In this week’s edition of Canon Of Film, we take a look at one of Woody Allen‘s most popular films, ‘Crimes and Misdemeanors’. For the story behind the genesis of the Canon, you can click here.
Crimes And Misdemeanors (1989)
Director/Screenwriter: Woody Allen
Part dark tragedy, part dark comedy, or is it all comedy? It’s certainly all dark to say the least. Considered by almost everybody as one of Woody Allen’s very best films (although I’m not sure Woody would agree), ‘Crimes and Misdemeanors’, wasn’t his first dramatic film, that was the Ingmar Bergman-esque ‘Interiors,’ and it certainly wasn’t his last comedy, yet it clearly represents the moment in Allen’s career when he started to abandon comedy in favor of drama and tragedy. Well, maybe “abandon,” is the wrong word, but he certainly began to lose interest in comedy around here.
Crimes And Misdemeanors (1989)
Director/Screenwriter: Woody Allen
Part dark tragedy, part dark comedy, or is it all comedy? It’s certainly all dark to say the least. Considered by almost everybody as one of Woody Allen’s very best films (although I’m not sure Woody would agree), ‘Crimes and Misdemeanors’, wasn’t his first dramatic film, that was the Ingmar Bergman-esque ‘Interiors,’ and it certainly wasn’t his last comedy, yet it clearly represents the moment in Allen’s career when he started to abandon comedy in favor of drama and tragedy. Well, maybe “abandon,” is the wrong word, but he certainly began to lose interest in comedy around here.
- 11/14/2017
- by David Baruffi
- Age of the Nerd
Paul Schrader has been open about the original intentions for his most famous work, the screenplay to Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. Writing it in the vein of Robert Bresson films like Diary of a Country Priest or Pickpocket, it was his full intention for the film to be directed in a similarly austere fashion. This writer perhaps doesn’t need to further recount what actually happened in the end result of one of the most famous American films of all-time, but nonetheless the multiple authors involved put it in a different direction.
It seems that some of Schrader’s own directorial efforts, be it American Gigolo or Light Sleeper, were certainly an attempt to complete the “Transcendental” experience to one degree or another. Yet four decades later, First Reformed — which, should be mentioned, also seems to be taking from Bergman’s Winter Light and Tarkovsky’s Sacrifice in the...
It seems that some of Schrader’s own directorial efforts, be it American Gigolo or Light Sleeper, were certainly an attempt to complete the “Transcendental” experience to one degree or another. Yet four decades later, First Reformed — which, should be mentioned, also seems to be taking from Bergman’s Winter Light and Tarkovsky’s Sacrifice in the...
- 9/18/2017
- by Ethan Vestby
- The Film Stage
Gary Oldman plays Churchill, and a revitalized Paul Schrader gives Ethan Hawke one of his best roles
“Did Jesus worry about being liked?” The unexpected surprise of this year’s Tiff turned out to be Paul Schrader’s First Reformed (Grade: B+), a grotesque dual homage to Diary Of A Country Priest and Winter Light in which the alcoholic rector of a nearly empty church in upstate New York is asked to hide a suicide bomb…
Read more...
Read more...
- 9/15/2017
- by Ignatiy Vishnevetsky
- avclub.com
Dear Kelley and Fern,As you both noted earlier, John Woo’s Manhunt was a thrilling, tongue-in-cheek compendium of the director's best qualities. This kind of masterful self-reflexivity may rub some the wrong way—remember, at the time, the hostility to De Palma’s Femme Fatale and Lynch’s Mulholland Dr. as if they were only Directors' Greatest Hits?—but when done smartly this is no mere masturbation, but a celebration and self-questioning, honed to deft precision, of an artist’s perennial themes.Such is the case with one of the few great feature films I've seen here in Toronto, Paul Schrader’s First Reformed. In remarkable contrast to his last film, the coked-up cartoon Dog Eat Dog, it is is a self-consciously austere drama of a wearied priest (a tremendous, hollowed-out Ethan Hawke) of a minuscule congregation housed in the oldest church in America, one dismissively dubbed the ‘souvenirs shop’ by the newer,...
- 9/15/2017
- MUBI
Some actors and directors go together like spaghetti and meatballs. They just gel together in a rare way that makes their collaborations special. Here is a list of the seven best parings of director and actor in film history.
7: Tim Burton & Johnny Depp:
Edward Scissorhands; Ed Wood; Sleepy Hollow; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Corpse Bride; Sweeney Todd; Alice in Wonderland; Dark Shadows
Of all the parings on this list, these two make the oddest films. (In a good way.) Tim Burton is one of the most visually imaginative filmmakers of his generation and Johnny Depp was once the polymorphous master of playing a wide variety of eccentric characters. They were a natural combo. Depp made most of his best films with Burton, before his current ‘Jack Sparrow’ period began. The duo had the knack for telling stories about misfits and freaks, yet making them seem sympathetic and likable.
