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Judy Thorburn
Las Vegas Tribune
http://www.lasvegastribune.com
Las Vegas Round The Clock
http://www.lasvegasroundheclock.com
The Women Film Critics Circle
http://www.wfcc.wordpress.com
judyt@theflickchicks.com
kreatia@aol.com
CINEVEGAS 2004 - A BUFFET OF CINEMA TREATS
The 6th annual
CineVegas Film Festival was held June 11 through June 19, 2004 at the very hip
Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It was my third year in attendance and
from my point of view, I am happy to report it was the charm. With an array of
new and classic films, gala evening parties, and celebrity screening tributes on
the daily schedule, what more could a film buff want? Especially, since this
year was filled with a very impressive lineup of up-and-coming talent in front
of and behind the camera, many of who look like they have a great future in the
motion picture industry.
Robin Greenspun
Thanks must go to CineVegas
president Robin Greenspun, her husband Danny, of the Greenspun Media Group, and
Director of Programming, Trevor Groth for making this year’s festival the best
ever. Special this year was the addition of actor/director Dennis Hopper as
Chairman of the Creative Advisory Board who was not only an active presence at
the festival, but was influential in bringing his celebrity and filmmaker
friends such as Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn, Holly Hunter,
David Lynch, Julian Schnabel, Dean Stockwell, and Bruce Connor to CineVegas to
accept awards in honor of their contribution to cinema. Each made an appearance
at their film’s screening and spoke in front of the audience about their before
leaving the theatre. However, Robin Wright Penn left a bad impression by keeping
the audience waiting after her movie “Isn’t She Lovely” had ended. She hadn’t
sat through the film, but arrived late after it had ended, and quickly without a
word, accepted her Half Life award before making a beeline for the exit. What a
way to impress your fans, Mrs. Penn – shame on you! If your Oscar winning,
superstar husband can show some grace and sit for a Q& A session after getting
HIS Half Life Award, why can’t you, a lesser known star, show some appreciation
in receiving an award and thank the audience for coming? Even, Mr. Cool himself,
Jack Nicholson made a showing and spoke briefly when accepting his Marquee Award
after the 1971 movie that he directed DRIVE, HE SAID, was screened.
Dennis Hopper
But, ultimately a film
festival is about what’s on the screen. This year film buffs had a plethora of
films to choose from. Categories consisted of highly anticipated world and U.S.
premieres, advance screenings of high profile films with U.S. distribution, the
best new U.S. and International films seeking distribution, a collection of
avant garde movies, shorts, documentaries, and a showcase of films by Nevada
filmmakers and students – all of which hope to gather praised word of mouth from
audiences that could help market their work – especially if the right people,
i.e. distributors, are in attendance. What was neat was having many of the
actors and new filmmakers show up at their screenings to talk about the making
of their film and to answer questions from the audience.
One of the funniest
moments, and a highlight for star-struck fans, was catching late night talk show
host Jimmy Kimmel, and partner in crime, comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, talk about
their joint venture as producer and director for the hilarious mock reality film
"WINDY CITY HEAT", after it was screened. Made to appear as an unscripted joke on their
friend, struggling comic Perry Caravello, who desperately wants to be a movie
star, the camera follows what is supposedly his big break in landing the star
role as detective Stone Fury, in an action movie, WINDY CITY HEAT. Whether Perry
was in on the ongoing prank or not, the result is a very funny comedy that had
the audience laughing by the hilarious shenanigans Perry was made to endure
during the filming, and that humor flowed over into the aftermath Q and A
session.
Although none of his filmed
novels were screened at the festival, famed novelist James Elroy was present for
a revealing discussion about his life and work. During the session titled
CONVERSATION WITH JAMES ELROY, a lot was learned about the man who wrote best
selling novels L.A. Confidential and The Black Dahlia. He openly talked about
how his mother’s gruesome murder was a major influence on his creativity, saying
“her death corrupted his imagination and gave him a gift”. He “became the guy
who overcame his origins and exploited them”. Self-aggrandizing, with an ego as
big as his bank account, he nevertheless is a fascinating character eager to
promote his novels and discuss the inner conflicts that drives him to write
about murder investigations.
