Miscellaneous Film Events

[prettyxcool]

Here's mine:
http://twitpic.com/c56m79

[prettyxcool]

Went to see The Misfits last weekend at the BFI for my Waterstone's twitter win, and had a free meal beforehand at the Riverfront Bar and Restaurant, courtesy of the BFI's apology!

The restaurant was right next to the lovely NFT1, best screen at the BFI, and where the Misfits was being shown.

It's a pity that the portions are really small, so I would not consider it good value for the price. We ordered a glass of prosecco each, and it came in a very tiny flute. We had the lamb chops for the mains which came with gratin potatoes, and we had to order a green salad side dish separately. We then had a dessert each, I had the chocolate pot and my OH had the cheesecake. The desserts were nothing to shout home about, indeed the cheesecake was rather hard and stale. My OH then finished with a coffee. It was a good job the meal was free, as I did not think it was worth £60 which was the maximum amount of the prize! Perhaps, because we had the prize voucher, they short changed us by giving us everything in smaller portions!!

The place also felt quite chilly during the winter's evening. However, the venue would probably be much nicer in the summer as it will be like sitting in a conservatory overlooking the River Thames.

The Misfits is an amazing and dramatic classic. An interesting story and a very dramatic ending. It was in black and white, and it worked well. The Misfits of the title, I later found out, applies to the wild mustangs that they were hunting for in the mountains, but it can easily apply to the four characters, who all seems to have lost something one way or another, and are all searching what to do next. The four leads were terrific in the characters. Montgomery Clift, as the son who lost his inheritance when his mother re-married, a heartbreaking performance, Eli Wallach whose wife died and is at a standstill, Monroe who just divorced her husband, and Clark Gable, a cowboy mourning the lost of the West Wild.

Marilyn Monroe is stunning to look at, and an amazing actress, so expressive just with her eyes, and considering what was going on at the time in real life (this was her last film), she was really quite brilliant. It was Clark Gable's last film too as he died two weeks after filming this from a heart attack. He did his own stunts, and there was a horrific scene where he was dragged by the wild horses, and it made me feel, that, perhaps, could have contributed to his heart attack. So very sad.

The making of the Misfits would make a riverting film, with all the going ons behind the scene:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Misfits_(film)
"The making of The Misfits was troublesome on several accounts, not the least of which were the 108 degree (42°C) heat[2] of the northern Nevada desert and the breakdown of Monroe's marriage to writer Arthur Miller. Miller revised the script throughout the shoot as the concepts of the film developed.
Director Huston gambled and drank and occasionally fell asleep on the set. The production company had to cover some of his gambling losses. In a documentary play (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Finlayson) about the making of The Misfits, Wallach told a story of Huston's directing a scene in which Wallach was at a bar with Gable. Huston told him that the most intoxicated he had ever been was the day before, even though he had seemed sober. Huston's lover, Marietta Peabody Tree, had an uncredited part.
Monroe was sinking further into alcohol and prescription drug abuse; according to Huston in a 1981 retrospective interview, he was "absolutely certain that she was doomed" while working on the film:[3] "There was evidence right before me every day. She was incapable of rescuing herself or of being rescued by anyone else. And it affected her work. We had to stop the picture while she went to a hospital for two weeks."[3] Huston shut down production in August 1960 to send Monroe to a hospital for detox. Close-ups after her release were shot using soft focus.[3][4] Monroe was nearly always late to the set, sometimes not showing up at all. She spent her nights learning lines with drama coach Paula Strasberg. Monroe's confidant and masseur, Ralph Roberts, was cast as an ambulance attendant in the film's rodeo scene.
Gable insisted on doing his own stunts, including being dragged about 400 feet (120 m) across the dry lake bed at more than 30 miles per hour (48 km/h)."

9/10

[prettyxcool]

Couldn't find a thread, so posting here!

Thanks so much to eumenides for the tickets to Sleep Tight and tapas and sangria tonight.

The screening was courtesy of The Fan Carpet held at Salvador and Amanda, a tapas bar, near Holborn.

I arrived at 5.55pm to find it was already full, luckily ritamistry, saved me seats. Thanks ritamistry! Good to see cliveas too.

