|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/dparrot/ |
Upload File : |
<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml"
xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word"
xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">
<meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document>
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14">
<meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 14">
<link rel=File-List href="nyff-14_files/filelist.xml">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Author>Dr. Richard L. Rubens</o:Author>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:LastAuthor>Dr Richard L Rubens</o:LastAuthor>
<o:Revision>7</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>14880</o:TotalTime>
<o:LastPrinted>2013-11-04T02:01:00Z</o:LastPrinted>
<o:Created>2016-08-10T00:51:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2016-08-10T01:07:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>4152</o:Words>
<o:Characters>23670</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Microsoft</o:Company>
<o:Lines>197</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>55</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>27767</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.00</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<link rel=dataStoreItem href="nyff-14_files/item0006.xml"
target="nyff-14_files/props007.xml">
<link rel=themeData href="nyff-14_files/themedata.thmx">
<link rel=colorSchemeMapping href="nyff-14_files/colorschememapping.xml">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>80</w:Zoom>
<w:SpellingState>Clean</w:SpellingState>
<w:GrammarState>Clean</w:GrammarState>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-520081665 -1073717157 41 0 66047 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Consolas;
panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:modern;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:-520092929 1073806591 9 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
h1
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
mso-outline-level:1;
font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
font-weight:bold;}
h3
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 3 Char";
mso-style-next:Normal;
margin-top:10.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan lines-together;
page-break-after:avoid;
mso-outline-level:3;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Cambria","serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;
color:#4F81BD;
mso-themecolor:accent1;
font-weight:bold;}
h4
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 4 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
mso-outline-level:4;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
font-weight:bold;}
p.MsoToc1, li.MsoToc1, div.MsoToc1
{mso-style-update:auto;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:39;
mso-style-next:Normal;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:3.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
tab-stops:right dotted 431.5pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-font-kerning:18.0pt;
mso-ansi-language:EN;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic;
mso-bidi-font-style:normal;
mso-no-proof:yes;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
p.MsoPlainText, li.MsoPlainText, div.MsoPlainText
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Plain Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:Consolas;}
p
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
mso-ansi-font-size:24.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-font-kerning:18.0pt;
font-weight:bold;}
span.Heading4Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 4 Char";
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 4";
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
font-weight:bold;}
span.PlainTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Plain Text Char";
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Plain Text";
mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:Consolas;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
mso-ansi-font-size:8.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Tahoma;
mso-hansi-font-family:Tahoma;
mso-bidi-font-family:Tahoma;}
span.attribute
{mso-style-name:attribute;
mso-style-unhide:no;}
span.itemprop
{mso-style-name:itemprop;
mso-style-unhide:no;}
span.mediumc3
{mso-style-name:"medium c3";
mso-style-unhide:no;}
span.Heading3Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 3 Char";
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Heading 3";
mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Cambria","serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;
color:#4F81BD;
mso-themecolor:accent1;
font-weight:bold;}
span.title-extra1
{mso-style-name:title-extra1;
mso-style-unhide:no;}
span.SpellE
{mso-style-name:"";
mso-spl-e:yes;}
span.GramE
{mso-style-name:"";
mso-gram-e:yes;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:12.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='tab-interval:.5in'>
<div class=WordSection1>
<p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NEW YORK FILM
FESTIVAL</span></b><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>2014 � 52<sup>nd</sup>
Festival<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For
many complicated reasons, I never got around to writing up all of the films
from this year�s </span><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"'>52nd New York Film Festival</span></strong><span
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>At the end of October 2014, there were 8
films from the <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>NYFF</b> that were
already in current release in theaters, and I wrote them up at that point:<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span></span><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Laura <span class=SpellE>Poitras<span
style='font-weight:normal'>'s</span></span></span></strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"'>
</span><span class=SpellE><em><b><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN'>CITIZENFOUR</span></b></em></span><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:EN'>, <strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Alain
<span class=SpellE>Rersnais<span style='font-weight:normal'>'s</span></span></span></strong> <em><b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Life of Riley (Aimer, <span
class=SpellE>boire</span> et chanter)</span></b></em>, <strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Damien Chazelle</span></strong>'s <em><b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Whiplash</span></b></em>, <strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Alejandro <span class=SpellE>I��rritu<span
style='font-weight:normal'>'s</span></span></span></strong> <em><b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of
Ignorance</span></b></em>, <strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Jean-Luc
Godard</span></strong>'s <em><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Goodbye to Language (<span
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Adieu au <span class=SpellE>langage</span></span>)</span></b></em>,
<strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Alex Ross Perry</span></strong>'s
<em><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Listen Up Philip</span></b></em>, <strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Mathieu <span class=SpellE>Amalric<span
style='font-weight:normal'>�s</span></span></span></strong> <strong><i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Blue Room (La <span class=SpellE>chambre</span>
