Tilda Swinton strode in the door and a ripple of electricity streaked through the room, Kathleen Quinlan wowed the press with her beauty and grace, and the cast of Black & Sexy were a high-energy delight.
"Tilda! Tilda!"
Yes, that was the excited battle cry last night, as the frenzied paparazzi lunged forward to nab their best shot of the "WOMAN" of the hour - Tilda Swinton - who was being honored by the AFI with a career tribute.
Of all the events this past week at the 11-day Fest, this was undoubtedly the highlight.
Shortly after Ms. Swinton alighted next to me to have a few words with a couple of gushing female reporters - it was evident within a few minutes - that Ms. Swinton was my kind of gal.
For instance, when one of the newsies asked Ms. Swinton who inspired her as an actress, she was quick on the uptake.
"Do you know Margaret Rutherford?" she quizzed the newsies almost reverently.When their faces went blank, I was inclined to pipe in and lend a hand.
"Yes! Great English character actress," I noted with a Cheshire grin on my face.
Then, she surprised me again.
"Particularly, in the Ms. Marpole series."
Oh my God!
One of my favorite series - along with Hercule Poirot - of course!
A few minutes later, Ms. Swinton was standing before me, gazing deeply into my eyes.
"This woman is intense," I made a mental note to myself.
And there, before me, the depths of her soul sang out in beautiful harmony.
When I asked Ms. Swinton if it was difficult for her in the beginning of her career - what with her distinctive look 'n all - she reacted like a tightly-wound-spring that had just been released.
"They didn't know what to do with me," she fluttered, with a slightly exasperated tone in her voice.
After noting she obviously had to believe in herself, I asked if she was ever inclined to quit the business because of the frustration of dealing with casting's limited perceptions.
"I don't know that I've begun, yet."
I laughed out loud.
Tilda's quick, and bright, with a refreshing deadpan sense of humor.
Later, I was invited to the AFI Fest Tribute - a series of clips highlighting Ms. Swinton's remarkable career to date - and was astounded by the versatility of the woman on the silver screen.
A Festival organizer made a surprise announcement at this juncture.
"Tilda's new film - Julia - will be unveiled for you tonight as a special treat. It's a world premiere."
A review will follow on the new release and Ms. Swinton's remarkable performance in this dark, offbeat, transformative character piece.
Undoubtedly, this was her most challenging role to date.
And, she snagged it.
Kathleen Quinlan, who first broke onto the feature-film scene years ago in the thought-provoking - "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" - was dazzling.Ms. Quinlan wore a chocolate brown pant suit, punched up with a neckline trimmed in understated sprays of soft glitter, which caught the light now and then.
The understated choice was a classy outfit which suited her to a "T".
Hillary Clinton, take note!
What struck me most about the fifty-something woman (surely she's not older?) was her flawless skin. So much so, that I was inclined to ask her to share her beauty secrets with my readers.
"Leave your face alone. Don't touch it. Do Yoga."
For additional pointers - check out my blog post on "Faces at 50" - for tips on how to make your skin radiate like Ms. Quinlan's.
(Post: 02/03/08)
When I asked the enduring star which film was a highlight in her long-distinguished career, she was at a loss for words, though.
A true diplomat, she focused on her new film - POUNDCAKE - as the one she was quite proud of it.
It's about a couple going through a divorce - urged by family - to try to make the long-term union work.
"We live in a disposable society. If something doesn't work, get rid of it," she astutely noted to one reporter.
"That's our society. Why not try to salvage something for a change?"
The most rambunctious energy-charged entourage on carpet last night was the cast of "A Good Day to be Black & Sexy".
At one moment, I thought I'd suffer from a chronic case of sensory overload!A few of the ladies wore elegant cocktail dresses - bolstered just-so with tasteful designer accessories such as - oversize hoop earrings, one-of-a-kind broaches, and flourishes here and there that individualized their looks. Heels tended to be on the dizzying high side, ladies.
The guys made me stand up and take notice, too!
"We want to have our own individual style. That says who we are."
T-shirts were spruced up with touches of glitter, etched with motifs, and often form-fitting.
"I work out. I want clothes that show-off my build."
When the director walked up and he was asked how he felt, he didn't hesitate to utter up a quip.
"After last night (the Obama win) it was a great day. We walked down the street and people moved aside. 'Cause we're in style now," Dennis Dortch responded.
The film was shot over an extended period for a couple of reasons - noted Producer Layla Sewell - who captivated me with her beaming outgoing personality.
There were location problems to deal with, cash-flow demands which needed to be met, that sort of thing.
A show-stopper was definitely Bai Ling who first broke into the spotlight in "Red Corner" playing opposite Richard Gere.An exquisite dress - with a smattering of Art Deco leanings - exalted her lithe sensuous body and was crowned with a dramatic flat-pressed "do" sparked up with a tasteful headband and elegant bow.
The young "Dim Sum Funeral" star has an instinct for style and a flair for the dramatic.
"We shouldn't be slave to designers. They are here to serve us."
The cast of "DIM SUM" raved about their low-key Director - Anna Chi (Joy Luck Club) - who was on hand to take questions and share some of her noble thoughts.
To me, it appeared the talented auteur took a spiritual approach to her work, in view of the comments that the performers were offering up at the Cinerama Dome.
"It's all about respect," she asserted.
Ms. Chi loves to futz about in the kitchen, by the way. And, the charismatic woman, was quick to draw an analogy between the art of cooking and filmmaking.
"You gather up your ingredients. A bit of this, a bit of that. And, go from there."
The director of the animated feature - "A Day at the Beach" - noted that she was hopeful that "Sundance" might call.
To draw attention to her fictional work - which focuses on all aspects of "love" - her and the producer strode along the carpet with a sprightly-colored promo to tout the foreign production which boasts a score of tantalizing Brazilian music.
Another short film - "Two Owls in Love" - looks to be a clever creation which I intend to take in, if possible.
Check it, and all the other offerings out, at the AFI Fest site.
www.afi.com
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