A fantastic concluding day! The year we managed to see 15 movies. A new record for me. I'm writing Tuesday morning because last night I was exhausted. :-)
Today included the following:
1. The Iceman. A fictionalized account of the real mob hit man (Michael Shannon is fantastic in the role). Really well acted. The director, producer and one of the actors, Ray Liotta were present to introduce it to us. (You know him).
2. No---about the media/advertising campaign to oust Pinochet in Chile. I found it to be a most interesting (and frightening) view of media creating the event. The medium is the message; Marshall McLuhan was so right.
3. The Attack--a story of an Arab surgeon living in Tel Aviv whose life is turned upside down following a terrorist bomb. Very intriguing & suspenseful. While it was not related to the documentary we saw about Shin Bet (Gatekeepers), it was an excellent bookend story.
4. Superstar--a modern-day French farce starring Kad Merad (famous French actor) who was present to say "bonjour" before the screening. He plays an ordinary Frenchman suddenly thrust into the limelight--against his will. It's a commentary on the internet & social media---tres amusant; tres francais. Yo Yos will all love this one.
Overall---this was the first year where there was not a single film I regretted seeing. I would rate all of them with an A or B. Not every film will be appealing to every audience, but I found them all most entertaining & informative. Next year's festival will celebrate its 40th year; they will add one on day to the festival. Fine with me!
Wish I had more time to write more about each film, but I gotta get ready to go to the airport.
Fin
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Sunday night
Another day of 4 films began with the tribute to Festival honoree Marion Cotillard. The interview with her was delightful. She's as perky and as interesting as you'd expect. They showed clips from 6-8 of her movies which showed her talent & diversity. Then they screened her new film: Rust & Bone (which already has played in France). It was pretty heavy at times but captivating and really well acted. Marion played a trainer at a sea world who has a bad accident & has to re-examine her life. I would definitely recommend it.
Second we saw a British film called Everyday. It was about a woman raising her 4 kids alone while her husband is in prison. Was not as dark as it might seem. Probably not something you'd go out of your way to see, but I enjoyed it.
Third was the lightest film of the festival: The Sapphires. It was inspired by a real story of 4 Australian Aborigional women who form a girls singing group and went to Viet Nam to entertain the troops in 1968. Very cute & the audience loved the diversion!
Finally there was a tribute to the other actor being honored: Mads Mikkelsen, a Danish actor we all have seen from time to time but who has most acclaim on the international scene. (You'd recognize his picture). He was in Casino Royale as a very evil character, which seems typical of his roles. He was given the award as honoree, then was interviewed and clips from his movies were shown. They then showed his film, called the Hunt. Quite dark but excellent acting. He actually won the best actor at Cannes for this role. Deserved award. Another of his films is showing here which we plan to see tomorrow.
Random thoughts:
--We hear Dennis Quaid is also here; a film of his is screening but I don't think we'll see it.
--Many of the films were introduced to us with the announcement that we were the first public audience to see it. (often the case at Telluride).
--Oscar buzz is about Argo and Hyde Park on the Hudson. That's logical. I'd pick Argo.
--I just started a rating system for the films I saw. If I don't get them posted, I'll share later with anyone who's interested. It's just too late to write more when I get back at night. (11 pm now).
--Sad that tomorrow is the last day. But it looks like we'll see 4 more! :-)
Second we saw a British film called Everyday. It was about a woman raising her 4 kids alone while her husband is in prison. Was not as dark as it might seem. Probably not something you'd go out of your way to see, but I enjoyed it.
Third was the lightest film of the festival: The Sapphires. It was inspired by a real story of 4 Australian Aborigional women who form a girls singing group and went to Viet Nam to entertain the troops in 1968. Very cute & the audience loved the diversion!
Finally there was a tribute to the other actor being honored: Mads Mikkelsen, a Danish actor we all have seen from time to time but who has most acclaim on the international scene. (You'd recognize his picture). He was in Casino Royale as a very evil character, which seems typical of his roles. He was given the award as honoree, then was interviewed and clips from his movies were shown. They then showed his film, called the Hunt. Quite dark but excellent acting. He actually won the best actor at Cannes for this role. Deserved award. Another of his films is showing here which we plan to see tomorrow.
Random thoughts:
--We hear Dennis Quaid is also here; a film of his is screening but I don't think we'll see it.
