Bernardo Bertolucci...receives honorary Palme d'or @ Cannes Film Festival!

 



Officials at the Cannes Film Festival have just announced that respected Italian film director - Bernardo Bertolucci - will be presented with an Honorary Palme d'or at the opening ceremonies on May 11th on the picturesque French Riviera in the south of France.

A handful of notable directors have received the coveted award in the past - Woody Allen (2002) and Clint Eastwood (2009) - for example.

The President of the prestigious Festival - Gilles Jacob - will head up the much-ballyhooed celebrations on behalf of the discerning Board of Directors.

The filmmaker has distinguished himself as a great auteur with a remarkable body of work - that includes masterpieces such as the Conformist (1970), the Last Tango in Paris (1978) and The Last Emperor (1982).

Bertolucci has been lauded over the course of his enviable film career - not only for his particular focus on political and social issues - but, also - for his unrelenting bold-faced efforts to elevate the realm of celluloid - and its artistry - to the heights of profound thought-provoking imagery and unique poetic lyricism.

"The quality of his work which appears today in all its uniqueness, and the extent of this work we perceive every day more vividly, the strength of his commitment to cinema, and the ties that bind him to Cannes, make Bernaldo Bertollucci the first legitimate recipient." Jacob was quick to gush to the media at a press conference.

The Honorary Palme d'or will be presented on May 11th, at the "Opening Night" of the 64th edition of the Festival.

Robert De Niro, who chaired the Jury, is expected to be present for the auspicious occasion.

The Palme d’Or is usually awarded to one of the filmmakers in competition.

But, the honorary Palme d’Or has also been bestowed upon important filmmakers, when their work has been deemed "authoritative”  - and the director - has failed to wrangle the prize during the fierce annual competition.

Bertolucci was born in the Italian city of Parma.

The visionary director was the elder son of Ninetta (a teacher) and Attilio Bertolucci (who was a poet, a reputed art historian, anthologist and film critic).

Bertolucci's childhood influences appeared to spell his fate from the get-go!

He began writing at the age of fifteen, and early on, won several prestigious literary prizes including the Premio Viareggio for his first book.

Bertolucci's films tend to put a searing spotlight on themes related to sex, politics and cinephilia.

I recall attending the premiere of the "Last Tango in Paris" in Vancouver (Canada) and being thoroughly shocked by the subject matter.

The voyeuristic flick approached the issue of sexuality in an extremely carnal and disturbing way.

Too erotic (perverted?) for mainstream North American audiences?

Needles to say, there was quite an uproar when the controversial feature was first released in Canada, and outraged filmgoers have never looked at butter the same way ever since!

"The Conformist" dealt with fascist Italy and was seen as both artistic and intellectual in nature.

"The Dreamers" (released a scant few years ago) was one Bertolucci favorite of mine that underscored to me the auteur was still capable of seducing an audience with themes that resonated with truth and conviction while ruffling their sensibilities to the core.

The tony Cannes Film festival  - which usually features a must-see roster of leading-edge films - is attended by noteworthy film critics from around the globe - and likewise - attracts a jet set elite in the realm of film who are drawn to the exotic fest like moth to flame each year

See 'ya there!

http://www.thetattler.biz





Directing smooth as Butter!

Tribeca Film Festival...kicks off April 22nd in NYC! Woody Allen premieres...

Wednesday (April 22nd) amid a lot of fanfare, the Tribeca Film Festival kicks off with the glitzy world premiere of Woody Allen's "Whatever Works".



The highly-anticipated comedy is the first film the quirky film director has shot in Manhattan since 2004.



"Whatever Works" was written & directed by Allen and stars character actor Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler), Patricia Clarkson (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), and Ed Begley Jr.(Pineapple Express).



Recently, festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal gushed about how excited she was to launch Allen's new pic at Tribeca.



"I fell in love with New York through Woody Allen’s movies and I am excited we are opening this year’s Festival with Whatever Works."



According to Rosenthal, the stand-out feature is a uniquely funny addition to the celebrated director's body of work.



Allen, the die-hard New Yorker, enthused that it was a lovely idea to show his film in al festival in his own hometown.



"Very exciting," he beamed.



Sony Pictures classics is planning a June 19th release date if you miss the opening.



Tribeca promises to be the entertaining, thought-provoking fest, it has proven to be over the past few years since it first started up.



The roster of projects is far-reaching, too, and includes:

Art Themed Films

Asian Themed Films

ESPN/Tribeca Sports Film Festival Films

Hispanic/Latino Themed Films

Middle Eastern Themed Films

Jewish Themed Films

Music Themed Films

Politically Themed Films

Women Themed Films

Tribeca will close out the festival with "My Life in Ruins" which was directed by Donald Petrie and written by Mike Reiss.



