CinéArts Film Guide - Winter 2010

FILM GUIDE
SPRING 2011
The Artistic Side of Film
in this issue
Hit the Streets of Park City
with Indestructo Man’s Coverage of
Sundance Film Festival
WHO SHOULD WIN
pg 4
Our Picks for Best Picture and More pg 16
Hollywood History
and Goldwynisms pg 8
Indestructo Man’s Sundance Diary
Various and sundry random thoughts, observations and remembrances
Alley. Several vehicles were involved in hit
and runs during the icy conditions. A man
has been reported sleeping on a bench in
the Old Town Transit Center. Yes, on Swede
Alley. Some guy got lost up in the mountains
on his snow mobile. He ended up sleeping
under the stars and was rescued the next day.
T
he sun comes up like a red rubber
ball. A frozen red rubber ball. Baby
it’s cold outside!
Down in the hotel breakfast nook you
can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a snow
bunny or a board rat. They are all chattering
madly away in their turtlenecks and overalls,
colors not found in nature. The hot topic is
which run they will be hitting this morning.
Soon they will be pushed aside by
hordes of festival revelers, a plague of locusts
descending upon this little mountain village.
That will be followed by the Hollywood fat
cats in their black SUV Suburban’s and their
sleek ways. Next come the schlubs, press and
industry. Everyone seems to be brimming
with confidence. I always thought that
confidence was something you had before
you actually understood the situation.
At breakfast, checking out the Park
Record police blotter it seems that Park City
Indestructo Man
is experiencing an epidemic of graffiti. All
over town it is showing up and the police are
coming up empty. A power pole exploded
into flames on Swede Alley. Also, a snowball
fight was reported on the very same Swede
4 | CINEARTS.COM
At the festival headquarters it looks like a
student union during finals. Everybody seems
to be cramming, schedules are out, a laptop
on every lap. A logistical nightmare with
all of the different venues and overlapping
screenings.
Zoom, Robert Redford’s restaurant on
Main Street, might just
be ground zero. No
celebrity sightings yet,
unless you count Elijah
Wood, looking very
diminutive.
Kansas has risen up
in indignation. A church
group from there is
intending to protest at the
Eccles Center in regards
to the Kevin Smith film,
‘Red State.’ They made
reference to “Hollywood
heathens…it’s all vanity,
empty and worthless…nothing.”
Saw ‘Bobby Fischer Against the World’
today. Absolutely fascinating documentary.
Indestructo tip: ‘Searching for Bobby
Fischer’ (1993) with Joe Mantegna and Ben
Kingsley is still one of the best films of the
last 20 years.
‘Attenberg’ is a truly quirky, kinda cool
Greek film with morbid overtones. Has its
own twisted charm.
Indestructo was at his neighborhood
grocery store when he encountered Robin
Wright in the produce department carefully
assessing tomatoes. That very morning there
had been a big gush piece in the New York
Times complete with picture of Miss Wright
for the film Nine Lives. Actually, the segment
she appeared in had her extremely pregnant,
the whole scene took place in a grocery store.
This was all too serendipitous for
Signs all over town, NO PARKING/$150
FINE…Ha, I wonder if Utah has an
extradition agreement with Texas.
All morning long the cannons sound
up in the hills. Either avalanche issues or
Bonaparte will soon be paying us a visit.
Passed the spot on Main Street in
Old Town where Glen Hansard did an
impromptu busker concert a couple of years
ago recreating his role in ‘Once.’ His song
“Falling Slowly” went on to win the Oscar®
for best song.
Just across the street is where Dustin
Hoffman sucker punched me (kinda).
Indestructo
was
heading
down
the
side walk in inclement
conditions. It was wallto-wall pedestrians and
Indestructo had the curb
and could see Hoffman
on the curb coming
up at him. He was
engaged in an energetic
conversation with a
cohort, but he spotted
me and the upcoming
situation. One of us had
to give. But Indestructo
yields to no man! I did rotate my shoulders
to see if he could do the same and pass, but
rather he charged right into me giving me a
shoulder to the chest and off I went sprawling
into the snow bank. The part that hurt the
most was that he never bothered to look
back, just continued his intense, animated
conversation.
