FEATURES
STAR WARS
By Gregory Solman, Kevin Smith, and Gavin Smith (with sidebars by: Edward E. Crouse, Philip Brophy, Michael Koresky, Paul Arthur)
A closer look at the Star Wars phenomenon: its digital promise, a fan’s notes, and George Lucas interviewed.
SERGE DANEY
By Chris Darke
If you haven’t heard of the late, great French critic, here’s a crash-course introduction to his life and work. Plus a new translation of one of his most important essays in which he discusses the ever-evolving—and sometimes mutating—relationship between spectator and screen, as well as the increasingly blurred lines between commercial cinema and just plain commercials.
BRUCE CONNER
By Howard Hampton
The release of a new compilation DVD by the avant provocateur is cause for celebration.
BIGGIE & TUPAC
By Amy Taubin
Nick Broomfield investigates the murders of two notorious rap icons.
MINORITY REPORT
By Chris Chang
Steven Spielberg, who baffled the mainstream with his last film, A.I., continues to make movies exactly the way he wants to. Even with the star power of Tom Cruise, some people are wondering if he’s trying to go over the heads of his audience. If so, it’s their loss.
JACQUES TOURNEUR
By Geoffrey O’Brien
The director of classic genre flicks like Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie, and Out of the Past was perfectly content to be considered a workaday artisan. He was raised in the industry and could toss off films with the nonchalance of an assemblyline worker. How is it, then, that the work remains so beautifully elusive and enduringly enigmatic?
DIRTY HARRY
By Richard Combs
If you think Clint Eastwood’s signature role as the loose-cannon lawman offers nothing more that wall-to-wall violence, think again.
CANNES
By Amy Taubin, Kent Jones, Richard Pena, Mary Corliss, Gavin Smith
The critics are back from the sunny Mediterranean after their annual two-week stay in dark movie theaters.
DEPARTMENTS
EDITOR’S LETTER
OPENING SHOTS
News, Books, Guilty Pleasures, and more
DISCOVERY
City of God director Fernando Meirelles by Alcino Leite Neto, translated by Cecilia Sayad
MELBOURNE JOURNAL
The current state of Australian cinema by Adrian Martin
FIRST LOOK
Paul Schrader’s Auto Focus by Kent Jones
SOUND & VISION
24 Hour Party People by Simon Reynolds & Olaf Breuning by Chris Chang
DISTRIBUTOR WANTED
Hou Hsiao-hsien’s Millenium Mambo by Chris Chang
CRITICS CHOICE
Eight critics rate 25 new releases
STORYBOARD
“Salve Regina” by JT Leroy
REVIEW
Full Frontal by Mark Olsen, Corpus Callosum by Jonathan Rosenbaum, Possession by Kristin Marriott Jones, All About Lily Chou-Chou by Michael Koresky, and Merci pour le chocolat by Richard Combs
VIDI VIDI VIDI
The latest video and DVD releases
FSLC SEEN
Who’s who at recent Film Society events plus an extract from Francis Ford Coppola’s speech at his May tribute
