News

I don't really follow many developments in the tech world (I'm too busy keeping up with movies), but even I know that virtual reality is a very big deal and it's going to have a major impact on storytelling in the years to come. We're on the precipice of a new era, and right now, things are still sort of speculative; we can guess, but we don't currently know the heights this new medium can reach or the effects it might have on our society.

A new movie called Creative Control wonders what the world will be like not too far in the future, and this pretty trippy new trailer shows off some of the film's interesting ideas about how Vr could leave its mark on relationships. The movie comes to theaters on March 11th.

The setting is New York, 5 minutes in the future. The glorious technological advances and communication...

High-budget Hollywood features aren’t the only films predicting what the future might look like. Benjamin Dickinson‘s Creative Control, which picked up a Special Jury Recognition for Visual Excellence prize at SXSW last year, takes place in the realistic near-future and follows an advertising executive (Dickinson, who also co-wrote the script) who gets technologically involved with the life of his best friend. Also starring Reggie Watts, Dan Gill, Alexia Rasmussen and Nora Zehetner, we now have the first trailer for the film arriving next month.

We said in our review, “Much of the humor is dry and it truly does help to be able to laugh at people that live and work in high rises that struggle with the mundanity of life at times. Yet Creative Control plays it cool and never gets caught trying to have unrelatable high-minded ideas. Instead, it likes to let themes linger. There’s...

Read More: 'Shit People Say to Women Directors' Highlights Sexism in the Film and TV Industry Film and television producer Mynette Louie ("California Solo," "Land Ho!") has taken to the web to pen an eye-opening rundown of the various ways in which Hollywood gives women "a raw deal." Over at Vulture, the Independent Spirit Piaget Producers Award winner and president of Gamechanger Films provides an alternately enlightening and infuriating insider's look at how female professionals are forced to function inside the industry. Louie's piece includes insights from both her own experiences and those of other female filmmakers, much of it inspired by the recently launched (and almost immediately viral) Tumblr account Shit People Say to Women Directors. Louie's sources were asked to sound off on the kind of sexism and discrimination they have faced in their working world -- as Louie notes, "These minor offenses are often committed by people who.

Over the years, Filmmaker has run several “Sundance Survival Guide” pieces. (One from 2012 we continue to recommend is Alicia Van Couvering’s “Mistakes Were Made.” ) Here, fresh for 2015, is new one from Mynette Louie, President of Gamechanger Films and producer of Land Ho! (Sundance 2014), California Solo (Sundance 2012), and Children of Invention (Sundance 2009). Check back tomorrow for a grab-bag of advice — including several tips we’ve never run before in any form — from several recent Sundance veterans. 1. Empower your crew to promote the film, and show them your thanks. Sundance is not just about […]...

Over the years, Filmmaker has run several “Sundance Survival Guide” pieces. (One from 2012 we continue to recommend is Alicia Van Couvering’s “Mistakes Were Made.” ) Here, fresh for 2015, is new one from Mynette Louie, President of Gamechanger Films and producer of Land Ho! (Sundance 2014), California Solo (Sundance 2012), and Children of Invention (Sundance 2009). Check back tomorrow for a grab-bag of advice — including several tips we’ve never run before in any form — from several recent Sundance veterans. 1. Empower your crew to promote the film, and show them your thanks. Sundance is not just about […]...

Whether you are a filmmaker, or one of the Sundance programmers whose task it is to identify the films that make up a line-up, it is indeed the most wonderful, panic-filled and nerve racking time of the year. The 31st edition of the Sundance Film Festival kicks off on January 22nd with Park City and Salt Lake City playing host to some of the more innovative, thought-provoking narrative and non-fiction films of 2015. Last year, a Jenga tall order of 4,057 features and 8,161 shorts were submitted. Now let’s think about those numbers for a second.

Twenty years ago, Terry Zwigoff’s Crumb claimed the Grand Jury Prize Documentary award, Living in Oblivion‘s Tom Dicillo was honored with the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, and Edward Burns’ micro-budgeted The Brothers McMullen (there is a read-worthy, lively, eleventh hour account on how it was submitted to the fest in Ted Hope’s “Hope...

Blu-ray Release Date: June 3, 2014

Price: Blu-ray $24.97

Studio: Shout! Factory

It’s a cannabilistic fest in 1999 horror movie Ravenous.

Guy Pearce (Lockout) stars in the independent film as Capt. Boyd, a disgraced war veteran who’s quietly sent to a remote fort inhabited by soldiers half-mad with boredom. Then a frozen stranger (Robert Carlyle, California Solo) arrives and tells them about a group of settlers who are trapped in a cave and forced to eat one another. When Boyd and soldiers go to help, they fall into a deadly ambush.

