(Happy-Go-Lucky)
Notes By Meredith Brody
The first official festivity of the 35th Telluride Film Festival that I attend is a brunch held at a ranch with dazzling views of the Rockies (did you see the Oprah interview with Tom Cruise at his Telluride spread? Kinda like that. Even multi-dwelling Oprah was stunned by the landscape. Rumor hath it that the new-ish owner of the hilltop where we’re noshing on bagels and lox is Meg Whitman, ex-CEO of eBay, Republican – why am I not surprised? – whose name had come up as a possible VP candidate, another rumor had it. But just before leaving the house en route to my hotly-awaited lox, we learn that John McCain has instead picked another woman, Sarah Palin, who I’ve never heard of until that moment. I have indeed heard of Alaska.)
The brunch offers a ton of food and people watching, in addition to the amazing views on this perfect sunny-but-breezy day. I never make my way to the hot-food tent, busy chatting with fellow film buffs Phillip Lopate, director Allan (Rock and Roll High School, Heroes) Arkush, screenwriter Larry (48 Hours) Gross, Variety film critic Todd McCarthy, Variety columnist Anne Thompson, Pordenone Silent Film Festival director Paolo Cherchi Usai, and LA Weekly film critic Scott Foundas. We’re sitting on a ledge, accidentally perched next to Telluride tributee Jean Simmons, who is graciously receiving a constant stream of well-wishers. We catch glimpses of part-time Telluride resident (and herself receiver of a past Telluride career tribute) Laura Linney, Jeff Goldblum, star of Adam Resurrected, and Slavo Zizek, the Slovenian philosopher and critic who is this year’s Guest Director.
Perusing the Festival booklets that are handed out upon arrival at the brunch – Telluride is famous for not announcing its program in advance -- we wonder why Lauren (Gilmore Girls) Graham is there, until we learn that A Flash of Genius, in which she co-stars with Greg Kinnear, is slotted into some of the TBA (to be announced) slots that pepper the schedule. (As it happens, it’s the last time we see her during the Festival. She looked great. And we’re a big fan. But we never get to tell her that.)
Minna Gallery re-ups on great visual art this fall with a new show from Serena Cole and Tahiti Pehrson. Titled, "Golden," the show will feature Pehrson's impressively detailed paper cut-outs alongside Cole's drawings rife with social commentary. "Golden" opens this Thur., Sept. 4, and will remain open for viewing until Sept. 27. --Oscar Pascual
There's always some rabble-rousing dissenters that show up to political conventions each election year, and street artist Shepard Fairey is one of them. Denver Westword reports that Fairey was arrested by police at the recent Democratic National Convention for the dastardly crime of putting up posters. What sort of subversive, anti-establishment propaganda was Fairey trying to spread? Um, actually the posters were in support of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Watch the video above as Fairey describes the ordeal, and don't forget that Fairey opens his latest solo art show at Shooting Gallery Sept. 13. —Oscar Pascual
Gone are the days when rock stars exhorted their fans to toss errant pieces of hotel furniture from the eighth floor and consume drug cocktails. These days all they want you to consume is milk. And Denny's. I mean, what rocks harder then milk? Milk AND Moons Over My Hammy.
I'm speaking specifically of the Plain White T's, who are part of Denny's bizarre "Allnighter" promotion which peddles concoctions allegedly created by real rock stars who, you know, stay up all night and eat heart shaped pancakes. Rebranding is a tricky business, and catering to the elderly with early bird specials is probably not the most stable market out there, so I can see where Denny's is coming from. I'm just not sure poor quality digital photos of Jesse Hughes from Eagles of Death Metal staring dispassionately from behind mirrored aviators at something that looks like whip cream on American Cheese is the way to appeal to The Kids.
The Plain White T's contribution to the Denny's Allnighter lineup is a "Plain White Shake" with some kind of cheesecake-like element mashed into it.
The band is also part of a "Milk Rocks" contest that "spreads the word on health, nutrition and exercise on up to 24 million branded cartons of milk per day." Wooooo! Branded Milk cartons! I won't go into the vagaries of the contest here, but it involves "karaoke-style video recording ", and a "select group of industry insiders." The Plain White T's are participating in the contest because they care about you, of course: "...[it's] the perfect way to hook our fans up with ultimate rock star experience while giving them a few tips on how to stay healthy." Um, yeah, right after you down your cheesecake milkshake. --Andy Wright
Every once in a while you hit a show where everything is there: the energy from the superfans; the electricity from the band; the old songs you hoped would be played and the new stuff that sounds awesome punched out live. The only thing missing is the big crowd to appreciate it.
Such was the case with last night's Love As Laughter show at the Rickshaw Stop, where there were maybe 100 people watching a great show.
So I'm taking a minute to give this band another plug, in hopes that the next time they come to town, Sam Jayne and company will double the number of folks who hear gold in those songs.
Middle Eastern meets mescaline in the hands of electro-experimentalists Rainbow Arabia. The Los Angeles duo (married couple Danny and Tiffany Preston) melts ethnic chants and melodies over a bed of chiming guitars and harsh synth action. The band has performed in S.F. enough to build quite a following amonst local club bookers, but with the release of Rainbow's The Basta EP, word can only spread further. You can check out the pair's excellent single, "Let Them Dance" here. -- Jennifer Maerz
Notes By Meredith Brody
The Southwest landing at Denver is so hot, bumpy and sharp that both the steward and the pilot feel obliged to joke about it: “We’re like the Broncos,” the attendant says, “we’ll take our touchdowns any way we can,” and the captain intones, in a distinctly un-Chuck-Yeager-like voice, “I’m Senator Joe Biden, and I’m putting the hammer down.”
I’m not entirely thrilled that I’m scheduled to hang out in the Denver airport for five hours awaiting my flight to Telluride, but there are unexpected pleasures: it’s the last day of the Democratic convention, and I hear Wesley Clark (Gen., retired) being paged on the airport intercom. Also stuck in the Great Lakes charter lounge en route to the festival is Mike Leigh, whose plane from NY was late, forcing him into standby for Telluride. We converse as though we were old friends, despite the fact that at our last encounter – I interviewed him at the San Francisco International Film Festival – he more than lived up to his reputation as, well, a cranky curmudgeon who does not suffer fools gladly. Not my happiest conversation, though it went well in fits and starts. (N.B.: If posts from Telluride sound like an exercise in extreme name-dropping, let it be said that one of the attractions of this particularly intimate festival is its engagingly egalitarian air. Festival-goers are encouraged to accost filmmakers in the street, before and after screenings, or while standing in line, and for a few days the lions lie down with the lambs and everybody, well, chats away like old friends.)
Bottom of the Hill
September 2, 2008
Review and Photos by Melissa Baron
Better Than: The premier of 90210, "Old friends, new faces, same ZIP," on the CW. Even though that religious girl from Degrassi stars in it.
Imagine teleporting to a magical place where gargoyles, unicorns and dragons hold hands and skip through fields. A place where bad ass metal and party time dance music melt into a symphonic masterpiece. A place where song, dance and laughter can cure even the worst ailments. And most importantly, a place where men are free to show off all four of their nipples.
Perhaps visiting a place like this requires no teleporting -- just a bus pass, bike or motorcycle and the will to travel to the base of Potrero Hill to witness the most fantastic of shows. Yes, my friends, Tuesday evening this place existed thanks to the always stupendous Best Fwends and Matt & Kim.
