The hummingbirds of Every Little Thing are migrating from North America to Europe. Sally Aikten’s film about the extraordinary avian aerialists and a Los Angeles woman who tends to injured hummingbirds is making its European premiere at Cph:dox in Copenhagen, after initially hovering over Sundance.
Larry Bird, Raisin, Cactus, Alexa and Mikhail are among the tiny ornithological wonders that appear in the film. Their human caretaker, Terry Masear, wrote the Fastest Thing on Wings: Rescuing Hummingbirds in Hollywood about the many years she has spent looking after hummingbirds – ones that may have collided with a window, say, or babies that have tumbled from their nests.
“We follow Terry over the course of the spring-summer season, which — if anyone is in L.A. — they’ll know as peak hummingbird time,” Aitken told us at Sundance. “And literally, if you have an injured or wounded hummingbird that somehow comes across your path,...
Larry Bird, Raisin, Cactus, Alexa and Mikhail are among the tiny ornithological wonders that appear in the film. Their human caretaker, Terry Masear, wrote the Fastest Thing on Wings: Rescuing Hummingbirds in Hollywood about the many years she has spent looking after hummingbirds – ones that may have collided with a window, say, or babies that have tumbled from their nests.
“We follow Terry over the course of the spring-summer season, which — if anyone is in L.A. — they’ll know as peak hummingbird time,” Aitken told us at Sundance. “And literally, if you have an injured or wounded hummingbird that somehow comes across your path,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Director Cindy Meehl was a novice filmmaker when she made Buck, the 2011 documentary which focuses on the life and work of horse whisperer Buck Brannaman. Meehl was passionate about telling the story of Buck after getting to know him, and sometimes a personal connection to a subject can serve as the motivation behind creative [...]
The post Director Cindy Meehl Spotlights A Veterinarian’s Holistic And Integrative Approach In ‘The Dog Doc’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post Director Cindy Meehl Spotlights A Veterinarian’s Holistic And Integrative Approach In ‘The Dog Doc’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 3/30/2020
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
The New York-based TV and film distributor FilmRise has acquired the U.S. rights to Cindy Meehl’s feature documentary “The Dog Doc” about the innovative and unconventional veterinarian Dr. Marty Goldstein, it was announced Wednesday by FilmRise CEO Danny Fisher.
Dr. Goldstein, who has been called everything from a maverick to a miracle-worker to a quack, runs a clinic in South Salem, New York, that has made him and his staff famous for their integrative and even holistic approaches to pet health issues.
Meehl, who directed the 2011 documentary “Buck,” directed the documentary film that debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival last year. FilmRise will release “The Dog Doc” theatrically in select markets in March followed by a national theatrical and theatrical-on-demand rollout.
Also Read: 'Roseanne,' '3rd Rock From the Sun' Land on Sinclair's Ott Service Via Deal With FilmRise
“This documentary will no doubt have audiences...
Dr. Goldstein, who has been called everything from a maverick to a miracle-worker to a quack, runs a clinic in South Salem, New York, that has made him and his staff famous for their integrative and even holistic approaches to pet health issues.
Meehl, who directed the 2011 documentary “Buck,” directed the documentary film that debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival last year. FilmRise will release “The Dog Doc” theatrically in select markets in March followed by a national theatrical and theatrical-on-demand rollout.
Also Read: 'Roseanne,' '3rd Rock From the Sun' Land on Sinclair's Ott Service Via Deal With FilmRise
“This documentary will no doubt have audiences...
- 1/15/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
By Anjelica Oswald
Managing Editor
After narrowing the Oscar documentary feature shortlist to five at the 87th Academy Award nominations Jan. 15, a number of notable exclusions were featured, particularly Al Hicks‘ Keep on Keepin’ On, which documents the mentorship and friendship of a jazz legend and a blind piano prodigy, and Steve James‘ Life Itself, about the life and career of famed film critic Roger Ebert. (James is no stranger to snubs and the exclusion of his 1994 film Hoop Dreams led to rule reform within the documentary category.) Both films hold 97 percent positive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.
Some films surprised when they didn’t even land a spot on the shortlist, such as Red Army, which examines the rise and fall of the Soviet Union’s hockey team from the perspective of its coach. That film holds a 100 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In light of these best documentary feature snubs,...
Managing Editor
After narrowing the Oscar documentary feature shortlist to five at the 87th Academy Award nominations Jan. 15, a number of notable exclusions were featured, particularly Al Hicks‘ Keep on Keepin’ On, which documents the mentorship and friendship of a jazz legend and a blind piano prodigy, and Steve James‘ Life Itself, about the life and career of famed film critic Roger Ebert. (James is no stranger to snubs and the exclusion of his 1994 film Hoop Dreams led to rule reform within the documentary category.) Both films hold 97 percent positive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.
Some films surprised when they didn’t even land a spot on the shortlist, such as Red Army, which examines the rise and fall of the Soviet Union’s hockey team from the perspective of its coach. That film holds a 100 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In light of these best documentary feature snubs,...
- 1/23/2015
- by Anjelica Oswald
- Scott Feinberg
★★★★☆ Cindy Meehl's poignant portrait of horse whisperer Buck Brannaman, the subject of author Nicholas Evans' best-selling novel and the 1998 Robert Redford Hollywood movie, wowed audiences at the Sundance Film Festival back in 2011 and is rereleased on DVD this week by Dogwoof after the collapse of Revolver. At the start of Buck (2011), Brannaman comments, "Often instead of helping people with horse problems, I'm helping horses with people problems." It's a philosophy that has held him in good stead on his travels across America and beyond and defines his particular style of natural-horsemanship.
- 11/11/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Title: Wild Horse, Wild Ride Directors: Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus Director Cindy Meehl’s soulful, Sundance-minted “Buck,” which told the story of quietly charismatic horse whisperer Buck Brannaman, illustrated just about as well as any film could the unique and poignant connection between man and horse, and how taming wild or otherwise unruly mustangs is a process that often reveals as much about the owner as it does the horse. Following in its nonfiction footsteps (or horseshoe tracks, I guess) is “Wild Horse, Wild Ride,” an engaging look at a bunch of folks who try to do just that. As with many other documentaries of sub-cultural curiosity, “Wild Horse, Wild [ Read More ]...
- 9/8/2012
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
The Movie Pool listens closely to The Horse Whisperer Blu-ray!