David Arquette (Black Limousine) and Jeffrey Jones (TV’s Deadwood) also star in the thriller, which was directed by Antonia Bird (Priest) and written by Ted Griffin (Tower Heist).

Critics panned Ravenous, which grossed $2 million when it was in theaters. But moviegoers like it much better. The film scored 40% with critics and 79% with moviegoers, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

This Blu-ray release...

The Right One is a love story set in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Even Julia Roberts traveled half of the world to find love there in Eat Pray Love. Yes, I'm talking about Bali. Heck if it works for her it must be work for us here in Indonesia, So here's the new romance from director Stephen Odang, with cast Tara Basro (Killers) & Gandhi Fernando (California Solo) as the love birds. Here's the official synopsis i get from IMDb; Two people cross-path their entire life and only fate decides their future. There you go, I bet fate decides they get together in their future, or maybe not, I don't know until i watch it right? And of course you...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Cinematographer James Laxton told us about filming 2014 Sundance entry "Camp X-Ray." His previous projects include "The Myth of the American Sleepover," "For a Good Time Call," "Medicine for Melancholy," "California Solo," and "Adult World." The first-time feature from director Peter Sattler, "Camp X-Ray" tells the story of a young woman (Kristen Stewart) who works as a guard in Guantanamo Bay, where she befriends a detainee.  What camera and lens did you use? We shot on the Arri Alexa with Ziess Ultra Primes and Alura Zooms. What was the most difficult shot on your movie, and how did you pull it off? Many scenes in Camp X-Ray take place through a 6-inch wide viewing window of a cell, which was a challenge to photograph in a way that kept the images engaging and pushed the story along. We explored as many different ways to capture each scene as possible and assigned...

Gamechanger Films, a new for-profit film fund exclusively targeting narrative feature-length films directed by women, was announced today. The New York-based company was founded by Julie Parker Benello (Afternoon Delight, Pariah, Brooklyn Castle), Dan Cogan (Hell and Back Again, How to Survive a Plague, The Queen of Versailles), Geralyn Dreyfous (Born Into Brothels, The Invisible War, The Square) and Wendy Ettinger (Semper Fi: Always Faithful, The War Room, Eye of God), and will be led by producer Mynette Louie (Cold Comes the Night, California Solo, Children of Invention). Producer Mary Jane Skalski (Very Good Girls, Win Win, The Visitor) is […]...

Gamechanger Films, a new for-profit film fund exclusively targeting narrative feature-length films directed by women, was announced today. The New York-based company was founded by Julie Parker Benello (Afternoon Delight, Pariah, Brooklyn Castle), Dan Cogan (Hell and Back Again, How to Survive a Plague, The Queen of Versailles), Geralyn Dreyfous (Born Into Brothels, The Invisible War, The Square) and Wendy Ettinger (Semper Fi: Always Faithful, The War Room, Eye of God), and will be led by producer Mynette Louie (Cold Comes the Night, California Solo, Children of Invention). Producer Mary Jane Skalski (Very Good Girls, Win Win, The Visitor) is […]...

While the 1980s farm movies ("Places in the Heart," "Country," "The River") tended to be about single-family agrarians fighting the banks to keep their patches of land, "At Any Price" delves into the survivors who have managed to hang on to their farms into the 21st century, now being urged to "expand or die" by grabbing up neighboring parcels. For writer-director Ramin Bahrani, "At Any Price" represents a different kind of expansion -- after winning awards and critical raves for acclaimed micro-budget films like "Chop Shop" and "California Solo," with nary...

Up on the DVD and Blu-ray shelves this week, unplug the "Wreck-It Ralph" arcade noise (and, for the love of all that is holy, put down your guns and step away from that insipid "Red Dawn" remake) as there are some better choices to be made for cineastes of all tastes. Read More: Discworld: Naked Spaniards, Early Cinema Verite and the Cheerier 'Amour"   "California Solo" (Strand Releasing)   On this side of the pond, many of us weren't aware of Robert Carlyle until 1996's international breakout "Trainspotting," in which the chameleonic Scottish actor portrayed an alcoholic sociopath who hung out with heroin junkies. Here, in writer-director Marshall Lewy's somber, sun-baked, underseen character study, Carlyle again likes his drink a bit too much as long-haired Lachlan MacAldonich, a relatively high-functioning addict living a modest existence as an organic farm manager just outside of Los Angeles. In a former life, Lachlan played...