The Fox Searchlight release stars Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, María Ádanez, Sheila Bernette, María Botto, Rachel Dratch, Alexis Georgoulis, Ralph Nossek, Bernice Stegers, and Harland Williams.



Nia Vardalos, the writer and star of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", has turned out a hilarious uplifting comedy about her character's lost kefi (Greek for "mojo"), according to Festival organizers.



Discouraged by her lack of direction in life, she works as a travel guide, leading a rag-tag group of tourists as she tries to show them the beauty of her native Greece while waiting to land her dream job.



Opening their eyes to an exotic foreign land, she too begins to see things in new ways - finding her kefi - and possibly love in the process.



Several of the cast members will attend the special screening to be held at the BMCC TPAC in lower Manhattan on Saturday May 2nd.



The new release is slated for unveiling in Theatres nationwide on June 5, 2009.



Another festival treat will be the screening of an actual work-in-progress which focuses on the high-profile Pop Singer Bon Jovi.



Directed by filmmaker and photographer Phil Griffin and produced by Academy-Award and Emmy-winning producers @radical.media, the documentary was filmed on the road backstage with the band during their 2008 Lost Highway World Tour.



The behind-the-scenes doc also features an up-close and personal glimpse at two sold-out frenzied concerts at Madison Square Gardens which wowed fans at the end of the celebrated tour.



"Throughout the process of working with Bon Jovi, I was amazed at the candor and humility Jon and his band showed me,” said director Phil Griffin.



"The result is not a neatly wrapped up bundle of staged interviews and musical interludes, but rather a series of open and sometimes difficult conversations, explored against a backdrop of music spanning 25 years. It is a film about the peace of Tico, the complexity of Richie, the drive of Jon and the brutal honesty of Dave. It is their willingness to share their stories that gives us what I hope is a very human story - that humanity is what I believe has seen this band stand the test of time."



Festival organizers are wildly enthusiastic about the upcoming screening, too.



"This compelling documentary gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of one of the great rock bands and unveils how they have stayed on top for the past 25 years. Jon has been a stalwart supporter and remarkable friend to our Festival, making it incredibly exciting to premiere the Bon Jovi story at Tribeca," according to a press release.



In addition to movie debuts (and red carpet extravaganzas) there will be a number of panel discussions, including conversations with Spike Lee, Barry Levinson, Steven Soderbergh, Kirby Dick, and Alex Gibney.



Tribeca will also present a much-anticipated line-up of short films.



This year’s Festival shorts are a culmination of works from across the globe, including Cuba, Brazil, Norway, Italy, South Korea and Australia.



The Festival received 2463 short film submissions this year - of which - 46 were selected to be presented in six thematic programs.



The voices behind these works range from first-time to veteran filmmakers that include animators, graphic artists and actors taking the helm behind the camera. Collectively, through captivating narratives and gripping documentaries, they tell stories about life’s lessons drawn from dreams, desires and the coming-of-age experience.



"The films in this year’s program represent a strong showcase in the craft of short filmmaking. It's exciting that as digital content platforms continue to emerge, short films are accessible to, and being watched by an increasingly larger audience.” said Maggie Kim, Tribeca Film Festival shorts programmer.



Among the highlights is a short narrative written and directed by Tom Everett Scott, as well as a documentary narrated by Richard Gere.

Directors making return visits to the Festival include Jason DaSilva, Brian Durnin, PaulaGaitan, Ken Jacobs, and Mark Street.



Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan through an annual celebration of film, music and culture.



The Festival’s mission is to assist filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, while enabling the international film community and the general public, the opportunity to experience the power of cinema (and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center).



The popular annual festival works under the auspices of Tribeca Enterprises, a diversified multi-platform media company, located in downtown New York City.



The company currently operates a network of branded entertainment businesses including the Tribeca Film Festival and Tribeca Cinemas.



The Company's mission is to provide artists with unique platforms to expand the audience for their works and to broaden the access point for consumers to experience independent film and media.



Since its founding, the Festival has attracted over two million attendees from the US and abroad and has generated more than $425 million in economic activity for New York City.

Info: http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org

Info: 1-212-941-2400

http://www.julianayrs.com

Woody Allen...Gianni Schicchi clevery adapted and inventive!

When it was announced months ago that Woody Allen was going to tackle a trio of Operas - "Il Trittico" - a few snobs probably shook their heads in disgust.

Even Woody was inclined to question what he was getting himself into.

"I have no idea what I'm doing," Allen said in a statement to the press, "but incompetence has never prevented me from plunging in with enthusiasm."

The quirky filmmaker - known for his cerebral film style and for being a consummate New Yorker - signed on to direct the ever-popular- "Gianni Schicchi" - which was unveiled this past week.

