Cited by visiting media outlets as the “Cannes Film Fest of Africa”, I’m now in better position to assess the exactitudes as to why this isn’t a falsehood….but nor is this entirely accurate. The organizers of Marrakech Int. Film Festival know how to put on a show and throw a party. Star-wattage prestige and three minute BMW rides aside, the red carpet trimmings extend past the edifice known as the Palais and it spills out into the housed hotel shingding. The number of buffet styled dessert offerings for night one at the Sofitel (where my clan of journalists with The Film Stage’s Raffi Asdourian ThePlaylist’s Katie Walsh were among the guests) was ToysRUs excessive. Comparisons to the Croisette pretty much end there.
While everything is tailored to be a snazzy affair with high-end ceremony productions, and the energy outside this Palais (the premiere location for...
While everything is tailored to be a snazzy affair with high-end ceremony productions, and the energy outside this Palais (the premiere location for...
- 12/15/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Love and Hate Need No Translation. Drafthouse Films has debuted a trailer for their upcoming release of Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy's The Tribe - an award-winning, highly-acclaimed, powerful film from Ukraine that is presented entirely in sign language without any subtitles. Wondering what that's like? Or want to get a feel for the very edgy, very dark topics the film covers? Then give this trailer a look, and hopefully you'll take a chance on seeing this film. One of the critic quotes included the trailer comes from friend of the site Raffi Asdourian of The Film Stage, who wrote in his review that "the scope and ambition of the narrative propels it to something more grandiose" and that it's a "groundbreaking, one-of-a-kind experience". Indeed. Here's the new Us trailer for Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy's The Tribe, in high def originally from Apple: Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy's The Tribe is an undeniably original and...
- 5/14/2015
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
0:00-3:50 – Introduction; we’re at Sundance; whispering
3:50-5:00 – iTunes review
5:00-10:35 – “Ride Along” review
10:35-18:10 – “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” review, including a guest appearance by IndieWire’s Steve Greene
18:10-21:20 – Jeff was at the Critics Choice Awards
21:20-31:50 – Sundance movies so far: “Whiplash,” “Locke,” “The Babadook,” “God’s Pocket”
31:50-35:00 – Miscellaneous Sundance talk
35:00-40:50 – Qotw (your Sundance ideas)
40:50-42:55 – Next Qotw, plus see “Gravity” on the big screen while you still can, plus a guest appearance by The Film Stage’s Raffi Asdourian
42:55-44:15 – Wrap-up and goodbyes
Qotw: What day-to-day activity could be the plot of an action movie?
Email: moviebspdx@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MovieBSpdx
Twitter: @moviebs
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Go to the Movie B.S. webpage
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3:50-5:00 – iTunes review
5:00-10:35 – “Ride Along” review
10:35-18:10 – “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” review, including a guest appearance by IndieWire’s Steve Greene
18:10-21:20 – Jeff was at the Critics Choice Awards
21:20-31:50 – Sundance movies so far: “Whiplash,” “Locke,” “The Babadook,” “God’s Pocket”
31:50-35:00 – Miscellaneous Sundance talk
35:00-40:50 – Qotw (your Sundance ideas)
40:50-42:55 – Next Qotw, plus see “Gravity” on the big screen while you still can, plus a guest appearance by The Film Stage’s Raffi Asdourian
42:55-44:15 – Wrap-up and goodbyes
Qotw: What day-to-day activity could be the plot of an action movie?
Email: moviebspdx@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MovieBSpdx
Twitter: @moviebs
ClICK Here To Listen
Go to the Movie B.S. webpage
Subscribe (and vote) for Movie B.S. on iTunes...
- 1/17/2014
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
The 2013 Cannes Film Festival just concluded this past weekend, and most critics and attendees have returned home. Capturing the experience of Cannes is hard to do in words alone, as it takes place right on the beach on the French Riviera, mostly inside of a building called the Palais des Festivals. After spending two weeks there taking photos on the Croisette and inside the various theaters, I wanted to share a gallery that provides a better idea of what it's like to be there. I love attending this fest and I love living in France for two weeks, and I capture my experiences best in photos on Instagram and 6-second Vines. Take a look! I will be sharing photos from my own Instagram @abillington and Vine as Alex Billington, along with my friend Raffi Asdourian (@zaffi) from The Film Stage. We're good friends in New York City, where we both live,...
