FEATURES
ADAPTATION
By Kent Jones and Nathaniel Jones
Only the duo behind Being John Malkovich could turn a movie about writer’s block into one of the year’s most dazzling, unclassifiable delights. Our editor-at-large teams up with his brothertot marvel at Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman’s latest collaboration.
BRIAN DE PALMA
By Gavin Smith
Sexed-up and flipped-out, Femme Fatale is film noir taken through the looking glass. How did it get that way? Its director talks about his best film in years and reflects on his newfound taste for redemption.
MICHAEL MOORE
By Stuart Klawans
The self-appointed liberal conscience of America likes to stand up for the little guy (and make a big deal about it). Now, with Bowling for Columbine, he’s taking aim at America’s culture of violence and telling off Charleton Heston. And he still wants us all to love him.
THAILAND
By Chuck Stephens
Dormant for 20 years, Thai cinema is back in action. Here’s the lowdown on two of its newest and brightest lights, Pen-ek Ratanaruang, director of Mon-rak Transistor, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul, with his new Blissfully Yours.
PARKER POSEY
By Alissa Quart
The irrepressibly hyperactive Parker Posey is our favorite indie icon. Though her career has shown signs of losing momentum, she’s kept the faith and given her best performance to date in Rebecca Miller’s new Personal Velocity.
JOHN FRANKENHEIMER
By Richard Combs (Sidebar by Tise Vahimagi)
How the late director reconciled film, TV, theater and the Sixties breakdown to forge his own brand of impossible cinema.
FASSBINDER
By Olga Solovieva
The year’s winner of the annual Grand Marnier Film Fellowships essay competition explains the costume drama that is The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant.
DEPARTMENTS
EDITOR’S LETTER
OPENING SHOTS
News, Names to Know, Obit: Doris Wishman by Bill Landis and Michelle Clifford, Off the Shelf by Maitland McDonagh and J. Hoberman, and more
HOT SET
Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Dreamers by David Thompson
MADRID JOURNAL
The Current State of Spanish Cinema by Álvaro del Amo
STORYBOARD
“The Adventure” by Martha McPhee
SOUND & VISION
Furi Kuir & Hélio Oiticicia by Phillip Brophy and Chris Chang
DISTRIBUTOR WANTED
El Bonaerense By Mark Olsen
CRITICS CHOICE
Eight critics rate 25 new releases
FIRST LOOK
Steven Soderburgh’s Solaris by Amy Taubin
DISCOVERY
José Luis Rodriguez by Chris Chang
FESTIVALS
New York, Views from the Avant-Garde, Toronto, and Venice by Phillip Lopate, Nicole Armour, and Mark Olsen
REVIEWS
Morvern Callar by Kristin M. Jones, Devils on the Doorstep by Bérénice Reynaud, Safe Conduct by Alice Lovejoy
REVIEWS IN BRIEF
Strange Fruit, The Pianist, and Standing in the Shadow of Motown by Chris Chang
VIDI VIDI VIDI
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by Gavin Smith, Fingers by Chris Chang, Fat City by Kent Jones, Street of No Return by Guy Maddin
FSLC SEEN
Who’s who at recent Film Society events