--Many of the films were introduced to us with the announcement that we were the first public audience to see it. (often the case at Telluride).
--Oscar buzz is about Argo and Hyde Park on the Hudson. That's logical. I'd pick Argo.
--I just started a rating system for the films I saw. If I don't get them posted, I'll share later with anyone who's interested. It's just too late to write more when I get back at night. (11 pm now).
--Sad that tomorrow is the last day. But it looks like we'll see 4 more! :-)
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Sat night
It was a full day. Saw 4 movies. Here's the rundown:
1. Central Park Five---documentary by Ken Burns, his daughter & her husband about the real story of 5 black youths in NYC convicted wrongly of rape in central park. It was really well done. Burns & the 2 directors did a Q & A session after it which added a lot to the appreciation of the story & research. They employed some imaginative documentary effects; I really liked it. Bravo.
2. Frances Ha--a quirky story by the director who did Squid & the Whale about a 26 ish young lady in NY who has not yet found her way into adulthood. Amusing and well done.
3. The Gatekeepers---surprisingly our 3rd documentary ---- about the Israeli Shin Bet and its strategies that helped or hurt peace efforts. It was very candid and the 5-6 former leaders of Shin Bet who were interviewed at length and who were able to be self critical & realistic.
4. Hyde Park on the Hudson---about FDR (OMG played by Bill Murray) just before the start of WWII and his long lasting affair with a lady (Laura Linney). I was really happy to see Laura & Bill here but must confess it was hard for me to suspend reality and believe them. The big surprise was that Bill was here for the Q & A (not in the program) along with Laura. It was wonderful to see them; film was entertaining but didn't grab me as I 'd hoped it would.
Tomorrow morning we'll start with Marion Cotillard! Bon!
I have a not-so great pic I got of the "president". .
1. Central Park Five---documentary by Ken Burns, his daughter & her husband about the real story of 5 black youths in NYC convicted wrongly of rape in central park. It was really well done. Burns & the 2 directors did a Q & A session after it which added a lot to the appreciation of the story & research. They employed some imaginative documentary effects; I really liked it. Bravo.
2. Frances Ha--a quirky story by the director who did Squid & the Whale about a 26 ish young lady in NY who has not yet found her way into adulthood. Amusing and well done.
3. The Gatekeepers---surprisingly our 3rd documentary ---- about the Israeli Shin Bet and its strategies that helped or hurt peace efforts. It was very candid and the 5-6 former leaders of Shin Bet who were interviewed at length and who were able to be self critical & realistic.
4. Hyde Park on the Hudson---about FDR (OMG played by Bill Murray) just before the start of WWII and his long lasting affair with a lady (Laura Linney). I was really happy to see Laura & Bill here but must confess it was hard for me to suspend reality and believe them. The big surprise was that Bill was here for the Q & A (not in the program) along with Laura. It was wonderful to see them; film was entertaining but didn't grab me as I 'd hoped it would.
Tomorrow morning we'll start with Marion Cotillard! Bon!
I have a not-so great pic I got of the "president". .
Sat morning Sept 1
Last night was terrific. Got back too late to report so here's last night program:
Ginger & Rosa was about 2 teenage girls in the early 1960s England struggling with adolescence, family issues and social protests about nuclear disarmament (Cuban Missile Crises era). Elle Fanning was superb. I could relate to the sentiment about the threat of nuclear bombs, and recall asking my parents to build a bomb shelter around that time.
Then we saw a most interesting new documentary about Marilyn Monroe. The filmmaker introduced it to us & explained how new diaries, letters, etc were recently uncovered, which became the basis of the profile. We both thoroughly enjoyed it.
We're off now to what we hope will be a 4 film day.
Ginger & Rosa was about 2 teenage girls in the early 1960s England struggling with adolescence, family issues and social protests about nuclear disarmament (Cuban Missile Crises era). Elle Fanning was superb. I could relate to the sentiment about the threat of nuclear bombs, and recall asking my parents to build a bomb shelter around that time.
Then we saw a most interesting new documentary about Marilyn Monroe. The filmmaker introduced it to us & explained how new diaries, letters, etc were recently uncovered, which became the basis of the profile. We both thoroughly enjoyed it.
We're off now to what we hope will be a 4 film day.
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