NY Press Film Isssue '07: More Sundance! More Dick!

The annual New York Press Film Issue hit the streets Wednesday, featuring a half-dozen entries ranging from a round-up of worthwhile new DVD's to Adario Strange's epistemological reading of the upcoming Tarantino/Rodriguez two-fer Grindhouse. In the latest installment of the press tour that won't die, Kirby Dick looks back at the influence of his 2006 ratings-board expose This Film is Not Yet Rated, and elsewhere, Kari Milchman traces the past, present and future of movie trailers.

The two anchors of the section are Curt Holman and Eric Kohn; the former's glimpse at fan filmdom isn't breaking a ton of new ground, yet nevertheless provides a fairly comprehensive state-of-the-art portrait of the subculture:

(Batman tributes) Grayson and Batman: Dead End convey a more complete understanding of comic book iconography, and though made without official permission, prove more faithful than the over-produced train wreck Batman and Robin with George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Instead of “fan films,” perhaps they should be called “unauthorized movies” since, at their best, they feel more authentic than the official productions.

Meanwhile, Reeler contributor Kohn had a lengthy, nicely played brush of his own with undistributed filmmakers on a much bigger stage at Sundance, chatting hopes, dreams and apprehensions with New Yorkers Christopher Zalla, Craig Zobel and Marco Williams. David Gordon Green is in there as well, and just in case you're wondering what's happening with the filmmaker's extraordinary competition drama Snow Angels, Kohn checked at least one buyer's pulse -- and the news wasn't good:

Asked to explain his company’s decision to pass on Snow Angels -- the sort of passionate work that screams for acclaim -- (Fox Searchlight exec Tony Safford) said, “I think it’s very, very good filmmaking. I thought it was one of the better-made films out there. It’s just so unrelentingly bleak. It’s about depressed people in a bleak environment with unhappy lives. Jesus Christ. How do you get 'em to go to that?”

Yeah, I mean, Jesus. Those kinds of films go absolutely nowhere.

Posted at February 8, 2007 1:34 PM