What, When, Where this Weekend - Wendy and Lucy, Gran Torino, Doubt, The Day the Earth Stood Still

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

- Kelly Reichardt is at Film Forum talking about Wendy and Lucy tonight and Friday...

- Fellini's classic Amarcord is wrapping up its run at Film Forum...

- ...while Bergman's five-plus hour masterpiece Fanny and Alexander is opening for a limited time at the IFC Center. Each half requires a ticket, but it's well worth it just to see this on the big screen.

- Read the Black List yet?

Opening this week...

WENDY AND LUCY, written by Jonathan Raymond and Kelly Reichardt, dir. by Kelly Reichardt


Premise: A woman's life is derailed en route to a potentially lucrative summer job. When her car breaks down, and her dog is taken to the pound, the thin fabric of her financial situation comes apart, and she is led through a series of increasingly dire economic decisions.

Playing: Film Forum

I've been hyped about this one for months - still hyped. See me shaking with excitement here and here.

DOUBT, written and directed by John Patrick Shanley

Premise: Set in 1964, Doubt centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him abusing a black student. He denies the charges, and much of the play's quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion, morality and authority.


GRAN TORINO, written by Nick Schenk and Dave Johannson, dir. by Clint Eastwood

Premise: Disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski's prized possession: his 1972 Gran Torino.

Playing: All over.

This could possibly be Eastwood's last film as an actor? That's hard to imagine. Either way, I'll stand by his directing work. Film School Rejects has their review over here.


THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, written by David Scarpa, dir. by Scott Derrickson

Premise: A remake of the 1951 classic sci-fi film about an alien visitor and his giant robot counterpart who visit Earth.

Playing: All over.

The Writing Wire for 12/11: Writing habits, new Marquez and Tomei's inspiration

I'm awake, I'm awake. Let's hop to it, shall we?

• IO9 on fun, post-apocalyptic novels. The site also takes a peek at the writing habits of some noted sci fi novelists.

• About.com asks: Do you use a Thesaurus while writing?

• Marisa Tomei studied for her stripper role in The Wrestler by...watching Rock of Love? No matter. Our very own Cake Man reviews the film.

• Ugh. Is anyone else as sick of James Frey as I am?

• L.A. Times' Jacket Copy blog has more on writing routines.

• According to MediaBistro, Gabriel Garcia Marquez is working on a new book. For realz.

• This may only interest me, but Wire's Underwire blog has an interview with authorized Star Trek historian/techie Michael Okuda. Yeah, we're Facebook friends. Jealous? In another Trek-tidbit, Gene Roddenberry's widow Majel Barrett-Roddenberry will reprise her role as the voice of the Enterprise computer in J.J. Abrams' new film.

• Oliver Stone is making a Hugo Chavez movie? So sayeth NY Mag's Vulture blog. Additionally, the blog reveals that the New York Film Critics' Awards tabbed Milk as 'Best Picture'. Hooray for happy Sean Penn movies.

• Weird shit of the moment: Um, Fran Drescher for U.S. Senate?

• Two upcoming Scorscese/DeNiro movies? Yes, please.

• You probably blinked and missed this, but Blur is reuniting.

• Gothamist is reporting that SoHo's OHIO Theatre is closing.

• Today's quote of the day, from writer Brian K. Vaughan, via IO9:

"I usually dream up a dozen or so profoundly stupid 'high concepts' for stories every day. When one is so bad that I can't seem to shake it after a few weeks, it usually means I have no choice but to write about it, often because that lame high concept is a way for me to explore something that makes me confused or furious about the world." — Brian K. Vaughan, writer for Lost and creator of Y The Last Man, interviewed in Esquire.