Bird’s word: The San Francisco International Film Festival program Sunday night was billed as a “State of the Cinema Address.’‘ But Brad Bird immediately fessed up to feeling inadequate to deliver a lecture on such a lofty subject and proposed an alternate title — “A Bunch of Stuff I Think I Know About Movies.’‘
Bird, an Oscar winner for “The Incredibles,’‘ turned out to have over an hour’s worth of extemporaneous thoughts about the industry he’s worked in for two decades — most recently as part of the creative team at Pixar in Emeryville. Most of it was not good news. He worries that movie attendance will continue to slide as people’s home systems become plusher and the time between a film’s theatrical release and its availability on DVD gets shorter and shorter.
“The vibe we’re all starting to feel is to hurry up with the DVD features before we’re even finished making a movie,’‘ Bird said of the pressure being put on directors. The idea is to get the video out while people still remember the movie ads.
But to his mind, nothing beats watching a movie in a large auditorium with hundreds of other people. “I remember as a kid going to see ‘A Hard Day’s Night.’ The girls were screaming as if the Beatles were actually onstage. It was a transcendent experience to be in that theater,’‘ Bird told a packed house at the Kabuki.
Unfortunately, the treats of his youth, including being at opening night of “Star Wars,’‘ have been diminished, for which Bird faults exhibitors. Movie palaces have been torn down and replaced by multiplexes, some with screens no larger than those in people’s living rooms. “I miss the grandness and unique architecture of the old theaters. Nobody would bother to try to duplicate that today.’‘
Bird also bemoans the commercials you’re bombarded with the moment you sit down. “The fact is exhibitors can make more on a Coke ad than on the movie. ‘’ He suggests audiences protest by booing or, better yet, give their business to the Century chain, which doesn’t show commercials.
His fellow filmmakers don’t escape blame for diminishing the state of the cinema or whatever Bird wants to call it. “Hollywood is making bigger and bigger turkeys. Somebody figured out you can buy a big opening weekend by spending $100 million on a film and $50 million to promote it. People will go out of sheer curiosity — or, as they say, they’ll see it before they smell it.’‘
Swank soiree: The party at the French Consulate always is a festival highlight — elegant digs and yummy rich hors d’oeuvres like quiche lorraine. Friday evening’s reception was particularly jolly because of the dominance of French cinema. Consul General Frederic Desagneaux announced with great relish that 27 of his compatriots’ films were in the festival, but the catalog lists only 15, so perhaps he included former French colonies.
Arnaud Desplechin, a hot young filmmaker who is even hotter since his “Kings and Queen’‘ acquired an American distributor, told me he was concerned before coming to San Francisco the first time. His impressions of California had been formed from watching films by his idol, Woody Allen. “But I quickly realized he was making fun of Los Angeles, not San Francisco. Your city reminds me of Paris,’‘ said Desplechin, who knows the right thing to say.
“Kings and Queen’‘ bears a coincidental resemblance to Allen’s latest, “Melinda and Melinda.” Both tell two stories, one comedic, the other dramatic. Catherine Deneuve appears as a psychiatrist, a stock character in Allen’s work. There’s a funny scene in an Allen kind of way where her patient says, “You know you are very beautiful’‘ and she replies completely deadpan, “Yes, I have been told that.’‘
I asked Desplechin if he’s tried to meet Allen. “Oh, no,’‘ he said, visibly shuddering. “I’d be too scared.’‘
Interpreter Don McMahon was at the reception to help French filmmakers converse with the local population. But they all appeared to be getting along fine in English. I was curious if McMahon had seen “The Interpreter.’‘ “My colleagues say it doesn’t get anything right about our profession, so I don’t think I’ll go just on principle,’‘ he said.
Last modified: April 27, 2005
Gosh, the list of complaints about watching a movie in the theatre is just about endless.
Overpriced concessions
Undersized seats
Illmannered patrons
Minimum wage ‘projectionists’
There are so many things that can go wrong, that for forty bucks (tix and snacks), I’m wasting my time and money.
For forty bucks, I’d go to a lavish palace (with sufficiently wide seating!), sure. But without that option, I’m staying home.
As for ‘Turkeys’, I still think we’re getting more ‘good’ movies to pick from these days, even if there are a load of stinkers. Where we only had Spielberg before, now we’re getting Raimi, Jackson, Singer pumping out fun movies that have depth. Are they as good as Spielberg? Debatable, but since we’ve still to Steven, that’s four great directors who can sell popcorn AND give you a rewarding experience.