NYAFF: Day 11
Nothing to report, not even Magic Marker Rembrandt. Tired. Body is exhaustion-shaped. The only thing to warn people about is that the Wednesday, July 2 screening of SPARROW is getting very close to selling out so get your tickets early. They’re going even faster after this piece in last Friday’s New York Times in which Dave Kehr wrote
“But the most beautiful film in the festival has got to be SPARROW (Wednesday)…a new work by Hong Kong’s prolific and prodigiously talented Johnny To. Simon Yam, the ruthless gang boss in Mr. To’s 2005 ELECTION, here slips into a weightless, Cary Grant manner as the leader of a small band of Hong Kong pickpockets — all brothers — whose gallant attempt to liberate a young woman (Kelly Lin) from her older underworld protector leads him into a gloriously staged finale: a pocket-picking duel conducted in the rain. No gore here, just an infectious joy that somehow evokes Ernst Lubitsch collaborating with Sergio Leone.”
And, we’re going to be making another live, on stage phone call to Johnnie To’s offices right before the screening hoping that he’ll pick up and give us all a special message of peace, love and understanding.
Also, ALWAYS 1, screening Wednesday, July 2, is getting close to sold out. If you want to experience one of the biggest, best feel good movies of the last few years (and its sequel, ALWAYS 2, coming up over the weekend at Japan Society) then get your tickets before they’re gone or you’ll become a regret machine.
Also, the two shows of ACCURACY OF DEATH at Japan Society are close to selling out. Very close. So close that Criswell predicts they’ll be totally gone by Wednesday. And, finally, a reminder that SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO is completely sold out. Sorry, but it’s getting a US theatrical release in August of this year from First Look pictures.
And last but not least…kittens!
