Sep 26, 2014
By Austin Trunick
Web Exclusive
After two decades of screenwriting – and watching and learning from Nic Refn on the set of Drive in 2011 – Amini has made his debut as a director. His first feature is an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1964 thriller, The Two Faces of January. In the film, Chester MacFarland (Viggo Mortensen) is a scam artist on the lam in Greece with his younger wife, Colette (Kirsten Dunst.) They cross paths with another American abroad: smalltime crook Rydal (Oscar Isaac), who they form a quick friendship with. When Chester accidentally kills a private investigator sent to capture him, Rydal becomes an accomplice and the three flee to the Greek islands to avoid authorities. More
Sep 19, 2014
By Austin Trunick
Issue #51 - September/October 2014 - alt-J
For nearly 40 years, Terry Gilliam has been the archetypal cult filmmaker. Starting out as an animator and member of British comedy troupe Monty Python, he moved into filmmaking on their classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which he co-directed with Terry Jones. More
Sep 19, 2014
By Austin Trunick
Charli XCX
Throughout her acting career, Rose McGowan has had the chance to watch and learn from the many great directors she’s worked with. Now, for the first time, McGowan has taken on the new role of director on a movie set. Her debut short film, Dawn, is set in an idyllic America of the early 1960s. A young girl, is bored with her sheltered life. She makes eyes with a good-looking at a filling station. As she lets the boy and his delinquent friends into her life, she finds the world to be a much darker place than she’d bargained for. At just 17 minutes long, it’s a strong debut; a subversive bit of old-fashioned, pop-melodrama with a scary, Blue Velvet-esque undercurrent. More
Sep 17, 2014
By Austin Trunick
Web Exclusive
The Guest is the latest feature from director Adam Wingard and screenwriter Simon Barrett. Their 2013 home invasion flick, You’re Next, made the two filmmakers household names among horror fans, but their creative collaboration spans eight films, including segments of the V/H/S and ABCs of Death anthologies. One of the unique aspects of their partnership is the way they use music to communicate ideas to each other during the writing phase of a project. While developing The Guest, Adam and Simon were mainlining a steady diet of vintage goth tracks and 1980s synth music. This playlist was culled from artists and songs mentioned during our conversation, and includes several tracks that appear in the film itself. Hit play, sit back, and check out our interview with Adam and Simon. More
Sep 12, 2014
By Austin Trunick
Web Exclusive
Leigh Janiak’s utterly creepy Honeymoon, Rose Leslie plays a young newlywed who is (quite literally) losing her mind. Portraying a character undergoing such a dramatic transformation would be a challenge for any actor, let alone one taking on a lead role for the first time. But Rose Leslie is up to the task, and Honeymoon should rightfully be her breakout role. She’s best known to this point for her television roles as a housemaid on Downton Abbey and the wildling warrior Ygritte on Game of Thrones. More