Pasta for lunch. Today, Eric Burdon and
the Animals “House of the Rising Sun” piped
Indestructo. He moved toward her to ask if she
had seen the piece, to congratulate her.
But as he approached, suddenly, a surly
Sean Penn appeared before Indestructo Man,
barring the way with a withering ‘Don’t mess
with us’ expression on his face. Now, Sean
Penn is not a large man but he certainly
seemed imposing that morning.
Indestructo grabbed a head of lettuce and
beat a hasty retreat.
in. Nice, but Dylan did it better. Outside
there is a pesky magpie playing in the snow.
Quite a clown. I wonder if it’s the state bird.
Ok, finally a great film, ‘The Guard.’
Brendan Gleeson plays a small town,
wisecracking, Irish cop who joins FBI agent
Don Cheadle to thwart some big time drug
smugglers. If you loved ‘In Bruges’ you’ll love
this one too. Simply delightful and cheeky.
Just heard that Sony Pictures Classics picked
it up. Hurrah!
‘Cedar Rapids,’ a Fox Searchlight film,
scores as a very funny small town ‘Hangover’
and has some hilarious moments.
‘Hot Coffee’ starts with the McDonald’s
spilled, scalding coffee lawsuit from years ago
and goes on to create a damning indictment
of “tort reform” and binding arbitration in
lieu of access to the jury system and legislative
award caps that limits what a jury can award.
All under the umbrella of protecting us from
frivolous lawsuits. More like throwing out
the baby with the bathwater. Your blood will
boil with indignation over corporate and
political malfeasance.
‘Win Win’ with Paul Giamatti and,
who’ll you swear, is a sixteen year old Sean
Penn, in a warm and fuzzy and extremely
sweet can of corn.
In ‘Page One: A Year Inside the New
York Times,’ David Carr, a reporter, becomes
a star. Charismatic as can be. Reminds one of
James Carville but not as spastic. Soon he’ll
be everywhere.
Highlight of the day. Indestructo does a
full swan dive on an icy down slope. Both feet
shoot straight up into the sky, arms straight
out, landing flat on my back. Brilliant. I’d
give myself an 8.5. Haven’t taken a fall like
that since Eisenhower was president. Much
more embarrassing than painful. Right in
front of a dozen witnesses.
‘Perfect Sense’ starring Ewan McGregor
and Eva Green is a high concept (semi-high
concept) title that manages to maintain a
haunting quality, the mood.
Stays with you as the world whimpers to
an end.
The population of the earth systematically
loses its senses, in waves. First, smell, then
taste, then hearing... chaos ensues at every
level but the world somehow manages to pull
itself together and soldier on. But everybody
knows what’s next and the world braces for
the darkness…maybe instead, it will just lose
its sense of humor.
Good buzz on these titles:
Another Earth: Acquired by Fox
Searchlight, this drama takes place on the
eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth. A
horrible tragedy irrevocably alters the lives
of two strangers, who begin an unlikely love
affair.
Like Crazy: Starring Anton Yelchin,
Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence, fresh
off of her Academy Award nomination for
best actress. This indie romance chronicles
a young American guy and a young British
girl who must face the challenges of a longdistance relationship. Look for this one time
limited film to break out as it just won the
grand jury prize for dramatic film and was
picked up by Paramount.
Martha Marcy May Marlene: Another
Fox Searchlight acquisition, this is terrifying
portrayal of a young women (Elizabeth
Olsen, younger sister of the Olsen twins)
who is haunted by painful memories and
increasing paranoia after fleeing an abusive
cult.
Buck: This documentary picked up by
CINÉARTS FILM GUIDE | WINTER 2010 | 5
IFC walked away with the audience award
for documentary film. This straightforward
doc about the real life horse whisperer, Buck
Brannaman, demonstrates his special bond
with horses.
Tyrannosaur: For Joseph, a man
plagued by self-destructive violence and
rage, a chance of redemption appears in
the form of Hannah, a Christian charity
shop worker with a devastating secret of her
own. This movie never compromises but is
overwhelmingly satisfying due to the setting
and amazing performances.
The Details When hungry raccoons
discover worms living under the sod in a
young couple’s backyard, pest problem begins
a darkly comic and wild chain reaction of
domestic tension, infidelity and murder.
Features Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks,
Laura Linney, Ray Liotta and has been picked
up by The Weinstein Company.
