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The Annihilation of Fish.The cinematic event of the year so far is the rerelease of Charles Burnett’s long-unavailable romantic masterpiece, The Annihilation of Fish (1999). It has weathered Todd McCarthy’s snide, vicious Variety review that sealed its obscurity until now. McCarthy falsely claimed it was “a drear moment in the careers of all concerned” and even had the temerity to suggest that “theatrical release other than via self-distribution is out of the question.” Whatever reputation it’s had up until this point has been due to the burning-candle cinephiles on Letterboxd and online film boards who have claimed it an unjustly forgotten work. We now know how right the burners were: Fish is a sophisticated, beautifully acted, and innovative romantic comedy for grown-ups. Unfortunately, because of that disastrous McCarthy review, Fish did not get the wide distribution it so obviously merited until now. It’s too late for its stars,...

Essentially a lost film, legendary director Charles Burnett’s 1999 feature The Annihilation of Fish mostly lived on the festival circuit (and in bootlegs) for a quarter-century until a recent miraculous restoration by the UCLA Film & Television Archive and The Film Foundation. Despite featuring recognizable leads in James Earl Jones and Lynn Redgrave, one bad review from an influential critic (who seemed strangely wary of the film’s tonal risk-taking) was enough to sink its commercial prospects for potential distributors.

A mental-illness romantic comedy of sorts, the film has a strangeness that may be potentially alienating to some, but it seems inexplicable, years later, that a work which so movingly wears its heart on its sleeve would be denied the audience it deserved. Burnett, a straight shooter, joined us over Zoom to discuss the film’s new path as well as the state of cinema and, frankly, American society today.

The St. Louis Central Library downtown (1301 Olive Blvd) is teaming up with Cinema St. Louis and the St. Louis International Film Festival to present Directors Cut: The Films Of Charles Burnett.

Charles Burnett is a writer-director whose work has received extensive honors. Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, his family soon moved to the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. Burnett studied creative writing at UCLA before entering the University’s graduate film program. His thesis project, Killer of Sheep (1977), won accolades at film festivals and a critical devotion; in 1990, it was among the first titles named to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. European financing allowed Burnett to shoot his second feature, My Brother’s Wedding (1983), but a rushed debut prevented the filmmaker from completing his final cut until 2007. In 1988, Burnett was awarded the prestigious John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur (“genius grant”) Fellowship. His first widely released film, To Sleep with Anger...

The word humanist is described as a “philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings”, and among filmmakers, the great French director Jean Renoir is considered to be one of the great humanist directors in cinema. But there is another one, just as important and as talented as Renoir, and that’s the great African American independent director Charles Burnett, who has made such remarkable and groundbreaking films such as "Killer of Sheep" (which was one of the first 50 films to be selected for the Library of Congress’ National Film registry for its historical importance), "My Brother’s Wedding," "Nightjohn" and...

A reminder for B… As part of MoMA’s Charles Burnett retrospective that began last week, today, at 4:30Pm titled Charles Burnett: The Power To Endure, you can watch a program of short films by Charles Burnett when they screen tonight at MoMA – films that I doubt most of us have seen! These are films he made between 1969 and 2007, since his student days through the recent past. So, consider it a treat!

Titles, years and running times include: Several Friends, 1969, 21 min; The Horse, 1973, 14 min; When It Rains, 1995. 13 min; Olivia’s Story, 2000. 14 min; and Quiet As Kept, 2007. 6 min.

That should be interesting viewing, and I’m looking forward it!

And keep in mind that the retrospective runs through April 25th, with practically Burnett’s entire oeuvre in the lineup of films to screen, although a week into the series, several have already been shown. However, there will be some repeats; for example,...

Damn! I totally effed up and scheduled our podcast season debut tonight, completely forgetting that the MoMA Charles Burnett retrospective also begins tonight! And with his masterpiece too, Killer Of Sheep, which I Still haven’t seen on the big screen, and really want to. I have the recently released DVD issue, but, I think this is a film I’d really love to see in a theater, in all its gritty black and white glory.

Anyway… I already alerted you to this about 2 or 3 weeks ago, so consider this a reminder! MoMA sent out the below press release which details the entire retrospective.

But I’ll break it down for you:

What is it? Charles Burnett is being feted at MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art, here in New York City) with a series titled Charles Burnett: The Power To Endure.

When is it? April 6-25, 2011.

Where is it?...

Have you purchased your tickets yet?

I already alerted you to this 2 weeks ago week I believe it was. Consider this a reminder! MoMA sent out the below press release which details the entire retrospective.

But I’ll break it down for you:

What is it? Charles Burnett is being feted at MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art, here in New York City) with a complete retrospective titled Charles Burnett: The Power To Endure.

When is it? April 6-25, 2011.

Where is it? At MoMA of course – specifically, the Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters.

How much will each screening cost you? $10 adults; $8 seniors, 65 years and over with I.D. $6 full-time students with current I.D.

The full lineup follows below. As can be expected, Killer Of Sheep, My Brother’s Wedding, To Sleep With Anger, The Glass Shield, and other of his most known films, will screen.

But of most...