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Revel in Ana Lily Amirpour's ‘Bad City' where the luscious chiaroscuro of depravity meets style and substance in the first ‘Iranian vampire western' -coined by the UCLA graduate with her feature directorial debut. Like a deconstructed horror film, “Agwhaan” glides across a spectrum of genres in a way that presents some incredibly visceral iconography that feels eerily familiar but also hauntingly avant-garde all at once.

In the stillness of the night, Arash (Arash Marandi) toils to make ends meet supporting the ills of his heroin-addicted father Hossein (Marshall Manesh). A clash with the village ne'er-do-well, Saeed (Dominic Rains proving the point with the word ‘sex' tattooed on his neck), leaves the former without his car as payment for the arrears Hossein owed the drug dealers. After obtaining some jewellery in unscrupulous ways, Arash seeks out the drug-dealing wise guy to get his car back, only to find the man dead,...

It seems Sophie’s photo of Jesse is about to have quite the journey on How I Met Your Father. Season 2 episode 3 of the Hulu series features a dinner with the buyers of the photo gone wrong, followed by Sophie (Hilary Duff) losing the photo altogether. However, Future Sophie (Kim Cattrall) reveals that someone returned the prized possession to her. But who? Fans are debating the person’s identity and whether it could have something to do with the identity of the father.

[Spoiler alert: The following story contains spoilers for How I Met Your Father Season 2 Episode 3, “The Reset Button.”]

Hilary Duff as Sophie chasing her photo down in ‘How I Met Your Father’ Season 2 Episode 3 | Patrick Wymore/Hulu Sophie’s photo goes missing in ‘How I Met Your Father’ Season 2 Episode 3

In episode 3, Sophie and Jesse (Chris Lowell) visit the rich couple who bought Sophie’s photo in episode 2. They meet Warren (Michael McDonald) and Megan...

Directed by Alister Grierson, the film Tiger stars Prem Singh, Janel Parrish, Michael Pugliese and Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke.

Tiger is inspired by the true story of Pardeep Singh Nagra, a practicing Sikh man who was banned from the sport of boxing due to his religious beliefs. The ban and the backlash he received is a result of racial profiling, stereotypical threats, and the daily pressure to change to fit a regulation and to conform. It is within the course of these challenges, and at his weakest moment, that he discovers love, who he is and to love himself and find his purpose. Consequently, his legacy will be forever tied to his two biggest battles – one in the courtroom, the other in the ring.

This film completely immerses you and gets you involved into the fight of Pardeep Singh Nagra and will make you want him to triumph inside and outside the ring.

"Nobody likes change... To me it doesn't matter how a fighter look, it ain't going to knock me down." R3M Pictures has debuted an official trailer for a boxing drama titled Tiger, the latest from Australian filmmaker Alister Grierson. A practicing Sikh is banned by the boxing commission for refusing to back down from his religious beliefs. Through racial profiling and stereotypical threats, he does what any strong American would do, fight back - in the courts, and in the ring. The film stars Prem Singh as Pardeep Nagra, and the cast includes Mickey Rourke, Janel Parrish, Marshall Manesh, and Michael 'Mick' Harrity. This looks alright, but I'm not too sure. It seems like a meaningful story about someone fighting for what he loves to do, fighting against age old racism and prejudice. Check it out below. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Alister Grierson's Tiger, direct from YouTube...

Mark Harrison Oct 31, 2017

Want to enhance your horror movie? Make sure you sign up a cat...

This feature contains broad spoilers for several horror movies featuring cats, including Alien, Cat People, Drag Me To Hell, Fallen, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Pet Sematary and The Voices.

The relationship between humans and cats over time has given way to a number of cultural impressions and outright superstitions. Ancient Egyptians associated them with gods. In the Middle Ages, they were linked with witches and killed en masse, which probably hastened the spread of the Black Plague through the rodent population. And in the modern day, it's interchangeably lucky or not if a black cat crosses your path.

Like anything with such a wide array of symbolic links, movies have presented cats as characters in different ways over the years. It's their abiding association with the supernatural – whether as an omen...

Don’t let the title of Fox’s newest comedy fool you: Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life has little to no idea how to survive much of anything — at least not yet.

RelatedJane Kaczmarek, Alan Ruck Recruited to Play Cooper Barrett‘s Parents

The oddball sitcom, which premiered Sunday, follows a trio of twentysomethings in the uncertain decade following college, and the hijinks that ensue as they attempt to strike out on their own.

The Parker Lewis Can’t Lose/Hangover-inspired hybrid takes place in present day, where our eponymous life guide Cooper (Jack Cutmore-Scott, Kingsman: The Secret Service...

