October 18, 2008

Online viewing, 10/18.

The Princess of Nebraska "Well, the day has arrived." Variety's Anne Thompson made Wayne Wang's The Princess of Nebraska available before its arrival in the YouTube Screening Room.

"Something of a companion piece to Wang's recent Magnolia Pictures release A Thousand Years of Good Prayers - both films are based on short stories by Chinese-born writer Yiyun Li - Princess of Nebraska is an angrier, darker, messier film with an ambiguous and not exceedingly likable protagonist," writes Andrew O'Hehir in Salon. "I'm a longtime admirer and acquaintance of Wang's, but I really dig this movie."

Variety has the trailer for Dear Zachary.

Updated through 10/19.

Grand Wheel.

Chuck Tryon: "After getting several recommendations from bloggers I trust, I took some time out yesterday to watch Frontline's The Choice 2008, a PBS documentary about the two major candidates for president (the program is available online), and like Agnes, I think this is a great example of the value of public broadcasting." And keep up with all the current political ads at the Living Room Candidate.

BB Kimberly Lindbergs introduces a clip: "If you're a Brigitte Bardot fan I highly recommend picking up the latest Cinedelic Book/CD compilation simply called BB Brigitte Bardot.

Owen Hatherley has Paul Strand and Charles Sheeler's Manhatta.

The cinetrix has two for you.

Creative Review's got the winners of the 2008 UK Music Video Awards and clips galore.

Update, 10/19: "You can say what you want about the revolutionary aspect of Wayne Wang releasing his film, The Princess of Nebraska, on YouTube," blogs Matt Dentler. "However, a true unprecedented aspect is the fact that AO Scott has reviewed the film this weekend for The New York Times. When's the last time this great paper ever reviewed a new release that wasn't opening in a theater in Manhattan?" What's more, "Over at the San Francisco Chronicle, G Allen Johnson takes an in-depth look at the Princess release strategy." But wait, there's more: John Jurgensen's "survey of the latest and greatest in bringing feature films to online audiences" for the Wall Street Journal.



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Posted by dwhudson at October 18, 2008 11:35 AM

Comments

Apparently there is a national restriction for the "public" release of The Princess from Nebraska on YouTube (just like a DVD region or a distribution deal), because it tells me I'm not allowed to watch it from France...
It does the same for SNL, The Daily Show videos on Hulu.

The corporations are building walls on the world wide web!

Posted by: HarryTuttle at October 18, 2008 3:21 PM

Hulu's walls are frustrating, but there have been whispers that they're working on ways to open up to the rest of the world. But you can watch everything you've mentioned via other means: Princess on YouTube; SNL and The Daily Show at their respective sites.

Posted by: David Hudson at October 19, 2008 6:07 AM

Can you watch them from Germany?
The YouTube Screening Room doesn't play Princess for me (other videos there work though).
Yeah I watch TDS on its own site.

It's ridiculous though, because Princess of Nebraska and A Thousand years of prayer have both been released this summer in theatre in France, so there is no competition with the official circuit. Except if there is a DVD coming out soon...

Posted by: HarryTuttle at October 19, 2008 1:29 PM

Hm, I can't! Watch Princess from here in Germany, that is. The version I checked (but didn't watch through to the end - due to a lack of time only, because I would like to eventually see the film) was Anne Thompson's, which worked fine at the time. Clearly, there are rights issues involved here, and of course, I know nothing about what they might be in this case. But overall, yes, I agree: there's a legal structure in place regulating online distribution which, at this early date, is still as antiquated as regional restrictions on DVDs. These restrictions make no sense and I'm sure they'll eventually evolve out of existence - but, if we're to take the DVD example as any sort of sign, that may come about later rather than sooner.

Posted by: David Hudson at October 19, 2008 1:44 PM

Hopefully...

Posted by: HarryTuttle at October 23, 2008 4:32 AM