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Attention Aussie Readers: A chance to listen to Sam Mendes and see AMERICAN BEAUTY early!
Hey folks, Harry here. Earlier in the year I tipped off a bunch of you Australians to a festival of Kubrick films that was playing in your country, and now it's time for me to tip ya off to a special screening of AMERICAN BEAUTY... a film that will most likely be in a very heated final 5 race for Best Picture in the USA this March. While being titled 'AMERICAN' BEAUTY, personally I feel the familial dynamics discussed in this film go quite a bit beyond the borders of this country. For example... if you liked Peter Jackson's brilliant HEAVENLY CREATURES... then this should be a movie you will embrace openly. As for Sam Mendes... He alongside M. Night Shyamalan, Brad Bird and Spike Jonze have emerged as the four most interesting and intriguing directors to follow from 1999. This is your chance to listen to a director that I feel is one of the premiere emerging talents in cinema. Don't pass this chance up. And if ya get a chance to ask a question ask, "WHAT'S NEXT?" and report back here please...
DIRECTOR OF 'AMERICAN BEAUTY' IN SYDNEY
Sam Mendes, the director of AMERICAN BEAUTY, will present an exclusive
preview screening of his acclaimed film in Sydney on January 6, 2000.
AMERICAN BEAUTY was recently awarded the best film of 1999 prize by the
U.S. National Board of Review, and is widely tipped to feature prominently
in the nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Awards. Starring Kevin
Spacey, Annette Bening, Chris Cooper, Mena Suvari and Thora Birch, the film
examines the underbelly of suburban life in America.
AMERICAN BEAUTY is Mendes' first feature. His background has predominantly
been in theatre; he directed Nicole Kidman on stage in New York in THE BLUE
ROOM and also helmed the acclaimed revival of CABARET.
The Q&A preview will take place at the PALACE ACADEMY TWIN CINEMA, Oxford
Street Paddington at 6.30pm on Thursday Jan 6, 2000. Tickets are $15 and
are now on sale from the cinema. Bookings can be made on 02 9331 3457. Get
in quick as this event is sure to be a sell-out.
The film opens around Australia on January 26.
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According to Corona Coming Attractions, he is doing a film based on a book by Chuck Palahniuk, the writer of Fight Club. The book is called "Survivor", and according to Corona, the premise is: "Self-destroyed former-cult leader Tender Branson is a half-hour away from his death. But before his one-man jet reaches terminal velocity and smashes into the Australian outback, he'll dictate the events that led him to this place - right into the flight cockpit recorder." Sounds interesting. According to the Corona scooper, this info came straight from the mouth of Palahniuk himself.
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two of the minds behind the year's two best movies collaborating? sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet . . .
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there was a talk back recently where someone was making a joke like "I'm supposed to be moved by some pothead filming a floating plastic bag?" which really pissed me off, seeing as how the whole point of the film was that we are so caught up in our consumerist culture that we don't take time to enjoy not only the fruits of our labors, but the natural world around us. This is a much more european film than I expected from one with "American" in the title. I think the scene of that bag floating around will resonate with an international audience, which won't be so quick to poke fun. so what if the kid does drugs? most of the people I know that smoke pot are a lot more insightful than the fucking drones in the rat race, even if some of them are lazy. perhaps in a society this cluttered with physical, emotional, and psychological debris, one needs "assistance" (be it in the form of drug, or anything else) to poke their head through to see the real world around them. Sorry if this sounds like some kind of hippie manifesto, but I don't think this is just some sit-com making wisecracks about suburbia. Spacey's monologue at the end of the film, while maybe not as subversive as the material in Fight Club, is something that everyone could benefit from. And hey, it didn't take 3 hours to lead up to (just had to add that dig in there).
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saw 'american beauty' a couple of days ago (preview screening in melbourne) and was BLOWN RIGHT THE FUCK AWAY!!! spacey, bening, cooper and bentley all excelled, and mendes's direction was the equal of one mr soderbergh (high praise in five-tone's book). would give my left testicle to shake the man's hand, especially if he's going to bring 'survivor' to the screen. palahniuk's words are custom-made for cool-ass directors like fincher, jonze and mendes - all mendes has to do now is cast leonardo as tender and you've got the first freakin' classic of the new millennium. (sorry, i've had many beers and am feeling prone to hyperbole.) five-tone out to finish the rest of his slab (that's australian for case of beer).
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well Lazarus, Sam Mendes is a Brit so American Beauty has some kind of European touch.
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There seems to be so many good films to look forward to at the moment. 'The Green Mile', 'Magnolia' and 'Man On the Moon' (don't really understand all the fuss about 'X Men') are all films that I am dying to see when they are finally released in the UK.
But what of 'American Beauty'? I have so much talk about this film but so little to what it is about.
Can any talkbackers please let me know why this movie is so great and what I can expect? -
Recommended only if you have already seen the movie - read the script at:
http://simplyscripts.home.att.net
Scroll down a bit and on the left side is a link to the American Beauty Fan page which will take you to the script. -
First off, Tommy Five-Tone, what theatre did you see it at in Melbourne, I must have had my head in the clouds, and do you know if its still sneaking? I really want to get to see this. Spacey is priceless in any movie. Second, I'm still smiling now after the Kubrick film festival. That was a treat of treats. Thirdly, is anyone else looking forward to Pay It Forward or what.. man, I mean, could there be a more sure fire cast or what? Three of the most likeable and talented actors around today. Ar ar ar
(A pirate singing his appoval) -
What I wouldn't give to see another screening of American Beauty. THIS IS THE BEST FILM OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS. I'm praying this one wipes the board at the Oscars. This movie is ZEN.
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