Henry Rollins’ film-appreciation series debuts

NEW YORK - Let it be known that Henry Rollins does not want to be the next Roger Ebert.

Musician/writer/actor Rollins, former frontman of punk band Black Flag, says that his new monthly Independent Film Channel TV series, "Henry's Film Corner," operates on the premise that "everybody's a critic." The half-hour show will air the first Saturday of each month in the US.

"Henry's Film Corner" will feature Rollins reviewing films and interviewing guests. There is also a regular segment called "Typecast" in which working professionals critique how their jobs are portrayed in the movies. In the premiere episode, real firefighters discuss "Ladder 49."

Rollins, expressing his opinions with trademark bluntness, says that what appealed to him about the show was that there are no restrictions on which movies he chooses to discuss.

According to Rollins, "I want to talk to a director about how he directed a scene a certain way, and IFC fans like to see something like that. They'll appreciate a weirdo Johnny Depp film over 'I Know What You Did Last Summer.' Someone like Jay Leno would never have David Fincher on his show."

But Rollins would, and did. Fincher, the director of such films as "Seven" and "Panic Room," sat down with him for a rare TV interview in the premiere episode. Rollins' wish list includes David Lynch and Oliver Stone.

As an actor, Rollins has been working on two movies due in 2005: the horror flick "Feast" (which will be the subject of Bravo's new "Project Greenlight" season) and the romantic comedy/drama "The Alibi."

His company, 2.13.61, will release a new Rollins concert film DVD, "Shock and Awe," on Feb. 15.

- REUTERS/BILLBOARD