Well, here we go... Harry here with another two films that filmgoers are very much interested in. Christopher Guest's WAITING FOR GUFFMAN was one of those that either left you cold or that you completely fell in love with. No matter, you have to get fired up for the next Guest film... And here, one of the anti-Guffman-ers, really really laughed his ass off at BEST IN SHOW... And the next film was STATE AND MAIN... and well... that's Mamet, and who doesn't shake in anticipation of the next Mamet film? Ok, leave now... As for the rest of us... hehehehehe, candy store....
Hello Harry,
Day two at the TIFF and I can't help but comment on how much I prefer this festival to Cannes. The fact that I'm Canadian has nothing to do with this statement. It's so pleasant to view a film with its producers, directors, actors, etc... I took part in two screenings today, the first being the world premiere of Best in Show, and the second was State and Main.
I've always liked Christopher Guest's work to some capacity, but was not impressed with Waiting for Guffman. It was a good movie that I found lacked the panache to pull-off a sub-par mocumentary. The satire was right, just not as precise as I would've liked. I did not have this problem with Best in Show. I laughed my ass off (as did the rest of the audience) Guest introduced the cast and commented on their having to act each day without a script. The basic premise is a dog show/pageant and the way that owners and dogs co-exist on a level that most of us would extreme. This is why it was so funny. Weve seen this type of humor before, just not with such performances. Fred Willard is a real dog treat. His commentary during the pageant was hysterical. Micheal Mckean and his character's gay lover provide some grea laughs and as always, Parker Posey nailed the neurotic bitch role. I hope that Warner Bros. gives this movie some push. With good hype, this may be able to find a large audience. Notable reunion of American Pie parents. Eugene Levy is always the man in whatever he does, but I sure love watching MILF (you all know whom I'm refferring to) seduce the camera.
State and Main
This movie was David Mamet like you have never seen him before. Light and funny. Light not in the intelligence of his material, but in the mood of the story. Basic concept is that a small town receives a surprise visit from a movie crew shooting a script from a published playwright, first time screenwriter (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). Alec Baldwin and Sarah Jessica Parker are the leads, William H. Macy the director, David Paymer the producer. Also along for the ride are the other usual Mamet actors who pop up in most of his movies. And after every movie of his I see, I ask "Why don't we see Rebecca Pigeon in more movies besides only his?" I mean we know why... but he should share her. There were points where the movie dragged, but overall it went over very well. The actors took Q & A after the movie but there were no intelligent questions. I loved watching Phillip Seymour Hoffman answer these stupid questions, he really lets us know that his time is being wasted. You'd call him arrogant or an asshole if he weren't so brilliant in all his movies, including this one. Roger Ebert seemed to enjoy it. I was behind him and saw him, at many points, laugh at loud. One curious note is that Alec Baldwin told the audience Mamet was not in attendance, but he was in the theatre. No one who has seen his picture could confuse him (unless I did tonight). He was cauging reaction. Once we were out of the theatre, I heard someone beside him (probably a producer) talking to someome on a cell phone. He said something to the effect of "the audience loved it... huge laughs at all appropriate moments... huge audience, played well to all"
That's it for now. So far I'm 2 for 2 for great movies.
Cheers,
Wonderguy
