Film
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Germany Hearts Inglorious Basterds
Schindler’s List and The Reader were scrutinized in Germany. The more recent Valkyrie “made German experts shake with indignation.” Even the uplifting Life is Beautiful was a box office dud in Deutschland. So why is it that Berlin is embracing…
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The Best Rumpus Video Interruptions According to Julie Greicius
Back in the day, back when The Rumpus was still pre-launch, curled up in the warmth of its beta gestation, oh, friends, there were video interruptions. And they were good.
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Is Indie Still Alive?
What’s hipper than indie culture? Discussing whether or not indie culture still exists, of course. In his essay for The Millions, “T.V. Party Tonight!,” Patrick Brown wonders about the reoccurring dichotomy between mainstream and alternative. In contrast to publishing consultant…
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Because It’s Their Work
Last week I was reading a review by Arvan Reese of two films, Hot & Bothered and Bill & Desiree, on a website called SexGenderBody. I found the review via @TonyComstock, who made the latter film — which I’m sure is great! — but…
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The Best Rumpus Video Interruptions According to Ted Wilson
There are two videos I consider tied for the title of Best Rumpus Video Interruption. The first one stars a young man who appears to be an ordinary surfer. And for some that may be enough. But there’s a secret…
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On Film Criticism
Yesterday, I spent part of the morning arguing with a friend as to the ongoing importance of film criticism. He said that film critics were like bees in September: dying slowly and stinging wildly in their final days. I said:…
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The Best Rumpus Video Interruptions According to Isaac Fitzgerald
Today’s video interruption, in my humble opinion, is one of the best we’ve ever run. It involves a bear, a cardboard cutout, a papier-mâché mask, and a local Fox News reporter who is either a viral video genius or lost…
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Afghan Star: A Conversation with Tamim Ansary
Pop Idol has been widely imitated throughout the world [American Idol here in the states] , but Afghanistan is possibly the only place where the mere existence of a televised, Western-style talent show amounts to a political statement.
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Kubrick’s 1961 Lolita is the First 70s Movie
The other day I read a rambling but entertaining essay over on Bright Lights Film Journal, called All Tomorrow’s Playground Narratives, which analyzed Kubrick’s Lolita in terms of — well, approximately anything that occurred to the guy, it would seem.…
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Claire Denis Symposium at Reverse Shot
Reverse Shot — a geeky film journal that I recently discovered and have found interesting — has devoted the bulk of issue #25 to a symposium on the influential French director Claire Denis. Fourteen authors take on nine of Denis’…
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Guerrilla Distribution
“The glory days of independent film, when hot young directors like Steven Soderbergh and Mr. Tarantino had studio executives tangled in fierce bidding wars at Sundance and other celebrity-studded festivals, are now barely a speck in the rearview mirror. And…