At the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the production stars Lauren McNeese, Brian Leerhuber, Jill Grove, Saimir Pirgu, Rebekah Camm, Greg Fedderly, Steven Condy and Andrea Silvestrelli.

The morning after Woody's star turn in the Theatre, a blog reader by the name of "Black Tulip" was quick to post her comments about the production which she found disappointing.

"I saw it last night. It was badly done. Please see the NY Times article. The staging was a disgrace to Puccini and Florence. The ending was changed. The singing and the orchestra were excellent, though."

Before I had the opportunity to check the NY Times review, a second blogger posted an anonymous comment which conflicted with Tulip's!

"Just saw the article," he stated matter-of-fact.

"The NY Times is very enthusiastic about Allen's Opera."

"Did we read the same newspaper," he quizzed.

How was it that two individuals came away from the review with distinctly different impressions about the criticisms - and subsequently - the quality of the show?

I proceeded to surf over to the NY Times web site to take a gander at the review written by Opera Critic, Anthony Tommasini.

The caption for the review read:

"Puccini With a Sprinkling of Woody Allen Whimsy"

Not a bad start, eh?

Tommasini proceeded to engage in a little idle chit-chat about recent conversations with Allen in which the celebrated artist allegedly sought to lower his expectations with regard to his directorial debut in Opera by noting on occasion he was clueless about the work at hand.

Then, with little ado, Tommasini launched into his review.

"Far from being incompetent, his "Gianni Schicchi" is a cleverly updated and inventive staging of the popular comedy, marred only by a regrettable directorial liberty at the end."

"With sets and costumes by Mr. Allen’s longtime collaborator, Santo Loquasto, the production has the look and style of some old black-and-white film. Not one of those black-and-white Woody Allen films. Think "Big Deal on Madonna Street".

"With comic pacing and dialogue already determined by Puccini, Mr. Allen may have felt there was not enough for him to do. So he fills the show with sight gags and busyness, perhaps too much so. Still, the comic maneuvers of the cast are deftly choreographed, and he elicits feisty portrayals from the singers."

"But the only real miscue comes with Mr. Allen’s altered ending. After bamboozling the family of Donati, Puccini’s Schicchi points to the happy Lauretta and Rinuccio, who now have the money to marry, and asks the audience’s indulgence, since his scam has fostered young love. But Mr. Allen has the indomitable Zita (Jill Grove), Donati’s avenging cousin, burst in and stab Schicchi, who poses his question to the audience and then drops dead."

"You can understand why Mr. Allen could not resist giving an Italian vendetta twist to Puccini’s happy ending. But isn’t it more comically, cynically, triumphantly right for Schicchi to get away with everything?"

There it is, in a nutshell.

By the way - it should be noted that in an advertisement for the production in the Los Angeles Times this morning - critics hailed Woody's Gianni Schicchi as a "riot" and underscored that everyone in the production "is a hoot".

All in all, fairly positive reviews!

So, how is it that Black Tulip came to the conclusion, that the production was basically a dismal failure?

Granted, she acknowledged that the singers and the orchestra were excellent, but - in sum - was inclined to refer to Woody Allen's star turn in the Theatre as "badly done".

Just maybe, it was all the "busyness" (and the sight gags) - that Tommasini asserted may have been incorporated into the mix to give Allen more "to do" - that negatively impacted her aesthetic experience?

But - why the strident dismissal of Woody's "Gianni Schicchi" - as a disgrace to both Pucinni and Florence?

Was the reviewer off-base in his assessment? Don't think so!

Tommasini's views on the staging of the production were intelligent, thoughtful, and well-elucidated.

Ah, it was the ending, no doubt.

Even Tommasini was inclined to refer to that oddball twist as a possible miscue.

'Ya know, some die-hard Opera fans prefer that a classic not be tampered with.

Others, on the other hand, pine for an exciting novel twist in their theatre-going experience whenever humanly possible!

It may be wise to consider a Tristan Bernard quote at this juncture.

"In the theatre the audience wants to be surprised, but by things that they expect."



“Il Trittico” is being performed through Sept. 26 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles at 135 North Grand Avenue.

Woody Allen...to direct Puccini's Il Trittico. Los Angeles Opera House! September 6th, 2008.

Woody Allen, the quirky filmmaker known for his cerebral film style and for being a consummate New Yorker, will stage a production of Puccini's "Il Trittico", a trio of one-act operas.

The production is slated to open the 2008 - 2009 Opera season in Los Angeles.

When celebrated film actors hanker to get back to their "craft" they often tackle tough stage roles in the legitimate New York Theatre.

So, this begs the question. Is this a star-turn for the three-time academy-award winning director?

"I have no idea what I'm doing," Allen said in a recent statement to the press, "but incompetence has never prevented me from plunging in with enthusiasm."