Wes Bentley is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in American Beauty (1999) and Yellowstone.
Wes Bentley Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education
Wes Bentley was born on September 4, 1978 (Wes Bentley: age 44), in Jonesboro, Arkansas to Cherie Baker and David Bentley. His father is a minister and his mother is a chaplain for the United Methodist denomination. Bentley and his three brothers were raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in 1996 and went on to complete one year at the Juilliard School’s Drama Division before leaving to follow his acting career.
Wes Bentley Biography: Career
Bentley started his acting career with the movie Three Below Zero (1998) in which his character and several others are trapped in a New York basement on the hottest day of the summer. The next year Bentley starred in one of his most famous roles, Ricky Fitts in American Beauty.
Wes Bentley Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education
Wes Bentley was born on September 4, 1978 (Wes Bentley: age 44), in Jonesboro, Arkansas to Cherie Baker and David Bentley. His father is a minister and his mother is a chaplain for the United Methodist denomination. Bentley and his three brothers were raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in 1996 and went on to complete one year at the Juilliard School’s Drama Division before leaving to follow his acting career.
Wes Bentley Biography: Career
Bentley started his acting career with the movie Three Below Zero (1998) in which his character and several others are trapped in a New York basement on the hottest day of the summer. The next year Bentley starred in one of his most famous roles, Ricky Fitts in American Beauty.
- 3/12/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI, and sign up for our weekly email newsletter by clicking here.NEWSStanley Kubrick in Filmworker.Stanley Kubrick’s long-lost passion project, a biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte, may soon be realized. This week at the Berlinale, Steven Spielberg expanded on plans to executive-produce a seven-part series for HBO based on Kubrick’s original script.In June, Terence Davies will begin filming an adaptation of Stefan Zweig’s The Post-Office Girl. According to a production announcement, the cast includes Sophie Cookson, Richard E. Grant, and Verena Altenberger.Recommended VIEWINGWe’ve been enjoying the “redefining the food film” video-essay series on Vittles, a food and culture newsletter. Below is Andrew Key’s discussion of A Woman Under the Influence, and the ways that food can tear us apart:Shellac has shared a first trailer for Angela Schanelec’s Music,...
- 2/22/2023
- MUBI
Leon Vitali, an actor in Barry Lyndon who went on to become director Stanley Kubrick’s right-hand man, died Friday in Los Angeles at age 74. His family confirmed his death to Associated Press, but no cause was given.
“Leon was a special and lovely man driven by his curiosity, who spread love and warmth wherever he went,” his children said in a statement provided by his daughter, Masha Vitali. “He will be remembered with love and be hugely missed by the many people he touched.”
Vitali was profiled in the 2017 documentary Filmworker, which spotlighted his contributions to Kubrick’ work. Filmmaker Tony Zierra’s noted that Vitali did everything from casting and coaching actors to overseeing restorations.
His duties went so far as to once setting up a video monitor so that Kubrick could keep an eye on his dying cat.
Matthew Modine, who starred in Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket,...
“Leon was a special and lovely man driven by his curiosity, who spread love and warmth wherever he went,” his children said in a statement provided by his daughter, Masha Vitali. “He will be remembered with love and be hugely missed by the many people he touched.”
Vitali was profiled in the 2017 documentary Filmworker, which spotlighted his contributions to Kubrick’ work. Filmmaker Tony Zierra’s noted that Vitali did everything from casting and coaching actors to overseeing restorations.
His duties went so far as to once setting up a video monitor so that Kubrick could keep an eye on his dying cat.
Matthew Modine, who starred in Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket,...
- 8/21/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Leon Vitali, who starred in Eyes Wide Shut and Barry Lyndon before switching his career focus from acting to serving as Stanley Kubrick’s personal assistant, has died. He was 74.
Details of Vitali’s death were not immediately available, but it was confirmed by Kubrick’s official social media presence.
“These announcements are never easy, but this one has hit us particularly hard this morning,” Kubrick’s account wrote on Instagram. “It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the talented, loyal & mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick’s films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night.”
The post continued, “Our thoughts are with his family and all that knew and loved him. We will be paying tribute to Leon all day to honour him.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Stanley Kubrick...
Leon Vitali, who starred in Eyes Wide Shut and Barry Lyndon before switching his career focus from acting to serving as Stanley Kubrick’s personal assistant, has died. He was 74.
Details of Vitali’s death were not immediately available, but it was confirmed by Kubrick’s official social media presence.
“These announcements are never easy, but this one has hit us particularly hard this morning,” Kubrick’s account wrote on Instagram. “It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the talented, loyal & mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick’s films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night.”
The post continued, “Our thoughts are with his family and all that knew and loved him. We will be paying tribute to Leon all day to honour him.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Stanley Kubrick...
- 8/21/2022
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Leon Vitali, Stanley Kubrick’s longtime associate who starred in “Barry Lyndon” and “Eyes Wide Shut” in addition to assisting the filmmaker throughout his career, his died at the age of 74. The news was revealed by the official Twitter account of Kubrick’s estate.
The official statement reads: “It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick’s films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night. Our thoughts are with his family and all that knew and loved him. 26 July 1948 – 20 August 2022.”
Vitali began pursuing an acting career after attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He had small guest spots on a variety of television shows in the early 1970s before pivoting to feature films in 1973. He starred in the Italian film “Super Bitch,” which was directed by Sergio Leone’s longtime cinematographer Massimo Dallamano,...
The official statement reads: “It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick’s films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night. Our thoughts are with his family and all that knew and loved him. 26 July 1948 – 20 August 2022.”
Vitali began pursuing an acting career after attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He had small guest spots on a variety of television shows in the early 1970s before pivoting to feature films in 1973. He starred in the Italian film “Super Bitch,” which was directed by Sergio Leone’s longtime cinematographer Massimo Dallamano,...
- 8/21/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Leon Vitali, an English actor who most notably played Lord Bullingdon in “Barry Lyndon” before becoming director Stanley Kubrick’s personal assistant, died Saturday. He was 74 years old.
Vitali’s death was confirmed by the official social media presence for Kubrick. No further details regarding Vitali’s death are available at this time.
“It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick’s films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night,” the account wrote in a statement. “Our thoughts are with his family.”
It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick's films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night. Our thoughts are with his family and all that new and loved him.
26 July 1948 – 20 August 2022 pic.twitter.com/uE0Q1KvQi1
— Stanley Kubrick (@StanleyKubrick) August 21, 2022
As a screen actor,...
Vitali’s death was confirmed by the official social media presence for Kubrick. No further details regarding Vitali’s death are available at this time.
“It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick’s films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night,” the account wrote in a statement. “Our thoughts are with his family.”
It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that the mainstay of a vast number of Kubrick's films, Leon Vitali, passed away peacefully last night. Our thoughts are with his family and all that new and loved him.
26 July 1948 – 20 August 2022 pic.twitter.com/uE0Q1KvQi1
— Stanley Kubrick (@StanleyKubrick) August 21, 2022
As a screen actor,...
- 8/21/2022
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
With another day at the (virtual) 56th Chicago International Film Festival comes another batch to sift through. It was a lighter batch too, not just in numbers but also in runtimes. Day three consisted of two short documentaries and another scripted feature, but did the quality make up for quantity? Not quite, but at least they all had their moments.
