Joseph Kaufman Movies

The transformative powers of the ocean underscore this documentary tracing the life of famed Dutch/Californian artist Bas Jan Ader, who vanished at sea in 1975 while attempting to sail the smallest boat on record across the Atlantic Ocean. As fellow immigrant filmmaker Rene Daalder explores the mysterious events surrounding Ader's disappearance, the viewer is treated to a sweeping overview of the entire contemporary art scene. Additional interviews with artists Rodney Graham, Ger van Elk, Fiona Tan, Tacita Dean, Charles Ray, Pipilotti Rist, and others reveal why Ader's work remains as powerful and influential as ever over thirty years since he vanished from the face of the Earth. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

With Tomata DuPlenty and Sheela Edwards playing themselves, the storyline of this rock/punk/jazz-filled ghetto blaster of a movie exists in the imagination of DuPlenty, who sees himself as the sole survivor of a nuclear holocaust. His mind's eye then traces the history of civilization (different from Kenneth Clark's version) back through World War II and beyond, concluding with a long-ago nuclear holocaust that cleared the planet of life. DuPlenty was a founding member of the influential San Francisco syntheziser-punk ensemble The Screamers; since the group never released a record, this is one of the few places one can hear (and see) what DuPlenty's performance style was like. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Cops, secretaries, and prisoners stuck in a soon-to-be-shuttered L.A. police station fight off a horde of murderous gang members in director John Carpenter's homage to Howard Hawks. When police officer Bishop (Austin Stoker) is left in charge of Precinct 13 on the last day it's open, he isn't prepared for the onslaught of a murderous street gang who have come into the possession of an enormous arsenal of guns. Finding himself trapped in the precinct with a pair of secretaries (Laurie Zimmer and Nancy Loomis), a few civilians and a handful of prisoners, Bishop is unable to call for help because the phones have already been disconnected and the precinct is in a run-down, out-of-the-way neighborhood. Holding out for a rescue, he and his fellow prisoners band together to barricade themselves in and hold the bandits at bay. But as the casualties mount and the supplies run low, they must choose between a daring escape attempt, a fiery offensive, or certain death. The sophomore feature from auteur-in-the-making John Carpenter, Assault on Precinct 13 reunited the director with Douglas H. Knapp, his cinematographer on 1974's Dark Star. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi