Not only does Jim Jarmush have Paterson and Gimme Danger this fall, but he also produced — and is featured in — Uncle Howard, a new documentary from director Aaron Brookner, which explores the life and work of his uncle, a New York filmmaker who died of AIDS in 1989. An intimately personal reflection on his life, Howard Brookner directed Burroughs: The Movie, about the beat generation writer, but it looks like the ambitions of the documentary go beyond just his work.
We said in our review, “How many great filmmakers have been lost as a result of disease and human catastrophe? That seems to be the question on the mind of documentary filmmaker Aaron Brookner in his debut film, Uncle Howard, a deeply personal piece of work that offers both an introduction (or re-introduction?) to the director’s uncle — a once-burgeoning independent filmmaker who died of AIDS in 1989 at just 31 years of...
We said in our review, “How many great filmmakers have been lost as a result of disease and human catastrophe? That seems to be the question on the mind of documentary filmmaker Aaron Brookner in his debut film, Uncle Howard, a deeply personal piece of work that offers both an introduction (or re-introduction?) to the director’s uncle — a once-burgeoning independent filmmaker who died of AIDS in 1989 at just 31 years of...
- 10/26/2016
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
★★★★☆ Along with Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs was one of the most important and influential writers of the so-called Beat Generation, best known perhaps for his novel Naked Lunch. As with so many of his contemporaries, Burroughs life was defined by chaos, intense creativity, narcotic binges and personal tragedy. Filmed over five years, Howard Brookner's 1983 documentary Burroughs: The Movie is an oft-moving portrayal of one of literature's most prominent voices, an intimate and humanising account of a legend of twentieth-century American culture.
- 7/11/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
How many great filmmakers have been lost as a result of disease and human catastrophe? That seems to be the question on the mind of documentary filmmaker Aaron Brookner in his debut film, Uncle Howard, a deeply personal piece of work that offers both an introduction (or re-introduction?) to the director’s uncle — a once-burgeoning independent filmmaker who died of AIDS in 1989 at just 31 years of age — and a somber meditation on talent lost.
Howard Brookner was born in New York, raised on Long Island, and graduated with an M.A. in Art History and Film from Nyu. His first feature would be Burroughs: The Movie, an acclaimed documentary on Beat poet William S. Burroughs. He got his college buddies Tom Dicillo and Jim Jarmusch to respectively serve as cinematographer and boom guy. The New York Times would later attribute its “comprehensiveness” to Brookner’s “unusual degree of liveliness and curiosity.
Howard Brookner was born in New York, raised on Long Island, and graduated with an M.A. in Art History and Film from Nyu. His first feature would be Burroughs: The Movie, an acclaimed documentary on Beat poet William S. Burroughs. He got his college buddies Tom Dicillo and Jim Jarmusch to respectively serve as cinematographer and boom guy. The New York Times would later attribute its “comprehensiveness” to Brookner’s “unusual degree of liveliness and curiosity.
- 2/13/2016
- by Rory O'Connor
- The Film Stage
One of the earliest challenges in making Uncle Howard was figuring out how to tell a story around a main character who is essentially absent. My uncle, Howard Brookner, was a fairly obscure director, whose work went missing to varying degrees, and who had died some 25 years ago. Yet, to me and others around him, he left a very strong memory and spirit. How to show this? For inspiration, my producer, Paula Vaccaro, and I turned to Howard’s friend and former film subject, William S. Burroughs (Burroughs: The Movie, 1983), whose book, The Western Lands, was the last he wrote before dedicating himself […]...
- 1/26/2016
- by Aaron Brookner
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
One of the earliest challenges in making Uncle Howard was figuring out how to tell a story around a main character who is essentially absent. My uncle, Howard Brookner, was a fairly obscure director, whose work went missing to varying degrees, and who had died some 25 years ago. Yet, to me and others around him, he left a very strong memory and spirit. How to show this? For inspiration, my producer, Paula Vaccaro, and I turned to Howard’s friend and former film subject, William S. Burroughs (Burroughs: The Movie, 1983), whose book, The Western Lands, was the last he wrote before dedicating himself […]...
- 1/26/2016
- by Aaron Brookner
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
We’ll likely have to wait until Cannes for Jim Jarmusch‘s highly-anticipated next film Paterson, but the director will have a presence at this week’s Sundance Film Festival. He’s produced — and is featured in — Uncle Howard, a new documentary from director Aaron Brookner, which explores the life and work of his uncle, a New York filmmaker who died of AIDS in 1989.
The first trailer has now landed today, which looks like an intimately personal reflection on his life. As one may know, Howard Brookner directed Burroughs: The Movie, about the beat generation writer, and it looks like a good deal of the documentary focuses on their relationship. Also featuring Allen Ginsberg, James Grauerholz, Sara Driver, Brad Gooch, Robert Wilson, Matt Dillon, Madonna, and more, check out the trailer and poster below.
