Telluride 2006
THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
I loved these films. They deserve distribution. They made my day:
Tribute to Walter Murch
He’s from this area and is a genius editor and sound designer. Look for
other tributes to this creator of Apocalypse Now, The English Patient,
American Graffiti, The Godfather, etc. etc.
Infamous
If you saw Capote and loved it – see this film. If you saw it and hated it
– see this film. If you didn’t see it, skip Capote and see this film. The
performances are – in my humble opinion stellar (actually much better than
the film last year). This film just holds together and is more engaging
that last year’s film. About Capote’s writing of
In Cold Blood.
The Lives of Others
About East German Stasi officers surveillance on “enemies of socialism” …
one of the best films I’ve ever seen. Terrific actors.
The U.S. vs. John Lennon
Yes, you should see this. All Lennon music that has never been recorded.
The story of how the Nixon administration and FBI tried to deport Lennon
from the U.S. Great insight into the man/legend.
The Last King of Scotland
The Wall Street Journal reviewer said Forest Whiaker’s performance was one
of the best film performances EVER. My money is on JAMES McAVOY who is
stunning in this story about the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. The director is
an Oscar-winning documentarian. Fascinating, riveting.
Little Children
Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson are splendid in a story about a
stay-at-home mom and dad married to others. From the director of IN THE
BEDROOM, written by the screenwriter of ELECTION. You will NEVER predict
the ending. Funny and deadly serious. A film to talk about afterwards.
Babel
By the director of 21 GRAMS with an outstanding ensemble cast including
Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal. Takes place in Morocco,
Japan and Mexico. You will never know WHERE this film is going and will
definitely want to talk about it afterwards. Amazing.
Received absolutely amazing “buzz” from people in line:
The Italian
A decaying orphanage in Russia and an adorable nine-year-old trying to find
the identity of his birth mother.
Volver & Tribute to Penelope Cruz
If you love director Pedro Almodovar’s films (Talk to Her, Bad Education)
you will probably like this.
The Page Turner
A 10 year old is traumatized at a piano competition that still haunts her
10 years later. I really wanted to see this but couldn’t fit it in …
Deep Water
About a stranger-than-fiction story of a bizarre trip to travel solo around
the world. Hope this gets distribution so I can see it.
Severance
See this only if you can sit through a horror flic.
Days of Glory (Indigenes)
About Arab volunteer soldiers from France’s African colonies who fought in
World War II.
These films were OK – I mean it was an interesting couple of hours of film,
but somehow they just missed:
Jindabyne
Great cast (Laura Linney, Gabriel Byrne) directed by Ray Lawrence of
LANTANA fame. Australia never looked better. Wonderful acting, interesting
story but it just missed. Not sure why.
Venus
Could have been great. A bit flat, but an amazing performance by Peter
O’Toole. About a very, very old man and a very, very young girl. It had
some good comic moments.
20,000 Streets Under the Sky
If you love the BBC you will enjoy this film. Entertaining and somewhat
thought provoking.
“Oh my god, they spent money on THAT?”:
Yipee! I didn’t see ANY of this type of film. Whew.
Some hated this, some really liked it:
Fur
Nicole Kidman plays the photographer Diane Arbus. Truly a film that
polarized people. No one said it was great. The most flattering comment was
“it was interesting”.
“The Line” emphatically agreed these films sucked, aka REAL LOSERS:
Day Night Day Night
Supposedly a haunting performance by a newcomer. French.
Ghosts of Cite Soleil
Danish about desperately poor and dangerous street gangs.