Reviewed by Kevin Scott

MoreHorror.com

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014)

Written by: Ana Lily Amirpour

Directed by: Ana Lily Amirpour

Cast: Sheila Vand (The Girl), Arash (Arash Marandi), Marshall Manesh (Hossein the Junkie), Mozhan Marno (Atti the Prostitute), Dominic Rains (Saeed the Pimp), Rome Shadanloo (Shaydah the Princess), Ray Haratian (The Boss), Pej Vahdat (DJ Porno), Ana Lily Amirpour (Skeleton Partygirl), Masuka (Masuka the Cat)

There are two things that have inhibited me in the past from broadening my horror film horizons. Those things would be subtitles and anything filmed in black and white. I’ve conquered my perceived drudgery of reading subtitles, and after many forced exercises to multitask my watching and reading simultaneously, I can get lost in a really good horror movie, and the subtitles come as second nature. I’m still struggling with the black and white. Even established classics such as “Night of the Living Dead...

The phrase “first Iranian vampire western” will follow A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, and its director Anna Lily Amirpour, until the end of cinema itself. A year and a half after it glided sexily into Sundance, the movie has made waves for its genre play, for Sheila Vand’s already iconic vampire look, and for its incredible, eclectic soundtrack. The movie has been in vogue ever since, even though there appears to be little beneath its chador-clad exterior to chew upon. Part of the explanation is never mentioned in its buzzy tagline, but most of the attraction is really down to its story of misfit rebellion, a James Dean tale with a Donnie Darko-esque soundtrack, by way of Iran.

There are, as is frequently mentioned, a lot of similarities with Jim Jarmusch’s earlier movies Stranger Than Paradise or Down By Law. This extends beyond the black-and-white shots of urban tedium,...

Hailed as one of the best new cinematic discoveries in 2014 is director Ana Lily Amirpour with her debut A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, a moody vampire noir that premiered in the Next section at the Sundance Film Festival. Scooping up the Gotham Award’s Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award and picking up a pair of Indie Spirit Award nominations (including Best First Feature) and wins at international film fests such as Deauville and Sitges, the film opened theatrically in the fall of 2014 to a barrage of critical acclaim. Credited as the first Iranian Vampire Western, Amirpour is operating with a mash-up of vintage tropes, creating an inspired concoction.

With all its characters speaking Farsi, yet filmed in California and set in the fictional locale of Bad City, there is an enigmatic, surreal aura to Amirpour’s exciting debut. An exploration of loneliness utilizing a set of nighttime creatures...

Kino Lorber has announced A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 21.

In his Sliff 2014 review, Michael Haffner wrote A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, “is the best vampire film since Let The Right One In.”

Buy it on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/girl-walks-home-alone-at-night/id958700430

Pre-order on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Walks-Alone-Special-Collectors-Blu-ray/dp/B00SV06VLS/ref=sr_1_2_twi_1_blu?ie=UTF8&qid=1428338245&sr=8-2&keywords=A+Girl+Walks+Home+Alone+At+Night

The film’s Blu-ray brings over two hours of special features (138 minutes), as well as a collectible version of the first two issues of the comic book, written by Ana Lily Amirpour and drawn by Michael DeWeese, being published by Radco.

After grossing over $420,000 in Us theaters and playing in more than 75 markets, Ana Lily Amirpour’s feature debut is ready for its home media release.

Pioneering woman director Lois Weber socially conscious drama 'Shoes' among Library of Congress' Packard Theater movies (photo: Mary MacLaren in 'Shoes') In February 2015, National Film Registry titles will be showcased at the Library of Congress' Packard Campus Theater – aka the Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation – in Culpeper, Virginia. These range from pioneering woman director Lois Weber's socially conscious 1916 drama Shoes to Robert Zemeckis' 1985 blockbuster Back to the Future. Another Packard Theater highlight next month is Sam Peckinpah's ultra-violent Western The Wild Bunch (1969), starring William Holden and Ernest Borgnine. Also, Howard Hawks' "anti-High Noon" Western Rio Bravo (1959), toplining John Wayne and Dean Martin. And George Cukor's costly remake of A Star Is Born (1954), featuring Academy Award nominees Judy Garland and James Mason in the old Janet Gaynor and Fredric March roles. There's more: Jeff Bridges delivers a colorful performance in...

A long time in the making, Reach Me, from filmmaker/actor John Herzfeld brings ‘positive thinking’ and ‘self-help’ to the big screen. It stars a bevy of Herzfeld’s actor friends and friends of friends, including Sylvester Stallone, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Connolly.

The title is one of a dozen or so newcomers opening in limited release this weekend. Music Box’s Happy Valley and Kino Lorber’s Monk With A Camera are among Friday’s debuting documentaries.

Happy Valley, named after the area where Pennsylvania State University is located, dives into the child sexual-abuse scandal that rocked Penn State, while Monk looks at an unlikely ascetic who gave up life in the fast lane.