Devil’s Double This Anchor Bay film
explores an extraordinary chapter in recent
history providing a chilling vision of the
House of Saddam which comes to life
through the eyes of the man who knew too
much.
meddling in everyone’s business. Big laughs
through out from a smart cast.
Red State: A group of misfits encounter
extreme fundamentalism in Middle
America. This Kevin Smith directed (and self
distributed) film is the most controversial
film at Sundance in quite some time.
Submarine: One of the few films to
come to Sundance with a distributor, this
Weinstein Company film follows fifteenyear-old Oliver Tate as he attempts to save
his parents’ marriage and to lose his virginity
before his next birthday.
Ok, it’s over. Poof! The hopes and dreams
of hundreds of artists have either bloomed
fruitfully or withered up and broken their
hearts.
See you at the movies!!
Questions? Comments?
Email Indestructo Man at...
[email protected]
My Idiot Brother: This movie was
acquired by The Weinstein Company and
stars Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey
Dashanel, Emily Mortimer and Steve
Coogan. Paul Rudd is the sweet ne’er do
well dreamy brother of three sisters that that
continually frustrates his family by good
naturedly telling the truth to everyone and
Indestructo Man
As told to Indestructo Man by the late great Steve Rothenberg of Lionsgate Films…
6 | CINEARTS.COM
Steve was at one of the after-Oscar® parties
in 1995 when he spotted Bruce and Patti
Springsteen at a table across the room sitting
by themselves, his newly won Oscar® for
PHILADELPHIA gleaming on the table in
front of him. Steve, being Steve, turned to his
wife Frances and said, “Look at that. They’re all
alone. This is an outrage! I’m going over there!”
“Don’t you dare! Don’t bother them.”
Steve took a gulp of wine and jumped up
and went over and introduced himself. The
Springsteen’s were extremely gracious and
invited him to sit down and they were having
a wonderfully stimulating conversation when
Clint Eastwood entered the room and Bruce
became as excited as a little boy.
“He’s always been my idol, always. When
I was a boy…”
Steve, being Steve, volunteered to introduce
Bruce to Eastwood, even though he himself
had never met Eastwood.
“I couldn’t. I just couldn’t,” The Boss
insisted. “I would be too nervous.”
Patti said, “Bruce, you gotta, you gotta
meet him. Do it!”
“No, no, I just can’t.”
Minutes later, Frances sat at their table,
watching Steve, operating on a pure vein of
chutzpah, leading The Boss across the room
and introducing him to Clint, whereby he
quietly returned to his wife’s side. As the
Rothenberg’s left awhile later, they passed by
Eastwood and Springsteen standing together
in the corner, both grinning ear to ear.
The Men Who
Built Hollywood
and Their
Painted Ladies
By Cara Lyon
A
self made movie mogul, Samuel Goldwyn’s story could be mistaken as the plot
to one of his films, a true rags to riches story. He left home in Warsaw, Poland
at an early age, on foot and penniless, eventually making his way to New York.
In 1913, after a successful stint as a glove salesman, Goldwyn began the first of many
partnerships that would eventually lead to the formation of Paramount, Metro-GoldwynMayer (MGM), and United Artists. Goldwyn found difficulties working within the large
studio environment and on the verge of being forced out, he reinvented himself as an
independent producer, Hollywood’s lone wolf.
He is best known for producing the films Wuthering Heights (1939), The
Pride of the Yankees (1942) and in 1946, Goldwyn’s drama The Best Years of Our Lives, won him his first Academy
Award, taking home Best Picture. In the 1950s Samuel Goldwyn turned to making a number of musicals including
the 1955 hit Guys and Dolls starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, and Vivian Blaine.
Frequently quoted, Goldwyn became known as Mr. Malaprop due to his humorous paradox phrases, now known
as ‘Goldwynisms.’
Selected Goldwynisms
Pictures are for entertainment, messages should be delivered by Western Union. // If you fall and break your legs, don’t come running to me. // A verbal
contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. // Include me out. // If the public doesn’t want to see your movie, you can’t stop them. // Anyone who
goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. // A wide screen just makes a bad film twice as bad. // Flashbacks are a thing of the past. // I’ll give
you a definite maybe. // This new atom bomb is dynamite. // Our comedies are not to be laughed at. // When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you.
