Features 2000
12/26/00
- Top Ten World Films of 2000
Everybody's got a list -- here's mine.
12/25/00
- My Top Ten Indie Films of 2000
Here's my long awaited list of the year's best--the films that have the power
to transport. Indie's finest, some world films, plus one major studio delight.
12/14/00
- Another Gushing Rave: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Ang Lee's wuxia spectacle, the most anticipated world film of the year,
finally arrives to rave reviews. Here's another one...and now excuse me while
I'm off to watch it again.
12/13/00
- Croaking Children, Wasted Mules: A Time for Drunken Horses
Abject misery isn't everybody's idea of a good time, but Bahman Ghobadi's film
about the struggles of Kurdish children is full of rewards. This Shooting Gallery
release is one of the most engaging films of the year.
12/12/00
- Requiem for a Dream is a Nightmare
Darrien Aronofsky's follow-up to the instant cult classic Pi has turned into
an art house hit. Get the lowdown on his wacky camera work and drug-addled orgies
starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, and Jennifer Connolly.
12/05/00
- Kinky Kids: Akihiko Shiota's Sasayaki
When teenage love turns dark: it starts with bike rides and unblemished school
uniforms, but before you know it, the boy is sniffing dirty underwear and the
girl yells: "Be my dog!"
12/04/00
- The Strange Case of Señor Computer
"If you translate a knock-knock joke into blue cubes, will it still be
funny?" An interview with Tom Sawyer, director of a film about the dysfunctional
relationship between a robot and its creator. This is what it's like to make
a movie financed with an inheritance and credit cards.
11/23/00
- Quills
Philip Kaufman's tale of the Marquis de Sade is a witty and gorgeous film--when
you're not covering your eyes from scenes of torture, excrement, blood, and
murder. Starring Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, and Joaquin Phoenix.
11/19/00
- Enough is Enough
A Saturday at the Multiplex was enough to make me swear off Hollywood movies
for a while.
11/13/00
- The 3rd New York Comedy Film Festival
Great films, stand up comics, and free juice! Find out about what you missed
last week, including the Jerry Stiller/Janeane Garafolo comedy "The Independent,"
"We Married Margo," and the madcap mafia comedy "Friends & Family."
11/11/00
- Review: Venus Beauty Institute
Nathalie Baye plays a tough beautician in a film that swept the awards in France
last year.
11/04/00
- Review: Billy Elliot
Everybody loves Billy Elliot, the cutest ballet-dancing coal-miner's
son ever. Except for me. Read my review and see why I thought this movie was
the worst piece of schlock to come our way in a long time.
10/30/00
- Indie Queen Quiz
Parker, Chloe, Christina -- all the Indie Queens are here. Play guess the actress
with this film poster quiz.
10/24/00
- ResFest 2000
Psychedelic hip hop space dentists make the leap from Flash to the silver screen
at this groundbreaking digital film festival. After London, San Francisco, Seattle,
and New York, ResFest is now headed for Los Angeles, Seoul, Tokyo, and Osaka.
Be there or be, well ... analog.
10/23/00
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Flying monks headed our way! Directed by Ang Lee and starring Chow Yun-Fat and
Michelle Yeoh, the most anticipated world film this season promises an epic
story line, superstar actors, and action sequences that make The Matrix
look like kindergarten.
10/22/00
- Filmmakers' Profile: Joel and Ethan Coen
Their contribution to independent film is enormous: visionary, ecclectic, epic
and more. The talented brothers have a new film on the horizon: O Brother,
Where Art Thou? It's a musical!
10/19/00
- Dancer in the Dark
Björk goes blind in Lars von Trier's new musical melodrama. The film that
took Cannes by storm features the most exhilerating postmodern song-and-dance
numbers ever...and is set to jerk some tears across the US.
10/18/00
- Ratcatcher
Lynne Ramsey's debut feature is full of garbage, rats, abuse, and suffering
in a Glasgow slum. Sounds ugly? It is. Here's why you should see this movie
anyway.
10/16/00
- Jared Leto: Indie Film's Dark Star
He's the next Johnny Depp. Arrestingly good looking. Serious and edgy. In Darren
Aronofsky's "Requiem For a Dream," Leto shows fans his dark side.
10/11/00
- Movie Pitchers in Trouble
The funkiest movie theater in New Orleans is about to be closed down. Make your
voice heard and help preserve this fine institution.
10/07/00
- Bickering Beck: Woman on Top
Fina Torres' fairy tale comedy starring Penelope Cruz doesn't deliver on its
promise and offers unfunny dialogue and corny special effects instead.
10/06/00
- Pola Who?
Ten years after the disasterous "Lovers on the Bridge," French enfant terrible
Leos Carax is back with another controversial film -- "Pola X" is sexy, pretentious,
and full of mystery.
10/05y/00
- "Girl Fight": Love and Punches
Karyn Kusama's debut feature won the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Sundance
Film Festival for best film and best director. But it's newcomer Michelle Rodriguez
who is a revelation in the starring role.
09/25/00
- Neil Labute's "Nurse Betty"
Director Neil LaBute's films have earned a reputation for sexual cruelty and
manipulation, but he lightens up with his third film. This loony comedy stars
Renée Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, and Chris Rock.