The Spirit Awards haven't been broadcast live for several years now. This past weekend's ceremony was, like the last two, taped and aired in a more viewer-friendly evening slot rather than in the afternoon, when it takes place. Wrangling over when best to have and when best to air the Spirit Awards led the network and Film Independent to move the awards show to Downtown Los Angeles to a Friday evening slot in 2010; the experiment wasn't repeated. But with the broadcast delay comes the fact that the show gets condensed into a preassigned amount of time -- and that meant that certain categories didn't make it to air on Saturday. What got cut from this year's Spirit Award broadcast? Best Documentary (winner: "The Invisible War"), Best Cinematography (Ben Richardson for "Beasts of the Southern Wild") and the ensemble-celebrating Robert Altman Award ("Starlet"). The Piaget Producers Award, which was presented live...

DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013

Price: DVD $35.99

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

TBS sitcom Men at Work follows four friends who work together at a magazine.

Milo (Danny Masterson, California Solo) was recently dumped. Gibbs (James Lesure, TV’s Mr. Sunshine) is a photographer and successful ladies man. Tyler (Michael Cassidy, Argo) is a features writer who brings style and sophistication to the group. And Neal (Adam Busch, All American Orgy) is a nebbish reporter and the only one in the group with a steady girlfriend. They serve as each other’s wingman and help each other navigate work, friendship and women.

In the 10 episodes of the Men at Work season one, Milo winds up in jail after trying drug trafficking for an article, Milo and Gibbs feel awkward after doing a “devil’s threesome” with a woman they met in a bar, Gibbs and Tyler edure truths being devulged after they test a lie detector,...

DVD Release Date: March 5, 2013

Price: DVD $27.99

Studio: Strand Releasing

Robert Carlyle gets organic in California Solo.

The always-engaging Robert Carlyle (TV’s Once Upon A Time, Trainspotting) rocks as a one-time Britpop rocker in the 2012 independent film drama California Solo.

Former rock star Lachlan MacAldonich (Carlyle) has settled into a comfortably numb existence working on an organic farm just outside Los Angeles. By day he travels to the city’s farmers’ markets to sell produce to people like Beau (Alexia Rasmussen, Our Idiot Brother), a lovely struggling actress. By night he drinks himself into a stupor until he retires to his shabby apartment where he records a podcast about great musicians. But everything changes after Lachlan pulled over one night for drunk driving and is subsequently threatened with deportation. Disconsolate and fearful, Lachlan is forced to confront his decadent past and the demons that continue to plague him.

Written and directed by Martin Lewy,...

After finding professional success and recognition, people often have trouble accepting the fact that their dream wasn’t meant to last forever. They often turn to drugs and alcohol, and/or become reclusive in their pain as they struggle to overcome their pain and loss of achievement. Lead character Lachlan MacAldonich does just that in the new independent drama ‘California Solo,’ which is now playing in select theaters nationwide. The film, which was written and directed by Marshall Lewy, emotionally chronicles Lachlan’s reclusive lifestyle after losing his dream job and family, and must find a way to fix his life before it’s too late. ‘California Solo’ follows Kachlan, (played by Robert Carlyle) [ Read More ]

The post Interview: Marshall Lewy Talks California Solo appeared first on Shockya.com.

The Oscars are almost upon us, and the past few weeks have treated us to the shortlists competing in a number of categories, including Best Animated Feature, Best Visual Effects, Best Documentary, and Best Original Score.

With the nominations announcement creeping ever closer at the start of next month, the Academy have now announced a seventy-five-long list of songs that are eligible in the Best Original Song category.

The list features some absolutely stellar songs that have debuted on the big screen this year, including Adele’s impressive Bond theme, Skyfall.

Tom Hooper’s highly anticipated Les Misérables is also in the running with Suddenly, composed specifically for the film, and it should be great to see how it’s received both by audiences and the Academy in the coming weeks.

We’ve got plenty of choices from animated films in the mix – the animated ones are often the strongest...

The Impostor’s Daughter

Zambry Films has picked up the film rights to the 2010 graphic novel "The Impostor’s Daughter". Marshall Lewy ("California Solo") will pen the script with the intent to direct.

The story tracks journalist Laurie Sandell’s discovery that all the amazing adventures and run-ins with the rich and famous her father told her growing up were lies. [Source: Deadline]

Empire

"Source Code" writer Ben Ripley and producer Mark Gordon are attached to the action project "Empire" which will be produced at The Mark Gordon Company.

The storyline is being kept under wraps, while the tone is akin to "Safe House" and "The Usual Suspects". [Source: THR]

Book of Life

Fox Animation Studios has come onboard the Guillermo del Toro-produced animated adventure "Book of Life" which Jorge R. Gutierrez will pen and direct.

Previously called "Day of the Dead," story details are being kept under wraps. An October 10th 2014 release date is being targeted.