Uncle Howard is an intertwining tale of past and present. New York filmmaker Howard Brookner died...
The first trailer has now landed today, which looks like an intimately personal reflection on his life. As one may know, Howard Brookner directed Burroughs: The Movie, about the beat generation writer, and it looks like a good deal of the documentary focuses on their relationship. Also featuring Allen Ginsberg, James Grauerholz, Sara Driver, Brad Gooch, Robert Wilson, Matt Dillon, Madonna, and more, check out the trailer and poster below.
Uncle Howard is an intertwining tale of past and present. New York filmmaker Howard Brookner died...
- 1/21/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
A couple of years back, filmmaker Howard Brookner's long thought lost "Burroughs: The Movie," his portrait of the famed writer, was re-discovered, cleaned up, and finally screened. However, the story behind the discovery is just as fascinating, and the upcoming documentary "Uncle Howard," set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, tells the tale. Read More: Watch A Clip From Long Lost Doc 'Burroughs: The Movie' Premiering At The New York Film Festival Directed by Aaron Brookner, executive produced by Jim Jarmusch, and featuring William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, James Grauerholz, Sara Driver, Brad Gooch, Robert Wilson, Matt Dillon, Madonna, and more, "Uncle Howard" takes a look Howard Brookner's legacy. Here's the official synopsis: Uncle Howard is an intertwining tale of past and present. New York filmmaker Howard Brookner died of AIDS in 1989, while making his breakthrough Hollywood movie. His body of work, which captured the late 70s.
- 1/21/2016
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Looking for a worthy project to complete for his thesis film at Nyu back in 1978, with his genuine sense of interest and weasily persuasive personality, Howard Brookner somehow convinced the then world famous writer William Burroughs to let himself become the subject of the warm cinematic portrait that would become Burroughs: The Movie. Brookner gathered his fellow film students Jim Jarmusch and Tom Dicillo to serve as sound recordist and cinematographer, respectively, and they set about filming on and off for five years, observing Burroughs in all aspects of his life, both public and private. After the film premiered in New York City in 1983 and followed with a brief world tour, the film sat in storage and was nearly forgotten about after Brookner succumbed to AIDS in 1989.
Thankfully, Howard’s nephew Aaron Brookner grew up with a taste for cinema, had visited his uncle’s sets, worked as a production...
Thankfully, Howard’s nephew Aaron Brookner grew up with a taste for cinema, had visited his uncle’s sets, worked as a production...
- 12/15/2015
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
Kate Plays ChristineThe lineup for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, taking place between January 21 -31, has been announced.U.S. Dramatic COMPETITIONAs You Are (Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, USA): As You Are is the telling and retelling of a relationship between three teenagers as it traces the course of their friendship through a construction of disparate memories prompted by a police investigation. Cast: Owen Campbell, Charlie Heaton, Amandla Stenberg, John Scurti, Scott Cohen, Mary Stuart Masterson. World Premiere The Birth of a Nation (Nate Parker, USA): Set against the antebellum South, this story follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. After witnessing countless atrocities against fellow slaves, Nat devises a plan to lead his people to freedom. Cast: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, Gabrielle Union, Mark Boone Jr. World PremiereChristine (Antonio Campos,...
- 12/7/2015
- by Notebook
- MUBI
The Sundance Film institute has released the line-up of film for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Going to Sundance is one of my favorite events of the year. I love going because you never know what kind of movies you're going to see. Sometimes they are great films that amaze and entertain, other times they completely suck ass, but that's all part of the fun of going to the festival. It's an awesome experience for any hardcore movie geek, and if you ever get a chance to go, you need to.
The event takes place in Park City, Utah next year from January 21st to the 31st. It looks like there's a great line-up of movies at next year's event. My favorite portion of the event is the Midnight section because it deals more with geeky genre type movies, but I also enjoy the various sections of other line-ups.
Some of...
The event takes place in Park City, Utah next year from January 21st to the 31st. It looks like there's a great line-up of movies at next year's event. My favorite portion of the event is the Midnight section because it deals more with geeky genre type movies, but I also enjoy the various sections of other line-ups.
Some of...
- 12/6/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Cartel Land and The Wolfpack were the big winners last year, and judging from the massive submissions that the fest received for the U.S. Docu section, all sixteen items listed below should already be considered winners. Among the alluring filmmaker names we have the likes of The Devil and Daniel Johnston‘s Jeff Feuerzeig (Author: The Jt LeRoy Story), the Lost in La Mancha team of Keith Fulton & Lou Pepe (The Bad Kids), Gasland‘s Josh Fox (How to Let Go of the World (and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change)), Actress’ Robert Greene (Kate Plays Christine) and Clay Tweel, who makes it two for two with Finders Keepers in 2015 and now Gleason this year. Take that Alex Gibney. We also have an undisclosed director for Holy Hell – which should make for an interesting Q&A. Here are all sixteen for which we’ll be extensively covering next month.
