February 25, 2009
Laika / Focus Features
- Neat: David Bordwell observes that the Coraline animators took an unusual approach to perspective and depth cues. (via Where the Stress Falls)
- Troubling: New Yorker Films is closing. The loss of this major DVD and theatrical distributor, whose roster is heavy with the work of international master filmmakers, could have a significant impact on what we can see in the States. Related: the history of New Yorker Films was discussed on The Leonard Lopate Show two years ago. (via Long Pauses)
- Uncertain: Paul Starr gives the difficult problem of newspaper viability a thorough, rigorous examination in The New Republic. Remember that Roger Ebert called the newspaper film critic a canary in this coal mine. But here's another point of view, about magazines, from Cathie Black.
While on Coraline, I was wondering if the Daily Plastic gurus had seen Nina Paley's animated film Sita sings the Blues: http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/
It's hilarious, combines the Hindu epic Ramayana with Indonesian puppet narrators and Paley's autobiographical account set in modern day New York.
Anindita — March 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pmHi Anindita. I haven't seen it, yet, but my friend Doug at Filmjourney has been talking about it for a while, and he recently posted about its availability online for free viewing. I'll have to check it out.
Robert DAVIS — March 2nd, 2009 at 12:11 amOh, I saw it online on thirteen.org too. NYT reviewed it in the second Feb and I think very few people outside the animated film festival world had heard about it till then.
Very powerful exercise in subverting copyright laws. I hope Paley makes money though. And I hope you enjoy it.
Anindita — March 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 am