Screening Gotham: All-Positive Friday!

As per tradition, some of today's upbeat movie news of note from around New York:

--It's hardly positive to say Blockbuster Video employees lie, though the truth as laid out by Filmwad's Anthony Burch is among the more engaging reads I've had this week. For starters, I learned that I may be able to swing that free copy of The Departed after all: "If you stuff eighteen DVDs, a Grand Theft Auto strategy guide, and a box of Red Vines into a backpack and walk out, congratulations – you’ve just committed the perfect crime." (H/T: Big Screen Little Screen)

--Melena Ryzik is all over the outdoor festival scene in today's NYT, including stops at Rooftop Films, Socrates Sculpture Park and some new series in Tompkins Square Park where people evidently like to drink and smoke. Imagine! Anyway, that's nothing; a little digging would have revealed an absolutely scorching heroin scene at the Bryant Park Film Festival. (Oh, and for a full rundown of NYC's outdoor fests, remember to check out The Reeler's 2007 guide right here.)

--While I suffered The Bourne Ultimatum uptown, El Cantante's premiere unspooled last night in Times Square. IndieWIRE's Eugene Hernandez photographed Marc Anthony performing at the afterparty. The movie's not half-bad. I wish I'd been there. That's about as positive as it gets, I'm afraid.

Posted at July 27, 2007 9:19 AM