Making its Midwest premiere at the festival is Gregory Monro’s Kubrick by Kubrick (Grade: C), a 72-minute documentary about Stanley Kubrick’s work. Here, Monro zips us from the filmmaker’s childhood to death, touching on a majority of his offerings in between. Yet it’s not so much Monro doing it: It’s Kubrick himself through interviews and recordings. The idea of making a documentary about the man isn’t inherently flawed, but this one’s approach is, lacking the insight or visuals to make it feel like...
Making its Midwest premiere at the festival is Gregory Monro’s Kubrick by Kubrick (Grade: C), a 72-minute documentary about Stanley Kubrick’s work. Here, Monro zips us from the filmmaker’s childhood to death, touching on a majority of his offerings in between. Yet it’s not so much Monro doing it: It’s Kubrick himself through interviews and recordings. The idea of making a documentary about the man isn’t inherently flawed, but this one’s approach is, lacking the insight or visuals to make it feel like...
- 10/17/2020
- by Matt Cipolla
- The Film Stage
Stanley Kubrick had a dedicated assistant, and not one who simply held the master’s cinematic paintbrushes. He staffed research, production, post-production and marketing departments all on his own. Tony Zierra’s brisk documentary teaches us much about a genius director, the assistant that devoted himself entirely to the director’s mission, and the nature of work and ambition.
Filmworker
DVD
Kino Lorber
2018 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 93 min. / Stanley Kubrick’s Unsung Assistant / Street Date September 11, 2018 / 29.95
Starring: Leon Vitali
Produced by Elizabeth Yoffe, Tony Zierra
Cinematography,
Film Editor,
Director Tony Zierra
The cult of Stanley Kubrick is holding firm, and definitely widening as we learn more about his ultra meticulous lifestyle, habits and dedication to his art. He didn’t turn out many features but his filmography contains an impressive number of masterpieces. Although war themes figure strongly in almost half of his films, Kubrick moved between genres, scoring with crime thrillers,...
Filmworker
DVD
Kino Lorber
2018 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 93 min. / Stanley Kubrick’s Unsung Assistant / Street Date September 11, 2018 / 29.95
Starring: Leon Vitali
Produced by Elizabeth Yoffe, Tony Zierra
Cinematography,
Film Editor,
Director Tony Zierra
The cult of Stanley Kubrick is holding firm, and definitely widening as we learn more about his ultra meticulous lifestyle, habits and dedication to his art. He didn’t turn out many features but his filmography contains an impressive number of masterpieces. Although war themes figure strongly in almost half of his films, Kubrick moved between genres, scoring with crime thrillers,...
- 8/21/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
American Animals (Bart Layton)
The rich genre of crime film in which dumbasses get themselves in way over their heads has a proud new entry with American Animals. Though premiering as part of Sundance’s U.S. Dramatic Competition, I’d strenuously argue that it is in fact a documentary that happens to be 90% reenactment. Hell, the movie itself even states in the opening chyron that it is a true story,...
American Animals (Bart Layton)
The rich genre of crime film in which dumbasses get themselves in way over their heads has a proud new entry with American Animals. Though premiering as part of Sundance’s U.S. Dramatic Competition, I’d strenuously argue that it is in fact a documentary that happens to be 90% reenactment. Hell, the movie itself even states in the opening chyron that it is a true story,...
- 8/17/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Whit Stillman on getting confirmation of John Kelly's comment that Stanley Kubrick really loved both Barcelona and The Last Days Of Disco: "I went to the première of Eyes Wide Shut in Paris. And Nicole Kidman said the same thing." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Whit Stillman is currently working on episodes for The Cosmopolitan Amazon television series. The pilot TV movie starred Chloë Sevigny and Adam Brody (Damsels In Distress).
When I brought up to Whit Tony Zierra's Filmworker, the documentary on Leon Vitali and his all-encompassing role in the life and work of Stanley Kubrick, Stillman elaborated on his own Kubrick connection - from his love of Barry Lyndon to Barcelona and The Last Days Of Disco cinematographer John Thomas and how Thomas Gibson ended up in Eyes Wide Shut.
Whit Stillman on Filmworker, Tony Zierra's documentary on Leon Vitali: "I'd love to see that. You know, we have a slight Kubrick connection.
Whit Stillman is currently working on episodes for The Cosmopolitan Amazon television series. The pilot TV movie starred Chloë Sevigny and Adam Brody (Damsels In Distress).
When I brought up to Whit Tony Zierra's Filmworker, the documentary on Leon Vitali and his all-encompassing role in the life and work of Stanley Kubrick, Stillman elaborated on his own Kubrick connection - from his love of Barry Lyndon to Barcelona and The Last Days Of Disco cinematographer John Thomas and how Thomas Gibson ended up in Eyes Wide Shut.
Whit Stillman on Filmworker, Tony Zierra's documentary on Leon Vitali: "I'd love to see that. You know, we have a slight Kubrick connection.
- 7/4/2018
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The Traverse City Film Festival is celebrating its 14th year in 2018 by bringing together some of the year’s best indies and documentaries, plus classics from Jonathan Demme, Hal Ashby, and more. The Michigan-set festival, backed by Michael Moore, is being run in 2018 by directors Susan Fisher and Meg Weichman, who have worked on the festival for nearly a decade and have been at the helm since December.
Tickets for this year’s edition will go on sale to the public on Saturday, July 21 (click here for the official festival website). Friends of the Film Festival will be able to get early access to tickets with advance sales starting Sunday, July 15.
The full lineup for the 2018 Traverse City Film Festival is below.
Opening Night: “Rbg”
Centerpiece: “Hearts Beat Loud”
Closing Night: “Burden”
Open Space
“Stop Making Sense,” Jonathan Demme
“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” Jake Kasdan
“Coco,” Lee Unkrich
“Black Panther,...
Tickets for this year’s edition will go on sale to the public on Saturday, July 21 (click here for the official festival website). Friends of the Film Festival will be able to get early access to tickets with advance sales starting Sunday, July 15.
The full lineup for the 2018 Traverse City Film Festival is below.
Opening Night: “Rbg”
Centerpiece: “Hearts Beat Loud”
Closing Night: “Burden”
Open Space
“Stop Making Sense,” Jonathan Demme
“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” Jake Kasdan
“Coco,” Lee Unkrich
“Black Panther,...
- 6/29/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
by Glenn Dunks
Sometimes you really can tell a book by its cover. Or in this case, a movie by its poster. The artwork for Tony Zierra’s Filmworker shows a photograph of Stanley Kubrick on set with his long-time yet little-known collaborator Leon Vitali hovering behind him. Kubrick, normally the focus of these sort of non-fiction works, is unusually blurred. Our eye naturally focuses on Vitali despite Kubrick’s appearance that can’t be entirely obscured no matter how hard they try.
It’s fitting for Filmworker, a documentary about Vitaly not Kubrick. Although, as was probably always inevitable about a film about the people around one of cinema’s most commanding and famous names, Kubrick remains a constant presence who is too hard to ignore...
Sometimes you really can tell a book by its cover. Or in this case, a movie by its poster. The artwork for Tony Zierra’s Filmworker shows a photograph of Stanley Kubrick on set with his long-time yet little-known collaborator Leon Vitali hovering behind him. Kubrick, normally the focus of these sort of non-fiction works, is unusually blurred. Our eye naturally focuses on Vitali despite Kubrick’s appearance that can’t be entirely obscured no matter how hard they try.
It’s fitting for Filmworker, a documentary about Vitaly not Kubrick. Although, as was probably always inevitable about a film about the people around one of cinema’s most commanding and famous names, Kubrick remains a constant presence who is too hard to ignore...