7: Tim Burton & Johnny Depp:
Edward Scissorhands; Ed Wood; Sleepy Hollow; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Corpse Bride; Sweeney Todd; Alice in Wonderland; Dark Shadows
Of all the parings on this list, these two make the oddest films. (In a good way.) Tim Burton is one of the most visually imaginative filmmakers of his generation and Johnny Depp was once the polymorphous master of playing a wide variety of eccentric characters. They were a natural combo. Depp made most of his best films with Burton, before his current ‘Jack Sparrow’ period began. The duo had the knack for telling stories about misfits and freaks, yet making them seem sympathetic and likable.
- 9/5/2016
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
The Club opens on the blown-out image of waves lapping on a shore, blurring at the edges of the frame as if shot through a daguerreotype doused with cold filters of grey. A man swings a stick around his head in a circle, enclosing himself almost into an invisible prison of his own design. At the end is something attached, and a dog leaps up, jumping, chasing it like it was his last meal. It may be an obvious metaphor—but it is probably the last time you will smile for the next ninety-three minutes.
Pablo Larraín’s latest once again brings a deeply political lens to his native Chile, following in the steps of No, his 2012 Oscar-nominated depiction of the 1988 referendum which led to the end of Pinochet’s more than 16 years of brutal rule. But here we move out of the public sphere and into the liminal spaces...
Pablo Larraín’s latest once again brings a deeply political lens to his native Chile, following in the steps of No, his 2012 Oscar-nominated depiction of the 1988 referendum which led to the end of Pinochet’s more than 16 years of brutal rule. But here we move out of the public sphere and into the liminal spaces...
- 2/14/2016
- by Matthias Ellis
- CriterionCast
Between Leonardo DiCaprio crawling through the wilderness in “The Revenant” and Quentin Tarantino holing up a gang of lowlifes during a blizzard in “The Hateful Eight,” you could say that 2015 was a good year at the movies for tough guys in snowy environments. And as the Oscar nominations loom, one more contender fits that bill. “Winter Light” is a short film set in a cold and remote town in Montana, based on a short story by Edgar-winning mystery and crime writer James Lee Burke. The film deals with a college professor who confronts a pair of trespassers on his property,...
- 1/13/2016
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The Academy branches have been furiously screening all sort of less heralded fare of late. Tim already talked us through the animated shorts and I'm most intrigued by the Chilean allegory about a bear ripped from his circus life and a film about Russian astronauts. But there's more to uncover!
Heads up that we've updated that shorts, animation, and documentary section of our famed Oscar Charts. Click over and read up on the fascinating competitions.
As with all things Oscar, the shorts categories do get more attention than they once did many moons ago -- particularly with that mini theatrical tour of the nominated films each year -- but it's still not much.
Live Action Shorts
This year we've got barbers shaving cartel leaders, interpreters delivering babies, nuns interrupted, little boys in big wars, father and daughter visits gone awry, and much more in the Live Action shorts category. There's...
Heads up that we've updated that shorts, animation, and documentary section of our famed Oscar Charts. Click over and read up on the fascinating competitions.
As with all things Oscar, the shorts categories do get more attention than they once did many moons ago -- particularly with that mini theatrical tour of the nominated films each year -- but it's still not much.
Live Action Shorts
This year we've got barbers shaving cartel leaders, interpreters delivering babies, nuns interrupted, little boys in big wars, father and daughter visits gone awry, and much more in the Live Action shorts category. There's...
- 11/21/2015
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 live action short films will advance in the voting process for the 88th Academy Awards. One hundred forty-four pictures had originally qualified in the category.
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
“Ave Maria,” Basil Khalil, director, and Eric Dupont, producer (Incognito Films)
“Bad Hunter,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Dries Phlypo, producer (A Private View)
“Bis Gleich (Till Then),” Philippe Brenninkmeyer, producer, and Tara Lynn Orr, writer (avenueROAD Films)
“Contrapelo (Against the Grain),” Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, director, and Pin-Chun Liu, producer (Ochenta y Cinco Films)
“Day One,” Henry Hughes, director (American Film Institute)
“Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut),” Patrick Vollrath, director (Filmakademie Wien)
“The Free Man (Zi You Ren),” Quah Boon-Lip, director (Taipei National University of the Arts)
“Shok,” Jamie Donoughue, director (Eagle Eye Films)
“Stutterer,” Benjamin Cleary, director (Bare Golly Films)
“Winter Light,...
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
“Ave Maria,” Basil Khalil, director, and Eric Dupont, producer (Incognito Films)
“Bad Hunter,” Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Dries Phlypo, producer (A Private View)
“Bis Gleich (Till Then),” Philippe Brenninkmeyer, producer, and Tara Lynn Orr, writer (avenueROAD Films)
“Contrapelo (Against the Grain),” Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, director, and Pin-Chun Liu, producer (Ochenta y Cinco Films)
“Day One,” Henry Hughes, director (American Film Institute)
“Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut),” Patrick Vollrath, director (Filmakademie Wien)
“The Free Man (Zi You Ren),” Quah Boon-Lip, director (Taipei National University of the Arts)
“Shok,” Jamie Donoughue, director (Eagle Eye Films)
“Stutterer,” Benjamin Cleary, director (Bare Golly Films)
“Winter Light,...
