Movie Squeeze at SIFF

For anyone who's ever watched the Olympic games with obsessive fascination, Ski Jumping Pairs is for you. The Japanese mockumentary is a laugh-out-loud funny look at the sport Ski Jumping Pairs, which puts two ski jumpers on one set of skis for a much more exciting variation on the popular Winter Games competition. Directorial team Masaki Kobayashi and Riichiro Mashima create a plausible, if absurd setup for the evolution of ski jumping pairs from one man's dream to an international phenomenon. My only complaint was some slightly awkward transitions between the live action scenes and CGI used during the ski jumps, but even this ads to the comical nature of the film once you get used to it. I spoke with director Riichiro Mashima about the film shortly before it showed at SIFF, with the help of a translator. The interview here is uncut, including both English and Japanese conversation.

Download the Interview with Riichiro Mashima

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One movie I haven't heard much about so far at SIFF is 13 (TZAMETI). I saw the trailer online several weeks ago and was intrigued by what looked like a potentially disturbing movie. Last week I got the pleasure of sitting through a screening of 13 and I'm convinced everyone should see the movie at least once. The online trailer simply doesn't quite sell the story that unfolds onscreen. Director Gela Babluani's story follows a Georgian-born French roofer who intercepts a letter from his delinquent employer after overhearing a conversation about large sums of money attached to the contents. As the story unfolds, the roofer realizes he's getting far more than he bargained for. For a directorial debut, Babluani elected a strong story that should garner some worldwide recognition.

The movie shows at 9:30pm on both Friday, June 2 and Sunday, June 4 during the festival, with US theatrical distribution to be announced soon. Tickets are available.

Posted by Jake Ludington at 08:29 AM | Permalink

Tommy Chong's stoner characters in movies and television have made millions of people laugh, either because they've known someone like the character or because maybe they are that character. In 2003, Tommy's onscreen persona came back to haunt him when he was indicted on Federal charges related to selling glass water pipes online. Tommy Chong served 9 months in jail in a plea bargain to keep his wife and son Paris cleared of any involvement. a/k/a Tommy Chong looks at the events surrounding Tommy's indictment, following him through the process leading up to his incarceration on October 8, 2003, as well as talking to a number of people like Bill Maher and Jay Leno about the ordeal. At SIFF 2006, I talked with Wil Becton, Co-Producer of a/k/a Tommy Chong, about making the film and some of the events leading up to Tommy's jail sentence.

Download the Interview with Will Becton

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My first exposure to crossword puzzles was either on the back of a placemat at the Mr. Steak restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa or by way of my grandparents. The first time I really thought about serious crossword puzzles was when I noticed the stack of crossword puzzle dictionaries my grandfather kept on hand next to the breakfast table. I'm a New York Times Wed/Thurs puzzler at best, although I often complete Friday and Saturday puzzles, but rarely finish a Sunday puzzle without some help from Google. Shortly after seeing a screening of Wordplay, a documentary about the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, I was lucky enough to talk with Merl Reagle, syndicated crossword puzzle maker and one of the featured personalities in Wordplay both about the film and about the history of modern crossword puzzling.

Download the Interview with Merl Reagle

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The Seattle International Film Festival 2006 Opening Night Gala featured The Illusionist, a movie starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti and Jessica Biel. This is the second effort from Director Neil Burger, who adapted the screenplay from Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Steven Millhauser's short story, Eisenheim the Illusionist. Just prior to the screening, I had a few minutes to chat with Neil about The Illusionist and his prior film, Interview with the Assassin (which I consistently mislabel Interview with an Assassin throughout the interview).

Download the Interview with Neil Burger

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If you were wondering what was included in going VIP for the SIFF 2006 Opening Night Gala, here's a list of what you missed out on in the gift bag:

Stuff in the Gift Bag:

$25 gift card to The Container Store, Sterling Vintner's Collection picture frame, Nokia picture frame, Umbrella from The Container Store, $3 Starbucks gift card, book from Michael Wiese Productions, 3 months of TV5MONDE free, current issues of Travel + Leisure and Seattle Metropolitan, notepads from Bombay Sapphire and The Container Store, and advertising from Thomasville Furniture and the Washington State Film Incentive Package

Food and Drink in the Gift Bag:

375ml bottle Bombay Sapphire, One tin of Zhena's Gypsy Tea, One pound Starbucks Coffee, One biscotti, Bombay Sapphire mints, Nokia mints, Dilettante Chocolates, Odwalla Bar, Complementary Appetizer or Dessert from Paddy Coynes, Dragonfish VIP Card for 20% off, Complementary small plate at Ibiza.

I happen to enjoy a gin and tonic or martini every now and then, so the Bombay Sapphire was certainly a nice touch. Sterling Vintner could have stepped up and thrown in a bottle of wine too, but they did have merlot and chardonnay on hand both before and after the showing of The Illusionist. The real stinkers here are Nokia, who gave away the same stuff they offer at their tradeshow booths and Thomasville Furniture who offers a "free consultation" to try and sell you furniture.

Posted by Jake Ludington at 07:05 PM | Permalink

SIFF 2006 kicks off with the Opening Night Gala on May 25, 2006. The opening night screening, The Illusionist, stars Edward Norton as Eisenheim, an early 1900's magician in Vienna who falls in love with a woman of class. Following her engagement to the Crown Prince, the magician uses his powers to woo the woman back and create unrest in the kingdom. Jessica Biel plays the princess to be. There are some great notes about the film over at Edward-Norton.org. No word on whether we'll see Norton or Biel at the gala, but director Neil Burger and producer Michael London are expected to be on hand. Look for photos and a wrap-up following the event here.

Posted by Jake Ludington at 06:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)