Shorts, 2/12.

"When Variety, in 1968, printed its list of all-time top-grossing movies, a third of them were 1967 releases," writes Janet Maslin. "And yet, as Mark Harris explains in a landmark new film book, Pictures at a Revolution, the whole industry was poised on the brink of irrevocable change." And the Observer's running an extract.

Also in the New York Times:

• "Lubitsch's precise, highly stylized direction of actors, his genius for concentrating the maximum amount of narrative information in a few carefully chosen shots and symbolic details, his masterful sense of ellipsis (presenting only the most important story points and leaving the rest to the viewer's imagination) — all these devices and more had emerged during Lubitsch's silent-film period, and by 1929 had already been enshrined as 'the Lubitsch touch.'" Dave Kehr on how "the four musicals directed by Ernst Lubitsch in the early years of sound - The Love Parade (1929), Monte Carlo (1930), The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) and One Hour With You (1932) - helped define what talking movies would be." More from Eric Henderson in Slant.

• "Who Won the Writers Strike?" asks David Carr. Related: The Los Angeles Times' Patrick Goldstein is sorting through the winners and losers as well. More from the Independent's Laura LaMura.

• Michael Cieply and Brooks Barnes report that "emotions are finally settling down in the entertainment industry's bubbling cauldron of labor disputes. This calm holds the promise of three years without strike threats, picket lines and the loss of Americans' favorite television shows."

• Meanwhile, Stuart Elliott: "Madison Avenue, assessing the aftermath of the writers' strike, is optimistic that there can be long-term benefits from the disruptions suffered during the 2007 - 8 broadcast TV season."

• "Following in the footsteps of Peter Jackson, the director of the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, heirs to JRR Tolkien, the author of the books on which the films are based, are suing New Line Cinema for failing to pay them at least $150 million, which they say they are owed as part of the movies' gross receipts," reports Motoko Rich.

• "John Alvin, who created memorable images for movie posters, billboards and advertisements, including the two fingers touching above the Earth's surface for E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, died on Wednesday at his home in Rhinebeck, NJ," writes Dennis Hevesi. "He was 59."

For Vanity Fair, Patricia Bosworth revisits Norman Mailer's films.

"[Sergei] Paradjanov is one of the most hermetic, arcane and completely original artists in cinema history, and his films do not resemble those made anywhere else, by anyone," writes Michael Atkinson for IFC News.

Acquarello on Jonas Mekas.

Anthony Kaufman reports on "a group of closely affiliated directors and producers, revolving around Paul Mezey's Journeyman Pictures, with a steadfast dedication to a handcrafted, humanist cinema. As writer-director Azazel Jacobs says, 'If you put all of Paul's films together, it would say one clear, intelligent statement about humanity and the need to stay vital and sensitive.'"

Also in the Voice:

• Jim Ridley on Bless Their Little Hearts: "Depending on Hollywood's timetable or yours, this marvelous 1984 slice-of-life drama - written and photographed by [Charles] Burnett and directed by his UCLA compatriot, Billy Woodberry - is either six years ahead of schedule for discovery or 24 long years overdue." Also: MoMA's Documentary Fortnight, tomorrow though March 3.

• Nick Pinkerton previews Film Comment Selects, the "brief asylum to festival-hopping nomads" running Thursday through February 28.

• J Hoberman on the Milos Forman retro at MoMA and other NYC goings on.

• Nathan Lee on Diary of the Dead and Inside.

• Robert Wilonsky on Definitely, Maybe, "a surprisingly rewarding romantic comedy."

• Ella Taylor on The Spiderwick Chronicles.

Early takes on Jumper: Michael Guillén and Neil Young.

Jeffrey Overstreet looks ahead to the next projects the Coen brothers'll be tackling: Burn After Reading, Hail Caesar and an adaptation of Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policeman's Union.

At Cinema Strikes Back, David Austin previews the Japan Socieity's series, Dawn of Japanese Animation, running tomorrow through Saturday in New York.

Via Movie City News, Tim Teeman's interviews in the London Times with screenwriters: Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love; David Hare (The Hours), John Hodge (Trainspotting); Lee Hall (Billy Elliot).

"The Hollywood Musical Done Right." Terry Teachout in Commentary on Sweeney Todd, via Bookforum. Related: Christopher Benfey in the New Republic.

For Film International: Daniel Garrett on Brokeback Mountain.

Still going strong at Big Media Vandalism: "Black History Mumf."

Mike D'Angelo pauses during this year's Skandies countdown to add up past nominations.

DVD roundups: Sean Axmaker (MSN), Bryant Frazer and Peter Martin (Cinematical) - and from Kimberly Lindbergs, the first part of a list of favorite DVDs of 2007.

Online viewing tip. Peter Knegt posts Tilda Swinton's BAFTA acceptance speech.

Posted by dwhudson at February 12, 2008 2:31 PM