Kino Lorber also is launching Iranian Western Vampire pic A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, which it is releasing with Vice Films. The title, which was born out of a previous short film, debuted at Sundance in January.

Walking After Midnight: Amirpour’s Expressive, Moody Debut

Described as an Iranian vampire film with all its characters speaking Farsi, yet filmed in California and set in the fictional locale of Bad City, there is an enigmatic, surreal aura to Ana Lily Amirpour’s exciting debut, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. An exploration of loneliness utilizing a set of nighttime creatures while evoking nostalgic cinematic traditions of the film noir and the adolescent rebel, Amirpour’s ambient film is startling in its rendering of expressive black and white cinematography in a film whose themes and sound designs recall the alternate universes of David Lynch.

Living at home with his junkie father (Marshall Manesh), Arash (Arash Marandi) is forced to give up the car he’s finally paid off to Saeed (Dominic Rains), the dealer and pimp to whom Arash’s father owes a large sum of money. Saeed...

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night Kino Lorber/ Vice Films Reviewed for Shockya by Tami Smith, Guest Reviewer. Director: Ana Lily Amirpour Screenwriter: Ana Lily Amirpour Cast: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Mozhan Marno, Dominic Rains, Marshall Manesh, Milad Eghbali and Masuka Opens: November 21, 2014 Ana Lily Amirpour, wanted to direct and shoot a film that takes place in Iran, with Iranian actors, but did not want the hassle and the restrictions that so many Iranian directors before her faced. So what is a gal to do? She simply used an isolated California town as a stand-in for Bad City, Iran and picked some German and American Farsi speaking  [ Read More ]

The post A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Name and focus changes for every section, which are now all competitive, resulting in the festival’s structure being “slimmer’.

The ninth Rome Film Festival (Oct 16-25) has revealed a diverse line-up including the Italian premieres for potential awards contenders including David Fincher’s Gone Girl. the world premiere of Takashi Miike’s As the Gods Will and Burhan Qurbani’s We are Young, We are Strong and European premiere of Oren Moverman’s Time Out of Mind, Toronto hit Still Alice and Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet.

This year for the first time the award-winners in each section of the programme will be decided by the audience on the basis of votes cast after the screenings.

Each section has changed name and focus for 2014 and are all competitive, resulting in the festival’s structure being “slimmer’.

Italian comedies Soap Opera and Andiamo a Quel Paese bookend the line-up.

Full line-up

Cinema D’Oggi

World premiere

• Angely...

A new trailer has arrived for the world's first Iranian vampire western, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, an upcoming release from Elijah Wood's company, SpectreVision; and it looks pretty bitchin'!

Kino Lorber acquired the North American rights to the film a full five months after its world premiere at Sundance. A Stateside release is still pending.

Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night stars Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Dominic Rains, Marshall Manesh, Mozhan Marnó, and Milad Eghbali.

Synopsis

Strange things are afoot in Bad City. The Iranian ghost town, home to prostitutes, junkies, pimps, and other sordid souls, is a bastion of depravity and hopelessness where a lonely vampire stalks its most unsavory inhabitants. But when boy meets girl, an unusual love story begins to blossom… blood red.

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Sundance Institute today announced the films and music acts that will headline the Sundance Next Fest summer festival August 7-10 in Los Angeles. Next Fest, headquartered at the Theatre at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, celebrates the intersection of film and music and the renegade spirit of independent artists. Tickets ($15-25) go on sale to Sundance Institute members today and all others tomorrow at sundance.org/next

In addition to a 10th Anniversary screening of "Napoleon Dynamite" with Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery as the festival’s kickoff event on August 7, Next Fest will present the Los Angeles premieres of six films that first screened at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and offer unfettered creativity and fresh perspectives. The program features a zombie love story, an Iranian-set vampire movie, a modern tale of buried treasure, a thriller about a mysterious soldier, and films that explore the perils of artistic ambition amongst gang life in Watts and the literary world of New York respectively.

Each film screens once at the Theatre at Ace Hotel August 8-10 and will be paired with either a special music act that shares a complementary artistic sensibility or conversations that bring together filmmakers with those who inspired them. The Sundance Film Festival programming staff selected the films and music acts for Next Fest.

The festival is an extension of the popular Next <=> section at the Sundance Film Festival, which showcases stylistically adventurous and bold films, and builds on the Institute’s Next Weekend event, hosted in 2013.

John Cooper , Director of the Sundance Film Festival, said, “Next Fest is a continuation of our efforts to connect film-loving audiences with the next generation of independent filmmakers. The unique convergence of film and music enhances the experience of each and offers fresh insight into the talent and vision of these outstanding independent artists.”

