NYT fall preview.

The New York Times fall preview is introduced by a rather lackluster audio slide show, but also, and far better, a meandering chat between AO Scott and Manohla Dargis on, among other things, how the evolution of the new Hollywood system is shaping up. In short, says Dargis, "when it works, the big studio/little subsidiary seems to be a good model." The one stand-out complaint, and a legitimate one, too: Where are the women directors?

Ok, what else:

• Profiles: Margy Rochlin on Kirsten Dunst ("versatility over insta-stardom") and Lola Ogunnaike on Jamie Foxx: "Ray is not just the first test of Mr. Foxx's ability to carry a picture, but, if all goes well, his entree to a kind of triple stardom rarely contemplated and even more rarely seen." And Karen Durbin spotlights five lesser-knowns to keep an eye on.

• Movies: Stuart Klawans wonders, "[E]ven if this is the right time for Alfie to re-emerge, why should he do so in the United States?" Nathan Lee on Goodbye, Dragon Inn, "a poem of erotic triangulation, a deadpan comedy paced like peeling wallpaper, a subtle Buddhist ghost story"; Stephen Holden on The Motorcycle Diaries; AO Scott is looking forward to Kinsey, Manohla Dargis to Ocean's Twelve.

• DVDs: The Salon tag team of Charles Taylor and Stephanie Zacharek take on the previews, which include that infuriating "Ultimate Party Collection."

• Screenplays: Brief excerpts from Spanglish, Undertow and Silver City.

• Calendar: Dave Kehr blurbs nearly every movie to be released between now and the end of the year.

And of course, there'll be more to fall than movies. Not every event highlighted in the arts section of "The New Season" will be for New Yorkers only, so wherever you are, it's worth a browse.

Posted by dwhudson at September 11, 2004 6:22 AM