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Birthday
By the time he was eight he knew he could never be a Great Actress.
-- Rupert Everett
Tuesday, May 30, 2000
One year ago: B'ham B'day
Two years ago: Birthday
Three years ago: The Broad Wing of Time
Today was my actual, really-truly birthday! I'm forty four years old. I remember figuring out what age I'd be in the year 2000, back in high school. It seemed impossibly old! But of course, I don't feel old.
I got up early at Jack's, and was out of there around seven AM. Jack woke up enough to give me a hug and wish me happy birthday. I'd decided to take this day off from work, and see movies all day! Full-series pass holders can go see the press screenings at the festival, but I usually don't take advantage of this privilege.
There were probably about sixty or seventy folks sprinkled around the large Egyptian theater during these screenings.
- Ferocious Saint Lord of the Gobi
This was certainly unique! A Mongolian movie about a cultural hero. A young boy is believed to be the reincarnation of a Buddhist scholar (like in Tibet). He grows up to write many beloved Mongolian songs, plays and poetry. Great scenery! I'd call the movie "interesting" more than entertaining. Another pass holder had trouble keeping track of the characters and their interactions across different periods of their lives.
- The Tao of Steve
(IMDB page for this movie) A funny, unusual romantic comedy. Dex, a thirty-year-old slacker, talks a lot about his ideas of "the Tao of Steve", Steve being the ideal of "cool guy" -- Steve McQueen, Steven Austin. Donal Logue is great as Dex. The Santa Fe setting was good, and I liked Dex's interactions with the other guys.
When I ran over to the grocery store, I found a good brand of sparkling water cold in the soda case -- Tahoma. A good alternative for Talking Rain. I must have been dehydrated, since I was craving those bubbles, but didn't want a diet soda.
- Saving Grace
(IMDB page for this film) Another one of those (made for TV?) British comedies. A feel-good movie, of course. Brenda Blethyn plays a widow, lady of the manor, gardening expert, who must find a way to make money or lose her home. I guess no potgrowing comedy can have the characters succeeding in the big score. But the ending here was more than usually silly. I did enjoy this, though.
I had some time between the end of the screening and the five o'clock show, so I walked a few blocks down the hill to Hi-score, the arcade where Jack and I played pinball a few months ago. I really like the old machines that this place specializes in! Then I retraced my steps towards the Broadway Performance Hall. I was sidetracked by the attractive aroma of pizza, from Hot Mamma's. This little by-the-slice pizza joint is built into a corner of the Community College parking garage. A---- saw me sitting in the window and stopped in. He gave me my only physical birthday present of the day, a novel by Rupert Everett called "Hello Darling, Are You Working?". I didn't realize Everett had written a book! So far it's very funny.
- Cosy Dens
(IMDB page for this film) Two families live in the same apartment building, in Czechoslovakia. It's Christmas, 1967 (and the film covers events of 1968, when the Russians invade). Heartwarming, in a good way. Lots of characters. I found this very engaging! A---- had seen this last fall at the LA festival, and enjoyed it so much he saw it again.
- Idle Running
(IMDB page for this movie) A Slovenian "Slacker". Dizzy is a perennial student (but he doesn't do any visible studying), living in a small hostel room. He gets a new roommate, a seemily dweebish freshman. Very funny through most of this, but it was a bit too long. The ending seemed entirely unmotivated. Jan Cvitkovic was great as Dizzy, and was also the cowriter.
After five movies in one day, I surprisingly wasn't exhausted.
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