- 6/19/2018
- by Glenn Dunks
- FilmExperience
Director Tony Zierra talks to Dr. Garth Twa about the incredible story of Leon Vitali, the all-encompassing long-time assistant to Stanley Kubrick.
In 1974 an acclaimed young actor, Leon Vitali, had landed a major, career-changing role in a Stanley Kubrick movie. Already an acclaimed actor before Barry Lyndon—Vitali had an avid following from British TV, had been given prestigious stage offers, and his picture frequently featured on the cover of fan magazines—his experience on the film developed into an obsession (eventually an addiction) about the mechanics and nuances of filmmaking: specifically, the filmmaking of Stanley Kubrick.
In 1974 an acclaimed young actor, Leon Vitali, had landed a major, career-changing role in a Stanley Kubrick movie. Already an acclaimed actor before Barry Lyndon—Vitali had an avid following from British TV, had been given prestigious stage offers, and his picture frequently featured on the cover of fan magazines—his experience on the film developed into an obsession (eventually an addiction) about the mechanics and nuances of filmmaking: specifically, the filmmaking of Stanley Kubrick.
- 5/21/2018
- by Dr. Garth Twa
- Pure Movies
Leon Vitali, who played Lord Bullingdon, on Stanley Kubrick: "We had taken a walk when we were filming. It was like a whistle-stop tour of every Stately Home in England, it seemed like, when we were filming Barry Lyndon." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
In the final installment of my conversation on the afternoon of the première in New York of Tony Zierra's Filmworker, Leon Vitali reveals that Stanley Kubrick was "nuts for animals", that the ballroom used in Barry Lyndon was "full of Joshua Reynolds' and Van Dykes", and that a scene they called the "Masked Ball" was filmed in the home of Lord Carnarvon, who discovered the Tutankhamun tomb.
We speak about Kubrick, the photographer, a secret nostalgia, the casting of the twins Lisa Burns and Louise Burns for The Shining, Diane Arbus and Bruno Dumont's Jeannette, The Childhood Of Joan Of Arc.
Leon Vitali on Stanley Kubrick,...
In the final installment of my conversation on the afternoon of the première in New York of Tony Zierra's Filmworker, Leon Vitali reveals that Stanley Kubrick was "nuts for animals", that the ballroom used in Barry Lyndon was "full of Joshua Reynolds' and Van Dykes", and that a scene they called the "Masked Ball" was filmed in the home of Lord Carnarvon, who discovered the Tutankhamun tomb.
We speak about Kubrick, the photographer, a secret nostalgia, the casting of the twins Lisa Burns and Louise Burns for The Shining, Diane Arbus and Bruno Dumont's Jeannette, The Childhood Of Joan Of Arc.
Leon Vitali on Stanley Kubrick,...
- 5/17/2018
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Leon Vitali could have had it all, fame, fortune and an army of adoring fans at his feet, but instead, the young promising actor decided to give it all up to serve for decades as Stanley Kubrick’s right-hand man on some the most iconic productions of the director’s career.
Having admired Kubrick for years, Vitali’s dreams came true when he landed a role in the master’s seminal 18th-century period piece Barry Lyndon as Lord Bullingdon, the title character’s mortal enemy. However, when the cameras stopped rolling, Vitali found himself shunning the limelight and the dozens of prestigious film and stage roles offered to him on the back of his brilliant performance in the film, deciding instead to dedicate the rest of his existence to working behind the scenes with Kubrick and remaining faithful to him until the director’s death in 1999.
In his remarkable documentary Filmworker,...
Having admired Kubrick for years, Vitali’s dreams came true when he landed a role in the master’s seminal 18th-century period piece Barry Lyndon as Lord Bullingdon, the title character’s mortal enemy. However, when the cameras stopped rolling, Vitali found himself shunning the limelight and the dozens of prestigious film and stage roles offered to him on the back of his brilliant performance in the film, deciding instead to dedicate the rest of his existence to working behind the scenes with Kubrick and remaining faithful to him until the director’s death in 1999.
In his remarkable documentary Filmworker,...
- 5/16/2018
- by Linda Marric
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Leon Vitali with Anne-Katrin Titze on Stanley Kubrick and the casting of Danny Lloyd for The Shining: "I could make that boy [David Morley in Barry Lyndon] focus." Photo: David Ninh
Tony Zierra's exhaustive Filmworker, which had its world première in last year's Cannes Film Festival (Christopher Nolan will present 2001: A Space Odyssey on a remastered 70mm print this year), tackles the volatile and loving relationship of the most indispensable person in Stanley Kubrick's world. Through interviews that include Matthew Modine, R Lee Ermey, and Tim Colceri on Full Metal Jacket, Marie Richardson and Lisa Leone on Eyes Wide Shut, Ryan O'Neal on Barry Lyndon, Danny Lloyd on The Shining, and executive producer Jan Harlan (nephew of Veit Harlan and brother of Christiane Kubrick) we learn about the all-encompassing role Leon Vitali ended up playing in the life of the demanding film director.
Leon Vitali as Lord Bullingdon: "As an actor,...
Tony Zierra's exhaustive Filmworker, which had its world première in last year's Cannes Film Festival (Christopher Nolan will present 2001: A Space Odyssey on a remastered 70mm print this year), tackles the volatile and loving relationship of the most indispensable person in Stanley Kubrick's world. Through interviews that include Matthew Modine, R Lee Ermey, and Tim Colceri on Full Metal Jacket, Marie Richardson and Lisa Leone on Eyes Wide Shut, Ryan O'Neal on Barry Lyndon, Danny Lloyd on The Shining, and executive producer Jan Harlan (nephew of Veit Harlan and brother of Christiane Kubrick) we learn about the all-encompassing role Leon Vitali ended up playing in the life of the demanding film director.
Leon Vitali as Lord Bullingdon: "As an actor,...
- 5/13/2018
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Filmworker, the title of Tony Zierra’s Cannes 2017-premiering portrait of Leon Vitali, is a term coined by the subject himself, probably still best known for his portrayal of Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon. But the former British TV star, who set aside his rising career to spend three decades as Stanley Kubrick’s behind-the scenes right-hand man (and more), seems to have never fallen out of love with the acting craft. Indeed, chatting with Kubrick’s actors’ coach/location scout/sound engineer/marketer — and current film restorer — one gets the sense that every role Kubrick tasked Vitali with was just that, a new […]...
- 5/11/2018
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Filmworker, the title of Tony Zierra’s Cannes 2017-premiering portrait of Leon Vitali, is a term coined by the subject himself, probably still best known for his portrayal of Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon. But the former British TV star, who set aside his rising career to spend three decades as Stanley Kubrick’s behind-the scenes right-hand man (and more), seems to have never fallen out of love with the acting craft. Indeed, chatting with Kubrick’s actors’ coach/location scout/sound engineer/marketer — and current film restorer — one gets the sense that every role Kubrick tasked Vitali with was just that, a new […]...
- 5/11/2018
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
"There's a saying: When the shit hits the fan, it's never evenly distributed."
Leon Vitali is describing what a bad day on a Stanley Kubrick set was like. And he knows better than any man alive. Not long after he was cast as Lord Bullingdon in the 1975 period piece Barry Lyndon, the then-25-year-old actor was seriously worried he wouldn't survive the shoot. He had been a devotee of the director since seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey during its theatrical release and had watched other actors come and go on...
Leon Vitali is describing what a bad day on a Stanley Kubrick set was like. And he knows better than any man alive. Not long after he was cast as Lord Bullingdon in the 1975 period piece Barry Lyndon, the then-25-year-old actor was seriously worried he wouldn't survive the shoot. He had been a devotee of the director since seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey during its theatrical release and had watched other actors come and go on...