I had not realised that these are the seats where we will be sitting to watch the film! They were bar stools around several tables. Not the best way to watch a film, but luckily the film held your attention that you forget the uncomfortable seating!

On arrival, we were given a glass of Sangria and when the film started, a waitress came round with a few tiny morsels of tapas, 3 different kinds (tortilla, chicken in batter, and one other which I had no idea what it was), one bite and that was it, Rather stingy, I thought, as there were eight on our table, but she brought only 6 pieces of each. Couldn't ask for more, as the film had started, so I think it was intentional. We didn't even get a top up of Sangria either.

The film was a really good sinister thriller, so good that I hated it. It was horrific, terrifying and chilling. The tension really builds up and the events are so unsettling, and horrible, with some scenes really nerve-racking and intense. 8/10.

[cliveas]

The screening was courtesy of The Fan Carpet.

It was a combined thing from several people. I had places through Filmjuice and Lovefilm.

but luckily the film held your attention that you forget the uncomfortable seating!

I can't agree about forgetting the seating - it was not a comfortable way to watch a film; but yes it was lucky that the film was so engrossing. It was also difficult to see the subtitles and required moving your head around to avoid the heads blocking the view of the bottom of the screen.

On arrival, we were given a glass of Sangria and when the film started, a waitress came round with a few tiny morsels of tapas, 3 different kinds (tortilla, chicken in batter, and one other which I had no idea what it was), one bite and that was it, Rather stingy, I thought, as there were eight on our table, but she brought only 6 pieces of each. Couldn't ask for more, as the film had started, so I think it was intentional. We didn't even get a top up of Sangria either.

I was surprised that we only got one drink, although some people did go back to the table and got a second. As far as the food is concerned you should have looked behind you - we had more than we could eat! The one in batter was ham, we were told and one was I believe chorizo. Only one bite of the battered meat unfortunately as it was lovely, but we had one of the chorizo and later a plate of them was left on our table. We had tortillas coming out of our ears though, about half a dozen runs and later a huge plate left on our table which was replaced with another one when they had gone. This plate was hardly touched as we had eaten so many already. The waiters were passing directly behind your back, I didn't realise that they weren't serving your table.

The film was gripping, exceptionally suspenseful but not for the faint hearted. The settings were everyday making it possible to relate to the situation in a way often impossible with films with far more convoluted circumstances.

[caitlinmorton]

The screening was courtesy of The Fan Carpet.

It was a combined thing from several people. I had places through Filmjuice and Lovefilm.

but luckily the film held your attention that you forget the uncomfortable seating!

I can't agree about forgetting the seating - it was not a comfortable way to watch a film; but yes it was lucky that the film was so engrossing. It was also difficult to see the subtitles and required moving your head around to avoid the heads blocking the view of the bottom of the screen.

On arrival, we were given a glass of Sangria and when the film started, a waitress came round with a few tiny morsels of tapas, 3 different kinds (tortilla, chicken in batter, and one other which I had no idea what it was), one bite and that was it, Rather stingy, I thought, as there were eight on our table, but she brought only 6 pieces of each. Couldn't ask for more, as the film had started, so I think it was intentional. We didn't even get a top up of Sangria either.

I was surprised that we only got one drink, although some people did go back to the table and got a second. As far as the food is concerned you should have looked behind you - we had more than we could eat! The one in batter was ham, we were told and one was I believe chorizo. Only one bite of the battered meat unfortunately as it was lovely, but we had one of the chorizo and later a plate of them was left on our table. We had tortillas coming out of our ears though, about half a dozen runs and later a huge plate left on our table which was replaced with another one when they had gone. This plate was hardly touched as we had eaten so many already. The waiters were passing directly behind your back, I didn't realise that they weren't serving your table.

The film was gripping, exceptionally suspenseful but not for the faint hearted. The settings were everyday making it possible to relate to the situation in a way often impossible with films with far more convoluted circumstances.

I got there at 6:05and the only place I could get a seat was the back bit behind the wooden columns! So I had a column blocking my view of part of the screen, which wasn't great, but the seats up there had backs and were much more comfortable. Definitely unsettling, but it was difficult to get into it from where I was.

[prettyxcool]

I was lucky as we sat at the front table and I had a clear view of the subtitles, but shame about the tapas, that some people went hungry (like me!) while others had too much! So badly organised! I just tweeted, so hope they notice!

