2009 New York Film Festival

[Cheerupemokid]

The "cliffnotes" aspect of the NYFF has never bothered me, in fact in certain ways I look forward to it. After reading the Cannes reviews in Film Comment and other places, I usually know that at least a few of the bigger movies from there will play the NYFF and I'll have my chance to see them. Not all of those films, dare I say not even most of those films, playing Cannes are assured a release here in America, so sometimes the NYFF can be the only shot I have at seeing them. I thank them for the opportunity.

It really just isn't like a regular festival. When I go to Sundance or do Tribeca, I definitely want and expect a ton of Independent fare and not-well-known foreign releases that I can tell everybody about even though I know they'll probably never get to see it. With the NYFF, I expect the talked-about, buzzed-about hits that have been playing the big fests around the world.

[Perkins Cobb]

The new Harmony Korine film seems to have been added as a late-night screening:

Trash Humpers
Harmony Korine, 2009, USA, 74m
This episodic tale of a band of cretins who go around brutalizing dolls, molesting plant life and – yes – rubbing up against garbage cans is outrageous, scary, hilarious, distinctly American and oddly touching—as well as Harmony Korine’s purest film yet.

[Fiery Angel]

Manohla's NYFF overview

[hearthesilence]

First time at the NYFF, and so far I've enjoyed every film I've seen there. A few are better than others, but they've all been interesting and have something to recommend. Having lived in the Midwest most of my life, I LIKE having a festival that cherry-picks the best films from other festivals - sorry, but I don't have the budget to fly to Cannes, Toronto, Sundance and dozens of others, it's far more convenient to have Lincoln Center close-by and to see these films now on the big screen instead of waiting another 6 months to a year (maybe even more).

Really enjoyed the first half, looking forward to the rest of the festival.