Trevor Groth , Director of Programming for the Sundance Film Festival, said, “In the heart of one of the most creative cities in the world, Next Fest will launch a new wave of film and music talent into the artistic atmosphere. The Theatre at Ace Hotel, with its roots in cinematic trailblazing, will serve as the ideal hub for this cultural adventure.”

Sundance Institute members have access to a host of benefits related to Next Fest, including the ability to purchase tickets today, before they go on sale to the general public tomorrow. At the August 7 screening with Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, members will enjoy a reserved seating section and receive an exclusive tote bag, screenprinted live at the event by Hit + Run. Members are also invited to a special party during Next Fest and are eligible to win a prize package including a three-night stay at the Ace Hotel plus airfare. For more information visit Here

The film schedule is as follows:

Thursday, August 7,

Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

"Napoleon Dynamite" (Director: Jared Hess, Screenwriters: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess) — From the rural town of Preston, Idaho, comes Napoleon Dynamite – a new kind of hero. He spends his days drawing magical beasts, working on his computer hacking skills to impress the chicks, and begrudgingly feeding his Grandma's pet llama. When his friend Pedro runs for class president, Napoleon helps him triumph over adversity. The film premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Cast: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Jon Gries, Sandy Martin, Efren Ramirez. Special guests to be announced. 10th Anniversary Screening

Friday, August 8, 8:00 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

"Life After Beth" / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jeff Baena) — Zach is devastated by the unexpected death of his girlfriend, Beth. When she mysteriously returns, he gets a second chance at love. Soon his whole world turns upside down... Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser. Los Angeles Premiere

Father John Misty — Father John Misty is the charismatic singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and performer who released his debut album, Fear Fun in 2012 to universal praise. The acclaim, emboldened by his incredible live show, led to multiple sold-out tours and high profile TV performances on Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Conan and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He is currently at work on his follow up, due in early 2015. Next Fest will feature a solo acoustic performance.

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

"Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter" / U.S.A. (Director: David Zellner Screenwriters: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner) — A lonely Japanese woman becomes convinced that a satchel of money buried in a fictional film is, in fact, real. Abandoning her structured life in Tokyo for the frozen Minnesota wilderness, she embarks on an impulsive quest to search for her lost mythical fortune. Cast: Rinko Kikuchi. Winner of a U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Musical Score at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Los Angeles Premiere

Followed by a conversation between director David Zellner and co-screenwriter Nathan Zellner with a special guest to be announced.

Saturday, August 9, 4:45 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

"Listen Up Philip"/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Alex Ross Perry) — A story about changing seasons and changing attitudes, a newly accomplished writer faces mistakes and miseries affecting those around him, including his girlfriend, her sister, his idol, his idol's daughter, and all the ex-girlfriends and enemies that lie in wait on the open streets of New York. Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, Krysten Ritter, Josephine de La Baume. Los Angeles Premiere

Followed by a conversation between director Alex Ross Perry and Jason Schwartzman with a special guest to be announced.

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

"Imperial Dreams" / U.S.A. (Director: Malik Vitthal, Screenwriters: Malik Vitthal, Ismet Prcic ) — A 21-year-old, reformed gangster's devotion to his family and his future are put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles. Cast: John Boyega, Rotimi Akinosho, Glenn Plummer, Keke Palmer, De'aundre Bonds. Winner of the Audience Award: Best of Next <=> at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Los Angeles Premiere

Tinashe : Tinashe does everything on her own terms. The stunning 21-year-old singer, songwriter and performer arrives with a distinct and dynamic vision of R&B punctuated by hip-hop attitude, pop flavor, rock swagger and electronica spark. It all comes to life vividly on Aquarius, her forthcoming full-length debut on RCA Records.

Sunday, August 10, 4:00 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

"The Guest" / U.S.A. (Director: Adam Wingard, Screenwriter: Simon Barrett) — A soldier on leave arrives at the home of a fallen comrade. Friendly and helpful, they welcome him in, but when people start mysteriously dying in town, mayhem ensues as their teenage daughter starts wondering if he’s responsible. Cast: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Leland Orser, Lance Reddick, Chase Williamson, Brendan Meyer. Los Angeles Premiere

Followed by a conversation between director Adam Wingard and a special guest to be announced.

Sunday, August 10, 7:45 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Ana Lily Amirpour) — In the Iranian ghost town of Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, depraved denizens are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire. Cast: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Dominic Rains, Marshall Manesh, Mozhan Marnó, Milad Eghbali. Los Angeles Premiere

Warpaint — Warpaint was formed in 2004 and comprises Emily Kokal, Theresa Wayman, Jenny Lee Lindberg and Stella Mozgawa. They recently released their self-titled second album to rave reviews. Rolling Stone described it as, “The perfect backdrop for your next midnight séance or moonlit dance party” and W Magazine said, “If the La band’s first album was the sonic equivalent of falling into happy slumber, then its newly released follow-up is a beautifully lucid dream...