James Elroy - Judy Thorburn
Other highlights of the
festival included special screenings of film classics that celebrated the
star or master filmmaker. Dennis Hopper was proud to honor his friend and
fellow actor Dean Stockwell with the Changed My Life Award for his role as a 12
year old in the 1948 film THE BOY WITH GREEN HAIR, a movie way ahead of its time
with its anti war message. Stockwell spoke about the making of the film and how
the far right organized a blacklist that included the film’s director Joseph
Losey. Stockwell said that throughout the years people have told him the
movie had made a great impact on them. This included a woman in the
audience who stated that when she saw the film as a young girl she was
ostracized for being
different, and could identify with his character. Now a painter, with a show of
collages in Taos, NM, the actor was forthright in giving some insight to his
earlier career in movies and the talented directors and actors he worked with.
Another classic from the 80’s, Paris Texas, starring Stockwell and Harry Dean
Stanton, was also on the calendar.
Dean Stockwell
The Vanguard Director Award
was given to three men, Julian Schnabel, David Lynch and Bruce Conner - each
leaving a mark on the motion picture industry with their distinct style. Julian
Schnabel, who only made two “extraordinary” films was present at the screening
of 2000’s BEFORE NIGHT FALLS, which details the oppression of undesirables in
Castro’s revolutionary Cuba. This amazingly biographical film stars Javier
Bordem in a tour de force performance as doomed real life homosexual
poet/novelist Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990). This was the first time I had seen
the movie, and definitely see why Schnabel was recognized as a rare talent whose
meticulous direction and vision as an artist is brilliantly expressed on the big
screen.
Lynch was introduced by
Dennis Hopper to a packed audience following the screening of his debut film,
the bizarre ERASERHEAD, as “one of the greatest directors in cinema” and the
“first American surrealist filmmaker. Dean Stockwell was brought down from the
audience to join Hopper and the acclaimed director in a seated discussion about
what it was like to work with the director. Both Dennis and Dean worked with
Lynch on Blue Velvet and Dean said he never did a character as “far out” as Ben
(in that film). Asked how John Hurt was cast as The Elephant Man, Lynch said
that he felt Hurt was perfect for the role after he saw that the actor had a
hairless left arm. The fact is, as grotesquely disfigured as the Elephant Man
was; his left arm was the only part of his body that was “perfect”. So as far as
Lynch was concerned, Hurt was a perfect fit. Now, that was an interesting piece
of little known movie trivia, movie fans!
My only problem was making
all the screenings or being at every event. There was so much to see and I
could only be at one place at a time. Besides, it is not easy sitting hours
after hours in a movie theatre. I don’t care how comfortable the seat is; your
butt can only take so much! In any case, I can only report on what I experience
first hand at this awesome film fest. The following is my take on the best of
the fest and the films I highly recommend to anyone who loves cinema as much as
I do.
As I stated, I was very
impressed by many of the filmmakers who appear to have a successful career in
the making. When the Filmmaker Awards were given out at a special closing day
luncheon at Postrio Restaurant in the Venetian Hotel, I tended to agree with the
choices, for the most part.
The Cast of "The Talent Given Us"
The Jury prize was handed
to writer/director Bruce Wagner for “THE TALENT GIVEN US”, a scripted mock
reality style documentary that follows the cross-country SUV trek by his real
life parents, Judy and Allen Wagner, and sisters Maggie and Emily on their way
to visit estranged son Bruce in California. It’s a humorous and heartwarming
take on a not so unusual dysfunctional, but loving, family with their ups and
downs that everyone can relate to.
Bruce Wagner
The Audience Award went to
one of my personal favorites, “CROSS BRONX”, written and directed by Larry Golin.
This very talented 28 year old delivers a gritty and emotional coming of age
story about four lifelong friends from Westchester who move into a less than
desirable apartment in the Bronx and proceed to take very different paths in
life. With superb acting by the four leads, Max Greenfield, Badge Dale, Jerry
Ferrara, and Nashawn Kearse and striking cinematography by Danny Arranyo (who
won top honors for HD video achievement at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival in NY)
I hope this film gets the distribution it deserves.
