"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[Penton-Man]

Shark, we just very recently grabbed this at Cannes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431181/

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Shark, we just very recently grabbed this at Cannes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431181/

Ah, excellent. I loves me some Broadbent.

My nerdy Cannes story - in 1996 I actually got in with a pass (very long story, but my year in France allowed me to figure out the bureaucracy well, so that I went from a lost student pass to holding the same pass from the equiv of the DGA that directors with film in competition had).

Anyhoo, at my first red carpet evening screening I showed up with my ticket in hand. Now, I'm used to TIFF, where the galas have a few people dress up purdy, but there's hardly a dress code.

A burly dude at the red carpet held out his hand and said, "pas smoking, pas entree" (ie., no tux, you ain't getting in...). I had just left my hotel, where my tux was left hanging in a closet, and there was no way I was going to get back in time (the roach infested room was a far cry from the Croisette)

I figured, what the hell, hopefully it was a crap film and nothing would come of it.

I missed Leigh's Secrets and Lies, which, of course, went on to Palme D'Or.

Those 10 days remain a kind of cinema nirvana for me, I saw some of the best films I've ever seen (Breaking the Waves premiere is one of the most important moments in my life, and the likes of Fargo, Trainspotting, and Cronenberg's Crash were also intensely memorable). I also saw some of the worst films ever made by directors that should know better (Cimino's Sunchaser, Lee's Girl 6, Altman's Kansas City). The last night screening, when everybody important was at closing parties, was Flirting With Disaster. I can remember being so shaken by that film, after such highs and lows, to see a film that was just... OK, a Woody Allen-like silly fluff piece, was in a weird way more devastating than some of the other works. This is how most films are, merely good, and it was quite a shock to the system after the time spent in cinema heaven.

Before you die, if you've never been, get in to see a film at the Palais.

So, Penton, any Cannes stories to share?

ps. And for those that dig such things, Troma was actually setup that year, and they screened Tromeo and Juliet off pistes, as it were. Plus, the porn convention is always in town that week. It's a weird time of debauchery, and given that you can't actually buy tix for screenings, I can't think of anything more pathetic than those that line up at 6am for views of the likes of Brad Pitt, Angelina, and, well, people like me walking up the carpet in their tuxes. I'd wave to the cameras, and they'd oblige with photos of the guy clearly out of his place.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

So, Penton, any Cannes stories to share?

Sort of.

I will always remember …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBEmRXeJ-C0

my buddy and I riding two rented Vespas (each with a mademoiselle on the back…the later being not rented , just charmed) from Cannes over to Monte Carlo (about 30 miles away) to get away from all the motion picture talent fanfare and exhibit our motorcycle prowess to our French girlfriends.

Anyway, on our way up to the Casino, we were both 'racing' each other (if you can call it that on a Vespa) and I got my first international speeding ticket. Well, technically, the two policemen wrote something on some sort of official looking form, which at least looked like a ticket or warning. To this day, I don’t know if it was a real citation or they were just trying to scare the hell out of us in front of the ladies and wrote down something on a dry cleaning ticket or what not.

We both ditched the “tickets” in the trash at the entrance to the casino.

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by penton-man

we both ditched the “tickets” in the trash at the entrance to the casino.

lol

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

We both ditched the “tickets” in the trash at the entrance to the casino.

fun... I wonder if they flagged your passport?

were you there for the race? one of the people I was there with got to attend - it's a bit insane, obviously, in that you actually need a ticket to get in the COUNTRY during race time, let alone into the area where the race takes place (ie., pretty much the entirety of Montecarlo). That year only three people out of twenty six finished the race (!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Monaco_Grand_Prix

No good memories of movies, or only, uh, memories of motorcycles and mammaries?

[sharkshark]

sorry if I missed this (I searched, honest) - are we confirmed that the new Crouching Tiger release, while it has a different lossless audio codec, is still the same video transfer?

[abintra]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

sorry if I missed this (I searched, honest) - are we confirmed that the new Crouching Tiger release, while it has a different lossless audio codec, is still the same video transfer?

In addition to the above, does it use the same subtitles?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

sorry if I missed this (I searched, honest) - are we confirmed that the new Crouching Tiger release, while it has a different lossless audio codec, is still the same video transfer?

Yes, the Blu-ray is sourced from the same HD master.

