Two Film Festivals Kick Off in New York This Week

The New York Film Festival began Friday and runs through October 12th. The New York Film Festival, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, defines itself as a chance to take account of the state of film as art. Clint Eastwood’s The Changeling, starring Angelina Jolie, will make its U.S. premiere, on Saturday, October 4th. The festival’s centerpiece, Steven Soderbergh’s epic, Che, will premiere on October 7th. Closing the festival is Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, which has already won acclaim at the Venice Film Festival and The Toronto International Film Festival.

What separates NYFF from other fests is that they do not present awards to any of the films but rather present a curated group of thought-provoking films. Of course the festival does include several panels including an interesting panel on the state of film criticism that took place Saturday. You can see a full schedule of events and get ticket information here.

The Woodstock Film Festival starts tomorrow in Woodstock, NY. This year’s festival has an impressive schedule packed with panels, upcoming films, and music events. In addition, they are presenting the Maverick Award to Kevin Smith this weekend. For ticket information, see the WFF website.

September’s Best Bets in Film Events

September’s biggest event is The Toronto International Film Festival, beginning September 4th and running through the 13th, the fest will be headlined by Burn After Reading assuring it will be a star-studded week. Other festival highlights include Zack and Miri Make a Porno, New York, I Love You, The Wrestler, and Ghost Town, all of which were covered on OLV while they were filming. Tickets can be purchased by the public on the TIFF site at any point during the festival and like other fests there may be stand by tickets available at the door.

Kevin Smith will also be bringing Zack and Miri to Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX on September 18th.

Other film festivals happening around the country this month include The Chicago Horror Film Festival, The Coney Island Film Festival, DC Shorts, The Global Peace Film Festival, The San Diego Film Festival, and The New York Film Festival.

Comic-Con Wrap-Up

Over the weekend the annual Comic-Con International took place in San Diego, CA. Comic-Con isn’t just for geeks anymore. If you are interested in movies, TV shows, pop culture, or just want to gawk at celebrities, this is the place for you. All of the major networks and studios had their biggest stars at the convention showing off their latest projects in true Hollywood style. We are sorry we missed it and will be sure not to make the same mistake next year!

So here’s a round up of the highlights of this year’s Comic-Con in case you missed it too. Read more

July’s Top Film Event

Hand’s down this month’s must see film event is Comic Con International in San Diego, CA. This once “geeks only” convention has been expanding each year to include more mainstream fare. Along with the usual comics and collectibles, this year’s panels include the cast of 24, the producers and cast of the upcoming series Kings, and the writers of The Office. For travel deals to San Diego check out Travel Advisor’s Cheap Vacations Page.

June’s Top Film Events

If you are looking for a sunny summer getaway but also want to see some great films check out the Maui Film Festival or the Nantucket Film Festival (which just added William H. Macy and Paul Rudd to the line up).

Even More Pictures from the Sundance Film Festival

Jack Black on Main Street in Park City on 1/19/08

Matthew Perry 1/20/08

Fred Segal Store in Park City during Sundance 2008

Fur Protestors on Main Street in Park City during Sundance ‘08

Armand Assante at the Cadillac Lounge

Sundance 2008 Wrap-up

Here are a few final thoughts on our trip to Sundance.

If Jack Black was the coolest celeb at Sundance, Woody Harrelson was the meanest.

The best place for lunch on Main St. is Bandit’s Grill and Bar. If you don’t want to wait for a table ask to sit at the bar downstairs, same menu, no wait.

The Daily Insider is available free all over town, pick one up in the morning, it might change the course of your day.

Parking may get costly considering the free parking fills up quickly. Get to Park City early, take advantage of the free shuttle, or do what we did and just consider the cost of parking ($20) into your daily expenses. It is only once a year, right?

Finally, take a drive! The surrounding area is so beautiful you don’t want to miss it. Drive down to the Sundance Resort to see a film, go skiing, or just enjoy the scenery. On your way back to Park City, check out Spin Cafe in Herber City, UT. The restaurant’s design is modern but the menu is classic comfort food, don’t forget the onion rings!

Or head north on Route 80 to Evanston, Wyoming. See our pictures below. Evanston is only about 45 minutes from Park City but it seems worlds away.  

Finally, two more links for all of you celebrity hunters.  Here is an article from Cinemablend about seeing stars at Sundance and another from the Salt Lake Tribune.