Seventy-five songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2012 are in contention for nominations in the Original Song category for the 85th Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today. The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film and song title: “For You” from “Act of Valor” “Metaphorical Blanket” from “Any Day Now” “Let It Rain” from “Being Flynn” “Learn Me Right” from “Brave” “Touch the Sky” from “Brave” “Airport” from “Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best” “Come on Girl” from “Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best” “Someday” from “Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best” “Protect the King” from “Brooklyn Castle” “California Solo” from “California Solo” “Casa De Mi Padre” from “Casa De Mi Padre” “Del Cielo” from “Casa De Mi Padre” “Yo No Se” from “Casa De Mi Padre” “No Other Plans” from “Celeste and Jesse Forever...

In what might be a bit of an over-correction from last year’s two-song race, The Academy has released the largest list of Oscar-eligible original songs in years, topping out at 75 tunes from the movies of the year. Naturally, the big names are there — Adele with “Skyfall” and Arcade Fire with their work on The Hunger Games — but there are also some far out choices like work featured in Death By China and Saint Dracula. With that many songs in the mix, it was bound to be an eclectic group, but even though it’ll be whittled down for the final nominee list announced January 10th, it’s nice for the time being to see “Ladies of Tampa” from Magic Mike right next to “Love Always Comes as a Surprise” from Madagascar 3. Here’s the complete list with a few examples for your listening pleasure: “For You” from Act of Valor “Metaphorical Blanket” from Any Day Now “Let It Rain...

Seventy-five songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2012 are in contention for nominations in the Original Song category for the 85th Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today.

The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film and song title:

”For You” from “Act of Valor”

“Metaphorical Blanket” from “Any Day Now”

“Let It Rain” from “Being Flynn”

“Learn Me Right” from “Brave”

“Touch the Sky” from “Brave”

“Airport” from “Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best”

“Come on Girl” from “Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best”

“Someday” from “Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best”

“Protect the King” from “Brooklyn Castle”

“California Solo” from “California Solo”

“Casa De Mi Padre” from “Casa De Mi Padre”

“Del Cielo” from “Casa De Mi Padre”

“Yo No Se” from “Casa De Mi Padre”

“No Other Plans” from “Celeste and Jesse Forever...

There are 75 original songs that qualify for the Oscar this year, but really everyone has been waiting to hear about one.

Adele’s title theme to Skyfall surged to #1 on iTunes just days after debuting in October, but some feared the number by her and Paul Epworth would be ruled ineligible for the Oscar because it incorporates elements of the classic 007 theme, which of course is not original.

But the music branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided it was not a significant enough problem to boot it from the potential nominees, and included it without...

Just yesterday we got a look at the 104 scores that will be gunning for the Best Original Score Oscar at the upcoming 85th Academy Awards, and today the Academy has unveiled the list of 75 songs that will be competing for the coveted Best Original Song trophy. While the expected contenders like “Suddenly” from Les Miserables and “Song of the Lonely Mountain” from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey appear, one of the pleasant surprises is Adele’s “Skyfall” from Skyfall. Since Adele’s magnificent Bond track draws a few cues from the franchise’s theme, many assumed that the Academy might rule it ineligible for the Best Original Song trophy. Not so, it appears, and now it looks like Adele just might land herself an Academy Award to keep those 47 Grammys company. Also of note, Matthew McConaughey could find himself a Best Original Song nominee for "Ladies of Tampa" from Magic Mike.

I mentioned on today's podcast that my three nominees for Best Original Song for the 2013 Critics' Choice Awards were "100 Black Coffins" from Django Unchained, "Skyfall" from Skyfall and "Ladies of Tampa" from Magic Mike. Of my nominees only "Skyfall" made the official list of nominees, but hopefully the Academy will right a couple of wrongs as both "100 Black Coffins" and Matthew McConaughey's "Ladies of Tampa" are among the 75 songs listed as in contention for a nomination at the 2013 Oscars. The Academy just released the following list of which all voting members of the Music Branch will receive a Reminder List of works submitted in the category and a DVD copy of the song clips. Members will be asked to watch the clips and then vote in the order of their preference for not more than five achievements in the category. The five achievements receiving the highest number of votes...

The indie drama California Solo, from writer/director Marshall Lewy, tells the story of Lachlan MacAldonich (Robert Carlyle), a former Britpop rocker who has moved to farm country just outside Los Angeles to establish a comfortably quiet existence for himself. His routine consists of working on an organic farm and selling produce at the city’s farmers’ markets by day, and then recording his podcast recounting the tragic deaths of great musicians at night, until he gets pulled over for a DUI that brings up a past offense and threatens him with deportation. At the film’s press day, filmmaker Marshall Lewy and actor Robert Carlyle spoke to Collider for this exclusive interview about how this character came about, the appeal of a role that’s so layered, how they decided to do no rehearsals prior to shooting, and showing locations around California that are not immediately recognizable. Lewy also talked about his next film,...