- 5/11/2018
- Rollingstone.com
By The Power Of Kubrick: Zierra’s Delightful Spotlight On Vitali Ultimately A Mixed Bag
Stanley Kubrick has inspired artists the world over, creating movies so utterly unique and groundbreaking that nearly every one helped craft modern filmmaking as we know it. However, sustaining the gargantuan legend of the sovereign genius for the latter half of his career, effectively making these productions possible, was Leon Vitali. Tony Zierra profiles the actor-turned-assistant, whose devotion to Kubrick’s films carried them through a relationship lasting over two decades. Filmworker is a deeply sincere, nostalgic stroll through the wacky idealism and mountainous workloads comprising a…...
Stanley Kubrick has inspired artists the world over, creating movies so utterly unique and groundbreaking that nearly every one helped craft modern filmmaking as we know it. However, sustaining the gargantuan legend of the sovereign genius for the latter half of his career, effectively making these productions possible, was Leon Vitali. Tony Zierra profiles the actor-turned-assistant, whose devotion to Kubrick’s films carried them through a relationship lasting over two decades. Filmworker is a deeply sincere, nostalgic stroll through the wacky idealism and mountainous workloads comprising a…...
- 5/10/2018
- by Matthew Roe
- IONCINEMA.com
There's being someone's right-hand man, and then there is Leon Vitali. A strapping young lad who had begun making a name for himself in the early Seventies, this British actor had built up an impressive resumé of theater gigs, supporting parts, cop-show cameos and sitcom ensemble roles – he was being groomed as the hot new thing, a gentler, ginger next-gen Angry Young Man. One day, he walked in to a theater and watched a bunch of white-jumpsuited thugs pillage their way through a teenage-wasteland London. The movie was A Clockwork Orange.
- 5/9/2018
- Rollingstone.com
While the summer season got a humongous start last weekend, there’s still four long months of movies this season. After highlighting the ones we’re most looking forward to, it’s time to zero in on the first round of May. Around these parts, much of the month will be devoted to Cannes coverage, but there’s still much to be unveiled in theaters, including perhaps the finest film of the year thus far.
Matinees to See: The Desert Bride (5/4), The Guardians (5/4), Anon (5/4), Mountain (5/11), Revenge (5/11), Terminal (5/11), The Seagull (5/11), Boom for Real (5/18), Pope Francis – A Man of His Word (5/18), and The Gospel According To André (5/25), and Summer 1993 (5/25)
15. How to Talk to Girls at Parties (John Cameron Mitchell; May 25)
Synopsis: An alien touring the galaxy breaks away from her group and meets two young inhabitants of the most dangerous place in the universe: the London suburb of Croydon.
Trailer
Why You...
Matinees to See: The Desert Bride (5/4), The Guardians (5/4), Anon (5/4), Mountain (5/11), Revenge (5/11), Terminal (5/11), The Seagull (5/11), Boom for Real (5/18), Pope Francis – A Man of His Word (5/18), and The Gospel According To André (5/25), and Summer 1993 (5/25)
15. How to Talk to Girls at Parties (John Cameron Mitchell; May 25)
Synopsis: An alien touring the galaxy breaks away from her group and meets two young inhabitants of the most dangerous place in the universe: the London suburb of Croydon.
Trailer
Why You...
- 5/2/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
April showers bring May flowers – and end-of-April blockbusters apparently bring larger, more expensive May blockbusters. Movies, mainstream and otherwise, will be swimming in Avengers: Infinity War's wake for a good long while, but that doesn't mean Hollywood Inc. is taking a month off. In the next 30 days, we're going to get a pair of franchise pictures, one from the most gonzo-profane corner of the superhero universe and the other an origin-story from a long time ago, in a galaxy far away. Also on deck: documentaries analyzing Ruth Bader Ginsburg...
- 5/1/2018
- Rollingstone.com
By Mark Mawston
Normal 0 false false false En-us X-none X-none
If you look up the term osmosis in the dictionary you find the following description: “the process of gradual or unconscious assimilation of ideas and knowledge: i.e. “by some strange political osmosis private reputations become public”. I hope this will be the case for the wonderful Leon Vitali after the release of the new documentary “Filmworker” from Tony Zierra and Dogwoof in regards to recognizing the key role he played in bringing together the latter works of the great film director Stanley Kubrick.
The remarkable, untold story of Leon Vitali, who gave up fame and fortune as a much respected actor to serve for over three decades as Stanley Kubrick’s right-hand man, is told in this compelling documentary charting Vitali’s work with the maestro and their unique relationship. To say Vitali was Kubrick’s right hand man...
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If you look up the term osmosis in the dictionary you find the following description: “the process of gradual or unconscious assimilation of ideas and knowledge: i.e. “by some strange political osmosis private reputations become public”. I hope this will be the case for the wonderful Leon Vitali after the release of the new documentary “Filmworker” from Tony Zierra and Dogwoof in regards to recognizing the key role he played in bringing together the latter works of the great film director Stanley Kubrick.
The remarkable, untold story of Leon Vitali, who gave up fame and fortune as a much respected actor to serve for over three decades as Stanley Kubrick’s right-hand man, is told in this compelling documentary charting Vitali’s work with the maestro and their unique relationship. To say Vitali was Kubrick’s right hand man...
- 4/26/2018
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
A week before Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey gets a 50th anniversary theatrical release, featuring an unrestored 70mm print, a documentary that captures his right-hand man, Leon Vitali, will arrive. While it isn’t necessarily the most polished production, it’s still a worthy angle on a different side of Kubrick’s production process. Ahead of a release in mid-May, Kino Lorber has now unveiled the first trailer.
Kyle Pletcher said in his review from New York Film Festival last fall, “Purely as a document and examination of Vitali’s tireless dedication to Kubrick’s vision and legacy, Filmworker is a sufficiently insightful and informative piece, bringing light to the auteur’s profoundly virtuosic filmmaking approach.”
See the trailer and poster below.
Leon Vitali was a rising British television actor when Stanley Kubrick picked him for the role of Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon. That first encounter with...
Kyle Pletcher said in his review from New York Film Festival last fall, “Purely as a document and examination of Vitali’s tireless dedication to Kubrick’s vision and legacy, Filmworker is a sufficiently insightful and informative piece, bringing light to the auteur’s profoundly virtuosic filmmaking approach.”
See the trailer and poster below.
Leon Vitali was a rising British television actor when Stanley Kubrick picked him for the role of Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon. That first encounter with...
- 4/19/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
This week, IndieWire will be rolling out our annual Summer Preview, including offerings that span genres, niche offerings for dedicated fans, a closer look at festival favorites finally headed to a theater near you, and plenty of special attention to all the new movies you need to get through a jam-packed summer movie-going season. Check back throughout the week for a new look at the best the season has to offer, and clear your schedule, because we’re going to fill it right up.
Today — 29 indie standouts and festival favorites bound for a big screen near you.
“Tully,” May 4
A very different kind of adult fairy tale (one that frequently doubles as a feature-length advertisement for tubal ligation), “Tully” is a fantasy of the highest order; it might look like an episode of “This Is Us,” but this story is every bit as magical as “The Shape of Water.” Think...
Today — 29 indie standouts and festival favorites bound for a big screen near you.
“Tully,” May 4
A very different kind of adult fairy tale (one that frequently doubles as a feature-length advertisement for tubal ligation), “Tully” is a fantasy of the highest order; it might look like an episode of “This Is Us,” but this story is every bit as magical as “The Shape of Water.” Think...
