Still alive at JDIFF
Donald Clarke
I suppose, in addressing the highlights of my week, I can hardly avoid mentioning that I had a nice chat with Al Pacino yesterday. You can read the interview on Saturday, so I won’t bothering going into too much detail here. I will, however, point out that he was a real gent. He was happy to natter about all the old stuff and seemed very at home to a bit of self-deprecation. The levels of fame that still gather round Pacino are something to behold. Ever play that game “Who would you be in…”? The notion is that, when gathered in the pub, you and your friends discuss, erm, who you would be in, say, Dad’s Army, Reservoir Dogs or Cheers. When playing the Godfather version of the game, everyone wants to be Michael, but most folk know, deep in their sad hearts, that they’re really Fredo. No wonder Al is still such an idol.
One of the year’s best films was screened yesterday. I have been going on about Markus Schleinzer’s Michael for the last eight months. But the more I think about it the more impressive it seems. This is the Austrian picture about a pedophile who keeps a boy imprisoned in his basement. It hardly needs to be said that the film does not count as light entertainment. But it offers a horribly plausible account of how such a relationship might progress. Undoubtedly some people will think the film in bad taste, but you can’t deny that Schleinzer has thought very deeply about his subject. I don’t envy him that experience. If you want to know more, my interview with Markus runs in The Ticket on Friday.
Pondering what’s still to come, I enthusiastically suggest that you try to get a ticket for The Raid on Saturday morning. It’s the best Indonesian film you’ll ever see that’s been directed by a Welshman. The good people of the Dublin Film Critics Circle, already pondering their awards, were blasted into oblivion by it. Oh, yeah!
‘The far side of revenge’ in IFI on Tue evening is the best doc I have seen…. Ever!
Silent House was strange. Why make a shaky cam film without the intimacy of a mocumentary? Very Edgar Allan Poe, which just made the self-consciously modern film-making even more uncomfortable.
The Irish film festival scene just seems so incestuous…so claustrophobic…same faces at every venue….like our politics..
Can you guys do anything without Jim Sheridan (that laconic drawl arrgh.!) being at the centre of everything..! Ok the man had his day with his left foot, etc……..but move on for pity’s sake…new blood….and the excitement over the visiting “stars”………omg its like someone from a lost tribe meeting a “white man” for the first time….any wonder they probably have little shiny trinket gifts at the ready for the natives..
Why are we so lacking in cool, calm confidence in ourselves……we need to develop a bit of continental savvy
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@3 Ah, come on. Al Pacino would get mobbed in Cannes just the same.
About the only place that doesn’t happen is LA and NY.
We’re a small, incestuous, and claustrophobic country, but I’ve been to other festivals in other countries and the Jdiff compares pretty well.
@ 4 SeanB — ok but we should just be a tad more disdainful……..aloof…….not so gushing…stuff like that…
PS…”The good people of the Dublin Film Critics Circle, already pondering their awards, were blasted into oblivion by it [The Raid]. Oh, yeah!”
“The Raid” looks v exciting/disturbing………….but what’s oblivion like one wonders…..obviously there’s a way back from it…
I walked by the Savoy on Monday night just as Sir* Pacino was exiting after the showing of Wilde Salome. About 8ft from where I stood, he swung around on the carpet and held out his arms before quickly scurrying into his car.
I feel slightly cooler just having witnessed the man for about 10 seconds so I can only imagine what he’s done for you sense of well being Donald.
* I know he hasn’t been knighted. I’ve just bestowed unto him the honour now.
@ 6 EndaMcD………”he swung around on the carpet and held out his arms before quickly scurrying into his ……”
Are y’sure y’haven’t got two bite marks on yer neck…?!
Anyway, soon they’ll be taking the J out of the JDIFF if the labouring dictators in Leinster House go on ahead with their latest plot to curb our enthusiasm for alcohol………..we’ll probably be eating with chopsticks and wearing coolie hats before that one gets implemented and all this shuffling around with the reps from the East……
http://www.amazon.com/Rice-Paddy-Coolie-Hats-Halloween/dp/B000H448D4
The Raid opens in NY and LA March 23rd. I’ve decided I’m gonna have to drive to NY to see this.
@7
+1 for the username.
@ 5: Funny, I can’t stand that aloof, disdainful nonsense.
It seems to be part of the current fad of cynicism, to snootily turn our noses up at something that should be a joy and a pleasure. After all, why attend the festival if you aren’t planning to enjoy it, or to savour it? What’s wrong with making a big deal of Martin Sheen and Al Pacino, after all? They’re coming here to launch movies that were filmed in Ireland, based on stories by Irish writers… Why shouldn’t we be a little proud of that?
I’m a big fan of energy and enthusiasm.
@ 8 SeanB……….to NY………..from where……I’m intrigued……….what sounds will you be listening to…en route………so exciting…….wondering what your driving…………terrible sad memories I have…….of leaving New Jersey…..for NY airport….heading for Dublin……….being driven by a US guy I was madly in love with….he didn’t have a clue………..song on the car radio was “Good morning America” (Willie Nelson “City of New Oreleans”)………I’ll never forget it…….gutted I was…….leaving the US
Ps I was a long-blond-haired-blue-eyed-blue-jeaned-hippy-chick at the time…….aloof…….disdainful…….stoopid……..
here’s the tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0lpss9MZEc&feature=related
fe*k………it was Arlo Guthrie I think…….
@9 Yeah, it can be great. Don’t need the Irish connection even. The best recent Q&As I can remember were after Bronson and In The Loop.
And Richard Ayoade did a deadly job getting people up for Submarine. Helped that it was a class movie obviously.
The bigger the star, the more polished/jaded tehy usually are and tend not to let their
I think generally the big name celebs are good for the festival in getting column inches and news clips.
@10 Boston. Not really that exciting.
Would obviously rather be seeing it tomorrow morning in the Savoy. Surprised it’s not sold out.
I only know the Arlo version of that tune. Will prob not be listening to it.
This was on HEAVY rotation in the Brody household in the days before I couldn’t reach the record player, kind of ruined it for me.
http://www.discogs.com/Various-Good-Morning-America/release/439692
Amazing reaction on blogs and FB for The Raid.
Sounds like it was quite the screening.