<span class=SpellE>bleue</span>)</span></i></strong>, and <strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>David Fincher</span></strong>�s <strong><i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Gone Girl</span></i></strong><em><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.</span></em></span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN'>I usually wait
until I have written my reviews of all the film we saw in the <b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>NYFF</b> (we saw 24 that year) before
sending out my reviews (my reviews of the films from prior editions of the NYFF
have be viewed on my <a href="about:www.rlrubens.com">website</a> at <a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff.html">www.RLRubens.com/nyff.html</a>), but
some of these films from this year's Festival were simply too wonderful to
miss�and some were in limited release and may not be in theaters for long�so I decided
to go ahead and send the eight reviews out before finishing the rest�and this
may have contributed to my not having ever finished the others.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Somehow, I just lost my momentum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN'>Anyway, I am
finally posting here on my website the reviews I did do. </span><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN'> </span><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN'>The reviews of
these films are listed below, roughly in descending order of my preference for
each film</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=SpellE><span class=GramE><em><b><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>CITIZENFOUR</span></b></em></span></span><span
class=GramE><strong><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-ansi-language:EN'><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>(</span></strong></span><strong><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>World
Premiere;</span></strong><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-ansi-language:EN;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> Radius, <strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>release date, 24 October</span></strong>)</span><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'> I
cannot believe with all the wonderful films that were in this year�s NYFF that
one of our very favorites was a documentary�but <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'>what</i> a documentary! In <span class=SpellE><strong><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CITIZENFOUR</span></i></strong></span>,
<b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Laura <span class=SpellE>Poitras</span></b>
(who did the powerful documentaries <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>My Country, My Country</i> </b>[2007] and <b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The
Oath</i></b> [2010]) has created a magnificent dramatic film as well as an
important documentary record.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>In the 20
October edition of </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a
href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/holder-secrets?utm_source=tny&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklyemail&mbid=nl_141013_Weekly&CUST_ID=14747289&spMailingID=7199274&spUserID=MjQ4NTYwMzI5ODYS1&spJobID=541447692&spReportId=NTQxNDQ3NjkyS0"><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span lang=EN style='mso-ansi-language:EN'>The
New Yorker</span></i></a></span><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-ansi-language:EN'>, <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>George Packer</b>
describes <span class=SpellE><strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CITIZENFOUR</span></i></strong></span><strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'> as</span></strong> �a political thriller in three acts.�<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>As described in the NYFF program, �In January
2013, filmmaker Laura <span class=SpellE>Poitras</span> was in the process of
constructing a film about abuses of national security in post-9/11 America when
she started receiving encrypted e-mails from someone identifying himself as
�citizen four� who was ready to blow the whistle on the massive covert
surveillance programs run by the <span class=SpellE>NSA</span> and other
intelligence agencies.�<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The gradual
revelation and introduction of the film�s main protagonist is done in as
emotionally dramatic and powerfully suspenseful a way as I have ever seen done
in <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>any</i> piece of cinema�despite the
fact we all came to the screening already knowing that it was <b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Edward Snowden</b>.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>As the thrilling narrative of the story
grippingly unfolds on screen, we come to have insight into the person of <b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Snowden</b> in a way that I could not have
begun to imagine: nothing that I knew about him from the massive publicity he
ended up receiving even began to hint at the intelligence, refinement, and
elegance of this young man.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Like a Jimmy
Stewart character in a Frank Capra movie, <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Edward
Snowden</b> is seen to be an everyday citizen who is spurred to unusual action
by unusual circumstances�a patriot who feels he has to risk everything he
personally has to address a great societal wrong. The other main character in
the room with <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Snowden</b> and the rarely
seen <span class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Poitras</b></span>
is <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Glenn Greenwald</b>, formerly a
reporter for The Guardian and deeply involved in reporting abuses of privacy
committed by the <span class=SpellE>NSA</span>, who does most of the
interacting with <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Snowden</b>.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span><span class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Poitras</b></span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> </b>and<b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Greenwald</b> flew to Hong Kong to spend
several days with <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Snowden</b> and became
the center of the group of journalists to whom he entrusted the revealing of
the information he had provided.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>(An
unexpected side light of the process was how concerned Snowden was to insure
that the people he chose to do this would do so in a responsible manner�who
would make public the relevant information in his purloined documents without
causing any unnecessary collateral harm to agents and people not concerned with
the central issues he felt the need to make public, and would be
technologically and personally responsible enough to protect it in the process.)<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span><span class=SpellE><strong><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CITIZENFOUR</span></i></strong></span><strong><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
</span></i></strong><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>is completely successfully done
as an edge-of-your-seats thriller of a story, while at the same time it is a
profoundly moving character study of a man moved to action�rising to tragic
stature in his risking all he has personally to do what he feels is morally
demanded of him.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>It is also a chronicle
