What, When, Where this Weekend - Happy-Go-Lucky, Body of Lies, RocknRolla

What, When, Where is a weekly guide to select screenings, discussions and events in the NYC-area of interest to screenwriters.

- More Q&A screenings of Ballast at Film Forum this weekend.

Opening this weekend:

Happy-Go-Lucky, written and directed by Mike Leigh



Premise: A look at a few chapters in the life of Poppy, a cheery, colorful, North London schoolteacher whose optimism tends to exasperate those around her.

Playing at: Lincoln Plaza, Landmark Sunshine

I've said this before, but I'm a big Mike Leigh fan. Really looking forward to seeing this one.

Postive-ish reviews up at Screenhead and Time Out New York.

There are still tickets available for the screening with Mike Leigh that we posted about earlier.

Body of Lies, adapted by William Monahan, dir. by Ridley Scott



Premise: Based on Washington Post columnist David Ignatius's 2007 novel about a CIA operative, Roger Ferris, who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan.

Playing at: All over the place.

Ol' Ridley has brought us plenty of classics, including Alien, Blade Runner, and Gladiator, but also a few real stinkers. (Cough, cough, Black Hawk Down, cough!) Which one will this fall under? I'm counting on a League review from Onyx to let me know...

RocknRolla, written and directed by Guy Ritchie



Premise: In London, a real-estate scam puts millions of pounds up for grabs, naturally attraction the attention of some of the city's scrappiest tough guys its more established underworld players, and others -- all of whom are looking to get rich quick.

Playing at: Village East Cinemas, AMC Empire 25, Loews Lincoln Square

Mr. Ritchie - will this be the film that finally re-sells me on your work? I need to go back and watch Snatch and Lockstock soon. My memory tells me they were great, but I may have just been thinking that because I was a teenager at the time.

P.S. - Rachel Getting Married was outstanding. Review coming soon.

What're you doing/seeing this weekend?

Michael Connelly unveils video teasers for The Brass Verdict

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Michael Connelly. In a few short months, I tore through over a dozen of his Harry Bosch novels and two non-Bosch books. All were good, some were great and none were bad. This Monday, his latest novel, The Brass Verdict hits stores. The story focuses on Mickey Haller, an attorney Connelly has spotlighted before. To my glee, it also features Bosch. Fans of Connelly's work also know there's a definite connection between the two characters, who have never met in Connelly's books before.



To help promote the new book, Connelly has put together three promo videos featuring content complementary to the novel. If you're a fan of the author and plan on getting the book, this is must-see stuff. The videos were directed by noted mystery author Terrill Lee Lankford.

You can check out the video trailers here. And, yes, that is Corbin Bernsen.

Here's one of the videos:



[Via Off The Page]

Free screening of GOOD DICK tonight, writer/director/actress Marianna Palka in attendance

The Fusion Film Festival is an annual series held at NYU to promote female filmmakers. They're always showing great stuff year after year. The festival launches tonight with a screening of Good Dick.

GOOD DICK, written and directed by Marianna Palka



Premise: A look at the relationship between a lonely introverted girl and a young video store clerk vying for her attention.

Where: Cantor Film Center (8th Street and University), October 9th at 6:00 PM

Good Dick marks the narrative feature debut of writer/director Marianna Palka. The film won the New Directors award at the Edinburgh Film Festival and was an official Sundance selection. It co-stars Jason Ritter, who also produces alongside Palka, Jennifer Dubin, and Cora Olson. It will be released theatrically in Los Angeles on October 10th and New York on October 17th by Present Pictures and Morning Knight.

More info about tonight's screening is available here.