[Jeff Kleist]

Crouching Tiger doesn't look that great period. The biggest concern is probably that they used the theatrical subtitles on it

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Crouching Tiger doesn't look that great period. The biggest concern is probably that they used the theatrical subtitles on it

Theatrically I thought it looked spectacular, not sure what you're basing that claim on, but what do I know?

I haven't been following the subs debate either... I assume there are better subtitles used on one of the DVD releases?

[Jeff Kleist]

For some reason many HK films dumbed down subtitles for home video

A burly dude at the red carpet held out his hand and said, "pas smoking, pas entree" (ie., no tux, you ain't getting in...). I had just left my hotel, where my tux was left hanging in a closet, and there was no way I was going to get back in time (the roach infested room was a far cry from the Croisette)

how does a tux do anything other than hinder enjoying a movie? What possible reason would anyone have for even considering it a necessity other than being snooty？ On top if that I've never figured out how a non bowtie affair us considered a tuxedo

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

For some reason many HK films dumbed down subtitles for home video

Ah, so, theatrical subs would be a -good- thing... Gotcha

how does a tux do anything other than hinder enjoying a movie? What possible reason would anyone have for even considering it a necessity other than being snooty？ On top if that I've never figured out how a non bowtie affair us considered a tuxedo

Dude, ever been to France? They invented snooty...

For the afternoon screenings at the Palais, it's not an issue... But for the 7/9pm screenings, you literally can't get in not in a tux (yes, bowtie and all... Jeans and a jacket won't cut it).

For many reasons, it's why a fest like Toronto, when all goes well, is a fabulous festival. It's the largest public fest in the world, some 400 films, and you can buy tix if you want to see the films... Cannes is a private club of cineastes, Sundance is a hipster mess of film vying for purchase or provocation, Berlin and Venice share some of Cannes' pretensions, but TIFF (formerly the "festival of festivals", ie., a collection of great films from other fests) has become itself a truly remarkable place to watch films, interact with filmmakers, and see some of the best works from around the world.

Very little that's good at Cannes doesn't come to TIFF, and there's a whole heap of premieres that take place here (or sneak in a few days early at Teluride, but "officially" premiere here... thinking of the likes of Juno/Up In The Air, where Reitman has a strong connection to the hometown of his dad, but also has ties to Teluride).

But, yeah. I even argued that I'd go through a side door, no dice. Why, oh why, couldn't it have been Bastard Out Of Carolina night, the horribly unwatchable dreck from John Huston's daughter...

[Jeff Kleist]

Yeah, I know all about Cannes.

I also believe that suits and ties are horrific. They're hot, uncomfortable and horrendously expensive. I wouldn't wear one to my own wedding. There is literally an anti-purpose to wearing a tux to watch a movie. I wore a tux ONCE when I was dragged to another school's prom by a girl in tears because she didn't have a date because I felt sorry for her. And the prom was just as boring and horrible as I expected, ON TOP of wearing a stupid monkey suit.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Yeah, I know all about Cannes.

I also believe that suits and ties are horrific. They're hot, uncomfortable and horrendously expensive. I wouldn't wear one to my own wedding. There is literally an anti-purpose to wearing a tux to watch a movie. I wore a tux ONCE when I was dragged to another school's prom by a girl in tears because she didn't have a date because I felt sorry for her. And the prom was just as boring and horrible as I expected, ON TOP of wearing a stupid monkey suit.

You're not living up to your James Bond-like ethos... Now who's going to track down penton at the Pai Gow tables at Monaco?

[BluDomain]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

...There is literally an anti-purpose to wearing a tux to watch a movie.

Yeah, a tux isn't for everyone.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Dude, ever been to France? They invented snooty...

For the afternoon screenings at the Palais, it's not an issue... But for the 7/9pm screenings, you literally can't get in not in a tux (yes, bowtie and all... Jeans and a jacket won't cut it).

For many reasons, it's why a fest like Toronto, when all goes well, is a fabulous festival. It's the largest public fest in the world, some 400 films, and you can buy tix if you want to see the films... Cannes is a private club of cineastes, Sundance is a hipster mess of film vying for purchase or provocation, Berlin and Venice share some of Cannes' pretensions, but TIFF (formerly the "festival of festivals", ie., a collection of great films from other fests) has become itself a truly remarkable place to watch films, interact with filmmakers, and see some of the best works from around the world.

Very little that's good at Cannes doesn't come to TIFF, and there's a whole heap of premieres that take place here (or sneak in a few days early at Teluride, but "officially" premiere here... thinking of the likes of Juno/Up In The Air, where Reitman has a strong connection to the hometown of his dad, but also has ties to Teluride).

