On Demand Weekly

On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of hot movies on demand from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review: ALBATROSS (IFC Films).

TO PAINT OR MAKE LOVE (PEINDRE OU FAIRE L’AMOUR)
By Cynthia Kane

If TO PAINT OR MAKE LOVE were an American film, it would be seen as really out-there, promiscuous, possibly in some sectors, deliciously scandalous. But as a work of French cinema, this film, which premiered at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and can be seen for the first time on U.S. television, thanks to EuroCinema, feels more like a romantic comedy, a pastoral romantic comedy, albeit with a few interesting twists. Ah, maybe it’s a cultural thing.

Needless to say – and I don’t want to spoil the film for anyone – I don’t think the average middle-aged French couple can be compared to William (Daniel Auteuil) and Madeleine (Sabine Azema.) But the shock value or sensationalism isn’t there, the same as if this were an American film… especially a big release studio film. Think of how break-out and new so many found THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT and you’ll understand what I mean here.

PEINDRE OU FAIRE L’AMOUR as it’s known in its original French title is in all reality, a lightweight French farce about a couple going into early retirement wondering what’s in store for them for the rest of their lives. When Madeleine, a painter discovers a broken-down, old stone villa in the middle of the Rhône-Alps region of France, she jumps at the chance to buy it and soon she and William find themselves in the middle of pastoral bliss… and after al while, just a little bored.

Things changes quickly and dramatically when the village mayor, Adam, a blind man played by French-Catalan actor, Sergi Lopez and his lovely partner, Eva (Amira Casar) find their house burnt to the ground and must take shelter for a while with William and Madeleine. The foursome becomes interlinked in ways that change their lives forever. No longer are William and Madeleine staid members of the petit bourgeoisie, but now fun-loving, awakened souls. Of course this doesn’t happen without a bit of resistance at first – old habits die hard. But once the guilt and shock have passed, life will never be the same. Their new pursuits are not only unexpected but addictive.

The Movies On Demand (MOD) October Preview of The Indies has arrived. Highlights of the new release schedule for October, 2011 include MELANCHOLIA starring Kirsten Dunst premiering October 7 and BEAUTIFUL BOY starring Michael Sheehan premiering October 11.

Almost every indie new release listed comes to Movies On Demand either before or the same day as DVD.

Enjoy On Demanding this month!


Indie Titles:

A LITTLE HELP – Premieres October 1
Jenna Fischer, Chris O’Donnell
R, Comedy

Weeks before DVD, Netflix and Redbox


BUCK – Premieres October 4
Buck Brannaman, Robert Redford
PG, Documentary

Same day as DVD


MELANCHOLIA*** –  Premieres October 7
Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg
TV-MA, Drama

Before theatrical release


LONDON BOULEVARD – Premieres October 7
Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley, Ray Winstone
R, Drama

Before theatrical release


BEAUTIFUL BOY – Premieres October 11

Get the latest information about Movies On Demand from On Demand Weekly. Every week we provide the Week’s Top 10 Movies On Demand (MOD).

The Movies On Demand (MOD) October preview has arrived. Highlights of Cable’s Movies On Demand new release schedule for October, 2011 include FAST FIVE premiering Oct. 4, HORRIBLE BOSSES premiering Oct. 11, GREEN LANTERN on Oct. 14, BAD TEACHER on Oct. 18 and CAPTAIN AMERICA on Oct. 25. All of these titles and more come to cable the same day as their DVD release, and most are available before Netflix and Redbox. .

Enjoy On Demanding this month!

