This Savage Art » 2008 » September

Bresson Deciphered

William Speruzzi — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:00:53 +0000

If the news of a Rashomon remake is making you sick and uninspired take a lesson from Paul Schrader. I found this film theory lesson of him decoding the Robert Bresson film Pickpocket. It’s worth checking out if not just for a jolt to the system and to see the way Schrader “reads” the film. [Parts 1 and 2]

Paul Newman 1925 – 2008

William Speruzzi — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:26:57 +0000

I was just speaking with an old NYU friend while I was at Independent Film Week last Sunday and we were discussing The Hustler and The Color of Money and how they both held up. Even though my friend and I disagreed on the films, I saw The Color of Money recently and I still think it’s a great character piece — The Hustler is iconic, but one thing that we agreed on was Paul Newman. He was my first memory of what a movie star was in the first film I ever saw, The Towering Inferno. Maybe not the best display of his talents but at seven years old Paul Newman was the coolest guy in the room. Ironically, I have The Verdict and The Hustler in my stack of films to watch. I think today is a good day to remember him by screening a couple of his best performances.Take a look on IMDb and see how many films he’s been in that you have fond memories of.

The true test of a man will be how he is perceived once he is gone and this man will always be looked at as a class act. Rest in peace.

Synecdoche, New York Trailer

William Speruzzi — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:55:44 +0000

I uhhhhhhhhhhhh, don’t know what to say other than I’m preparing my mind to be blown as we speak.

[Hat tip: BSLS]

See below for meta thoughts on the film, career and being percieved as a recluse from Kaufman.

Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind

William Speruzzi — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:49:45 +0000

Wired Magazine tries to interview Charlie Kaufman.

Updated: Here is the complete interview in five parts [mp3 files.]

Independent Film Week 2008

William Speruzzi — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:00:56 +0000

September 14th-19th kicks off the meeting of the minds in independent film. I will only be attending this Sunday of the Conference which in my opinion looks like the better day to go. Panels. Networking. You know the deal. A good week to get reenergized and bump into some old friends and hopefully make some new ones. The schedule can be viewed here. Anyone going? Drop me an e-mail.