Sundance. Be Kind Rewind.

"The big concept behind Michel Gondry's new film Be Kind Rewind is the remaking of classic movies on a shoestring budget," writes Kaleem Aftab in the Independent. "These new 'home-made' films are called 'Sweded' versions, as Jerry [Jack Black] claims that the home-made tapes at the video store are special bootleg versions made in Sweden. Films remade include Robocop, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Ghostbusters, Driving Miss Daisy and Rush Hour 2.... [E]ver since consumer cameras have been available on the high street, people have needed no encouragement to recreate classic films at home.... And, of course, Be Kind Rewind has itself already been Sweded."

"It's a jaunty, outrageous and visually inventive fantasia that is wondrous, beguiling and dazzlingly executed," writes Patrick Z McGavin in Screen Daily.

Updated through 1/30.

"There's a lot to like," concedes the AV Club's Noel Murray, "But boy howdy is this movie ever a mess, with a plot that takes forever to get going - and to explain, frankly - and with an improvisatory style that thuds as often as it connects."

Variety's Todd McCarthy finds that Gondry's "flights of fancy can't overcome the egregious illogic of the premise.... [I]nspiration is as meager as the antics of Jack Black and Mos Def are lame."

"Not far beneath the slapstick humor and communitarian spirit of Mr Gondry's movie (which had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last week and is set to open Feb 22) lies a strong nostalgia for a technology that revolutionized home viewing but now seems destined for the dustbin of history." In the New York Times, Dennis Lim tells the VHS story, from beginning to end.

"So your world premiere was Sunday - how did it go?" asks the Reeler. "It was intimidating," Gondry replies, "but I think it went well. We got a lot of love and some emotion at the end, I guess. And then afterward Jean-Michel Bernard - the film's composer - Mos Def and I played some songs and opened for Patti Smith. She has a movie here." Yes, she does.

Earlier at the Reeler, Ben Gold reported on a recent Q&A with Gondry in NYC: "[T]he real backbone and emotional core of Rewind lie in the idea of community. After moving from Versailles to Paris he noticed quite a few abandoned movie theaters, which, according to Gondry, was disconcerting but rich with potential." Charlie Olsky has more at indieWIRE.

Rick Giles profiles Gondry for the Telegraph.

Monica Corcoran talks with Gondry for the Los Angeles Times.

Online listening tip. James Rocchi talks with Gondry for Cinematical.

Online viewing tip. David Poland lunches with Gondry and Black.

Update, 1/30: Online viewing tip. Michel Gondry swedes the trailer to his own movie.

Posted by dwhudson at January 28, 2008 1:50 AM