Yeah, I know. Crappy headline. It’s probably due to the lingering headache that began last night sometime around 9:40 PM when Governor Pataki stepped up to the podium and only grew more and more painful as the night went on. I appreciate a good speech, and Pataki gave a good one. Bush gave a great one, even if it was simply filled with bullshit and very little substance, as usual. But the last half of it showed once again what he definitely has over Kerry: an ability to talk to people an make them feel like he’s speaking with them rather than at them. Edwards has it too. Kerry is still first and foremost a politician. Hopefully, it won’t hold him back too much, but sadly we do live in a country where at least half of the public prefers simple, black-and-white problems and solutions even if they don’t match up with the reality of the world.
So you know what that means? It means you should approach this Friday-before-a-three-day-weekend thinking about entertainment. Think of it as a substitute for Tylenol — you know, headache relief. IndieWIRE gives us the scoop today about the Telluride Film Festival, notorious for keeping its lineup a secret until it’s opening day. As usual, Telluride swoops in with world premieres of eagerly anticipated new films, such as Todd Solondz’s Palindromes (which will also be in the New York Film Festival in October) and Sally Potter’s Yes, not to mention Dylan Kidd’s P.S., Bill Conden’s Kinsey and Pedro Almodovar’s Bad Education (another NYFF selection, as well). There will also be a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s early silent film Blackmail with live musical accompaniment from the brilliant Alloy Orchestra playing an original score. If you’ve never seen this three piece “orchestra” playing alongside a classic silent film, you have been missing one of the truly great experiences in cinema. I’ve seen them several times alongside films like the fun Douglas Fairbanks swashbuckler The Black Pirate, the Buster Keaton classic Steamboat Bill Jr., the 1919 Shackleton documentary South, and the absolute genius of Harold Lloyd gallivanting around the real 1920s Coney Island and Manhattan (the film was shot mostly on location) and driving Babe Ruth in a taxi in the magnificent Speedy. They usual play something in New York a couple times a year, often at the Walter Reade. Keep an eye out and go. It’s well worth it.
Oh to be in the Colorado mountains this holiday weekend. To think, I would probably spend virtually no time outside, and for good reason. Look at me babble, and no … I won’t even be there. Ah well …. I’ll just have to settle for catching-up with some things around town. Like Hero which shockingly won the box office race last weekend without my $10 being involved. Or, I could take in TCM’s day of Telluride films, featuring greats such as The Apartment, Ride the High Country and Lord of the Flies (Peter Brook’s 1963 adaptation, not the crappy 1990 remake). And I know I still owe you, my loyal reader, my thoughts on several movies.
Meanwhile, IndieWIRE also previews this years RESFEST traveling media festival which will launch this year in New York for the first time. Learn more about RESFEST at their website.
There is also what sounds like a very cool evening of beer and Donnie Darko at Brooklyn Brewery on 9/23. You get a short reading of “Be More Chill”, a copy of the book, the movie and open bEEr all evening for just $25. (Thanks Ultragrrrl.)
And by the way, just while I’m throwing events out there, I’ll do a bit more relative-shilling, since I did it so well before. ON 9/12 at the 92nd Street Y, you can see Dennis Ross (he would be my uncle) in person as he discusses the possibilities of peace in the Middle East and talks about his recently released book, “The Missing Peace”, about his experiences as the U.S. Envoy to the negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. I’m sure it will be an interesting evening, and if you want to hear someone discuss the current situation for the perspective of possible solutions rather than what might be politically beneficial, you should go hear him.
You know, Bushie must have screwed up my head more than I realized, because I’m just writing a whole lot of nothing myself. I even try to get away from the political and end up right back there, sort of. See how easily influential he is? It’s really terrible, this dumbing-down of America. I’ll see you on Monday … or Tuesday … or if I get bored, sooner. Have a good Labor Day everyone.
Out of Focus 