Disappointing biopic. Whatever your personal thoughts are about the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan was a key participant in the dramatic shift of the geopolitic at the end of the 20th Century. This film is a mess, self-serving to the Religious Right who feel Reagan could do no wrong and should receive sainthood. As a Lincoln Republican and son of a Goldwater Democrat I was expecting a warts and all serious, balanced documentary about Reagan’s rise from affable Hollywood “B” actor to concerned citizen to “Leader of the Free World”.
Author: Peter M. Hargrove
LADDER 49
The film pushes all the emotional buttons to tell an almost crackerjack tale of a young man’s journey from eager beaver new guy to seasoned veteran who has seen his best friend die on the job, his wife give birth to two children and become the typical fireman’s wife while holding back her fears about her husband’s dangerous career, and the time when mortality rears its ugly head and you are forced to decide how you plan to live out the rest of your life. When you’re a member of the Brotherhood of the Bravest, there is only one decision you make.
CONTROL ROOM
The TV station the George W. Bush regime loves to hate (“Osama Bin-Laden’s mouthpiece” – Colin Powell) gets its close-up in this controversial new film by director Jehane Noujaim “StartUp.com”.
9TH ANNUAL HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The 9th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival opened with a presentation of Yurek Bogayevicz’ “Edges Of The Lord” with Haley Joel Osment and Willem Dafoe. Bogayevicz, an acclaimed theatre director who directs films only occasionally, is best known for “Anna.” The closing night film was the much-anticipated Tom Stoppard adaptation of Robert Harris’
2002 EAST COAST VIDEO SHOW
The new millennium was unmistakably upon us as the East Coast Video Show wound down on October 11th with a whimper. Outside of $125 hotel rooms in Atlantic City, and casinos squeezing every last penny out of gamblers with $20 buffets and table game minimums of $10, everyone was grumbling about the declining video business, and the onslaught of Video On Demand (VOD). Like MIPCOM, the major companies had a small presence with MGM’s booth almost invisible if you didn’t look for Leo.
2002 WOMEN FILMMAKERS TO WATCH
Profiles of three women filmmakers filmgoers should keep their eyes on.
PANORAMA ENTERTAINMENT: SURVIVING THE INDIE SCENE 1987 – 2002
Darwin introduced the world to the concept of ‘survival of the fittest.’ Most independent theatrical distributors who bootstrap themselves with their own money don’t make it to ten let alone fifteen years without selling out to Hollywood (Miramax, October) or outside investment sources (Fox/Lorber). Panorama, headed by Stuart Strutin, a veteran of Troma and Vestron’s Lightning Video division, and Steve Florin have beat the odds and have come out on top in 2001 with not one but two critically acclaimed features.
OPEN CITY COMMUNICATIONS: PR FOR THE INDIE FILM WORLD
Open City Communications is highly regarded for its imaginative, innovative and properly aggressive public relations support for independent film and video releases, festivals, venues and events.
MARILYN STEWART: PUBLICITY QUEEN BEHIND THE SCENES
Considered to have the longest press reach of a publicist in the industry, Marilyn Stewart is one of the rare individuals in the entertainment business who is not interested in promoting her own interests, but rather immerses herself in a client’s project and thoroughly enjoys each that she accepts. Starting her career at the tender age of 17 with MGM, she was trained by the showmen of Hollywood’s Golden Age. In her 20s she was named Worldwide Head of Publicity & Promotion (today’s equivalent of Sr. Vice President) for Paramount Pictures. As with her many other firsts, she was the first woman to hold such a position in the motion picture industry.
LEISURE TIME FEATURES: 10 YEARS OF CHALLENGING CINEMA 1992 – 2002
10 years ago Bruce Pavlow had a vision to bring to the general public films of political and social importance, as well as innovative films that challenge the complacency of Hollywood. A decade later Leisure Time Features is still providing for our enjoyment, provocative and illuminating films as well as reintroducing some classic films from the past.