Austin
Film Festival 2004 - Day 8 - October 21, 2004
I got to take another sick day at work, so I slept
most of the day away (after being up all night) and headed
down to the Paramount at about 6:45 for the 7:30 closing
film, "The
Life and Death of Peter Sellers." I got to the Paramount
and there was red carpet leading to the entrance but everyone
had pretty much had gone it. It didn't seem very busy
out there at all. I needed to call my boss and tell him
about some stuff. We talked about the baseball play-offs
and, since I work with a guy from Boston, how we wanted
a Sox and 'Stros World Series. I wasn't in any hurry to
get inside since it was just a little after 7 and the
film didn't start until 7:30. Plus there would be announcements
and trailers and all that.
I saw Barbara Morgan, the AFF Executive Director
and said hello to her. She asked me if I was going in
to see the movie and I told her I was. I went in and
upon approaching the house, where the doors were already
closed, could hear that the film was already on! I hurried
in and looked at my watch. It was 7:17. Why the fuck
was the movie already on? I looked at the film program
earlier in the day and it clearly said 7:30pm.
(Later I looked at the invite that Gus had given
my, which I had put in my bag and never looked at, and
it said "Party at 6pm, Film at 7pm." Why would you bump
up the showtime when it is printed clearly in thousands
of programs? AFF is always so disorganized. I remember
one year they just decided not to run the final film
on the closing night. With no notice or nothing. AFF
should stand for Always Fucking Fucked-up.)
Anyway, I saw most of the film and assume I only
missed some minor exposition about Sellers relationship
with his mother as a young man, which can kind of be
gleaned throughout the rest of the film.
When the movie was over, I rushed out of the theater.
It only occurred to me later that perhaps someone from
the film was there to do a Q&A or something. Anyway,
it had been my plan to go see "Team
America: World Police" at a late show that night
anyway. I went over to Barton Creek to see the film
but was early. I sat in the parking lot and listened
to the radio. It was obvious that the Astros were going
to lose Game 7 of the playoffs and not be in the World
Series.
Sigh. At least my teeth didn't hurt anymore.
AFF this year was pretty disappointing. Because
I was sick I didn't really go to any parties and only
a couple films, "Jailbait,"
"The Nomi
Song" and "Overnight"
struck me as really exceptional. For the most part it
was a very mediocre event.
Lodger@the last day of AFF2004
|