- 4/19/2018
- by Kate Erbland, Eric Kohn, David Ehrlich, Anne Thompson, Jenna Marotta, Zack Sharf, Jamie Righetti, Chris O'Falt and Jude Dry
- Indiewire
The summer movie season is upon us, which means a seemingly endless pile-up of superheroes, reboots, and sequels will crowd the multiplexes. While a very select few show some promise, we’ve set out to highlight a vast range of titles–40 in total–that will arrive over the next four months, many of which we’ve already given our stamp of approval.
There’s bound to be more late-summer announcements in the coming months, and a number of titles will arrive on VOD day-and-date, so follow us on Twitter for the latest updates. In the meantime, see our top 40 picks for what to watch this summer below, in chronological order, and let us know what you’re looking forward to most in the comments.
Manhunt (John Woo; May 4)
John Woo’s return to the genre that made his career isn’t so much of a comeback as it is watching...
There’s bound to be more late-summer announcements in the coming months, and a number of titles will arrive on VOD day-and-date, so follow us on Twitter for the latest updates. In the meantime, see our top 40 picks for what to watch this summer below, in chronological order, and let us know what you’re looking forward to most in the comments.
Manhunt (John Woo; May 4)
John Woo’s return to the genre that made his career isn’t so much of a comeback as it is watching...
- 4/19/2018
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
‘Filmworker’ Trailer: Stanley Kubrick’s Personal Assistant Gives You Amazing Access to a Cinema Icon
You probably don’t know the name Leon Vitali, but the upcoming documentary “Filmworker” hopes to change that forever. Vitali is a British actor who was handpicked by Stanley Kubrick to play the role of Lord Bullingdon in “Barry Lyndon.” Tony Zierra’s new documentary tells Vitali’s story as he goes from Kubrick’s actor to Kubrick’s right-hand man.
Following his work on “Lyndon,” Vitali devoted the rest of his life to working for Kubrick behind the scenes. Roles Vitali assumed under Kubrick’s guidance included casting director, acting coach, location scouter, sound engineer, color corrector, A.D., promoter, and later restorer of Kubrick’s films.
“Filmworker” looks like a priceless look inside Kubrick’s directorial career from the man who experienced it first hand. The movie premiered at Cannes last year and played the New York Film Festival. The film is Zierra’s latest documentary following “Carving...
Following his work on “Lyndon,” Vitali devoted the rest of his life to working for Kubrick behind the scenes. Roles Vitali assumed under Kubrick’s guidance included casting director, acting coach, location scouter, sound engineer, color corrector, A.D., promoter, and later restorer of Kubrick’s films.
“Filmworker” looks like a priceless look inside Kubrick’s directorial career from the man who experienced it first hand. The movie premiered at Cannes last year and played the New York Film Festival. The film is Zierra’s latest documentary following “Carving...
- 4/18/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Many words have been written, and doubtless many more will be, about the filmmaking genius of Stanley Kubrick. But if, as Thomas Edison said, genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, Tony Zierra’s “Filmworker,” which showed in nearly completed form at the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam (Idfa) after bowing in Cannes Classics in May, is dedicated to the far less familiar name who contributed a great deal of that sweat.
Continue reading Warm, Witty, Wise ‘Filmworker’ Honors Stanley Kubrick’s Extraordinary Right-Hand Man [Idfa Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading Warm, Witty, Wise ‘Filmworker’ Honors Stanley Kubrick’s Extraordinary Right-Hand Man [Idfa Review] at The Playlist.
- 11/26/2017
- by Jessica Kiang
- The Playlist
Tony Zierra, also known as Tony Zierah, is an American director, writer, and producer. He first launched his career in the film industry in 1996 when he directed his first film ‘Invisible Temptation’. He is best-known for directing the 2009 documentary style film ‘My Big Break’, for which he is also credited as a writer. It is about the consequences of fame and the darker side of celebrity. It has received praise for analyzing the effects of stardom on rising stars in Hollywood. Since then, he has continued to make a name for himself as an independent filmmaker. Here are
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Tony Zierra...
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Tony Zierra...
- 10/25/2017
- by Nat Berman
- TVovermind.com
Stanley Kubrick's final film Eye's Wide Shut, which starred Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, was such a fascinating film that took audiences into a dark underground world of the powerful and elite. Obviously, there so much more to the film than that and there's a new documentary that is being developed that will dive in and examine the movie.
The movie is called SK13 and it's coming from director Tony Zierra, who recently made a film called Filmworker, which is about Stanley Kubrick's right-hand man Leon Vitali, who worked for Kubrick for decades. Why is it called SK13? Because Eyes Wide Shut was Stanley Kubrick's thirteenth movie.
While talking to Variety about his new project, he explains that it will give fans "an inside look at what is arguably Kubrick’s most controversial work, due in part to the director’s death during post-production." He says:
“The...
The movie is called SK13 and it's coming from director Tony Zierra, who recently made a film called Filmworker, which is about Stanley Kubrick's right-hand man Leon Vitali, who worked for Kubrick for decades. Why is it called SK13? Because Eyes Wide Shut was Stanley Kubrick's thirteenth movie.
While talking to Variety about his new project, he explains that it will give fans "an inside look at what is arguably Kubrick’s most controversial work, due in part to the director’s death during post-production." He says:
“The...
- 10/24/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Award winning documentary film maker Tony Zierra recently unveiled his latest documentary “Filmmaker” at the Cannes and Lumíère international film festivals. The documentary about Leon Vitali, assistant to legendary director Stanley Kubrick, to critical acclaim. The film was actually not what Zierra intended to make when he set out to film a documentary about Stanley Kubrick’s last film “Eyes Wide Shut”, but he felt the story of Vitali was fascinating and needed to be told. Zierra is currently working on the documentary that he originally set out to make. The documentary about Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut” will be called
New Documentary about Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut” in the Works...
New Documentary about Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut” in the Works...
- 10/24/2017
- by Nat Berman
- TVovermind.com
Tony Zierra isn’t done with Stanley Kubrick yet. After directing “Filmworker,” a documentary about the meticulous auteur’s right-hand man, Zierra is set to make a movie about “Eyes Wide Shut.” In an interview with Variety, he reveals that “SK13” — shorthand for Stanley Kubrick’s 13th film — was originally meant to precede “Filmworker.”
Read More:‘Filmworker’ Review: Stanley Kubrick’s Right-Hand Man Gets His Due in Tony Zierra’s Workmanlike Documentary
“The one movie that I feel is the wrinkle in Kubrick’s filmography is ‘Eyes Wide Shut.’ The people that love him always say, ‘He’s a genius, but I’m not sure what the hell that movie was about,’” says Zierra. It makes no sense to them. The casting doesn’t make any sense to them. The story doesn’t make any sense to them.” Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in the film, an erotic drama about a married couple.
Read More:‘Filmworker’ Review: Stanley Kubrick’s Right-Hand Man Gets His Due in Tony Zierra’s Workmanlike Documentary
“The one movie that I feel is the wrinkle in Kubrick’s filmography is ‘Eyes Wide Shut.’ The people that love him always say, ‘He’s a genius, but I’m not sure what the hell that movie was about,’” says Zierra. It makes no sense to them. The casting doesn’t make any sense to them. The story doesn’t make any sense to them.” Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in the film, an erotic drama about a married couple.
