AFI Fest...whimpers to a close! Rinky-dink film par-tay a joke!

At the end of last week, the AFI's circuit offering, limped to a sorry close in Los Angeles!

What was the general consensus of film-goers - who attended the much-anticipated red carpet previews - in the end scenario?

The annual oft-ballyhooed event lacked - oomphf! - in the final analysis.

And, it was in large part due to the hit-and-miss attitude of the organizers, who failed to recognize that the medium of film  is capable of - not only entertaining - but, uplifting the human spirit, as well.

In a nutshell, the AFI Fest staff didn't know "snuff" about the Hollywood film industry, its in's-and-out's, who the players were, or how to put on a quality show under the big top!

In fact, their idea of the Hollywood "Dream" factory was a nightmare, from the get-go!

For example - one piece of celluloid trash the AFI staff screened (which was conjured up by a demented first-time-out Danish filmmaker) - couldn't help but stir up a nasty controversy.

Post:  11/11/10

http://leonelgosphar.blogspot.com/2010/11/afi-festscreens-sick-debauched-danish.html

"Smut masquerading as Art," was the way I put it - and, believe me - most who attended the preview of the sick flick wholeheartedly agreed!

Bob Gazzale - "doesn't know his a** from a hole in the ground" - some loudly lamented about the current disreputable President & CEO (as I rubbed my hands with glee on the sidelines).

The assessment was bang on, if 'ya ask me!

And, the Fest suffered miserably as a result, in the final analysis.

Of course, the program was plagued with bad omens, from the very start.

At one panel discussion (focusing on young up-and-coming rising superstars in the film industry today) - mics persistently sputtered beneath washed out film clips - in the midst of incompetent staffers who attempted to steer the derailed program back-on-track with little success.

Post:  11/06/10

http://leonelgosphar.blogspot.com/2010/11/la-times-actors-panelcarrie-mulligan.html

Actually, the fest's problems first festered up, when film buffs attempted to book tickets on the AFI web site which was ill-equipped to handle ticket reservations for the ten-day event to be held at a handful of prestigious venues such as Manns Chinese, the Egyptian, and-so-forth-and-so-on.

I was personally taken aback when tickets I reserved for - "The Black Swan", "Love & Other Drugs", and "The King's Speech" - were not forthcoming.

In fact, the ticket reservations vanished into thin air.

What a fiasco!

In the end scenario, I ended up with four tickets to Circus Kids, in spite of the fact I just ordered one lone ticket for the early morning screening at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

And, there were other snafus to contend with, as well.

For instance, I was issued double the tickets I requested for Mon Oncle, Hour of the Wolf, Amigo, an Industry Panel Discussion featuring up-and-coming stars (aforementioned), a Sony Seminar on 3D filmmaking, etc. etc.

Whew!

Talk about a rinky-dink outfit, eh?

Film buffs who turned up later at the box office in person to sort out the snafus - like moi! - wondered aloud where the celebrated guest Artistic Director - David Lynch - was in their hour of need.

Certainly not at the helm, that's for sure!

Judging by the AFI promos that sputtered to life at a handful of screenings - then, off again - he was obviously off on a drunk somewhere!

Post: 11/06/10

http://leonelgosphar.blogspot.com/2010/11/david-lynchaudiences-laugh-washed-up.html


Next year I'll pass, thank you very much, Mr. Gazale!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Mann's Chinese Theatre an AFI venue in 2010

AFI Fest....screens sick debauched Danish film! Filmgoers shocked!

Last night I attended a screening of "Nothing's All Bad" at the AFI Fest - an Independent Foreign Film - that was directed by Mikkel Munch-Fals.

For the first time ever - I half-expected the Vice Squad to break down the Theatre door at Mann's Chinese Theatre, confiscate the reels of film, and haul all the filmgoers off to jail for participating in a screening of vile lewd material that was disgustingly pornographic in nature.

But, because the sick debauched tale about a handful of sexually-depraved degenerates was screening at an alleged prestigious film festival, the authorities must have assumed that the Danish flick was "high brow" or at least one of the Artsy-fartsy variety.

Wrong!

Everything about "Nothing's All Bad" was "bad".

For example, in one scene - a teenager is standing at a urinal chewing gum and taking a whiz - when a forty-something piece of rough trade strolls into the men's room and stares him down.

"Can't you do something better with those pretty lips," he snarled at the sexy young dude.

Without batting-an-eyelid, the hustler plucks the gum out of his mouth - and sticks it to the gritty wall - as he drops to his knees to give the pervert a nasty bl** job.

In another vignette (!) a woman loses a breast to cancer. 

Shortly after the operation, she sinks to the depths of depression when she suffers rejection from the men all around her in social settings, who can't deal with her physical abnormality.

One day, she strolls into a porn shop and stumbles on a couple of DVD's, which feature amputees and individuals who have been mutilated.

To satisfy her yearning for acceptance (and love ?!), she agrees to act in one of the low-budget sex flicks.

When she arrives on the set the day of the shoot, she is forced to squat on all fours - with a rubber bit stuffed in her mouth - as a young male mounts her from behind and fu**s her up the ass!

And, it gets worse!

The last time I reacted so negatively to a film was on the occasion when I took in a double-bill of two features - that turned out to be basic snuff films - at the New Beverly Cinema a couple of years ago.

Post: 08/07/08

http://leonelgosphar.blogspot.com/2008/08/chaos-and-murder-set-pieces-shocking.html

What shocked me the most about this AFI fest celluloid offering?

For starters, the fact that the film was not rated (restricted or otherwise), and was given the seal of approval for screening (in spite of the fact the Film Fest is supported by the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, a handful of Government Arts Councils, and a mainstream auto-dealer - AUDI - with a moral responsibility to the community).

I am thoroughly incensed that the aforementioned agencies (and individuals who acted on their behalf)agreed to screen this filth - which ultimately - degrades the body and demoralizes the human spirit.

Today, we need films that inspire a civilized society, not trash it!

The film should be - banned, burned, or confiscated by the local police - to prevent this kind of smut from seeping into the community at large in the future.

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz