Samson & DelilahThe Foreign Language Nominees Symposium
The 82nd Academy Awards’ Foreign Language Film nominees couldn’t be more diverse and interesting. At the Foreign Language Nominees Symposium held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, March 6, the honored filmmakers of Adjami – Israel, The Milk of Sorrow (La Teta Asustada) – Peru, A Prophet (Un Prophete) – France, The Secret in Their... »
Joe Johnston Conjures The Wolfman
Former Industrial Light and Magic art director Joe Johnston became a feature film director over 20 years ago when he came aboard... »
Documentary Filmmaker Exposes Brutal Dolphin Hunt in The Cove
After a screening of The Cove, I was moved and impressed as well as depressed by the experience. »
John Hillcoat Travels Down The Road
Some movies provoke the mind and intellect and leave audiences thinking long after they have left the theater. Add The Road to that list. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Cormac McCarthy, who also wrote the book on which the Coen Brothers film No Country For Old Men was based, Australian director John... »
Perfect Sleep: Location Manager Jeremy Alter Moves to Director’s Chair
When one considers “traditional” below-the-line avenues to directing, it’s usually editing or cinematography — or lately, visual effects supervising — that come to mind as usual routes to that storied above-the-line perch. For Jeremy Alter, whose The Perfect Sleep is currently in release, it was location managing. “I’ve always loved films,” he recounts. “By the time... »
Of Readers, Writers, and Other Collaborators on Making The Reader
When Below the Line caught up with director Stephen Daldry, he was in town for the kick-off to award season, as a Golden Globe nominee for best direction for The Reader—a couple of weeks ahead of knowing he’d be an Oscar nominee in that category as well. »
A Curious Case of Tricks Brings Success to Button
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leads the Oscar sweepstakes this year with 13 Academy Award nominations, including nods for best picture and for David Fincher in the best director category. Eight of the nominations are for the craft contributions, covering nearly all of the production keys who worked on the ambitiously scaled but... »
Zwick and Crew Make Sacrifices for Story
In Defiance Edward Zwick tells the true story of three Jewish brothers (Daniel Craig, Liv Schreiber and Jamie Bell) who take refuge in the Belarussian forest after members of their family are massacred during an ethnic purge of their village during World War II. As a means of survival when other civilian refugees wander... »
Steven Soderbergh on Directing and Lensing Che
Director Steven Soderbergh burst onto the scene in 1989 with his first feature Sex, Lies, and Videotape that won the Audience Award at its Sundance premiere and went on to win the top prize four months later at Cannes. In the subsequent two decades his path has been eclectic and unpredictable; ranging from arcane... »
Darren Aronofsky Wrestles with Reality
In a departure from The Fountain, his cerebral last film, director Darren Aronofsky takes a decidedly gritty, realistic turn with The Wrestler. Relying on improvisation to garner reality-based performances from a cast composed largely of non-professional actors, Aronofsky tells the comeback story of retired professional wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson, played by Mickey Rourke... »
Latest Headlines
Director Series
Joe Johnston Conjures The WolfmanFebruary 2010 | By Scott Essman
Former Industrial Light and Magic art director Joe Johnston became a feature film director over 20 years ago when he came aboard... »
Danish Director Blends Comedy and Tragedy in An Education
January 2010 | By Mary Ann Skweres
The critically acclaimed film, An Education, which garnered the Audience Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, has quietly slipped into Oscar contention. From... »
Exclusive Film Reviews
Up in the AirDecember 2009 | By Len Klady
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) has an amiable disposition that belies the fact that it’s best to stay out of his path. You see he’s... »
The Young Victoria
December 2009 | By Len Klady
The enduring image of Queen Victoria, whose reign dominated the bulk of the 19th century, is of a benevolent, elderly grandmother. Though she was... »