The Friday Short: ‘Fission’If Michel Gondry were to direct a street-art Fantasia, it might look something like Fission. Winner of a recent Student Academy Award in the Best Alternative Film category, recent School of Visual Arts grad Kun-I Chang’s explores a quintessentially New York concept.
AFI 100 List Takes ‘Manhattan.’ And Shoves It.The doddering American Film Institute has finally updated its list of the best 100 films (i.e., best big-studio fiction blockbusters made with white marquee stars and male directors in the good ol’ days of Kabuki pomposity like Ben Hur). For New Yorkers, the Los Angeles–based list is predictably awful, but still worse than the last: Do The Right Thing’s token inclusion at pitiful No. 94 stings worse than its omission in 1997
art candy
That’s Mister Mr. to YouTakashi Murakami has already spawned multiple editions of just about every object imaginable — so it was only a matter of time before he spawned a candy-colored disciple too (or two, or, twenty, actually). Enter the first: Mr. (yes, just Mr.), a mysterious protégé and a product of Murakami’s “factory”-like Kaikai Kiki company-collective. Mr. wraps up his New York solo debut tomorrow at Lehmann Maupin. —Rachel Wolff
apropos of nothing
Brazilians Fear Becoming Fat AmericansNope, not another round of Dove “Real Beauty” ads. And not an Adbusters spoof, either. Salles Chemistri (which also does ads for General Motors) produced these campy, hyperoffensive ads for the Brazilian yogurt company Itambé, to run with the tagline: “Forget about it. Men’s preference will never change. Fit Light Yogurt.” But we prefer this American version: “Brazilian ads: As progressive as Hollywood!” —Rachel Wolff
ranters and ravers
Not Everyone Loves ‘A Mighty Heart’An informal peer survey suggests that the moviegoing public is somewhat evenly divided on whether to catch Sicko or A Mighty Heart this weekend. More thoughts on Sicko to come, so for now, a quick overview of critics’ reactions to Angelina Jolie’s turn as Mariane Pearl in the film.
apropos of nothing
Michael Moore Should Watch This DocumentaryDownload Sicko? Or pay $11 at Lincoln Plaza? Today, that’s the decision you have to make, as Michael Moore’s doc opens in New York exclusively (and streams online, not exclusively at all). The Weinstein Co. has predictably lawyered-up, while Moore seems to be wrestling with his feelings. We suggest that he — and anyone who’s on the fence — watch the excellent doc Good Copy, Bad Copy.