An ambitious tale about the rise of a fictitious dictator could do with some of the straightforward power of its brutal score
This accomplished directing debut by actor Brady Corbet is clearly the work of a film-maker already fluent in the language of cinema, even if he is not quite certain what he wants to say. The key elements of this fable about the early years of a fictitious fascist dictator (loosely based on Mussolini) are impressive. The cinematography by Lol Crawley uses natural light to arresting effect. The thunderous orchestral score by Scott Walker, used principally in an overture and a coda, is magnificent. It’s a blast of ominous portent into the film, which reminded me of Luca Guadagnino’s use of the music of John Adams in I Am Love. By contrast, the actual body of the story lacks some of the brutal clarity of the music.
This accomplished directing debut by actor Brady Corbet is clearly the work of a film-maker already fluent in the language of cinema, even if he is not quite certain what he wants to say. The key elements of this fable about the early years of a fictitious fascist dictator (loosely based on Mussolini) are impressive. The cinematography by Lol Crawley uses natural light to arresting effect. The thunderous orchestral score by Scott Walker, used principally in an overture and a coda, is magnificent. It’s a blast of ominous portent into the film, which reminded me of Luca Guadagnino’s use of the music of John Adams in I Am Love. By contrast, the actual body of the story lacks some of the brutal clarity of the music.
- 8/21/2016
- by Wendy Ide
- The Guardian - Film News
Philippe Grandrieux’s Despite the Night is a relentlessly morose, miasmic thing that, like much of his work, alternately seeks to narcotize and brutalize its viewer into submission until the distinctions between agony and ecstasy, tenderness and violation, are indistinguishable. Grandrieux is, in many respects, a wildly contradictory figure: a tough sell for most audiences; an easy pitch for prospective fans (the maximalist Denis? the haptic Lynch? the narrative Brakhage? the goth Malick? etc); a niche artist even in the realm of “festival cinema”; yet (for instance) a favorite of Marilyn Manson, who once recruited him to direct a music video. In a skeptical piece written for Reverse Shot, Michael Sicinski characterizes Grandrieux as the Scott Walker to Gaspar Noé’s Trent Reznor — the shadowy, marginal alternative to the celebrity provocateur. Facetiously, Sicinski continues, “To judge from his mystique, Grandrieux is that awesome band nobody likes yet, and you secretly hope nobody discovers.
- 8/20/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Ted Cruz has a simple answer for whether he'd be Donald Trump's vice president. "It ain't gonna happen," the presidential hopeful said at an MSNBC town hall in Buffalo, New York, on Thursday. Host Chuck Todd asked the 45-year-old Texas senator if he would consider a Trump-Cruz ticket if the Republican National Convention urged him to do so. The candidate held to his answer. The statement comes just days after Trump, 69, said he would consider some of his past opponents, including Marco Rubio, John Kasich and Scott Walker, as his running mate. "I like Marco Rubio … There are people...
- 4/15/2016
- by Char Adams, @CiCiAdams_
- PEOPLE.com
Ted Cruz has a simple answer for whether he'd be Donald Trump's vice president. "It ain't gonna happen," the presidential hopeful said at an MSNBC town hall in Buffalo, New York, on Thursday. Host Chuck Todd asked the 45-year-old Texas senator if he would consider a Trump-Cruz ticket if the Republican National Convention urged him to do so. The candidate held to his answer. The statement comes just days after Trump, 69, said he would consider some of his past opponents, including Marco Rubio, John Kasich and Scott Walker, as his running mate. "I like Marco Rubio … There are people...
- 4/15/2016
- by Char Adams, @CiCiAdams_
- PEOPLE.com
Donald Trump wouldn't mind having some of his past opponents serving alongside him if he gets to the White House. In an interview with USA Today, the presidential hopeful said he could see himself appointing some of his past foes to a position in his administration - namely Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, and John Kasich. "I like Marco Rubio … There are people I have in mind in terms of vice president. I just haven't told anybody names," he said. "I do like Marco. I do like Kasich … I like Walker actually in a lot of ways." He added: "There are people I like,...
- 4/12/2016
- by Char Adams, @CiCiAdams_
- PEOPLE.com
One father is making sure more parents are informed about toe-tourniquet syndrome after his baby daughter had a harrowing experience with the common condition. Wichita, Kansas, dad Scott Walker took to Facebook on Jan. 21 to educate others following a near-crisis with his daughter Molly, who is almost 5 months old. "I was with the family over lunch and Molly was cranky and screaming - nothing out of the ordinary," Walker recounted on Facebook. "As worked up as she was getting, she started to overheat, which prompted [mom] Jess to remove her socks and cool her down." "That's when we saw her toe.
- 2/4/2016
- by Lydia Price, @lydsprice
- PEOPLE.com
One father is making sure more parents are informed about toe-tourniquet syndrome after his baby daughter had a harrowing experience with the common condition. Wichita, Kansas, dad Scott Walker took to Facebook on Jan. 21 to educate others following a near-crisis with his daughter Molly, who is almost 5 months old. "I was with the family over lunch and Molly was cranky and screaming - nothing out of the ordinary," Walker recounted on Facebook. "As worked up as she was getting, she started to overheat, which prompted [mom] Jess to remove her socks and cool her down." "That's when we saw her toe.
- 2/4/2016
- by Lydia Price, @lydsprice
- PEOPLE.com
With just nine days to go before opening night, the Berlin International Film Festival is putting the final touches on their 66th edition. Organizers have announced the official seven-person jury, which will be presided over by previously-announced president Meryl Streep. The actress will be joined by Clive Owen, German actor Lars Eidinger, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, Polish director and Silver Bear winner Malgorzata Szumowska, U.K. film critic Nick James and French photographer Brigitte Lacombe. Read More: Jeff Nichols' 'Midnight Special' Leads 2016 Berlin International Film Festival Competition Lineup Additionally, the festival has announced three special screenings that will pay tribute to David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Ettore Scola. Bowie, who appeared at the Berlinale in documentaries like "Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart" and "Scott Walker - 30 Century Man," will be honored with a showing of Nicolas Roeg's "The Main Who Fell to...
- 2/2/2016
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Hints of the baritone vocals of Scott Walker, guitar playing chops of fellow countryman José González, and the pop rock sensibilities of Belle & Sebastian brush against the melancholy vibe of this Spanish-born, Göteborg, Sweden-based guitarist and composer's latest offering. Like a walk in crisp autumn weather, "Carta al desastre" (literal translation is "Letter to Disaster") is the perfect soundtrack for shorter days and falling leaves. From his new album Solar Rapé (Pueblo Records); one of my favorite albums of the year and on repeated shuffle for weeks now.
- 11/7/2015
- by Dusty Wright
- www.culturecatch.com
While traditional Republican presidential candidates like Jeb Bush and Scott Walker seem flummoxed by surprise frontrunner Donald Trump, at least one public figure recognizes just how much Trump has upended the political landscape: Omarosa Manigault, a former staffer for then-Vice President Al Gore and three-time “Apprentice” contestant. “He’s changed the game,” Manigault told TheWrap. Despite having gotten tangled in one controversy after another that might have felled most traditional candidates, Trump continues to soar in the polls. “This is such a new space for people. I don’t think the other candidates understand it.” Manigault believes the reason...
- 8/12/2015
- by Itay Hod
- The Wrap
With issues about race and policing dominating the news over the past year, Larry Wilmore was sure Fox News would spend a good portion of last week's Gop debate asking candidates for their policy prescriptions in that area. But all we got was one measly question about the #BlackLivesMatter movement posed to Scott Walker before the network cut to commercial and moved on to other topics.
- 8/11/2015
- by Matt Wilstein
- Mediaite - TV
Jon Stewart’s final “Daily Show” opened with a nod to the past as a star-studded cast of current and former correspondents joined him to cover the first Republican debate. Jessica Williams, Hasan Minhaj and Jordan Klepper reported from the debate, covering Donald Trump, Jeb Bush and Scott Walker’s debate performance. They were soon joined by a returning Samantha Bee, Lewis Black, Steve Carell, Vance DeGeneres, Mo Rocca, Matt Walsh and an angry Larry Wilmore, whose “Nightly Show” got bumped for an extended finale for Stewart. “Black shows matter,” Wilmore said, a nod to the Black Lives Matter movement.
- 8/7/2015
- by Jordan Chariton
- The Wrap
If you're one of those bizarre humans of the universe who thinks that Donald Trump is a serious presidential candidate and not, in fact, a horribly offensive person and/or a giant joke, turn away. Turn away right now. For those of you left (welcome!), have we got a treat for you. Tonight marks the very first Republican debate ahead of the 2016 election. It will feature the likes of Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Rand Paul and, of course, Mr. Trump. It's sure to be an evening chock full of sentiments both shocking and hilarious. You're probably going to want to gather everyone you know to sit around your living room and stare open-mouthed at the spectacle together. But if you can't do that,...
- 8/6/2015
- E! Online
Editor's Note: Please drink responsibly and don't die on us. We need you. We love you. You complete us. You had us at hello. You jump, we jump. Ok? Ok. Tonight, the cast of the TV show The Muppets will appear onstage to scream at each other. Some people are calling it the Republican primary presidential debate, starring Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and unfortunately, many more presidential candidates. Now if you're interested in watching the debate but you know it'll make you sad in your heart, we have just the thing for you: A Gop Debate Drinking Game! The rules below are simple; so simple that if you are sober at the end of this then you either did it wrong or...
- 8/6/2015
- E! Online
Since announcing his presidential bid, Donald Trump has come under fire for his controversial remarks on illegal immigration and whether or not Sen. John McCain is a "war hero."
But the 69-year-old media mogul still has support from the people who matter most: his children. "Our father, Donald J. Trump is a true visionary and a great mentor," Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump tell People in an exclusive statement. (All three Trump offspring have contributed to both Democratic and Republican campaigns in the past. Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, has been a major contributor to the Democratic Party, having given more than $100,000 over the years.
But the 69-year-old media mogul still has support from the people who matter most: his children. "Our father, Donald J. Trump is a true visionary and a great mentor," Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump tell People in an exclusive statement. (All three Trump offspring have contributed to both Democratic and Republican campaigns in the past. Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, has been a major contributor to the Democratic Party, having given more than $100,000 over the years.
- 7/21/2015
- by Tara Fowler, @waterfowlerta
- People.com - TV Watch
Jon Stewart returned from his summer break Monday not wanting to talk about the Iran nuclear deal or Greece's economic disaster. Instead, the host feasted on a topic that will likely monopolize much of The Daily Show as Stewart inches toward the end of his tenure. "Donald Trump. The patron saint of topical comedians who are just running out the clock," Stewart said, later admitting, "I so love this man."
Much of Stewart's Trump takedown focused on the real estate mogul's proclamation that former presidential hopeful John McCain "wasn't a war hero,...
Much of Stewart's Trump takedown focused on the real estate mogul's proclamation that former presidential hopeful John McCain "wasn't a war hero,...
- 7/21/2015
- Rollingstone.com
How many Republican presidential candidates is too many? 15, apparently. This morning Scott Walker announced that he was jumping into the fray, which means that the 2016 election can officially be described as a clusterf--k. That is the correct technical term, of course. For his part, Walker is running on the platform of, well, we're not quite sure, but it has something to do with being a leader. In his video message he promised to offer "fresh leadership with big bold ideas from outside of Washington to actually get things done." Alrighty. For America's part, they're pissed. And not just it's-Monday-morning-and-we're-easily-annoyed pissed, but genuinely angry. It seems that...
- 7/13/2015
- E! Online
Scott Walker is running for president! On Monday, the Wisconsin governor announced he would be seeking the Gop nomination, tweeting, "I'm in. I'm running for president because Americans deserve a leader who will fight and win for them." Walker is the 15th Gop candidate, joining fellow Republicans Jeb Bush, Dr. Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina and Marco Rubio, to name a few. In a video message posted to Walker's campaign site, he said: "America needs new fresh leadership with big bold ideas from outside of Washington to actually get things done." Walker, who has had three statewide wins in four years, makes a point to acknowledge his strong record...
- 7/13/2015
- E! Online
Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb is joining the ever-growing list of candidates in the 2016 presidential race. Webb’s announcement, via email, makes him the fifth Democrat to join the race, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley and former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee. “I understand the odds, particularly in today’s political climate where fair debate is so often drowned out by huge sums of money,” Webb said in the email.”But our country needs a fresh approach to solving the problems that confront us and too often unnecessarily divide us.
- 7/2/2015
- by Itay Hod
- The Wrap
Accompanying the first track of the anticipated collaboration, Soused, between avant-garde crooner Scott Walker and sludgy noisemeisters Sunn O))) is an arresting short film by French director and choreographer Gisèle Vienne. Walker’s music — with or without Sunn O))) — is the stuff of waking nightmares, and Vienne’s dream-like film matches it fuzzed-out chord by fuzzed-out chord. A house in the mountains, a blonde-tressed woman moving in slow-motion epilepsy; a teenage boy (her son?) locked in tremulous horror; a car crash?; and a sudden appearance by French novelist, theater artist and dominatrix Catherine Robbe-Grillet… it’s eerie, disquieting, and, with its […]...
- 10/23/2014
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Accompanying the first track of the anticipated collaboration, Soused, between avant-garde crooner Scott Walker and sludgy noisemeisters Sunn O))) is an arresting short film by French director and choreographer Gisèle Vienne. Walker’s music — with or without Sunn O))) — is the stuff of waking nightmares, and Vienne’s dream-like film matches it fuzzed-out chord by fuzzed-out chord. A house in the mountains, a blonde-tressed woman moving in slow-motion epilepsy; a teenage boy (her son?) locked in tremulous horror; a car crash?; and a sudden appearance by French novelist, theater artist and dominatrix Catherine Robbe-Grillet… it’s eerie, disquieting, and, with its […]...
- 10/23/2014
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
As we previously reported, album sales are at a record all-time low in the U.S. Last week, album sales totaled 3.97 million for the week, marking the first time the tally has dropped below 4 million, unprecedented in the SoundScan era (which kicked off with tracking sales data in 1991). Billboard -- who has a partnership with SoundScan -- is the first to report album and sales news, the good, the bad and the ugly. Today it was reported that sales are slightly up from that grim news last week, 5% only (to 4.2 million), due to Ariana Grande's fresh "My Everything." But still, that makes it trending low, which Ed Christman said is only to be expected. "The weekly average number of album sales fell from 4.75 million units in the first quarter to 4.55 million units in the second quarter. In the first 8 weeks of the third quarter, the average has fallen further to 4.2 million.
- 9/4/2014
- Hitfix
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