Welcome to another Reject Recap. Can you believe how fast time is flying by this year? It’s already December, and soon it will be the end of the 2012 (and end of the world?). And it’s been a surprisingly busy time for big movie news and rumors. Who can keep up with all the reports and commentary every day? If you haven’t been able to, we invite you to at least check out the highlights down below. First, we must give you the weekly reminder to check out our reviews of the new theatrical releases (Killing Them Softly; The Collection; California Solo; What a Man; Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning) and interviews with Killing Them Softly director Andrew Dominik and The Day‘s director and cast, including Dominic Monaghan, Ashley Bell and Shawn Ashmore. This week we also looked at promotional artwork for Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim and watched trailers for such films...

The ever dependable Robert Carlyle, usually relegated to playing a supporting character, gets a chance to show off his leading-man chops in the indie "California Solo," a recent best-narrative-feature winner at the Woostock Film Festival. In the drama from Marshall Lewy ("Blue State"), Carlyle plays Lachlan MacAldonich, a washed-up, middle-aged rocker who is working on an organic farm, mostly with undocumented Mexican workers. One night, Lachlan gets pulled over while driving drunk and a prior drug offense puts him in danger of being deported. In a last-ditch effort, Lachlan must prove that his deportation would cause extreme hardship to a spouse or relative who is a U.S. citizen, forcing him to reach out to his estranged family to get them on his side. Below Lewy shares a scene from the film with Indiewire. Strand Releasing opens "Califonia Solo" Friday, November 30. _______________________________________ "California Solo"...

A man who’s down on his luck looks for redemption when a time of need arises in his life – will a new love interest save him, or will the gained love of his estranged daughter do the trick? Sounds like The Wrestler, right? We can all dream, but this scenario also describes the plot of Marshall Lewy’s California Solo, in which Robert Carlyle is the man down on this luck – a washed up rocker facing possible deportation back to the UK. While Carlyle is effective in the lead, unlike The Wrestler, this overly derivative film never quite makes its protagonist likeable enough to root for. The film is also in desperate need of some levity to cut through its wholly depressing atmosphere. Carlyle’s not-quite-likable musician is Lachlan, a Scot who is faced with deportation after many years in the States when he is charged with a DUI. Lachlan...

It's a fairly slow weekend for new releases, which is probably just as well considering that there is so much competition currently in theatres. The only major releases are Andrew Dominik's Killing Them Softly and The Collection, which is apparently the sequel to the horror movie The Collector, from the writers of the last few Saw movies. In select theatres, keep an eye out for the latest Universal Soldier flick, Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, and Dragon starring Donnie Yen. Other than that, it's a good chance to catch up on something you might have missed earlier this month. What will you be watching this weekend? Killing Them Softly The Collection Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (limited) Dragon (limited) Talaash (limited) California Solo (limited) Addicted to Fame (limited) Beware of Mr. Baker (limited)

For More Daily Movie Goodness, Visit Filmjunk.Com!

Film is one of the most effective ways to address human issues. California Solo is an engaging drama which follows a character by name of Lachlan who has just a few problems. Like all people in the world, Lachlan is flawed. He is trying to survive and faces roadblocks along the way. California Solo is a genuine film. The characters and the plot are as real as it gets. Few films these days match the emotional intensity of this one and that’s really unfortunate.

Lachlan MacAldonich (Robert Carlyle) is a former Scottish rocker, turned Californian farmer. His rockstar lifestyle is behind him but he still manages to have run-ins with the law. With a brand new Dwi charge under his belt, he faces possible deportation. Lachlan is happy in California. He has just begun to settle down and wants nothing more than to stay in the states. The threat...

Sometimes a life has to wash its hands of its best attributes in order to move on. So it goes for Lachlan (Robert Carlyle), the protagonist of “California Solo.” Doing modest work for a farmer’s market slightly off the grid, Lachlan’s youthful good looks have abandoned him, his wiry frame now dedicated to lifting barrels of radishes instead of strumming guitars. The days of starring in Brit-rock band The Cranks have been left behind, and Lachlan now nurses mysterious wounds from a career that ended in tragedy. When invited to celebrate his band’s legacy, he says, “I don’t do anything like that anymore.” Prompted further, he tersely says, “Anything interesting.” Lachlan’s post-rock life isn’t happy, but he’s got a certain level of contentment. The past only revisits him on his own clock, as he hosts a regular podcast dedicated to rock’s more colorful final acts,...