- 11/20/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences announced on Thursday the shortlists for both categories.
The live-action selections were culled from 144 eligible submissions while there were 60 for animation.
Members of the short films and feature animation branch viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting and will next select five nominees.
Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December.
The 10 live-action films appear below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Ave Maria, Basil Khalil, director, and Eric Dupont, producer (Incognito Films);
Bad Hunter, Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Dries Phlypo, producer (A Private View);
Bis Gleich (Till Then), Philippe Brenninkmeyer, producer, and Tara Lynn Orr, writer (avenueROAD Films);
Contrapelo (Against the Grain), Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, director, and Pin-Chun Liu, producer (Ochenta y Cinco Films);
Day One, Henry Hughes, director (American Film Institute);
Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut), Patrick Vollrath, director (Filmakademie...
The live-action selections were culled from 144 eligible submissions while there were 60 for animation.
Members of the short films and feature animation branch viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting and will next select five nominees.
Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December.
The 10 live-action films appear below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Ave Maria, Basil Khalil, director, and Eric Dupont, producer (Incognito Films);
Bad Hunter, Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Dries Phlypo, producer (A Private View);
Bis Gleich (Till Then), Philippe Brenninkmeyer, producer, and Tara Lynn Orr, writer (avenueROAD Films);
Contrapelo (Against the Grain), Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, director, and Pin-Chun Liu, producer (Ochenta y Cinco Films);
Day One, Henry Hughes, director (American Film Institute);
Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut), Patrick Vollrath, director (Filmakademie...
- 11/19/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences announced on Thursday its shortlist from 144 submissions.
Members of the short films and feature animation branch viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting and will next select five nominees.
Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December.
The 10 films appear below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Ave Maria, Basil Khalil, director, and Eric Dupont, producer (Incognito Films);
Bad Hunter, Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Dries Phlypo, producer (A Private View);
Bis Gleich (Till Then), Philippe Brenninkmeyer, producer, and Tara Lynn Orr, writer (avenueROAD Films);
Contrapelo (Against the Grain), Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, director, and Pin-Chun Liu, producer (Ochenta y Cinco Films);
Day One, Henry Hughes, director (American Film Institute);
Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut), Patrick Vollrath, director (Filmakademie Wien);
The Free Man (Zi You Ren), Quah Boon-Lip, director (Taipei...
Members of the short films and feature animation branch viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting and will next select five nominees.
Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December.
The 10 films appear below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
Ave Maria, Basil Khalil, director, and Eric Dupont, producer (Incognito Films);
Bad Hunter, Sahim Omar Kalifa, director, and Dries Phlypo, producer (A Private View);
Bis Gleich (Till Then), Philippe Brenninkmeyer, producer, and Tara Lynn Orr, writer (avenueROAD Films);
Contrapelo (Against the Grain), Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, director, and Pin-Chun Liu, producer (Ochenta y Cinco Films);
Day One, Henry Hughes, director (American Film Institute);
Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut), Patrick Vollrath, director (Filmakademie Wien);
The Free Man (Zi You Ren), Quah Boon-Lip, director (Taipei...
- 11/19/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Read More: Where I Shot It: How the Filmmakers Found the Perfect Locations for 'The Revenant' [Editor's Note: This article is presented in partnership with the Montana Film Office, a central information source for on-location filmmakers. Click here to learn more.] In July of 2013, award-winning director Julian Higgins teamed up with actress-producer Abigail Spencer ("Rectify," "Mad Men," "Suits") and actor-producer Josh Pence ("The Social Network," "The Dark Knight Rises," "Draft Day") to create the short film "Here and Now." Ron Howard and Bryce Dallas Howard selected "Here and Now" as the winner of Canon’s “Project Imaginat10n” Film Contest. Higgins, Spencer and Pence teamed up again for "Winter Light," a short film adapted from a story by acclaimed best-selling author James Lee Burke. The existentialist film stars Raymond J. Barry...
- 11/18/2015
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
Read More: Bentonville Film Festival Announces Theatrical Release Dates for Winners, Along with First Symposium Tour The first annual Laguna Film Festival, founded by 18-year-old filmmaker Austin Fickman, has announced its opening night slate and full lineup. The festival will screen short films from around the world. Lff's Opening Night Special Presentation films include: "Curt is," dir. Brendan Hearne "Minimum Wage," dir. Joey Alley "Solemates," dir. Bryce Dallas Howard "Taking Flight," dir. Brandon Oldenberg "The Testimony," dir. Vanessa Block "Winter Light," dir. Julian Higgins To see the full festival lineup, click here. The Lff will screen select films in competition and feature panel discussions with Hollywood professionals geared towards emerging filmmakers and will run October 16-18. Read More: 24th Annual Woods Hole Film Festival Announces Jury and Audience Award Winners...
- 10/15/2015
- by Aubrey Page
- Indiewire
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.