- 5/27/2013
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
0:00-4:20 – Introduction; Japanese candy; grapes; latitude
4:20-18:10 – “42″ review, including a tangent about college sports
18:10-25:00 – “Trance” review
25:00-32:20 – “The Place Beyond the Pines” review
32:20:37:00 – “The Sapphires” review (replay from Cannes)
37:00-40:00 – “Somebody Up There Likes Me” review
40:00-55:30 – Qotw (athletes who deserve a biopic); baby Dylan joins us at some point
56:30-1:02:50 – Character Casserole
1:02:50-1:04:30 – Wrap-up and goodbyes
Qotw: What’s your favorite movie that you think most people haven’t seen?
Notes:
The other voices you hear during Jeff’s review of “The Sapphires” are Dan Mecca and Raffi Asdourian (both of The Film Stage), who were hanging out with us during that episode.
To get a taste of Dodgers announcer Red Barber’s classic old-timey radio voice, check out this recording of a 1950 game. Start at...
4:20-18:10 – “42″ review, including a tangent about college sports
18:10-25:00 – “Trance” review
25:00-32:20 – “The Place Beyond the Pines” review
32:20:37:00 – “The Sapphires” review (replay from Cannes)
37:00-40:00 – “Somebody Up There Likes Me” review
40:00-55:30 – Qotw (athletes who deserve a biopic); baby Dylan joins us at some point
56:30-1:02:50 – Character Casserole
1:02:50-1:04:30 – Wrap-up and goodbyes
Qotw: What’s your favorite movie that you think most people haven’t seen?
Notes:
The other voices you hear during Jeff’s review of “The Sapphires” are Dan Mecca and Raffi Asdourian (both of The Film Stage), who were hanging out with us during that episode.
To get a taste of Dodgers announcer Red Barber’s classic old-timey radio voice, check out this recording of a 1950 game. Start at...
- 4/16/2013
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
Quentin Tarantino making a Western sounds like the coolest coupling of director and genre since Scorsese noodled with the mafia, and judging from the rootin' tootin' trailer for "Django Unchained," it just might live up to our cinema-junkie expectations.
For his smash hit "Inglourious Basterds," Tarantino gave Jews their ultimate revenge fantasy by allowing Eli Roth to smoke Hitler, and we loved every minute of it. Now imagine him applying that same gonzo, pop culture-laden sensibility to a freed African-American slave riding dusty trails, scouting filthy saloons, or going up against heaps o' redneck crackers with itchy trigger fingers. Now you get the picture.
Here's all you should possibly know to get in the saddle with the "Pulp Fiction" maestro for his trip to the wild, wild ... South?
Release Date
December 25
Most Wanted List
For the title slave-turned-gunslinger, Jamie Foxx beat out the formidable likes of Will Smith, Idris Elba...
For his smash hit "Inglourious Basterds," Tarantino gave Jews their ultimate revenge fantasy by allowing Eli Roth to smoke Hitler, and we loved every minute of it. Now imagine him applying that same gonzo, pop culture-laden sensibility to a freed African-American slave riding dusty trails, scouting filthy saloons, or going up against heaps o' redneck crackers with itchy trigger fingers. Now you get the picture.
Here's all you should possibly know to get in the saddle with the "Pulp Fiction" maestro for his trip to the wild, wild ... South?
Release Date
December 25
Most Wanted List
For the title slave-turned-gunslinger, Jamie Foxx beat out the formidable likes of Will Smith, Idris Elba...
- 6/13/2012
- by Max Evry
- NextMovie
0:00-1:15 – Introduction; we’re hanging out with Dan Mecca and Raffi Asdourian of The Film Stage
1:15-2:10 – We slept in, went to the bakery
2:10-12:40 – “Dario Argento’s Dracula” review
12:40-15:50 – “The Sapphires” review
15:50-16:30 – Avoiding hearing about “Amour” since we hadn’t seen it yet
16:30-23:00 – What Dan and Raffi have loved and hated so far
24:50-27:00 – Dan was a Cannes intern; he bumped into Tarantino; Bayer once did the same thing
27:00-34:35 – Raffi and Dan’s experiences with the “market” part of Cannes
34:35-39:30 – Preview of tomorrow; wrap-up and goodbyes
Dan Mecca and Raffi Asdourian write for The Film Stage. Raffi’s alleged movie that he might make is “Traces.”