But, yeah. I even argued that I'd go through a side door, no dice. Why, oh why, couldn't it have been Bastard Out Of Carolina night, the horribly unwatchable dreck from John Huston's daughter...

Good afternoon,

I have been to Cannes many times, and what was true about it 25-30 years ago, is still true today - it is the best film festival there is.

There are many festivals around the world that have attempted to accomplish what Cannes has, but all, without an exception, have failed. Berlin and Venice have been good competitors during the years but are nowhere near as successful as Cannes is.

As to your snooty comment, I'd recommend that you take the time and go through the supplemental features included on the Blu-ray release of Che. There is a very good interview there with Steven Soderbergh in which he addresses Cannes, as well as a very interesting trend he has noticed with American directors. I could sum it up for you here, but it is a lot more effective when you hear it from someone who is actually involved with the film industry

Now, back to promoting the TIFF.

Pro-B

[Xorp]

Regarding the new Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon release: http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

Will Sony correct the English subtitles in this new version? The current version doesn't have the original theatrical subtitles supervised by Ang Lee, but a simplified translation that loses some of the eloquence of the original.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Xorp

Regarding the new Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon release: http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

Will Sony correct the English subtitles in this new version? The current version doesn't have the original theatrical subtitles supervised by Ang Lee, but a simplified translation that loses some of the eloquence of the original.

This is an imperitive for me. This is the only reason I haven't rushed to pick up this title yet.

[sharkshark]

Pro-b, you must know that I was being politely sarcastic regarding France (I lived there a year, Aix-En-Pce, hardly a definitive experience, but one of the highlights of my life).

My comment was regarding Cannes as a festival not "of the people", one that is filled with celebrities and film professionals, but not a public crowd that can simply buy tickets and enjoy the films en masse. I'm celebrating my home festival, naturally, and point out that I think without question it's the best -public- festival in the world. It's hard to describe the practice of a festival exclusive to film professionals, academics, and the press, requiring formal attire for evening screenings in a "palace" of cinema and not think it a bit, er, "snooty"?

However, please do not take my silly comment as a denigration of France or the wonderful festival at Cannes. It's a different beast, to be sure.

Now, have you ever flown over to attend a screening at TIFF? Should you be a genre fan, you simply haven't lived until you've sat in a Midnight Madness crowd, 1200 people strong completely rapturous with the film. The fact remains that Cannes is a closed festival, and TIFF (despite the encroachment of exclusive "galas") is not. As such, for the likes of Jeff and his anti-suit&tie sentiment, it's a better deal. Almost any film of note in competition at Cannes will play here, and many that play in the maze that is the market will play to a public on a large screen, often with the talent on hand for Q&A. It's a very different vibe, eschewing the ultimate glamour of the croisette for a much more egalitarian fest. After all, the major award is not from a jury, but the "People's Choice", one voted on by the attendees. And note that the last several best picture winners were celebrated here before almost anywhere else (I think Hurt Locker played Venice, but I think Slumdog was a Toronto Premiere. No Country played Cannes, I believe, but if I recall it wasn't particularly loved).

As for Che, I saw it screened as the "Toronto" cut, and have yet to pickup the BD. My comments about the film are elsewhere in this thread.

I'm envious the number of times you've attended Cannes, and should you find your way over here next September, I'd welcome you to a different experience, one that doesn't require a tux.

Let's simply agree that these are two of the finest celebrations of film in the world, and provide a unique opportunity to forget for a while about bitrates, DNR, HDMI versions, etc., and bask in the reflected light of a good work of cinema.

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Good afternoon,

I have been to Cannes many times, and what was true about it 25-30 years ago, is still true today - it is the best film festival there is.

There are many festivals around the world that have attempted to accomplish what Cannes has, but all, without an exception, have failed. Berlin and Venice have been good competitors during the years but are nowhere near as successful as Cannes is.

As to your snooty comment, I'd recommend that you take the time and go through the supplemental features included on the Blu-ray release of Che. There is a very good interview there with Steven Soderbergh in which he addresses Cannes, as well as a very interesting trend he has noticed with American directors. I could sum it up for you here, but it is a lot more effective when you hear it from someone who is actually involved with the film industry

Now, back to promoting the TIFF.

Pro-B

[sharkshark]

Pro-B, I'm not proselytizing, honest, but just came across this:

http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/05/13/i...round-to-tiff/