April 2008 Archives
Day 3 began with Sissy Spacek's latest film Lake City. I was really excited for this film, not only because I think Sissy's brilliant, but also because Rebecca Romijn and Dave Matthews were appearing in the film. This meant it had to be fun, right? The flick, which features a mother and son who must reconcile their past in order to save themselves from violent criminals, was good, but I didn't think it was anything special. I found it a bit typical and Lifetime-esque, and it was hard to care too much about the characters. Again, it wasn't bad; it was just simply good.
Later I headed over—in the pouring rain, leaving my hair a mess!—to the War, Inc. press junket with Marissa Tomei and Hilary Duff. I can't wait to tell you about it, but you'll have to wait until later in the week, when I'm able to transcribe the interviews!
Finally I went to the best movie I've seen yet at Tribeca: Bart Got a Room. The comedy starred William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines, who played a very wacky soon-to-be ex-husband and wife. The clock counts down as their son Danny tries to find a date for prom. William H. Macy was a riot and the casting of the kids in the film was terrific. I also loved all the little details, like the tons of old people in Florida (where the film took place) and the crazy relationships between the adults. I truly think this is a film for people of all ages, and if you want to laugh, you definitely need to see it.
Tomorrow I'm heading to a panel led by Christiane Amanpour and then an afterparty for Matthew Broderick's new film Finding Amanda. Fingers crossed that Sarah Jessica Parker shows up!
I started off day 2 of the Tribeca Film Festival with another movie about an awkward family, Bitter & Twisted. The film, which begins with the death of a young man and then flashes forward three years to see the toll his loss of life took on his family, was a good movie. It didn't have much of a storyline—there was no beginning, middle and end—instead it felt like a snapshot into a family's life.
Next up I went to a more "star-studded" film—War, Inc.. John Cusack wrote, produced and starred in the movie, along with Hilary Duff, Marisa Tomei, Sir Ben Kingsley and Dan Akroyd. War, Inc. is a satirical movie about the first war to be completely outsourced to a private company. It could be considered a bit heavy for the times we're in, but it also says a lot about the way war is handled. Get ready for more on this film soon—I interviewed Marisa Tomei and Hilary Duff, and will have all the deets on that for you soon!
Next up I went to a more "star-studded" film—War, Inc.. John Cusack wrote, produced and starred in the movie, along with Hilary Duff, Marisa Tomei, Sir Ben Kingsley and Dan Akroyd. War, Inc. is a satirical movie about the first war to be completely outsourced to a private company. It could be considered a bit heavy for the times we're in, but it also says a lot about the way war is handled. Get ready for more on this film soon—I interviewed Marisa Tomei and Hilary Duff, and will have all the deets on that for you soon!
Continue reading My Tribeca Film Festival Diary: Day 2.
As this was my first day at the Tribeca Film Festival, I had no idea what to expect. I just knew I'd be seeing a lot of movies. Being such a newbie to the Fest, I even had to call the press office to see what the dress attire was (jeans and a t-shirt)! After picking up my credentials, I headed to my first film, Seven Days Sunday.
According to the Festival guide, the movie is about: "Teenage dropouts Adam and Tommek pass their days hanging out and drinking in their grim housing complex, but as grinding boredom combines with Adam's insecurity and Tommek's penchant for petty crime, they make a bet that plunges them into violence. Based on actual events."
I must have missed the part in the description about the violence. Let me tell you, Seven Days Sunday was a very interesting way to start my time at the Tribeca Film Festival. A movie about two messed up teens who decide they want to murder someone? I had to turn my head away from the screen more than once.
Next I went to a larger screening for the Julianne Moore flick, Savage Grace, also based on a true story. Julianne did an incredible job of playing an eccentric socialite. She starts off as obviously troubled, but when her husband leaves her, and then she falls for a gay men, and then her very own son—yes, you did just read that—I couldn't help but wonder what I had gotten myself into!
According to the Festival guide, the movie is about: "Teenage dropouts Adam and Tommek pass their days hanging out and drinking in their grim housing complex, but as grinding boredom combines with Adam's insecurity and Tommek's penchant for petty crime, they make a bet that plunges them into violence. Based on actual events."
I must have missed the part in the description about the violence. Let me tell you, Seven Days Sunday was a very interesting way to start my time at the Tribeca Film Festival. A movie about two messed up teens who decide they want to murder someone? I had to turn my head away from the screen more than once.
Next I went to a larger screening for the Julianne Moore flick, Savage Grace, also based on a true story. Julianne did an incredible job of playing an eccentric socialite. She starts off as obviously troubled, but when her husband leaves her, and then she falls for a gay men, and then her very own son—yes, you did just read that—I couldn't help but wonder what I had gotten myself into!