One of the more interesting horror films premiering at this year's Sundance Film Festival was no doubt A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, a release from Elijah Wood's company SpectreVision that's being billed as the world's first Iranian Vampire Western.

After months of silence the flick has finally found distro! Variety reports Kino Lorber has acquired the North American rights to the film a full five months after its world premiere at Sundance.

Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night stars Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Dominic Rains, Marshall Manesh, Mozhan Marnó and Milad Eghbali.

Synopsis

Strange things are afoot in Bad City. The Iranian ghost town, home to prostitutes, junkies, pimps and other sordid souls, is a bastion of depravity and hopelessness where a lonely vampire stalks its most unsavory inhabitants. But when boy meets girl, an unusual love story begins to blossom…...

Last night, CBS delivered the new,official,synopsis/spoilers and promo/spoiler clip (below) for their upcoming "How I Met Your Mother" series finale episodes 23 and 24. The episodes are entitled, "Last Forever Part 1 and 2," and they appear to be quite interesting as the gang will wrap up the show for good with one final surprise for the fans, and more! In the new,23rd and 24th finale episodes press release: Ted will finally finish telling his kids the story of how he met their mother on the special one-hour series finale of How I Met Your Mother. Cheat Tweet: Grab a tissue and bid farewell 2 #Himym w/ a 1 hour series finale 3/31 8-9 pm. It’s gonna B #legendary! #CBS http://bit.ly/1go1FrS. Guest stars will feature: Judith Drake (Bernice), Marshall Manesh (Ranjit), Joe Nieves (Carl), Saudia Rashed (Nurse), Courtney Hope Turner (Girl), Brooke Lynn Howard (Sexy Girl #1), Justene Alpert...

New How I Met Your Mother season 9,episode 20 spoiler promo clip hit the net. Last night, CBS served up the new promo/spoiler clip (below) for their upcoming "How I Met Your Mother" episode 20 of season 9, and it appears to be very hilarious as Marshall delivers a wicked punch, Barney gets frighteningly sloppy with his food ,and more. The episode is titled, "Daisy." In the new episode 20, Marshall will end up, enlisting Ted and Barney to help him figure out where Lily went when she left in the middle of their fight. Crazy, funny man, Chris Elliot, is going to return as Lily’s dad. Cheat Tweet: Will The Mosby Boys uncover Lily’s big secret? What do u think it is? #Himym 3/10 @8pm Et/Pt http://bit.ly/1k60tfX. Guest stars are going to include: Chris Elliot (Mickey), Marshall Manesh (Ranjit), Suzie Plakson (Judy), William Zabka (Himself), and...

New How I Met Your Mother season 9,episode 20 official spoilers,plotline revealed by CBS. Recently, CBS released the new,official,synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "How I Met Your Mother" episode 20 of season 9. The episode is entitled, "Daisy," and it sounds like things will get quite interesting as Marshall tries to hunt Lily down after a huge fight, and more. In the new,20th episode press release: Marshall is going to be on a mission to find out where Lily went when she left in the middle of their fight. Press release number 2: Marshall will enlists Ted and Barney to help him figure out where Lily went when she left in the middle of their fight. Crazy funny man, Chris Elliot, is going to return as Lily’s dad. Cheat Tweet: Will The Mosby Boys uncover Lily’s big secret? What do u think it is? #Himym 3/10 @8pm Et/Pt http://bit.

By Terence Johnson

Managing Editor

A stylish and soulful film, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a film of bad men, dangerous women, love and beautiful images. More than just a vampire film, Ana Lily Amirpour crafts an eerie, moody tone poem that’s a fantastic film to watch.

Bad City an industrial town, filled by all matter of folks from the scrupulous to the shady. Arash (Arash Marandi), one such citizen, longs to just get in his nice car and go. Working as a landscaper and living with his junkie father is proving more difficult, when his father runs afoul of a local drug dealer. A local prostitute (Mozhan Marnò) has just turned 30 and wants to escape as well. They all long for better lives, but are unable to move from their station. This relatively tranquil, yet unfulfilling existence, is slowly shattered as a vampire (Sheila Vand) begins stalking the streets,...

Electric Entertainment has acquired international rights and IFC has taken the Us on John Slattery’s feature directorial debut. Separately, Kinology has acquired international sales on A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, IFC also acquired Cold In July and Spc picked up Land Ho!.

The God’s Pocket deal marks the first international pick-up for Dean Devlin’s fledgling sales agency and sales head Sonia Mehandjiyska will introduce the comedic crime story at the Efm in Berlin next month.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Christina Hendricks, John Turturro and Caleb Landry Jones star in the Peter Dexter adaptation about a man caught up in a lie following the death of his stepson on a construction site.

