Award Season

Award season is upon us, and two of the films playing at the Grand are receiving considerable attention.

George Clooney’s 'Good Night and Good Luck' and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s powerful portrayal of 'Capote' are quickly becoming the top contenders for Best Picture at the 2006 Oscars. The list so far for each film is very impressive:

---'Good Night and Good Luck' –--
National Board of Review
-Best Picture
Los Angeles Film Critic’s Award
-Best Cinematography
American Film Institute
-Top Ten Movie of the Year
Golden Globes (Nominations)
-Best Motion Picture
-Best Director
-Best Actor (David Strathairn)
-Best Screenplay
Independent Spirit Awards
(Nominations)
-Best Feature
-Best Director
-Best Actor (David Strathairn)
-Best Cinematography

---Capote –--
National Board of Review
-Best Actor
Los Angeles Film Critic’s Award
-Best Actor
-Best Screenplay
-Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics
-Best Film
American Film Institute
-Top Ten Movie of the Year
Golden Globes (Nomination)
-Best Actor
Independent Spirit Awards
(Nominations)
-Best Feature
-Best Screenplay
-Best Actor
-Best Cinematography

Dark Side of OZ

This Sat night's late night film is 'Wizard of OZ', played along with Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon.' The combination of the two has been dubbed 'Dark Side of OZ.' I always test run films for quality, sound levels, focus, etc., and just did so with this. And I must say, it really is amazing how the album and the film sync up with one another. It's uncanny at times. So if you're up for a great late night experience, grab a friend and a cup of joe, and swing by the Grand Sat night. If you haven't seen this before, it really is worth it.

If the dark side isn't your cup of tea, no worries because we will be playing 'Wizard of OZ' in its original format Sunday at noon. I know they play this every year on TV, but the Yellow Brick Road really is one of those films that is so much better on the big screen. And the print we have is beautiful. I can only imagine how blown away the 1939 audiences were when they saw a film in color for the very first time!

Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic

First off, let me admit I am biased, because I love Sarah Silverman. But I am biased because of her last two performances on film (including her brief segment in ‘The Aristocrats’).

Her film, which she wrote and stars in, consists of live stand-up comedy intercut with skits and musical numbers. “It’s basically about the Holocaust, 9/11, rape, AIDS… but it’s a musical,” she says with an innocent grin in a recent interview. How could anyone get away with joking about these taboo subjects? Well, she does it and you won’t even feel bad for laughing so hard, because you’ll be laughing so hard! And don’t let the coarse content throw you, because she doesn’t take you to a difficult place and leave you there, but rather allows you to laugh in a way that isn’t hurtful. She uses comedy in the best possible sense and addresses issues that we really ought to be talking about, but are all too embarrassed to do so.

Silverman is a true talent, in the way performers used to be, say, sixty plus years ago. She reminds me of the Vaudevillian performers (like my grandfather) who were talented in many things because they had to be – acting, singing, dancing, and comedy with many dimensions. Joke content, timing, delivery, physical comedy and facial expressions that say more than the voice alone ever could. Think Laurel and Hardy, Marx Bros., Mel Brooks, Steve Martin, even Jerry Seinfeld – but she‘s a she, and can get away with naughty content partly because she’s so darn cute! Her other saving grace is that she lets herself be the brunt of much of her teasing.

Fair warning, as tempting as it may be, don’t try and re-tell her jokes to your friends – you’ll just look silly, like I did. As with good comedy, it’s not the joke itself, but its telling that makes it so funny.

Sarah Silverman takes big risks with this film, and for that reason alone I applaud her. What’s more is that she really pulls it off. And tempted as I am to tell the joke I’m still laughing about, I’ll be quiet and let the true talent do the talking. And singing, and dancing too.

Ballet russes

You don’t have to be a dancer to appreciate this film. Interviews intercut with archival footage creates an intimate portrait of the pioneering dancers, now in their autumn years, who gave birth to modern ballet. We are happy to bring this film to the Grand, beginning tomorrow, Dec 9th.

72 Hour Audience Award

Audience Choice Award
2005

The first annual 72 Hour Film Contest was a big success! We even had to add a second screening of the films, due to the huge initial turnout. Now the audience votes are in, and it was close!

And the winner is… 'Good Things in the Middle' by The Tenants.

The team will receive two CineSaver passes to the Grand as a prize (six films each) as well as the satisfaction of knowing the audience loves them.

Honorable mention goes to 'Reverse' by Team 1A.

Thank you and bravo to all of the teams who participated. The judges were very impressed with all of the films, and we appreciate and applaud you for your hard work. Be on the lookout for the 2nd annual contest, in May 2006.