of one of the pivotal moments in recent history.</span></strong> <strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>��</span>For those who are already convinced that
Snowden is a perfidious villain, the strong positive bias of this film�s
perspective of course will prove difficult; and admittedly there is within this
issue an extremely complex question of balancing civil liberties and national
security.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Personally, as an old time
First Amendment liberal, I am far more concerned about the massive infringement
of civil liberties (periodically I have as the .sig file on my email the famous
1759 Benjamin Franklin quote, �They that can give up essential liberty to
obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither.�), so I have a powerful bias
in this matter.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>And the film makes no
attempt at balance in dealing with this moment in history�so if you are looking
for a weighing of these issues, you will <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>not</i>
find it here; </span></strong><span class=SpellE><strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CITIZENFOUR</span></i></strong></span><strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal'> has a firm, clear
position.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span></span></strong><strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>It received a standing ovation at the Festival, and the most sustained
applause of any film in </span></strong><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
font-weight:normal'>this year�s NYFF</span></strong><strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>�all of which repeated as </span></strong><strong><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>Laura <span class=SpellE>Poitras</span>, Glen Greenwald,
William <span class=SpellE>Binney</span>, Josh <span class=SpellE>Appelbaum</span>,
</span></strong><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>and all the others involved in
disseminating the Snowden documents or in making the film then took the stage,
and then <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>again</i> when members of
Snowden�s family took the stage</span></strong><strong><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span></span></strong><strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>Whether you are moved to agree with the political slant of this film or
not,</span></strong><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <span
class=SpellE><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>CITIZENFOUR</i></span></span></strong><strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'> is a fabulous piece of filmmaking.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>For us it seems a must-see experience, enjoyable as it is important</span></strong></span><strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span></strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-ansi-language:EN'> </span></strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN;mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'> </span></i></strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:EN;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Life of Riley (Aimer, <span
class=SpellE>boire</span> et chanter)</span></i></strong><span
class=title-extra1><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>(</span></span><strong><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>US Premiere,</span></strong><strong><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'> </span></strong><span
class=title-extra1><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>France, </span></span><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>Kino <span
class=SpellE>Lorber</span>, <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>release
date: 24 October</b>)<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>adore</i> the works of <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Alain <span class=SpellE>Resnais</span></b>: from his 1959 <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Hiroshima, Mon Amour</i> (a newly restored
print of which is currently being shown at the Film Center) and his 1961 <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Last Year at Marienbad (<span class=SpellE>L'ann�e</span>
<span class=SpellE>derni�re</span> � Marienbad)</i>, to his 2012 <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-12.htm#_Toc339139270">You <span
class=SpellE>Ain't</span> Seen <span class=SpellE>Nothin</span>' Yet (<span
class=SpellE>Vous</span> <span class=SpellE>n'avez</span> encore <span
class=SpellE>rien</span> vu)</a></i>, <span class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Resnais</b>�s</span> films have thrilled and delighted me.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>He was present at the very first NYFF with <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Hiroshima, Mon Amour</i>, and in 2009 he was
present at Opening Night of the <a href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-09.html">2010
NYFF</a> with his </span><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-09.html#_Toc245911495">Wild Grass (Les <span
class=SpellE>herbes</span> <span class=SpellE>folles</span>)</a></span></i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>, which was my favorite film in the
Festival that year.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>His death this past
March saddened me, and is a profound loss to the film world.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>(And what marvelous, impish character he was!<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>During </span><span lang=EN style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>the <a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-09.html">2010 NYFF</a></span><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>, he discovered Bed Bath and Beyond
across the street from Lincoln Center, and he kept dragging his actors there
when they arrived in NY. I have memories of him and Mathieu <span class=SpellE>Amalric</span>
coming back to Tully laden with packages from there.)<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>And his final film, </span><strong><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN;mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Life of Riley</span></i></strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>,
fulfilled all of my wishes and expectations.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>As with <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-12.htm#_Toc339139270">You <span
class=SpellE>Ain't</span> Seen <span class=SpellE>Nothin</span>' Yet</a></i>, </span><em><b><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:EN'>Life of Riley </span></b></em><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>is as intricately involved with theater as it is with
themes of mortality and death.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>His usual
repertory cast of incredibly wonderful actors are involved in rehearsing a play
that they are going to stage:<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>the
wonderful <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Sabine <span class=SpellE>Az�ma</span></b>
(<span class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Resnais</b>�s</span>
real-world wife) plays <span class=SpellE>Kathyn</span>, who is married to a
doctor, Colin (played by <span class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Hippolyte</b></span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> <span
class=SpellE>Girardot</span></b>); </span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>Caroline <span
