Friday, 28 April 2000

WEEKEND PREVIEW

The weekend brings 4 new wide release films: Committed, Frequency, The Flinstones In Viva Rock Vegas and Where the Heart Is. I've seen only one. That's the price of going on one of these festival runs. It's also the good part because every indication I've had is that Frequency is the only one worth the $8. Committed is the movie I saw and I wasn't overwhelmed. I would argue that the poster is misleading because Heather Graham is not decked out in hottie-wear throughout the picture and her quest is more insane than outrageous. However, the poster is very clever in using the idea of her giving the world "the finger," but it being the wedding band finger. Graham and her male co-stud, Goran Visnjic, do give you plenty of eye candy, whatever your sex or sexual preference, but if ever there was a movie made for a video shelf, this is it.

If you happen to live in New York City and you love movies, there is something new worth seeing. Mike Figgis' Time Code. You may have heard it called "Time Code 2000" in the past. Why the change? Mike Figgis doesn't know. In fact, he prefers "Time Code 2000." But more on that in the long Q&A with Mike that will come out in the next week or two. Keep an eye out for it. And see the film. It is a stunt movie in a way, breaking new ground and sometimes more interesting for form over function. But it will challenge you and make you think. And that is what great art is meant to do, isn't it?

THE GOOD: The Overlooked Film Festival kicked off Wednesday night with a cocktail party at The President's House at the University of Illinois. Interesting feeling, walking into that room. This festival is a little like going to the high school reunion of your spouse. You know some of the friends and are more glad to see some than others. But it is someone's home turf and it isn't yours. It is Roger's. And most of the people in the room are from his alma mater. The stories about the history of the University Illinois Champaign-Urbana are charming and fun. But it is a bit like being at an exotic locale, sitting on the beach with the pig roasting in the pit in front of you, listening to the local "tribal chief" tell yarns about the natives.

And sure enough, after the cocktail party, Tribal Chief Ebert (and Tribal Goddess Chaz) led about 25 of us to the local Steak-N-Shake for more tales of Southern Illinois and burgers and chili and shakes. That was even more fun. It's a wonderful thing to see Roger so animated and joyous in his storytelling. As one of the festival guests, producer Carl Borack, leaned over and whispered at one point, "He really loves this." And indeed he does. And for me, there was the joy of hanging out with a new group of people who speak the same language of film that I speak. I had a chance to chat with Chris Smith and Mark Borchardt of American Movie and Charles Lane of Sidewalk Stories, but the people in their lives that they brought with them to the festival were every bit as engaging and fun to chat with.

I also should admit that after thinking about it for a minute, there wasn't anyone here that I wasn't pleased to see again. I do worry about my memory of a few folks not being what it should be. But the core staff of Nancy Casey, Nate Kohn and Nickie Dalton were great to see. Melissa McKillip is now an e-mail acquaintance, but I look forward to saying "hello" officially. And my affection for Joanne and Roger Plummer surprises me each time I see them. You know how you sometimes meet people and just plain like them. This duo is that for me. They just seem to love life. And I barely know them. Yet, they are like the people at the reunion who you just can't wait to cross the room to say "hi" to. Of course, the only way you can enjoy being around these folks is to come to the festival. It's not too late.

Tomorrow (a.k.a. yesterday/Thursday), the day starts with a panel on Digital vs. Celluloid. That should be fun. For those of you who don't know, Roger is one of the nation's strongest opponents of the switch to digital film and/or projection. I have a feeling that I may be the bad guy on the panel. The films are Sidewalk Stories, which Roger tells me is the first ever 35mm screening of the Japanese animé classic, Grave of the Fireflies, American Movie and Coven.

Also, I met a young lady who found The Hot Button by way of Guy Pearce and his movie Ravenous from Sundance 1999. That was ironic, as I recently met Auntie EM, who also found The Hot Button by way of Guy Pearce and Sundance. Small world. I also gather from this young lady that Guy's turn as Errol Flynn will finally be released in America in the coming months. (I think I got that right…could be A Slipping Down Life…something new and Guy…getting old.)

"Broadway Passings, Columbine Video & ROTDs on Elian"