AFI_Dallas_09'.

Update 4 - 2 - nite. Patton Oswalt Fun Time

Tonight Comedian Patton Oswalt along with Director/Writer Robert Siegel premiere there new film - BIG FAN. The comedy has Patton and Kevin Corrigan playing diehard Giants Fans who meet there favorite player and things don't go so well. Both gents will be on hand for the later showing of the film at AMC NorthPark. They will actually start there early evening at the Magnolia for a Red Carpet event and then venture over for the screening and a Q & A following the film.

I'll have a new blog entry for Monday Night's AMAZING time with Guillermo Arriaga including a thirty minute Q & A that was funny, in-sight full, and entertaining. Have loads of pics too. I should get the audio up for all of AFI 09' interview this upcoming weekend.

Hope to seeya tonight - 9:45 screening of BIG FAN! with Patton and Robert.

Back after BUSY WEEKEND!!

Ok so i'm guessing the best way to say sorry for not posting quicker is to give you all some pretty pictures - well before you look - I want to remind you to check out the blog too for REVIEWS of the films viewed so far and the crazy tales that go with them. Also check below the pics for the New revised schedule for the remaining films.

SCHEDULE TIME. The Maestro is HERE!

We are half way thru this years festival. We've seen Robin Wright Penn, Adrien Brody, Robert Towne, Jake Hoffman and many more head out. Now we can enjoy the company of Guillermo Arriaga, Patton Oswalt, Andy Dick, and Peter Bogdanovich....o yeah and RICK PERRY (Adios Mofos).

Ok Tonight - Monday 3-30 - Mr. Arriaga premieres his newest work, The Burning Plain. It stars Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger and looks to be another marionette like masterpiece from the multi-dimensional writing Arriaga. Charlize loved working with Guillermo so much he was her guest last year to AFI Dallas 08 - even though he didn't have a film to showcase.

AFI Description of the film - The characters seem to be unrelated: a Portland, Ore., restaurant manager who has meaningless sexual encounters; a New Mexican couple in the throes of an illicit affair; a 16-year-old girl on a dangerous border crossing. But Arriaga brings them together as only the Academy Award-nominated writer of Amores perros, 21 Grams and Babel can.

The film will screen tonight at AMC NorthPark.

Tuesday 3-31 - Tomorrow kicks off High School Day, so expect a lot of folks running around who may not have the greatest driving skills and not the greatest instincts. Awwwww the Yutes. One of the highlights is the Texas Avery Animation Award: Henry Selick will accept the Texas Avery Animation Award, presented by Reel FX, tomorrow at The Nasher Sculpture Center. The film to look for though is about the New York Giants and there Crazy FANS (Me being one!!). The Big Fan stars Patton Oswalt and Kevin Corrigan as super giants fan who meet there favorite player, only things go way way down hill from there. The Director Robert Siegal and Patton will be there for a Q and A if you can make it. This one looks pretty funny!! Watch out though its a later one starts at 9:15 at the AMC Northpark.

Wednesday APRIL FOOLS - Prank day has a funny quirky movie that looks like a good one. The Two Bobs directed by Tim McCanlies makes its DFW premiere and comes high recommended. The director known for writing and/or directing Dancer, Texas Pop 81, the Iron Giant, Secondhand Lions, and numerous episodes of the WB/CW show Smallville (yeah Superman as a confused teen). Tim's new film is about - AFI DESCIPTION - Video gamemakers The 2 Bobs have their software stolen and plunge into a wacky underworld of spammers and Internet hoodlums to regain their property. When the Bobs meet The 2 Janes, a romance blossoms and reveals the identity of the thief.

The final night film is a mystery to us. When its revealed, I shall inform you all of my plan to take over the world. Because lets face it - we do the same thing every night Pinky.

Love, Peace, and Lost RULES!

Hope to Seeya out and about.