class=SpellE>Silhol</span></span></b><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-ansi-language:EN'> is Tamara, the wife of the wealthy businessman, Jack
(played by <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Michel <span class=SpellE>Vuillermoz</span></b>);
<b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Sandrine <span class=SpellE>Kiberlain</span></b>
is Monica, the girlfriend of Simeon (<b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Andr�
<span class=SpellE>Dussollier</span></b>), and recently separated wife of the
eponymous �George Riley,� who, along with �Penny,� the director of the play
they are rehearsing, are major presences in the story but who never actually
appear in any form.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>(Are George and/or
Penny alter egos for </span><span class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Resnais</span></b></span><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>? <span class=GramE>Or elements there of?</span>
Your call�) The story line is simple: Colin, as Riley�s physician, has learned
that George is dying of cancer; Kathryn wheedles the information out of him,
and then proceeds to blab it to everyone; Jack, who is Riley�s best friend, is
grief struck; everyone is�or wants to be�having an affair with everyone else,
especially George; and, in the midst of all this, they all are rehearsing this
play.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>If this sounds like a typical
French farce, it is�at least to a satisfyingly humorous degree; and </span><em><b><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:EN'>Life of Riley </span></b></em><em><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>is</span></em><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
a really funny film</span><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-ansi-language:EN'>.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>But that does
not <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>begin</i> to describe what <span
class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Resnais</b></span> has
created here.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Alan <span class=SpellE>Ayckbourn</span></b> play </span><strong><i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Life of Riley</span></i></strong><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>, upon
which <span class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Resnais</b></span>
based this screenplay, is�as is <span class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Resnais</b>�s</span> film�the story of this group of friends rehearsing
<i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>another</i> <span class=SpellE><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Ayckbourn</b></span> play, </span><i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Relatively Speaking</span></i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic'>.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>These embedded layers of story are reflected
and further complicated in the way </span><span class=SpellE><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-ansi-language:EN'>Resnais</span></b></span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>�s
film is constructed:<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>these three couples
live in the English countryside, to which we are introduced in drawings, which
morph on screen into real world filmed images, which then transform into crude
stage sets in front of which the action of the film takes place�even though it
is clear that these are <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>not</i> the sets
for the play they are rehearsing, but rather theatrical transformations of the
world of the film itself, symbolically transported into the world of
theater.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Although we often are listening
to the characters running lines <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>for</i>
the play within the film, we do not see the actual rehearsing of the film
itself. The main actions take place in front of the exteriors of the three
houses, but in their stage-set transformed representations.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>(It is fascinating to note that not until the
very end of the film are we ever permitted to enter into the interiors of any
of the homes, even though that is often where the most significant actions are
occurring�in every level of the realities.)<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span></span><em><b><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN'>Life of Riley </span></b></em><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>is a
deeply satisfying, philosophically thoughtful, enormously meaningful
contemplation of the meaning of life, mortality, and death; but one that never
makes this contemplation weighty or heavy-handed, but rather remains happily
enjoyable and life-affirming in its entirety.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>Along with his prior two films, <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-09.html#_Toc245911495">Wild Grass</a></i>
and </span><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-12.htm#_Toc339139270">You <span
class=SpellE>Ain't</span> Seen <span class=SpellE>Nothin</span>' Yet</a></span></i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>,<em><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
</span></em></span><em><b><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN'>Life of Riley </span></b></em><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-style:italic'>forms a
magnificent farewell trilogy appropriate to the life and work of this fabulous
filmmaker</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"'> </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:EN'> </span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>Whiplash</span></i></b><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'> (USA,
Sony Pictures Classics, <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>release date: 10
October</b>) is an electrifying first feature from 29 year old <b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Damien Chazelle</b>, described to us by <b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Gavin Smith</b> (Senior Programmer at the <b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Film Society</b>, editor of Film Comment,
and a member of the Selection Committee) before we saw it as �a cliff-hanger�
and a film we�d love�and he was completely correct on both counts.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Based on a short film of the same name by <b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Chazelle</b> (which was shown in last
year�s <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>NYFF</b>), <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Whiplash</i></b> is the story of
Andrew (amazingly well-played by 18 year old, <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Miles Teller)</b>, a student at �the most prestigious music
conservatory in New York.� Andrew is an aspiring jazz drummer, desperate to
work with Terrance Fletcher (wonderfully played by the accomplished <b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>J. K. Simmons</b>), who presides over the
prestige jazz performance group at the school.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>Mr. Fletcher is a perfectionist�demanding beyond the limits of reason
and harsh well into the range of the blatantly sadistic�who exhorts, demeans,
berates, and terrifies his students in an attempt to elicit excellence from
them, without regard to the emotional devastation he causes in the process.
Andrew is hell-bent on making it work with Fletcher and on succeeding whatever
the cost.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The relationship/warfare that
ensues between them is as gripping as it is intense.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Whiplash</i></b> very deservedly won both
the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival,
where it was dubbed �<em><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Full
Metal Jacket</span></em> at Juilliard.�<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>The film is an emotional roller coaster, but it is also an exciting,
powerful, and extremely well-made film�well-worth the exciting <span
class=GramE>ride</span>.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The music,
particularly the band�s performances of Hank Levy�s �Whiplash� and Ellington�s
�Caravan, is as emotionally absorbing as it is entertaining.</span><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> And the climax of the film
is truly ecstatic�even to one who dislikes drum solos, and is wary of drummers
in general.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span></span><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'> </span><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3><strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span lang=EN
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of <span
class=GramE>Ignorance<span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-style:normal'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span></span><span style='font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-style:normal'>(</span></span></span></i></strong><strong><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal'>Closing Night. <span class=GramE>US.</span>
</span></strong><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;
mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>Fox Searchlight and Regency Enterprises, </span><span lang=EN
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN'>Release
date: 17 October</span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>)<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I have not
liked <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>any</i> of the films of </span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN'>Alejandro <span class=SpellE>I��rritu</span> </span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>since his
wonderful 2000 <span class=SpellE><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Amores</i></span><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> <span class=SpellE>Perros</span></i>�and
actually strongly disliked a couple; so I approached this Closing Night film
with great trepidation.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I was very
pleasantly surprised, and my appreciation for it has increased with the passage
of time and reflection: </span><strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal'>Birdman</span></i></strong><strong><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN'> </span></i></strong><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>is an interesting, funny, intense, and thoroughly
enjoyable film, well-worth your attention.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>The underlying set of the film may be its best part: </span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN'>Michael Keaton</span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> (who achieved popular acclaim 25 years ago for his
portrayals of Batman) plays <span class=SpellE>Riggan</span> Thomson, an aging
actor who decades earlier had played �Birdman��a character who wears a
super-hero costume that looks wonderfully like the Batman costume </span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN'>Keaton</span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> himself had worn, only with wings and a <span
class=SpellE>beak</span>!�in a series of action hero films, but who is now
trying to reclaim a career as a serious stage actor on Broadway with his own
adaptation of Raymond Carver�s</span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN'> <em><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>What We Talk About When We Talk About
Love</span></em></span><em><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;mso-bidi-font-style:italic'>.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>In this stage endeavor <span class=SpellE>Riggan</span>
is helped and hindered by his cast and crew for the production, each one of
whom turns in an incredible performance in the film, if not necessarily in <span
class=SpellE>Riggan�s</span> play or in his life:<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>foremost among them </span></em><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN'>Edward Norton</span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>, who does a fabulous job as Mike, a narcissistic,
provocative, totally unpredictable star in the play, also has his own real-life
history with playing action heroes�and his explosive anger does seem to riff on
his role as Bruce Banner in the 2008 <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The
Incredible Hulk</i>; </span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN'>Naomi Watts</span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>, who turns
in a great performance as the vulnerable actress, Leslie; </span><span lang=EN
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN'>Emma
Stone</span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>, who plays
Sam, <span class=SpellE>Riggan�s</span> sulking, sultry, drug addict, daughter
who is his assistant (and also herself had a comic-book hero role in the 2012 <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Spiderman</i> series); </span><span lang=EN
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN'>Zach <span
class=SpellE>Galifianikis</span></span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>, who turns in an unexpectedly strong dramatic
performance as Jake, <span class=SpellE>Riggan�s</span> manager; and </span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN'>Andrea <span class=SpellE>Riseborough</span></span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> as <span
class=SpellE>Riggan�s</span> girlfriend Laura.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>From the wonderful opening scene in which we watch <span class=SpellE>Riggan</span>
from behind, floating off the ground in a Lotus position in his dressing room,
we get to see his residual Birdman powers and begin to hear along with him the
inner voice�which sounds suspiciously like Keaton�s �Batman� voice, as opposed
to his Bruce Wayne voice�<span class=SpellE>Riggan</span> hears often
commenting on his life and experience.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>The question of what reality is�within the multiple levels of film
history and film, film and play, play, and personal life and inner
experience�quietly haunts and enriches the underpinnings of this film.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The film was brashly shot by DP </span><span
class=itemprop><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1'>Emmanuel
Lubezki</span></span><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1'> </span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>in long,
uninterrupted takes: and the effect of continuous action was further enhanced
by digital <span class=SpellE>stiching</span> together of those takes into what
appears to be an almost unending continuous shot.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Much of it was actually filmed within
Broadway�s St. James Theatre. The restrictions and constrictions of these
decisions on the part of </span><span class=SpellE><span lang=EN
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN'>I��rritu</span></span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> and </span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1'>Lubezki</span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> lend additional power and intensity to an already