God’s Pocket premiered on January 17 in the Us Dramatic section and is a Park Pictures Film in association with Cooper’s Town Productions and Shoestring Pictures.

Electric and IFC separately negotiated rights with Gersh Agency and law firm Cowan...

It’s funny how things start to pair up over festivals. You’ll notice themes across at least two films, maybe more. Could just be the exhaustion. The six films I’ve seen since I last filed a diary definitely partner nicely and yet one can also trace through lines through them, despite their completely different genres. Let’s get going…

The first pair are related by being so completely distinct in the history of film. There’s Steve James’ “Life Itself”, a documentary about the most important film critic of all time, and Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood”, a film with a production process like no other. These films represent a pair of experiences that I’ve never had before and likely will never have again. My personal connection to “Life Itself” made the world premiere an emotional, powerful night, and “Boyhood” the next morning took 12 years to make. The...

By Terence Johnson

Managing Editor

As you read this post, I will be on a plane headed to Park City to cover the Sundance Film Festival. Over the next nine days, I’ll be bringing you the goings on from the festival as well as reviewing the films. Here’s the top 10 films I’m most excited for at Sundance.

10. The Raid 2 dir. Gareth Evans

Cast: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusadewo, Alex Abbad

Reason: I have a good friend who swears by the original and this movie is different enough from the rest of the slate to make an impression.

Synopsis: Immediately following the events of the original, The Raid 2 tracks Officer Rama as he is pressured to join an anticorruption task force to guarantee protection for his wife and child. His mission is to get close to a new mob boss, Bangun, by befriending his incarcerated son,...

The Sundance Film Festival kicks off this Thursday night, January 16, 2014 and history tells us that one of your favorite films will premiere there. Last year, we covered the Sundance premieres of “Before Midnight,” “Upstream Color,” “The Way Way Back,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” “We Are What We Are,” and many more. And Chicago Critics Film Festival hits “Stories We Tell,” “The Spectacular Now,” and “The Kings of Summer” premiered in Park City in 2013.

What will make waves this year? What films will cinephiles be talking about for the next ten days? There are dozens of films that have piqued our interest and that we’ll be covering here in daily diaries starting on Friday but here are ten, alphabetically, that already have people buzzing. And the amazing thing is how easy it would have been to choose a completely different ten. (Synopses courtesy of Sundance.)

Boyhood

Photo credit: Sundance...

One of the more interesting horror films premiering at this year's Sundance Film Festival is no doubt A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, a release from Elijah Wood's company SpectreVision that's being billed as the world's first Iranian Vampire Western.

Oh, and it's shot entirely in Farsi. With an Iranian soundtrack.

Check out the first clip from the black and white thriller below, courtesy of Indiewire!

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night will premiere on January 19th, as part of the festival's Next section.

Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, the film stars Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Dominic Rains, Marshall Manesh, Mozhan Marnó and Milad Eghbali.

Synopsis

Strange things are afoot in Bad City. The Iranian ghost town, home to prostitutes, junkies, pimps and other sordid souls, is a bastion of depravity and hopelessness where a lonely vampire stalks its most unsavory inhabitants. But when boy meets girl,...

The 2014 Sundance Film Festival is right around the corner, and the Sundance Institute has released the full line-up for the competition films that will be premiering!

This year there were 12,218 total submissions, and 117 films were accepted from 37 countries around the world. It looks like there's a lot of good selection of films this year.

The Sundance Film Festival 2014 runs from January 16th to the 26th, and the GeekTyrant team will be there to cover as many movies as we possibly can.

U.S. Dramatic Competition

The 16 films in this section are world premieres and, unless otherwise noted, are from the U.S.

“Camp X-Ray” — Directed and written by Peter Sattler. A young female guard at Guantanamo Bay forms an unlikely friendship with one of the detainees. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Payman Maadi, Lane Garrison, J.J. Soria, John Carroll Lynch.

“Cold in July” — Directed by Jim Mickle, written by Nick Damici.

Sundance Film Festival continues to be one of the most popular, and arguably one of the most important, events on the industry calendar, launching as it does some of the most prominent independent films at the start of each year.

This year will be no different, with Sundance announcing last night the initial line-up of films screening in competition, led by Song One, starring Anne Hathaway; Camp X-Ray, starring Kristen Stewart; Infinitely Polar Bear, with Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana; Joe Swanberg’s Happy Christmas, starring Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber, Lena Dunham, and Swanberg himself; The Skeleton Twins, with Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, and Ty Burrell; Life After Beth, with Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, and John C. Reilly; Listen Up Philip, with Jason Schwartzman and Elisabeth Moss; Whiplash, starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons; and many, many more.

U.S. Dramatic Competition

Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films,...

It's that special time of year again when films are announced for Sundance and we have to do our best to figure out from very brief descriptions if they're horror or not. In any event, here's the first wave of what we think are the genre highlights.