- 10/21/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Even well before his death in 1999, the life and work of Stanley Kubrick has been meticulously documented and expounded upon to such an extent that a cult of personality has inevitably developed around his universally acclaimed films and his notoriously fastidious, perfectionist tendencies as a filmmaker. But a bonafide auteur is not without his key collaborators. Although he did periodically work with the same crew members — e.g. cinematographer John Alcott and editor Ray Lovejoy — there is only one associate who remained a constant fixture of his late-career output.
Englishman Leon Vitali initially started as a minor, albeit prolific player in theater and television, particularly prestige costume dramas for the BBC during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Though Vitali occasionally starred in ultimately negligible films, it wasn’t until 1975 that he got his big break, securing an audition for Kubrick’s newest production, Barry Lyndon. He was handed a script with a single,...
Englishman Leon Vitali initially started as a minor, albeit prolific player in theater and television, particularly prestige costume dramas for the BBC during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Though Vitali occasionally starred in ultimately negligible films, it wasn’t until 1975 that he got his big break, securing an audition for Kubrick’s newest production, Barry Lyndon. He was handed a script with a single,...
- 10/7/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Considering the esteemed level of curation at the New York Film Festival, which begins this Thursday at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, a comprehensive preview could mostly consist of the schedule.
There’s the gala slots (Last Flag Flying, Wonderstruck, and Wonder Wheel), Main Slate selections (featuring Call Me By Your Name, Lady Bird, The Square, Mudbound), two films from Film Twitter phenom Hong Sang-soo, and much more, as well as a 24-film Robert Mitchum retrospective and a delectable line-up of restorations.
So rather than single all of these out for our yearly preview, we’re looking at a handful of under-the-radar highlights from across the festival. Check them out below and return for our coverage.
Before We Vanish (Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
There are few directors who would choose to take a semi-sincere approach to a lengthy pseudo-philosophical science-fiction film — especially not one that lightly pries into our fundamental psychological...
There’s the gala slots (Last Flag Flying, Wonderstruck, and Wonder Wheel), Main Slate selections (featuring Call Me By Your Name, Lady Bird, The Square, Mudbound), two films from Film Twitter phenom Hong Sang-soo, and much more, as well as a 24-film Robert Mitchum retrospective and a delectable line-up of restorations.
So rather than single all of these out for our yearly preview, we’re looking at a handful of under-the-radar highlights from across the festival. Check them out below and return for our coverage.
Before We Vanish (Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
There are few directors who would choose to take a semi-sincere approach to a lengthy pseudo-philosophical science-fiction film — especially not one that lightly pries into our fundamental psychological...
- 9/25/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
The RiderThe lineup for the 2017 Telluride Film Festival (September 1st - 4th) has been announced:
Arthur Miller: Writer (Rebecca Miller, U.S.)Battle of the Sexes (Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton, U.S.)Darkest Hour (Joe Wright, U.K.)Downsizing (Alexander Payne, U.S.)Eating Animals (Christopher Quinn, U.S.)Faces Places (Agnès Varda & Jr, France)A Fantastic Woman (Sebastián Lelio, Chile/U.S./Germany/Spain)Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (Paul McGuigan, U.K.)First Reformed (Paul Schrader, U.S.)First They Killed My Father (Angelina Jolie, U.S./Cambodia)Foxtrot (Samuel Maoz, Israel)Hostages (Rezo Gigineishvili, Georgia/Russia/Poland)Hostiles (Scott Cooper, U.S.)Human Flow (Ai Weiwei, U.S./Germany)The Insult (Ziad Doueiri, France-Lebanon)Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig, U.S.)Land of the Free (Camilla Magid, Denmark-Finland)Lean on Pete (Andrew Haigh, U.K./U.S)Loveless (Andrey Zvyagintsev, Russia/France/Belgium/Germany)Love,...
Arthur Miller: Writer (Rebecca Miller, U.S.)Battle of the Sexes (Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton, U.S.)Darkest Hour (Joe Wright, U.K.)Downsizing (Alexander Payne, U.S.)Eating Animals (Christopher Quinn, U.S.)Faces Places (Agnès Varda & Jr, France)A Fantastic Woman (Sebastián Lelio, Chile/U.S./Germany/Spain)Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (Paul McGuigan, U.K.)First Reformed (Paul Schrader, U.S.)First They Killed My Father (Angelina Jolie, U.S./Cambodia)Foxtrot (Samuel Maoz, Israel)Hostages (Rezo Gigineishvili, Georgia/Russia/Poland)Hostiles (Scott Cooper, U.S.)Human Flow (Ai Weiwei, U.S./Germany)The Insult (Ziad Doueiri, France-Lebanon)Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig, U.S.)Land of the Free (Camilla Magid, Denmark-Finland)Lean on Pete (Andrew Haigh, U.K./U.S)Loveless (Andrey Zvyagintsev, Russia/France/Belgium/Germany)Love,...
- 8/31/2017
- MUBI
Now in its 44th year, Telluride Film Festival provides the launching pad for many of the fall’s biggest films and, as usual, we don’t know the line-up until right before it kicks off. Beginning this Friday, they’ve now unveiled the full slate, which features much of the expected players — new films from Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig, Alexander Payne, Joe Wright, and Todd Haynes — as well as the latest work from Paul Schrader, Andrew Haigh, Agnes Varda, Ken Burns, Errol Morris, and more.
Check out the line-up below.
Arthur Miller: Writer (d. Rebecca Miller, U.S., 2017)
Battle Of The Sexes (d. Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton, U.S., 2017)
Darkest Hour (d. Joe Wright, U.K., 2017)
Downsizing (d. Alexander Payne, U.S., 2017)
Eating Animals (d. Christopher Quinn, U.S., 2017)
Faces Places (d. Agnes Varda, Jr, France, 2017)
A Fantastic Woman (d. Sebastián Lelio, Chile-u.S.-Germany-Spain, 2017)
Film Stars Don’T Die In Liverpool (d.
Check out the line-up below.
Arthur Miller: Writer (d. Rebecca Miller, U.S., 2017)
Battle Of The Sexes (d. Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton, U.S., 2017)
Darkest Hour (d. Joe Wright, U.K., 2017)
Downsizing (d. Alexander Payne, U.S., 2017)
Eating Animals (d. Christopher Quinn, U.S., 2017)
Faces Places (d. Agnes Varda, Jr, France, 2017)
A Fantastic Woman (d. Sebastián Lelio, Chile-u.S.-Germany-Spain, 2017)
Film Stars Don’T Die In Liverpool (d.
- 8/31/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Telluride Film Festival has announced its 2017 lineup. As usual, the exclusive Colorado gathering features a range of buzzy fall season movies, including many films also premiering in Venice and Toronto as well as others resurfacing from earlier in the year, just in time for awards season. Filmmakers in this year’s program range from Alexander Payne to Angelina Jolie. The festival will also honor cinematographer Ed Lachman, actor Christian Bale, and screen a new cut of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1984 Harlem musical “The Cotton Club.”
One of the bigger films to make the cut in this year’s lineup should take no one by surprise: “Downsizing” (12/22, Paramount), Payne’s long-gestating near-future workplace satire starring Matt Damon, will screen at the festival where Payne has been a regular for years (both as a filmmaker and audience member). The movie opened the Venice Film Festival earlier this week, and was followed...
One of the bigger films to make the cut in this year’s lineup should take no one by surprise: “Downsizing” (12/22, Paramount), Payne’s long-gestating near-future workplace satire starring Matt Damon, will screen at the festival where Payne has been a regular for years (both as a filmmaker and audience member). The movie opened the Venice Film Festival earlier this week, and was followed...
