DVD of the Week – Stagecoach (1939)
by HELEN GEIB
The most exciting DVD news of recent weeks is Criterion’s release of John Ford’s masterwork Stagecoach, also available on Blu-ray. The best part is the new, restored high-definition transfer. Read more 
Movie Review – Kites (2010)
by HELEN GEIB
I don’t want to write this review. Kites is a stupendously bad film, and I don’t like to write reviews of movies I can’t say anything good about. Read more
Thinking Outside the Multiplex in Indiana (June 4, 2010)
by MIKE MACCOLLUM
‘Twould appear that only two new limited release films are starting in our fair state this week- and both are from India. (Well, there’s also a kiddie movie about dinosaurs- but that one is of presumably very limited interest, at best, to anyone reading this column.) And speaking of cinematic pairs from the same country- the news this week (unconfirmed as of yet, but promising nevertheless) is that two films from Italy may be making their way to Indiana in July. See the last section below for that- and for all of the news about limited release movies playing in Indiana this week, read on…. Read more
Hollywood Releases Preview – June, 2010
by HELEN GEIB
June was the worst month of the year last year for Hollywood releases. That’s a low bar and Toy Story 3 by itself should be enough to jump it. A few other films look promising as well. The full releases list after the cut. Read more
Thinking Outside the Multiplex: National Edition (April 28 – May 12, 2010)
by MIKE MACCOLLUM
I didn’t mention it in the first edition of this feature, but my motivation for writing about movies opening theatrically outside of Indiana is that I am always impressed by the sheer number of movies being released elsewhere- and depressed by how few of these will actually make it to even one theater in Indiana. This much-delayed second installment (see the very end for an explanation, if you’re interested) features forty-five movies, most of which went into limited US theatrical release between April 28 and May 12. (Several other movies with earlier release dates are also included below, simply because they were under my radar until now.) In this rundown, we have a beetle queen, a human centipede, a Western from India, another documentary about art (after Exit Through the Gift Shop, The Art of the Steal, and maybe another one or two that I’ve already forgotten from earlier this year), at least two provocations (the aforementioned human centipede, and some trash humpers), a spy spoof from France, two movies where Paul Dano is mentored by an older man in New York City, several films about writers (aspiring, successful, blocked, failed, and otherwise)- and one title that falls into both of the last two categories. But as interesting and/or worthwhile as all of these movies may be, my top choice out of all of the ones listed below is a silent film that apparently is only now being released in the US in the form that its director intended…. Read more
DVD of the Week – Disc Commentary Track for The Player (1992)
by NIR SHALEV
Director Robert Altman’s famous style of filmmaking involves hordes of actors pacing back and forth, and their dialogue overlaps one another. It’s not his original style because Orson Welles had used it back in the day and perfected it (most notably Touch of Evil (1958) and The Trial (1962)). And Welles wasn’t even the first. But Altman had managed to master it as well. When watching this film or The Long Goodbye (1973) or Gosford Park (2001) one can tell that they’re Altman films because of the familiar style. He is a master and this film is masterful. Read more