This weekly column is intended to provide reviews of nearly every new indie release (and in certain cases studio films), including some VOD titles. Specific release dates and locations follow each review. Reviews This Week "Addicted to Fame" "Back to 1942" "California Solo" "The Collection" "Killing Them Softly" "King Kelly" "Silent Night" "Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning" *** "Addicted to Fame" It was probably cathartic for B-movie director David Giancola to make "Addicted to Fame," his nimble chronicle of the perfect shit storm that was the making and marketing of "Illegal Aliens," his 2007 B-movie starring and co-produced by the late Anna Nicole Smith. Using this documentary as a form of confessional, the director is obviously hoping to engender sympathy and clear the...

California Dreamin’: Lewy Taps Carlyle for Understated Character Study

For his sophomore feature, director Marshall Lewy brings Robert Carlyle back to the big screen for his best film role in years with California Solo, a compelling character study goaded along as an immigration tale. An aging British rock star from the early 90s, with a distant child and a predilection for alcohol, recalls elements of other recent releases this year like Flight or This Must Be the Place even, and though it’s a slight, minimal take on themes explored by many far wiser than he, Lewy manages to make a melancholy portrait of a man forced to face significant demons from his past, imbued by the simple, sad, solo that is Carlyle’s affecting performance.

Lachlan MacAldonich (Robert Carlyle) has been living out a self imposed exile for the past decade and a half, working as a farm...

In California Solo, the latest film from writer/director Marshall Lewy (Blue State), Robert Carlyle plays Lachlan MacAldonich, a former Britpop star, now an alcoholic working as a farmhand in California. After he is caught driving drunk one night, MacAldonich’s legal right to remain in the country is challenged, and he is forced to revisit his former life. Carlyle delivers a wonderful performance, quiet, thoughtful and an altogether different alcoholic than Begbie, the Trainspotting role that shot him to stardom. After premiering at Sundance, California Solo played festivals worldwide (including its European premiere, at Edinburgh where one audience member, and Carlyle …...

The ever dependable Robert Carlyle, usually relegated to playing a supporting character, gets a chance to show off his leading-man chops in the upcoming indie "California Solo," a recent best-narrative-feature winner at the Woostock Film Festival. If the first trailer, via distributor Strand Releasing, is anything to go by, Carlyle hits it out of the park. Read More: 'California Solo,' 'Shepard & Dark,' Jonathan Demme Take Awards at Woodstock Film Festival In the drama from Marshall Lewy ("Blue State"), Carlyle plays Lachlan MacAldonich, a washed-up, middle-aged rocker who is working on an organic farm, mostly with undocumented Mexican workers. One night, Lachlan gets pulled over while driving drunk and a prior drug offense puts him in danger of being deported. In a last-ditch effort, Lachlan must prove that his deportation would cause extreme hardship to a spouse or relative who is a U.S. citizen, forcing him to reach out to his.

Watch the trailer and see the latest poster for Marshall Lewy's California Solo drama from Strand Releasing. The drama starring Robert Carlyle opens on November 15th, with other cast names like Alexia Rasmussen, Kathleen Wilhoite, A Martinez, Michael Des Barres and Danny Masterson in the mix. Helmer Lewy also scripts the film seen at this year's Sundance Film Festival from Cherry Sky Films in association with Syncopated Films. Lachlan MacAldonich (Carlyle) is former Britpop rocker who has settled into a comfortably numb existence in farm country just outside Los Angeles. By day, he works on an organic farm and travels regularly to the city’s farmers’ markets to sell produce. By night, he retreats to his crummy apartment to record "Flame-Outs," his podcast that recounts the tragic deaths of great musicians. The only spark in his humdrum existence is Beau (Alexia Rasmussen), a lovely struggling actress and amateur chef...

Watch the trailer and see the latest poster for Marshall Lewy's California Solo drama from Strand Releasing. The drama starring Robert Carlyle opens on November 15th, with other cast names like Alexia Rasmussen, Kathleen Wilhoite, A Martinez, Michael Des Barres and Danny Masterson in the mix. Helmer Lewy also scripts the film seen at this year's Sundance Film Festival from Cherry Sky Films in association with Syncopated Films. Lachlan MacAldonich (Carlyle) is former Britpop rocker who has settled into a comfortably numb existence in farm country just outside Los Angeles. By day, he works on an organic farm and travels regularly to the city’s farmers’ markets to sell produce. By night, he retreats to his crummy apartment to record "Flame-Outs," his podcast that recounts the tragic deaths of great musicians. The only spark in his humdrum existence is Beau (Alexia Rasmussen), a lovely struggling actress and amateur chef...