- 8/31/2017
- by Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The 55th New York Film Festival will debut a starry roster of documentaries featuring giants of the art and literary worlds as well as Alex Gibney’s postponed “No Stone Unturned,” a critical investigation into the 1994 Loughinisland massacre in Ireland, which was pulled from Tribeca in April.
Other new works include films from directors Abel Ferrara, Sara Driver, Nancy Buirski, Mathieu Amalric, and Barbet Schroeder; Vanessa Redgrave’s directorial debut “Sea Sorrow,” which played at Cannes; and films featuring Joan Didion, Arthur Miller, Gay Talese, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Jane Goodall, plus stories about racism, American immigration, and the global refugee crisis.
Three documentaries spotlight acclaimed writers, including the world premiere of Griffin Dunne’s “Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold,” returning Nyff filmmaker Rebecca Miller’s tender portrait of her father, “Arthur Miller: Writer,” and the World Premiere of Myles Kane and Josh Koury’s “Voyeur,” tracking journalist Gay Talese...
Other new works include films from directors Abel Ferrara, Sara Driver, Nancy Buirski, Mathieu Amalric, and Barbet Schroeder; Vanessa Redgrave’s directorial debut “Sea Sorrow,” which played at Cannes; and films featuring Joan Didion, Arthur Miller, Gay Talese, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Jane Goodall, plus stories about racism, American immigration, and the global refugee crisis.
Three documentaries spotlight acclaimed writers, including the world premiere of Griffin Dunne’s “Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold,” returning Nyff filmmaker Rebecca Miller’s tender portrait of her father, “Arthur Miller: Writer,” and the World Premiere of Myles Kane and Josh Koury’s “Voyeur,” tracking journalist Gay Talese...
- 8/23/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The 55th New York Film Festival will debut a starry roster of documentaries featuring giants of the art and literary worlds as well as Alex Gibney’s postponed “No Stone Unturned,” a critical investigation into the 1994 Loughinisland massacre in Ireland, which was pulled from Tribeca in April.
Other new works include films from directors Abel Ferrara, Sara Driver, Nancy Buirski, Mathieu Amalric, and Barbet Schroeder; Vanessa Redgrave’s directorial debut “Sea Sorrow,” which played at Cannes; and films featuring Joan Didion, Arthur Miller, Gay Talese, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Jane Goodall, plus stories about racism, American immigration, and the global refugee crisis.
Three documentaries spotlight acclaimed writers, including the world premiere of Griffin Dunne’s “Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold,” returning Nyff filmmaker Rebecca Miller’s tender portrait of her father, “Arthur Miller: Writer,” and the World Premiere of Myles Kane and Josh Koury’s “Voyeur,” tracking journalist...
Other new works include films from directors Abel Ferrara, Sara Driver, Nancy Buirski, Mathieu Amalric, and Barbet Schroeder; Vanessa Redgrave’s directorial debut “Sea Sorrow,” which played at Cannes; and films featuring Joan Didion, Arthur Miller, Gay Talese, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Jane Goodall, plus stories about racism, American immigration, and the global refugee crisis.
Three documentaries spotlight acclaimed writers, including the world premiere of Griffin Dunne’s “Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold,” returning Nyff filmmaker Rebecca Miller’s tender portrait of her father, “Arthur Miller: Writer,” and the World Premiere of Myles Kane and Josh Koury’s “Voyeur,” tracking journalist...
- 8/23/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Not every filmmaker gets to make their feature-film debut at Cannes. But when you’ve studied with Abbas Kiarostami, and Jane Campion once said your voice had “a very unique flavor,” your chances are pretty good. Such is the case for Iranian writer/director Anahita Ghazvinizadeh and her stunning debut feature, “They,” an impressionistic character study about a gender non-conforming kid named J (Rhys Fehrenbacher).
Read More: ‘Top of the Lake: China Girl’ Review: The Highlight of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival Might Be a TV Show
Though Ghazvinizadeh’s voice is wholly her own, Kiarostami’s influence is all over “They.” And if you’re going to borrow from someone, one of the most singular filmmakers of the last 50 years isn’t a bad place to start. The Iranian auteur redefined the medium, eschewing flashy action sequences for quietly complex stories that often left viewers feeling baffled. In his last film to play Cannes,...
Read More: ‘Top of the Lake: China Girl’ Review: The Highlight of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival Might Be a TV Show
Though Ghazvinizadeh’s voice is wholly her own, Kiarostami’s influence is all over “They.” And if you’re going to borrow from someone, one of the most singular filmmakers of the last 50 years isn’t a bad place to start. The Iranian auteur redefined the medium, eschewing flashy action sequences for quietly complex stories that often left viewers feeling baffled. In his last film to play Cannes,...
- 5/25/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Leon Vitali has been described as a jack of all trades, an Igor-like figure, the moth to Stanley Kubrick’s flame, even a slave. He has a different title for himself, however: filmworker. It’s what he puts on visa applications when traveling to other countries and, considering his all-encompassing job description, it only makes sense that he would require a singular title.
It’s also what Tony Zierra named his suitably workmanlike documentary about Vitali, whose heretofore unheralded work behind the scenes is now on full display in the Cannes Classics sidebar. An actor who got his would-be big break in “Barry Lyndon,” Vitali made a unique career choice following the film’s success: He became Kubrick’s right-hand man. Seeing such an elaborate production come together — Vitali had been acting for years, but never on something that matched the grand scale of “Barry Lyndon” — instilled in him a...
It’s also what Tony Zierra named his suitably workmanlike documentary about Vitali, whose heretofore unheralded work behind the scenes is now on full display in the Cannes Classics sidebar. An actor who got his would-be big break in “Barry Lyndon,” Vitali made a unique career choice following the film’s success: He became Kubrick’s right-hand man. Seeing such an elaborate production come together — Vitali had been acting for years, but never on something that matched the grand scale of “Barry Lyndon” — instilled in him a...
- 5/25/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Makala means charcoal in Swahili, and a suitable subtitle for Emmanuel Gras’ Critics’ Week selection might have been “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Charcoal (But Were Too Afraid to Ask).” One of those sly, low-key films whose early scenes will leave you unsure whether you’re watching a documentary or a drama marked by a docu-real aesthetic, “Makala’s” depiction of back-breaking labor is as no-frills as the work itself.
Gras’ documentary introduces its slow-cinema vibe by devoting several minutes to observing 28-year-old Kabwita fell a mighty tree in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When it finally topples over, the sound reverberates throughout the surrounding brush as though the earth itself is mourning the loss.
Read More: ‘The Florida Project’ Review: Sean Baker’s ‘Tangerine’ Followup Delivers — Cannes 2017
This tree-chopping isn’t recreational, of course — it accounts for a vital part of Kabwita’s livelihood as a charcoal producer.
Gras’ documentary introduces its slow-cinema vibe by devoting several minutes to observing 28-year-old Kabwita fell a mighty tree in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When it finally topples over, the sound reverberates throughout the surrounding brush as though the earth itself is mourning the loss.
Read More: ‘The Florida Project’ Review: Sean Baker’s ‘Tangerine’ Followup Delivers — Cannes 2017
This tree-chopping isn’t recreational, of course — it accounts for a vital part of Kabwita’s livelihood as a charcoal producer.
- 5/25/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
The Cannes Film Festival, cinema’s most esteemed yearly event, begins this week. While we’ll soon be on the ground providing coverage, today brings a preview of what we’re most looking forward to among the eclectic line-up, ranging from films in competition to special screenings to select titles on the various sidebars. Check out our most-anticipated features below and follow our complete coverage here throughout the month.