09/22/00
- Bickering Beck: The Tao Of Steve
Boy does what? Do we care? Jenniphr Goodman's first film won't change your life,
but the acting is terrific and Sante Fe makes a great backdrop. My guest coloumnist's
critical take on this romantic comedy with an independent twist.
09/15/00
- Takeshi Kitano's Fireworks
I am ashamed to admit that I missed this wonderfully poetic and mercilessly
violent film when it first came out. Don't make the same mistake and see this
movie by one of the masters of contemporary Japanese cinema as soon as you can.
09/05/00
- Neil LaBute's Nurse Betty
Director Neil LaBute's films have earned a reputation for sexual cruelty
and manipulation, but he lightens up with his third film. This loony comedy
stars Renée Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, and Chris Rock.
08/25/00
- Famke Janssen's Excellent Summer
Look out Julia Roberts. Dutch actress Famke Janssen has starring roles in the
best films of the summer: the action blockbuster "The X-Men" and Valerie
Breimen's independent comedy "Love & Sex."
08/14/00
- John Waters' Cecil B. Demented
Waters' new film has cinema terrorists, speed freaks, porn stars and a spoiled
Hollywood diva who becomes committed to the underground film movement. It's
trademark Waters camp, but no vomit required. Starring Melanie Griffith, Stephen
Dorff, and Alicia Witt.
07/31/00
- Francois Ozon's Vision
With the back to back release of two sexy and disturbing new films, Criminal
Lovers and Water Drops on Burning Rocks, American film lovers are
taking notice of young French director Francois Ozon.
07/19/00
- Jeremy Podeswa's The Five Senses
First, there was Atom Egoyan, then there was Don McKellar, and now, it's
Jeremy Podeswa. The Canadian director is receiving international acclaim for
his haunting new film.
07/03/00
- Emily Watson is Trixie
She won't make you cry this time. It's guaranteed. Emily Watson is luminescent
at Trixie Zurbo, a blue collar detective in Alan Rudolph's delightful, screwball
comedy. Also starring Nick Nolte and Nathan Lane.
6/26/00
- Bickering Beck: The Filth and the Fury
Julien Temple's new documentary chronicling the rise and fall of British punk
band The Sex Pistols is wildly entertaining, but more importantly, it serves
to set the record straight, once and for all.
6/15/00
- But I'm A Cheerleader
This summer, Natasha Lyonne gets sent to "homosexual rehab" camp.
Blending humor and romance, Jamie Babbit's dark comedy promises to be pure candy
for the independent film lover. Also starring RuPaul and Clea DuVall.
6/08/00
- Bickering Beck: Croupier is Crappier
Alex Kingston, known as Dr. Elizabeth Corday on ER, is also a trained actress
from England. Not even a strong performace and an explicit nude scene could
save Mike Hodge's lifeless film about gambling.
5/22/00
- The Wisdom of the Crocodiles
This summer, watch the most handsome man in film today devour women: Jude
Law as bonechillingly good-looking vampire in Po-Chih Leong's stylish, offbeat
thriller.
5/21/00
- Cannes 2000 Wrap-up
The 53rd Cannes Film Festival is over. Lars van Trier wins with a musical starring
Björk. See who else won at the glitziest of all film festivals.
4/26/00
- Indie Films Make Fine Summer Reading
Hollywood likes it stupid for the summer, but indie fans aren't like that: take
a look at the first new releases of the summer -- all based on books.
4/15/00
- Bickering Beck: The Closer You Get
Fox Searchlight Pictures will having you thinking all Irish are eccentric simpletons.
Egads!
4/14/00
- Review: The Girl Next Door
Stacy Valentine goes from housewife to porn star. And in and out of the doctor's
office.
4/7/00
- Resurgence of the Documentary
From Buena Vista to Stacey Valentine, an overview of the best in current
documentary.
3/27/00
- All About Oscar
Hilary wins. Pedro wins. Chloe loses. Get an independent recap of the big
night.
3/27/00
- David Lynch Online
A partnership with Shockwave brings the best of film to your home.
3/16/00
- Foreign Film and Documentaries at the Oscars
Categories that acutally matter.
3/15/00
- Indie and the Oscars
We can only hope....
3/8/00
- Esquire's Emerging Directors
They're young, they're hip, they're up-and-coming -- and I'll tell you who's
missing.
3/5/00
- Bickering Beck: Mr. Death
Documentary filmmaking at its finest.
2/19/00
- Bickering Beck: Holy Smoke
Jane Campion is back.
2/11/00
- Snake Tales
Is there a distributor in the house?
1/25/00
- Congratulations, Hilary
Hilary Swank wins a Golden Globe, and she deserves it.
1/21/00
- Sundance 2000
The year's hottest films premiere here. News, schedules, interviews and more.
1/12/00
- Poll: Who Do You Love?
Sarah, Parker, Chloe, Lili, Christina -- who is the Indie Queen?
1/6/00
- Bickering Beck: All About My Mother
Her verdict: "nothing more than a well-acted soap opera."