The Set-up
After a young girl (Scarlett Johansson) suffers a terrible riding accident, her mother (Kristen Scott Thomas) seeks the help of a "horse whisperer" (Robert Redford). Together, they help girl and horse overcome their trauma, but find their relationship is getting too personal.
Directed by: Robert Redford
The Delivery
Robert Redford may a Hollywood acting legend, but he is still underrated as a director. His 1998 gem is an old-fashioned love story set against the backdrop of Montana's "Big Sky." It tells the story of a cowboy (Redford) with a special connection to horses, and his growing relationship with a mother and daughter from New York who seek out his help.
Most of the talk about The Horse Whisperer revolves around the cinematography, which is exceptional, but there are several storylines in the film that make this a very good character drama.
The Set-up
After a young girl (Scarlett Johansson) suffers a terrible riding accident, her mother (Kristen Scott Thomas) seeks the help of a "horse whisperer" (Robert Redford). Together, they help girl and horse overcome their trauma, but find their relationship is getting too personal.
Directed by: Robert Redford
The Delivery
Robert Redford may a Hollywood acting legend, but he is still underrated as a director. His 1998 gem is an old-fashioned love story set against the backdrop of Montana's "Big Sky." It tells the story of a cowboy (Redford) with a special connection to horses, and his growing relationship with a mother and daughter from New York who seek out his help.
Most of the talk about The Horse Whisperer revolves around the cinematography, which is exceptional, but there are several storylines in the film that make this a very good character drama.
- 7/27/2012
- by feeds@themoviepool.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
Oddly enough, I can say for certain that I appreciated Robert Redford’s The Horse Whisperer more before I saw the 2011 documentary Buck which focused on Buck Brannaman, the man upon whom Redford’s character was based. Upon re-examination, Redford’s overly sappy and far too long fictionalization spends too much time on a romance that’s as obvious a half hour in as it is when the credits roll, unfortunately Redford decided it necessary to spend about three hours watching it unfold when two would have easily sufficed. At least it has some great performances by Redford, Chris Cooper, and Kristin Scott Thomas driving that ridiculously long germination period forward. The turn by the young Scarlett Johansson, on the other hand, stands as one of the most overwrought and unrealistically characterized children the screen has ever seen.
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- 7/16/2012
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Blu-ray Release Date: July 3, 2012
Price: Blu-ray $20.00
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Robert Redford’s (The Sting) gorgeous 1998 movie The Horse Whisperer is one that fully deserves the high-definition treatment, and we hope this Disney Blu-ray transfer is stellar.
Directed by as well as starring Redford, the film is based on the Nicholas Evans‘ novel and tells the story of Tom Booker (Redford), a unique horse trainer who has an extraordinary gift with animals. When he’s hired to help a girl (Scarlett Johansson, Iron Man 2) and her horse after a devastating riding accident, Booker’s talents change the lives of both.
The highly acclaimed PG-13 film also stars Dianne Wiest (Rabbit Hole), Chris Cooper (The Company Men), Kate Bosworth (Straw Dogs) and Kristin Scott Thomas (Sarah’s Key) and Sam Neill (TV’s Alcatraz) as the girl’s parents.
The Horse Whisperer was nominated for an Academy Award...
Price: Blu-ray $20.00
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Robert Redford’s (The Sting) gorgeous 1998 movie The Horse Whisperer is one that fully deserves the high-definition treatment, and we hope this Disney Blu-ray transfer is stellar.
Directed by as well as starring Redford, the film is based on the Nicholas Evans‘ novel and tells the story of Tom Booker (Redford), a unique horse trainer who has an extraordinary gift with animals. When he’s hired to help a girl (Scarlett Johansson, Iron Man 2) and her horse after a devastating riding accident, Booker’s talents change the lives of both.
The highly acclaimed PG-13 film also stars Dianne Wiest (Rabbit Hole), Chris Cooper (The Company Men), Kate Bosworth (Straw Dogs) and Kristin Scott Thomas (Sarah’s Key) and Sam Neill (TV’s Alcatraz) as the girl’s parents.
The Horse Whisperer was nominated for an Academy Award...
- 6/18/2012
- by Sam
- Disc Dish
You'll wonder how you swallowed Robert Redford's ersatz Americana after watching this Sundance-praised horse-whisperer doc
Saddle up for a one-way ticket to inspirationville: this Sundance-wowing documentary gives an insight into the real-life horse whisperer, child abuse backstory and all. Buck Brannaman is the sort of copper-bottomed authentic that makes you wonder how you ever swallowed Robert Redford's blow-dried impression. Half nag, all guru, he burrs wise words about wrangling men and beasts, one's primal nature and one's animal altruism. Yet he's also acid enough to balance out the slight tang of treacle in Meehl's treatment. There's a whole heap of Americana to wallow in here, but it's testimony to the director and subject that Buck still trots along at such a lick. Catherine Shoard
DocumentarySundance film festivalCatherine Shoard
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is...
Saddle up for a one-way ticket to inspirationville: this Sundance-wowing documentary gives an insight into the real-life horse whisperer, child abuse backstory and all. Buck Brannaman is the sort of copper-bottomed authentic that makes you wonder how you ever swallowed Robert Redford's blow-dried impression. Half nag, all guru, he burrs wise words about wrangling men and beasts, one's primal nature and one's animal altruism. Yet he's also acid enough to balance out the slight tang of treacle in Meehl's treatment. There's a whole heap of Americana to wallow in here, but it's testimony to the director and subject that Buck still trots along at such a lick. Catherine Shoard
DocumentarySundance film festivalCatherine Shoard
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is...
- 5/26/2012
- by Catherine Shoard
- The Guardian - Film News
War Horse; Strippers vs Werewolves; Four; Buck
Among the charges most regularly levelled at Steven Spielberg is that his movies are over-egged puddings that trade in rank melodrama and infantilising sentimentality. A whinnying chorus of such dismissive jeers greeted the arrival of War Horse (2011, DreamWorks, 12) late last year, with some predictably sniffy manure being thrown at this most populist auteur's emotional Grand National. Admittedly neither understatement nor brevity has ever been Spielberg's strong point, hence the much repeated joke: War Horse walks into a bar, barman says: "Why the long film?"
Yet to complain that this nostalgically cinematic adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's bestselling book (and feted stage adaptation) is somewhat soft around the edges is to forget that the source story was specifically aimed at younger readers. No, this is not a four-legged revisiting of the beach scenes from Saving Private Ryan, which portrayed the horrors of war in shockingly visceral form.
Among the charges most regularly levelled at Steven Spielberg is that his movies are over-egged puddings that trade in rank melodrama and infantilising sentimentality. A whinnying chorus of such dismissive jeers greeted the arrival of War Horse (2011, DreamWorks, 12) late last year, with some predictably sniffy manure being thrown at this most populist auteur's emotional Grand National. Admittedly neither understatement nor brevity has ever been Spielberg's strong point, hence the much repeated joke: War Horse walks into a bar, barman says: "Why the long film?"
Yet to complain that this nostalgically cinematic adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's bestselling book (and feted stage adaptation) is somewhat soft around the edges is to forget that the source story was specifically aimed at younger readers. No, this is not a four-legged revisiting of the beach scenes from Saving Private Ryan, which portrayed the horrors of war in shockingly visceral form.
- 5/8/2012
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
Thanks to the wonderful guys at Revolver Entertainment, we have Five copies of Cindy Meehl's critically-acclaimed documentary Buck (2011) plus Five quad posters signed by Buck Brannaman himself to give away to our lucky readers, ahead of the film's UK DVD release on 7 May. This is an exclusive competition for our Facebook and Twitter fans, so if you haven't already, 'Like' us at facebook.com/CineVueUK or follow us @CineVue.
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- 5/4/2012
- by CineVue
- CineVue
He can rope a cow in a snowstorm and perform a caesarean with a penknife. Buck Brannaman tells Catherine Shoard why city folk are galloping to see his new documentary
Buck Brannaman is aware he has enormous hands. But as befits the "Zen master of the horse world", he's pretty modest about them. "Perhaps it's just that people in Britain don't have very big hands," says the wrangler who has been tossed off just about every troubled steed from Montana to Idaho. "I've shook hands with a lot of guys today and I was thinking, 'Well, mine just covers yours up completely.'"
It's not just the warm swaddle of those big mitts that makes a meeting with the original horse whisperer (the man who turned fixing abused and injured animals into an art form) feel like a soothing dose of ketamine. It's also the easy formality with which he wears his Stetson,...
Buck Brannaman is aware he has enormous hands. But as befits the "Zen master of the horse world", he's pretty modest about them. "Perhaps it's just that people in Britain don't have very big hands," says the wrangler who has been tossed off just about every troubled steed from Montana to Idaho. "I've shook hands with a lot of guys today and I was thinking, 'Well, mine just covers yours up completely.'"
It's not just the warm swaddle of those big mitts that makes a meeting with the original horse whisperer (the man who turned fixing abused and injured animals into an art form) feel like a soothing dose of ketamine. It's also the easy formality with which he wears his Stetson,...
- 4/29/2012
- by Catherine Shoard
- The Guardian - Film News
As enjoyable a documentary as I've seen this past couple of years, Buck is a lively portrait of Buck Brannaman, an altogether remarkable Montana cowboy now aged around 60, who spends 40 weeks a year driving around the States from Maine to California putting on clinics to help people handle and understand their horses. His loving mother died when he was 12, leaving him and his brother in the care of a violent, overbearing alcoholic father, from whom they were taken by the law and handed over to sympathetic foster parents. From this traumatic experience he learned how to treat people and animals, and there is something beautiful about the way he deals with horses and their owners. He was an adviser on Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer and, so one gathers, virtually took over the direction of a key sequence in which a wary horse and its troubled owner (played by Scarlett Johansson) are brought together.
- 4/28/2012
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
Cindy Meehl's study of the real-life horse whisperer will have you falling at his feet, but it's no less fine for its partiality
Saddle up for for a one-way ticket to inspirationville: this Sundance-wowing documentary gives an insight into the real-life horse whisperer, child abuse backstory and all. Buck Brannaman is the sort of copper-bottomed authentic that makes you wonder how we ever swallowed Robert Redford's blow-dried impression. Half nag, half guru, he burrs wise words about wrangling men and beasts, one's primal nature and one's animal altruism. Yet he's also acid enough to balance out the slight tang of treacle in Meehl's treatment. There's a whole heap of Americana to wallow in here, but it's testimony to the director and subject that Buck still trots along at such a lick.
Rating: 4/5
DocumentaryAnimalsRobert RedfordCatherine Shoard
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
Saddle up for for a one-way ticket to inspirationville: this Sundance-wowing documentary gives an insight into the real-life horse whisperer, child abuse backstory and all. Buck Brannaman is the sort of copper-bottomed authentic that makes you wonder how we ever swallowed Robert Redford's blow-dried impression. Half nag, half guru, he burrs wise words about wrangling men and beasts, one's primal nature and one's animal altruism. Yet he's also acid enough to balance out the slight tang of treacle in Meehl's treatment. There's a whole heap of Americana to wallow in here, but it's testimony to the director and subject that Buck still trots along at such a lick.
Rating: 4/5
DocumentaryAnimalsRobert RedfordCatherine Shoard
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
- 4/27/2012
- by Catherine Shoard
- The Guardian - Film News
★★★★☆ Buck Brannaman appears to be your average modern-day cowboy; yet in the equestrian world and beyond, he is nothing short of a superstar. In the inspirational and emotionally-charged documentary Buck (2011), the first feature release from Cindy Meehl, we meet an enigmatic man who possesses an extraordinary gift to communicate and heal troubled or misbehaving horses across the United States.
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- 4/27/2012
- by CineVue
- CineVue
By now, everyone knows that while Sundance 2011 had a record year in terms of acquisitions, the proceeding box office did not follow suit. That said, ragging on Sundance sales prospects is as old as the festival itself. This year, as with every other, there's no doubt that films will sell; the only thing that changes are what guides buyers toward their purchases. So here's Indiewire's Top Five Guidelines For Successful Film Buying at Sundance 2012. All are subject, if not guaranteed, to change. A cast is good; a character is better. As Indiewire detailed last month, the success of "Buck" had as much to do with the marketing of its subject as its subject matter. Horse-whispering cowboy Buck Brannaman is an honest-to-god unique character who easily translated the documentary's concept to millions via in-theater and festival appearances as well as rapturous Today Show slots (where he was described as a "chick,...
- 1/18/2012
- Indiewire
Cindy Meehl's Buck, a Cedar Creek Productions documentary about the amazing, revolutionary, almost spiritual horse trainer Buck Brannaman, made the Oscar shortlist and Roger Ebert's list of the Best Documentaries of 2011. Meehl tells The Hollywood Reporter how she made a hit her first time in the director's saddle. THR: Brannaman inspired the novel and the 1998 film The Horse Whisperer, and Robert Redford explains in your film how as a consultant, Brannaman helped him nail some of the trickiest scenes in his movie -- including a sensitive scene with a horse that did great things for young Scarlett Johansson's career.
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- 1/5/2012
- by Tim Appelo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chicago – Some films never get a fair shot with audiences. They open in a handful of art house theaters scattered throughout the country before inconspicuously landing on DVD. Passionate movie lovers are left with the task of championing these unjustly obscure titles and helping them to acquire the audience they deserve.
Before I reveal my picks for the top ten Best Overlooked Films of 2011, here are the ten runners-up:
“Autoerotic”
Autoerotic
While Steve McQueen’s magnificent art film, “Shame,” plunges into the dark depths of sexual addiction, Joe Swanberg and Adam Wingard’s “Autoerotic” takes a decidedly more playful approach to similar material. Though Swanberg has made a series of uncommonly intimate films about the sex lives of twentysomething Chicagoans, he’s never attempted a film as overtly comic as this one, and Wingard proves to be an ideal collaborator. “Autoerotic” is easily Swanberg’s most accessible film to date,...
Before I reveal my picks for the top ten Best Overlooked Films of 2011, here are the ten runners-up:
“Autoerotic”
Autoerotic
While Steve McQueen’s magnificent art film, “Shame,” plunges into the dark depths of sexual addiction, Joe Swanberg and Adam Wingard’s “Autoerotic” takes a decidedly more playful approach to similar material. Though Swanberg has made a series of uncommonly intimate films about the sex lives of twentysomething Chicagoans, he’s never attempted a film as overtly comic as this one, and Wingard proves to be an ideal collaborator. “Autoerotic” is easily Swanberg’s most accessible film to date,...
- 12/28/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Why not fold documentaries into my list of the "Best Films of 2011?" After all, a movie is a movie, right? Yes, and some years I've thrown them all into the same mixture. But all of these year-end Best lists serve one useful purpose: They tell you about good movies you may not have seen or heard about. The more films on my list that aren't on yours, the better job I've done.
That's particularly true were you to depend on the "short list" released by the Academy's Documentary Branch of 15 films they deem eligible for nomination. The branch has been through turmoil in the past and its procedures were "reformed" at one point. But this year it has made a particularly scandalous sin of
omission. It doesn't include "The Interrupters" (currently scoring 99% on the Tomatometer), which has received better reviews and been on more critic's Best lists than any other.
That's particularly true were you to depend on the "short list" released by the Academy's Documentary Branch of 15 films they deem eligible for nomination. The branch has been through turmoil in the past and its procedures were "reformed" at one point. But this year it has made a particularly scandalous sin of
omission. It doesn't include "The Interrupters" (currently scoring 99% on the Tomatometer), which has received better reviews and been on more critic's Best lists than any other.
- 12/25/2011
- by Roger Ebert
- blogs.suntimes.com/ebert
Each week within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to worthwhile titles currently streaming on Netflix Instant Watch. This week we offer alternatives to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and We Bought a Zoo.
With the holidays hitting this weekend, a family friendly zoo tale does box office battle with a dizzying espionage thriller and the feel bad movie of Christmas. If you want to spend your holiday revels, relishing inspiring true tales, action-packed adventures, and deeply dark tales of revenge, we got you covered with the best of movies now available online through Netflix.
When seeking the elusive truth behind a missing girl’s disappearance, a dedicated journalist (Daniel Craig) crosses paths with an edgy but enchanting young hacker. Rooney Mara stars as Lisbeth Salander, the controversial It girl of Stieg Larsson’s Millenium trilogy. David Fincher directs.
Like your thrillers extra dark?...
With the holidays hitting this weekend, a family friendly zoo tale does box office battle with a dizzying espionage thriller and the feel bad movie of Christmas. If you want to spend your holiday revels, relishing inspiring true tales, action-packed adventures, and deeply dark tales of revenge, we got you covered with the best of movies now available online through Netflix.
When seeking the elusive truth behind a missing girl’s disappearance, a dedicated journalist (Daniel Craig) crosses paths with an edgy but enchanting young hacker. Rooney Mara stars as Lisbeth Salander, the controversial It girl of Stieg Larsson’s Millenium trilogy. David Fincher directs.
Like your thrillers extra dark?...
- 12/22/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
I wrote about Project Nim last time (read that here) and since then I have watched six more documentaries, trying to close the gap on the number of documentaries I missed out on seeing over the course of 2011. As a result, I have now seen five of the 15 documentaries shortlisted by the Academy for Oscar consideration and unfortunately I don't have access to the other ten, though I still have the much talked about Senna and Werner Herzog's Into the Abyss yet to watch. Beyond all that, however, I have six documentaries to briefly discuss today so let's no waste anymore time... Undefeated Undefeated is hands-down, without a doubt fantastic. Yet, at the moment, two things piss me off about it. The Weinstein Co. hasn't done anything to promote it. There isn't a clip; there isn't a trailer; and the poster I used to the left is some rush...
- 12/6/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
On its simplest level Cindy Meehl’s documentary Buck tells the story of the cowboy Buck Brannaman, a horseman who travels the United States conducting clinics for “horses with people problems.” First-time director Cindy Meehl met Buck at one of his clinics, and wanted to share his wisdom with a wider circle than the ardent fans he’s built among “horse people.”
A wise cowboy, eh? It doesn’t help that the film opens with iconographic Western shots: a cattle herd, a yellow sun, and galloping cowboys, all underlined by David Robbins’ thrumming score. I admit I was a bit skeptical. The census shows that Americans are increasingly clustering in cities: our new frontier is dense, urban, and ethnic, more closely mirroring my own experience. I did used to ride horses, but I was nine, and in suburban New Jersey those lessons are confined to a dingy ring. I rode...
A wise cowboy, eh? It doesn’t help that the film opens with iconographic Western shots: a cattle herd, a yellow sun, and galloping cowboys, all underlined by David Robbins’ thrumming score. I admit I was a bit skeptical. The census shows that Americans are increasingly clustering in cities: our new frontier is dense, urban, and ethnic, more closely mirroring my own experience. I did used to ride horses, but I was nine, and in suburban New Jersey those lessons are confined to a dingy ring. I rode...
- 11/9/2011
- by Susanna Locascio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Oliver Litondo, The First Grader The five nominees for the Gothams' Festival Genius Audience Award have been announced. They are: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, Buck, Girlfriend, The First Grader, and Wild Horse, Wild Ride. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Constance Marks' documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey traces the life and career of Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind Sesame Street's Elmo. Cindy Meehl's Buck is a documentary about Buck Brannaman, the man who inspired the book The Horse Whisperer and the ensuing Robert Redford-directed movie. Justin Lerner's Girlfriend revolves around a young man with Down's Syndrome who financially assists his object of desire, a woman stuck in an abusive relationship. Set in Kenya, Justin Chadwick's The First Grader tells the story of an eighty-something ethnic Mau Mau (Oliver Litondo) eager to learn to read and write. Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus' documentary Wild Horse,...
- 11/8/2011
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
It doesn't matter if you're or a "horse person" (we all know one) or not, the story of Buck Brannaman will entertain you. This is the guy who was the inspiration for the Robert Redford film The Horse Whisperer and he travels the country setting up week-long camps where equestrians can bring their steeds and learn his unique method for training them and cutting down their bad behavior. His story has been brought to film as Buck, a look at his practice and showing how he deals with a horse seemingly beyond reprieve. Buck rides to DVD on October 4th and to celebrate its release into the wild we're giving away a copy to one lucky reader.
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- 10/6/2011
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Character studies and topical analysis are the bread and butter of the documentary world, and Buck represents an excellent entry of the former. Looking deep into the world of Buck Brannaman, a real-life horse whisperer (and yes, he was involved in the Robert Redford film), Buck starts with a review of his process before delving into how he made it his career and how it affects his family. What could have been an incredibly dry topic limited to a very niche audience finds universal appeal in its juxtaposition of people problems with horse problems starting with Buck’s own. Buck has just the right pacing and balances the biographical elements of Buck’s life with his modern enterprise which has made him a celebrity within the equestrian world.
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- 10/4/2011
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Revered horse trainer and real-life cowboy Buck Brannaman is used to a busy, road tripping lifestyle. For three decades in clinics all over the U.S., Brannaman has taught horse owners what is commonly referred to as 'natural horsemanship': a philosophy of working with horses based on understanding how horses think and communicate. With this spring's release of "Buck," Cindy Meehl’s documentary on his life and troubled childhood, Brannaman became busier ...
- 10/4/2011
- indieWIRE - People
Revered horse trainer and real-life cowboy Buck Brannaman is used to a busy, road tripping lifestyle. For three decades in clinics all over the U.S., Brannaman has taught horse owners what is commonly referred to as 'natural horsemanship': a philosophy of working with horses based on understanding how horses think and communicate. With this spring's release of "Buck," Cindy Meehl’s documentary on his life and troubled childhood, Brannaman became busier ...
- 10/4/2011
- Indiewire
Welcome to Fsr’s first DVD column for October 2011! There are lots of interesting titles hitting shelves today including two third or fourth generation sequels that surprise by being far more entertaining than anyone expected them to be. In addition to Scream 4 and Fast Five several smaller films are coming out too including the giallo-inspired art film Amer, Zach Braff’s indie drama The High Cost of Living, the sweetly comic UK coming of age film Submarine, and more. As always, if you see something you like, click on the image to buy it. Buck Buck Brannaman has a special appreciation for the equine species that helps him understand and communicate with horses and their owners. He’s been labeled a real life “horse whisperer” and even assisted Robert Redford on his film of the same name, but his life wasn’t always a success story. This documentary takes a man and a subject so purely...
- 10/4/2011
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
DVD Playhouse—October 2011
By Allen Gardner
Terri (20th Century Fox) An awkward, obese teen (Jacob Wysocki) finds himself forming an odd friendship with his equally left-of-center vice-principal (John C. Reilly), who decides to help the boy navigate his way through adolescence’s rocky road. Low key film is filled with pathos and humor, but is ultimately too laid back for its own good (not to mention too long). Worth seeing for young Wysocki’s amazing, completely natural performance, and Reilly’s goofy charm. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-hd 5.1 surround.
Mr. Nice (Mpi) Rhys Ifans stars in the true story of Howard Marks, a Welsh-born Oxford grad who gained the most notoriety in his life for being the UK’s biggest hashish smuggler during the ‘70s and ‘80s, when he wasn’t busy spying for Her Majesty’s government, hanging out with a...
By Allen Gardner
Terri (20th Century Fox) An awkward, obese teen (Jacob Wysocki) finds himself forming an odd friendship with his equally left-of-center vice-principal (John C. Reilly), who decides to help the boy navigate his way through adolescence’s rocky road. Low key film is filled with pathos and humor, but is ultimately too laid back for its own good (not to mention too long). Worth seeing for young Wysocki’s amazing, completely natural performance, and Reilly’s goofy charm. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-hd 5.1 surround.
Mr. Nice (Mpi) Rhys Ifans stars in the true story of Howard Marks, a Welsh-born Oxford grad who gained the most notoriety in his life for being the UK’s biggest hashish smuggler during the ‘70s and ‘80s, when he wasn’t busy spying for Her Majesty’s government, hanging out with a...
- 10/3/2011
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Release Date: Oct. 4, 2011
Price: DVD $24.98
Studio: Mpi
The life of Buck Brannaman, a bona fide horse whisperer, is chronicled in Buck.
The Audience Award winner at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, documentary movie Buck unveils the real-life story of Buck Brannaman, a bona fide American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine months a year helping horses with people problems.
The first film directed by Cindy Meehl, Buck chronicles the life of Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A true “horse whisperer,” he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment. Possessing what has been described as “magical abilities,” Brannaman dramatically transforms horses – and people – with understanding, compassion and respect.
Brannaman was the prime inspiration for the hero of Nicholas Evans’ novel The Horse Whisperer, not to mention the...
Price: DVD $24.98
Studio: Mpi
The life of Buck Brannaman, a bona fide horse whisperer, is chronicled in Buck.
The Audience Award winner at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, documentary movie Buck unveils the real-life story of Buck Brannaman, a bona fide American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine months a year helping horses with people problems.
The first film directed by Cindy Meehl, Buck chronicles the life of Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A true “horse whisperer,” he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment. Possessing what has been described as “magical abilities,” Brannaman dramatically transforms horses – and people – with understanding, compassion and respect.
