AFI Fest is just as much about movies as it is about people. The yearly celebration devotes a lot of time to highlighting people – not just those acting or working behind the scenes, but everyday individuals whose stories are reflected and justified in films. Read more...
Photo: Day seven of AFI Fest saw the snarkily funny “Anomalisa” (top), the subtle “45 Years” (bottom left) and the bloody “Macbeth” (bottom right). (Starburns Industries, The Bureau and See-Saw Films)
There’s no better place to keep a finger on the pulse of arts and entertainment happenings than Los Angeles. The A&E world is alive – it’s always buzzing, sometimes ready to implode with a hint of a surprise album or a celebrity’s controversial statement. Read more...
Photo: (Youtube/newhive.com/NBC/CBS)
“Son of Saul” may be the most courageous project of this year’s AFI Fest from a production perspective. László Nemes, a first-time director, tackles a story set during the Holocaust, with a maddeningly encroaching camera and a deeply dark script. Read more...
Photo: Day six at AFI Fest saw bleak films like “Son of Saul” (top left), “Land and Shade” (top right) and “The Club” (bottom) take center stage. (Sony Pictures Classics, Burning Blue and Music Box Films)
The climax in movies is a beautiful thing. If a film can funnel the intricacies of its plot into one moment of breathtaking resolution, it makes the viewer’s experience more rewarding. Read more...
Photo: Day five at AFI Fest saw the brilliant climaxes of “Carol” (top left) and “A War” (bottom left), while the ending “The 33” (right) falls flat. (Film4 Productions, AZ Celtic Films and Warner Bros. Pictures)
In the war zone that is the fall TV season, it’s important to pick out the gems hidden in the media mesh. Each week, A&E columnist Sebastian Torrelio will profile one new show and one returning show that share a connection, detailing how they may make those after-school hours more meaningful. Read more...
Photo: “Master of None” is a new Netflix original series created by and starring comedian Aziz Ansari, from “Parks and Recreation” fame. (Courtesy of Netflix)
One of the most fascinating things about the American Film Institute Festival is the crowd of foreign filmmakers on show. With a host of international selections comes a host of international viewpoints. Read more...
Photo: International selections make up a significant part of AFI Fest and this year’s included the feudal black comedy “Aferim!” (top left), the heartbreaking “Mustang” (top right) and the widescreen splendor of “Ixcanul” (bottom). (HI Film Productions, CG Cinéma and La Casa de Production)
Michael Moore said he prefers nonfictional film when he introduced his newest documentary, “Where to Invade Next,” at the Egyptian Theater on Saturday evening. The world, both cinematically and otherwise, is too fictional, and documentaries help balance things out, he said. Read more...
Photo: The third day of the AFI Fest featured the hallucinatory scenes of “The Forbidden Room” (top left), the humanizing “Where to Invade Next” (bottom left) and the absurdist reality of “Chevalier” (right). (Buffalo Gal Pictures, Dog Eat Dog Films, Faliro House Productions)