gripping film.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>But what I leave out in
most of this is how funny </span><strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Birdman</span></i></strong><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> </span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>manages to be�and it really is amazingly so.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I was not as over-the-moon about this film as
many, but I certainly enjoyed it thoroughly�and I recommend it to you.</span><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1'><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p><strong><i><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:
EN;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Goodbye to Language (</span></i></strong><strong><i><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>Adieu au <span
class=SpellE>langage</span></span></i></strong><strong><i><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN;mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>)</span></i></strong><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
(France. Kino <span class=SpellE>Lorber</span>, </span></strong><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>Release date: 29
October<b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>)<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span></b><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:
normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>��</span>At
83, this is </span></strong>the 43<sup>rd</sup> feature film by the French New
Wave (</span><i><span lang=FR style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-ansi-language:FR'>La Nouvelle Vague</span></i><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'>) master, <b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Jean-Luc Godard</b>.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I did not like his last film, <i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-10.html#_Toc275199370"><span class=SpellE>Filme</span>
<span class=SpellE>Socialisme</span></a></i> in the <a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-10.html">2012 NYFF</a> (which was the only
time I included in my �Parrot Droppings� a <a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-10.html#_Toc275199370">review</a> written by
a friend), although I am a great fan of <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Godard</b>.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>This is an opulently gorgeous film: its
visual images (both their form and their colors), its sounds and music, it
words (both spoken and visually presented text) are magnificent.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>All of the experience is intensified; from
the often-used hyper-saturation of color to the hyper-realism of the textual
graphics, <strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>Goodbye to </span></i></strong><strong><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Language</span></i></strong> has
an amazingly powerful impact.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>And in
this film, <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Godard</b> uses 3-D
technology further to enhance the experience; he uses it only partially to
create realistic perspectival depth, but more frequently to create emotion an
experiential depth.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>In a way that is at
times extremely disconcerting, <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Godard</b>
uses the fact that the radio-controlled 3-D glasses allow the viewer�s eyes to
see different images virtually simultaneously: sometimes the image in one eye
is out of focus, while in the other eye it is in focus; sometimes the image
seen by the one eye is moving in a different direction or at a different speed
than that in the other eye; and sometimes each eye is presented with a totally
different image, which one�s brain then has to superimpose on each other.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>He does precisely the same thing with the
right and left channels of the sound track; and, in a sense, he does something
similar with the words and actions.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�� </span>The
effect is novel, and it is challenging; but, for the most part, it is highly
successful.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The film is structured in
two main parts, and within each part there is a series of sections that
basically repeat in each.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>There is a
story about a man and a woman and the relationship between them; and there is
the awareness of the inexorable passage of time; then it all repeats in the
second part�but not exactly.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>Nevertheless, it is not the plot that has any central importance; in
fact, one can only conclude that the <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>main</i>
character throughout the whole film is Roxy, <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Godard</b>�s beloved dog.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Although
I adore much of his work, I have never been able to take <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Godard</b> seriously as a philosopher; and it has always been clear
that he <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>does</i> consider himself to be
one.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>In <strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Goodbye to </span></i></strong><strong><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Language</span></i></strong><strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>, however, it feels easier to ignore the more heavy-handed philosophical
intentions (pretensions?): I feel even the title suggests that we need not
attend too deeply to the linguistic meanings, and instead can feel free to
absorb the emotional tone and sensuous beauty of the film�and </span></strong><strong><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Goodbye
to </span></i></strong><strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>Language</span></i></strong><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> is profoundly redolent with
these.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>It is movingly obvious that </span></strong><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Godard</b> <strong><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>is dealing
with the issues of aging and mortality�and the rivers float by much as the flow
of time itself.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>It is just much more
satisfying to take in the magnificence of his aesthetic feelings about these
issues rather than the specifics of his more intellectual musings. Even at its
70 minute length, the film feels a bit overly long due to some of the
structural repetitions </span></strong><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Godard</b>
<strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>has introduced; but this is a minor quibble.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>This is a movingly beautiful film�although
clearly not for everyone.</span></strong></span><strong><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span></strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3><strong><i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span lang=EN
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Listen Up <span class=GramE>Philip<span
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-style:normal'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span></span><span style='font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-style:normal'>(</span></span></span></i></strong><strong><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>US, </span></strong><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Tribeca
