Film news

This afternoon YEN's editor, Kristy, recieved a package - not at all that unusual, she gets a few of those. However this one happened to contain both the full box-set of Twin Peaks and a copy of it's movie prequal, Fire Walk With Me. I cannot hide my jealousy. A couple of days ago my flatmate introduced the house to David Lynch's tele-visual masterpiece and we've been living in a most short-tempered and edgy abode since - everyone fighting and scheming over who gets two watch disc three next, getting jumpy at the mere notion that someone should spoil episode five's cliff-hanger. We are simply that obsessed. For those who haven't seen it; google it, whoah is it F*****d up. February 24 is the day that The 'peaks fictional highschool sweetheart Laura Palmer is found dead - thus forming the elaborate plot of the series - so guess what I, my housemates and Kristy shall be doing come Sunday? Not seeing sunlight, thats for sure. We have a date with the DVD player.

It's Tropfest night! Always a highlight of the Sydney cultural calendar, this years event will feature guest-judge; Naomi Watts, as well as a performance from Van She -  plus, like, a whole bunch of really, really good little films. And it's free! Grab some friends, pack  a picnic and head down to the domain from 3.30.

On Wednesday March 12 the 2008 MOVIE EXTRA FILMINK Awards will transform Sydney’s iconic State Theatre into a glamorous red carpet affair with flashing bulbs, buzzing media and movie stars walking the red carpet. YEN, in conjunction with Filmink magazine, has five double passes to this premiere event to give away. So if you fancy being part of the action simply email us who you would want to walk the red carpet with and why.

If you haven't already heard the plot behind the upcoming Michel Gondry epic; Be Kind, Rewind then, please, just Wiki it now. Then watch the trailer here. Then and only then can you appreciate the masterpiece shown above; a re-make of the films trailer that was made by Michel Gondry, starring Michel Gondry. It's so post-modern it makes my head hurt a little bit.

Ooooooh, not too long to go now! Here's a new still from Spike Jonze's "Where the Wild Things Are"; i.e the most anticipated movie, ever.
Jonze announced his plans for the film adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's classic early last year;  immediatly spawning worldwide nostalgic frenzy, conjecture-filled fansites and, around these parts anyway, about a million Wild Things tattoos ("I got it 'coz i really liked the book hey"). The hype beast is slated for release in 2009 and, just incase you weren't already tearing up with impatience, Karen O is widely believed to be producing the film's soundtrack.

Remember the sweet and naïve Cindy Campbell from the Scary Movie franchise? Or Kelly; the vapid actress (and thinly veiled Cameron Diaz dig) in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation? Both characters were played by Anna Faris who, following those roles, had quite the cloud of next-big-thing conjecture hanging over her head. The rain of magazine covers and movie credits never really eventuated though which - considering she is a comic gold and cute as a button also -  still confounds me. Hopefully all that will all change with the release of Smiley Face; a new film from cult "queer cinema" director Gregg Araki in which Faris sports a cloud of a different nature -  a perpetual ring of skunk smoke. As part-time actress/ fulltime waster Jane.F, Faris plays the bong-coddling protagonist in what critics from the NY Times to Time Out Magazine are hailing as a stoner film for a new generation. Faris has other films out this year including Mama's Boy with Diane Keaton and Kids in America, from It's all Gone Pete Tong director Michael Dowse. Maybe 2008 will be her year?

There are so many great films to go and watch this coming Boxing Day. This year, unlike many past Boxing Days, it's not about showing  blockbusters, which is great news for YEN readers. Whether you're obsessed with Bob Dylan or Heath Ledger, this film is one to go and see. Directed by Todd Haynes, I'm not there is about iconic singer/songwriter Bob Dylan.  A series of stories  take place in  America in the '60s and '70s. Each expressing an aspect  of Dylan's mercurial  personality and each story is to be filmed  differently, in a style appropriate to its theme in the '60 and '70s. The film features an amazing line-up of Hollywood stars including Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Richard Gere, Cate Blanchett and Julianne Moore.

YEN has FIVE double passes to give away. If you're keen, email kbradley@ptmg.com.au by Friday 21 December, 3pm to go in the running to win a pass plus a bonus Bob Dylanesque prize.