Evanston, WY

Rock climbers near the Sundance Resort

Scenes from Route 80 north of Park City

Savage Grace at Sundance 2008

On Sunday night we attended the world premiere of Savage Grace in the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. The film, starring Julianne Moore, is the disturbing true story of the murder of Barbara Baekeland. Barbara, married to the heir of the Bakelite plastic fortune, was a troubled woman who desperately wanted to shed her middle class upbringing and become fully immersed into the jet set world of the rich.

The performances by Moore and Eddie Redmayne, as Barbara’s son Tony, are flawless especially given the complex nature of the material. Many walked out during Sunday’s performance. During the Q & A the film’s director, Tom Kalin, explained this was not the first time the audience shrank during a screening. Many can not handle the treatment of the troubling relationship between Barbara and Tony.

 The movie has not been picked up as of yet and has received mixed reviews. Jay Weissberg wrote the following in Variety,

 ”Scripter Howard A. Rodman’s treatment of an enthralling book is more a series of vignettes rather than a fully connected work, and helmer Tom Kalin seems unable to decide how much Sirkian melodrama to introduce into the heady mix. Gone are the reasons to be fascinated with these people, merely replaced with maddeningly over-arch dialogue and struggles with characterization. Biz may be modest but unsustainable.”

 Monday night we ran into the film’s screenwriter, Howard A. Rodman, who was gracious and grateful that we attended the premiere. He told us the material was difficult for everyone involved but they all agreed it was a story worth telling.

Does this mean it is a story worth watching? We are undecided. It was uncomfortable and troubling but beautifully shot emotionally charged. It will be interesting to see if the film in distributed in the U.S. and how critics will receive it if it is.

More Sundance ‘08 Pictures!

Here are more exclusive pictures from the opening weekend of Sundance 2008:

Mary Kate Olsen with a fan on Main Street in Park City 1/19/08. MK finds herself in the headlines again amid reports the housekeeper called her before the authorities upon finding Heath Ledger’s body.

Here is Matthew Perry signing autographs outside Fred Segal in Park City on 1/20/08.

Olivia Thirlby talks to friends outside of Fred Segal on 1/20/08. Olivia stars along side Ellen Page in Juno which received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture on Tuesday.

Filmmakers Lounge on Main Street in Park City, UT.

Sal Masekela and Giuliana Rancic (both hosts on E!) greet each other on the street in Park City on 1/19/08.

Sundance 2008 Photos!

As promised, here are more pictures from our weekend at Sundance!

Josh Peck at Sundance 2008

Perez Hilton at Sundance 2008

Kate Mara at Sundance 2008

Sal Masekela and Nicole Eggert catch up outside of Fred Segal at Sundance 2008

Paris Hilton at Sundance 2008

Emily Mortimer at Sundance 2008

Woody Harrelson talks to a fan at Sundance 2008

Kevin Sorbo poses with a fan

Patrick Stinson interviews two U2 fans for Hollywood Heat at the premiere of U23D

Danny Glover leaves Sky360 in Park City, UT

The crew from E! on Main Street in Park City

Exclusive Sundance ‘08 Pictures!

Bono @ Eccles Theater, Park City, UT Saturday 1.19.08

Jack Black on Main St. Park City, UT Saturday 1.19.08

Danny Glover on Main St. Park City, UT Saturday 1.19.08

Woody Harrelson on Main Street in Park City on Saturday 1.19.08

Tilda Swinton outside Sky360 on Main Street, Park City, UT Saturday 1.19.08

Alex Smith on Main St, Park City on Saturday 1.19.08

Randy Quaid outside Sky360 on Main St, Park City Saturday 1.19.08

Sundance 1.21.08

The snow let up so we headed back to Park City for one last loop around Main Street tonight. It was cold, only about three degrees. It was also much quieter in town as much of the opening weekend hoopla has ended. We heard John Legend was hosting an event at the Bon Appetit Supper Club but didn’t see anyone coming or going. We did have one celebrity sighting - Slash passed us on the street! Tomorrow we are heading home so please check back Wednesday morning when we will have our own internet connection again and will be able to post all of our information and pictures. We will also be catching up on all of the other on location news we have missed in the past few days. We will continue trying to get at least a few pictures up tonight to hold you all over!

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