Cinefile

Fukunaga flies from South America to England

Michael Tenzer Dec 10, 2009

It's not often that a first time director is handed a decently-budgeted film with a story steeped in international unrest. However, for NYU graduate Cary Fukunaga, the critically-acclaimed "Sin Nombre" would mark the beginning of his ambitious vision. With a load slew of praise and awards, including Sundance 2009's Directing Award, Fukunaga has within one year realized a film career that others take decades to create.

So, where does a young auteur go after documenting the world of grueling immigrant travel and criminality in South America? Why, classic 19th century literature, of course! Fukunaga will lend his raw ...

10 Songs You Hear Far Too Often in Movie Trailers

Michael Tenzer Apr 18, 2010

Here’s a list of songs that we’ve heard over and over and over again - songs that never seem to escape their unholy fate as a “movie trailer” tune. These are good (and terrible) pop songs led into a life of servitude, forced to promote all kinds of movies. From raunchy comedies to action extravaganzas to stylized thrillers to children’s animation, no genre is safe. Send the suspects in for a line up:

1. “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” – Stevie Wonder  
This has to be one of the most massively overused songs in movie trailer history. Name ...

6 Fantastic Traditionally Animated Films Of The Past Two Decades

Michael Tenzer Jun 17, 2010

Proof that two-dimensional animation isn’t completely dead, the following films, spanning from 1990 to 2010, show off boundless imagination and rich storytelling. These are but a handful of movies that reaffirm the significance of an age old art form, one that can still be exciting and a total treat for the eyes and heart.

1. Ghost in the Shell (1995) – A quintessential sci-fi epic, Mamoru Oshii’s adaptation of Ghost in the Shell mixes deep philosophical overtones with intense futuristic action. Far from a typical sci-fi police adventure, the film is a poignant meditation on “existence” - highlighting where the ...

A Few Tips and Memoirs on Composing Music for Film

Michael Tenzer May 07, 2010

Recent work on my friend’s film reminded me of all the ways a movie might benefit from music. The process reaffirmed the importance of tone and placement in my mind. My friend’s film, a horror movie called Spots, tells the story of Carl, a shy college student who contracts a grotesque STD from a hooker and unwittingly spreads it to the circle of people he knows. While it has some pretty gross scenes, my buddy’s main focus was on how the disease amplified Carl’s insecurities and how he projected them on to others.

So my score ...

Art House in the 21st Century: 10 Great Films of the last Decade

Michael Tenzer Jan 31, 2010

By no means is this a presumptuous declaration that the following films are the “best” of the past decade. Instead, this list is a deeply personal tribute to ten films that I have continued to obsess over long after that first roll of the credits. To me, these are the movies that helped define all the creamy goodness that art house cinema became over the last ten years. It was a tumultuous decade - full of strife and innovations - but the art house kept true to its long-held desire of enlightening and challenging the viewer while applying masterful craftsmanship to cement ...

Buschel finds his Missing Person

Michael Tenzer Nov 11, 2009

With the release of his acclaimed 9/11 noir, The Missing Person, writer/director Noah Buschel has emerged as a strong voice for genuinely independent film. Buschel was never formally educated at film school, in fact, he dropped out of high school before college even entered the equation. That didn’t stop the young director from pursuing his passions, though. From age 19 onward, he kept writing scripts and eventually caught the attention of an open-minded producer - thus beginning his film career.

Buschel’s filmmaking style is instinctual, rather then relying on the taught rigors of academic film techniques. His ...