Continue reading My Tribeca Film Festival Diary: Day 1.
Tom Hanks has proven to us that when he's involved in a period piece movie, it's going to be a success. Think Catch Me If You Can, Band of Brothers, The Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan, the recent HBO miniseries John Adams and now Charlie Wilson's War (among others!).
Set in the 1980s during the Cold War, Charlie Wilson's War is based on the outrageous true story of a covert mission in Afghanistan led by Congressman Charlie Wilson (Hanks), Houston socialite and political activist Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) and rogue CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
After seeing the horrific conditions at an Pakistan-based Afghan refugee camp, Wilson manages to increase the CIA's anti-communism budget in order to help the Afghans fight against the Soviets.
The film offers valuable insight into the situation that our country is currently in; though this covert operation helped to end the Cold War, the film presents viewers with the question, "Did anyone think it through enough?" And did this mission then lead to unexpected consequences of the United States' detachment from Afghanistan? This, of course, sparks viewers to wonder if our current war was thought through thoroughly from the onset.
Whether you want to take Charlie Wilson's War as a statement on our country today, or just an eye-opening lesson in history, the acting is superb and the drama is excellent, with just the right amount of comedy sprinkled throughout the story.
Plus, with the release of the DVD, you can view interviews with the cast, director Mike Nichols, Charlie Wilson and Joanne Herring, as well as an intriguing profile of Charlie himself.
Set in the 1980s during the Cold War, Charlie Wilson's War is based on the outrageous true story of a covert mission in Afghanistan led by Congressman Charlie Wilson (Hanks), Houston socialite and political activist Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) and rogue CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
After seeing the horrific conditions at an Pakistan-based Afghan refugee camp, Wilson manages to increase the CIA's anti-communism budget in order to help the Afghans fight against the Soviets.
The film offers valuable insight into the situation that our country is currently in; though this covert operation helped to end the Cold War, the film presents viewers with the question, "Did anyone think it through enough?" And did this mission then lead to unexpected consequences of the United States' detachment from Afghanistan? This, of course, sparks viewers to wonder if our current war was thought through thoroughly from the onset.
Whether you want to take Charlie Wilson's War as a statement on our country today, or just an eye-opening lesson in history, the acting is superb and the drama is excellent, with just the right amount of comedy sprinkled throughout the story.
Plus, with the release of the DVD, you can view interviews with the cast, director Mike Nichols, Charlie Wilson and Joanne Herring, as well as an intriguing profile of Charlie himself.
Watch the trailer
Ever since watching the Enchanted DVD, I've noticed that I randomly break out into singing songs from the movie. "That's how you knowwwwwwww…."
If you have a special little place in your heart for Disney movies (especially the oldies, like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and Cinderella), then you're bound to appreciate Enchanted.
Enchanted jumps back and forth between animation and real life, as Amy Adams' character Giselle is sent by the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) from animation land to New York City, where she meets Robert (Patrick Dempsey). Of course, her cartoon love, Prince Edward (James Marsden), must find her, and goes on an adventure through New York City to do so.
While the movie is enjoyable to watch, the DVD's special features make this purchase worth it.
In "Fantasy Comes to Life," we see a three-part featurette that details all the fun parts of how the movie was made, from the songwriting, to special effects, to acting.
There's also the typical bloopers and deleted scenes, as well as a Carrie Underwood music video.
For true Disney fans, however, the best special feature includes a section where we learn what aspects of Enchanted were references to older Disney films. Once you see this, it makes you appreciate the movie that much more. That scene of Giselle brushing her hair in the mirror? Totally taken from Ariel in The Little Mermaid!
And what ever happened to the actresses who voiced Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas in Pocahontas? They all make appearances in Enchanted! And of course, Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) provides her voice as narrator.
All in all, as the tag line says, Enchanted truly is a new Disney classic, with a twist.
If there's any movie to buy on DVD this year, it's the Academy Award winning No Country For Old Men.
No Country was the movie that had all of us movie fans—not just the critics—talking incessantly once the movie ended.
Was that Chigurh (Javier Bardem) behind the hotel room door? Why didn't he kill Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) in the hotel room? What did the movie mean? Was it simply a game of cat and mouse or was it deeper, with philosophical points regarding fate and choice?
Watching the No Country for Old Men DVD is one of the best decisions I've made, as it allowed me to stop having all those questions running through my mind. Instead I was able to continuously watch it until I picked up every nuance that had me bewildered.
Okay fine, I didn't get every question answered, but it did give me new perspective on the movie that has put my mind at ease. And I've garnered a whole new appreciation for the film.
What did you think of No Country for Old Men? Did you have as many questions as I did? And if so, have you found the answers to them?


