San Diego Film Critics put on a reel banquet
February 25th, 2009 by Scott Marks
EARLÂ STIFF
San Diego Film Critics put on reel banquet
2:00 a.m. February 24, 2009
by Earl Stiff
Donald Graham Burt and his ebullient wife Yan arrived at this year’s San Diego Film Critic’s awards luncheon right on the button.
Long before Oscar pointed his sword in Donald Graham Burt’s direction the San Diego Film Critics’ ballots were in. Last December the group voted The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’s production designer the year’s best.
SDCF founder Dan Bennett, who puts his heart and soul into organizing the annual banquet, once again outdid himself. Arriving early at Balboa Park’s Prado Restaurant, Dan oversaw every facet of the event short of baking the entrees. From place card placement to heartfelt and humorous opening remarks to seating the Allied gals nearest the bar, Dan was the host with the most.
The group’s earth mother Diana Saenger was beaming, but sadly hubby Lou, the life of the party even when he isn’t there, couldn’t attend. Jim Harrison was there, so was Eric Flowers. The Cinema Society’s Andy Friedenberg dined on veggie pasta while his dazzling bride Beth ate sea bass.
SDFC President (and in the opinion of this reporter the only reason to listen to the KPBS Film Club of the Air) Beth Accomando, looking splendorous in a Lin Yi Tang ensemble, introduced student filmmakers Christina Gizoni, Michael Tang, Lubina Bogoeva and Michelle Osoriotook. This year’s Sundance Kid Destin Cretton (his Short Term 12 took this year’s Short Filmmaking Award) regaled the gathering with delightful stories of his Park City triumph.
The generally articulate and effervescent Jean Lowerison sat quietly enjoying her entree. Poor dear couldn’t get a word in edgewise what with that blowhard Scott Marks doing his best to impress the guest of honor by loudly passing off unfounded minutiae as historical fact.
After lunch Anders Wright, dapper in a black and gray striped sports shirt, was honored to present Don Burt with his award. Mr. Burt was genuinely moved and told the delighted crowd that of all the recent lunches and dinners that he attended, this was his favorite.
Also in attendance the polished, practiced and proficient fifty-cents-a-day professionals that comprise San Diego’s PR machine. Allied Advertising was well represented: Lindsay Flatauer (glorious in green) was there, so was Cathy Pedlow whose name will be prominently featured throughout this summer’s Nicolas Cage thriller Knowing. A Summit Entertainment release of an Alex Proyas film opening March 20th. In Color and CinemaScope. (Thanks for the pizza!) Jennifer “Jen” Curran’s name was on the list as was the impish Heather Secrist’s. With J.R. Cordray MIA, Andy Hart, the only rooster left in the hen house, pounded back vodka martinis at the bar. Set against the backdrop of Balboa Park, Terry Hines and Associates’ Nahir Wold looked out of this world.
Others were two former recipients of the Kyle Counts Award: the Dean of San Diego Theaters, Landmark’s Chris Principio and film teacher extraordinaire Larry Zeiger. This year’s Kyle Counts Award went to the San Diego Public Library’s Ralph DeLauro and Lynne Whitehouse. When accepting the award Ralph surprised the crowd by announcing that this would be Lynne’s last year with the library. Enjoy your retirement, Lynne and thanks for all your years of dedicated work!
David Elliott wasn’t there, neither was Duncan Shepherd. Others not in attendance were Lee Grant and Fred Saxon.
Uncle Burl only attends movies when the Happy Days docks in Cannes and I thank him for letting me fill in.
“Knowing” trailer
The San Diego Film Critics Award this year’s top honors
December 18th, 2007 by Scott Marks
Riddle me this: With the hundreds of movies released every year, why is it that come awards time everything hinges on 5 or 10 pictures?
First off, a lot of local critics won’t see some of the more obscure foreign films because their readers are more interested in Shia LeBeouf than Jafar Panahi. Sadly, more and more critics wind up watching screeners instead of trekking to the screening and studios are not likely to send copies of films that even they know don’t stand a chance of winning. Hence Offside and Killer of Sheep, two of my top three films this year, weren’t even considered.
2007 turned out to be one the worst years for movies ever; compiling a 10 best list is virtually impossible. With not much to chose from, the voting went rather quickly. The eleven of us met in a conference room at KPBS and in three hours all votes were argued and tallied.
Well, not exactly argued. You’d be surprised how many critics sit in silence, never so much as offering one word’s defense for any of their choices. They circle their picks before the floor is opened for debate. At least be polite enough to pretend that you’re interested in what your colleagues have to say.
My partner on the Film Club is a royal polemicist, so Beth and I were responsible for a lot of the verbal pyrotechnics. A welcome addition to this year’s vote was City Beat critic Anders Wright. He’s a bright film junkie who knows his stuff and in at least one instance (best score) actually convinced me to change my mind.
As mentioned in an earlier piece, the sole reason the group exists is so we may fill a shelf with screeners come November. With the exception of the annoying Juno’s best original screenplay award, this year’s selections were by no means an embarrassment.
And the winners are…
Best Picture
No Country for Old Men
Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood
Best Actress
Julie Christie for Away from Her
Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone
Best Supporting Actor
Tommy Lee Jones in No Country for Old Men
Best Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody for Juno
Best Adapted Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood
Best Foreign Film
The Diving Bell and the Mermaid
Best Documentary
A tie: Crazy Love and Deep Water
Best Animated Feature
Ratatouille
Best Cinematography
Roger Deakins for No Country for Old Men
Best Production Design
Dante Ferretti for Sweeney Todd
Best Editing
Paul Tothill for Atonement
Best Score
Jonny Greenwood for There Will Be Blood
Best Ensemble Performance
No Country For Old Men
Outstanding Body of Work
Christian Bale for Rescue Dawn, 3:10 to Yuma and I’m Not There
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