Film,</span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN'> release date: 21 <span class=SpellE>Ocotber</span></span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>)<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>This is one of those films that grew on me
more the further I got from it.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�� </span></span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN'>Alex Ross Perry</span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'> has made a rather lovely, albeit annoying, film
about a young, self-absorbed author, Philip Lewis Friedman, played extremely
well by the always-talented </span><strong><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>Jason Schwartzman</span></strong><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>, who is hell-bent on pursuing his growing literary
success, letting no one stand in the way of his career, and leaving no
opportunity behind gratuitously to trash those in his past who he feels have
not been adequately supportive or appreciative.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>We watch Philip as he fails to appreciate and eventually trashes his
relationship with his photographer girlfriend, Ashley, (played wonderfully by </span><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN'>Elisabeth Moss</span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>), who is in the process of becoming successful in
her own career.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>We watch his
sycophantic, fawning attachment to the established writer Ike Zimmerman, a
Philip Roth-like figure (powerfully portrayed by </span><span lang=EN
style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;mso-ansi-language:EN'>Jonathan
Pryce</span><span lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>), who
himself is as narcissistic and pathetic as his young admirer; but because he
considers the young man a major talent, our Philip is willing to be used and
abused by him.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>It is easy to understand
why one might be annoyed by a film about so irritating a person.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Ashley is potentially an interesting
character, but the film fails to develop this deeply enough.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>(There is an extended middle act to the film
about Ashley herself, but I did not find it effective in going anywhere.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The best presented aspects of Ashley are the
ones in relationship with Philip, and yet I did not feel they received deep
enough attention; and in the end she just wasn�t a deeply enough developed
character to stand on her own.)<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The
voice over narration is an interesting element, although it sounded and seemed
to be an uneasily direct evocation of Wes Anderson�s works�although I suppose
this was exaggerated by the fact the main character was Anderson mainstay </span><strong><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Jason Schwartzman</span></strong><span
lang=EN style='mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1;
mso-ansi-language:EN;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>There is something lyrically fascinating
about the unpleasantness of the story and its obnoxious main character, and I
think this is what I appreciated after recovering from my initial
annoyance.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>In my experience, though, the
film itself began with a sense of far greater promise than it was ultimately
able to deliver.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>It is certainly an
interesting and well-made film, with some great acting in it; but it was far
from one of my favorites.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-themecolor:text1'><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p><strong><i><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:
EN'>The Blue Room (La <span class=SpellE>chambre</span> <span class=SpellE>bleue</span>)</span></i></strong><i><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'> </span></i><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:EN'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>��</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>(<strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>North American Premiere, </span></strong></b>France,
Sundance Selects, <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>release date: 3
October</b>)<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'>love</i> <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Mathieu <span
class=SpellE>Amalric<span style='font-weight:normal'>�s</span></span></b>
acting, and he has had major roles in great films as diverse as those of Alain <span
class=SpellE>Resnais</span> (<i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Wild Grass </i>and<i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'> You <span class=SpellE>Ain�t</span> Seen
Nothing Yet</i>) to those of Julien Schnabel (<i style='mso-bidi-font-style:
normal'>The Diving Bell and the Butterfly</i>), including being a regular in
the films of our friend Arnaud <span class=SpellE>Desplechin</span>, so I was
eagerly awaiting this one, which he directed, wrote, and stars in.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The story is the adaptation of a crime novel
by <b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Georges Simenon</b>; and the story is
about Julien <span class=SpellE>Gahyde</span> (<span class=SpellE><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Amalric</b></span>) who is intensely
involved in an affair with a pharmacist, Esther <span class=SpellE>Despierre</span>
(very erotically played by <span class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal'>St�phanie</b></span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> <span
class=SpellE>Cl�au</span></b>, who was the co-author with <span class=SpellE><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Amalric</b></span> of the screenplay), and,
naturally, Julien�s wife, Delphine (played by the even more beautiful, if more
sexually subdued <span class=SpellE><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>L�a</b></span><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Drucker</b>).<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The action of this part of the storyline
takes place primarily in the �blue room� of a hotel, where we get to see rather
explicit and steamily erotic sexual encounters between the adulterous
pair.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Fun, of course; but the really
wonderful thing about this film is the mood <span class=SpellE><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Amalric</b></span> creates: it is intensely
noir, completely befitting its crime novel origins and its tip-of-the-hat to
Hitchcock; but it is also quite Kafkaesque in its earlier portions�with
intermittent scenes of Julien being interrogated by the police in a way that is
not understandable for a long time, although it becomes progressively clear how
deeply in the clutches of that system Julien is as the film progresses.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>If all this sounds terrific, it is because it
was!<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Unfortunately, <span class=GramE>all
of this</span> high-intensity dramatic mood does not really go anywhere.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The plot lines continue to develop and
thicken, but they do not sustain the intensity or drama of the earlier
mood.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I have to confess that I even
found it dragging a bit at times, despite its mere 76 minute length (something
of which I am <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>always</i> appreciative).
