By David Poland poland@moviecitynews.com
Screening Gotham: March 24-26, 2006
A few of this weekend’s worthwhile cinematic happenings around New York:
–There are a few films every year for which the critical reception resembles an especially fulsome pissing contest of hyperbole. In 2005, for example, The New World and A History of Violence sort of cornered the market on purple-prosed oneupsmanship among the “Take” poll crowd, while 2006 seems to the Year of a Thousand Blowjobs for the Dardenne brothers and their new film L’Enfant.
Although I went on the record last year with my own impressions, I really do not have anything to add for or against it. But what I do recommend is avoiding any more reviews of the film until you have seen it yourself; the story of a petty criminal whose garish irresponsibility compromises the lives and souls of everyone around him, L’Enfant has more to offer than a testing ground for the bons mots critics will eventually harvest for their year-end Top Ten lists. And make no mistake: You should see it, but without an allegiance to the burdensome analysis that the Dardennes’ simplicity both invites and repels. In other words: Do not feel bad if the final credits are not interrupted by a shattering Earth. But do expect something worth at least the 90 minutes you paid for.
—New Directors/New Films is underway at MoMA and Lincoln Center this weekend, with a handful of those selected few scheduled to meet Sunday morning at the Walter Reade Theater for a discussion sponsored by HBO. You already know New Yorkers Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson) and Ramin Bahrani (Man Push Cart) from Sundance, while Sarah Watt (Look Both Ways) and Aureaus Solito (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) will also swing by to chat up their own flicks.
Incidentally, the brilliant Man Push Cart gets what I’m fairly certain is its New York premiere tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at the WRT, while Ian Gamazon and Neill dela Llana’s riveting no-budget thriller Cavite gets a spin over there Sunday afternoon at 3. Sure, they might be getting distributed later this year, but only once can you say you knew them way back when.
–Director David Redmon and producer Ashley Sabin will be at Cinema Village this evening at 7:45 to introduce and discuss their acclaimed documentary Mardi Gras: Made in China. You might have heard about it: The filmmakers followed the path of Mardi Gras beads from their source in bleak Chinese manufacturing plants to the ribald streets of New Orleans. Revelers come face-to-face with laborers via video, you get all outraged about globalization and then remember that we are all fucked anyway so you might as well just go drinking. With this in mind, the producers have conveniently arranged an afterparty tonight at Antimart in East Williamsburg. Guilt is always more fun in a crowd, anyway.