Network Awesome, 12/05/12

The Best TV Network in the World

In the '80s, there was a whole movement of these pulpy films. They weren't generally big draws at the box office, but were saved like so many other titles by the home video revolution and ended up getting plenty of love on endless TV reruns.

Scott Mendelson, 12/04/12

Film critic at Mendelson's Memos, Valley Scene Magazine

Zero Dark Thirty is a fantastic achievement. It's powered by Jessica Chastain's terrific performance and absolutely becomes the definitive take on its subject. It's a cracking thriller, a mournful drama, and a thoughtful meditation on the costs of violence.

E. Nina Rothe, 12/04/12

Global Culture Explorer

With some great ball gowns packed already -- one thing DIFF does not do is casual! -- a thirst for discovering new favorites and watching once again a few films near and dear to my heart, I look forward to the 9th Dubai International Film Festival.

John Lundberg, 12/03/12

Writer, Poetry teacher

So when are poems used appropriately in movies? They tend to work in two cases: when the grandeur of a scene is already elevated, or when a scene brings the grandeur of a poem down to its level. I've collected a few of my favorite examples.

Allan M. Jalon, 12/04/12

Arts reporter and critic

Richard Nelson, 12/04/12

Writer

Reading these letters and diary entries opens a window into a world only imagined; a world behind the façade of a presidency, where all conspired to hide from the world the frailties and infirmities of its leader.

Marshall Fine, 12/04/12

Author and film critic, hollywoodandfine.com

But despite a cast that includes Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, Vince Vaughn and Catherine Zeta-Jones -- and a director like Stephen Frears -- Lay the Favorite just kind of, well, lays there.

Christina Patterson, 12/03/12

Writer and columnist, 'The Independent'

Daniel Radcliffe is, in fact, not just very nice, and very polite, and very hard-working, and very bright. He is also, I can finally tell him, and do, over a glass of wine for me, and a glass of water for him, at the drinks after the screening, a very good actor indeed.

Vanessa Berben, 12/03/12

Managing Editor, The Donnybrook Writing Academy

I read Marion's Warm Bodies and fell in love with it to the point that I stalked him online, begging for an interview. And he is either a glutton for punishment or just as nuts as I am because not only did he agree the first time, he came back for more.

Sheril Antonio, 12/03/12

Associate Arts Professor, NYU's Tisch School of the Arts

Otelo Burning set my emotions ablaze! I watched a geographically distant past that became present that ended up as a timeless tale despite the specificity of race, place, and the specific historical backdrop.

Chris Bogia, 11/30/12

Artist, educator, co-founder/director of Fire Island Artist Residency

Professionally I'm a sculptor, and the director of a nonprofit that serves emerging LGBT artists. Tonight however, I'm a pissed off gay gamer sitting in front of a keyboard.

Ethan Gelber, 12/04/12

Happily at large in a big world

Anyone who has been to Africa knows that there is no such thing as a single Africa. Africa Straight Up debunks the (in)sensibility that Africa could ever be limited to a single narrative.

Dan Persons, 12/03/12

Film Journalist

This week, depending on where you live, you could spend time with a sadistic murderer with a penchant for elaborate death traps in The Collection, or with a sadistic murderer with a penchant for weeding out who's been naughty and who's been nice in the Xmas-themed Silent Night.

Annette Bourdeau, 11/29/12

Entertainment Reporter

Don't you just love movies about steamy love affairs? Period pieces that chronicle sexy liaisons are the best, with all of those amazingly elaborate costumes in the mix. So many layers of fancy gowns, corsets and billowy undergarments to wade through in the heat of the moment!