[prettyxcool]

Went to a screening of 21 and Over (to be released 3 May), at Vue West End last week, thanks to @TwilightSagaUK. Before the film, there were games in the bar (same as the ones played at the party in the film), and loads of pizzas, and "sweet" sausage rolls (the server said they were sausage rolls!), and loads of beer and wine. Spotted Vanessa Feltz, but wasn't quite sure it was her as she looked too young and seemed to have lost a lot of weight, but then after the film, saw her again with her boyfriend in the distance, so based on that, yes, it was definitely her!

The film was really over the top, outrageous, but so funny! Just don't expect much! I was told if you like The Hangover, you would like this (I still have not seen The Hangover.) 7/10

[prettyxcool]

So today, I gave away my tickets for GI Joe, Olympus has Fallen, and declined an invite to see Ceasar Must Die at BAFTAs, and two networking events, to attend the special sneak preview event of White House Down and Q&A with Channing Tatum in person, and live link up with Jamie Foxx and Roland Emmerich, the director in New York.

As if on cue, we all arrived at 6.30pm for a 7pm event, but we all had to queue in the freezing cold until the doors opened at 7pm! After which for an hour we had drinks and nibbles. It was all very civilised. Then guest lists were invited in first, then press, and then SFF ticket holders. Being first in meant we chose opportunely to sit in the seats almost behind where Channng Tatum were sitting, only at the time of choosing, we did not realise that!

Alex Zane then came in and introduced the event and Channing Tatum. We were told to put away our phones and cameras during the event but to tweet afterwards. However, I surreptitiously took some photos nevertheless!

Both Channing and Jamie were so funny as they talked about the film and working together, and you can see they would have great rapport in the film. Pity we were only shown an 8 minutes sneak preview, and the trailer, but it looked awesome. Jamie said he was not trying to be Obama but there were bits of him. After being shown the trailer, we had the Q&A with Channing, in which he was asked who he thought was the sexiest man (besides him), and he said he "would have sex with George Clooney'

It was actually a fun and enjoyable evening. Channing Tatum is hot! Lucky Jenna, who was also at the preview.

After the event we were all given a poster, and then we all mobbed Channing outside as he got into his chauffeur driven car, after signing a few autographs.

Here's the awesome trailer and blog of the whole event from the New York side:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/ ... um=twitter

I can't wait to see this, it will be released in the UK on 6 September! Hope we get some free previews before then!

[prettyxcool]

Saw this over the Easter weekend, at the Pasolini season at BFI with one of my BFI win's, seeing it was Easter.

What an extraordinary film by a non-believer, Pasolini, exactly how it was written in Matthew's gospel, and brilliantly played by a group of non-professional actors, his mother playing the older Mary! All ordinary Mediterranean folks, not white as in all religious or Jesus films. Their clothing plain, worn out and tatty. Christ was played by a student, and was portrayed with short hair, which is how people in those times would have worn it. He was shown to be human and a marxist. His eyes were brilliant though, had so much depth. All filmed beautifully in black and white and with really powerful music. No halos or preaching, no special effects, or angelic music, cliches from Hollywood films. Refreshing, down to earth depiction. 8/10

[prettyxcool]

Went to NBC offices for the Syfy screening of Defiance last Friday. They do have lovely offices. We were given drinks and nibbles (which were very more-ish) to enjoy before the screening and plenty of time to chat to other FMUKers, lovely to meet Avisute and andrew.falconer for the first time, and catch up with c_t, funthing and bevvy (thanks for being my plus one!)

We were given Defiance USBs on the way out, but we had already had one on the way in!

This is an epic fantasy sci-fi, and very exciting too, where humans live alongside aliens. We were shown the first 3 episodes (?), correct me if I am wrong, it was not very seamless, as there was a blank screen for a while before the next episode came on, and at the end no credits. Feels like a mini-movie though, except for the non-joins But I did enjoy it, may be the free drinks helped, I was quite merry. 8/10

The series starts on Syfy on 16 April at 9pm, next airing tonight, 17 April at 23.10, the pilot is being aired on 19 April, 22.00 and 21 April at 20.00.

It is also a video game.

http://www.syfy.co.uk/defiance