Major Studio Releases:

AFRICAN CATS – Premieres October 4
Samuel L. Jackson
G, Documentary

Same day as DVD

FAST FIVE – Premieres October 4
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker
PG-13/NR, Action

Same day as DVD, Weeks before Netflix and Redbox

SCREAM 4 – Premieres October 4
Neve Campbell, David Arquette
R, Horror

Same day as DVD

HORRIBLE BOSSES – Premieres October 11
Jason Bateman, Charlie Day
R, Comedy

Same day as DVD, Weeks before Netflix and Redbox

JUDY MOODY AND THE NOT BUMMER SUMMER – Premieres October 11
Heather Graham, Jordana Beatty
PG, Comedy

Same day as DVD

THE TREE OF LIFE – Premieres October 11

On Demand Weekly's Brrit Bensen moderated a digital film panel at the Palo Alto International Film Festival on October 2, 2011 (10:30am PT) @Talenthouse. Below is the video stream (via ustream).

Digital Filmmaking & Distribution – Whose tail is wagging the dog?

Video streaming by Ustream

How is the current era of technological innovation shaping filmmaking, distribution and marketing? And how has it led to new platforms and companies to help influence how we watch and discuss film today?

In the digital age of Video On Demand and Social Media engagement, we’ll ask a diverse panel of industry experts about what is working now and get their thoughts on the future, including how much do consumers dictate trends.


Panelists

- Dale Djerassi: President of Djerassi Films / Jaman Networks Advisory Board (http://www.jaman.net)

- Danae Ringelmann: Founder, COO, Indiegogo.com (http://www.indiegogo.com)

- John McCrea: GM, Tunerfish (http://www.tunerfish.com)

- Michael Murphy: EVP, Gravitas Ventures (http://www.gravitasventures.com)

Moderator:

- Britt Bensen: Editor-in-Chief, Co-founder, On Demand Weekly (http://ondemandweekly.com)



Bios:
 

Britt Bensen is a co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of On Demand Weekly, a website covering new TV & Movies On Demand. He is the former head of Affiliate Marketing and VOD for Sundance Channel. Prior to Sundance Chanel, Britt worked for Miramax Films and BMI. He currently serves on the Palo Alto Intl Film Festival and San Francisco Film Society Advisory Boards.

Dale Djerassi, has produced and directed documentary films, including "Nada Será Como Antes (Nothing Will Be As It Was)", about the return of jazz musicians Flora Purim and Airto Moreira to Brazil and "Oil on Ice", about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the controversy over drilling for oil there. Djerassi is a founding member of the board of advisors of Jaman (including Jaman Networks www.jaman.net and Jaman.com www.jaman.com);

Danae Ringelmann co-founded IndieGoGo - an online crowdfunding platform for ideas - to democratize fundraising. Passionate about helping artists and entrepreneurs embrace the DIWO (Do-It-With-Others) approach, Danae speaks often at conferences. Recent speaking engagements include SXSW, MAD Hong Kong, and Big Omaha. Fast Company Magazine recently named Danae one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Technology.

John McCrea has been a web entrepreneur since 1994. He currently heads up the social entertainment startup, Tunerfish, which he incubated inside Comcast, which acquired his prior startup, Plaxo, where he headed up
marketing. John has an S.B. from M.I.T. and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Michael Murphy is the Executive Vice President at Gravitas Ventures, the largest distributor of independent content to the VOD marketplace in North America. He is responsible for business affairs and global distribution strategy. Before joining Gravitas in 2007, Michael was a Judge Advocate in the US Army. He is a graduate of Akron Law School and the College of the Holy Cross. Michael originally hails from Cleveland, Ohio and currently lives in Los Angeles.

The Palo Alto International Film Festival is a four day festival (Sep. 29 - Oct. 2) that brings great art to the epicenter of high-tech innovation. A premier gathering place for world-class minds, Palo Alto, home to Stanford University, sits at the nexus of a digital revolution that created companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, HP and Netflix.

As movies migrate to digital, the future of cinema will depend on the cutting edge tools that continue to be conceived and developed in the Bay Area. Festival attendees will experience great cinema, learn about cutting edge technologies and ideas, and celebrate the artists and innovators who change the medium on a daily basis.

Palo Alto International Film Festival - where art and technology converge.
http://paiff.slated.com/2011/films/amovieinsearchofanaudience_paiff2011_paiff2011