- 12/2/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
The Sundance Film Festival has today revealed the 65 films which are going to make up the 2016 Us and World Cinema Competition Dramatic and Documentary categories, along with those which make up the out-of-competition Next slate. This is a very diverse and interesting list, and one which Sundance Institute executive director Keri Putnam is clearly very excited to show off next year.
“At a time when big-budget blockbusters and free online content are ubiquitous, independent filmmakers continue to be extraordinarily creative, artful and inventive.”
Sundance 2016 will run from January 21st – 31st in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Check out the full list of movies below and let us know which of these you’re most looking forward to seeing (even if some will inevitably fail to ever reach cinemas).
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic Competition offers Festivalgoers a...
“At a time when big-budget blockbusters and free online content are ubiquitous, independent filmmakers continue to be extraordinarily creative, artful and inventive.”
Sundance 2016 will run from January 21st – 31st in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Check out the full list of movies below and let us know which of these you’re most looking forward to seeing (even if some will inevitably fail to ever reach cinemas).
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic Competition offers Festivalgoers a...
- 12/2/2015
- by Josh Wilding
- We Got This Covered
Titles include Tallulah starring Ellen Page and Allison Janney, and Chad Hartigan’s Morris From America (pictured); Next strand also announced.Scroll down for full list
Sundance Institute has announced the 65 films selected for the Us Competition, World Competition and out-of-competition Next categories set to screen at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival (Jan 21-31) in Park City.
Us Dramatic Competition selections include Sian Heder’s Tallulah with Ellen Page and Allison Janney; Antonio Campos’ Christine; Clea DuVall’s feature directorial debut The Intervention; and Richard Tanne’s Southside With You, about Barack Obama’s first date with the First Lady.
Among the Us Documentary Competition selections are: Holy Hell by undisclosed; Jeff Feuerzeig’s Author: The Jt LeRoy Story; and Sara Jordenö’s Kiki.
The World Cinema Dramatic Competition entries include: Belgica (Belgium-France-Netherlands), Felix van Groeningen’s follow-up to The Broken Circle Breakdown; Manolo Cruz and Carlos del Castillo’s Between Sea And Land (Colombia); and Nicolette Krebitz’s Wild...
Sundance Institute has announced the 65 films selected for the Us Competition, World Competition and out-of-competition Next categories set to screen at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival (Jan 21-31) in Park City.
Us Dramatic Competition selections include Sian Heder’s Tallulah with Ellen Page and Allison Janney; Antonio Campos’ Christine; Clea DuVall’s feature directorial debut The Intervention; and Richard Tanne’s Southside With You, about Barack Obama’s first date with the First Lady.
Among the Us Documentary Competition selections are: Holy Hell by undisclosed; Jeff Feuerzeig’s Author: The Jt LeRoy Story; and Sara Jordenö’s Kiki.
The World Cinema Dramatic Competition entries include: Belgica (Belgium-France-Netherlands), Felix van Groeningen’s follow-up to The Broken Circle Breakdown; Manolo Cruz and Carlos del Castillo’s Between Sea And Land (Colombia); and Nicolette Krebitz’s Wild...
- 12/2/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
This month on the Newsstand, Ryan is joined by David Blakeslee to discuss the December 2015 Criterion Collection line-up, as well as the latest in Criterion rumors, news, packaging, and more.
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Shownotes Topics William Becker’s passing The December 2015 Criterion Collection Line-up Downhill Racer (December 1st) Jellyfish Eyes (December 8th) Speedy (December 8th) Burroughs: The Movie (December 15th) The August Wacky Drawing What’s coming in 2016? No Wexner talk this year New additions to Hulu, iTunes, Amazon, and YouTube New rumored titles Episode Links William Becker, Who Transformed Janus Films, Dies at 88 – The New York Times Remembering William Becker – From the Current Flashback: William Becker (1927–2015) – From the Current William Becker, 1927–2015 – From the Current Amazon is having a fantastic sale The Apu Trilogy is currently available to pre-order for $49.99 Wacky New Years Drawing Hints At The Criterion Collection...
Subscribe to The Newsstand in iTunes or via RSS
Contact us with any feedback.