At an awards ceremony Saturday night that seemed to zip by in record time, the 13th annual Woodstock Film Festival gave prizes to features "California Solo" and "Shepard & Dark," while also honoring Jonathan Demme and the late Bingham Ray. "California Solo," directed by Marshall Lewy, won the prize for best narrative feature. It stars Robert Carlyle as a boozy has-been musician. The honor for best documentary feature went to Treva Wurmfled's "Shepard & Dark," which chronicles the 50-year friendship of writer-actor-director Sam Shepard and his best friend Johnny Dark. Read More: Any Day Now' and 'Once in a Lullaby: The PS22 Chorus Story' Win Audience Awards at Woodstock Film Festival Alexa Katolinski's "Oma & Bella" -- the story of two Holocaust survivors, one the director's grandmother -- won honorable mention in the docs category, while the animation jury was...

14th Mumbai Film Festival (Mff) announced its complete lineup today in a press conference. Mff will be held from October 18th to 25th at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (Ncpa) and Inox, Nariman Point, Liberty Cinemas, Marine Lines as the main festival venues and Cinemax, Andheri and Cinemax Sion as the satellite venues. Click here to watch trailers and highlights from the festival.

Here is the complete list of films to be screened during the festival (October 18-25)

International Competition for the First Feature Films of Directors

1. From Tuesday To Tuesday (De Martes A Martes)

Dir.: Gustavo Fernandez Triviño (Argentina / 2012 / Col. / 111′)

2. The Last Elvis (El Último Elvis)

Dir.: Armando Bo (Argentina / 2012 / Col. / 91′)

3. The Sapphires

Dir.: Wayne Blair (Australia / 2012 / Col. / 103′)

4. The Wall (Die Wand)

Dir.: Julian Pölsler (Austria-Germany / 2012 / Col. / 108′)

5. Teddy Bear (10 timer til Paradis)

Dir.: Mads Matthiesen (Denmark / 2012 / Col. / 93′)

6. Augustine

Dir.: Alice Winccour (France / 2012 / Col.

Holding himself responsible for his band-mate brother’s untimely death, Lachlan MacAldonich (Robert Carlyle) hasn’t been back to Britain since for fear of finally facing his friends and family. Lachlan’s life in California – split between his work as a farmhand and a podcast he runs commemorating fallen stars – is put on the line, however, when a DUI conviction puts him on the wrong side of the country’s immigration laws.

Forced to re-evaluate his life there, he embarks on a friendship with a loyal customer (Alexia Rasmussen), seeks assistance from one of his old band’s managers and contacts his ex-wife (Kathleen Wilhoite) in an attempt to reconnect with his daughter (Savannah Lathem). The question is: are his efforts sincere, or is he just looking for a way to overturn the charge?

As a story of a washed up rocker struggling with long-fermenting demons and an endlessly destructive personality,...

After the borderline-disastrous 2011 Festival, the 66th Edinburgh Film Festival seems to have found its feet again – to a degree. The awards were reinstated, the guests lent a touch of class, there were a broader range of venues and, in terms of the films I saw at least, the quality of the programme improved. These adjustments (last year, the phrase ‘This was always our intention’ was repeated like a mantra) gave the sense – absent last year – that a proper film festival was taking place.

That doesn’t mean the Festival was perfect; improving over last year wasn’t going to be terribly difficult, but generally things took a step in the right direction. I do not know to what extent this was down to the appointment of a new artistic director, Chris Fujiwara, but he brought to the Festival a depth of film knowledge coupled with a hands-on enthusiasm. There is,...

James Marsh garnered a lot of attention back at the 2008 Edinburgh Film Festival when he came here with his Man On Wire, which turned out to be one of that year’s highlights. That was a documentary about a unique, quixotic and fascinating (if not entirely likeable) tightrope walker. He followed it with another documentary, Project Nim, which was one of the best films I saw at last year’s (admittedly lacklustre) festival. Both documentaries are powerful and cinematic, and Marsh has an uncanny ability to keep the films visually exciting (at times “Man On Wire” is like watching a heist movie).

Marsh is back this year with Shadow Dancer, a political thriller concerning a young Ira member, Collette (Andrea Riseborough), who is caught by MI5 and convinced by Mac (Clive Owen) to become an informant. The living-a-lie tension – captured so well by Scorsese in “The Departed” – is bolstered by...

The 66th Edinburgh International Film Festival is officially under way – last night the opening film, Killer Joe, screened in Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre, and though I wasn’t there I do wonder how it went down. It’s a provocative movie, and if it gets people arguing then at least it’s got people talking; last year’s deliberately unglamorous festival didn’t achieve even that. The screening was attended by its director, William Friedkin, who the night before introduced a screening of his classic The French Connection in the Filmhouse, and actress Gina Gershon; jury members Jim Broadbent and Elliott Gould were also in attendance.

After Friedkin’s memorable opener, I started my Festival with Pusher, that most suspicious of film product: a dreaded English-language remake. The original, a cult Danish film from the ’90s, was the first film from director Nicolas Winding Refn, of whom I have been...