First to be announced are the films selected for the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions and the out-of-competition Next <=> section of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, which runs January 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah.

For the 2014 fest 118 feature-length films were selected, representing 37 countries and 54 first-time filmmakers, including 34 in competition. These films were selected from 12,218 submissions (72 more than for 2013), including 4,057 feature-length films and 8,161 short films. Of the feature film submissions, 2,014 were from the U.S. and 2,043 were international. 97 Feature films at the Festival will be world premieres.

In addition to those announced today, the Festival...

God’S Pocket

Sundance Institute announced today the films selected for the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions and the out-of-competition section of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, January 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

Robert Redford, President & Founder of Sundance Institute said, “That the Festival has evolved and grown as it has over the past 30 years is a credit to both our audiences and our artists, who continue to find ways to take risks and open our minds to the power of story. This year’s films and artists promise to do the same.”

For the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, 118 feature-length films were selected, representing 37 countries and 54 first-time filmmakers, including 34 in competition. These films were selected from 12,218 submissions (72 more than for 2013), including 4,057 feature-length films and 8,161 short films. Of the feature film submissions, 2,014 were from the U.S. and 2,043 were international. 97 feature films at...

Rolling out it’s fifth edition and growing beyond just Park City (Los Angeles hosted a summer event this year) the Next section has grown in size, has found plenty of distrib buyer interest and has a strong voice of its own. Becoming a home for low budget indie we like: smaller budgets sometimes bring out impressive creative outputs, in 2011 we had Sound of My Voice, Restless City and Bellflower. 2012 saw Compliance, I’m Not a Hipster and Sleepwalk With Me, while last year we were impressed by the likes of It Felt Like Love and Blue Caprice. This year we have eleven, instead of ten selections – the plus one bump might have to do with Madeleine Olnek’s The Foxy Merkins – she got to show off her film this summer in the Next Weekend L.A event (we mentioned above). In the coming-of-agers working with a different vibe and...

The U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competition lineups for the 2014 Sundance Film Festival were announced today and just below I have featured pictures from the 16 films that will be competing in the U.S. Dramatic competition and they feature a lot of names you're going to recognize. The titles begin with Camp X-Ray, which stars Kristen Stewart as a guard in Guantanamo Bay, where she forms an unlikely friendship with one of the detainees. Jim Mickle made an impact earlier this year with We Are What We Are and he returns with Michael C. Hall with Cold in July. Fishing Without Nets looks to tell a story similar to that of Captain Phillips, only this time from the Somali side of things; God's Pocket is "Mad Men" star John Slattery's writing and directorial debut and he's lined up an impressive cast including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins,...

Festival top brass announced on December 4 the Us and world cinema dramatic and documentary competition entries as well as 11 Next titles for the upcoming 30th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, set to run in Utah from January 16-26 2014.

The Us dramatic strand features work from independent auteurs Joe Swanberg and Jim Mickle as well as the feature directorial debut of Mad Men star John Slattery, Anne Hathaway in Song One and Rinko Kikuchi in Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter.

Several titles including Kat Cander’s Hellion and Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash – a Day One Film – previously screened at Sundance as shorts.

Festival director John Cooper and director of programming Trevor Groth said genre was no longer the sole preserve of the Park City At Midnight section and had percolated into the broader selection. Cooper added that genre was often a good device for film-makers to hook audiences on a story.

World cinema...

New How I Met Your Mother season 9,episode 10 hilarious spoilers & clips hit the net. Last night,CBS served up the new spoilers and sneak peek/spoiler clip (below) for their upcoming "How I Met Your Mother" episode 10 of season 9. The episode is entitled, "Mom and Dad," and it looks quite funny as Barney pulls out just about any and all stops to get his parents to hook back up, and more. In the new "Mom and Dad" episode, Barney will end up, concocting a plan that worries Robin, and Ted is going to be convinced someone framed him by messing up a wedding-related duty. When Barney’s father arrives at the hotel, Barney will cook up a plan that makes Robin very nervous. In the meantime, Ted will be convinced that someone framed him by messing up a wedding-related duty. Guest stars are going to include: John Lithgow as Jerry,...

New How I Met Your Mother season 9,episode 10 official spoilers,plotline revealed by CBS. Recently, CBS released the new,official,synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "How I Met Your Mother" episode 10 of season 9. The episode is entitled, "Mom and Dad," and it sounds pretty interesting as Barney comes up with a plan that puts Robin on edge, and more. In the new,10th episode press release: Barney will concoct a plan that worries Robin, and Ted is going to be convinced someone framed him by messing up a wedding-related duty. Press release number 2: When Barney’s father arrives at the hotel, Barney will devise a plan that makes Robin very nervous. In the meantime, Ted will be convinced that someone framed him by messing up a wedding-related duty. Guest stars will feature: John Lithgow as Jerry, Wayne Brady as James, Sherri Shepherd as Daphne, Ben Vereen as Sam Gibbs,...