Shownotes Topics William Becker’s passing The December 2015 Criterion Collection Line-up Downhill Racer (December 1st) Jellyfish Eyes (December 8th) Speedy (December 8th) Burroughs: The Movie (December 15th) The August Wacky Drawing What’s coming in 2016? No Wexner talk this year New additions to Hulu, iTunes, Amazon, and YouTube New rumored titles Episode Links William Becker, Who Transformed Janus Films, Dies at 88 – The New York Times Remembering William Becker – From the Current Flashback: William Becker (1927–2015) – From the Current William Becker, 1927–2015 – From the Current Amazon is having a fantastic sale The Apu Trilogy is currently available to pre-order for $49.99 Wacky New Years Drawing Hints At The Criterion Collection...
- 9/17/2015
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
Burroughs: The Movie
Directed by Howard Brookner
USA, 1983
Howard Brookner’s extraordinary portrait of William S. Burroughs was all but lost following its original release in 1983. Now recovered and restored, it offers an intimate insight into the life and work of one of America’s most celebrated and controversial writers. Covering his time spent in New York, Tangier, London and Mexico, from “full out junkie” to literary giant, the documentary is notable for its experimental style and unprecedented access to Burroughs, as well as interviews with his Beat Generation contemporaries, including Allen Ginsberg, Patti Smith, Herbert Huncke and Bryon Gysin.
Burroughs: The Movie started life in 1978 as Brookner’s senior thesis at New York University and one of the film’s many quirks is that the technical credits include illustrious classmates Jim Jarmusch as sound recordist and Tom DeCillo as the principal cinematographer. After forming a close friendship with the director early on,...
Directed by Howard Brookner
USA, 1983
Howard Brookner’s extraordinary portrait of William S. Burroughs was all but lost following its original release in 1983. Now recovered and restored, it offers an intimate insight into the life and work of one of America’s most celebrated and controversial writers. Covering his time spent in New York, Tangier, London and Mexico, from “full out junkie” to literary giant, the documentary is notable for its experimental style and unprecedented access to Burroughs, as well as interviews with his Beat Generation contemporaries, including Allen Ginsberg, Patti Smith, Herbert Huncke and Bryon Gysin.
Burroughs: The Movie started life in 1978 as Brookner’s senior thesis at New York University and one of the film’s many quirks is that the technical credits include illustrious classmates Jim Jarmusch as sound recordist and Tom DeCillo as the principal cinematographer. After forming a close friendship with the director early on,...
- 2/25/2015
- by Rob Dickie
- SoundOnSight
We haven't been lacking in depictions of William S. Burroughs on the big screen in recent years with both Viggo Mortensen ("On The Road") and Ben Foster ("Kill Your Darlings") portraying the famed writer. But now a film thought to be long lost has resurfaced, giving fans and newcomers a window in Burroughs' world via the gnarled Beat eminence himself. Today, the Playlist has an exclusive clip from "Burroughs: The Movie." Starting as a thesis project in the late 1970s at New York University by director Howard Brookner (with sound by Jim Jarmusch, and cinematography by Tom Dicillo), production on "Burroughs: The Movie" eventually spanned over five years, with the filmmaker not only logging plenty of time with his subject, but also with fellow travelers like Allen Ginsberg, Terry Southern, John Giorno, and Brion Gysin. However, when Brookner passed due to AIDS in 1989, his film was thought to be lost.
- 10/9/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Exclusive: Producer is in Cannes with slate that includes a restored William S Burroughs doc and On The Milky Road.
London-based Argentinean producer Paula Vaccaro is in town talking up an eclectic slate that includes a restored William S Burroughs doc and Emir Kusturica’s On The Milky Road.
Pinball London’s Vaccaro and Aaron Brookner serve as remastering producers on Burroughs: The Movie.
Brookner launched a Kickstarter campaign in late 2012 to restore the film, which his late uncle directed and remains the only feature doc about the Naked Lunch author, born 100 years ago.
Criterion is on board to release on DVD and Janus Film will distribute theatrically at the end of the year after Burroughs: The Movie returns to the New York Film Festival, the site of its world premiere 30 years ago.
Brookner will film the festival screening and insert into his original doc, Uncle Howard, which Vaccaro also produces. Jim Jarmusch is executive...
London-based Argentinean producer Paula Vaccaro is in town talking up an eclectic slate that includes a restored William S Burroughs doc and Emir Kusturica’s On The Milky Road.
Pinball London’s Vaccaro and Aaron Brookner serve as remastering producers on Burroughs: The Movie.
Brookner launched a Kickstarter campaign in late 2012 to restore the film, which his late uncle directed and remains the only feature doc about the Naked Lunch author, born 100 years ago.
Criterion is on board to release on DVD and Janus Film will distribute theatrically at the end of the year after Burroughs: The Movie returns to the New York Film Festival, the site of its world premiere 30 years ago.
Brookner will film the festival screening and insert into his original doc, Uncle Howard, which Vaccaro also produces. Jim Jarmusch is executive...
- 5/21/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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