Larry Golin
I had a chance to connect
with the young filmmaker, and he was so honored by the response and award his film
was getting. Larry told me that he was excited in finding out that “Cross
Bronx” was accepted at the Venice Film Festival, and has other works in progress
such an upcoming HBO project and is working with Robert De Niro and other name
stars in future endeavors. He told me that he is in meetings with major film
distributors. I would assume that one should soon get on the wagon and have
Cross Bronx released nationally if they know what’s good. Larry already has a
resume that includes projects ranging from documentaries to studio, cable films
and HBO, and the Rocky Marciano Story. If Cross Bronx is an example of what the
future has in store for this unassuming, gifted filmmaker, Golin’s talent should
take him far. Remember his name!
John Harkrider
Honorable Mention Jury
Award went to “Mitchellville”, a thought provoking psychological look into the
mind of a guilt ridden corporate lawyer. His attempts to make a horrible wrong
right through his complex dreams are revealed during sessions with his
therapist. Writer/director, John Harkrider cast himself as the star of this
very imaginative and well-written, beautifully photographed script. It is
interesting to note that Harkrider attended law school and became a Wall Street
lawyer for the sole purpose of financing this film. His time and money did not
go to waste, and I highly recommend this movie.
Other films that I
recommend are:
“D.E.B.S”, a very funny
campy spoof of the Charlie’s Angels TV and film franchise, with an unusual girl
meets girl twist. First time feature film director Angela Robinson told me that
this opening night comedy, which originated as a short film for the 2003
Sundance film Festival, was shot in 28 days on a measly budget of only $3.5
million. But, her career is on the rise since signing on to direct her next
film, with a $60 million budget - an updated remake of The Love Bug starring
Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls). You go girl!
LURKING IN SUBURBIA –
amazingly shot with only one camera by cinematographer Abe Levy, writer/director
Mitchell Altieri makes an impressive feature film debut with his quirky, but
well written coming of age story of a single male and his wacky group of friends
during his 30th birthday celebration in suburbia. The cast, led by
Joe Egender, is great. But, keep your eyes open for Samuel Child, who has the
entire package of teen idol good looks plus fresh talent that Hollywood loves!
Cast of "Lurking in Suburbia"
ZATOICHI – Though not as
well known in America, Zatoichi (Japanese for “The Chosen One”) is a new version
of a popular Japanese character portrayed in more than 25 films and 100 TV
episodes. If you are a fan of the Matrix or Japanese samurai warrior films,
this is a must see. Director/writer Takeshi Kitano combines elements of humor,
action and even a musical dance number within a thoroughly entertaining story of
a blind, masseuse/skilled swordsman with a penchant for gambling, when he isn’t
fighting for the underdog.
MARMALADE- A touching,
humorous and revealing look inside the world of modeling as experienced by a
beautiful woman who finds herself considered “over the hill” at the still young
age of 32. Co-written by Director Kim Dempster, who co-stars with her lead and
writing partner Jill Sorensen, both professional models, it sends a very real
message about the superficial importance of looks over substance.
THE GRAFFITI ARTIST-
follows the world of a young skateboarding street kid whose life revolves around
making his artistic mark on walls from Portland to Seattle. When he become
involved in a relationship with another tagger, it becomes a test of opposing
ethics and ideologies. There is very little dialogue, but the intense young
actors, Ruben Bansie-Snellman and Pepper Fajans, do a great job in this brooding
study of two characters in today’s subculture.
LUCK- If you know anyone
who is addicted to gambling, this very real study of people who don’t know when to
quit, will hit home. The story centers on one young man (Luke Kirby) who is
willing to risk everything, including the girl of his dreams (Sarah Polley),
when it comes to his obsession. Luck is disturbing, smart, and funny with a
next twist at the end.
You can
travel all over the globe for film festivals. But, there is no other city like
Las Vegas, where the party never stops. Forget Sin City, when CineVegas comes to
town, it turns to Cinema City, proving once more why it’s the entertainment
capital of the world. |
