Where's William?

2006-05-26

At The Illusionist Opening Night Gala (2006-05-25)

It may be challenging when tired to blog every screening we see in SIFF (and, later, every weekend away in Europe), but I like the idea so I'll start with The Illusionist. This was an entertaining, inoffensive film, unlikely to produce the disgust that some felt for the transgressive Opening Night Me and You and Everyone We Know or the tears some shed for the sentimental Opening Night The Notebook. The Illusionist reminded me of The Usual Suspects, with more magic and fewer fatalities, though I liked The Usual Suspects better.

At the Paramount screening were director Neil Burger, leading actress Jessica Biel--whom I've only seen before in Stealth (which looked like it wanted to be Top Gun for the 2000s)--and 2500 film fans, including us and two friends. Edward Norton (see Rounders, American History X, Fight Club, Keeping the Faith, The Score, Frida, and The Italian Job!) was not present. (As an aside, Red Dragon is still my least favorite Ed Norton movie.) Afterward we walked to the old Seattle Public Library for a party that was again too large and too loud. I prefer the smaller galas, but I still had an entertaining evening.

2006-05-19

On Ferry to Seattle (2006-04-30)

In Jarrell Cove State Park (2006-04-30)

Along Pickering Passage (2006-04-29)

At Beach House (2006-04-28)

2006-05-13

At SIFF Member Box Office (2006-05-13)

We exchanged our Early Bird vouchers (a Special Holiday Gift Pack, a Film Buff 20-Pack, two Secret Festival Memberships, and a Gala Pass) and some additional money for 13 vouchers and the following screenings:

--05-25 19:00 The Illusionist Opening Night Gala
--05-26 16:30 Wah-Wah
--05-26 19:00 Boy Culture Gay-la Extravaganza
--05-27 23:55 The District! [added 2005-06-25]
--05-27 18:30 A Prairie Home Companion Gala Presentation
--05-28 11:00 Secret Festival #1
--05-28 18:30 Wordplay
--05-28 21:15 A Summer Day
--06-02 21:30 3 Needles
--06-03 18:30 Factotum Gala Presentation
--06-03 23:55 Destricted [noted 2006-06-24]
--06-04 11:00 Secret Festival #2
--06-08 21:30 Shinobi [noted 2006-06-24]
--06-06 21:15 Gay Discovery
--06-09 18:45 The Iceberg
--06-09 23:55 Another Gay Movie
--06-10 18:30 Perhaps Love Gala Presentation.
--06-11 11:00 Secret Festival #3
--06-11 13:30 The Man Who Cheated Himself [noted 2006-06-24]
--06-13 21:30 We Go Way Back [added 2005-06-25]
--06-15 20:00 Face the Music Rock Party
--06-16 16:00 Expiration Date
--06-16 21:00 C.R.A.Z.Y.
--06-17 19:00 Strangers with Candy Gala Presentation
--06-17 23:55 Sneak Midnight Movie [noted 2006-06-24]
--06-18 11:00 Secret Festival #4
--06-18 18:30 The Science of Sleep Closing Night Gala

What else shall I see? Ryan suggested the following films (roughly in order of decreasing preference):

Queens, a Spanish film with advertisements in TÊTU
Monster House, animated fun
Russian Dolls, the sequel to L'Auberge Espagnol, which I liked
The District!, wicked Hungarian animation
20 Centimeters, a Spanish musical also with advertisements in TÊTU
Backstage, a French film, since we're going to France
Linda, Linda, Linda, a Japanese film
Whole New Thing
Kirikou and the Wild Beast, French animation
Combat, a French film
The Line of Beauty
In Bed, a Spanish film
The Birthday, a French film

There isn't time for all of these, of course. Separately, I considered the following films (roughly in order of decreasing preference):

How shall we use the remaining 13 vouchers? Please post a comment with the films you're considering!

2006-05-11

Buying Air Canada Tickets (2006-05-05)

Ryan and I bought September 27 and December 4 tickets to and from Paris at STA Travel. We arranged to stay October and November with a Paris host family through France Accommodations & Culture. During these months Ryan will study in the University of Washington Department of Comparative Literature Fall Quarter in Paris and I'll work remotely. We hope to travel Europe on long weekends. We think it is a great opportunity, and we're excited!

At SIFF Annual Members Preview (2006-05-11)

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) Annual Members Preview was last night at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI). We saw previews for 10 of this year's 418 films (from 62 countries), and heard about dozens more from SIFF staff. The following films looked or sounded interesting [links added 2006-05-29]:

In addition, I'm eager for the following special events and galas:

Opening Night Gala featuring The Illusionist
Saturday Galas: Prarie Home Companion, Factotum, Perhaps Love, Strangers with Candy
Gay-la featuring Boy Culture
Closing Night Gala featuring Science of Sleep

For those that have had time to decide on films, the box offices open their doors to members today.

2005-08-20

Watching Abre Los Ojos (2005-08-19)

After meeting (and calling) friends for the U District's own Art Walk, the conversation turned to travel at Twice Sold Tales and continued at Schultzy's. Deciding that a subtitled movie was the natural next event, we went to Scarecrow Video for the title that came to mind: Abre los ojos/Open Your Eyes. The Vanilla Sky remake was quite close to the original, though I think Eduardo Noriega was more convincing as César than Tom Cruise as David Aames.

Ryan recognized Fele Martínez, playing Pelayo (the Brian Shelby role played by Jason Lee in Vanilla Sky) as Enrique Goded in La mala educación/Bad Education. La mala educación might be enjoyable for those that like director Pedro Almodóvar--e.g., Todo sobre mi madre/All About My Mother--or actor Gael García Bernal--e.g., Y tu mamá también/And Your Mother Too, El crimen del padre Amaro/The Crime of Father Amaro, Dot the I.

2005-08-18

Winning a Bronze Duck (2005-08-09)

This week Allan's boat Great Expectations won third place in Duck Dodge! Our crew sailed well, despite the spinnaker halyard detaching, requiring Ratna to retrieve it.

[Updated 2007-07-18, changing title from "Black" to "Bronze".]