The Robert Bresson quote that opens the anthology film “Year of the Everlasting Storm” — “you don’t create by adding, but by taking away” — makes a tidy adage of the time-honored idea that deprivation breeds innovation. Just as the signees of the Dogme 95 Manifesto believed that restricting themselves along various formal guidelines would enforce a newfound authenticity in their work, the seven directors contributing to this omnibus operate under the premise that the obstructions of the COVID-19 era could be more boon than bane, compelling them to get crafty and dig deeper.

Continue reading ‘Year Of The Everlasting Storm’: Neon’s Anthology Film Features Auteurs Jafar Panahi, Laura Poitras, David Lowery & More [Cannes Review] at The Playlist.

Another Cannes Film Festival line-up announcement, another new round of trailers. Now, we’ve got the first look at Neon’s “The Year of the Everlasting Storm,” an anthology feature featuring seven stories told by an internationally acclaimed roster: filmmakers Jafar Panâhi, Anthony Chen, Malik Vitthal, Laura Poitras, Dominga Sotomayor, David Lowery, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul.  

READ MORE: Sean Baker, Andrea Arnold, Mia Hanson-Love, Asghar Farhadi New Films Announced For 2021 Cannes Film Festival

No real word on who stars in what short, other from what you can glean in the trailer, but here’s the official synopsis:

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Watch

Featuring seven stories from seven auteurs from around the world, the film chronicles this unprecedented moment in time and is a true love letter to the power of cinema and its storytellers.

Continue reading ‘The Year Of The Everlasting Storm’ Trailer: Cannes-Bound Anthology Features 7 Stories Told By Jafar Panahi, David Lowery, Apichatpong Weerasethakul & More at The Playlist.

There have been a surprising number of pandemic films that have been released over the last year. In a world where people were on lockdown with very little to do outside of their homes, it seems as if some filmmakers have been able to use that time to still create films. Whether that’s the various short films from folks like David F. Sandberg, Spike Lee, amongst others or fully-produced features like Shudder’s surprisingly great “Host” or the dreadful, Michael Bay-produced thriller, “Songbird.” And over at NEON, the studio decided to go a different route with the studio’s upcoming feature, “The Year of the Everlasting Storm.”

READ MORE: Hollywood Studios Have Little New To Sneak At Big Screen Is Back Event

According to Screen Daily, NEON’s new pandemic-inspired film, “The Year of the Everlasting Storm,” was showcased as part of the recent “The Big Screen is Back” event that happened as a way to get people excited about going to cinemas once again.

Continue reading David Lowery, Apichatpong Weerasethakul & More Directing Segments Of NEON’s Upcoming Pandemic-Inspired Film at The Playlist.

Two words sum up this grisly mess. And no, they aren’t “grisly” or “mess.” It’s when detective Renee (Mary J. Blige) yells, “Calling backup!” It’s not only a good judgment call, but it also prepares audiences for what’s to come—no matter how much firepower “Body Cam” brings to the table, it’s never enough to overcome the obstacles at hand. This supernatural revenge thriller aims to shock—bones are crunched, bodies are flung—but ends up being murky at best, boring at worst.

Continue reading ‘Body Cam’: Sleepy Performances & Shoddy Storytelling Kill This Cop Thriller [Review] at The Playlist.

On The Rise 2014: 12 Directors To Watch

Continue reading On The Rise 2014: 12 Directors To Watch at The Playlist.

The Ones To Watch: 20 Breakout Actors, Directors & Talents From The 2014 Sundance Film Festival

Continue reading The Ones To Watch: 20 Breakout Actors, Directors & Talents From The 2014 Sundance Film Festival at The Playlist.

Sundance Review: ‘Imperial Dreams’ Features A Knockout Performance From 'Attack the Block' Star John Boyega

Continue reading Sundance Review: ‘Imperial Dreams’ Features A Knockout Performance From ‘Attack the Block’ Star John Boyega at The Playlist.