TCM Film Festival

Day 4

Today was the last day of the TCM Film Festival. *starts weeping uncontrollably* I started off this morning with M*A*S*H in formerly Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I love the show so, I felt that I needed to see the movie. I must say, I do enjoy the show a bit more than the movie. The film has a strange tone to it that works for the film but, for lack of a better word, the film felt rushed. It moved almost too quickly and I had a hard time hearing the actors sometimes. I still love it as it is an interesting take on war.

The last event today (besides the Closing Night Party) was the Live From the TCM Film Festival: Faye Dunaway at The Montalban Theatre. This event was mostly lost on me as I am not a huge fan of Faye Dunaway and have only seen two of her films. My friend was the excited one as she is more of a fan. From what I heard, it was a very real possibility that Dunaway would do something crazy like walk out. She did not do anything like that but, from what I gathered, she appears to be attempting more humility.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (I was so bored during Faye Dunaway that I fell asleep.)

Still excited for next year.

TCM Film Festival

Day 3

I didn't see many films yesterday because most of my day was spent watching D.W. Griffin's Intolerance. Yes, a three and a half hour long silent film. I may have lost my mind. It is a masterpiece and raises the bar for technical achievement in film. Some of the sets (specifically the ancient Babylon ones) were so massive that they have never been fully torn down. The Hollywood & Highland Center is built in part of the set. (The elephants and arches are the most noticable pieces.) I do have one criticism of the film. I wish the four stories were in chronological order and not intercut with each other.

The next event was A Conversation with Elliott Gould. It was amazing to hear Elliott Gould talk about his unique career. The one problem was that his interviewer was Alec Baldwin. Baldwin has the tendency to turn the interviews that he does into him talking about himself. It's annoying to the interviewee and to the audience.

The final event of the day was a poolside screening of Forbidden Planet with Robby the Robot introducing the film!!!!!!!! He even made a sex joke. The film itself is wonderful. It is a fifties sci-fi version of Shakespeare's The Tempest. With a little bit of Freudian psychology thrown in at the end. Unfortunately for the film, it is an excellent subject for really inappropriate commentary to happen however, it does heighten the enjoyment. Definitely a must-see with friends.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5