Indestructo Man
// Color television! Bah, I won’t believe it until I see it in black and white. // I don’t think anyone should write his autobiography until after he’s dead.
8 | CINEARTS.COM
At a film party at the Toronto Film
Festival a few years ago Indestructo spotted
the lovely Italian actress, Valeria Golino
across the room. Cocktail in hand, he sidled
up to her, brimming with confidence, and
coolly introduced himself. She looked at him
vacantly.
He said, “I just wanted to tell you I was at
a screening of Respiro this morning and you
were wonderful.”
She continued to look at him blankly.
“Respiro, you were great.”
She cocked her head like a cocker spaniel
and like a parrot squawked, “Respiro! Respiro!”
Indestructo was puzzled.
“No, I just want to…”
“Respiro! Respiro!” she repeated.
Then he realized what she was doing.
“Listen Miss Golina, I know you speak
English! I’ve see Rain Man. I’ve seen Frida. I’ve
seen Leaving Las Vegas!”
He turned and stormed off, a broken man
for the time being.
AND THE AWARD SHOULD GO TO...
Assuming that the Academy Awards will likely get it wrong, the CinéArts film guide
staff resoundingly and emphatically declare that the following nominees should win.
BEST PICTURE
“Black Swan”
Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and
Scott Franklin, Producers
“The Fighter”
David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman
and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
“Inception”
Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
“The Kids Are All Right”
Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte
and Celine Rattray, Producers
“The King’s Speech”
Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and
Gareth Unwin, Producers
“127 Hours”
Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and
John Smithson, Producers
“The Social Network”
Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De
Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
“Toy Story 3”
Darla K. Anderson, Producer
“True Grit”
Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
“Winter’s Bone”
Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers
16 | CINEARTS.COM
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Javier Bardem
“Biutiful”
Jeff Bridges
“True Grit”
Jesse Eisenberg
“The Social Network”
Colin Firth
“The King’s Speech”
James Franco
“127 Hours”
Jeremy Renner
“The Town”
Mark Ruffalo
“The Kids Are All Right”
Geoffrey Rush
“The King’s Speech”
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Christian Bale
“The Fighter”
John Hawkes
“Winter’s Bone”
© 2011 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved.
photo by Suzanne Tenner
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Annette Bening
“The Kids Are All Right”
Nicole Kidman
“Rabbit Hole”
Jennifer Lawrence
“Winter’s Bone”
Natalie Portman
“Black Swan”
Michelle Williams
“Blue Valentine”
Melissa Leo
“The Fighter”
Hailee Steinfeld
“True Grit”
Jacki Weaver
“Animal Kingdom”
photo by Suzanne Tenner
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Amy Adams
“The Fighter”
Helena Bonham Carter
“The King’s Speech”
CINÉARTS FILM GUIDE | WINTER 2010 | 17
Theatre Spotlight
CinéArts @ Palo Alto Square
C
hristmas Day in 2001 was a
special day for more than just
the typical reason. CinéArts
was born in Palo Alto, CA at the Palo
Alto Square Cinemas!
Actually, the idea for CinéArts was
created by Century Theatres previous
to 2001 but the first theatre to bear the
CinéArts name was the CinéArts @ Palo
Alto Square.
The history of this theatre goes back
many years to it’s days as part of the
Pacific Theatres chain. When Century
Theatres aquired the 2-screen complex,
they decided to take the theatre in a
new direction, creating an atmosphere
of quality art and independent films
18 | CINEARTS.COM
that catered to discerning
patrons. And so CinéArts
was born.
that I’ve ever sat in. I’ve been to many
theatres, but never one as nice as this
one.”
But not only were the
films going to be different,
the whole movie-going
experience would change
too. Some new concepts
that were on showcase in
the CinéArts @ Palo Alto
Square included premium
bulk candies, European
chocolates, real espresso and gourmet
coffee. At the time the management used
to go down to the local Peet’s Coffee and
Tea to purchase beans weekly – and that
was quite a change from the standard
movie theatre coffee served up to that
point. Another impressive feature were
the unique Coca-Cola towers, imported
from Italy, that are still in use today at
the theatre. But sometimes the pleasure
is in the simple things. While going
through customer comments for Palo
Alto Square, we began to notice a trend.