Ok so the folks below - Director John Chester, legendary photographer Robert Knight, Robert, Chester and the lead singer of the Sick Puppies, Thats young blues guitarist Tyler Dow Bryant, King Hollis and son - King wrote and directed Suicide Kings with Christopher Walken, and that is Director Kathryn Bigelow of Point Break fame and her new film The Hurt Locker.

My Schedule for the remainder of AFI Dallas 09'

Ok so last night opened up AFI Dallas with a large crowd of folks. Well the actual festival begins today with movies all afternoon through till late night. Now I've made a tentative schedule of what myself and my lovely photographer, Sarah, are going to try and cover this year.

Here Goes Friday - 3/27 - Tonight may be a little tricky - There is a Red Carpet Event with Robin Wright Penn. After that is the screening of Chinatown at the AMC with screenwriting legend Robert Towne in attendance and possible Q & A afterwards. Check out the photo taken by Mark Schectman of Pearlsnapdiscount.com - We saw Robert and were the only ones who recognized the master of script writing - he's worked with some many folks. Anyways tonight should be pretty kick ass.

Will also try and see Dustin Hoffman's son Jake - in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are undead - the late showing at the North Park AMC.

Saturday - 3/28 - There are three films that peak my interest for the opener of AFI Dallas 09's weekend schedule.

First off - Alien Trespass - When a spaceship crashes near the town of Mojave, Calif., a criminal space creature — The Ghota — is released upon the Earth, and is chased by an Intergalactic Marshall, Urp. Will the townspeople help Urp capture the monster before it can multiply? Eric McCormick of Will and Grace fame. Robert Patrick (you know the T1000 from Terminator 2, Doggett from X-Files, he's been all over the UNIT, and even was on one episdoe of Lost - for you fellow fans) and Dan Lauria, he was the dad on The Wonder Years..

Then the centerpiece screening of Katheryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker with KB and others at the Red Carpet for the event. AFI description of the movie: Director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal bring a soldier’s-eye view of the Iraq war to the big screen.An elite bomb squad plays a game of life and death in The Hurt Locker. As if diffusing bombs weren’t nerve-wracking enough, the men have to deal with the political and cultural chaos rampant in Iraq. A new leader, James, takes over the unit and recklessly ignores the danger that surrounds the team. His subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge are shocked at his behavior and are soon struggling to control James and fighting for their lives.

Then later that night is the screening of The Midnight Shorts or Jordan Ladd's film Grace. Still trying to figure out which one will work best.

Sunday - 3/29 Boxing TIme!! So this year's AFI Festival has two big movies about Boxing - one on Mike Tyson that'll be on closing night. and then one on Kassim “The Dream” Ouma is the 2004 IBF Junior Middleweight champion of the world and a former Ugandan child soldier who was abducted into a rebel army at the age of 6. Kassim wants to return to his homeland, but the Ugandan government is bent on trying him for desertion.And if you've seen Ouma fight you know he never ever stops throwing the kid has set records for punches thrown. That one is at noon at North Park AMC 2 - Forest Whitaker executive produced this film.

Then at 3 in the same theater is Adam's Resurrection - Adam Steiner survives World War II’s concentration camps by working for the Nazis, performing his clown act while other Jews are sent to the gas chambers. After the war, he lands in a mental institution where he reads minds and confounds doctors. Jeff Goldblum stars - yep that Jeff Goldblum and Willim Defoe In it. Also its directed and written by Paul Schrader, of American Gigolo, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Bringing Out the Dead fame (you know Martin's main crazy screenwriter).

Deciding between the much hyped Documentary The Garden or the Soccer Drama Rudo Y Cursi.

For the Late night Treat we're going to see either one of two captivating love story's - Texas Competition nominee The Other Side of Paradise or Jason Ritter starred love story Peter and Vandy.

Monday 3-30 Its Mr. Arriaga Night - he will be there to showcase his newest film The Burning Plain starring Charlize and Kim Basinger - The characters seem to be unrelated: a Portland, Ore., restaurant manager who has meaningless sexual encounters; a New Mexican couple in the throes of an illicit affair; a 16-year-old girl on a dangerous border crossing. But Arriaga brings them together as only the Academy Award-nominated writer of Amores perros, 21 GramsBabel can.