Email – moviebspdx@gmail.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/MovieBSpdx
Twitter – @moviebs
Listen Here
Go to the Movie B.S. webpage...
1:15-2:10 – We slept in, went to the bakery
2:10-12:40 – “Dario Argento’s Dracula” review
12:40-15:50 – “The Sapphires” review
15:50-16:30 – Avoiding hearing about “Amour” since we hadn’t seen it yet
16:30-23:00 – What Dan and Raffi have loved and hated so far
24:50-27:00 – Dan was a Cannes intern; he bumped into Tarantino; Bayer once did the same thing
27:00-34:35 – Raffi and Dan’s experiences with the “market” part of Cannes
34:35-39:30 – Preview of tomorrow; wrap-up and goodbyes
Dan Mecca and Raffi Asdourian write for The Film Stage. Raffi’s alleged movie that he might make is “Traces.”
Email – moviebspdx@gmail.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/MovieBSpdx
Twitter – @moviebs
Listen Here
Go to the Movie B.S. webpage...
- 5/30/2012
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
Welcome to a super-sized episode of our official podcast, The Film Stage Show. This week, associate editor Nick Newman, staff writer Danny King and I are joined by Raffi Asdourian, fresh off the plane from France to discuss the latter half of the Cannes Film Festival. Then we have two spoiler-free reviews for the newest entry in the Men in Black franchise, and the latest film from Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom. To end we divulge our picks for upcoming theatrical and home video releases, including We Need to Talk About Kevin and Snow White and the Huntsman. Stream below or click to download (right-click and save as…).
MP3: The Film Stage Show Ep. 7 – Moonrise Kingdom and 2012 Cannes Film Festival Pt. 2
0:00 – 34:32 – Introduction and 2012 Cannes Film Festival wrap-up
34:42 – 40:00 - Men in Black III review
40:00 – 1:03:30 – Moonrise Kingdom review
1:03:30 – 1:11:06 – Next Week’s...
MP3: The Film Stage Show Ep. 7 – Moonrise Kingdom and 2012 Cannes Film Festival Pt. 2
0:00 – 34:32 – Introduction and 2012 Cannes Film Festival wrap-up
34:42 – 40:00 - Men in Black III review
40:00 – 1:03:30 – Moonrise Kingdom review
1:03:30 – 1:11:06 – Next Week’s...
- 5/29/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Has Robert Pattinson finally shed his sparkly vampire skin? The "Twilight" star's film "Cosmopolis" premiered Friday (May 25) at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, and early reviews are a mixed bag. But several critics are calling it Pattinson's best work yet.
Pattinson plays billionaire Eric Packer in "Cosmopolis," based on Don DeLillo's novel of the same name. Packer sets out to get a haircut in Manhattan only to have his day devolve into a series of surreal adventures and chance encounters.
"It's both an exceptional adaptation and a remarkable work unto itself," writes Simon Abrams of Indiewire.
Raffi Asdourian from the Huffington Post writes, "The film is anchored by a solid, ennui-filled performance by Robert Pattinson, shedding his Twilight skin for something more substantive and reminiscent of Christian Bale in 'American Pyscho.'"
Justin Chang from Variety writes, "While commercial reach will be limited to the more adventurous end of the specialty market,...
Pattinson plays billionaire Eric Packer in "Cosmopolis," based on Don DeLillo's novel of the same name. Packer sets out to get a haircut in Manhattan only to have his day devolve into a series of surreal adventures and chance encounters.
"It's both an exceptional adaptation and a remarkable work unto itself," writes Simon Abrams of Indiewire.
Raffi Asdourian from the Huffington Post writes, "The film is anchored by a solid, ennui-filled performance by Robert Pattinson, shedding his Twilight skin for something more substantive and reminiscent of Christian Bale in 'American Pyscho.'"
Justin Chang from Variety writes, "While commercial reach will be limited to the more adventurous end of the specialty market,...
