movies – Kit Stolz

Digital movies: The New York Times and the AP

Today the juggernaut also known as the New York TImes had a thoughtful conversation between two of their excellent critics, A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis, on what digitization means for the movies. An excerpt: Within the next few years digital projection will reign not only at the multiplexes, but at revival and art houses too.Continue reading “Digital movies: The New York Times and the AP”

Studio exec: Forget story. It’s all about spectacle.

In Variety, a Disney studio exec makes brutally clear what has become increasingly obvious over the last few years. Big movie audiences no longer care much about character, dialogue, or even story — what they want is spectacle. "People say 'It's all about the story,'" [Andy] Hendrickson said. "When you're making tentpole films, bullshit." HendricksonContinue reading “Studio exec: Forget story. It’s all about spectacle.”

What Tennessee Williams really thought of the movies

The writer character named Tom, widely agreed to be a stand-in for Tennessee Williams himself, in his aria on the movies from a great production of The Glass Menagerie running in Los Angeles now: Tom:Yes, movies! Look at them [a wave towards the theaters outside] All of those glamorous people — having adventures, hogging it all,Continue reading “What Tennessee Williams really thought of the movies”

Peak cinema: Are the movies fading out?

Lately I've been asking friends and acquaintances a simple question: What are you really looking forward to seeing in the movie theater? Last year the answer I heard, again and again, was: Avatar. And this summer the answer was equally predictable: Inception. Each of these movies, though flawed in details and heavy-handed in execution atContinue reading “Peak cinema: Are the movies fading out?”

2010: Worst year ever for movies?

So wonders the ever-entertaining Joe Queenan, in the Wall Street Journal: Where once there was "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," there is now "Robin Hood," prince of duds. Where once we could look forward to "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The Last of the Mohicans," we can now look forward to "Dinner for Schmucks" and "TheContinue reading “2010: Worst year ever for movies?”