The doings of the international art world often seem arcane and over the top, but never moreso than as depicted in The Man Who Sold His Skin . This is a madly dramatic and engrossing melodrama about a political refugee whose unique predicament bundles with it issues pertaining to personal and political identity, the Middle East quagmire, romantic rejection and the outer limits of art world presumption and extravagance. Tunisia’s shortlisted submission in the International Feature Oscar race is a very tasty couscous of fine ingredients and flat-out entertaining enough to warrant significant international exposure. Kaouther Ben Hania ’s follow-up to her 2017 Cannes Un Certain Regard selection Beauty And The Dogs is notable for its gutsy narrative moves, rich visuals and sheer drive, which marks her, along with her notably resourceful and elegant Lebanese cinematographer Christopher Aoun, as talents who should emerge even more decisively before long. Related … [Read more...] about Int’l Critics Line: Todd McCarthy On Tunisia’s Oscar-Shortlisted ‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’
Cops who died in the line of duty
Int’l Critics Line: Anna Smith On Chile’s Oscar-Shortlisted ‘The Mole Agent’
An 83-year-old man goes undercover in a nursing home in The Mole Agent , Chilean director Maite Alberdi ’s Oscar hopeful that’s been shortlisted for both International Feature and Documentary. While it’s filmed and scored in the style of a playful spy movie, it’s most remarkable in its quieter moments, as the true heart of the story emerges. The Mole Agent is shot through Sergio’s spy glasses, more comes from the professional crew ostensibly filming a straightforward doc about the care home — as far as we know, no staff or residents know Sergio’s real reason for spending three months there. Like many a good cover story, his is credible because it’s rooted in reality. He’s grieving his wife, and much as he loves his grown-up children, he could use new company and a change of scene. The Mole Agent is a particularly compelling piece of cinema. Related Story Int'l Critics Line: Todd McCarthy On Tunisia's Oscar-Shortlisted 'The Man Who Sold His Skin' … [Read more...] about Int’l Critics Line: Anna Smith On Chile’s Oscar-Shortlisted ‘The Mole Agent’
Mark Wilson, Magician on TV’s ‘The Magic Land of Allakazam,’ Dies at 91
He taught the craft to Cary Grant and Johnny Carson and performed with Glen Campbell in Las Vegas. Mark Wilson, an influential magician who played a pioneering role in proving that magic could thrive on television, has died. He was 91. Wilson died Jan. 19 of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, a publicist announced. From 1960-65, Wilson produced and starred with his wife, Nani Darnell, in the first network TV series of its type, The Magic Land of Allakazam , which ran on Saturday mornings on CBS, ABC and then in syndication and featured Bev Bergeron as Rebo the Clown. In addition to performing all over the world with his wife and their sons, Greg and Mike, Wilson taught celebrities like Cary Grant, Bill Bixby and Johnny Carson how to employ magic in their work and helped set up tricks for films, TV productions, commercials, amusement parks and live attractions. A founding member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, he also authored an instructional book, The Mark … [Read more...] about Mark Wilson, Magician on TV’s ‘The Magic Land of Allakazam,’ Dies at 91
Int’l Critics Line: Todd McCarthy On Bosnia’s Oscar-Shortlisted ‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’
The nightmarish cruelty of the Bosnian Serbs’ genocidal assault on the Bosnian Muslim town of Srebrenica in July, 1995 is vividly and nightmarishly rendered in the curiously titled Quo Vadis, Aida? Ferocious and lucid, director Jasmila Zbanic ’s film relentlessly pushes to the heart of the matter while accompanying a local UN translator who does everything she can to help while also trying to arrange for the safety of her husband and two sons. It’s a despairing, nay, devastating piece of work that leaves one drained, exhausted, appalled and admiring, which is the desired and only plausible reaction to Bosnia’s International Feature Oscar hopeful . It debuted last fall at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals. Zbannic’s previous feature, Grbavica: The Land Of My Dreams , won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2006. Related Story Neon's Oscar-Shortlisted 'Gunda' And 'Quo Vadis, Aida?' To Premiere On Letterboxd In Rare Deal Be that as it may, … [Read more...] about Int’l Critics Line: Todd McCarthy On Bosnia’s Oscar-Shortlisted ‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’
Jaime Camil Joins Steven Soderbergh’s ‘KIMI’ At New Line
EXCLUSIVE: Jaime Camil is set to join Steven Soderbergh ’s next film, the New Line Max Original feature KIMI with Zoë Kravitz on board to star. Byron Bowers is also on board. The film will premiere exclusively on HBO Max. David Koepp penned the script and will produce along with Michael Polaire. Plot details are being kept under wraps. The film would mark the second collaboration between Warner Bros. Pictures Group, HBO Max and Soderbergh since the recent restructuring of the studio and the third between Soderbergh and HBO Max. It follows No Sudden Move , the upcoming starry Max Original ensemble crime thriller from Warner Bros. Pictures that features Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, David Harbour, Amy Seimetz, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta, Kieran Culkin, Brendan Fraser, Noah Jupe, Bill Duke, Frankie Shaw and Julia Fox. His most recent pic Let Them All Talk , with Meryl Streep, premiered on HBO Max in December. Camil can next be seen starring opposite Cecily Strong, … [Read more...] about Jaime Camil Joins Steven Soderbergh’s ‘KIMI’ At New Line