So, in the end, I found this one somewhat disappointing, despite how well-done
most of it was.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoToc1><strong><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
font-style:normal'>Gone Girl</span></strong><span lang=EN><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>(</span><b><span lang=EN style='font-style:
normal'>Opening Night</span></b><span lang=EN style='font-style:normal'>. <b>World
Premiere</b>. 20th Century Fox and New Regency, <b>release date: 3 October</b>)<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>This one was operating at a disadvantage for
me, as I am slow to like movies in the NYFF that are so clearly aimed at a mass
audience (although I do understand the perceived need to open the Festival
which such things�at least occasionally; and some, like <b>David Fincher</b>�s</span><span
lang=EN> <a href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-10.html#_Toc275199364">The
Social Network</a> </span><span lang=EN style='font-style:normal'>which opened
the <a href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-10.html">2012 NYFF</a> were even
terrific films), and I also have a particular aversion to films over two hours
(unless there is something extraordinary that justifies what I otherwise feel
to be a presumptuous intrusion on my time).<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>Nevertheless I have liked some (his 1999 </span><span lang=EN>Fight Club</span><span
lang=EN style='font-style:normal'> and his 2007 </span><span lang=EN>Zodiac</span><span
lang=EN style='font-style:normal'>, in addition to</span><span lang=EN> <a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-10.html#_Toc275199364">The Social Network</a></span><span
lang=EN style='font-style:normal'>)�but not all�of <b>David Fincher</b>�s
films.</span><span lang=EN><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span><strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Gone Girl</span></strong>, </span><span
lang=EN style='font-style:normal'>I am afraid, is not going to make it onto the
short list of ones I have liked.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The
story is simple, although it ends up with several, mostly predictable
convolutions before it�s done: <b>Ben Affleck</b> is Nick Dunne, whose wife Amy
(<b>Rosamund Pike</b>) goes missing on the day of their fifth anniversary; and
the tale is told against the progression of the number of days that �the girl�
has been �gone.�<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The acting in this film
is actually uniformly wonderful: I was pleasantly surprised by the excellence
of <b>Affleck</b>, from whom I did not expect that; <b>Pike</b> was chillingly
wonderful (although given that her character having diplomas from both Harvard and
Yale hanging on her wall, I had made me wonder what <b>Fincher</b> would have
her do, given his grim view of Harvard in </span><span lang=EN><a
href="http://www.rlrubens.com/nyff-10.html#_Toc275199364">The Social Network</a></span><span
lang=EN style='font-style:normal'>); and all the supporting cast did well�<b>Neil
Patrick Harris</b> as Amy�s old boyfriend Desi, <b>Carrie Coon</b> as Nick�s
sister Margo, <b>Kim Dickens</b> as Detective Rhonda Boney, and <b>Tyler Perry</b>
as Nick�s lawyer Tanner Bolt. And <b>Fincher</b> does indeed succeed in
creating one of his signature, dark, somber, threatening moods.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The real problem with <strong><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>Gone Girl</span></strong></span><strong><span lang=EN style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;font-style:normal'> is its story�and,
since both the screenplay and the novel it was based on were written by the
same person, </span></strong><b><span lang=EN style='font-style:normal'>Gillian
Flynn</span></b><strong><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal'> </span></strong><strong><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;font-style:
normal'>, it is clear the blame rests with her.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>The story is poor: it is contrived, shallow, plodding, and
pretentious�and these are not good things in mystery.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>In some ways the movie could be seen as
harmless enough entertainment, but not at its ponderous 145 minute length: at
that length it was not able to move along with the pace that would be necessary
for lighter entertainment.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>And the fact
of its pretensions�even in the predictable but intended as profoundly
surprising turns of plot, and even in the weightiness of </span></strong><b><span
lang=EN style='font-style:normal'>Fincher</span></b><strong><span lang=EN
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;font-style:normal'>�s
somber mood, which in other contexts would be additive�also militate against
accepting it as just an entertaining trifle.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>And as a serious film designed to exude gravitas, </span></strong><strong><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Gone Girl</span></strong><strong><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal'> </span></strong><strong><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;font-style:
normal'>simply lacked the requisite depth or substance to make it work. </span></strong><span
lang=EN style='font-style:normal'><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>��</span>(Of
course, for a wonderful spoof version of <b>Fincher</b></span><strong><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-weight:normal;font-style:
normal'>�s</span></strong><span lang=EN style='font-style:normal'> mood
creation, I recommend to you instead the episode on our son�s show, Community,
entitled �Basic Intergluteal Numismatics� [because it deals with the �ravages�
caused by the crime spree of the �ass-crack bandit,� who has been terrorizing
the campus by dropping quarters down people�s butt-cracks] which was done from
beginning to end in the style of a <b>Fincher</b> film, including the credits.
Same dark <b>Fincher</b></span><strong><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
font-weight:normal;font-style:normal'> moodiness, but far more fun!</span></strong><span
lang=EN style='font-style:normal'>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>