Step into Muse’s mind-bending sci-fi reality with new concert film ‘Simulation Theory’

Earlier in the week, the 2020 incarnation of the New York Film Festival got underway officially, with one part of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology, Lovers Rock, serving as the Opening Night Selection. Having seen it, the movie serves as both a strong start for NYFF this year, as well as a smaller and far less awards friendly selection.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film CriticIn the most transporting scene of Steve McQueen’s “Lovers Rock,” we’re at a London house party that has just hit its smoky seductive dirty-dancing groove. It’s 1980, and most of the revelers have West Indian roots.

Todd McCarthy Watching Lovers Rock is akin to going to see Romeo and Juliet and only staying through the first act, to departing a basketball game after the first quarter, to sipping the soup and skipping the rest of the meal. A mere wisp of a thing, Steve McQueen’s 68-minute feature, the only fictional section of a five-film anthology called Small Axe about London’s West Indian community between the late 1960s and 1980, steeps you in the atmosphere and music of the latter date.

Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan star in the upcoming movie Synchronic and the official trailer has been released!

Dade Hayes Finance EditorThe New York Film Festival exudes tradition. Since 1963, its Lincoln Center commingling of culturati, Oscar hopefuls and cinephiliacs has been a mainstay of the city’s fall calendar and the global festival circuit.This year, though, COVID-19 has thrown tradition to the wind and New York movie theaters and arts venues remain stuck in a lengthy, agonizing suspension.

The 58th New York Film Festival is right around the corner. Early next week, the virtual press screenings begin, while the fest officially starts up on September 17th (running from then all the way until October 11th).

Dade Hayes Finance EditorEXCLUSIVE: The New York Film Festival’s unorthodox 58th edition, which starts next week, has added a drive-in at the Bronx Zoo to its roster of screening sites.Three films have been confirmed to screen at the location, which has been built in the zoo’s south parking lot. Steve McQueen’s Lovers Rock, which is the opening selection at the festival next Thursday at a drive-in in Queens, will be shown in the Bronx on September 23.

Patrick Hipes Executive Managing EditorThe New York Film Critics Circle will vote for its 2020 awards on December 18, the organization said Friday.Last year, Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman was named the NYFCC’s best film on December 4, a day after the National Board of Review bestowed the pic the same honor. Both critics groups are always among the first of the awards season to select their annual awards.The timing will be different this season thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

Clayton Davis In a surprising twist to an already crazy year for movies, the New York Film Critics Circle, one of the most prestigious and oldest film critic groups in the country, announced that the organization will not take cues from the Academy Awards and extend their voting deadline. Instead, the group will vote for their 2020 plaudits on Dec.

Also Read: Academy on Fallout From New Oscar Best Picture Rules: 'You Aren't Creating Change If You Don't Get Criticized'“This is a year unlike any other in our lifetimes. But the world of movies hasn’t stopped, and already, even in this very strange year, we’ve seen a range of films and performances that have impressed and moved us.

Spike Lee and David Byrne aren’t an obvious pairing. While the former’s oeuvre, for the most part, features unflinching stories about Black life in America, the latter became a hero to white college-educated teens everywhere.

It appears Sir Ridley Scott is almost as deadset on making more “Alien” films as James Cameron is in his “Avatar” sequels. No matter how negative or lukewarm the response to the prequel/reboot “Prometheus” and its sequel, “Alien: Covenant,” Scott is reportedly still developing a new film in the franchise, but it looks like it will be different from what fans would expect.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentIn an internal note seen by Variety, Gary Davey, CEO of London-based Sky Studios, has revealed to staff that Cameron Roach is to step down from his role as director of drama at Sky Studios in the spring.In his memo, Davey wrote: “Cameron has decided to take some time out and spend more time with his family in Manchester.”Roach joined Sky Drama as commissioning editor in 2013, and worked across a range of titles including Sky Originals

Greg Evans Associate Editor/Broadway CriticFilmmaker and Baltimore’s favorite son John Waters has never had a movie of his shown at the New York Film Festival, but his non-film contribution to this year’s fest might just outshine some of the actual entrants: The Hairspray creator designed the official poster for the 58th annual event.

If you’re a hit-person, given the assignment to murder a high-profile CEO, wouldn’t it be a lot easier if you could do that without actually endangering your own body and/or identity? Well, for the assassin in Brandon Cronenberg’s “Possessor,” that’s exactly what she does.

Moments ago, the New York Film Festival announced their new Spotlight section. For this 58th incarnation of the festival, a very unique one already, which will focus largely on outdoor and virtual screenings, NYFF is opening to try this approach, which will include sneak previews, gala events, screenings with live elements, and other more.

Dave McNary Film ReporterSofia Coppola’s “On the Rocks,” centered on a father/daughter duo played by Rashida Jones and Bill Murray, will world premiere at the New York Film Festival as part of its new spotlight section.“On the Rocks” will be released in October by A24 and Apple TV.