Here are a few of the many comments
we received:
Mari M. notices, “The seats are so
comfy and you can stretch your legs
without inadvertently kicking the seat
in front of you,” and Blaine M. confirms
that “…the seats are a little slice of
heaven and the leg room is unbelievable.”
David J. writes, “This theatre has the
most comfortable movie theatre seats
Today the CinéArts @ Palo Alto
Square Theatre continues to show
award-winning art and independent
film as well as other non-traditional
programming. It has been home the last
few years to the San Francisco Jewish
Film Festival; been picked to be the host
theatre for Pixar Films gala’s to launch
movies like “Finding Nemo”, “A Bug’s
Life” and “Cars”; and even shows the
Metropolitan Opera Series.
CinéArts has truly revolutionized
the standard of what is expected at a
movie theatre. The CinéArts @ Palo Alto
Square helped pave the way.
CINÉARTS LOCATIONS
CinéArts @ Sequoia #909
Mill Valley, CA
CinéArts @ Santana Row #983
San Jose, CA
CinéArts @ Palo Alto Square #914
Palo Alto, CA
Century Regency 6 #932
San Rafael, CA
CinéArts @ Pleasant Hill #915
Pleasant Hill, CA
CinéArts @ Marin #934
Sausalito, CA
Century Theatres @ The River #917
Rancho Mirage, CA
Cinemark Palace 20 #2157
Boca Raton, FL
Century Cinemas 16 #910
Mountain View, CA
Century 12 Evanston / CinéArts 6 - XD #942
Evanston, IL
Century Centre 9 - XD #991
San Francisco, CA
Cinemark The Palace at The Plaza #1120
Kansas City, MO
CinéArts @ Empire #963
San Francisco, CA
SUNDANCE LOCATIONS
Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
San Francisco, CA
Sundance Madison Cinemas
Madison, WI
CINEMARK LOCATIONS FEATURING CINÉARTS
Century 20 El Con #902
Tucson, AZ
Century 20 - XD #982
West Des Moines, IA
Cinemark Robinson Twp - XD #2153
Robinson Township, PA
Century Huntington Beach - XD #987
Huntington Beach, CA
Cinemark Movies 14 #1426
Mishawaka, IN
Century Stadium 14 #953
Sioux Falls, SD
Century at Del Monte Center #985
Monterey, CA
Cinemark Perkins Rowe #2137
Baton Rouge, LA
Cinemark Tinseltown 17 #1136
Austin, TX
Century Stadium 25 - XD #913
Orange, CA
Cinemark Egyptian 24 - XD #2156
Hanover, MD
Cinemark Movies 18 - XD #1138
College Station, TX
Century 20 Downtown - XD #990
Redwood City, CA
Cinemark at Hampshire Mall #1118
Hadley, MA
Century 16 #954
Corpus Christi, TX
Century 10 Downtown #938
Ventura, CA
Century 16 Suncoast #947
Las Vegas, NV
Cielo Vista Mall 14 #2121
El Paso, TX
Century Roseville 14 - XD #920
Roseville, CA
Century Riverside 12 #949
Reno, NV
Cinemark Movies 16 #1153
Lubbock, TX
Century 14 Downtown - XD #971
Walnut Creek, CA
Century 14 Downtown #943
Albuquerque, NM
Cinemark Legacy - XD #1160
Plano, TX
Century Boulder #997
Boulder, CO
Cinemark 24 - XD #1127
Valley View, OH
Cinemark West Plano - XD #1162
Plano, TX
Cinemark Boynton Beach 14 #2154
Boynton Beach, FL
Century 16 Eastport Plaza #952
Portland, OR
Cinemark at Market Street #2117
The Woodlands, TX
Cinemark Paradise 24 #2155
Davie, FL
Cinemark 17 #1131
Springfield, OR
Holiday Village 4 #1172
Park City, UT
Cinemark @ Seven Bridges #1112
Woodridge, IL
Cinemark 20 - XD #1133
Moosic, PA
Tickets and showtimes for your favorite CinéArts locations are available at cinearts.com.
or call 1-800-FANDANGO + EXP CODE (# code listed next to theatre name above).
Questions? Comments? Email Indestructo Man at [email protected]