Tags: Ana Lily AmirpourA Girl Walks Home Alone at NightIMDb

Crowdfunding is all the rage these days – and we couldn’t be happier. Some of the weirder, cooler, and most creative games, movies and other art projects now have a shot at being made – that is, if they can find an audience.

We just became aware of one such project – “Iranian vampire western” A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is currently seeking funding on Indiegogo. With a woman in the creative seat, a blend of nerd-ready themes in the subject matter, and an incredibly fun pitch, you can safely say we’re dying to see this film get made.

From Wired:

"Somehow, this film — when people read the script, when people even just hear about it — it’s exciting,’ says A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour in her IndieGogo video pitch for the film.

It's been a season in the making, but one very crucial element of the game-changing "How I Met Your Mother" wedding finally revealed itself during the Season 6 finale.

While the bride -- both the wedding's and Ted's future one who he meets while performing best man duties -- remains a secret, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) is unmasked as the groom. But will he be walking down the aisle with the Nora (Nazanin Boniadi) or Robin (Cobie Smulders)?

First, let's settle a few things.

"Himym" starts the episode by taking a few years off of my life with a quick Zoey cameo (Jennifer Morrison), followed by the casual suggestion that Ted (Josh Radnor) might actually get back together with her. His default mode is "sentimental fool," so when the construction foreman (guest Chi McBride) stresses him out with a question of what kind of light bulb he wants in the building,...

Is there any hope for Addison and Sam on Private Practice? — Lesley

The TV Addict: Oh, there’s always hope,! Unfortunately Addison and Sam’s not-so-direct-flight to “happily-ever-after-ville” will be hitting some serious turbulence this May 15th at 10Pm thanks to the arrival of a mysterious admirer [Benjamin Bratt] who offers Addison an offer she can’t, but probably should, refuse.

Any word on how Deseperate Housewives plans to end the season? — Jenn

The TV Addict: In typical Wisteria Lane fashion, Desperate Housewives will be kicking off May Sweeps with a bang. Or to be more specific, an arrest of one on your favorite Wisteria wives. What’s more, Sunday’s episode which we recently had the opportunity to screen will also include the arrival of a prowler on the lane and some serious marital strife for one of the show’s most stable couples.

Will fans of Brothers & Sisters be content...

Chicago – Created by Conan O’Brien and Jonathan Groff, NBC’s “Andy Barker, P.I.” was barely given even the slightest chance to develop a following when it debuted a few years ago. Andy Richter had the worst luck as a sitcom lead, failing to find an audience for the brilliant-but-canceled “Andy Richter Controls the Universe” and then getting the axe again after only six episodes of the promising “Andy Barker, P.I.”. No wonder he returned to the loving embrace of Conan O’Brien when he went to “The Tonight Show”.

DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0

Richter’s last stab at sitcom glory was a clever comedy about a fish-out-of-water stuck in noir-esque action. The lovable sidekick played Cpa Andy Barker, a successful accountant who stumbles into the life of a private detective after he rents a storefront office that used to be occupied by someone more skilled at the seedy side of humanity.

If you never managed to catch Andy Barker, P.I. when it originally aired two years ago, try not to beat yourself up. Though the show had an impressive cast, led by Andy Richter as a Cpa-turned-private-investigator, and including Harve Presnell, Tony Hale, Marshall Manesh, and Clea Lewis. It was also created by Conan O'Brien and Jonathan Groff. But it only lasted six episodes, and didn't seem to get much push from NBC. Watching it on the newly released DVD, Andy Barker, P.I.: The Complete Series, it's hard not to feel the show could have had legs if given the chance.

All's well that ends well, though, and Richter is happier than ever, paired again with Conan O'Brien on The Tonight Show, getting to do what he calls a "silly little comedy show" without dealing with the backwards world of the sitcom. I spoke with Richter earlier this week...

The networks are getting faster and faster at pulling shows from the airwaves. Just when you think you've heard it all, they come up with something new. Well, how about pulling a show before it's even been aired?

Andy Barker P.I. is a new sitcom that's scheduled to debut this Thursday night at 9:30pm on NBC. The series stars comic actor Andy Richter and was created by Conan O'Brien and Jonathan Groff. The series premise is that Richter plays a struggling accountant who reluctantly becomes a detective after moving into office space formerly occupied by a private investigator. The series co-stars Tony Hale, Marshall Manesh, Harve Presnell, and Clea Lewis.

Richter's had a string of bad luck with sitcoms since he left Late Night with Conan O'Brien seven years ago. It sounds like this show might be good enough to break that run. But, has NBC already made...