Slog - Comments on A Few Notes on the Opening Night Gala http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala I know it's been covered a lot today, but I had a couple things to say about the movie, too. And it's too late in the day to be linear, so... I was surprised to see Mayor Nickels effectively applauding the WTO protesters during Michael Seiwerath's wonderful acceptance speech. This was a bad, bad movie. It was very, very bad. If it didn't have local interest, I seriously doubt if it would even be considered for SIFF at all. I was so happy when the crowd booed and hissed at the archival footage of Howard Schultz talking about how much... Copyright 2008 Fri, 23 May 2008 17:24:14 -0800 Sun, 25 May 2008 09:13:02 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by NapoleonXIV I'm gonna wait for it to come out on DVD, and watch it really, really drunk.

Better yet, might have friends over, get really drunk, and double feature it with that film where the non-law abiding bicyclist gets crushed by the Space Needle.

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031806 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031806 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 17:27:20 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Man, you guys are way way too critical.

Seriously, I'm sorry, but people who don't live in Seattle aren't going to notice most of the things you're obsessing over, other than how bad Charlize Theron was.

You obviously need some sun - stop watching movies and go see Folklife, you're seriously tired or something.

... but I do agree about the VIP party, although Andre 3000 (not Jar Jar you whiny ...) was the best part of that event (and the movie).

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031815 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031815 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 17:32:21 -0800 Comment by madamecrow Ray Liotta's liberal use of eyeliner was distracting after awhile, but it gave me something to focus on during scenes of excruciating bad dialogue or the multiple "the aide comes in and tells the mayor something important happened!" segments.

I agree about the VIP/non-VIP party as well. I didn't see any cupcakes in VIP.

]]> madamecrow http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031832 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031832 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 17:44:34 -0800 Comment by Dan My "favorite" part of the Q&A was the dude on the right who started off with, "I have a half question, half philosophical comment...". Then was pretty much cut off by the cast when the whole audience began to chuckle at the rest of his "question".

]]> Dan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031838 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031838 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 17:52:46 -0800 Comment by annie Paul, you have obviously never seen The Walker. Woody Harrelson as a swishy DC escort will make you want to DIE.

]]> annie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031842 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031842 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 17:58:27 -0800 Comment by w7ngman Ok, I was mildly interested, but after reading thi.... wait, ANDRE 3000????!?!?!?!

]]> w7ngman http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031861 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031861 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 18:38:21 -0800 Comment by stinkbug Geeze, so do most people at the opening event get free tickets? It seems like every single Stranger person went.

]]> stinkbug http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031862 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031862 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 18:39:52 -0800 Comment by Abby My tickets were certainly free, @7, but it had nothing to do with the Stranger. Just coincidence.

Also, @2: people are going to notice that the dialogue is atrociously bad. Or at least, they should. Although I do agree that the Seattle connection makes us commenting here a little more critical than otherwise, because it's disappointing that the movie wasn't as it could be.

I maintain still that Townshend could be a good director. He just needs someone else to write the script. Or an editor, or something. There's some promise. Which is frustrating.

]]> Abby http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031890 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031890 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 19:35:17 -0800 Comment by Giffy @2, I think they'll notice the cliched characters, the trite dialog and the stupid story telling. The movie was a song and dance number away from being a parody of itself.

And really, I'll accept magic Negros and man-needing women in my mainstream films, but form SIFF I am going to demand just a bit more.

]]> Giffy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031892 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031892 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 19:37:22 -0800 Comment by Abby On the other hand, the fennel salt kicks total ass.

]]> Abby http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031928 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031928 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 21:17:24 -0800 Comment by Catalina Vel-DuRay Do they still do Folklife?

And by the way - nothing good ever came from Seattlelites wearing berets.

]]> Catalina Vel-DuRay http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031935 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031935 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 21:32:58 -0800 Comment by Fnarf The only Seattleite I ever knew who wore a beret was really from Edmonds. No, it didn't help.

The Gary Locke accent thing is really creeping me, out, sorry.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031955 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031955 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 22:23:58 -0800 Comment by Ebony Thicket The lashes are real.

For I would know.

]]> Ebony Thicket http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031956 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031956 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 22:27:46 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I apologize for that unforgivable comma.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031966 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031966 SIFF Fri, 23 May 2008 23:15:17 -0800 Comment by pgreyy Who gives a fuck about an unforgivable comma?
I've seen those Seattle melodramas too...

]]> pgreyy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031995 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031995 SIFF Sat, 24 May 2008 01:45:33 -0800 Comment by Andy Gary Locke had an accent in the movie? That's just fucked up. What next? A movie about a panda who does kung fu?

]]> Andy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031998 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1031998 SIFF Sat, 24 May 2008 02:51:39 -0800 Comment by Fnarf The unforgivable comma was in comment 12, not the movie. Don't Slog drunk, kids. Let this be a lesson to you.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1032041 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1032041 SIFF Sat, 24 May 2008 09:27:30 -0800 Comment by copyed Yeah, but was Townsend drunk when he left out the apostrophe on (the possessive) "countries"? It showed up in one of his Grand Statements that rolled at the end of the film.

Seriously, you gonna spend that kind of money making a preachy (but fun) film... spring for a copy editor. Bad grammar trumps outraged pontificating every time.

]]> copyed http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1032057 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1032057 SIFF Sat, 24 May 2008 11:28:44 -0800 Comment by hunh? @18

Our whole row exclaimed, "apostrophe."

Ah that most read city, Seattle.

]]> hunh? http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1032189 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/a_few_notes_on_the_opening_night_gala#c1032189 SIFF Sun, 25 May 2008 09:13:02 -0800