- 5/25/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Welcome to the newest episode of our official podcast, The Film Stage Show. This week, associate editor Nick Newman, staff writer Danny King and I are joined by Raffi Asdourian and Dan Mecca straight from France to discuss the Cannes Film Festival thus far. Then we jump into a feature review of Sacha Baron Cohen’s irreverent comedy, The Dictator. To end we dive into some upcoming theatrical and home video picks, including Wes Anderson’s newest film, Moonrise Kingdom. Stream below or click to download (right-click and save as…).
MP3: The Film Stage Show Ep. 6 – The Dictator and 2012 Cannes Film Festival Pt. 1
0:00 – 29:57 – Introduction and 2012 Cannes Film Festival (including Moonrise Kingdom, Rust & Bone, Lawless, Reality, Amour, The Hunt, After the Battle, Beyond the Hills, Dracula 3D, The We and the I, Antiviral, Laurence Always and Mekong Hotel)
29:58 – 53:56 - The Dictator review
54:57 – 59:32 – Next Week...
MP3: The Film Stage Show Ep. 6 – The Dictator and 2012 Cannes Film Festival Pt. 1
0:00 – 29:57 – Introduction and 2012 Cannes Film Festival (including Moonrise Kingdom, Rust & Bone, Lawless, Reality, Amour, The Hunt, After the Battle, Beyond the Hills, Dracula 3D, The We and the I, Antiviral, Laurence Always and Mekong Hotel)
29:58 – 53:56 - The Dictator review
54:57 – 59:32 – Next Week...
- 5/21/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
David Lynch should be considered a national treasure to American cinema by now and if you don’t agree I don’t care. In addition to pushing the boundaries of cinema with some of the most inventive and surreal films ever committed to celluloid, Lynch has also been a pioneer in embracing social media (albeit being a slight technophobe) with his abstract tweets and most recently his compelling Interview Project.
Well now Lynch is diving headfirst into the unchartered waters of crowd-sourcing and fan-funding akin to what Trent Reznor attempted to do with Nine Inch Nails and the digital release of the album Ghosts. For fifty smackers, you can be part of Lynch’s project (tentatively titled Lynch three Project) which is said to be a personal examination of his last major theatrical effort Inland Empire along with chronicling some personal habits of the artist.
“As truly independent filmmakers, we...
Well now Lynch is diving headfirst into the unchartered waters of crowd-sourcing and fan-funding akin to what Trent Reznor attempted to do with Nine Inch Nails and the digital release of the album Ghosts. For fifty smackers, you can be part of Lynch’s project (tentatively titled Lynch three Project) which is said to be a personal examination of his last major theatrical effort Inland Empire along with chronicling some personal habits of the artist.
“As truly independent filmmakers, we...
- 7/13/2010
- by Raffi Asdourian
- The Film Stage
The Kids Are All Right is the latest film from well-respected female director Lisa Cholodenko (High Art, Laurel Canyon) and features an all-star cast that includes Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. It was a darling at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and one of the few films to cause a bidding war between studios. The film is based on an original screenplay that Cholodenko and co-writer Stuart Blumberg (Keeping the Faith) worked on for over four years, borrowing heavily from both of their own personal experiences. The premise is to present a portrait of a modern day family and what it actually means to be in a family in this day and age. And while the film does an exceptionally well job at bringing to life vivid and real characters, the overall message or point of the film can’t help but remaining somewhat aimless.
Nic and...
Nic and...
- 7/9/2010
- by Raffi Asdourian
- The Film Stage
Just when I thought I had seen all the crazy movies available at the Nyaff, along comes Symbol, an out-of-body afterlife-centric experience which, besides testing your patience, is one of the most surreal and existential films ever made. Starring acclaimed Japanese comedian/TV host Hitoshi Matsumoto, who also directs this odyssey into life after death, Symbol is a film filled wih equal parts of humor and dread. There’s no denying the fact that it will test your patience – especially the first hour. But just like a test of will, sticking through to the end is a reward worth the wait as Hitoshi transcends the slapstick humor with a visually surreal journey into the unknown.
Symbol opens, oddly enough, in rural Mexico, holding steadfast on a shot of a car driving down a long dusty road towards the camera while kicking up dust in its wake. This first shot is...
Symbol opens, oddly enough, in rural Mexico, holding steadfast on a shot of a car driving down a long dusty road towards the camera while kicking up dust in its wake. This first shot is...
- 7/9/2010
- by Raffi Asdourian
- The Film Stage
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