Tom Van Avermaet directed the Oscar-nominated short Death of a Shadow and gracefully agreed to answer a bunch of nosy questions for the enlightenment of Gimme Some Film readers! Thanks to Tom for his time…and for making one incredible short film!
Where did the idea for Death of a Shadow come from? It was one of the most imaginative stories I’ve seen in years (short or feature).
We got dressed up for a Gatsby preview and party in KC!
Chicago-based marching band Mucca Pazza entertains before a screening at the 2013 True/False Film Fest.
If I have an excuse for taking so long to post about the True/False Film Fest (February 28 – March 3 in Columbia, MO), it’s this: I just didn’t want it to be over. In its ten years of bringing the best documentaries (and kinda documentaries) to the heartland, True/False has created an army of fanatics who talk about the fest with fervor usually reserved for barbecue and college teams ’round these parts.
I attended last year and was converted to the event’s infectious spirit immediately. The fest is designed to break down the walls between filmmakers and film-goers. Each screening has a filmmaker Q&A, parties mix fans and documentarians, and the compact festival traffic patterns ensure you’ll run into the person responsible for that fantastic film you just saw in line for coffee or a slice of Shakespeare’s pizza. The fest also seems calibrated for filmgoers’ maximum happiness. “Buskers” serenade you while you wait for films to start, hundreds of friendly volunteers keep things running smoothly, and an ingenius “Q” system helps latecomers get into sold-out films.
10:58: Ben Affleck just thanked Canada. And Iran. “I want to thank my wife, who I don’t usually associate with Iran.” Thanks people for helping him when they had nothing to gain from him. Classy. Sneaks in his kids names at the end. Fast talker, that Ben. Doesn’t mention Damon.
10:55: Argo. “That is strange. That is weird. I mean, I’m glad for him.” — Lauren. My thoughts exactly.
For your Oscar-watching pleasure, may I present The Official Gimme Some Film Acceptance Speech Score Card? Simply circle the points as the winner earns them, subtract a subjective number of negative points for any unpleasant annoying-ness, and total. Then let me know who your high-scoring winner was post-awards! Enjoy, Oscar-fiends!
They’re finally here. The love-to-hate-’em-hate-to-love-’em Oscars. One whole week where almost everyone is talking about movies? It’s a little slice of cinema-crazy heaven. I’ll be delivering some Oscar party games and a couple late-coming Best Picture reviews this week, plus live blogging on Sunday night. To start prepping for the festivities, read up! Here’s what Gimme Some Film is currently serving for your Oscar-reading pleasure:
Shelves courtesy of a friend's basement. Yellow floor pillows from West Elm. Quilt from Grandma.
Shelves courtesy of a friend’s basement. Yellow floor pillows from West Elm. Quilt from Grandma.
Just a quick post to say my DVD shelves are up! My movie-watching blankets are folded! Most of this moving-and-unpacking craziness is past! I’ll be back next week to blog about the Oscar madness. Can’t wait!
@2011 Film District
Maybe you’re a half of a content pair who believes love should be celebrated every day…without so much emphasis on buying stuff. Maybe you’re currently flying solo and loving your independence…and hating how Heart Day enthusiasts assume you’ll be watching Sleepless in Seattle and sobbing tonight. (I mean Sleepless is great; sobbing, not so much.) Maybe you’re a mysterious stranger with serious stunt driving skills who breaks out of a hermit-ish existence to help his beautiful neighbor…knowing there will be price to pay.
Yep, I’m suggesting you watch Drive today, in celebration of the international day of lovey-dovey-ness. Here’s why the 2011 Nicolas Winding Refn-directed, Gosling-starring wheeled thriller is a great Valentine’s Day choice.
A script plays a pivotal role in the period thriller Argo. © 2012 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
A script plays a pivotal role in the period thriller Argo. © 2012 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Being a writer, the Oscar screenwriting categories are always a highlight of Oscar season for me. I love the opportunity it gives me to go back and discover other films the writers have worked on, and the extra minutes of fame it gives the original brains behind the stories we’ve been dissecting and comparing obsessively.
In the adapted screenplay category, Argo‘s Chris Terrio, Beasts of the Southern Wild‘s Lucy Alibar and director Benh Zeitlin, Life of Pi‘s David Magee, Lincoln‘s Tony Kushner, and Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell will compete for 2012 bragging rights. My personal favorite in this category is Alibar and Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild. The first-timers adapted Alibar’s original play and created an entirely unique and believable world in their tightly themed screenplay. I think David Magee might have an edge in this category, though, because so many people called Life of Pi (by Yann Martel) an un-adaptable book…he may get Herculean-effort points. And Kushner managed to make legislative bargaining with a foregone conclusion suspenseful and visually compelling…so I’m split on which way to bet. Thoughts?
...what I'm currently up to...
…what I’m currently up to…
Hey film-lovers, I am making a plea to you today and it is this: Go see a movie for me! I’ve been sorting and packing in preparation of my big move on Saturday. (Big in that I’m really excited to be moving into my new place…small in that it’s only a mile away from my current home.) All that moving is keeping me from movies. So PLEASE go to a theatre or plop down on your couch and raise a box of popcorn for me this week. (If I may make a suggestion, two of 2012′s most underrated flicks were Looper—watch right now here—and Safety Not Guaranteed—watch right now here. ) I should be back to my normal movie-going habits next week!
We got dressed up for a Gatsby preview and party in KC!
Photo by Film Frame – © 2012 – DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC.
Is the Best Actor in a Leading Role contest even a contest? Did Oscar-hopeful actors gnash their teeth when they found out their best-chance movies were up against a Lincoln political thriller? Directed by Spielberg? Starring Daniel? Day? Lewis? If I were making bets on Oscar night, I’d go all in on this one…with my sympathies to Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables), Denzel Washington (Flight) and Joaquin Phoenix (The Master…and my runner-up choice).
In the Supporting Role field, I’m going to throw my support to Christoph Waltz, since my favorite Django Unchained supporting actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) isn’t in the running. Waltz already racked up a Golden Globe for his turn as the verbose and kindly bounty hunter Dr. Shultz, and I think he deserves an Oscar, too. Are any of you rooting for Alan Arkin (Argo), Robert De Niro (Silver Linings Playbook), Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln), or Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master…also my runner-up favorite…the film was more satisfying as an acting showcase than as a story)?