25. Filmworker (Tony Zierra)
There’s perhaps no filmmaker that has more documentaries made about them than Stanley Kubrick, but a new one premiering at Cannes Film Festival proves not every angle about his legendary filmography and life has been explored. Filmworker takes a look at the life of Leon Vitali, who first met Kubrick playing Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon then would go on to become a close assistant to the director, even overseeing restorations of his films after his passing.
25. Filmworker (Tony Zierra)
There’s perhaps no filmmaker that has more documentaries made about them than Stanley Kubrick, but a new one premiering at Cannes Film Festival proves not every angle about his legendary filmography and life has been explored. Filmworker takes a look at the life of Leon Vitali, who first met Kubrick playing Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon then would go on to become a close assistant to the director, even overseeing restorations of his films after his passing.
- 5/15/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The 2017 Cannes Film Festival has announced the lineup for Cannes Classics, a selection of vintage films and masterpieces from the history of cinema. This year’s program is dedicated primarily to the history of the festival, and includes one short film and five new documentaries.
Read More: Cannes Adds Roman Polanski Film to Lineup
Highlights from the lineup include “Belle du Jour” (1967), Luis Bunuel’s classic about a housewife who dabbles in prostitution, and “All That Jazz ” (1979) Bob Fosse’s story of a womanizing, drug-using dancer played by Roy Scheider. There is also the documentary “Filmworker,” which tells the story of Leon Vitali, an actor who abandoned his career after “Barry Lyndon” to become Stanley Kubrick’s right hand man and creative collaborator behind the scenes.
Rights holders to the films decide whether to screen them in 2K or 4K, or use an original print. Jean Vigo’s “L’Atalante,...
Read More: Cannes Adds Roman Polanski Film to Lineup
Highlights from the lineup include “Belle du Jour” (1967), Luis Bunuel’s classic about a housewife who dabbles in prostitution, and “All That Jazz ” (1979) Bob Fosse’s story of a womanizing, drug-using dancer played by Roy Scheider. There is also the documentary “Filmworker,” which tells the story of Leon Vitali, an actor who abandoned his career after “Barry Lyndon” to become Stanley Kubrick’s right hand man and creative collaborator behind the scenes.
Rights holders to the films decide whether to screen them in 2K or 4K, or use an original print. Jean Vigo’s “L’Atalante,...
- 5/3/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
Strand will focus on the history of Cannes for the festival’s 70th anniversary.
Cannes Film Festival (May 17-28) has unveiled the line-up for this year’s Classic programme, with 24 screenings set to take place alongside five documentaries and one short film.
Documentaries about cinema including Filmworker - which focuses of Stanley Kubrick’s right hand man Leon Vitali, who played a crucial role behind the scenes of the director’s films - as well as Cary Grant doc Becoming Cary Grant, are set to feature.
This year’s selection is also set to focus on the history of the festival itself, with prize-winning films such as Michelangelo Antonioni Grand 1966 Prix winning film Blow-Up and Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Le Salaire de la peur (The Wages of Fear) from 1952 screening.
Nagisa Oshima’s 1976 film Ai No Korîda (In The Realm Of The Senses/L’Empire Des Sens), Luis Buñuel’s 1967 classic Belle De Jour (Beauty Of The Day...
Cannes Film Festival (May 17-28) has unveiled the line-up for this year’s Classic programme, with 24 screenings set to take place alongside five documentaries and one short film.
Documentaries about cinema including Filmworker - which focuses of Stanley Kubrick’s right hand man Leon Vitali, who played a crucial role behind the scenes of the director’s films - as well as Cary Grant doc Becoming Cary Grant, are set to feature.
This year’s selection is also set to focus on the history of the festival itself, with prize-winning films such as Michelangelo Antonioni Grand 1966 Prix winning film Blow-Up and Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Le Salaire de la peur (The Wages of Fear) from 1952 screening.
Nagisa Oshima’s 1976 film Ai No Korîda (In The Realm Of The Senses/L’Empire Des Sens), Luis Buñuel’s 1967 classic Belle De Jour (Beauty Of The Day...
- 5/3/2017
- ScreenDaily
While Cannes Film Festival premieres some of the best new films of the year, they also have a rich history of highlighting cinema history with their Cannes Classics line-up, many of which are new restorations of films that previously premiered at the festival. This year they are taking that idea further, featuring 16 films that made history at the festival, along with a handful of others, and five new documentaries. So, if you can’t make it to Cannes, to get a sense of restorations that may come to your city (or on Blu-ray) in the coming months/years, check out the line-up below.
From 1946 to 1992, from René Clément to Victor Erice, sixteen history-making films of the Festival de Cannes
1946: La Bataille du Rail (Battle of the Rails) by René Clément (1h25, France): Grand Prix International de la mise en scène and Prix du Jury International.
Presented by Ina.
From 1946 to 1992, from René Clément to Victor Erice, sixteen history-making films of the Festival de Cannes
1946: La Bataille du Rail (Battle of the Rails) by René Clément (1h25, France): Grand Prix International de la mise en scène and Prix du Jury International.
Presented by Ina.
- 5/3/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Wes Bentley is an interesting (and dreamy) guy. Breaking out of nowhere as Ricky, the stoner-cum-video-artist next door in “American Beauty”, Bentley was suddenly a big part of an absolutely huge movie. The resultant pressure led to a 10-year addiction to heroin, a consequently cratering career and a series of rock bottoms, chronicled in Tony Zierra's utterly fascinating documentary “My Big Break.” Bentley has been crawling out of hell for a while now, via various dreadful staging posts (“Ghost Rider," “Jonah Hex," “Gone”), and last year finally caught a break as Gamesmaker Seneca Crane in “The Hunger Games," twirling his goatee in Machiavellian style. 2013 will likely be an even better year for Bentley, with a part in the much-hyped “Lovelace” and another in Terrence Malick's “Knight of Cups” (though who knows if he'll end up in the final cut, or if the movie is coming this year, Malick...
- 7/2/2013
- by Ben Brock
- The Playlist
London -- U.S. filmmakers may come out on top in the competition strands during this year's upcoming Raindance Film Festival with nominees popping up in best international, best debut and best documentary categories.
Ry Russo-Young's "You Won't Miss Me" and David Lee Miller's "My Suicide" are among the five titles competing for best international nod.
For the best debut, Asiel Norton's "Redland" and Daniel Stamm's "A Necessary Death" find themselves in the running.
The documentary competition is dominated by titles from the U.S. with three out of the five.
Patrick Shen's "The Philosopher Kings," "It Came from Kuchar," directed by Jennifer M. Kroot and Tony Zierra's "My Big Break" feature in the doc competition.
The festival also dishes out nods for best U.K. feature and best micro budget work at the event, which runs Sept. 30 through Oct. 11.
All award winners will...
Ry Russo-Young's "You Won't Miss Me" and David Lee Miller's "My Suicide" are among the five titles competing for best international nod.
For the best debut, Asiel Norton's "Redland" and Daniel Stamm's "A Necessary Death" find themselves in the running.
The documentary competition is dominated by titles from the U.S. with three out of the five.
Patrick Shen's "The Philosopher Kings," "It Came from Kuchar," directed by Jennifer M. Kroot and Tony Zierra's "My Big Break" feature in the doc competition.
The festival also dishes out nods for best U.K. feature and best micro budget work at the event, which runs Sept. 30 through Oct. 11.
All award winners will...
- 9/11/2009
- by By Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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