Cannes is now over which means it’s time to move to Britain as the Edinburgh Film Festival kicks off!

We’ve just been sent the full line-up for the 2012 Edinburgh Film Festival which is now in it’s 66th year. We have our people (Jamie, Steven and Emma) on the ground at the event right now ready to catch as many films as they possible can throughout the next wee or two as we get to see 121 new features and 19 world premieres.

I’ll let the full press release below do the talking but let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments section below.

World Premieres:

Berberian Sound Studio Borrowed Time Day Of The Flowers Exit Elena Flying Blind Fred Future My Love Guinea Pigs Here, Then Leave It On The Track The Life And Times Of Paul The Psychic Octopus Life Just Is Mnl...

The full programme for the 66th edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff), which runs from 20 June to 1 July, has been officially announced and will feature nineteen World premieres and thirteen International premieres.

The Festival will showcase one hundred and twenty-one new features from fifty-two countries, including eleven European premieres and seventy-six UK premieres in addition to the World and International premieres. Highlights include the World premieres of Richard Ledes’ Fred; Nathan Silver’s Exit Elena and Benjamin Pascoe’s Leave It On The Track and European premieres of Lu Sheng’s Here, There and Yang Jung-ho’s Mirage in the maiden New Perspectives section; and the International premiere of Benicio Del Toro, Pablo Trapero, Julio Medem, Elia Suleiman, Gaspar Noé, Juan Carlos Tabio and Laurent Cantet’s 7 Days In Havana and the European premiere of Bobcat Goldthwait’s God Bless America in the Directors’ Showcase. In addition to the new features presented,...

Strand Releasing has acquired all Us rights to Marshall Lewy's "California Solo," which made its world premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. "California Solo" stars Robert Carlyle as a former Britpop rocker-turned-southern California farm worker who faces deportation after a DUI.  The film was written and directed by Lewy and also stars Alexia Rasmussen, Kathleen Wilhoite, A Martinez, Michael Des Barres and Danny Masterson.  Mynette Louie produced the film. "California Solo" is co-produced by Ross Girard, an in-house producer for Michel Gondry's Partizan, and is executive produced by Carlyle, Joan Huang of Cherry Sky Films, and Rick Rosenthal and Nick Morton of Whitewater Films. Jon Gerrans of Strand Releasing negotiated the deal with Ryan Kampe of Visit Films. Strand plans for a fall theatrical release. Lewy previously wrote and directed "Blue State" starring Anna Paquin. He's adapting...

Sundance 2012 Review of California Solo, starring Robert Carlyle - After years as a supporting player, Robert Carlyle shines in the spotlight. Most of the time Scottish native Robert Carlyle is a character actor offering bursts of colorful drama in support of the bigger story; sometimes a villain; like the James Bond adventure The World Is Not Enough and sometimes a lover; such as Antonia Bird’s gay melodrama Priest. More often Carlyle settles nicely with an ensemble, contributing his part to a larger cast in classic movies like the amateur male stripper comedy The Full Monty and the Irvine Welsh adaptation Trainspotting. Carlyle continues his trend as a go-to supporting actor in ABC’s fairy tale-inspired drama Once Upon A Time as the mischievous Rumpelstiltskin, arguably his most-seen performance to date...

Sundance 2012 Review of California Solo, starring Robert Carlyle - After years as a supporting player, Robert Carlyle shines in the spotlight. Most of the time Scottish native Robert Carlyle is a character actor offering bursts of colorful drama in support of the bigger story; sometimes a villain; like the James Bond adventure The World Is Not Enough and sometimes a lover; such as Antonia Bird’s gay melodrama Priest. More often Carlyle settles nicely with an ensemble, contributing his part to a larger cast in classic movies like the amateur male stripper comedy The Full Monty and the Irvine Welsh adaptation Trainspotting. Carlyle continues his trend as a go-to supporting actor in ABC’s fairy tale-inspired drama Once Upon A Time as the mischievous Rumpelstiltskin, arguably his most-seen performance to date...

Sundance 2012 Review of California Solo, starring Robert Carlyle - After years as a supporting player, Robert Carlyle shines in the spotlight. Most of the time Scottish native Robert Carlyle is a character actor offering bursts of colorful drama in support of the bigger story; sometimes a villain; like the James Bond adventure The World Is Not Enough and sometimes a lover; such as Antonia Bird’s gay melodrama Priest. More often Carlyle settles nicely with an ensemble, contributing his part to a larger cast in classic movies like the amateur male stripper comedy The Full Monty and the Irvine Welsh adaptation Trainspotting. Carlyle continues his trend as a go-to supporting actor in ABC’s fairy tale-inspired drama Once Upon A Time as the mischievous Rumpelstiltskin, arguably his most-seen performance to date...