ROY DISNEY
Last Sunday night, Roy E. Disney was in town to receive the Philadelphia Film Festival's first ever Inspiration Award, a tribute to his lifetime of dedication and contribution to the entertainment industry.
Interviewed by Leonard Maltin, Disney recalled how his life's dream was to design airplanes; after doing poorly in calculus, he switched his major from engineering to creative writing.
When asked about the ongoing battle between traditional and computer animation, Disney acknowledged the merits of both and stated, "I'm in love with the art and the storytelling." His advice to any future animator, even in the midst of new technology: learn to draw.
- Lauren Kemp
FOREVER
This slow-moving French flick takes a close look at Paris's PŠre Lachaise Cemetery, burial ground for the stars, including Edith Piaf, Richard Wright, Maria Callas, Jim Morrison and Marcel Proust. And though some of these folks have been dead for over 100 years, they still have loyal followers who visit their graves regularly to mourn, think and search for inspiration. From the old ladies who return day after day to water flowers atop graves to the man who longs for his Iranian homeland, people come to the cemetery to search for hope and answers.
The film is slow-moving but superbly crafted. You'll never be on the edge of your seat, but sitting through this film is surely a relaxing exercise.
- Stephen Morse
THE PAPER
Set at the offices of The Daily Collegian, Penn State's college newspaper, this documentary follows the trials and tribulations of the newspaper's staff. They must battle a declining circulation, racial tensions on campus, limited access to star athletes, an unhelpful administration, and anti-gay sentiment on campus. Few realize how much of a commitment it takes to run a newspaper while also taking a full course load, and this film sheds light on the human side of the media. While most college films focus on drinking, sex and other lascivious acts, The Paper is the best "dork film" since Revenge of the Nerds III.
- Stephen Morse
MORE REVIEWS
Johnnie To's Hong Kong crime pic Exiled makes quite an impression; the dry wit and humor in the film rivals Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch ... Boss of it All is a clever comedy by Denmark's Lars Von Trier ... 638 Ways to Kill Castro, an amusing documentary about the 638 times the US has tried to assassinate Castro, is highly recommended.
The festival so far has been an interesting experience, though I'm surprised by the lack of students in attendance. Attending the screenings is not much different than seeing any other movie, except you have to wait in line outside the theater for a while with some rather unusual Philadelphians.
- Kevin Koplan
