London Film Festival: Glasto for Glasses-Wearers

I refuse to do the London Film Festival for absolutely no sane reason at all.

I saw one which I can only call 'Dermot O'Leary in a Danish 'Sliding Doors'' -- called 'Reconstruction'. Pas mal.

I looked at everything I really fancied in the programme and nearly everything else had a distribution deal. I like seeing the Surprise Film, more for the experience but my ticket ain't through yet.

'Dogville' was out in Paris in June.

Have I misunderstood?

The one film I couldnae get ticket for was the much hyped 'Lost in Translation'. I wasn't too miffed, cos it's 100% certain to get a wide distribution. I enjoyed Sofia Coppola's 'Virgin Suicides' though it's no 'Crazy/Beautiful'. And I enjoyed 'Ghost World'.

But what's the big deal about SJ? Anyone see it?

Just check the brochure for films with distribution, if it says courtsey of Pathe (etc etc) then you know it will limp out some time in the next year. The worst ones are films like In the Cut and Seabiscuit that premiere in the festival and then open wide TWO DAYS LATER.

Alright: to report: 'Good Morning Night', Marco 'Fists in the Pockets' Bellocchio's film about the 1978 kidnapping and execution of ranking Christian Democrat Aldo Moro by the Red Brigade = screaming out for multiples domination. K-classic consideration of humanist vs materialist Marxism. 'Together' meets 'Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment' meets 'Panic Room'. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. Even its use of Pink Floyd is good.

French film by Jean-Marc Moutout, his feature debut, 'Work Hard, Play Hard', is more modest tale of callow management consultant which nontheless pisses down Oliver Stone's throat. There's humour, but this ain't 'The Office': this is an indictment of the profit motive and the society that lives and dies by it. Nicely done. It isn't out in France yet, but it should be a pip, as John Goodman says in 'Barton Fink'. 'Resources Humaine' meets 'Late August, Early September'.

I hear Spellbound is vg.

sistrah becky sez that battle royale II is v.terrible and long and disappointing - during some particularly sententious speech late on, someone in the nft audience blew a raspberry and everyone in the whole theatre burst out laughing delightedly

If it was him this wouldn't surprise me, he went to my school and thought he was better than everyone else then, lucking out and joining Pulp can only have added to that methinks.

Mark Webber's 'curations' at the ICA have been pretty good and quite accessible. Unless he was blatantly sucking up to Ph!lip D0dd in the talk I don't see what's wrong with acknowledging people in the audience who are acquaintances and/or capable of helping the talk along. If you've ever had to give one of these talks, which I have, you'll know that they can be quite nerve-wracking and any audience serendipity/participation is a big boon.

Not going to the LFF this year but am going to lots of the press screenings as and when. Enrique, if you are a budding freelance, try to get yourself on the mailouts from film PR companies like McDonald and Rutter or Metro-Tartan or any of the others who spam me 10 times a day.

It was the openiong of 'Shine On U Crazee Diamond'. Bloke in front did air-drums. Seriously hot film tho.

Bertolucci's 'The Dreamers' out soon: K-Klassic to power of K.

Henry from 'Dawson's Creek' stars as an American student in Paris in 1968. Lovely film, lots of clips from others too, almost cried at use of Bob Dylan, weirdly. Plenty of what you'd expect from Bernardo: camera moves, communism, cinephilia, Godard worship/lack-of-worshipincest, erm...

My fave movie of the year, but it is a (series) of pet subjects pour moi. Lovely feelgood stuff, very poignant.

'It's All About Love' -- Vinterberg's ill-starred follow-up to 'Festen'. Hmmm -- maddest film of the year, no idea if it's good. Terrible Polish accents, grebt style, confused substance. Elicits titters, but is all good fun and Claire Danes is lovely (as is wackeen feenix) so yer know, defo better than the matirx (probably). Not as good as festen tho.

did they show that medem basque one yet btw

Dunno abt Medem, sounds mor einnaresting than his usual boolox I must say.

(admittedly this was at home but hey, I can drink there and lie on the sofa - maybe reclined cinemas are the way forward)

Yes, 26th and 27th October.

Anyone going to this? This is my first year with press accreditation (had industry last year), and it's predictably been quite a blast.

Best film I've seen so far: Martha Marcy May Marlene.

do u wear glasses tho

*sigh* Of course I do.

It's All About Love' -- Vinterberg's ill-starred follow-up to 'Festen'. Hmmm -- maddest film of the year, no idea if it's good. Terrible Polish accents, grebt style, confused substance. Elicits titters, but is all good fun and Claire Danes is lovely (as is wackeen feenix) so yer know, defo better than the matirx (probably). Not as good as festen tho.

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 5 November 2003 11:51 (7 years ago) Bookmark

oh em gee i forgot this film ever existed. the most ridiculous thing i have ever seen.

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6617-london-2019

booked in for

atlantics
to the ends of the earth
martin eden
unheimlich II: astarti
krabi 2562
vitalina varela

will try and catch la llorona as well

bit disappointed at the lack of liberte