovan.

Shot entirely in Massachusetts, it tells the story of Paul Harris, a research scientist who works on the outskirts of Boston. After a weekend tryst with a co-worker, his unreciprocated desires gradually turn into an infatuation.

The film keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout, and is certainly one of the not-to-miss movies of the festival.

Rubberneck screens at the Independent Film Festival of Boston, Tuesday, May 1st, at 9:30pm at the Coolidge Corner Theater. Tickets are available at iffboston.org.

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IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: One Night Stand
April 23, 2012 Leave a Comment

IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: One Night Stand

The intro-logline to the documentary One Night Stand sounds like a 24 hour film festival – it chronicles the creation of 4 musicals from blank page to live stage in just 24 hours.

With appearances by Rachel Dratch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Richard Kind – Variety says that the film “Perfectly conveys the creative insanity unleashed while revealing the quasi-miraculous process, attractively lensed, dynamically edited.”

The film looks really fun, and really interesting, and is directed by Elisabeth Sperling and Trish Dalton.

The film screens at the Independent Film Festival of Boston on Saturday, April 28th at 4:30pm at the Brattle Theater. Tickets are available at iffboston.org.

 

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IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Time Zero: The Last Year of Polaroid Film
April 20, 2012 Leave a Comment

IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Time Zero: The Last Year of Polaroid Film

Everyone remembers Polaroid cameras vividly. I remember as a kid being amazed at this strange technology that produces a printed picture magically in front of your eyes. But, the advent of digital cameras completely tore the company apart, rather than the instant gratification of a printed photo, you now have the instant gratification of a digital screen.

TIME ZERO: The Last Year of Polaroid Film premieres at the 2012 Independent Film Festival of Boston – a mere 3 miles from Polaroid’s former headquarters. The documentary chronicles the death, and rebirth, of Polaroid instant film. After documenting the day when Polaroid announced it would cease production of instant film, the film shares the stories of several photographers, including film maker John Waters as they recount hearing the news, and follows the efforts of a small team who tried to keep instant photography alive.

The film, directed by Grant Hamilton, looks incredibly nostalgic, and extremely fascinating.

The film screens at IFFBoston at the Somerville Theater, Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at 12:30pm. Tickets are available at iffboston.org.

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IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself
April 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself

Directed by Tom Bean and Luke Poling, Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself is a documentary about the writer, editor, amateur sportsman,and friend to many, George Plimpton.

The film uses Plimpton’s own voice, along with stories from friends, family, and contemporaries to paint a colorful picture of richly filled life.

Plimpton of course co-founded The Paris Review, one of the most influential literary magazines in history and is known for his participatory journalism – highlighted by books like Paper Lion (when George played quarterback for the Detroit Lions).

The IFFBoston screening is a preview screening, and has sold out! However, there rush tickets still available (IFFBoston holds a number of seats for pass holders, but 15 minutes before the show, they release any empty seats to the rush line). Make sure to show up well before the screening to try to get in. Lonelyreviewer will have a one-on-one interview with the filmmakers during the festival, so make sure to check back for that!

Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton As Himself screens at IFFBoston at the Brattle Theater, Sunday, April 29th, at 5:30pm.

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IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Ok, Good
April 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Ok, Good

Ok, Good from director Daniel Martinco is a character study of an actor beginning to unravel. The teaser trailer features actor Paul Kaplan (Played by Hugo Armstrong) in what appears to be pulled from a series of “auditions,” saying his name over and over again – at the end, clearly expressing a bit of frustration.

The film is the story of Paul Kaplan, a typical LA actor, going to auditions, sending out headshots, taking movement class, and listening to motivational tapes in his car. Paul, struggles through a series of setbacks that pushes him closer to the edge.

Being in actor in LA is a constant flow of rejection, and as a sucker for narrative films that come of almost as cinema vérité that this one seems to be definitely peaks my interest.

The film had its world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival, and played in competition at the Atlanta Film Festival.

Ok, Good screens at IFFBoston at the Somerville Theater Saturday, April 28th, 2:15pm. Tickets can be purchased at iffboston.org.

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IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Code of the West
April 18, 2012 Leave a Comment

IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Code of the West

Somerville local Rebecca Richman Cohen returns to IFFBoston with her latest film, Code of the West. The documentary follows the legal and emotional drama surrounding the crackdown on medicinal marijuana providers in Montana, the first state to have its legislature vote to repeal its medicinal marijuana law.

Over the past year, we’ve heard about crack downs on medicinal marijuana across the country – and this film looks at the effects of state and national drug policies.

Cohen’s last film, War Don Don screened at IFFBoston in 2010, and won the Karen Schmeer Award for editing.

Check out Code of the West at The Somerville Theater, Thursday, April 26th at 7:15pm. Tickets are available at IFFBoston.org.

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IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Beauty is Embarrassing
April 18, 2012 Leave a Comment

IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Beauty is Embarrassing

Beauty is Embarrassing is a documentary about Wayne White, an artist, art director, illustrator, puppeteer. Known for his illustrations in the New York Times, and perhaps even more so for his designs in the iconic Pee Wee’s Playhouse, White has had an amazing career, that has continued today into paintings and other public works. Judging by the films trailer, I’m definitely interested in learning more about White and his body of unique and amazing work.

The film is directed by Neil Berkeley, and will be screening at the Somerville Theater, Monday, April 30th at 7:00pm. Tickets are available at iffboston.org.

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IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Welcome to Pine Hill
April 17, 2012 Leave a Comment

IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Welcome to Pine Hill

A unique story of friendship, race, and self-discovery, Welcome to Pine Hill was born out of a chance encounter between filmmaker Keith Miller, and star Shannon Harper, who found themselves arguing over a lost dog one night in Brooklyn.

The film had its world premiere at Slamdance last January, and won the Grand Jury Prize, and will be screening at many film festivals across the country.

The film follows Shannon, a reformed drug dealer who now works as a claims adjuster by day, and bounced by night. He receives earth-shattering news that causes him to make peace with his past, and search for freedom beyond the concrete jungle of New York City. Going between the world of fact and fiction, Shannon Harper plays himself, and is supported by an eclectic cast of emerging talent, and real people.

The film is a collaboration with the Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective, the film is a 2011 Independent Filmmaker Lab participant, and Keith Miller’s debut feature film.

The film screens at IFFBoston, Sunday, April 29th at 8:00pm at the Somerville Theater. Tickets are available at IFFBoston.org.

 

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IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Andrew Bird: Fever Year
April 17, 2012 Leave a Comment

IFFBoston ’12 Spotlight: Andrew Bird: Fever Year

Andrew Bird: Fever Year, winner of the Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Omaha Film Festival, and the Audience Award at the 20th Anniversary Noise Pop Film Festival will have its Boston Premiere at the Independent Film Festival of Boston, Thursday April 26th.

The film is a feature length concert documentary that follows Andrew Bird after a rigorous year of touring. After an onstage injury, Bird finds himself feverish and on crutches – asking himself, are these the hazards of chasing the ghost of inspiration, or the transformation into a different kind of animal.

Fever Year captures Andre Bird’s multi-instrumental looping technique, and features live performances at Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater. The film looks like an entertaining (and great sounding) music documentary. The film is directed by Xan Aranda

The screening is Thursday, April 26 at 7:45pm at the Somerville Theater. Tickets are available at IFFBoston.org.

Official Trailer (2:45) from Andrew Bird: Fever Year on Vimeo.

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