Review: Mediation doc ‘The Portal’ doesn't feel at one with itself - Los Angeles Times
Review: Mediation doc ‘The Portal’ doesn't feel at one with itself - Los Angeles Times |
- Review: Mediation doc ‘The Portal’ doesn't feel at one with itself - Los Angeles Times
- Ghost group hosts hunts at Historic Howell Theater for 5th year - MLive.com
- Film Academy Launches Revamped Streaming Service for Members to Watch Best Picture Contenders - Hollywood Reporter
| Review: Mediation doc ‘The Portal’ doesn't feel at one with itself - Los Angeles Times Posted: 31 Oct 2019 01:32 PM PDT  This documentary about meditation unexpectedly begins in chaos. The twitchy edits at the start of "The Portal" introduce a world in disarray and induce anxiety, but its later arguments for mindfulness are more likely to lull viewers to sleep than create a sense of calm. The driving rhythm of those opening moments — and the film's strong visuals and sense of style — make sense once learning that first-time director Jacqui Fifer was previously a DJ. She and her co-writer Tom Cronin don't merely establish the turmoil around the globe; they also focus on the pain and trauma present in the lives of six specific people. Through reenactments, animation and interviews, their often-powerful stories present how meditation transformed their existences. What's interesting about "The Portal" isn't its style or the idea that meditation is beneficial. It's that it makes the case for mindfulness for its collective benefits for humanity, not just individuals. In backing up its claims, the documentary also consults a robotics engineer, a cognitive neuroscientist/futurist, an evolutionary philosopher and the physical embodiment of the uncanny valley, Sophia the robot. This is all fascinating in isolation, but transitions between stories and the experts' insights never feel cohesive. "The Portal" also lacks the depth to fully engage — and convince — the viewer. If you weren't already meditating, you're unlikely to care enough to listen to the inevitable closing call to action. 'The Portal' Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 28 minutes Playing: Starts Nov. 1, Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica Advertisement  |
| Ghost group hosts hunts at Historic Howell Theater for 5th year - MLive.com Posted: 31 Oct 2019 12:49 PM PDT  HOWELL, MI - The Historic Howell Theater is no stranger to scaring its patrons. The two-screen theater, first opened in 1928, now serves as an art house cinema - but, perhaps just for the season, it clearly leans into its haunted reputation, prominently featuring classic horror movie posters throughout. The theater, 315 E. Grand River Ave., is a frequent haunt of the Portal Paranormal Society, a Brighton-based supernatural research group. The society is in its 5th year of conducting "ghost hunts" at the theater, a site they claim is quite active when it comes to supernatural phenomena. The society describes itself as a group of believers, but also "debunkers." Founder Ken Suminski said they approach all their findings with the goal of debunking them, so truly unexplainable phenomena can be shared. "If you're a good investigator, your first inclination is to try to disprove what's going on," Suminski said. "It's just going through every possible natural cause before you start considering the paranormal." Multiple specters seem to make themselves known regularly at the theater, Suminski said. Investigators report interacting with a boy named Vincent, who appears at two potential ages; an older woman named Grace; a U.S. soldier who doesn't like to give them information, and occasionally a lion named "Pete" who apparently died nearby in a traveling circus, he said. "Why is it that they stick around there? It's probably because they like movies," Suminski said. Portal's ghost hunting tours continue through this weekend, with a Halloween session scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Thursday,Oct. 31, and two separate tours, starting at 9 p.m. and midnight Friday and Saturday. The group demonstrates tactics it uses to capture glimpses of what could be ghostly activity. Tickets are $15 when purchased online and $20 at the door, and tours are typically limited to 20 attendees, Suminski said. Proceeds from ticket sales go to preserving and renovating the theater. While there's no guarantee of a mind-blowing supernatural happening, those who attend are rarely disappointed, Suminski said. "No two years are really the same," Suminski said.  |
| Posted: 31 Oct 2019 12:04 AM PDT Eight titles from four distributors were immediately posted to the service, with many more expected in the coming weeks. Academy members: fire up your high-speed Internet connections! On Wednesday, The Hollywood Reporter has learned, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences launched a new and improved streaming platform through which its members will now be able to watch many of Oscar hopefuls. In recent years, international features, shorts and select other titles were posted to the Academy's members-only website. But now, for the first time, members will be able to stream films under consideration for best picture, too — if those films' distributors are interested in spending $12,500 per title to make them available there — and not only on the members-only website, but via an Apple TV and Apple TV 4k app called Academy Screening Room, where they can log in with their member username and password. Eight titles from four distributors are currently posted: After the Wedding (Sony Classics), Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix), Downton Abbey (Focus), Frankie (Sony Classics), Judy (Roadside Attractions), The Mustang (Focus), Pain and Glory (Sony Classics) and The Peanut Butter Falcon (Roadside Attractions). Many others are expected soon. The Academy fast-tracked the development of the streaming platform when it began adding unprecedented numbers of new members based outside the United States. Academy insiders figured that such a portal might serve as a less expensive and more efficient — not to mention environmentally friendly — way of connecting members with films than the traditional DVD screeners that have piled up in members' mailboxes for some 30 award seasons. For now, distributors still have the option of mailing DVD screeners to members, either instead of or in addition to streaming their films — though screeners must now be sent through one of several preapproved third-party mailing houses, with the Academy collecting a middleman fee. This season's first screeners intended for the entire membership began arriving in mailboxes on Oct. 18. In Wednesday's missive to the roughly 8,000 members of the Academy, more than a few of whom are not especially tech-literate, the Academy offered reassurance that it will continue to host theatrical screenings of contenders for its members in Los Angeles, New York, the Bay Area and London. And, as it has done ever since hard-copy screeners first hit the scene, it emphasized that its preference is for members to see films on the big screen whenever possible. The text of the email, which came under the subject line "Watch Now," appears below. * * * Dear [Member], We are pleased to announce the expansion of the Academy's streaming platform - Academy Screening Room - which will include films under consideration for the Best Picture category, including all of the achievements within a feature film. Our streaming platform will provide greater access to movies in consideration to our growing global membership, while taking positive steps toward a greener, more environmentally friendly future. We encourage you to view as many films as possible during their theatrical release and at additional theatrical screenings made available. The Academy will continue to host member screenings in Los Angeles, New York, the Bay Area and London (schedule can be found at www.oscars.org/screenings). If you're unable to make it to a theater, streaming is available through members.oscars.org. From the member homepage, look for "Online Streaming" under the Screenings tab. You can also access via the Academy Screening Room link. Once you enter your member username and password, it will direct you to the streaming page. For the best viewing experience, use the latest version of Safari or Chrome browsers. While there may be just a handful of streaming titles accessible at this point, more will be added in the coming weeks as distributors make them available. This is only the beginning. If you would like to receive notifications for digital and/or DVD screeners (DVD screeners continue to be an option) from distributors as movies are made available, please Update Your Preferences. In addition to the member site, the Academy is now offering the option to stream films via a new 4th generation Apple TV and Apple TV 4k app called Academy Screening Room. If you have a 4th generation Apple TV or an Apple TV 4k, you can install the Academy Screening Room app from the App Store, then enter your Academy member username and password to access. Click here for more information on streaming, the new Apple TV 4 app and answers to technical questions you may have. For technical support, please contact the Academy's Support office at 855-742-9140 or email support@oscars.org. The Oscars will be held on February 9 (two weeks earlier than last year). Let's start watching now.  |
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