By Stephen Metcalf 3/21/05 12:00am

Arrogant Bastard’s Contempt Enlivens Waspish Melodrama

Darryl Zanuck loved the story but hated the choice of writer-director-an “arrogant bastard” with “four flops” to his name already, as he blustered to the producer, Sol C. Siegel. Zanuck wanted Ernst Lubitsch for the job, but Lubitsch already had three heart attacks to his name; and so, judged the better risk, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Read More

By Andrew Sarris 10/16/00 12:00am

She’s Gonna Knock You Out, Starting With Her Father

Karyn Kusama’s Girlfight shared the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and also won the Director’s Prize. For once, the advance buzz has been amply justified, thanks to an extraordinarily charismatic film debut by a non-professional named Michelle Rodriguez. Even so, Girlfight will be a tough sell, especially for women viewers, even the Read More