Screening Gotham: Herzog Laughs!

Some of today's movie news of note from around New York:

--Werner Herzog talked to New York Magazine go-getter Logan Hill about the dynamics of influence leading up to his new feature Rescue Dawn. Which is all fine and good, but it's almost filler compared to the director's grave self-analysis: "I think I have a peculiar humor that becomes a cross that I bear. I always complain that nobody sees my sense of humor, but it comes across when you have a movie theater filled with people. I’m pretty good at it, as long as I can be someone who’s vile, base, intimidating, and dysfunctional." I'd say his tongue is so far into his cheek it'll leave a bruise, but that would be redundant, wouldn't it?

--With two pieces in as many days, new NYT industry writer Brooks Barnes is officially on the job. The jury is still out, but nobody has issued any corrections yet, so we're sticking with him.

--This is the best PR pitch I've received from any film in the last, say, four hours: "Gay Illegal Immigrants Sneak Across the Border July 3 in Maple Palm." Are you polarized yet? How about now? Now?

--Lou Lumenick notes today that Shortcut to Happiness (a k a The Devil and Daniel Webster) will bypass local theaters on its shortcut to DVD; Yari Film Group grabbed the Alec Baldwin-directed (and disowned) comedy last year in the middle of its actor/filmmaker's career renaissance. One answering machine message and zero complaints later, Yari's gang is dumping the film where only the die-hard will find it, though it should endure deep into the next two or three years among Anthony Hopkins and Jennifer Love Hewitt completists.

Posted at June 26, 2007 2:20 PM