YEP GA will be back in full force.

Ok folks - I'll give the rest of the schedule this weekend.

Hope I see you all (ya'll, you yuts...?) there.

AFI is Back with Adrien Brody, Peter Bogdanovich, Louis Gossett Jr. and Many more....

This year's Festival has added some international flavor and some award winning documentaries. These films accompanied with the celebrities already signed on, like Mr. Brody, make this year's festival an exciting one. The films start rolling on March 26th with the Opening Ceremony at AMC NorthPark Theater where Brody's film - The Brothers Bloom will start things off. Keep updated with our daily blog of events and also take a gander at the fun and amazing time that was AFI DALLAS 2008.

Who's Going to Be HERE!?

AFI DALLAS International Film Festival Founding Sponsor Victory Park, Presenting Sponsor NorthPark Center announces Rian Johnson’s THE BROTHERS BLOOM, as the festival’s Opening Night Gala presentation. The eight-day festival (March 26 – April 2), will feature 173 feature films and shorts with 150 screenings. Once again, the Target Narrative and Target Documentary Feature Competition winners will each receive a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize. This year, the AFI DALLAS Star Award, which is presented annually by the AFI DALLAS International Film Festival to a select group of film artists in recognition of their unique contributions to cinema, will be given to Kathryn Bigelow, Adrien Brody, Rita Hayworth (posthumously) and Robert Towne. Brody will receive the AFI DALLAS Star Award prior to the Opening Night Gala screening of THE BROTHERS BLOOM, Bigelow will be presented her AFI DALLAS Star Award prior to a Centerpiece Screening of her film THE HURT LOCKER, Rita Hayworth’s AFI DALLAS Star Award will be presented to her daughter, Princess Yasmine Aga Khan on behalf of her late mother’s remarkable body of work, prior to a screening of GILDA, and Towne will be on hand at a special presentation of the 35th anniversary of his classic, CHINATOWN. Director Henry Selick will be the recipient of the Texas Avery Animation Award presented by Reel FX Entertainment, which honors lifetime achievement in animation filmmaking. The award will be presented to Selick prior to a special celebration of his career in animation. THE BROTHERS BLOOM will screen as the AFI DALLAS Opening Night Gala presentation on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at AMC NorthPark 15 in Dallas. Directed by Rian Johnson the film tells the tale of two brothers who are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. However, the younger brother’s desire to retire inspires the decision to take on one last job - showing a beautiful and eccentric heiress the time of her life with a romantic adventure that takes them around the world. The film stars Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, and Rinko Kikuchi. The evening’s festivities will also include the first presentations of the Festival’s AFI DALLAS Star Awards (the award is designed from Steuben Crystal, courtesy of Neiman Marcus) to Brody. Also attending will be Johnson and Kikuchi.

Guillermo is Back Again and We Love Mr. Arriaga

Mr. Arriaga seems to love the DFW area. He's made it a point to show up at last year's festival in support of Charlize Theron, who was awarded a Star Award and showcased her film Battle in Seattle. Then earlier this year he spoke at the University of North Texas about how to turn a script into a film. Mr. Arriaga is back again this year hoping to turn his new film The Burning Plain into world wide hits like Babel, 21 Grams and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. However, this is year he is back as more then just an award winning writer - He Directed The Burning Plain. AFI Dallas is going to showcase his film this year as a Centerpiece event. The Juicy details for our Favorite screen writer.

THE BURNING PLAIN will screen on Monday, March 30 at AMC NorthPark 15. Directed by Guillermo Arriaga and starring Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger. the drama employs multiple storylines featuring a mother and daughter who try to form a bond after the young woman’s difficult childhood. The film also stars Jennifer Lawrence, José Maria Yazpik, J.D. Pardo and Joaquim de Almeida. Attending the screening will be Arriaga and de Almeida.