Art Cohen

Spain lost one of its great singers and flamenco one of its most brilliant innovators when Enrique Morente died suddenly last December at the peak of his career, only a week after the completion of Emilio R. Barrachina's soulful testament to his life and art. For those not familiar with the singer, experimentalist and composer, Morente was a tenor with a clear, pure voice that gave him an appeal beyond that of the traditional flamenco singers... [He] is most famous for his pioneering fusions with other musical styles, particularly his classic album Omega, which features versions of Leonard Cohen songs.' Barrachina focuses in particular on the songs Morente wrote based on the poems of Pablo Picasso, poems brought to his attention by Picasso's longtime friend and barber, Eugenio Arias. There is background material on Picasso, and his poems and art--especially the antiwar masterpiece Guernica--figure as leitmotifs. We wander the old streets of Granada with Morente's family, including daughters Estrella and Solea who are not just extraordinarily beautiful, but have notable careers themselves as flamenco singers. But the film really comes to life when Morente sings, in particular in the stunning excerpts from two evocatively staged live concerts. Of interest to everyone but a must-see (and hear!) for lovers of flamenco, this film will inevitably become a lasting tribute to Morente and his unique place in the flamenco firmament.

The Antagonist Movement hosts weekly events in NYC's East Village. It showcases local artists such as Brother Mike Cohen who shares his family's dysfunction through live readings and 'zines. Brother Mike incorporates a boombox into his readings and plays old, secretly-recorded tapes of teenage fights with his father. His booklet, 'Somewhere Between a Punch and a Hand Shake,' published by the antagonist press, is a highly-regarded example of antagonist art. http://antagonistmovement.com

After 10 years in prison, Driver (Dwayne Johnson) has a singular focus -­- to avenge the murder of his brother during the botched bank robbery that led to his imprisonment. Now a free man with a deadly to -­-do list in hand, he’s finally on his mission, but with, two men on his trail a veteran cop (Billy Bob Thornton) just days from retirement, and a young egocentric hitman (Oliver Jackson-­Cohen) with a flair for the art of killing and a newfound worthy opponent. The hunter is also the hunted. It’s a do or die race to the list’s finish as the mystery surrounding his brother’s murder deepens, and new details emerge along the way hinting that Driver’s list may be incomplete.

After 10 years in prison, Driver (Dwayne Johnson) has a singular focus -­- to avenge the murder of his brother during the botched bank robbery that led to his imprisonment. Now a free man with a deadly to -­-do list in hand, he’s finally on his mission, but with, two men on his trail a veteran cop (Billy Bob Thornton) just days from retirement, and a young egocentric hitman (Oliver Jackson-­Cohen) with a flair for the art of killing and a newfound worthy opponent. The hunter is also the hunted. It’s a do or die race to the list’s finish as the mystery surrounding his brother’s murder deepens, and new details emerge along the way hinting that Driver’s list may be incomplete.