The News: Harvey Sheiks it Up

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

--The inaugural Middle East International Film Festival has drawn all kinds of interest for its ambitious programming and promised extravagance, but nothing or nobody puts an oil-rich start-up on the map like Harvey Weinstein. Today's Hollywood Reporter notes that the festival's three-day Film Financing Circle seminar will feature Harvey's keynote speaking prowess as well as supporting turns by Netflix kingpin Ted Sarandos, Oscar-winning producer Branko Lustig and Warner Bros. VP of production Paul Federbush. The potential for a Sarandos laughing fit at the mere mention of that Weinsteins/Blockbuster deal alone might be worth the cost of attending. Well, that and observing Bob Weinstein's cue-card technique.

--While your short-handed Reeler editor was taking in the disappointing No Country For Old Men on Saturday, The New York Times's Melena Ryzik checked out the open casting call for Notorious, the forthcoming Fox Searchlight biopic about martyred rapper Biggie Smalls. Obviously I misread this particular fork in the road; "He laid back, I laid back. He dropped out of high school, I dropped out of high school. But I went back," said Bed-Stuy bouncer Kenneth Washington, apparently a Biggie lookalike. Fucking Coens.

--Mercenary DVD recommender and "old-school sentimentalist" Dave Kehr owes Jeffrey Wells $35. Let this be a lesson to you.

--Thanks to Vulture for pointing out the Chris Marker photography shows going on around town; if the accompanying artwork is any indication, it's just another can't-miss in a week neck-deep in them.

Posted at October 8, 2007 10:03 AM