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"In five features over two decades Christopher Munch has cultivated a singular career on the margins of the independent film world," begins Dennis Lim in the New York Times. "Although his debut, The Hours and Times (1991), was grouped with the emerging New Queer Cinema, Mr Munch, 49, has never fit in with a movement, and it's hard to think of another working American filmmaker with a similar sensibility or array of interests."

Writing in Filmmaker, Howard Feinstein suggests that Munch "explores that chaotic region where two forms of desire butt up against each other: the wish for a more perfect world, for one, usually depicted as majestic nature and whatever beauty man might have put into it (the old, deserted railroad in Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day [1996]) — an American version of classic German Romanticism, or blood and soil when taken to a nationalist extreme; and two, the physical attraction...

American independent director Christopher Munch has been making movies now for over 30 years — longer if you count the award-winning short he directed for a PBS affiliate at age 15 about the San Diego Zoo — carving a niche for himself on the international festival circuit as a shape-shifting film artist with a highly idiosyncratic voice. In 1992, Munch won a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for his 57-minute black-and-white feature The Hours and Times, a talky, speculative film about an erotically charged weekend that John Lennon and his manager Brian Epstein purportedly spent in Barcelona in 1963. Four years later, the California native won the “Someone to Watch” Award at the Independent Spirit Awards for Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day, a gorgeously photographed period film about a Chinese-American man’s deep historical and spiritual connection to the Yosemite Valley Railroad, an old-world relic which he attempts to save from...

Movie lovers with a prolonged case of the Munchies could soon be sated. Indie-pure director Christopher Munch is back, in fine form, with his latest film, Letters From the Big Man.

Munch imbues his works with a distinct nostalgic longing. The Germans have a precise word for it: Sehnsucht. He explores that chaotic region where two forms of desire butt up against each other: the wish for a more perfect world, for one, usually depicted as majestic nature and whatever beauty man might have put into it (the old, deserted railroad in Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day) — an American version of classic German Romanticism, or blood and soil when taken to a nationalist extreme; and two, the physical attraction of one living being toward another. The latter might be a gay man’s unrequited feelings toward a disinterested straight man (The Hours and Times), or even two brothers...

Britain's Got Talent finalists Connected have confirmed that they have split up. The boyband, who were highly praised by Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden, have ditched twins Myles and Connor Ryan. Remaining members Harry and Max Mondryk and Matt Fitzgerald have formed new collective ReConnected. Brothers Myles and Connor found out about the new group when reading Facebook. "I feel very disappointed and very upset," Connor told the Manchester Evening News. "These were our best friends, we never thought they would do something like this. "We got on so well, we never fell out. When they left they never called, they never said anything... We were there the day before and they were our best friends. Nothing was wrong, we didn't fall out and it was just very confusing. "We found out on the internet, (more)...

Britain’s Got Talent hopefuls Connected have revealed that they have taken Simon Cowell’s fashion advice on board and plan to reveal a new look on tonight’ semi final show.

Boy band Connected formed 5 months ago after meeting at their performance school. After their Bgt audition, in which they sang ‘The Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way, Simon Cowell told the suit-wearing lads:

“What you just did is about 15 years out of date. This has definitely come from your mums, what you’re wearing.”

So Harry and Max Mondryk, Conor and Miles Ryan, and Matt Fitzgerald have developed a new look, which they hope is more up to date.

Max told The Daily Star: “Well, Simon seems to know what his own look should be and what suits him best. Let’s hope our look is just as popular. We’ve tried to be more modern.”

Watch Connected on ITV1 at 7.30pm tonight.

Britain’s Got More Talent presenter Stephen Mulhern has disagreed with Simon Cowell and insisted that boyband Connected are Not out of date.

On Saturday night’s Bgt show we saw the teenagers impress Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan with their song and dance routine (Video Here), but Simon Cowell told them:

“You’re all very cute and look good together but here’s the bad news – this is 15 years out of date.”

However Stephen strongly disagrees and during an interview on This Morning he said:

“These boys are brilliant, just excellent. Groups don’t normally do that well, if you look back on the other three series you go well another group that haven’t got through.

Whereas these boys see I don’t think it is out of date. I think it is so now really….we don’t have another teenybopper band. It’s missing and they could fill it.

Boyband Connected have promised to update their style if they make it to the next round of Britain's Got Talent. The five-piece, who appeared on Saturday's audition show, were criticised by Simon Cowell for impersonating groups such as Westlife who are "no longer relevant". Twins Conor and Miles Ryan, 13, Matt Fitzgerald, 13, and brothers Harry and Max Mondryk, 13 and 15, insisted that their mums didn't pick out their outfits for the audition. However, the boys also revealed that they would be changing their look if they make it to the live semi-finals. "Our mums didn't actually pick our outfits - we did. We love Westlife (more)...

Simon Cowell's comments have inspired boyband Connected on Britain's Got Talent. According to reports, the teen group - which consists of twins Connor and Miles Ryan, brothers Harry and Max Mondryk and Matt Fitzgerald - had never performed live before. Cowell was left unimpressed with their efforts, saying: "You're all very cute and look good together but here's the bad news - this is (more)...