Brannaman was the prime inspiration for the hero of Nicholas Evans’ novel The Horse Whisperer, not to mention the...
- 9/19/2011
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
One of my favorite films of the year, thus far, is Cindy Meehl’s “Buck” (IFC Films, 6/17, PG, trailer), a charming little doc that won this year’s Sundance Film Festival’s Audience Award (documentary category) for its quietly moving profile of master horse trainer Buck Brannaman, who was brutally abused by his father as a child, and from that trauma learned how to connect with and tame similarly traumatized horses. As Roger Ebert put it in his review, “He does unto horses as he wishes his father had done onto him.”
Two months after making its theatrical debut, the film is still playing in select art houses across the country, and seems like a serious possibility for a best documentary (feature) Oscar nod. If you do get a chance to see it, be sure to sit through the credits, during which the horse wrangler’s elderly foster mother Betsy...
Two months after making its theatrical debut, the film is still playing in select art houses across the country, and seems like a serious possibility for a best documentary (feature) Oscar nod. If you do get a chance to see it, be sure to sit through the credits, during which the horse wrangler’s elderly foster mother Betsy...
- 8/24/2011
- by Scott Feinberg
- Scott Feinberg
“Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will.. So says Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine grueling months a year helping horses with people problems.
In honor of this amazing story, Wamg has special book giveway for you. Enter to win a Signed Copy Of Buck Brannaman’s Book “The Faraway Horses” from the documentary Buck.
Official Rules: 1. You Must Be A Us Resident. Prize Will Only Be Shipped To Us Addresses. 2. Fill Out Your Real Name And Email Address Below. 3. Answer The Following Question: Tell us why you’d like to win this book. Winners Will Be Chosen Through A Random Drawing Of Qualifying Contestants. No Purchase Necessary. Prizes Will Not Be Substituted Or Exchanged. Contest Will End On Friday, August 19 at 11:59pm Cst
Synopsis:
Buck,...
In honor of this amazing story, Wamg has special book giveway for you. Enter to win a Signed Copy Of Buck Brannaman’s Book “The Faraway Horses” from the documentary Buck.
Official Rules: 1. You Must Be A Us Resident. Prize Will Only Be Shipped To Us Addresses. 2. Fill Out Your Real Name And Email Address Below. 3. Answer The Following Question: Tell us why you’d like to win this book. Winners Will Be Chosen Through A Random Drawing Of Qualifying Contestants. No Purchase Necessary. Prizes Will Not Be Substituted Or Exchanged. Contest Will End On Friday, August 19 at 11:59pm Cst
Synopsis:
Buck,...
- 7/26/2011
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
I ran into Buck Brannaman on the main drag at Sundance this January, decked out in his cowboy boots and hat, spreading warmth and cheer as he moved down the street. The guy's a star: the magic charisma that works on horses, no matter how disturbed, shines out of him in person, too. He's the guy who inspired Robert Redford's 1998 The Horse Whisperer; he hit it off with the filmmaker/star on that film during "one of the finest summers I can remember," and was delighted to hang with him opening night in Park City. For the past decade Brannaman and Redford have been busy "doing our own thing," Brannaman says. "We have not been able to spend time. This was a great reunion for ...
- 7/5/2011
- Thompson on Hollywood
Documentary about the inspirational methods of horse trainer Buck Brannaman is surprise summer hit
In a season of big-budget blockbusters, superhero movies and seemingly endless sequels, the surprise hit in America this summer is a documentary about a man who loves horses.
Buck tells the real-life story of Dan "Buck" Brannaman, a cowboy whose almost magical ability to calm unruly horses was an inspiration for the fictional 1998 Robert Redford movie The Horse Whisperer, which also starred Kristin Scott Thomas and a young Scarlett Johansson.
The film reveals a man whose talent for training horses is rooted in a deeply traumatic childhood at the hands of an abusive father. The film, which won an award at the Sundance film festival, is now playing at more than 200 cinemas across the Us: a huge number for a small documentary. "An exceptional slice of Americana about the kind of unsung hero America loves to love,...
In a season of big-budget blockbusters, superhero movies and seemingly endless sequels, the surprise hit in America this summer is a documentary about a man who loves horses.
Buck tells the real-life story of Dan "Buck" Brannaman, a cowboy whose almost magical ability to calm unruly horses was an inspiration for the fictional 1998 Robert Redford movie The Horse Whisperer, which also starred Kristin Scott Thomas and a young Scarlett Johansson.
The film reveals a man whose talent for training horses is rooted in a deeply traumatic childhood at the hands of an abusive father. The film, which won an award at the Sundance film festival, is now playing at more than 200 cinemas across the Us: a huge number for a small documentary. "An exceptional slice of Americana about the kind of unsung hero America loves to love,...
- 6/25/2011
- by Paul Harris
- The Guardian - Film News
Right now I would easily pay $10 -- hell, even 3D rates of $15 -- to watch a rainstorm in person here in Austin. (I know one happened Tuesday night but I was asleep.) While I wait for such a diverting entertainment, I'll have to settle for watching movies instead. Do any of them have scenes of precipitation? Probably not. I may just have to settle for a very good documentary, a top-notch performance from Christopher Plummer or a raunchy comedy instead.
My plans for this week include finally seeing Midnight in Paris (Debbie's review) -- you all have talked me into it, since even non-Woody Allen fans are recommending it heartily. On Sunday night, Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz brings local filmmaker Ben Steinbauer (whom Elizabeth just interviewed) to Cinema Club to screen the Mayles brothers' documentary Salesman. I may have to sneak over to Alamo on South Lamar at...
My plans for this week include finally seeing Midnight in Paris (Debbie's review) -- you all have talked me into it, since even non-Woody Allen fans are recommending it heartily. On Sunday night, Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz brings local filmmaker Ben Steinbauer (whom Elizabeth just interviewed) to Cinema Club to screen the Mayles brothers' documentary Salesman. I may have to sneak over to Alamo on South Lamar at...
- 6/24/2011
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Director: Cindy Meehl
Cast: Buck Brannaman
Studio: Cedar Creek Productions
Buck Brannaman isn’t a name anyone outside of the ranching and rodeo business probably knows. Unless of course you are Robert Redford, who directed an adaptation of the dearly beloved Nicholas Evans novel The Horse Whisper, but even Redford didn’t know Buck until he strode through his Santa Monica office in the late 1990s. Buck is a man who understands people through his connection with horses. That may sound cheesy, believe me I thought the very same thing, but upon watching Cindy Meehl’s documentary on the most prolific “horse whisperer,” I was definitely singing a different tune. Buck is a man who faced the harshest, most despicable life early on, and overcame adversities many could, and should, never imagine.
Read more on Theatrical Review: Buck...
Cast: Buck Brannaman
Studio: Cedar Creek Productions
Buck Brannaman isn’t a name anyone outside of the ranching and rodeo business probably knows. Unless of course you are Robert Redford, who directed an adaptation of the dearly beloved Nicholas Evans novel The Horse Whisper, but even Redford didn’t know Buck until he strode through his Santa Monica office in the late 1990s. Buck is a man who understands people through his connection with horses. That may sound cheesy, believe me I thought the very same thing, but upon watching Cindy Meehl’s documentary on the most prolific “horse whisperer,” I was definitely singing a different tune. Buck is a man who faced the harshest, most despicable life early on, and overcame adversities many could, and should, never imagine.
Read more on Theatrical Review: Buck...
- 6/24/2011
- by Gwen Reyes
- GordonandtheWhale
Chicago – Every once in a while, a life is profoundly enriched by the example set by another. For several animal lovers throughout the country, Buck Brannaman has served as an inspiration. His philosophical approach toward working with horses holds countless truths that can be applied to all aspects of life, and they are woven into the very fabric of Cindy Meehl’s wonderful documentary, “Buck.”
Rating: 4.5/5.0
There’s something rather refreshing about a documentary that doesn’t try to wow viewers with flashy visuals and structural audacity. Meehl had attended a few of the many annual clinics held by Brannaman throughout the country, and was driven purely by her passion for the material to make this film. Her lack of filmmaking experience ended up being an asset to the picture, since it’s devoid of the manipulative formula and manufactured sentiment that mars so many would-be feel-good docs.
Read Matt...
Rating: 4.5/5.0
There’s something rather refreshing about a documentary that doesn’t try to wow viewers with flashy visuals and structural audacity. Meehl had attended a few of the many annual clinics held by Brannaman throughout the country, and was driven purely by her passion for the material to make this film. Her lack of filmmaking experience ended up being an asset to the picture, since it’s devoid of the manipulative formula and manufactured sentiment that mars so many would-be feel-good docs.
Read Matt...
- 6/24/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
"A lot of times, rather than helping people with horse problems," says Buck Brannaman, "I'm helping horses with people problems."
The subject of the documentary Buck, horse trainer Brannaman travels America teaching horse owners positive ways to communicate with their animals. He is the gentlest of gentle souls, a skilled cowboy whose believes the best way to train a horse is through leadership and sensitivity, not brutality and punishment. Buck is as gentle as its subject, a finely made, ever thoughtful film that shows us how Brannaman's approach applies not only to horses, but to people as well. The movie opens Friday in Austin.
Brannaman's skill with horses is amazing. As he transforms a frightened, unruly horse into a calm, obedient one in a matter of minutes, it's as if he has unique insight into the equine mind. But Brannaman would be the first to say that while he has many well honed skills,...
The subject of the documentary Buck, horse trainer Brannaman travels America teaching horse owners positive ways to communicate with their animals. He is the gentlest of gentle souls, a skilled cowboy whose believes the best way to train a horse is through leadership and sensitivity, not brutality and punishment. Buck is as gentle as its subject, a finely made, ever thoughtful film that shows us how Brannaman's approach applies not only to horses, but to people as well. The movie opens Friday in Austin.
Brannaman's skill with horses is amazing. As he transforms a frightened, unruly horse into a calm, obedient one in a matter of minutes, it's as if he has unique insight into the equine mind. But Brannaman would be the first to say that while he has many well honed skills,...
- 6/23/2011
- by Don Clinchy
- Slackerwood
Some years ago, Robert Redford made an excellent movie called The Horse Whisperer, based on Nicholas Evans’ novel. It turns out that a horseman named Buck Brannaman helped inspire Evans to create the character that Redford played; he even worked on the movie. This new documentary shows that Buck’s real-life story is as compelling as any piece of fiction, and filmmaker Cindy Meehl has brought it to life with enormous skill and good taste. (Even Redford attests to— — Buck’s amazing presence.) Buck is a natural on-camera. We travel with him from one horse-training clinic to another, as he passes…...
- 6/23/2011
- Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy
Chicago – When Robert Redford was on the lookout for equine consultants to assist him with his 1998 drama, “The Horse Whisperer,” he got a lot more than he bargained for when he hired Buck Brannaman. The real-life “whisperer” was one of the chief inspirations for the character of Tom Booker in the Nicholas Evans novel that provided the source material for Redford’s picture. Yet Brannaman’s inspiring work doesn’t merely apply to horses.
As one of the most respected horse trainers in the nation, Brannaman spends the majority of the year traveling the country, hosting clinics that teach people how to better connect their beloved animals. First-time director Cindy Meehl was so inspired by Brannaman’s work that she decided to film a documentary that charted his journey from childhood abuse (at the hands of his father) to an enormously successful adulthood. The resulting film, “Buck,” has gone on...
As one of the most respected horse trainers in the nation, Brannaman spends the majority of the year traveling the country, hosting clinics that teach people how to better connect their beloved animals. First-time director Cindy Meehl was so inspired by Brannaman’s work that she decided to film a documentary that charted his journey from childhood abuse (at the hands of his father) to an enormously successful adulthood. The resulting film, “Buck,” has gone on...
- 6/22/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Gordon and the Whale has teamed up with Sundance Selects to give our readers the chance to win a poster of the award winning documentary, Buck, signed by its titular subject, Buck Brannaman. That's not all, Selects is also giving our winner a copy of Faraway Horses, the official Buck Brannaman biography.
Read more on Giveaway: Win a poster of Buck, signed by Buck Brannaman...
Read more on Giveaway: Win a poster of Buck, signed by Buck Brannaman...
- 6/21/2011
- by Chase Whale
- GordonandtheWhale
Character studies and topical analysis are the bread and butter of the documentary world, and Buck represents an excellent entry of the former. Looking deep into the world of Buck Brannaman, a real-life horse whisperer (and yes, he was involved in the Robert Redford film), Buck starts with a review of his process before delving into how he made it his career and how it affects his family. What could have been an incredibly dry topic limited to a very niche audience finds universal appeal in its juxtaposition of people problems with horse problems starting with Buck’s own. Buck has just the right pacing and balances the biographical elements of Buck’s life with his modern enterprise which has made him a celebrity within the equestrian world.
Read more...
Read more...
- 6/21/2011
- JustPressPlay.net
Title: Buck Directed By: Cindy Meehl Written By: Cindy Meehl Cast: Buck Brannaman, Mary Brannaman, Reata Brannaman, Betsy Shirley, Robert Redford, Nevada Watt, Johnny France, Tina Cornish, et al Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 6/1/11 Opens: June 17, 2011 From what a member of the audience said, the Mayor’s Department of Tourism indicates that most domestic visitors to New York come from areas like Ohio, Connecticut, Wisconsin, California and a few other states, while Europeans who visit the Big Apple are generally from the larger cities on the Continent. This means that in areas of The Big Sky like Wyoming and Montana, residents would have little interest in Broadway and...
- 6/19/2011
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Of all the movies that have opened this weekend, the one that's generated the most interesting press by far is Page One: Inside The New York Times. The usual round of promotional interviews, for example, turns out to have been not so usual. Talking with writer-director-cinematographer Andrew Rossi and co-writer Kate Novack, a husband-and-wife team of a documentary filmmaker and a former media reporter, Eric Hynes acknowledges that his piece for the Voice can't help but lay on another layer of meta. Right off, he has Novack commenting on Page One's focus on the Nyt media desk: "It was journalists reporting on journalism, and we were working as journalists covering that."
So it goes in other interviews: Drew Taylor's with Rossi for the Playlist; Stephen Saito's with Rossi and Nyt media reporter David Carr, indisputably the star of Page One, for IFC; Sarah Ellison's with Gay Talese, author of the 1969 classic,...
So it goes in other interviews: Drew Taylor's with Rossi for the Playlist; Stephen Saito's with Rossi and Nyt media reporter David Carr, indisputably the star of Page One, for IFC; Sarah Ellison's with Gay Talese, author of the 1969 classic,...
- 6/18/2011
- MUBI
Roadside Attractions Hamish Linklater and Miranda July in “The Future”
The summer movie season is upon us, with explosion-heavy TV trailers, big name stars, and sequels to movies that weren’t all that great the first time around.
That’s not to say that the popcorn pictures aren’t worth a look. Recent releases like “X-Men: First Class” and “Super 8″ have been pulling in both rave reviews and big audiences.
But if the onslaught of summer action-adventure-comedy-drama-sequels is a bit too much for some,...
The summer movie season is upon us, with explosion-heavy TV trailers, big name stars, and sequels to movies that weren’t all that great the first time around.
That’s not to say that the popcorn pictures aren’t worth a look. Recent releases like “X-Men: First Class” and “Super 8″ have been pulling in both rave reviews and big audiences.
But if the onslaught of summer action-adventure-comedy-drama-sequels is a bit too much for some,...
- 6/18/2011
- by Nick Andersen
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Three new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:
Expected to top the weeekend box office is the comic book adaptation Green Lantern directed by Martin Campbell and starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Saarsgard and Mark Strong. The film’s music is composed by James Newton Howard. A soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score has been released by Watertower Music. For audio clips and more information, visit our soundtrack announcement.
Also opening wide is Mark Water’s family comedy Mr. Popper’s Penguins starring Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Madeline Carroll and Angela Lansbury. The movie’s score is written by composer Rolfe Kent. A soundtrack album with Kent’s score will be released by Varese Sarabande on June 28, 2011. To find out more about the soundtrack, visit our previous article.
Opening in around 600 theaters is the dramedy The Art of Getting By directed by Gavin Wiesen and starring Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts.
Expected to top the weeekend box office is the comic book adaptation Green Lantern directed by Martin Campbell and starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Saarsgard and Mark Strong. The film’s music is composed by James Newton Howard. A soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score has been released by Watertower Music. For audio clips and more information, visit our soundtrack announcement.
Also opening wide is Mark Water’s family comedy Mr. Popper’s Penguins starring Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Madeline Carroll and Angela Lansbury. The movie’s score is written by composer Rolfe Kent. A soundtrack album with Kent’s score will be released by Varese Sarabande on June 28, 2011. To find out more about the soundtrack, visit our previous article.
Opening in around 600 theaters is the dramedy The Art of Getting By directed by Gavin Wiesen and starring Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts.
- 6/18/2011
- by filmmusicreporter
- Film Music Reporter
Beneath a calm exterior lies a troubled soul. Gentle, unassuming, and surprisingly strong, just like the man it profiles, Buck is a documentary that plays, initially, like a DVD extra for Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer. Don't expect Mr. Ed. Directed by Cindy Meehl, a first-time filmmaker, Buck unfolds in traditional fashion. Buck Brannaman has been training horses (and their owners) for 30 years, using techniques he learned from a man named Ray Hunt. The basic idea is to "feel" the horse; "feel" has many definitions in this context, from touching an animal gently to gesturing in a certain manner to exchanging looks at a distance. (Yes, truly.) Buck believes that human owners need to understand where the horse is coming from, in effect,...
- 6/17/2011
- Screen Anarchy
We saw the forthcoming documentary "Buck" back at SXSW, and thought it was pretty great. The film chronicles the true life story of Buck Brannaman, the man who inspired the Nicholas Evans novel "The Horse Whisperer" and later the Robert Redford film of the same name (where Buck served as a consultant). It's both an incredibly personal story of a man who overcame the psychic scars of his childhood to do something truly valuable, and a quietly mystical western, with sweeping vistas and high drama. But front and center of the film stands Buck, the kind of character you just…...
- 6/17/2011
- The Playlist
The formidable subject of Buck shares his initials and ideals with another, even more imposing romantic hero. Black Beauty, a horse with a human range of intellect and emotion, is the title character and narrator of Anna Sewell's 1877 novel. His life story is marked by hardship and hard work, all of it at the mercy of morally variable owners. Sewell wanted her readers in horse-dependent 19th-century England to see their mounts, carriage-pullers, and field-plowers not as insensible beasts but creatures worthy of respect and compassion. Buck Brannaman, a Wyoming horse trainer with a resume that includes inspiring the Nicholas Evans novel that became Robert Redford's 1998 movie The Horse Whisperer, is the 21st-century embodiment of that same cause.
- 6/16/2011
- Movieline
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